Announcement: AHHH MY SECOND BOOK! (and a giveaway!)

30 Nov

[Update: Scroll down for the winner!]

Y’ALL.

I HAVE EXCITING NEWS.

If you’ll recall from back in March, when The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls sold to my brilliant editor, Zareen Jaffery, at Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, it sold as part of a two-book contract.

Cavendish is a standalone middle grade novel, so my second book for S&S will also be a standalone middle grade novel, and now — dah duh-duh DAHHH — I can finally talk about it! And this publishing stuff is all very strange to me because, you know, the FIRST book’s not even out yet, and here I am talking about the SECOND one, but NEVERTHELESS.

Are you ready? AGH, I don’t know if I’m ready! I might have to dance around a bit.

Now, about the book.

…

…

Are you ready?

…

…

ARE YA??

…

…

…

WELL OKAY.

~*~

The October Year

(coming August 2013!) | Goodreads

13-year-old Olivia Stellatella and her father have sold all their belongings to keep her father’s orchestra from going bankrupt. Now, they live out of suitcases in the back rooms of Emerson Hall, where the orchestra performs.

Olivia hates it there.

She hates her squeaky cot and shabby clothes. She hates her father, too, for being so obsessed with music that he drove Olivia’s mother out of the house and got them into this mess. Most of all, Olivia hates the orchestra. It’s the orchestra’s fault that her father’s the way he is. She can’t wait for it to fail.

Until the ghosts come.

They’re lonely, frightened, and stuck in our world. Only if Olivia and the 14-year-old usher, Henry, can help the ghosts solve the mysteries of their deaths — deaths that are somehow related to the Hall’s past — will they be able to move on and find peace. But time — and money — is running out. The mayor wants to bulldoze the Hall to the ground, which would put Olivia and her father out on the streets and trap the ghosts in our world permanently. And other ghosts — bad ones — will do anything to keep them here. As the “ghosts of Emerson Hall” craze sweeps the city, Olivia faces life-changing family secrets and must fight for her life when her world, and the world of Death, collide.

Inspired by The Phantom of the Opera, When You Reach Me, and The Invention of Hugo Cabret, as well as my own experiences as a musician, The October Year is a middle grade ghost story about loss, magic, music, and the power of friendship.

~*~

I’m SO excited about this book. It came out of nowhere and has quickly become incredibly special to me, a precious little surprise book-baby from the bespectacled stork that flies around bringing writers their ideas. You know. BECAUSE WRITING IS EASY LIKE THAT.

In fact, I was SO very excited that I made a temporary The October Year cover for you. It is, among other things, evidence that I should never, ever design covers.

TANTALIZING, no??

To celebrate this excitement, I’m holding an October Year-inspired GIVEAWAY!

What’s the booty? (Heh, booty.) The BOOTY is a MAGICAL PRIZE PACK containing the following:

  1. a hardcover copy of Rebecca Stead‘s brilliant When You Reach Me
  2. a paperback copy of Gaston Leroux’s gothic classic The Phantom of the Opera
  3. a hardcover copy of Brian Selznick’s enchanting The Invention of Hugo Cabret
  4. a $20 AMC gift card, so that you can go see Hugo (Martin Scorsese‘s film adaptation of Hugo Cabret) in theaters! (I guess you could see something else, but I would love you bunches if you DID go see Hugo, which everyone is raving about — including my editor! — and if you DO go see something else . . . just don’t tell me!)

These (brand new!) books would make great gifts this holiday season, or fantastic additions to your personal library! And Hugo looks beautiful, doesn’t it?

How to win:

  • comment on this blog for +1 entry!
  • tweet about The October Year and/or this contest and copy your tweet’s link below for +2 additional entries!
  • add The October Year to your Goodreads to-read list and copy your Goodreads profile link below for +3 additional entries!

This contest begins NOW and is open until next Wednesday, December 7 at 12:00 p.m. CST!

Also, I love you, international people, but this contest is for residents of the U.S., Quebec, and Ontario only, simply because, as far as I can tell, these are the only places where AMC theaters operate. However, don’t worry — I’ll have many more October Year-themed giveaways in the coming many months!

And, most importantly of all, thanks to all of you for celebrating with me!

EDIT: and the winner is…

Reut (@reutreads)!

Congratulations, Reut! Please contact me at clairelegrandbooks[at]gmail[dot]com!

And thank you again, everyone, for your words of encouragement and excitement. I can’t wait to share The October Year with you (and host more giveaways as the pub date approaches)!

