Megan Shepherd Takes the Dare

I wanted to do something extra special for this dare, since it's been so long since I've done one, and I've so missed the public humiliation. So I decided to revisit one of my most popular previous dares, that went as follows:

Design an original cover for your book.

For the record, here are the real covers of The Madman's Daughter, and the sequel, Her Dark Curiosity, which comes out in January 2014 and is available for preorder. I just adore these covers. They're so atmospheric and classy and elegant and just beautifully photographed and designed.

I tackled this dare for the first time back in February 2012, for The Madman's Daughter, before that book even had a real cover. I came up with this gem. Lovely, no? Can't you just feel the tropical heat and tension in the air? It might not have quite the professionalism of the original, but you have to admit, it's just as classy.

For this dare, I wanted to continue with a similar graphic design, and show you my interpretation of the core story found in Her Dark Curiosity, which is inspired by The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and picks up a few months after The Madman's Daughter ends.

Ta da!

Like my first cover design, I think this one really showcases the book's strengths. There's obviously a much darker tone. There's mystery (that cloaked shadowy character in the bottom left), an atmospheric setting (Victorian London at Christmas...note the mistletoe), a hint of danger (lightning crash!), a deep and meaningful theme (the comedy and tragedy masks in the banner symbolize the duality of human nature, and also there's a really cool masquerade scene in the book), and a healthy dose of romance! My husband asked why the image was so grainy and I said that was clearly meant to be snow, but in case it was confusing, I decided to enhance the cover with lots of more obvious snow.


What do you think, does my cover design make you want to read it even more??

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Megan Shepherd is a young adult writer living in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Her debut novel The Madman's Daughter (Balzer+Bray/HarperCollins) is the first in a Gothic thriller trilogy. The second book in the trilogy, Her Dark Curiosity, will be released January 2014. She’d love to hear from you at her blog, Twitter, Facebook, or on Goodreads.

Megan Shepherd Takes the Dare

Today's Dare: Draw a map of your book's world

When I was a kid, I loved books that came with maps in them, like the Chronicles of Narnia and the Hobbit. It makes characters' adventures feel more real when you can chart their progress on a map. A few weeks ago I was doodling around while trying to figure out a plot hole, and I started drawing a map of the fictional Moreau's Island from THE MADMAN'S DAUGHTER. This turned into a bigger project where I illustrated lots of chapter headings and added footnotes, and I plan on giving away this annotated edition of the book at some later date on my blog.

And so I present: the map! I put it in the front of the book, just like my old copy of The Hobbit.

Because it's a little hard to see, I added a number guide.

1 - The dock where Juliet, Edward & Montgomery arrive on the island
2 - Moreau's compound, formerly a Spanish fort
3 - the volcano
4 - Jaguar's cabin
5 - the Islanders' village
6 - the mangroves
7 - the beach

It was so much fun to draw this map that I'm planning on doing the same for my future books. The second book in The Madman's Daughter trilogy is set in London, and I have a great old Victorian map of London from that time, so that will be a fun one to do.

Next up is Mindy McGinnis on May 10! If you have a truth or dare for her, you can leave it here.

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Megan Shepherd is a young adult writer living in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Her debut novel The Madman's Daughter (Balzer+Bray/HarperCollins) is the first in a Gothic thriller trilogy. The second book in the trilogy will be released January 2014. She’d love to hear from you at her blog, Twitter, Facebook, or on Goodreads.

Megan Shepherd Takes the Truth

Alyssa Sooklal asks: Are you going to publish your books in hardcover and paperback, as well as ebook? Just hardcover or just paperback and ebook? Or just ebook?

We’ve gotten a few similar "truth" questions about e-books: our feelings about them, about e-readers, if they mean the death of independent bookstores or if they're wonderful because they save trees. It seems like e-books are on everyone’s minds. Today I’m tackling this issue with a confession. Yes, I admit it.

I own a Kindle.

