Jessica Verday

End of Year Changes - JessicaVerday.com & AbbeysHollow.com

2011-12-06T09:05:00.001-06:00

So this is the blog post that I've been contemplating for a long time. A long, long time. And I can't believe that the time has finally come. It's here. It's now. I'm nervous, of course, to write this post, because I'm sure some of you will be upset. (And I hate that!) But things have to change for us to grow, and as someone who hates change of any kind, I've been working on trying to learn to embrace this fact instead of loathing it.

The time has come for the AbbeysHollow.com website to shut down, and for my main author site, JessicaVerday.com, to get a face lift.

For the last two years or so, I've loved giving my readers a chance to experience a bit of Abbey's world via her perfumes with the Abbey's Hollow website. In fact, when I first started writing THE HOLLOW way back in 2006, I knew that somehow I wanted to bring Abbey's shop to life in my own way. I'm really, really proud of the fact that I had that opportunity and that I had so many fans and readers show me that they enjoyed that 'slice of life' too. Thank you, all of you who have visited the site. I truly appreciate it.

That said, with the trilogy drawing to a close this year, I knew that I'd have some decisions to make regarding whether or not I'd keep the site going. My schedule was the deciding factor. This was both a bad thing and a good thing. The bad part of it is that at the end of 2011 the Abbey's Hollow website will be shut down for good. I'm not ordering anything more to re-stock, so whatever is left is left until it's all completely sold out. (As of now, the only thing totally sold out are the 4-Leaf clover necklaces. But I am down to 6 Astrid necklaces, and 6 Legend of Sleepy Hollow necklaces. There won't be any more once they are all sold.)

The good part of this is that it means I'll have time to concentrate on writing more books. I'm sad to close down the website, but ultimately, my job as an author is to write. So that's what I'm going to concentrate on. More writing time for me = more books for you. So win/win, right?

The other change happening at the end of the year will be my JessicaVerday.com author site. I've received so many compliments on the design, and I'm not gonna lie, I'm pretty sad that it has to change. But the new site will be sleeker and focused more on all my books instead of tied to just one series. So if you haven't had the chance to explore all the little nooks and crannies of my current site, go check it out! I hope you love the new site (albeit in a different way) just as much as the old one.

Change is hard. And tough. And complicated. But it's also worth it. Here's to a bright and shiny and NEW 2012!

Want Signed Books or R.U.H.2? Shirts? Get 'em here

2011-11-18T05:19:00.000-06:00

I've been getting a ton of email lately asking if I'm going to be doing any signings near (insert name of town/city/country here) anytime soon, and I'm always disappointed to have to say no. My schedule is completely booked from now until next summer with actual writing deadlines, so unfortunately, that means no time for travel.

But I hate, hate, hate to disappoint you guys, so I've come up with a TEMPORARY solution. Since I have boxes and boxes of author copies sitting here that are currently taking up way too much space on my bookshelves, and you guys want signed copies, I'm going to use my AbbeysHollow.com website to make it happen. Signed hardcover copies are now available via the site. Just go there, type in who you want the book signed to, click BUY and you're good to go.

The caveat? I'm only doing this until the end of December (or until I run out of copies). So if you want 'em as Christmas gifts, go get 'em now.

The other question I get asked a lot is if I have any more R.U.H.s? t-shirts. Remember those? I gave some away in 2009 and in 2010, black with white writing?

Well, guess what I just found packed away in a storage container... Yup. Some more shirts. So I'm throwing them up there too. Same caveat goes though. These are the ABSOLUTE LAST OF THE LAST. As of now, the sizes I have left are:

3 Small

5 Medium

3 Large

4 Extra Large

But when they're gone, they're gone. (And I double checked - there really are NO more left). So if you want one, go grab one.

T-shirts Here

Signed Books Here

ENTHRALLED and THE FIRST TIME Giveaway!

2011-11-08T07:36:00.001-06:00

Want to win a copy of ENTHRALLED and THE FIRST TIME? Of course you do! I have two ARCs (Advanced Readers Copies) of ENTHRALLED to give away and two copies of the eBook THE FIRST TIME (for your Kindle or NOOK) to give away. If you win, you'll receive one copy of each book so that you can read both of my short stories about Jane, the supernatural badass hunter.

The copies of ENTHRALLED are from my own personal collection and I think they're pretty cool because not only are ARCs sort of a collector's item, but certain things have changed since they went on to become the real books you see on the shelf. Like Melissa Marr's title for her Wicked Lovely short story. (It's totally different in the ARC. Betcha didn't know that!)

The contest will run until 5pm EST Wednesday, 11/9/11. To enter, all you have to do is tweet, facebook, or blog one of the following messages, then come back here and leave a comment with the linkback to let me know. (DON'T forget to come back here and let me know - otherwise your entry won't be counted!)

Post one of these:

I want to read The First Time! http://amzn.to/tfBjjA #YouNeverForgetYourFirst
When was your First Time? http://amzn.to/tfBjjA #YouNeverForgetYourFirst
25 Short stories, 25 First Times http://amzn.to/tfBjjA #WhatWasYours

Fine print:
- Two separate winners. One person cannot win all four copies.
- Enter as many times as you like, as long as the links to your tweets/posts are all different.
- Sorry international residents, this contest is for US participants only.
- Physical copy of ENTHRALLED can be signed for you, THE FIRST TIME cannot.
- If you do not leave a comment with the linkback to your tweet/blogpost, your entry will not be counted.

New Releases - ENTHRALLED and THE FIRST TIME

2011-11-04T15:50:00.000-05:00

I've been getting a lot of questions about what I'm working on now that The Hollow Trilogy is done, what's coming up next. Although I can't say anything specific about future projects (still top secret), I DO have two new short story releases featuring a brand new character that you can get your hands on right now.

ENTHRALLED released September 20th from HarperCollins (available in paperback) and features my short story "At the Late Night, Double Feature, Picture Show" about a normal girl named Jane. What's not so normal is that she comes from a family of supernatural hunters who all have special abilities...except Jane doesn't have any. (She's pretty badass though) Add in cannibal Girl Scouts, vampires in drag, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, an opening line like this: "The worst thing about cannibal Girl Scouts are the badges," and, well...I think this picture of Tim Curry dressed up as a Girl Scout says it all.

(Tim Curry says thank you. And: "Would you like to buy some Thin Mints?")

ENTHRALLED also features Claudia Gray, Carrie Ryan, Kami Garcia, Jackson Pearce, Rachel Vincent, Melissa Marr, Kelley Armstrong, Sarah Rees Brennan, Jeri Smith-Ready, Kimberly Derting, Ally Condie, Margaret Stohl, Mary E. Pearson, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, and Rachel Caine.

Buy at IndieBound

Buy at Amazon

Buy at B&N

THE FIRST TIME is the anthology I edited and put together featuring 25 authors who all had debut books in 2009. It released October 29th (in eBook format ONLY) and features my short story "Once Burned, Twice Shy." This story follows Jane on another hunt and involves one pissed off ghost, a 1957 Chevy Bel Air, a street race gone terribly wrong, and a charming boy named Venn who has a bad habit of tripping.

Want to know what order to read the Jane stories in? Read "At the Late, Night Double Feature, Picture Show" first and "Once Burned, Twice Shy" second.

THE FIRST TIME also features: Kristina Springer, Stacey Jay, Leigh Brescia, Shani Petroff, Heidi R. Kling, Jennifer Brown, Cheryl Reneé Herbsman, Jon Skovron, Charity Tahmaseb, Cyn Balog, Carrie Ryan, Lara Zielin, Lauren Bjorkman, Rhonda Stapleton, Jackson Pearce, J.A. Yang, Saundra Mitchell, Sydney Salter, Kurtis Scaletta, C. Lee McKenzie, Kirstin Cronn-Mills, Janet Gurtler, Teri Hall, and Jenny Moss.

Available now for only $2.99!

Buy at Amazon

Buy at B&N

If you don't have a Kindle, you can still read this eBook on your phone, computer, iPad, e-reader, etc. Just grab the Amazon Kindle app.

If you prefer the Barnes & Noble Nook app, get it here.

November First

2011-11-01T13:47:00.002-05:00

If you've read any of the books in The Hollow trilogy then you already know that today is a special day. (And if you've read THE HIDDEN, you know that today is a *very* special day - I hope you enjoyed that scene! I enjoyed writing it!) So I'm spending today wandering through graveyards, baking snickerdoodle cookies, and mixing up some new perfume scents in honor of Abbey and Caspian. But I wanted to send a special shout out to Britta Kirk from Novel Days for her AMAZING posts celebrating all things HOLLOW. Check 'em out:

Flavors of The Hollow - Apple cider cups, and spiced hot chocolate? Yes, please!

Fragrances of The Hollow - Mmmmmm, fall!

Britta's Review of The Hollow Trilogy - Thanks, Britta!

Things I'm Loving Lately

2011-10-21T07:57:00.000-05:00

Things went from sorta-crazy busy to OMG-I'M-NEVER-GONNA-SLEEP-AGAIN!!!1111!!!!! busy over the last couple of weeks, but I haven't forgotten about my lovely readers. Lot's of good stuff coming up next week, including news about some new releases.

But for now, I'll leave you with some pretty, pretty pictures to look at. These are the things that have been eating my brain recently. What's been eating yours?

U.S. RELEASE DAY! (And The #1 Thing You Didn't Know About The Hollow Trilogy)

2011-09-06T08:26:00.069-05:00

(Well, this post was scheduled last night and OF COURSE glitched!! It never showed up, so here it is... a couple of hours late!)

Today is the U.S. release day for THE HIDDEN - the last book in The Hollow Trilogy. And this book, I can honestly say, is for you my dear readers. For those of you who've faithfully followed along from the beginning, and for those of you who've joined the journey along the way. Because that's what this has been. A journey!

This book is my answer to your questions, my letter of thanks for your support, and my hope that you'll find inspiration along the way.

I'm not sure where this journey is taking me next, but for now it's ending here. And I can't thank you enough for coming along. May you find happiness, joy, and love between these pages. You're not silly or childish for believing in any of those things.

I do.