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

62 Responses to “Announcement: AHHH MY SECOND BOOK! (and a giveaway!)”

  1. Deserae McG November 30, 2011 at 12:06 am #

    This is very exciting news, Claire! Agh! I’m vair, vair excited.

    Wishing you well,
    Deserae

    • Amanda T November 30, 2011 at 7:58 pm #

      This is my official comment for this prize entry because A) You’re incredible and I am proud to know you! B) You offer great prizes and C) You da bomb girl. One could wrap A and C together, but I prefer not to. I am definitely passing this on!

      With love, Amanda

      • Amanda T November 30, 2011 at 8:02 pm #

        Well, I don’t know what GoodReads is and I don’t have a twitter account, but I do have FB and I posted on that!

        *Well, one of my five favorite people in the entire world has done it again! Seriously, this girl is the PERSON TO KNOW! Claire Legrand, always impressive and inspiring, check out her newest book: http://claire-legrand.com/2011/11/30/announcement-ahhh-my-second-book-and-a-giveaway/*

        Yay and congratulations again!!

        Amanda

  2. Amanda J November 30, 2011 at 12:08 am #

    OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *squee* CONGRATULATIONS!!! :D *hugs*

  3. Annie Moore Books November 30, 2011 at 12:13 am #

    OMG! This book sounds AMAZING! I’m spazzing in happiness for you right now! I’m so excited!

  4. Les November 30, 2011 at 12:15 am #

    I can’t tell you how proud I am of you and how much your life inspires me to do great things like you are doing! Way to go Claire!!!

  5. Erica November 30, 2011 at 12:25 am #

    OMG! That is so exciting! Congrats :) :) I can’t wait to read :)

    I added The October Year to my goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/241385184

    I also RTed your tweet (so I don’t know if that counts) but my username is @thebookcellarx

  6. Katy Pool (@KatyPool) November 30, 2011 at 1:11 am #

    yaaaay this is incredibly exciting. And I just went to see Hugo on Friday! It was truly, truly wonderful, and I want to read the book now. Also, THIS BOOK. All the books? ALL THE BOOKS.
    Speaking of which, my GoodReads profile:
    http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/6753566-katy-pool
    You may or may not be pleased to know that this contest has encouraged me to update it because i have been neglecting it all semester.
    Annnnnd twitter post: https://twitter.com/#!/KatyPool

    CONGRATULATIONSSSS!!

  7. Susan Bischoff November 30, 2011 at 4:49 am #

    August 2013 is way too far away! This sounds amazing, Claire, like everything that comes out of your brain. Congratulations.

  8. bwmathews November 30, 2011 at 5:20 am #

    Congratulations, Claire! :-)

  9. Meg Spooner November 30, 2011 at 7:07 am #

    WOOO! CONGRATULATIONS! We’re totally book announcement buddies. (Uh, yeah. That’s a Thing, I swear.)

    Your book sounds am-aaaaaaaaa-zing, and I cannot wait to see on shelves and buy it myself! Yay!

  10. Kait Nolan November 30, 2011 at 7:47 am #

    WAHOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! And I agree with Susan. August 2013 is way too far away… Ergo SOMEONE NEEDS TO INVENT A TIME MACHINE! (this seems more likely than the publishing machine ever actually speeding up).

    CONGRATULATIONS!

  11. Beth November 30, 2011 at 7:56 am #

    YAYAYAYYAYAY!!! I’m so so so proud of you!!! Also, <3 the additional masterpiece that I assume Mel drew for you is hilarious…kittehs! ;) (I'm doing a happy dance for you!)

    • Beth November 30, 2011 at 7:57 am #

      I also realize in my excitement, that sentence about the pic does not make sense, but you know what I mean lol.

  12. Vivien November 30, 2011 at 8:33 am #

    Congrats!! So excited. Cannot wait for you :) You should be very proud of yourself.

    +1 comment
    +2 tweeted:

    +3 added to TBR
    http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4113215?shelf=to-read

    Vivien
    deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

  13. Michele Shaw November 30, 2011 at 8:41 am #

    Amazing news, Claire, and so well-deserved! Huge Congrats!

  14. deniz November 30, 2011 at 8:58 am #

    Congratulations Claire! The book sounds amazing, I love stories like that!!
    I don’t have Twitter :-( but I blogged about this!
    Here’s me on Goodreads

  15. Orchid November 30, 2011 at 9:10 am #

    Ah, congrats on the second book- I was already planning on adding it to my wishlist after reading about it.

    So excited for you!!!!

