Big News for my Alter...Seafoam Release Day!

...and I mean that in the most schizophrenic way possible, and not because I'm redecorating my sacred space with candles and statuary. Many (most) of you know that I write adult fiction under the name Mark Henry and today marks my first venture into indie publishing with SEAFOAM, a darkly comic, pervy little tale of aliens and foot fetishes. Check out this video for the dirty deets including a look at the GORGEOUS cover!


And if you'd like to give my adult stuff a shot, you can grab a kindle edition of SEAFOAM from Amazon for 99 cents! Also, add Seafoam on Goodreads, talk about it on Facebook and Twitter. I'd certainly appreciate the help!

It's a Bastard of a Valentine's Giveaway!!!

Happy Valentine's Day, y'all!

I hit a milestone of subscribers on Youtube and SOOOO decided to do a HUGE giveaway! Check it out!



As usual, to enter leave a comment on the video page not here (I just crosspost stuff here).

Happy Valentine's Day!

When Creativity Meets Depression

I had quite a few requests to begin incorporating my background into these posts and so I complied. Here's the first in a series of dramatic overshares about my life, depression, mental health, creativity and how all that intersects with my writing...


Where are you with your "stuff?"

Personalized Books, Skeleton Keys and Changes

It's been a while since I've vlogged so I figured I better sine we're two days away from the release of Velveteen. In this episode, I tell you how to get your book personalized and signed, even if you can't make a West Coast event! Also, show off a cool giveaway necklace that's going to a lucky launch party attendee, and might become available later if people dig it and also some changes in the appearance schedule.

WATCH!!!

All About October!

It's no secret I love October. And this year, I have another reason to draw hearts around dates in the calendar. Velveteen comes out on the 9th, sure, and their are tons of events going on around here to celebrate, BUT there's so much more I'm looking forward to...


What are you looking forward to?

New Event with Leah Clifford!

A while back, I get a message from one, Leah Clifford, who'd be traveling the States doing the road trip thing (and hopefully not getting slaughtered). Well, as it turns out, she's staying with us on her way through Seattle, so I figured this could happen...

Right? Right? Who's comin'? Also, see that dinner thing? Yeah let's get a head count on that. We've talked to a few folks on Twitter, but we're open to more! Of course, we're not payin' for your food/drinks. We cheap like that!

Northwest Bookfest Sunday!

Whew. It's almost time. I've been working with Northwest Bookfest to coordinate an AWESOME YA Author line-up for Sunday's YA Carnival. And here's the rundown (with BONUS funny panel titles!):

Northwest YA Genre Profile #1:The Super-Complicated Coffee-Ordering Government Controlled Robot Guy (10:00 - 11:30 AM)

Neither shadowy governments nor snarky cyborgs can get along without a decent cup of coffee, as any local knows. Meet several YA authors who can’t stop talking about dystopian, apocalyptic and science fiction (except for when they’re doling out prizes). Discuss the mad science required to build worlds and destroy them!

Panelists: Marissa Burt, Kimberly Derting, Catherine Knuttson, Maureen McQuerry, and Marissa Meyer

Northwest YA Genre Profile #2: I Think I Am, I Know I Am Grungy Hipster Boy Next Door (11:30 - 1:00 PM)

Join Seattle-area young adult authors of contemporary and historical realism for an entertaining and enlightening discussion about the current state of realistic YA, what it takes to write and get published in this tricky market (and in the rain) and how “issue” books can be FUN (hint: there’s freebies)!

Panelists: Megan Bostic, J. Anderson Coats, Kristin Halbrook, Stasia Kehoe, and Helen Landalf

Northwest YA Genre Profile #3: Socks with Sandals Vampire 
(2:30 - 4:00 PM)

Not all vampires are handsome, aloof and sparkly, some could frankly use a bath and pass on the patchouli oil. In this fun and informative panel (but mostly fun), five paranormal YA authors discuss the wide variety of creatures that exist in their worlds, why readers can’t get enough weird into their diet and, yes, giveaway stuff.

Panelists: Kiki Hamilton, Gwen Hayes, Jackie Kessler, Phoebe Kitanidis, Daniel Marks, and Richelle Mead

***********************

All of the YA events will take place in the Kirkland Teen Union Building at Peter Kirk Park. Directly following each panel will be a short signing, but stay the afternoon, because following the paranormal panel, at 4:00 will be a larger scale signing with all the YA authors listed here and we'll sign the crap out of your books!

There'll be food vendors, lots of tents with stuff to see and plenty of authors that don't write YA so if you're a teen you can lure your parents into getting you there with that bit of bait! Check out the NW Bookfest website for more information!

Now, as for whether I'll have early copies of Velveteen, it's possible, I'm still waiting on a box from Random House, so I can't promise anything, but if it does arrive. I'll be doing some pretty awesome giveaways!

So come out and see us!!! Oh wait...did I mention...it's FREE!

Authors Are Rockstars!

I'm participating in a really cool blog hop tour with some awesome giveaways attached. If you haven't checked out the Authors are Rockstars tour, why not start with my entry. I'm talking all things Velveteen over at Citrus Reads, including serial killers, censorship and what's next!

