The cover of INDIGO

People.

The cover for my next book is here.  

I LOOOOVE it.  There arent' enough adjectives in the world to explain how much I love it.  

It is awesome, and I can hardly even handle the creepy/coolness.  This cover is Corrine Harlowe and her indigo touch.  Hence, the awesome blue tones.  And the font for the title is so New Orleans-esque with the corn-stalk-ironwork-ish embellisments, and the tagline.  Dude.

Some gifts burn. 

I am so excited for you to meet Corrine and read her story and go on her journey with her.  It is, for me, a very personal and hopeful journey.  More on that later.

Check out the flap copy:

How can the gentlest of gestures cause the most harm?

Caught in an unexpected summer squall Corrine’s first instinct was to protect her little sister Sophie after a nasty fall. But when Corrine reached out to comfort her sister, the exact opposite occurred. Her touch—charged with an otherworldly force and bursting with blinding color—surged violently from Corrine to her sister. In an instant, Sophie was dead. From that moment on Corrine convinced herself that everyone would be better off if she simply withdrew from life.

When her family abruptly moves to New Orleans, Corrine’s withdrawl is made all the easier. No friends. No connections. No chance of hurting anyone. But strange things continue to happen around her in this moody, mystical city. And Corrine realizes that this power cannot be ignored, especially when Rennick, a talented local teen artist, suggests another possiblity: Corrine's ability to read peoples' physio-electricity might actually be a sixth sense that can be controlled.

Librarians for the win!

I read the new review of FLUTTER in the School Library Journal this month, and it was lovely, with so many nice things to say.  And a friend alerted me to the reviews in VOYA and Booklist as well.  These are all journals for libraries and schools that review children's and young adult books.  And these journals help get books into the hands of young people.  For that, I am so grateful. 

For librarians and teachers everywhere who match books with young people, I thank you.  

And I am not saying that FLUTTER is going to change anyone's life or reach a kid in that dire moment that they need to know they aren't alone, but I know that books can do this.  Books save kids. And so do librarians and teachers.  They save kids.  By getting them reading.  It rescues their minds, shows them that they have this space between their ears that is all theirs, and they can live a thousand lives in there.  They can find strength from that, and a path away from the things that are so HARD in adolescence.  Away from hard home lives. From dwindling self-esteem.  From peer pressure.  From bullies.  And from that feeling that they are alone in the world.  

So thank you for that librarians and teachers.  

And thank you for the lovely reviews in the journals I mentioned.  It kinda makes up for when you get a snarky review -- not naming any names.  **cough** (Kirkus) **cough**  

Here are some of my most favorite quotes from the library journals:  

"A unique blend of romance and science fiction, Flutter offers readers a captivating mystery and an even more engaging heroine. ... [T]rying to determine the true nature of Emery's loops provides a fascinating journey and a distinctive look at the struggle between science and faith, as well as what it means to find hope and true independence in a complicated world."  VOYA

" ... Linko takes the reader on a reflective journey that will inspire discussion."  Booklist

"Flutter is an interesting read, and the characters are well-rounded ... the plot progresses nicely and combines suspense, family drama, science fiction and romance."  School Library Journal

Enter here if you are a librarian or teacher for a free copy of FLUTTER for your collection!

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Happy New Year Giveaway!

Happy 2013 to all of you!  And to get things started right, I have two signed and personalized copies of FLUTTER to give away on Goodreads.  You can enter below!  

Also, you can get a romantical sneaky peeky of Emery and Ash here.  

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Flutter

by Gina Linko

Giveaway ends January 07, 2013.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

My Favorite Reads of 2012

Disclaimer: These are my favorite reads from 2012, although some were published in earlier.

• The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake I love Aimee Bender's writing.  Reading it is like taking a master class in what to do.  How to make something a little bit crazy seem perfect and normal and heartbreaking. Take a peek:

"I could absolutely taste the chocolate, but in drifts and traces, in an unfurling, or an opening, it seemed that my mouth was also filling with the taste of smallness, the sensation of shrinking, of upset, tasting a distance I somehow knew was connected to my mother, tasting a crowded sense of her thinking..."