DAY ONE: The Final Chapter

When I first started thinking about this series and making my notes, the biggest question to come up, of course, was: what's going to happen at the end? I thought I had it. An ending that I liked. An ending that would be great. Everything changed though when I actually started writing the book. A couple of chapters in, and a different ending came to me. An ending that was pretty much the complete opposite of what I'd planned. So I wrote the whole book and when it came time to edit, I had to make a choice. If I went with option one everything for the rest of the series would be different. If I went with option two, everything would be even MORE different. There was no compromise. No middle ground.

In the end, I went with the RIGHT ending. The ending that I think I knew all along was the one that felt truest to the story I was trying to tell - a story of love.

Get THE HIDDEN at Amazon

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Get THE HIDDEN at Indiebound.org

Top Ten Things You Didn't Know About The Hollow Trilogy - Day 2

2011-09-05T17:10:00.001-05:00

DAY TWO: The Alternate Ending

THE HAUNTED originally had an alternate ending. When I wrote it, I knew the last scene had to be big, had to have emotional impact because it would be the driving force for the final book in the series. In the original version, Abbey and Ben got into a car accident on the way back from Caspian's hometown. Caspian was grief stricken over the fact that he couldn't help Abbey, who was hurt. So why was it changed? Because ultimately, it ended up raising too many questions that didn't have anything to do with THE HIDDEN. I knew that as a result of the accident Abbey would be starting book three in the same place that she's starting now, so I decided to change it during the edits to something more personal. The image flashed into my head of Vincent lying on Abbey's bed, pretending to be Caspian while surrounded with her broken bottles of perfume, and red roses, and blood, and knew THAT was it. That was the emotional impact I wanted!

Get THE HIDDEN at Amazon

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Get THE HIDDEN at Indiebound.org

Top Ten Things You Didn't Know About The Hollow Trilogy - Day 3

2011-09-04T15:18:00.000-05:00

DAY THREE: The Legend Lives

Although Washington Irving was no doubt inspired by several real life locations and local people when writing The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, including the tulip tree that British spy John Andre was captured under as well as Katrina Van Tassel's character, local legend has it that a headless soldier really is buried in the Sleepy Hollow cemetery. He was a mercenary, and therefore committed brutal acts, yet his saving grace was to save a child. When he lost his head the town voted to bury him in the local cemetery. It's possible that Washington Irving heard this story and a Headless Horseman really did exist!

Get THE HIDDEN at Amazon

Get THE HIDDEN at BN

Get THE HIDDEN at Indiebound.org

Top Ten Things You Didn't Know About The Hollow Trilogy - Day 4

2011-09-03T15:03:00.000-05:00

DAY FOUR: The Science Fair

I didn't have to look far for inspiration when I wrote the scene in THE HOLLOW that dealt with Abbey and Ben trying to figure out what science fair project to do for school. This one I took straight from real life! In seventh grade I did my science fair project based on whether or not the loss of one sense (vision) would heighten another sense (smell). Although my findings were based on short experimentation, and the answer was no, I won first place and even went on to the regional science fair. (Second place there - if I'm remembering correctly.) That's right, a bit of Ben's character was based on my inner science geek!

Get THE HIDDEN at Amazon

Get THE HIDDEN at BN

Get THE HIDDEN at Indiebound.org

Top Ten Things You Didn't Know About The Hollow Trilogy - Day 5

2011-09-02T19:59:00.001-05:00

DAY FIVE: Candy Christine

Ben always struck me as the type of guy who would totally name his car, but I had a hard time figuring out just what that name should be. I was reading a Stephen King book at the time when it came to me: why not name his car after the first horror movie I ever saw (eight years old, and yes, I loved it)? The answer to this, of course, was CHRISTINE. Since I was also eating some of my favorite candies - Hot Tamales - the perfect name was born, Candy Christine.

Get THE HIDDEN at Amazon

Get THE HIDDEN at BN

Get THE HIDDEN at Indiebound.org

Top Ten Things You Didn't Know About The Hollow Trilogy - Day 6 (UK Release Day!)

2011-09-01T14:36:00.001-05:00

DAY SIX: The Voice That Started It All

Today is the UK release day for THE HIDDEN so I thought I'd share the one thing that everyone always asks about. The one thing I always said I was waiting to reveal: what Abbey's first words to me were. What made me sit up and say "That's interesting! But who ARE you? What does that mean? I want to know more."

It's now the prologue for THE HIDDEN...

"My name is Abbey. And I'm in love with a ghost."

Get THE HIDDEN at Amazon

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Get THE HIDDEN at Indiebound.org

Top Ten Things You Didn't Know About The Hollow Trilogy - Day 7

2011-08-31T15:01:00.001-05:00

DAY SEVEN: He's Got the Look

One of the books that I always recommend and you'll hear me gush about time and time again is the Forbidden Game series by L.J. Smith. If you've read this series then you know about Julian, a Shadow Man. Julian was one of my first literary crushes (tied with Anton from Summer of my German Soldier) and he was my Edward back in the day. I knew I wanted to pay homage to L.J. Smith when I wrote THE HOLLOW for being such a huge inspiration to me, so I figured one of the best ways to do that was with my hero! And that's why Caspian has white-blond hair...in honor of Julian.

Get THE HIDDEN at Amazon

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Get THE HIDDEN at Indiebound.org

Top Ten Things You Didn't Know About The Hollow Trilogy - Day 8

2011-08-30T15:38:00.002-05:00

DAY EIGHT: Inspired By...

The restaurant that Ben works at in The Hollow Trilogy was inspired by a real restaurant called The Horseman Restaurant & Pizza. I found this place on my first visit to Sleepy Hollow in 2006 and with it's Sleepy Hollow themed decor (check out the giant mirror!), I knew it had to make a guest appearance in THE HOLLOW. To make it my own I changed the name to the Horseman's Haunt, but you can still go visit - check it out at 276 N. Broadway Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591.

Get THE HIDDEN at Amazon

Get THE HIDDEN at BN

Get THE HIDDEN at Indiebound.org

Top Ten Things You Didn't Know About The Hollow Trilogy - Day 9

2011-08-29T15:51:00.002-05:00

DAY NINE: Ben's Original Name

Abbey's friend (and science fair partner) wasn't always Ben. He was originally named Cris. I changed his name during the editing process because I thought I had too many 'C' sounding names with Caspian and Kristen. For a short time he was Chase while I searched for something better, then Ben came to me and I knew it was perfect!

Get THE HIDDEN at Amazon

Get THE HIDDEN at BN

Get THE HIDDEN at Indiebound.org

Top Ten Things You Didn't Know About The Hollow Trilogy - Day 10

2011-08-28T16:09:00.004-05:00

We are officially ten days out from the release of THE HIDDEN, the final book in The Hollow Trilogy, and I could go through the usual questions - Is the town of Sleepy Hollow real? (yes, it is) Is the legend of Sleepy Hollow real? (Technically, no. The short story by Washington Irving is fiction, but it has reality based roots) What inspired you to write the The Hollow Trilogy? (I love The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, I love the Headless Horseman, I love the town of Sleepy Hollow, and I love Halloween) Is Caspian real? (sadly, for some of you, VERY sadly, according to what you tell me, no) - but I thought it would be fun to do something different.

So I decided on A Top Ten countdown of all the things you DON'T know about The Hollow Trilogy.

Starting today through September 6th, I'll post one new fact about THE HOLLOW, THE HAUNTED, or THE HIDDEN every day. A lot of these are things I haven't revealed yet (like the alternate ending for THE HAUNTED). So if you want the inside scoop, come party with me as we celebrate the upcoming release of THE HIDDEN!

DAY TEN: Feels Like Fall

I wrote a lot of THE HOLLOW during the months of June, July, and August and would take nightly walks to help me sort out the plot and get ready for writing the next day. The only problem was that in Abbey's world it was September and October. Which meant every night, without fail, I would reach for my jacket to put on before my walk because I would get so lost in my writing I constantly thought it was Autumn!

Get THE HIDDEN at Amazon

Get THE HIDDEN at BN

Get THE HIDDEN at Indiebound.org

FLESH now on NOOK

2011-08-20T12:07:00.001-05:00

Just a quick reminder - for those of you asking if FLESH WHICH IS NOT FLESH will be available elsewhere, you can get it for your Nook. And don't forget, until August 31 50% of the proceeds are going to the Living Beyond Tolerance Scholarship.

Get it on Nook

Get it on Kindle

Don't have a Kindle or a Nook? Download the Free Reader for your iPhone, PC, MAC, Blackberry, iPad, Android or Windows Phone 7: HERE

THE HAUNTED - paperback release day!

2011-08-09T15:14:00.001-05:00

Today is the release day of the paperback version of THE HAUNTED! Here's a quick synopsis:

An impossible truth. An impossible love.

After a summer spent reclaiming her sanity and trying to forget the boy she fell in love with--the boy who must not exist, cannot exist, because she knows that he is dead--Abbey returns to Sleepy Hollow, ready to leave the ghosts of her past behind. She throws herself into her schoolwork, her perfume-making, and her friendship with Ben, her cute and funny lab partner, who just might be her ticket to getting over Caspian once and for all.

But Abbey can never get over Caspian, and Caspian has no choice but to return to her side, for Caspian is a Shade, and Abbey is his destiny. They are tied not only to each other, but also to the town of Sleepy Hollow, and to the famous legend that binds their fates--a legend whose dark truths they are only beginning to guess....

---

There's an exclusive sneak peek of THE HIDDEN in the back of the book (the only excerpt like this that will be found anywhere). Hope you like it!

Get THE HAUNTED at Amazon

Get THE HAUNTED at BN

Get THE HAUNTED at Indiebound.org

Read an Excerpt from FLESH WHICH IS NOT FLESH

2011-08-05T09:28:00.002-05:00

Be careful who you give your heart to...

Cameron knows this all too well, so when a carnival fortune teller warns him about a dark and mysterious stranger he'll soon meet, he doesn't take it seriously. But then Cameron finds Wesley, the boy who once broke his heart and left town without so much as a goodbye, performing as a sword swallower’s assistant that same night, and learns that Wesley is being held prisoner by The Queen of Hearts - a faery from the dark Unseelie court.

You never know what they might do with it.

In order to save the love of his life, Cameron will do the one thing he shouldn't: make the Queen a bargain. She wants flesh which is not flesh, water that flows wrongly, and drink that can be eaten. With Wesley’s freedom in the balance, he’ll have to solve her mysterious riddle. And the clock is ticking...

