Q&A--come play!

Today I'm answering questions and giving books away at Bitten By Books, who just gave Alpha a 5 tombstone rating!

Alpha is out!

Today's the day! If you haven't already, you should be able to find Alpha in your local book store today, if your local book store is in the US, Canada, or the UK. And it should be available as an e-book in most formats on October 1st. And it'll be an audio book very shortly too. So, lots of ways to read Alpha, and I hope you like it!

Also, the Blog tour contest is still going on, and I've added new stops to the list, so make sure you scroll down and check that out if you haven't already.

And if you've already read Alpha and would like to discuss, there's a spoiler thread open on my discussion group, The Pride. But do not go in there if you haven't finished the entire series. Spoilers abound, and they will ruin the book for you. ;)

Alpha blog tour and giveaway! [updated]

Here's a list of stops on the Alpha blog tour, all of which contain either a guest post from or a mini-interview with me. They should also each have an exclusive one-line teaser from Alpha. If you find one that doesn't, you might want to mention it in a comment at that individual blog stop.

- The Wayfaring Writer
- Jessica Rabbit's Corner (Note: this site contains adult-only images, though my interview is rated G ;))
- Chronicles of a Henchwoman
-A Great Read
-Drey's Library
-Tynga's Reviews
-Lale on Lit
-Escape Between The Pages
-The Cozy Reader (with giveaway)
-Kalayna Price
-A Bookworm's Haven
-Coffee Table Press (Q&A)
-The Bibliophilic Book Blog
-Nice Girls Don't Read Naughty Books

If I've missed any of the blog tour stops, please let me know. And if your blog is one of the stops and you didn't get your mini-excerpt, please let me know.

Now for some giveaway fun!

- Up for grabs: One signed copy of Alpha

- How you can win: Go to the Alpha blog tour events listed above, then come back here and tell me your favorite one-line teaser in the comments. Feel free to guess who said it, or what it means. But no actual spoilers, please.

- One entry per person.

- The deadline to enter is 11:59 pm (Central) on October 1, the official Alpha release date. And that means that there will be more blog tour stops between now and then, so you can pick a favorite now and enter so you won't forget, or you can wait and read them all, then enter at the last minute. ;)

Okay...go!

Off stage...

Okay, today I have a few last things from the Smart Chicks tour. (Tomorrow, look for more Alpha release madness!!!!)

Up first are some pictures I stole shamelessly. Because it's hard to take pictures of yourself. ;)

This is me and Kelsey at the Woodlands signing, in Houston. Isn't she adorable!


This is me and Natalie at the Vroman's signing, in Pasadena. Natalie made my head swell with all her kind words, I swear! And yes, evidently I only wear black. Ever. ;)



This is me standing on the table at the Woodlands signing, to throw a souvenir shirt over the shelves to part of the crowd that couldn't see or hear us. And in retrospect, I wish I hadn't stuffed quite so much stuff into my pockets. I look...lumpy. ;)

Next is this video I shot with Kami Garcia's camera, as we were finishing up lunch at PF Chang's in Pasadena. Every last one of these ladies is hilarious, and they were so much fun to hang out with. In order pictured: Kami Garcia, Kelley Armstrong, unknown waiter, Vania (our official photographer) and Margie Stohl. I, of course, am narrating in a brilliant ploy to avoid being on camera. ;)

Thanks for the video, Kami!

Honored

I'm at the airport in San Diego, waiting to board my flight to Dallas. My part on the Smart Chicks tour is over, and I am sad. I didn't take many pictures, because Vania, the official tour photographer seemed to have that covered, and i hope to be able to post some of her pics soon. But for now, you can see them on Twitter, by following @reveriebr or @smartchickstour or just about any of the other touring authors, including me.

I've had the BEST time on tour. Like, the best time EVER. If you get a chance to go to one of the remaining stops, go. For real. The tour is very casual and the energy level of both author and audience is unbelievable. The authors throw swag into the audience and raffle away prizes including ARCs, tour shirts, and random special treats. They answer sometimes embarrassing, always funny questions, do a Q&A lightning round, play Sarah Reese Brennan's Marry/Shag/Cliff game and give away a huge basket full of books from every single Smart Chicks author, even the ones not on every stop.

