Offkey

Looking Forward: Don't Breathe a Word

2012-01-02T12:53:00.000-06:00

To DON'T BREATHE A WORD by Holly Cupala. Coming out tomorrow, January 3rd!

Check it out on Goodreads: Don't Breathe a Word.

What books are you looking forward to?

<3 Cayla

You Could Win a Copy of ALLEGIANCE

2011-12-21T13:17:00.001-06:00

Hi all! I'm done with my first semester of college and I'm home at last for Christmas break. To commemorate this bit of awesomeness, I have news that is even more awesome.

I was invited by Asher of Paranormal Indulgence to participate in Dog-Eared & Bookmarked's 25 Days of Jubilation event. This Friday (the 23rd), Steldor will compete with other young adult heroes/anti-heroes to be transferred from Santa's naughty list to his nice list. Only one character will succeed, and its up to readers who that character will be.

If Steldor wins, his supporters will be entered into a pool to win a free copy of Legacy, and an advance copy of Allegiance!

Obviously, I would love for Steldor to have a shot at getting something other than coal in his stocking this year. But more importantly, I would LOVE for one of you to receive an advance copy of Allegiance!

Watch for the link on my Twitter and Facebook on Friday the 23rd, and let's get out the vote! :)

<3 Cayla

I'm a Gryffindor!

2011-11-29T13:40:00.000-06:00

Just took this test (clicky clicky linky linky), and it turns out I'm pretty badass.

The sorting hat says that I belong in Gryffindor!

Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those with brave deeds to their name."

Students of Gryffindor are typically brave, daring, and chivalrous.
Famous members include Harry, Ron, Hermione, Albus Dumbledore (head of Hogwarts), and Minerva McGonagall (head of Gryffindor).

Take the most scientific Harry Potter
Quiz ever created.
Get Sorted Now!

<3 Cayla

Out in the Silence GIVEAWAY (Please Read Instructions)

2011-10-13T20:55:00.000-05:00

I'm baaaaaack!!!!!!!

And I have exciting news for you all. Tonight I was privileged enough to attend a screening of Out in the Silence, an award-winning documentary about a gay teenager in small town Pennsylvania. The filmmakers, Joe Wilson and Dean Hamer, began their journey when they published their marriage announcement in the local paper of Joe's home town. Shortly thereafter, the hate mail started pouring in, followed by an unexpected cry for help from a mother whose son was being "tortured" at school because of his sexual orientation.

The film follows Joe's investigation and his efforts to help this boy, while revealing the damage bigotry is doing to everyone in our communities.

I encourage you to check out the film's official website, www.outinthesilence.com, and BUY THE DVD. It represents an amazing feat in filmmaking, as well as in the fight for human rights.

Now for the really great news. Joe Wilson was present at the screening, and I talked to him afterward (and bought my own copy of the movie!). He was kind enough to supply me with three SIGNED Out in the Silence postcards (pictured below), which I am going to give away here on the blog!

INSTRUCTIONS:
To enter the postcard giveaway contest, comment on this post. Please ONLY COMMENT ONCE. You will not be entered into the giveaway multiple times if you leave multiple comments. Please note that this contest is open only to residents of the United States (I only have so many stamps!).

Thank you so much, and once again, I do encourage you to check out the film, watch it with your friends, share it with your enemies, and over all, enjoy!

<3 Cayla

(P.S. Spread the word about the contest too!)

Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz

2011-07-23T20:47:00.000-05:00

So I've been away for a while, but the time I spent holed up in my office was well-spent - I read Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz (who by the way is an adorable and wonderful person), and I absolutely loved it.

Followers of the blog have probably picked up that I don't really read young adult fiction even though I'm a young adult author - the Need2Reads I post are always either mystery or adult lit. I'm kind of strange that way. But because I share a book birthday with Cara, I of course had to dive in to her story. And I'm so very happy I did!

The moment I knew Spellbound had me hooked was when the main character, Emma, compared the smell of a perfume to "a unicorn fart". Later on, the same perfume was described as "munchkin sweat". These are clear indications of brilliance.

(FYI - THERE WILL BE MILD SPOILERS AHEAD.)

First let's talk about Emma. What I loved about her was that she's been through a hell of a lot, but she's not your typical world-weary protagonist. She definitely wants a better life, she wants a chance to start over. She hasn't given up. I adored her defensive cynicism, because it fit perfectly with what she's lived through. I loved that she would go to school without doing her hair and makeup (that's what I always did because nobody can look good that early in the morning anyway), and I loved that her habits on that front didn't really change after she got involved with Brendan. Emma has a "this is what I am, this is as good as it's gonna get" approach to her appearance, which is refreshing.

Brendan is a delicious bad boy with uber respect for women. I'm not going to talk too much about him because you guys should get to discover him on your own as you read. But I heart him (and so does my friend who started reading the book before I'd even finished it).

The ending of Spellbound was riveting. (This is where things get a bit spoilery.) As a young woman, I found Anthony to be a terrifying character. The way that Emma refers to him as "the monster" is so accurate in terms of how many women are forced to look at the world. If I see a group of guys on the sidewalk, I cross the street so I don't have to risk passing by them. I don't walk to my car by myself. I don't go to public bathrooms by myself because public bathrooms are a high risk place for women to be assaulted. And Anthony embodies every little thought and experience that urges me to make those decisions regarding my safety. I would venture to say that Spellbound is a good read for young women, but especially for young men - it's so important for guys to understand the ways in which women are forced to view the world differently from them. And Spellbound illustrates this perfectly.

All in all, this is a great read. Either for tanning by the pool or for intellectual discussion. There are layers to it and it can be enjoyed on myriad levels.

Buy this one, ladies and gents!

Til next time,

Cayla

Booksigning TONIGHT!

2011-07-14T14:52:00.000-05:00

The event's been up on Facebook and Goodreads for a while, but I don't think I've put it up on my blog yet! Eeek!

I'm having a booksigning + Q&A tonight (July 14) at the Borders in Eau Claire, WI, from 6pm to 8pm. More details are available on the Goodreads event page:

LEGACY Booksigning + Q&A

If you're able to come, I'd love to see you! Bring your friends and family!

<3 Cayla

LEGACY Blog Tour

2011-06-13T12:45:00.000-05:00

Hey all,

So the LEGACY blog tour hit a little bump and has been pushed back a week, but its still going down and you can still win an iPod Nano with a custom Legacy-themed skin at the end!

Here are the new tour dates:

Monday, June 20: Crystal at My Reading Room
(Review)
Wednesday, June 22: Alyssa at Teens Read and Write
(Guest Post)
Friday, June 24: Andye at Reading Teen
(Review)
Monday, June 27: Christie at The Fiction Enthusiast
(Guest Post)
Wednesday, June 29: Heidi at YA Bibliophile
(Review)
Friday, July 1: Britta at I Like These Books
(Guest Post)
Monday, July 4: Kai at Amaterasu Reads
(Review)
Wednesday, July 6: Nicole at Word for Teens
(Guest Post)
Friday, July 8: Stacy at Girls in the Stacks
(Review)
Monday, July 11: Michelle at Hooked to Books
(Guest Post)
Wednesday, July 13: Jami at YA Addict
(Review)
Friday, July 15: Kelsey at The Book Scout
(Guest Post and iPod Nano Giveaway)

Thanks much for your patience, and I hope you're ready to have some fun!!!

<3 Cayla

Need2Read 6/7/11

2011-06-07T22:40:00.000-05:00

Alrighty, I'm here with Need2Read! First off, I want to remind you that the LEGACY blog tour has started, and the prize giveaway at the end will be an iPod Nano with a custom Legacy skin. Check out the sidebar to the right for a link to the tour schedule!

Need2Read is a weekly meme hosted by Offkey wherein you post a list of one or more books you absolutely NEED to read. Post your list on your blog and leave a comment here so that I and other readers can find it -- or just share your Need2Reads in the comments!

1. Psycho by Robert Bloch

I may be the only person who didn't know that Psycho was based on a book, but now that I do know, I gots to read it.

2. Eden Close by Anita Shreve

Anita Shreve's first book - and it sounds fantastic. Obviously it launched a humongous career. Anyone read it?

3. Hold Still by Nina LaCour

It wasn't explicit on the back cover, but I'm pretty sure the main character's best friend commits suicide, and the book is about her struggle to hang on to her life in the aftermath. Sounds really compelling and oddly familiar. I think this might be a good one for me to read personally.

4. Every Last One by Anna Quindlen

This book appeals to me because I love emotional journey books. Again, back cover isn't explicit about the goings-on in this book, but the emotional theme is definitely there. I'll have to read it to find out what's what.

5. The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

By fellow HQT author Kady Cross, which is incentive enough if it weren't for that gorgeous cover and the fascinating plot description. I actually haven't read a YA book in a while; perhaps its time for me to make a landing again.

Those are my Need2Reads for the week -- what are yours?

All the Pretty Horses

2011-06-03T18:58:00.001-05:00

Well, they're not horses, but they are pretty.

I've got bunches of great links for you, all having to do with LEGACY and its release date this month! Way excited. Right of the bat, I want to announce the LEGACY Blog Tour (hosted by The Teen Book Scene and give you guys the schedule. At the last stop, there will be a giveaway of an iPod Nano with a custom Legacy-themed skin, so make sure you follow along!

The LEGACY Blog Tour Schedule:

June 6: My Reading Room (Review)

June 8: Teens Read and Write (Guest Post)

June 10: Reading Teen (Review)

June 13: The Fiction Enthusiast (Guest Post)

June 15: YA Bibliophile (Review)

June 17: I Like These Books (Guest Post)

June 20: Amaterasu Reads (Review)

June 22: Word for Teens (Guest Post)

June 24: Girls in the Stacks (Review)

June 27: Hooked to Books (Guest Post)

June 29: YA Addict (Review)

July 1: The Book Scout (Guest Post and iPod Nano Giveaway)

I can't wait for the tour to begin on the 6th - s'gonna be awesome! :)

In related news, I just did an interview with Taryn of Noveltee(n), which you can check out here:

Noveltee(n): Cayla Kluver

RT Book Reviews gave LEGACY 4 1/2 stars:

LEGACY by Cayla Kluver

Publisher's Weekly reviewed LEGACY:

Children's Review: Legacy by Cayla Kluver

Seduced by a Book gave LEGACY 5 out of 5 roses:

Legacy (Legacy Trilogy Series) by Cayla Kluver

LEGACY made the Mod Podge Bookshelf's June Lust List:

The Lust List (June)

And Electrifying Reviews put LEGACY on their list of Future Favorites:

Future Favorites #41

There are more interviews, etc. coming up, so stay tuned!

<3 Cayla

Need2Read 5/24/11

2011-05-24T01:57:00.000-05:00

Before I list my Need2Reads, I want to give you guys some news and links...

First, I went on WhatchYAreading's podcast and had a ton of fun with Caitlin and Christine. You can listen to the whole discussion about the different types of publishing (and other random stuff) here:

WhatchYAreading Podcast: In a Niche

I've been invited back sometime around or after the release of LEGACY on June 28th, and I will definitely be taking them up on the offer!

Second, for all you bloggers and reviewers out there, LEGACY is now available on NetGalley - just click the request button, and as soon as your request is approved by my publisher, you can download an advanced reading copy to your computer. Fabulous, right? Here's the link:

LEGACY on NetGalley

There are more interviews coming up, so stay tuned!

Now, I spent three hours wandering around Borders today (unfortunately with empty pockets), and I made a big list of books I want to get. Here goes nothing.

1. FAIL Nation

I so need this book. I was flipping through it at the store and laughing out loud, which you fellow book people know is not a well-received activity in a bookstore. Check out their website, www.failblog.org.

2. Heartsick by Chelsea Cain

I remember looking at this book a long time ago - I think I bought a P. D. James book instead. Anyway, I stumbled upon it again today and now I can't figure out why I didn't buy it. Okay, I just did a Google search and I think the first book in this series is SWEETHEART. So actually that's the one I should get. Just kidding! Hehe. Anyway, those who know me know I love a good morbid story (strange, since I write about princesses). I think the basis of this series is a detective who is personally and professionally tormented by a female serial killer. Sounds like a great read. Anyone familiar?

3. Talking About Detective Fiction by P. D. James

Followers of the blog know I have mad love for this woman. I'm super excited to learn her views and methods regarding the genre she rules.

4. The Action Bible

I was in the children's section (reading MadLibs, alright?) when I spotted this and just thought, "What a fabulous idea." It's realistic, gripping artwork (as opposed to some of the lame cherub-style religious artwork they aim at children). They should do this with all religious texts. What a way to bring them alive. They should do this with history books too. How much fun would that be??

5. Twelve by Nick McDonell

I haven't seen the Joel Schumacher movie based on this book, but I heart me some Joel Schumacher (Lost Boys, anyone?) and I know he has a taste for things that go off the beaten path. This book sounds controversial and interesting. Can't wait to read it.

There's more where these came from, but I'm saving up for next week. See you then!

<3 Cayla

Rock 'n Roll or Something

2011-05-19T03:03:00.001-05:00

Hey there folks! I'm back. I've finished up a rough (very rough, mostly horrible awful) draft of that manuscript I was working on and will soon be sending it to my agent. But it's mostly out of my hair for the moment, so now I have time to do the fun stuff, like blogging and talking to you guys.

Things on my list that I must talk about:

1) Common is awesome and I don't know what the big deal is about him being at the White House. The messages in his music/poetry are nothing Dylan, Springsteen, Billy Joel, Bono, and tons of others haven't sent a million times before. (That argument is courtesy of Jon Stewart.)

2) I have in fact finished reading Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey. It was the first high fantasy book I've ever read, if I'm being honest. It was a completely different reading experience than I've had previously, and man is that woman good at what she does. Anne McCaffrey, FTW. Definitely check it out if you are into fantasy, or if, like me, you're unfamiliar with the epic subdivision thereof.

This is the exact book I have!
Clicky clicky to buy on Amazon.

3) I need some major chill-out time, which means I'm getting back to reading and will be posting about wonderful books soon enough.

4) I'm getting back to the Facebook fan page ASAP! I know there are questions waiting on there for me so I'm headed that way, no worries.

5) Ooh, 5 is perhaps the most important one. My email is broken. So if anyone out there has tried to contact me using my usual email address, um... I haven't gotten your messages. Sorry! I'm trying to get it sorted out.

Well, it is three in the morning here in Wisconsin and I desperately need to get some sleep. I've got really cool news coming up soon though, so don't be a stranger.

Adios!

Cayla

Celebrity Saturday: Meet THE EASTER BUNNY

2011-04-23T00:52:00.000-05:00

Many of us grew up with annual Easter egg hunts, but while we take the time to write letters to Santa Claus and his elves, how many of us stop to ponder the mysteries of this other, fuzzier nighttime messenger? Offkey has a shadowy sit-down with the one and only Easter Bunny to ask the hard-hitting questions and get the answers you need to hear, whether you celebrate this holiday or not. Everyone... meet the Easter Bunny.

Cayla: Welcome to the blog. Are you male or female?

Easter Bunny: I’m an immortal, ubiquitous, anthropomorphized member of the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha. You’re asking about my gender?

Cayla: What did you want to be when you were a little bunny?

EB: A big bunny.

Cayla: When’s your birthday?

EB: I don’t remember, I was being born at the time. Check with my parents. Although, they probably won’t be of much help. I come from a big family.

Cayla: Why do you distribute eggs?

EB: Conveniently enough, they’re on sale this time of year. And because eggs are very versatile –they’re small and compact, easy for me to carry; you can dye them; you can eat them; you can store candy inside of them; you can throw them at passing cars. What’s not to like?

Cayla: How do you make all of your deliveries on schedule?

EB: Hey, they don’t say ‘quick as a bunny’ for nothing. Plus I have a moped.

Cayla: Are there multiple Easter bunnies?

EB: Nope. Well, there are those weirdos who dress up like me at malls. But come on – would anyone else want this job?

Cayla: Easter chicks are pretty steep competition for you this time of year – how do you cope?

EB: Chicks are small and easy to crush.

Cayla: Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

EB: You know what? I’ll tell you what. The bunny came first. That’s what.

Cayla: Do you like marshmallow peeps?

EB: No, they generally have a bad attitude – conceited. You know, puffed up.

Cayla: How did you get started in this line of work?

EB: It was way back in the day, you know, and my friends and I were having a sort of Dionysian blowout, and they got me to promise to deliver eggs to children from around the world. They haven’t let me forget it.

Cayla: Do you care whether children are naughty or nice, as your peer, Santa Claus, does?

EB: Don’t talk to me about that fat bastard.

Cayla: Do you ever get anything in return? Santa gets milk and cookies…

EB: What did I just say???

Cayla: Do you get paid?

EB: I distribute candy, so I’m paid on a commission basis by dentists throughout the world.

Cayla: Is it dangerous hiding eggs in houses with cats and dogs?

EB: If you get served papers demanding payment for hospital bills… you’ll know why.

Cayla: Do you make deliveries all over the world?

EB: I go where there’s demand. So yeah, pretty much everywhere.

Cayla: How do you get into people’s houses?

EB: A good friend of mine taught me some lock-picking skills when we were doing time.

Cayla: Have you ever been arrested for breaking and entering?

EB: Yeah, that’s why I was doing time. Hasn’t happened in a while, though.

Cayla: Well, thank you very much for taking the time off your busy weekend to be here with us.

EB: Yeah, whatever.

Have a happy holiday everyone. ;) Be back next week!

<3 Cayla

Dear Teen Me!

2011-04-22T12:47:00.000-05:00

Yeah, I know I'm technically still a teenager, but I'm also technically an adult (in the USA, anyway). Point being, I wrote a letter to my high-school age self, and Dear Teen Me was kind enough to post it! So check 'er out....

Dear Teen Me from Author Cayla Kluver

It's dotted (okay, smothered) with ancient pics. So... fun! :)

Don't worry, I do remember that I owe you guys a Need2Read and a Where-It's-At. And a Celebrity Saturday this week. But here's the thing... I'm sheepish to say that yesterday, I screamed at a t-shirt, "I don't know what this is!!!!" and almost went to the bathroom while my sister was in the room because I forgot she was there. No, seriously. I'm waaaay behind on everything not deadline related. So I humbly ask you again to bear with me. Please? :)

I will be back in full force as soon as I have met this deadline, I promise.

Thanks for your patience!

<3 Cayla

Celebrity Saturday: Meet Susy Spencer

2011-04-16T17:17:00.002-05:00

She's a young woman exploring the world. She's moved eight times in the last four years, carrying her journal full of poetry with her wherever she goes. This is a very special interview because it's the first one I've conducted in person and it turned out very conversational. Everyone... meet Susy!

Cayla: Tell us a little about yourself.

Susy: Let’s see. I’m twenty-two and have spent some time in college, and am looking for meaningful work. This sounds like I’m in a job interview because that’s what I always say.

Cayla: What would you consider to be meaningful work?

Susy: I love children and animals, so I think something in one of those fields would be good. Also something where I could use my brain.

Cayla: You like to write poetry. What is it about poetry that attracts you?

Susy: One thing about poetry is that I like that it has structure, for the most part. Once you understand what the rules are, you can actually break them and make beautiful things too.

Cayla: When did you start writing poetry?

Susy: I was five years old. I wrote a poem in Old English about Jesus. It even rhymed, actually! I rhymed “thee” and “family”, which I thought was quite impressive at the time.

Cayla: And did you continue to write poetry while you were growing up?

Susy: In spurts, in cycles. I wrote angsty, badly rhyming poetry when I was about eleven. It was usually about woodland creatures.

