Nine Rules for Beginning Romance Readers!

I met the fabulous Alea from Pop Culture Junkie when The Season was first released--Alea is a voracious reader of YA fiction, and she was kind enough to review The Season and welcome this fledgling YA author into her world. Little did she know that my next book, Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake (out next week!!! OMG!!!) would turn this pop culture junkie into a full-fledged Romance Junkie!

It's not every day that I turn someone into an addict...so I asked Alea to write her own Nine Rules for Beginner Romance Readers...in the hopes that we can turn a few more of you!

Nine Rules for Beginning Romance Readers

1. Be Open Minded
It never even dawned on me until a few months ago that I might enjoy reading romance novels, the thought never even crossed my mind to check them out. I got some suggestions, bought a few books and put them aside. I had really liked Sarah’s book The Season so knew I wanted to also read her adult romance, Nine Rules to Break When Romancing A Rake, I read it and was OBSESSED. And it can happen just like that, try a romance novel, see what you think, be open minded!

2. Try Everything
So you’ve tried your first romance novel and want to try out some more, where to next? I say try everything and see what you like. I’m discovering new romance sub-genres everyday. Ok maybe don’t try anything (I’m staying away from paranormal books for the time being) but try a bunch of the sub-genres, lines, authors, imprints and see what you like, you’ll never know until you try!

3. Ask For Suggestions
When I started tweeting about my new obsession with romance novels all sorts of people came out of the woodwork to share their excitement for certain books and authors, ask around and you will get some great suggestions!

4. Read Romance Blogs
Another good place to get suggestions are from Romance Blogs, a few of my favorites right now are Dear Author, The Book Binge, and this blog right here! Sarah has two great lists (so far) for new romance readers of Historicals & Contemporaries! Check them out!

5. Stay Organized
Now I’m sure you are up to your nose in suggestions. Start a wish list, mine is up to 91 books! Also if you are like me and love series it might be a good idea to write down what books comprise a series so when you are out shopping (constantly if you are me) you can be sure to fill out what you are missing from a series you are interested in.

6. Don’t Get Overwhelmed
The romance genre is one of the most popular, if not THE most popular so there are new books and authors appearing every week, don’t get overwhelmed. Right now I’m trying out a few authors and reading through their backlists. Start small.

7. Don’t Judge A Book By It’s Cover
I’ll be the first to admit some of the covers in the romance genre are not my cup of tea for various reasons, but don’t let that distract you! Beneath a not so attractive cover might be a wonderful story, don’t miss out!

8. Don’t Give Up
Just like any other genre and author, you might not like all the books, but don’t give up! Just because something is a best seller or widely loved doesn’t mean you will or have to like it! I think there is something for everyone in a genre, soon enough you will find your niche!

9. Have Fun
For me the romance genre is all about having fun! So sit back, relax and have enjoy!

Alea is doing a week-long romance celebration this week over at Pop Culture Junkie...don't miss it (and her interview with me, which went up on Sunday)!

And stay tuned for the rest of the month--and a dozen more Authors Rule(s) posts from an awesome range of authors! To read more of Authors Rule(s), please click here!

you can have my book for free!

**with many thanks to the fabulous Saundra Mitchell for the icon.

9 Things That Made 2009 Awesome

As 2009 draws to a close, I'm feeling a little nostalgic...after all, it was the year I published my first novel!

So, in honor of today...December 31st, 2009, on the cusp of a new decade that will bring who knows what, I give you, 9 Things That Made 2009 Awesome.

1. January 20, 2009 - History is made. And this happens.

2. March 1, 2009 - THE SEASON is released into the world. PW references its "clever conversation in the spirit of Jane Austen." I fall off my chair.

3. This rug from CB2 - Yes. It looks like grass. Yes. We have a dog. Never say we are not risk-takers.

4. I finish my second book - Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake clocks in at nearly twice the length of The Season. My editor does not break up with me when she reads it. Sue Grimshaw at Borders True Romance compares it to Eloisa James. I fall off my chair.

5. The 2009 Debutantes - a few scores of writers all launching their writing careers in 2009. We keep each other sane. And honest. And we survive our debut year with relatively few scars.

6. The Jane Austen Society of North America, Connecticut Chapter Annual Tea - The ladies of JASNA/CT invited me to spend a day with them in early December to celebrate Jane. They ply with me with tea and cakes. I have a splendid time.

7. Cate Blanchett as Blanche Dubois - A Streetcar Named Desire at the Brooklyn Academy of Music blows my mind. I realize that a female director can make a play I've read 30 times seem like something I've never heard of.

8. RWA 2009 - I get to hang out with Diana Peterfreund, Anne Mallory, Sabrina Darby and Julianne MacLean. I sit next to Stephanie Laurens at an event. Manage, barely, not to fall off my chair.

9. Sherlock Holmes - Robert Downey Jr. + Guy Ritchie + Victorian London = Epic Win.

So...farewell '09.  Here's to you.  May 2010 be even awesomer.

Happy New Year, y'all.

What do Goethe, Dostoyevsky & Austen have in common?

At first glance, not much...but when you see what the Pawling Book Cove has scheduled for the afternoon of November 14th in Pawling, New York, it all becomes awesomely clear!

I'm super excited to announce that I'll be signing with the hilariously awesome Michael Northrop and the incredibly talented Dina & Daniel Nayeri at that very place at that very time! I will say that Gentlemen and Another Faust were two of my favorite 2009 books...and I'm honored that the Book Cove has included me in this sure-to-be terrific event!

