Fun with Gena Showalter!

So, as may of you guys know, I have several friends who are also authors. (Waving to Kresley, Jana, Jeri, Mel, Cindy, Merline...) Well, out of the author friend herd, my fellow Okie, Gena Showalter, and I are like peas and carrots. Naturally when she asked if I'd be a part of scavenger hunt to celebrate the release of her latest YA, UNRAVELED, I said, "No. Post on your own dang blog." Just kidding! What follows is info about the book and the scavenger hunt. Have fun!

XXXOOO
PC

Gena Showalter’s YA series, Intertwined, featuring paranormal magnet Aden Stone continues this September with UNRAVELED. To celebrate her new release, Gena and her author BFFs are hosting a 4-day scavenger hunt on their blogs; including this one. Three grand prize winners will each win a $100 Visa gift card, plus Gena’s giving away signed copies of UNRAVELED to five lucky runner-ups! All you have to do is find all eight letters, unscramble them and email the word to Contests(AT)KnightAgency.net . Today, I’ve got my letter front and center! To get the skinny on where the other letters are hiding in the great internet universe, click here for a contest road map and rules.

Participating UNRAVELED hunt blogs include superstar authors Rachel Caine, Marley Gibson, Rosemary Clement-Moore and Tina Ferraro. This contest runs from Monday, August 30th to Thursday, September 2nd. All entries must be received by Monday, September 6th at midnight ET. Happy Hunting!

So, are you behind the curve and wondering what UNRAVELED is all about? ;-) Read on to learn more about Aden:

For once, sixteen-year-old Aden Stone has everything he’s ever wanted:

A home.

Friends.

The girl of his dreams.

Too bad he’s going to die... Since coming to Crossroads, Oklahoma, former outcast Aden Stone has been living the good life. Never mind that one of his best friends is a werewolf, his girlfriend is a vampire princess who hungers for his blood, and he’s supposed to be crowned Vampire King – while still a human! Well, kind of.

With four – oops, three now — human souls living inside his head, Aden has always been “different” himself. These souls can time travel, raise the dead, possess another’s mind, and, his least favorite these days, tell the future.

The forecast for Aden? A knife through the heart.

Because a war is brewing between the creatures of the dark, and Aden is somehow at the center of it all. But he isn’t about to lie down and accept his destiny without a fight. Not when his new friends have his back, not when Victoria has risked her own future to be with him, and not when he has a reason to live for the first time in his life.

New Fledgling Handbook Content!

If you haven't checked your email yet, take a look at the new Fledgling Handbook content that was released yesterday! Yea!

For more info, visit houseofnightseries.com/pages/fledglinghandbook.html

xoxo

Kristin's release date!

Ooooh! Today the anthology of YA stories that Kristin's leading, KISSES FROM HELL, is being released! I'm so proud of the piece she has in it, ABOVE. It's a completely new take on the vampire mythos. I think her idea is fresh and her writing is unique and interesting. Check it out and you'll see how different our voices are.

And, yes, I'm very pleased to announce that Kristin is currently working on the first book in her own series based on the world and characters from ABOVE.

Happy reading!
PC

Update

Well, I'm home in Tulsa (the view out of my front door) working like crazy on AWAKENED! Yes, it'll be released January 4th. No, I can't write any faster - just thinking about my due date makes me want to run shrieking down that lane!

I don't have any firm movie update, though I am excited about the direction my producer is taking and hope to have good news for all of you soon soon soon!

No (again) I don't have casting call news. No (again) I don't have a clue when a movie will be released. Uh, it's not filmed yet. Yes (again) I'll post news here as I get it. If I haven't posted the answers to your movie questions it's either: 1) because I don't know them, or 2) have already answered them in a previous post.

I should have some fun FLEDGLING HANDBOOK sneak peeks for you soon! Oh, and I do know it'll be released in the UK/Australia/New Zealand in October, too!

UK folks - sadly, it doesn't look like I'm going to be able to tour in the next couple months like I was hoping to. I really have to focus on getting AWAKENED finished. You want me to finish it, right? Right? Sorry, I'm really missing the Highlands, especially 'cause it was 107 degrees Fahrenheit today in Tulsa. NO JOKE. It's too hot to breathe...

XXXOOO
PC

Advice for Aspiring Authors

Apparently my archived blog on this subject got overloaded with posts, and has been unable to accept more - so it looked like I was ignoring y'all when I really was posting your questions and trying to respond. Soooo, I'm redoing this entry. If you posted and didn't see your question, please retry.

Here ya go:

P. C. CAST’S ADVICE ON BEING AN AUTHOR

1. If you want to be a professional author you need to approach the career like you would any other job. RESEARCH THE WRITING PROFESSION. You can begin by reading: BIRD BY BIRD by Anne Lamott, HOW TO GET HAPPILY PUBLISHED by Judith Appelbaum, THE WRITERS MARKET, and THE AGENTS MARKET. Ignore the romanticized idea that says being an author is something magical and mystical – that you lay around, waiting for your Muse to whisper in your ear, or for your dreams to coalesce, and then you’re simply the vessel through which all the stories flow. Ugh. Being an author is a job. Writing is work. Period.

