TORCHED Cover Reveal and Poll

Cover! Below!

What do you think? Isn't that blurb pretty? It's from Miranda Kenneally, whose new book is out in October. Check out her and her fabulous YA books at her website.

ALSO, I have a decision to make! Or rather, one you can help with. The above cover will be used for the e-book versions of TORCHED, but I am considering using this cover for the print book:

There's a fancy T! That font is also carried through in the print-book chapter headings and drop-caps, as well as on the back cover flap. My question for you:

Do you prefer the Fancy T Cover or the Simple T Cover? Poll in the sidebar. Closes at midnight tomorrow (end of Thursday, August 30).

As a reminder, it's for the print book only (for the ebook, which will be viewed on-screen, often at small sizes, the simple T is best for readability.) If you have Reasons for your preference you'd like to share, hit me in the comments!

Here are the covers side by side, for better comparison:

Fancy T

Simple T

For those who are new here, TORCHED is a young-adult contemporary novel starring cheerleader Rose Whitfield, whose senior year goes up in smoke when she's framed for arson. Believing the culprit to be her neighbor Paxton, with whom she's been feuding since middle school, she sets out to clear her name, get her life back and take Paxton down hard--not necessarily in that order.

More info about the book, including an excerpt, on the My Books page. To be kept in the loop about the release (September 10), you can sign up for my newsletter or follow me on twitter.

Twelve days to go until TORCHED is released! Who's hyperventilating? Not this girl. (THIS GIRL!)

Three Questions

That smile's a winner!

1) Which Andrea won the author photo smackdown?

Answer: Andrea #4! She was my favorite anyway, so you all have great taste :) Andrea #2 was a close second. Thanks to everyone who voted!

2) Who wants to be part of my TORCHED Launch blog tour?

Answer: you tell me :) I'm looking for tour stops!

I'll be answering interview questions and guest posting around the blogosphere during the week of (and probably for a few weeks after) TORCHED is officially launched. Some of my author peeps have already reserved me a spot on their blogs, but if you have room for me, I'd love to guest post on yours! 

Email me at andrealynncolt (at) gmail (dot) com and we can set something up.

3) Where the heck is the cover for TORCHED?

Answer: coming soon! In two days, to be specific. It's almost done, though I'm playing with some of the details. I will reveal it on Wednesday, and give away an e-ARC (Advance Reading Copy, in .mobi, .epub or .pdf format) to celebrate!

TORCHED: First Chapter

Sneak peek!

Want to meet Rose, the cheerleader framed for arson in TORCHED? The first chapter of the novel can be found on the My Books page, or right here.

Enjoy!

TORCHED comes out September 10, 2012. Right now there's no pre-order option, but you can sign up for my newsletter to be emailed when the novel is available.

Also! There's still time to vote for your favorite Andrea Author Photo in the poll on the right. Go forth and judge :)

Andrea Photo Smackdown

I usually don't care much for pictures of myself. Me+snapshots=awkward.

However, I am blessed with very talented friends!

The following pictures were taken by my friend Jessica, who used to work as a photographer and happily jumped at the chance to capture my soul (no telling what she's doing with it now). We did the photoshoot in quaint Old Town Alexandria, with brick walls and fun gates galore to use as backgrounds.

Although many shots revealed Andreas who were either petrified or irritated, Jessica managed to unearth a few Andreas who looked friendly.

Behold, my favorite six Andreas:

Andrea 1: there be bricks

Andrea 2: add some ivy

Andrea 3: look, a tree!

Andrea 4: big smile :)

Andrea 6: she's not smiling, but
there's a flag in the background!

Andrea 5: no smile. Maybe the tree
is about to fall on her?

Aw, those Andreas all look nice! BUT ... there's too many of them. After all, there can only be ONE Official Author Andrea. This calls for an Andrea Smackdown!

The poll is in the sidebar on the right. Which Andrea should be my author photo?

I'll leave the poll up until Sunday, and announce the winner on Monday, August 27. There is one Andrea I'm rooting for, by the way, but I won't tell you which one she is ;-) Go, Andrea, go!!

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What's next: I'll be posting the first chapter of TORCHED on Friday, so check back for that!

A Memorandum

TO: Friends, family, tweeps, readers
CC: Acquaintances, strangers, future friends,
      and all Denizens of the Internet Deep
FROM: The author wearing the terrified grin
SUBJECT: Impending Bookitude!

A while ago, I wrote a novel. It's about a cheerleader who's framed for arson and must clear her name, and if I do say so myself, it's pretty good*. Elements include: pranks, red herrings, best-friends-turned-nemeses, hot kisses. Also, a gorilla costume.

I loved it, called it TORCHED, and sent it to my agent.

Almost a year and a half later (because if the god of publishing had corporeal form it would be a slug), I've pulled the book from submission. Craziness, right?! Except that the more I think about it, the better my decision feels. (I'll go into All The Reasons in a future post, if people are interested!)

Anyway, I've wanted to try self-publishing for a long while, but I always said I wouldn't self-pub unless and until I had a book I was proud of.

Guess what? THAT TIME IS NOW.

Some of you have known for a couple of weeks, but I'm thrilled to officially announce that TORCHED will be launched in mid-September!

The planned launch date is Monday, September 10, 2012, though the book might go live for testing purposes a few days beforehand. It'll be available as an ebook in all the usual formats, as well as in PDF form and in hard copy as a paperback.

I'm excited, and also a bundle of nerves. There's a lot still to do--cover design! Formatting! Copyedits! Proofs!--but I'm really happy to be able to share TORCHED with everyone soon, and I'm so thankful at all the support I've gotten already. Whether you are a fellow writer, reader or just someone who nodded enthusiastically when I babbled about my books over the years, THANK YOU for being a part of my journey.

Which reminds me: I get to write my acknowledgements page this week!

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What's next: I just got my official author-shoot photos back, so I'll be posting the top contenders here later this week. Stop by to judge my smizing and vote for your favorite ;)

Want to be kept in the loop? Sign up for my newsletter, or follow me on twitter.

*You don't have to take my word for it. Excerpts coming soon!