Read on for a sneak peek of FLESH WHICH IS NOT FLESH.

Chapter One

“YOU WILL MEET a tall, dark, mysterious stranger. Strong. And fair-eyed. And…” The fortune teller’s eyes suddenly snap open as she looks at me. “…and dangerous.”

“Ooooh, a stranger!” Len crows, shoving her elbow into me. “You’re going to meet someone mysterious! I like the sound of that. Tell us more. Will he be handsome? With good arms and strong thighs?”

“Only if he has thighs like Kellan Lutz,” I say. “And you know I’m not the ‘fair eyed’ type.” Wesley’s face flashes into my mind. “I like brown eyes.”

“One name for you.” Len smiles and looks like a cat waiting to pounce. “Ian Somerhalder.”

The fortune teller’s gnarled hands scrabble for mine. They are two pieces of twisted oak tree branches, dark and spotted. “You must not go willingly. You must not enter that sacred place!”

I hastily pull back. Tuck my hands under the glittery tablecloth.

“Psycho, party of one,” Len says into my ear. Her harsh whisper is loud enough for people two tents over to hear. But that’s Len. She doesn’t do subtle.

This time the fortune teller reaches for my arm.

“Do not enter that place,” she says gravely, brown eyes looking deeply into mine. “Be careful who you give your heart to!”

“Aaaaaaand cut. That’s enough.” Len touches my shoulder, and I get the message. “Thanks, Madam El Creepo. Or whatever your name is.” She throws a wad of bills down onto the table. “Sorry it’s not silver. But I’m sure your palm will have no qualms being crossed with it just the same.”

I’m suddenly just as anxious as she is to get out of here, and I’m stumbling to my feet. Be careful who you give your heart to? Like I needed to be told that.

“Loving the whole hobo-slash-gypsy-slash-tablecloth look,” Len ‘whispers,’ hooking her arm into mine. “Maybe she gets her inspiration from Lady Gaga.”

It’s then I notice the fortune teller still has her claw on my other arm. Not letting go of it.

“Your heart,” she mumbles, her eyes glassy and far away. “Your heart…”

I shake her off and flee the tent, Len stomping by my side. She waits until we are exactly three point seven seconds away from it before she hauls back and plants her feet into the dusty ground. “Nope. Uh-uh. Not going any further.” She crosses her arms.

“Come on.” I look distractedly back at the tent. Your heart…“That took way too much time, and we might have missed the—”

“What’s going on?” she demands.

“Uh, I’m at a stupid carnival? That you dragged me to? Instead of staying home to watch those movies I rented?”

“No. I mean with her.” She jerks a thumb back. “In the tent.”

“Oh, you mean my secret lover.”

She rolls her eyes. “No, Cam. I mean, I made a perfectly good dig at Lady Gaga and you let it go. You. Let. It. Go. So, what’s going on here?”

“Jesus, Len. Nothing. You want me to come up with a poignant yet still-witty comment now? Ten seconds later?”

Her mouth forms a silent O.

“That’s so attractive, Len.”

“It was the heart thing, wasn’t it?” She shakes her head. “It reminded you of him. Wesley. Aww, Cam. Someday you’re going to find a boy who makes you completely happy. Someone who’ll stick around.”

“The problem is I had a boy who made me completely happy.” My voice goes soft. I can hear it. Stupid, stupid, stupid. “But whatever. His loss.” I shrug. Try to act casual about it.

“I know what you need,” she says. “Let’s go watch the sword swallower. You know what they say about a man who can swallow steel…”

“Gross. Did you see him, Len? He’s, like, old.”

She grabs my arm and propels me toward the other tent. “Yes, grasshopper. But did you see the sword swallower’s assistant?” I perk up, and she nods sagely. “I saw him from the back. So hot.”

“Shirt on or off?”

“Would I take you to see him if there were shirts involved?” She cocks her head to one side. I hate it when she does that. She looks like a damn bird. “I’m offended. Of course, he’s shirtless.”

“We are so there.”

We cross the grass patched parking lot and come to the tent marked SEE THE WORLD FAMOUS MAN OF STEEL! The tent is voluminous, a red-and-yellow-striped monstrosity that looms in front of us. We have to dig through miles of fabric just to find the opening.

“I hope the front of him looks like Jacob.” Len sighs, fighting her way through the heavy canvas flap that serves as a door. “I know you’re more into Edward, but give me a werewolf any day of the week.”

“Please. Like you have to tell me that hairy, slobbery and all paws are your thing? You dated Roger Hanks, remember?”

“Oh, Roger.” Len sighs again. She’s such a drama queen. “Roger, Roger, Roger. So cute, and yet so wrong. In all the wrong ways.”

She bursts through the flap and into the tent. I follow behind. A small, wooden stage has been set up, with lit fire torches surrounding the edges. People stand in hushed silence, crowding nearer to get a better look.

“Prepare to be amazed! Prepare to be awed!” a man in a black top hat says from the stage, pointing out into the crowd.

Now Available For Kindle and Nook.

Don't have a Kindle? Download the Free Reader for your iPhone, PC, MAC, Blackberry, iPad, Android or Windows Phone 7: HERE

Also available for Nook readers! FLESH ON NOOK

FLESH WHICH IS NOT FLESH - (Wicked Pretty Things Story)

2011-08-03T13:47:00.009-05:00

I've spent a lot of time thinking about what to do with the story that was supposed to have been in the Wicked Pretty Things anthology. Support for my decision to not include my story has been overwhelmingly positive, and I'm so thankful to each and every one of you who took the time to email me or comment on the blog or Tweet about it.

I've had some generous offers from other authors, editors, and magazines to publish the story but nothing really felt right.

Then I received an email titled 'My Way to Show being Gay Really IS Okay' and I was instantly intrigued. Turns out, I had reason to be.

The email was from Lauren Becker, who helps run the site Let's Get Beyond Tolerance. It focuses on LGBT Entertainment for the YA set, and she was writing to let me know about an informal scholarship she was setting up for someone who is LGBT or an Ally and is doing something to make sure everyone is accepted, not just tolerated, called the Living Beyond Tolerance scholarship. People could start applying June 1 through November 30.

Right away I thought this was a great idea, but then Lauren told me her goal was at least $200 and she would personally pay the difference if that amount couldn't be reached.

That's what really stuck out to me here. Not only was she willing to coordinate the efforts for this scholarship (no small feat - check out the guidelines and ways to enter HERE), but she was going to make up the difference? This was what felt right. This was where I knew my story should go.

It took a lot of work but and I'm extremely grateful to be able to say that my short story FLESH WHICH IS NOT FLESH (Cameron and Wesley's story) is now available as an eBook on Amazon, and from now through August 31, 50% of the proceeds from this story will go to the Living Beyond Tolerance scholarship.

I'm hoping we can meet that $200 goal. Exceed it even. Perhaps $500? $1,000?

Get FLESH WHICH IS NOT FLESH here.

Click here for a sneak peek of FLESH WHICH IS NOT FLESH.

Don't have a Kindle? Download the Free Reader for your iPhone, PC, MAC, Blackberry, iPad, Android or Windows Phone 7: HERE

Also available for Nook readers! FLESH ON NOOK

Necklaces, Rings, and Things + Super Sale at AbbeysHollow.com

2011-07-20T13:13:00.001-05:00

It's been a busy summer. One of the busiest I've had in a long time. Which is funny, because this is the first year I haven't had a book under contract (my deadlines for THE HAUNTED and THE HIDDEN were always over the summer), so I thought it would be a great time to kick back and relax. Ha!
Instead, I've been working on The First Time anthology (due October), finishing another short story, smoothing rough edges on a project I started back in February of 2010, writing bits and pieces of a historical AND contemporary at the same time, and editing/formatting Flesh Which is Not Flesh (hoping for an August 1 release).

Somewhere in between there, I finally, finally managed to complete a project that I've been working on since 2008... THE NECKLACES.

I'm always asked if the necklaces in THE HOLLOW are real, where they can be purchased, who makes them? etc.. I've gone through many suppliers, tons of artists, and a couple of computer meltdowns, but now I have an answer - YES they are real, YES you can buy them. Here: www.AbbeysHollow.com

The gorgeous ring on the cover of THE HIDDEN is what I'm asked about next, and for that, my answer is...I'm working on it. Let's just hope it doesn't take as long as the necklaces. Oi. My patience...

Some of the other fun things I've been working on include exclusive new perfume boxes (SO pretty!) and the Pocket Perfumer's Kit. Everything you need to get started making your own perfumes in handy dandy carrying tin!

Oh, did I mention that almost everything is on sale too? And that if you spend $45 you get a FREE necklace of your choice? Only from 7/19-7/26 though. Hurry!

SUPER SALE FROM 7/19-7/26/11
1) Prices have been marked down on the website - save up to 20%!
2) Spend $45, get a FREE NECKLACE of your choice!
3) In honor of my 29th birthday on 7/26, every second and ninth order will receive a free gift!

The First Time - 2009 Debs Anthology Title & Cover Reveal!

2011-06-22T07:00:00.001-05:00

The stunning cover for the 2009 Debs eBook anthology THE FIRST TIME is being revealed today and I am so, so excited to share it here! (And okay, yes, I am a bit biased since I designed it.) This is the super secret project I mentioned back in March and so far it's been an amazing project to work on. I am beyond lucky to be able to be in the company of so many ridiculously talented writers.

The list of authors includes: Cyn Balog, Lauren Bjorkman, Leigh Brescia, Jennifer Brown, Kirstin Cronn-Mills, Janet Gurtler, Teri Hall, Cheryl Renee Herbsman, Stacey Jay, Heidi R. Kling, C. Lee McKenzie, Saundra Mitchell, Jenny Moss, Jackson Pearce, Shani Petroff, Carrie Ryan, Sydney Salter, Kurtis Scaletta, Jon Skovron, Kristina Springer, Rhonda Stapleton, Charity Tahmaseb, Jessica Verday, J.A. Yang, and Lara Zielin.

With 25 different authors contributing, there's sure to be something here for everyone! From first kiss to first love, there’s no time like the first time. This will be an eBook only (available via Amazon, B&N, and Smashwords) and the tentative release date is October 2011.

