I think I may have inadvertently intimidated some of you with my last survey. Oops!
If you’re interested in joining the Truest Street Team, all I need is your name and contact info, which you can supply here.
It’s simple.
Your role: be excited about Truest, an “evangelist” for it! Talk about it, recommend it, write a review, etc.
Your incentive: a bunch of really fun free Truest-related stuff!
I hope you’ll consider it!
Okay, friends, let me tell you about the Truest Street Team.
What is a street team? Oh, you know, a group of dedicated friends and fans who “hit the streets” (mostly social media) to promote Truest. Street team members will be die-hard evangelists for the book, share quotes and art on social media, write a review and post it on your blog, Goodreads, Amazon, BN, etc., recommend the book to other readers.
What’s in it for you? SWAG, including two exclusive scenes that don’t appear in the story, a poster, and a bunch of fun promo items (some that only make sense if you’ve read the book!). I’ve thought very creatively about my incentives, and I admit: they’re awesome. Really.
If you’re interested, fill out this form: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CT9GLZ3
About 15-20 people will be selected.
Most importantly, thanks for caring about me and my writing. You are wonderful people.
The biggest news of my month: I bought a house!
Well, more accurately, I’m buying a house. The offer has been accepted, and I close at the end of April! It’s a 2-bedroom, 3-bathroom townhome with a basement that I’m going to turn into an office/library. I’m so excited– nervous too! I’m a first-time homebuyer, and I know I have a lot to learn.
On the Truest front, I finished my final(ish) edits to the manuscript with minimal panic and got my ARC (advance review copy) in the mail!
In Mill City Heroes news, I kicked butt and took names this month. I put in countless hours of work on my next manuscript as I work toward my first-draft deadline at the end of April. Eir and I went on an adventure day in Minneapolis (i.e. Mill City) as part of my “research.” It was delightful!
This might seem silly to you all, but I feel really proud that I’m reading a lot so far in 2015. As you know, I love to read– but this year, I’m making it even more of a priority, looking on reading as part of my job as an author. I’ve been trying to set aside one night each week just for reading, in addition to spending about an hour reading each other night. It feels good. Really good.
How was your March? What are you looking forward to in April?
I’m reading a book of poetry every month this year! This month’s book was Pablo Neruda’s Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair. Next month, join me in reading Black Aperture by Matt Rasmussen. Click here for a list of all the books in my Poetry 2015 Campaign.
This book was delicious and sexy.
“But my words become stained with your love / You occupy everything, you occupy everything.”
“becalmed in the throat of the fortunate isles / that are white and sweet as cool hips.”
“You are like my soul, a butterfly of dream, / and you are like the word Melancholy.”
Are you convinced? I am.
Be sure to track down Black Aperture for April!
Learn more at www.jackieleasommers.com/truest!
Why do your enjoy having your “heart pulverized” by books?
I don’t know. It seems masochistic, doesn’t it? I love the power of the written word, love the truths that fiction can expose us to without truly exposing us (Does that make sense to you? That makes sense to me.). I love the way that stories are dynamic, incredible things and the way that art– in any form– can make us feel alive.
What do you do when you aren’t writing?
I enjoy people and encourage them. I tell stories and jokes. I avoid cleaning. I waste time on social media. I make plans. I explore the Twin Cities. I recruit students to my university. I work on my blog. I read. I daydream about my characters.
How does faith intersect with your writing life, and what are your thoughts on “Christian” vs “non Christian” books when it comes to marketing in the pub industry?
If I think about a venn diagram where “my writing life” is one circle and “my faith” is another circle, it would look like two circles aligned directly on top of one another. Everything in my writing life (and all other areas of my life) is influenced by my Christian faith. My daily life (and the writing of my books) is done via continual conversation with my God.
Christian vs. non-Christian markets: I’m not entirely sure what I think. I knew that I wanted my book to not be labelled a “Christian” book because I felt like that would severely limit the audience that would pick it up. Also, when you see a book that is labelled “Christian,” you expect certain things from it, don’t you? And Truest is decidedly not a family-friendly, rainbows-and-kittens book. That said, it’s flabbergasting to me that “Christianity” could possibly mean “family friendly, rainbows-and-kittens.” The gospel itself is a story of mindblowing love, deep betrayal, and bloody, gruesome death– and also breathtaking victory. How in the world did “Christianity” come to mean anything else, anything so watered-down?
