Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Fairy and Faery Taling

I haven't forgotten about the last cover art post (next time, promise), but I'm taking a break today because I have found myself surrounded by fairies this week.

First, teen writer and artist Mirriam Neal has posted an awesome article on her blog, Thoughts of a Sheildmaiden, about fairy tales* and why they are not, in fact, evil or occult and are a legitimate genre for Christians to read. I adore the points she makes. CLICK HERE.

Second, Mike Duran (yes, him again :P) has posted an interview with YA fantasy author R.J. Anderson. Mrs. Anderson also describes the draw to faery tales*, and tackles Mike's question about the distinction between YA and adult fiction. Her answer nails it, imho. CLICK HERE.

*In case you're not familiar with the difference, Miss Neal is talking fairy tales, as in stories with magic and such, while Mrs. Anderson is talking fae. Not that that helps if you don't know what fae is. Just go read the posts--you'll figure it out ;).

And last, but oh-so-not least....

My dear friend Diane Graham's book I Am Ocilla is finally out!!!! It is the latest release from my publisher, Splashdown Books, and I got to be one of the two main editors.

Here's the back cover copy:


Open your heart and mind to the simplicity and complexity of a name.


I know only my name. Beyond that is confusion, a void where fantasy and reality swirl together. Fairies, Giants, Elves, Dwarves, ancient Keepers, and…Dragons?


A dark soul threatens the Five Kingdoms, but I am powerless to stand against him, overwhelmed by phantom memories, broken and lost.


Somehow, I must live. I must find my purpose. There are friends to love and battles to fight.


I know my name. Perhaps that is enough.


I am Ocilla.


This is my story.

And my endorsement:

Fairy tale and fantasy, adventure and emotion--I am Ocilla took me on a journey that had me laughing, cheering, crying, and contemplating. It is a story of self-discovery, of love, of good and evil, all told in a voice that captured me from the first page.


Buy it at Amazon and Barnes & Noble*. Yes, now.


(*Nook version coming soon.)

6 comments:

Caprice Hokstad said...

Actually, the nook version of "I am Ocilla" is available NOW at Smashwords. It just takes B&N a while to get their act together. Wouldn't want anyone to miss out on the introductory price that will be over soon.

Thanks for all the article links, Kat.

Kat Heckenbach said...

Yes, thank you, Caprice! You can get the epub version of I Am Ocilla at Smashwords. It reads on a Nook just like a Nookbook, but the download process is a little different. And the intro price of $4.99 is for a limited time, then it goes up to $6.99. Get to it, folks!

Jeff Chapman said...

I purchased a Kindle copy of Ocilla when I saw it was on sale.

Speaking of covers, when I first saw the one for Ocilla, I saw small versions of the image, ones in which you cannot see the detail of the dragon reflected in the girl's eye. I thought it screamed teenage girl angst which turned me off of investigating further. (Yes, yes, I admit it. I judged the book by the cover.) Sarah Sawyer featured a larger image of the cover on her blog and mentioned the dragon. That detail excited my curiosity.

Kat Heckenbach said...

Awesome, Jeff! Thanks--I Am Ocilla is a cool read. And I love the detail of the dragon. I do wish it showed up better in smaller images. Definitely NOT a "teen angst" kind of book. Pure fairy tale.

Kristen Stieffel said...

Kindle version can also be had from Smashwords -- actually, Smashwords provides every digital format you might want, which is one of the reasons it rocks.

I now try to always buy digital editions from Smashwords if I can, because although Amazon will let you review a book no matter where you buy it, Smashwords only allows you to review books bought from them. So if you buy there, you can review in both places!

Also, I learned today that Smashwords pays publishers by PayPal, so publishers abroad (like Ocilla's publisher) don't lose a cut to international banking fees, as they do from Amazon.

Kat Heckenbach said...

Ooh, Kristen, thanks! Very good points.

I'm not sure what I think of Amazon's issue with Paypal. I don't like the effect it has on my publisher because she's outside the US and has to pay fees in order to cash the checks Amazon sends her. But then again, Paypal can charge some pretty stiff fees themselves.