Cover Love: Brazil

2011-06-20T13:08:00.001-05:00

One of the coolest things about being an author is the possibility that there may be foreign editions of your books. This doesn't always happen for every book because it depends on what rights you sell to your U.S. publisher (NA = North American, World English = English speaking territories, and World = foreign territories).

World English rights to THE HOLLOW Trilogy were sold to my U.S. publisher which means that the trilogy is available in Canada and the United Kingdom along with the United States. I've also been lucky enough to sell foreign rights to Brazil, Indonesia, Germany, Turkey, and France.

Here's the Brazilian cover and synopsis for THE HOLLOW which just released from Editora Rocco. Cover looks familiar, eh? But they've changed the title to SOMBRAS and it means shadows. I love it! So spooky and mysterious - perfect for the Sleepy Hollow setting!

(Translation): First volume of the trilogy of Shadows, released in Brazil Rocco Young Readers, Shadows is a story of love, friendship and mystery, which begins with the disappearance of Kristen, the heroine's best friend Abbey. Even after she vanishes without a trace, Abbey continues to attend two of their favorite place: the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, where burial is the author of the classic Legend of the Headless Horseman. It is there that knows Caspian, a mysterious boy, whose relationship to the legend is far more intimate than she could ever imagine.

Despite the farewell ceremonies Kristen Abbey hard to believe that her friend really was.Everybody seems to accept too quickly that she is dead and still start spreading rumors that his death was not an accident. At the same time, Abbey begins to feel strange to have nightmares and hallucinations and, increasingly, is questioned about the disappearance of her friend.

The mystery increases when the funeral of Caspian know Kristen. The boy, beautiful and enigmatic, appears in a special way and can not explain the connection he had with his girlfriend.Little by little, Abbey will find that a very important secret involved his disappearance and may even be linked with the development of Caspian in his life. In the shadows of Sleepy Hollow, the protagonist is faced then with a frightening truth.

Check out SOMBRAS at Editora Rocco's page here.

Follow the Rules

2011-05-20T09:49:00.000-05:00
So. I just returned from a fantastic visit to the City of Brotherly Love where there were cheese steaks to be had, a medical museum of oddities to be spied upon, deliciously creepy haunted prisons with peeling paint and long lost patrons to be reckoned with, hand-dipped soft serve melt-in-your-mouth ice cream cones nommed upon, and a nighttime tour of the city all ghost hunters style. But today. Today's the really big day.

95 miles
800 sellers
4 counties
6 towns
+ yours truly

That's right. I'm talking about the Tennessee Highway 52 Yard Sale. AKA: (the second longest yard sale in Tennessee!)

I've been looking forward to this all year. Not only because I get to sample a wide variety of forgotten attic storage/just cleaned out the basement from last year's flood/leftover dollar store remnants/I-think-it's-trash-but-I'm-gonna-tell-you-it's-an-teeque-so-that-I-can-slap-an-extra-10-bucks-on-that-price-tag treasures, but because I MISSED IT LAST YEAR. Which means I have to double down. Take no prisoners. Scour for the Good Stuff. Leave the junk behind.

I've been studying up. Learning from the best of the best. And by that, of course, I mean everything I've learned I've learned from one of the greatest zombie movies out there: Zombieland.

Rule #1 is always a good one to follow. Cardio is important. You have to pace yourself. Wearing down your haggling skills and negotiation tactics by the 8th stop? You've got problems. There are 400 more stops to go! Man up, soldier!

Rule #4 is a must have too. There will be cars stopping every two seconds, horns honking, weaving in and out of traffic, pedestrians crossing, and hagglers haggling. You have to be quick. You have to be nimble. You have to be able to say "YES! I want to stop THERE. I see an ANTIQUE FAINTING COUCH FOR ONLY TEN DOLLARS!!" (true story) at the drop of a hat. But remember: You can't snag everything. You will miss something. Don't be a hero. Let that amazing table and chair set go. There will be another. Actually... a dozen others.

Rule #8: Get a kickass partner. Absolute.Necessity. You need someone to play bad cop to your good cop. To keep an eye out on the left side while you watch the right. To give you the baseball signal. You know, the one that says, no, stop. Or keep going. And my favorite: bring it all the way home. Your partner will trample through the wild grass, brave fields of wet mud, and grab you that last porcelain bust of George Washington which you suddenly need because how else can you make it through the day without seeing that at least once in your entryway? Your partner is the most important part of the day. Choose wisely.

Because You Make Me Feel (like a pony)

2011-04-28T09:07:00.022-05:00

Things have been drab and un-inspiring on all fronts for the last couple of weeks (words, weather, work - BLAH) and I've been dangerously close to throwing my hand to my brow and declaring myself a Tortured Artist of Epic Proportions™. Then Mony Mony (my favorite version is the Billy Idol version) came on my iTunes player last night and it made me feel like a pony. Because you know, that's what I thought the lyrics said when I was Little J.

Fun Fact: Only records were played in my house when I was growing up, so I thought that "current" music was Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Stray Cats, Billy Idol and Creedence Clearwater Revival. So every time Mony Mony was played, I'd go prancing around the house on my invisible pony singing, "Because you make me feel, like a pony! Like a pony! Like a pony! Like a pony!"

Now that I think about it, probably not the most appropriate favorite song for an eight year old, but damn if that memory wasn't enough to make me smile. And, yes, when that song came on last night? It totally made me feel like a pony again.

Because sometimes it's about the little things in life. Like Billy Idol. And invisible ponies.

The End...

2011-04-03T22:00:00.034-05:00
This is the last post I'll write regarding the Wicked Pretty Things anthology (barring something major), and believe it or not, it's difficult to write. My intentions throughout all of this have never been to disparage Running Press/Constable & Robinson, which was why I was very careful to state the facts, including their official statements which I posted on my blog, when asked, and made it explicitly clear that my feelings on the matter were my own opinions only.

The outpouring of response has been overwhelming and positive. From readers to other authors - many of whom went to great lengths and personal expense to make their views on this issue known by speaking out publicly.

But yet... It always seems like there is a 'but yet.'

There have been untruthful things said as well. Which, honestly, I expected. This was not a decision I made lightly. Let me repeat: As a full time writer who pays bills and keeps food in the cupboards by writing books and selling said books to publishers, this was not a decision I made lightly. For those of you who have been worried about the editor's future, or the publisher's future, I ask you to please stop for a moment and think about the futures of all those other writers who chose to stand beside me in solidarity. (Last I heard, it was a count of ten.) All of our futures-as-authors depend on selling books to publishers. Why would we want to willingly take the chance to alienate ourselves from those publishers?

It has been said that I can only "speak publicly" because I am a bestselling author with clout. Guys, let me be candid here. I've only had two books come out so far, with a third on the way. I don't have lists and lists of awards under my belt. I don't even have the experience to say "Yup. I know what I'm doing. I've been writing for thirty years." I am not an expert in this field and never claimed to be. And I certainly don't have the "clout" or connections to do this. I'm just one girl who was pretty damn terrified to stand up for something she thought was right. (Still am terrified) To say that I only have the balls or tenacity because of my standing as a bestselling author is just silly.

It has been said that I'm taking income away from other authors, and other books, by doing this. This is an unfortunate side effect that doesn't make anyone here happy. No one. Which is why you NEVER saw ME call for a boycott of Running Press and/or Constable & Robinson. I have The Eternal Kiss anthology. I bought it a couple of years ago. I like it. I don't believe in the dog-pile method here, because, honestly, we're all human. I wouldn't presume to tell you what you should or shouldn't do to react properly to this situation because A) it's not my place, and B) I don't like other people telling me what to do.

This was always about encouraging thoughtful debate. From those of you on BOTH sides of the table. I've let the comments on my blog posts remain open and unrestricted to facilitate this. I hope I can keep it that way. Please remember we are humans. Not faceless internet machines. Although you may not agree with either side's stance, being polite doesn't cost you anything. And is always appreciated.

Wicked Pretty Things - Running Press and Constable & Robinson Respond

2011-03-25T23:59:00.001-05:00
For the first part of this blog post, I'd just like to say how proud you all have made me - from those who have tweeted about this issue, emailed me personally, commented on the blog post, forwarded it along to someone else, or taken the time to write about your thoughts and feelings on the matter - I thank you. You are bold and courageous and everything that I still strive so hard to be. (My original "Gay is Okay" blog post)

My heart breaks for those of you who worry that your stories will be turned down by agents or publishers due to their LGBTQ content, and for those of you who have been disheartened by everything that's happened here. Don't give up. Don't stop writing. (Keep writing. Please, please, PLEASE keep writing.) Things are changing. Things will keep changing. The world needs you and your stories and your poems and your plays. We need you. I need you.
Don't give up.

Now, to answer a couple of quick questions -

What type of content did my story have? Was there explicit sexual content? Is that the real reason why it was not included in the anthology?
- No. My story does not have explicit content. There are a total of 3 kisses and sexually, it's G-rated. Please note, there are some macabre/horror aspects to the story and one use of the word F*ck. (Not used in a sexual manner) I was not told that I would have to remove the horror elements or tone down the language.

Did you know what type of story you had to write for the anthology before you wrote it?
- My contract didn't state anything in regards to what type of story I was supposed to write, and the only information I was given was when I was initially contacted by Trisha Telep and she pitched it as "a collection of dark fairy YA stories (with a bit of a romantic edge)."

Would you include your story if the publisher let you keep it as an m/m story?
- I have been asked by the publisher if I would reconsider including it in the anthology due to the fact that they would be perfectly okay with accepting it as-is (meaning m/m, not m/f), but I have said no. I was informed that Trisha Telep would still be the editor for the anthology (and considered the "author"), and due to her preconceived notions, I can't support any of the royalties from this project going to her.

Will I get to read the story elsewhere?
- Yes. I'm still finalizing details, but in the near future you will be able to read it. I'll link here when it's available.

Has the publisher commented on the matter?
- Yes, they have. On Wednesday, I spoke to Lisa Cheng, the editor at Running Press Kids, at her invitation after receiving an email from her. Although I can't speak for Running Press, and can only tell my side of the story, I will say that Lisa was misinformed as to why I pulled out of the anthology and I corrected that, and although she apologized profusely over the "misunderstandings on all sides," she told me that they have worked with Trisha many times before and stand behind her.