Cayla: Really? Angsty, badly rhyming poetry about woodland creatures?

Susy: Yes, it was an unfortunate stage in my life.

Cayla: What kind of woodland creatures?

Susy: Oh, you know, birds, and trees, with their boughs and their something something powers… you know.

Cayla: You have a blog where you talk about some of your poetry.

Susy: Yes, I’ve kind of neglected it recently due to lack of internet access and time. I’ve moved eight times in the last four years and I just want to settle before I get back to devoting a lot of time to that.

Cayla: What poets do you admire?

Susy: I really like Yates. Mainly how I got turned on to Yates was he wrote this poem called Down by the Sally Gardens, which an English composer then converted into song, and it’s beautiful. It’s not necessarily that I always like poems that rhyme, because I don’t, but I like poetry with a lot of structure, more depth to its rhythm, so I find that I’m frustrated by a lot of modern poetry.

Cayla: Are there any modern poets you do admire?

Susy: You know, I write the blog not only to tell people about poets that I find, but also to find out about them myself. I’m actually quite ignorant on the subject. So I research, then I blog. What I would love to track down is a Spanish poem called Merecer, which means “to rock”. I read it in one of my Spanish classes and I don’t know if I’ll ever find it again, but it was really passionate.

Cayla: Now, you went to school for a while to study singing. What was your major exactly?

Susy: Vocal Performance with an opera emphasis.

Cayla: A lot of opera is in other languages – have you studied other languages to prepare?

Susy: Yes, I have. I’m very quick on the uptake when it comes to phonetic rules, if I can see something and hear it, so I generally learn pronunciation very quickly. I actually took a phonetics class entirely in Spanish, so I find that I know the phonetic terms… just not in English. Somewhat unrelated, I’ve discovered recently that when I sing just for my own enjoyment, I prefer blues and jazz to opera.

Cayla: Let’s talk a little bit about Benedict Cumberbatch.

Susy: Oh. Oh dear. He hasn’t taken out a restraining order yet.

Cayla: Why do you love him so much?

Susy: Well, of course because he’s ginger.

Cayla: Ginger power.

Susy: I think it’s because he plays Sherlock in the most modern and gripping and excellent way I’ve ever seen Sherlock portrayed. I’m a Holmesian.

Cayla: I’m going to ask you to step back from your love of Benedict Cumberbatch and ask you a difficult question. Cumberbatch or Jeremy Brett?

Susy: That’s a really difficult question. The settings of the show they’re in fit them and their portrayals of Sherlock so well. I can’t imagine Jeremy Brett playing the Sherlock that Benedict does.

Cayla: Who are some of your favorite authors?

Susy: You.

Cayla: Smooth! But really.

Susy: I enjoy reading theological books so I’m a big fan of James White and Elizabeth Elliot. But on a lighter note, I enjoy mystery books. I read this absolutely delightful piece by P.D. Wodehouse. It was a satire of the 1920’s damsel in distress, gothic romance. I’m very eclectic in what I read. For example, when I sneak into Borders, I’m reading The Age of Enlightenment, which is a history of quantum physics, because I enjoy expanding my horizons when I read.

Cayla: What would you say to young readers, who might read primarily one genre, about expanding their horizons?

Susy: I can’t imagine reading only one genre. I guess I would say don’t be afraid to try something you’re unaccustomed to, but if the book makes you uncomfortable, also don’t be afraid to put it down.

Thank you so much to Susy for being here today! Make sure you check out her blog:

Susy's Poetry Bubble

All the best!

Cayla

Legacy Back Cover Copy!

2011-04-15T14:27:00.000-05:00

I am thrilled to reveal the entire cover of Legacy, front to back, in addition to the text on the back cover. Enjoy! HarlequinTEEN is doing a fabulous job, and I'm so grateful. Thank you to everyone on the team!! :)

Click to make it bigger! Here's what it says following the excerpt from the book...

A Crown Princess. A Scandalous Secret Crush. A Kingdom on the Brink of Disaster.

In her seventeenth year, Princess Alera of Hytanica faces one duty: to marry the man who will be king. But her father's choice of suitor fills her with despair.

When the palace guard captures an intruder - a boy her age with steel-blue eyes, hailing from her kingdom's greatest enemy - Alera is alarmed... and intrigued. But she could not have guessed that their clandestine meetings would unveil the dark legacy shadowing both their lands.

In this mystical world of court conspiracies and blood magic, loyalties will be tested. Courage won't be enough. And as the battle begins for everything Alera holds dear, love may be the downfall of a kingdom.

Squeeeeeeeee!!!!! Feel free to share!

<3 Cayla

Holy Hot Links, Batman

2011-04-14T04:29:00.001-05:00

It's been a great week for Legacy - I've started using the #Legacy hashtag on Twitter (if you feel so inclined, please use it too!), there have been tons of Advanced Review Copy requests sent to Publicity[at]caylakluver.com (yes, that is an invitation for you other reviewers and interviewers to do the same!), and some of the links I'm about to share with you have to do with the book in question. I would like to thank my lovely blogging pals YA Bibliophile, Amaterasu Reads, and Left and Write for their contributions.

But first: Tomorrow, April 15th, will be another great reveal day for HarlequinTEEN's edition of Legacy. I cannot wait to share with you guys. Stop back!

Also, the answer to a quick Q: The scene on the cover of the HarlequinTEEN Legacy (which I referenced as being a scene in the book) is where Narian and Alera have their little rendezvous in the Palace Stables. I believe the chapter is called "A History Lesson", for those of you who were wondering!

Moving on to Where-It's-At...

Left and Write: Need2Read

Check out Chelsea's Need2Read list, and follow this amazing girl's blog.

YA Bibliophile: Waiting on Wednesday

Guess what book Heidi picked this week!! Bet you can't. I bet you have no idea. ;) Hugs, Heidi!

Amaterasu Reads: Waiting on Wednesday

Whoa..... could it have happened twice in one week? Disney, I am reconsidering your principles. Thanks, Kai! :D On a side note, this is a great blog for reviews and anything book-related. Definitely check it out.

The Story Siren: Kure for Kaylea

Help Kaylea Stewart, the cousin of our beloved Story Siren who has been diagnosed with Acute Lymphocyte Leukemia. It's as simple as clicking that link.

Oasis for YA: Entangled Publishing

For aspiring authors, this is a house to keep an eye on. The Oasis crew interviews Heather Howland of Entangled Publishing.

Dear Teen Me: From Author Katie McGarry

Katie McGarry gives great, down-to-earth, emotional advise to teens. Her debut novel, PUSHING THE LIMITS is coming out in Spring 2012 through HarlequinTEEN, and I for one am dying to read it.

Well folks, that's it for now! Time for me to go to bed....

Much the sleepy,

Cayla

Need2Read 4/12/11

2011-04-12T03:01:00.001-05:00

Well how about this. Dang. I am ahead of schedule. It is 2:16 AM my time, which technically makes it Tuesday, which means it's time for Need2Read. First, the list (which is very themed this week, by the way), then rantings and ramblings. Since I've got such an early start, I figure I have plenty of time for both. ;)

Need2Read is a weekly meme hosted by Offkey wherein you post a list of one or more books you absolutely NEED to read. Post your list on your blog and leave a comment here so that I and other readers can find it -- or just share your Need2Reads in the comments!

1. A Time to Kill by John Grisham

Grisham's first (I believe - do correct me if I'm wrong). I remember my dad reading John Grisham when I was little. In those days I always pronounced his name "Griss-ham", as a side note. But onto the point, Grisham is hugely popular in my crazy lawyerly family, but I haven't read anything by him yet. So I thought I'd start at the beginning. (Plus - the Joel Schumacher film adaption? Fabulous.)

2. Unwind by Neal Shusterman

I've heard great things about this one, and as is the case with me and an unfortunate number of fantastic authors, this would be my first Neal Shusterman book. Is this the best pick? Any other Shustermans I should read first?

3. The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris

I cannot figure out why I haven't read this book already. I've seen the movie at least three times, and every time I watch it I go, "Oh, I have to get the book!" And yet here I am. Bookless. This has gone on far too long, ladies and gentlemen. Now is the time to break the cycle. (FYI, younger viewers/readers? Don't watch this movie or read the book.)

4. Salem's Lot by Stephen King

I remember my sister reading this one. We shared a room and she made us sleep with the lights on. (I was very, very annoyed.) But ever since, this book has had that little bit of haunting nostalgia about it. Why did big sister need the lights on? What words could Stephen King have put to paper that would scare her so completely? Cue creepy music.... In all seriousness though, I love being scared out of my wits. And I need to read this book.

5. A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick

*Friend Recommendation!* 'Nuff said. This guy is the real deal in his genre anyway, from what I've heard - I don't know how I've been missing out on his stuff for this long. Craziness.

So, those be my Need2Reads for this week! Like I said earlier, they're kind of themed... all pretty dark, most of them thrillers. I feel the need to say that, while I understand my readers are frequently young adults, I'm not limiting these Need2Read lists to the YA genre. A lot of them are books that are important across age groups, and all of them (famous or obscure) are books that interest me. Just be aware that they may not be your cup of tea, especially depending on your age.

Disclaimer over, I really want your help in making Need2Read a little something more than it is. I chose the name "Need2Read" for this meme because it doesn't limit book choices to a specific genre - really, it just implies a desire to read. So maybe, with your help, we could pump this up to something along the lines of... getting as many books in as many people's hands as we can. I know, that's vague. That's why I need you!

Just brainstorming for right now. But let me know what you think.

Toodle-pip!

Cayla

Awesomeness Saturday (Japan Cover Art!)

2011-04-09T21:20:00.000-05:00

Obviously, it is Saturday, and I didn't pull my act together well enough to get you guys a cool interview this week. However, I promise I do have some great ones coming up. (Stick with me, please? Thanks!)

This post I have entitled "Awesomeness Saturday" since today I will be sharing some major awesomeness with you that is not in interview form. ALLEGIANCE published in Japan on April 2nd and I have the cover art with me!

Before I post it, I want to say that the artist, Mr. Akihiro Yamada (the world-famous illustrator!), did an amazing, outstanding job with this cover. It's so beautiful I don't even know where to start. I better get on with it and show you what I'm talking about. Sending love, love, love to my Japanese publisher Wave.

Click to make it even bigger! My lord, I just love this cover. Tell me what you think in the comments!

Thanks a bunch,

Cayla

Updates and Where-It's-At

2011-04-07T18:36:00.000-05:00

The most important update of all is that a new episode of Hot British Sniper is available on the CBS website. Watch it now, and then lets talk about how cute and awesome he is.

Moving on from celebrity crushes, I am working like CRAZY on some interview stuff and Legacy review copies are being sent out. Bloggers and reviewers, send your emails to publicity[at]caylakluver.com to get yours!

I'm also working toward having my new manuscript (unrelated project) done this month or the next (by June 1st at the latest), which means I am le busy!!! I have some great people lined up for Celebrity Saturday, but I got totally sidetracked this week and its going on a momentary hiatus. Don't worry - I'll be back on the wagon soon.

Well, that might not be true. I'm one of these people who likes to do a million and a half things at once, then regularly freaks out about the fact that I don't have enough time to do it all, then gets bored if I cut back. It's probably not 100% healthy. Point being, I have more on my plate than usual these days, so if you guys would bear with me while I flounder about and blog/tweet/answer Q's inconsistently, I would really really appreciate it. I promise I'll do something fun when it's all over. Like post a video of me dancing to "Celebration". Or something.

Anyway, here are some great links to check out (aside from that episode of Hot British Sniper, which you should watch NOW):

Birdy Books' Need2Read list

I love Birdy Books. Just sayin'. She's a sweetheart. Check it out y'alls.

Words by Webb: Ten Random Things

I had so much fun reading this list. Also, I won a book over at Words by Webb this week. Which I also danced about.

Books, Boys, Buzz... YA Romance, How We Adore Thee

Totally spot-on musings about why young adult romances capture our hearts. The comments are really interesting to read too. Everybody has an opinion!

Write Anything: How to Write Horror

One of the best articles I've read in a while. I was really sucked into this one. Major kudos to guest poster Lily Childs.

WOW! Women on Writing: Pull Yourself Together w/ Journaling

Writers, get focused again. I love this article.

Like Fire: Color Commentary

A super interesting, fun article about linguistic uses of color, including phrases from other languages that you never saw coming.

So those are my ramblings for now. What have you got? ;)

Talk to you soon,

Cayla

Need2Read 4/5/11

2011-04-05T23:02:00.002-05:00

First off, happy birthday to my little sister Kendra!

Second, I heart Jack Bauer. (I also heart the fact that "heart" is now included as a verb in the Oxford English Dictionary, along with LOL, OMG, and other internet phrases.) Anyway, I've been watching 24 (belatedly, being that I'm a diehard Kiefer Sutherland fan), and I'm all yippee-skippy about it. Expect more posts about 24. Don't worry though, I certainly haven't forgotten about Hot British Sniper. His beautiful face will appear on this blog many, many more times.

Moving on to Need2Read...

Here's my list for this week, beginning with a shameless plug!

1. Legacy by Cayla Kluver

Ooooohhhh, aaaaaaahhhhh! Look at that! Isn't it gorgeous? Don't chya wanna read it? Hmmm? (Shameless plug over.)

2. The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

I just spotted this book at Borders today (unfortunately I had no money with me... now that I'm home I still don't have any money, come to think of it). But I really want to get my hands on this one. It sounds gothic and sweeping and wonderful. Anyone familiar?

3. Under the Poppy by Kathe Koja

Another one I saw at Borders. Again, pretty gothic (I assume). I'm in a gothic mood these days (she said angstily). I really like the sort of Merchant of Venice vibes I was getting from the description (that may be a weird connection only I made, and WOW I am in love with parentheses today).

So it's a markedly short list this week. There are more in my Need2Read folder but most of them aren't published yet and I like to wait until they're on the shelves to list them. All of this means that I need your recommendations, um, kind of now. ;)

Also, big kudos to Birdy Books and Carrie for adding Need2Read to their blogs. You guys rock.

Let me hear what you're reading (or what you need to read) in the comments!

Cayla

Celebrity Saturday: Meet E. Kristin Anderson

2011-04-02T14:24:00.002-05:00

She's a poet and a novelist, and she's bursting with personality. Dubbed "The Hate-Mongering Tart", she runs a website of the same name (you'll have to check it out to see if she's really hate-mongering or not). She has an amazing connection with the young adult audience, and it is a pleasure to know her. Everyone... meet Emily Kristin Anderson!

Cayla: Welcome Emily! You write under the pen name E. Kristin Anderson, and on your website dare readers to Google your given name, Emily Morse. Naturally I did. Would you mind telling us the story of when you discovered you share a name with the host of “Sex with Emily”?

EKA: Well, to be completely honest, I started toying with the idea of using a pen name a little before I learned about Sex With Emily. I mean, for one, I had a friend in college whose last name was Morse, and his sister’s first name was Emily. So it was like 2 degrees of separation from someone with my name who wasn’t me. I started Googling and found out that there was a screenwriter named Emily Morse. And it wasn’t long before that screenwriter rose to prominence as the top-googled Emily Morse…and it turned out that she was the Sex With Emily lady. Le sigh. I really wanted to not be confused with someone else who was famous for something that was really different from what I do. And when I started writing for young readers (I started using Anderson when I was only writing poetry for adults) I was really glad that I’d chosen a pen name. I mean, there’s nothing wrong with talking about sex, but it’s not necessarily what teachers and librarians and parents want their teens to find when they Google you for a book report.

Cayla: Your poetry has been published quite extensively – congratulations! When did you start writing poetry, and why?

EKA: I have been writing poetry since I can remember. I actually wrote a lot of song lyrics when I was in high school, nursing delusions of grandeur that I would one day win a Grammy for songs I wrote with Foo Fighters and Hanson. I was totally going to tour with them, too, in my band called the Cinnamin Twists (cinnamon is intentionally spelled wrong there, it’s how you made a good band name in the 90s). In college though, I went back to straight up poetry, taking classes, writing drivel that I thought was just, like, totally amazing. Then I graduated, met some real poets, figured out I was crap, and started over. I think poetry is just this amazing art – it’s a lot like sculpture, but using words as clay. To me, writing a novel is more like painting a mural, but poetry is more like taking a block of wood or a hunk of clay and pulling away everything you don’t need until you have what’s left and what makes it beautiful and important.

Cayla: You also write novels, primarily for the young adult market. What makes you passionate about writing for teens?

EKA: I’d been trying to write short stories for ages, and I’d always wanted to write a novel. I tried NaNoWriMo for the first time when I was 20, a sophomore in college, and having an existential crisis somewhere along the lines of “my friends are mean girls and I think I have social anxiety and I don’t know what to major in and holy crap I’m not going to be a rock star.” So I wrote about that. I didn’t get very far and went back to poems. I attempted some horror stories (mostly based on Buffy) in high school and tried to go back to them for fodder a few times, but could never get it right. I tried to write edgy stuff about like sex in pick up trucks, and that didn’t work out because I’d never had sex in a pick up truck, or, like done anything remotely edgy ever. So I put novels aside for a while. Then I started reading YA. Like, really reading it. And it was like a lightbulb went off. My horror stories, my edgy fiction – it was missing the honesty of YA. The voice of my fifteen year old self was all like HEAR ME OUT, WOMAN! And I listened. And now I write these books for my teen self, and for the other teen selves, and it’s awesome.

Cayla: Tell us a little about the books you have completed. Was there one that was particularly special to write?

EKA: The first book I wrote is called MYSELF BEHIND MYSELF, and it’s a novel about a girl struggling to get over her ex boyfriend, who was in the military, while writing a History paper on him in order to “stick it to the man,” or rather, her evil History teacher. This book was really special for me to write, because I set it at my own high school (a fictionalized version), and I gave Jody, my protagonist, a lot of the same small-town, art-freak hang ups that I did. While Jody and her cohorts are not me and my friends, she was a great outlet to me. It will always have a place in my heart, even if it does end up a trunk book.

I just finished revisions on my second novel, 1999, which I like to call my Y2Kpocalypse novel, but which my critique group has recently dubbed “The Breakfast Clubpocalypse,” which I consider an amazing compliment. It’s the story of Y2K actually happening in all its techonological disaster, taking place in a record store on December 31, 1999, with a love triangle and a friendship crisis. I loved writing this, it’s so fast-paced and I got to drop all kinds of music references. It’s sort of my love letter to Nick Honby, to be honest. I like to pitch it as “High Fidelity meets The Day After Tomorrow, but with less ice.”

Up my sleeve I have first drafts of ME AND THE JERSEY DEVIL, a summer camp love story with mean girls, mental illness, cryptozoology, and alien abduction (maybe). And I recently finished a draft of VISITED THE SEA, a love story taking place on an island off the coast of Maine with a magical realism twist. You know, with, like, sea people. Looking forward to revising both of these.

Cayla: You’ve had some fascinating job experience, in all different areas of the workforce. Anything stand out in your memory as being especially strange, hilarious, poignant, or life-changing?

EKA: Gosh, I have had some weird jobs. The New Yorker obviously gave me a lot of insight into publishing and the magazine world, and I gained a lot of experience there when it comes to editing, writing, and especially layout and design, as I worked in the page makeup department. But I think the job most valuable to my career right now was as a bookseller, where I was the manager of the children’s section. I read and read and read and I got to know kidlit very intimately. So important for a writer to know her market, and to love it.

Cayla: You are a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Why do you recommend others join?

