Marissa Doyle

It's Coming...

2011-11-15T14:07:00.000-08:00

The edits are in, the final version is going into production, and Courtship and Curses is now up for pre-order on Amazon, in both hardcover and Kindle format: http://www.amazon.com/Courtship-Curses-Marissa-Doyle/dp/0805091874/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321488017&sr=1-1

Not that I'm, like, excited or anything...no, of course not. And the cover? Ah, yes--it's got a cover...ho hum...

And if you believe any of that, then there's no helping you. :) More news as it arrives.

News: A title and a date!

2011-06-05T15:01:00.000-07:00

Well, it seems I've mentioned it several other places...but not here. Which is rather silly, but we won't go into that now. Instead, let's focus on the good news: we have a title and a release date for my next book!

The title was hard--try as I might, I couldn't come up with anything beyond the working title I'd been using for more than a year--Magic in Season, that is. But thanks to my editor and her assistant and all the other smart people at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, we have (cue drumroll)...

Courtship and Curses

I think it's wonderful--it echoes Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, and since this story is set firmly in England's Regency period, then that's pretty darned good company to keep.

And as for the release date? Look for Courtship and Curses to be hitting shelves early in August 2012...perfect for a last end-of-the-summer read. I hope you'll enjoy it--although it includes characters who make later appearances in Bewitching Season and Betraying Season, it's very much its own story and can be read as a stand-alone.

As I get more news, I'll certainly report it here...but I'm pretty happy for now.

Booksigning in New Jersey

2010-10-20T13:51:00.000-07:00

Anyone in the Iselin, NJ, area? I'll be there for the annual New Jersey Romance Writers' Put Your Heart in a Book Conference at the Renaissance Woodbridge Hotel this weekend, which includes a big booksigning on Saturday, October 23rd from 4-5:30 pm, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting Literacy Volunteers of America. The other nice part is that Betraying Season is a finalist in the Paranormal category of the NJRW Golden Leaf Award...keep your fingers crossed for me. :)

Betraying Season is out in paperback!

2010-09-28T05:42:00.000-07:00

Betraying Season is out today in paperback, from Square Fish/Macmillan and available in stores as well as on line.

I'll be giving away two copies over at my Nineteenteen blog, so if you'd like to be entered in the giveaway, head on over and leave a comment on either today's or Friday's post. That's http://nineteenteen.blogspot.com/ by the way...

From my Garden

2010-09-22T06:20:00.001-07:00

Autumn Crocus (Colchicum autumnale "Waterlily")

Betraying Season Award!

2010-08-17T16:13:00.000-07:00

I feel a little sheepish for not having mentioned this sooner...but Betraying Season won an award! It won the Young Adult category in the National Readers' Choice Award contest sponsored by the Oklahoma Romance Writers of America. Winners were announced at a reception during the RWA National Conference at the end of July, and yes, I squealed when they announced my name! It's kind of exciting to see your book's name on a hefty slab of stone, even if it did weigh my carry-on bag down a fair bit on the flight home. :) Winning was an honor, and I'm very grateful to the NRCA's judges for choosing Betraying Season for this year's award.

July Events

2010-07-21T19:51:00.000-07:00

A couple of events this month...if you're in the southern NH/MA area, or in Orlando, FL, stop by!

On Sunday, July 25 from 2-4 pm I'll be part of a panel discussion on children's and YA fantasy at the Toadstool Bookshop in Milford, NH. It's a great line-up of authors and books, including Ellen Booraem (The Unnameables), Chris Brodien-Jones (The Owl Keeper), Leah Cypess (Mistwood), Deva Fagan (Fortune's Folly, The Magical Misadventures of Prunella Bogthistle), Angie Frazier (Everlasting), Kate Milford (The Boneshaker). For details, look here.

And on Wednesday, July 28, from 5:30-7:30 pm, I'll be at a five hundred (yes, you read that number correctly) author booksigning at the Romance Writers of America National Conference at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort. From the RWA's website:

The "Readers for Life" Literacy Autographing has become one of the most popular events at RWA's annual conference. More than 500 romance authors participate in this two-hour autographing event, and each year we raise thousands of dollars, which are donated to ProLiteracy Worldwide. Since 1990, RWA has donated more than $600,000 to literacy charities.

The 2010 "Readers for Life" Literacy Autographing takes place on Wednesday, July 28, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Walt Disney World® Dolphin Resort, Pacific Exhibit Hall, in Orlando, Florida. This event is open to the public; there is no admittance charge. Since the proceeds from this event are donated to charity, we ask that you purchase books at the event instead of bringing your own books. (RWA accepts cash, check, or credit/debit cards for book purchases at the event.) If you do bring books, please limit yourself to one or two books and consider making a cash donation to the cause.