Then they sign things. Books, shirts, printable posters, memory books, Kindle cases, bookmarks, paper, etc. In Pasadena, we even signed one young man's stomach. (With his mother's permission.) He's kinda infamous now. :)

So, this tour is so much fun, for everyone involved. Most of the stops have had more than 300 attendees, and Kelley Armstrong and Melissa Marr have done so much work to put this together, along with the other authors, who helped schedule, design swag, Tweet, blog, video, and probably a million other bits of promo and organization I'm probably leaving out.

But the best part for me, other than getting to meet and sign for hundreds of fans in a three-stop span, was getting to see my writer friends again. Most of us already knew one another before the tour began (though several I met for the first time on this tour), and getting to hang out together again and share the tour experience, as well as advice, support, and some serious laughs, is beyond awesome. We ate most meals together, shopped together, went sightseeing together. We shared cars, and plates, and Tylenol, and crazy stories. I've connected with existing friends and made new friends.

And I signed a ton of books.

At the risk of speaking prematurely, since the tour isn't over, congratulations, ladies! You made it happen, and I am so honored to have been a part of it.

On the road again...

I'm in my hotel room in LA and I have to say, I'm feeling really peaceful. I have the next few hours to work on IF I DIE, with room service coffee and perfect silence. I'm gonna get stuff done. Then this afternoon, I'm going shopping with the Smart Chicks before tonight's event at Vroman's. Then tomorrow, San Diego!

Last night I had a blast with some of the other (very funny) smart chicks. We got dinner, checked out Vroman's outdoor venue, and goofed off in Target, shopping for incidentals.

I'll try to post pictures from the tour, but it's much easier to post them to Twitter on the road than to Blogger, so if you're interested, check out the Smart Chicks Twitter feed, or my personal one. Or follow reveriebr, our official photographer.

In other news, before my flight even boarded yesterday, #1 called to tell me that three new ARCs of MSTSteal had arrived, minutes too late to bring with me. So I'll be giving those away after Alpha has made it's way into the world.

IN 8 DAYS!

Yes, ALPHA comes out in 8 days!

I'm behind on interviews and guest posts I've promised people because I'm slammed (and out of town) but i swear I'll make them all up shortly.

Okay, I think that's it for today! I'm off to write the IF I DIE climax. Wish me luck!

Winner; blog tour

Sorry for my recent absence. I am absolutely snowed under with work. All at once, I am trying to finish IF I DIE, do copy edits on "Reaper," do revisions on "Neiderwald" (my story in the Smart Chicks antho), keep up with the Alpha blog tour, and get ready for my trip to CA next week for my last two stops on the Smart Chicks tour.

On top of that, I've also been writing bonus content for my website and the back of the UK edition of the Soul Screamers books and brainstorming cover stuff for the first in my new adult series, which will be headed to its cover conference very, very soon.

So, to make up for my disappearing act, today I have the winner of the Alpha trailer contest as well as some more pictures from the Smart Chicks tour!

First up, the contest... Thanks to all who entered! More than 160 of you posted the Alpha trailer to help me spread the word, and many of you posted it multiple places, and I can't thank you all enough!

And the winner, selected by random number generator, is... Brandy, whose entry began,
"I am super excited to read this and also incredibly sad to say good bye ..."

Brandy, please email me (rachelATrachelvincentDOTcom) to claim your prize.

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Now for some more pics from the Smart Chicks stop at the Woodlands: click here to see the amazing shots taken by Vania, the official tour photographer.

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Alpha blog tour!

Here's a list of interviews I've done so far in the Alpha blog tour. I'll be updating it frequently:

- The Wayfaring Writer

- Jessica Rabbit's Corner (Note: this site contains adult-only images, though my interview is rated G ;))

- Chronicles of a Henchwoman

My 1st tour stop! [Edited]

Edit: for pics, check out my Deadline Dames post from today.

Wow, last night's Smart Chicks event in Houston was crazy awesome! The final count was around 400 (at least, that's what they told me) and after the Q&A, giveaways, and Holly Black's lightening round, we signed books until after 11pm.

