clockwork dagger

Memories of B. Dalton and the Booksigning that Won’t Be

Posted by Beth on Sep 12, 2014 in Blog, clockwork dagger, nostalgia | 8 comments

[In a week, I hold my first booksigning at Changing Hands in nearby Tempe, Arizona. This got me thinking about how I always imagined things would be…]

I grew up in small-town agricultural California. My local bookstore was a B. Dalton in the Kings Mall. My early memories of that store have my head below the level of the counter. It was a place of countless books and dark woods and garish 1970s orange. Tall ladders stretched to storage crannies high above. Craning my head, I felt like Jack looking up the beanstalk. There were treasures up there.

My mom would scold me to not even touch the ladders in passing. “You have to work here to use them,” she said.

[Me at age 5 with a B. Dalton bag on the far right and new bounty before me.]

On March 6th, 1993 the new Hanford Mall opened. Why do I remember that exact date? I don’t know. It was a major landmark in my 7th grade year. Other kids at school talked excitedly about the new clothes stores and Disc Jockey. My brother couldn’t wait for the arcade. Me, I wanted to see the brand new and larger version of B. Dalton. Due to Hanford’s proximity to Lemoore Naval Air Station, the store carried a larger than normal selection of science fiction and fantasy.

I can’t even say how many hours I spent there. During my brief time in high school (brief, due to the saving grace of an early graduation that allowed me to escape the toxic environment) I would often walk to the mall after school. I was the obsessive-compulsive customer who would place the Dragonlance and Forgotten Realms books in proper series sequence.

I wanted to publish a fantasy novel of my own. I wistfully stared at the spot where DAVIS would be shelved. The thing is, publishing a fantasy novel involves writing one. I wrote a few pages here and there, character biographies, sketches, maps, but never made a genuine effort. I was too afraid it would be awful. A few times, I saw authors hold signings at my B. Dalton. They set up a table for them right at the front with full visibility of the mall traffic.

I wanted to sit there, proudly, my books stacked on the table before me.

At age eighteen, I was hired as a seasonal employee at B. Dalton. It was my dream job. I quickly found that I was awkward at handling anything on the phone, and working with the cash drawer made me very nervous. But shelving–oh, I could shelve books and work stock for endless hours. One of my happiest days was when I spent my entire shift placing 50% stickers on all the calendars.

A few years later, I married my Navy sailor husband and moved away. The B. Dalton was in danger of closing at one point but Borders stepped in to save the store. It was odd, on a rare visit home, to see all the B. Dalton signing gone.

And then, of course, came the demise of Borders.

My hometown has no bookstore now. The next nearest big city, Visalia, does not even have a bookstore beyond one for college textbooks. To find a Barnes & Noble, a person has to brave traffic and drive 45 minutes to Fresno.

When I walk through the Hanford Mall, I can still see the B. Dalton there, like a ghost. I can see the younger me, so pudgy and wounded by the world, sitting criss-cross with my backpack against my thigh, a fantasy book in my hands. That store enabled me to escape. It helped to keep me alive. All those childhood fantasies of “I’m going to be an author when I grow up and I’m going to hold my signing here…”

Now my book is a reality, and I can’t. Sure, I could hold a signing elsewhere in my hometown, but it’s not the same. A lot of things in Hanford aren’t the same–there are many wonderful new things there in recent years. But there’s no bookstore. No place for kids to visit and stare up the ladders, and wonder at the new books hidden in the heavens above.

Weekly Round-Up

Posted by Beth on Sep 11, 2014 in Blog, clockwork dagger, public speaking, publication process, reviews | Comments Off on Weekly Round-Up

A few folks have asked, “How are you holding up? What’s it like in the week before the book comes out?”

I’m not feeling particularly stressed right now. I have moments–like when I wake up to a bunch of emails or get frustrated with a blog post–but I wouldn’t say I’m freaking out. I am having trouble with sleep after about 3am but that doesn’t seem to be messing me up during the day, though a nap at some point might be kinda nice. One thing that is bothering me is that my attention is very scattered. I’m trying to work on a new story and I’m not doing my usual output at all because I’m constantly checking my mail or social media. That’s always a temptation, anyway, but now it’s become a complete nervous habit.

It’s a sort of relief to have errands outside the house, things that utterly distract me from the computer and checking all the things. Also, I’ve been reading Ha’penny and now Half a Crown by Jo Walton and those have been awesome and immersive.