On Thursday, I received a private email from Duncan Proudfoot at Constable & Robinson to clarify their position, and then received notice from Pete Duncan at Constable & Robinson, that a joint statement from Constable & Robinson and their co-publishing partner Running Press had been posted in the comments section. I am pasting that comment (unedited and in its entirety) below at their request.

Final thoughts on the matter?
- As I made known to Lisa Cheng, I'm very disappointed that they are choosing to go forward with this anthology with Trisha Telep as the editor. It is my personal opinion, that that's the wrong thing to do, the wrong message to send, and when I'm told that Running Press stands behind Trisha Telep, that feels to me, like they are standing behind her wrongly preconceived notions. I also find their statement troubling to say that "Running Press has no direct association with Trisha Telep, the editor of the anthology" (which, as Lisa Cheng at Running Press repeated numerous times to me, they have worked with Trisha again and again and they stand behind her 100%). My contract clearly spells out in paragraph 1 that it was being made between the editor (Trisha), the publisher (Constable & Robinson), and Running Press. Considering all of this, it seems a bit contradictory to say that Running Press has no direct association with Trisha Telep.

STATEMENT FROM CONSTABLE & ROBINSON:
Constable Robinson said...
The young adult anthology Wicked Pretty Things, due to be co-published in the United States by Running Press, was commissioned by Constable & Robinson Ltd, which is wholly responsible for its content. Running Press has no direct association with Trisha Telep, the editor of the anthology.

The misunderstanding which has led to Jessica Verday’s story, ‘Flesh Which Is Not Flesh’, being excluded from this anthology, ostensibly on the grounds that it concerns a m/m relationship, is entirely regrettable and something we have sought to correct. Constable & Robinson Ltd remains fully supportive of LGBTQ writing, and apologises unreservedly for any offence caused.
March 24, 2011 4:45 PM

STATEMENT FROM RUNNING PRESS:
Running Press said...

Running Press Teens deeply regrets any offensive comments recently made by Trisha Telep, anthologist for Wicked Pretty Things. At no point were we consulted in Trisha’s decision to reject Jessica Verday’s story as submitted. Opinions expressed by Ms. Telep do not reflect our publishing philosophy. As publishers of quality Young Adult literature, we proudly support the LGBT community and are deeply committed to publishing diverse authors and subject matters. We have since approached Ms. Verday to reconsider including her original m/m story in the anthology. Even though we respect her decision to decline, we have a responsibility to all of the talented writers that have contributed to Wicked Pretty Things, and therefore intend to move forward with publication.

March 24, 2011 4:47 PM

ETA: 3/30 - I just received notice that Constable & Robinson has issued a statement from Trisha Telep

Constable Robinson said...
I sincerely regret the sequence of events which has led to Jessica Verday’s story ‘Flesh Which Is Not Flesh’ being excluded from the forthcoming anthology Wicked Pretty Things. This has been the result of a misunderstanding on my part which is entirely regrettable. Along with publishers Constable & Robinson Ltd, who commissioned the anthology, and Running Press, who are due to co-publish the book in the United States, I fully support LGBTQ issues. I apologise wholeheartedly for any offence that I have caused and offer the assurance that I would not in future reject any story on the grounds that it included a gay (or any LGBTQ) relationship.

Trisha Telep
March 25, 2011 5:00 AM

Being Gay is Okay

2011-03-21T12:29:00.008-05:00
I've received a lot of questions and comments about why I'm no longer part of the WICKED PRETTY THINGS anthology (US: Running Press/UK: Constable & Robinson) and I've debated the best way to explain why I pulled out of this anthology. The simple reason? I was told that the story I'd written which features Wesley (a boy) and Cameron (a boy), who were both in love with each other, would have to be published as a male/female story because a male/male story would not be acceptable to the publishers.

I'll try to keep the "not-so-simple" reason from becoming a rant and just sum it up by saying that was SO Not Okay with me. I immediately withdrew my story and my support from the anthology.

There's a lot of misinformation and half-truths in the publishing world (like the fact that everyone thinks when you publish a book you're automatically BFF's with J.K. Rowling and you get to use her estate on the weekends because, hey, you're totally rich now, right?) and there's a lot that's outside of my control (my cover design, the text copy that goes on the book to describe it, how the book is advertised, where it gets promoted in bookstores...), but there's one thing that I can and always will be able to control and that's the message I send to my fans by the stories I write.

And the message I want to send is this: You don't choose who you fall in love with and you don't choose to be gay.

We're constantly bombarded with messages from sick people who try to tell us that it's a choice or a lifestyle or an agenda. But Wesley and Cameron's story isn't an agenda or an issue. It isn't an "I have to prove something to the world" story. Wesley and Cameron's story is a love story. About one boy who loves another boy so much that when something bad happens to him, he'll do whatever it takes to get him the help he needs.

Just bittersweet, hopeful, first love. And I think the world needs more of that.

While I may not have intentionally written an "issues" story, in the real world this issue is very personal to me. I have gay friends, gay fans, and gay family members, and by allowing my story to be changed in that way I would be contributing to a great disservice to them, the entire LGBTQ community, and to readers in general. You are not wrong or a dirty little secret for being who you are. Love is beautiful and rare. When you find it, you should hold onto it and not let go. You should not be made to feel inferior.

UPDATE - 3/22 - The editor of the anthology, Trish Telep, has replied to this post. Her comment in it's entirety:

Trisha Telep said...

Oh dear. Might as well give you my two cents. Not that it really matters but... Don't take it out on the publishers, the decision was mine totally. These teen anthologies I do are light on the sex and light on the language. I assumed they'd be light on alternative sexuality, as well. Turns out I was wrong! Just after I had the kerfuffle with jessica, I was told that the publishers would have loved the story to appear in the book! Oh dear. My rashness will be the death of me. It's a great story. Hope jessica publishes it online. (By the way: if you want to see a you tube video of me wrestling a gay man in Glasgow, and losing, please let me know).

Secret Project Revealed! 2009 Debs eBook Anthology

2011-03-16T09:05:00.008-05:00

I'm thrilled to announce that I can now reveal the super secret project I've been working on. Here's the press release for it:

New York Times bestselling author Jessica Verday announces an e-anthology featuring 25 authors from the writers group 2009 Debutantes

The bestselling author of THE HOLLOW Trilogy, Jessica Verday, has gathered 24 other authors for a kind of Young Adult sampler featuring a theme of “Firsts.” The eBook will be published by Verday herself and she will be co-editing with Rhonda Stapleton author of the STUPID CUPID series.

This eBook will give readers a chance to sample the stories of 25 different authors exploring what it’s like to experience something for the first time. From first kiss to first love, there’s no time like the first time.

“This is an innovative way for authors to reach out to readers in a single book that anyone can afford. Readers get the chance to find a new story from some of their favorite authors, and while they’re at it, be introduced to other authors they may not have been able to get to know yet,” says Verday.

The e-anthology will be available on Amazon Kindle and Smashwords. The tentative release date is October 4, 2011.

Contributing authors are: Jessica Verday, Carrie Ryan, Rhonda Stapleton, Cyn Balog, Lauren Bjorkman, Leigh Brescia, Teri Hall, Stacey Jay, C. Lee McKenzie, Janet Gurtler, Jenny Moss, Jackson Pearce, Kristina Springer, Charity Tahmaseb, Jon Skovron, Heidi Kling, Saundra Mitchell, Cheryl Renee Herbsman, Kirstin Cronn-Mills, Lara Zielin, Shani Petroff, Kurtis Scaletta, J.A. Yang, Jennifer Brown, and Sydney Salter.
Cover to be revealed May 2011.
***
This will be an eBook only with a whole bunch of authors so you'll have the chance to sample all kinds of stories. It will be the Author Buffet of Awesomeness. (Not currently titled that) ((Although, hmmm....)

So why an eBook? Because things are changing in the book world. More people are reading (which is a good thing!), yet bookstores are closing (which is a bad thing!) So how do we reach those people who want to read, but don't have access to a bookstore? eBooks.

I'm so, so excited about this project and the chance to get to work with so many amazing authors, and I hope you will be too!

Enthralled

2011-03-14T09:21:00.012-05:00
Last year I was part of a tour called the Smart Chicks Kick It, and one of the fun things that came of it was this...

Coming on September 20th and featuring the following stories...

My contribution is "At the Late Night, Double Feature, Picture Show" - a story about a girl who hunts monsters, vampires in drag, and cannibal girl scouts. (And yes, it was just as much fun to write as it sounds!)

The rest of the story list: "Giovanni's Farewell" by Claudia Gray * "Scenic Route" by Carrie Ryan * "IV League" by Margaret Stohl * "Red Run" by Kami Garcia * "Things About Love" by Jackson Pearce * "Niederwald" by Rachel Vincent * "Let's Get This Undead Show on the Road" by Sarah Rees Brennan * "Bridge" by Jeri Smith-Ready * "Skin Contact" by Kimberly Derting * "Leaving" by Ally Condie * "Gargouille" by Mary E. Pearson * "The Third Kind" by Jennifer Lynn Barnes * "Automatic" by Rachel Vincent and co-editors Kelley Armstrong's "Facing Facts" and Melissa Marr's story which has its title omitted because it's a bit of a spoiler for the end of her Wicked Lovely series.

You can pre-order it now on Amazon.

The Week That Wasn't

2011-03-08T07:52:00.001-06:00
So yeah, then there was that week I was gone. Except, I see that it was more like two weeks... Sorry for being away so long, faithful readers! (Did I hear a laugh? That was definitely a laugh!) I've had three different projects collide over the last 4 weeks, so things have been crazy. And hectic. With a side of OMG-When-Will-This-ever-END?! thrown in there.

But! This means that I've been working extra hard on lots and lots and lots of new stuff for you guys. More to come later this week, but here's the quick and dirty for those of you who are keeping score at home.

August: Release Dates
9th - THE HAUNTED in paperback

September: Release Dates
6th - THE HIDDEN in hardcover
20th - ENTHRALLED: Paranormal Diversions
(This is also an anthology, and my story is called AT THE LATE NIGHT, DOUBLE FEATURE, PICTURE SHOW and it showcases Jane - a paranormal beasty hunter who doubles as the family "bait.")

October: Release Dates
Mid October - Super Secret Project!

