THE BREAK-UP ARTIST cover reveal extravaganza!

I'm going to keep this short + sweet since my brain is fried. It's one of those Tuesdays that feels like a Thursday except, ya know, it's only Tuesday.

THE BREAK-UP ARTIST! Cover reveal extravaganza! Three parts! 

Part I - The Actual Reveal

In which HarlequinTEEN officially reveals the magnificent cover for THE BREAK-UP ARTIST for all the world to see.

Where: the HarlequinTEEN Facebook page -- https://www.facebook.com/HarlequinTEEN

When: Thursday 10/24 10:30 am

Part II - ICYMI Cover Reveal + ARC Giveaway @ Forever17 Books

In which I show off the cover once for all who missed it. On top of that, I'll reveal the book's official book jacket copy and *some special secret amazing news* that I'm nearly bursting with. Or maybe that's just fiber. But that's not all.

I'm also giving away 2 limited-edition cerlox ARCs of THE BREAK-UP ARTIST and a funpack of some amazing HarlequinTEEN debut contemporaries.

Where: http://forever17books.com/

When: Friday 10/25

Part III - Cover Talk at YA @ YAInterrobang

In which I discuss the cool details behind the cover design. The cover is something that you can keep looking at and find something new, like those Magic Eye paintings from the 90s. 

Where: http://www.yainterrobang.com/

When: Sunday 10/27

I am so far beyond excited -- like I can't even see excited from my house anymore -- to show you the cover for THE BREAK-UP ARTIST, to take one giant leap closer to bringing the book into the world. 

What I've Been Up To This Summer

I can't believe summer is almost over! It flies by every year. This summer was particularly strange because here in Chicago, we only had a handful of true summer days. Otherwise, it was like an extended spring (70s, bipolar mix of rain, clouds, and sun). Today feels like a crisp fall day. Which I'm not complaining about, especially because I don't have central air. But still, as much as I hate the dog days of summer, it's weird not having them. It makes me appreciate the cooldown in September/October.

I haven't thought too much about the temperature because I've been so BUSY this summer. So busy I kinda neglected you, dear blog. I know what you're thinking --

via quickmeme

Well, here's a rundown of what's been going with me these past two months, kind of like the less-cool version of this epic montage.

* I finished line edits on THE BREAK-UP ARTIST and am in the middle of writing acknowledgements. It's this close to being a real book!

* I taught my first class - Writing the YA Novel - at Trade School Evanston and was paid in cupcakes.

* I'm speaking on my very first panel this Thursday about writing and publishing. Fingers crossed I'm not a rambling mess.

* I've been feverishly writing my new MS and crossed 50k words. I like writing in summer because the sun shining at 6 a.m. makes it much easier to wake up early. It's a struggle to get out of bed when it's pitch black outside. I should have a rough draft done by Labor Day, which is the fastest that I've ever written a book!

* I outlined a new super-secret WIP which I hope I can tell you about in the future.

* I have done some blogging, just not here. Check out my post at Michelle Krys's blog on query contests, and my summer reading reco at the YA Valentines. I have three more guest posts coming up in the next two months. In other words, see you in October possibly.

* I devoured ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK on Netflix. It has some of the best female characters ever written for TV. And what's most impressive is that despite the sprawling cast, every character is fleshed out and has a moment to shine. It's an incredible balancing act. Now I'm enjoying the final season of BREAKING BAD. (catch up on Netflix! There's still time!)

*I've seen a bunch of movies. WORLD WAR Z was hands-down the best one I saw this summer -- which proves that you should never be afraid of a rewrite. (THE TO-DO LIST is runner-up. Unfortunately, it bombed, but it's destined to be a cult classic.)

How has your summer been?

Adventures in NY (with no pictures)

Last week, I had a whirlwind 24 hours meeting lots of awesome publishing folk. And of course, I took zero pictures commemorating my experience :( Even after I told readers that they should start taking pictures! Still, I had a great day and will try to fill in with some type of pictures.

It all started last Wednesday night, when writer/blogger/publishing guru Dahlia Adler and I met for Crumbs cupcakes. If you've never had the pleasure of eating a Crumbs cupcake, just think of a regular cupcake on steroids. As it always happens whenever I hang out with Dahlia, there's lots of great chitchat but never enough time. Seriously, we talked for an hour but it felt like 10 minutes. It's like that movie Contact.

