BlackbirdsNovel.com! Cover Jacket Photos! Interviews! Book Trailers!

This upcoming Saturday (2/2/13) will mark the two-month countdown point before the release of In the Shadow of Blackbirds, which means a whirlwind of pre-publication activity seems to be happening on a daily basis.

To help celebrate the book's rapidly approaching publication date, I just launched BlackbirdsNovel.com. The new website contains info about the novel's historical world, 1918 photos and film clips, links to early-twentieth-century spirit photography galleries, an In the Shadow of Blackbirds soundtrack, an interactive map of San Diego with excerpts from the novel, and other extras.

I'm currently offering an international giveaway at the website: two winners will receive a custom-made In the Shadow of Blackbirds charm bracelet and a signed swag pack. Details can be found on the home page.

The charm bracelets, made by my sister, Carrie.

In other news, my editor sent me samples of the book's finished jacket. Here are some sneak peeks:

The full jacket.

Front cover and inside flap.

Bottom half of back cover.

For a larger view of the text, click on the photos.

And for more info about my novel and me, check out these recent interviews:

Through the Looking Glass

Catherine Scully's Website

Next week, on February 7, my book trailer reveal tour kicks off, thanks to Mod Podge Blog Tours, and the trailer will debut on Valentine's Day. More giveaways will be offered, so please stop by and join the festivities.

Photos and News from my First IN THE SHADOW OF BLACKBIRDS Appearance

Photo by fellow 2013 debut author,
Amy Tintera (Reboot).

I had the opportunity to spend this past weekend at the American Library Association's Midwinter Meeting in Seattle, and I was overwhelmed by the excitement brewing for In the Shadow of Blackbirds.

On Saturday afternoon, I signed advance copies of the novel in the ABRAMS booth from 2:00-3:30, and I was stunned to see actual lines forming to meet me. Thank you so much to everyone who stopped by! I met librarians, bloggers, teen readers, fellow authors, college students, and numerous other avid book readers. It was absolutely wonderful.

In the afternoon, I met fellow Lucky 13s members Kristen Kittscher (The Wig in the Window), Amy Tintera (Reboot), Lenore Appelhans (Level 2), and Sarah Skilton (Bruised, also by Amulet Books/ABRAMS). Plus I had coffee with fellow Corsets, Cutlasses, & Candlesticks author Katherine Longshore (Gilt, Tarnish). All these authors are highly talented and as nice as can be.

Sarah Skilton and me.

I ate a lovely dinner with ABRAMS staff members and authors, as well as Seattle-area booksellers. Then I was back to signing at the booth the following morning.

I also had the opportunity to speak about In the Shadow of Blackbirds twice, once in the conference's Book Buzz theater, and once at a librarian luncheon, at which I met nearly fifty enthusiastic librarians from across the U.S. Here are some photos from Book Buzz:

Tom Angleberger chats about Art2-D2.

Sarah Skilton discusses Bruised.

My In the Shadow of Blackbirds talk (with Jason Wells, Cecily Kaiser, & Maggie Lehrman of ABRAMS).
Photo by Sarah Skilton.

And here are photos of some of the talented people who have been helping me turn In the Shadow of Blackbirds into a reality.

My editor, Maggie Lehrman (left), and my ABRAMS publicist, Laura Mihalick.

A shot of me in the booth with Maggie Lehrman.

Thanks so much to ABRAMS Books for allowing In the Shadow of Blackbirds and me to be a part of ALA Midwinter 2013!

My ALA Midwinter Meeting Appearances

I'm heading up to the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting in Seattle this weekend!

If you'll be there, too, please stop by and see me at the ABRAMS Booth (#2320) I'll be signing advance reading copies of In the Shadow of Blackbirds during the following days and times:

Saturday, January 26

2:00-3:30 pm

Sunday, January 27

9:00-10:00 am

On Sunday, January 27, I'll be giving a short talk about the novel in the Book Buzz Theater during the ABRAMS hour (10:30-11:30 am). Also speaking: Tom Angleberger (the Origami Yoda series), one of my 2013 debut author buddies, Sarah Skilton (Bruised), my wonderful, talented editor, Maggie Lehrman, and other ABRAMS staff.

This is just one of several in-person events I'll be attending this year. Keep an eye on my events page for other upcoming appearances.