Category: News

When I’ve got something new to share.

Posted in News, Writing

My Big News Post!

Posted on by Amy McNulty

I’ve been sitting on happy news for a few months while the details got ironed out, kind of wondering if I was dreaming, but I can finally share with everyone and make it more real: my debut novel, a YA romantic fantasy, is going to be published by Month9Books in 2015! Not only that, but Month9 is on board for the second and third books in the trilogy, too, with number two scheduled for 2016 and number three for 2017!

The announcement sent to Publishers Marketplace:

THE VEILED MAN’S GODDESS trilogy by Amy McNulty is a twisted young adult fantasy romance where one girl fights to save the boy she loves from a spell that forces all men to wear masks and only ever love one woman, each their “goddess,” only to discover that she herself is bound to the mysterious lord of the village, whose very life might be the source of the curse. Georgia McBride acquired World English rights to publish via Month9Books beginning in 2015 from Jason Yarn at Paradigm.

(The title of the book is almost certainly going to change, so keep an eye out for updates!)

Month9Books is a speculative fiction YA and MG imprint (related to YA, NA and adult romance imprint SwoonRomance). Founded by Georgia McBride, also the YALitChat.org founder, in 2011, Month9 launched with their first title in late 2012, and they’ve been making some pretty impressive waves in the YA genre ever since.  When my agent and I discussed what independent publishers I wanted to send my manuscript to, Month9 jumped to the top of my wish list.

I’ve been floored by the enthusiasm Ms. McBride has shown for the manuscript, and I’m looking forward to working with her and her team on getting this series out there into the hands of readers. Ever since this story took hold of me, I’ve been hoping I could share its characters with you. And have an excuse to write the rest of their story! It would have broken my heart to shelve them and never finish the full tale.

This is the manuscript that landed me my agent, Jason Yarn, in May of 2012. The one I wrote the first (rough) draft of in only nine days in February of that year. (Well, I pinched some scenes and names from an old mess of a manuscript that’s permanently retired, and I’d been working on that on and off for nine years in one form or another.) We weren’t on submission the whole time—we tackled multiple rewrites—but it still has been somewhat of an uphill climb, sometimes getting to what felt like “almost but not quite” at various places, many of which offered kind and encouraging thoughts. Thanks to Jason’s never-waning enthusiasm for the project and his brilliant editorial insights, we finally got the manuscript where it needed to be to find a home.

I’ll be blogging with news as I get it over the next year+. I hope you’ll check it out in 2015!

Posted in News

“Like” Me on Facebook!

Posted on by Amy McNulty

I finally properly joined Facebook and put up an Author page. If you have a Facebook account, I’d greatly appreciate your “like.” I’ll post all blog updates there (uh, well, after this one because otherwise it’d be a bit of a Mobius strip of click-here-to-see-blog-click-here-to-see-Facebook-page-click-here-to-see-blog), so it’s a convenient place to follow my blog, too. I’ll also update with fun little things on occasion–probably not as often as I do at my Twitter, but more regularly than I do here at the blog.

Click here to “like” my Facebook Author Page!

I know I joined the WIPMarathon at the beginning of the month, and I have nothing to show for it. This month has been one of my busiest, and I’m not sure I’ll get back to work on creative projects before January. Here’s hoping I start the WIPMarathon updates soon!

Posted in News, Writing

My First NaNoWriMo

Posted on by Amy McNulty

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Okay, so I’ve known about NaNoWriMo for years. In fact, I’ve used it and my friends’ participation as the motivator for a couple of unofficial spurts of writing over the years. Instead of signing up with a profile and seriously aiming for 50,000 words in a month, I set my own goal: write for at least 30 minutes a day in November. It worked for me. Of course, that was the manuscript that’s permanently retired and is a total mess (120,000 words and not even halfway done, ha), but it was also the manuscript I mined small passages and inspirations from to form my first completed manuscript, so it wasn’t for naught. Plus, just practicing writing was helpful.

I have written 50,000 words in under a month twice for both of my completed manuscripts. Once I finally got on the inspiration-train, they took off and poured out of me. But both those times weren’t in November or part of NaNoWriMo. Just feeling like I “have to” write 50,000 words in a month has kept me from participating before. (Not like the WIPMarathon, where you could set your own goal, no matter how big or small, whether writing or editing.) Because then I get depressed on those days where I don’t write enough words or I can’t write at all.

