Erica O'Rourke

How do you say *SWOON* *THUD* in German?

Oh, guys.

So happy. SO! HAPPY!

Remember how TORN sold to Germany a few months ago? Actually, a lot of months ago, but I couldn't announce it right away?

One of the nice things about foreign sales is that you have already written the book, so that it doesn't take up much brain space in the day-to-day course of things. When you get news, it's always a surprise. And in my case, it's a good surprise, because yesterday, I got to see the German cover for TORN.

You might want to have a seat, so that when you swoon, you don't hit your head.

Ready? Really, really ready?

 

 

SWOON, I say. SWOON, followed by THUD, followed by a "GOOD LORD I LOVE GERMANY."

Isn't it bee-you-ti-full? I love how the image is ever-so-faintly water-spotted like an old photo, like a memory. I love all the white space that balances out the darkness at the bottom. I love how the dress fades into shadows. I love that the boy's hair is a little messy and he's all sullen-looking. (I'm assuming it's Luc, since his hair is longer than Colin's. They're both sullen in their own special ways.) It feels dark and mysterious and sexy and...*swoon* *thud*

I LOVE IT. I want to print it out and carry it around with me like a newborn baby, and coo at it and snuggle it and keep it next to my bed.

According to Babelfish, the title translates to THE CHOSEN: AWAY INTO DARKNESS. And that makes me happy, too, because I am a sentimental girl. When this book won the Golden Heart in 2010, it was called UNCHOSEN. We needed to change it for a variety of reasons, and I wasn't devastated...but to see a reminder of that old title, the one Meg Cabot called out that night....it feels indescribably lovely. Kind of like the cover itself.

 

Mango Music

A while back, one of the amazing and brilliant agents at Nancy Coffey Lit, Kathleen Ortiz, posted a video on her blog -- a friend of hers had written a song about Mango the Cat, who belongs to Kathleen's sister. It was funny and catchy and I have been earwormed by it at random intervals ever since. So when I finally met Kathleen at the NCTE party, I immediately burst out singing "My Name is Mango." As one does in these sorts of situations.

The amazing thing about this song is that Brittney, the girl who composed and performed it, accompanied by her trusty ukelele, wrote the entire thing in ten minutes, based on a random group of words Kathleen and her sister threw at her. So obviously Brittney is a genius, and quite talented.

And now she done something even more amazing: she's promised a NEW original song if the video gets 1234 (hee) views by the end of the weekend.

The world needs more Brittney songs, people. Go and watch it. I dare you not to sing along. 

 

 

Because Friday is always better than Tuesday. Especially this week.

In true Tuesday style (did you know Tuesday is my least favorite day of the week? Tuesday is the new Monday, in my opinion.) today's post in not a catch-up of all the fun things I've been doing.

What's that, you say? You don't believe I've been off having fun? You're mostly right -- I've been chained to my desk finishing up the revisions of BOUND -- but I did manage to escape and go see a taping of NPR's Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, where I met Carl Kasell, and Paula Poundstone dressed like a pilgrim.

(That's not me with Paula, alas. I was too busy fawning over Peter Sagal, so I made the boyo get a picture.)

The purpose of this post is to invite you, if you are an English teacher or librarian, to come and see me at the NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English) Convention this Friday. I'll be hosting a party with free food! And free beverages! And swag, including copies of TORN and a chance to win ARCs of TANGLED. (Swag, by definition, is free. Free is good.)

Here's the details:

TORN/TANGLED Party

7-9 pm

Shileghlegh Room  Kitty O'Shea's, Hilton Chicago (720 S Michigan Ave.)

If you're an English teacher or librarian that isn't attending NCTE? Shoot me an email (erica at ericaorourke dot com) and I will send you the swag bag AND enter you in the drawing to win an ARC of TANGLED.

Now, I am off to slay Tuesday. That fifth cup of coffee isn't going to drink itself, you know.