Four Authors Four Categories -- One New York Times Bestseller List!
This week TKA has four authors appearing in four different categories on the New York Times bestseller list!
On the children's list, Rachel Caine's Morganville Vampires series debuted in the #9 spot with the release of GHOST TOWN, and Gena Showalter's Alien Huntress novel, ECSTASY IN DARKNESS, premiered at #11 on the mass market list. Christie Golden appeared for the second week with her World of Warcraft title, THE SHATTERING: THE CATACLYSM at #17 on the hardcover fiction list, and perennial favorites Don Piper and Cecil Murphey (90 MINUTES IN HEAVEN) held on at #23 on the nonfiction extended list.
This is definitely cause for celebration! Great job ladies and gentlemen!
UPDATE: The winner of UNKNOWN by Rachel Caine is Elie! Congrats! Please email your physical address to contests(AT)knightagency.net.And, for all of those who asked in the comment section, yes we ship prizes internationally. :-)
Leave a comment to win a copy of UNKNOWN by Rachel Caine. The winner will be announced tomorrow afternoon.
The 411: Living among mortals, the djinn Cassiel has developed a reluctant affection for them-especially for Warden Luis Rocha. As the mystery deepens around the kidnapping of innocent Warden children, Cassiel and Luis are the only ones who can investigate both the human and djinn realms. But the trail will lead them to a traitor who may be more powerful than they can handle...
Christmas Week Grand Finale Featuring New York Times Bestselling Authors Marjorie M. Liu, Nalini Singh, Rachel Caine and Christie Golden!
UPDATE: The winner of AN ENCHANTED SEASON, GLASS HOUSES and THE DEAD GIRLS' DANCE 2-in-1 book, DARKNESS CALLS and ARTHAS is Carol (posted under "Anonymous" at 3:31am). Please send your physical addy to contests(AT)knightagency.net. If the prize is not claimed in two weeks, another winner will be selected. Also, we're happy to announce the winner of our week-long scavenger hunt -- Elie!!! She will receive a MEGA prize pack of TKA books, along with some special holiday treats. Thanks to everyone who participated!!!!
We're finishing off Christmas Week in style with a grand finale post featuring four of TKA's NYT bestselling authors! These lovely ladies answered a fun holiday Q&A post and are each giving away a book! Leave a comment to be entered in the random drawing for all four titles: AN ENCHANTED SEASON by Nalini Singh, et al., a 2-in-1 trade paperback of GLASS HOUSES and THE DEAD GIRLS' DANCE by Rachel Caine DARKNESS CALLS by Marjorie M. Liu, and ARTHAS, A World of Warcraft Novel by Christie Golden.*** The winner will be announced Monday afternoon (12/21/09).
Don't forget our scavenger hunt question! Collect all 5 answers and enter to win a Christmas stocking filled with oodles of books and holiday treats! Last question at the end of the post.
Authors Left to Right: Christie Golden, Marjorie M. Liu, Nalini Singh and Rachel Caine
HOLIDAY Q&A WITH TKA:
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY STORY OR MOVIE?
MARJORIE: Oh, man! I can't just name one! A Wonderful Life, Holiday Inn, Babes in Toyland, The Bishop's Wife, Holiday Affair, Die Hard, and A Smoky Mountain Christmas (video below). And, of course, anything to do with the Nutcracker.
NALINI:The Princess Bride. It's not technically a holiday movie, but it always used to be on T.V. during Christmas time when I was younger, and it really fits - it's funny, romantic, and it leaves you sighing with happiness.
RACHEL:Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. LOVE that story, and the movie too. It's always been my favorite.
CHRISTIE:The Bishop's Wife, the original with Cary Grant and David Niven. I like it because while its sweet, it's not saccharine, and come on...Cary Grant as an angel? How can that miss? I also am very fond of Rudolph and The Little Drummer Boy.
WHAT IS YOUR MOST TREASURED CHILDHOOD MEMORY OF THE HOLIDAYS?
MARJORIE: I have so many. We lived in the Pacific Northwest, and my dad and I would go fishing or down to the docks to throw in nets for crabs (for Christmas dinner) and then my mom and I would bake all kinds of pies and cookies. We also had fun making ornaments, and searching for THE PERFECT TREE. Easier said than done! The house was always full of Christmas music -- still is, this time of year.