EKA: Because SCBWI is the best way to find a supportive community, to hook up with like minds and find critique partners and writing groups. It’s an invaluable resource. I can’t say enough how amazing SCBWI has been for me. And maybe the Austin group is just special (no – I KNOW the Austin group is special) – but guess what? There are lots of special groups nation- and worldwide. Find yours!

Cayla: Okay, it has to be asked: what inspired you to name your blog “The Hate-Mongering Tart”?

EKA: So in my online poetry group I was sort of the nice one who got picked on for being too nice and gave not that harsh critiques to new kids and all that jazz. So one afternoon, in our chat room, I gave a constructive critique to someone new to the group. She complained about me to an admin, not knowing that that admin was a personal friend of mine. He came on and lambasted me – I of course knew he was kidding, the entire group knew he was kidding, but the new kid took him completely seriously. The admin said, “yeah, ignore Emily. She’s a regular hate-mongering tart.” To anyone who’d been around a while, the message was clear: If you ignore critique, you’re not doing yourself any favors. But the monicker stuck. Here I am, mongering hate.

Cayla: As a reader, what is your favorite genre of books? Who are some of your favorite authors?

EKA: God, I’ll read anything. Seriously. I mostly read YA, but I also love girlie or quirky middle grade. I like literary adult novels, I love issues books and paranormal fantasies. I love anything weird or kind of off. I loved mixed media and verse novels. I love books that punch you in the face with crazy awesomeness. I love Judy Blume, Francesca Lia Block, Lauren Myracle, Laurie Halse Anderson, Douglas Coupland, Nick Hornby…I could list forever and ever.

Cayla: Do you have any advice for young adults wanting to make a career out of writing?

Write. Write every day. Write and put it away and look at it a while later and see if you can improve on it. And don’t write in secret. Show people. Scared people will laugh? Anyone who laughs at you for trying to make art isn’t worth your time. Show your friends, ask for feedback. Show your teachers, ask for feedback. Check out local writing groups at cafes or even at places like SCBWI. Go to author events and readings and ask questions – authors are really accessible these days! Join Twitter, interact with other writers in #kidlitchat and #yalitchat and #poetparty and #scribechat. Put yourself out there. Be shameless.

Cayla: Anything you’d like to add before we wrap things up?

EKA: I’d love to encourage people to visit my blog this month. April is National Poetry Month and I’m looking forward to the star-studded list of guest posts I’ll be hosting from poets, editors, verse novelists, and the like. There will also be tons of giveaways, so you might get lucky!

Thank you so much for being here, E. Kristin Anderson! Make sure you check her out at the following sites and follow her (I do - I LOVE reading her blog):

The Hate-Mongering Tart (Official Website)
Twitter

Have an amazing Saturday, everyone!

Cayla

'Legacy' Cover Art (HarlequinTEEN)

2011-04-01T00:24:00.000-05:00

I've been waiting what seems like forever to share this, and I am so excited for you guys to see the final cover art for the HarlequinTeen edition of LEGACY, coming out on June 28th, 2011!

Thanks so much to Harlequin for this BEAUTIFUL cover art. I just love it. The scrollwork is amazing, and I'm ridiculously giddy that the scene depicted here is actually in the book. I'm going to spend the entire day doing a happy dance, and I cannot wait to have this book in my hands (and for you guys to have it too!!).

YAY!!!!!!

Need2Read 3/29/11

2011-03-30T13:21:00.000-05:00

Okay, so it's not the 29th anymore. But it's close! I've heard a rumor that book two came out in Italy yesterday (I'm a little out of the loop) -- Italian readers, is that so? At any rate, here is the cover art for Alera in Italy (LOVE it!):

Now on to Need2Read...

1. Purple Daze by Sherry Shahan

When you hear historical fiction, you think Tudor England or Little Women (at least I do). Purple Daze takes place in the sixties. Plus I love this book's concept, six girls telling their stories through journal entries, poems, etc. Sounds amazing.

2. Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Probably because this book has "slaughterhouse" in the title, I grew up thinking this was some gritty, horribly gruesome story about the Holocaust. I literally just found out it isn't. (At first I was really confused about the review on the cover that calls it hilarious....) Now I have to read it.

3. The Adults by Alison Espach

Reader rec! This book sounds really interesting. Check out author site: http://www.alisonespach.com/.

4. The Bonemender by Holly Bennet

Another reader recommendation (I didn't realize how many of them made the list this week -- thanks a bunch guys!!). First book in an acclaimed fantasy series, one which I MUST read.

5. The Fiddler's Gun by A. S. Peterson

*Reader rec!* Okay, I love this cover in a kind of silly extreme way. It's so pretty and grungy and awesome! Add historical fiction, pirates, an orphanage, a fiddler named Bart, and someone called Sister Hilde, and this book cannot go wrong.

That's the list for this week - please leave your Need2Reads in the comments, along with any book recommendations you may have for me! I love knowing what you guys are reading.

I will be back soon with my "Where-It's-At" list. (I'm falling behind this week!)

Rock on,

Cayla

Celebrity Saturday: Meet Joe Schermann

2011-03-26T00:56:00.003-05:00

He's a composer, a singer and vocal coach, an actor, a poet - there's practically nothing this guy can't do, and I've seen it with my own eyes. He holds a BFA in Musical Theatre Performance from Viterbo University, and knows the life of the starving (but soon to be filthy rich) artist intimately. He's come to talk to us about himself, but in particular his writing - and this interview illuminates that whether it be music, lyrics or novels, the same rules of the game apply. Everyone... meet Joe Schermann!

Cayla: Welcome Joe! You are an artist extraordinaire. You sing, you act, you compose music – what would you say is your favorite art form, if you had to choose one?

Joe: Writing musical theatre tunes has to be the most personally rewarding of my trades once the work comes to fruition. To create something and hand it off to another actor or actors and allow them to interpret it and shape it in their own way and then see what comes of it is just unendingly thrilling to me. And I really love musical theatre so much, it’s such a lovely and unique way of telling a story that I believe has the most potential for really touching an audience.

Cayla: Were you one of those crazy child prodigies like Mozart, where someone put a piano in front of you and symphonies just started flowing out?

Joe: Yes and no. I picked up piano very easily as a child… this was both good and bad. While it was great for me as a kid to find something I was naturally good at (at that point in my life all I’d ever tried in terms of recreational activities were some sports and I was beyond terrible at all of them) it also made me not want to work as hard at it, and when it came time to really get serious about my work as a pianist, I just wasn’t ready to take on the work I needed to take on in order to succeed. So, I stopped taking lessons before I hit high school. It wasn’t until I started working as an accompanist in college that I started to really get serious about playing piano well again.

As far as song-writing goes, that depends on whom you ask. I have friends and family who are no slouches when it comes to music (including my mother, a band director in her last year of teaching) that swear by the stuff I was writing when I got started in high school. I personally look at my first batch of songs, and my first show for that matter, and I cringe. To myself the marks of inexperience are obvious. Having said that, I’m not at all ashamed of my early work, and I’m downright proud of just how productive I was at an early age. I wrote about 50 songs between February of my junior year of high school and my graduation the next year. I still play about three of those songs regularly, and I would file most of the other 47 under “terrible.” But I think it’s very important for any writer or artist, when they first get started, to allow themselves to stop thinking so hard about what they’re doing and just be terrible. Just write as much as you can and don’t worry about how much of it is actually any good. I think of it as working out a particular muscle, the more one does it, the more one develops that muscle and the stronger that muscle gets. It’s the same with writing, the more you do it, the more you develop your instincts and skills as a writer. I also feel that this is why it’s important to start writing as young as possible, because the older you get the more self-conscious you get, and the less willing you are to just throw caution to the wind and allow yourself to develop.

So, in short, yes and no to the above question. :)

Cayla: You’re from Minnesota, studied Musical Theatre at Viterbo University in Wisconsin, and are now living in New York – how did you make the transition from Midwestern boy to fast-talking east coaster? Was the adjustment difficult?

Joe: My first job out of college was a production of Les Miserables in New Bedford, MA, which I got from auditioning at the New England Theatre Conference that year. I was in the male ensemble, and was sharing housing with the other seven non-union actors in the production who weren’t locals. The eight of us all became fast friends. Most of these folks were either from New York or were planning on moving there very shortly. So, I simply decided to follow suit, since I knew I wanted to be in NYC in the long run anyway.

As for the transition, it was incredibly difficult, but I did not make my move in a very intelligent or reasonable fashion. I approached the move more as an adventure, a chance to test my mettle. Whereas most people move to the city with thousands of dollars in savings, a solid place to live and a day-job awaiting them, I moved with enough money for maybe a month’s rent, a month-long sublet and no job. The first few months were very scary; it looked like it was going to be a pretty short-lived adventure as I was barely surviving off the occasional odd accompaniment/vocal coaching job and favors from friends and family. Then a few months into it, I got a day-job at a restaurant AND a music directing gig upstate within a week. Since then life’s been significantly more steady both in terms of theatre work and day-job income, though I’ve mixed things up a bit by quitting the restaurant business last month in order to devote all of my time to my artistic pursuits.

Cayla: Tell us about the Gary King project you’re currently headlining, “How Do You Write a Joe Schermann Song?”. How did this production get started, and how has it progressed?

Joe: It started with a disgustingly talented young man named Mark DiConzo, who I met and worked with on the above-mentioned production of Les Miz (and whom you can see in the film, he’s the handsome bald fellow in the trailers). Mr. DiConzo had worked with Gary King on one of his earlier projects, the indie drama “New York Lately.” Not too long after I had settled into New York, Mark pointed Mr. King in the direction of my YouTube page, which prompted Gary to call a meeting between all three of us. It was at this meeting that Gary proposed to me the idea of an indie musical drama, which he would write and direct and I would write the music and lyrics for as well as star in. The unique title came from a song which I had finished writing shortly before said meeting, which has since been tweaked and will be featured in the film. At first we figured we’d change the name of the protagonist and therefore the title, but soon decided that the current title just had the right ring to it, and since the main character is loosely based on yours truly anyway, it just made sense to keep it as it was.

Cayla: Of the songs you’ve composed for “How Do You Write a Joe Schermann Song?” which is your favorite and why?

Joe: God, I’m very proud of all of these songs, and they’re all very different from each other and difficult to compare because we primarily assigned different styles of music to different characters. Musically I’d have to say my favorite is the title song, I think that might be one of the best melodies I’ve ever written, and the composition itself is very complex while catchy. Lyrically, there’s a tune called “I Hate Summer” where the rhyme pattern for each verse is A, A, A, A, A, A, B, B, A. That took some time and thought.

Cayla: What can people do to help raise funds for the post-production of this unique project?

Joe: So glad you asked that. They can visit our Kickstarter page and make a pledge towards our project. Kickstarter.com is a fantastic website that allows independent projects to raise funds by setting up a pledge drive with a set monetary goal that has to be met within a set period of time. The downside is that if your project doesn’t reach the goal in pledges, then your project won’t get any funding. The upside is, depending on how much you pledge, you can get some fabulous and creative prizes in exchange for your donation. The one that’s affected yours truly the most is the prize in which you get to request a song for myself and/or someone else in the cast to sing and post a video of said performance online. We’ve also recently made it so that ANYONE who pledges any amount of money will be allowed to choose one word for a song lyric that I will have to write and perform with members of the cast. It’s really important that we reach our final goal here, because this is the money we’re going to need to hire a full, live orchestra to perform the score and orchestrations to the songs, which are being arranged by the great Kenneth Lampl. Here’s the link, I’d love for everyone to check it out: How Do You Write a Joe Schermann Song Kickstarter.

Cayla: All writers hate this question, but I’m going to ask it anyway. What inspires you?

Joe: It’s a perfectly legitimate question. It comes from multiple sources, some more prominent than others, and it depends on the project. First of all, fast-approaching deadlines are probably the most effective form of inspiration, and I only say that with some jest. I think the one thing that holds true with any lyric I write is that it was brought on by something that got stuck in my mind or heart that I just needed to get out of myself and onto a page. It’s really a form of venting more than anything else. My story songs are usually based off something I encountered or read about or saw on the news that shook me to my core. Love songs have pretty much come from the same muse for some time now, but in respect to that individual I shouldn’t go into greater detail on that subject. Listening to other artists do great work often gets me going, so I’ll usually end up writing after listening to any Bruce Springsteen album or watching a Stephen Sondheim musical. If I’m writing music for someone else’s lyric, which I’ve been doing much more frequently in the last month or so, it’s a much more technical, systematic process. I start with melody, because that should always be what drives a song if you want to make it memorable and natural sounding, then the accompaniment tends to just sort of find itself on its own.

Cayla: I ask this of all guests because so many of the readers of this blog are wonderfully book-crazy. Would you mind sharing a few of your favorite books/authors with us?

Joe: Absolutely. Hugo’s Les Miserables has always been one of my favorites, one of the best parts about doing the show a few years ago was it gave me a reason to tackle that 1,500 page beast again. Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis is something that I feel everyone should read. It’s an autobiographical account of a woman who grew up in Iran when the Shah was overthrown and the religious fundamentalists took control. Art Spiegelman’s Maus is right up there, and is probably one of the most important graphic novels ever published.

Cayla: Last week for Celebrity Saturday, I did an interview with David Andino, whom you know. How would you describe him in five words or less?

Joe and David during the college days.

Joe: “Unfairly gifted, sexy Puerto Rican.”

Cayla: Is there anything you’d like to add about yourself, your experiences, or a topic I totally missed?

Joe: You were pretty thorough. I just want to quickly acknowledge my awesome P.R. team of Mark DiConzo who designed and built my website and Andrew Williams who does my poster and cover work, as well as the photographers who took many of the above photographs, Travis Nunes who did my most recent headshots, Dan Quinn and Ian Hanson. I’d like to remind everyone once again to check out the film’s Kickstarter page and strongly consider making a pledge.

All I’d like to add is that I really appreciate you having me as your guest this week. And if you ever see David Andino, kick him in the shin for me, because he is so friggin’ talented that it just upsets me sometimes (unless of course he’s singing my songs or directing my shows, in which case, I have no complaints).

Thank you so much to Joe for being here this week! Check him out at the following sites:

Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Joe Schermann Official Website

To learn more about 'How Do You Write a Joe Schermann Song' check out:

JoeSchermannSong.com

And a little bonus...

David and Joe perform "A Miracle Would Happen"

Thanks to all!

Cayla

HarlequinTEEN and April 1st Reveal!!

2011-03-24T14:03:00.001-05:00

I've blogged about this a little here and a little there, but I want to confirm that the release date for HarlequinTEEN's (amazing) edition of Legacy is June 28th, 2011.

As we approach that release date, there's going to be a ton of fun and interesting info coming out about this edition. I'll be doing more interviews, reviews will be popping up, final cover art will be revealed, and I will at some point be doing a giveaway of a few signed copies of the book (more details to come).

The start of this exciting leg of the journey will be April 1st, 2011. Keep an eye out here at Offkey for updates, and make sure you follow these pages where bonus material may be available:

Cayla Kluver on Facebook
Cayla Kluver on Twitter
HarlequinTEEN on Facebook
HarlequinTEEN on Twitter

If you are a blogger, journalist, reviewer, etc. and are interested in doing an interview with me and/or receiving a review copy of the book, please send an email to Publicity[at]CaylaKluver.com and you will be directed to the appropriate source.

Thank you all so much - I'll be in touch!

Looking forward to April 1st,

Cayla

Wednesday... Gotta Love Where-It's-At

2011-03-23T12:53:00.000-05:00

Alrighty, so first off, on April 1st, "where it's at" will be right here on Offkey because there's a humongously awesome reveal coming. Stay tuned, and make sure you check back on the 1st (it's not an April Fools prank, I promise! ...Or is it? Just kidding, really, it isn't. S'gonna be faaabulous).

On Saturday there's another great Celebrity interview coming up with the one and only Mr. Joseph Schermann - check him out on Facebook in advance! If you didn't read last week's interview with David Andino, you can get it here.

Now, on to "Where-It's-At", which is what I'm supposed to be doing today...

Jessica Verday: Being Gay is Okay

Quite a controversy developing regarding the Wicked Pretty Things anthology, with a very important message from The Hollow Trilogy author Jessica Verday.

Oasis for YA: Win a Critique!

Oasis for YA has hit 300 followers and as a thank-you they're offering the chance for you to win a query letter or first chapter critique from all five of the lovely hosts. Enter by April 1st!

The Story Siren: Nevermore Giveaway

Yesterday I included Nevermore by Kelly Creagh in my Need2Read list, and lo and behold, the glorious Story Siren is hosting a giveaway of the book in question! Go and enter (the Siren does a TON of giveaways guys... you should hang out at her place).

YA Bibliophile: Top Ten Bookish Pet-Peeves

This list cracked me up... and also sounded quite familiar....

Write Anything: An Appeal For Writers!

Write Anything is looking for guest posters and two new regular columnists. If you write, CHECK THIS OUT.

whatchYAreading?: Introducing Our New Podcast

whatchYAreading, known for their book reviews that don't just summarize but discuss books they've enjoyed, has started a podcast. I am way excited for this.

So that's the news for this week I think... remember to stop back on April 1st, and vote on the poll to your right (if you're on site, that is) about what you think the big reveal will be!

Thanks for reading,

Cayla

Need2Read 3/22/11

2011-03-22T12:40:00.000-05:00

Need2Read is a weekly meme hosted by Offkey wherein you post a list of one or more books you absolutely NEED to read. Post your list on your blog, leave a comment here, and get a comment in return. Or just share your Need2Reads here!

1. Choker by Elizabeth Woods

I've heard this book has one hell of a twist in it. Like, the synopsis is misleading in that it can't give anything away. I LOVE books like that. I've also heard it's terrifying. I'm a sucker for anything and everything scary.

2. Entwined by Heather Dixon

The synopsis of this one left me dying to know who/what The Keeper is. That's enough to land it on my Need2Read list.

3. London Deep by Robin Price & Paul McGrory

I heard about this book thanks to YA Highway (check out their synopsis/review). I'm not a big reader of graphic novels, so I'm really feeling like I should give them more of a shot. This sounds like a great dystopian story.

4. The Borgia Bride by Jeanne Kalogridis

Who doesn't love epic historical fiction? I have to read this one, especially since I just found out that Showtime has a new show, "The Borgias".

5. Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

Anyone read this one? With all the Poe references, I couldn't resist putting it on the list.

And there are my Need2Reads for this week! What are yours?

Criminal Minds: AWESOME Behavior

2011-03-21T11:44:00.001-05:00

Okay, I am back! And I just want to say this:

Hot British Sniper

Regular readers of this blog know who that is. That is Hot British Sniper (aka Mick Rawson played by Matt Ryan) from Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior. Now I'm a person who has exceptional faith in the Criminal Minds machine. I am an uber-fan. But I can easily admit that Suspect Behavior had a little trouble finding its footing right off the bat.

As of their latest episode, which I didn't get to watch until yesterday, I feel like they totally have it down. The flow was there, great character relationships are developing, they've figured out definitively that Forrest Whitaker and Hot British Sniper are their strongest characters (although all the actors are fantastic), and I think they're ready to roll.

Revelation: I obsess over television show relationships. Actually, just relationships in general. I'm particularly fascinated by father-son dynamics I think because I don't have any brothers and I lack faith in father figures (this is getting introspective and psychological - I have tons of male friends whom I love to bits so don't take that statement as the cold and depressing reveal it sounds like).

Anyway, all this rambling is going somewhere - I'm going to rave about the relationship CM is building between Mick (Hot British Sniper) and Cooper (Forrest Whitaker).