• The Scorpio Races  The killer plot aside, this book is an excellent example of showing, not telling.  There is action and there is a fast pace, helped along by the present-tense, in-your-face writing.   And there is an uncompromising heroine.  Check out Maggie Stiefvater's Printz writing: 

"Skata and Corr gallop, shoulder to shoulder, every step taking us farther into the surf.  I taste salt water; my saddle is slimy with it.  Every muscle in Corr's body shivers and shimmers.  Glancing at Mutt, I see that he's having a hard time keeping his seat.

Too late I see his knife."

• Gone Girl  Gillian Flynn is so great, because she can write like nobody's business.  She has all the angles.  The plot is awesome and layered, complicated, and--dare I say -- difficult.  The characters seem real, with expert characterization.  They are believable, normal as your nextdoor neighbor, and freaking scary.  You want to tell yourself, No, this couldn't really happen, but Flynn's writing begs to differ.  What an awesome read.  I have yet to read Dark Places or Sharp Objects.  It's awesome to know they are out there, waiting for me to read them, like a Hershey bar, frozen in the freezer to eat during the next DVR'ed episode of BIg Bang.  

• The Diviners  Libba Bray's books always slay me.  She is my unparalleled YA literary crush, and I love her writing for this basic reason:  She writes with attitude.  Her characters have attitude, but they haven't lost hope.  THey have humor, but they aren't void of real-world personality.  Plus, this book is right up my alley -- speculative, horror, sci-fi, flappers.  It's like Stephen King decided to write YA.  You gotta read this book!  You will not be sorry!

• 11/22/63  Speaking of Mr. King, the man, the myth, the legend, I think this is his BEST ever, and that's saying something.  TIme travelling, the everyman hero, and lots of choices between good and evil and all the many slivers of possibilities in between.  THis was one of those books I just didn't want to finish.  Everything King writes is like music to me, the word choices, the turns of phrases, the rhythm, it sings to me.  I love his writing.  I would read it even if it didn't come paired with a time-twisted version of one of the most impactful events of recent generations.  King is at his best asking the questions we all kind of think around, not daring ourselves to ask ...  What if JFK could be saved?  King just has the guts to ask these questions and then answer them.  Honestly.

What books have you LOVED this year?

Romantical Sneaky Peeky

From FLUTTER, a romantical sneak peek from about halfway through the book!

We stood looking at each other for a long time in the moonlight, in front of the entrance to the path to the Dala Cabin.    The evergreens were sagging and weighted down, thick with heavy, wet snow from the earlier flurries.  The moonlight glistened and glowed off the frozen surface of the evergreens.  It twinkled, really.

            Ash reached out slowly and touched my cheek only for an instant, with the pad of his thumb.  Then he moved his hand away from me, abruptly. 

            “Emery,” he said. 

            I took a sharp intake of air.  Business, I tried to tell myself.

            “I can’t…”  He shook his head.  “I didn’t want to turn you down for dinner… the other day … I just can’t... ”

            I nodded, wanting him to go on, wanting him to touch me again.  His touch was electric on my skin. 

            “I’m not…”  He took a step back from me.  “I’m not someone you can know, not …”

            “I understand,” I said, although I didn’t. 

            He took another step back from me.  I moved forward without thinking, feeling pulled toward him, closing the space between us.  His eyes met mine, and the breath caught in my throat, every molecule in my body feeling pulled toward him, leaning me into his space, into his energy.  It was a heady feeling, disorienting.

            Although I barely knew him, I didn’t know if I could pretend even one more second that this thing between us -- whatever it was – wasn’t wonderful.

            “I have to go,” he said, only leaning in closer to me, our faces only inches apart.  I could feel the warmth from his breath.

            “No,” I whispered.  “Where are you going?” 

            He shook his head then, looked down, saying something under his breath.  I couldn’t be too sure what it was, but it sounded like, “Penance.”  But suddenly watching him, with his eyes cast down, his lashes shadowing his cheekbones, the way he held himself both leaning toward me, but also restraining himself, filling the space between us with his heady, soapy scent, I just couldn’t take it anymore.

            So when he looked up, I closed the small distance between us.  I stood on my tiptoes, and I pressed my lips to his.  In my hurry, I missed a little bit, landing my lips more on the corner of his mouth, and for a second he didn’t react, but then he turned his face toward me, pressing his lips against mine, a full kiss, a real kiss.  And the fireworks exploded deep inside me, sending ribbons of heat from my center out to my limbs, a gorgeous, surprising feeling, like a warm breeze beneath my skin.