What is your favorite food?
Chocolate. Cheese. Chipotle. Really, anything that starts with ch. 😉
What is your favorite movie?
Newsies. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Harry Potter III, VII, and VIII.
Woo hoo!
(And yes, I realize it’s practically April. Better late than never, right?)
Let’s jump in.
Picking up where its predecessor left off, The Invasion of the Tearling follows the story of new Queen Kelsea Raleigh Glynn and her attempts to rule, lead, and protect her fellow Tear-folk from the evil Red Queen (although, by the sound of that title, it seems Queen Kelsea isn’t all that successful, but that’s a classic book 2 in a trilogy for you). Fans of The Queen’s Thief Series, The Lumatere Chronicles, and The Chronicles of Prydain will naturally fall in love with the people of the Tearling. Bonus points: A film adaptation of book 1, The Queen of the Tearling has been announced with Emma Watson playing the lead.
Unless you’ve unplugged from…
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All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
This book. You guys. This book. In it, we meet Violet Markey as well as Theodore Finch, who stole my heart and broke it. The characters in this book were phenomenal and layered, and I value that so much. Great characters are my #1 thing, even more than beautiful writing. If you give me great characters, I’ll be a slave to your writing prowess. I was so, so captured by these characters and their beautiful and heartbreaking story. Let’s just say that both Violet and Finch are hurting souls, and the opening scene is them meeting on the ledge of the school bell tower, both on the verge of jumping. Go. Read. This. Book. I need to be able to talk about it with someone.
I’ll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios
This book was pretty un-put-downable. I tore through it. The reviews have been nothing but raving, and I’m pleased to say that I loved it as well. It’s a story about Skylar “Sky” Evans, who wants nothing more than to escape her hometown, and about Josh Mitchell, a Marine who returns home without his leg. There are a couple of Ultimate No-No’s that characters can do in books that are sort of “unforgivable” for me … and this one had one. But I still really loved it. A lot. And highly recommend that you read it.
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
What a treat this book is! I’ve long known the story of Peter Pan, Wendy Darling, Captain Hook, the lost boys, and all the rest … but knowing the story didn’t prepare me for the gem of this book. It was delightful. The voice is incredible and fascinating and clever. It reminded me a little of Alice in Wonderland in the way it made me think– but it was even more enjoyable! I tore through this novel breathlessly … even though I already knew what would happen. Find a copy of this sweet story for your own.
Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick
This book is essentially a day in the life of high school student Leonard Peacock– in particular, the day he has planned to kill one of his classmates and then himself. It is dark, heavy stuff– but there are lots of moments of good, lighter times too. I don’t want to say a lot about this one except that I’m really glad I read it (I listened to the audio version), and you should read it too.
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
I’m still sorting out my thoughts on this book, which has been called “the most important book of 2014”– in another place on the internet, I’ve heard it called “the most important book of the decade.” It’s a World War II story, alternating perspectives of a young, brilliant French girl and a young, brilliant German boy. I felt quite at home with this book for adults, since the characters were young people, just like in the YA stories I typically read. This book was more literary, slower, very beautiful, but very sad. I … liked it. I did not love the way it ended. In fact, I nearly chose to stop reading with only about thirty pages left. But I’m glad I did. This book is lovely, important, beautiful, well-written, and I’m glad I read it. I don’t want to say much more. It was its own experience reading this story. I am ready for more YA now. 🙂
I’m a bit of a homebody, but if I had a travel partner, here’s where I’d like to go.
1. Australia
I want to meet Melina Marchetta and drive around to all the places that look like Jellicoe.
[via MM’s blog]
2. England
Stop in at the “Bird and Baby” to imagine I’m part of the Inklings.
[via]
3. Italy
Wherever they filmed the Naboo scenes from Star Wars.
[via]
4. Alaska
Anywhere. Everywhere. Especially during the polar night– all that purple! I’d like to explore Fairbanks, where my characters in Truest lived.
[via]
5. Finland
Specifically, Arctic Resort Kakslauttanen. Glass igloo + Northern Lights? Heck yes.
JACKIE LEA SOMMERS 