Malinda Lo

I’m briefly interrupting my hiatus to let you guys know about a few Ash-related things.

First, the Oct. 23rd issue of Pacific Sun, my local alt weekly, did a cover story on Ash! But that’s not all — check out the fabulous cover that went with the story:

I love it! You can read the article here or download the PDF here to see it as it looked on paper.

Second, the November issue of The Horn Book includes a really nice review of Ash. The review itself is not available online, so here’s an excerpt:

This promising debut novel, set in an pseudo-historical Celtic society in which magic is just starting to be regarded as superstition, adds a few new twists to the Cinderella story. … The first half of the book covers Ash’s teen years and introduces her brash, modern-thinking stepfamily, who reject the Celtic mores Ash’s rural community still adheres to. This opening may move slowly for some readers, but the time spent on world-building pays off when the second half picks up the pace, allowing readers a deepened sense of Ash’s character as she … falls in love, with the king’s huntress, Kaisa. Their gradually developed relationship is heartfelt, presented with a stylized fairy-tale matter-of-factness that heightens the book’s romantic aura and expands its audience.

Third, I wanted to remind you of some of my upcoming events! This Friday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. I’m going to be in Los Gatos at the Friends of the Los Gatos Public Library Friday Forum, along with Cheryl Renee Herbsman and C. Lee McKenzie.

On Saturday, Nov. 7, at 6:30 p.m., I’ll be signing books at the Laurel Bookstore in Oakland.

And then I’m going to the East Coast! Check out my Events page for more details.

Now I’m scurrying back to my hiatus.