NALINI: For me, it's all about family, about being able to spend time laughing, eating and relaxing with those I love. Those are the best memories.
RACHEL: My mother made me a totally fantastic red Victorian dress for Christmas -- floor length, with about 5 yards of fabric in the skirt. I just loved that dress. It made the holiday feel so wonderfully traditional and festive.
CHRISTIE: Waking up early with my father and having to WAIT while my older siblings and mom woke up on Christmas Day! Hard as it was at the time, in retrospect, those are very dear moments spent with my father in a very quiet space.
WHAT WAS THE BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT YOU EVER RECEIVED? THE WORST?
MARJORIE: Just being with family was always a wonderful gift.
NALINI: Ooooh, hard question. One Christmas present I received a long time ago that I still have is a giant stuffed bear that's bigger than my cousin's five-year-old. I loved him when I got him, and I love him still :-) As for the worst...we won't mention those ;-) It is the season of goodwill after all!
RACHEL: Best: a professional quality clarinet (I was planning on being a professional musician before I turned author!). Worst: um, not to throw my husband under the bus, but there was this Lionel train ...
CHRISTIE: A really big giraffe...almost as big as me at the time! I had no idea what it was when I saw it wrapped. The worst? Socks. Every year. Okay, they're not that terrible, but they're -socks.- :D
QUICKFIRE QUESTIONS:
White lights or multi-colored?
MARJORIE: Either one. I love lights.
NALINI: White.
RACHEL: White!
CHRISTIE: White!
Real tree or plastic?
MARJORIE: I prefer real, but once the trees dry and the needles drop -- and it all becomes a fire trap -- I begin to prefer plastic!
NALINI: Plastic. (Actually, the best word would be fibre-optic *grin*)
RACHEL: Fake all the way. BUT NICE. And not prelit, because that's totally cheating.
RACHEL: Depends on the gift. I don't mind the easy to wrap ones, but if it's odd sized, gimme the bag!
CHRISTIE: Gift bag!
Gifts: Surprise you or best to just ask what you want?
MARJORIE: I love a good surprise.
NALINI: Torn, I'm torn! Both.
RACHEL: I'm easy. :)
CHRISTIE: Ask what I want through the year and then surprise me. :D
The day after Christmas: Ready to shop to you drop or avoiding all streets that lead to the mall.
MAJORIE: I don't do a whole lot of shopping, so I'm the kind who definitely stays at home, eating leftovers in my pajamas, and reading a good book.
NALINI: Avoid, avoid, avoid!
RACHEL: I curl up and watch movies all day. It's the best day off EVER.
CHRISTIE: Avoid like mad. This is the time to stay home, eat leftovers, and enjoy your gifts and family.
CHRISTMAS WEEK CONTESTS: Remember, there are TWO ways to win! Today's prize is AN ENCHANTED SEASON by Nalini Singh, et al., a 2-in-1 trade paperback of GLASS HOUSES and THE DEAD GIRLS' DANCE by Rachel Caine, and DARKNESS CALLS by Marjorie M. Liu! The winner will be announced Monday afternoon (12/21/09).
Also, at the bottom of each post there is a scavenger hunt question. The answer can be located somewhere on the authors' websites. Send in all 5 correct answers* to the scavenger hunt questions, and you will be entered in a drawing to win a TKA Surprise Christmas Stocking filled with books and holiday treats!!!
SCAVENGER HUNT QUESTION (5 of 5): Which one of the authors above (Nalini, Rachel or Marjorie) once wrote under the pen name Julie Fortune? Visit www.NaliniSingh.com, www.RachelCaine.com and www.MarjorieMLiu.com to find the answer!***Christie Golden was a late addition to this post, therefore she's not an "official" part of the scavenger hunt. However, please DO visit her awesome website, www.ChristieGolden.com for information on her awesome sci-fi, fantasy and horror novels!!