First off, we know that the two met while Mick was on some sort of British special ops mission, and that they went through something pretty traumatic together. Through the dialogue and the finesse of the actors we get the sense that they are very close -- but the fact isn't forced on us, which I LOVE. I.E., Mick lives the life of an escapist bachelor outside of his job, and he himself says, "Coop can always tell when I've had a rough night." In the same scene, Cooper goes on to say, "Rough night, Mick?"

When Mick is really tense and angry at the end of the episode "One Shot Kill", Cooper knows it without Mick having said a word, and challenges him to a marshal arts fight, which Mick initially refuses. Cooper cajoles him into it (makes him angry enough that he attacks), and it's exactly what Mick needs to blow off that steam and yell a little bit.

At the end of "Here is the Fire" Mick and Cooper have a talk about their military past together. Mick reveals that it's not his job with the FBI that keeps him from sleeping at night, it's memories of being in the war. "The harder I try to forget, the more clearly I remember," he says. It's a really interesting bonding moment -- or rather, its an interesting moment for the viewers to see the bond that already exists.

And that's what I love about what the Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior crew and actors are doing -- it really is like we've stepped into a pre-existing relationship, and little by little we get to understand it. Cooper and Mick are portrayed as equals in terms of skill and dedication, but there is a true father-son dynamic developing between them. Cooper is older and calmer, more introspective and intuitive; Mick is a bit hot-headed and wants to act. The characters play so well off of each other. I hope hope hope the writers keep this going.

Bravo I say.

Anyway, that concludes my latest fanfare/parade about Suspect Behavior. I am much the excited for the next episode!

Cayla

Celebrity Saturday: Meet David Andino

2011-03-19T21:41:00.002-05:00

He's been a friend of mine since I met him after his performance of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead and he agreed to play King Adrik in a promo video for the self-published edition of Legacy. Sometimes he goes by David, sometimes by D, sometimes by Dino, and sometimes he prefers to be called Ezio (when we're playing Assassin's Creed). But he's always a bursting bubble of personality -- you will never meet someone more fun and fantastic than David Andino. And so everyone... meet David!

Cayla: Welcome, Dino! You are an actor. How frequently do you get asked what restaurant you work in?

David: I've actually never been asked that, oddly. However, I have asked several actors that question... while they were working... in a restaurant.

Cayla: Have you always loved acting?

David: I have. But not always theatre... my first love of acting was from film... Grease and Die Hard. Awesome films.

David as Martin in "The Professionals"

Cayla: What initially drew you to the profession?

David: I realized I could goof off in front of a bunch of people and not get detention for it.

Cayla: You have a fabulous singing voice as well. What kind of training have you had?

David: Why, thanks. My training up through high school was Stevie Wonder, The Lion King soundtrack, Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. When I got to college they forced me into voice lessons...but I still studied my way at home. Ha.

Cayla: Do you ever get nervous before performances?

David: I don't. I usually get nervous leading up to performance day...but when that day comes, I usually just ride the cool wave... of cool.

Cayla: You were recently in New York for "The Dude Hates Cancer". Could you tell us a little about what that entailed, and what the experience was like?

David: It was amazing. I was asked to perform a bunch of songs in front of a bunch of people I didn't know. When that opportunity comes, its refreshing because its like you're starting over again. It's exhilarating. It was my first ever performance in NY and it was a blast. I plan to move out there soon!

Cayla: What was your favorite show to be a part of, and why?

David: My favorite would have to be Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead because I was cast opposite my buddy Harry. And we have been working together for years...its like all our hard work led to this show. I'll never forget that. Harry, Luh you dawg.

Cayla: Is it true that your family once deep-fried a turkey?

David: They've done it twice. No fires. Kinda.

Cayla: Since most visitors to this blog are readers, what are some of your favorite books?

David: True Grit, Green Eggs and Ham, and anything Crichton.

Cayla: Your favorite theatre shows?

David: Pillowman. Glengarry Glen Ross. Ragtime. Les Miserables. Urinetown.

Cayla: Can you clue us into what you're working on right now?

David: I'm currently doing Rent in Las Vegas at Green Valley Ranch. We play Wednesdays at 8:00 pm in Ovation! I play Collins. Yes... I kiss a dude.

Cayla: Is there anything you'd like to add as a finishing touch?

David: Raul sucks peace. (Anyone who knows me will get that.)

You can find and follow David on the following sites:

YouTube
Filmaka
IMDB

Make sure you check out those links, and if you're anywhere in the vicinity of Vegas... stop in and see David as Collins in Rent!

Thank you so much to David for being here today -- peace out, y'all!

<3 Cayla

Where It's At This Week

2011-03-16T18:03:00.000-05:00

Well, it's a sad day today - my Grandpa Bert died this morning. He was a silent, stoic, intelligent, hilarious, wonderful, good man. That last bit especially can't be said about a lot of people, but he was a good man and he lived a very long life. He's with my grandma again now, and though I'll miss him a ton, I know he's happy with her. If you would, just send your thoughts and prayers his way. :) Thank you.

It's Wednesday, so I want to share some of my favorite links and articles of the last week with you.

Where It's At:

Wow! Women on Writing: Hocus Pocus Focus

Yet again, Women on Writing tackles a common writer-ly issue with amazing logic -- how to confront and rid yourself of writer's block. Or in other words, cut the hocus pocus.

Dear Teen Me: Author Clare B. Dunkle

A great letter over at Dear Teen Me. The highlight for me is when Dunkle points out: "Teens are the last minority against which members of our society can utter the cruel comments it formerly lavished on women and members of other races..."

YA Highway: Owning Your Story

Another "kick the author in the butt" post. Quit blaming your characters for not writing themselves! As my older sister Cara would say, this is the baseball bat of tough love.

YA Highway: How to Donate to Japan

We're all thinking about it. Here are some great options.

Write Anything: Hercule Poirot Never Shoveled Snow

Taking Agatha Christie's advice ("The best time to plan a novel is when you're doing the dishes.") and exploring it until you can't ignore it.

Dear Teen Me: Author Sara Zarr

Last, but definitely not least, this Dear Teen Me letter is all about what a "friend" really is. Read it and think about the people you've surrounded yourself with, as well as the kind of friend you are to the people around you. Wonderful food for thought/reality check.

I've got a ton more articles in my list that I could share, but I'm going to save them for next week. Back soon!

Love,

Cayla

Need2Read 3/15/11

2011-03-15T13:36:00.000-05:00

Need2Read is a weekly meme hosted by Offkey wherein you post a list of one or more books you absolutely NEED to read. Post your list on your blog, leave a comment here, and get a comment in return. Or just share your Need2Reads here!

This week's Need2Read list...

1. Scars by Cheryl Rainfield

This book has been the subject of some controversy as I understand it -- that makes me all the more eager to read it, and all the more confident that it tackles a difficult topic with the utmost realism and no holds barred.

2. Sunshine by Robin McKinley

I have not read anything by Robin McKinley, which, as I'm thinking about it now, is really weird. I don't know much about this book, but the YA Bibliophile says it's fabulous, and it's the only book of McKinley's she's ever picked out of the horror section. Praise has been heaped on it, that cover is beyond awesome, and who doesn't love vampires? Especially if they're scary. Anyone familiar with this book and have an opinion?

3. The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander

Seen that Disney movie that has no business being a kid's movie, The Black Cauldron? Well, I shouldn't say it has no business being a kid's movie -- as a kid I loved it. But it is pretty much terrifying. This is the first book in that series. And I'm actually fudging a little by putting this on my Need2Read list -- a copy (with this cover!) is on the shelf next to me. :)

4. The Art of War by Sun Tzu

This is kind of an obvious one. I write so much about kingdoms at war that it's about time I got my hands on The Art of War. Even Glee references this book.

5. The Murder Room by Michael Capuzzo

Okay, I'm not going to lie: this book has me completely intrigued and confused. It's in the "true crime" section at my local Borders, which makes sense because it deals with true crimes, but from what I can tell it's set up like a fiction novel. If you have read this book, please enlighten me! I'm going to buy it no matter what because, like I said, it sounds super intriguing, but it's going to drive me insane if I purchase it without knowing what genre it actually is.

And that's my Need2Read list for this week! All pretty dark stuff, I just realized. Glimpse into the mind of Cayla: the darker the better. I never, and I repeat never, read light fiction. If it's happy or funny, I avoid it like the plague. I have a feeling I'm missing out on some fabulous books because of it, so I should really challenge myself it that department. Next week's Need2Read! ;)

Oh, by the way, the series Memorias de Idhún by Laura Gallego was recommended to me as well, and I would love to check it out and bumble through it -- but being that I don't speak Spanish very well, um... which book is the first one? :P

Thanks!

Cayla

P.S. Mark April 1st on your calendar. Big fun coming up....

Self-Help or No-Help? Share Your Opinion.

2011-03-14T15:59:00.000-05:00

First off, that last post (the Celebrity Saturday interview with Anna Johnson) was my 100th post on this blog. Huzzah!

So here are my musings for the day, infused with a lot of questions for you guys.

Self-help books. I've never actually read one, but they seem alright. They seem important in a society where (this is going to sound incredibly glum) most people probably aren't happy with their lives. They're about building confidence, right? Learning who you are? Learning to accept that person?

Obviously there are self-help books out there that ask to be made fun of, just as there are "mock-me" books in every genre. But it seems like most people I talk to have a really cyncial, condescending view of these presumably positive books. It could just be my circle of friends (we do tend to be a bit cynical), or it could be more widespread than I realize.

Earlier I wrote about how detective fiction has kind of a bad rap amongst literary devotees (though it hasn't hurt the genre sales!). Now I'm wondering about self-help books. Why do so many people seem to scoff at them? Are there self-help books that send unhelpful messages? Has a self-help book benefitted you or someone you know? Have you read any, and if so, what are your favorites and least favorites, and why?

I'm thinking I have to investigate this myself by buying something from this genre -- thoughts and suggestions from all sides of the table are much appreciated.

Be excellent to each other (and look that up if you don't know what it's from),

Cayla

Celebrity Saturday: Meet Anna Johnson

2011-03-12T02:05:00.001-06:00

She's a Wisconsin girl who's broken from the beaten path to pursue her dreams. Anna Johnson is the talented, beautiful musician behind "Ready to Go" and "Roller Coaster Love". Emulating Alison Krauss and Norah Jones, with the smile and appeal of Sara Bareilles, she embodies ambition, humility, and the love of family (she plays with her sister, Julia). Everyone, meet Anna!

Cayla: Welcome Anna! Tell us a little about your debut CD, Ready to Go.

Anna: I don't know where to begin! I moved to TN in September 2009 with only one plan: record an album. When I got here I didn't know a single person but Billy Smiley (producer), who actually doesn't live in TN, but comes to town when he has work. Between October '09 and April '10 I spent weeks here and there recording songs and preparing for the release. The album itself is a compilation of songs about life and love - as usual. I write from my heart, and every song on the record is a part of me in some way or another; "Damaged and Bruised" came straight out of a long and difficult heartbreak, and "M.U.S.I.C." is a song I wrote about Julia and me when I was here in TN without her. I'm so proud of the album because it turned out exactly as I'd hoped - if not better! I was involved every step of the way and learned more than I could have imagined. It's a part of me, really, and I can't wait for it to really break out and be heard!

Cayla: Has music always been an important part of your life?

Anna: Music has always been important to me even though it wasn't until college that I really decided to pursue it as a career. When I was a little girl I thought my daddy was famous. He and his uncle and brother write and sing together in a group called The Blessings Gospel Trio. They perform at churches and events all over the Midwest, and I used to sing along, help sell CDs and even get on stage every once in awhile. I was surrounded by music and it helped shape and form me into the musician I am now. I took piano lessons for several years, grew up listening to Julia's classical violin training, heard daddy strum away at the guitar and mama play beautiful songs on the upright piano in our living room. I danced around while Grandma played kids' songs and hymns on her piano or on Grandpa's old record player, and I remember noodling around with various instruments whenever I could. I have so many beautiful memories revolving around music, so I'll say it again: music has always been important to me.

Cayla: When did you start playing, and when did covers turn into your own original music?

Anna: Funny you should phrase the question that way :). After learning 4 chords when I was 16, I wrote my very first song, "Forever and Always". It was only after that that I began playing others!

Cayla: You're a fantastic guitar player - did you teach yourself to play?

Anna: You are very kind. I did teach myself to play, but with the help of various friends along the way. I learn best by watching others and jamming with them, so I owe a lot of ideas and creative sparks to people gracious enough to spend time playing with me! My father taught me a great deal, as well. I actually learned to play on his old guitar and he encouraged me along the way. He'd come home and show me tricks and chords, progressions and finger-picking patterns. He actually taught me the chord progression for "Sweet Whispers" - a song from "Roller Coaster Love". He deserves the most recognition for my playing . . .

Julia and Anna Johnson

Cayla: What part of being a musician do you enjoy more - the solitude of working on your music or being on stage?

Anna: Being on stage is nothing but joy! All my worries disappear when I'm speaking with an audience and sharing my songs with them. The writing, rehearsing, preparing and pouring myself out is part of the process, but when my hard work is shared and enjoyed I remember why I love doing what I do.

It's about the people and the way they take and react to the music I'm giving. What a reward it is to know I'm doing something that touches others . . .

Cayla: What is the weirdest experience you've had as a result of pursuing your music?

Anna: Oh my goodness. Could it be the time my guitar case flew out of the back of a friend's station wagon? Or the time I lost my voice on the way to a show because I was singing too loudly with the windows down? Perhaps it was when I showed up at the wrong venue entirely or all the times I dropped my guitar pick in the middle of a song? Maybe the weirdest experience of all was writing the verses to "Falling" during my 30-minute break at Starbucks or playing phone tag with Amy Grant for a few weeks. It could have been when I came home to WI and people I'd never met before recognized me. Or maybe when I had my first request for a signed photograph. You know . . . I've had a lot of very strange experiences, and there's no way to deem one of them "weirdest". Seems like every day is an adventure and every week turns into a tornado of mishaps and successes. My life. Is nuts.

Cayla: I understand you at one time won a prestigious scholarship based on your song, "Flowers on Monday". You ultimately decided to travel and play for audiences instead - was that a difficult decision for you to make or did you know what road you needed to take?

Anna: Big question :).

After two years studying art at two different colleges and being completely displaced and distracted, it was time I made the decision to stick with something. Though I was hesitant, music became that magical something and it changed my life. Since I live in Nashville now, this part of the story is ironic. Ready? See, my parents encouraged me to go to school for music, and I was given two main options: McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul, MN or Belmont University in Nashville, TN. I remember shutting down Belmont in a split second because, "There's no way I'm moving that far away! Nashville? Yeah right! I'm not good enough, first of all, and second, it's just too far away! Are you CRAZY?"

My reaction was something like that . . .
And it's pretty funny now.

Anyway, McNally was my safety-net-choice, but it turned out to be the perfect bridge between where I was then and where I am today. I applied for the school, was accepted, and was encouraged by one of the admissions reps to apply for scholarships as well. Since a Bachelor's in Music in Songwriting and Composition (so official, right?) was my major of choice, the songwriting scholarship was my best option. I had no expectations, and in fact didn't really believe it was worth the time and energy to fill out the application, but I did it anyway. What could I lose? I sent a burned copy of the then recently-recorded version of "Flowers On Monday" and a lyric sheet and I checked it off my list. A few weeks later I received notice that I was one of TWO finalists for the scholarship. Whoa. Seriously? I was shocked! I told a few people who told people who told more people and ultimately everyone seemed to know about it. No pressure, right? HA! I spent the summer of 2008 waiting to hear the results of the scholarship as the school had passed the two of us on to the rock band Queen, who had the ultimate say. They were, after all, the ones paying for the selected student to attend school for the next four years.

Ultimately, in June of 2008 I found out I won the scholarship and it was the validation I needed. I finally believed music wasn't just a hobby; it was my calling. It IS my calling.

Now to the second part of your question . . .

I'm wordy. Sorry.

:)

After studying at McNally Smith from 2008-2009, a producer from Nashville contacted me to say he saw potential in my singing and songwriting abilities. Now, I was content where I was and was NOT about to leave. I thought the guy was creepy and though I was flattered, I wasn't entertaining the thought of Nashville. Again, I was hesitant.

(Do I need a shotgun blast in my ear to get me to believe music is it? Good grief, Anna.)

I ignored the producer for quite some time, but my parents had their "parent-ly" feelings again and encouraged me to see what he had in mind. When the school year was through and I was home for the summer, I (rolled my eyes and) called him to find out he was going to be in Nashville the following week for some work. Turns out my family was about to go on a vacation out west, so we re-routed and met with him in toasty hot Tennessee. Nerrrrrr-vous. Indeed. Yep.

We met Billy Smiley one afternoon in July at his little cottage studio on Franklin Road in Franklin, TN, just south of Nashville. He was whacky and fun and the studio was nothing like I'd expected. It was creaky and small and the kitchen was stocked with sweets and junk foods. There were coffee mugs all over the place and the laundry machines were stacked beside the fridge. The bathroom floor seemed slanty and what looked like carpeted mattresses were standing up along the walls to block the road noise. I was intrigued.

My family spent the day with him and I went back the next day to chat one-on-one and get a feel for him. Being the nut I am, I ended up pouring my heart out, sharing songs, crying a little bit, asking questions, and realizing I was supposed to be in Nashville after all.

During that trip I made up my mind and changed it. Made it again. Changed it again. I cried every night as I looked up potential housing arrangements and studied the town. My family went home and it was time to come to a conclusion.

I chose Tennessee.

Now, the scholarship was HUGE. Okay. HUGE. I had this gut-wrenching feeling I was meant to be in TN, so I decided to go, but I held on to the scholarship and the school by switching things around and being a distant-ed kid. The school helped me make a schedule that would fit my new lifestyle, which included a made-up internship at Billy's studio. I kept track of all my sessions and meetings, outings, tours, writers' round and live music experiences. I blogged about it and did what I could to learn and grow via immersion into the industry itself. It was fabulous.

Christmas came around, however, and the courses I would need to finish my B.M. couldn't be done online. It was stay in TN and lose the scholarship OR move back to MN for the next couple of years. Oh boy.

Here's how I saw it in the end (though it was a difficult decision to make):

I get Kohls coupons in the mail. Sometimes they're as much as 30% off! I get really excited and go to Kohls to use that fabulous coupon however I can. Oh man, do I use it. Ohhhh. Man.

But wait.

Did I need anything from Kohls?

Did I really HAVE to use that coupon?

Hmmm.

The scholarship was wonderful. Life-changing. Validating. Reassuring. Encouraging. A blessing beyond belief.

But I didn't need it to do what I was called to do.

Living and learning in Nashville, and using my abilities hands-on, was exactly what I needed to do.

It's what I'm still doing.

It's what I'll keep doing.

I may not be in Nashville much longer, but I might be here for 10 years.

Seems any plans I've made on my own in the past few years have been completely blown out of the water by those said "shotgun blasts in my ear".

I'm ready for anything and I'm not going to be so dense.

Good grief, me.

Music is what I'm made for and though I don't know in what ways, to what capacity, or even where, I'm sure music is it.

Music. Is. It.

Life is full of difficult choices, but for now I'm confident I am where I'm supposed to be.

Cayla: Which of your songs is your favorite and why?

Anna: Oh my! What a question! "Always" is my all-time favorite song to sing live because it's passionate; "Someday" is fun to listen to because I recall the summer months and exciting days in the studio, and I always favor my most recent song while it's fresh.