Battle of the Books: E-reader vs. Real book

You see, my family has owned an independent bookstore since before I was even alive, so print books have always been more than just a hobby for us: they were our bread-and-butter. As an author, I now make my living writing books regardless of the final format they’re in: print, digital, audio…the bottom line is more or less the same for me.

Also, it gets worse! I actually own two Kindles.

It’s tough admitting this, because so many people I know are die-hard print book readers and in the “e-books will be the death of the independent bookstore” crowd. I still prefer reading print books. But there are a few times when I find my Kindle indispensible. First of all, for travel. YA books are usually quick reads, and I could go through 4-5 of them on a vacation easily. That’s a lot of suitcase room. Second, e-readers are great for digital ARCs. Publishers can send me ARCs directly, which saves on printing, shipping, and marketing costs, and means more people can get ARCs and spread buzz about books.

But the main reason I use my e-reader isn’t to read published books at all. I use it mostly to read my own drafts. When drafting a book in Word or Scrivener, it’s hard to read double-spaced 12-point font  and visualize what it will look like as a final book. So I load all my drafts onto my Kindle, where I can read them as if they were already a real book, and it helps me see the places that are weak and still need work. This has made an enormous difference in my own writing.

All this said, I still prefer print books. Whenever possible, I buy a print book or get it from the library, instead of ordering a digital copy. E-books are often cheaper and instantly delivered, which is a perk, but I just don’t enjoy books as much when I read them on the Kindle. I recently felt as though I was going through a spell of lackluster books, only to realize the books themselves weren’t the problem…reading them on a screen was. When I went back and re-read the hard copy of some of those books, I enjoyed them so much better.

I also don’t think e-books mean the death of print books. My fellow writer Stephen Messer posted this quote from a recent Wall Street Journal article, which I love:

"Half a decade into the e-book revolution, though, the prognosis for traditional books is suddenly looking brighter. Hardcover books are displaying surprising resiliency. The growth in e-book sales is slowing markedly. And purchases of e-readers are actually shrinking, as consumers opt instead for multipurpose tablets. It may be that e-books, rather than replacing printed books, will ultimately serve a role more like that of audio books—a complement to traditional reading, not a substitute."

So there you have it: the truth. I own two Kindles. And I love my Kindles—for certain situations. But there is no substitute for holding a real book in your hand, and having a bookshelf full of cherished books.

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Megan Shepherd is a young adult writer living in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Her debut novel, The Madman's Daughter, comes out January 29, 2013 from Balzer+Bray/HarperCollins, and is the first in a Gothic thriller trilogy. She’d love to hear from you at her blog, Twitter, Facebook, or on Goodreads.

MADMAN'S DAUGHTER book trailer reveal on EW.com

Today, Entertainment Weekly's Shelf Life blog is hosting the exclusive reveal of our own Megan Shepherd's THE MADMAN'S DAUGHTER. Here's what Entertainment Weekly has to say about it:

At EW, we’re always on the lookout for the next hot YA title and I can say without a doubt that Megan Shepherd’s gothic horror The Madman’s Daughter is one of the most promising offerings for 2013. That’s why we’re offering up an exclusive trailer to whet your appetite!

Are you dying to watch it, like we Thirteeners are? Click here to go to the EW.com article and watch the trailer!

Giveaway!

To celebrate the trailer release, Megan is giving away a prize pack including an ARC of THE MADMAN'S DAUGHTER, bookmarks, postcards, and a tin of "sweet madness" tea designed specifically for the book. To enter, all  you have to do is comment on the EW.com trailer release. Visit Megan's blog for details.

Megan Shepherd Takes the Dare

Happy Friday!

Today I chose a dare from Jen Klein that goes something like this:

Choose a character from your upcoming book.  Reenact his/her most dramatic moment.  Use props and costumes if necessary.  Photograph and post.

I wouldn't say this is the MOST dramatic moment in my character's life, but it's pretty darn dramatic. And it required safety goggles and live fire.

