Mundie Moms

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Witchlanders Blog Tour: The Journey of Witchlanders


I'm so excited to be the next stop in Kismet's Witchlanders blog tour. Before we get to the heart of the stop, here's a little bit about this must have book!

High in their mountain covens, red witches pray to the Goddess, protecting the Witchlands by throwing the bones and foretelling the future.

It’s all a fake.

At least, that’s what Ryder thinks. He doubts the witches really deserve their tithes—one quarter of all the crops his village can produce. And even if they can predict the future, what danger is there to foretell, now that his people’s old enemy, the Baen, has been defeated?

But when a terrifying new magic threatens both his village and the coven, Ryder must confront the beautiful and silent witch who holds all the secrets. Everything he’s ever believed about witches, the Baen, magic and about himself will change, when he discovers that the prophecies he’s always scorned—

Are about him.


We're thrilled to have a guest post from Witchlanders author, Lena Coakley:

My Imaginary Novel: The Journey of Witchlanders
M
I was sitting at my desk one day many years ago when an idea hit me for a YA fantasy novel. One minute the idea wasn’t there and the next minute it was: a fully formed novel synopsis with a beginning, middle and end. I was so thrilled that I had to call my co-worker, Hadley Dyer, down to my office and tell her all about it. Hadley and I worked for a woefully understaffed non-profit at the time, so the fact that she didn’t say, “Lena, I’m doing the work of ten—who cares about your imaginary novel?!” is a real testament to her good nature.

I proceeded to tell Hadley a story that bears almost no relation to Witchlanders. I don’t remember much about the plot except that the climax involved someone riding a reanimated dead horse. (Anyone who reads Witchlanders will note that zombie horses do not play a role.) Hadley, though, picked up on what was essential in what I’d told her. For many weeks, months and years after, she would say: “Are you writing that book about the farm boy? Are you writing that book about Ryder?” And it was the character of Ryder, and soon after, the character of Falpian, that haunted me.For eight long years I slogged away on the book about Ryder, and in those eight long years I learned to write. I learned about the techniques of writing and I learned about the discipline of writing. I learned with amazement that I am persistent, as persistent, it turns out, as a terrier with a pant leg. I locked my jaws around the idea of finishing a novel and I did not let go. I started working for another non-profit, CANSCAIP, the Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators and Performers, where I eventually became the Administrative Director. At our meetings, I saw many new authors holding up their first novels with trembling hands, and I longed to be one of them.When I thought Witchlanders was finally finished, I sent it around to a few agents and, miracle of miracles!, Steven Malk of Writers House, called me to say he’d like to work with me on it. The first thing I learned from Steven: Witchlanders wasn’t finished. Not by a long shot. I wrote in detail over on the Adventures in Children’s Publishing blog about the process of working through his critique letters, but suffice to say, they were the making of my book. The revision process with him stretched out for two more years, but when we were finally done, the book sold very quickly to the Atheneum imprint of S&S.My Witchlanders journey is far from over. After all, it’s just coming out…today! But I’m so grateful to the all the people who cared about Ryder before he was even born, especially my agent, Steven Malk, my editor, Caitlyn Dlouhy, and my wonderful writing group, which includes the good-natured Hadley Dyer, who was there from the very beginning. Today my imaginary novel is finally real.
__________________________________

Want to win a Kindle3 Wifi, complete with a copy of Witchlanders and a personal letter from Lena?


Answer this question from the video in the comments below to be entered to win! If you follow the entire blog tour, you'll have 15 chances to win! This is open to residents of the US/Canada only.


Be sure to leave a comment with your answer, along with your name (first name only) along with your email address to be entered in the giveaway.