Plus! I'm giving away a signed finished copy of Velveteen and the contest is open internationally!

Go! Now!

It's Question and Answer Period!

Over at the YA Rebels, we did a week of responding to folks questions. I ended up with so many that I had to split the responses into two videos. So here they are bundled up together for your convenience.

 



If you have other questions feel free to ask in the comment thread, I'll be more than happy to respond!

Books, Shelves and Recs!

Also...ask me questions and I'll answer them in my next Sunday vlog!

FLAP LOVE!

So...I'm perusing Amazon the other day--like you do--when what do I find on the VELVETEEN pre-order page? The front flap description of the book!!!

Presented here without further chatter...

***************** 

Velveteen Monroe is dead. At 16, she was kidnapped and murdered by a madman named Bonesaw. But that's not the problem. The problem is she landed in purgatory. And while it's not a fiery inferno, it's certainly no heaven. It's gray, ashen, and crumbling more and more by the day, and everyone has a job to do. Which doesn't leave Velveteen much time to do anything about what's really on her mind.

Bonesaw.

Velveteen aches to deliver the bloody punishment her killer deserves. And she's figured out just how to do it. She'll haunt him for the rest of his days.

It'll be brutal . . . and awesome.

But crossing the divide between the living and the dead has devastating consequences. Velveteen's obsessive haunting cracks the foundations of purgatory and jeopardizes her very soul. A risk she's willing to take—except fate has just given her reason to stick around: an unreasonably hot and completely off-limits coworker. Velveteen can't help herself when it comes to breaking rules . . . or getting revenge. And she just might be angry enough to take everyone down with her.

***************** 

HOLY CRAPS!! Thoughts? Wanna preorder, yet? Added it to your Goodreads? VELVETEEN comes out on October 9th this year. And I'll be revealing an awesome cover peep show contest soon, including super secret grab bag prizes! Cannot. Wait.

Pre-order at Powell's Books, Amazon, or for pre-orders outside the U.S., The Book Depository.

How to Write Book: a Guide for the Insane

Okay. So the title is only a little tongue in cheek. This video is basically a run through of how I take an idea and turn it into a first draft. Any questions? How many ideas did you have during the video? Hmm?

Book Show Book Show: Best of 2011

It's that time again...or maybe it was that time a few weeks ago, but that's beside the point. What is the point? I've got a list! A list of my favorite reads of 2011. Like so... So, yeah. What were your favorite reads of last year? Do you agree with mine? Do you disagree? Can you bring me a plate of chocolate chip cookies, because, seriously, that would be amazing?

Book Show Book Show Ep. 5 - Contemporary YA

So my theme reading took me to new heights of literary genius this month. My first John Green book for one and it was amazeballs...but was it my favorite of my contemporary reads? Watch and see, bitches! What are some of your favorite YA contemps?

On Humor and Self

Occasionally, I'll talk about writing and stuff. So that's what I did. This video is about humor and exploring the "Self". What do you find funny?

Velveteen News!

Oh yes. There's been progress. Check out the news!!! And, again, feel free to leave a comment and stuff.

The YA Horror Book Project

So I've been working on putting together a list a current young adult horror titles and it's not been an easy task and is nowhere near being finished. Here's a video that discusses the process and why I think it's important (hint: the genre is shrinking)...



And here's the list!

Bad Girls Don’t Die by Katie Alender
From Bad to Cursed by Katie Alender
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carman
Devil’s Kiss by Sarwat Chadda
The Splendor Falls by Rosemary Clement Moore
The Gates by John Connoly
The House of Dead Maids by Clare B. Dunkle
Sleepless by Thomas Fahy
The Poisoned House by Michael Ford
The Sleepwalkers by J. Gabriel Gates
Soulless by Christopher Golden
Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton
Tighter by Adele Griffin
The Enemy by Charlie Higson
The Dead by Charlie Higson
Possessions by Nancy Holder
The Evil Within by Nancy Holder
The Screaming Season by Nancy Holder
The Devouring by Simon Holt
Soulstice by Simon Holt
Fearscape by Simon Holt
Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus
Rotters by Daniel Kraus
Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry
Dust & Decay by Jonathan Maberry
Bonechiller by Graham McNamee
Possess by Gretchen McNeil
Uninvited by Justine Musk
Bliss by Lauren Myracle
The Nightmarys by Dan Poblocki
Dreams of the Dead by Thomas Randall (Christopher Golden)
Spirits of the Noh by Thomas Randall (Christopher Golden)
A Winter of Ghosts by Thomas Randall (Christopher Golden)
Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves
Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan
The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan
White Crow by Marcus Sedgwick
Lord Loss by Darren Shan
Unwind by Neal Shusterman
Lockdown: Escape from Furnace by Alexander Gordon Smith
The Marbury Lens by Andrew Smith
Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey
I Am Not a Serial Killer by Dan Wells
The Cellar by A.J. Whitten
The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey
The Curse of the Wendigo by Rick Yancey
The Isle of Blood by Rick Yancey
The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

Feel free to add your selections of current YA horror in the comment thread!

Labeling YA Books? Naaaah.

On Revisions...