Michael says that Pawling is a great little town...and I believe everything he says. Also, I know for a fact that upstate New York in mid-November can be gorgeous (as long as it's not rainy and frigid)...so if you're in the area, please consider a trip up on Metro-North (or down, left or right via other modes of transportation) and come hang out with us for the afternoon!

Readers' Questions: Answered! (GIVEAWAY BELOW!)

I've been saying that I would do a Readers Q&A post for ages...and finally...here it is! I've received a ton of questions by email, twitter and facebook, and am psyched to have a chance to respond!

So, in no particular order, let's get to it!

Q. Will there be a sequel to The Season?
A. Ok, this is probably the question I get asked the most...online and in the real world...and I'm afraid I don't have a great answer, except to say that, as of now, there are no plans for sequels to The Season.

Q. When will Freddie, Lord Stanhope get his book?
A. When I wrote The Season I had no idea that Freddie would be such a popular character--although I shouldn't be surprised, because we girls definitely like our bad boys. Of course, there's nothing terribly wicked about Freddie--he's more bark than bite when you really get to know him. That said, Freddie has many many oats to sow before he'll be ready to settle down--but when he does meet his match, I can assure you that fireworks will ensue! I'd like to write Freddie's story one day--but he needs to cook for a few years before he's ready to fall in love.

Q. How long does it take you to write a book? What's your process like?
A. This question makes writing a book seem way more organized that it is for me. I love the idea of having a process, but mainly I spend a lot of time being insane before I actually get myself into a zone. My books take between 4 and 6 months to write, and then require another 2 or 3 months for editing and revisions. I'm very lucky to work with two of the most incredible editors in the world--they're brilliant, insightful women who make me look like a far far better writer than I actually am. :)

As for Process, so far, all three of my books have come to me with the very first scene: The Season began with Alex's dress-fitting for her coming out; Nine Rules... began with a meeting that happened 10 years before the actual book is set (which is now the prologue); and I met my current WIP's heroine while she was receiving the news of her father's death--and responding to it in a rather bizarre way.

After I meet them, though...my characters can't do anything else without me knowing precisely where they're going and what they're doing. I'm a heavy outliner...my outlines are very stream of conscious--they tell the story from beginning to end, but range in format, voice, tense, tone and can even be snippets of dialogue that pop into my head and ultimately become a part of the finished book.

Once I have an outline, I write longhand...everything related to a book goes into a single notebook and then I edit it into my computer...so I tell myself that I'm really handing in a second draft when I send my editors my first draft.

Because of my deadlines, I write as much as I can, whenever I can. There's no rhyme or reason to it. It's just all the time. This makes my process harried and harrowing--but boy is it awesome when you write that last word!

Q. What's your favorite part of writing? Your least favorite?
A. Revisions are my favorite part, because that's the time when you're really working to make it a terrific book. Editors are incredible. My editors are two of my favorite people in the world because they look at my messy, unpleasant manuscript and they see the gold in it. And then they help me mine it. I like the "team" feel to revisions. They're hard, but you're not alone.

My least favorite part is the second to last chapter. Always. In my books, it's usually a chapter where lots of stuff is happening, plots are at their climax, characters are having their moments of clarity, loose ends are tying themselves up into (I hope) neat little bows. And I'm SO CLOSE to the end. But not there yet. I HATE not being there yet.

Q. When did you know you wanted to be a writer? When did you first know you ARE a writer?
A. When I was in high school, some teacher in some class asked us to make an "About Us" card--it's a half a piece of construction paper with a picture of 16-year-old me and a bunch of random facts...favorite book, favorite movie, weakness, etc. One of those things was "dream job." I wrote Romance Novelist. So, I don't know when, exactly, I knew I wanted to be a writer, but it was pretty early on.

As for the second half of that question, well...I guess it shows a bit of my weakness that I don't usually show...but I still don't think of myself as a writer. It's such a scary, amazing, unbelievable thing...it's almost like i'll jinx myself if I actually say the words out loud.

Q. What music inspires you when you write?
A. I listen almost exclusively to classical music (on my Pandora station) when I write. Boccherini, Strauss, Mozart, Beethoven, Rossini, and dozens of others. But almost all of my books have a pop song that serves as their modern inspiration. Nine Rules... was inspiried by Jason Mraz's I'm Yours, my current WIP's theme song is Brett Dennen's Darlin Do Not Fear.

I think that's a good list for now...if y'all would like, I'm happy to do this feature more frequently...maybe once a month? If you're interested, post your questions for November in comments or tweet them @sarahmaclean! I'll answer them...and give one lucky questioner a signed copy of The Season!

Jisetsu!

Ok...when I looked up "Season" at this free online translator, it provided six different Japanese words for it: kikou, jisetsu, kou, kisetsu, jiki and jibun. I don't speak Japanese, so I chose the one I most like saying. I'm sure one of my brilliant readers will tell me which of these words I should actually be using.

The point is...OMG THE SEASON JUST SOLD TO JAPAN!!!

Alex is a jetsetter--rumor has it that she's going to be rejacketed with love for release in Japan in the next 18 months (they don't tell authors anything, really), by the incredible Japanese publisher, Shogakukan!

Domo Arigato, Shogakukan!

So Excited for RWA!!!

Just a quick post for now because I'm getting SO excited for RWA this year! I've printed out my workshop schedule...and downloaded my workshop handouts...and am getting SO SO excited to hang out with a whole community of people who are as geeked-out about romance as I am! Yay!

