THE STEEP AND THORNY WAY Is Now Up on NetGalley

Reviewers, booksellers, librarians, and anyone else who typically receives advance copies of books: My March 2016 YA novel, The Steep and Thorny Way, is now available to request on NetGalley. Request it here.

Here's what you'll find in the novel . . .

A reimagining of Shakespeare's Hamlet

A 1920s setting that includes moonshine, outlaws, and the KKK's takeover of Oregon

A biracial teenage protagonist

A murder

An unexpected friendship

A boy who's dealing with the challenges of being gay in 1923 America

Prejudice

The occult

Love

Hate

A dark and lovely forest

A ghost

Last night I read through the novel for the final time before the book heads off to print, and I actually cried. I love this book so much, but it's time for me to let it go and send these characters off into the world.

Amulet Books will release The Steep and Thorny Way March 8, 2016.

Advance Praise

“Cat Winters proves herself the master of YA historical fiction in this richly woven, theatrical tale of haints, friendship, and a time period we don't dare forget.”

—Megan Shepherd, author of The Madman's Daughter series

“Haunting, visceral, and atmospheric, Cat Winters's The Steep and Thorny Way is a fantastic read from one of the best in the genre.”

—Renée Ahdieh, author of The Wrath and the Dawn

“A tale of secrets, murder, intolerance, friendship, and restless spirits, seen through the eyes of the vibrant, truth-seeking, pistol-slinging Hanalee. Marvelous.”
—April Genevieve Tucholke, author of Wink, Poppy, Midnight

“ . . . these two unlikely protagonists forge a lifesaving bond of discovery and friendship that uncovers the ignorance and hatred of this troubling time in America’s history. . . . The historical accuracy provides a powerful sense of realism.”

—ALAN Picks

PREORDER: 

Amazon • Barnes & Noble • Powell's • IndieBound •
 BAM •  Amazon UK • Book Depository • Indigo

Advance Praise for THE STEEP AND THORNY WAY

Just four more months until my next novel, The Steep and Thorny Way, arrives in bookstores and online! The interior pages are almost ready, the beautiful dust jacket design has shown up in my email, and advance praise is starting to come in.

I'm overjoyed to share with you the following quotes about the novel:

“Cat Winters proves herself the master of YA historical fiction in this richly woven, theatrical tale of haints, friendship, and a time period we don't dare forget.”

—Megan Shepherd, author of The Madman's Daughter series

“A tale of secrets, murder, intolerance, friendship, and restless spirits, seen through the eyes of the vibrant, truth-seeking, pistol-slinging Hanalee. Marvelous.”
—April Genevieve Tucholke, author of Wink, Poppy, Midnight

“Inspired by Shakespeare’s Hamlet, The Steep and Thorny Way takes readers into the lives of Hanalee Denney and Joe Adder during the dangerous time of prohibition, the Ku Klux Klan, and eugenics . . . Winters clearly and descriptively depicts a way of life in rural Oregon that most are not aware of . . . The historical accuracy provides a powerful sense of realism.”

—ALAN Picks

PREORDER: 

Amazon • Barnes & Noble • Powell's • IndieBound •
 BAM •  Amazon UK • Book Depository • Indigo

My Upcoming Appearance at Portland's Wordstock

Wordstock, Portland's major literary festival, is relaunching this year at the beautiful Portland Art Museum on Saturday, November 7, and I'm happy to say I'll be one of the featured authors. In fact, I'll be making a few different appearances throughout the festival.

Here's more info about the event and where you'll be able to find me.

Saturday, November 7, 2015
Wordstock: Portland's Book Festival
Portland Art Museum
1219 SW Park Avenue, Portland, OR
(Tickets, $15; free for anyone 17 and younger and anyone with a valid high school student ID.)

My Wordstock Events:

11:00 am:
Pop-up reading of The Uninvited
Northwest Art (Main Building, 3rd Floor)

A short reading of my newest book. I'll be appearing in front of artwork painted during the novel's setting. 

12:00-12:50 pm
Toil and Trouble: Monsters, Witches, and Ghosts, Oh My!
Oregon Community Foundation Stage at the Miller Gallery

A discussion with a little something scary for everyone: haunted houses, murderous neighbors, and all-too-possible realism (no vampires here). Authors Virginia Boecker (The Witch Hunter), Paige McKenzie (The Haunting of Sunshine Girl), and three authors from the new anthology Slasher Girls and Monster Boys—Kendare Blake, McCormick Templeman, and April Genevieve Tucholke—talk about things that go bump in the night… and day. Moderated by Cat Winters (Slasher Girls and Monster Boys)

1:00-1:50 pm
An Hour of Oregon Art Beat
OPB Stage at the Fields Ballroom

An hour with OPB’s Oregon Art Beat, featuring a coming-of-age tale set on Mount Hood, Martin Marten, with author Brian Doyle; best-selling author of the Wildwood series and Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy talks about the difference between writing for songs and writing for books; Lauren Redniss will discuss her fascinating new work of visual literature, Thunder & Lightning; and award-winning author Cat Winters on her haunting new novel, The Uninvited. Hosted by Katrina Sarson.

2:15-3:00 pm
Book signing
Kridel Grand Ballroom, Portland Art Museum, Mark Building, Third Floor

If you live in the area or will be traveling to Portland for the event, I hope to see you there.

IN THE SHADOW OF BLACKBIRDS Selected for the Big Library Read

Libraries have been a major factor in the success of my debut novel, In the Shadow of Blackbirds. Even before the book's release in April 2013, librarians were spreading the word about it. They named the book a 2013 Morris Award finalist, and over 1,000 library systems around the globe have purchased the novel for their collections.

I'm thrilled to announce that In the Shadow of Blackbirds is now experiencing another major library moment: It was selected as one of two books that are being featured in the October 2015 Big Library Read.

According to BigLibraryRead.com, here's what the event entails:

“During the two-week program, the Big Library Read titles are available to borrow through participating libraries and schools. It’s free and there’s never a waiting list during the program. All you need is a library card or student ID to get started reading in this international eBook club.”

The program runs from October 7-21, 2015.

If you're arriving at this site because you found me through Big Library Read, welcome! Feel free to stay for a while to learn more about me and all of my books. In the Shadow of Blackbirds bonus features (playlists, a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the cover, an In the Shadow of Blackbirds map of San Diego) are available at BlackbirdsNovel.com. Discussion questions for the book are available through Big Library Read.

The program will also feature a Twitter chat with me on Tuesday, October 13, from 2:00-3:00 pm Eastern Time. Please join me by using the hashtag #BigLibraryRead.

If you happen to live in or near San Diego, come chat with me in person about the book at my appearance at Mysterious Galaxy on Saturday, October 10, at 2:00 pm.

The other selected title is Robin McKinley's The Door in the Hedge.