Right now, like RIGHT NOW, my favorite song is "Getting Over You".

It's on the upcoming EP/album. Haven't decided which it's going to be. 7 songs or more? We will see, my friends. We. Will. See.

Cayla: Because there are a lot of readers who visit my blog, I'm going to veer off topic a bit and ask, what kinds of books do you enjoy?

Anna: I really enjoy biographies and autobiographies. History stories. War novels. Old-fashioned, tender-hearted love stories. Books that pull on my heart. "Anne of Green Gables" is my all-time favorite movie, and anything remotely in that realm is faaaaabulous.

Attend Anna's EP Release concert on April 30th; details below!

Cayla: Just for fun... what is the strangest compliment you've ever received?

Anna: Music-related or non? Hmmm.

A man once told me I look like a young female version of Val Kilmer. He said I could be his cousin. His much younger cousin, mind you. I think he was trying to compliment me . . .

I wasn't pleased.

I'm often told I look Russian, too, but can't pinpoint what that means.

Cayla: Is there anything else you'd like to add as we wrap things up?

Anna: I want to invite all of you to Chippewa Falls Senior High School (735 Terrill Street in Chippewa Falls, WI) on Saturday, April 30th for a really exciting show at 7:00 PM. Tickets are $10 and I will be announcing all of the show details online in just a few days.

My Nashville band is coming and it includes my sister on vocals and violin, Travis on the mandolin and a second fiddle, Jason on the bass guitar, Chris on drums and percussion, David on the nylon string guitar, and me on vocals and guitar.

There MIGHT be special guests and there will MOST DEFINITELY be new songs and stories.

If you were a part of last year's CD release concert, expect a MUCH better show this time.

Longer set (2 hours with a short break), more chatting, an EP release and a limited number of FREE copies, a cool vibe, great stage lighting, and more.
Please come be a part of it! It's going to be HUGE.

To find out more about Anna and check out her music, visit her on the following sites:

MySpace
Facebook
Twitter
ReverbNation
Anna Johnson Music
YouTube

Anna's sister Julia, who is an integral part of "Anna Johnson Music" can be found here:

Twitter
Julia Johnson Music

Of Julia, Anna would like to add:

"I'll reference her most of the time since she lives here in TN with me. You know, I didn't say much about her, but there are STORIES upon STORIES about the two of us. We'll save that for a second interview ;)."

Thank you so much to Anna for visiting Offkey! I would just like to say that I personally am a humongous fan of Anna's music, and I think you all will love it too. Keep in mind her big show coming up on April 30th! Comment away....

<3 Cayla

Why "Glee" Rocks My Socks

2011-03-11T19:00:00.001-06:00

I own the first season of Glee on DVD and watch every new episode as it comes out, because the show is colorful and musical and fun. At least, that's all I chalked it up to.

A friend of mine who wasn't acquainted with the show was over at my house the other day, so I popped in an episode, and my friend brought something to my attention that I'd overlooked.

Particularly in reference to the characters of Kurt and Mercedes, she said, "Why are they so stereotypical?"

Mercedes and Kurt

Don't misunderstand, she loved the show, but in that first episode, there really does seem to be an overabundance of stereotypes, UNTIL (and this is why Glee is awesome) the puppetmasters of the show totally do a 180 on you, point their collective finger, and say, "You were seeing these people as stereotypes, weren't you?"

I know it's something that every author, TV show, and movie tries to do -- take what's cemented in people's minds and give it a twist. But Glee does more than that. They introduce every character as exactly what you would expect them to be in the recesses of your mind (which you try to pretend don't exist). And then they strip it all back and show you that people are people no matter what shape, size, creed or color they come in. It makes me think of Natasha Bedingfield's song Strip Me:

Natasha Bedingfield - Strip Me Official Music Video

"If you strip me, strip it all away, what would you find?"

Finn is a stupid football jock who helps throw Kurt in the dumpster until the writers show you that, not only does he love music, but he is possibly the most caring human being on the series.

Rachel is the over-confident, ego-centric, let's face it, really annoying kid with delusions of grandeur who we all hated in high school. But the writers proceed to show us that Rachel is insecure, terrified of failure -- not in terms of her future (she doesn't worry about that), but in terms of having friends and relationships and being a decent person. She tries too hard, but I personally love her because she tries.

Kurt is gay, and the writers let you run rampant with all the associated stereotypes until it turns out Kurt is the only one able to bring success and morale to the football team (didn't see that coming, huh?). Throughout the show, he struggles, he cries, he kicks some serious ass, and he cultivates one of the most inspiring father-son relationships I've probably ever seen. He is one heck of a strong person.

Mercedes is another character who starts out the victim of a stereotype based on her race and culture, but she turns out to be one of the most talented, sweetest, warmest people on the show. She is open and honest and classy.

Artie is a rockstar in a wheelchair. 'Nuff said.

Quinn comes out the gate as "The Cheerleader" (you know what I mean). But as she develops, we see that she's just as terrified as Rachel is, and yearns for her parents' approval and a place where she doesn't have to be perfect all the time.

Goodness, that's what I want. So go Glee. Keep flipping people's opinions on their heads. And I'll keep watching because that's what you do. And because you're colorful and musical and fun, of course.

Random Cayla rant (not really a rant this time... shpeel?) over.

Cayla out.

Avon Calling!

2011-03-10T21:07:00.001-06:00

You've all watched that scene in Edward Scissorhands where Dianne Wiest comes to the door of that huge abandoned mansion and says, "Avon calling!"

If you haven't, you're seriously missing out on one of the most repeated (at least in my family) lines in movie history.

Cara, who will sell you Avon.

Anyway, the point is, my big sister Cara is a huge proponent of Avon (being that she sells it). So here's the deal: go to www.youravon.com/ckluver to check out Avon supplies and buy your makeup, hair products, deodorant (for 89 cents!), face wash (which has been proven to work just as well as Proactiv and costs half the price - note, I'm not a sales representative and I don't have the actual numbers but there is a HUGE price reduction).

Avon is able to sell their quality products for such reduced prices because they have no physical stores to maintain -- everything goes straight from their warehouses to your hands through direct delivery. In addition, Avon supports women's charities and awareness groups for violence against women (more info on-site), and has been serving women's needs for 100 years (should I have gone into marketing or what?).

For more information on what Avon can do for you, visit www.youravon.com/ckluver, and feel free to email Cara with your questions at cbkluver[at]gmail.com. She also does in-person meetings to discuss what products will work best for you.

Basically, if you want to support the arts and make sure my sister doesn't starve, please -- buy Avon.

All the best,

<3 Cayla

Wednesday is Where-It's-At

2011-03-09T15:37:00.000-06:00

I'm thinking of implementing more of a schedule for my blog (hence the "____ day of week" posts recently). It may or may not last, but if you've been wondering what the heck I'm doing, that's the deal. ;) (Don't worry, I still fully plan to go on random Cayla rants.)

These days I'm frequenting quite a few blogs and websites, and I want to share some of my favorite articles with you.

"Where-It's-At":

Smart Bitches, Trashy Books

The Blind Teaching the Reader: An Interview

As I posted on Twitter, this article really made me think. How accomodating is the literary world to those with disabilities?

Smart Bitches, Trashy Books (again - SBTB for the win!)

Sizzling Book Club Pick: Bitter Melon by Cara Chow

If this isn't awesome, I don't know what is: "As usual, if you use SBTBARE at checkout, you will get a 50% eBook Bucks Rebate at AllRomance.com, the official sponsor of the Sizzling Book Club."

Scars: Your Stories

Cheryl Rainfield, author of Scars, hosts this wonderful website where you are encouraged to share your struggles and/or stories of abuse. I know that this website will become a safe haven for people dealing with difficult situations.

YA Highway

Like Mandarin Debut Day Giveaway

YA Highway is hosting a giveaway of Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard. The entry deadline is March 19th, so get over there!!!

Write Anything

I Love Words

Lastly, for you writers out there - read this article, and don't be afraid of your vocabulary!

I almost constantly link to sites and articles I'm enjoying through my Twitter account (@CaylaKL - still trying to combat the impersonator debacle!) so if you like these posts, you may want to become a follower. There's another post coming up soon, either later today or tomorrow, about Avon of all things, so check back!

Thanks for reading,

Cayla

Need2Read Tuesday 3/8/11

2011-03-08T17:24:00.001-06:00

Well all, first things first... the Twitter imposter disaster is over! Twitter was wonderfully kind enough to step up and take care of the problem with such efficiency that I want to send them a humongous <3.

Still feel free to spread the word if you know anyone who has been confused by the matter!

Now, on to Need2Read.

Need2Read is a weekly meme hosted by Offkey wherein you post a list of one or more books you absolutely NEED to read.

Without further ado, here is my newest list of books I Need2Read:

1. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

I've heard this book starts a little slowly, but the story is absolutely fabulous. I haven't seen the movie and I'm thinking I should read the book first. Opinions? Have you read the book/seen the film version?

2. I Am J by Cris Beam

Synopsis: J always felt different. He was certain that eventually everyone would understand who he really was: a boy mistakenly born as a girl. Yet as he grew up, his body began to betray him; eventually J stopped praying to wake up a "real boy" and started covering up his body, keeping himself invisible - from his family, from his friends...from the world. But after being deserted by the best friend he thought would always be by his side, J decides that he's done hiding - it's time to be who he really is. And this time he is determined not to give up, no matter the cost. An inspiring story of self-discovery, of choosing to stand up for yourself, and of finding your own path - readers will recognize a part of themselves in J's struggle to love his true self.

I'm ecstatic about this book because I love literature that challenges its reader.

3. Leaving Atlanta by Tayari Jones

Synopsis: In her critically acclaimed debut, Tayari Jones explores the tragedy of the Atlanta Child Murders through the eyes of three unforgettable children.

I've never read anything by Tayari Jones before, but she has some of the best quotes on writing I've ever heard/read. Plus, with regard to this story about the Atlanta Child Murders, two of the victims were Jones' nine and ten year old classmates. I bet the perspective in this novel is just haunting.

4. After by Amy Efaw

This book is about a mature, straight-A girl who gets pregnant then tries to dispose of her baby in a dumpster and ends up in Juvenile Detention for attempted murder. This sounds like a deep, harrowing, important story. On a side note, I love the cover, with the reflection. Perfect for illustrating the title.

So those are my Need2Reads -- what are yours?

Cayla

P.S. Thanks to the wonderful YA Bibliophile, I now have copies of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen. A million hugs to YAB!!! You can follow her on her blog and on Twitter.

URGENT: Twitter Impersonator

2011-03-07T16:59:00.000-06:00

Well all, I discovered something very disturbing this morning. There is a person on Twitter, using the username @CaylaKluver, who is impersonating me. This person has cultivated 1300 followers and I wasn't even aware that it was happening.

To follow ME on Twitter, plug in the username @CaylaKL.

There are a number of things I'd like to say about this issue, but I'm going to try to keep it short and sweet. First, I feel violated and abused. Thankfully pretending to be me on Twitter has not allowed this person access to my personal life, but the idea that someone had the gall to use my name, my face, and my accomplishments to benefit him or herself is abhorrent and disgusting.

Second, I would like to apologize to my fans, especially the 1300 people who are currently following the fake Cayla Kluver. Whoever this person is has been responding to you, giving you updates, and misleading you. I adore every single one of my fans. I have the utmost respect for you, and I am monumentally grateful for your support. This person has taken advantage of you, and abused and violated your trust.

I have contacted Twitter about this problem. My publisher is looking at potential action to take. My agent is furious, and all of us are trying to spread the word and shut this account down.

What you can do to help:

   1) If you are following @CaylaKluver, un-follow this user immediately and instead follow me at @CaylaKL.

   2) Report the user @CaylaKluver for spam and inappropriate conduct to protect other users and encourage Twitter to examine this account.

   3) If you know anyone who is following @CaylaKluver, inform them about this scam at once, and direct them to the @CaylaKL Twitter page.

   4) Tweet about this, and re-tweet. Share anywhere and everywhere.

Thank you so much for your support, and hopefully together we can fix this situation.

Love and apologies,

Cayla

Guest Post at The Hate-Mongering Tart

2011-03-07T13:13:00.000-06:00

Check out my guest post at E. Kristin Anderson's blog "The Hate-Mongering Tart":

Writing "That Woman" by Cayla Kluver

The post is in honor of International Women's Week -- tweet, comment, share, and become a follower of E. Kristin Anderson's blog!

<3

Cayla

Celebrity Saturday: Meet Andrea

2011-03-05T14:01:00.002-06:00

She is a good friend of mine, who sometimes hijacks my Facebook fan page (don't worry, she always says when its her!). She started the page a couple of years back, encouraged me to get on Twitter, and has always been supportive of my writing. She runs her own interview blog called "Grammar Keels." I'm happy to introduce you all -- everyone, meet Andrea!

Cayla: Hi Andrea! Why don't you tell readers a little about yourself?

Andrea: Well Cayla, I am a cosmetology student at The Salon Professional Academy in Ames, Iowa. Where I will also be taking aesthetics and massage therapy. I absolutely LOVE cats. They are my greatest weakness. If you have a cat you win me over automatically. I have a very odd personality per se. Depending on who I am with my personality is different. Say, one group of friends my dirty minded personality shows, but with another, a sweet more conservative personality shows. I also have a few nicknames: Bob, Andi, Jack (also spelled Jagk), and now, thanks to Cayla, Tink.

Cayla: What would you say you are most passionate about?

Andrea: I am very passionate about music. It is the one thing that I have to be around constantly in order to be kept sane. Unless it is mainstream radio where you hear the same Ke$ha and Rhianna song 5 times in one hour. I dislike repetitive. I love going to shows and seeing a band perform live. There is just something about feeling the vibrations of the sound waves and the adrenaline rush that you and everyone around you has that feels so darn amazing!

Cayla: What's the best thing that has ever happened to you?

Andrea: I'm going to say my friends. The people I surround myself with made me who I am today. They formed the crazy, spunky, stubborn, sweet, compassionate girl that I am today.

Cayla: What's the worst thing?

Andrea: I would have to say my near death experience back in December. I had just left school and pulled out from a stop sign thinking it was clear to go. The next thing I knew there was another car in the drivers side of mine. The way my car turned out I am lucky to have walked away from that accident, let alone made it out alive. The sound of metal crunching on metal and glass shattering still rings in my ears.

Cayla: Do you like string beans?

Andrea: Yes in fact I do! Fresh picked ones are the best.

Cayla: Since most of the people who come to my website are book-lovers, who are some of your favorite writers?

Andrea: Some of my favorite writers would probably be: Melissa de la Cruz, Sarah Dessen (Lock and Key is excellent by the way. It was the first book I read by her), JK Rowling, CS Lewis, JRR Tolkein, Cayla Kluver (of course), Robin Jones Gunn, and Michael Cole.

Cayla: On your interview blog, you say you have friends in "highly low" places. You've interviewed me; what kinds of other people do you plan to interview?

Andrea: Well Cayla, the "Have friends in highly low places" is from a song "Whoa Oh! (Me vs. Everyone)" by Forever The Sickest Kids. Which actually goes "I've got friends in highly low places" I had that song stuck in my head while I was filling out the info section. I do plan on interviewing smaller bands, I have a few friends that are in bands that are willing to participate, authors, and whoever you throw at me. I really do appreciate the help! Especially the editing! My grammar and punctuation has never been the best.

Cayla: What inspired you to start your interview blog?

Andrea: Since August when a band I listen to, Hey Monday, released their EP(extended play for those who don't know) 'Beneath It All' I kind of wanted to write CD reviews. The more I sat on it the more I just didn't want to do the CD reviews. I then decided that interviews would be much better for me since I am a more Q&A sort of person. I love to ask questions! It's like I'm a very curious 5 year old.

Cayla: We're friends - the first time I remember seeing you, you came into Mr. L's classroom and argued with him about a hall pass. Do you remember the first time you saw/encountered me?

Andrea: I feel like I vaguely remember this situation. I did argue with Mr. L quite a bit. I was a student who liked to butt heads with teachers. Though I would say my first memory of you was when you were in a play but I don't quite remember what play. I feel like it was one where there was a dead body and Monte Carlo. I could be very wrong. I also remember seeing you walking through the wall just mesmerized by how pretty you are. It was like you were a complete mystery as well. My gosh I just sounded like a love struck teenage boy.

Cayla: Is there anything else you'd like to say to the awesome beyond awesome readers of this blog?

Andrea: "Well behaved women rarely make history." -Marilyn Monroe This woman inspires me!

Also, good choice in books everyone! Cayla is a great author and friend!

If you guys have any more questions for me, feel free to go to my blog "Grammar Keels" and click on the "Ask Me Anything" tab on the right side!

Thank you so much to Andrea for doing this interview - make sure you check out her blog!

Cayla

Grammar Keels and A Christmas Carol

2011-03-04T19:03:00.001-06:00

Hey all,

First off, I did an interview the other day with my friend Andrea, at her brand new blog "Grammar Keels". Just to entice you, the interview is entitled I Met Her When She Had Pink Hair.

Read synopses of E. Kristin
Anderson's books on her
website

Andrea can be credited with starting my Facebook fan page a couple of years ago, and more recently, with kicking my butt to get on Twitter. I encourage you to check out the interview, and stay posted on what she's up to - I know she's planning some really fun stuff... such as, coming here to "Offkey" soon to answer my questions (that's right, I get to do an interview for once!!!).

Also in the near future, I'll be doing a guest post for my wonderful acquaintance E. Kristin Anderson in honor of International Women's Week; the next two installments in the blog trio about Alera: Zeit der Rache will be showing up (ZdR releases on March 10th!!! Go here for an excerpt: Piper-Fantasy Leseprobe); and I'll be inaugurating Evy's "5 Questions For..." meme at L'Odyssée littéraire d'Evy (which will go up in English and French).

All that news aside, I finished A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. I'm not going to do a synopsis because if you don't know what A Christmas Carol is about, you need to fix this immediately, or at least rent a copy of The Muppet Christmas Carol. I loved the book - it was my first Dickens and once again all those years of assumptions took a beating inside my mind. Classics are not in fact books that are impossible to understand, and that therefore everyone claims to be able to understand. Charles Dickens is a fantastic writer. Simple as that.

That said, my favorite version of this story is still The Muppet Christmas Carol. Sorry, Charles.

Stay awesome!

Cayla

Freddie Krueger at the Desk

2011-03-03T19:34:00.002-06:00

Hey guys,

So I was browsing around the blogosphere the other day, and I checked up on Rachel Vincent's homepage (for those of you who don't know, RV is the author of the Soul Screamers series). I encourage you to read this post of hers regarding a rather rude comment she received anonymously:

In Response...

Did you read it? At least through about the rude comment I was referring to? Good. I'm not here to give comment on this particular incident (obviously Rachel handled it in a mature, classy fashion and doesn't need me to drag it out), but this all got me thinking about the major issue of internet anonymity.

Why oh why does anonymity - the ability to be nameless and faceless on someone's website - turn so many of us into jerks? I'm not innocent. I'll admit, I've been needlessly argumentative and contrary and probably even mean online before, never under my own name of course. But that was a huge mistake. It can be fun, the belief that you're insulated from the consequences of your own poor behavior. But truthfully the worst consequence is inescapable - the person on the other side of your words, who may be hurt, devastated, scared, or very, very angry about what you said.

