Another Glamorous Release Day!

So today, this little baby crawls out into the world:



It feels like a long time coming, especially since I wrote the first draft of this book in 2009. So it's a little surreal to see it as an actual book, living somewhere other than on my hard drive.


As I've mentioned numerous times, I work full-time, so what does glamorous release day entail?  Not much-- it's the same as any other day. Outside my family, not many people in my real world know or care that I write, so I will not get my Book Birthday Crown. Wah. That's okay, after five other book releases, I've stiffened my upper lip.


Anyway, here it is, and there it goes. Thank you to all of those who have supported me by buying my books and helped me to make this latest dream a reality. Because I never forget that, despite the lack of hoopla and shiny tiaras. It still is a dream, even after all these years.


About DROWNED:


Coe is one of the few remaining teenagers on the island of Tides. Deformed and weak, she is constantly reminded that in a world where dry land dwindles at every high tide, she is not welcome. The only bright spot in her harsh and difficult life is the strong, capable Tiam—but love has long ago been forgotten by her society. The only priority is survival.

Until the day their King falls ill, leaving no male heir to take his place. Unrest grows, and for reasons Coe cannot comprehend, she is invited into the privileged circle of royal aides. She soon learns that the dying royal is keeping a secret that will change their world forever.

Is there an escape from the horrific nightmare that their island home has become? Coe must race to find the answers and save the people she cares about, before their world and everything they know is lost to the waters.


Praise for DROWNED:

“Despite the presence of royalty and two hunky boys, Drowned is not your average post-apocalyptic fantasy romance. The unusual setting of a human settlement on the brink of collapse and several simmering background mysteries . . . keep the pages turning.” – Booklist

“Full of suspense, romance, and mystery, Drowned is a thrilling read that will appeal to fans of dystopian adventures.” – VOYA

“An atmospheric, uneasy tale of survival.” – Kirkus

“Suspense mounts as Coe and Tiam explore the labyrinth beneath the royal palace and the mysteries of their island’s past. A fantasy twist toward the end of this series opener from Reilly fits perfectly with the fairy tales Coe retells throughout the novel.” – Publisher’s Weekly

 
“This suspenseful and dramatic tale will make readers feel just as trapped as Coe feels by the rising tides. Coe is an interesting and well-developed character that teens will root for every step of the way, and the other inhabitants of her island provide foils and allies alike. The book ends on a cliff-hanger, and readers will clamor for a sequel.” – School Library Journal  


"This is a world like you've never seen before but with themes and issues that strike surprisingly close to home. A thrilling, brilliant read!"  -- Aprilynne Pike, NYT Bestselling Author of Wings


"A resourceful and smart heroine and a society literally on the edge of survival. Take a deep breath. Once you start reading, you won't be able to stop!" -- Maria V. Snyder, NYT Bestselling Author of Poison Study

 "A gripping and romantic tale featuring a truly original heroine facing seemingly insurmountable odds. I loved it!" -- Morgan Rhodes, NYT Bestselling Author of Fallen Kingdoms

DROWNED Blog Tour!

Hi there! So, later this month, when DROWNED releases, I'll be participating in the first of two blog tours! 







Here's the schedule:


Monday, June 23rd  - Alice Marvels 
Wednesday, June 25th -  Parajunkee's View 
Friday June 27th - The Cozy Reader 

Monday, June 30th - Chapter by Chapter 
Wednesday, July 2nd Reader Girls 
Friday July 4th - Such a Novel Idea 


I hope you'll stop by these great blogs to hear more about DROWNED and leave a comment! :)

Blog Hop!

Omigosh! I got tagged by my writing friend Charlotte Bennardo who is the author of BLONDE OPS and also happens to have the best chocolate swag in the whole world at her signings.




And then for some reason I got shut out of my blog for a few days. This was supposed to go up on Monday.  So ANYWAY, pardon my lateness. 

1. What are you working on?

I am working on the sequel to DROWNED, which is called BURIED. It's coming out in 2015.

2. Tell me one element of your current work that you really love.

I'm excited to finally be writing a series. I've written 5 stand-alone novels and everyone always asked me, "Are you ever going to revisit those characters?" and I kept saying, Geez, no, I'm so sick of those people!  I couldn't understand why my readers weren't, too.  But then I went back and read one of my books and toward the end I really felt like I could've spent more time with them.

So now that I'm writing a book with the same characters, I kind of feel like I know them more intimately than I've known any of my other characters. It makes my writing life a lot easier, knowing exactly how a character would respond to a certain obstacle! And I finally have come to really love my characters and will probably be sad when I have to say goodbye to them.

3. What part of the book did you most love to write?

There is a rivalry that sprouts up between two of the characters, and I find that to be extremely fun! Other than that, I LOVE writing the end of a book. And not just because it's the end. I love reworking that last line to make it something that will stick with the reader.

4. In your writing process, what was the most difficult?

There are a lot of authors who write sequels for every book they come up with, whether or not it needs one. That's not me AT ALL. So trust me, this book needed a sequel.

