Jeri Smith-Ready

"Fantastic Heroines" panel this Friday in DC

Popping in real quick to tell you about a panel I'll be on at the American Women Writers National Museum.

• What: "Fantastic Heroines of SF and Fantasy," discussing the changing roles of female characters in science fiction and fantasy. 
• Who: Science fiction/fantasy authors Brenda Clough and L. Jagi Lamplighter. Oh, and me. Moderated by Colleen Cahill of the Library of Congress.
• When: Friday, May 11, 11:30am - 1:30pm
• Where: American Women Writers National Museum, 1275 K St. NW, Suite 102 (ground floor), Washington, DC, 20005. Metro Center and McPherson Metro stops (This is a small startup shared space, with the storefront entrance on 13th St. NW.)
• How much: Free!
• What else: I'll have some books to sell and sign after the panel, and as always, I love to chat with readers about anything and anyone.

As you have probably noticed, I have a few opinions on how fictional heroines are perceived and judged. Looking forward to a fabulous discussion!

• posted by Jeri @ 7:45 PM
• 0 comments

Last week's giveaway winners, final open contest, and live chat!

Winners for the SHINEsign contest, where readers helped spread the word on Twitter and Facebook about last week's signings, are:

1. $25 gift certificate to the bookstore of their choice: @BookLabyrinth
2. Choice of Keeley Brothers or Team Kilt swag bag: @j_grant93

Last Wednesday, Logan and Zach held the first ever (but no way it'll be the last) #SHADEboys dance party. During the two-hour party, readers posted nearly 80 of their favorite dance videos. I still haven't seen them all, but there were many, many highlights--everything from movie scenes to flash mobs to random dudes in their underwear. You can see all of them on Logan's Favorites list.

Everyone who posted a video gets a Team Kilt bookplate. To claim yours, send your mailing address and Twitter username to melissa AT jerismithready DOT com and mention you won a TeamKilt bookplate at the SHADEboys dance party. Don't worry--she won't think it's too weird.

And the winner of an iTunes gift playlist of the SHINE soundtrack (unveiled at the end of the dance party) is... @Poochylover! Thanks to everyone who took part in this completely crazy party. SHADE readers are the most wackadoodle folks on the planet, hands down.

---

There's one more SHINE celebration contest open, and that's the Review Contest, which ends Friday. Here are the rules (copied and pasted from the original post):

• posted by Jeri @ 12:22 AM
• 5 comments

HAPPY

Hey, thanks for stopping by! Just wanted to let you know to keep an eye on this space for SHINE release stuff like:

• How SHINE Happened But Almost Didn't (a post half-written while half-asleep--it's completely incoherent)
• SHINE soundtrack notes (fully written while fully awake, yet still somewhat incoherent) - I'm waiting until next week to post this, after more people have read the book, because the notes are full of spoilers like "This song goes with that one scene where _________. Wasn't that horrible?" The SHINE soundtrack itself is up on the SHADEboys tumblr.
• The Surprise SHINE celebration thing I mentioned in this post (not even started, since I have to email a bunch of people, and we all know how paralyzed I am in that area)
• "Ask Jeri" mass reader interview of me. I've started working on the questions, which are, in a word, FABULOUS. You guys came up with some very creative, insightful queries that have really made me think. I think I can manage to have 10 finished today so that Kilt and Keeley can post them tomorrow or next Monday.

All this stuff is a little late because I underestimated the lifeforce-sucking power of a sinus infection that first knocked on my head and politely requested entry about a month ago. I was sick before I went to the RT Booklovers Convention, got slightly better during it, but by the time I came home I got worse (took the train home from Chicago instead of flying, for fear of rupturing an eardrum--smartest move ever, because the Amtrak roommette was amazing!!) Then I was healthy for approximately 100 hours until last Friday. Then I stayed up almost all night Monday for a midnight release party.

Now I'm just trying to get through each day with a few hours' work on the book due at the end of the month while accomplishing One SHINE-related Thing (especially since I have two booksignings, a bridal shower, and two mothers visiting for the weekend).

Yesterday, the Thing was the SHINE soundtrack and the #SHADEboys dance party (it looks like two things, but really I did most of the soundtrack on Sunday and just tweaked it for the next two days).

Today, this post is That One Thing. Sorry.

But I want you know that despite being sick on deadline, this has been an amazing week, more than I ever dreamed it could be, and it's all thanks to you.

I'm not just blowing smoke. Some authors get big tours, some get big ads, some get big displays in bookstores. While it'd be nice to have those things, if given the choice between that and having a close relationship with the crazy, fun readers that have followed me for months or years, I'd take you guys ANY DAY.

So this song is for you. The words aren't mine, but I mean every one of them.

• posted by Jeri @ 2:37 PM
• 8 comments

Giveaway winners (so far) and a new reader playlist!

It's release week for SHINE! Tonight I'll be at a midnight release party at Cupboard Maker Books in Enola, PA (near Harrisburg) from 9pm-ish to 1:30am. It's going to be epic, and I have to remind myself to schedule a nap today.

