The box says it all

Man, I’m so happy to be writing this post because it means that SILVER is finally on the shelves. I critiqued SILVER as a “closer” of sorts…when it was almost. I’d been hangin’ with the Muses for a while at that point and had heard a ton about it, but was kept on “the bench” until the time was ripe. When my moment came, I was sooo excited finally to be part of it.

I’d worked on SPIES & PREJUDICE with Talia and read a synopsis or two for SILVER, but when I opened up the document I was blown away. Like the other Muses, I was mesmerized by her voice, her dialogue, and how she built this complex world of high-school and mythology (see, it’s one thing to make a plot around well-known legends such as the Greek gods, but it’s much, MUCH harder to introduce a whole ‘nother set of little-known ones. Believe me, I know).

I wanted to share a bit of my initial reaction to SILVER, just to tease some of its awesomeness. Here are a few of the comments I made in the margins:

“This is cool! Very intrigued.”

“I really like how he has trouble seeing her. Great tension.”

“Awesome exchange – HA!”

“LOVE the action. *Chills*”

“Joe is awesome.”

“So effing intense! Great job. Very heart wrenching.”
“You’re really good at kissy-kissy stuff. And I love the tension between them. It’s fantastic.”

Plus, almost every page is littered with check marks, double check marks, TRIPLE check marks, and (the ultimate compliment in my book) smiley faces.

And, in a reply email to her, I wrote:

“You're brilliant when you handle the magic and (I hate to admit this) the kissing/boy scenes. A true master.”

“Great job. Really. It was such a fun read! Your characters are (as usual) outstanding and truly individuals. I love the tension of the fate-crossed lovers. The world building is done beautifully. ” 

“Anyways, THANK YOU for letting me dig in. A truly enjoyable experience.

(and next time I read it...it'll be a REAL book. Holy SHiizzzz-NIT). ”

And, guess what, now it is a REAL book.

HOLY SHIIIZZZZ-NITTTT!

Now, you get to experience what I did that first time. I’m so jealous. 

There is a big part of me that wants very badly to shout DITTO! To the posts that Donna and Katy shared earlier this week.

They are so right.

Talia has voice in spades. She writes hot boys and kickass girls. She weaves original, intricate stories together as easily as if she was tying shoelaces.

Another area in which Talia rises head and shoulders above the pack is with her skill in writing dialogue. The exchanges she creates between characters are witty, sexy, characterizing. They are tense and richly detailed.

Simply put, her ear for dialogue is pitch perfect. (I just realized Katy said, this exact thing in her post. See? We all think so, which makes it undeniably true.)

I’ve been known to study her dialogue. To laugh out loud because of it. To savor it. And I can’t wait for you all to see what I mean when you read SILVER.

In addition to being a big fan of Talia, the author, I am a huge fan of Talia, the woman. We Muses are coming up on our fourth anniversary and so we’ve settled into our roles within the group a little bit. Talia is our voice of reason. She is eloquent with words, gentle in spirit, wicked in humor, and generous as a friend.

She brought us together, way back when. Without her, I’d be missing out on one of the most rewarding parts of being a writer.

It’s such a treat—an honor, really—to be part of this fantastic achievement of hers.

Congratulations, Talia, and GO SILVER!!!!

So this week we are celebrating a huge personal milestone in my life:  the publication of my first novel, Silver.  I'm kind of overwhelmed.  It's wonderful and terrifying. 

I thought I would celebrate by sharing my experience of seeing my novel in the wild for the very first time.

Me (in days before release):  I'm not going to go look for it.  I don't even know if Barnes & Noble picked it up.  It might not be there, and that would be sad.

Then on Friday, September 1, out of the blue, on Twitter, author Victoria Scott tells me she saw (and bought) Silver in a Dallas B & N.  *I may freak a little.*

An hour later, Donna emails that she called her local B&N in Fort Collins and they had it! She is going to get a picture.  *cue squeeing here.*

Donna emails a picture of Silver with Gilt and Under the Never Sky!  *more squeals*

So I get up the nerve to call my local store.  I feel like a kid making a crank call when the customer service lady picks up the phone, all panicky and full of adrenaline.

Me:  *clears throat*  I'm calling to see if you have a book in stock?

Her:  No problem.  What are you looking for?

Me:  It's called Silver.  By Talia Vance?

Her:  *typing*  *typing some more*

*Extraordinarily long pause while I brace myself for bad news.*

Her:  Looks like we have one.  Do you want me to pull it off the shelf for you?

Me:  NO! (I want to see it on the shelf.  That is the whole point.) *calms self*  I'll just come by and pick it up.

Her:  Okay.  Thanks for calling.

So my husband, son and I pile into the car and drive the twenty minutes to the book store.  I ask my husband to take a picture of the front of the store when we get out of the car.

Him: Why?  No one cares about the front of the store.

Me:  I care.  This is a momentous occasion.  We need to document it for all time.  This is the store where I will see my book on the shelf for the first time.  This the first act of the story.

Him:  Really?  No one cares about the front of the store.