I'll be sharing more information this week about each of these new projects, and pictures! I'll have pictures! for you. (Possibly of kittens. And baby meerkats.) Plus, I have some extra copies of THE HAUNTED and THE HOLLOW that are taking up way too much space in my office, so giveaways! I'll have giveaways! for you.

And now me and my exclamation points! have more work to do!

On Being Afraid

2011-02-24T08:15:00.001-06:00
I had planned for my next blog post to be about books since I did a first line Friday last week and received some really amazing first lines (some from published books, some from WIP’s), but I received some disturbing news that put those plans on hold for a while. Late last night, I learned that L.K. Madigan, a fellow member of the 2009 Debutantes group I’m a part of, passed away. Her books were FLASH BURNOUT and THE MERMAID’S MIRROR, and she was 47.

The day before yesterday I learned that Perry Moore, the author of HERO (a story about a gay teen who is a superhero), also recently passed away. He was 39.

Although I didn’t know either one of these authors, never met either one of these authors, I’m terribly overcome by sadness. Tears feel like they are constantly at the back of my eyelids and my throat is scratchy, ready to tighten up at any moment. Facing your own mortality is a hard thing to do and it’s made even harder by knowing that we’ll never have the chance to read more books from these authors. Losing someone is tough. Even someone you don’t know. Losing someone who is also creative? Who enriches the fabric of our culture and adds to our lives with their words? Kind of a double whammy.

This is a hard thing to admit as a “public” person, as an author, but I’m going to do it. I’m laying it all out on the line here. I’m going to tell you what this keeps leading me back to. One word: fear.

Not fear of death or dying, but fear of living. My fear of living.

I’m afraid to write certain books. I’m afraid to delve into new worlds. I’m afraid I’ll get the characters wrong, or the ethnicities mixed up, or offend someone unintentionally. Who am I to write about being a gay boy? Or a black student who’s going to a school where she can’t drink from the same water fountain as the white students? Who am I to write about gang fights out in the parking lot, homecoming dances, stealing my parent’s car, or having a baby while I’m still a senior in high school? I’ve never experienced any of those things. Who am I to write about them?

I’m afraid that people won’t like me. I’m afraid that people will judge me. That people won’t like my books, or my hair, or the way I sign my name, or certain characters that I write who don’t have the same political views that I do... I’m afraid that I can’t please everyone. I’m afraid to let people down. I’m afraid that no one will say “You too?! I thought I was the only one.”

I’m afraid that the book I’m trying to write right now is too big for me to wrap my thoughts around. I’m afraid that I won’t be able to do it justice. I’m afraid that I’ll get the world wrong, or the dialect wrong, or that it won’t be “big” enough, or “commercial” enough, or sexy enough, or fast enough.

I’m afraid. I’m afraid. I’m afraid.

But what I’m mostly afraid of? That I won’t have the chance to write all the books I want to write because I’m too busy being afraid.

If there’s one good thing to take away from losing two creative people so soon, I think maybe it’s the lesson: Stop being afraid. Start living. Stop thinking. Start writing. Stop listening to others. Start listening to yourself. Stop worrying. Start being hopeful. Stop putting off. Start doing.

Stop. Start.

I’m claiming those words as my personal motto for this year. I want to write new worlds and big books and have people talk about me in ways that will mean something fifty years down the road. I don’t want to miss out because I’m too busy being afraid. Who can write those worlds, those things I’ve never experienced? I can. I will. For those who have experienced them. For those who want to experience them.

Maybe I won’t get everything right. Maybe I’ll mess up, or do it wrong. But that’s okay. I just have to do it.

Stop. Start.

Stop being afraid. Start living.

Thank you, Lisa. Thank you, Perry. Thank you for this lesson. Rest in peace.

First Line Friday

2011-02-18T11:03:00.002-06:00
I LOVE Friday. Love, love, love Friday. Mostly because it's the end of the week, and mostly because it means my favorite day (Saturday) is almost here. If you follow me on Facebook then you already know that I usually try to do a 'Good News Friday.' But today I'm in the mood for something different. The writing mojo has been flowing, so I want to try 'First Line Friday.'

Here's how it works: Give me a first line. Actually, since three is my lucky number, give me three of 'em.

The first lines can be something old that you've written. Something new that you've written. Something that you'd wished you'd written... Any combination works!

For those of you who are readers not writers, give me three of your favorite first lines from books that you like. (Twilight? The Hunger Games? Moby Dick? Vampire Academy?) ((You get the picture.))

Here are mine:

Something old: "They said she killed herself." --THE HOLLOW

Something new: "The worst thing about cannibal Girl Scouts are the badges." --ENTHRALLED (anthology from HarperCollins coming Sept. 20, 2011)

Something I'm working on: "There's one thing you have to know about me: I'm not crazy." --OBaB

Leave yours in the comments, post them on Facebook, or Tweet 'em!

The First Step is the Hardest

2011-02-16T08:06:00.000-06:00

I celebrated Valentine's Day on Sunday instead of Monday and took my sweetie to go on a zipline tour. Which pretty much makes me the best wife ever not only because I picked a "guy" thing to do for Valentine's Day, but because I'm also afraid of heights.

Now, for those who don't know (like me) when you go ziplining you get strapped into this itty bitty harness that attaches to a cable that's stretched between two ginormous trees that you climb up to get into. Then you hook your harness onto the cable and go sailing off toward the next tree.

Legs hanging free.
Arms dangling at your sides.
Only you. A harness. And a cable.

Did I mention that I'm afraid of heights? And did I mention that I was about 85 feet up on the air?

Did I also mention that I am a Writer with a capital W which means I'm always thinking about the "what if" scenarios. Like "What if...my harness comes unstrapped and I go hurtling toward my death into the ravine below?" And "What if...one leg strap comes loose and I flip upside down and then get caught and am slowly hanging by one leg as my other strap comes undone and everyone watches while I go hurtling toward my death into the ravine below?" Or "What if...someone else's harness comes loose and I'm the only one to catch them but as I move to go help I slip and lose my footing and go hurtling toward my death into the ravine below?"

You know. Things like that.

The first thing I found out though (okay, the second thing I found out. The first thing I found out was that I didn't pee myself like I thought I was going to), was that the height wasn't the problem. The first step was the problem.

See, the zipline tour people start you off easy. Barely ten feet off the ground. And as you look at that tree and that cable stretching between you, you think, "Eh. Not so bad."

Then. THEN they take you to the next one.

A little higher off the ground. A little more cable. A little more danger.
Again, you think "Eh, not so bad."

Until...you get closer.

Once you get closer, you see the step you're going to have to climb on to. Which means the step you're going to have to climb off of to go careening on a zipline heading straight for another tree.

By now, you're comfortable. You've gotten the hang of the rope. You're feeling the harness. You like the rush of the wind whistling past your face as you fly through the air. The laugh that escapes your throat as you look down and see that You're fine! You're fine! And you're flying! And this is awesome! And why were you so scared in the first place? And hey! You didn't pee yourself in front of everyone! (Which would have been especially embarrassing in front of the six year old who seemed to have no problem going on the zipline, or fears of imminent death...)

But that step...

That itty bitty step which you'll have to let go of. You'll have to move from. You'll have to overcome in order to move on...

THAT step is the hardest.

Luckily, I found that I had already taken that step by taking my sweetie to the zipline. By facing my fear of heights, I was already flying. I had already stepped off and that little bitty step that was in front of me now?

Was nothing.

So I stepped off.
I let go.
I flew.
(And best of all, I didn't pee myself.)

Now I can't wait to go back again. To find a bigger step. To keep challenging myself. Because I realized that it's all about the little steps in life. Little steps lead to big steps, and big steps lead to great things.

You just have to remember that the first one is the hardest.

Sneak Peek...

2011-02-09T08:39:00.002-06:00

...of what I'm working on...

Monday Inspiration

2011-02-07T09:05:00.007-06:00

Here's a little something for your back-to-work Monday blues...

Imagine yourself here, at the Alila Villas Hadahaa aqua villa located in the Maldives. Pristine blue ocean, white sandy beaches, and the view... Ahhhhhh, the view!

No snow. No ice. No rain. No sleet. No wind.
Just sun, sand, and sea.

Where does inspiration take you?

Things I Love Thursday - 2/3/11

2011-02-03T16:18:00.004-06:00

I'm feeling very inspired by pink and turquoise lately. Everywhere I go I keep spotting something in a fabulous fuchsia or cool turquoise that just screams "Look at me! Look at me!" (Or worse - "Buy me! Buy me!") Luckily, these pretty pretties won't hurt your wallet! Don't you just love them?

1)Watermelon Sorbet: YUM! This looks SO GOOD. Get in ma belleh now, kai?

2)Pink and Fuchsia Mini Sweet Pea Fluevogs: I bought these about a month ago. Good thing too, since they're no longer available. The pink bow is fabulously girly.

3)Pink Lemonade with Fuchsia and White Party Straws: Isn't this picture just GORGEOUS? It makes me sigh with happiness.

4)Turquoise Fiorenza Fluevogs: These, I wish I had, but they're no longer available either. The last pair I found was a size 6 - about 3 sizes too small. Darn my big feet!

Inspirations pictures from: asweetpeachef.com/sweets/watermelon-sorbet/, fluevog.com, sarasweetsurprise.blogspot.com, flickr.com/photos/bettysonics

Back to September...

2011-02-01T09:13:00.005-06:00
So this is me swallowing my pride,
Standing in front of you saying...
Can we go back to September?

I know that's not how the real lyrics go (and thanks, Taylor Swift, for letting me borrow your song!), but I kind of feel like my life has been in overdrive ever since....oh, September?

September came and everything collided - book, author events, tour, book, book, book, tour, website update, book, email replies, events, book, Facebook, MORE BOOK...

And now here we are! February already.

But things are changing. The last book (THE HIDDEN) in The Hollow trilogy is done. Completely written and well on it's way to bookish form. A short story is done for one fall 2011 anthology release (ENTHRALLED), and a second is being written for another fall 2011 release (WICKED PRETTY THINGS). Research is commencing for future books, thoughts are brewing for future goals, and plans are being made.

One of those plans/dreams/goals is to update this blog much more frequently. I'm going to be setting up a weekly system that will cover everything from muses, to music, to movies, to queries, to kittens, to clothing, to...to...to...[insert cool new thing here]...and everything in between!

