Becca Fitzpatrick

While I was in Utah, a reader stopped by the Costco where I was signing books and gave me two incredible photos.  Included was a card, which I didn't have a chance to read until later.  Inside was this message:

Becca,

I finished Hush, Hush (in a day) right after exploring an abandoned house to use for a photo shoot.  I remembered the angel wings that had been painted over the old wallpaper.  I went back to take pictures to give to you.  It was a place I could imagine fallen angels gathering.  - Brook

I've been meaning to share these pictures with you guys for a while.  I have them framed on my desk, and I look at them often.  They've been an inspiration to me over the past couple weeks, as I've been editing CRESCENDO.  I have no idea if Brook will ever read this blog post, but if she does, this is for her:  Thank you!!!


-Becca

What the heck, I'll draw another winner.  One winner just seems lonely :)

And winner #2 is...


K. Fox!  I'll email you now :)

Congrats jo_scrawls for winning the signed UK edition of HUSH, HUSH!  And thanks to everyone else for entering!

-Becca

I was going to wait until tomorrow - November 1 - to announce this, but there's a lull between trick-or-treaters, so I'll put the good news up now.  Rebecca and Jenn, the awesome ladies behind Fallen Archangel, are brewing up something awesome.  I'm laughing to myself just thinking about what they have in store.  I don't want to release too many details yet, but let's just say I've been working really, really hard to track down some information over the past couple months...information they've managed to find.  And, yes, it involves the cover of HUSH, HUSH.  There's your one clue. 


I'm tempted to say more, so I'll end this now.  But not before saying you won't want to miss Cover Week!!!

Becca

One quick businessy matter: I'll be taking entries for The Really Big HUSH, HUSH Launch Contest through tonight...winner will be announced soon.  Thank you to everyone who's participated - it's been a lot of fun!

Have an awesome Halloween night!!

-Becca

a spooky Halloween story by author Lindsey Leavitt. I was going to join her by creating my own spooky vlog, in which I planned to dress up as a werewolf and hairspray leaves and debris in my hair, but my world is not cooperating. Illness, two snow days in a row keeping the kids home from school, mental breakdowns, birthdays, and the usual other stuff prevented me. So you'll have to make due with this, which in all honesty, is the way you'd prefer it. Trust me.

HOLY MOLY!!  I just realized it's the 29th!  HAPPY UK RELEASE DAY to HUSH, HUSH!!  Tell you what, I'm ALSO giving away a signed hardback of the UK edition.  UK, Ireland and Australia residents only!  Sorry everyone else :)

If you're interested in winning this baby, leave a comment below with a way to reach you!  I'll draw a winner next Thursday, November 5th!


Now I really have to get to Target!!!

Becca

Hi, guys!

So Colorado has been bombarded with snow these past two days, and I'm about to make a run to Target to buy one of the last five pairs of boys snowpants they have left.  In other words, I have to make this quick - I MUST get one of those pairs!!

Just wanted to check in and say I'm back from Utah, and it was a blast!  I couldn't believe how many of you showed up.  I didn't expect such an incredible turnout, so a huge THANK YOU to all my readers in Utah!  I have a pic from the trip, but not from any of my signings.  While driving around on a country road near Heber, Utah, trying to find a shortcut back to a signing, I got held up by a herd of cattle.  There was even a real cowboy, and he tipped his hat as he rode by.  It was awesome! 

 

 



Good thing I'm not claustrophobic, because for a couple minutes, the cows were seriously surrounding the car, blocking the windows (cows are BIG up close) and rubbing their (cute) slobbery noses all over the windows.  Good times!

Now rewind to about two hours before I left to drive out to Utah.  I was upstairs packing and heard my author buddy Kay Cassidy call and leave a message on my answering machine.  It sounded like she was screaming, "Congrats!" so I called her back to figure out what in the world was going on, and that's when she told me HUSH, HUSH debuted at #10 on the NYT best-seller list.  EEEEEK!  As you can imagine, there was a lot of screaming and NO WAY-ing and dancing.  I kept hearing Jane Austen's voice in my head: "Nobody minds having what is too good for them."  No, they don't.  Even when they feel completely undeserving  :)

Yesterday, Kay called again, telling me that this week, HUSH, HUSH jumped to #7.  AHHH!  and EEEEK!  It still hasn't settled in.  I've been walking around all morning, doing the normal morning thing, when suddenly I stop cold and scream out, "I can't believe it's true!"       

So now for the point of this post: a huge THANK-YOU to my readers - thank you for taking a chance on the book, thank you for your awesome emails and thank you for spreading the word about HUSH, HUSH - it makes all the difference!  You guys are the best, and none of this could have happened without you!  

I'm in a bit of a celebratory mood...so, I'm throwing a little impromptu contest.  I have a couple HUSH, HUSH sleepwear tanks that I want to give away.  Here are the two styles:

   

If you want one, all you have to do is leave a comment (along with your email so I can reach you if you win!)  I'll choose one winner randomly every day, starting today and ending Tuesday, November 3. 

