2015 Writing Life Highlights

Here it is, December 31^st again. The time I look back and review my year-in-writing and see what I want to improve on for the next year. I already know one writing resolution before I even begin to look back—write more! I did write quite a bit in 2015 but it didn’t feel like enough. I have so many started projects sitting on my USB at the moment, screaming to be finished. So that’s #1 for 2016. Stop getting distracted and get back to the writing. All right, let’s see how 2015 shook out.

JANUARY

I’ve ramped up my social media! I’ve been on facebook, twitter, and Pinterest for some time not but I’ve joined Instagram and created an author Facebook page (for just my writerly life stuff). 

FEBRUARY & MARCH

It was COLD! And I spent a good deal of time outlining a freaking awesome idea I had for a YA! And then…I set it aside. SIGH. Refer to the top of page about getting more writing done! I got preoccupied with my middle grade. Which isn’t a bad thing—I love my middle grade books! But I really need to get back to work on that YA because I still love it so.

APRIL

The sale of my middle-grade Cici Reno Knows it All (now titled, Cici Reno #MidleSchoolMatchmaker) to Sterling Children’s was announced in Publisher’s Weekly! *tosses confetti* So flippin’ excited to work with Sterling and awesome editor Brett Duquette. And it’s going to be a series! Whoo hoo! 

MAY

BNTeen Blog features The Espressologist in an article about pairing your fave snacks with your fave books. Too cool!

JUNE & JULY

This was my summer. SO. MUCH. EDITING.  But it is so worth it because the 2016 middle grade is going to be so awesome! I’m jumping out of my skin excited!

AUGUST

Marked the 5^th anniversary of the My Fake Boyfriend is Better Than Yours publication! MFBIBTY was my first middle grade, a bestseller for the Scholastic Book Club and a YALSA Quick Pick. And you can received a free autographed hard cover of it if you pre-order Cici Reno #MiddleSchoolMatchMaker now. Details here. 

SEPTEMBER

A boxset was born. My three ebook-only young adult novels, Just Your Average Princess, Just Your Average Geek, and Just Your Average Celebrity, were combined into one boxset.

OCTOBER

I traveled to Peoria for the Illinois Reads Author Luncheon at the 2015 IRC Conference. The Espressologist was a 2014 Illinois Reads book. Then to the Oswego Literary Festival to sign books and chat with readers.

The Cici Reno #MiddleSchoolMatchmaker arcs also came out!

NOVEMBER

A lot of writing this month. But on something that is totally separate. I’m taking a stab at an adult fiction book. Not sure if I’ll ever do anything with it yet but it’s a fun side project.

DECEMBER

The Espressologist was mentioned again on BNTeen blog in- 6YA Reads for Jane Austen Fans.  Have I mentioned how much I love BNTeen blog?! :-)

And there were a whole lot of final reads on Cici Reno#MiddleSchoolMatchmaker! The final cover came in, the final inside design in place (and it is SO, SO cute!) and everything is ready to go! Cici goes on sale April 19, 2016!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

That's it for 2015. I'm looking forward to the release of Cici in April and a writing-filled 2016! I want to get the second Cici book written (#2 in the Yoga Girl series) and finish that YA book. And then we’ll see what else. :-) Wishing you a happy, healthy, & productive new year!

Pre-Order Cici Reno Now and receive a FREE Book!

My new middle grade novel Cici Reno #MiddleSchoolMatchmaker is available for pre-order! 

If you pre-order a copy between now and the release date of April 19, 2016, I will send you a FREE autographed hard cover copy of my first middle grade novel, My Fake Boyfriend is Better Than Yours! Fake Boyfriend was a Scholastic Bestseller and a YALSA Quick Pick.

Just email me (Kristina@KristinaSpringer.com) some proof of purchase (a pic or screenshot is fine), your mailing address, and if you want your book personalized to you (or someone else) and I’ll pop your free gift in the mail.

Pre-order now from these outlets:

Amazon

B&N

IndieBound

The Espressologist Menioned on BN.Com Teen Blog #Austen #books

How cool! Barnes and Noble's Teen Blog featured The Espressologist this week! "Funny and cute and perfect for reading while you curl up with a nice, hot latté, The Espressologist is an adorable take on Jane Austen’s Emma that’s almost as awesome as the YouTube-ified Emma Approved."

Freebie day! All three Just Your Average Books are a #FREE #deal #today 11/2/15 -11/6/15

Download all three fun young adult books from the Just Your Average line for FREE! Links below:

Just Your Average Princess

Just Your Average Geek

Just Your Average Celebrity

#ArcReveal #CoverReveal Cici Reno #MiddleSchoolMatchmaker

So excited! Just got an advanced copy of Cici Reno #MiddleSchoolMatchmaker! This is the one the publisher sends out to reviewers. It's so so cute! The official hard cover release is in April 2016.

#IllinoisReads, #IRC2015, and #OswegoLitFest

I finally have a minute to sit down and post some pics from last weekend's fun events!

I attended the #IRC2015 conference in PEORIA, IL last Friday. Good thing I stopped to map the directions before I left that morning because I thought I was headed to Springfield, IL. Whoops! This is the third time I've attended this conference and it's always amazing!

This time I was there for the Illinois Reads luncheon. We sat with educators from all over the state and got to chat about our books and writing.

The next day I headed to the Oswego Literary Festival. It was a fun day of meeting loads of other authors and readers.