            Both of his hands went to my face, gently.  And just when I thought he was going to pull away, he leaned into the kiss again, longer, deeper.  The heat inside me surging again.  I smiled behind the kiss, without meaning to, and I brushed my fingertips on his stubble, loving its feel against my fingertips.

            He pulled away and we just looked at each other.  Should I apologize?  Make a joke?  Do it again? 

            “Emery,” he said, my name turning to music in his voice, the quiet deepness of it.  He closed his eyes for a moment, shook his head, smiled.  I wanted to kiss him again.  Right on that crooked eyetooth.  But when he opened his eyes, his smile disappeared, and he was himself again.  Measured.  Cool.  “Emery,” he said again.  A goodbye.

            Then he turned on his heel and left. 

Personalize your FLUTTER gift!

You can email me -- use the form on this website or just send to gina (at) ginalinko.com, and I will send you a personalized, signed bookplate to include with the fabulous gift of FLUTTER!  Just tell me who to make it out to.  And give me your address.  It is a perfect gift for any tween/teen readers, or those who are teens at heart.  

You can order it on Amazon here.  Barnes and Noble here.  Or you can go indie and order from our awesome Anderson's here.  

Thanks, and happy gift-giving!

Rowe Library Visit

Saturday, December 8th from 11:00am - 1:00pm at Rowe Public Library in Sheridan, IL

"Flutter" is the new teen romance science-fiction thriller by Gina Linko, published by Random House.  Books will be available for purchase and signing.  There will also be prizes to give away and yummy treats.

Come talk with the writers' group.  We are going to discuss Flutter, and also the path to pubication!  Hope to see you there.  

Please register of this event by calling the library at 815-496-2031.

Seventeen Magazine Giveaway!

Have any of you ever heard of Seventeen Magazine?  Um, yeah.  That Seventeen.  Only the coolest, best teen magazine out there!  Well, the awesome people at Seventeen have a new giveaway in their December issue, which is out on stands today.  If you open to the first few pages in the issue, there is a calendar for the months of December and January, and for each day of the month, Seventeen will be giving away AWESOME-TACULAR prizes!  

Books like REACHED by Ally Condie, EVERYDAY by David Levithan, and LIES BENEATH by Anna Greenwood Brown, DVDS like Glee, and albums like Owl City. Each day, you can go online to enter to win a different item.

It reads, "These prizes will have you begging for snow so you can cozy up in your room all day!" And, "Kick off the New Year with 31 ways to beat winter boredom!"  And there are SO many prizes.

You guessed it!  FLUTTER is part of the giveaway!  The awesome, iconic magazine is giving away ten copies of FLUTTER -- "a page-turning science fiction novel" -- on January 5th.  Isn't that just so cool?

Thanks so much to the awesome people at Seventeen.  And dear readers, go grab a copy of the newest issue so you can enter to win so many cool prizes!

And because I am a geeky, debut author, who grew up reading Seventeen, I have to give you pictures. Behold the coolness:   

FLUTTER's surprise twist of an ending!

Thank you, Dear Readers, for not spoiling the ending of FLUTTER.  I so appreciate it.  I worried about that a lot when the first ARCs were making the rounds, because I wanted every reader to have the same opportunity to read FLUTTER without knowing how it all worked out in the end.  

The mystery in FLUTTER is one of the things that -- I hope -- keeps readers flipping those pages, trying to figure out exactly what is going on with Emery and her loops.  And, as I've said before, the end, for me, is the best part, the most important part.   I wrote Emery's story with the end in mind, from the very beginning.  And I've been absolutely DELIGHTED to see some of the comments that readers have said about the surprise ending. 

Here are some of my favorites:

"And then the end. What an ending! Normally I'm not good in not spoiling anything but this time I'm really going to shut my mouth cause in my opinion the ending is the cherry on the cake. I think it is because of the ending the book will stick with me for even longer."  -- from Melissa on Goodreads

"Well into the book, I was patting myself on the back for having figured it out. I got this Gina Linko. I see where you're going. I think it's...I'M WRONG?!?! Yep, wrong. Totally wrongity-wrong wrong wrong. And I loved being wrong. It was great. The reveal was fantastic..."  -- from Mickey Goodreads

"There are surprises as the story goes along - ones that made me gasp - out loud! Oh, and the ending made me cheer - again, out loud." -- Maegan on Amazon

"The building tension will keep readers glued to the pages: I literally inhaled the last 100 pages!"  --from Melissa O. on Goodreads

Of course, I've seen some tweets like, "OMG.  That ending."  And I've read a few complaints about it too.  But, as another reader stated, "It's not for the faint of heart."

