Lydia Kang's Blog, page 15
March 7, 2013
February 28, 2013
Mega March Swag Giveaway!
Hey guys! To celebrate the sale of my new book (CATALYST, Kathy Dawson Books/Penguin coming Fall 2014) I'm giving stuff away!
One the bestest things about debuting this year is befriending other fantastic authors. They've got lots of swag they are willing to give to me, with only a modicum of begging.
So here's the loot!
Onyx cube necklaces on silver chains. This necklace is worn by Zelia, my protagonist in CONTROL. It helps her breathe. I love how that hangtag turned out!
Stickers up top, magnets in the middle, and shiny bookmarks below!
A load of swag from debut authors!
The Class of 2k13 bookmarksTHE SYMPTOMS OF MY INSANITY bookmarks, from Mindy Raf TASTE TEST swag, including mixing spoons, tissues, pen, business cards, bookmarks, and large cards from Kelly FioreMermaid pendants from Polly Holyoke for THE NEPTUNE PROJECTBRUISED postcards from Sarah SkiltonCANARY postcards and bookmarks from Rachele Alpine BRIANNA ON THE BRINK bookmarks from Nicole McInnesTHE FLAME IN THE MIST bookmarks, bookplates, postcards and buttons from Kit GrindstaffSANCTUM bracelets (they read "Hell is what you make of it.") from Sarah Fine GENIE WISHES bookmarks and manatee temporary tattoos from Elisabeth Dahl
AND!
More swag will be included, coming from the my League of Extraordinary Writers colleagues:
Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner, authors of THESE BROKEN STARSLenore Appelhans, author of LEVEL 2Gennifer Albin, author of CREWELE.C. Myers, author of FAIR COIN and QUANTUM COIN
Giveaway ends at midnight on March 13th!Spread the word and get more points!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
One the bestest things about debuting this year is befriending other fantastic authors. They've got lots of swag they are willing to give to me, with only a modicum of begging.
So here's the loot!
Onyx cube necklaces on silver chains. This necklace is worn by Zelia, my protagonist in CONTROL. It helps her breathe. I love how that hangtag turned out!
Stickers up top, magnets in the middle, and shiny bookmarks below!A load of swag from debut authors!
The Class of 2k13 bookmarksTHE SYMPTOMS OF MY INSANITY bookmarks, from Mindy Raf TASTE TEST swag, including mixing spoons, tissues, pen, business cards, bookmarks, and large cards from Kelly FioreMermaid pendants from Polly Holyoke for THE NEPTUNE PROJECTBRUISED postcards from Sarah SkiltonCANARY postcards and bookmarks from Rachele Alpine BRIANNA ON THE BRINK bookmarks from Nicole McInnesTHE FLAME IN THE MIST bookmarks, bookplates, postcards and buttons from Kit GrindstaffSANCTUM bracelets (they read "Hell is what you make of it.") from Sarah Fine GENIE WISHES bookmarks and manatee temporary tattoos from Elisabeth Dahl
AND!
More swag will be included, coming from the my League of Extraordinary Writers colleagues:
Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner, authors of THESE BROKEN STARSLenore Appelhans, author of LEVEL 2Gennifer Albin, author of CREWELE.C. Myers, author of FAIR COIN and QUANTUM COIN
Giveaway ends at midnight on March 13th!Spread the word and get more points!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
February 25, 2013
Five-Book Release Day, and a special request
Well it's Tuesday! Which means some new books are coming into the world.
Abby and Derick have been accepted to the most prestigious secondary school in the world Cragbridge Hall. Due to the inventions of their grandfather, Oscar Cragbridge, they will be able to experience history in 3D, use their minds to literally project visual interpretations of classic literature, and become animal avatars for zoology. But when their grandfather and parents go missing, Abby and Derick must follow clues Oscar left for them that will reveal a dangerous secret. Along the way, they discover there is much more to one of their grandfather s inventions than anyone has ever dreamed. Saving their family will take all of Derick s mind and Abby's heart as they come face to face with a crazed scientist who desperately seeks to change the past.
