BEA

Today is the first official day of Book Expo America being held at the Javits Center in New York. For Those of us who love books and authors, BEA is the Superbowl. Meg Cabot spoke this morning at the Children's Book and Author Breakfast. Those of you who have been following me from the beginning know how I feel about Meg Cabot. Man, I wish I was there. I feel like the kid who goes to the Garden to watch the Knicks and says to himself 'one day... one day'. For a complete listing of the BEA schedule go here BEA website.

While I am not at BEA, hob-knobbing with book lovers and authors, I am still going to spend some time today talking about one of my great loves--books. I took a few books with me when we went on vacation--to Atlantis in The Bahamas. It was a beautiful place, but it rained every day we were there, which is why there are no photos of me outdoors. The rain gave me plenty of time to read... and discover my favorite new (new to me) TV show, Jon And Kate Plus Eight.

The first book I read The Brightest Moon of the Century, is the first novel by my friend and fellow USC Professional Writing alum, Christopher Meeks. It follows the life of Edward from childhood, until he has children of his own. My favorite part is when Minnesotan, Edward, and a friend decide to manage a mini mart in a trailer park in Alabama. They take the job without ever having visited the place, and go to Alabama looking for adventure... And boy do they find it. This is a terrific read, a fun yet touching book. If you'd like to purchase the book or see some reviews Click here: Amazon.com: The Brightest Moon of the Century: Christopher Meeks: Books

Another book I read is the Pulitzer Prize winning. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz. Wow! What a truly amazing book. It's the sad story of overweight day dreamer, Oscar, and the de Leon family from The Dominican Republic, now settled in New Jersey. I bought this book last year and just go around to reading it. I caution you that at times it's quite sad, but it is the best book I've read in a long time. Click here: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao - Junot Diaz - Penguin Group (USA)

And so with vacation over, and books on the brain, I head off to do some writing of my own.

Sleep tight, don't let the zombies bite.

I Have A Publicist

While I was away, I got an email introducing Amber, the publicist Tor has assigned to Never Slow Dance With A Zombie. In the email Amber asked if I'd mind doing a local signing or two in early September. Mind? I'd give my left arm (of course then I couldn't sign anything, I'm left handed, but you get my drift) to be sitting in a book store in early September signing MY BOOK. Hello? I wrote back quickly that I was indeed available for signings. My reply was very subdued, and not the HELLZ YEAH! that was bubbling in my brain.

Wow. So now I'm a published author who may have a local signing or two coming up. Amber also said, and this is a direct quote: I’ve also check out your website, and it is honestly one of the best YA author websites out there- Bravo! Did Amber just tell me my website rocks? She's right, you know (Thank you, Tatiana). And if you haven't checked it out yet, please do Click here: E. Van Lowe. There's a subscription contest on right now that ends Sunday, a very cool photo contest to follow, and in the next few weeks I am going to post an outtake from Never Slow Dance With A Zombie.

The outtakes are things I liked that my editor asked me to cut (Take that, Susan... just kidding). There are just a few that I really loved. Cutting them did make the book tighter. And now you'll get to see my lopped off babies between now and September on my website.

Back when I had my autograph dilemma on which panel to sign, the very talented writer and blogger, Samantha (Wuthering Life) suggested I go out and buy myself a fancy, pretentious book-signing pen. At the time I laughed. But you know what, if I'm going to be at a signing in public I probably shouldn't use the cheap hotel pen I used on the ARCs. However, I'm not off to buy a pen just yet. Let Amber book a signing or two first. For now, I'll just bask in the glory that I have a publicist... while I get back to work on Hollyweird.

For those of you who have been trying to guess from the photos where we went on vacation--tomorrow. Until then...

Sleep tight, don't let the zombies bite.

Where's E? #3

More fishies.

Where's E? #2

Mrs. E, standing... where?

Where's E?

So, here's the first of my vacation photos. I call it E In A Fishbowl. You'll never guess where we went for vacation. No, it's not Sea World.

Sleep tight...

I'm Baaack!

I am back from vacation, and feeling totally re-energized. I mean it. I got in last night, and my brain is exploding with ideas. And I see I've gotten a few new followers while I was away. Welcome! For those of you who are interested I will post a vacation photo or two as soon as I can download.

My subscriber contest is still going on through May 31st over at my website. Click here: E. Van Lowe and win some SWAG--a Zombie Love tee.

