i can’t even begin to describe what it’s like to finally hold DUALED in real book form. at first i simply held the unopened package in my hands, just enjoying the moment. it’s a mix of many emotions–joy, gratitude, pride.

a lot of authors capture that one instant with a pic, or on film. i happened to be home by myself when it came to my door, so that didn’t work out. but thinking about it now, it seems fitting that it happened that way. writing is such a solitary journey in so many ways, and seeing this step also unfold on my own somehow felt right, too.

i did take a pic after opening the package! they look absolutely fantastic, and random house accented the title with glossy raised font on the front and the spine in shiny red foil. LOVE.

seeing my name on the cover totally blows me away. seeing my husband and kids hold it and read the words inside is completely surreal. people have been asking me if it finally feels real now, and to tell you the truth, i don’t really know what that means. i don’t know if i’m going to feel any differently when i can walk into a bookstore in february and see it on the shelf. all i know is i already feel so much, of everything. incredibly excited, immense happiness, anxiety and nervousness and anticipation for the upcoming months…

it’s awesome, you guys!!!

now, today is also friday the thirteenth. 2013 has been deemed a very lucky year for us friday the thirteeners! to celebrate our day, we’ve come up with a super fun post and an epic giveaway! we had some fun and came up with pen names and titles for our books. la dude by peach seminal? that would be me!

anyway, come by the blog and enter for your chance to win a prize pack consisting of thirteen YA books. each thirteener is offering up a book in our genre that we love so much we wish we’d written it! my selection is battle royale by koushun takami.

a lot of readers compare it to the hunger games, but battle royale was actually originally published in japan in 1999 and only translated for north american audiences in 2003. takami takes the idea of children being forced to battle to the death much further, in ways much darker and much more violent and visceral. it’s an unforgettable book, a true standout in the dystopian genre, and i hope whoever wins it will enjoy it!

random: reading patrick ness’s chaos walking trilogy book 2, the ask and the answer; listening to gym class heroes feat. ryan tedder the fighter, calvin harris feat. ne-yo let’s go.