    My Goodreads
    Tweet

  16. Matthew E Strauss November 30, 2011 at 9:12 am #

    You are so awesome Claire, congratulations on your 1st AND 2nd book, can’t wait to read them!! :D We miss you here! :P

  17. Matthew E Strauss November 30, 2011 at 9:18 am #

    http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5285880-matthew

    I can’t wait to read your book! :D

  18. Jenny November 30, 2011 at 9:26 am #

    That’s so amazing! Yay! Congratulations!!

  19. jessicacorra November 30, 2011 at 9:29 am #

    :snoopy dancing!: :confetti!: :cupcakes!: :HUGS AND HUGS AND HUGS: YAY!!!

  20. Serena November 30, 2011 at 9:35 am #

    I am SO proud of you I can’t even right now. You’re just so amazing. And I freakin love your book cover and your little unicorn who halped. I would buy that right there. LOVELOVELOVE <3

  21. Heidi November 30, 2011 at 9:36 am #

    I can’t enter the contest (Western Canada, grrrr, haha), but THAT IS SO EXCITING! CONGRATS!! I love books revolving around orchestras and the like, probably because of residual band-geekery. (Also, Phantom of the Opera ftw!)

  22. Kayla Olson November 30, 2011 at 9:37 am #

    Ooh, sounds awesome! I’m commenting…and RTing you…and adding it on Goodreads! Yay! So excited for you!

  23. snipekiller (@snipekiller) November 30, 2011 at 9:39 am #

    Following on her first novel, @clairelegrand is gearing up for her second: The October Year :D http://tinyurl.com/7ejyyv7

  24. Jamie Manning November 30, 2011 at 10:13 am #

    Awesome, awesome, awesome! So excited for you, and thank you heaps for thinking of US during your exciting news!

    Here’s my goodreads! http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4801040.Jamie_Manning

    And my tweet! http://twitter.com/#!/byJamieManning/status/141912288536969216

    Thanks again!

  25. catherine masciola November 30, 2011 at 11:27 am #

    What a wonderful idea! I love it!

    http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3198446.Catherine_Masciola_Walsh

  26. sarah bob watts November 30, 2011 at 1:17 pm #

    YOU are so inspiring and awesome. Cheers to your awesomeness, I will have a beer to it tonight. :D :D

  27. heatherishither November 30, 2011 at 1:20 pm #

    Sounds neat! Love the cover, too.

  28. Kendra November 30, 2011 at 1:20 pm #

    Oh, Claire, I’m so thrilled for you…this story looks amazing! Can’t wait to read it.

  29. Ghenet Myrthil November 30, 2011 at 2:25 pm #

    The premise sounds amazing! Congrats!! :) I’m also super excited to see HUGO.

  30. Emily Staton November 30, 2011 at 3:10 pm #

    Weee… I lost my old Goodreads account but I have rebuilt it! Woot!
    http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7085255-emily-staton

    I DID tweet about it but I don’t know how to link to specific tweets. Because I suck at life.

    • Emily Staton November 30, 2011 at 3:11 pm #

      Wrong button. I wanted to add a CONGRATS!! I can’t wait to read both of your new books, they sound AWESOME!

  31. Brittany Cicero November 30, 2011 at 4:53 pm #

    I am very excited about this new development! Can’t wait to read it. Do I count as international because I say no :) If I knew how to tweet or what Goodreads to read was I’d do that too. Yes, I’m a bit sad I know. Congrats!

  32. Laurie Lamb November 30, 2011 at 5:10 pm #

    That’s fantastic news. Congratulations! And I like the title. :)

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Laurie_Lamb/status/142013900739715073
    Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3826932-laurie-lamb

  33. akossket November 30, 2011 at 5:19 pm #

    Congratulations!!!

    http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4211051-akoss

  34. Laura Taylor November 30, 2011 at 6:39 pm #

    Claire! this is such amazing news!!! I’m so looking forward to reading BOTH books! Love you, friend.

  35. Ms. P November 30, 2011 at 7:44 pm #

    Claire – are we just the proudest of you? yes we are….I’m so impressed with what you’ve accomplished….hugs to you…Ms. P….

  36. Eliza November 30, 2011 at 8:28 pm #

    I’d have commented even without the contest. The book sounds quite awesome! Congrats! I’ve never outgrown middle grade books, and I hope I never will.

    I’ll keep an eye out for it.

  37. Laura W. November 30, 2011 at 10:24 pm #

    Sweet! It sounds like something I’d love to read. Music nerd speaking. :)

  38. Laura W. November 30, 2011 at 10:34 pm #

    I also tweeted — not sure how to add link here — but I mentioned you in the tweet.

    (Random side note — saw you read Sabriel recently :D DD So much awesome.)