The winner of the "Ask Jeri" prize (a marked-up/director's commentary full SHADE trilogy) was Andrea T.! The answers to the (many, many) questions will be posted in bunches on the Kilt & Keeley SHADE fan site over the next couple of weeks. I decided to spread it out to keep things interesting, because believe me, you do NOT want to read answers to 50 questions in one day. Thanks to everyone who asked such fabulous questions!

There was some fun over the weekend, including a #SHADEboys chat Saturday night. The Q&A part lasted over two hours, and then the after-party pretty much went until midnight, so total time = 5 hours, 12 minutes. This is typical.

TeamKilt bookplate winners were:

@synfulsaleana99
@clairehuggy
@RebekahMillet
@LovesBooks96
@Rpatzz
@j_grant93
@bamayankee
@c_cass189
@Kimberdee
@GReadsBooks

...and the grand prize winner was @RPattz!

What was the grand prize, you ask? I said it would be connected to the surprise unveiled at the beginning of the chat, and here it is:

The SHIFT Readers Playlist! These are songs that have been suggested to me over the last year by readers, songs that remind them of Aura, Zach, and Logan. (There were many more than 17, but I had to keep it to a reasonable length. A few suggestions will end up on the SHINE soundtrack--that's how awesome you guys are.)



Thank you all for giving me so many meaningful musical connections to the books. It is one of my favorite parts of being a writer. The #SHADEboys chat grand prize was a copy of all these songs in the form of an iTunes playlist (which will be available for purchase very soon).

The SHINE soundtrack will be unveiled this Wednesday, May 2, at 9pm eastern, at the end of a two-hour #SHADEboys dance party. Come share your favorite funny/amazing videos of you or some random stranger(s) dancing. Everyone who posts a video gets a chance to win Team Kilt bookplates and the SHINE soundtrack itself! As always, the easiest way to follow any Twitter chat is using Tweetchat.

If you need an example of the spirit of the #SHADEboys dance party, check out yesterday's spontaneous post by Zach and Logan, prompted by a question they got the night before.

As you can see, goofiness is encouraged.

Check back here tomorrow for my Release Day post, where I look back on the previous year of getting to know some amazing readers and writing the hardest book of my life (so far).

• posted by Jeri @ 12:02 PM
• 2 comments

SHINE prerelease wrap-up post

Your one-stop shop for all things SHINE prerelease-y!

The stuff so far:

Read the first chapter and watch the trailer

Illustrated Guide to SHADE series covers, formats, and preorders

SHINE release celebration contests, including one that ends tonight!

How to order autographed copies (with signed swag) from my local bookstore

Release week booksignings and a giveaway for spreading the word

-----

ORDER LINKS:

To make things easy on you, I've stolen/borrowed/nabbed a list of links that Kimberly of Living Fictitiously painstakingly put together (BIG KISSES TO KIM!). I've starred the places that are shipping as of right now (Monday 9:30am eastern):


Shade (*** means the paperback with NEW COVER is NOW SHIPPING)
***Constellation Books (Jeri's local indy book store- SIGNED COPY!!!!!): Hardcover /Paperback  
***Barnes and Noble: Hardcover / Paperback / E Book 
Amazon: Hardcover / Paperback / E Book 
Book Depository:  Hardcover / Paperback
iTunes E book  
(Audiobook: B&N / Amazon / iTunes also has available in audio)

Shift (*** means the paperback is NOW SHIPPING; hardcover is already available)
***Constellation Books (Jeri's local indy book store- SIGNED COPY!!!!!): Hard Cover /Paperback  
***Barnes and Noble: Hard Cover / Paperback / E Book (UPDATE: SHIFT paperback now in some B&N and Books-a-Million stores!)
***Amazon: Hard Cover / Paperback / E Book 
Book Depository:  Hardcover / Paperback 
iTunes E book 
(Audiobook: B&N / Amazon / iTunes also has available in audio)

Shine (*** means it is NOW SHIPPING)
***Constellation Books (Jeri's local indy book store- SIGNED COPY!!!!!): Hard Cover /Paperback  
Barnes and Noble: Hard Cover / ***Paperback / E Book (UPDATE: SHINE paperback now in some B&N and Books-a-Million stores!)
***Amazon: Hard Cover / Paperback / E Book 
***Book Depository:  Hard Cover / Paperback 
iTunes E book
(Audiobook coming 2012! Release Date to be announced.)

----

PREORDER GIVEAWAY




PARTY TIME!!

#SHADEboys + Aura Twitter chat Saturday, April 28, 7pm eastern time. Swag, books, and music will be given away as Zachary, Logan, and Aura get us psyched for the Big Day. Easiest way to follow is through TweetChat, which will automatically add the #SHADEboys hashtag to your tweets. Because these chats get really hectic, I will not see your tweet if you don't use the hashtag.


At the beginning of the chat, I'll have a surprise for you! The chat's grand prize will be connected to that surprise, so I can't tell you what the prize is, but I can show you a picture of the sweet Team Kilt swag packs that'll be given out (pic courtesy of @shellseeker93:




The autographed thingie in the lower left-hand corner is one of nine Team Kilt bookplate designs (probably my favorite, featuring the UK cover for SHIFT). Team Kilt bookplates cannot be bought or requested--they can only be won. If you participate in enough Team Kilt events, you might collect all 9! At that point you can get a secret decoder ring that'll let you--oh wait, I guess it's not a secret now. Oops.


