COVER REVEAL AND RELEASE DATE: Every Word

Okay – cue me, with the flailing hands again.

I swore black and blue that I’d get this up last week, but of course, I was distracted by the actual process of getting the book to the printers (yup, kinda necessary, that).  But now I get to share the shiny cover of Every Word with you.  Yes.

And here it is!

So lovely, right?  Lisa White has done an amazing job.  I can tell you at this point that the covers were designed by her well in advance – back when Every Breath was being designed, before I even had a full manuscript for Every Word ready to go – and the only detail she knew about Every Word was ‘London’.  So she has really been quite psychic about this cover, because it’s a great reflection of what’s inside (see how Mycroft’s looking all angsty?  Well, there’s a reason for that…)

I can also tell you now that Every Word will be officially released on 1 June 2014.  You can pre-order copies through the Allenand Unwin website, if you like, and feel free to drop over to Goodreads and add it to your list, if you have one.

What else has been happening?  SO MANY THINGS.  Oh my god, you know those weeks you have when you feel like the whirlwind has come to you, and everything seems to want to happen all at once?  That has been me, for the past few weeks.  I’ve been working other jobs, and writing grant proposals, and talking to folks in Canada about getting Every Breath released overseas in September, and writing Every Move, and doing copyedits for Every Word, and rewrites for Every Word, and, and…

Oh yes, my house!  It is so messy! (oh, my messy  messy house… *sob*)And my family!  We’ve had a birthday, and a school camp, and parent-teacher nights…all the usual exciting stuff. My head has been just a little full lately.  Last night, I had a dream about a haunted supermarket (say what?), so clearly I have a few too many plates spinning.  Or maybe I’ll use it for a story, at some later point, who knows.

I’ve also got some events coming up.  Lovely folks of Tintern College, I am coming your way on Monday 17 March, and then later again, in May.  I’ll be at Carey Grammar in May too, for the literature festival there, and the Melbourne Writers Festival Schools Program is in August, and I’ll be there!  I even bought some proper lady-clothes for all these things, yes indeed, so you won’t have to deal with the sight of me in my clean-out-the-chookhouse clobber.

In the meantime, I’m gonna keep working on Every Move.  I’m really looking forward to April, when things will be quieter, and I’ll be able to really get into it.  The weather here is cooling now, which is very conducive for working – it’s dark and quiet in the mornings, and not yet freeze-your-fingers-off temperatures, so I’ll be able to get up and make my thermos and sneak out to write into the cool, dim, quiet time before everyone yawns and wakens…

See you in the haunted supermarket J

Xx Ellie

COVER REVEAL AND GIVEAWAY: Every Breath

Ah, wow, I feel strangely nervous!  I’ve been looking forward to showing you all the cover for the book for so long, and it’s finally here!

Yes, EVERY BREATH went to print (‘went to bed’ is the publishing parlance, I believe) on Monday, and Eva has released the cover for me to show off.  So here it is!  What do you think?  (I know I’m biased, but I think it’s fantastic!)

EVERY BREATH Synopsis:

Rachel Watts has just moved to Melbourne from the country, but the city is the last place she wants to be.  James Mycroft is her neighbour, an intriguingly troubled seventeen-year-old who is also a genius with a passion for forensics.

Despite her misgivings, Rachel finds herself unable to resist Mycroft when he wants her help investigating a murder.  He’s even harder to resist when he’s up close and personal – and on the hunt for a cold-blooded killer.

When Rachel and Mycroft follow the murderer’s trail, they find themselves in the lion’s den – literally.

A trip to the zoo will never have quite the same meaning again…

 

I am really thrilled with…well everything really!  But the cover, by Lisa White, is really special.  Check out Flinders St in the background!  And Cath Crowley, who is a writer I love and admire so much, has written a wonderful recommendation for the front – thank you, Cath!

I can’t wait for people to read it J  Or rather, I’m nervous that people will be reading, but also incredibly excited.

If you’d like to pre-order your copy, keep an eye on the Allen & Unwin site, for more info coming down the pipeline soon.

And now I’m so rapt with life and the world, I’m going to hold a giveaway!

I'm going to do it the old-fashioned way, as I haven't got one of the tricky little giveaway doo-whackeys yet.

If you’d like a special hot-off-the-presses copy of EVERY BREATH, then please write a comment on this blog post and I’ll put your name in a hat.  If you write a comment and link this post back to your own blog/website/Twitter feed/Facebook page, then I’ll put you in the hat twice!

At the end of 2 weeks, I’ll draw a winner, and that person will win a special EVERY BREATH prize pack, which includes a copy of the book, and a few other goodies.  I'll publish the name of the winner here, and they can get in touch, and then I'll package up their prize and post it off! (where would we be without snail mail?)

So comment away, and thanks for being here for the unveiling.  Have a great week!

***PS:  Our first GUEST POST from our YA Crime guests will be coming soon, and I think it will be a very surprising visitor…  Stay tuned!

xx Ellie