Giveaway Time!!!!!

Today I'm giving away copies of The Darkness Dwellers AND How to Lead a Life of Crime. The winners of my latest contest (yes, there will be two) will get to choose which book they'll receive.

All you have to do is answer the following question . . .

I'm about to get on a plane. Where am I going?

A book will go to the person with the most accurate answer. Another book will go to the person with the most interesting answer.

As always, send your responses to kikistrike@gmail.com. The contest will end January 30th at 11:59PM EST. The winner will be announced when I return from my trip.

Good luck!!

Don't Forget Harriet!

Harriet is happening this weekend!

More News and Links!

Hey, everyone! I'm going to give away more books (The Darkness Dwellers and How to Lead a Life of Crime) this week. And at some point soon, I'm going to give away an entire three-book set of Kiki Strike (featuring the all new covers).

In the meantime, here's a guest post I wrote for one of my favorite blogs, Mundie Moms: The Five Books That Inspired Me as a Kid

A review from another all-time favorite, Bookshelves of Doom. (Thanks for the amazing review!!)

A super fun interview with Squeaky Books

My list of the Top 10 Kick Butt Characters over at The Young Folks blog.

An interview with The Write Path

I think I've covered most of my blog visits. If I've left anyone out, my apologies! My list is a bit off, but I'll link to you very soon!

And if any of you are interested in reading reviews of The Darkness Dwellers, there are plenty out there (and the vast majority of them are nice). All you have to do is Google. (Though, I gotta tell you. As far as reviews are concerned, getting Bookshelves of Doom's recommendation really made my year. She's been with Kiki from the very beginning. I was really hoping she'd enjoy the third installment.)

And last but not least, don't forget to come see me, Michael Buckley and Rebecca Stead talk about the classic book, Harriet the Spy at Symphony Space on February 3rd. Invitation below!

A Present for You! The ENTIRE Irregular Guide to New York City!

To celebrate the release of Kiki Strike #3, The Darkness Dwellers, I'm making the entire Irregular Guide to New York City available to you for free!

Just click here to download! Happy reading and happy exploring!

The Darkness Dwellers is OUT TODAY!!!!

That's right! It's finally in bookstores! Can you believe it?

I've been doing a little blog tour for the past couple of weeks. But I was so sick with the flu that I forgot to post the links! If you have the chance, you should definitely check out the blogs below. (And not just my guest posts and interviews.) They're some of my favorites, and it's amazing how different they all are!

So without further ado, here are some of the blog tour stops I've made so far . . .

SciFi Chick (Guest Post and Giveaway)

Icey Books (Guest Post)

The Bookish Dame (Interview)

Bookhounds YA (Interview and Review)

And the winner of the first HOW TO LEAD A LIFE OF CRIME giveaway is . . .

MG, who sent in this remarkable response . . .

If you must know, I'm the world's only benevolent linguistic larcenist/collector. I'd tell you my name, but you wouldn't recognize it (or even remember it after reading it), seeing as my own name was one of the first words I cataloged into my Word Bank all those years ago. It's hidden away now, behind locked doors and wild, vicious excerpts of Old English and rooms covered in razor-sharp "x"s and "k"s. Sounds a bit extreme, but I need the protection. You see, I steal letters. I steal words. I steal language.

Like every "criminal," I started out in the little league; pinching the odd adverb here, the neglected noun there. It's surprising to see how many people don't use the words available to them. They just leave them hanging around everywhere, airing out to dry on the front porch, left abandoned in the street. I once found a trash can filled to the brim with young verbs; a full can, do you believe it? Dozens of 'em. I could hardly believe my luck.

In a way, that was my first major word heist, the trash can, but I figured it wasn't really stealing if nobody wanted those poor words. Still think that way, really; the mistreatment and disuse of language has led me into some serious windfalls of the linguistic variety, although there're the odd few who manage to keep their own beautiful language alive and well. Those folks treat their words right, let me tell you, and I try never to steal from them. I don't take words for profit; I respect them. I protect them from harm.