So how do you win? Just ask Zach, Logan, and/or Aura a question (but don't forget to use the #SHADEboys hashtag). Even if I don't have time to answer them all, you'll still be entered. Open to international entries.


Hope to see you there!

• posted by Jeri @ 5:55 PM
• 1 comments

Release week signings & #SHINEsign giveaways!

So, a small thing is happening next week. The SHADE trilogy is ending--and in only three books! :-D

Sorry, forgive me if this blog post sounds weird. Still getting used to the new Blogger interface. I saw people complaining about it on Twitter, then when it switched mine over I thought, "Okay, new Blogger. I will not freak out like everyone else. I will not freak out." Now I'm sorta freaking out.

ANYWAY....

Three booksignings next week! Here are the details of my mid-Atlantic meanderings:

Monday, April 30, 9pm - Tuesday, May 1, 1:30am
Cupboard Maker Books
157 N. Enola Rd.
Enola, PA (near Harrisburg--so near you can taste it, if Harrisburg had a taste)
717-732-7288

Yep, you read that right--a midnight release party. It's downright Potter-ific! (Except that there's only one going on, in Pennsylvania, not 90,000 around the world. And probably no costumes. But other than that, it's JUST like Harry Potter.)

Prizes will be given out every 15 minutes between 11pm and 1am, and there'll be two pizza deliveries from Jigsy's Pizza (BEST PIZZA IN SOUTH CENTRAL PA, YO!), at 11pm and midnight.

Friday, May 4, 7-9pm
Between Books
2703 Philadelphia Pike
Claymont, DE (near Philadelphia, as indicated by the Pike in the address)
302-798-3378

Signing, reading, Italian cookies, and a very special guest:


That's right--after years of people asking, "When are you going to bring Meadow to a booksigning?" the answer is...Friday, May 4! And Saturday, May 5! (See below, right...NOW!)

Saturday, May 5, 8-10pm
Constellation Books
303 Main Street
Reisterstown, MD (near Baltimore, home of the SHADE trilogy itself)
410-833-5151

Five-year anniversary party for Constellation Books, featuring a SHINE signing and stargazing party, with telescopes (and guidance) provided by members of the Westminster Astronomical Society. *crosses fingers for clear skies* There'll be refreshments, and of course Meadow! Hopefully not too close together, or one will consume the other.

#SHINESIGN GIVEAWAY

Now, many of you don't live in or around, Harrisburg, Philadelphia, or Baltimore, but you can still get a signed, personalized book by calling any of those stores ahead of the signings and ordering a copy. They'll work out shipping, etc., with you directly.

But there's something else you can do to take part, and maybe win some cool prizes! I do my best to spread the word about signings, but inevitably I hear from someone saying, "Oh man, you were in Chicago last week? I didn't know until just now!" So I'm determined to let everyone know this time.

Help me spread the word about the signings, and you could win the following prizes:

Winner #1 gets: A $25 gift card to the bookseller of his or her choice.

Winner #2 gets:  Choice of a Keeley Brothers mega-swag bag (tote bag, coffee mug, button, and your choice of a signed SHADE or SHIFT paperback):



OR

a Team Kilt mega-swag bag (tote bag, water bottle, button, and your choice of a signed SHADE or SHIFT paperback):

• posted by Jeri @ 7:13 PM
• 3 comments

Let It Bleed coming May 27!

At long last, Book 3.5 of the WVMP Series, the novella "Let it Bleed," will be posted here at jerismithready.com!

When: Sunday, May 27 (Ciara's birthday)

Labels: Let It Bleed novella, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 8:18 PM
• 5 comments

SHINE has arrived at Constellation!

IMPORTANT: If you want your copy/copies signed, you MUST say so in the comments of the order form. Now that there are copies in the warehouse, the warehouse will ship an unsigned copy directly to you, rather than through the bookstore, if you don't leave a comment. 


Also, PLEASE be specific as to whether you want it personalized to you and what name you'd like me to sign it to. Saying "I want a signed copy" makes me wonder if you just want an autograph with no name. I want to make sure you're getting exactly what you want!

International readers: To order from Constellation (probably a faster way to get SHINE than Book Depository, honestly), use the "Email Us" link on the left side of their website. Lauretta will contact you for your credit card information for shipping. There may be a delay of a few days while she calculates the exact amount.

Also, the store is closed Mondays and Tuesdays, so on those days, don't expect an immediate response.

Labels: bookstores, current contests, SHADE series

• posted by Jeri @ 1:55 PM
• 10 comments

SHINE birthday celebration: it's all about YOU

As you may know--and as I keep waking up in the middle of the night realizing--SHINE is coming out in two weeks, on May 1!

Labels: Contests, current contests, SHADE series, SHINE birthday

• posted by Jeri @ 10:29 PM
• 8 comments