Becca Fitzpatrick

I thought I'd take a break from editing CRESCENDO to come over and post the winners of my HUSH, HUSH launch contests - YAY!  I had so much fun going through all the entries - you guys are so creative and awesome.  Thanks so much for celebrating the release of my novel with me!

Winner of the Big HUSH, HUSH Launch Contest is...


She found HUSH, HUSH at her local Barnes & Noble in Pennsylvania almost three weeks before the book was set to release.  Here's her picture:





For the REALLY Big HUSH, HUSH Launch Contest, I decided to pick a runner-up along with the Grand Prize winner.  YAY!  The runner-up will receive a signed copy of the book and an I <3 HUSH, HUSH tee.  And the runner-up is...






Now here's where things start to get a little weird.  In my last post, I posted pictures of angel wings Brook gave me while I was in Utah doing signings.  I spent a whole night Googling her name, trying to contact her so I could find out more about the wings, and eventually found her on Facebook.  We chatted.  I learned super cool things about her and about the angel wings.  Days later, as I was finishing up looking through entries for the Really Big HUSH, HUSH Launch Contest, I found her entry!  And I have to say, it takes the cake.  Brook wins the grand prize!!  I mean, check out these photos:

       


I'm seriously speechless.  They're just...amazing.  I can't stop staring at them.  Well done, Brook!  :)

Thanks again to everyone who entered.  I had so much fun looking through all of your photos.  I <3 my readers and fans!!


-Becca

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

-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

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

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

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

Question: Are you ready to SWOON?

As you may or might not know, Becca informed readers on her blog that the ending to Hush, Hush was changed. Well, you know what that means? For those of us that love Hush, Hush we’ll be pre-ordering the book.

Take a good luck @ Bad Boy Bonanza's prize bucket that these AWESOME Bloggers & Authors donated to help support Becca!

1. Becca Fitzpatrick (Blog) - The Demon’s Lexicon by Sarah Reese Brennan, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (October one with Bella & Edward’s favorite book), signed book plates
2. Bree Despain (Blog) – The Dark Divine (ARC) by Bree Despain
3. Eleni @ LaFemme Readers– Twilight Poster
4. Harmony @ Harmony Book Reviews – As You Wish by Jackson Pearce
5. Jacqueline @ The Eclectic Book Lover - Candor by Pam Bachortz, $20 Amazon Gift Card
6. Jessica @ Book Reviews by Jess - Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
7. Jo @ Ink and Paper Specials - Tin Grin by Catherine Robinson
8. Kim @ The Book Butterfly – Love is Hell (Anthology), Prom Dates from Hell (Anthology), Stealing Death (ARC) by Janet Lee Carey
9. Kimberly Derting (Blog) – signed bookmarks (The Body Finder) & Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr
10. Lauren @ Shooting Stars Mag – Hush, Hush (ARC) by Becca Fitzpatrick
11. Laurie Stolarz (Website) – Project 17 by Laurie Stolarz
12. Lenore @ Presenting Lenore – Swoon by Nina Malkin
13. Nicole @ Word For Teens – Blood Promise by Richelle Mead
14. Regie from The Undercover Book Lover – The Sound of Munich (S.A.S.S.) by Suzanne Nelson
15. Shalonda @ Shalonda’s Blog- Monster by Walter Dean Myers
16. Shelly @ Write for a Reader - $10 Gift Card online book store
17. Tina @ Fantastic Book Review– Blue Moon by Alyson Noel, Eternal Kiss (Anthology), City of Glass by Cassandra Clare, Invisible Touch by Kelly Parra

Rules: 8 Winners - 3 prizes each! - Pick your top 8 Choices (Guarantee you get one of your choices) Random Generator will pick other 2 prizes!

+1 Comment: Please comment that you have sent your pre-order/order receipt to Tina @ Fantastic Book Review or Kim @ The Book Butterfly
+1 Comment: Who's your favorite Bad Boy/Fictional Crush?
+1 Comment: Pick top 8 prizes
+1 Follow or Friend the Prize Bucket Participant's Blogs for a total of 17 entries
Total = 20 entries

Contest ends @ midnight (CST) October 30, 2009. U.S. & Canada Residents Only!

Hi, guys!

Just stopping in to announce a big contest going on over at NinaMalkin.com, in case you're interested in getting FREE BOOKS.

From her website:

The Autumnal Equinox is a very important date in the town of SWOON, CT. Hence, a contest in honor of this year’s upcoming celestial event, with a prize sure to thrill the stuffing out of anyone who revels in the written word.  Your Fall Reading Lust: A Box Full of the Fiction You Crave...

Interested?  That's what I thought!

Details are HERE. 

Hey, everyone!

Two quick things:

1.  I've posted my Five at Living Your Five.  Stop by to see how I'm planning to make a difference in the world...starting today.  I'm giving away a signed copy of HUSH, HUSH (hardback, not ARC) so be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win!

