On My Way (plus, a cover!)

But that's okay, because very soon I'll be in an airplane, communing with the gods. (Who are in the sky, you know. Airplanes bring you closer to the gods. And the gods give you back your mind if you've lost it [and if you happen to fly by].)
Like I said, mind lost, TRUST ME, it's lost; this has been the WEEK OF CRAZY; but: I am on my way. I leave for Bologna today. I'm certain that whatever item it's most important I NOT forget is the item I have forgotten.
I will probably not be blogging while I'm away, so this may be my last post for a couple of weeks. However, I'll leave you with one more cover -- the Fire cover in the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand (Gollancz, Fall 2009). As always, I'd love to hear what you think, good or bad! I made sure to post the corresponding Graceling cover above for comparison purposes.
I probably won't be responding to comments right away, but I will read them, if not while I'm away, then when I get back.
Have a great two weeks, everyone!


Comments
I've read Graceling... And I looooooooooooove Katsa, Po, the new queen, the funny cousin-prince and (even, yes ^^) Giddon.
Thanks a lot for your writting, I'll be waiting for the next book!
Just a question: how many books has the serie? There are 7 kingdoms, so... Really, really ^O^?!
Haha :)
Have a safe trip and see you, hermosa (in spanishhh)!!
That cover is....AH!!!!!!!!
its so purty and sexy and omg! LOVE IT!
PS I am jealous that you get to go to Italy!! Hope you have a blast.
Also, the cover is lovely. The dress is like fire. :D
I'm sorry, but I can't do that--I ALWAYS judge a book by the cover. I can't help myself. I know the author doesn't get to choose the cover art, and there's no way to be sure the cover accurately represents how you'll feel about the book, but if the cover isn't great I have a hard time buying the book.
That said, this cover would catch my eye anywhere. It's amazing! Energetic, sexy, fantastic dress (I wish I could get away with wearing it). I love the bow, by the way. I can't wait for the book.
I have to say that I like this cover even better than the US one.
Congratulations on the great cover art you get.
(but honestly, I'd read it even if the cover stank! LOL)
I'm from Spain, and I've read your chapter one right now, it's awesome! I really liked so, can be sure that on monday (because tomorrow it's sunday LOL) i'll buy your book!
My congratulations for you! I think that it's pretty good that you have this blog and the readers are able to comunicate with you, it's pretty awesome and i feel more closer to the writter. Thank you so much!
Please, continue writing, I love you book and the way you express.
I hope you will be very soon here, in Spain.
A huge warm hug from spain! You know that you are always bery welcome!
Christina
For the Q&A: How did you get an agent/get discovered? How long did it take you for Graceling to get anywhere near published? How long did Graceling take to write/plan out? What do you do for inspiration?
(No room on my bookshelves!)
So - are your books likely to appear as e-books? (If so, _I_ am more likely to buy them).
I can't wait for the next one- the cover... OMG AMAZING.
Do you really blog at 4:00AM in the morning, or is there some sort of time zone coming into play?
I just finished Graceling and reading your writing process. =D I'll remember the refrigerator trick when it comes to any fires. Seeing words go up in smoke--it's interesting. Sometimes there's this need to erase, but other times, you look back wistfully. But I guess its beauty is contrarily, in its destructiveness, in its loss.
To be honest, covers are complicated; I wouldn't have read Graceling based on its cover, but then, I wouldn't have noticed the reflective nature of the dagger and eye either. Like a jaded cloud, I find sensationalism in Fire's cover. I'm not unaware of it, but I tend to ignore it just as fast. Very much like Katsa, when she doesn't choose to think of some things.
It's perhaps unfair to say this, but though I enjoyed every moment of reading Graceling, I was also repeatedly assured of its thoughtfulness, its unclichedness. Maybe it's just a stage, but I hoped as I read that I wouldn't encounter this or that tell-tale, cliche moment or plot.
I loved the characterization, particularly that of Katsa, and of Po's laughter. The story is tightly woven, and just details, facets of scenes that would bother Katsa later on. Confrontations, humour, the fact that Katsa never wrote to Raffin, the descriptions and actions that mold a character such as Ror, though introduced late.
Anyway, I've probably rambled enough.^^ Gonna check out the rest of your blog!=)
Happy traveling, and spring leaves!
sanddeer
OMG it's beautiful here.
I don't have much time but just wanted to say hi and thanks to everyone for the cover love -- and kind words :o)
GHN, I think Graceling already is an e-book -- or at least you can buy the kindle version. Alba, I don't know how many there will be! I have put the other questions on my Q&A list. Gotta go check in with my Italian publisher now -- happy reading, everyone!
The other day I wrote a post about Graceling. Here it is (in spanish ^^).
Kisses,
http://letrasyescenas.blogspot.com/2009/03/graceling-kristin-cashore.html
I saw your book Graceling in one of the major bookstores here in Australia and the cover drew me to the book, read the blurb and bought it straight away. It IS one of my most FAV books and I am absolutely RAPT that the story continues. The second book cover looks awesome and it carries on with the theme of the first cover. I CANNOT wait until it's in stores!!! Have fun on your trip.
One of your fans, Emilia
I read Graceling and I lovey love loved it! You are a phenomenal writer and I can't wait to read more from you. As for the question in your previous post about Napoli books, I have read several of her books and my favorite is Beast. It doesn't take place in Italy but it's a Middle Eastern take on Beauty and the Beast. Very interesting.
Hope you had a fun trip.
I really, really want to thank you for writing such an outstanding book - it's very rare nowadays to have books about such strong female leads and having relationships which are completely equal (I was getting a bit sick of the whole 'damsel in distress schtick). The relationship in Graceling is unconvential, and I loved it because of that!
I leant the book to all of my friends, and they all read it in around two days because it was so captivating! It's now officially my favourite book (quite a feat, I am very picky about my books) and I just really wanted to say thank you for making a sixteen year old girl with impending exams a very happy bunny =]
I cannot wait until Fire comes out (my friends and I plan to preorder it), and the cover is brilliant - I love how it's so similar to Graceling!
Please do the same with Bitterblue, it will give the series it's own unique style.
Right, I know I'm rambling (sorry for making your blog messy, I didn't know where else to put my kudos!), so one last thing - please give us a guesstimation as to when Bitterblue is coming out! The suspense is killing us!!
Thank you and have fun travelling! =]