I wouldn't call my business organized crime. It isn't organized in the strictest sense; it's more of a shelter, where people bring abused words to my attention and I or one of my associates drop by to help the word out. We have an extensive library for words looking into their genealogy; we've got easy access to the O.E.D. if one of our words doesn't want to be found. We give 'em a new name and escort them back into society, where they can start afresh, no connotations, no big connections. It's a nifty job I've got, with a good deal of respect, authority, and beautiful things surrounding me day after day.

The only part I'm ashamed to admit is the word hoarding. Now, protecting words, that's not criminal, at least not to me (although a bunch of rough-n-tumble folk out in the tougher parts of society sometimes put up a fuss, demanding I return slang and slurs back to them, and I have more than a few professors miffed with me for pulling some of their most overused words out of their classroom, and...come to think of it, a number of authors seem to be a bit touchy about my doings). But hoarding words, that's borderline criminal. I have to confess that I've taken more than a few letters completely out of languages in my time, on account of me liking 'em so much, and sometimes, a splendid word'll pop up that I just pluck it out of the crowd and slip into my Word Bank. You get people looking a mite confused at times, trying to find a word on the tip of their tongue; that's me. And perhaps I get a bit carried away sometimes when faced with those gorgeous languages. I'd tell you a few of them, but I doubt you'd know them, seeing as they're so far past dead that they're extinct in your eyes. And...well, I do love "x"s and "k"s. I snag 'em every chance I get.

That's about it about me. I am a word thief, and, since my protected name means I cannot sign this letter, I shall sign off quietly. (I'm used to silence, really. After all, my line of work leaves people speechless; I steal the words right of your mouth.)

GIVEAWAY!! How to Lead a Life of Crime!!

Before we begin, a quick word. I'm not a big believer in telling young people what they can or can't read. When I was growing up, my parents never declared any books "off-limits." (They didn't even stop me from reading The Amityville Horror when I was seven. No wonder I'm a little weird.)

But I do not enjoy receiving angry emails from parents. And I think it's possible that there are parents out there who would not want their young teens reading How to Lead a Life of Crime. Parts of the book are quite violent, and there's certainly no shortage of crude language.

So this contest (and all other How to Lead a Life of Crime giveaways) is open to readers 16+. Of course, if you're under 16 but your parents are the super-cool sort who are willing to email an author so you can get a free naughty book, I'll be happy to send one your way.

Whew. Glad that's over. Now LET'S GET TO THE CONTEST!

A signed hardcover copy of How to Lead a Life of Crime will go to the reader who offers the best (usually defined as the most amusing) response to the following question . . .

If you had to lead a life of crime, what sort of criminal would you choose to be?

Send your response to kikistrike@gmail.com by 11:59PM (EST), Thursday, January 17th!

You're Invited!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO!

And Here Are Some of the Other Entries!

(Send me a note if you'd like your map included!)

And the Winner Is . . .

Okay, this was a super cool contest. The entries are all so good that I'm taking your names, putting them into a bowl and choosing a winner at random.

Back to you in a second . . .

Here's the winner! Congrats, Julia. (Send me your address!) If any other contestants would like me to post their entries, just let me know! They were all great!

Win a Hardcover DARKNESS DWELLERS!

Thats right. I have hardcover books! And they look pretty darn amazing. So what do you say we have a little contest? Here's how it's going to work . . .

The other day, I came across the illustration above while browsing The Museum of Ridiculously Interesting Things. Created at some point in the early 19th century, it's a map of a "Woman's Heart." Click the picture for a closer look and see if you agree--A Woman's Heart looks like an incredibly boring place to me.

So if you'd like the first signed hardcover copy of The Darkness Dwellers, (seriously--the very first), here's all you have to do:

Sketch a map of an IRREGULAR'S HEART. Then scan it or photograph it and send it to kikistrike@gmail.com before 6PM EST tomorrow (Sunday, January 13th).

This isn't a drawing contest, so don't worry if you're not the world's best artist. As usual, I'm looking for cleverness and humor more than anything else. Good luck!

Lots of News!!

So the giveaway went really well! (And in case you're wondering, yes, it's over for now!) There are far fewer books cluttering my shelves--and dozens of you will receive packages over the next few days.

Don't worry if it takes a little while for your books to get to you! I've had to make multiple trips to the post office, and I still have one more load to take.

Now for some news . . .