In my lifetime, I've lived four houses down from a murderer, and more than one of my friends has attempted suicide. I've been alive for eighteen years, and had those experiences in my own backyard. There are millions and millions of people on the internet, some of whom are absolutely normal, some of whom are apt to hurt themselves, and some of whom would like to hurt you. You don't want to provoke any of them, just as I didn't want to give my neighborhood killer the finger or mock my troubled friends. Be respectful, be kind, and remember that when talking to someone on the internet, you may as well be talking to them face-to-face, for the damage words can do to you and others.

On the internet, you never know who you may be talking to.

I've been chatting recently with some of the people working at Jodi's Voice, an organization started to promote awareness of stalking as a serious crime. Jodi Sanderholm was kidnapped and murdered in 2007 by her stalker. I encourage you to visit the website, read about the crime of stalking, and make sure you know the best ways to stay safe, both online and off.

Above all, just remember that you're important, and that our world is not 100% safe. Debate is healthy; online warfare is not. And unlike Rachel Vincent's anonymous commenter, please don't say anything on the internet that you wouldn't say to someone's face. It's as much a matter of protecting yourself as it is of protecting them.

Hearts and hugs,

Cayla

Need2Read Meme

2011-03-01T19:35:00.000-06:00

I don't know if this counts as starting a meme or not. I'm going to start regularly posting a list of books I need to get my hands on, and I'm gonna stick this logo with it:

And you guys are welcome to stick that logo on your blog and post your own list of books under the title "Need2Read". If you leave a link to your Need2Read blog post in the comments, and I will check it out and leave you a comment in return! (Make sure you link back to http://www.caylakluver.com/ when using this logo.) Thanks!

Without further ado, here's my current list of books I absolutely Need2Read:

1. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

Here's something that will shock you all: I haven't actually read anything by Toni Morrison yet. That's why I absolutely have to get my hands on this one.

2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

You all have the right to be disgusted with me. No, I haven't read The Hunger Games yet. I'm disgusted with me. That's why it's on my Need2Read list!

3. The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

This book sounds fascinating. I love the concept and I LOVE that cover. Anybody read it?

4. Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen

Again, I am so far behind. I haven't read anything by Sarah Dessen, but I've heard she's amazing. Is Lock and Key a good place to start?

5. The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe

This is a Cayla guilty-pleasure-that-I-don't-feel-guilty-about. I heard about this book (written in 1794) through this post on Classic Lit Geek. It sounds just delightful and spooky.

So those are my Need2Reads for now. What are yours? Grab that logo, post away, and leave a link in the comments so I and others can check it out.

Keep talking books y'all.

Cayla

Silence? Not So Golden

2011-02-28T22:20:00.002-06:00

I have a younger sister, and my younger sister has a lot of friends, and they're to the point in school when they're constantly hearing, "Say NO to drugs, sex, and drinking."

It's fabulous that our schools teach these messages, and the idea of my younger sister participating in any of those activities is certainly disturbing to me. But that's not really what I want to talk about. When you get older, sex and alcohol aren't crazy, scary ideas anymore. And they shouldn't be. But my goodness, no matter how old you are, where you are, who you're with, or what you're "expected" to be doing, remember that you always have the right to say no.

When you're riding in a friend's car and they're driving too fast, you have the right to demand that they slow down. I know it can be uncomfortable and embarrassing -- you're not supposed to reprimand your friends, right? That's for parents. But parents and standards aside, your friend driving that car has your life in his or her hands. It's your life to protect, and you need to protect it. A boyfriend of mine was going eighty down an empty highway once and I told him to cool it. He laughed at me and said it was perfectly safe; no one was around. So I told him that if he didn't slow down, the first thing I'd do when we got out of that car was break up with him. He slowed down, and we got home safe and sound. I don't know if anything bad would have happened had we continued driving eighty, but I'm glad I didn't take a chance to find out.

I've been in situations before where I felt uncomfortable. Like the people around me weren't making smart decisions and I wasn't entirely safe with them. But rather than risk being uncool, I kept my mouth shut or went along with them anyway. It didn't feel right, but I did it. Here's the big secret I hope everybody can be in on: you don't have to do something if it doesn't feel right. If you're uncomfortable, you don't have to stay put and endure. You have the right to leave, to say no, and to protect yourself. And the amazing part is, after you stick up for yourself like that, you'll feel really, really good. I know that sounds lame, but it's true. I've experienced it.

In conclusion, ladies and gentlemen, you can say NO, and you can say it loud and proud. That's what's golden, not silence, but the ability to use your voice. Don't let it go to waste, and for goodness sake, don't be ashamed of it. You are important, integral to this world. Take care of yourself.

Love,

Cayla

Have you ever been in an uncomfortable situation where you felt like you needed to leave but didn't think you could? Talk about it in the comments.

Bilingual America

2011-02-27T16:35:00.003-06:00

I loved Spanish class in high school (shout out to Senora Fitch). I felt like in learning a foreign language, I was also learning more about my native tongue, the origins of words, etc. Not to mention the headstart being bilingual, trilingual or better gives you in traveling and communicating with people from all walks of life.

Photo copyright http://www.foreignlanguageexchange.com/

I have the extreme pleasure of talking with a lot of people from different countries in my line of work, all of whom have a firm grasp of English (better than most citizens here in America), which I appreciate so much. Because if they couldn't speak English, I wouldn't be able to communicate with them. Yes, Senora Fitch taught me a million things and she taught them amazingly well, but as it turns out there's very little importance placed on being bilingual in my society at large, and I would like to say that it's just plain silly.

How many thousands upon thousands of languages are there in the world? I've heard there's an estimated 6,500. I really wish my school system, going all the way back to pre-school, had put more of an emphasis on teaching about them, or making sure I learned a few. There are 6,500 languages in the world, every one with its own culture and history, and I only know one. That seems very inadequate.

I'm going to pick up Spanish again, since it's also widely spoken in my country. And I want to thank Senora Fitch and all the other foreign language teachers in the world for their efforts. Perhaps I'll never be fluent or even very good at speaking Spanish, but I would like to be able to have a stilted conversation with someone in their native tongue, just to show how much I appreciate that so many of you have bothered to learn mine.

I'm doing the wave for a bilingual America.

Hearts to all you awesome people for reading my rant!

Cayla

Des Livres et Moi Interview in English

2011-02-25T15:32:00.000-06:00

Check out my interview with Elodie on Des Livres at Moi in English!

And leave comments saying how much you love Elodie. Cuz she's awesome. :)

INTERVIEW!

Loves,

Cayla

Unnatural Causes

2011-02-24T22:53:00.001-06:00

So... P. D. James is like, the best. Ever. I don't think she's a human being. If you haven't read her books, do so immediately. Starting with Cover Her Face.

P. D. James, aka Not a Human Being, aka Holier Than Thou, aka Better Writer than Cayla Can Ever Hope To Be.

I just finished up book three in the Adam Dalgliesh mystery series, Unnatural Causes. This is one of those books where if I tell you anything about it, I'm going to be giving something away, so I can't really do my own synopsis. But basically, a writer gets his hands chopped off and is floated off to sea in a dinghy, and it goes from there. If that doesn't interest you, I don't know what will.
So here's what I LOVED about this book especially. P. D. James is making fun of writers the entire time. All of the dead man's friends (and therefore all of the suspects) are writers of various genres, and their bickering is priceless. Each of them thinks they are fabulous, with this undertone of insecurity that's revealed in the way they're always attacking each other's work. Unnatural Causes is a grisly mystery that doesn't let up... and it's hilarious. P. D. James, FTW.

Now this is what I don't get. Why does detective fiction have such a bad name? Particularly with literary snobs (although trusting their opinions is a risky move no matter what genre you're praising or razing), it's like if you mention the word "detective" they jump down your throat. Admittedly, I'm not an intensely experienced reader of detective fiction. Maybe the books I read don't even technically fall into the genre so much as they do into literature -- P.D., Conan Doyle, and Agatha Christie are the only detective puppeteers I'm personally familiar with.

So what's the deal? Is most detective fiction really bad? And who do you read in the genre?

Besides P. D. James, whose books I know you're going to buy as soon as possible. ;)

Peace out, girl/boy scout,

Cayla

Steldor Visits Offkey

2011-02-23T17:02:00.003-06:00

Hey there, awesome Offkey readers! First off, I want you all to click on this beautiful link: Des Livres et Moi: Interview with Cayla Kluver. The interview is in French, but for those of you who don't speak French, Elodie has offered to post the interview in English as well (she is a translating goddess!) if there's interest. Let me know in comments and I will get back to her!

Over the last several days, you have submitted your questions for Steldor from Legacy. Here and now, he answers them!

Steldor is the son of Cannan, Hytanica's Captain of the Guard. He is twenty years old, on his way to taking Princess Alera as his wife, and ready to kick back in that throne with the crown on his head.

Offkey Readers: Welcome Steldor! First question. Why are you such a jerk?

Steldor: A "jerk"? Do you often invent words and expect others to find them insulting? Or did you mean that as a compliment?

OR: Do you really love Alera, or is your only ambition to become king?

Steldor: You speak of this as though ambition were the only thing driving me to the throne of Hytanica. The people want me as their king, and I believe that I owe it to my kingdom to fulfill that wish. Princess Alera is a lovely and well-bred, if somewhat naive girl. A man could do far worse.

OR: How do you feel about Narian?

Steldor: Narian is a child, but that doesn't erase the possibility of his being a danger to my homeland. Whether or not he was born Hytanican is irrelevant to me, honestly. He was raised in Cokyri, raised to be an enemy of Hytanica. Anyone who would believe better of him is a fool. He has no reason to be loyal to us, and we have no reason to trust that his intentions in coming here were innocent. We can't afford to be gullible in this situation, although it seems that many of my comrades are eager to be just that.

OR: Do you think you and Alera will ever stop butting heads?

Steldor: As I said before, Alera is naive. She has little to no experience with men and resists the notion of courtship and marriage on that basis alone. One can hardly blame her, but she will eventually leave her girlhood behind and learn to be a woman and a wife. Once that happens, the strain on our relationship will be over.

OR: What do you plan to do as your first action as king?

Steldor: My first action as king will be to evaluate the situation with Cokyri. This kingdom can hardly afford another war. We need to take preemptive measures against an attack, and truly consider what is worth fighting for and what isn't. I feel that the people of Hytanica need a fresh leader - someone who has been amongst them and knows what they care about. This kingdom needs new life.

OR: If you could have a do-over of any of your moments with Alera, would you change anything? If yes, what would you do differently?

Steldor: When my courtship with Alera began, I was unaware of her inexperience with men. I thought to kiss her after our first chaperoned dinner, and she wasn't ready. I had no way of knowing this, naturally, but her general resistance to me since then likely stems from the incident. If I could change an action of mine, I would give her the time to adjust to the expectations of being a couple before initiating our first kiss.

OR: Why are you jealous of Narian (i.e. at the palace ball) when you are supposedly so much better than him?

Steldor: That night was a misunderstanding. I'm not jealous of Narian. I'm willing to admit I had perhaps drunk a bit more ale than is advisable that evening, and I wasn't thinking clearly. But because of the way Alera had been treating our relationship up to that point, seeing her on the arm of another man brought fully to mind all of her inappropriate behavior. I understand it was only natural for her to be in the company of the guest of honor at that celebration. It was not Narian with whom I was upset. It was Alera, and for reasons not actually pertaining to the night in question. I'm not jealous of Narian.

OR: Why do you wear that wolf pendant, and where did you get it?

Steldor: The pendant symbolizes strength and protection. It was my father's. He gave it to me when I was four, following the death of my brother when I was living with my aunt and uncle. He didn't want me to think he'd abandoned me, or that I was in danger. I've had it ever since.

OR: How did you meet Alera and when?

Steldor: My father has been Captain of the Guard since before I was born and I spent a good deal of time at the palace when I was growing up. I saw Alera many times and of course knew who she was. When she turned ten she attended her first evening ballroom function and we were formally introduced by her father, King Adrik. I escorted her for a bit, then we parted ways. I was thirteen and my best friend Galen was on his first leave from the Military Academy, so as you can imagine I had other things on my mind. So did she, I'm sure.

OR: Do you really think London is a traitor?

Steldor: Whether or not London is a traitor to his kingdom, he committed an act of treachery against his position in the Elite Guard. He's a man who has never followed orders as he should and I was pleased to see him finally censured for his behavior. However, his history as a prisoner of war is utterly admirable. I couldn't speak against him in that regard.

OR: Why do you think you're the best fighter in Hytanica?

Steldor: It's not a matter of thinking, but of knowing. I received the best training available in the Recorah River Valley and haven't lost a fighting tournament since I was seventeen years old. Take for example: after my graduation from the Military Academy I wanted to enter Sarterad's annual tournament but was forbidden both by my age and my father. It was a youthful mistake perhaps, but I went anyway and led Sarterad officials to believe I was a year older than I was. Despite my disadvantage, I won the championship.

OR: What has been the greatest difficulty in your life?

Steldor: I was run through by a bull when I was fourteen years old. It started as an asinine game with Galen and my cousins, and ended in a months-long recuperation period. It's not an experience I would repeat.

OR: What was most horrible for you, growing up with a father as strict as the Captain of the Guard?

Steldor: The man is overly astute. If I got away with mischief, it was because he'd decided it wasn't worth punishing me for whatever offence I'd committed. He knows everything. I realize that now. He's not a man who's interested in fighting, though. Naturally we had our disagreements when I was a teenager (he wasn't especially happy about the tournament in Sarterad), but the worst fights we had were when I was thirteen and wanted to start military school. Admission age is fourteen so Galen had already started and it was the most idle year of my life. I was horribly bored and knew my father could have used his influence to fix the problem. Arguments resulted.

OR: Since when have you been a friend of Galen, and why?

Steldor: I met Galen quite literally days after I was born. My father and Galen's father were childhood friends, and our mothers became friends through their husbands. There has never been a time in my life when I was not friends with Galen. After his father's death he became even more like a brother to me.

OR: What is your biggest secret?

Steldor: My biggest secret is that my Uncle Baelic knows all of my secrets and he wasn't joking when he said he'd tell Alera.

OR: Do you really love your father or are you scared of him?

Steldor: I love him. And I'm scared of him. He would die for me; he might also kill me.

OR: Do you live in your own house?

Steldor: As soon as I graduated military school I moved into barracks. Now I have officer's quarters on the Military Base which I share with Galen.

OR: Did you always know you were supposed to marry Alera?

Steldor: The expectation has been there for as long as I can remember. By the time I was five, King Adrik had discussed the topic with me. No marriage contract was ever signed by my father, however. I think he wanted me to make the decision for myself, especially considering that marriage to Alera would require me to become King of Hytanica. He knows that being a king takes a great amount of independent decision-making skill. If I couldn't even decide whether or not I wanted the crown, how was I supposed to rule a kingdom?

OR: Have you ever liked/loved anyone else?

Steldor: There have been plenty of women, if that's what you mean.

OR: Do you think your life would have been different had you grown up with a sibling? Especially concerning your relationship with your mother.

Steldor: I think of Galen as a brother, so in that sense I did have a sibling growing up. My mother was obviously deeply affected by the death of her second son. Prior to Terek's death she had never dealt with any trauma of that nature - of any nature, really - and the incident left her unstable. Had things been different, I think my relationship with her might have been better. One can't really know. No matter what, I would still have related more closely to my father than to my mother.

OR: Would you have been as jealous of Narian had he turned out to be your lost little brother?

Steldor: I'm not jealous of Narian.

OR: Do you view the High Priestess as less of a threat because she is a woman?

Steldor: The real threat from Cokyri is the Overlord. I can't refute that the High Priestess rules her empire competently, although I've never lived in Cokyri so I can't confirm it either. I believe the woman underestimates her opposition; I wouldn't expect that from her brother.

OR: Would you have taught Alera self-defense had she asked?

Steldor: I would have taught Alera the only lesson true self defense training could have taught her - she's not suited to fight. I've seen Cokyrian women fight, certainly, but Alera is a princess. She's pampered, and she's a child. Furthermore, she's a Hytanican woman, and I believe she should be proud of that. Why she should want to behave like a woman from Cokyri is beyond my comprehension. With my instruction, the notion would have left her mind soon enough.

OR: How did you feel when Narian defeated you at the exhibition?

Steldor: It was an exhibition. The purpose of it was to entertain the crowd, and Narian and I accomplished that. Under the correct fighting circumstances, I don't believe Narian would have defeated me; however, he is well-trained and capable with a weapon in his hand, I admit.

OR: Thank you very much for being here with us today, Steldor.

Steldor: You're very welcome. Remember, Legacy is coming out in paperback in July with a brand new cover and a brand new edit (so I'm even more perfect that usual in this fabulous edition).

Thank you for supplying such wonderful questions! Now all the remains is to leave your comments. :) Love! -- Cayla

Hot British Sniper

2011-02-22T16:34:00.001-06:00

For those of you who don't know, I am a HUGE crime show buff. Dork. Loser. Whatever you want to call me, I don't care, because I L-O-V-E my crime shows.

I watch Law & Order (SVU is my favorite, and the seasons of the original with Jessie L. Martin and Chris Noth). CSI, naturally. NY is my favorite on that front, but I have some serious love for Horatio Caine. My younger sister is a red-head and every time she sees David Caruso with those sunglasses she puts a fist in the air and says, "GINGER. POWER." I need to watch the original; I haven't gotten to it yet. How crazy is that???

Shades of Justice.

But perhaps my favorite crime show of all is Criminal Minds. There isn't a single character on that show I dislike (unless I'm supposed to dislike them; point being, all the characters are fantastically written), and the episode plots never fail. Some crime shows fall into a pattern, but I've found Criminal Minds to be consistently surprising and unpredictable, as well as just plain riveting. If you don't watch it... watch it.

A lot of you probably know that there's now a Criminal Minds spin-off called Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior. Only one episode has aired (in addition to the introductory episode in season 5 of the original show), but I fully plan to adore every moment of this show, not only because I trust the writers and producers explicitly, but because of this:

Hot British Sniper

No, go ahead. Click that image and make it bigger. That, my dear readers, is Mick Rawson, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior's hot British sniper. I'm not even kidding.

I would like to take this moment to thank the creators of CM for supplying me with a hot british sniper to watch and admire every week. Not to mention, he is on a gritty, hard-core crime show that takes no prisoners and holds no punches. If you're into either of those things, check out Suspect Behavior, and its predecessor.

Love to all,

Cayla

For My Dear German Readers: "The Ongoing Story"

2011-02-21T17:08:00.001-06:00

The Ongoing Story: Picking Up Where Geliebter Feind, or Legacy, Left Off

It won’t be too long until Allegiance — or Alera: Zeit der Rache — is released in Germany. As part of some special promotion, I recorded a video specifically for my German readers recently, saying thank you and talking about the second book in the series. As promised, this is the beginning of a trio of blog posts going into greater detail about book number two.

Today, I’d like to talk about the ongoing story in Allegiance, or Zeit der Rache. As those of you who have read Alera: Geliebter Feind know, Alera hasn’t been left in the best of positions. She’s queen of Hytanica now, very worried about what has become of Narian, and still having to deal with Steldor and his ego. In addition, she has to find ways to balance her relationship to her family, particularly her father. They haven’t always agreed in the past, but in ZdR, Alera for the first time holds status and power over Adrik.

The Cokyrians are back — the High Priestess wages political warfare while the Overlord’s face is finally revealed. Speculation on who the Overlord really is has been fascinating. Some readers say London must be the Overlord or his son because he is in possession of one of the royal rings of Cokyri. London’s admitted connection to the High Priestess has made him even more suspect. But is he capable of betraying Hytanica? And what exactly is the Overlord’s continuing plan for Narian?