But I have a new WIP I’ve been thinking about since late August I’d like to get drafted somewhat soon. The past couple of months have been crazy, so all I have to show for it is one paragraph (I had the opening lines in my head right away) and about 2/3 of an outline. I meant to get to work sooner (although I’m taking a detour to write a fun short story), but I just haven’t been able to. So why not? I’ll do my best to finish the outline before November and make it my NaNoWriMo entry. (Sorry if I “break the rules” by having 150-ish words written before November begins, ha. I promise not to count myself as a “winner” unless I get 50,150+ words done.) I will NOT feel sad if I don’t get 50,000 words done. I will NOT force myself to work on Thanksgiving and every single day in the month. I’m just… writing.

So add me if you’re partcipating!

I actually wrote a pitch for the WIP while I was at it. That’s a first for me. (I don’t often share pitches online before I’ve even written anything!)

~removed~

Posted in News, Reading

Cover Reveal: Darkness Watching by Emma L. Adams

Posted on by Amy McNulty

Anyone reading my blog lately has noticed I participated in the WIP marathon for the month of August, and that helped me really crack down on my writing goals. I wouldn’t have found out about the group if I hadn’t become Twitter friends with Emma L. Adams, one of the WIP marathon participants. She’s a MG/YA/NA author who writes some pretty awesome-sounding fantasy and paranormal stuff. So I decided to join in on her cover reveal today! This book sounds great, so let’s all check it out next month! Enjoy the pretty:

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Darkness Watching by Emma L. Adams 
(Darkworld #1)
Publication date: September 30th 2013
Genres: New Adult, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Ashlyn is one interview away from her future when she first sees the demons. She thinks she’s losing her mind, but the truth is far more frightening: she can see into the Darkworld, the home of spirits– and the darkness is staring back.


Desperate to escape the demons, Ash accepts a place at a university in the small town of Blackstone, in the middle of nowhere – little knowing that it isn’t coincidence that led her there but the pull of the Venantium, the sorcerers who maintain the barrier keeping demons from crossing from the Darkworld into our own world.

All-night parties, new friendships and a life without rules or limits are all part of the package of student life – but demons still stalk Ash, and their interest in her has attracted the attention of every sorcerer in the area. Ash is soon caught between her new life and a group of other students with a connection to the Darkworld, who could offer the answers she’s looking for. The demons want something from her,  and someone is determined to kill her before she can find out what it is.

In a world where darkness lurks beneath the surface, not everyone is what they appear to be..

AUTHOR BIO:

568Emma spent her childhood creating imaginary worlds to compensate for a disappointingly average reality, so it was probably inevitable that she ended up writing fantasy and paranormal for young adults. She was born in Birmingham, UK, which she fled at the first opportunity to study English Literature at Lancaster University. In her three years at Lancaster, she hiked up mountains, skydived in Australia, and endured a traumatic episode involving a swarm of bees in the Costa Rican jungle. She also wrote various novels and short stories. These included her first publication, a rather bleak dystopian piece, and a disturbing story about a homicidal duck (which she hopes will never see the light of day).

Now a reluctant graduate, she can usually be found in front of her writing desk, creating weird and wonderful alternative worlds. Her debut novel The Puppet Spell, published in 2013 by Rowanvale Books, is a fantasy tale for young adults and the young at heart, inspired by her lifelong love of the fantastical, mythology, and video games. Emma also writes supernatural fantasy novels for older teens and adults. Her next book, Darkness Watching, is the first in the upper-YA/New Adult Darkworld series, and will be published in September 2013 by Curiosity Quills Press.
Posted in Geek Out, News, Reading

The Sight Seer Is Only 99¢ This Weekend!

Posted on by Amy McNulty

If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you may have noticed me getting excited over a particular book release. The Sight Seer, published by Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly, is one of my dearest friends’ first published book. Melissa Giorgio and I are beta readers for each other, and I had the pleasure of reading about Gabi and Rafe and all those nasty tricky demons long before most. If you haven’t followed my advice to check her book out yet, now is the time.

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That’s right, for three days only you can get your hands on a Kindle copy of The Sight Seer for just 99 cents! This is a limited time sale, and you may never be able to read this book for so cheap ever again.

So click here and buy The Sight Seer! Sale ends this Sunday, August 25th! Don’t forget to tell your friends!

Gabi Harkins likes to think she’s a pretty normal sixteen-year-old. She goes to school, suffers though an awful part-time job, and deals with a bratty younger sister. But when a potential shoplifter morphs into a monster right in front of her, Gabi realizes her life is far from normal—especially when that monster follows her home and ends up battling a boy wielding a sword in her backyard.

The boy, Rafe Fitzgerald, is a member of Silver Moon, an organization devoted to eradicating demons before they kill humans. If this little bit of news isn’t earth-shattering enough, Rafe reveals that he needs Gabi’s help. As strong as Rafe is, he does not possess the Sight—a rare ability that allows a hunter to See through a demon’s glamour, enabling them to strike before the demon does. But guess who does?

