Three Things For A Post
Three things, internets! 1: When We Wake First pass pages: SUCCESS [Transcript: A pile of printer paper bound with heavy duty rubber bands, many post-it flags indicating changes in the top left corner. The top page reads WHEN WE WAKE in a delightfully futuristic typeface] Typically nervewracking work, because what if you don’t like the book anymore? Turns out I do, excellent, send it off on Monday. 2: First ever creme brulee: MOSTLY SUCCESS. [Transcript: A creme brulee in a grey terracotta soup bowl, looking mighty fine if I do say so myself.] Me: Where are those ramekins you said you...
read moreGuardian of the Dead Paperback Cover!
Internets, I am so happy! As you know, I think I have had excellent fortune with covers; although I love some more than others, I think they are all beautiful, and none horrify my social justice sensibilities. Neither of these things are guaranteed in the world of publishing, and I am very lucky to have had excellent designers and ethical publishers working on these books. This is all preamble to say that Little, Brown decided on a new cover for the paperback of Guardian of the Dead and I LOVE IT FOREVER. [Image transcript at end of post] It is so creepy and sexy and strong. This is no...
read moreNEW The Shattering Cover!
NOTE: THIS ENTIRE POST IS LIES. Which I mention because apparently a bookstore contacted my publicist to see if the cover had really changed. Hi Interwebs! I have a confession to make. You see, after a lot of discussion, Allen and Unwin decided to go with a new cover design for the Australian version of The Shattering. They went with a new designer, RC Fleming, and a really different take on the book. I’ve been sitting on this for a while, DYING to let you all see. And today, I finally get to unveil the new cover design to you! This design really speaks to the lighter side of the...
read moreAurealis Awards
I was plowing through the To-Do list this morning (it included such items as “eat breakfast” and “shower”, because on days like this, if it’s not on the list, it’s not getting done) when I got an email from Editor S. Despite the fact that “triage email” was further down the list, I have never been able to resist the allure of Inbox (1). Also, the subject was “SQUUEEEEEEEEAALLL!!” There was no actual content. Instead, there was an attachment containing the Aurealis Awards Finalists press release. From these FIENDISHLY DIFFICULT...
read moreTales for Canterbury
Internets, I have not told you of Tales for Canterbury! How very remiss of me. Tales for Canterbury is an anthology of original short stories and reprints by writers from inside and outside New Zealand. All proceeds are going to the New Zealand Red Cross Earthquake Appeal, to aid people in the stricken city. None of the contributors nor the editors are getting paid. Editors Anna Caro and Cassie Hart started putting the anthology together the day after the earthquake, and the response has been incredible. So much so that they opened pre-orders for the anthology one month after the quake. If...
read moreThe Shattering cookie: Meet Janna!
Cookie time has come again! A very fast poll indicated you would like to see Musician Janna, as opposed to Flirty Janna or Magic Janna, so here we go. But with flirtiness attached anyway. Janna van der Zaag multi-tasks, yo! SPOILERS. BUT MILD ONES. Tiny bit of relevant context: Janna’s nickname is Stardust. She claims it’s because she’s vital to the existence of the universe, but Keri has a different, less flattering, origin story for the name. Patrick looked disgusted, but then again, that was his basic state. “Don’t spend the money before we’ve earned it,” he...
read moreAbout Karen
Karen Healey is a young adult novelist. She is the author of the urban fantasies GUARDIAN OF THE DEAD and THE SHATTERING, both set in New Zealand, and the forthcoming sci-fi adventure WHEN WE WAKE. GUARDIAN OF THE DEAD won the 2010 Aurealis Award for Best YA Novel and was a finalist for the William C. Morris Award. Karen can tell you a lot about baking, covers of "Hallelujah" and superhero comics.
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