Be sure to follow the rest of the tour here:

Monday August 22nd -The Page Turners – Character Interview between Ryder and Falpain
Tuesday, August 23rd - The Unread Reader - When I’m not writing
Bonus Stop and Giveaway of a Witchlanders Copy - The Zealous Reader
Wednesday, August 24th - Books Complete Me – The World of Witchlanders
Bonus Stop and Giveaway of a Witchlanders Copy – Rayment’s Readings, Rants and Ramblings
Thursday, August 25th - We Fancy Books - Character Interview with Falpian
Friday, August 26th - Read Breath Relax -This & That post with Lena

Monday, August 29th - Emilie’s Book World
Tuesday, August 30th - The Mundie Mom’s
Wednesday, August 31st - The Enchanted Inkpot
Thursday, September 1st- Well Read Wife
Friday, September 2nd - A Journey of Books

Monday, September 5th - The Story Siren
Tuesday, September 6th - One A Day Y.A.
Wednesday, September 7th - Reading Angel
Thursday, September 8th - Soul Unsung
Friday, September 9th - Alice Marvel’s

Tuesday, September 13th: Announcement of the big prize winner on Lena’s Site!


Follow author Lena Coakley here website, facebook, twitter
You can purchase Witchlanders here goodreads, amazon, B&N, Indie Bound

I'll be posting my review along with a RELEASE DAY prize pack from Lena herself shortly!! You don't want to miss this.

40 comments:

  1. Pitching it. Writing is hard work but pitching a book is terrifying!

    rebecca(dot)upjohn(at)gmail(dot)com

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  2. Writing it, by far. When I find a book or a ms that I really love and believe in, I can't shut up about it :)

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  3. Writing it would be harder for me. I'm great at getting wonderful ideas, and explaining them to people and dreaming up all of it... and if I had something in my hand, I could rave about it easily. But getting it all down on paper? That's hard work :)

    everafteresther(AT)gmail(DOT)com
    Brenna

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  4. I've written a book but never pitched one. Writing was one of the hardest things I have ever done but it felt so wonderful to finally finish, well worth the effort.

    lostnthestacks(at)yahoo(dot)com
    Ashly F.

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  5. I wouldn't even know where to pitch my book ideas! SO MANY!

    natalie152(at)gmail(dot)com

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  6. Writing a book would be harder because I have no imagination. I'd get a paragraph out then sit there wiaitng for the rest to write itself. I could easily pitch a book I liked or loved.

    Anne
    acm05atjuno.com

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  7. I definitely think pitching it would be hardest. I mean, how do you try to convince someone that the thing you've been crafting for months, years, decades, etc. deserves a shot? Very interesting question! :)

    chasingwordsreviews{at}gmail{dot}com

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  8. Writing definitely. When I have ideas sometimes I cam express myself, but others I think to fast and my pen can't catch up.
    Breezyobreezy(at)aol(dot)com

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  9. I think that writing it would be the hardest part. I have so many ideas going on in my head, but when it comes to putting them on paper it is not as easy as some people make it look. I'm much better at selling things once they are written.

    OBoyledBooks [at] gmail [dot] com

    Michelle (@OBoyledBooks)

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  10. Writing the book would be the hardest. I have a hard time keep one thought going and actually having a storyline. I could pitch all day.

    ryanandkimdrake@att.net

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  11. Definitely pitching it. I've written three books, but I'm scared to death of sending them out into the world.

    angelidgcruz[at]gmail[dot]com

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  12. Gosh, Writing for sure!!!
    I love to pitch books if those books are not mine hehe!

    Thank you Katie for hosting Lena today on her BookBirthday!!! Wooohoo! :))

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  13. Are you kidding me? PITCHING!! I can write blindfolded, with my right hand tied behind my back. But letting someone else read it? Or trying to talk it up to someone? NO, not gonna happen. My crappy self-esteem dictates that I simply can't. I mean it took me over 6 months to get up enough courage to show my blog sister my current book.

    I really need help with pitching. Or maybe I just need to find my big girl pants! lolz

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    Darakfallen, aka Kaycee.
    paranormalwasteland@gmail.com

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  14. Pitching it would be so much harder. How do you convince someone that what you wrote is worth reading? I'm shy by nature anyway so just talking to people is hard for me much less putting something I created out in the world!

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  15. Hi everybody! Thanks for dropping by! And thanks so much to Mundie Moms for hosting me today. As for the question--good heavens! Writing it is much harder.

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  16. Definately writing it....trying to get the storyline to flow, characters personalities, and describing the scenes, moods, etc...I have tried...and man, I think authors are brilliant people!! With very creative minds!!

