CARRIED HOME IS PUBLISHED

Hey everyone!!! Just a quick, friendly blog post to let you know that:

CARRIED HOME IS PUBLISHED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm SO EXCITED, GUYS!!!!!


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WRJO0JY/


Doesn't it look so pretty on Amazon??

CARRIED HOME COVER REVEAL

I am pleased to say that I have revealed the cover art for Carried Home, sequel to Swept to Sea, which will be released and ready for you to read APRIL 28TH! I am so excited!

Here it is!

About the book: 

   The Caribbean is no place for a society lady of London, yet after a daring quest to save a friend, Lady Ivy Shaw finds herself trapped far from home.  Now, driven with worry for her young brother, she is determined to return to England in all haste. So, when a new acquaintance offers to sail her to her brother’s side, she jumps at the offer, scarcely caring that the man is a privateer.

   Captain Gage Thompson is just learning how to be a captain.  He sailed for years under the command of his longtime friend, Caspian Archer, but serving a captain and being a captain are, as he soon discovers, two very different roles. While struggling to gain the respect of his newfound crew, he now faces the distraction of beautiful Lady Shaw.  He finds himself entranced by her and promises to give her passage home.

   After a brief stop in Port Royal, Ivy and Gage discover an abandoned child. They both decide to bring her with them on their voyage to England. But problems soon arise in the form of hurricanes and enemy pirates, and Ivy and Gage find themselves scrambling to not only care for a lonely child, but also gain command of a motley crew.  

   Will love bud between Ivy and Gage as they journey home?

Here's my two babies side by side. Eden and Ivy!

Win a Signed Copy of Swept to Sea

Say Happy New Years to yourself when you win a signed print copy of Swept to Sea!

My friend Jessica interviewed me on her blog and is giving away a signed copy of my book. How neat is that?
To enter, please head over to her blog or enter right below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Catch Up Friday: TV, Book Signings, Contract, Oh My!

I have been ridiculously busy for a long time, and I am sorry to have neglected this blog!

Here's a little bit of what I have been up to:

1. I dressed as a black and white Audrey Hepburn for Halloween.

2. I signed a book contract with my publisher for Carried Home, sequel to Swept to Sea.

3. I was Dorothy in my school's skit of Wizard of Oz.

4. I was on TV.

(Watch Heather Manning's Report on Fox 4 News.)

5. I met Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

(If you live in the area, go see this amazing show at the Coterie Theatre!)

6. I will be signing copies of Swept to Sea at  the Woodneath Library Center. 
Stop by and get a signed copy of Swept to Sea for yourself and for a Christmas gift!

Catch Up Friday: Disney, TV Interview, and Book Sale!

Happy Halloween! Are you doing anything special today?
I am dressing up for Halloween...my yearbook staff is sponsoring a costume contest which I am excited for! I'll post pictures of my costume at some point.

So...I have been incredibly busy lately.

Last week, I got to go to Disney World, which was awesome. I went to all four parks and had an awesome time.

Me and Gaston!

At the 1950's Prime Time Cafe!

I also want to tell you that my TV feature for Fox Four's Reaching for Excellence award will air THIS Wednesday, November 5th at 9:00 PM. It will also re-air several times after that, and I will be sure to post the link for you to see it. 

Finally, yet equally important, I wanted to tell you that Swept to Sea is CURRENTLY ONLY 99 cents! So if you buy it right now you would be saving $3. Sounds like a deal to me! 

So, please consider purchasing Swept to Sea during this limited time if you have not already and sharing the deal with your friends. As I am writing this, Swept to Sea has reached number 38 on the Amazon Bestseller list! Let's see how far we can make it go!

TV Interviews and Book Signings!

Hey everyone! I am so sorry that I have neglected the blog lately, but I am here to tell you what has kept me so busy.
Last week, local news station Fox 4 News came to interview me. This was part of their Reaching For Excellence Award. I had an absolutely great time and can't wait for it to air in a few weeks. I will post a link when they put it online as well.

Here they were filming me talking to the yearbook staff.

Also, I was part of the Maranatha Book Fest this weekend. This was really fun for me, since I love doing author events. I signed copies of Swept to Sea and also spoke to a group there about what it is like being a teenage published author. I also gave advice for writers who are starting out. I love doing events like these and hope to do more in the near future.

At my table at the Book Fest. 

Speaking to the group. They asked some great questions!