On to the link round-up!

I was interviewed by the witty and awesome Tex Thompson! She’s the author of the luscious fantasy western novel One Night in Sixes.

The Big Blog Tour continues! Win a book and a parasol!

The Schedule
- 9/8 – YA Bibliophile, post
- 9/9 – Irish Banana, promo post
- 9/10 – Mundie Moms, excerpt
- 9/11- Reads All The Books, review
- 9/12 – YA Sisterhood, guest post
- 9/15 – My, My Shelf & I, excerpt
- 9/16 – Curling Up With A Good Book, guest post
- 9/17 – Fictitious Delicious, Q&A
- 9/18 – Page Turners Blog, review
- 9/19 – Fangirlish, promo post
- 9/22 – Novel Novice, guest post
- 9/23 – Reading Teen, promo post
- 9/24 – Chapter by Chapter, author interview
- 9/25 – Jenuine Cupcakes, promo post
- 9/26 – Good Choice Reading, excerpt

The Clockwork Cookie Tour continues with more sweet goodies to stuff in your face:

– Rebecca Roland with Cookies and Cream Cookies

– J. Kathleen Cheney with Espresso Chocolate Chip Shortbread

Bready or Not: Maple Walnut Cake

Posted by Beth on Sep 10, 2014 in Blog, Bready or Not, cake, clockwork dagger, maple | Comments Off on Bready or Not: Maple Walnut Cake

For the week leading into the release of The Clockwork Dagger, I am presenting the most awesome of cakes.

Three layers. Maple infused every which way. Oh yeah, baby.

My one fear was that sweetness of the cake would be overkill like the way Cadbury eggs are to me now. I’m often asked if a recipe can be modified to omit the nuts. In this case, no. The nuts–in taste and texture–do a lot here to balance out the sweetness. They prevent that overkill.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that since I love maple, that delight has also worked its way into The Clockwork Dagger. Since the geography in my book is loosely modeled on Western Washington state, it’s only right that the country to the north is likewise based on Canada. Frengia is known for its maple production.

[Hrm. Maybe in a year when the sequel comes out, I should do a maple theme for Bready or Not. There’s an idea! Or maybe no one will notice because I do so much maple already…]

If you love maple as I do, this is your epic cake. Print this out. Make it now, or save it for the holidays. Just bake it up at some point.

Brace yourself for the maple-induced ecstasy.

Modified from Maple Walnut Cake at Taste of Home.

Print Recipe

Bready or Not: Maple Walnut Cake

An extraordinary layer cake!

Course: Breakfast, Dessert

Keyword: cake, layer cake, maple

Author: Beth Cato

Ingredients

THE CAKE [NOT A LIE]

1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature
1-1/2 cups light brown sugar packed
3 eggs room temperature
1 teaspoon maple flavor
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk or sour milk: milk with a tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar

CANDIED NUTS:

1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
1-1/2 cups coarsely chopped walnuts or pecans
1 Tablespoon maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt

FROSTING:

2 cups unsalted butter room temperature
5 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon maple flavor
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 to 1/2 cup half-and-half cream or milk
3 + tablespoons maple syrup divided

Instructions

To make the cake:

Preheat oven to 350°. Use nonstick spray or butter on three 9-inch round cake pans. Cut out rounds of parchment paper for the bottoms of the pans, then grease the paper.
In a large bowl, cream softened butter and brown sugar. Add the eggs and beat well after each addition. Add the maple flavor.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
Add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, alternating with the buttermilk, until everything is just blended.
Pour batter into each prepared pan as evenly as you can. Bake for 11-13 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then gently tip them onto a wire racks. Remove parchment. Cool cake layers completely. [Note: at this point you can even freeze the layers between wax paper, then wrap well in plastic wrap, to assemble the cake days or weeks later.]

To make candied walnuts:

Grab a small cookie sheet or platter and cover it with aluminum foil. Set aside.
In a large skillet, melt the tablespoon of butter. Add nuts and stir over medium heat until toasted, about 5 minutes. Watch the heat, as they can burn fast. Stir in the tablespoon maple syrup and salt; stir for 1 minute longer. Spread the nuts on the foil to cool completely.