Buy THE INVENTOR'S SECRET on Indiebound, Barnes and Noble, or Amazon
When Imogen, a sixteen-year-old black belt in Tae Kwon Do, freezes during a holdup at a local diner, the gunman is shot and killed by the police, and she blames herself for his death. Before the shooting, she believed that her black belt made her stronger than everyone else -- more responsible, more capable. But now her sense of self has been challenged and she must rebuild her life, a process that includes redefining her relationship with her family and navigating first love with the boy who was at the diner with her during the shootout. With action, romance, and a complex heroine, Bruised introduces a vibrant new voice to the young adult world -- full of dark humor and hard truths
Buy BRUISED at Indiebound, Barnes and Noble, or Amazon
Using a wide variety of poetic forms – quatrains, ballads, iambic meter, rhyming lists, concrete poetry, tercets and free verse –this debut author tells the story of a nine-year-old boy’s day of fishing. Sibling rivalry, the bond between father and son, the excitement – and difficulty -- of fishing all add up to a day of adventure any child would want to experience.
(I read an ARC of Tamera's book aloud to my kids. It was absolutely delightful! They loved it. As someone who loves poetry and kid's books, this was fantastic. And there's a poetry lesson included!)
Buy GONE FISHING at Indiebound, Barnes and Noble, or Amazon
Sixteen-year-old James Whitman has been yawping (à la Whitman) at his abusive father ever since he kicked his beloved older sister, Jorie, out of the house. James’s painful struggle with anxiety and depression—along with his ongoing quest to understand what led to his self-destructive sister’s exile—make for a heart-rending read, but his wild, exuberant Whitmanization of the world and keen sense of humor keep this emotionally charged debut novel buoyant.
Buy DR BIRD'S ADVICE FOR SAD POETS at Indiebound, Barnes and Noble, or Amazon
Sixteen-year-old Dusty Everhart breaks into houses late at night, but not because she’s a criminal. No, she’s a Nightmare. Literally. Being the only Nightmare at Arkwell Academy, a boarding school for magickind, and living in the shadow of her mother’s infamy, is hard enough. But when Dusty sneaks into Eli Booker’s house, things get a whole lot more complicated. He’s hot, which means sitting on his chest and invading his dreams couldn’t get much more embarrassing. But it does. Eli is dreaming of a murder. Then Eli’s dream comes true.Now Dusty has to follow the clues—both within Eli’s dreams and out of them—to stop the killer before more people turn up dead.
Buy THE NIGHTMARE AFFAIR at Indiebound, Barnes and Noble, or Amazon
And finally, a special request. Most of us think that the time surrounding the debut of your first book to be one of the most joyous moments ever. The dream is really coming true. Well, instead of immersing himself in promotion and enjoying this dream come true, Chad Morris and his wife Shelly have been dealing with some recent news: their nine year old girl has a brain tumor. By the time this blog is posted, she will be recovering from surgery.You can read his blogpost here.
I know the writing community is one of the most supportive in the entire blogosphere. So since Chad and Shelly can't promote his new book, THE INVENTOR'S SECRET, please tweet/FB/spread the word in any way you can.
Hooray for more wonderful books entering the world! And best wishes to Shelly, Chad, and their little one.
