Mindi Scott's Blog

Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! This tri-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors...and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one signed book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours!




Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are TWO contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the RED TEAM--but there is also a blue team for a chance to win a whole different set of twenty-five signed books!



If you'd like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt homepage.


SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLEDirections: Below, you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the RED TEAM, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!).Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by APRIL 7, 2013, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.
SCAVENGER HUNT POST

Today, I am hosting Suzanne Lazear on my website for the YA Scavenger Hunt! Suzanne Lazear is the author of “The Aether Chronicles,” a steampunk dark fairytale series for young adults. Book one, INNOCENT DARKNESS, is out now from Flux. Book two, CHARMED VENGEANCE, releases 8-8-13. Visit the series site at www.aetherchronicles.com
Find out more information by checking out the author website or find more about the author's book here!
EXCLUSIVE CONTENT

About CHARMED VENGEANCE: "In the Faerie realm, Noli Braddock's relationship with her best friend V has grown into something more. But V's mother, Faerie Queen Tiana, has ruled that they are forbidden to see each other. Returning to the mortal realm, Noli joins the crew of her brother's air-pirate ship, the Vixen's Revenge. There she discovers that her brother has hired the scallywag Faerie huntsman, Kevighn Silver. While serving as shipmates, Kevighn and Noli learn that the Earth Court King plans to find a forbidden artifact--one that will bring destruction to everyone Noli loves."
Here's a note and a fun video from Suzanne Lazear!
I love music. I’m a classically trained musician. Even my characters tend to be musicians. (Noli plays the piano a little, like a proper Victorian girl.) I love to listen to music while I write and make playlists. (I also can’t sing)

Here’s the in-progress playlist I’ve made for CHARMED VENGEANCE. Can you guess what songs are about what characters?

1)  Stone Sour—Through Glass
2)  Blink 182—After Midnight
3)  Boxcar Racer—I Feel So
4)  Fuel—Hemorrhage (In My Hands)
5)  Of Monsters and Men—Little Talks
6)  Emilie Autumn—Opheliac
7)  Florence + The Machine –Shake it Out
8)  Fun—Some Nights
9)  Mumford and Sons—Little Lion Man
10) Simple Plan—I’d Do Anything
11) Hoobastank –The Reason
12) Blink 182—Not Now
13) Mumford and Sons—I Will Wait

And, by special request, this is what I learned on my spring break. (Warning, I can’t sing):




Okay, now don't forget to enter the contest for a chance to win a ton of signed books by me, Mindi Scott, and more! To enter, you need to know that my favorite number is 11. Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on the the RED TEAM and you'll have the secret code to enter for the grand prize!

CONTINUE THE HUNT
To keep going on your quest for the hunt, you need to check out the next author!

LINK TO THE NEXT BLOG


But wait! Before you go, I'm also giving away two sets of each of my books. This means that two entrants will each receive a copy of FREEFALL and a copy of LIVE THROUGH THIS. I'm not able to embed the form on this site (curses!), so please CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT THE FORM TO ENTER TO WIN FREEFALL & LIVE THROUGH THIS (P.S. This giveaway is international)

Just wanted to give a heads up that I'll be participating in the Spring YA Scavenger Hunt. This is my first time, and I'm on the red team! The hunt starts on Thursday April 4th at noon Pacific time and ends on Sunday April 7th at noon Pacific.

If you're not familiar with this, you can check out the official website for it here. The basic gist, though, is that authors are guesting blogging and linking to one another's sites to give readers the opportunity to check out exclusive content (deleted scenes, alternate ending, videos, and so much more) and win prizes! Along with the grand prizes, which include a book from every author on the team, I will be giving away something here on my site as well.

The bonus content that I've submitted to be posted on another author's site during the course of the hunt includes messages (text and voice!) on  Coley's phone from Reece, Noah, Ming, Piper, and each of her parents in Live Through This. I hope you'll check it out, starting tomorrow! After April 7th, the content will no longer be available, so hurry, hurry, hurry. :-)

I'm giving away an ARC of Lindsey Leavitt's lovely new YA novel GOING VINTAGE, which comes out next month. If you'd like to enter, please visit my other blog. It's easy! Just leave a comment on that post telling me something about you. :-)

The giveaway ends on February 19, 2013 at 9pm PST. (U.S. addresses only.) So, please hurry to enter!

Michelle and I are having a book giveaway at our joint blog, We Have Words. You should go enter quickly! The winner will be chosen on December 24th!

Oh, yeah! And here are the prizes: 
*UK paperback edition of THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE by Jandy Nelson
Signed copy of LIVE THROUGH THIS by Mindi Scott
FREEFALL/LIVE THROUGH THIS bookmarks!

I have bookmarks to give away! Did you know? Probably not, since I've had them for a couple of months and kind of forgot to tell anyone. My friend Shaina made them for me.