I'm pleased to report that The Darkness Dwellers and How to Lead a Life of Crime have been receiving fantastic reviews! (BTW, if you've gotten a copy of either book from me, feel free to post a review on Goodreads or Amazon if you have the time!) And next week, I'm kicking off a blog tour for The Darkness Dwellers. Links to all interviews and guest posts will be here!

And I just received hardcover copies of How to Lead a Life of Crime. (Picture above.) They look absolutely AMAZING. I think the two covers (the book's dust jacket is reversible) are my new favorites. I'll be giving away copies soon, so stay tuned. (I may do the giveaway via Twitter, tho. We'll see.)

Last, but not least, if you live in New York, you'll want to be at Symphony Space on February 3rd! They're hosting a celebration of one of the greatest girl detectives of all time--Harriet the Spy! I'll be there, along with the fabulous and hilarious Michael Buckley (author of The Sisters Grimm and N.E.R.D.S.) and the wonderful Rebecca Stead (Liar and Spy). It's going to be an amazing day! More info here.

GIANT NEW YEAR BLOWOUT GIVEAWAY!!!

It's 2013, and I'm cleaning house! Here's what I'm giving away . . .


THE ETERNAL ONES SERIES. (You must be 14 or older to request one.)

2 paper back copies of the Eternal Ones in English

2 paper back copies of All You Desire in English

2 Eternal Ones audio books in English.

2 hard cover copies of Eternos in Spanish

2 hard cover copies of Deseros in Spanish

2 hard cover copies of The Eternal Ones in German

2 hard cover copies of All You Desire in German

1 paper back copy of The Eternal Ones in Chinese




KIKI STRIKE

2 paper back copies of Inside the Shadow City in French

2 paper back copies of The Empress's Tomb in French

2 paper back copies of Inside the Shadow City in Chinese

2 paper back copies of The Empress's Tomb in Chinese

2 paper back copies of Inside the Shadow City in French

2 paper back copies of The Empress's Tomb in French

2 hard cover copies of Inside the Shadow City in German

2 hard cover copies of The Empress's Tomb in German

2 paper back copies of Inside the Shadow City in Spanish

2 paper back copies of Inside the Shadow City in Indonesian

2 paper back copies of Inside the Shadow City in Dutch



That's it for now, though I do have Kiki Strike in a number of other languages. (If you're looking for a copy in a language not listed, just send me a note.)

**VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION** To get a book, simply send me a note at kikistrike@gmail.com. I'll need your address--so please ask your parents for permission if you're under 18. I will be accepting requests through NOON EST ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 3. Any requests that come in after that will probably be ignored.

I'm afraid I can only ship to the US. However, if you'd like to pay postage, I'll consider shipping to other countries.

If you are a cultural institution (school, library, etc.) that would like additional copies, send me a note and I'll see what I can do.

Please only request books you intend to use! Thanks, Kirsten.

Yay!

Just received two boxes. One with the reissued Kiki Strike: Inside the Shadow City. The other contained the reissued The Empress's Tomb. I gotta say--the new covers look fantastic. A digital image doesn't do them justice. I think you're going to be pleasantly surprised when you see them in the bookstore!

I'll probably give a few of them away as well!

So You Didn't Win a Book?

Don't despair. I'm going to be having a HUGE BLOWOUT GIVEAWAY after Christmas. Seriously. I live in a New York apartment. I simply don't have enough space for all of my books. So I'll be giving away copies of . . .

The Eternal Ones
All You Desire
Eternos
Deseros
Kiki Strike in French, Spanish, German and just about every other language known to man.
The Empress's Tomb (can't believe I got the name of my own book wrong) in a bunch of languages.

And pretty soon, I should have a couple of HARD COVER copies of The Darkness Dwellers and How to Lead a Life of Crime to give away!

And the Winner Is . . .

This was another close one. In order to pick a winner, I had to go back and have a look at the contest question. I specifically asked for ONE Irregular and ONE gift. In other words, the winning entry could only have one of each. And that winner is . . . BeAmbidextrous!

