Nearly There...

The deadline for the first draft of 18 Kisses is fast approaching... Therefore I won't be on the Internetz again until June 10th. (If you see me on Twitter feel free to smack me.)
I will be camped out in my room wearing my giant hoodie, drinking tea, typing frantically, talking to myself and occasionally screaming at my printer.

In the meantime you can:

Review Angel Kiss for the chance to win a signed canvas print of the cover!
Add Angel Kiss to your Goodreads shelf.
Or, ya know, Buy It (available in all good bookshops).

Yes We Can.

The sun was shining when I joined the queue today at Dublin Castle at 12.30 p.m. Not very many of my friends wanted to go to the Obama rally, and those who did had to work. I felt a tad lonerish at the prospect of standing by myself for 7 hours, but I was not going to miss this.


I've been an Obama fan for a while. I was on holiday in New York when he was running for the Democratic nomination, and I remember wishing he would win, but at the same time not wanting to get my hopes up. Like lots of other people I stayed up all night for the 2008 election, watching the results and crossing my fingers, praying that it would happen. I remember crying when the result was announced - tears of relief and absolute happiness. I remember the joy and hope that vibrated through the entire world that night. So I really wanted to hear, and maybe even catch a glimpse of, the man who made that happen. 


The atmosphere in the queue was electric. People of all different ages and nationalities chanted "O-BA-MA", excitement radiating from their slightly sun burnt faces. Along with the sun came heavy rain, and up went thousands of hoods and umbrellas, but I heard nobody complain. People wore Obama jumpers and hats and had American flags painted on their cheeks. They chatted with strangers and took pictures and counted down the minutes until the barriers would open.


4 hours after I joined the queue, the Secret Service searched my handbag, and then I was in! I walked quickly, trying to get as close to the stage as I could. Our most talented broadcasters and movie stars welcomed on to the stage some of our most famous musicians. Then the wait was over, and our Taoiseach did the country proud with his enthusiastic introduction of the President of the United States. 


The cheer that erupted from the crowd when Barack and Michelle Obama came onstage was just amazing. Obama's speech was incredibly inspiring - the crowd were crying and clapping and cheering and there were thousands and thousands of people there, but for the majority of his speech you could hear nothing apart from the wind and his voice as it boomed through the speakers. It was particularly magical when he said his most famous phrase in Irish - "Is féidir linn."


I was actually not too far away from the stage, but I'm pretty short so I couldn't see him as he spoke. I tried jumping up a few times, but mostly just watched on the big screen behind me. When the speech was over some people who'd been at the barrier moved away, so I was able to make my way up. I shuffled up as far as I could and stood on my tippy toes, managing to find a gap to look through. But I still couldn't see him. I decided if I stayed standing there long enough then maybe I would. I was content with having heard him speak, having felt the power of those cheers, but wouldn't it be so cool to see him? Five minutes passed, then ten, then fifteen. I stayed in the same spot, looking through the same gap. And then I saw them  - Barack and Michelle Obama, walking and waving in our direction, looking amazingly cool and inspiring. I cheered along with all the people around me. I couldn't believe it - I was a few metres away from Obama, I got to see him in the flesh! He is so great. He has everything - the intelligence and the passion and the rock star persona (he talked on someone's mobile phone!) I watched as he gave one final wave and left, then I smiled and turned around and headed home. It was so amazing to feel part of such an historic event. 


I'm sitting here now at my computer, still smiling. I can't sleep because I'm still so excited.   


I think Obama's visit couldn't have come at a better time. Ireland has gone through a pretty tough few years. We're generally positive people but sometimes it's difficult to be positive, especially when you're suddenly trying to scrape together enough money to pay your mortgage. It's not easy to tell people to brighten up when they've been out of work for a year, when their friends have no choice but to emigrate, when they watch people who contributed largely to this mess walking away unscathed. But this week we've been reminded of all the things we worked so hard to overcome, and we've been reminded of the fact that we will overcome this recession too. As I walked home tonight I really felt like I was walking through a happier and more hopeful Dublin - a happier and more hopeful nation.  


So, here are some things I learned today: 
Stay positive, especially when times are tough. 
Our country has overcome some big obstacles, and we are more than capable of overcoming this. 
The best is yet to come. 


Oh, and don't be reluctant to go to something, just 'cause you have to go to it by yourself.   


Here's a link to President Obama's speech in Dublin, if you'd like to listen: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngwyKsUg9Ms

Puffin Ireland Launch

The official launch of Puffin Ireland takes place next Wednesday 25th May in Eason, O'Connell Street in Dublin at 6.30 p.m. 

Come meet the first batch of Puffin Ireland authors - Judi Curtin, Mark O'Sullivan and ME! :)

All Welcome!

