Deadline Extension!

Hi Guys! So I forgot that today is Memorial Day here in the USA. I have a feeling quite a few of you are out of town having something called . . . fun. (How could you!?! Ha.) So I'm extending the deadline for the cover contest to 11:59PM (New York time), THURSDAY JUNE 2ND!

We have quite a few FABULOUS entries so far. I'm looking forward to seeing YOURS!

I Wish I'd Found This BEFORE Mother's Day!

Instructions for making Zombie Truffles! My mother (Big K) simply adores brains.

You Guys are GOOD

The cover contest entries I've received so far are VERY impressive! I can't tell you how fabulous it is to have such talented friends/readers/correspondents.

Just to clear a few things up:

1. Let's stick to one entry per person this time. (If you send one, then come up with an idea you like even better, just let me know, and I'll make sure the right cover is entered in the contest.)

2. Feel free to use photos or art from other places, as long as they're used in a new and interesting way. But you might want to avoid celebrity photos.

3. Classic movie posters are also a good source of inspiration. (I love the one above. So simple. So arresting. Even though it's not my favorite Hitchcock film. I think the one below--a new poster for an old film--is also amazing.)

4. Have fun!

Happy Birthday!

(Above: Art by Matt Sartain)

Katy!!!

I think this will be my last birthday post for a while. So I hope you ALL have fabulous birthdays!!!!

Here's Your Contest!!!!

(Above: New covers of classic novels by Ruben Toledo.)

Lots of great ideas! Thanks, guys. But as I was reading the suggestions, I happened to stumble upon this article in the New York Times about "Book Covers That Got Away." As many of you know, we've gone through a few different covers for The Eternal Ones series. I love the cover of All You Desire, but who knows? Maybe there's an even BETTER cover idea that's stuck somewhere in a blog reader's brain!

So, here's the contest. Design an alternate cover for All You Desire. You don't have to draw it. You can use a photo, scrap art, typography, collage, needlepoint . . . just about anything. (The NYT article linked to above shows a range of different possibilities.) The cover must convey the following:

1. That it's a dark, twisted romance
2. That it's for a teen and adult audience
3. That it's part of a series

(I almost required that you make use of the ouroboros. But I'm going to leave that decision up to you.)

Entries will be judged on their creativity and how well they fit the book!


All entries must be sent to kikistrike@gmail.com by 11:59 PM, MAY 31ST!

Contest Ideas?

(Above: It may not fit the subject, but I love this poster.)

Okay, now's your chance to show the world (and by the world, I mean this blog's readers) how brilliant you are. I have two ARCs of All You Desire to give away, and I need a contest idea. So send me your suggestions!

Like The Eternal Ones, All You Desire is intended for readers 13+. But everyone is welcome to enter the contest. If you win, and you don't feel you're ready for a teen book, I will come up with another fabulous prize!

Happy Birthday!

(Above: Art by Hans Peter Feldmann.)

Isabel and Katherine!!!! Sorry this is late! The day the post was scheduled, Blogger went down. Hope you had a great birthday!

KIKIPEDIA!

Blog reader (and genius) Ju L. recently started an online Kiki Strike encyclopedia! This is a fabulous idea for many, many reasons . . .

1. With The Darkness Dwellers coming out soon, a "Kikipedia" will help refresh readers' memories. (What IS the Fu-Tsang Gang? How DO you defeat man-eating rats? Who WAS Angus McSwegan?)

2. It will keep me honest.

3. It sounds like a blast.

Want a look? Go here. Want to contribute? EVEN BETTER! All you have to do is write up a profile of your favorite character, villain, or place.

You'll have to sign up for wikia, but it's safe and takes about 5 seconds. (I did it myself!) Just make sure you have permission from the authorities!

I HAVE COPIES OF ALL YOU DESIRE!

(Above: The cover without the new blurb.)

I just received a box of All You Desire ARCs (Advance Reading Copies)! I gotta say--they look GORGEOUS!

The best part? A blurb from the brilliant, charming, impossibly wonderful author Andrea Cremer! There wasn't enough room for the full blurb on the cover, so my publisher trimmed it a bit, but I've posted the entire blurb below.

By turns beautiful and chilling, Kirsten Miller conjures a mesmerizing world of unsettling pasts, undying loves, and unthinkable futures. This book is a dream, wonderful and frightening, from which I didn’t want to wake.

There are few things in life that are more thrilling than praise from colleagues you admire. I am eagerly awaiting the release of Andrea's second book, Wolfsbane, this fall. (And I bet all of you who read Nightshade are counting the days as well!)

I'm going to give away a few All You Desire ARCs soon. (Perhaps as contest prizes?) But if you're one of the people to whom I've already promised a copy, please don't hesitate to remind me!

Where Are My Posts!

Blogger appears to have deleted all of my posts from yesterday. I'll see if they're somehow magically recovered. If not, I'll post them again later today. (And figure out some way to get my revenge.)

In the meantime, CHECK OUT MY INTERVIEW at the fabulous Writer, Writer Pants on Fire Blog! There's a shout-out to all my wonderful blog readers, of course. (Thanks for the interview, Mindy!)

More News from the Animal Kingdom

The horror! Apparently there's an insect in Sweden that masquerades as a bee and shoots larvae into people's eyes! This article gives you the very disgusting scoop.

Can you identify Dimples, the Rochester mystery beast? Kind of cute.

Soon, you may be able to talk with dolphins using an underwater translation device! What secrets will they share with mankind?

Why didn't anyone ever teach ME how to mummify a chicken? (The man being interviewed sounds like a pretty amazing guy.)

Fit for a Very Mad Hatter

Hey Everybody! Sorry for going AWOL for the past week. I had family visiting from out of town. But now it's back to business!

Let's start with this ADORABLE tea set. (Okay, it's a coffee set. But I'm a big fan of tea parties. If I could live on cucumber finger sandwiches and scones with clotted cream, I would.) However I'm not sure if my appetite could survive a date with this "provocative' porcelain. Though it would be rather entertaining to bring it out for guests. Too bad it's out of stock.

You're My Kind of Kid

The greatest picture of all time was taken by William West/AFP/Getty Images.

Would You Eat It?

It's kind of pretty, don't you think? And it certainly qualifies as a luxury--a kilo costs around $1600. Ancient Romans, Greeks, and Egyptians adored the earthy flavor. But would you eat it? (I'd certainly give it a try.)

A Few Things You Might Want to Know

(Above: Art by Jenny Holzer.)

1. Teenagers who read for pleasure are more likely to have good jobs as adults. Does this seem a bit obvious to you, too?

2. It recently rained worms in Scotland.

3. Technology may be wiring teens to have better brains. So that's why you're all so special. Ha.

4. My favorite word is sprezzatura.

5. Knitters are strange and wonderful people.

This is Why Boring Classes are Dangerous

The doctor in this video is super-cool. How did she know how to fix the problem? She reminds me of DeeDee, but with a great accent. (I'm an American. It's an accent to me.)

More here.