I'm just so glad that it is getting people talking.  And even more glad that it has stayed a secret.  Thank you, Dear Readers!

The Book Launch Party!

A huge thanks goes out to the White Oak Library -- especially Cindy and Natalie -- for hosting this wonderful event.  They really went above and beyond for FLUTTER!  It was so fun!  The library provided cupcakes, but not just cupcakes.  They had tiny little FLUTTER bookcovers on them!  Behold:

 And they had these gorgeous posters of the FLUTTER cover!  (That's me being way too excitable.  But can you blame me?)

And then I signed books!  So many of them!  We had over 100 people there, and I was just so overwhelmed with gratitude.  Thank you to all of you for taking time out of your busy schedule and helping us celebrate! Here is a cute pic with one of my nieces.  (Thanks, Kylee!)

And then a friend of mine from long ago sent me a picture of her daughter last night, reading FLUTTER.  She finished it in one sitting and reported that she *loved* it.  Is there any better endorsement?  Thank you, Samantha!  

So, again, a humbled, grateful author just wants to say thank you one more time.  To all of you readers!  You are so dear to my heart.

Gratitude.

Hello Readers:

On the eve of FLUTTER's release, I'm feeling all kinds of FEELINGS, and I just wanted to write a post in which I talk about being thankful.  Writing is such a solitary thing to do.  I sit for hours at a time, earplugs cranked up, can of Coke in my hand, intermittently staring out into space and typing away on the keyboard.  And I live in my own little world, completely absorbed in my story, the characters, their decisions, their motivations, their LIVES.  

But...

There's always a but, right?  Good writing.  Great writing.  Publishable writing is NOT solitary.  Because it takes a team of people to make a good story great.  To make a novel worthy of that Random House colophon.  For me, that team consists of several people, who I'd like to thank now.

First, my agent, Caryn Wiseman.  She picked FLUTTER out of the slush pile.  I know that the query process is not perfect.  I know that it is frustrating and slow, but guess what?  It also works.  Caryn picked FLUTTER out of the slush and she requested the full manuscript, and from there, she became my most TRUSTED partner in writing.  And I am SO glad to have an agent like Caryn, someone who is decisive, on top of everything, and is in the trenches with me, not just in a business manner, but also editorially.  She helped me rewrite FLUTTER into what it is today. 

Next, Suzy Capozzi at Random House is my editor, and every day I feel so lucky for her championing of FLUTTER.  Through experienced editorial changes, cover design, and marketing, FLUTTER has become a real book.  A tightly edited, perfectly suspenseful, romantic mystery.  Suzy and her team took FLUTTER and molded it into the perfect shape that it wanted to become.  And she sent it out into the world with the whole package -- a kick-ass cover and a perfectly pitched marketing campaign.  It floors me to have such a great team on my side.  

Last but not least, I want to thank my first readers, Eva and my mom.  They read what I churn out, before it's any good, and they turn me in the right direction.  They tell me honestly what works and what doesn't.  They listen to me as I flesh out my characters or discuss a certain plot point.  They put up with the midnight phone calls about ... what if????

FLUTTER is a group effort.  I may have written the story, but the book is a group effort.  And I just want to say thank you for this beautiful book.  Thank you, Caryn!  Thank you, Suzy and Random House!  I feel so incredibly lucky to be right here, doing this right now.  

And thank you to you, Dear Readers, for your reviews, for your tweets, for your kind words.  Most of all, for reading.  : )  

And I will leave you with a funny cat picture:

I had to stretch out my back after writing too long, and Spinky decided it was his perfect spot.

FLUTTER trailer and Apple TV Giveaway!

Hello Dear Readers!

