Looking Ahead to 2018

#SecretProject's manuscript

I recently delivered my newest young adult novel to my editor, Maggie Lehrman, at Amulet Books/Abrams! The book is currently slated for publication in Spring 2019. We haven't yet announced the title or said what the book is about (although I've left some clues on my social media pages). I'm working with my publisher to potentially introduce the book to everyone in the middle of January.

More info to come.

I don't have any new novels publishing in 2018! Between April 2013 and September 2017 I released six novels and a short story that was part of a YA horror anthology, and while all of those publication dates have been exciting beyond belief and utterly surreal, they've also been exhausting! Releasing all those novels in a relatively short amount of time meant I also wrote them fairly quickly, which has been a challenge with books entailing a great deal of historical research.

Not releasing a book in 2018 means I'll have more time to write!


via GIPHY

I'll spend the first half of 2018 revising and editing #SecretProject with Maggie and other members of the editorial team at Abrams, and during the second half of  the year, I'll likely get to start promoting the book—which means cover reveals (always fun!), appearances, and advance reading copies. I also plan to embark upon a new writing project that I've been thinking about for a while, and throughout 2018 I'll be speaking at schools, libraries, and other events.

Thanks so much to everyone who read my books in 2017, whether you're one of my long-time readers or someone who just discovered my work. Odd & True was just named to Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 2017, and it's a YALSA 2018 Best Fiction for Young Adults nominee. I'm incredibly honored!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Warmest wishes,

Cat Winters

Resources for Teen Writers

I'm speaking to several groups of teens this month, and part of my presentation includes discussing resources for young writers.

In order for these teens to easily find these resources, and as a guide for students unable to attend my talks, I'm providing links for these opportunities below. Please note that I'm not affiliated with any of these organizations aside from Willamette Writers.

Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

Provides various awards to teen writers in grades 7 through 12, scholarships to graduating high school seniors, and financial aid to students wanting to attend summer creative camps.

StoneSoup

An online magazine that publishes “Stories, Poems, and Art by Kids” up through age 13.

Kay Snow Writing Contest

Free to students in grades 1 through 12. 

SCBWI Student Writer Scholarships
An opportunity for full-time university students in an English or creative writing program to attend a Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators conference. (Does not include hotel or travel expenses.)

We Need Diverse Books Resources for Writers
A list of links to opportunities for diverse writers and articles about writing diversely.

For the students at my Portland visits:

Young Willamette Writers

Writing opportunities for Oregon students in grades five through 10, including meetings and special online content. 

The League of Exceptional Writers
A chance for young writers and artists to learn from professionals in the Portland area. The events are free for students ages 8 to 18 and held at Powell's at Cedar Hills Crossing from 2 to 3 pm every second Saturday of the month from October through May. 

For the students at my St. Louis school visits:

St. Louis Writers Workshop 

Offers a creative-writing workshop every summer called “Teens Who Write” for students ages 11 to 18.

NOTE: No one should charge you money to publish your work unless they are clearly a self-publishing entity, such as Amazon's self-publishing services. If you are interested in publishing a novel through a traditional publisher, start by finding a reputable literary agent through a source such as the Association of Authors' Representatives. Literary agents should not charge you money to work with them, aside from the percentage of your earnings that they receive when they sell your work (the agent's commission). Please follow each agent's guideline for submission requirements. You will likely need to include a query letter with your submission.

If you would like to add another resource for teen writers in the comments section of this post, please do so, as long as it's a free contest for teens or a reputable organization or workshop.

If you are a teacher or librarian who would like to inquire about scheduling me for a visit, please see my Author Visits page for information about my presentations and fees. During this school year I'm offering a special program for schools reading The Steep and Thorny Way as part of the Oregon Battle of the Books.  

Deadlines, Fall Events, and Signed Copies of ODD & TRUE

Hello, dear readers! I'm spending the rest of the fall finishing the first draft of a new novel that I've been writing for the past year. I don't plan to be on social media much at all during this time, but I will be traveling to two events:

Wednesday, November 8, 2017, 3:00 pm
Cedar Mill Main Library
12505 NW Cornell Rd., Suite 13, Portland, OR
Author talk (free event)

Tuesday, November 21, 2017, 1:30 pm
ALAN Workshop
America's Center Convention Complex, St. Louis, MO
Panel: "The Family You Know and the Family You Don't," with Sayantani DasGupta, J.L. & M.A. Powers, and Cat Winters (registration required)

My stay in St. Louis will also include two middle school visits that are still in the works. If you're one of the students who attends those schools, I look forward to seeing you soon!

☙SIGNED COPIES!❧

If you're looking for a signed copy of my newest release, Odd & True, you can now order autographed editions from the following stores:

Fountain Bookstore, Richmond, VA
Powell's Books at Cedar Hills Crossing, Beaverton, OR (call to order a signed edition: 800-878-7323)
Barnes & Noble Tanasbourne, Beaverton, OR (call to order a signed edition: 503-645-3046)

Signed copies of several of my other books are also available at these stores. Please contact the stores directly to find out which of my signed editions they have in stock. If you're ordering online from Fountain Bookstore, look for the words "On Our Shelves Now" below the books' listings. If my novel is listed as sitting on their shelf, it's a copy I signed when I visited Richmond earlier this month.

(Psst, I traveled to Richmond to conduct research on the secret new novel I'm finishing.)

I'll try to post at least one more update before the end of 2017, but if I don't get a chance, thank you, readers, for another wonderful year!

☙ORDER ONLINE:❧

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

ODD & TRUE Halloween Giveaway

* THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED. I'LL EMAIL THE THREE RANDOM WINNERS ON THURSDAY, NOV. 2, 2017. *

Halloween is my favorite season of the year, so it feels wrong not to do an October giveaway of some sort. So, without further ado, I present to you the Odd & True Halloween Giveaway!

THE PRIZE:

Three random winners will receive the following Odd & True swag pack:

The pack includes three Odd & True bookmarks, a signed bookplate, a bag of monstrously marvelous Odd & True tea, and a whimsical teaspoon (the design of the spoon may vary from the one shown in the photo).

THE RULES:

1. You must be 13 years or older or have the permission of a parent to enter. The giveaway is open internationally.

2. To enter, please do one of the following four options at any time from October 23 through November 1, 2017:

☙ Post a photo of yourself with a copy of Odd & True on Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, or another social media site and tag it #OddAndTrue.

☙ Leave a review for Odd & True on a site where the book is sold (Amazon, BN.com, Powells.com, etc.). If you've already posted a review on one of these sites before Oct. 23, THANK YOU, but please post it at another online store during the giveaway dates in order to get counted. It does not need to be a glowing review.

☙ Post your original Odd & True fan art on Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, or another social media site and tag it #OddAndTrue.

☙ Post a photo of you recreating the book's cover, alone or with a friend, on Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, or another social media site and tag it #OddAndTrue.

3. Fill out the following form. If you post your photo/artwork/review on more than one site or choose to do more than one of the above options, you may fill out the form again, just please list a new URL each time you enter.

**** Form deleted. The giveaway is now closed. ****

THE DEADLINE:

In order for your entry/entries to be counted, you must submit the form by 11:59 pm Pacific Time on Wednesday, November 1, 2017. I will pick three (3) random winners on November 2 and contact them via email.

Good luck, and thank you for reading Odd & True!

☙ORDER ONLINE:❧

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