2.  Revision notes are in on CRESCENDO.  I spoke with my editor last night about the book, and I'm going to be just a little bit busy over the next several weeks, so I'm probably not going to be around as much.  I'm still here, not dead, just working :).  Wish me luck! 

-Becca

Hey, guys! 

So I've officially closed my first ever Twitter contest.  Up for grabs were two HUSH, HUSH locker posters, but I got so many responses (so many hilarious and awesome and clever responses) that I've decided to give away four posters instead.  Seriously, it was just too hard to choose only two.  Yay, you guys for being so enthusiastic and witty!  And thank you to everyone who participated!

All right.  Down to biz.  The four winners are (drumroll):

@barbrafl who tweeted, I deserve a #hush_hush poster because, as a mentor to freshmen, I need my locker to look super cool :)  Patch would deff. work. 

@tidesox28 who tweeted, I need a #hush_hush locker poster because I'm a teacher and could use it as a reward for one of my students.

@KristenLynn1994 tweeted, #hush_hush I'm going to be a freshman in high school and I need something for my locker. Why not the poster of the book I am dying to get?!?

@compelledtoread tweeted, I need a #hush_hush locker poster cuz it'd make it EXCITING to use my locker, I would use it more often & I wouldn't break my back w/my books.  

Congrats, winners!  Email me at becca at beccafitzpatrick dot com, and I'll get your posters in the mail ASAP. 

-Becca

Want to win a free book for you and your local library?

Check this out. 

-Becca

Hi, everyone!  Happy Saturday!

Just a quick reminder:  if you'd like to be entered to win a signed ARC of HUSH, HUSH or a HUSH, HUSH tee, please register for the Becca Fitzpatrick newsletter on the homepage of my website.  The contest ends June 15th, and I'll be announcing winners on June 16th. 

-Becca

I'm closing the contest because amynash correctly identified this country:



Taiwan!  Global Group Holdings will publish HUSH HUSH in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao.  Congrats, Amy!  I'll put your $10 iTunes card in the mail tomorrow. 

Thanks, everyone, for playing!  I laughed painfully hard at the answer "Texas."  You know who you are ;)

Hi, all! 

I have some exciting news - HUSH HUSH sold in another foreign country!  It still shocks me that I'm even part of this writing community . . . I've wanted this dream for so long . . . and here I am selling around the globe.  Anyway, enough of the mushiness.  Just feeling particularly grateful today for some reason.  

So here's the deal!

To celebrate my recent sale, I'm holding a CONTEST.  I'm giving away a $10 iTunes card (can you tell I have a stockpile of these?) to the first person who correctly guesses which country HUSH HUSH sold in last week.  I'll even make it easy(ier) by posting an aerial view of the country HERE:




Hmm.  Do I screen comments?  I don't really see a reason to . . . except I know I'd be less likely to make a guess if I knew the rest of the world could see how horrible I am at geography!  So, yes.  Let's definitely screen comments.

Good luck!

-Becca

ETA:  We have a winner, but she doesn't own an iPod, so she's graciously bowing out.  I want to add, some of you are very, very close!  

and fabulousfrock has a $10 iTunes giftcard!  Please send me your address at ajoywrites at gmail dot com and I'll make sure your giftcard is in the mail tomorrow.  Okay, maybe Thursday.  Either way, very soon!  Thanks to everyone who entered! 

I am such a punk. I was supposed to post this yesterday, but yesterday turned out crazy-daisy, so I'm posting now.
 

One year ago today, I was holding my breath and compulsively checking my email, waiting for one particular agent's response to the second rewrite of my story I'd worked on with her. It came . . . and it was a big fat rejection. It's a little embarrassing to admit, but I spent two hours locked in the bathroom, crying. Big, sobbing, choking tears. I was angry at myself and at my stupid story that I knew was inside me, but could not be lured out. I'm sure I'm not alone here. For 99.9% of authors, publication isn't an overnight journey. Ironically, it's a lot like a three-act play.
 

Act I: The writer decides she has a story inside her

Act II: The writer is tried, tested and pushed to the boundaries of insanity trying to get that story out.

Act II: The writer sees the world through new eyes, and if she's lucky, her story ends with a Happily Ever After.
 

For me, Act II took five years. Every time I read about an author whose Act II took less than a year, I feel the impulse to pull out my voodoo doll. Of course, I'm humbled when I read about authors whose Act II took ten years. Or twenty. Or a lifetime. The lifetime journeys are the most inspiring because after all those years, or all those rejections, or all those trials, the writer never gave up their dream of publication. Sure, they temporarily lost sight of it, or maybe their faith wavered a little, but in the end, they never quit.
 

Now for the good stuff where I tie this all together. To celebrate The Day I Almost Gave Up . . . But Didn't . . . AND to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, I'm throwing a contest. I want to hear about your dreams—whether they are short-term, like passing tomorrow's algebra exam or not eating chocolate for breakfast (ahem), or long-term, like . . . becoming the next President. Leave a comment citing one of your dreams, and I'll enter your name into a drawing for a $10 iTunes gift card. The contest runs through next Monday, January 26^th. Good luck and dream on!