And finally, I have something pretty awesome for you. The extremely talented Monica over at Novel Characters illustrated some of my reader's favorite scene from Swept to Sea!

Make sure you stop by her blog and tell her how amazing the artwork is, but until then, I will share it with you here. Please stop over and look at her blog too, though. :)

Which Character from Swept to Sea are You?

Hey everyone!

This is soooo much fun...I made this quiz and the response has been pretty good. So now, I want you to take this quiz and tell me and your friends which character you get! I got Eden.

Catch-Up Friday: A Little Library!

Have you heard of "little free libraries"?

I first heard of them when a kid in a city near me created one in his front yard. He had a box outside to serve as the library, and the rules were simple: take a book, leave a book.

I simply love this concept, so I was really happy to hear that an area near me created their own Little Library. 

So, what did I do this week? I dropped Swept to Sea off at my local little library, of course! I hope it goes to a good home. 

Besides that, this week I began editing "Carried Home," my sequel to "Swept to Sea"!

I really like editing so I am happy about that. What have you been up to this week?

Book Monday: Notes on Swept to Sea

I didn't get a chance to write a review for you today because all of last week I was reading my own Swept to Sea.


Now, I know that could sound weird. Why would I be reading my own book? Well, I was reading it to take notes. See, I don't want to mess anything up in the sequel! So, I went through the entire book and took notes on the characteristics and traits and statements of the main characters in the next book, Ivy and Gage.

Today I will give you some of the notes I took! I thought it would be fun for you to see how I'm doing this.

Ivy

• cares about Rutger's status as earl.
• is the "mother" of the trio
• likes to weigh possibilities before acting
• face turns red when she lies
• very prone to seasickness
• has reoccurring nightmares

Gage

• uses slang like "cap'n."
• always has something to be joyful for
• reliable
• likes to joke
• likes to talk
• sometimes feels like an idiot around women

These are just some notes I took. If you have read Swept to Sea, what did you think of these characters?

Catch Up Friday: Signed Copies of Swept to Sea Are Available and I Am Expanding My Street Team!

Hey everyone! I am super excited to tell you that I am now offering signed copies of Swept to Sea.

These will cost $18...this includes shipping, handling, and envelope cost.

I am really excited for this! To learn more about this, click the tab at the top of this page or look here.

Second, I am expanding my street team and I want you to join!



What will you do?
As a member of my street team, you will be asked to do (at least) three of these things every six months: write a review of my book, share reviews of my book, write a blog post related to my book, interview me on a blog, share statuses, create statuses, talk to friends about my book, or hand out postcards. These are just some suggestions. There are many more things you could do.

What will you get in return?
You get to be a member of my elite team, "Heather's Book Lubbers." You will get to read some things before anybody else does, be the first to know new things related to my writing, and be part of a fun community. Also, those who complete their three tasks after six months will be entered to win a prize. Some of these include: a signed paperback of Swept to Sea, gift cards, or other books.

How do you join?
Comment here or email me at heathermanningauthor@gmail.com ! I would love for more people to join.

Catch-Up Saturday: I'm going to be on TV!

So I may or may not have repeatedly forgotten that yesterday was Friday. I guess that's what happens when it is summer. ;)

Anyway, here's what I have been up to this week.

First of all, I finished my first draft of Carried Home, the sequel to Swept to Sea. Now, I am going to let that sit for four weeks before I start editing it.

Currently, I am reading through Swept to Sea and taking notes to make sure I didn't mix anything up while writing the sequel .

But, besides, this, I have HUGE news! I recently discovered that on Monday, I will be interviewed on local TV show Kansas City Live! So, if you are in the area, tune in to channel 41 from 10-11 AM and see me! I absolutely cannot wait.

Catch-Up Friday: A Week of Writing

Hello, everyone!
Sorry about not having a post up yesterday.
What have I been doing this week?

On Sunday I went to a Tony Awards viewing party at a local theatre and had a lot of fun. (Except for when I missed the opening number because somebody very rudely changed the channel to The Simpsons. Yes, The Simpsons. Note to whoever did that: I don't like you. At all. Okay? Okay)

Anyway, I have been writing. A lot. I hit 70 thousand words the other day in Carried Home, Swept to Sea's sequel and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. That book is almost done! If I have time to write, I am hoping that my first draft will be done within a week or so. Then, I will take a break (no matter how much I don't want to!) from that project, do some reading, maybe start on the third book (yikes! That's scary but exciting to think about!) but then after a few weeks I will start up on the editing. Believe it or not, editing is one of my favorite parts of the writing process.