There is a wedding in book two — whose wedding, you’ll have to wait and see! At least two characters we know well will die in the fight for freedom. Steldor and Galen start a brawl in the Palace ballroom. Miranna is forced to grow up quickly, and Alera will have to decide who’s on her side and who isn’t. And the conclusion of Zeit der Rache leaves things wide open for book three.

As I said in my video, I can’t wait to share the rest of the series with you. Thank you so much for reading, and check back for my next two blog posts, all about writing Allegiance and what I feel is especially significant about this book.

Auf Wiedersehen!

Cayla

What do you think is going to happen in book 2? Do you have a theory that hasn't been talked about? Share in the comments!

'ALERA' Pubs in Spain!!!

2011-02-21T13:45:00.002-06:00

There it is! Today marks the first time book 2 of the Legacy Series has ever been published. Through all my very weird struggles to get Legacy where it needed to be, any pub date for Allegiance seemed not only distant, but like I would have needed a telephone to reach it under the best of circumstances.

HOO-RAY Spain!!

Honestly, I'm inexplicably nervous today. People are reading it for the first time... crazy! But mostly I'm super excited to share this book with my Spanish readers. For release dates in other countries, please check out the "release dates" page on my website.

Another blog post is coming up soon -- a sneak peak for everyone else about what to expect in Allegiance, Alera, Alera: Zeit der Rache, or whatever the book may be called in your respective country!

Thank you all so much for reading. Share this news with everyone you can think of -- it's such a thrilling step forward for the series!

Hugs,

Cayla

Have you bought your copy of Alera yet? Who will be first to finish it I wonder!!

Fun Stuff Coming Up...!

2011-02-20T17:32:00.001-06:00

I would say "On Wisconsin" except there's no way Wisconsin is going anywhere today. Yes, it is the twentieth of February, and yes, we are once again completely snowed in. But that's just an annoyance, really -- I kind of stay inside all the time anyway. That's why my skin is the color of a dead fish's underbelly. (I don't really believe that per se, but it's undeniable that I look a little cadaverous at times.)

Tomorrow, book 2 of the Legacy Series will be released in Spain. It's entitled Alera there, which is really interesting because book 1 is called Alera in France. I'll also be doing an interview very soon with Elodie at Des Livres Et Moi, so be sure to check it out when it goes live! I'll post the link when it's up.

Some fantastic questions have come in for the interview with Steldor, and that too will be posted in the next couple of days. Tomorrow I'll have two posts -- one a giant celebration for the release of Alera in Spain, and one titled "The Ongoing Story" as part of the German promo I promised in my recent video for Zeit der Rache (also book 2).

I'm excited to share all this stuff with you -- hope you're excited too!

Love,

C.

What are you most looking forward to -- the interview at DLEM, Steldor's Q&A, the release of Alera, or that spoiler-loaded blog post? Tell me in the comments!

100 Followers!

2011-02-19T16:17:00.000-06:00

Hey -- look at that! What does that say? Oh yeah... 100 followers! This calls for a...

And also, a humongous...

:) Hugs,

Cayla

Ask Steldor Your Questions

2011-02-18T16:47:00.000-06:00

A huge thank you to everyone who voted in last week's poll -- Which of the following Legacy characters would you interview if you had the chance?

Steldor took home the most votes -- so now it's up to you guys to conduct an interview with him. Put your questions in the comments, or send them to publicity@caylakluver.com. All questions will be read and considered by Steldor (or his publicity team... ahem, me), and the final interview will be posted here, at http://www.caylakluver.com/.

Questions can range from the happenings in his childhood to the end of Legacy, his views on various issues, or anything at all you come up with. (However, keep in mind that he doesn't yet know what's going to happen in Allegiance, so he won't be able to give you spoilers.)

Thanks so much for participating -- if you leave a Q in the comments, feel free to link to your blog or twitter page if you share this post (which is my way of saying, please share -- the more questions the better!)

Until then, hearts and hugs.

Cayla

The Magic of Wonderland

2011-02-16T15:22:00.000-06:00

How many of you who like to write find yourselves frequently apologizing to your friends and making excuses not to go out? In high school, I was perpetually guilty of this. Whenever school got out, it was like I'd used up my quota of energy for socializing and being outside of my own head. I just wanted to go home and be alone to write, or read, or do whatever it was that appealed to me. I spent years feeling like a horrible, selfish friend because of this.

What I always thought to be the strangest part is that I do love my friends. I love meeting people, and under the right circumstances I can be a total social butterfly. None of this made sense to high-school-me, and it left me feeling even more like a horrid excuse for a human being.

Since then, I've met a lot of people from all walks of life, most of them artists of some form or another, and if this particular topic comes up, I usually hear my song sung back at me. Recently I was talking to a friend I've known for years, and discovered that she went through her childhood feeling the same way I did, but we were never comfortable admitting it to each other or anyone else.

I'm going to spill the secret: we both still feel that way. If too many people call me in a certain week, if I have too many things on my calendar, I start to panic a little inside (sometimes more than a little). I've lost too much Cayla time. My friend needs her time too, so even if she's free to hang out with someone (maybe me), she might say she isn't.

And this is the realization I've come to -- she actually isn't free. When I say to someone, "I can't go out tonight," but have no alternative plans, it doesn't make my statement any less true, and I want people like me as well as people who have friends like me to understand that. To the creative, intuitive person, which most artists and I'm certain many of you readers are, that alone time isn't just preferable, it's necessary, and that's okay. I know that I would go insane without it, and instead of believing that this makes me a weirdo, I've decided I'm done apologizing for it.

Don't be afraid to admit that sometimes, maybe frequently, you need to be alone. Depictions of the introverted, creative-intuitive mind aren't altogether prevalent in our pop culture, largely because the creative underground is a sort of private playground, like Wonderland, and it's different for every person who explores it. I need that time to explore it, because it's about opening and exploring my own mind. If you need the time, take it. Embrace it. And if you don't need it for yourself, try to embrace it in other people. If they're anything like me, they'll already be thinking they're strange, and your support could mean a lot.

And that is the magic of Wonderland, children.

In the odd, rambling opinion of Cayla.

Rock on and peace out.

C.

Are you a member of the underground playground? What's your Wonderland like?

Blogs I'm Following

2011-02-14T23:02:00.000-06:00

Hey guys,

I've been poking my nose out into the blogosphere a little more lately, and I wanted to let you know what sites I've found to be really fun/helpful. I just got on Twitter (@caylakl), so you should all hop on over there and become followers if you'd like frequent, sometimes inane updates on the life of Cayla. I'm still figuring out how the Twitterverse works as well so hints would be great!

Dear Teen Me: Ever wonder what your favorite YA authors would say to themselves as teenagers? This great blog gives contributing authors the chance to do just that, and gives current teens a lot of fantastic advice. Check out the letter by Clare B. Dunkle from Feb. 9th -- one of my favs.

Oasis for YA: "An oasis of support for YA authors." This site was started by aspiring authors, and its full of great tips for writers, published or not, on how to stay sane through the whole writing process. Aside from the amazing content to be found here, the bloggers at Oasis for YA are super nice to their readers! Check it out, and you will want to hug them.

WOW! Women on Writing (The Muffin): Okay, I love this blog. Obviously its intended target market is female, but its absolutely full of great advice for anyone and everyone involved (or wanting to be involved) in the writing/publishing industry. And the WOW blog is called The Muffin. Why would you NOT want to read that? See the post, "When Did You Start Using the W-Word?" by Jodi Webb from Jan. 31st. Great stuff.

What blogs do you follow and why? Let me know in the comments -- I'm always looking for more great material to read.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Cayla

Kidnapped!

2011-02-13T18:13:00.001-06:00

Well, I finished reading Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson this weekend. I had an English teacher who once said if Shakespeare were still alive, she would woo him. I don't think I'd stand much of a chance against Mrs. White, and anyway, bigamy is illegal in this country, so I profess here and now that, in this theoretical world where dead writers have come back to life, Robert Louis Stevenson is the object of my utmost desire.

Kidnapped takes place in Jacobite Scotland and the narrator is David Balfour, whose jerk of an uncle tries to sell him into slavery in the Carolinas so he can't inherit the Shaws estate. David ends up on a boat for the Americas, but (luckily?) he and the evil nasty crew who kidnapped him are shipwrecked before they go far, and David and his friend Alan (who is wanted by the law) set off to get the former home and the latter to France.

What I liked best about this book was the ending. Without giving much away, Alan saves the day by being a shameless lying con man. It's a very happy ending, but not a very moralistic one, which I adore because nobody sees that coming. I like it when people's questionable talents come into play with regard to the big picture of the book. To me that's what takes a character from being someone in the book, to being someone who needs to be in the book.

Obviously Kidnapped is an amazing piece of literature as well as a piece of history, but beyond that RLS's writing is just so no-nonsense. He says exactly what he wants to say using the words he wants to use in as many words as he needs to say exactly what he wants to say. (That was an awesome sentence.) Admire him. Adore him. Worship him. But keep your hands off, because he's the deceased love of MY life and you can't have him.

Check out the book -- I'm now reading Unnatural Causes by P. D. James. She's her own kind of genius. And check out my brand new twitter page (link on the right). As for this post? Tweet me, sweethearts. ;)

Hearts and loves!

Cayla

Interview Your Favorite 'Legacy' Character

2011-02-10T13:44:00.001-06:00

Hey all,

Those blog posts featuring behind-the-scenes looks at Alera: Zeit der Rache (Allegiance, or Alera for those in other countries... book 2!) are coming up soon. The first installment, called The Ongoing Story, will go up on February 21st, the same day Alera is released in Spain. Get ready for some spoilers if you haven't read Legacy/Geliebter Feind! I'm going to talk a lot about what to expect from book 2, how the characters will develop, some of the challenges they'll face, and different theories I've heard from readers.

Sidenote: I got the French and Greek editions of Legacy in the mail recently, and both are gorgeous! Big thanks to the publishers. :)

I'm sure some of you have heard this quote by E. L. Doctorow before: "Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia." When I stumbled upon it, I got this weird but crazy fun idea. If you check out the current Offkey poll, you'll find the question, "Which of the following Legacy characters would you interview if you had the chance?" Based on the results of this poll, I'm going to have you submit questions to that character if that sounds like fun to you all! I'm trying to keep some new, interesting stuff going, so please spread the word to anyone else you think would be interested in participating; write about the "interview" on your own blog; and most of all, have fun coming up with questions! I'm really looking forward to seeing them.

I'm still working my way through Kidnapped by RLS. Thoroughly enjoying it -- I did an impromptu poll on the Facebook fan page asking how many books you guys read at once, and got some great answers I'd like to share.

Chloe said: "I always have problems when I'm reading more than one book at a time, because I always read one book more than the other and then when I finish it, I'm not as interested in reading the other."

Barbie said: "Oh, I've definitely read more than one book at a time. Some people can't keep the stories separate but I can so it doesn't bother me that much. My sister usually reads a fiction and non-fiction book at the same time."

Kathryn said: "It really depends on if I've read the book before or not. If I'm re-reading then I prefer to read more than one book at a time. I find it actually helps me appreciate each book more because of it by providing a contrast of styles."

There are a ton more fantastic answers -- thanks to everybody who threw in their two cents! There are some prolific readers out there. ;)

Remember to spread the word about the character interview. Thanks so much for reading!

Cayla

Being Discussed Now!

2011-02-02T14:52:00.000-06:00

Hey guys, just thought I'd let you know what's up on the Facebook fan page. I'm having a great time on the discussion boards, answering all kinds of questions, talking about my writing process (such as it is!) and the happenings in the Legacy Series. Here's one response to give you an idea (I think I'm going to start posting some of these over here...):

Hi Ana,

I'm happy to be able to answer your questions! :)

The part I had the most fun writing in Legacy was probably the chapter at Semari's birthday party, where Alera and Steldor are dancing while they argue. It was such a fun dynamic, to have them be absolutely furious with each other while trying to appear happy for the onlookers. I also really enjoyed some of the reveal chapters about Narian, like when I finally got to write about his past at the tournament, or when he showed off his secret arsenal of weapons. I loved the mystery of his character so exploring it was amazing.

The part I found most boring to write was actually the picnic, where Alera and Miranna go out with Steldor and Temerson and Tadark. At the time I wrote it, all I wanted to write about was Narian, and the picnic is about 20 pages worth of Steldor. Now the picnic is my favorite part of Legacy. It was just a pain to write at the time because I wasn't in the correct mindset!

For me, writing is a real give-and-take process. Whenever I start a new project, I'm determined to write all the way through without fumbling. But I have to cut myself slack at a certain point and remember that a rough draft is supposed to be rough. I try to skip as little as possible, but there are times when filling in between the big plot points is really tedious, and I need to hurry along to a more motivating point or I'm going to lose it altogether. A rough draft means you can always go back and fix it!

I'm so honored to have inspired you to keep writing -- you inspire me!

Thanks so much,

Cayla

Pop over to ask your own questions! Legacy will be coming out in paperback (all crisp and clean and newly edited) very very soon, and I'm beyond excited to share it with you. :)

Best!

Cayla

BACKSTAGE

2011-01-23T12:49:00.000-06:00

Antique Emporium

2010-11-23T19:33:00.000-06:00

If some of you follow my Facebook fan page, I've been updating a bit more regularly there than I have been here -- for those of you who don't follow there, I've been super busy lately! I'm writing a new book, I'm looking forward to the HQTeen paperback release of Legacy coming up the beginning of next year (I'll let you know when I have a definitive date), and as usual life has been throwing a few curveballs. I've been on a bit of a personal roller coaster ride (and not the fun kind... the kind where you can't wait til its over but you don't know if there will be a happy ending or if by the time the coaster stops you will have puked on the crowd gathered below).

I would really encourage you guys to skip on over to the FB fan page (you don't even need to be a Facebook member to access the content there), and check out the videos and pictures I've posted recently. I've been showing off the foreign editions of Legacy, and I've done some goofy faux interviews with my friends. There are also new press pics up and I'm planning more pictures to come!

Since I can't talk a whole lot about what I'm currently working on, I decided I'd start showcasing my hometown a little bit on this blog. I went downtown to this amazing antique shop we have, called the Antique Emporium, and took a bunch of photos. I've posted a few of them here, followed by the link to the album on Facebook (again, no need to have an account!).

To see the rest of the album, visit the FB fan page HERE.

Thanks so much, and I'll be back as soon as I can!

Hugs,

Cayla

Books and an Interview

2010-07-30T16:48:00.000-05:00

Hi all!

I've got some really cool stuff to share today. First, I did an interview with Alessandra Zengo for her blog Diario di Pensieri Persi. Ale is an amazing person who runs an exceptional blog, and I had a blast working with her. Check out the interview (and her review of Legacy!) here:

Gli Speciali

Thanks so much again to Alessandra for this opportunity!

I'm now reading Anne of Green Gables, which of course means I've finished both Treasure Island and The Haunting of Hill House, so I want to take a bit to talk about my thoughts on both books. If you've read them or plan to, leave a comment and tell me your thoughts, whether they're the same as mine or completely different!

So first, Treasure Island. I've said before that if Robert Louis Stevenson were still alive, I would want to have his babies. I'm sticking to that conviction. Treasure Island is such a classic story -- I remember watching Muppet Treasure Island when I was little (and maybe I watched it again after I finished reading the book...) -- and RLS's writing is impeccable, astounding, amazing, absolutely PERFECT. I've never felt that way about an author's writing before. I'm seriously in love with this man.

As a point of interest, I also watched the made-for-TV version of Treasure Island (starring itty-bitty Christian Bale and Charleton Heston) post-reading. The only place I've been able to find it is on YouTube, but I encourage everybody to check it out! It sticks to the book almost beat by beat. It's the most accurate film version I've ever seen.

Bale/Heston Treasure Island on YouTube

Make sure you stick to the vids by balehead28 -- they don't skip at all.

Also, just gonna put this out there, I love Treasure Planet. Awesome movie. :P

The most recent book I read was The Haunting of Hill House. I picked that one up because my friend Annie brought over her favorite scary movie one night -- The Haunting (made in 1963 I believe; it's totally classic), which is based off the book. Anyway, I loved the movie and had heard amazing things about Shirley Jackson (who HASN'T read The Lottery?), so I proceeded to read the novel, and I loved it as well. It's a slow-build book, so there was a point about half-way through that I realized nothing had happened yet -- and I didn't care, because the writing was so beautiful and SJ's style gives you complete confidence that she knows exactly what she's doing, where she's going, and that she expects you to come along for the ride. It's an amazing experience. The Haunting of Hill House is officially one of my all-time favorite books.

Tomorrow the CSN Giveaway contest ends -- until I've posted results, people are still free to enter. I might even wait 'til the first to name the winner, to make sure everyone who wanted in has had a chance to enter their name. Anyway, I think that's about all for now, so stay cool!

Hugs,

Cayla

CSN Giveaway! (CLOSED)

2010-07-19T14:52:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone,

I have a really unique opportunity for you guys -- I was contacted last week by the CSN promo team, and they've given me the chance to do my very first giveaway!

So here's the deal: what's being given away is a $40 gift certificate which the winner can use against a purchase on any of CSN's websites: pick anything from a table lamp to a pair of fashion boots to a set of kitchen accessories. (Certificate does not cover shipping/handling.)

To enter the contest, leave a comment on this post (on my blog, if you're reading via RSS) with your email address. To have your name entered into the pot TWICE, blog about this contest on your site, and share a link to the post in your comment.

The winner will be chosen RANDOMLY.

CONTEST CLOSES JULY 31, 2010.

Be sure to leave your email address, otherwise I can't send it on to CSN Stores!

I went browsing on some of their sites (there are 200+!), and found some really cool stuff, like this accent lamp:

I would LOVE to have that in my office!!

I also found these boots, which I'm dying to own:

My older sister and I collect boots like maniacs. She has an awesome pair similar to these that she bought in London.

And then, what I'm calling The Big Bang... this absolutely toxic WRITING DESK!!!!

So, as I said earlier, comment, blog about the giveaway, and best of luck to everyone!

Thanks so much to CSN Stores for this opportunity.

Hugs!

Cayla

(P.S. Check here for info on international shipping before you enter.)

Be Italian... (I Have That Song In My Head)

2010-07-05T13:36:00.000-05:00

I'm pretty sure Steldor would be peeved that only one person thinks he's perfect. :P Here's how this month's Offkey Poll played out:

Do you think Steldor really loves Alera?
33% He didn't at first but he does by the end
37% Nope, he just wants the crown
27% He always has but just didn't know how to approach her in the beginning
1% Steldor is perfect

So I finished Peter Pan, and I loved it. I was also pleased to discover it's not as politically incorrect as the Disney movie!! ;) Haha, it's such a good story, and so original, and it didn't hurt that the entire time I was reading the book I was picturing Johnny Depp from Finding Neverland as its author. Now I've gone back to the love of my life, Robert Louis Stevenson -- I'm reading Treasure Island.

I'm also plugging away at an entirely new project which my mom has dubbed "The Italian Job" since I don't have a working title for it, and most of the characters' names are Italian-inspired. I'm having fun being behind the keyboard again, but that's why I've been away from Offkey and the Facebook Fan Page quite a bit. It's hard to keep up with everything! I've been doing a number of foreign interviews as well, and its been such an amazing time.

I want to quickly say thanks to you all for reading and for all the comments I got on my last post! I absolutely love to hear your opinions, so let me know what you're reading, what you're thinking, what's going on in the world, and if there's anything you think I should blog about or check out!