Abby and Derick have been accepted to the most prestigious secondary school in the world Cragbridge Hall. Due to the inventions of their grandfather, Oscar Cragbridge, they will be able to experience history in 3D, use their minds to literally project visual interpretations of classic literature, and become animal avatars for zoology. But when their grandfather and parents go missing, Abby and Derick must follow clues Oscar left for them that will reveal a dangerous secret. Along the way, they discover there is much more to one of their grandfather s inventions than anyone has ever dreamed. Saving their family will take all of Derick s mind and Abby's heart as they come face to face with a crazed scientist who desperately seeks to change the past. Buy THE INVENTOR'S SECRET on Indiebound, Barnes and Noble, or Amazon
When Imogen, a sixteen-year-old black belt in Tae Kwon Do, freezes during a holdup at a local diner, the gunman is shot and killed by the police, and she blames herself for his death. Before the shooting, she believed that her black belt made her stronger than everyone else -- more responsible, more capable. But now her sense of self has been challenged and she must rebuild her life, a process that includes redefining her relationship with her family and navigating first love with the boy who was at the diner with her during the shootout. With action, romance, and a complex heroine, Bruised introduces a vibrant new voice to the young adult world -- full of dark humor and hard truthsBuy BRUISED at Indiebound, Barnes and Noble, or Amazon
Using a wide variety of poetic forms – quatrains, ballads, iambic meter, rhyming lists, concrete poetry, tercets and free verse –this debut author tells the story of a nine-year-old boy’s day of fishing. Sibling rivalry, the bond between father and son, the excitement – and difficulty -- of fishing all add up to a day of adventure any child would want to experience. (I read an ARC of Tamera's book aloud to my kids. It was absolutely delightful! They loved it. As someone who loves poetry and kid's books, this was fantastic. And there's a poetry lesson included!)
Buy GONE FISHING at Indiebound, Barnes and Noble, or Amazon
Sixteen-year-old James Whitman has been yawping (à la Whitman) at his abusive father ever since he kicked his beloved older sister, Jorie, out of the house. James’s painful struggle with anxiety and depression—along with his ongoing quest to understand what led to his self-destructive sister’s exile—make for a heart-rending read, but his wild, exuberant Whitmanization of the world and keen sense of humor keep this emotionally charged debut novel buoyant.Buy DR BIRD'S ADVICE FOR SAD POETS at Indiebound, Barnes and Noble, or Amazon
Sixteen-year-old Dusty Everhart breaks into houses late at night, but not because she’s a criminal. No, she’s a Nightmare. Literally. Being the only Nightmare at Arkwell Academy, a boarding school for magickind, and living in the shadow of her mother’s infamy, is hard enough. But when Dusty sneaks into Eli Booker’s house, things get a whole lot more complicated. He’s hot, which means sitting on his chest and invading his dreams couldn’t get much more embarrassing. But it does. Eli is dreaming of a murder. Then Eli’s dream comes true.Now Dusty has to follow the clues—both within Eli’s dreams and out of them—to stop the killer before more people turn up dead. Buy THE NIGHTMARE AFFAIR at Indiebound, Barnes and Noble, or Amazon
And finally, a special request. Most of us think that the time surrounding the debut of your first book to be one of the most joyous moments ever. The dream is really coming true. Well, instead of immersing himself in promotion and enjoying this dream come true, Chad Morris and his wife Shelly have been dealing with some recent news: their nine year old girl has a brain tumor. By the time this blog is posted, she will be recovering from surgery.You can read his blogpost here.
I know the writing community is one of the most supportive in the entire blogosphere. So since Chad and Shelly can't promote his new book, THE INVENTOR'S SECRET, please tweet/FB/spread the word in any way you can.
Hooray for more wonderful books entering the world! And best wishes to Shelly, Chad, and their little one.
February 24, 2013
Medical Mondays: Narcolepsy
You've probably heard of narcolepsy. Who hasn't jokingly labeled themselves as a narcoleptic when excessively tired? (No? Maybe that's just me then.)
Or watched the abundant YouTube offerings of narcoleptic dogs?
Narcolepsy is a real sleep disorder, usually characterized by four things:
1. Cataplexy
2. Hypnogogic hallucinations
3. Sleep paralysis
4. Daytime sleepiness
Cataplexy is emotionally-triggered muscle weakness. It can be only part of the face, or body and often causes a person to collapse.
Hypnogogic hallucinations are vivid hallucinations that happen while falling asleep. They can be visual, sound, or touch hallucinations and occur because of a mix of wakefulness and dreaming during the REM cycle. As you can imagine, they can be quite frightening.