I'd ask Oona for a copy (in English of course) of the guidebook or rulebook she gives to her employees. As her employees paint toes and file nails they listen for secrets, but how do they know what's important or what isn't? Sure, Ms. Zebra stripe gold necklace might say her husband works with a man who knows that the alfalfa company called HrsesRK is going to be the next big thing but how do you know if she is bragging or telling the truth? How do you know which gossip could equal cold hard cash and what gossip is just gossip? Does it have to do with the tone of voice? Do really rich people not wear much jewelry at all? Does blue nail polish mean a compulsive liar and green mean gullible?

Yes, knowing Oona's secrets could take me far in life.

It was that last line that really got me. I agree completely! Congrats, BeAmbidextrous! Send your address to kikistrike@gmail.com (BTW, I fixed a few typos in your entry. Hope you don't mind.)

Other entries that really made me laugh . . .
Irregular Kiki's giant squid costume.
Sunbear's cherry blintzes.

And though it didn't make me laugh, Selene's stolen art heist might have won--had it not involved more than one Irregular. (Great idea, though, Selene!)

To the Genius Responsible: You Are My Hero

This package was recently received by UChicago College Admissions. I am beyond impressed.

This Week's ARC Giveaway!

A Darkness Dwellers ARC goes to the first person to correctly answer the following question . . .

If you could ask one of the Irregulars for a hand-made present this holiday season, who would you ask--and what would you ask her to make for you?

Please leave your answer in the comments section of this post. (As always, a correct answer is one that amuses me.)

This contest will end tonight (Monday, December 17th) at 11:59PM. The book will be sent priority mail and should arrive by Christmas! Good luck!

PS: I hope you all gave your parents lots of hugs this weekend. I have a feeling they needed them. And don't forget: If you want the world to be a better place, you're never too young to make a difference.

Reverse Graffiti

If you read this blog, you know I love street art. You probably don't know that I am also a certifiable neat freak. I never thought I would find a product that could appeal to both sides of my personality. Today I did.

Finally, there's a way to leave your mark all over town--without ending up in police custody. Simply add a little soap and water to the Grime Writer pen, and clean away. It's called reverse graffiti--and I'm pretty sure that it's perfectly legal almost everywhere.

If I could buy you all a little something this season, this is what I would get you. (Remember, it's the thought that counts.) And maybe, after a little practice, one of you would eventually create something like this . . .

I'm a Little Perturbed . . .

. . . about the comments that have been coming in regarding the last contest. If we're not having fun, there's no point in having any more contests.

Controversy?

Here's my count of the top 5:

Entry #4: 7

Entry #6: 5

Entry #14: 4 (There were two identical anonymous votes that came in within a minute of each other. This almost always means that someone's comment has been accidentally posted twice.)

Entry #15: 4

Entry #7: 4

PS: I really wish I could give books to ALL CONTESTANTS. But even if I were to give copies to the top five, that would mean I wouldn't have books left for any more contests! I had to beg (OK, ask nicely) for the last few I got!

And We Have a Winner . . .

This one was super close. Congrats to the artist responsible for entry #4, which by my count is the winner.

An ARC will also go to the artist responsible for entry #6, which took second place.

(Both of you, please send your addresses to kikistrike@gmail.com. And make sure your parents approve!)

As for those of you who did not make the top two, there is absolutely NO CAUSE for tears! There will be more contests in the weeks to come. In fact, I will be sure to post another contest early next week for anyone out there who's desperate to get a book in time for Christmas.

(Unfortunately, it's probably too late for Hanukkah. But HAPPY HANUKKAH, everyone!)

Here's How to Vote!

If you're a blog reader (and not just a contestant's grandma), please vote for your favorite entry in the comments of this post! One vote per person, please. Feel free to vote for yourself, but anyone suspected of cheating will be disqualified. (Sorry for the warning! I know you're all completely honest.)

Voting will end tomorrow (Tuesday) at 6PM New York time (EST).

Good luck, everyone!

Contest Entries 13-15

Number 13: Kiki's hidden lair?

Number 14: A secret tunnel

Number 15: Definitely dangerous

Contest Entries 10-12

Number 10: Some people never make it out of the Shadow City alive

Number 11: An Irregular (or an impostor--you decide)

Number 12: The Atalanta School for Girls

Contest Entries 7-9

Number 7: The logo marks an entrance to the Shadow City (love the headgear!)

Number 8: The lovely Luz Lopez

Number 9: A truly ominous sky

Contest Entries 4-6

Number 4: The logo!