I'll be twittering like mad from the conference all next week...and will most certainly blog from DC...but for now, an announcement!

For those of you who are around on Wednesday afternoon (July 15th), swing on over to the Marriott Wardman Park exhibit hall for the 2009 "Readers for Life" Literacy Autographing! More than 500 romance authors are scheduled to participate in this two-hour autographing event--raising thousands of dollars to donate to ProLiteracy Worldwide (FYI...I'll be the one freaking out about signing in the same room as Elizabeth Hoyt. And Julia Quinn. And Nora Roberts. And Eloisa James. And...OMG. I can't think anymore about it).

So, yeah...bring your cash and buy signed books for a great cause. And if you have time...come hang out by me so I look less like a squawking fangirl and more like a bona-fide author (even though we all know the truth).

Yay! The New York Post likes me!

Just a quick one today...as I'm in and out of the apartment...but I just had to share this!

At 10:45 this morning, my phone rings...it's a friend from work. Not exactly the phone call one expects to receive on Saturday morning. (I *expected* to receive a call from my sister, who seems to have gone AWOL and never answers her phone...but that's another story altogether)

The call goes something like this:

SARAH: Hello?
SARAH'S FRIEND: Ohmigod. You're in the NEW YORK POST!
SARAH: Wha?!
SARAH'S FRIEND: THE NEW YORK POST!!!
SARAH: What? Why?
SARAH'S FRIEND: You seem less intelligent than usual.

**cue hanging up, grabbing 75 cents in nickels from my money jar and running downstairs in my pajamas to the deli to buy the paper.

And lo and behold, I am, indeed, in the New York Post! Right there, under the lovely headline: Hot New Titles for Tweens & Teens!

Bless Rupert Murdoch and his big, conservative head!

BEA Update! Mark Those Calendars!

I'll have more info on my Book Expo shenanigans next week, I hope, but I just wanted to put myself on your calendars!

I'll be signing at Table #2 at the BEA Autographing Area on Friday, May 29 from 10 - 10:30am! This is during the "Romance Salute," which sounds awesome...I'm not a little bit sorry that I can't go stalk the other Romance Authors on the list!

But I shall persevere...and hopefully see you all there!

This Thursday! Rhode Island!

Be there or be square! (You don't want to be *square* do you???)



Barnes & Noble
Warwick, RI
4pm

Ideas on what passage I should read from The Season?
Leave them in comments!

Publishers Weekly Review, 3/02/09

The Season Sarah MacLean. Orchard, $17.99 (352p) ISBN 978-0-545-04886-6

In Regency London, Alexandra is about to embark on her first season of balls and dinners, and while nothing “would steer her mother from the course of marrying off her only daughter,” 17-year-old Alex is put off by men’s seeming lack of interest in women with “any amount” of intelligence (“Evidently, it scares eligible gentlemen off”). Her opinions about romance change when she develops feelings for her brothers’ friend Gavin, who is mourning the sudden death of his father (making Gavin the new earl of Blackmoor). MacLean’s debut is well paced, and as readers fill up on descriptions of dresses and society’s rules, another plot line develops: Alex overhears a conversation proving that Gavin’s father was murdered, and she puts her relationship, reputation and life in danger to help him. Readers will appreciate the clique lit/historical romance hybrid: headstrong Alex rolls her eyes and gossips with friends, but still knows the steps to the quadrille. Clever conversation in the spirit of Jane Austen makes this quite a page turner. Ages 12–up. (Mar.)

Check It! I'm on Nineteenteen!

I'm super psyched to be the guest of honor this week over at Nineteenteen, the awesome blog on all things relevant to teens in the Nineteenth Century run by Marissa Doyle, author of Bewitching Season and Regina Scott, author of La Petite Four.

On Monday, the lovely and talented Marissa interviewed me about The Season and the Regency...and today I got to guest blog about Rotten Row in Hyde Park and why it was an integral part of young female aristocrats' lives. I had such a blast writing for them, although I'll confess a little performance anxiety, considering what an incredible wealth of information Nineteenteen is to readers and lovers of the time period!

If you have time, head on over there and share the love!

oooh! I almost forgot!
You can win a signed copy of The Season by commenting on either my interview or my guest post!

Alex eats a Reese's

To celebrate her debut, Alex has been invited to lunch with the fabulous Jennifer Brown, one of my fellow 2009 Debutantes and author of Hate List. Jen let Alex pick the place, the menu and the company for their luncheon...and they had a great time!

You can read about it, and Alex's reaction to her first Reese's, here...

Sarah Cross Sweetens the Deal

The amazing Sarah Cross interviewed me this week for her blog. For those of you who don't know Sarah, you should. Don't believe me? Consider the following five-point plan. First, she's the author of the incredible Dull Boy, which is out in May and which I have been lucky enough to read early. It's clever and funny and endearing and I can't wait to own my own copy! Second, she's super fun and wickedly funny and a blast to hang out with. Third, she knows everything (read: EVERYTHING) there is to know about superheros, comic books, and awesome gaming. And she's a girl, which is rad. Fourth, her name is Sarah. Fifth, she loves Baxter, despite never having met him.

But...I should warn you...she has a flaw. A tragic one. Sarah Cross has never read a Jane Austen novel. I know. I shall wait while you take a moment to recover...................

