If You're in Chicago this week...

I will be reading about our favorite bad rat!!

...and are not working this Wednesday the 29th, well then, come see me! Starting at 2pm, I'll be at the Beverly Arts Center in Chicago for an Author Afternoon. Penny Golden will be interviewing me about NIGHTSHADE CITY and I'll be reading an excerpt from the book and signing copies thereafter. It should be a lot of fun and I'm super excited to be at the BAC. I was in several plays there as a child, being a Morgan Park Academy alum (and a drama nerd), so it will be great being on the same stage again! I'll have some copies of the book available and it's also available at Barnes & Noble everywhere, if you'd like to get one beforehand. I have no idea if they'll be 10 people or 100, so it will be interesting to find out! Just decided what excerpt I'm going to read...may or may not involve the bad guy above! ;)

Hope to see you there!!!!

xoxo -- Hilary

2nd Printing of NIGHTSHADE CITY!!!



Illustration by Omar Rayyan for
Nightshade City

This is a short, but very sweet post! I spoke with my editor from Holiday House today, Julie Amper, and she let me know that NIGHTSHADE CITY is going into its SECOND PRINTING!! I nearly fell over. I'm thrilled and relieved. You just don't know until you know! Long story short, I just had to share it with all of you!

Thanks to all of you for your awesomeness!!!!!

xoxo -- Hilary

What's YOUR Lucky Cat???

This is Lucky Cat. He sits next to me at all times. Okay, not at all times, but at least while I'm on my laptop writing. It would be a little weird if I always had Lucky Cat sitting next to me, though my 2 year old daughter would think it was awesome! So, it got me to thinking what's your Lucky Cat? A favorite coffee mug? A beloved pen? A lucky snack? (Love a lucky snack...aka Cheetos) Maybe a favorite sweater or T-shirt?

We all have that thing that we need or at least we think we need when we write. What's yours?

xoxo -- Hilary

ILLUSTRATOR SHOUT-OUT! Realm, Niki and Stacey!

So, when NIGHTSHADE CITY debuted in October, some very sweet writer friends of mine sent me a big bag of goodies which included a hand painted frame of rats (still need to find out who painted it), an adorable mug that reads "Rats Rule!" (which of course they do), a bag of Cheetos (my favorite) and a slew of awesome cards! Of those, three were had drawn by some super fancy illustrators, Realm Lovejoy, Niki Smith and Stacey Vaughan!

Realm Lovejoy's card!

Realm is not only a super amazing illustrator, but a writer as well, represented by Joanna Stampfel-Volpe. Her illustrations are to die for and she has a crazy cool blog, wherein she does her own version of a cover for writers with books on submission! You must follow her!

Niki Smith's Card!

Niki is another brilliant illustrator/writer who recently won a webcomic contest from DC Comics! Her webcomic (illustrated by Niki and written by Michael Jasper), In Maps and Legends, has its first season up now! You must check it out!

Lisa and Laura Roecker's Card, drawn by their sister, Stacey Vaughan!

And I know you all know fab sisters Lisa & Laura Roecker! Well, there is another talented sister attached these women, Stacey Vaughan! Stacey has her own business, Poochie Prints, where she designs stationary, as well as crazy cute prints for your baby's nursery! Ummm...holiday shopping anyone?? She has uber cool stuff ready to buy or you can order custom work if you want to feel even cooler! ;)

Long story short, thanks to you talented ladies for taking the time to do these gorgeous cards for me AND to everyone else who supported and helped me with my book launch!! It's been crazy, scary, awesome and everything in between! I wouldn't want it any other way! Pretty soon I'll be doing a post listing everyone who's had a part in my launch...it will be a very long list! You all have been AMAZING!

xoxo -- Hilary