For a complete list of the authors signing at this mega-event, go here.

I hope to see some of you there!

June News Update: 'Best of' Lists and paperbacks

2010-06-17T15:50:00.000-07:00

A few fun things to report this month...

Betraying Season was named to VOYA's Best Science Fiction, Horror, and Fantasy list for 2009. It's a great list, and I'm honored and delighted to be in such good company. For the complete list, click here.

I'm also happy to report that Betraying Season will be released in paperback on September 28!

Attention fantasy lovers in the New Hampshire/Massachusetts area: The Toadstool Bookshop of Milford, NH will be hosting a group of seven YA and MG fantasy writers (including me) for a panel discussion on children's fantasy on July 25. I'll post more details closer to the date.

Happy June!

Any Georgette Heyer Fans?

2010-06-08T05:47:00.000-07:00

Today on Nineteenteen we're starting a week-long discussion of the divine Georgette Heyer's Cotillion...full of her trademark sparkling wit and containing one of her best developed (if unexpected) romantic heroes ever. Please stop in and comment!

Nineteenteen: Being a Teen in the Nineteenth Century

Spring is here

2010-05-18T18:55:00.000-07:00

First peony of the season:

The perennial bed (which is much happier now that we took down a tree or two, the remains of which are also visible here):

TBF Live!

2010-05-13T16:33:00.000-07:00

Anyone in the Rochester/western New York area? I'm going to be one of two dozen authors talking books at the 5th Annual Greater Rochester Teen Book Festival on Saturday, May 15 from 9-5 at Nazareth College in Rochester, and would love to see you! Check out the link to their site for a full list of the day's events and the authors presenting there. I'll be talking about historical fiction along with YA author Alisa Libby, whose history geekiness tends toward the Tudors (check out her most recent book, The King's Rose, about the beautiful and tragic Catherine Howard).

I'll post pics on Tuesday. Hope to see you!

What is a "zona"?

2010-04-21T20:14:00.000-07:00

I'd like to thank the committee and planners of the Connecticut Library Association Annual Conference for being so welcoming...and forgiving of a speaker recovering from laryngitis. I had a wonderful time, and enjoyed giving my talk.

I also wanted to answer a question posed in the question and answer period...an audience member mentioned a word she'd read in a Regency-set novel, and wondered if we knew what it was. From the context, she thought it might be an article of clothing: the word was "zona".

I did some digging and asking around. Zona is the Latin word for belt or girdle (no, not girdle in the modern sense of the word), and it seems it was used very early in the first years of the 19th century to indicate a decorative belt worn on a woman's dress. Clothing styles in this period, especially women's, borrowed heavily from Classical Greece and Rome, so I guess it isn't so surprising that a Roman article of dress should make an appearance.

I hope this helps!

April News

2010-04-15T09:29:00.000-07:00

I've been pretty quiet for a good reason--I had a book to finish writing. But I'm very, very happy to report that Magic in Season (formerly known as The Waterloo Plot...and possibly as something else in the future as book titles do often change) has been turned in for editing to the wonderful Kate and her assistant Sarah at Henry Holt. I'm looking forward to polishing it with their guidance and seeing it out sometime in the second half of 2011! I'll post as I get more information on dates.

The teaser again...
It's spring 1814 and the girls of England are rejoicing: Napoleon has been defeated and the young men of the army can come home again--just in time for the balls and parties of the Season!

18-year-old Lady Sophie Rosier can't quite join in their glee. What young man will fall for a cripple who must walk with a cane, no matter how pretty and well-born she is? And then there's that small matter of her being a witch...but she certainly isn't about to advertise that fact. Why, oh why, couldn't she just be like everyone else?

Then to her surprise she gains a very eligible suitor in Lord Woodbridge. But does he love her, or just feel sorry for her? And why, now that the War is over, is somebody doing their best to kill off members of the War Office, including Sophie's father? Only Sophie and her new best friend Parthenope can find out...because only they know that the assassin is using magic. And it looks like Sophie might be next on their list...

Parthenope is, of course, the mother of Persy and Pen...I hope you'll enjoy her story (and I think you'll see where Charles gets his personality from!)