Thoughts for a Thursday

I spotted this graffiti near my house the other day :)

Fangirl

image source 

Summer is getting ever so closer which means it's almost... Book Festival Season! I'm taking part in a few myself, like The West Cork Literary Festival, but mostly I will be hanging out at the likes of Dublin Writers Festival, stalking my favourite authors.  When I was younger, meeting authors I liked wasn't really something that occurred to me, but these days there are lots of opportunities for readers to meet their favourites. I have a list of writers I'd love to meet, and have already ticked some off the list, including:


John Green
Alex Barclay
Claire Hennessy (with Claire I was lucky enough to make the transition from crazed fan to friend).
Derek Landy


Encounters with my favourite authors are not always seamless, for instance I met Derek at a book launch last year, and the conversation went something like this: 
Sarah Webb: "Derek, this is Laura. She writes teenage fiction and has a book out with Puffin next year."
Derek: "Hi Laura."
Laura: "...I read your blog every day."


Nevertheless I hope to someday make awkward fangirl conversations with the following:
Sarah Dessen (love her!)
Jenny Valentine (Finding Violet Park = Amazing).
Eoin Colfer (if I got to talk to him I'd probably burst with excitement).
David Levithan (can't get much more awesome than David).
Neil Gaiman (so clever, so talented).
J.K. Rowling (this might just be too much for me to handle).


I'm eagerly awaiting the announcement of the Edinburgh Book Festival programme next month, I'm so tempted to go back there again this year, it was sooo good last summer. 


Are there any authors you'd love to meet?

Who Says?

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"Who says you're not star potential?
Who says you're not presidential?
Who says you can't be in movies?
Listen to me, listen to me.
Who says you don't pass the test? 
Who says you can't be the best?"

Selena Gomez and the Scene - Who Says 

Stay Positive :)

Kildare Readers Festival Tomorrow!

Hi Everyone,

I'll be in Eason's Bookshop in the Whitewater Shopping Centre, Newbridge, Co. Kildare tomorrow from 3.30 p.m. reading from Angel Kiss and signing copies, as part of the Kildare Readers Festival!

If you're in the area do drop by and say hi!

Recent Purchases

Books

One Day by David Nicholls - Amazing book. I wasn't crazy about the ending... but if it had finished where I wanted it to, it probably wouldn't work as well. I must have been one of the last people on the planet to read it, if you haven't, then you must!

An Abundance of Katherines - the only John Green book I haven't finished. I'm saving it for my summer holidays (which probably won't happen til Autumn) so that I can read it uninterrupted.

Looking for Alaska - John Green: I got this new Harper Collins edition free (one of the perks of being an occasional reviewer!), I love the heart on the cover.

Starter for Ten - David Nicholls: As soon as I'd finished One Day I went out and bought this.  Angst and University Challenge - you can't get better than that!  I'm reading it at the moment and have laughed out loud more times than I can count. Nicholls also has another book called The Understudy which I am unbelievably excited to read.

What We Say Goes - Noam Chomsky: I borrowed this from the library a few weeks back. I really enjoy reading Chomsky's views (even if I find some of them a tad extreme!).

Selected Poems - Dylan Thomas: I picked this up in my local Oxfam Bookshop. He's one of my favourite poets.

Fearne and Holly - The Best Friends Guide to Life: I wanted this book but it wasn't really something I'd buy for myself, so I was delighted when my friend surprised me with it.

The Lover's Dictionary - David Levithan: a love story told through dictionary entries. A contender for my favourite book of 2011.

Randomness

I have a lot of magazines with Hayley on the cover...

I went into Penny's (Primark) the other day on my way back from the post office, and bought this satchel in the sale for only €2!

I also got these necklaces, a deer and a cupcake, also €2 euro each. 

Have you acquired anything cute lately, or done a similar blogpost? :)

Author Video!

Hey everyone! If you wanna know some more about Angel Kiss you can watch the author video below! If you wanna hear me messing up and laughing a lot, you can watch the outtakes. :)

Thanks to David Maybury for shooting them! 

Reader Giveaway!

I was given some lovely canvas prints of the cover of Angel Kiss. I'm keeping one and giving the other to one of you! It's very pretty and would look great hanging on your bedroom wall (like mine is). I've also signed it, in gold pen no less!

If you read Angel Kiss and like it, I'd LOVE if you posted a review online. To be in with a chance of winning the print just leave a link to your review in the comments section of this post, along with your email address. (If you'd prefer to keep your email address private, just send it to laurajanecass@gmail.com) A winner will be picked at random.  The reviews don't have to be super glowing for you to enter, your honest opinion is very welcome! Although if you weren't mad about Angel Kiss then you probably don't want Jacki watching you as you sleep.

Review can be posted on:
Amazon
Goodreads
Your own blog
Any other review site you like!

Giveaway is open worldwide until July 29th.

Good luck!

