Erica O'Rourke

Pre-order Resonance, Get Harmonic for Free!

Resonance is almost here! The sequel to last summer's Dissonance comes out on July 21, and I am SO EXCITED for you to see where Del's story goes. I loved writing this story, and can't wait to share it with you! And I can honestly say that as an author, finishing a series is even more satisfying than finishing a book! (I assume marathon runners feel the same way, but I don't enjoy running enough to find out.) And to celebrate, we have a special offer for you!

Resonance Giveaway!

If you're anything like me, there's a certain satisfaction in collecting an entire series. Knowing I've read everything -- in the proper order -- just makes me happy. Luckily, my publisher understands this mindset, so we're going to help you complete your DISSONANCE collection!  The first 30 people to pre-order RESONANCE will receive a free copy of HARMONIC, the novella which follows Addie's story after DISSONANCE. Simply send your proof of purchase to [email protected] and you'll receive a code to download your free e-book. Pre-orders must be placed by 7/15 to receive HARMONIC, or while supplies last.

While I'm here, a couple of extra tidbits:

A (new) monthly newsletter!

The inaugural edition of my newsletter has more information about Resonance and my upcoming events, plus some of the things I'm loving this summer. Best of all, you can reply directly to the newsletter if you want to get in touch! Click here to sign up.

The events page is updated!

Find out where I'll be in the coming months, including the launch party for Resonance -- 3pm, August 2nd, at The Book Stall in Winnetka, IL. I'd love to see you there! 

 

We Have A YASH Winner!

YASH is over for this season, but never fear -- it will be back again this fall with new books and new bonus content!

The winner of my individual giveaway is Justine, who will be getting an email from me shortly and an ARC of RESONANCE just as soon as I get myself over to the post office. Thanks for playing, everyone! There will be more giveaways leading up to the release of Resonance in July, and the best way to hear about them is by following me on Twitter or Tumblr.

Happy Spring!

 

The Spring Hunt Is On!

Once again, it's time for the YA Scavenger Hunt! This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors...and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one signed book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours!

 

 

 

Be sure to read to the very end of this post, because I'm also hosting my own giveaway -- a signed ARC of RESONANCE, which won't be out until July 22nd!

 

Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are EIGHT contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the GOLD TEAM, but each team offers the chance to win a different set of signed books.

 

If you'd like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page.

 

SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE

 

Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the GOLD team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!). 

 

Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.

 

Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by SUNDAY, APRIL 5, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.

 

 

 

Today, I am hosting Maureen McGowan on my website for the YA Scavenger Hunt! Maureen McGowan is the award-winning and Amazon Bestselling Author of two popular YA series including the dystopian thriller series: The Dust Chronicles. She writes exciting, fast-paced novels, enjoyed by teen and adult readers alike.

Maureen always loved writing fiction, but side-tracked by a persistent practical side, it took her a few years to channel her energy into novels. After leaving a career in finance and accounting, she hasn’t looked back.

Aside from her love of books, she’s passionate about films, fine handcrafted objects and shoes. She lives in Toronto, where she attends the film festival every year.

Her most recent titles include: Deviants (Skyscape, 2012), Compliance (Skyscape, 2013), and Glory (Skyscape, 2014)

 

Find out more information by checking out Maureen's website, or find more about Deviants here!

 

EXCLUSIVE CONTENT

 
And now, a few words from Maureen about her exclusive content:

 

This is a short story originally published by McGraw-Hill Ryerson in a textbook for high school English students. It's also included in a Prequel short story anthology for my Dust Chronicles Series called Origins. http://amzn.to/1Fcdv4J The story, "Out of the Ashes", is set approximately 75 years before the beginning of The Dust Chronicles series, and the little boy in the story, Felix, is the grandfather of Glory, the main character in my series: Deviants (2012), Compliance (2013), Glory (2014). The story happens as the world as we know it is ending...

 

Click here to read Out Of The Ashes!

Don't forget to come back, to enter the contest for a chance to win a ton of signed books by me, Maureen, and more! To enter, you need to know that my favorite number is 5. Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on the GOLD team and you'll have all the secret code to enter for the grand prize!

CONTINUE THE HUNT

 

To keep going on your quest for the hunt, you need to check out the next author, Cecil Castellucci! But before you do, make sure to fill out the Rafflecopter below to win an ARC of Resonance!

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ICYMI: Resonance Cover

Shiny, shiny, shiny, shiny!

We revealed the cover elswhere, but here it is again to brighten your Thursday: the cover of RESONANCE, coming July 22nd!

 

Here's a bit about the story:

As a Walker between worlds, Del is responsible for the love of her life—and the fate of millions—in this thrilling sequel to Dissonance.

Del risked everything to save Simon, and now he’s gone, off in another world with no way for Del to find him.

She’s back at the Consort—training to be a Walker like everyone in her family. But the Free Walkers have other plans for her. This rebel group is trying to convince Del that the Consort is evil, and that her parents are unwittingly helping the Consort kill millions of people. The Free Walkers make Del the ultimate promise: if Del joins their fight, she will be reunited with Simon.

In agreeing, Del might be endangering her family. But if she doesn’t, innocent people will die, and Simon will be lost to her forever. The fate of the multiverse depends on her choice...

 

To sum up: Shenanigans. And Simons.

Twelve Days to HARMONIC!

If you follow me on Instagram, you probably know: Resonance ARCs are here! Exciting times, because it means that soon, you’ll finally get an answer to the cliffhanger at the end of Dissonance...

(Soon, of course, is a relative term. Resonance arrives on July 22^nd. You can pre-order here.)

In the meantime, I have a treat to hold you over:  the Harmonic e-novella publishes in TWELVE DAYS. March 17th, to be precise.