Presenting Lenore is giving away a free Penguin book to one lucky reader.  The deadline is fast approaching (December 5th) so now is NOT the time to procrastinate. 




Head on over and while you're at it, check out her book reviews.

My six-year-old is helping me draw . . . and the winner is . . .

churchills !


Email me your address (ajoywrites at gmail dot com) and I'll send your copy of FREEZE FRAME by Heidi Ayarbe.  

Thanks everyone for playing! 

About FREEZE FRAME:  No matter how many times Kyle rewrites the scene, he can't get it right. He tries it in the style of Hitchcock, Tarantino, Eastwood, all of his favorite directors—but regardless of the style, he can't remember what happened that day in the shed. The day Jason died. And until he can, there is one question that keeps haunting Kyle: Did he kill his best friend on purpose?


BF: In movie speak, what is a freeze frame? 

HA: In cinema, a freeze frame shot is used when one shot is printed in a single frame several times. It makes the film stall -- looking like a still photograph -- in essence freezing the action. Why use freeze frame shots? Directors use freeze frame shots in critical scenes to focus on characters' emotions or expressions.

HA: I'm not a movie director and can't even imagine myself in the shoes of one. Directors, to me, are magicians that take words from a page and bring them to life on screen. Magic! There have been movies that were disappointing to me and certainly there're more than a few bad movies, but I think having me re-direct any of them could only make them worse. In general, I think it's smart to leave the directing to those who know how to direct and the writing to those who know how to write. (Of course there are some insanely talented people who can do both, but I don't think I'm one of them!)

BF: If given the chance to direct the movie FREEZE FRAME, which actor would get the role of Kyle?

HA: My agent and editor took a chance on me -- a "no name." So I think it would be best to do the same for Kyle. Find a young actor who needs a break. But there are a slew of people who think Mr. Cordoba should be played by Edward James Olmos.  And no, there isn't a movie planned ... yet.


BF: If you could "do-over" a moment from your life, what would it be?

HA: GREAT question. I could probably come up with a list about three miles long because it's human nature to say the wrong thing, treat somebody you love badly, basically mess up. I think, though, the big do-over moment from my life would be celebrating my sister's successes more. When she passed three parts of her CPA exam at a go, I wasn't even really aware of how ABSOLUTELY HUGE that was. I'm a baby sister and probably have been more egotistical growing up. And she's amazing, and I feel like I sometimes haven't been as big a cheerleader for her as she has been for me. But we're young (still in our mid/late thirties). So maybe I can make up for all those snotty little sister things I've done! (There are lots! You could ask her, but then, well, let's just take my word for it. Like I said, miles long!)

BF: There's an underlying theme of forgiveness in FREEZE FRAME, particularly self-forgiveness.  Do you think it's true we're our own worst enemy?

HA: I know that I am, but I don't think that's necessarily true for everybody. I have this overwhelming sense of responsibility for the world in a weird way, so I feel guilty and bad when pretty much anything happens from my daughter's belly button accumulating too much lint to somebody in England having mad cow's disease. Again, I'm extreme when it comes to that and I think that's why I totally related to Kyle's process because learning to forgive ourselves for those "do-over" moments is really hard. Some people are better at it than others -- maybe they're further along on the evolutionary scale.

BF: You've lived and traveled in over 25 countries.  Give us a hint where you're headed next.

HA: Alas, I'm afraid we've hung up out backpacks for a while because Amelia, our daughter, is only eight months old. So our big travels will probably include going to the states to visit family and that's about it. Honestly, it's sometimes just a chore to get to the grocery store these days. But when Amelia can eat solid foods and walk, maybe we'll do some light camping in the states (Yellowstone, Yosemite).  We'll have to wait and see.

BF: Final question--what are you working on now?

HA: HarperCollins bought my second novel, SUNDER, and I'm on my first round of revisions. The tentative release date is sometime in 2010 with Balzer and Bray Books. I'm THRILLED to be working with Jill Santopolo again, as she is, hands down, the most amazing editor on the planet. Really. She could get that made into a T-shirt. 'MOST AMAZING EDITOR ON THE PLANET.' Hmmm .. I digress. So SUNDER is a YA novel about two 15-year-old runaway girls and their search for family.


To learn more about Heidi and FREEZE FRAME visit Heidi's website at: heidiayarbe.com BUT DON'T GO THERE YET!  

First, take a stab at winning your very own copy of FREEZE FRAME.  How?  Leave a comment stating your favorite movie.  That's right.  Here's your chance to win not only a FREE BOOK, but an AWESOME FREE BOOK.  A random drawing will be held Sunday.  I ship internationally, so don't let that hold you back.

All right.  Entered the contest?  Good.  Now you're free to go.