Congrats to Jennifer (age 10) and Carolyn (age 12) who have contributed names and ideas for two fairy characters in Scroll 2. Jennifer has named Farell, head of the Healer Guild. Carolyn created Ramon, who will be a high tier Guardian.

Both young ladies gave me strong descriptions of the characters’ appearances and will be “meeting” their characters when Scroll 2 comes out in 2009.

After reading Crossover, if you have an idea for a character, send me the name, description, and what role you think they might play as the story continues into Scroll 2 and Scroll 3.

I look forward to hearing from you!

FaerieWorlds in Eugene Oregon was a great place to be. Not only did we get to meet a lot of enthusiastic readers, but the costumes some attendees had created were simply breathtaking. Beautiful workmanship and creativity – literally fairy eye candy. Here I am at our booth meeting with new readers.

The high point for us was the reader who purchased the book Friday, had his wife drive them back to Portland while he read the book, and specifically returned to our booth Saturday to tell us how impressed he was and he considered the writing in the same league as Marion Zimmer Bradley. What an honor! You can see that guests really “got into” the costumes. All were home made.

We’re already gearing up for Faierie Con in Philadelphia in less than 2 months, and hope to meet even more people who enjoy the realm of fantasy! This woman’s costume was stunning – the wings alone took her weeks of work.

At a recent book signing at Barnes & Noble, I received a number of questions as to when Scroll 2 will be available. I plan to have it available by June 2009. Writing is going steadily.

I can share with you that the book is more complex and challenging to write, requiring I weave four major themes and perspectives. I now have to create the world of Nonetre in great detail. I’m learning a lot about combustion as I develop the nature of the fire daemiani. The troich and ael play greater roles in this book, and Tlarg and Rynok are forced into situations they never remotely imagined.

Danai must make her decision between Healer and Charmer and join the Guild of her choice, even as the storm clouds of the forgotten prophecy are gathering. The Dolmen… well, I’ll wait to tell you about his activities. Toron and the Guardian Guild must confront the long-unused concept of war. And the events keep growing.

There is so much enjoyment in writing these tales. And so much in hearing from people and getting suggestions. For example, Jennifer a young fan in California, age 10, suggested a name for a character – Farel – and he is to become a Guildmaster.

To all of you for your wonderful feedback, thanks! I’ll keep you posted on Scroll 2′s progress.

Just out on PR Wire is the new press release for Crossover. Check it out at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/04/prweb892834.htmhttp://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/04/prweb892834.htm

If you have a bookstore in your area that you would like to carry the book, let me know the name of the store, phone number, and if possible the manager, and I will follow up with them.

Learn more about the underlying concepts and mythology of my book by reading this indepth interview conducted by Readerviews.com. Visit http://www.readerviews.com/InterviewNewcorn.html.

During some recent interviews, I’ve had people ask me where do I get the names and and language of Lampion.The names – both character and place – are a combination of invented and real. I find it amazing how many interesting names are laying around if you just start paying attention – on billboards, road signs, articles, etc. So I keep a notepad handy and jot any names or ideas for names I see – for example I often will reverse a name, or jumble the letters to see if it comes up as an interesting combination of sounds. Danaí’s name came from an old western dance hall I passed for years which had a fading “billboard” painted on the bricks with the name Dania. The languages are a conglomerate. I also speak French, Spanish and smatterings of German and Italian. Plus I love the cadence of Gaelic. So to invent words and a working language structure is more an iterative process of tracing the grammar and syntax of those tongues I know and grafting a new language on it.

We’re pleased to announce that we will be at both the FaerieCon (www.faeriecon.com) and FaerieWorlds (www.faerieworlds.com) conventions, selling books, signing autographs and meeting with our fans.

FaerieCon is 10/10-10/12 at the Philadelphia Convention Center. FaerieWorlds is 8/1-8/3 at the Secret House Winery in Eugene, Oregon.

 We look forward to seeing you there!

Deb Shunamon at Readerviews.com has just issued an outstanding review on my book, and I have to share it with you in full (an abbreviated version appears on the Review page).

“I give a resounding “Wow!” for Claudia Newcorn’s new book, “Crossover,” a light fantasy with substance. This intelligently written adventure story involving old grudges, ambition, love, and other dimensions of existence, also speaks to the difficulties of growing up and making independent, responsible choices.

The story follows the personal growth of Danai and her possible importance to the future of her people. Danai and the other young sprytes undergo the rituals of Krisalys in order to obtain their feyree wings. However, it quickly becomes apparent that each of the Rites involved is going to be far more dangerous than the sprytes realize, as not everyone wants them to succeed, or notice that a dark time in feyree history is about to return. I have to admit that the abundant descriptions, invented vocabulary, and the thee/ye speech on the first few pages made me wonder if I would have the patience to finish the book, but by mid-chapter, I was hooked. The tightly written characters and adventures in this volume were engrossing, and although the story can easily be continued in future books, Scroll 1 is complete and satisfying on its own.

Even though I am not a feyree kingdom enthusiast, the terrific storytelling in this book has certainly made me a fan of its author. “Crossover: Krisalys Chronicles of Feyree: Scroll 1,” by Claudia Newcorn, will appeal to a variety of ages, and is a good choice for those who think, as I did, that feyree-world stories are generally too fluffy. Interesting and unique, this is simply a wonderfully written, action-filled, thoughtful fantasy book.” 

Six months into marketing my book, I have come to dramatically appreciate the success of J.K. Rowling’s and other authors’ books.

Consider that the initial printing of Harry Potter #7 was an unprecedented 12 million books. Sounds like (and is) a lot, right? But when you stop to think that it is only 1/3 the population of California, and a smidgen of the world’s population, you begin to appreciate the challenges faced by new authors in getting their books into readers’ hands.

I read that 98% of writers do not sell more than 2000 books. Initial printings of new writers are often less than that. And much of the marketing and promotion work is done by the author because they are a newbie.

I have discovered that it is an exhilirating and often frustrating trial by fire. Developing your sound bites, speaking before groups of people, creating a story about a story to interest potential readers…. Reaching out to bookstores and pitching sales managers…. Developing sales materials. It is literally a business in itself, taking time and energy every single day. 

But when a reader tells you how much they have enjoyed your book, you float along, renewed.

While established authors don’t have worry about doing the business and promoting aspects by themselves , I take comfort in knowing most have had to walk a similar trail.

If you’re an aspiring writer, I share this note that I wrote several years ago and have stuck to my computer – “I don’t have an imperative, so it’s up to me to make it happen.” Put another way, nobody cares if you don’t write your book or story – only you do. Nobody is going to make you do it (the imperative). Only you will. If your dream is to be a writer, then you are the only one who can make it happen.

As I slog along these new paths, I can honestly say that it makes my respect for such authors as J.K. Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkein, and Ann McCaffrey skyrocket. Their achievements are far greater than just writing their books!

To the determined belong the spoils of success!

My most common “complaint” from readers (so far) has been, ‘when is the second book coming out?’

I am working on the first draft (already having incorporated several outstanding suggestions I have received) with the goal of having it out in early 2009.

I will admit the absolute delight I have in doing the actual writing! That’s the creative part, disappearing back into Nonetre and Lampion, and rejoining my fairy-folk after a long hiatus. I confess – I’m addicted to writing.

Keep your suggestions coming – they are most appreciated, and provide me with the most important perspective of all – yours!