For frosting:

In a large bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy. Slowly add in confectioners' sugar, maple flavor, salt and enough cream/milk to reach desired consistency. [If it ends up too wet, add more powdered sugar.]
Set out your serving platter. Add a few dabs of frosting; this will be like glue to help your bottom layer stay in place.
Place the cake layer on top. Spread with one cup of frosting. Sprinkle about 1/2 cup of candied nuts over the frosting and then drizzle about a tablespoon of maple syrup.
Repeat this with the next layer.
Place the top layer. Frost the very top and sides of cake, then add the remaining nuts and another healthy (ahem) drizzle of maple syrup.

OM NOM NOM and try not to die of sugar coma.

Trade Paperback & eBook

Paperback ISBN: 978-0-06-231384-3

ebook ASIN (Amazon): B00HLIYZ5U

ebook ISBN (Nook): 978-0-06-231385-0
Release: September 16, 2014

Amazon Barnes & Noble Powell’s Books-A-Million Poisoned Pen Changing Hands Mysterious Galaxy

Blog Tour!

Posted by Beth on Sep 9, 2014 in Blog, clockwork dagger, public speaking | Comments Off on Blog Tour!

I’ve been posting about the Clockwork Cookie Tour, but there’s also another blog tour that just started. This one includes Rafflecopter-run giveaway for a copy of my book along with a pretty paper parasol! I’ll repost the schedule over the next while as more links go live. Check it out! Spread the word! Eat cake! Hug kittens!

The Schedule
- 9/8 – YA Bibliophile, post
- 9/9 – Irish Banana, promo post
- 9/10 – Mundie Moms, excerpt
- 9/11- Reads All The Books, review
- 9/12 – YA Sisterhood, guest post
- 9/15 – My, My Shelf & I, excerpt
- 9/16 – Curling Up With A Good Book, guest post
- 9/17 – Fictitious Delicious, Q&A
- 9/18 – Page Turners Blog, review
- 9/19 – Fangirlish, promo post
- 9/22 – Novel Novice, guest post
- 9/23 – Reading Teen, promo post
- 9/24 – Chapter by Chapter, author interview
- 9/25 – Jenuine Cupcakes, promo post
- 9/26 – Good Choice Reading, excerpt

Don’t forget the ongoing giveaway for signed books through Sword & Laser! That runs through Friday.

Timeline to Publication (updated)

Posted by Beth on Sep 8, 2014 in Blog, clockwork crown, clockwork dagger, publication process | 8 comments

How long does it take to traditionally publish a book? Almost three years to the day, in my case. I first posted a version of this back in May but I’ve updated it with more info. If you have any questions on this whole process, just ask.

A note to start: I signed with my agent in March 2011 with another book–one that, unfortunately, did not sell.

2011
September 12th: started writing The Clockwork Dagger
October 27th: completed rough draft

2012
January – July: back and forth dialogue as I worked on major revisions with my agent
Late in year: book goes on submission to publishers
2013
January: first publisher offer on The Clockwork Dagger, soon followed by a second offer
February 22nd: verbal contract with Harper Voyager
not allowed to discuss the book deal in public at all; told very few people
July 3rd: received two-book contract to sign.
July 16th: deal announced in Publisher’s Marketplace. I then shouted it from rooftops.
September 6th: revision letter arrived. Deadline of October 31st.
the big edits; in my case, deleted 10k of 100,000 word book
October 15th: edits mailed in.
November 11th: editor accepted my edits.
December 10th: copyedits arrived, due 23rd.
these are nitpicky edits to clarify things, correct typos and inconsistencies
December 17th: turned in copyedits
Through December and January: back and forth regarding book cover details

2014
January 1-31st: wrote 83k book 2 rough draft
January 29th: page proofs arrived for book 1, due Feb 11th
page proofs are the book formatted for the actual book, but printed on standard computer paper. Only small changes allowed; mostly for typos and formatting, making sure italics are right, etc.
February 4th: mailed page proofs
February: edited book 2 draft, add another 10k
February 20th: found my back cover copy on Goodreads
February 21st: sent in dedication and acknowledgment for book 1
March 3rd: cover posted online

March-April: book 2 critiques, followed by more rounds of revision
April 14th: submitted book 2 to my editor (deadline was June 1st)
July 21st: revision letter for book 2 arrived; deadline of September 1st
August 15th: submitted revised book 2 to editor
also August 15th: two final copies of The Clockwork Dagger delivered to my house

***
September 16th: The Clockwork Dagger to be released
September 2015: book two, The Clockwork Crown to be released