Admitting the problem is the first step, though. And Sarah has officially admitted the problem...and she is willing to rectify the situation with some coaxing. As part of the interview, she is giving away a signed copy of The Season! AND...if she gets 50 entries in the giveaway, this comic-book-reading-super-hero-loving-Halo-playing Cool Girl will read Pride & Prejudice. Well, at least TRY to read it. If she gets 100 entries in the giveaway, she will READ THE WHOLE THING.

So go on over to Sarah's Blog, enter the contest, and restore sense and sensibility to the world!

...oh...and to those who are wondering, of course I'm not going to make her buy her first book by Aunt Jane. I'm going to buy it for her. :)

Hey Brooklyn!!! Get Yer Signed Copies!!!

So...Eric and I just took a walk to our local Barnes & Noble...where I did my first official authorial act (well, second if you count writing a book)...I signed stock. There were three copies of The Season on the New for Teens table...and a very nice bookseller tolerated my squeeing and let me sign the stock there. So...if you're in Brooklyn...stop by the Park Slope B&N and pick up your very own autographed copy of The Season!

Of course, Eric took a photo!



Also...had to share this one...note Mt. St. Twilight in the background. Seriously. Like 150 copies of Twilight in every imaginable version! You can barely see The Season (third row, on the end) Someday I shall have a heap of books like Stephenie.

Alex gets her debut!

Head on over to the fabulous Sarah Ockler's blog to read all about the debut party that Alex *wished* she'd had! From a guest list that spans four centuries to party favors and music, Sarah Ockler hasn't forgotten a thing...and, thanks to her, Alex is finally getting the debut she wants.

For those of you who don't know Sarah, you should. She's another 2009 debut YA author...and I'm predicting now that her INCREDIBLE book, Twenty Boy Summer will be a contender for the 2009 National Book Award. Yes. It's that good. You should preorder it.

Yesterday, Sarah and I also discovered a very bizarre coincidence about our lives...stay tuned...I'm going to blog about that later. But now, back to the day job!

YOU GUYS! It's for real!

Thanks to Khy over at Frenetic Reader who not only took the first photo, risking embarrassment, but also bought a copy!

I can't BELIEVE it's real!!!

Regency Contest!

Ok...so I hadn't planned on this giveaway...but something happened tonight that inspired me...namely that fellow 2009 Debutante Jenny Moss SAW THE SEASON IN A BOOKSTORE TODAY!!!

OMGOMGOMG!

Ok. So. After some looking, it appears that there are Barnes and Nobles across the country that are already stocking The Season! Of course, none of these Barnes and Nobles are in New York City. Of course. And so, I turn to you, dear readers! If you're in a bookstore anytime in the next two weeks...and you see The Season...AND you take a picture of it and send it to me...you will win something awesome!

"Something awesome, you say, Sarah?"

Indeed, dear reader. I did say just that. You win a Regency-themed or Season-themed goodie from my Regency/Season goodie bag...which I had planned to break open in March! But, instead, I break it open here and now. In there are stickers, magnets, pins, bookmarks, postcards, greeting cards and other odds and ends (all nifty)! To sweeten the deal, the FIRST person to send a photo of The Season in an ACTUAL bookstore, will win copies of my two favorite Regency books (I'm not saying who they're by, but the author's name might rhyme with Rain Pausten)!

The Season - Sneak Peek!

As promised, a sneak peek at The Season, in bookstores March 1, 2009!

***

January 1815
Blackmoor Estate, Essex, Britain

The rain fell steadily on the slick rocks marking the edge of the Essex countryside, where the land fell in sheer cliffs to a frigid winter sea.

His horse was uncertain of its footing, shying away from speed and direction in favor of steady ground. The creature’s fear would ordinarily irritate him and mark it for sale or slaughter, but today the wet cliffs made him equally cautious. He hadn’t planned to make this particular journey today—but some things would not wait.

He had received word by messenger early that morning—critical information that pointed to the possibility that the scheme he had set in motion was about to be compromised. Someone was determined to ruin everything…and that someone had to be stopped.

He had done all he could to keep his work a secret. But the Earl had somehow discovered everything. Well, not exactly everything. He didn’t know how closely his precious earldom was tied up in the whole plan. Wouldn’t that be a surprise? He couldn’t wait to see the look of shock on the Earl’s face. That would make this whole miserable trek in this godforsaken rain worth it.

He turned his gaze to the ocean, where a ship was anchored not far from the bleak Essexshire cliffs. Thirty yards ahead, the path split into two. To the left began the steep descent to the sea—too dangerous for a horse, barely wide enough for a man. To the right, the passage continued along the tops of the cliffs and, not far from the fork, offered the perfect spot for anyone interested in watching the events taking place below. There, he would find his prey.

He dismounted just before the split and left his horse, continuing to the right on foot. Without a mount, the advantage of surprise was his. On foot, he moved by instinct. He knew every inch of these cliffs, having traveled them hundreds of times before. They provided the perfect cover for the work he was doing, the perfect rendezvous point for his partners, and, coincidentally, the perfect place to dispose of someone.

The Earl had, at long last, made a mistake. And now he would pay.

***

April 1815
London, England

“Oof! I’ve been stabbed!”

The Duchess of Worthington did not look up from her needlepoint. “Perhaps that will teach you to fidget while at the hands of your dressmaker.” She cast a sidelong glance in the direction of her youngest child. “Besides, I highly doubt that Madame Fernaud ‘stabbed’ you.”

