Good morning, writers!

I have been busy, busy, busy, so this week I thought I’d just give you a quick writing update so I can jump back into my work.

First of all, to everyone who celebrated my cover reveal a few weeks back, THANK YOU! The giveaway at YA BOOKS CENTRAL is still going and yesterday another arc giveaway went live over at Storygram Tours. So, if you’re hoping for an early copy of WINTER, WHITE AND WICKED, there is plenty of opportunity right now.

On that front, my publisher has been working hard to get this book ready for the shelf. I’m so impressed with them, friends. Seriously. In recent days, I’ve been given peeks at the artwork for the map (we get a map, friends!), I’ve reviewed the flap copy, and finished another pass through the book to ensure I have everything just as I want it. The entire package is coming along and I’m just in awe of the process.

But! That’s just one book. While the machine is at work on all that, I’m doing my best to pound out another novel. It’s a wholly new world I’m developing and after months and months, I’m just now feeling IN THE STORY.

Have you ever had that feeling? Where suddenly, you are the world? I love this moment because it’s like cresting the top of a hill. My writing begins to pick up here and everything gets easier. All the work I’ve done to get to the top of the hill pays off and I can see the end out in front of me. I’m not there yet, but I know where I’m going. The trick now is not to crash!

I’ve also started another mentoring track at a local junior high / high school. I usually do at least one of these tracks a year. I’ll meet with a group of students for an hour a week for about two and a half months. We’ll talk books and writing and they’ll get a brief look into publishing. BASICALLY, they get a lot of what you get here at Go Teen Writers. And I love it. I love working with young writers.

So, on that note, I’m going to shove off. I have to keep up my pace on this book because I’ve given myself a very ambitious deadline. But I’d like a quick update on YOUR WRITING LIFE.

How are you doing? What do you have going? And how can we support you?

Shannon Dittemore is an author and speaker. Her books include the Angel Eyes trilogy, a supernatural foray into the realm of angels and demons, as well as the fantastical adventure novel Winter, White and Wicked. Its sequel, Rebel, Brave and Brutal is due out January 10, 2023.

Shannon’s stories feature strong female leads grappling with fear and faith as they venture into the wilds of the unknown. She’s often wondered if she’s writing her own quest for bravery again and again.

It’s a choice she values highly. Bravery. And she’s never more inspired than when young people ball up their fist and punch fear in the face.

To that end, Shannon takes great joy in working with young writers, both in person and online at Go Teen Writers, an instructional blog recognized by Writer’s Digest four years running as a “101 Best Websites for Writers” selection.

For more about Shannon and her books, please visit her websiteInstagramFacebookTwitter, and Pinterest.