2. Speaking of work – please remember that whatever you write represents you. No one is going to correct your errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. That’s not an editor’s job. Your editor is there to guide you into honing an already well written manuscript into the best work it can possibly be, and not to be a remedial writing coach. You need to work on the mechanics of writing and be as perfect as possible BEFORE you submit work to an editor or agent. Spelling counts! Even in emails. Get serious about that or no one will take your writing seriously.

3. What do I do to overcome writer’s block? Answer: I don’t believe in it! Again, writing is a job. When I was teaching there were many days I didn’t particularly feel like showing up at school and teaching 100+ teenagers, but it was my job and I did it (and did it well) whether I felt like it that day or not. That’s what writing is, too. Some days it’s a pleasure to be an author. Some days it’s hard as hell. Actually, most days it’s hard as hell. But I write whether it’s a breeze or whether it’s sloughing through mud, and so will you if you’re a real author.

4. How do I get inspired to write? Again, it's my job. I have contracts and bills to pay. It's what I do for a living. Yes, I love creating worlds and telling stories. I believe people are happiest doing what they're passionate about - and I'm passionate about storytelling. That doesn't mean it comes easily. I've found inspiration is part research, part imagination, and part good old fashioned work. If you're continually coming to a dead end in your work, perhaps you need to tell a different story. Or perhaps writing isn't for you. I wanted to be a veterinarian, but when I got serious about the career I realized I really didn't like dealing with parasites and poop, so even though being a vet seemed like a good idea, it really wasn't the right job for me.

5. Should you ask me (or any other published author) to read your work in progress, idea, summary, essay, poetry, etc.? NO. Okay – here’s the truth: another author can NOT get you published. Agents and editors can. Focus on them. Oh, and regarding allowing tons of people to read your work as you write – my advice is DO NOT. If you need feedback get into a writers’ group, or a creative writing class, both of which you can find by searching the internet. Honestly, if you're so insecure about your writing that you have to be told by others whether you're good enough to write you probably need to look at another career. Professional authors are tough and tenacious. If you manage to get published you need to have a firm backbone and thick skin because it's like putting your child out there for everyone to take potshots at - and, yes, they will blow holes in your baby. So if you don't believe in yourself before you're even published I'd run screaming from attempting writing as a profession.

6. For the record – no, I don’t read unpublished work. First, I can’t read your work and still have time to write my own. Second, my opinion doesn’t mean anything. I can’t get you published!

7. How can you get published? That’s a question you need to research and work on yourself. See #1 above for more info. Here’s the deal: you wouldn’t walk into a dentist’s office and say, “Hey! I want to be a dentist, so could you tell me how to drill on that guy’s teeth and let me have a whack at him?” Same thing about being an author. I can’t tell you how to do it. I can’t tell you how to write a book. Those are things you need to research and then do for yourself.

8. How do you start writing? JUST WRITE. Sometimes doing an outline helps. Sometimes drawing a chart helps. Sooner or later it all comes down to the writing. There is no magic pill that makes it suddenly happen. Read a lot. Write a lot. That’s all you can do. And is any age too young to start writing? Hell no! I wrote my first book in first grade. It's not about age; it's about talent and drive and tenacity. Teenagers: yes, you can begin trying to get your work published! BUT do your homework first. Know about manuscript format and how a book gets published (by a real publisher, which means you don't pay for it - they pay you). Understand an agent's role in the process. Hone your skills. Then go for it!

9. Go to book signings and buy books signed by someone with a pulse. Don’t ask anything of the author – just go. It builds up good Karma and it helps support the career to which you aspire.

10. Don’t ever download a pirated copy of any book. It’s stealing from an author and her publisher. Yes. It’s seriously bad Karma, whether you ever want to be published or not. If you can't afford to buy a book visit your public library.


As an additional note - some of you have asked about self-publishing. My advice is if you want to write as a hobby, then it's just fine. If you want to making writing your career, then don't self-publish (actually self-print is a better word). Yes, I know there are exceptions, and some self-pubbed authors have gone on to have successful careers with real publishers, but those few are the exception. Real publishers pay their authors, not the other way around. If you want to be a career writer, you need a real publisher. Period.

So, in summary: writing is a job like any other. Educate yourself about it. No, that doesn’t mean you have to be a literature major in college. It means you need to read writers’ resource books and become knowledgeable about how the publishing business works. Yes, it’s a lot to know. Just like in any other job. No, there are no shortcuts to being published (and being self-"published" is really being self-"printed"). Yes, you have to have a completed, rewritten manuscript – in an acceptable format – before you begin looking for an agent or an editor. No, an “idea” won’t sell unless you’re a celebrity, and then it’ll be ghost written anyway, and that’s a whole other issue. Oh, and be careful of Karma...