Lady Alexandra Stafford, only daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Worthington, heaved a sigh and rolled her eyes. She rubbed the spot at her waist that bore the mark of London’s finest dressmaker’s needle, “Perhaps not stabbed—but wounded nonetheless.” Garnering no reaction from either her mother or the unflappable modiste, Alex slumped her shoulders and muttered, “I fail to understand why I must suffer this fitting anyway.”

The Duchess continued with her needlepoint. “Alexandra, there are plenty of young women who would happily assume your position, standing on that platform, ‘suffering’ through a fitting for that dress.”

“May I suggest any one of them take my place?”

“No.”

Alex knew when she was fighting a losing battle. “I didn’t think so.”

The Duchess of Worthington had been waiting seventeen years for her daughter to be released, finally, into the social whirlwind of a London season. For the last three years, Alex’s daily lessons had been shortened to accommodate hours of ridiculous tutorials designed to make her most marketable to those unmarried men whom her mother deemed to be “good catches”—-which is to say, titled, wealthy and thoroughly dull.

Perfectly useful time in Alex’s days had been taken up with a rigorous schedule designed by her mother and her governess to break her of all her quirks, that is, anything about Alex that someone with a thimbleful of intelligence might find interesting. From "Poise and Posture," a torturous half-hour designed to keep Alex’s back straight and chin tilted just-so, to "Proper Conversation," a playacting session designed to help Alex to understand what to say and what not to say to the various men she would be meeting over the course of her first Season, to "The Subtlety of the Dance," during which she learned the quadrille, the waltz, the cotillion…and any number of other dances that would give her a chance to “try to appear graceful and lovely” while practicing all she had learned about Proper Conversation, the lessons were a precious waste of time as far as Alex was concerned.

Unfortunately, she didn’t imagine anything short of Napoleon’s army marching straight through the drawing room of Worthington House would steer her mother from the course of marrying off her only daughter and, even then, she didn’t put it past the Duchess to question the Captain of the French Guard on his lineage and inheritance before surrendering.

After all, a carefully won marriage was far more important than affairs of state.

The lessons had taught Alex some of the rules of the London aristocracy, however: Do: pretend to be interested as men regale you with the boring details of horses, hunting, and themselves. Don’t: reveal any amount of intelligence. Evidently, it scares eligible gentlemen off. Also, refrain from suggesting that there must be men who are looking for a woman who knows the difference between Greek and Latin. That particular remark sends governesses into hysterics.

Without considering the repercussions, Alex let out a deep, resigned sigh. And received a needle in the backside for her troubles.

“Ouch!”

Madame Fernaud may have been considered the most renowned dressmaker in all of England, but Alex knew better. Clearly, the Frenchwoman was waging a quiet war against her British enemies by poking the young maidens of London to death.

This was the final fitting of the most important of Alex’s new gowns—-the one she would wear to her first ball at Almack’s in a little over a week’s time. An appearance at Almack’s was essential for any debutante. Here, London’s most revered aristocrats—collectively referred to as the ton—were given a good look at the fresh young faces of the season. Like livestock going to market, Alex thought to herself, a single eyebrow rising in wry amusement as the corner of her mouth kicked up. The simile was too apt. Of course, most of the other girls who would join Alex for her coming out had been dreaming of the moment their entire lives. Alas, there was simply no accounting for taste.

A quiet throat clearing came from the door of the room and Alex, being careful not to move too much for fear of being skewered again, craned her head around to look at Eliza, her lady’s maid.

“Excuse me, Your Grace,” Eliza directed her words to the Duchess while dropping into a quick curtsy, “Miss Alexandra has visitors…Miss Eleanor and Miss Vivian are in the downstairs sitting room.”

“Thank goodness. I’m saved,” Alex muttered under her breath and snapped her head around to send a pleading look at her mother. “Please? I’ve been standing here forever. The dress must be perfect by now.”

Madame Fernaud stepped back from her work and spoke for the first time, “Perfect is right, Mademoiselle,” she turned to the Duchess and said, “Et voila. Your Grace…she is a masterpiece…do you not think?”

Alex pounced on this statement. “A masterpiece, Mother. I rather think we shouldn’t fuss with such a tour de force, don’t you?”

The Duchess, ever a perfectionist, stood and walked a slow circle around her daughter, casting a critical eye at a seam here, a detail there. After what seemed like an eternity, she raised her gaze to meet Alex’s. “You are lovely, Alexandra. You’re going to set the ton on its ear.”

Alex knew she’d won. Her face broke into a wide smile. “Well, with a mother like you, how could I not?

The Duchess chuckled at her daughter’s blatant flattery, “Rather excessive, Alexandra. Off with you.”

Alex clapped her hands and hopped down from the raised platform where she had been standing, throwing herself into the arms of her mother and planting a kiss on the Duchess’ cheek. “Thank you, Mama!” Alex bolted for the door of the room, tossing back a complimentary, “Merci, Madame Fernaud! The dress is just gorgeous! Oui, c’est magnifique! Thank you!

Behind her, the duchess spoke to no one in particular, “What am I going to do with that girl?” If Madame Fernaud hadn’t been wrapped up in her own indignant sputtering at the atrocious treatment her creation was suffering at the hands of Alexandra, she would have detected a hint of laughter in the duchess’s voice.

Regency, Meet Pop Art!

For all of you who have been so kind and generous with your excitement for the launch of The Season, I give you my Warholian interpretation of Lady Alexandra. You'll note this is a different look at Alex...not the same, caught-doing-something-bad Alex from the cover. This is a different shot from the photo shoot...and one that I think works better in the pop-art genre.