  39. Claire November 30, 2011 at 11:59 pm #

    Thank you so, so, SO much, everyone, for your kind words, support, and enthusiasm! I’m beyond thrilled to see you as excited about THE OCTOBER YEAR as I am!

    *HUGS FOR ALL*

  40. Cherie December 1, 2011 at 10:03 am #

    Ahhh! So exciting! I’m already so excited for Cavendish Home, and The October Year sounds fabulous.

    Tweeted here: http://twitter.com/#!/writercherie/statuses/142271917578129408

    Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5210236-cherie

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    writercherie AT gmail DOT com

  41. Melinda VanLone December 1, 2011 at 1:00 pm #

    You have the most awesome voice ever. I’m jealous! And congrats! *happy dance* (I LOVE your cover by the way hehe)

  42. adchristiano December 1, 2011 at 2:40 pm #

    Congratulations! Can’t wait til 2013. You know, unless the world ends in 2012.

    Tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/adchristiano/status/142341523072229376

    Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2141968-ashley

  43. katiecoops December 1, 2011 at 2:47 pm #

    Ooh, this is super exciting! It must be so crazy to have two books announced but neither one is out for sale yet! I can’t wait to read The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls next summer! I added The October Year to my Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4107464-katie-cooper

  44. Kelly andrews December 1, 2011 at 2:53 pm #

    Sign me up! Sounds so good.

  45. Mallory December 1, 2011 at 6:16 pm #

    I just came to your site after reading your review of Plain Kate! (Also one of my favorite books, btw. I just reread it last night and went looking online for someone else who shares the love.) And, your book sounds awesome. Keep posting teasers. Sign me up for the giveaway!

  46. Trisha Leigh December 1, 2011 at 9:37 pm #

    As I believe I’ve said, I can’t wait to read your books. Here. I’m going to say it again MAKE THE CALENDAR HURRY UP I WANT TO READ YOUR BOOKS! I tweeted your contest and added the book on Goodreads. I’m too lazy to find the links. If I only get one entry that’s okay. I just wanted to say congrats and you’re awesome.

  47. C D Meetens December 2, 2011 at 2:50 am #

    “The October Year” sounds fantastic! I can’t wait to read it. Definitely my sort of book. (And I’m from the UK, so I can’t take part in the giveaway.)

  48. Megan Conway December 2, 2011 at 5:07 pm #

    *rummages through closet for blow horn* *switches it on* [magnified sound] CONGRATULATIONS!!

    From the synopsis you have there, The October Year sounds awesome! Can’t wait for… 2013?! Dang! Oh well. It’s worth the wait! Can’t wait for Cavendish as well!

    Goodreads profile: http://goodreads.com/meganconway

  49. Kristin Rae December 3, 2011 at 11:30 am #

    Congrats!! That’s so exciting!! It sounds fantastic! :)

  50. sarah bob watts December 3, 2011 at 2:30 pm #

    I forgot to mention how glorious your drawing is:D:D

  51. reutreads December 3, 2011 at 11:03 pm #

    Can’t wait to read Cavendish and the October Year now! And I’ve added it on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/242123602

    reutreads@gmail.com

  52. Derek Molata December 5, 2011 at 12:48 pm #

    How much do I love that title? A LOT. Congrats Claire! :D

  53. Kristi S. December 6, 2011 at 9:09 pm #

    This is absolutely wonderful! I’d love to have those books, especially the last one. I actually saw Hugo 3D over Thanksgiving weekend and pretty much loved it. Though I still love movies, so a gc would be nice also. ;) Thank you SO much for the chance to enter.

    I tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/whoaaitskristi/status/144251144514969600
    And I added The October Year to my “To-read” list: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5781572-kristi
    :)

  54. jmartinlibrary December 6, 2011 at 9:36 pm #

    Yes, yes, YES! Count me in for this amazing contest!

  55. Claire December 7, 2011 at 8:51 am #

    I’d LOVE to wiN!!! :)

  56. Lauren Garafalo December 7, 2011 at 10:38 am #

    Huge Congratulations on the 2nd book!! I was already excited about CAVENDISH, and now there’s more to HOORAY about! I love the premise of October Year…sometimes I swear my brain knows your brain and they skip and have coffee dates…or something?! I’m all in for the contest – you’re amazing for giving such awesome awesome prizes.

    Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5535686-lauren-garafalo

  57. Jenne Turner December 7, 2011 at 11:21 am #

    Best wishes for everything Claire!

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Nano & Me: A Love Story | the wilderness downtown - November 30, 2011

    [...] Everyone should go congratulate Claire Legrand on her latest book baby being born, and if you’re in the US/Canada, you should enter her [...]

Comments are closed.