Number 5: Kiki Strike (obviously!)

Number 6: This would have made a great cover!

Contest Entries 1-3

Number 1: Very creepy

Number 2: Entrance to the Shadow City

Number 3: This one had a few problems downloading. The bottom half is missing, but it still looks pretty cool!

OK, I Just Had a Better Idea

I can't pretend to be a great judge of the visual arts. The entries all look pretty darn amazing to me. So I think I'll post them all and let YOU GUYS be the judge. How does that sound?

If you sent in an entry that you DON'T want posted on this blog, please let me know right away. Otherwise, I will post them all this evening!

Kirsten

The Contest is Over!

And there will be a winner! But I have to get some other work done first (sorry)! I'll announce the winner before 2pm today.

There Is No Winner Yet!

In case you were wondering. The contest doesn't end for another 7 hours or so! (At 11:59pm tonight.)

Contest Time!

Yes, I do read all of your comments and emails! It seems quite a few of you would like a good-old Bank St. Irregular/Ananka's Diary contest involving photography.

So let's go for it. Take a picture that could be used to illustrate a scene from one of the Kiki Strike books. The photo might show one of the characters. Or perhaps a setting. Or a mysterious object of some sort. Use your imagination--then send your pictures to kikistrike@gmail.com by midnight New York time (EST) on Sunday, December 9th.

The winner (or winners, you never know) will get an ARC of the Darkness Dwellers . . . and have their photo posted on this illustrious (some might say infamous) blog.

Good luck! **UPDATE** Drawings will be accepted, too!

New York City: Tolkien Style

The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

Not in New York, But Still Pretty Amazing

The BIBLIO-MAT from Craig Small on Vimeo.

"The Biblio-Mat is a random book dispenser built by Craig Small for The Monkey’s Paw, an idiosyncratic antiquarian bookshop in Toronto. Biblio-Mat books, which vary widely in size and subject matter, cost two dollars. The machine was conceived as an artful alternative to the ubiquitous and often ignored discount sidewalk bin. When a customer puts coins into it, the Biblio-Mat dramatically whirrs and vibrates as the machine is set in motion. The ring of an old telephone bell enhances the thrill when the customer’s mystery book is delivered with a satisfying clunk into the receptacle below."

A Quick Update!

Yay! I've been given more ARCs, which means I have more to give away. Enough for the fun to continue each week until The Darkness Dwellers comes out in January!

P.S.: Hey EQ! Send a note to kikistrike@gmail.com so I can send you a copy of the book!

This Week's Winner Is . . .

My old buddy, EQ! Nice to see you back!

This was a really tough one, guys. Your ideas were all amazing. Moscow, Cairo, Portland . . . I'd love to set a book in any of these places!

But I'm afraid EQ had me at the word "kraken." And I have yet to weave my fascination with cryptids into a book. (Though I did just publish an essay arguing for the existence of Bigfoot.) Plus, nothing is cooler than a kelp forest. The Irregulars have already spent a lot of time underground. Perhaps their next adventure should be underwater.

Congrats, EQ. And to the rest of you . . . don't give up! This has been so great that I'm going to demand (OK, beg) that my publisher send me more books to give away!

This Week's ARC Giveaway!

Yeah, I know. It's last week's giveaway, too. What can I say? I'm running out of books!

A Darkness Dwellers ARC goes to the first person to correctly answer the following question . . .

If I write Kiki Strike #4, where should it be set? And which of the Irregulars should be the heroine?

Please leave your answer in the comments section of the blog. (In this case, a correct answer is one that amuses me.) Good luck!

The Irregular Guide to New York City: Magical Libraries

It's time to open another chapter of The Irregular Guide to New York. This one is titled Spellbound . . .

There’s nothing I love more than libraries and bookstores. Without them, I probably would have landed in jail a long time ago. (When I get bored, I start causing trouble. Just ask my mom.) These days, every time I step into a library or bookstore, my brain begins to tingle. I can’t help but imagine that there’s some strange, magical book tucked away on the shelves, just waiting for me to discover it.