I'll be coming up with a new poll in mere minutes... until next time, tata!

Cayla

Holy Crap. Shakespeare Makes Sense.

2010-06-05T14:36:00.000-05:00

Hello all,

I finished reading Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (and the other stories in the collection) and have decided that, were Robert Louis Stevenson still alive, I would want to have his babies. He is so brilliant. Now I'm reading Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie, which I was inspired to pick up because a friend of mine (David Andino) showed me these videos (of songs from the musical Darling, which is a completely new take on the Peter Pan story):

Never

Lost Boy

So the other day I was wandering through Target and I spied by chance a DVD version of Hamlet starring Patrick Stewart and David Tennant. My older sister and I are HUGE David Tennant fans, stemming from his performance as Dr. Who, and when we found out he was going to be Hamlet in London we actually tried to figure out how to get over there to see it (having no money turned out to be an obstacle). Anyway, we were depressed because we thought we'd never be able to see his take on the character, or Patrick Stewart's on Claudius. But, miraculously, there this DVD was before me, a specially staged edition that seemed to say, "Dear Cayla and Cara: Thinking of you. Love, The Royal Shakespeare Company."

I bought it. We watched it.

Now here's the truth of the matter: I've always known that William Shakespeare wrote some of the most beautiful material ever put to paper, but prior to this Hamlet, every Shakespeare show I'd seen had me bouncing my foot and itching to get out of my seat because I just couldn't make myself enjoy it, and I thought I had to be dumb and uncultured because of it. (I'm still sure I'm dumb, but that's for unrelated reasons.)

But aha! I have been shown: the difference between amateur Shakespeare and professional Shakespeare is the difference between a preschool pageant and a rock concert. It just has to be done right. Patrick Stewart and David Tennant understand the material so completely in this production that the lines they deliver don't seem like high language, or language that's fallen out of use. There's no pretension, it's just like this beautiful melding of brilliant minds and more talent than the planet ought to be able to hold, to form something so utterly REAL that you can't help but be devastated by the progressiveness, uniqueness, awesomeness, and GENIUS that William Shakespeare possessed.

If he were still alive, I would have his babies as well.

Seriously, if you love Shakespeare, buy this Hamlet. If you've never gotten Shakespeare before (like me), buy this Hamlet. Here:

Awesome Amazing Spectacular Hamlet

This blog post in sum: read Robert Louis Stevenson, and watch Hamlet. (Also watch Dr. Who. Because who doesn't love Dr. Who??)

Hearts and loves,

Cayla

I'm From Wisconsin

2010-06-01T16:32:00.000-05:00

Well. I was watching an episode of Law and Order, and the detectives were searching this person's apartment. One of them picked up a piece of paper and commented that the person had to be a tourist because they kept a subway map.

I thought they meant a map of the locations of all the Subway restaurants in New York City.

...

I am so from Wisconsin.

German Cover + Italian Alera

2010-05-23T21:26:00.001-05:00

Hi all,

Well, I realized when my browser no longer remembered the web address for my blog that it was probably time for an update.

First off, I got a peek at the cover for the German edition of Legacy, being published by Piper Fantasy this fall (I think... I should double check the date!!). Check it out below -- I LOVE it. I'll also be doing a podcast interview with them shortly. I'll let you know when and where to listen!

So yeah. Totally in love with that cover. "Legacy" translated to German apparently sounds terrible (hehe) so the new name is "Alera: Beloved Enemy." Anyway, next up, I just found out that my Italian publisher, Sperling, will be creating a Facebook page for Alera, and they sent me what will be her profile picture (I'll also post a link to her page as soon as I've got it).

Cool, huh? I'm super excited.

I'm working with my editor at HQTeen, Natashya, on Legacy now, and I love her to bitty bits (which is what I always say about my cat and I just realized how creepy it sounds). I also bought a hydrangea, which I have dubbed "Heidi the Hydrangea", for my completely redecorated office. (It's very zen now.)

...And that is my life. In a nutshell. So! I will be back with more updates shortly. I'll also think up a new poll question and some other cool stuff to share on here. Oh, and up top I've decided to let y'all know what I'm currently reading, so you should let me know what you're reading in the comments, or if you've read the same books!

TTFN,
Cayla

Despite a Terrible Week...

2010-03-27T15:33:00.000-05:00

I'm back! And I actually have good news (despite said terrible week that has kept me from my blogosphere and Facebook page duties).

First, the winners of the laptop raffle have been notified -- congratulations to Victoria and her laptop Charles; Sarah and triSarahtops; and Jenna and Ronaldo! :) Thank you SO much to everyone who entered, and I promise there will be other contests coming up with more fun stuff to win.

Second, HERE'S THE BIG NEWS. Though being with AmazonEncore has been a great experience, and their team is made up of many wonderful, talented people, recently it became clear that it would be in the best interest of the Legacy Series to go in another direction. Thus, I am honored to now have joined forces with Harlequin Teen, who will rerelease Legacy in 2011, and the remaining books in the trilogy at intervals thereafter. For those of you who have been waiting so patiently for Allegiance since the Encore release of Legacy (some of you have even been waiting since the self-published release of Legacy), this may seem disappointing, but I promise this is absolutely the best place for me and the books to be. Shout out to Natashya Wilson and everyone else at HQ Teen for giving me this opportunity! Also thanks so much to my agent, Kevan Lyon, for once again reaching above and beyond expectations.

Moving on, I've got some awesome fan art to share, courtesy of Marissa over at the Facebook fan page. Check out her entire portfolio here: Rissi-Chan's Gallery.

That's about all I think... thanks so much for dropping in! I really feel like I'm forgetting to put something in this post... ah well, just means I'll be back soon. ;)

Loves!
Cayla

Allegiance Prologue + Contest!!

2010-03-01T19:58:00.000-06:00

Well, ladies and gents, you far surpassed the goal of 137 votes on this month's Offkey Poll -- there are still a few hours remaining to cast your opinion, but as of right now, the number's 186. Thanks so much to everyone for voting!!! For this month's prize -- the Allegiance Prologue -- click the link below:

Allegiance Prologue

Hope you enjoy! :)

I'm sorry to once again disappoint -- I still don't have a release date for Allegiance. I know some of you are probably starting to doubt that it's coming out at all, but I assure you that it IS going to hit shelves. You will have it in your hands before too long, but until then, hopefully the prologue will give you something to concentrate on.

A little while ago, the lovely Joanna over at the Facebook Fan Page started a discussion about laptops. Please stop by and let us all know what the name of your laptop, desktop computer, or notebook is! (We're all a bit quirky!) I've started a raffle as well -- send an email with the name and brand/color/anything you want to include about your computer or writing device to:

publicity@caylakluver.com

If your name is randomly picked, you'll receive a return email asking for your mailing address, which will remain confidential. You'll be sent a signed copy of the original, self-published version of Legacy. There will be three winners so send your email today! (The receipt period ends March 21st at midnight.) Please let me know either here or on the fan page if there are any questions.

I think that's about it for now, except for poll results: What is London's relationship to the High Priestess?

29% They were/are in love
4% They're siblings -- London is actually the Overlord
7% London is her son
58% Something completely differend because Cayla wouldn't post a spoiler

...Or would I? :P

Haha, thanks so much for stopping by, and please join the raffle -- it's all for fun!

Cayla

I'm Late... Again.

2010-02-02T14:31:00.000-06:00

You guys need to start harassing me when I'm being lazy. And I REALLY need to catch up on the Facebook fan page -- I haven't forgotten!!!! But I am trying to have book number 4 (not in the Legacy series) done by the beginning of March so I've been scrambling a bit on the home front.

Anywho, poll results for: Who is the hottest of them all?

63% Narian
13% Steldor
6% Alera
13% London
2% The High Priestess
0% Other

Narian steals the prize (again). Haha, well the goal was 117 votes and we ended up with 136 so here it is, the first floor map of the Hytanican Palace!

A new poll is up, one that has to do with Allegiance: What is London's relationship to the High Priestess? The reason I chose a question relating to the second book is that as a prize (if there are over 136 votes this month), I'm planning to post Allegiance's prologue. (As a disclaimer, I haven't cleared this with The Almighty's - meaning the people who actually know stuff - yet, but I don't expect it to be a problem.)

Now onto what I've been up to -- as I said, I'm busy writing book #4, and I've also been doing a lot of music recently with my brilliant boyfriend (but more importantly amazing friend) David. We did a show in his hometown this past weekend, for which we sang the duet When the Stars Go Blue and he accompanied me on A Change is Gonna Come. Here's a pic for you (sorry, Davey, you're hitting the wide web):

We had a really good time, and there were some other amazing performers there (ahem, Zoe!!) -- over all, it was a Saturday night well spent.

I will be back with more soon (provided you guys harass me enough)!

Love to all,
Cayla

A Miracle Would Happen

2009-12-29T14:57:00.001-06:00

Two miracles have happened.

One, I'm actually posting here again even though I've been failing to do so for about a month.

Two, I installed Internet Explorer 8 even though 7 was prettier. I resisted for as long as I could.

Now for some sad news.

One, my kitty died. His name was Clint and I loved him dearly, but he had FIP, and even though he'd astounded vets by rebounding four times, he just couldn't fight any more. I miss him. :(

Two, I think Philippa (my laptop for those who don't know) is reaching the age of retirement. She's been acting up lately and having all sorts of problems, so I'm planning on going computer shopping soon.

Let's see, what else has happened since I was last on here... oh! I totally revamped my blog layout for about the fifteenth time, but I really like it now! (That is to say it'll probably stay this way for a couple of weeks.) Still no date on Allegiance, which is frustrating to you and to me, but I hope soon I'll be able to shed some light on that for you. I'm about to think up a new poll, and my offer of posting the map of the Palace's first floor if there are over 117 votes stands. I'll probably think up something else as well because I owe it to you guys after having been gone for forever.

So.... yeah. This was a while ago, but I got to see my awesome big brother David in a show when he came through Milwaukee. The show was The Last Five Years, hence the name of this post. You should check him out. 'Cuz he's awesome. So there. Or rather, here:

David Andino!!!!

I think this post contains some of the laziest writing I've ever done in my life, but hey, who's judging? (Please don't judge me.) Anyway, I will be back, and hopefully with more frequency!

Oh wait -- I forgot to do poll results. Here they are:

Where does Narian's Allegiance lie?

8% With Hytanica, where he was born
6% With Cokyri, where he grew up
14% With whatever side gives him the best advantage
70% Wherever Alera is

Clear winner there!

Alright, NOW I can say I will be back. Adios! Love you all and happy holidays!

Cayla

Safe Returns: TeenVoices + Spain Cover!!

2009-11-21T20:57:00.000-06:00

I am not dead. I've just been neglecting the call of the blogosphere, and I apologize deeply and truly to said blogosphere.

BUT, now that I'm back, I've got a bunch of cool news. First off, an interview I did with Teen Voices is coming out in their November issue, so subscribe or buy your copy when you get a chance! The magazine will also be doing a Twitter Giveaway of Legacy next week, so don't forget to stop over and become a follower.

There are three days left to vote on this month's Offkey Poll -- if there are more than 117 votes by then, I'll post the first floor map of the Palace! (But since the goal is admittedly a little far off, don't worry -- I'll keep the challenge open indefinitely.)

I also got to see the cover for the Spanish edition of Legacy, which I'm thrilled about. I posted it below -- be sure to check out the publisher's website and blog as well.

Roca Juvenil

Roca Joven

Thanks so much for stopping by, and I'll be back soon with poll results!

Cayla

Halloween Round Robin... Finally!

2009-11-06T19:10:00.001-06:00

Yay!!! My website is working! I can finally give you a link to the pdf version of the Halloween Round Robin from the Facebook fan page. Thanks go to Joanna, Breezy, Melody, Sharlie, Chelsea, Cara, Alyssa, Drew, and Holly.

Halloween Round Robin 2009

Also, at long last I've thought up a "prize" for this month's Offkey Poll. Last month, there were 117 votes total, and if we exceed that number for the "Narian's allegiance" poll, I'll post the map of the first floor of the Hytanican Palace here on the blog. I have a hand-drawn, scanned-in version, as well as a wall-sized one with furniture and everything glued into the rooms and color-coordinated. (I'm a little obsessive compulsive I guess, but it was fun -- it satiated my inner interior designer!) I really hope the goal is met, but promise if it isn't that the challenge will remain open.

Some really exciting stuff is going on behind the scenes over here -- I wish I could tell you all of it! Hopefully I'll be able to soon. Just the other day I signed a whole pile of foreign contracts and they were sent out in the mail, so that was cool. Oh! I finished the rough draft of Redemption (Book 3) a few days ago and now the dreaded editing has begun. I'm actually starting to consider what I want to write next already, which is weird for me -- I've been completely immersed in Legacy world for over three years now!!

Anyway, thanks for dropping in, and I'll be back soon.

Cayla

Still Having Problems

2009-11-02T12:47:00.001-06:00

Sorry everyone!! My website is still having problems that are preventing me from updating it, so I can't post the Halloween round robin yet.... grr.

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T15:35:00.000-05:00

Boo!

I hope everybody has plans to watch scary movies and steal candy from their neighbors tonight! The Halloween round robin on the Facebook fan page was a success -- however, I am not having success posting it here. It's a pdf file so I have to put it on my website first then link to it from here, but as of right now, Network Solutions is giving me more of a trick than a treat today and won't let me edit my site. Anyway, hopefully by the end of the day this will be resolved and I can post the story as promised -- but if not, it will go up this week, and you can read what everyone came up with in the interim on the Facebook fan page by using the link in the sidebar.

My mom and my sister got in an accident last night when a ladder fell of a construction truck and hit their car, shattering the driver's window and blowing off the sideview mirror (which hit my mom in the head). Everybody's okay (except the cute little Kia... it's at the car hospital), but yesterday was a long one!!

Anyway, hopefully I'll be back today yet with the round robin. Until then, over and out!

Cayla

Guest Post at Tif Talks Books

2009-10-28T14:03:00.001-05:00

Hi all!

The guest post I wrote for Tif Talks Books has gone up -- here's the link if you want to check it out, and don't forget to become a follower over there:

You're Only as Young as You Feel by Cayla Kluver

Also, Facebook has been acting up, so the discussions on the fan page keep appearing and disappearing -- I haven't been deleting them! I encourage everybody who feels like it to start up their own discussion thread, and chances are I'll chime in (once Facebook starts behaving...).

AND, an interesting occurence! (I have a weird life, I've decided.) I just found out that there's going to be a reading activity about me in a series of textbooks that teaches English to middle schoolers in Latin America. Way cool, but WAY strange! I remember activities about people in my Spanish textbooks and now I'm one of them. :P Thanks to Richmond Publishing in Mexico City for the FYI, and for thinking I'm interesting enough to include!

Well, I think that's about it for now, so... I'll be back!

Cayla

Offkey Poll Results -- Narian's Character Sheet

2009-10-24T15:59:00.000-05:00

Hi everybody!

There are a few hours left to vote on the favorite character poll, but since Narian has consistently been ahead, I feel it's safe to say he's the winner (and if by some weird happening he's not, I'll post the actual winner's character sheet too, savvy?). As promised, I've posted his detail sheet from my very old Legacy notebook (as well as a couple of pics of the notebook) below! This stuff was put together as I was creating his character, so a lot of things changed from this original "draft" of him to the person we see in the finished book. Also, you can see me lurking in the pics because I had to take them with my webcam (my older sister has her digital camera at school with her).

Just a couple things I'm going to make you read before I hand over the goodies: use the link in the sidebar to access the Facebook fan page, where in the discussions you can ask me questions and participate in the Halloween round robin. Also, I'm in the process of updating my official website, so it will include a video pronunciation guide for Legacy and some other fun stuff. For now, the video of me saying the names, etc., is up on the fan page. The MAIN CHANGE on the website is the new contact email for publicity inquiries: publicity@caylakluver.com.

Without further ado.....

Narian:

Physical Description
Steel blue eyes/sharp, intense, cold, unwelcoming
Smooth face/youthful glow
Seventeen years old
Height -- 5'10"
Thick dark blonde hair/bleached in places
Cut inch below his ears, haphazard bangs
Worldly face though young
Strong + muscular/lean
Athletic
Handsome

Personality Traits
Guarded/careful/deliberate
Very intelligent
Manipulative
Knows people + how to use them
Seems wordly and experienced
Observant + more judgmental (not critical)
Good at concealing his fears
Never been prisoner before (scared)
Emotional vulnerability
VERY well-trained
An "enigma"
Been taught to control his emotions
Intense

Hope you enjoyed, and I'll be back shortly with a new poll and (hopefully) a new prize of some sort!

Thanks for reading,

Cayla

Teen Trend Magazine + Tif Talks Books

2009-10-15T22:31:00.000-05:00

Hello again all,

A couple of zippety-quick updates: a review of Legacy was published in the latest edition of Teen Trend Magazine, which you can check out here by flipping to page 32:

Teen Trend Fall 2009

I'm so excited and grateful to the magazine for doing this review! You can subscribe to Teen Trend or read more about them at their official website.

Another review of Legacy was done over at Tif Talks Books, where I will be doing a guest post in not too long -- I'll let you know for sure when and post a link once it goes up. 'Til then, see what Tif thought, and don't forget to become a follower!

Legacy by Cayla Kluver

Thanks a bunch to Tif, and I can't wait to do that post on your site.

A few other things: the Halloween round robin is going wonderfully over at the Facebook fan page -- stop by and don't be shy about participating! Also, I'm going to encourage you guys again to head over to StoryCasting.com and pick the actors you see as the characters from Legacy -- it's a ton of fun! I'm also receiving a bunch of courtesy bookmarks from them that I'll be handing out at signings, readings, etc.

StoryCasting: Legacy by Cayla Kluver

Anyway, that's about it for now -- thanks so much for reading!

Cayla

Halloween Round Robin and Storycasting

2009-10-13T13:45:00.000-05:00

Hi all!

First things first, we've started up a Halloween round robin over on the Facebook fan page, and I really, REALLY encourage everybody to come over and participate! For those who might not know, a round robin is a story written by lots of people, in this case five sentences at a time. It's absolutely no pressure and a ton of fun. On the 31st, the completed story will go up here on the blog for you guys to read. Check it out, and get everybody you know to chime in!!!

Second, Legacy has been added to the database on StoryCasting.com so that I and all of you can pick out your favorite actors and cast the roles how you'd like to see them in a movie version. I cast mine this morning (though I'm still thinking about quite a few of the characters), and hope you have a blast casting yours!

StoryCasting: Legacy by Cayla Kluver

That's all for now -- be back later,

Cayla

WQOW and Fan Art

2009-10-10T12:09:00.000-05:00

Hi all!

I'm super excited for a number of reasons -- first, I did an interview with WQOW TV-18, which you can check out here on their website:

In Person: Cayla Kluver

Both the three minute segment that was on TV and the full half-hour interview are up. Thanks so much to Steve for conducting the interview, and to Josie (my best friend) and Mrs. White (my epically awesome English teacher) for being involved!

Second, Joanna on the Facebook Fan Page drew some BEAUTIFUL fan art for Legacy that I'm pumped to share with you. Check it out!! The first one is called "Forbidden", and the second one is "Sisters".

I just want to point out the detail on the frame behind Alera and Miranna in "Sisters". I'm so humbled by the work Joanna put into these drawings. If anyone else has fan art, please do not be shy about sharing. I would love to see what you've come up with -- it's exciting and such an honor for me.

Well, I think that's about it for now -- thanks for stopping in!

Cayla