Good luck and, seriously, you guys ROCK! 


Becca

Hey, guys!

So I know I'm really behind on blogging. After all, I still haven't posted pictures from my launch, or pictures from Simon & Schuster Canada's awesome HUSH, HUSH chalk drawing, but! I'm working on it. I promise. The flu has been circulating our house this week, and things are just, you know, crazy :)

Also, I'm getting ready to leave for signings in my neighboring state of Utah, but before I go, I wanted to make a few quick announcements.

1. If you're a resident of Canada, Simon & Schuster Canada is running an awesome HUSH, HUSH contest. You could win a limited-edition HUSH, HUSH T-shirt and other goodies (like dark angel soap - yum!) Details are HERE.

2. Tonight I'm reading an excerpt from HUSH, HUSH and answering questions at BookDivas. Live audio chat, 7PM EST. Be there or be square! (Plus, they're giving away prizes.)

3. As I mentioned, I'll be in Utah later this week signing at a few different Costcos. If you're in the area, I'd love to see you. Here's my schedule:





Becca

Hey, all!

1.  If you're in Toronto right now, I'm incredibly jealous!!  Here's @PulseCanada's most recent tweet:


2.  If you're a first-time author (me!) read this.  Makes me want to reach out and hug Cynthia.  Children's publishing is full of people who flat out rock. 

And that's it for this week!  Happy Friday!  Hope everyone has awesome plans this weekend!

Becca

Hey, guys! 

Just wanted to mention some awesome contests going on right now.

1.  Kim at The Book Butterfly is holding a contest for a signed copy of HUSH, HUSH, and all you have to do is take a highly scientific quiz I wrote and tell the world what kind of angel you are.  Fallen?  Guardian?  Archangel?  Angel of Death?  Go find out! 

2.  Liyana at LiyanaLand is giving away a signed copy of HUSH, HUSH too!  (Go check out her awesome banner, while you're at it.)

3.  Mundie Moms Blog is also giving away a copy, and to enter, just send them your favorite pic of an angel! 

All contests are open across the globe! 

is drawing HUSH, HUSH on the streets of Toronto today!!  Check @PulseCanada on Twitter for updates, and if you're lucky enough to be in Toronto today to see everything first hand, send your pics their way! 

I love this pic!  http://twitpic.com/lmnlb

P.S. Hint: go to Yonge & Dundas!

Happy Launch Day!

 

I don't even know where to begin, except to say what an awesome, awesome day. No, better than awesome. Everything has been spectacular, even better than I could have imagined. Thank you to everyone for the happy-launch-day emails, tweets, Facebook shout-outs, blogs, angel-shaped cookies (Lindsey!!), flowers and overall excitedness you've brought to my day! Book people can't be topped! I feel like the luckiest girl in the world right now, and it's all because of you guys :)

 

I've been looking forward to this day for six years, and now that it's here, I can say without any doubt whatsoever, that those years of highs and lows and struggling to become a better writer were worth it – 100% worth it! I haven't made it this far on my own, and want to send another big shout-out to everyone who has been a part of the journey with me: my writing buddies (and the best friends a girl could ask for), my family and friends, my publishing team, The Tenners, booksellers and librarians everywhere, and now, my readers! Thank you, each and every one of you! Not only do you make my job possible, but you make it the best job in the whole world!

 

Love, Becca

 

Okay, I have to share a pic of these cookies. I cried when I saw them. A little HUSH, HUSH book cookie, and an angel cookie.
 

 

5.  It snowed here in Colorado yesterday.  No, I'm not kidding.  SNOW.  Craziness, right?  We got about three inches, and it was beautiful, but even more beautiful, it all melted.  Here's to hoping we don't see more white stuff until after Halloween.

4.  @tyecat on Twitter sent me a song a while back that I love for HUSH, HUSH.  It's called Trouble is a Friend by Lenka and you can listen to it here.

3.  Last night I went out for drinks with sylsome and brennayovanoff  Loved them!  There's something wonderful and reassuring about meeting coworkers in the industry and chatting with people who understand everything from what it feels like going through copyedits to the joy of selling that first book.  

2.  I'm going on a date tonight with my husband!  WHOO HOO! 

1.  And for number one...HUSH, HUSH is on shelves at both of my local B&Ns!!  I tried to take a picture, but the YA section is right by the service desk, and I could feel the woman behind the desk staring at me.  And then I started wondering if it's illegal to take pictures inside a bookstore.  And then I was too paranoid to snap the picture.  So, yeah.  I'll try to stop by B&N after my date tonight, and have my husband play decoy and occupy the woman at the service desk while I whip out my camera.

Happy Friday, all!

Becca 

Just a quick post to announce that Megan is running a HUSH, HUSH contest HERE.  Prizes include t-shirts and angel wings.  Love it!

Also, Fallen Archangel is releasing countdown teasers from HUSH, HUSH HERE.  Just a little something to whet your appetitie...until HUSH, HUSH releases one week from today!!!

Becca

ETA: Here's one more contest for an arc of HUSH, HUSH

Hey, guys!