I couldn’t even begin to list all of the great libraries and bookstores in New York. Many (like Books of Wonder at 18 W. 18th Street) are known to book lovers all over the world. So I’m going to introduce you to a few special spots you might not have heard of. In fact, a couple are so secret that only the most persistent explorers will even be able to find them.

The Impalements: My Favorite Brooklyn Traditon

I stumbled across the "Impalements" for the first time in 2010. I had no idea why anyone would impale dozens of jack o' lanterns on the spikes of an old iron fence. But it was absolutely marvelous to behold. So creepy. So bizarre. And the display just gets even better as soon as the pumpkins begin to rot.

If you're ever in town around Halloween you must check them out! More pics--and the full story--here.

What Do You Think of the New Kiki Strike Covers?

By the way, The Darkness Dwellers just got an amazing review from Kirkus!

We Have Two Winners Again This Week

I gotta stop naming multiple winners. I'm running out of books! But this was the best contest so far. I really enjoyed reading all of your posts.

The first ARC goes to Isabella, who wrote . . .

They would find this bakery, whose name I'm not going to say because I don't want everyone to know where I live. :-)

Anyway, on the outside, there's this rickety porch, rocking chairs and all. It's hard to explain, but just by looking at it, you get this generally creepy feeling. Like you should stay away. This sounds weird, but it looks like a witch's hovel. And it's a bakery . And they don't even make any good desserts, which leads me to believe that something sinister is going on in there. (Plus, it's right next to the local orthodontist. Who puts a sweet shop next to an orthodontist's office?) What ever they're covering up in there, I might never know. I don't have the guts to figure it out, but I know the Irregulars wouldn't be able to resist.

You have excellent instincts, Isabella. A run-down bakery that sells icky desserts--right next to a dentist's office? I think the Irregulars would have that place staked out 24/7!

The second ARC goes to Kristen, who wrote . . .

What might be most interesting to the Irregulars is the site of the mansion where Jack Parsons -- famed occultist, one-time friend of L. Ron Hubbard, and founder of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory -- lived and carried out unusual experiments (and, well, some not so middle-grade appropriate rituals). Jack, born "Marvel," led a "lodge" of Aleistair Crowley's magical order, the Ordo Templi Orientis. Although he was a well-known, successful scientist, he was obsessed with the spiritual, as well. Before rocket launches at JPL, Jack/Marvel would invoke the Greek god Pan and allegedly he spent considerable time trying to conjure elemental beings...however, he's most famous for inventing rocket fuel.

He died by blowing himself up to smithereens in his workshop while experimenting with mercury...

Something tells me there would be plenty for the Irregulars to dig up by visiting the site of his former home...

That post was a million different kinds of awesome.

Isabella and Kristen, send a note to kikistrike@gmail.com

PS: Hayden, if you send some pictures of that neighborhood to the same address, I'll see if I can get my hands on a few extra ARCs!

This Week's ARC Giveaway!

A Darkness Dwellers ARC goes to the first person to correctly answer the following question . . .

If the Irregulars were to visit your hometown, what's the most interesting thing they'd find there?

Please leave your answer in the comments section of the blog. (In this case, a correct answer is one that amuses me.) Good luck!

"Princess" Is Not a Career

And the Winner Is . . .

Conuly! Because, as someone from Staten Island, you could probably use a little good news right now. (Though I doubt a book is the kind of good news you need most.) All the best to you, your friends and family.

Send me a note at kikistrike@gmail.com to collect your prize. I just hope the PO can get it there.

This Week's ARC Giveaway!

A Darkness Dwellers ARC goes to the first person to correctly answer the following question . . .

If you could pay a visit to ONE underground attraction, which would it be? (You can choose any subterranean site in the world--except the Shadow City.)

Please leave your answer in the comments section of the blog. (In this case, a correct answer is one that amuses me.) Good luck!

Hurricane Sandy Uncovers a Skeleton in Connecticut

I'm going to be paying close attention to all the overturned trees in my neighborhood. If you can find a skeleton in New Haven, just IMAGINE what you might find in Brooklyn!

Story and pics here.

Wow

Took a little walk around my Brooklyn neighborhood this morning. It wasn't pretty. Sandy did some serious damage here--but it sounds like she really gave the other boroughs a beating. I hope everyone is safe. And I hope your power and water is restored soon. Good luck, New York!