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BUT …. I will write you a long post soon with loads of news.
In the meantime, look at the amazing cover art for the Mexican edition of STOLEN. I love it. Maybe it’s my favourite cover yet. 
Sorry this third book I’m writing is taking a while to get to you all. I think, if I ever finally get it together … it’ll be worth the wait. Keep hanging in there guys.
Thank you so much for your continued support. Really appreciate all your lovely emails and messages. Sorry I don’t always have the time to reply to all of them – I try my best, but sometimes, writing gets in the way.
Stay tuned for news about STOLEN – the film.
Also, if you want to win a signed copy of one of my books, head over to my facebook fanpage and become a fan! – https://www.facebook.com/LucyChristopherAuthor
Lucy x
January 18, 2012 in General, Stolen, Writing by Lucy Christopher
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Hi Gang,
I know, I know…I should have written in this thing MONTHS ago. But I tell you…I have just been too busy! This year has been so crazy busy, unlike anything I’ve ever experienced…EVER! Imagine a Merry-go-round sped up about one billion times, complete with super sonic flashing lights and cheering faces whizzing past … and that’s how it’s felt. I’ve already been to Germany twice, Australia twice, America once, and round the bend several times …
I think I should give you the ten-plot-point summary of the past few months :
1). In March I launched STOLEN in Germany. I went to the Leipzig book fair (cool manga characters wandering round!), Hamburg (sat in my hotel room and worked on my PhD) and Cologne (met some super nice Lit festival people!). This was all great fun, even though the crowds I seemed to attract to watch me seemed very SERIOUS. I guess that might have something to do with the fact that my German cover is uber scary….it’s black and menacing and with a man’s face lurking behind. The German title is quite scary too. It’s called ‘Ich Wuenschte Ich Koennte Dich Hassen (which in English means ‘I wished I could hate you’). Apparently it’s doing quite well in Germany. I hope so. I learnt German all the way through school and even went on exchange to Germany for two months before my final year of school. I adore this country and I adore its’ language too – I love the way its’ sounds seem to erupt from the back of one’s throat. It feels like such a privilege to have my words translated into it.
2). End March, I did some great school visits in Sydney and Melbourne … including the most amazing school in Sydney called Newington who runs their own Literature Festival over three days. Gorgeous place, very inspiring too. I even went back to my old school in Melbourne to do a visit – get this, some of the pictures on the walls are still the same from when I was there YEARS ago … (some of the teachers are still the same too!)
3). End May – back to Melbourne for the wonderful Reading Matters Conference. Imagine this – a whole conference dedicated to YA fiction. Blissful stuff. I sat next to one of my childhood heroes – Melina Marchetta. I also signed a copy of Stolen for Markus Zusak … yes, you did read that correctly, author of THE BOOK THIEF! I think this might rank as a career highlight. However, I did have to ask him how to spell his name – how EMBARRASSING is that?!
4). I returned to Germany in May once again for the Saarbrueken Book Festival – gorgeous little town, and gorgeous little festival. My delightful German editor joined me for this one – sie ist sehr nett.
5). In June I was on a panel to decide the winner of this year’s Branford Boase Award, and the winner is …. HA! I’m not going to tell you this YET….you need to wait a couple more days at least. But I will tell you that it’s a book that I absolutely think is one of the best books I’ve read for a very long time ….but I would do, wouldn’t I?! It’s the winner after all. But it’s a good winner, a very, very good winner indeed…. It’s so good I wish I’d written it!
6). End June I jetted off to the steamy armpit of New Orleans to pick up my PRINTZ HONOR AWARD for STOLEN (yes, you read that correctly too! Yay!). I spoke in front of 500 librarians (eek!) and then I carried my lovely award home in my hand luggage all the way. I also got to present FLYAWAY to hundreds of librarians too (which is very exciting as FLYAWAY isn’t out in USA until October – they all got advance, uncorrected proof copies to take away…I’d love to know what they thought….hmmm…). New Orleans was one of the most amazing cities also…I rode in a mule-drawn cart as well as on a paddle-steamer. I came over all-Huck-Finn. Plus, I got to spend time with my fantastic American publishing team.
7), Maggie Stiefvater gave me 5 stars on Good Reads for FLYAWAY (I like this fact so much it deserves a point of its own!)
8). I’m just about to set off for a whirlwind tour of Oz….to attend the Prime Minister Awards, for which Flyaway is shortlisted (cross fingers everyone! Cross toes too please!) and to discuss Stolen the FILM (exciting, hey!? Even more exciting is the fact that I may or may not be meeting my ‘Ty’!)
9). I’m a good way into finishing this third book (after several misguided attempts in the wrong direction!). Easy peasy. Ha! Let’s hope so anyway!
10). End of July – I present my Creative Writing PhD to four examiners, including the very brainy Peter Hunt (Lit academic), the very adorable Steve Voake (YA author), the very lyrical Linda Newberry (YA author) and the very important Paul Davies (head of graduate school). Wish me luck for this one too. My PhD is pretty much all about the writing of Stolen, just in case you were interested.
So, that’s it for now chickens. Take care out there. Hopefully it won’t be forever again until I write once more…. I’ll try my best anyway. ;-) In the meantime keep those toes crossed for Flyaway at the PM Awards, and watch out as I hand my baton over to the new Branford Boase champion… it’s a big baton, wouldn’t want to hit you with it!