But for this book, as excited as I was to write a sequel, I wasn't really sure I could. I was hung up thinking that this book would need to take place immediately after the events of the first book. I wrote it and wrote it a thousand different ways and it was SO DULL. I kept thinking, this book needs a sequel, and I owe it to the characters and to the readers who stayed with me this long to write something that doesn't put them in a coma.

Then I made the decision to start the book several months after the events of the first book. And then it all clicked. Or at least, I'm hoping it's all clicking!!

And now I am tagging Margie Gelbwasser, who is the coolest, funnest chick in the world and also writes awesome books, like INCONVENIENT and PIECES OF US.  I hope she'll answer the same questions on her blog! :)

Two Months Til DROWNED!

It's crazy that in fewer than 2 months, DROWNED will be out in the world! Where did the time go?


Here's a bit of praise for it:






"Coe’s voice is tough but eloquent, saturated with the bleakness of Tides and her hopeless romance . . . An atmospheric, uneasy tale of survival." -- Kirkus Reviews




"This is a world like you've never seen before but with themes and issues that strike surprisingly close to home. A thrilling, brilliant read!"  -- Aprilynne Pike, NYT Bestselling Author of Wings


"A resourceful and smart heroine and a society literally on the edge of survival. Take a deep breath. Once you start reading, you won't be able to stop!" -- Maria V. Snyder, NYT Bestselling Author of Poison Study

"Suspense mounts as Coe and Tiam explore the labyrinth beneath the royal palace and the mysteries of their island’s past. A fantasy twist toward the end . . . fits perfectly with the fairy tales Coe retells throughout the novel." -- Publisher's Weekly

"A gripping and romantic tale featuring a truly original heroine facing seemingly insurmountable odds. I loved it!" -- Morgan Rhodes, NYT Bestselling Author of Fallen Kingdoms




As of now, I'm busy revising the sequel and planning maybe a third book?  I don't know.




I hope you'll read DROWNED and let Coe and Tiam into your lives!  Join #TeamTiam. He is looking for a few good people to face the tides with. Just make sure you stay in your circle.

Goodreads Giveaway for DROWNED

Just FYI that my publisher, Harlequin TEEN, is giving away 25 copies of DROWNED on Goodreads!


If you'd like to nab your own before you can buy it, just click on the ENTER TO WIN button on the left-hand side of this page, or visit the page here.  Good luck!

WIN an ARC of DROWNED by Nicola Reilly! Enter by 3/17/14

Hey! I'm giving away a couple ARCs of DROWNED, so you can read it way before it comes out on 6/24.  All you have to do is comment here (comments will be hidden).


If you REALLY want to win, you can get a double-entry by also liking the Nichola Reilly page on facebook (see the button on the left-hand side), and then share the status. :)
I'll pick the winners after 3/17/14. Good luck!





Coe is one of the few remaining teenagers on the island of Tides. Deformed and weak, she is constantly reminded that in a world where dry land dwindles at every high tide, she is not welcome. The only bright spot in her harsh and difficult life is the strong, capable Tiam—but love has long ago been forgotten by her society. The only priority is survival. 


Until the day their King falls ill, leaving no male heir to take his place. Unrest grows, and for reasons Coe cannot comprehend, she is invited into the privileged circle of royal aides. She soon learns that the dying royal is keeping a secret that will change their world forever. 


Is there an escape from the horrific nightmare that their island home has become? Coe must race to find the answers and save the people she cares about, before their world and everything they know is lost to the waters.

COVER REVEAL for THE YEAR WE FELL DOWN

One of the things I secretly LOVE is New Adult books. Those are books for ages 18 to 24. I've been reading a lot of them, and so I'm pleased to be one of the first to showcase this little beauty, THE YEAR WE FELL DOWN by Sarina Bowen, coming out March 17!






A little bit of info on THE YEAR WE FELL DOWN:


She expected to start Harkness College as a varsity ice hockey player. But a serious accident means that Corey Callahan will start school in a wheelchair instead.

Across the hall, in the other handicapped-accessible dorm room, lives the too-delicious-to-be real Adam Hartley, another would-be hockey star with his leg broken in two places. He’s way out of Corey’s league.

Also, he’s taken.

Nevertheless, an unlikely alliance blooms between Corey and Hartley in the “gimp ghetto” of McHerrin Hall. Over tequila, perilously balanced dining hall trays, and video games, the two cope with disappointments that nobody else can quite understand.

They’re just friends, of course, until one night when things fall apart. Or fall together. All Corey knows is that she’s falling. Hard.

But will Hartley set aside his trophy girl to love someone as broken as Corey? If he won’t, she will need to find the courage to make a life for herself at Harkness — one which does not revolve around the sport she can no longer play, or the brown-eyed boy who’s afraid to love her back.

Warm, funny, and often heartbreaking, The Year We Fell Down is New Adult contemporary romance. Contains: hot hockey players, too many pairs of crutches, gallows humor, Princess Bride references, and a slightly outrageous vibrator scene. (Sexual situations make the book suitable for ages 18+.)

The expected publication date is Monday, March 17th, 2014, on all of your favorite e-book websites.

And on Sarina:

Sarina Bowen writes contemporary romance and new adult fiction from the Green Mountains of Vermont. She lives with her husband, two children, eight chickens and an unwieldy pile of ski and hockey equipment.