So, to new readers: Welcome! I hope you'll come along with me on the journey. For those of you who have been passengers so far: My thanks to you. And I promise, some cool scenery is coming up!

THE HIDDEN

2010-12-16T10:30:00.004-06:00
The gorgeous cover for the final book in THE HOLLOW Trilogy is here!

THE HIDDEN will be revealed
09.06.11

Sleepy Hollow

2010-12-06T20:29:00.010-06:00
I'm happy to introduce two new features to this blog. You can now take a photo tour of the real Sleepy Hollow. It's the town that inspired THE HOLLOW Trilogy and, of course, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" by Washington Irving. Now you can see some of the locations that made it into the Trilogy and see some of the places that make Abbey love her home town so much. Click the picture below to go directly there or you can click the "Sleepy Hollow" tab above.

A link to the second new feature can be found on the sidebar. You can now read the original "Legend of Sleepy Hollow." The short story that put the United States on the literary map. Originally published in 1820, it is still an incredibly enjoyable read.

A New Stop on the Ghosts & Graves Book Tour Announced

2010-10-04T18:29:00.003-05:00

Mark your calendars for another chance to meet Michelle Zink and me on our Ghosts & Graves tour in the Northeast. And see the sidebar for the complete schedule.

Harleysville Books LLC
Date: October 27
Time: 6:00-8:00
674 Main Street
Salford Square
Harleysville, PA 19438

Ghost and Graves Tour Stops Announced!

2010-09-28T09:00:00.001-05:00
Michelle Zink and I will be meeting with fans in New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania this October. Michelle will be signing copies of GUARDIAN OF THE GATE and PROPHECY OF THE SISTERS and I'll be signing copies of THE HAUNTED and THE HOLLOW. There will be fun giveaways including an iPod Shuffle, t-shirts and stickers, and an exclusive first look at giveaways of Abbey's Hollow's NEW perfume set featuring the cast of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow!

(Did I mention the FREE iPOD SHUFFLE? We'll be giving one away at each event!)

Ghosts & Graves Book Tour with Michelle Zink

Sleepy Hollow Cemetery
Date: October 24
Time: 2:00-4:00 pm
Location: Sleepy Hollow Cemetery
540 North Broadway
Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591

The Otis Library
Date: October 25
Time: 6:30-8:00 pm
Location: The Otis Library
261 Main Street
Norwich, CT 06360

Easton Public Library
Date: October 26
Time: 7:00-8:30 pm
Location: Easton Public Library
515 Church Street
Easton, PA 18042

NEW STOP!!
Harleysville Books LLC
Date: October 27
Time: 6:00-8:00
674 Main Street
Salford Square
Harleysville, PA 19438

Borders Express
Date: October 28
Time: 6:00-8:00 pm
Location: Borders Express
298 Exton Square Mall
Exton, PA 19341

Jefferson Market Library
Date: October 29
Time: 6:00-8:00 pm
Location: Jefferson Market Library
425 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10011

Hope to see you there!

CORRECTION: Smart Chicks Kick it! in Jackson, Miss

2010-09-15T09:01:00.003-05:00
Are you going to be anywhere near Jackson, MS tomorrow? I hope so, because I will be visiting with fans and signing copies of THE HOLLOW and THE HAUNTED as part of "The Smart Chicks Kick it!" tour. Also on hand will be fellow YA authors; Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Holly Black, Cassandra Clare, & Sarah Rees Brennan!

Here's the correction, Come join us at Plantation Commons 105 Plantation Cove, Gluckstadt, MS 39110 at 6pm. The visit is being Hosted by Lemura Books. We'll see you there.

A Thank You...and a NYTimes Bestseller

2010-09-13T13:09:00.016-05:00

THE HAUNTED was released on August 31, and I just wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone for your support. Last week I received amazing news that involved this:

(The New York Times list - #10!!!)

and these:
(gorgeous flowers from my editor)

So all I can say is this:

Decatur or Bust: The Decatur Book Festival is This Weekend

2010-09-03T08:48:00.002-05:00

If you're going to the Decatur Book Festival this Saturday (Sept. 4), come out and visit with me at the "Method Behind the Magic: HOW TO CREATE A FANTASTICAL WORLD" panel! I'll be joining authors Saundra Mitchell, Kathleen Duey, and Cinda Williams Chima in a fun discussion about creating supernatural worlds you love to get sucked into. There will be a signing after the panel.

Decatur Book Festival
Date: September 4
Panel Discussion: "Method Behind the Magic:HOW TO CREATE A FANTASTICAL WORLD"
Time: 2-2:45 PM
Book signing: right after the panel discussion.
Location: Old Courthouse on the Square, Decatur, GA

Release Day

2010-08-31T07:53:00.001-05:00

I am thrilled to announce that the wait for THE HAUNTED is finally over and copies are being found everywhere. I will be signing copies of THE HAUNTED at the Decatur Book Fair this weekend and will be sharing details soon of my schedule with Michelle Zink for the Ghosts and Graves tour this October. I hope you enjoy the continuation of Abbey and Caspian's story and I hope to see you soon. Stay tuned to my schedule for the details.

The Official Theme Song of THE HAUNTED is announced!!

2010-08-27T10:00:00.001-05:00

In 2008 Skully and Aida of Metisse and I announced that the official theme song of THE HOLLOW would be My Fault. The hauntingly melodic sound of Aida's voice and Skully's piano added mood and beauty to the atmosphere of my website.

And now, as August 31 is quickly approaching and readers will finally be able to get their hands on THE HAUNTED, I am thrilled to announce that Skully is lending his voice to provide the official theme song of part 2 in THE HOLLOW Trilogy.

"She Moves Through The Fair" by Skully
The Official Theme Song of THE HAUNTED by Jessica Verday
You can listen to it now at www.jessicaverday.com

Decatur Book Festival

2010-08-18T16:49:00.002-05:00
Hello, Georgia! I am happy to announce that I will be at the Decatur Book Festival!

I'll be a part of the "Method Behind the Magic" panel on Saturday September 4 at 2-2:45pm. And I will be signing right after.

I hope to see you there!

Release Day Contest - 8/3/10

2010-08-03T11:29:00.006-05:00
If you have your copy of THE HOLLOW paperback then you already know about the awesome Best Friend essay contest where you can win TWO flip cameras, but this is a special contest to celebrate the release day.

Here's all you have to do to enter:
Tweet: I want to read The Hollow #bookbirthday - get 1 pt.
Icon: Change your icon to the pb cover - get 1 pt.
Blog: Write a blog post saying that you want to read The Hollow - 1 pt.

Don't forget to let me know what you did via FaceBook, Twitter, or email (Jessica@JessicaVerday.com)

PRIZES - Two winners will be drawn at midnight and each will receive a perfume sampler set. Good luck!

THE HOLLOW paperback is out!!

2010-08-03T05:00:00.005-05:00

THE HOLLOW paperback is out TODAY!! With a beautiful new cover, the paperback also gives readers a sneak peek at THE HAUNTED which hits the shelves on August 31.

You will also find a new contest. THE HOLLOW Best Friends Contest where you can win a pair of flip cameras. Details coming soon to my website.

THE HOLLOW- German Cover!

2010-06-28T09:00:00.002-05:00

The Hollow: True Love is Immortal
Now in Germany!

THE HOLLOW and THE HAUNTED come to Audio - September 1, 2010

2010-06-24T09:30:00.002-05:00
I'm thrilled to announce that on September 1, readers will have a whole new way of experiencing THE HOLLOW and they will be able to continue that journey with THE HAUNTED. Both books are being released on audio simultaneously. Who was responsible for Kristen's death? Will Abbey and Caspian find a way to be together? All will be revealed soon.

THE HOLLOW (The Hollow Trilogy, Book 1) by Jessica Verday. Read by, Cassandra Campbell

Mourning your best friend is no time to fall in love with a stranger.

When Abbey’s best friend, Kristen, vanishes at the bridge near Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, everyone else is all too quick to accept that Kristen is dead, and rumors fly that her death was no accident. Abbey goes through the motions of mourning her best friend, but privately, she refuses to believe that Kristen is really gone. Then she meets Caspian, the gorgeous and mysterious boy who shows up out of nowhere at Kristen’s funeral, and who keeps reappearing in Abbey’s life. Caspian clearly has secrets of his own, but he’s the only person who makes Abbey feel normal again—but also special.

Just when Abbey starts to feel that she might survive all this, she learns a secret that makes her question everything she thought she knew about her best friend. How could Kristen have kept silent about so much? And could this secret have led to her death? As Abbey struggles to understand Kristen’s betrayal, she uncovers a frightening truth that nearly unravels her, one that will challenge her emerging love for Caspian, as well as her own sanity.

THE HAUNTED (The Hollow Trilogy, Book 2) by Jessica Verday. Read by, Cassandra Campbell

Love and mystery mix in the second installment of this spine-tingling, hauntingly gorgeous trilogy.

After a summer spent reclaiming her sanity and trying to forget the boy she fell in love with—the boy who must not exist, cannot exist, because she knows that he is dead—Abbey returns to Sleepy Hollow, ready to leave the ghosts of her past behind. She throws herself into her schoolwork, her perfume making, and her friendship with Ben, her cute and funny lab partner, who just might be her ticket to getting over Caspian once and for all.

But Abbey can never get over Caspian, and Caspian has no choice but to return to her side, for Caspian is a Shade and Abbey is his destiny. They are tied not only to each other but also to the town of Sleepy Hollow and to the famous legend that binds their fates—a legend with dark truths that they are only beginning to guess.

Ghosts and Graves Tour- October 2010

2010-06-21T17:22:00.005-05:00

Are you a bookstore owner or manager in NY, Northern NJ, Northeastern PA, or CT? Shoot me an email if you'd like to discuss booking an October event for the Ghosts and Graves Tour, a joint mini-tour I'll be doing with Michelle Zink, author of PROPHECY OF THE SISTERS, right around Halloween!!!!

Smart Chicks Kick it! Tour Dates

2010-06-01T09:00:00.001-05:00
My tour stop with the "Smart Chicks Kick It!" Tour have been announced! I'm so excited to join these amazing authors and I hope to see you there.