I wish you much luck in your quest!

PC

Happy 4th of July!

I'm in the Caribbean working hard on AWAKENED and Seoras and some friends surprised me with a Scottish/Irish/Lithuanian 4th of July celebration! It wasn't exactly "safe," but it was fun!

Hope you had a happy 4th!

XXXOOO
PC
p.s. No, it's not cold here, but it's been raining for a week and the mosquitoes are awful! That's why the weird clothing.

Tulsa World article featuring Kristin!

And it's Kristin's turn for some PR! Check out this story by our very own Tulsa World that gives you a peek at Kristin (and a mention of her new story/series!).

http://www.tulsaworld.com/scene/article.aspx?subjectid=275&articleid=20100628_44_D1_Kristi499570

The Telegraph

Here's a link to a piece I did for The Telegraph about my favorite home away from home place in Scotland. Re-reading it makes me miss the Highlands!


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/uk/scotland/7846027/Aberfoyle-Scotland-My-kind-of-town.html

MSNBC TODAY

Check out this MSNBC TODAY on-line article. Our Damien gets a lovely mention!

Teen books with gay themes take off - booknews
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/37877961/ns/today-books/from/toolbar

UK fans - check out Mills & Boon NOCTURNE!

So, the super cool Nocturne series I'm part of is being released in the UK by the lovely Mills & Boon (that's Harlequin in the UK). I had a wonderful time writing my book, THE AVENGER. Hope y'all enjoy it! Today is PC Cast day on the new Nocturne UK site: www.nocturnebites.co.uk and their facebook and Twitter:
Twitter
http://twitter.com/MillsandBoonUK

Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/#!/romancehq?ref=ts

They're running competitions every day to win cool stuff. Looks like loads of fun!

XXXOOO
PC

Working on Awakened

Hi Guys!
Just wanted to keep you updated. I'm working hard on AWAKENED (release date is January 4th), and thought you'd like to see my view as I'm schlepping away at the keyboard.

You won't believe what's happening in this book!

Oh, and I'll have details about THE FLEDGLING HANDBOOK (release date Oct 26th) to come shortly.

Happy reading!
PC

Bad GLEE pics, but still...

Oooh! Glee was amazing! I was up in the front, center of the mezzanine - nice seats but they made for crappy pictures. Still, for your viewing pleasure:


Outside waiting to get in.



All the Gleek stuff for sale inside (yes, I bought a tee shirt!).



Inside the super cool Radio City Music Hall!




The cast of Glee performing! (Yes, I know it's not a good picture...sorry...)

GLEE!

Oooh! Guess where I'm going this weekend?? TO NYC TO SEE THE CAST (cast...heehees) OF GLEE PERFORM AT RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL!! Oh, baby! I'll report all Monday!

XXXOOO
PC

Oooh! Divine by Choice!

Oooh! Check it out! DIVINE BY CHOICE is a finalist for best cover at The Cover Cafe! You can vote in all their categories by going to:
http://www.covercafe.com/contest/2009/coverintro.shtml

Don't you love seeing all the different covers!?

XXXOOO
PC

Quick Correction

Oopsie - Seems our event at the Camana Bay Books & Books on Grand Cayman Island is at 4:00 today, Saturday, May 15th, and not 7:00 today. Good thing I double checked...

Hope to see a bunch of you this afternoon!

XXXOOO
PC

Tour Silliness!

At the Tulsa signing (Kristin hiding behind BURNED. I'm taking the picture.
Jaclyn and and Kristin (not MY Kristin) in shirts they made! In Victoria, Canada, eh!
Cutie Avril in Victoria!

We had a great time on tour! Portland was lovely (oooh! shopping!). We stayed at The Nines hotel downtown. It was wonderful!!! And the Farmers' Market restaurant was To Die For.
Vancouver was great, too, and it was during our event (in a church - I worried about lightning strikes) that a very knowledgeable kid told Kristin and me about the buffet ferry from Vancouver to Victoria. As we were heading to Victoria the next day, we held a mini-Cast rebellion, went AWOL from the 6:00 am plane flight, and took the super cool ferry whilst we grazed through the buffet and gazed at the beautiful scenery. Below is video proof. Nope, I don't know why the dang thing turns sideways...
So now we're home for a little while. Off to the Books & Books on Grand Cayman Island May 15th.

XXXOOO
PC

Oh Heehees!

Check out this video I did for a blog while I was in Toronto. Also you can go to
http://novelnovice.com/2010/05/03/interview-with-p-c-cast-a-chance-to-win-a-signed-book/
to try to win a signed copy of BURNED. Thanks to Sara Gundell for making the interview so much fun!

XXXOOO
PC

BURNED Launch!

A giant THANKS Y'ALL to everyone who made last night's launch of BURNED at the Owasso Walmart so much fun! Our fans are The Best!

See you in Portland on the 29th!

XXXOOO
PC

Burned - Video and Song!

Burn baby burn!

Check it out!