Isn't it beautiful?!?  Harmonic is Addie’s story, and it picks up right before the last scene of Dissonance. Here’s a bit more about it:  

Addie Sullivan has always been the perfect Walker, but after the events of Dissonance, her loyalty is questioned. To prove herself – and protect a grief-stricken Del – she takes on a special assignment from the Consort, tracking down rebel Free Walkers. Chasing ghosts means digging into past…and asking her ex-girlfriend, Laurel, for help. As her feelings for Laurel resurface, so do troubling secrets about the Consort, the Free Walkers, and Addie’s family. And when the investigation turns deadly, Addie must decide who to believe, and where her future lies.

What exactly is an e-novella, you ask? Longer than a short story, shorter than a novel, available only as an ebook and priced accordingly. – Harmonic is 148 pages, and 1.99 at most online retailers:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Google Play

iBooks

I’ll be back soon with more information and some fun giveaways. In the meantime, if you have a question, click here to ask!

 

 

 

Title Reveal (times two!)

Last week, I promised that today would be a day of Exciting News -- and here we are!

For the last year, I've been referring to the sequel of Dissonance as D2. Which always reminds me of this:

Which is...not quite representative of Dissonance and its (many) worlds.

However, after a lot of mulling and many smart suggestions from my editor, we hit upon the perfect title for D2. And then, because we were on a roll, we came up with a title for Dissonance 1.5.

What, you might ask, is Dissonance 1.5? It's a novella about Addie, Del's older sister, and it's set at the VERY END of Dissonance. We'll release the official blurb later, but for now, it's safe to say that Del isn't the only Sullivan girl who's good at keeping secrets. To find out more, you'll need to read...

Harmonic will be out in early spring 2015.

A few months later, in July, D2 will hit shelves. Except we'll be calling it:

 

Guys, I loved writing Resonance. It picks up less than 24 hours after the end of Dissonance, and while I can't tell you a whole lot about the story just yet, I can tell you that Del's search for Simon reveals all sorts of unexpected truths and allies and dangers. I can't wait to share it with you!

We have a winner! (and a secret)

Thanks again to everyone who participated in the YA Scavenger Hunt! According to the fine people at Rafflecopter, our winner is

 

EMILY C!

Congratulations, Emily! I will send you an email in a few minutes as well as a twitter DM, and we'll get your Dissonance package in the mail this week.

If you were not a winner, never fear -- I'm going to do another giveaway next week, because we have some fun announcements about DISSONANCE coming on Tuesday that I can't wait to share with you!

 

Let the YASH begin! (UPDATED)

 

The Fall 2014 YA Scavenger Hunt is now OVER. Thank you all so much for participating! I hope you've enjoyed the exclusive bonus content -- and grown your TBR pile!

 

While the YASH is over, my personal giveaway hit a technical glitch -- and to make amends, I'm keeping it open through Monday! So if you haven't entered yet, there's still time. See below for details, and thanks again for making this year's YASH such a success!

 

BONUS CONTEST:

Want to be entered in to win a DISSONANCE swag pack? I'm giving away a signed copy of DISSONANCE, plus stickers, bookmarks, origami and more!

You have several ways to enter, via this handy Rafflecopter: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A few things to note:

• During previous hunts, I've requested you leave a comment on the blog. But I'm going to be switching over to Tumblr full-time soon, so I'd recommend following me there instead. My Tumblr Ask box is also a good place to go if you have questions. (You can still comment, of course! I love comments! It just doesn't count as a contest entry.)
• Obviously, if you have questions about the contest or the hunt, the comment section is an ideal place to ask. (Though Tumblr would work too. Or twitter. Or email. ASK, is what I'm saying, and I'll do my best to answer.)
• Several of the entry options require you to give your username for verification. If I can't verify you, it doesn't count, so check for typos!
• As always, my giveaways are international.
• This giveaway runs until midnight on Monday, October 6.

 

 

Moving and Shaking and Signed Copies

It is Monday, and it is a Monday in almost-August, which means we here at Casa O'Rourke is in our usual back-to-school-where-did-the-summer-go frenzy. Apparently our motto is "ADD IT TO THE LIST AND MAKE MORE COFFEE." S

There is, however, one list I am pretty excited about: Goodreads July Movers and Shakers list. According to the nice people at GR, this means that many of you have added DISSONANCE to your "To Read" lists or shelves or cubbies or book storage system of choice. So...thank you! Word of mouth is the best possible way you can support an author, and I'm very, very grateful to you all for spreading the word.

The launch party on Tuesday was lovely: I did not spill on my new blouse and The Book Stall was jam-packed with wonderful, enthusiastic people! If you couldn't make it, never fear: I signed a bunch of copies and tucked bookmarks and origami stars inside, special for you. Just contact the store and they'll be happy to send you a copy.

Enjoy these waning days of summer -- and make sure YOUR summer list is full of moments that will make great memories (especially when we're back in the polar vortex).

 

Happy Book Birthday To Me!

I wish I could come up with a better title this post, but frankly, I am waaaaaay too gobsmacked by the number of good wishes and kind words pouring in today.

Because today, DISSONANCE and Del are finally out in the world -- on bookshelves and eReaders and in the hands of so many amazing readers.

Pub day is kind of weird, because after all the frenzy of writing, and revising, and promoting a book, the actual release feels a bit like being in the eye of a hurricane. There's not much I can do at this point except say thanks to the people who have supported me throughout this journey, and thanks to the people who are taking the time to read the book, and do my hair for the launch party tonight, and eat a lot of cookies. Tomorrow I'll work on DISSONANCE 2.

But for now, I'm trying to enjoy every moment. That's really what release days are for.