The bookmarks look like this (gold pillow, not included):

I know you're thinking that they sure are pretty and that you'd like one of the Freefall bookmarks AND one of the scribbled on Live Through This bookmarks, right? Here's a secret: The bookmarks are dual-sided. So, if I send you a Freefall bookmark, you automatically get the signed Live Through This one, too, because it's printed on the back. And vice versa, obviously.Yay! 

So would you like a bookmark? Or two? Or even three? If, yes, please fill out this form to include your name and mailing address and I'll mail them over! It'll be a Happy New Year 2013 gift from me to you.

(If you're an educator, librarian, or bookseller and would like to distribute some of my bookmarks to your students, patrons, or customers, there is a place on the form to indicate that, as well.)

One more thing, this giveaway is for U.S. and Canada addresses only. Because, you know, international shipping costs a lot of money. Sorry!

This is happening this weekend and I'm really looking forward to it. If you're in the area, we'd love to see you there!

On Saturday, October 13, 2012, this happened at Elliott Bay Book Company in Seattle:


(photo by Arin Berthiaume)
Which means that there was lots of these things to go around, of course:              (Photos by Sarah S. Moon)     
Hooray!

I did a short talk about what I'd hoped to accomplish in writing Live Through This. Then I read a short excerpt (pages 54, 55, and the first few lines of 56, in case you wondered), in which Coley and Reece flirt using song lyrics--like they often do.
 
(Photo by William McCain)
That was the perfect segue for my husband, Dwayne, to appear from behind the curtain to introduce members of Alabaster (himself, Joe, Laura, Marlon, and Shaina) and Peace Mercutio (Andy and Taylor), who joined forces to play as "Writer's Block." As a surprise for me, they'd all changed their clothes to dress like the writer they know best in hoodies, T-shirts, and pajamas.
(Photo by Sarah S. Moon)
Writer's Block played six songs that are related to the book, and they took turns singing the lead vocals: Laura on "Asking for It" by Hole,  Shaina on "Missing" by Everything But the Girl, Taylor on "Creep" by Radiohead, followed by Shaina on Fergie's "Big Girls Don't Cry." The most recognizable song of all was sung by Andy: "Brown Eyed Girl" by Van Morrison. Then I came over and surprised everyone (except the band members and, like, three other people who knew in advance) by singing "See You Again" by Miley Cyrus with Shaina's assistance on the choruses.

                  (Photos by Arin Berthiaume) 
After the music, I went back to the podium for a Q&A, and then it was time for the signing and reception.

There was some of this: (Photo by William McCain)    
And a WHOLE BUNCH of this:  (Photo by Sarah S. Moon)
And the people who weren't me got to do this for a while:

(Photo by Arin Berthiaume)
The bookstore was very professional, organized, and had plenty of books to go around! Casey O., the host, made me feel welcomed and at ease. In all, it was a very fun day for me, and I got a number of emails afterward from attendees who said that they'd enjoyed themselves as well! There were some who'd traveled from British Columbia, Oregon, California, and Colorado, which really meant a lot to me and made the day extra special. Thank you all so much!

   
(Photos by Leeann Ward and Lindsey Schoenberger)

 
(Photos by Lindsey Schoenberger)


(Photo by . . . Linsey or Sandra? :-D)
(If you attended the event and have photos that you'd like to share with me, I'd love to see them! My email is mindirochelle AT gmail DOT com, if you wanna send them.)

Live Through This, my second published novel, came out exactly a week ago today!

It's been an exciting and happy time--especially hearing from so many people who read and were moved by it. I've received lots of encouraging and complimentary notes from friends, family, acquaintances, and strangers. I try to use my writing to empower lives and broaden perspectives, and it's wonderful to know that Coley's story is accomplishing that. 

But I will also admit that having this book out has been very overwhelming. There were a few days last week where I did little except lie around in bed and read books. I just didn't have it in me to do anything else. Not very glamorous, interesting, or healthy, I know, but it is what it is and I want to be honest about that. The release of Freefall two years ago had a similar, but less extreme effect on me. I'm already snapping out of it, which feels like a much better place to be, obviously.



I did get a chance to see Live Through This on the shelves at Barnes and Noble a few days before actual release date, which made me cry a little. I wasn't expecting that, since this isn't my first book. Maybe that's what it will always be like, though? Writing, revising, and waiting for publication is SUCH A LONG PROCESS, so seeing the real book on the shelves of a real bookstore makes it finally really, real?
________________________________________________________________________
Reminder!  My Seattle launch party is happening on October 13th, which is this coming Saturday! I hope to see you there. Here's the info about it, if you need it. And if you can't attend, but would like order signed copies of my books to be shipped to you, you should do that, like, right away! 

Here's some promotion stuff for Live Through This that's popped up in the past couple of weeks. I hope you'll check some of it out. I worked hard on these and they're interesting, if you're into that sort of thing. ;-)

Videos
I read aloud from my old diary all the details of my first kiss at age 15 for Truth or Dare at the Thirteeners. Over at Girls in the Stacks, I wrote about the bizarre twist that helped make my book trailer become a real thing. 
Guest blogs Cover Story at Melissa Walker's blog. Commentary from my editor, Liesa (used with permission) about how and why this particular cover art was selected for my book as well as my interpretation of the image that's depicted. Editor Guest blog at Hobbitsies: Liesa shared what it was like for her to work with me on this book. Music Guest Post at Greads: I talked about some of songs that are mentioned in LTT and why they were chosen. 
Book Excerpt
A cute excerpt from Chapter 5 of LTT was posted at I Like These Books, along with my commentary about what's happening in the scene. 