Please go on over to http://bookandlatte.com to view the awesome and fabulous book trailer for FLUTTER!  It is eerie and romantic and full of mystery, just like the book!  I hope that it will entice you to read about Emery Land, her loops, her handsome and enigmatic Asher, and her struggle to figure out how it all fits together!  

What is that?  You wish you could watch the FLUTTER trailer on the big screen?  I think you might be able to. With an Apple TV!  Would you like to win one?

It just so happens that I am giving away a free Apple TV!  Help me spread the word about FLUTTER's debut, and you can enter to win!  See the rafflecopter below!  

And thank you SO much for visiting!

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Leading up to FLUTTER! A Giveaway!

In case I haven't yet yelled it in your ear, FLUTTER comes out on Tuesday, October 23rd!  It will be in actual bookstores, sitting on actual shelves, and it will be delivered to actual Kindles and Nooks, actual words on a virtual page!  I am so thrilled and grateful, especially to you, dear readers, who have read or will read those words on a page. I can't even begin to relay my gratitude.  Thank you, thank you.  You'll never know how much it means to me that you have supported me.  It fills my heart.  

Okay.  On to the good stuff.  I will be touring around to other blogs for the rest of the week, and I will post the links here so you can get in on some of the awesome giveaway stuff!  First off, the lovely Katy interviewed me over on A Girl, A Boy, and a Blog, discussing some of my inspirations for FLUTTER.  She has some great questions, and this blog is fairly new, and let me just say, It Rocks!  Thoughtful reviewing, lots of content. Great giveaways!  Check it out:  http://agirlaboyandablog.wordpress.com/

Speaking of giveaways ...   

To celebrate FLUTTER's upcoming release, enter the Goodreads Giveaway below for a chance at one of two signed hardcovers of FLUTTER!  

And come back later this week for more prizes, including a chance at a free APPLE TV! 

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Flutter

by Gina Linko

Giveaway ends October 31, 2012.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

The Realness. Dude.

As my six-year-old son would say, Dude.  

I don't really know how to express myself, so I will let the pictures do the talking.  The pictures with a real, finished, actual hardcover copy of FLUTTER.  The cover is so gorgeous, so glossy, and the book underneath is red. Red!   

 

 Both Spinky and Sparkle were integral in the process of writing this book.  While I wrote, they tried over and over to lay on the keyboard.  They sat on the keyboard, and then they just generally hung out on top of the keyboard.  So, of course, they fought over who got to read the hardcover first.  

Now take a look at that spine.  First off, the book underneath the jacket is red.  So very cool!  And look at the spine.  That' s my name.  And that's the Random House logo!  *jaw drops*

 

 Now this is the beautiful jacket.  Just in case that fabulous red hardcover gets chilly.   Thank you so much, Random House Designers.  It is so eye-catching and really relays the excitement and the science-y spookiness of the book. 

Twenty days and FLUTTER will be in the wild.  Like a child going off to college or something.  I'm getting a little teary-eyed!

Stay tuned for some AWESOME contests coming soon!  I have so many cool prizes for you, dear readers!  How about a Flutter bookbag and a chance to win a free Apple TV?  Coming soon with the FLUTTER trailer! 

FLUTTER Launch Party!

The release of FLUTTER is getting perilously close!  I can hardly believe it!  Below is the fancy invitation to my book launch/signing party that the White Oak Library has graciously asked to host.  I am so excited!  I have lots of shenanigans and prizes planned, so please come and join me!

Believing in yourself, and finding someone else to help you believe.

Every work of art, every paperback in the used book store, every single creative success has had that special someone who believed in it, who pushed that author/creator forward at that specific moment in time.  And I think for many of us writers, that someone is our agent.  He/she read our first novel -- or at least our attempt at it at the time -- and saw something in it.  It struck a chord.  It made that agent sit up and take notice, fall into the story maybe, or at least see the spark of something new and different and INTERESTING.  

For many of us, our agent is our biggest fan, but even more than that, for me, my agent is the one who can bounce ideas back at me and say, Yes, this is working.  Or no, let's try this.  Having a creative partner -- who you completley trust -- is just so important!  In order to do good work, your VERY BEST WORK, there has to be someone who pushes you.  Someone who gets it, when the ideas you volley back and forth come to fruition on the page.  