And yes, I stood on a table, in case you've seen the pictures online. But I wasn't the only one. Melissa, Holly, and Margie also stood on tables--I was just the first to cave to the impulse. :) And that was just because the crowd was so big that half the people were standing several aisles away and could barely hear us, much less catch the prizes being tossed into the crowd. I was just trying to keep it fair! :) but the awesome Holly Black took it to a whole new level by hosting the question lightening round from the table top.

For me, the best part of my trip to Houston, other than meeting all the awesome readers, was seeing Holly, Melissa, and Kelley again, and meeting Margie, Kami, and Cassie for the first time in person. So. Cool.

I took pictures and video but I can't upload it until I get home...

Until then it's still a work day for me. I have to work on IF I DIE, answer tons of interview questions, finish some bonus content for the UK Soul Screamers editions, and think seriously about the covers for my new adult series, which is up for its cover meeting next week.

Thanks to all who came to see us in Houston, and I hope to see even more of you next week in California!

Hey Houston!!!

Tonight I'm in Houston for the second Smart Chicks tour stop (my first) and after having lunch with most of the other authors on this stop and hearing all about last night's event in Houston, I'm really excited about tonight!

Tomorrow, I'll be back at home for a few days, finishing up IF I DIE and preparing for the Alpha release before I fly out to California for my last two stops on the Smart Chicks tour. It's a crazy busy and exciting month for me and part of me wants it to last forever, while my exhausted writer half is ready for a break.

Check back tomorrow for pictures!

Smart Chicks Tour!!!

The Smart Chicks Kick It tour starts tomorrow!!!

This tour has been seventeen months in the making, and I can't believe it's finally here! I don't even have words for how excited I am for my three stops, and I can't wait to meet readers, and those of my fellow authors I haven't already met in person.

Just a note from our fearless leaders (Melissa Marr and Kelley Armstrong, both of whom I adore):

We are getting last min news that a variety of stores are requiring 1 book purchased on site. Suspect most of you will be buying at least one book at each event. SORRY [this is] late, but I just got the note 5 min ago. Please check the website of the store you will attend for any other last minute notes. Hope to see you soon!

And, if you're going to be attending one or more of the stops, check out these downloadable posters you can print and have signed by the authors.

Also, several of the authors will have a few ARCs of their upcoming books to give away (Melissa Marr and Rachel Caine, I think). Unfortunately, I don't have any ARCs of MSTSteal to give away, but I do have Soul Screamers tee shirts for whoever asks for them, until supplies run out. ;)

Not sure where we're going to be? Here's the schedule:

September 13th, 2010 7 PM @ BOOKPEOPLE, Austin, TX
Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Holly Black, Rachel Caine & Cassandra Clare

September 14th, 2010 7 PM @ B&N THE WOODLANDS, Houston, TX
Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Holly Black, Cassandra Clare, Kami Garcia & Rachel Vincent.

September 15th, 2010 7PM. @ The Refuge (13150 Memorial Dr). Hosted by BLUE WILLOW, Houston, TX
Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Holly Black, Sarah Rees Brennan, Margaret Stohl & Cassandra Clare

September 16th, 2010 6 PM @ Plantation Commons (105 Plantation Cove, Gluckstadt). Hosted by LEMURIA BOOKS, Jackson, MS
Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Holly Black, Cassandra Clare, Jessica Verday & Sarah Rees Brennan

September 17th, 2010 7PM @ Scottsdale Civic Library Auditorium, hosted by POISONED PEN Scottsdale, AZ
Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Kelley Armstrong, Holly Black, Sarah Rees Brennan & Kimberly Derting.

September 18th, 2010 6 PM @ Menlo Park Library, Hosted by KEPLERS, Menlo Park, CA
Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Kelley Armstrong, Melissa de la Cruz, Margaret Stohl, Kami Garcia & Kimberly Derting

September 20th, 2010 6 PM @ VROMAN'S, Pasadena, CA
Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Kelley Armstrong, Rachel Caine, Melissa de la Cruz, Rachel Vincent, Margaret Stohl & Mary Pearson

September 21st, 2010 6 PM @ Encinitas County Library, hosted by MYSTERIOUS GALAXY, San Diego, CA
Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Kelley Armstrong, Mary Pearson, Rachel Caine, Rachel Vincent, Carrie Ryan, Margaret Stohl & Kami Garcia.