Oooh...and stay tuned! Later this week, I'll be posting the prologue of The Season...to whet your appetite for March 1st!

Winner winner winner!!!

Thanks to everyone who commented, posted, and sprout posted to win a signed ARC of The Season!  And now....cue the drumroll as my lovely assistant chooses the winner...

But wait!  I actually have TWO ARCS left!  And...so...lovely assistant and dog will BOTH choose winners!  

Congratulations to:

Polo.Pony!!!! 

and 

Darling Diva!!!!

YAY!  

If you both email me at sarah (at) macleanspace (dot) com...I will happily sign your ARCs and mail them off to you!  

Congratulations!  And...for those who were less lucky...stay tuned!  Because, I got finished books this week!!! and one of them is definitely marked for giveaway!!!

New Book Review Blog!

I know you're all waiting with bated breath for the announcement of the winner of the Win an ARC of The Season contest...which I will post at midnight on the nose!  

But...I just had to post now and tell you all to go over and meet/read/introduce yourself/comment on Rebecca's Book Blog!  Rebecca has been reviewing books on Amazon for ages...and she's finally started a book review blog!  (A certain historical YA author suggested she do it...I'm just saying)

So...yeah.  Go chill with Rebecca for a bit...read her incredibly generous review of The Season if you'd like!

The Season on Better.tv!

(I'm particularly fond of the part that starts at 2:11!)

The Season ARC Giveaway!

In honor of the new year (which just so happens to be my pub year, as well, did you know?), I'm happy to announce the very first MacLeanSpace contest! Comment here (or anywhere on the blog) between now and January 15th to be entered to win a signed ARC of my book, The Season! Link to the contest from your blog and let me know about it, and I'll enter you three times! Share my Sprout on your blog, and you get 5 entries! I know! It's totally crazy! I'm giveaway MAD!

This is the first of a number of 2009 excitements that are coming on the blog...including awesome interviews with debut and veteran authors, guest bloggers and visitors who will answer all your burning questions, thrilling giveaways, and a general sense of terrific that I hope will imbue MacLeanSpace with rad. Yes. I said it. Rad.

You like rad, right?

New Feature! Tour Dates!

I'm adding a Tour Date feature to the right sidebar of the blog (and a readings and visitations tag)...right now, it's quiet, but hopefully there'll be lots to share in no time! I'll link there to events I'll be attending, readings I'll be having, and blog tours I'll be doing. (And...speaking of blog tours...I'd love to come hang out on YOUR blog for a day or two if you'll have me! Just shoot me an email at sarah at macleanspace dot com)

I'm super excited to say that I'll be participating in the famed Teen Author Reading nights in March in NYC... I'll be reading from The Season along with the fantastically talented Donna Freitas, Siobhan Vivian and P. E. Ryan at the Jefferson Market Branch of the New York Public Library on March 4, 2009 from 6 - 7:30pm.

If you're a New Yorker (or even a tri-stater)...please come hang out with us!

The Teen Author Reading Nights are the brainchild of the incredible David Levithan (author of, among other things, Boy Meets Boy and Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist)...and they take place once a month at the Jefferson Market Branch of the New York Public Library, 425 6th Avenue at 10th Street, New York, NY.

For a full list of the readings, check out Madeleine George's awesomely organized list over at her blog, By George (Madeleine is reading as part of the February 11th group).

OMG! It's totally for real! The book is COMING! Gak! (cue freaking out about what passage to read aloud!)

'Tis the Season

I'm elbow deep in NINE RULES TO BREAK today, but I had to share this...Eric just made me the best Christmas present ever. Note the title and author.

How to get an early copy of The Season...

March 09 is just around the corner...but if you know the right awesome teacher, you can get The Season two months early! Scholastic Book Clubs TAB Club (stands for Teen Age Books) is carrying the hardcover version of The Season in their January flyer! Right there on page 2!

So...cozy up to your nearest and dearest middle school Scholastic Book Clubs teacher, and see if he/she'll let you order an early copy of the book!

time for a teaser, methinks...

thanks to the genius behind Wordle, I'm able to give you a fun teaser for The Season!

I'm totally in love with this little thingy...and seriously considering making t-shirts, magnets, etc. to celebrate its awesomeness. I also LOVE the words it selected out...partially because they make me think of my little book...and partially because they get my imagination going for the next one!

Win a copy of The Season!

I'm very honored that My Favorite Author (one of my favorite blogs) has selected The Season as their November ARC giveaway! I'm so thrilled that Angela enjoyed reading my little book...and that she's willing to share it with the readers of MFA!

So...if you've been itching to get your hands on an advanced copy of Alex's story, here's your chance!  Tool on over to MFA and comment on any post during the month of November...and you'll be entered to win.  Just promise me that you'll come back over here when you win and let me know what you thought! 

And, while you're over there, don't miss the interview with the fabulous Saundra Mitchell, author of the fantastic Shadowed Summer, which is one of the best ghost stories you'll ever read.  

My First Interview!

This week, I had the privilege of being interview by Miss Emily Marshall over at Author2Author. Confession: I'm terrified of fouling up interviews and saying something stupid and/or lame. But Emily walked me through it and I think I have safely survived! She asked me some great questions...ranging from the Regency to The Season to Project Runway...three of my favorite topics, as you know!

Author2Author is a terrific blog...written by five YA/MG writers all at different stages in their personal writing journeys, Lisa Schroeder, Kristina Springer, Deena Lipomi, Emily, and Kate Fall. They do interviews, post about topics of interest to writers, highlight awesome book blogs and lots of other cool stuff.

