O_O

How I love that orange logo. So pretty. *pets*

I got a present in the mail on Tuesday. I've been waiting for this particular present for, oh, five years (or my whole life, if I'm being super dramatic). It was supposed to come last week, and let's just say I've never camped the mailbox quite like I did for this bundle of papers.

That would be my book contract.

Yup, my book contract. Because I sold some books in April! I was under strict orders not to announce until I had this lovely contract, so now I can tell you all that TRANSPARENT sold!

And here's the Publisher's Marketplace announcement for further proof (which is mostly for me because even after almost three months it still doesn't feel real sometimes):

Natalie Whipple’s debut novel TRANSPARENT, pitched as X-Men meets The Godfather, in which an invisible girl has to stop her dad—an infamous crime lord—from ruining her life, to Erica Sussman at HarperTeen, in a two-book deal, by Anna Webman at Curtis Brown.

Crazy, right? It's so amazing to watch your dreams become reality, and sometimes scary, but mostly amazing and surreal and a bunch of other descriptions that don't quite capture the emotion. Basically, the title of this post says it best: O_O. That's how it feels. Like, wow, is this actually happening? Are you sure? Because I've had this dream before and woken up, so I'm gonna need some substantial proof here but that's really cool if it's actually real.

Or something like that. (Wow, am I eloquent today or what?)

I wasn't going to take a picture of me signing the contract, and then like three or four of my friends yelled at me. So I took the picture. And here it is. (I'll probably be glad they yelled at me later, like usual.)

Of course, there's a lot more to say about this journey, but I'm thinking I'll save that for tomorrow and leave it at YAY I SOLD A BOOK!

Oh yeah, and I should have a giveaway, right? Share the love! Wee!

TRANSPARENT is what I like to call a "genre buster." It's an odd duck. I can't help but write books that are a little off the beaten path, and I also love reading books that bend genre. I think YA writers are especially lucky because they can play around with genre and still fit under the Young Adult umbrella. Where else could I get away with writing an alternate-present-based-on-alternate-history/scf-fi-ish-but-not/mob family book with strong contemporary elements? Yeah...that's why I call it X-Men meets The Godfather.

So in honor of my dear, slightly strange, book (that you will get to READ), I want to honor some of my favorite "genre busting" books by giving them to YOU!

To Enter:

Leave a comment on this post telling me what one of your favorite genre busting books is. That's it, plain and simple.

The Prizes:

FIVE books will be up for grabs—a single book sent to each of the five winners, who will be chosen at random. Winners may choose the book they want of the five (OR the sequel to that book, if they so desire). The choices will be as follows:

1. WHITE CAT by Holly Black (or RED GLOVE): It's noir meets magic meets mob meets con. What's not to like? I absolutely ADORE this series. I find myself constantly recommending it.

2. INCARCERON by Catherine Fisher (or SAPPHIQUE): Hello, you dystopian meets historical political intrigue meets rich fantasy, thing. Aren't you just lovely?

3. IF I STAY by Gayle Forman (or WHERE SHE WENT): Contemporary with magical elements? Yes, please. More, please. I love you.

4. MY FAIR GODMOTHER by Janette Rallison (or MY UNFAIR GODMOTHER): Talk about fairy tales gone awry! Add in awesome pitch perfect contemporary elements and you have quite the fun, wild ride.

5. BLEEDING VIOLET by Dia Reeves: Tired of "cliché" paranormal? BLEEDING VIOLET is certainly not that. Unexpected. Different. Dark. Awesome WTFness.

Deadline:

Tuesday, July 12 at Midnight MST. Winners will be announced July 13th.

Time to spread the genre busting love! I will now commence dancing and other book deal celebrating fare. Feel free to join me:)