What else have I been doing? Well, yesterday I found out that I won tickets to see the new movie Jersey Boys. If you aren't familiar with the movie, it was directed by Clint Eastwood. It was a film adaptation of the musical Jersey Boys, and it follows the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. It shows how they formed, their success, their breakup, and after their breakup. 

I went to the special pre-screening viewing last night, and I really loved the show! I didn't to expect to enjoy it as much as I did, but it was really good.

So, what have you been up to? What do you think of a movie being made of the musical Jersey Boys? 

Book Monday: Fair Play Review

Hello everyone!
*FIRST OF ALL*
I wanted to let you know I have a Facebook Party scheduled to celebrate Swept to Sea's Six Month Anniversary!
It is tomorrow night and you are all invited! There will be prizes, giveaways, and fun, so don't miss it.
Also, I'll ask everyone who told them about the party. Whoever's name gets mentioned the most gets a prize, so be sure to invite your friends.
You can join here.

Deeanne Gist and I. :)

While I was in New Orleans, I met the fabulous Deeanne Gist!
 I had met her last year, but is was great to be able to see her again. She also did a really cool workshop explaining how book covers are made.
Anyway, on the plane ride I was reading her latest release, Fair Play, which is what I am going to review for you today.
About the Book:

"From the bestselling author of It Happened at the Fair comes a historical love story about a lady doctor and a Texas Ranger who meet at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.
Saddled with a man’s name, the captivating Billy Jack Tate makes no apologies for taking on a man’s profession. As a doctor at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, she is one step closer to having her very own medical practice—until Hunter Scott asks her to give it all up to become his wife.
Hunter is one of the elite. A Texas Ranger and World’s Fair guard specifically chosen for his height, physique, character, and skill. Hailed as the toughest man west of any place east, he has no patience for big cities and women who think they belong anywhere but home…
Despite their difference of opinion on the role of women, Hunter and Billy find a growing attraction between them—until Hunter discovers an abandoned baby in the corner of a White City exhibit. He and Billy team up to make sure this foundling isn’t left in the slums of Chicago with only the flea-riddled, garbage-infested streets for a playground. As they fight for the underprivileged children in the Nineteenth Ward, an entire Playground Movement is birthed. But when the Fair comes to an end, one of them will have to give up their dream.
Will Billy exchange her doctor’s shingle for the domesticated role of a southern wife, or will Hunter abandon the wide open spaces of home for a life in the “gray city,” a woman who insists on being the wage earner, and a group of ragamuffins who need more than a playground for breathing space?"

My Thoughts:

The Idea:

I expected nothing less from a Deeanne Gist Book. I have read all of her novels and plan to always do so. she is up there with my other two favorite authors: Mary Connealy and MaryLu Tyndall. These three have been my favorites ever since I discovered this genre.

Now, about the book. 

I. Loved. Everything. About. This. Book. First of all, look at the cover. It is breathtaking. 

Now, on to the idea. This is about a female doctor working at the Chicago World's Fair in a time where female doctors rarely existed. Also, it just so happens that she has a male name. Billy Jack Tate. Hunter is a Texas Ranger working as a guard at the fair. Eventually, they must work together when they find an abandoned baby. They work to create a playground in West Side Chicago for the less fortunate children that live there. 

The Characters:

 THEY WERE AWESOME. Billy Jack Tate is a female doctor struggling to keep her business running. Hunter Scott is a Texas Ranger working as a guard at the World's Fair. He was charming. She was talented. I loved them together.

The Plot:
Okay. Some parts of this book were incredibly sad and I just wasn't quite prepared for it. But I won't give them away. Just don't expect all fun swinging on swings like the cover shows.
But the plot was incredible. I think I read it in record time.
The Setting:
At the Chicago World's Fair! I loved it. Dee really researches alllll of her history and includes so much in her writing.
Overall:
This was a fantastic book. I will put it on my "favorites" shelf forever.

About the Author:
Deeanne Gist—known to her family, friends, and fans as Dee—has rocketed up bestseller lists and captured readers everywhere with her very fun, very original historicals. She has received numerous RITA nominations, two consecutive Christy Awards, and rave reviews. Deeanne has a background in education and journalism and a degree from Texas A&M. She has written for People,Parents, and Parenting. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and has four grown children. She has a very active online community on her website at IWantHerBook.com and at Facebook.com/DeesFriends.

