Debut (YA) Author Challenge at The Artsy Reader Girl

COURT OF FIVES comes out in TWO DAYS — 18 Aug. 2015. In celebration of Kate Elliott’s YA debut, That Artsy Reader Girl interviewed Elliott, John R. McKay, and Alexandra Sirowy about their upcoming releases.

The Debut Dish, a Debut Author Challenge feature, is where you go for the scoop on some pretty awesome debut authors and their new books!

That Artsy Reader Girl

Elliott reveals a little more about COURT OF FIVES and some of her surprising favorites:

Describe your book in five words or less.
Jes is a fierce competitor.

Why should readers pick up your book?
A fantasy novel about sisterhood and family loyalty in the wake of treachery, a conquered country ruled within a rigid social hierarchy, a popular game that’s more than it seems, and one girl’s challenge to run the Fives even though it is forbidden to her.


Read more at the link
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Five SFF Stories Complicated by Intact Family Relationships

In Kate Elliott’s first Young Adult novel, COURT OF FIVES, protagonist Jessamy comes from a family with a complicated background. Elliott describes the novel as “Little Women  meets American Ninja Warrior in a setting inspired by Greco-Roman Egypt,” hinting at important familial relationships amidst all the action.

For Tor.Com, Elliott has compiled a list of Five SFF Stories Complicated by Intact Family Relationships. In it, she says:

[W]ith Court of Fives I specifically wanted to write a story in which the main character’s family is intact and present, and therefore plays a part as one of the complicating factors in her journey. What happens when a choice we need to make will hurt someone we care about? How much will we risk for those we love?

See which five families she picked at the link!

Remember: COURT OF FIVES releases in five days on 18 Aug. 2015! You can pre-order online at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Indiebound (USA and Canada only)

The Book Wars Guest Post – The Writing Process: How One Writer Works

Be sure to check out Kate Elliott’s recent guest post for The Book Wars, in which she discusses her drafting and writing process, world-building, and her experiences writing her debut Young Adult novel, COURT OF FIVES (out 18 August 2015!).

“Frankly, working through my first YA novel has taught me a great deal about delineating a world with fewer words, and I think I was able to put some of the lessons learned about pacing and incisive worldbuilding details into good use in my forthcoming adult epic fantasy Black Wolves (coming this November from Orbit Books). Overall I would say writing YA has helped me in writing adult fiction because it has enhanced my ability to judge how well images and emotions in my head are coming across on the page. Clarity is hard, but clarity is vital: Where the reader’s vision connects with mine is where the magic happens.”

Read more

Stay tuned for more guest posts and interviews by and with Kate Elliott as we ramp up to the release of COURT OF FIVES!

 

 

Sasquan 73rd World SF Convention Schedule

Kate Elliott will be attending the Sasquan 73rd World Science Fiction Convention, held 19 Aug. – 23 Aug. 2015 in Spokane, WA. Worldcon celebrates the best works and creators in the speculative fiction field and culture.

sasquan
Kate Elliott’s events
:

Thursday, 20 Aug. 2015

 

JUST ADDED:

Ditch Diggers LIVE Podcast with Matt Wallace and Mur Lafferty: 12:00 – 12:45 CC Theater 110. I’ll be one of the guests with Aliette de Bodard and Fonda Lee.

 

Reading – 4:30PM – 5:00PM

Friday, 21 Aug. 2015

NEW! JUST ADDED:

Kaffee Klatche - Kate Elliott (Participant)
Friday, August 21 2015, 10:00 am 
202B-KK4 (CC)

Narrative Structure and Expectation – 4:00PM – 4:45PM
How do we enter stories? By what techniques do narratives pull us in? How do the expectations we have influence how we respond? I’ll break down some narrative techniques used in openings, and then go on to discuss how openings that match expectations can encourage us to keep reading while expectations that aren’t fulfilled can sometimes cause us to stop reading. How big a part does familiarity play in how well we can understand and adjust to a story? Finally, how do the things that we think we know but may be wrong about (as in history) make it easier or harder to be drawn into a book if our beliefs aren’t met?

(Elliott adds, “This is not a panel but a lecture, with entertaining Powerpoint (almost all image/video slides, and only two text slides). I debuted this presentation at SFeraKon in Croatia and it went over so well I decided to offer it to Sasquan.”)

Saturday, 22 Aug. 2015
Fantasy Creation for the Bold (With Ken Liu) – 12:00PM – 12:45PM
What are some of the bolder and more interesting worldbuilding decisions you’ve made? What kind of details, often neglected, can end up being extremely important? How do you make use of historical knowledge and anthropological insights to free your worlds rather than constraining them to well-trodden paths? The dialog discusses techniques and approaches that have paid off as well as pitfalls and traps.
(“Not a panel but a dialogue between me and award winning SFF author Ken Liu.”)

Diversity within YA & Middle Grade Fiction (With Cynthia Ward, Cassandra Rose Clarke, Fonda Lee, and Wesley Chu) – 1:00PM – 1:45PM
Everyone is talking about diversity within science fiction and fantasy, but how are we doing with diversity within the young adult and middle grade subgenres? What writers should we be reading? What characters should we be looking to as examples? And what new fiction are we looking forward to reading?

