New Website!

That's right, I've moved! Come over and see my beautiful new website, designed by Tessa Elwood, and check out my new blogging digs on Tumblr (linked to as "Blog" from my website). I'm excited about this new format and feel it's a better fit for my personality.

Here it is:
www.kathrynpurdie.com 

Adios, Blogger!

(I will keep this blog up for archival purposes, however.)

Another Title Change!

Just to keep things interesting--and more importantly, to ensure my book has the best marketing possible--my publisher has changed my title once more. Now it's BURNING GLASS, and I'm 99.9% sure it's here to stay. :-)

I absolutely love the new title! It's dark, atmospheric, and moody. I love the beautiful sound of those words together and the many layers of symbolism they invoke. BURNING GLASS perfectly describes Sonya's inner and outer journey. I can't wait to see the cover design in the near future!

In other news, I'm in the works with a developer to build an awesome new website I'll be sharing with you soon, and today I'm finishing the last tweaks of content edits for BURNING GLASS, then I'll be diving into copy edits over the next few weeks. Before I know it, advanced reader copies will be available! I'm also hard at work revamping my book two synopsis and fleshing out new and exciting conflict for Sonya to encounter. By April, I'll start drafting her continuing story. Never a dull moment!

Stay tuned!

New Book Name and More

January is almost over (hallelujah), and so much has happened since my last blog post! Auraseer has a new name, The Seer's Curse, and my series will now be called Riaznin Rising. I love these names because they're specific and evocative. If you haven't added The Seer's Curse to Goodreads, do it now!

I've been busy revising with my fantastic editor, Maria Barbo, at Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins, and I couldn't be in better hands. Having a book release in a year means a lot of work--and quickly--and I've never worked harder (a 3:00 a.m. bedtime has become the norm). But before I know it, all of this effort will transform itself into a shiny new book to share with all of you. I can't wait!

In other news, my Christmas decorations are still up, my house needs a good deep-cleaning, my husband's high school theatrical production opens in less than a week, and I may or may not have consumed one too many chocolates in the last month. But I did exercise for the first time in, oh, a decade this morning, so there is hope for me.

Here are a few pics of my recent happenings:

The one day I took off revising was to celebrate with my friend, Sara B. Larson, at her launch party for IGNITE. Here we are with Erin Summerill, making for a tasty Adams Literary client sandwich.

 

Signing my contract for the Riaznin Rising series. A momentous occasion!

Round one of editorial revisions completed!

Christmas trees are still pretty at the end of January...right?

Merry Christmas Song

Merry Christmas! As my gift to you, here is one of my favorite holiday songs that I sang as a child.

Book Deal for Auraseer!

Several years ago, while in recovery from donating a kidney to my older brother, I had the crazy idea to write a story. Little did I know what wonderful madness I'd gotten myself into! Four manuscripts, two agents, and hundreds of setbacks and milestones later, I am thrilled to announce that AURASEER, my young adult fantasy trilogy, will be published by Katherine Tegen Books of HarperCollins in Winter 2016!

Sonya, my main character, is a loose cannon with a very good heart—which gets her into lots of trouble! She manifests other peoples' emotions, a not-so-fun ability to have when in the service of a volatile emperor and also entangled with his rebellious younger brother. Romance, intrigue, and incredibly high stakes abound in this fantastical world similar to imperial Russia.

I can't tell you how much fun I had writing this story!

Many heartfelt thanks go to my critique partners, my champion husband, my ninja agent, Josh Adams, and the team at Adams Literary for their guidance and fierce belief in me. Thanks also to my lovely editor, Maria Barbo, and everyone at Katherine Tegen Books who have given me such a warm and enthusiastic welcome.

If you'd like to learn a little more about AURASEER, click here for a recent blog post and here to listen to a song I wrote for the story.

Here's the official announcement from Publishers Weekly:

In case that print's too tiny for you, here ya go:


Maria Barbo at HarperCollins has acquired debut author Kathryn Purdie's Auraseer trilogy, about a 17-year-old girl who is obliged to use her gift for feeling – and absorbing – the emotions of others to protect her nation's emperor from harm. Publication of book one, Auraseer, is scheduled for winter 2016; Josh Adams at Adams Literary did the three-book deal for world rights.

And here's my announcement in Publisher's Marketplace:

 

UPDATE: Auraseer is now on Goodreads! Add it to your "Want to Read" list.

Update 1/9/15: Auraseer has a new name--The Seer's Curse--book one of Riaznin Rising.

Update 2/25/15: Another title change! My book will officially be called BURNING GLASS.

Now excuse me while I do an epic and celebratory happy dance!

Doubt-Proof Writing

I'm on the Thinking Through Our Fingers blog today chatting about doubt-proof writing. Come and visit!

Song for Anton

In my ongoing tradition to write a song for each one of my stories, here is my latest song for my latest story, AURASEER. The song is sung from my main character Sonya's point of view. She is empathic and her words here are for the prince of Riaznin, Anton Ozerov. I'll leave the rest to your imagination! :-) Also, the thumbnail image of me singing below cracks me up. I look like I'm in pain!

Update: For some reason this video doesn't view in Safe Mode on YouTube. Don't ask me why, there's nothing offensive in it! To disable Safe Mode, scroll down to the bottom of any page on YouTube and click on the "Safety" button, where you can change your preferences.

SONG FOR ANTON

I feel your pain before you cry,
I feel the wind before you sigh,
So breathe and believe in my heart,
You and me were meant to be from the start.

So don't leave me hanging by a thread,
Don't leave me caught on words unsaid,
Beyond the veil of rain is a blue sky,
where Love can dare to hope and never die.

I feel before stir before you rise,
I taste your lips before you close your eyes,
So don't be afraid when they are watching,
They are blind. They are wrong. They are not me.

So don't leave me hanging by a thread,
Don't leave me caught on words unsaid,
Beyond the veil of rain is a blue sky,
where Love can dare to hope and never die.

My fingers tremble before you're cold,
I feel your secrets before they're told,
So open the door and throw away the key,
Just trust in the truth of you and me.

Beyond the veil of rain is a blue sky,
Where Love can dare to hope and never die.