Me: *glares*

He takes the picture:

We walk/run to the YA section, and I still am not sure where we will find it.  Parnormal Romance?  No.  New Releases?  Not there.  New Fantasy?  No.  Not there either. 

I start to panic.  Flop sweat and everything.  Maybe the nice lady got it wrong.  Silver is a common name, and maybe-

Son:  There it is!  *He points to the bottom shelf of the YA fantasy section.*

I am shaking when I actually see it on the shelf.  Not just one, but four pretty copies all lined up together.  [note to self: if you ever decide to use a pen name, go with a last name at the top of the alphabet, so your book is not on the bottom shelf.]  Still, even on the very bottom shelf of the YA fantasy section, it looks cool!  It's right next to The Hobbit- that's pretty amazing company if you ask me (or my children).


Once I confirm that the book is actually there, I walk over to the customer service desk, only slightly braver than I had been on the phone.

Me:  You have my book- the book that I wrote- here- in the store. It's my first book-

Her:  *smiles at me like I'm a stray kitten* Would you like to sign the stock?

Me:  Yes, that would be great.  If you don't mind.

Her:  It's a great accomplishment to have your book published.  Do you have a special pen you like to use?

Me: *takes out my silver sharpie* I do.

Husband:  Wait, let me take your picture.  *takes picture*

Her:  Thanks for coming by. 

Me:  Thank you, really.

Her:  Hey, is this Silver?  People have been calling about this book.

Me: *feigns surprise* That's awesome.

Son: Wasn't that you, mom?

Yeah, it was pretty awesome.

Plus, it has a stunning cover.

My first taste of SILVER was at a writing workshop in 2009. It was early morning, and I hadn't yet had my coffee (though I noticed that Veronica, who I didn’t know at the time, had already found a Starbucks across the street. Cue jealousy that I haven’t felt since I got to know her better.) I was nervous, because the great Ellen Hopkins was moderating our critique session. And because I had never shared pages from my new WIP, which would eventually become GILT.

So imagine: several women sitting around a circular table in a hotel conference room. Papers rustling, a cough, a delicate sip as Veronica drinks her coveted coffee. And then Talia begins to read.

The voice is to die for.

Like Donna, I am in awe of Talia’s ability to juggle complicated plot points, multiple characters, difficult scientific issues, magic and pacing. But mostly I am in awe of her characters. The way they interact, the way they relate to each other and the world around them, but especially their dialogue and Brianna’s original impressions of events.

For instance, in the first chapter, on the first page, Brianna goes to a party that her friend Haley calls “a rager”.  Brianna adds, internally,

The perfect combination of no parents, cute guys, and alcohol-fueled hook-ups.  I can almost smell the pheromones.  Then again, it could be the guy in the Padres jersey sweating tequila from his pores. 

Then Haley tells Brianna she smells like horse before spritzing her with vanilla body scent.  Padres jersey spills beer on her.  Brianna’s reaction?

Perfect.  Now I smell like a sticky patch of pavement at the state fair.  A magnet for future farmers and carnies alike.

Pitch-perfect, snappy, clever.  Just the kind of girl I’ve always wanted to be.  I know Talia works hard at this, but she makes it seem so effortless.  I love the sound of the words together, the kick I get out of it when the meaning sets in.  Now, whenever I read anything Talia has written, I hear her voice reading it.  Dry, witty, with a hint of a smile.

I’ve learned a lot from knowing Talia.  Critiquing with her.  Brainstorming.  Traveling.  Talia has a talent for analysis, for taking things apart and putting them back together, for seeing the big picture.  But her major writing talent is voice.

I’ve read SILVER more than once since that morning – through several of its incarnations.  I’ve read two versions of SPIES AND PREJUDICE and an early draft of GOLD.  And I feel the same way every.  Single.  Time. 

I’m so glad you can now, too.

This week we officially welcome our newest YAMuse book into the world - SILVER by Talia Vance. Doesn't it look amazing on the shelf in my Colorado Barnes and Noble store?  (Of course, it's keeping some great company thanks to a little reorganization of the alphabet)

I'm from a Celtic background, so the whole idea of a story with Irish mythological roots is intriguing.  Combine all that with witty, snappy dialogue and loads of sexual tension and you have me hooked.  I also love the idea that Brianna, the main character, is invisible to those around her until that certain someone comes along who can actually see her.  It hearkens back to those wonderful themes of old fairy tales like the Princess and the Pea and even Beauty and the Beast.

Talia is fantastic at writing hot male characters, and that is certainly another reason to recommend SILVER, but I think most readers will find it hard to put down because of the multi-layered plot and the surprises around every corner.

So check out SILVER and if you are near the Avid Reader next Saturday, come meet us and help celebrate Talia's launch!


On Saturday, September 15th at 4PM, The Avid Reader in downtown Davis will host a four author Young Adult event!  The event is the launch party for Talia Vance's new book Silver but we will also have readings from Katy Longshore, Veronica Rossi, and Donna Cooner.  There will be books, cake, and prizes!