    GFC Michele Luker

    jmluker at winco dot net

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  17. I think writing is SO MUCH harder. asiangirlconnie@gmail.com

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  18. pitching it! I've written books. Not good ones, but I've written them. Pitching them, getting them sold? That would be much harder!!

    Heather

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  19. Writing a book would be harder for me.
    Laurie
    laurlamb at yahoo dot ca

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  20. Writing a book would be so much harder! I convince people to read books all the time between my blog and my job, but I'm so not creative enough to write an entire book.

    Small
    imagesandwords at optonline dot net

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  21. Writing it. I have a really hard time putting my imagination into words.

    Vivien
    deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

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  22. I think the hardest thing would be pitching the book because I am TERRIBLY horrible with speech. As in, getting infront of someone or people in a presentation. and I strongly believe that writing a book is easier because it's just an outlet for you to spill those creative juices brewing in your mind and transfering them onto paper. I know you have to go through edits and stuff, but still ... I believe that the whole process would be a great and most enjoyable adventure all the way to the end. =)
    Thanks so much for hosting this giveaway!!

    GFC Follower: SpadesHighReads
    TValeros18 AT gmail DOT com

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  23. Writing a book is definitely more difficult for me. Pitching it would be easy in comparison! (extemter at hotmail dot com)

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  24. Pitching is nerve wracking. I'd rather write, but pitching is a necessary evil!

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  25. Pitching the book. I am shy and have an extreme fear of public speaking. :)

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    Joanna
    brightsunflowers at yahoo dot com

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  26. Definitely writing it! I can gush about a book to a friend and have them just as excited as me to have the next in the series come out so I can keep the story going! I'm a reader, not a writer.

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  27. I'm not a writer but I would imagine that writing would be harder :)
    jwitt33 at live dot com

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  28. Wow that's a really hard question. I've never tried to pitch a book before but for me thus far I think the hardest thing is writing a book, I'm not quite a year in to my current WIP and Im still working on finishing it. Sometimes things flow really well and its not so bad but when the muse doesn't talk or things aren't working right it can be very difficult and often brings through to a screeching halt. I have no doubt that pitching is a difficult process but I think writing your story is a lot harder once you have a good story the pitching shouldn't be as bad.

    Thanks for the awesome contest!

    Jamie
    jamiekrakover (at) hotmail (dot) com

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  29. Definitely writing it. I feel like if you're passionate enough, you can pitch it eventually...but you have to get it down and make it good to begin with! Thanks for the chance to win!

    andralynn7@gmail.com

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  30. Writing it for sure. I have a hard time putting my ideas all together to form a legit book review sometimes, so I couldn't imagine having to write a whole book. So many times I'm in awe when I see that people can actually write great things! Once the book is written, I think I'd be able to pitch it!
    Thanks for the post!
    stellarbookblog[at]gmail[dot]com

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  31. Writing a book would be harder for me. Great question.

    Cambonified {at} yahoo {dot} com

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  32. Well, since I'm in the process of writing my first novel, I would have to say writing it. The lingering self doubt is almost too much to bear!

    truebookaddictATgmailDOTcom

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  33. I think sitting down and writing would be the hardest thing. In the ten years I've attempted to write my book, I still only have about ten pages! One of these days ...

    contact [at] bibliosaurustext [dot] com

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  34. Definitely harder for me to pitch a book than write it. But I plan to change that with the next one!

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  35. Pitching it would be much harder for me.

    lovetoread205 [at] gmail [dot] com

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  36. Definately writing it. I have a hard time putting the thoughts in my head on paper.
    Patti
    musicalfrog at comcast.net

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  37. Writing it, for sure. I love to read, but I am definitely not a writer.

    mysecretagentloverman at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  38. I would definitely have to say writing it. I could come up with all the details and tell another the story, but I could not write it all down to where it would make sense.

    I think it would be much easier to pitch the book, because I love raving about something that is wonderful!

    Thanks,
    Ashley Suzanne
    ashleysbookshelf at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  39. Pitching it, totally. The writing is the fun part but squishing all of that plot and story into a small bit to pitch when you want to go one for hours about it... Yeah, that's no fun.

    Jesi Marie
    jesi.m.miller(at)gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  40. Writing it... I'm still trying to figure that one out. :P
    aldiss87@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete

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