The creative process is individual, but for me, mine has only gotten better since I've gotten my agent.  So thank you, Caryn Wiseman!  Shout out to her and her exquisite taste. ; )

We write to connect with readers, and sometimes there is that disconnect: the story is original, the characters are believable, interesting, and dynamic, but something is wrong.  Agents GET THIS -- LIKE IT'S THEIR JOB.  Oh yeah, it is.  And I have been so floored a few times when my agent can just pinpoint exactly what needs to be changed or what I need to look at more closely.  And I am so lucky to have an editorial agent in Caryn.  She helps me write, with a few words here, a three-page email there.  ; ) 

Writing is solitary a lot of the time, and it is collaborative sometimes too.

So a big thank you to my agent Caryn!  FLUTTER comes out NEXT MONTH!  More details soon about the launch party and some contests!

Meet the photographer of the FLUTTER cover!

Colleen Truskey

I recently had the chance to interview the photographer of the original photo used on the cover of FLUTTER. Her name is Colleen Truskey, and not only is she a truly talented photographer and an inspiration to the idea of "story telling," she is also a high school student!  

Colleen was contacted through her DeviantArt page (http://iiha.deviantart.com/) by the Random House design department, and her photo, originally titled The Sybil, became the cover for FLUTTER.  Her photo captures the essence of the main character Emery on one of her loops (Yes, you will know what this means soon!).  You can feel that this gorgeous photo tells a story.  And don't you just want to know what that story is?  Thank you, Colleen, for capturing a magical moment, as well as agreeing to come on the blog!

 

Isn't it cool to see the before and after versions? 

Colleen was gracious enough to supply a few more of her brilliant photos, as well as answer some of my questions below!

  

Can you explain why you are interested in photography?

Photography is simply a wonderful medium to work with!  So much can be said in a single motion of the eyes, a slump of the shoulders, the expanding chest from a deep, filling breath.  Photography can seize these moments and, beautifully captured, they truly can tell a story.  The best part is that the story doesn’t even have to be the “correct” story. Done right, a photograph can capture a moment that everyone can relate to in some way, thereby connecting everyone who has seen the photograph.  It’s a pretty powerful experience, and it’s even better to have the ability to make those experiences.

 Do you have any other creative pursuits? 

 Yes!  I’m big into painting and drawing, and love to write.  I only wish I had time to give all of my hobbies the attention they deserve!

What do you hope to study in college? 

That’s a tough one.  It seems that the closer I get to leaving high school, the farther away I get from having any real idea of what I want to do in college.  I’ve always been envious of the kids who’ve known exactly what they wanted to do – whether it was go into medicine or journalism or what have you – since they were seven.  It’d make things so much easier!  As much as I wish I did, I really don’t have a definite plan.  Anthropology, education, international studies, forensics – the doors are wide open.

What kind of career do you hope to have?  And how do you plan to get there?

Well, since I really don’t know what I want for a major, a possible career is an even vaguer prospect.  I know what I ultimately want from my career, but not necessarily what I want for my career.  I know I want to be fulfilled and end the work day feeling like I’ve done something good that I can be proud of.  I want something that gives me the opportunity and ability to meet new people who I can learn more from and have new experiences that broaden my perspective.  I guess that, when it all comes down to it, I’m going to have to discover this mystery calling and career and then dedicate myself to making it my own. 

Do you have advice for other young people that are striving toward creative careers, or just enjoy creative hobbies?

Based on my answers to the previous two questions, I’m not entirely sure if I’m qualified to answer this one! Personally, my creative pursuits will always be hobbies for me.  They’re something I enjoy immensely and can’t imagine going without, but I have different plans than turning them into a career.  However, just because they’re hobbies doesn’t mean they require any less effort.  The best part of a creative hobby – or a career, for that matter – is seeing the finished project all polished and shined and being able to say “I made that!” Reaching that point is no walk in the park, though; it’s time consuming, often frustrating, and requires a lot of dedication.  A lot of dedication.  So I guess my only advice for others who enjoy the creative process in any form is just to stick with it.  If you really want it, you’ll have to make the time for it and work at it, which I know is far easier said than done. 

What kind of books do you read?  What are some of your favorites?

