Hey everyone,
Sorry I have been a bit quiet on the blog lately but I have been in the editing cave, spending all my time editing my MG novel for PitchWars. I entered the day before the submission window closed and have been doing another look over it in case the mentors want to read more pages. I haven’t got a request for more pages yet, but that doesn’t mean I am out of the game. Sometimes mentors don’t need more than the query + chapter one to know they want to work with you. The winners are announced September 2nd, which feels forever away, but is actually really close. The edits are pretty much done now so the blog will go back to normal now.
I did take time out from the editing cave on Monday August 18th to go to the Hachette blogger night – an exclusive night just for bloggers at the Hachette Australia Sydney office where we learn about all the books coming out and get to meet a special guest. This year we were lucky enough to have two special guests. (Last year they had Laini Taylor and it was a dream come true for me to meet her!)
This first special guest this year was Sophie Hardcastle. She has a non-fiction book Running Like China releasing the 25th August 2015. We got a free copy of her book, which she signed for me.
The second special guest was HOLLY BLACK. She was such a lovely person and it was fantastic getting to meet her. She talked about her book The Darkest Part Of The Forest, which I have read and loved. And then she signed books. I got her to sign my copy of The Iron Trial since I was reading it.
We got given a goodie bag with three books inside. I think everyone got something different. Here are the books I got.
This Raging Light – I cannot wait to read this one. It sounded so good when the publishers were talking about it and I was so happy when I got it in my bag.
Pompidou Posse – I haven’t heard of this one before but it is set in France and sounds interesting.
The Dead House – Horror/Thriller is not really my thing but the way the publishers were talking about this one has got me really excited and I can’t wait to read it. I will just have to make sure I read it during the day.
And as I mention above everyone got a copy of Sophie’s memoir Running Like China.
Here is the view from the front. This Raging Light is an ARC, so that isn’t the cover it is going to be.
And here is a look at the full contents of the goodie bag:
And here is a close up of the free mug we got because I love it:
Over all it was a fantastic night, and worth stepping out of the editing cave for.
What have you all been working on while I was absent? What are you planning on working on this coming week? What books did you get lately you are excited about?
Inside My Worlds 
Rochelle, is this an invite only event or can you actually purchase tickets for this? I’m also an Australian blogger and would love to attend something like this, how lucky you’ve met Holly Black and Laini Taylor, I’m so very jealous 😀
Hi Angelica, this was invite only but I am sure Hachette would love to have you along next year (They are planning on making it an annual event.) I guess they invited the bloggers they have contact info for. Ashleigh Barton is the children’s publisher at Hachette . You could email her offering to review for Hachette as a starting point. You can find her email on the Hachette website so I assume it would be OK to post it here: ashleigh.barton@hachette.com.au
*gasp* You got Dead House? I wanted that one, but I didn’t get it.
Though the ones I did get also look pretty good.
Good luck with the pitch wars thing 🙂
Thanks. I was so happy when I opened the bag and saw it. I can’t wait to read it.