Under the Green Hill is Honored

Did I mention the pleasant news that UNDER THE GREEN HILL was selected for the Sunshine State Young Readers Award list? That means thousands of middle school kids throughout the state of Florida (my home state!) are being encouraged to read my book. I am so honored, and thrilled, and giddy!

This is the paperback cover.

 

And this is the hardback cover.

Here is the oh-my-goodness-lovely cover of Love by the Morning Star. I think it is my favorite cover ever. It so perfectly captures the effervescent romance, the sly comedy, and the setting of my upcoming book.

The Romantic Comedy Formerly Known as MORNING STAR

Oddly enough, writing and blogging don't seem to go well together.

The good news is, I've finished my romantic comedy (or historical romance, or Wodehousean farce) which was once known as MORNING STAR, but which will soon have a shiny new name. I'll tell you more about it soon. It will be out some time in 2014 from Harcourt (HMH).

Rumor is that Christopher Silas Neal might do the cover. He's the one who did that AMAZING covers for Sadie Jones' The Uninvited Guests, and Laurie Halse Anderson's Chains, Forge and Fever 1793. I'm kind of swooning at the possibility.

XO
Laura

YA Historical Fantasy DELUSION Hits the Shelves!

My young adult historical fantasy DELUSION is released today!
It is about two teenaged stage magician girls in London at the beginning of WWII who are evacuated to the countryside – and discover a hidden college of real magicians. As they try to persuade the reclusive magicians to help their country's cause (two handsome, dashing ones in particular) they face love, betrayal, danger, and challenges to their most deeply held beliefs.

You can buy DELUSION at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, IndieBound, or your favorite local bookstore.

I like to write about the small things inside the big things – the romances, the friendships, the accidents, that have a huge (though utterly unknown) effect on history. My historicals are alternate history in that the main characters never existed, the plots they make or foil never happened. But they are set in a past that is as accurate as possible. In other words, no magicians probably ever meddled in world events in 1939, but they could have. I don't change any real historical outcomes. I just show what could have happened behind the scenes if a stage magician girl and a real magician boy happened to meet and fall in love.

I hope you read it -- and I hope you love it! Let me know what you think!
XO

Laura

All is roses

Writers (oh how I love to generalize) are fragile, insecure creatures (who are at the same time egoistic narcissists, but they keep that on the DL) who go all to pieces at bad reviews and then start a downward spiral of sour-graping mixed with crushing self doubt.

Then they get a review like this, and all is roses again:

Bookshelves of Doom reviews Ladies in Waiting.

So thanks.

xo
Laura

Carbon Free Sugar

Okay, I get what they're saying. It still tickles me.

Certified Carbon Free Sugar.

Not quite as bad as the fat free spring water, but still, funny.

Because of course, sugar has carbon.

And here is a nifty little experiment you can do (if you have sulfuric acid) which rather dramatically shows exactly how much carbon sugar has:

The Winner!

Congratulations to MIKE! You won a copy of The Crimson Petal and the White, and a signed hardcover of Ladies in Waiting. I'll contact you shortly to get your mailing address. I can't wait to hear what you think of both books!
XO
Laura