It's Memorial Day, so I guess I'm off work... LOL. I LOVE America. That's it for now.

Be thankful, be safe and check out my website.

Evanlowe.com

Ta ta ta ta ta ta taaaaaa!

Ladies and gentlemen, my website is finally up and open for business. Please drop by when you get a chance and check it out. Click here: E. Van Lowe

There's a subscriber contest going on right now where you can win a cool tee with the Zombie Love logo (on your left). All you have to do is subscribe. There will be contests all spring and summer long. And I will be giving away at least one free autographed ARC of Never Slow Dance With A Zombie some time in the future. So please check back to see what's going on.

And check out Margot's journal where you can read the protagonist from NSDWAZ in her own words. I think it's a kick.

I'm off to vacay for a solid week, so I won't be blogging for a while, but I'd love to find LOTS of comments upon my return--hint, hint. Until then...

Sleep tight, don't let the zombies bite.

Waiting Wednesday

Today Never Slow Dance With A Zombie got a cool mention in Carrie's Bookshelf blog Click here: Carrie's YA Bookshelf: Waiting on Wednesday (15)--Never Slow Dance With A Zombie by E. Van Lowe

Did you see the comments? Wow! Thanks for the shout out, Carrie. I'm getting excited--as if I wasn't excited already. And I think there will be a website announcement here tomorrow... Fingers crossed.

Sleep tight, don't let the zombies bite

Waiting

First off, this cute little zombie business man is from Brass Knuckles. I found it on Photobucket. I think it's saying it's not brains he loves--it's money. Whatever. He was too cute to pass up.

It's been several weeks since I told you my website would be up soon, and still no website. It's really frustrating but my web designer is working on another project. So I just have to grin and bear it. But good things are worth waiting for--right? I hope you feel that way when it's finally up and you visit the site. There will be contests going on all spring and summer long, so when you stop by you might win some cool SWAG... or even a free ARC for Never Slow Dance With A Zombie.

This past week has been one of the best writing weeks I've had for quite some time. I am close to finishing the draft of the new book series, Hollyweird. I should be done by early June. I know I've already said this, but I can't wait to share some of it with you. Usually when I write a book I do a few readings along the way. For me, readings make me see things in a whole new light. I can try things out, and work out some of the rough spots. But for some reason with this one, I didn't do any. I read a few chapters for some friends--my listeners as I call them--but that was it. So, I'm thinking of having a reading In June. If I do, I will post it here on the blog, and if any of you are in the LA area you can stop by. That would be too cool. I read and correspond with some of you pretty regularly, and yet we've never met. Ahh, the wonders of the internet.

Anyway, that's all I got. I'm still waiting.

Sleep tight...

What Are The Rules?

Last night I finished reading the Meg Cabot series Allie Finkle's Rules For Girls. Okay, I know it's for ten year-old girls, but I loved reading them. I laughed out loud in many places. If you'd like to check it out
Click here: Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls by Meg Cabot Scholastic.com I like reading girl books or the dreaded word "chic lit." From Twilight to the Amanda Blake series, to Sophie Kinsella's Beckie Bloomwood series and on and on. These are my FUN reads--which is probably why I like writing about girls so much. From time-to-time I get looks form people when I tell them what I do. And lots of laughs from the guys. But I wouldn't trade it for the world. I don't apologize for it. It's what I do. There's no rule that says boys can't write for girls. If you think it's weird, it probably is... But I always seem to march to the beat of my own drummer. It's been like that since I was a kid. My first book comes out in four months and we'll see what readers think. Will I be accepted into the fraternity of girl writers? Time will tell.

I worked all day today on my new book series, Hollyweird. I'm currently writing the first book in the series and most days (when things are going good--like today) I'm having a ball. I LOVE what I do. So sue me. I can't wait to share sections of the book with you. It's about fifteen and a half year-old, Kris Golden, who lives with her father and older sister in Hollywood. Kris is a gifted child. Not math, or science or singing. Her gift is that she is a necromancer--she can spot the walking dead among us, raise the dead, and lay the risen dead back to rest. She's sort of a cross between Anita Blake and the Ghost Whisperer. I hope to finish by the end of June. I will keep you posted. And maybe I'll share a section or two with you here or on my website.

That's all for now.

Sleep tight, don't let the zombies bite.