Cynsations

Event Report: P.J. Hoover’s Solstice & Mari Mancusi’s Scorched

Mari and P.J. model their novels & stuffed dragon unicorn.

By Cynthia Leitich Smith

Austin YA authors P.J. Hoover and Mari Mancusi debuted their latest novels this month at BookPeople. P.J.’s new release is Solstice (Tor, 2013), a mythology-dystopian, and Mari’s is Scorched (Sourcebooks, 2013), a dragon fantasy.

The event included a viewing of book trailers, tie-in refreshments, Q&A, trivia questions with prizes and a signing. Plus, attendees were encouraged to rock their mythology and dragon enthusiasm.

Joint author events can attract a wider (hopefully crossover) fan base, split up the preparatory work and expenses, and multiply the fun.

You typically want to team up with someone who has a new book with a complimentary theme or one for the same age-market. Be sure you’re on the same page in terms of budget, program, and promotion and choose someone who genuinely enjoy spending time with.

See also event photo reports from P.J. and Mari.

YA author Cory Putnam Oakes models a dragon of her own.

And so does children’s author Nikki Loftin.

Author-illustrator Emma Virjan and Cynthia Leitich Smith

Children’s author-ilustrators Frances Hill Yansky & Salima Alikhan

P.J. and Mari field questions from the audience.

Mari and P.J. sign for their enthusiastic fans!

Cynsational Notes

Check out the book trailer for Scorched by Mari Mancusi (Sourcebooks, 2013). From the promotional copy:

An ordinary Texan teen. A dragon with devastating power. 

Together they can save the future…or destroy it.



Sixteen-year-old Trinity is sure her grandfather’s “dragon egg” is a hoax, but the government agents attacking her house seem to think otherwise. And a strange boy is telling her the world as she knows it will be wiped out in a fiery dragon war—unless they work together to stop it.


All the while, the dragon inside her egg whispers to Trin, not ready to give up without a fight.