Reviews Amber Benson and Sarah Kuhn wrote a tandem review of Live Through This. Also, I added more links on my website to some of my favorite reviews for LTT. If you have a review you'd like to share with me, please email me at mindirochelle AT gmail DOT com or tweet to me: @mindi_scott
Character Interviews Ming (a close friend of LTT's narrator, Coley) is over at the Elliott Review.Reece (Coley's "adorkable love interest") answered questions for Kari at A Good Addiction.
Blogs that have posted recent interviews with me Author Denise JadenAuthor Sara HantzPaperback TreasuresMimosa Stimulus

My second book came out a week ago today and many things have happened! I'll be detailing some of it in a later post, but I want to write about THIS THING that I just typed in the subject line, because it's kind of a big deal to me.

Over ten years ago, Dwayne and I started watching a television show called Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Two years ago, I made a vlog, discussing briefly, how the show changed my life. Last week (on my birthday), an actor from the show recommended my second published novel to readers of her blog. Among many other wonderful things, the blog post said this:

 "Mindi Scott has a real talent for getting inside her protagonist’s head. She sketches out Coley’s story in grand swathes, and then paints in all the little details, so that you feel as though you are enmeshed in Coley’s brain: thinking her thoughts, feeling her confusion, anger, and, in the end, pain. I just don’t think it’s possible to read this book and not identify with Coley in some way." -Amber Benson, actor/writer/director

Now, I've had some time to get used to this whole being-published concept, since I got my first book deal three and a half years ago. It was only a few months after that happened when I met Amber Benson for the first time at our editor's wedding reception. But when I take some time now to let it sink in, to consider this from the point of view of the me of ten plus years ago, I get pretty emotional. I think of my younger self reading the above paragraph and I imagine that my reaction might have been something like this:

Amber Benson read a book that I wrote! Amber Benson liked what I wrote! Amber Benson blogged about the book I wrote and suggested that others should also read it! AMBER BENSON KNOWS WHO I AM!!!!!!!

It's just . . . I mean. What a crazy, wonderful thing!

Last month, I wrote about the photo shoot we did for the book trailer for Live Through This. Now the time has come to finally share it with you!



Song: "Somewhat Broken" by Shaina Rae | ShainaRaeMusic.com

Photography and Video Editing: Shaina Rae
Concept: Mindi Scott
Direction: Dwayne Scott
Voiceover: Laura Samsel
Featuring: Anika, Bailey, Cali, Carter, Kelland, Kyle, Linda, Madeline, Marty, Sarah, Shaylee, and Taylor.

If you've read the book, you might spot that some of the details aren't perfectly perfect. But we got really close in most of the casting, which was an accomplishment in and of itself! I'm very thankful to everyone who was a part of it, and especially to Shaina who really worked hard to use her photography to bring Coley and the others to life as I'd envisioned them.

(Side note: I actually don't think I'll be able to watch this video again for a while myself; the adorable way that "Reece" looks at "Coley" in the pictures at the end truly makes my chest hurt. How did he do that? Ha ha.)

Okay, wait! There's more I want to share with you!

Blog Tour
Live Through This officially comes out on October 2nd, so I have a blog tour starting today through The Teen Book Scene. (Click the link to see the full schedule.) Kari Olson, an agent-represented YA writer and book blogger, coordinated a varied and fun tour with a couple of author interviews and guest blogs by me, some questions for my characters, reviews, and a wonderful post by my editor, Liesa, about her experience editing Live Through This that will go up next Monday. I'll likely Tweet and post the links on FB each day. I hope you'll check them out!

FYI: The first stop of the tour is TODAY over at Mimosa Stimulus. Jenny did an interview with me, which included questions about tough issue books that I recommend and how my own experiences affected the writing of this book.

Reviews
A few reviews of Live Through This have started popping up online. I've done a round-up of some of my favorites so far on my website. All of these are from readers who really get it (which is so gratifying for me!) and who were careful in their reviews not to give away too much and spoil the story for others. Each of them do address the major theme, but I wouldn't call that a spoiler at all; it's revealed on the very first page of the book (as well as in the letter to readers about why I wrote it).

Seattle Launch Party
Just in case you missed it, the launch party for Live Through This is happening on Saturday, October 13th at 2pm. There will be music and food and desserts and other fun things happening! All the information about the event is posted here. (The official event page on FB is here.)

Signed Copies of Live Through This and Freefall
And in case you missed this, even if you can't make it out for my launch party, you can still get signed and personalized copies of my books from the event on October 13th. You'll just want to try to get your order in very soon. The information for how and where to order signed copies is here.

And that's all the stuff for now!