*Please note, that the correct answers to the scavenger hunt questions must be sent in at one time. You must collect all 5 answers and send them in one email. Entries for the scavenger hunt will be accepted from Friday, December 18th thru Sunday, December 20th at midnight. The winner will be announed on this blog Monday, December 21st, 2009. If you have any questions about this contest, please contact contests(AT)knightagency.net.
Big congrats to two of TKA's authors hitting the bestseller list this week! Nalini Singh's BLAZE OF MEMORY debuted at #8 on the New York Times Mass Market bestseller list, and Rachel Caine's Morganville Vampires struck gold again with FADE OUT at #7 on the New York Times Children's Series bestseller list and #105 on the USA Today bestseller list.
The American Library Association kicked off Teen Read Weekon October 18th. This year's theme is "Read Beyond Reality." The purpose of this special week is to remind teens that one of the greatest forms of entertainment is reading, which is "free, fun and can be done anywhere." If there are any teens out there (or adults) looking for some fabulous books to celebrate Teen Read Week, we have several great offerings from a few of TKA's young adult authors. Enjoy!
2. Marley Gibson -- GHOST HUNTRESS: THE AWAKENING (Book 2), GHOST HUNTRESS: THE GUIDANCE (Book 1)
3. Rosemary Clement-Moore -- THE SPLENDOR FALLS and her series MAGGIE QUINN: GIRL VS. EVIL (PROM DATES FROM HELL, HELL WEEK and HIGHWAY TO HELL)
4. Rachel Caine -- THE MORGANVILLE VAMPIRES Series (GLASS HOUSES, DEAD GIRLS' DANCE, MIDNIGHT ALLEY, FEAST OF FOOLS, LORD OF MISRULE, CARPE CORPUS, FADE OUT and KISS OF DEATH)
An interview with Deidre Knight, president of The Knight Agency and author of the GODS OF MIDNIGHT series and BUTTERFLY TATTOO, will air today on the literary radio show, From Cover to Cover, on Houston's KPFT FM station. Also on the program, Rachel Caine, author of the uber--successful MORGANVILLE VAMPIRE series, and Marjorie M. Liu, author of the DIRK & STEELE series, were interviewed about their journey to the New York Times bestseller list. Click here to access the show via KPFT FM's live streaming radio.*
Once the show is archived will will provide a link for those that are not able to listen live. Check back soon!
YA Spring Break Week has come to an end. Thanks to all of our WONDERFUL guest bloggers, including Monica McKayhan, Shannon Greenland, Lucienne Diver, Diana Peterfreund and Rachel Caine. You all did an awesome job! Also, thanks to everyone who commented and participated in our contests. We had an absolute blast and we hope that you did too!
We still have a few unclaimed prizes. If you recognize your name from the following list, please email your physical address to contests @ knightagency.net (remove spaces in address):
Winner of 5 Books from Monica McKayhan's INDIGO series: Anna
Winners of Signed VAMPED bookplates from Lucienne Diver: Nicola, Suzette and Isabel
Today's winner of signed Rachel Caine book of their choice: tetewa
YA Spring Break Week: Guest Blogger Rachel Caine Says Divas Rock
UPDATE: The winner of a signed Rachel Caine book of the winner's choice is tetewa. Please email your physical address to contests @ knightagency.net (remove the spaces in the email addy). Congrats!
I'm kind of jazzed to be tapped to write about The Diva (you should always spell it that way, with Capital Emphasis). I have two reasons ... one is that I come from a musical background, and so I know that the term "diva" originally meant an extremely gifted star, usually operatic. It was related to "prima donna" -- another term that just meant "First Lady" (of the opera). And of course, opera stars became known for their temper tantrums, but darn it, they were WORTH IT. They did it with STYLE.
That's probably because opera has always been a tough gig -- fragile egos need not apply. No matter how amazing the opera singer, opera audiences were merciless critics throughout history. Check it: one of the greatest divas of all time, Maria Callas, got pelted with bouquets of radishes by her non-adoring fans. And didn't even flinch as she finished the show. That's ATTITUDE.