Above is a pic of me and the super lovely Pauline Gruber​. If you like YA books with dating Chicago-based half-demons and gargoyles (how cool is that?!) check out her stuff! Her books were flying off the table at the fest.

Now back to what is keeping me super busy this week-- the Scholastic Book Fair at my kids' school.

It's one of my favorite volunteering opportunities. I love the book fair!

Appearances this Week

Busy week ahead for appearances! First stop is Springfield, Illinois on Friday (Oct 2nd) for the Illinois Reads Author Luncheon at the 2015 IRC Conference (autographing The Espressologist to follow from 2-3pm). Then on Saturday (Oct 3rd) I'll be at the Oswego Literary Festival from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Oswego Public Library (Oswego, IL) signing Just Your Average Princess and My Fake Boyfriend is Better Than Yours. Hope to see you there!

New Title News!

The first Yoga Girl book has a new title! Cici Reno #MiddleSchoolMatchmaker! And it looks like it's up for pre-order. Release date: April 5, 2016. The cover should be up soon and it's sooooo cute!

#FREE #YA Box Set! 9/23 -9/24

For the first time, my young adult contemporary box set (Just Your Average Princess, Just Your Average Geek, and Just Your Average Celebrity) is FREE! 9/23 and 9/24.

And it's already hit #1 in Top Free Teen and Young Adult Humorous Books (and before two of James Patterson's books?!!!)

Spring 2016 Sneak Previews

It's coming!! Spring 2016 Sneak Previews...

The Espressologist on BN.com

So cool! Barnes & Nobles featured The Espressologist in a post today about snack pairings. Check it out!

Exciting Book News!

I'm sooooooooooo excited to share some GREAT news! I sold a new book!

From Publisher's Weekly:

Brett Duquette at Sterling Children's Books has acquired Cici Reno Knows it All, first in the middle-grade Yoga Girls series by Kristina Springer. It follows a pre-teen yoga enthusiast who helps her best friend get a crush's attention by impersonating her on Twitter, but a friendly favor turns into a social media love triangle. Publication is slated for spring 2016; Andrea Somberg at Harvey Klinger negotiated the deal for world rights.

I love this book so much!! Middle grade readers are the best and ever since writing My Fake Boyfriend is Better than Yours I'd been itching to get back to this wonderful age group. And a series!! I can't believe I'll get to stay in Cici's world longer and write about this kick-butt yoga loving kid.

Many thanks to my wonderful agent Andrea and my new editor Brett! Sterling Children's is a phenomenal publisher and I can't wait to work with them!

Namas'cray

I had to do it. The shirt had to be ordered.

CART PRINCESS ~ read for FREE

Want to try a free sample of my writing? My young adult short story, Cart Princess, is free today. Check it out and leave a review. :-)

GCC Presents, REMEMBER, by Eileen Cook

Eileen Cook is thrilled to announce that her book REMEMBER hits shelves February 24, 2015.

About the Book: A thrilling tale about what a girl will do to get back a memory she lost…or remove what she wants to forget. Harper is used to her family being hounded by protestors. Her father runs the company that trademarked the “Memtex” procedure to wipe away sad memories, and plenty of people think it shouldn’t be legal. Then a new demonstrator crosses her path, Neil, who’s as persistent as he is hot. Not that Harper’s noticing, since she already has a boyfriend. When Harper suffers a loss, she’s shocked her father won’t allow her to get the treatment, so she finds a way to get it without his approval. Soon afterward, she’s plagued with strange symptoms, including hallucinations of a woman who is somehow both a stranger, yet incredibly familiar. Harper begins to wonder if she is delusional, or if these are somehow memories. Together with Neil, who insists he has his own reasons for needing answers about the real dangers of Memtex, Harper begins her search for the truth. What she finds could uproot all she’s ever believed about her life…

“Compelling combination of twisty mystery and realistic romance." (Cat Patrick, author of FORGOTTEN and JUST LIKE FATE)

Interview with Eileen:

Where did the idea for Remember come from? 

I’d read an article about some scientific experiments being done with memory. The scientists were looking for a way to reduce the difficulty war veterans have with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. It occurred to me if people could get rid of very traumatic memories, there would also be a market for people who wanted to get rid of all sorts of memories. I began to wonder what types of things might go wrong once you begin messing around with someone’s memory. It can be relatively easy to confuse what is a real memory from what someone might tell you happened. What if something you were sure was true, suddenly seemed to be uncertain, possibly a lie? Once all these questions were swirling around in my head I knew I had a book- all I had to do is write it!

If the Memtex procedure existed is there any memory you would like to forget?

I think everyone has some memories they would like to forget, but even the difficult ones have shaped who I am so I’d have to hang on to them.

Tell us a behind the scenes story about writing the book. 

I decided that I wanted the main character to ride horses competitively- a subject I know nothing about. I was lucky enough to have two close friends who grew up riding and were able to share all sorts of details and were willing to read early drafts to make sure I had things correct. Now I know more about saddles than I ever expected.

What are you working on now?

It’s a thriller that involves Italy, a possible murder and two best friends who may be enemies. There’s nothing better than writing a book that includes a research trip to Rome, Venice and Tuscany. I ate my weight in pasta, took thousands of pictures and wrote pages and pages of notes.

Thanks for stopping by my blog Eileen! Check out Eileen's contest for Remember here. And pick up a copy of this intriguing read here.