2016 Writing Life Highlights

It's December 31st again and for the last 8 years I pop over to my blog and sum up my writing life for the past year, month by month. I'm feeling a bit lazy today so I'm going to sum it up in pictures. :-) It's been a great year. My middle grade novel, Cici Reno #MiddleSchoolMatchmaker came out and received rave reviews across the board. I attended conferences, signings, and school visits. And I wrote so, so much this year. My resolution last year was to write more and I sure did. I didn't add up the words but I completed three full books and wrote three partial books. That's pretty awesome for me! I hope you've had a wonderfully productive year as well! Happy New Year!

Until next year...

6 Signings This Weekend in Illinois! Come see me!

This weekend, June 10th-June 12th is the first ever B-Fest at Barnes & Nobles across the country! So cool! I'll be chatting and signing (and participating in a panel) at 6 different times/locations. If you're nearby one, please come see me!

Tween You & Me Giveaway

Visit Tween You & Me to enter a giveaway of Cici Reno #MiddleSchoolMatchmaker and read our interview!

Cici Reno is Top Pick

Cici Reno ‪#‎MiddleSchoolMatchmaker‬ is a "Top Pick" at Night Owl Reviews!

"Cici is the one with all the answers! When her friends have issues it’s her they go to. So when her friend Aggie comes back from a trip with two new friend’s boys won't leave her alone. So it’s Cici to the rescue. In this short very cute story readers will find that sometimes you fall for the wrong person and well you can't help who you fall for. It’s a very cute story to introduce readers to contemporary writing.

Go Into This One Knowing: This book is cute and contemporary."

Cici Reno #MiddleSchoolMatchmaker Online Launch Party!!

Today’s the day! Cici Reno #MiddleSchoolMatchmaker is out in the world and to celebrate I’m giving away awesome prizes ALL DAY on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! You can enter one or all! Keep reading for pictures of the prizes and instructions. 

On Facebook all day (Prize Pack #1):

Prize Pack #1 includes: Lauren Conrad Yoga-themed Wear & Share Necklaces, Hashtag Post-it Note Pad, Yoobi Gel Pens, Yoga Girl Zipper Pull, Luxe Watercolor Temporary Tattoo Sheets, Funky Fingers Nail Polish, and Cici Reno #MiddleSchoolMatchmaker Bookmark

Rules: Like, comment, or share (or do all three for three entries!) to enter. Entrants will be assigned a number and winner will be randomly chosen at conclusion of contest. Open to US participants only. Contest concludes at 11pm central, 4/19/16. Winner will be contacted via Facebook 4/20/16. Announced on Facebook after winner response.

On Twitter at 8am (Prize Pack #2):

Prize Pack #2 includes: Lauren Conrad Wear & Share Necklaces, Hashtag Post-it Note Pad, Yoobi Gel Pens, Yoga Girl Zipper Pull, Luxe Metallic Jewelry Temporary Tattoo Sheets, Funky Fingers Nail Polish, and Cici Reno #MiddleSchoolMatchmaker Bookmark

On Twitter at noon (Prize Pack #3):

Prize Pack #3 includes: Lauren Conrad Yoga-themed Wear & Share Necklaces, Hashtag Post-it Note Pad, Yoobi Gel Pens, Yoga Girl Zipper Pull, Luxe Watercolor Temporary Tattoo Sheets, Funky Fingers Nail Polish, and Cici Reno #MiddleSchoolMatchmaker Bookmark

On Twitter at 4pm (Prize Pack #4):

Prize pack #4 includes: Lauren Conrad Wear & Share Necklaces, Hashtag Post-it Note Pad, Yoobi Gel Pens, Yoga Girl Zipper Pull, On the Verge Temporary Tattoo Sheets, and Cici Reno #MiddleSchoolMatchmaker Bookmark

Rules: Retweet to enter. Entrants will be assigned a number and winner will be randomly chosen at conclusion of contest (End times for Prize Pack #2: noon, Prize Pack #3: 4pm, and Prize Pack #4: 8pm central, 4/19/16). Open to US participants only. Winners will be contacted via Twitter on 4/19/16. Announced on Twitter after winners’ responses.

On Instagram all day (Prize Pack #5):

Prize pack #5 includes: Lauren Conrad Wear & Share Necklaces, Hashtag Post-it Note Pad, Yoobi Gel Pens, Yoga Girl Zipper Pull, Luxe Metallic Jewelry Temporary Tattoo Sheets, Glitter Nail Polish, and Cici Reno #MiddleSchoolMatchmaker Bookmark

Rules: Like, comment, or share (or do all three for three entries!) to enter. Entrants will be assigned a number and winner will be randomly chosen at conclusion of contest. Open to US participants only. Contest concludes at 11pm central, 4/19/16. Winner will be contacted via direct message on Instagram on 4/20/16. Announced on Instagram after winner response.

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Thanks for helping me celebrate the release of Cici Reno #MiddleSchoolMatchmaker! And don’t forget to check out Cici Reno at any of these outlets:

B&N 

Amazon

Indiebound

Cici Reno #MiddleSchoolMatchMaker Blog Tour!

I'm visiting a lot of book blogger web sites for the next few weeks with fun interviews and guest blog posts. Check them out!