I read more historical fiction than anything else, but that doesn’t mean I don’t stray into other genres quite often. Picking favorites is difficult, but if I had to choose I’d probably give the following (in no particular order):

                -Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen

                -The Poisonwood Bible – Barbara Kingsolver (Pretty much anything by Kingsolver, actually)

                -Into the Wild – Jon Krakauer 

                -The Winter King – Bernard Cornwell

                -American Woman – R. Garcia Y Robertson

In reading the description of FLUTTER, are you excited to see how your photo fits into the story?

Oh yes, I’m thrilled!  I always love seeing how people interpret my work, and can’t wait to read the book and see just how my photograph will be connected to the story.

Can you describe yourself in three words?

  I can try...Thoughtful, Empathetic, & Eclectic!

Thank you, Colleen, for taking the time to talk with us about your gorgeous photo, as well as what it means to pursue creative work.  You are truly an inspiration to all young adults -- and everyone -- out there!

And to my readers, if you would like to see more of Colleen's work, like the wonderful photo below, you can go to her DeviantArt page at http://iiha.deviantart.com/ .

 

The Time-Crossed Lovers Giveaway (Contest is now closed.)

Aren't these covers just gorgeous?

Hello Lovely Readers:

Would you like to read about Emery and Ash and time travel and love and mystery and loops and suspense and EVERYTHING before most of the world gets their hands on FLUTTER?  Or how about another highly coveted, fabulous time-traveling romantic mystery?  Would you like to read about Anna and Bennett and music and love and romance in TIME BETWEEN US?

Well, you are in luck! I have one last ARC to give away! And so does Tamara Ireland Stone! So please enter our Time-Crossed Lovers Giveaway below:

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Flutter

by Gina Linko

Giveaway ends August 07, 2012.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Time Between Us

by Tamara Ireland Stone

Giveaway ends August 24, 2012. See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

 

But I don't think that's quite enough for you lovely readers!  You need more prizes!  FLUTTERish swag and gift cards!  

Random winners will be chosen for these blog prizes, and all you have to do is leave a comment in this blogpost!  So without further ado, here is the lovely Flutterish swag that will be up for grabs:

• several lovely, signed FLUTTER bookmarks.

• a gorgeous Dala Horse necklace, as seen below.  Either in red or blue.  (In honor of the dala horses Emery loves in the book!).  

• a supercute Dala Horse keychain.

• a $20.00 gift card to your choice of indie bookseller, 

such as the wonderful Anderson's near me.       

Good luck to all of you!  And please remember to enter here for the blog prizes, but enter on Goodreads for the ARC!  And enter by August 7th!  

How I Write

I've been writing like crazy lately.  I'm always writing, but first drafting is different.  When I have a new idea, I become OBSESSED with it.  I write sort of in a fugue.  I can't sleep.  I can barely think of anything else.  I am constantly jotting down notes.  It is an exhilirating time for me, because at this stage anything is possible.  And I don't worry too much about making it perfect, just getting it down on paper.  I recently told my critique group that I write fast and then I revise forever.  I think that about sums up my process. 

I also take notes on a plot diagram like the one we all learned in junior high.

The whole plot curve, with the rising action, climax, denouement.  I don't know how much I stick to the plot curve, but I like to have it all planned out.  I need to know where I'm going.  I write for the end a lot of the time, not to say the end doesn't change.  If that makes any sense.  

Also, yes, I have the worst handwriting on earth.

How do you write?

An Exciting Announcement!

Today in Publisher's Marketplace I read an exciting snippet, so I think I can tell my news now!  

My wonderful agent, Caryn Wiseman, has sold my follow-up to FLUTTER, to my very awesome editor, Suzy Capozzi.  I am a real-life Random House author, and I can hardly handle how proud I am to be part of this team. So, thank you Caryn.  Thank you, Suzy.  For loving Corrine and her story.  The fact that I get to go through this wonderful process again, after FLUTTER goes out into the world this fall, is truly just an embarrassment of riches. I am so excited for INDIGO.

I will have a more detailed summary before to long, but for now, here it is:

FLUTTER author Gina Linko's INDIGO, in which a 17-year old girl moves to moody, atmospheric New Orleans with her family following the death of her sister, a death that she believes she caused, until she meets a boy, who convinces her that, rather than taking life, her touch has the power to give life, again to Suzy Capozzi at Random House Children's, in a very nice deal, for publication in Fall 2013, by Caryn Wiseman at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency (World).