Yes, we had the largest one. Are you even surprised? (via the Suntimes blog)

The next morning, I traveled down to the Harlequin Teen offices and met my editor Annie. Her office is located in a gorgeous, old building. The lobby is breathtaking. I openly gawked upon entering. The picture below doesn't even do it justice. It's so nice that they have a sign out forbidding sightseers and picture takers. (so I have an excuse this time!)

They don't make em like they used to (via reuters)

I met Annie and the other two Harlequin Teen editors, and they were all such great people, and so excited about THE BREAK-UP ARTIST! It's a good team over there, and I am even more psyched about getting published with this imprint. We chatted about covers and Chicago and--tip for writers--don't forget to number your pages. Throughout my whole trip, I was pleasantly surprised with how nice everyone in YA publishing is. Oh, and I also went home with some H-Teen books :)

Bam! I'm going to start from the bottom up

 Later, I went to lunch with Annie and my agent Becky. I loved listening to them talk about publishing news. We talked about some marketing stuff, and I learned a few secrets about the NYT Bestseller list. Being in my writing corner in Chicago, I sometimes forget that there's a whole publishing business going on. After lunch, Becky and I got some coffee/tea and talked writing and future goals before I zipped uptown to my next meeting.

With YA author extraordinare Kody Keplinger.

I'm not going to sugarcoat this: she is THE COOLEST. I don't know where the time went, but we talked and talked for like two hours about important issues like Awkward, The View, No Strings Attached vs Friends With Benefits, and a smidgeon about publishing. I was nervous about meeting her, in case she was like that obnoxious old author in The Fault in Our Stars. But she wasn't. She was so friendly and down-to-Earth.

These are her books. Read them. Now. (p.s. Doesn't the Shut Out girl look like Liv Tyler?)

Finally, I rushed up to meet some OneFour authors -- Michelle Shusterman, Lauren Magaziner, and Rebecca Behrens. Yes, I was the token YAer in the group of MGers. And I was terribly late! But it was all good, and we chatted over nachos and waffle cheese fries. Being able to talk about publishing jitters with other debuts was refreshing, knowing that you're in the same boat. And we also discussed quitting Facebook one day. Maybe. Possibly. Probably Not.

When I got on the bus back to NJ, I was beyond worn out, but also couldn't sit still. I had a wonderful day, and like I said before, YA publishing is filled with the nicest, friendliest, my-kind-of people.

And next time, I'll promise I'll take lots of annoying selfies.

BOOK DEAL

Big news! THE BREAK-UP ARTIST sold in a two book deal to Harlequin Teen!! Here's the Publishers Marketplace announcement:

Philip Siegel's THE BREAK-UP ARTIST, pitched as Mean Girls meets My Best Friend's Wedding, in which one girl's mission to even the dating playing field will turn her whole high school upside down, to Annie Stone at Harlequin Teen, in a two-book deal, by Becky Vinter at FinePrint Literary Management. 

If I knew how to use gif's, I'd put one here. So I'll share my feelings old school style with jpegs, Oscars edition.

I've read so many posts like this from my years of stalking following authors in the kidlit world. It was five years ago that I turned to writing YA, and I feel truly lucky and grateful that I got this far. I can't believe that in 2014, people will be able to get into their flying cars, teleport to a bookstore (or click onto Amazon), and be able to buy my book. And then trash it on Goodreads

I am so pumped to work with my editor Annie Stone, who has been nothing but super excited about BUA. It's still weird to think people actually like what I write. I have to give a huge thank you to my agent Becky Vinter. She fractured her spine and she still looks like a rock star. She worked on this deal while she was technically on vacation. Talk about dedication! And Michelle Krys and Ruth Lauren Steven, who dug my query letter out from the slush for their Xmas in July contest. Yes, contests and slush work! And the L.A. city bus driver, for taking a chance on an unknown kid. Without which, I might never be tardy. 

I'll be back with more details as they come. (And I promise not to be one of those authors who only tweets about their book!) Thanks for reading!