Catch-Up Friday: GIVEAWAY

Hey everyone!
In case you were wondering, last weekend's performances went very, very well. Some of my friends got to come and see me in action so that was pretty cool!

What have I been up to this week? I've been editing my play and a shorter piece. I need to hand these in on Sunday for them to be considered for my Coterie Playwriting Group. I have also continued working on Carried Home, Swept to Sea's sequel.

Did you know that Swept to Sea is now available in PRINT?!?!?!?!??! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, what have you been doing?

Now, here's my big surprise....the FIRST EVER giveaway on my blog!

Enter to win an e-copy (PDF) of Swept to Sea! (This can be easily converted to go onto whatever reading device you want.) Second Place gets a signed magnet. :)

*The magnet offer is only for US Citizens because of shipping costs, but I will gladly award an out-of-country winner with the ecopy of the book*

Let me know if you have any questions, and please share with friends!!!!!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

SWEPT TO SEA IS AVAILABLE IN PRINT

Hey everyone!!!!!!!!
Just today I found out that Swept to Sea is now available in PRINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am super excited!!!!!!

You can get your copy here on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Swept-Sea-Heather-Manning/dp/1497483638/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

Writing Friday: New Reviews

Happy Friday, everyone!

I am very excited for the weekend. I'll be attending a local writer's group and my playwright roundtable.

Plus, I have some news!

This week, Swept to Sea got a few new reviews! Here's what some people are saying:


"Swept to Sea is a very impressive debut by my friend and teen author, Heather Manning. Swept to Sea is an action-packed, high seas, romantic adventure...I hope to see Swept to Sea in paperback one day, because it would have a permanent spot on my bookshelf. I recommend Swept to Sea for any pirate loving, action fan, romance junkie reader." Read the full review on the Literary & Lace blog. 

"I told this to Heather and I'll say it here: reading "Swept to Sea," to me, felt like I was reading a Disney Pixar/Disney Princess movie. That was a good thing!...I liked how the book was written, what with its accurate period-references and jargon and descriptions. You felt like you were in 17th century London/Caribbean." Read the full review on the Get it Write Tonight blog.

"Did not want to put it down at night. Excellent job!!" Read the full review on Amazon.

These are just three among many! Swept to Sea has 23 four- and five-star reviews on Amazon.

Plus, you can still get Swept to Sea from Smashwords for 50% off using the code: REW50
Please tell everyone you know!

Swept to Sea News

Hey everyone!

I have some fun news for you today!

First of all, you can purchase Swept to Sea for 50% off THIS WEEK ONLY on Smashwords using the code: REW50
Please spread the word to your friends and family!

Second, I wanted to tell you that Swept to Sea is on the Amazon Bestseller list again!

Today it is spending its 50th day on that list!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much to everyone who has helped me get there. I appreciate all of you!

Writing Friday: I Have a Street Team!

It's already Friday and I've had a couple of snow days this week. I would say that makes it a pretty good week.


Also, I thought I would announce that I have a street team! I am pretty excited about that. It is basically a group of about 20 people who were awesome enough to agree to help me out with promoting my book. Every six months, they must do three things from a list I created to help me, and in return, every six months, I will give away a prize for them.


They even have a pretty button just for them that I created:

Would you like to become a member of the street team? Let me know! 

Writing Friday: Two Interviews

Hello!
First of all, as I am writing this on Thursday night, Swept to Sea is on the Bestseller List for the 9th day at number 75. I am so excited and can't thank you enough.

For today, I am going to share two interviews with you.

First of all, to find out a secret about me no one else knows, visit the "What's Beyond Forks?" blog by clicking here.


Now, to see the top five things on my bucket list, visit this blog.


Enjoy! If you have time, leave a comment on those sites, please. :) I would love to chat with you!

Writing Friday: The Busy Schedule of a New Author

Hello, everyone!
I just wanted to let you know that I have a pretty busy schedule right now so I am very sorry if I accidentally skip a few posts.

Today I wanted to share some links with you.

My guest blog post is up on the USA Today book blog, where I talk about the life of a teenage author.



I also have an interview on the Covers and Ink blog.



Finally, I have another interview on the Backing Books blog.

I have more events planned for the future, so be sure to keep checking back!

Do you not have your copy of Swept to Sea yet?
find Swept to Sea on Amazon!