Sleep Paralysis is the inability to move or speak on the first few minutes of waking or just before sleeping. Unlike cataplexy, this isn't triggered by emotions. People often feel like they are suffocating when this occurs.
Daytime sleepiness goes beyond what normal people might have with a little sleep deprivation. People with narcolepsy will often fall asleep at inappropriate times, called "sleep attacks."
How many people have narcolepsy? For every 100,000 people, about 25-50 people have narcolepsy. It tends to show up in the teens and twenties.
What causes it? Rare brain lesions can cause it, but most cases occur because of a loss of two neurotransmitters (the signaling chemicals between brain cells): orexin-A and orexin-B. The orexins promote and stabilize wakefulness and prevent inappropriate entrance into REM sleep. There also may be hereditary factors at play. There is also a debated autoimmune theory as well (body attacking itself in areas that cause narcolepsy).
How do you diagnose it? By symptoms, and by an overnight sleep study (polysomnography) and the Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT).
How do you treat it? By treating non-narcolepsy sleep disorders; using medications that help keep patients awake during the day (stimulants); and REM-suppressing medications (like Effexor, or venlafaxine).
For those who would like more info on narcolepsy, here are some resources:
PubMed Health
WebMd
And for your poor poodle with narcolepsy:
PetMD
As much as narcolepsy is often used as a punchline in the media, I for one am glad I don't have it! It's a waking nightmare, if you ask me.
*****
Medical Mondays is a series intended to help writers with their fictional scenarios. Please check out the boring but necessary disclaimer on my sidebar. :)
Or watched the abundant YouTube offerings of narcoleptic dogs?
Narcolepsy is a real sleep disorder, usually characterized by four things:
1. Cataplexy
2. Hypnogogic hallucinations
3. Sleep paralysis
4. Daytime sleepiness
Cataplexy is emotionally-triggered muscle weakness. It can be only part of the face, or body and often causes a person to collapse.
Hypnogogic hallucinations are vivid hallucinations that happen while falling asleep. They can be visual, sound, or touch hallucinations and occur because of a mix of wakefulness and dreaming during the REM cycle. As you can imagine, they can be quite frightening.
Sleep Paralysis is the inability to move or speak on the first few minutes of waking or just before sleeping. Unlike cataplexy, this isn't triggered by emotions. People often feel like they are suffocating when this occurs.
Daytime sleepiness goes beyond what normal people might have with a little sleep deprivation. People with narcolepsy will often fall asleep at inappropriate times, called "sleep attacks."
How many people have narcolepsy? For every 100,000 people, about 25-50 people have narcolepsy. It tends to show up in the teens and twenties.
What causes it? Rare brain lesions can cause it, but most cases occur because of a loss of two neurotransmitters (the signaling chemicals between brain cells): orexin-A and orexin-B. The orexins promote and stabilize wakefulness and prevent inappropriate entrance into REM sleep. There also may be hereditary factors at play. There is also a debated autoimmune theory as well (body attacking itself in areas that cause narcolepsy).
How do you diagnose it? By symptoms, and by an overnight sleep study (polysomnography) and the Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT).
How do you treat it? By treating non-narcolepsy sleep disorders; using medications that help keep patients awake during the day (stimulants); and REM-suppressing medications (like Effexor, or venlafaxine).
For those who would like more info on narcolepsy, here are some resources:
PubMed Health
WebMd
And for your poor poodle with narcolepsy:
PetMD
As much as narcolepsy is often used as a punchline in the media, I for one am glad I don't have it! It's a waking nightmare, if you ask me.
*****
Medical Mondays is a series intended to help writers with their fictional scenarios. Please check out the boring but necessary disclaimer on my sidebar. :)
February 21, 2013
SNOWMIGOD
This is my new, favorite weather-related exclamation.
I'm having a second snow day at home with the kidlets. Someone posted this on a local weather station and though I Tumbled it, I had to share with you guys too:
Source
Hee hee.
Today, I'm hoping to get some plotting and outlining done. That, and eat too many carbs, because that is always what snow makes me want to do.