4/19- Always in the Middle

4/19-YayOMG

4/20- Tales Between the Pages

4/21- Tween You and Me

4/22- Teach Mentor Texts

4/25- Librarians Quest

4/26- Cassandra M's Place

4/27- Reviews Coming at YA

4/27- The Mixed Up Files of Middle Grade Authors

4/28- Smack Dab in the Middle

4/29- All the Wonders

5/2- Literary Hoots

5/3- Diapers and Daydreams

5/4- Insatiable Readers

5/5- Kid Lit Reviews

5/6- Unleashing Readers

Cici Reno #MiddleSchoolMatchmaker releases today!

“Middle school is a test, but Cici Reno has all the answers. She's the go-to girl for advice. She's cool, she's funny, and she's enlightened (thanks to yoga classes at her mom's studio). So when her pretty BFF, Aggie, is too shy to speak to the boy she's crushing on, Cici goes online and does the talking for her. The only problem is, Cici starts to fall for the guy herself! For the first time in her life. she doesn't have a clue.”

“Interspersed with Twitter feeds and yoga poses, this clever twist on Cyrano de Bergerac will win over the hearts of middle-schoolers, particularly those feeling shy or awkward themselves, as well as reluctant readers.” –Booklist

“A surprisingly successful, suspenseful, and engrossing take on the Cyrano story with a contemporary twist.”—Kirkus

Find Cici Reno #MiddleSchoolMatchmaker at any of these outlets:

B&N

Amazon 

Indiebound

Great Review of Cici Reno #MiddleSchoolMatchmaker

Here's a really nice review from Mom Read It:

"Cici Reno is a fun intro to crush and romantic fiction for tweens, and a sneaky/smart way to introduce the classic tale, Cyrano de Bergerac, to middle schoolers. It’s a classic tale of miscommunication that fits perfectly with today’s kids, who largely interact online. I also love the introduction and description to various yoga poses, and the mental/emotional benefits of each, that Cici Tweets out at the beginning of each chapter. Not only does it gives readers a clue as to what’s going to happen in the upcoming chapter, it offers a little bit of yoga instruction that I appreciate and hope tweens will take the bait and discover on their own.

Cici is a likable character. She’s not a mean girl; she’s not vapid; she’s a realistic tween who does a favor for her shy friend, with the best of intentions, and finds herself stuck in a situation she didn’t expect. Aggie is a surprisingly supportive best friend; I normally find myself irritated with the classic “best friend breakdown” formula that many books fall into, but Cici and Aggie avoided all that by simply talking things out. Thank you for that, Ms. Springer! It’s going to be a talking point when I booktalk this one, because I will be adding this to my shelves for summer reading. I think the use of social media and miscommunication will fit nicely with my tweens, and it gives me a great jumping off point for a discussion on how you can pretend to be someone else online – and, in classic devil’s advocate mode, how someone shy and/or introverted can use social media to interact more comfortably than he or she would feel in person."

Online Launch Party TOMORROW!

Cici Reno ‪#‎MiddleSchoolMatchMaker‬ releases TOMORROW! Check back on 4/19 for the all-day online launch party. Cici Reno-themed prizes given out all day on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Cici Reno & My Kids

One of the exciting parts of my new book coming out for me has been my kids (ages 7, 9, 11, & 13) reaction. This is the first of my books where they are actually interested! They were usually too small to care with previous books or the content was too mature for their age level. They've asked me to read  a couple of chapters of Cici Reno to them every night and they get so into it. It's fun to hear where they giggle and what parts make them gasp. And with this book there's a strong yoga angle-- the main character Cici tweets at the beginning of each chapter with a yoga pose and what it benefits. Each time I read that part to the kids they jump up and try out the pose. We've just finished reading the whole book and it's been so much fun!

Here they are in Warrior Pose.

One Week Until Cici Reno #MiddleSchoolMatchMaker Releases!

ONE WEEK until Cici Reno #MiddleSchoolMatchMaker releases! Check back on 4/19 for the all-day online launch party. Cici Reno-themed prizes given out all day on Facebook, Twitter , and Instagram . Or check back HERE on the blog!

2 Weeks Until Release!

Two Months Until Cici Reno Releases! Plus Booklist Review!

Two months from today Cici Reno #MiddleSchoolMatchmaker releases! Plus, another great review is in. This one from Booklist!

Head to #Goodreads to Win one of 10 ARCs of Cici Reno #MiddleSchoolMatchmaker!

Head over to Goodreads for a chance to win one of 10 advanced copies of Cici Reno #MiddleSchoolMatchmaker!

Three Months Until Cici Reno #MiddleSchoolMatchmaker Release!

In just three short months the first Cici Reno book will be out! The first review from Kirkus came in and it's awesome! They said,

"Told with a female protagonist, Springer’s shrewd update of the Cyrano de Bergerac story uses it as the perfect prism for middle school girls, demonstrating how hitting puberty at different times can affect social status, love relationships, and friendship."

"For a light, rather humorous novel, it’s a surprisingly potent theme, and it also brings up an interesting point: how these bodily changes are hard on the girls who develop early as well as on the ones who develop later."

"A surprisingly successful, suspenseful, and engrossing take on the Cyrano story with a contemporary twist."

Cici Reno also made her debut at ALA Midwinter in Boston this past weekend. The book was mentioned at the #ReadNRave and here in the Midwinter Read 'n Rave Report.

And Sterling gave away so many advanced copies at their booth! Too cool!

Remember, you can pre-order Cici Reno #MiddleSchoolMatchMaker anytime before the release date (April 19th) and I'll send you free gift!

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

#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.