---

September 16 -Jackson, MS

Lemuria Books 6 PM
4465 I 55 N # 202
Jackson, MS 39206-6198
(601) 366-7619

The Haunted U.K. Cover Revealed

2010-05-17T09:00:00.005-05:00

I'm thrilled to see this U.K. cover for THE HAUNTED!

THE HOLLOW France

2010-04-30T12:00:00.001-05:00

THE HOLLOW is coming to France! J’ai Lu will be publishing THE HOLLOW trilogy in France.

Two Book Signings in Dallas Announced!

2010-04-06T12:00:00.000-05:00
I will be signing books and meeting with fans...

April 30, 2010
Weekend Reader Bookshop
From 6:00 PM (CST) to 9:00 PM
Location: 4000 Pioneer Road Suite 105
Balch Springs, TX 75180

AND

May 1, 2010
Legacy Books
From 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Location: 7300 Dallas Pkwy Suite A120
Plano, TX 75024

THE HAUNTED Revealed

2010-04-03T19:24:00.004-05:00

(Click image for a better look)

THE HAUNTED cover ARRIVES!! I couldn't be happier with this beautiful cover for Book 2 of THE HOLLOW trilogy!

Here's a look at THE HAUNTED...

An impossible truth. An impossible love...

After months spent reclaiming her sanity and trying to forget the boy she fell in love with--the boy who must not exist, cannot exist, because she knows that he is dead--Abbey returns to Sleepy Hollow, ready to leave the ghosts of her past behind. She throws herself into her schoolwork, her perfume making, and her friendship with Ben, her cute and funny lab partner, who just might be her ticket to getting over Caspian once and for all.

But Abbey can never get over Caspian, and Caspian has no choice but to return to her side, for Caspian is a Shade, and Abbey is his destiny. They are tied not only to each other, but also to the town of Sleepy Hollow, and to the famous legend that binds their fates--a legend whose dark truths they are only beginning to guess....

THE HAUNTED will be available 08.31.10

New Cover for THE HOLLOW Paperback

2010-04-02T12:00:00.002-05:00

(Click image for a better look)

I am so thrilled with this beautiful new cover design for the paperback. The paperback will be available 08.03.10

THE HOLLOW Turkey

2010-03-15T12:00:00.001-05:00

THE HOLLOW is coming to Turkey! Pegasus will be publishing THE HOLLOW trilogy in Turkey.

THE HOLLOW featured in The Ottawa Citizen!

2010-03-07T09:37:00.004-06:00

Greeta Nadkarni wrote this wonderful piece on THE HOLLOW in The Ottawa Citizen. I was just thrilled to see such a large spread in print. Here are some of the highlights...

"Abbey blossoms into an eminently likable character...She's smart and funny and has interests other than mysterious, broody boys." "...when her love interest Caspian plays the 'sometimes hot, sometimes not' game that many teenage girls will find familiar, Abeby calls him on it." "THE HOLLOW really is the thinking girl's Twilight."

Thanks to Greeta for her kind words.

Abbey's Hollow Perfumes Are Here!

2009-12-17T12:00:00.005-06:00

This Promotion is Over Now but the items are still available.

My website update is now live and I'm ecstatic to announce that the perfumes are here. Each perfume blend is created by hand and comes packaged in a 6 ml amber glass bottle, with a black cap and safety seal, and is nestled amid a Kraft colored gift box. Blend contains fragrance and a base of fractionated coconut oil.

To celebrate the upcoming holiday season, I'm offering *FREE SHIPPING* from now until 12/25/09!

Product Description: Abbey - Clove, blood orange, honey, and red apples dance among a base of sandalwood and incense. Intoxicating. Lovely. Layered. Just like our heroine.
"Abbey" 6ml Perfume Oil: $15 each

Product Description: Kristen - Grapefruit, ginger, vanilla, and myrrh swirl together to create a sweetheart of a scent. What else could be a better fit for a best friend?
"Kristen" 6ml Perfume Oil: $15 each

Product Description: Caspian - Pumpkin pie, fall leaves, vanilla, and bonfire smoke make up this mysterious and luscious blend. Careful, too much will only leave you wanting more.
"Caspian" 6ml Perfume Oil: $15 each

Product Description: 3 Piece Set - A trio. A trilogy. A threesome. Whatever you call it, this three piece set consists of one Abbey, one Kristen, and one Caspian scent each inside a 6 ml amber bottle with a black cap, safety seal, and Kraft gift box.
"Trio" set of three 6ml bottles of Perfume Oil: $45 each

I've also been getting a lot of emails about the t-shirts (R.U.H.2?) I had that were given away for contests, so I decided to have some more made. These are available on the website as well. $15 each

Sizes

THE HOLLOW ARRIVES!!!

2009-09-01T12:00:00.003-05:00

AVAILABLE Everywhere Today!

“Spectacular! The Hollow keeps you reading from beginning to end without coming up for air.” --L.J. Smith, bestselling author of The Vampire Diaries and Night World

When Abbey's best friend, Kristen, vanishes at the bridge near Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, everyone else is all too quick to accept that Kristen is dead?and rumors fly that her death was no accident. Abbey goes through the motions of mourning her best friend, but privately, she refuses to believe that Kristen is really gone. Then she meets Caspian, the gorgeous and mysterious boy who shows up out of nowhere at Kristen's funeral, and keeps reappearing in Abbey's life. Caspian clearly has secrets of his own, but he's the only person who makes Abbey feel normal again...but also special.

Just when Abbey starts to feel that she might survive all this, she learns a secret that makes her question everything she thought she knew about her best friend. How could Kristen have kept silent about so much? And could this secret have led to her death? As Abbey struggles to understand Kristen's betrayal, she uncovers a frightening truth that nearly unravels her—one that will challenge her emerging love for Caspian, as well as her own sanity.

2010 Smart Chicks Tour

2009-08-21T12:00:00.001-05:00
Yay! Squee! OMG!

I've been invited by Melissa Marr, Kelley Armstrong and Allyson Noel to be a part of the Smart Chicks Kick It tour. Details below, but find out more and get involved in things like planning which cities we visit, HERE.

Sept 2010 Tour 8 Cities 6 Authors/City All YA Paranormal

Our Tour, Our Way
Author tours are usually organized by the publisher. All we have to do is show up, which is great, but we started thinking maybe we'd like to try something different. Organize our own tour, just the way we want it. Pick the cities. Pick the authors. Organize the events. So, in Sept 2010, we'll do just that.

It's Your Tour, Too
Setting up our own tour is great. But it's not really about us. It's about the readers--getting out and meeting them. We'll be looking for input from readers to help us make this the kind of tour they want, too. And because we can't get to every city, we'll also be setting up a virtual tour component. We're still in the planning stages, but watch this page for more details.

Who:
Appearing at Every Stop
Melissa Marr http://www.melissa-marr.com/
Alyson Noel http://www.alysonnoel.com/
Kelley Armstrong http://www.kelleyarmstrong.com/

Appearing at 2-3 Stops
Holly Black http://www.blackholly.com/
Cassandra Clare http://www.cassandraclare.com/

Appearing at 1-2 Stops
Jennifer Lynn Barnes http://www.jenniferlynnbarnes.com/
Sarah Rees Brennan http://www.sarahreesbrennan.com/
Rachel Caine http://www.rachelcaine.com/
Kimberly Dertlng http://www.kimberlyderting.com/
Becca Fitzpatrick http://www.beccafitzpatrick.com/
Jackson Pearce http://www.jacksonpearce.com/
Mary Pearson http://www.marypearson.com/
Carrie Ryan http://www.carrieryan.com/
Jeri Smith-Ready http://www.jerismithready.com/
Jessica Verday http://www.jessicaverday.com/
Rachel Vincent http://www.rachelvincent.com/

When:
Sept 2010

Where:
We're still working on the list. Check out the discussion page to suggest a city.

The Official Trailer for THE HOLLOW

2009-07-20T12:00:00.002-05:00
Enjoy

First Chapter of THE HOLLOW Now Available!

2009-06-01T12:00:00.005-05:00

Wanna read the first chapter of

THE HOLLOW?
Wanna see the new JessicaVerday.com website? (Of course you do!)

Visit the Website
Read the First Chapter Here!

THE HOLLOW U.K. Cover Revealed

2009-05-30T12:00:00.003-05:00

(Click image for a better look)

This is the beautiful cover for THE HOLLOW from Simon & Schuster U.K. I absolutely love it.

THE HOLLOW Germany

2009-03-31T12:00:00.004-05:00

THE HOLLOW is Coming to Germany! Arena will be publishing THE HOLLOW in Germany.

THE HOLLOW Cover Revealed

2008-12-17T12:00:00.003-06:00

(Click image for a better look)

Here is the beautiful U.S. cover for THE HOLLOW. The hardcover will be available in stores of 09.01.09

THE HOLLOW Official Theme Song

2008-10-15T12:00:00.002-05:00
I am I am honored to announce that Metisse, the duo that brought Showtime Channel's Dead Like Me to life with their hit song Boom Boom Ba, are providing the official theme song for THE HOLLOW; My Fault. A song that reflects the deep pain of a soul being caught in a situation beyond their control, My Fault, gets a slightly different meaning. In THE HOLLOW, Abbey's best friend's death turns her world completely upside down. But it's only the beginning of a journey that will change her life forever.

I'd like to thank Skully and Aida for this wonderful privilege, and for creating such a beautiful, haunting melody that so eloquently captures the darkness we've all felt. You can find Metisse on mySpace and get their album on iTunes.

Check out http://www.jessicaverday.com/ to listen to the song in its entirety.

THE HOLLOW Indonesia

2008-06-03T12:00:00.002-05:00

THE HOLLOW is coming to Indonesia! PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama will be publishing THE HOLLOW trilogy in Indonesia.

THE HOLLOW Brazil

2008-06-02T12:00:00.004-05:00

THE HOLLOW comes to Brazil! Editoro Rocco will be publishing THE HOLLOW trilogy.

THE HOLLOW Sold!!!!

2008-03-25T20:28:00.004-05:00
I'm pleased to announce that THE HOLLOW, Jessica Verday's novel about a girl who just lost her best friend and meets a mysterious boy who is keeping an incredible secret, sold to Anica Rissi at Simon Pulse in conjunction with Simon & Schuster U.K. and is scheduled for a World English Launch in fall 2009.