Thanks for the dare, Jen! Next up on the blog is a guest dare by Mindi Scott on Tuesday, October 9, and then our own Mindy McGinnis will answer a truth or dare on October 12.

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Megan Shepherd is a young adult writer living in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Her debut novel, The Madman's Daughter, comes out January 29, 2013 from Balzer+Bray/HarperCollins, and is the first in a Gothic thriller trilogy. She’d love to hear from you at her blog, Twitter, Facebook, or on Goodreads.

Megan Shepherd Takes the Dare

Can I just say, you guys sure do know how to suggest some good Truths & Dares.

As I was going through the list of submitted truths & dares, I was sorely tempted to pick this one from Alyssa Sooklal that goes, "I dare you not to bathe for a week." Except then my friends reminded me that's more or less a normal week for me. Welcome to the glamourous life of a writer!

So in the interest of personal hygiene and keeping my friends, I instead chose this dare submitted by Heather Zundel:

That was a great dare, Heather. I now know how to accurately write about sheer terror. Thanks, I guess?

Next up is Brandy Colbert, our newest member, on Tuesday, July 3! This will be Brandy's first Truth or Dare, so let's make it a great one. You can submit truths & dares for her here.

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Megan Shepherd is a young adult writer living in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Her debut novel, The Madman's Daughter, comes out January 29, 2013 from Balzer+Bray/HarperCollins, and is the first in a Gothic thriller trilogy. She’d love to hear from you at her blog, Twitter, Facebook, or on Goodreads.

PROPHECY and THE MADMAN'S DAUGHTER Double Cover Reveal and Signed ARC Giveaway!

Us Friday the Thirteeners couldn't be more proud and excited to reveal not one but TWO brand new covers today! Getting a cover is a huge step in the journey toward publication, so you can imagine how hard we're celebrating such a memorable day with two of our own. Major congratulations to Ellen Oh and Megan Shepherd for their phenomenal covers for PROPHECY and THE MADMAN'S DAUGHTER!

Make sure to keep reading so you can find out how you can win signed ARCs of both PROPHECY and THE MADMAN'S DAUGHTER!

PROPHECY

by Ellen Oh

The greatest warrior in all of the Seven Kingdoms . . . is a girl with yellow eyes.

Kira’s the only female in the king’s army, and the prince’s bodyguard. She’s a demon slayer and an outcast, hated by nearly everyone in her home city of Hansong. And, she’s their only hope. . . 

Murdered kings and discovered traitors point to a demon invasion, sending Kira on the run with the young prince. He may be the savior predicted in the Dragon King Prophecy, but the missing treasure of myth may be the true key. With only the guidance of the cryptic prophecy, Kira must battle demon soldiers, evil shaman, and the Demon Lord himself to find what was once lost and raise a prince into a king.

Intrigue and mystery, ancient lore and action-packed fantasy come together in this heart-stopping first book in a trilogy.

THE MADMAN'S DAUGHTER

byt Megan Shepherd

Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London-working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.

Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward-both of whom she is deeply drawn to-Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius-and madness-in her own blood.

Inspired by H. G. Wells's classic the Island of Dr. Moreau, The Madman's Daughter is a dark and breathless Gothic thriller about the secrets we'll do anything to know and the truths we'll go to any lengths to protect.


Absolutely gorgeous covers, right? And both these fabulous books kick some serious ass! For your chance to win SIGNED ARCS of both PROPHECY and THE MADMAN'S DAUGHTER, head on over to Young Adult Books Central to enter!

PROPHECY (HarperTeen) and THE MADMAN'S DAUGHTER (Balzer + Bray) will both be published in January of 2013. Visit Ellen at her website and add PROPHECY to your Goodreads! As well, visit Megan at her website and add THE MADMAN'S DAUGHTER to your Goodreads, too!

 Huge congratulations, Ellen and Megan! You're both so incredibly talented and we're so happy and excited for you!