What are you guys up to? Do you write well on a snowy day?
I'm having a second snow day at home with the kidlets. Someone posted this on a local weather station and though I Tumbled it, I had to share with you guys too:
SourceHee hee.
Today, I'm hoping to get some plotting and outlining done. That, and eat too many carbs, because that is always what snow makes me want to do.
What are you guys up to? Do you write well on a snowy day?
February 17, 2013
Tumbling into Tumblr
So about two weeks ago, one of my friend Elsie Chapman and I were tweeting about Tumblr. She kinda, sorta dared me to get onto Tumblr, a microblogging site, and I kinda sorta replied,
"Why? Because email/Twitter/Facebook/3 blogs/Website/LinkedIn/forums aren't hacking it as enough social media in my life?"
Ha ha ha.
And then, I stopped laughing. Because I joined Tumblr.
I resisted for so long because I didn't get Tumblr. You reblog other people's content? What for? Aren't I doing enough already? Won't it be too much to keep up with? Amt I too creaky for tumbling? Will it give me a headache? What else could I possibly blog or microblog about that matters? Will this do anything for my platform as a YA sci-fi writer?
So here's what I decided. I joined Tumblr for the following reasons:
1. It's easy. The idea of reblogging other people's content means I can post "new" content on my Tumblr blog without much work. It can be audio, visual, quotes, video, anything. The time commitment is very little. Sometimes with my blog here, it can take hours to write a single blog. Also, I decided that if I'm picking up a new social media site, I'm going to make it super low-key and low-stress. No set schedule, just Tumblr new stuff whenever I feel like it. And it's linked automatically to post to Twitter when I publish anything.
2. It hits a different readership. Right now, The Word is My Oyster is really a blog for writers and the writing blogging community, less so for readers. The Class of 2k13 aims to hit readers, librarians, teachers, and readers, but focuses on the books themselves much of the time. The League of Extraordinary Writers is more a science-fiction writer's blog, but I only post there once a month.
3. It has different content than anything else I do. My tumblr blog is going to be more about getting my geeky science side satisfied.
4. Visiting other people's Tumblr sites is so easy. On the dashboard of my Tumblr, I just scroll down to see new stuff in a flash. And that, in a nut shell, is why Tumblr is so fantastic--it's quick, visually and mentally, for both reader and bloggers.
So if you're on Tumblr, come stop by! My Tumblr blog is called Geekery. :) If you follow me, I'll follow you. :)
http://lydiaykang.tumblr.com/
Have you tumblr'd lately?
"Why? Because email/Twitter/Facebook/3 blogs/Website/LinkedIn/forums aren't hacking it as enough social media in my life?"
Ha ha ha.
And then, I stopped laughing. Because I joined Tumblr.
I resisted for so long because I didn't get Tumblr. You reblog other people's content? What for? Aren't I doing enough already? Won't it be too much to keep up with? Amt I too creaky for tumbling? Will it give me a headache? What else could I possibly blog or microblog about that matters? Will this do anything for my platform as a YA sci-fi writer?
So here's what I decided. I joined Tumblr for the following reasons:
1. It's easy. The idea of reblogging other people's content means I can post "new" content on my Tumblr blog without much work. It can be audio, visual, quotes, video, anything. The time commitment is very little. Sometimes with my blog here, it can take hours to write a single blog. Also, I decided that if I'm picking up a new social media site, I'm going to make it super low-key and low-stress. No set schedule, just Tumblr new stuff whenever I feel like it. And it's linked automatically to post to Twitter when I publish anything.
2. It hits a different readership. Right now, The Word is My Oyster is really a blog for writers and the writing blogging community, less so for readers. The Class of 2k13 aims to hit readers, librarians, teachers, and readers, but focuses on the books themselves much of the time. The League of Extraordinary Writers is more a science-fiction writer's blog, but I only post there once a month.
3. It has different content than anything else I do. My tumblr blog is going to be more about getting my geeky science side satisfied.