If they're not in your feed reader...they should be!

OMG! A Review!

I just had the best surprise...an email from Melissa over at Kidliterate telling me that she just posted a review of THE SEASON! Woot! How excited am I? Even better...she liked it! Of course, I'm not surprised, because it appears that Melissa and I are somehow separated at birth...she apparently also likes cupcakes, lip-balm, Aaron Sorkin and Julia Quinn, and I, too, enjoyed THE SEASON. ;)

Kidliterate is a great book-review blog...one for the feed reader, for sure. And don't miss her recent review of THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH by the lovely and fantastic Carrie Ryan--a fellow 2009 Debutante!

Fine Arts Foundation Debutante Ball

As many of you know, THE SEASON tells the story of three girls' during the London Season of 1815.  Alex, Ella and Vivi are seventeen, daughters of wealthy aristocrats, and members of the ton--a french term used to encompass the best and brightest of London society. All these factors make them ideal debutantes...at least, on paper.

What many don't know is that the "Season"--and particularly the Debutante Ball--is still very much alive and well...on both sides of the Atlantic. Periodically, I hope to feature some of the young women who continue to take part in this old and revered tradition here at MacLeanSpace...to remind myself (and my readers) that girls like Alex, Ella and Vivi aren't so hard to find after all.

For example, in Debutante News this week...

The Denver Fine Arts Foundation released what seems to be an incredibly talented group of young debutantes into Denver society this week at the organization's 2008 Debutante Ball, held at the University of Denver. There are some AMAZING photos of the Denver event over at http://www.denverpost.com/seengallery. I'm not sure how long they'll stay up...but they're worth a look! My favorite is the father/daughter waltz shot, but the first & second escort shot is pretty impressive as well.

A play-by-play of the event is available at Joanne Davidson's society column in the Denver Post, complete with info on the receiving line, the father-daughter waltz, and dinner...filet mignon & oreo cheesecake. I promise you, if I'd known I was in for cute boys in tails and white gloves and that kind of meal, i would have begged my parents to move to a city that had a cotillion.

I found this story of new debs Brittany and Lindsey McMorris particularly charming--Brittany and Lindsey are twins...both presented by an exceedingly proud father with the help of their first escort--who also happened to be their brother--Brock. How sweet!

Suffice to say, Denver Debs are having a great week. Welcome to society, ladies!

publisher's weekly spring sneak peek!

ok...so it's super cheesy and dorky and whatever...i know. but i'm in print! in REAL print! I'm on page 134 of this week's Publisher's Weekly! woot! right at the top, under Orchard Books...There I am, along with my sister (and brother) authors, Mark Teague, Sam Llewellyn (whose book, Lyonesse, I am DYING to read), Lisa McCourt & Laura J. Bryant, and Marion Dane Bauer & Ivan Bates.

ok...fine...so it's not the New York Times. But baby steps, people. Yay! For those of you who are not PW subscribers and still want to be in the know about my fabulous publishing siblings, click here or just read:

SCHOLASTIC/ORCHARD
Orchard Books cracks up with Funny Farm by Mark Teague, a visit to a giggle-inducing barnyard; Lyonesse Book I: The Well Between the Worlds by Sam Llewellyn, first in a middle-grade fantasy series; Yummiest Love by Lisa McCourt, illus. by Laura J. Bryant, featuring exchanges between parent and child; The Season by Sarah MacLean, involving romance, intrigue and murder in Regency London; and One Brown Bunny by Marion Dane Bauer, illus. by Ivan Bates, a counting book of forest animals.

Yay! (Also...note the new tag below! Hopefully, I'll have reason to use it more than just this once!)

on sale now! omg!

so...i was on goodreads this morning, feeding my addiction, and i searched myself.  yes...i'm that self-involved.  but look!  i'm there!  the season is there! omg! 

so, of course, this fed my narcissistic tendencies, and look! i'm on amazon, too!  no photos, no descriptions, and it appears i'm categorized as 9-12 instead of 13 and up, but whatever!  so cool! this could well be the most freaky-deaky experience ever.  

now, i'm off to send an email to my mom.  :) 

on heat. and not the good kind.

it's about 1200 degrees in new york city today. ok...perhaps that's a bit of an exaggeration.  but it's over 90 degrees, feels like it's 105 degrees, and is sticky and oppressive and they're predicting thunderstorms and hail, which wouldn't be so bad, because anything is better than the alternative, when the blacktop virtually hums with heat.

baxter and i ventured out of the house this morning, as we do every weekend morning, to scare up some breakfast for both of us.  baxter, like most city dogs who don't have constant access to the outdoors, LOVES going outside.  he's part boxer, so he does this thing called kidney-beaning where he loses control of his entire body and wriggles around in a circle until you open the door and let him bolt down the stairs.  

on days like this, though, baxter gets outside and looks up at me with nothing short of abject confusion, as if to say, "mom...why did you take me to this awful hot place? what happened to the real outside?"  poor baby.  i'm wearing a tank top and my skin is melting off...he has a fur coat.  

so...we did our business...mine slightly less base than his...and made our way back into the air conditioned apartment.  i always feel slightly guilty on days like this, when the sun is shining brightly and i'm locked in my apartment plotting my avoidance of the outside, trying to figure out how many days I can go if i don't do laundry.

and i can't help but wonder how humanity survived before the creature comforts of the 20th Century.  