Possibly the great legend of the diva stems from a pair of opera prima donnas -- Faustina Bordoni and Francesa Cuzzoni -- whose offstage rivalry heated up in 1727. A noted tabloid reporter of the time (yes, they had them then, too) published an account of the stage scandal with a screaming headline: "THE DEVIL TO PAY AT ST. JAMES: or, a full and true account of a most horrid and bloody battle between Madam Faustina and Madam Cuzzoni." Apparently, there was dress-tearing, hair-pulling, curse-shrieking, and throwing of vegetables from the audience. Quite a show. And by the way, opera still is a rough sport ... recently a singer got booed off the stage at La Scala in tears. Yup. It happens. It takes a major attitude to take the stage knowing that could await you.
So today's Divas have a lot to live up to, obviously. They're no longer required to have the talent ... only the 'tude. And they take self-confidence to insane levels. A true Diva thinks of no one but herself -- or who can do something for her. There's no ally she won't betray, no minion she won't throw under the bus to get ahead, no back in which she won't find a home for her dagger. Divas typically have a posse, and a talent for causing a scene when you least want it.
In short, The Diva is seriously entertaining ... if you're watching from the sidelines (or the cheap seats). Facing off against her is no treat, especially since The Diva usually has a nasty temper and a long memory.
So how does The Diva help in a story? She's a great villain. She's also a great reluctant ally ... having the meanest of the Mean Girls on your side can be an amazing advantage. (Just be sure never to turn your back on her. Or borrow her best shirt.)
So remember: Divas are fabulous. Divas are blindingly confident. Divas are WORTH IT.
Enter to win an autographed copy of one of Rachel's MORGANVILLE VAMPIRES books! The winner will receive the book of their choice from the series. Leave your name in the comment section. The winner will be announced tomorrow morning.
If you love YA, then you'll love what we have planned starting Monday, March 30th! It's YA Spring Break Week on the TKA blog. Our lineup includes guest authors Monica McKayhan, Shannon Greenland, Lucienne Diver, Diana Peterfreund and Rachel Caine. They will each tackle one of the classic character types in YA literature. Think Prince Charming, the irrepressible Sidekick, the Diva, the Bad Boy, and of course, America's Sweetheart. Looking back to my own high school days, there are a few more I could add in. How about yourself? What about the Bookworm (read: me). LOL. Glad those days are over, but I still love to read about them and reminisce.
Don't forget to check back next week for these special guest blogs, which will feature plenty of fabulous prizes!
LORD OF MISRULE Reaches #2 on Barnes & Noble Bestseller List
LORD OF MISRULE, the fifth book in Rachel Caine's addictive MORGANVILLE VAMPIRES series has reached the #2 spot on Barnes & Noble's young adult mass market bestseller list! The only thing between Rachel and #1 spot is the indomitable (but not for long ;)) TWILIGHT by Stephanie Meyers. Congrats Rachel!
Update!!! LORD OF MISRULE has also reached the #7 on The New York Times YA series list!
Lauren Baratz-Logsted has written a great post on Red Room about her trip to the New England Booksellers Association's trade show in Boston. Along for the ride were the co-authors for her soon-to-be-released young readers series, THE SISTERS EIGHT. Those co-authors happen to be her 8-year old daughter, Jackie, and husband, Greg.
Also, last week Rachel Caine chatted with TKA about her Weather Warden and Morganville Vampire series. If you missed out, be sure to check the chat transcript below!
We had a great time chatting with Rachel Caine last night and gave away a few books in the process. Thanks again to Rachel and everyone who joined us! If you missed out, remember to check back here Monday for the chat transcript.
Have a great weekend, and enjoy the latest music video for Rachel's latest release GALE FORCE below (warning: slightly NSFW).
We are totally stoked about our upcoming chat with Rachel Caine, author of the WEATHER WARDEN and MORGANVILLE VAMPIRE series this Thursday! Rachel recently releasedGALE FORCE, Book 7 in the Weather Warden series, on August 5th and FEAST OF FOOLS, Book 4 in the Morganville Vampire series, earlier this summer. Don't miss out on the opportunity to chat with this amazing author!
WHO: The indomitable RACHEL CAINE
WHEN: Thursday, September 18th @ 9pm ET
WHERE: TKA CHATROOM
HOW TO CHAT:Click here: TKA CHATROOM. Enter a username and password. Login.
This is definitely cause for celebration! Great job ladies and gentlemen!