4. Visiting other people's Tumblr sites is so easy. On the dashboard of my Tumblr, I just scroll down to see new stuff in a flash. And that, in a nut shell, is why Tumblr is so fantastic--it's quick, visually and mentally, for both reader and bloggers.
So if you're on Tumblr, come stop by! My Tumblr blog is called Geekery. :) If you follow me, I'll follow you. :)
http://lydiaykang.tumblr.com/
Have you tumblr'd lately?
February 13, 2013
Stuff I Love
Hey all! I'm very happy to announce that I've joined the League of Extraordinary Writers, alongside some of my absolute favorite authors. I'm honored and thrilled!
My intro post is on Stuff I Love, so please stop by and have a peek. Thank you, and Happy Valentine's Day!
❤❤❤❤❤
My intro post is on Stuff I Love, so please stop by and have a peek. Thank you, and Happy Valentine's Day!
❤❤❤❤❤
NEWS!!!!!!!
From Publisher's Marketplace
February 13, 2013
Lydia Kang's CATALYST, sequel to CONTROL in which a teen girl in 2151 is forced to align herself with her worst enemies in a safe house that's anything but safe, to Kathy Dawson at Kathy Dawson Books, in a good deal, for publication in Fall 2014, by Eric Myers at The Spieler Agency (World).
This is where I sort of pass out from happiness.
February 13, 2013
Lydia Kang's CATALYST, sequel to CONTROL in which a teen girl in 2151 is forced to align herself with her worst enemies in a safe house that's anything but safe, to Kathy Dawson at Kathy Dawson Books, in a good deal, for publication in Fall 2014, by Eric Myers at The Spieler Agency (World).
This is where I sort of pass out from happiness.
February 10, 2013
Un-Virtualizing Friends
Happy Monday!
So this past weekend I was visiting family and managed to squeeze in a meeting with two amazing authors I've befriended online in the last year.
Look!
On the left is Elisabeth Dahl, author Genie Wishes (coming April 2 by Abrams/Amulet). In the middle is Elle Cosimano, author of Nearly Gone (coming March 2014 by Kathy Dawson Books/Penguin). On the right is a small person being eaten by a shapeless down coat.
Oh wait, that's me.
Random fact: Elisabeth and I attended the same, small high school (different years though) and found out we were both coming out with books this year. Small world, right?
Both of these talented authors have been my online friends for the last year or so, and when I had the chance to meet them in person, I was pretty psyched.
The truth is, I have a lot of online friends--my blog friends, crit partners, other debut authors, and various people in the industry I've met over the last several years, but this is the first time I've met anybody face to face! (Part of this reason is where I live and my constant avoidance of conferences, which will hopefully disappear this year.)
So. Have you "un-virtualized" your online friends? Who? I'd love to know!
So this past weekend I was visiting family and managed to squeeze in a meeting with two amazing authors I've befriended online in the last year.
Look!
On the left is Elisabeth Dahl, author Genie Wishes (coming April 2 by Abrams/Amulet). In the middle is Elle Cosimano, author of Nearly Gone (coming March 2014 by Kathy Dawson Books/Penguin). On the right is a small person being eaten by a shapeless down coat.
Oh wait, that's me.
Random fact: Elisabeth and I attended the same, small high school (different years though) and found out we were both coming out with books this year. Small world, right?
Both of these talented authors have been my online friends for the last year or so, and when I had the chance to meet them in person, I was pretty psyched.
The truth is, I have a lot of online friends--my blog friends, crit partners, other debut authors, and various people in the industry I've met over the last several years, but this is the first time I've met anybody face to face! (Part of this reason is where I live and my constant avoidance of conferences, which will hopefully disappear this year.)
So. Have you "un-virtualized" your online friends? Who? I'd love to know!
February 8, 2013
Playlist for CONTROL
Hey guys! I'm blogging over at The Class of 2k13 on CONTROL's playlist. Check it out if you have a moment. And have a great Friday!