Angel Kiss Launch Night

The launch on Thursday in Barker & Jones was the best night ever! Lots of my friends and family came out to help me celebrate, along with my editor Paddy and special guest Claire Hennessy. I made a speech... I was a bit nervous in the days leading up to it and wasn't sure what to say, but like I explained on Thursday, my original plan was to be an actress so I'd been practicing thanking everybody I know in front of the mirror since roughly the age of six - so I really just had to replace 'Thank you to the Academy...' with 'Thank you to Puffin..!'

The launch was so exciting and completely overwhelming - a night I'll never forget! 

  

After signing over one hundred books, I think I've finally  got the signature down! 

 The queue :)

some of my cousins.

looking slightly dazed but very happy!

Claire and I posing for the newspapers!

a view from above.

I love this picture.

me and my grandad!

 the family!

bffs!

Number One New Release in Barker & Jones! :)

It's not a dream anymore...

Release Day is here!


Angel Kiss is now available in all good bookstores and online. 

It's published by Razorbill/Penguin in paperback and ebook!

I've been waiting for this moment for four years, and now that it's here I can really only think of one word to describe it...

wow. 

"It's just a load of people talking about what they had for breakfast."

image source

I remember discussing the phenomenon of blogging with a group of friends about three years ago, and the above quote was somebody's evaluation of it. I'd never read any blogs so I couldn't argue. I didn't think the whole blogging craze was something I would get in to anyway.

How wrong I was.

I stumbled upon my first blog by accident. It was linked from a fashion website and it was Carrie's Wish Wish Wish. I was captivated by her honest and interesting posts, the quality of her writing and photographs, and the novelty of regular access to another person's world. The beauty with blogs is that once you've found one, you are almost immediately introduced to a whole wonderland of others. I found A Cup of Jo, The English Muse, Afeitar, and Charade.  I loved reading these blogs so much that I decided to set up one about writing and books. I was surprised and delighted to discover that there were hundreds of thousands of writing and book blogs already out there!

My aim was never to get a huge following or tonnes of comments, I just really enjoyed reading blogs and thought it would be fun to set up my own.  I never realised that I was entering into such a supportive network of people who love reading and writing and fashion and music just as much as I do, and who have such interesting ideas to share.

Without blogs I might never have heard of such gems as Looking for Alaska or This Charming Girl or Camera Obscura.  Blogging has really added to my life in a way I never expected. Although it may not feel like it at the time, when you put up that first post you're not talking to thin air - you're sparking what will become an amazing conversation.

I know some of my blog buddies will read Angel Kiss, and I'm awaiting their verdicts with the same anticipation as those from family and friends. There are bloggers reading this who I admire so much, who I have emailed for advice during some of my bleakest moments, whose archives I have trawled and whose blogs I visit every single day. And there are followers reading this who have sent me such sweet emails, who have encouraged me through tough times, and who have showed such amazing enthusiasm for my first book's release. Whether you're a blogger or a follower or both, I want to thank you so SO much for your support. Over the last two years we've chatted, debated, shared links, shared secrets and had so much fun.

If you pick up a copy of Angel Kiss, go to the acknowledgements at the back. If you're reading this, you're in there.

Thank you.

Release Week is Here!

Hey Everybody,

I've left my secret writing location and am back in Dublin. It's exciting to re-enter civilization! I'm not completely finished the second book, but I shall be forgetting about it for the next few days because it's... ANGEL KISS RELEASE WEEK! Angel Kiss is officially released this Thursday, but it's in some bookshops and up on Amazon already. It's so weird to walk into bookshops where I've spend lots of time loitering over the years, to see my own book on the shelves:

I was really really nervous last week, and couldn't sleep or eat very much - I was in this weird state where I felt like I was going to faint or throw up, or both. I kept thinking what if nobody buys it? what if nobody likes it? But then I realized that I shouldn't really be worrying about this stuff, especially when it's completely out of my control. I'm very lucky to have a book coming out with such a fab publishing team, so I have to send Angel Kiss out into the world and just let it be!

The fear is still there, but luckily it's now mixed in with a lot more excitement. The thing I'm most looking forward to is hearing other people talking about my characters. They're so real to me, I can't wait to hear what other people think of them. I also can't wait for the book launch this Thursday, because it's a chance to celebrate with the other people who worked so hard for Angel Kiss - my editor, my agent and all my friends and family who have supported me in the run up to publication. It's going to be a great day!

Giveaway Winner!

And the winner of the Puffin tote bag and the signed copy of Angel Kiss is...

Sabina! (@FreakChiq)


Thank you so much to everybody who entered, I'll be doing another giveaway in the coming weeks for anybody who posts a review of Angel Kiss (on amazon/goodreads/their blog etc.) so if you didn't win this time don't fret, there are more Angel Kiss goodies to be had!