In other news, Bewitching Season has been nominated for two state award lists: the South Carolina Young Adult Book Award for 2010-2011 and the 2011 Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award. I'm honored and delighted, and extend an invitation to teachers and children's librarians particularly in those states (but also elsewhere) to contact me if they're interested in receiving bookmarks or doing any on-line programs via Skype for their classes or libraries.

Betraying Season is also doing well, having finaled in two Romance Writers of America contests for best Young Adult romance--the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence and (I just learned today) the Orange County Chapter's Book Buyer's Best Contest!

As for other news...I had a lovely time speaking at the Mattapoisett (MA) Public Library during National Library Week, and am looking forward next week to speaking at the Connecticut Library Association's Annual Conference. On tap for May is the 5th Annual Greater Rochester Teen Book Festival, where I'll be talking with Alisa Libby about historical fiction for teens. If you're in the western NY area, please stop by!

Lastly, next week is the 2nd meeting of the Young Bluestockings Book Club on Nineteenteen! On April 23 Regina will be leading a discussion on Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer...please join us!

Book Club Meeting!

2010-02-15T20:41:00.000-08:00

Over on NineteenTeen, the teen history blog I co-host with Regina Scott, we'll be holding the first meeting of the Young Bluestockings Book Club tomorrow, February 16. We'll be discussing Patricia C. Wrede's Mairelon the Magician, so if you've read this book (or have been thinking about it), please come over and join the discussion!

Please go do this right now!

2010-02-01T16:30:00.000-08:00

Thirty seconds (or less) a day on your part could help a lot of bunnies!

The Animal Rescue Site, in association with Petfinders.com, is sponsoring the $100,000 Animal Shelter Challenge , which is giving away (you guessed it) thousands of dollars to shelters across the US and Canada and around the world. Participants like you (hint, hint) can vote daily for your favorite shelter and put them in the way of winning much-needed cash; not only are there national prizes, but individual state prizes as well.

If it's not too much trouble, would you consider visiting the site and filling in your vote for the House Rabbit Network of Woburn, MA? The House Rabbit Network helps find permanent, loving homes for foster rabbits in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont and coordinates with other rabbit rescues across the northeast to help rabbits in need. Your daily vote could help this all-volunteer organization win the $1000 state prize--money which is sorely needed to further the Network's mission and provide food and care for bunnies awaiting their forever homes.

So please, consider adding a daily vote for the House Rabbit Network to your routine (you can even sign up for a daily reminder here). The bunnies thank you!

Going to be anywhere near Middletown, RI?

2010-01-28T11:42:00.000-08:00

Because on Saturday, January 30 I will be, and would love to see you! I'll be at the Middletown, RI Library (700 West Main Road) kicking off their "Meet the Author" series and talking about books and writing. It's at 3 pm, so if you're around, please come say hello!

***

January has been less January-ish than usual (you know what I mean, right?) mostly because I was able to spend at day at the American Library Association's Midwinter Conference in Boston, visiting the Exhibition Hall. Usually very large public events like this wear me out; I'm a classic introvert in that I re-charge by being alone and get drained by being around large groups of people. But for once, that didn't happen: not only did I get to have lunch and hang out with friends from the Class of 2k8 and The Enchanted Inkpot and meet Alisa Libby with whom I'll be presenting at the Teen Book Festival this spring, but I also got to meet various Blueboarders and other cyber-friends face-to-face at the Tweet-up hosted by Mitali Perkins and Deb Sloan. By the time Nandini and I left (and I loved hearing about your books, Nandini--fingers crossed on your submissions!!) I felt energized, not drained, despite the astonishing load of ARCs I brought back. If you're at all interested in children's books and/or libraries, and an ALA conference is happening near you, go.

***

We've decided to try something new over on NineteenTeen, the teen history blog I share with my dear friend and partner in historical geekiness, Regina Scott: namely, a book club! We're calling it the Young Bluestockings Book Club, and our goal is to read and discuss books related to the 19th century and 19th century teen life. That covers a lot of territory...and I hope we'll read some non-fiction as well as fiction over the coming months. Our first meeting will be on Tuesday, February 16, when we'll be discussing Mairelon the Magician by Patricia C. Wrede, a delightful historical fantasy set in a Regency England that includes magic. Okay, it's a no brainer that I'd love this one...but won't you read it too and stop by to join the discussion?

Halloween weekend...

2009-10-28T06:18:00.000-07:00

Any Cape Codders out there?

On Friday, October 30 I'll be at the Yarmouth Library for a talk about writing geared especially for teens, but all writers are welcome! Then on Saturday, October 31, I'll be signing books at Where the Sidewalk Ends on Main Street in Chatham from 2-4.

