Cover Reveal for The Devil’s Backbone

I am thrilled to reveal the cover for my debut novel, The Devil’s Backbone.

The cover is an original photo taken by my cover artist, John A. Parker. The photo was shot on the Natchez Trace Parkway, where the book takes place. The boy on the left portrays Kit, the 200-year-old postal rider ghost and the boy in the blue hoodie portrays David, the main character.

Blurb for The Devil’s Backbone (for readers ages 9 & up):

David Baxter takes the blame for the graffiti on the school gym doors to keep his friend out of trouble and earns a three-day suspension. His dad, the juvenile judge, forces him to go on a roadtrip to redemption on the Natchez Trace Parkway. What his dad doesn’t know is that David meets a ghost carrying the last letter of Meriwether Lewis - the piece of evidence that may solve the 200-year-old mystery of Lewis’s death. Thanks to the ghost, David just might figure out how to relate to his dad and forgive his wayward mom.

I love the cover and I hope you do, too. The book will be available next month. Stay tuned for more info.

The Devil’s Backbone – My Debut Novel Coming Soon!

My debut novel, The Devil’s Backbone, will be available next month. It’s a middle grade mystery-roadtrip-ghost story for readers ages 9 & up.

Here’s the blurb:

David Baxter takes the blame for the graffiti on the school gym doors to keep his friend out of trouble and earns a three-day suspension. His dad, the juvenile judge, forces him to go on a roadtrip to redemption on the Natchez Trace Parkway. What his dad doesn’t know is that David meets a ghost carrying the last letter of Meriwether Lewis - the piece of evidence that may solve the 200-year-old mystery of Lewis’s death. Thanks to the ghost, David just might figure out how to relate to his dad and forgive his wayward mom.

I’m very excited for the book (paperback & ebook) to be in the hands of readers.

Stay tuned for the cover reveal.

The 13th Sign by Kristin O’Donnell Tubb

It’s finally here! Today is the day The 13^th Sign by my fabulous critique partner, Kristin O’Donnell Tubb, is out in the world. Kristin is an award-winning author of historical Middle Grade novels, but today her first Middle Grade fantasy is released. And if you like Middle Grade fantasy, stories set in New Orleans, or just really good books, I hope you’ll give The 13^th Sign a try.

Here’s the blurb for The 13^th Sign published by Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan):

ONE SMALL SHIFT CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING - AND EVERYONE

What if there was a thirteenth zodiac sign?

You’re no longer Sagittarius, but Ophiuchus the healer, the thirteenth sign.

Your personality has changed. So has your mom’s and your best friend’s.

What about the rest of the world?

What if you were the one who accidentally unlocked the thirteenth sign, causing this world-altering change - and infuriating the other twelve signs?

Jalen did it, and now she must use every ounce of her strength and cunning to send the signs back where they belong. Lives, including her own, depend on it.

                                      Kristin with The 13th Sign

Live Blogging at SCBWI MidSouth

The SCBWI MidSouth conference starts today. I will be live-blogging the conference again with Amanda K. Morgan and Bethany Griffin. Follow along here.

Killer Nashville 2012

What is your favorite season of the year? Spring? Fall? Mine is conference season. And it's here now.

This year's Killer Nashville mystery writers' conference in Nashville, Tennessee closed yesterday. It was another great conference. 

My conference highlights:

* Dr. Bill Bass (founder of the University of Tennessee's "Body Farm") presenting the opening session.

* Agent/Editor Round tables - 2 page (kind) critiques with feedback from publishing professionals & a chance to submit a manuscript.

*The Killer Nashville Crime Scene - a mock crime scene attendees try to solve. The winner gets a free registration to next year's conference.

*Presenting the workshop "Using Archetypes to Create YA Characters: Heroes, Villains, and Sidekicks" with my friend, Cate Hart. Nervewracking, but fun!

*Seeing writer friends.

I look forward to next year. Until then, the Killer Nashville community meets year-round on the conference blog.

My Highlights of the 2012 SCBWI LA Conference

1. Sitting at the SCBWI MidSouth table just a few feet away from the podium as Ruta Sepetys accepted the Golden Kite award for Fiction for her amazing novel Between Shades of Gray.

2. Brian Collier’s inspirational speech on the seeds of our art that are planted throughout our lives.

3. Chris Rylander’s workshop on writing humor.

4. Seeing old friends again and meeting new ones.

It's Conference Week!

Tomorrow I fly to Los Angeles to attend my first SCBWI LA national conference. I'm excited to get a manuscript critique, attend workshops, and reconnect with old friends. AND my entire critique group is going!

I finished my last (for now) revision on my latest Work In Progress yesterday. Soon I'll be querying agents.

More later.