My publicist rocks.  I love her THIS MUCH.  She's set up some great events for me in the next month, and I want to take a minute to invite everyone out.  I'll be in various stores and locations in Colorado and Utah, and if you're in the area, I'd love to meet you!

To keep everything in one easy-to-find place, I've listed all events on my website.  You can check them out HERE. 

-Becca

     

     

Hey, guys!

Just wanted to let you know about a few goings on today.  First, Patty Esden has an interview with me posted on her blog here.  I've agreed to stop by throughout the day and answer any questions, so if you have a question for me, go ahead and post it in the comments section of her interview.

Also, Kiersten White is putting up an interview with me today!  YAY - more interviews!  You can read it here.  Psst.  I reveal whether I'm Team Edward or Team Jacob. 

Finally, let's talk about FallenArchangel.com - the HUSH, HUSH fansite.  The wonderful admins, Rebecca and Jenn, are giving away a hardcover of HUSH, HUSH as soon as they reach 100 members.  I happen to know for a fact they have the hardcover in their hot little hands, which means if you win, you could be reading the hardcover before it releases in stores.  How cool is that?!

Becca

I'm back from Denver and back from the Mountains and Plains Booksellers conference!  It was energizing,  fun, and I came away with quite a bit of insider knowledge, which is always a good thing.  I was lucky enough to have lunch with several independent booksellers from Colorado and Utah, and spent a good deal of the time soaking up their wisdom, and talking about books we love (including upcoming HEX HALL by Rachel Hawkins, which I just talked about on my blog!!)  After lunch, I found fellow authors and Tenners Bree Despain and Lindsay Eland, and we browsed the trade show and picked up a few goodies including posters and ARCs.  Here we are, brandishing our beautiful books:



(Bree's book, The Dark Divine, is so awesome it GLEAMS.) 
(Oh, and I wore my new orange heels, but obviously you can't see them!)
(I also wore glasses - see how smart I look!)

After an afternoon spent browsing the trade show, and talking about the business, our own writing, etc., Lindsay, Bree and I parted ways to take part in the author signing - a first for all of us.  The author signing was intense!  A constant stream of people coming and going and talking - extroverts would have loved it!  It was a little overwhelming, and there was more than once when I could have sworn I was high on other people's energy, but you know what?  It was a great experience.  I met several fantastic and passionate booksellers from my area, and that made it all worthwhile.  I can't wait to see them again.   

Cool moment:  During the author signing, a woman came rushing up to me with a huge smile on her face.  She said she and her daughter had both read HUSH, HUSH, loved it, and asked me to sign a book to each of them.  She had all kinds of questions about the sequel, and told me to count her as a die-hard fan.  I think I sat there, speechless, but managed to mumble a "thank-you" before she left.  Note to self: at next author signing, try not to be such a dork!  

So there you have it.  Mountains and Plains 2009.  

Becca 

Hi, guys!

I can't believe the day has come when I can say this, but in under three weeks (!!!) HUSH, HUSH debuts. Three weeks. It feels so soon. I was telling a friend the other day that I'm starting to have pre-release jitters, namely nightmares in the form of showing up for a book signing without a pen, and no one in the store having one either. Oh, and there was the nightmare where Stephen King started yelling at me for setting the book in Maine...

Anyway, since we're less than three weeks away, I've decided now would be a good time to announce two contests I'm holding to celebrate the release of my first novel. Drumroll, please...

1. The Big HUSH, HUSH Launch Contest

Many of my author friends have done this, and since I love the idea, I think I can't NOT do it. Contest rules: be the FIRST to capture a picture of HUSH, HUSH out in the wild (be it at your local indie store, Barnes and Noble, Borders, Books-A-Million, etc.) and email it to me (becca at beccafitzpatrick dot com) and I'll send you a prize pack including:

1 signed copy of HUSH, HUSH (hardback)
1 $10 iTunes card
1 HUSH, HUSH tee

2. The Really Big HUSH, HUSH Launch Contest

Take a picture of you with HUSH, HUSH (hardcover, not ARC) and post it to your blog, Twitter, Facebook, etc. between now and October 31st, and enter for a chance to win the really big prize pack, including:

1 signed copy of HUSH, HUSH (hardback)
1 audiobook
1 bag of HUSH, HUSH personalized M&Ms
1 HUSH, HUSH tee
1 HUSH, HUSH locker poster
1 $10 iTunes card
A five-page critique from my agent, Catherine Drayton, plus she'll help you whip your query letter into shape!

Email me the link(s) to your pictures (becca at beccafitzpatrick dot com), and I'll give you one entry point for every location you post. Also, I'm more than happy to ship internationally, so if you're from, say, The Netherlands, and happen to be in Los Angles or London or Des Moines during October and take a picture of yourself with HUSH, HUSH, as long as you post the picture and email me the link(s), you're entered.

Make sure the picture includes both you and HUSH, HUSH. Oh, yeah. And maybe, just maybe, there will be bonus points for creativity!



Becca

BLOGFEST!  Whoo hoo!