Amanda Hocking

I haven’t figured out the complete details of the contest yet, but I’ll know soon!

My brain just shut off. I could feel it. One moment, I was fine, and then it was like a switch. My brain is off. And I have Jonathan Coultan’s “Re: Your Brains” stuck in my head, so its not all bad.

Apparently, my total lack of sleep is turning me into a zombie.

But I just wanted to ask a quick question before I watch Vampire Diaries and then go off to eat your brains. I mentioned earlier today that I planned on giving promotional items away in conjunction with the release of Flutter at the end of this month. 

And my question is: What kind of stuff would you like? My beloved roommate Eric suggested Fefe Dobson CD’s, but I’m putting that as a plan B right now.


Paperback copies of the books are the most obvious choice. But if I do that, should it be books 1-3? Or Just the 3rd one? Do you want them autographed? I mean, I don’t really feel like my autograph is a valuable commodity, but that’s mostly because its horrible. 


What about bookmarks? Collages? I do make really lame collages, and I could make one as a prize, if anybody would want it that wasn’t me. Um… what else? 


Eric also suggested what Perez Hilton did: Any person who bought his book could send it to me him and he would autograph and decorate their book and send it back.


I won’t even make that a prize. If you ever buy any of my books in paperback, send it to me, and I’ll autograph it and decorate it and write you a poem in silver sharpie. I mean, if you’d like that, I’ll do it. 


So anyway – what kind of stuff would like you to win in celebration of Flutter?

But here’s some accurate information, along with the explanation of the title: The Rochester Post Bulletin ran an article about me yesterday. Egads! I’m famous! (not really)

But it is a good article (and a not-so-good photo – I look terrified or pissed off or sad). The next photo op I have, I’m making my good friend Hannah do it and take good pictures. So I look happy and normal and less serial-killer-y.

Anyway – the article is good. But I felt uncomfortable talking about my book. I never felt like modesty was my strong suit, but I don’t like anything that sounds like bragging. And going, “I wrote this and its so great and look what I can do” feels so… wrong. 

So I spent the majority of the interview rambling about things. I also mentioned Red Bull. A lot. But this is all part of my plan to get a free lifetime supply of Red Bull. I will succeed in this endeavor. 

I also mentioned (but it didn’t make it to print) the obscene amount of support I get from my friends. I honestly don’t anyone that has a group of friends as tightnit as we are, and without the Clique, I definitely don’t think I’d have the confidance to do this and try things I could fail it.


Not that I’m a success yet, but… in a way, trying in of itself is a success for me. 


So. There you have it. That’s the news on my first big news story. 


Also – after searching a few blogs, I’ve decided to have a big send up for the release of Flutter – including giveaways! Yes! Free thing(s)! And news! I’ll probably doing a blog tour at the end of May/beginning of June, but the details on that are still a tad sketchy. So… we’ll wait and see.


I am arbitrarily picking May 29th as the release date for Flutter! (This is slightly subject to change because I can’t guarantee when Kindle have uploaded.  But the 29th will be the big “party” and the absolute latest day the book will be up.)

(And My Blood Approves and Fate are still both $.99 for Kindle!)

The feature in the paper about me will be printed today, but it hasn’t happened yet, so I’ll talk more about that later.

What I’ve decided to talk about, instead, is what I’m passionate about: Muppets. 

I’ve just been getting a lot of Muppet news lately, which excites me to no end. (Click the links for details.)

May 16th will mark the 20 year anniversary of Jim Henson’s passing. His legacy is amazing and brilliant. With puppets and imagination and a real understanding of wonder and magic, he’s gone onto to inspire generations of people, and I’m sure he will for generations after. 

If you’re wondering how this ties into my writing, I’ll tell you how: I can’t think of any other person that had such a profound effect on my ability to imagine, dream, and tell stories. When I was young, all my stories were basically fanfaction to the works of Jim Henson.

(The only one I remember vividly involved a British princess named Isabella going through a labyrinth and something with a unicorn and David Bowie.)


Jim Henson continues to inspire me today. Vampires may not seem a direct relation to him, but urban fantasy is, and I’ve written about a lot more than vampires.


More than that, he is the direct motive for me finally publishing my books and working so hard on this.


In October, the Jim Henson exhibit filled with Muppets, props, and everything Henson will be in Chicago – the closest it comes to where I live. I need to save up money to go, and I’m hoping that I’ll make enough money over the summer (in conjunction with my full-time job working with people with disabilities). 


So, here’s to you, Jim Henson: For teaching to me dream when I was a kid, and inspiring me to reach for my dreams as an adult.