It's been a crazy month, and I've promised a post on bunnies which I haven't yet written...but don't worry, it's coming!

Book Video!

2009-10-06T14:26:00.000-07:00

Here's the beautiful trailer for Betraying Season created by M2 Productions... enjoy!

Reviews (said with a big sigh of relief)

2009-10-01T09:25:00.000-07:00

Remember what I said about the anxiety of waiting for reviews? I can breathe a little easier now--reviews of Betraying Season from Booklist, Kirkus, and VOYA are making me pretty happy. Here are some quotes:

Booklist: "As in the previous book, this is a full-bodied story that wonderfully combines elements of romance, fantasy, and history....Whether Doyle is describing the Irish countryside, a magical incantation, or a lover’s kiss, her writing is compelling, and it will be hard for readers not to be swept away by this invigorating story."

Kirkus: "The mixture of historical detail and magic makes this...another page-turner...."

VOYA: "Seamlessly weaving elements of historical fiction, romance, and magic, Doyle creates believable characters in a realistic setting set in a fascinating plot. Extremely well written and utterly delightful, this book should appeal to female readers fourteen and older."

Life is good, and I no longer have to rely on chocolate for endorphins. :)

Twas the Night Before Release Day

2009-09-28T15:48:00.000-07:00

The day a book comes out is, at least for me, a mixed day.

Yes, I know, you're probably thinking, "what's not to be happy about?" Well, it's not that I'm not happy--thrilled, even. But what non-writers may not understand is what a l-o-n-g process publishing a book is. For example, I completed Betraying Season back in the summer of 2007. Yes, 2007. Since then it's been through edits, copy-edits, galley edits, and another quick edit to round the pages down to an even signature number (something to do with how many pages it takes up). I've filled out an author questionnaire, waited eagerly for the cover, then for the ARCS...you get the drift.

So what I'm trying to say is that for me, this is more the culmination of a process than it is an event. So I'm feeling more a warm glow than a fever of excitement.

Apart from waiting for reviews, of course. That's where the fever part comes in.

It's also a time for contemplation. Because of the amount of time between when a book is turned into one's publisher, and the date it actually comes out, most authors have time to get another book written--or two, or more. Which means that the book that has been released represents an author's skill level from an earlier stage, like an insect trapped in amber. So it's enlightening to look back and see how one has (hopefully) improved, and maybe make guesses about where one can improve in future books. Of course, accompanying that is the feeling of, "Oh, if I could just tweak that paragraph, or re-write that chapter" or whatever. Was it George Lucas who said that movies aren't ever finished, they're just abandoned? The same goes for books.

Just wanted to say that.

Finally! Some news!

2009-08-31T19:06:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted in the last few weeks because (a) I've been getting ready to pack child #1 off for his freshman year of college (and omg was that hard to do, but he seems to be settling in as of day 3) and (b) I didn't really have much to report because of (a).

But there's definitely news today...tomorow the paperback version of Bewitching Season hits the shelves! I got my author copies just today, and they're wonderful: same cover image, but a different back cover blurb and some nice quotes from Kirkus and VOYA and Booklist. What I didn't expect was an author interview and a teaser chapter for Betraying Season. I didn't expect the interview to actually appear in the book--I assumed it would go on-line, so that was a pleasant surprise (I hope I don't sound too silly in it), as was the teaser for Betraying Season.

So if you happen to see it in your local bookstore, let me know!

In other fun news, I'm starting to set up signings to go with Betraying Season's upcoming release, and was able to confirm a panel and signing at the fantabulous Books of Wonder in NYC for Sunday, October 18 from 1-3 pm. More on that to follow... I'm also definitely looking forward to signing at the wonderful Baker Books in North Dartmouth, MA on October 10 from 3-5 pm.

Stay tuned in a few days for a rabbit related post. I promised bunnies, didn't I?

Long Overdue

2009-08-11T19:55:00.000-07:00

Although I've been blogging for almost two years now on 19th century history with Regina Scott at Nineteenteen, intermittently on LiveJournal, and as part of the Enchanted Inkpot community, I've never set up a quick way to communicate news about my YA books and be interactive with readers and fellow writers in other ways.

Consider that oversight rectified.

Over the next weeks I'll be filling in news about book signings and other appearances, reviews, and whatever else happens as the countdown to the release of Betraying Season on September 29 progresses--and after that? Well, we'll see. Definitely expect rabbits, though. And other stuff. I hope you'll enjoy it.