I’m going to leave you with my favourite quote of the moment – “Be kind. For everyone is fighting a hard battle.” (Plato)
Wishing you sunshine and salutations,
Lucy :-)
July 4, 2011 in Awards and Nominations, Book Tours, Flyaway, General, Lucy Speaks, Reviews, Stolen, Writing by Lucy Christopher
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A couple of weeks ago I spent a lovely few days with my delightful editor, Imogen Cooper, sorting out my third book.
Here are some photos of us hard at work…. or rather, her keeping me captive until I finish the book (if you prefer!).
It seems the kidnap narrative isn’t just reserved for my novels, after all!
Anyone with funny caption suggestions, speak up! :-)
Lucyx
March 19, 2011 in Writing by Lucy Christopher
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Here is Maggie Stiefvater and I sharing some bubbles! Well, not that you can actually see the bubbles in this picture (a helpful publicist kindly removed the glasses of Moet out of shot before it was taken!). But nevertheless, this is me and MAGGIE STIEFVATER at the Bath Children’s Literature Festival. How cool is that?! And yes, the length of Maggie’s arm is also impressive. Perhaps this is why she is such a prolific writer. Perhaps the sheer length of her arm means that she can write for days and never tire. Either way, she’s a fab writer and here’s me … meeting her!
For those of you who don’t know it, Maggie Stiefvater has kindly agreed to provide the author endorsement on the US paperback edition of STOLEN. She has also blogged about how much she enjoyed reading STOLEN on her amazing website (http://www.maggiestiefvater.com). So, all in all, this was a starstruck moment.
I also had the priviledge of seeing Maggie Stiefvater and Jennifer Lynn Barnes in conversation, talking about ‘why werewolves’ and other random things like ‘monkey group behaviour’. It was fascinating, and also very funny.
I spent the rest of my delightful day out at the Bath Children’s Literature Festival meeting up with past students, having a coffee with the gorgeous Julia Green (author of such amazements as Drawing with Light and Blue Moon), watching the Great Cornelia Funke talk about her thrilling new book Reckless, and chatting with my publisher Barry about a new piece of Secret Stolen Film News!! He He He He. I know something you don’t know (you’ll have to imagine the singsong voice that was just in my head!). I also got SPOTTED! Yes, that’s right …. someone came up to me with exactly the words one doesn’t want to hear when one is trying to inconspicuously stalk Maggie Stiefvater : “ARE YOU LUCY CHRISTOPHER?”
I was, you could say, rather bowled over.
In other news, today is meant to be Day One of the New Writing Regime (NWR). So far, I’ve blogged (twice…don’t forget, I’m also Writer in Residence for insideadog.com.au), I have eaten crumpets, and I have sat in the sun with only a tshirt on(plus other clothes to cover legs etc…don’t worry, I’m no nudist.). On the plus side for the NWR, I have downloaded some songs to inspire me to write it. Also, hearing yesterday that Jennifer Lynn Barnes can write a book in 6 weeks has somewhat terrified me into action.
And on that note, I must depart. It’s time for me to place hands firmly on my hips and stare squarely at Book 3.
Wishing you fun and frolicks,
Lucyx
October 4, 2010 in General, Random Thoughts, Stolen, Writing by Lucy Christopher
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OK, I’m kind of getting into the hang of this blog idea now. I thought I might tell you a bit about the kinds of things that are going on in my writing life right now. There are a few excitements!
Firstly, for the month of October, I am the official Writer in Residence for the fabulous Inside A Dog blogspot (part of the Centre for Youth Literature, Australia). This is really exciting because anyone who really knows me knows I’ve never been the most technologically minded of gals. But now? Look at me go! I have a wonderful new website which I’m blogging on right now, plus I am Writer in Residence for this other fabulous site. Soon you won’t know me…I’ll just be known as Ms Geek! So anyway, check out my other blogging site for the month of October HERE. Also, while you’re there, check out some of the other really cool info on this site….there are some lovely reviews and whatnot!
While we are talking about the fantastic Inside A Dog website, let me tell you about a linked piece of information that is really rather exciting. STOLEN has been longlisted for the Inky Awards. These are such brilliant awards. They are set up by the Centre for Youth Literature, are international awards for teenage literature, and are voted for by YOU (well, if you’re under 20!). The shortlist for these awards is announced on the 12th October, so please, everyone reading this cross your fingers now and say a small word of encouragement under your breath that STOLEN makes it onto this!
So, in other news? Well there’s some really exciting news about the possibility of making STOLEN into a film, but I’m not sure how much of this I can reveal yet, sooooo…..let’s just keep you hanging on this one for the moment. But let me just say I let out a small squeal of delight whenever I think about what’s going on here.
Tomorrow I’m off to the Bath Children’s Literature Festival to see Cornelia Funke and Maggie Stiefvater (maybe even meet this fabulous lady, who is providing the author endorsement on the US paperback edition of STOLEN!).
I’ll blog about my adventures here soon.
And then next week I am embarking upon the New Writing Regime. This is a self-imposed regime of boot camp for me to get my third book written. Book 3 is currently being a little pest of a creature, and it’s now time to beat him into ship shape. I’ll no doubt be blogging about the New Writing Regime over the coming few weeks, so this won’t be the last you hear of this. Mwahahaha (that’s my impression of a scary man laugh!).
Anyway, I’ve waffled on here for far too long already, and yeah, I haven’t told you all the stuff that’s going on in my life, but I think I’ve told you enough for now…. so it’s time for me to make like a tree….
Adios Amigos!
Thoughtfulness and friendship,
Lucyx
October 2, 2010 in Awards and Nominations, General, Lucy Speaks, Random Thoughts, Stolen, Writing by Lucy Christopher
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