i'm working on the sequel to The Season now, which spans the summer months of 1815 in London, which I can only imagine smelled about a thousand times worse than brooklyn does today.  in new york, at the same time, people escaped the city for the country, where there was more space and some room for wind to take the edge off the heat...but in London, they actually came to the city for summer.  they put on their heavy silken ballgowns, took tea in closed of receiving rooms, danced the night away in ballrooms laden with people.  Eric once asked me why people are always threatening to swoon in the regency novels i read...one imagines it wasn't a threat so much as a reality for women locked in the twin hells of un-air conditioned rooms and unforgiving corsets. 

so, yeah.  it's hot today.  but at least i have an escape.  and i can be thoroughly unladylike in my shorts and tank top and lay spread-eagled on the floor of my airconditioned apartment.  if alex, vivi or ella tried that, their mothers would have fits of the vapors.  which is a story for another time.  :)

happy summer!

jacket copy...and more!

The last two weeks have been really really exciting...mostly due to the AMAZING work of my fantastic editor...I keep turning to Eric and saying "it's really happening!!" (He's getting tired of smiling at me supportively, I think.)

I got my first round of edits back, which means i'm back to work in a big way...I was TERRIFIED that the book would come back filled with red ink and pushed back to 2010. But Lisa (my editor) has assured me that it's not a turd...and that it's officially on the March 2009 list! Yay! It's really happening!! (Are you getting tired of hearing me say this too?) :)

In other news on The Season, Lisa and I took a first pass on the jacket copy for the book...which is super exciting (and ridiculously difficult...after spending a year with this story, boiling it down to two paragraphs is a task of sisyphean proportions). Here's what we came up with! What do you think?

Seventeen year old Lady Alexandra Stafford simply doesn't fit into the world of Regency London — she's strong-willed, sharp-tongued, and she absolutely loathes dress fittings. Unfortunately, her mother has been waiting for years for Alex to be old enough to take part in the social whirlwind of a London Season so she can be married off to someone safe, respectable, wealthy, and almost certainly boring.

Alex, however, is much more interested in adventure than in romance. When the Earl of Blackmoor is killed in a puzzling accident, Alex--along with her two best friends, Ella and Vivi--decides to help his son, the brooding and devilishly handsome Gavin, uncover the truth. It's a mystery brimming with espionage, murder, and suspicion. As Alex and Gavin grow closer, will her heart be stolen in the process?

Romance and intrigue fill the air as this year's season begins!

Orchard has already hired an artist for the cover, and I saw pics of potential models this week...it's so weird to see my characters in real life! I can't believe it! SO EXCITING!

Yay!

I'm really excited to finish the edits on The Season, because I finished my outline for book two in the series. It's a really different type of love story than The Season, but also filled with danger and excitement...so I'm looking forward to sinking my teeth into it!

Today, though, I'm off to do laundry...which is much less exciting than all this book stuff...but does give me a chance to catch up with some of my friends who have been woefully neglected while I've been finishing everything up. I miss them!!

hope you have a great weekend...
xoxo

i’m done! now what?

I finished the first draft of The Season and turned it in to my editor last week...so exciting and nervewracking and terrifying and sad all at the same time! It's an amazing feeling to be done. I know I have loads of work still to come...it's by no means perfect...but it's a story, with an arc, with a beginning, middle and end, with characters I love and lines that make me laugh (and smooches that make me sigh).

I'M DONE!! And so ridiculously proud of it. Even though I know that what ends up bound and on sale will be vastly different and (knowing my editor) infinitely better, there's something about *this* version that I think will always be dear to me.

You'd think that once the book is written the hard part is over...but honestly? it just feels like it gets harder from here.

I woke up this morning with the first scene of the second book in my head. That's the REALLY scary part...now I'm starting to feel like writing is in my blood. like i couldn't stop, even if no one ever wanted to read this book and i never had another published.

As I wait for my editorial letter, which won't come until the beginning of January, I'm thinking about so much--what will the jacket look like? will we find someone who likes it enough to give us a blurb for the back cover? will anyone buy it? will readers fall in love with the characters the way I have? is this the beginning of an exciting chapter in my career or the end of a particularly remarkable chapter of my life?

It's out of my hands now...and whatever happens from here on out, I really don't have much control over it! Anyone who tells you they don't believe in fate has never written a book. That's for certain!

I'm going to try to blog more, now that I have much more free time...I'd love to hear your thoughts!

xoxox

it's got a title!

so, it's been a while since i've written...well, here at least.  I've been working on the book almost every day--it's due December 1st to my fabulous editor, Lisa, but I'm trying to get it done before the wedding.  

Did I mention I'm getting married?  I am...October 6th.  Which is super exciting, super stressful, and super time consuming...but the end result is a good one--i get my very own hero, forever. (gag--i know--but he is pretty great) 

Anyway...in between finalizing the menu, addressing invitations and planning our honeymoon (to Greece), I've been working on the book, hoping to get it done two months early.  It will be a miracle if it happens...but either way, I'm having a blast with the characters--watching them come to be before my very eyes! 

And last week, my fabulous editor took me to lunch to welcome me, officially, to the Scholastic author list and there, over thyme lemonade at Mercer Kitchen, we titled the book!  So look for The Season at your local bookstore in Spring 2009!  After mulling over the title for the weekend, I really love it, and I'm super psyched that we're one step closer to the real deal! 

Next post...I can't talk much about the plot...but suffice to say that it should be juicy and fun with lots of gorgeous dresses, handsome boys, and exciting smooching!