September 22nd, 2010 7 PM @ Wentz Concert Hall at North Central College, Hosted by ANDERSON'S Naperville, IL
Alyson Noel, Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Jackson Pearce, Jennifer Barnes & Carrie Ryan
NOTE: for this event, it is free with the purchase on one book by a featured author or $5 without purchase.

September 23rd, 2010 7 PM @ BOOKS & CO AT THE GREENE, Dayton, OH
Alyson Noel, Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Jackson Pearce, Jennifer Lynn Barnes & Kami Garcia.

September 24th, 2010 7 PM @ JOSEPH BETH Cincinnati, OH
Alyson Noel, Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Jeri Smith-Ready, & Margaret Stohl

September 25th, 2010 2 PM @ CHAPTERS BRAMPTON (52 Quarry Edge Drive) Brampton, ON
Alyson Noel, Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Melissa de la Cruz, Jeri Smith-Ready, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Alpha trailer and contest

[The contest has now ended--stay tuned to see the winner! And of course, you may still post the trailer. ;)]

Okay, I think we're finally ready to show off the Alpha trailer! The HD version is too big to post here, but you can click through to Youtube to watch it there, or you can watch it on my website.



And, of course, I promised another giveaway, so here goes!

Since we've already had a couple of easy, raise-your-hand-if-you-want-one contests, this one's going to require a little work. (Mwa ha ha ha!)

• What's up for grabs: an early, signed copy of Alpha.
• How you can enter: post this trailer on your blog, Facebook page, LJ, etc... and leave the link in the comments section. Direct links only, please. That means leave a link to the particular post where the trailer is embedded, not a link to your entire blog. If I can't find it, the entry doesn't count.
• Deadline: Wednesday, September 15, 11:59 pm (central)

Note: This contest probably has your best odds yet of winning a copy of Alpha because while it's easy to leave a comment or fill out a form, posting something online requires a little time and effort, so this one will get fewer entries. Which increases your chance of winning if you do enter. ;)

Like a grownup

I had a busy weekend, and Monday morning has hit me hard. Because of continued wrist and arm troubles, I've had to give up my precious laptop/recliner setup and am now chained to a desk at a new desktop computer in my re-organized office. Like a grownup.

Fortunately, I use a wireless external hard drive rather than an internal one most of the time, so I didn't have to transfer most of my documents, but I did have to transfer all of my music and pictures, which took forever. As did rearranging the furniture to make room for a new desk. But, I think it's all worked out, and there's still a little floorspace, plus a cozy reading area for my half-retired recliner. Maybe some day I'll have enough room for a small couch. ;)



I know the pictures are grainy, but that's Nyx in the cat perch in front of the window, and the mug on my desk is my Andy (from Weeds) mug! The desk in the foreground is where #1 works his website/book trailer magic.

Speaking of which, the Alpha trailer is all done! I meant to post it this weekend, but I got distracted with other stuff. But it'll be live on my website tonight and on the blog tomorrow. But in the mean time, if you're a Pride member, you can see it now, in the Alpha thread!

In other news, Ann still hasn't claimed her signed copy of Alpha, so I will be drawing a new name for that tomorrow. The other three prizes have already been claimed and will be shipped today, along with a bunch of other stuff I owe people.

Also tomorrow, look for a new giveaway!

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If you live in the UK, be on the lookout for this!

Unclaimed Prizes!

I'm blogging at the Deadline Dames site today (soon, hopefully), so you can head over there to check that out, and this afternoon and tomorrow afternoon, I'm answering questions for the HQTeen panel members, so if you're a member between 13 and 17 years old, feel free to drop in and leave me a question or a comment.

Also, I've only heard from two of the four winners from the Alpha contest, so if you entered and haven't checked yet, scroll down to see if you won. Otherwise, I'll have to draw two more names and make some other winners very happy. ;)