While Gabi is reluctant to face another demon, she knows she owes Rafe big time for saving her. Together, they’re thrown headfirst into heart-stopping situations as they battle newer and more frightening demons. When she starts to fall for Rafe, Gabi knows her normal life is gone forever.

Posted in News, Reading

Buy The Sight Seer today!

Posted on by Amy McNulty

It’s a day early than I expected, but the Kindle version of Melissa Giorgio‘s The Sight Seer is available today! And for only $2.99! For less than a cup of coffee, you can be swept up in the YA paranormal thriller adventure of Gabi Harkins and swoon-worthy Rafe Fitzgerald.

Buy it now!

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If you don’t have a Kindle and don’t want to use the free Kindle app to read it on PCs, Macs, tablets, smartphones and web browsers, or you just love holding a book in your hands and keeping it on your shelf, the paperback version of The Sight Seer is due soon, probably within a few weeks. I’ll keep you posted when I see it for sale!

Posted in News, Reading

Free YA Book Giveaway! The Sight Seer

Posted on by Amy McNulty

This contest is OVER!!

I’m proud to announce the first ever giveaway on my blog:

The Sight Seer by Melissa Giorgio, a YA paranormal thriller

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Gabi Harkins likes to think she’s a pretty normal sixteen-year-old. She goes to school, suffers though an awful part-time job, and deals with a bratty younger sister. But when a potential shoplifter morphs into a monster right in front of her, Gabi realizes her life is far from normal—especially when that monster follows her home and ends up battling a boy wielding a sword in her backyard.

The boy, Rafe Fitzgerald, is a member of Silver Moon, an organization devoted to eradicating demons before they kill humans. If this little bit of news isn’t earth-shattering enough, Rafe reveals that he needs Gabi’s help. As strong as Rafe is, he does not possess the Sight—a rare ability that allows a hunter to See through a demon’s glamour, enabling them to strike before the demon does. But guess who does?

While Gabi is reluctant to face another demon, she knows she owes Rafe big time for saving her. Together, they’re thrown headfirst into heart-stopping situations as they battle newer and more frightening demons. When she starts to fall for Rafe, Gabi knows her normal life is gone forever.

Anyone who’s been keeping up with my blog knows that Melissa is one of my best friends and beta reader. I had the pleasure of being one of the first The Sight Seer readers, and I remember being upset because she’d only sent me about half the book before going out of town—and I was salivating for more! You guys won’t have to wait to read it all.

So here’s the deal.

I’m giving away one e-book copy and one paperback copy of The Sight Seer. The contest is open internationally. You can enter for both, but on the off chance that you win both, I’ll ask you which you prefer to have and pick another winner for the other category.

The e-book copy is for the Kindle, so the winner will have to provide me with an e-mail address connected to his or her Kindle account. If you don’t have a Kindle, you can still get the digital Kindle copy and read it via a free Kindle app for PCs, Macs, tablets, smartphones and web browsers.

 Click here to enter to win The Sight Seer e-book.

I’ll ship the paperback copy via the USPS to the address provided to me by the winner after a confirmation e-mail.

Click here to enter to win The Sight Seer paperback.

Contest ends June 14th, the projected publication date for The Sight Seer. Once the e-book is available, and the contest ends, I’ll send it to the winner after I confirm his or her Kindle e-mail address. The paperback copy may take a couple of weeks more, depending on when it’s available and how quickly it ships first to me and then to you. Enter both every day, and follow the instructions on Rafflecopter for even more chances!

Posted in News, Writing

My Friend’s Cover Reveal and Publication Date!

Posted on by Amy McNulty

A few months ago, you may remember that I posted about my friend’s sale of her debut novel, The Sight Seer. Today she revealed the publication date–June 14–and the gorgeous cover!

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The Sight Seer is a YA paranormal thriller with action, humor, romance and everything you look for in a gripping read! It’ll be available through Amazon in both paperback and Kindle book, so mark your calendars. I’ll post links when it’s available for sale.

Also, check back for news about a special event I’m holding here at this blog in honor of her book birthday next month!

Posted in News

Happy News!

Posted on by Amy McNulty

What’s this?

Two posts in one day? Impossible for me, you might say. But no sooner had I finished the last post than I noticed this piece of news on my Twitter feed:

booknews

Melissa is one of my best friends and beta readers, and we’ve known each other for almost 14 years. We even got agents the same year! We’ve both counted ourselves among a circle of friends who shared a dream of being published authors, and Melissa is the first of us to make her dream come true! She’s worked hard for many years to get to this point. I’m honored to be one of her beta readers, and I know you’re going to love The Sight Seer as much as I did. Stay tuned and please support her book when it comes out!