Sunday, 23 Aug. 2015
Autographing (With Kendare Blake and Karl Schroeder) –  12:00PM – 12:45PM

Worlds We Believe: YA Building (With Lauren Roy, Jennifer Brozek, and Jessica Rising) -1:00PM – 1:45PM
Have you ever sympathized with trudging through Professor Trelawney’s divination classroom? Does living in a Hobbit hole, spaciously provisioned seem not so far-fetched? Which district do you live in?  What about traveling through a worm hole at warp speed? Worlds that are easy to picture become a part of invested creators. What makes a believable world? What have past and present authors done right? Come visit other worlds with us. 

See you there!

COURT OF FIVES Giveaway

Can Brenda Wollard and Li please email me?

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In celebration of Kate Elliott’s upcoming YA debut novel, COURT OF FIVES, we are giving away TWO (2) free copies of the hardcover just in time for its release on 18 Aug. 2015!

giveawayco5
Little, Brown Books for Young Reader says: “In this imaginative escape into an enthralling new world, World Fantasy Award finalist Kate Elliott’s first young adult novel weaves an epic story of a girl struggling to do what she loves in a society suffocated by rules of class and privilege.”

Inspired by Little Women, Sasuke/American Ninja Warrior, the Count of Monte Cristo, and Greco-Roman Egypt, the novel is also Elliott’s love letter to girls who play sports. (Read more about the book’s description and current reviews here.)

Here are the rules:

1. To enter: Comment below with either a favorite sport & why OR if you don’t like sports, a favorite hobby/activity. Winners will be chosen by random draw.

2. The giveaway will run from 5 August to 11 August, ending at 10 PM Hawaii Time.

3. Domestic USA and International entries welcome. (Please let us know which you are in your comments!) Winners’ copies will be mailed out as soon as we confirm addresses.

P.S. You can also pre-order your copy of COURT OF FIVES on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Indiebound!

Court of Fives – Coming Soon!

Kate Elliott’s debut Young Adult release, COURT OF FIVES, will be released on 18 AUGUST 2015. from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. You can pre-order your copy on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Indiebound (USA and Canada only!).

Court of Fives_Elliott_CourtOfFives_HC-LO
Description:

“In this imaginative escape into an enthralling new world, World Fantasy Award finalist Kate Elliott begins a new trilogy with her debut young adult novel, weaving an epic story of a girl struggling to do what she loves in a society suffocated by rules of class and privilege.

Jessamy’s life is a balance between acting like an upper class Patron and dreaming of the freedom of the Commoners. But at night she can be whomever she wants when she sneaks out to train for The Fives, an intricate, multi-level athletic competition that offers a chance for glory to the kingdom’s best competitors. Then Jes meets Kalliarkos, and an unlikely friendship between a girl of mixed race and a Patron boy causes heads to turn. When a scheming lord tears Jes’s family apart, she’ll have to test Kal’s loyalty and risk the vengeance of a powerful clan to save her mother and sisters from certain death.”

Or, as Elliott says: “Little Women meets American Ninja Warrior in a fantasy setting inspired by ancient Egypt.”

Here’s are some of the reviews so far:

Booklist, starred review:
“Jes will remind readers of fearless Katniss with her skill and strategy for games. But it’s the fascinating descriptions of traditions, royal interactions, and, of course, the intensities of the Fives that will enthrall readers most of all. Let the games continue!”

Publishers Weekly:
“An imaginative journey…. Elliott creates an intricate and intriguing story, conjuring a world of mysticism and centuries-old customs. Jessamy’s boldness and impulsiveness make her a striking heroine in a male-dominated land.”

Ann Aguirre, New York Times bestselling author of the Razorland trilogy:
“Haunting. Epic. Impassioned. Layered. Breathtaking. This isn’t just a novel; it is a coup d’état of the soul. Prepare to be ravished by Kate Elliott’s Court of Fives.”

School Library Journal:
“Set in an ancient civilization reminiscent of the Egyptians and the Mayans, this is a high fantasy novel that explores race, class, and gender struggles in a patriarchal society….a world of warring kingdoms where the victors have built their civilization on the backs of the conquered. Jessamy is loyal and strong female protagonist who fights against injustice. This trilogy opener will be a hit with readers who love action-packed fantasy adventures.”

Marie Lu, New York Times bestselling author of the Legend series and the Young Elites series:
“Kate Elliott’s magic and mastery is better than ever. Court of Fives enchanted me from start to finish, with characters and worlds that lingered long after I turned the final page.”

Tamora Pierce, author of the Tortall series and the Circle of Magic series:
“Fast-paced, tense, and riveting. I couldn’t put it down, and you won’t be able to either!”

Gail Carriger, New York Times bestselling author of the Parasol Protectorate series and the Finishing School series:
“This book is amazing. Kate Elliott combines everything I love best in a YA novel. Jes is a killer protagonist, tough and capable, but also lost in her upbringing and faced with impossible choices that test her character and her beliefs…. This book will not fail you.”

 

Stay tuned for how you can win a FREE copy of Court of Fives in a blog giveaway!