ramblings in times of a pandemic

Hi!

It's been a while, hasn't it? I'd love to claim it's because I've been so busy, so productive, that I just didn't have the time to post anything. But that would basically mean lying, and I'm not really fond of that. The sad truth is, ever since C*VID arrived, my productivity, creativity and motivation have steadily been reaching new all time lows, over and over and over. 

Despite trying many things, I haven't yet figured out how to get myself out of this funk. Which is a shame since a time where we're all advised to stay at home and away from other people sounds like a great one for writing and doing creative things, but alas...I can't seem to do it. 

Anyone have tips they'd be willing to share? Some advice?

Of course not everything has been bad. After all, on June 2nd FRACTURES was released. I wish it could've been the way it was with ECHOES, as in having the possibility of going to a bookstore and signing copies, hang out with friends to celebrate, share some pictures of the day with you on IG. But alas, that day was nothing like that.

Due to C*VID FRACTURES currently only exists as digital version, so ebook, kindle, and nook, while the paperback is only print-on-demand. That means none of us have a physical copy to match the ECHOES paperback, not even me. Which is a shame, but I hope once C*VID passes and we'll settle into whatever out new normal will look like, the possibility of having a paperback will be a thing again.

Either way, I'm still super happy (and a little sad) that this duology is now over. ECHOES and FRACTURES have been with me for a long time, just like Miles and Fiona, who went through several changes (personality and plot wise) over the years but I'm so happy with how everything turned out in the end. It's so much better than what I imagined many, many years ago, and I'm even more overjoyed by the positive reception both books have received. Thank you so, so much for that! I never expected my writing to be so liked and that so many people would read it. It really is a dream come true.

In other news, because what would an Alice ramblings post be without them being mentioned, BTS are having a new single called DYNAMITE out on August 21st completely in English and I, just like all other ARMY, am very excited and curious. The fandom energy for this song, the hype and happiness, is honestly unreal making this such a fun time despite everything. Maybe there's a story to be writing somewhere in there, something about people in fandom in their mid twenties and how that's like as opposed to fandom in YA about teens. Based on my own experience, it certainly is very different.

Perhaps one day when my creative energy returns, I'll think about it.

But, all in all, that is really everything that's noteworthy when it comes to the last couple of months of my life. I kind of wish there was more to share, but there really isn't. How have you guys been in recent months? Are you doing okay? I hope so.

Until next time! Take care, stay healthy, be careful!

FRACTURES cover and synopsis!

Hey everyone!

   It's been a while, hasn't it? I'm sorry. But, today I'm dropping by to show you the cover and synopsis of the ECHOES sequel, FRACTURES, coming next year. I'm so excited for you to read it!

   In the comments below, let me know what you think!

Fractures by Alice Reeds

Expected publication: June 2nd 2020 by Entangled Teen

   They survived a plane crash.

   They survived life on a deserted island.

   They survived being hunted.

   Now they must survive the truth—they are not who they think they are.

   One minute they’re in Poland, subjected to gruesome tests they keep failing. No friends to support them. No family to claim them. No hope of ever living a normal life again.

   Then suddenly, they’re trapped on an abandoned freighter in the middle of the ocean and forced to fight for survival. No food. No drinkable water. No way to get home. And strange memories of another life they don’t understand.

   But how can they be living two separate lives, trapped in two separate places, at the same time? They’ll have to find the connection and uncover secrets that someone went to great lengths to keep hidden...if they’re going to survive long enough to find out who is behind it all.

Add it on GoodReads now! :)

Hello 2019!

Who's totally late to post something for the start of the new year? Me, of course. I'm sorry.

So, this is it, 2019, a new year with new possibilities, changes, opportunities, and lessons to be learned. I don't know about you, but I didn't do anything special for New Year's Eve, just watched a movie on Netflix (I finally got it after missing out on so much, took me long enough, huh?) and trying to calm down my dog. As for new years resolutions, I have a few, but I've decided against having big ones that count for the entire year--let's be real, most of them we'll abandon after two weeks anyway--and instead I split them into quarterly goals.

I don't think I'll tell you about them, well, maybe I will but only once I'll actually manage to meet them and have something fun to share. Otherwise, should I fail, it'll just make me feel worse and that's not a good self-care choice, is it?

But, 2019 is off to quite the exciting start for me. If you follow me on twitter and/or Instagram you might've already seen me talk about this, but if you haven't, Echoes became a #1 Best Seller on Amazon. I honestly didn't think I'd ever get to see that orange banner next to it and yet, there it was. I was excitedly texting all my friends feeling overwhelmed and just so happy. It actually remained #1 for over 24h which made it even more insane to me. My book above Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo? I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. I was sure I'd wake up the next day and the banner would be gone, but it wasn't.

Thank you, to all of you, for your support and for giving my book a chance. I know it's a bit different, and not necessarily as straight forward as some would wish it'd be, but I love that story, and I'm beyond happy that so many of you do too, and I honestly cannot wait for you to read the sequel. You thought Echoes was wild? Just you wait and see. 

On a somewhat related note, I haven't read a single book in 2019 yet, and we're already two weeks into the year. Who even am I? But, I totally have a plan (reading all the books in February). For now my top priority is finishing up my draft of Fissures and making my deadline, and after that, I'll set my plan into motion. I'm looking forward to it so much!

I don't know what 2019 will have in store for me, but I'm curious to find out, write new stories, work on WIPs, explore new possibilities, listen to all the K-Pop I can find, and just hope it'll be a better year than 2018. I'm not complaining though, don't get me wrong, Echoes was released last year and that was amazing and I'm so grateful for all the support and love it received, but besides that, it was a hard year, draining both mentally and physically, so hopefully 2019 will be a bit easier. 

What about you? What are your plans, goals, hopes for 2019? Tell me in the comments below or on social media. I always try my best to respond to all the tweets and DMs I get. :)

Thank you so much for reading and cheers to a new year! 

Big News!

Happy Saturday everyone!

   Today I'm coming to you with big news in regards to my writing. Ever since Echoes came out in August, and even before that, people have been asking me if I was planning on writing more. Will there be a sequel? Please write more. I saw it in kind messages sent to me personally, and was told about these requests and wishes being voices in reviews. 

   For weeks and weeks I didn’t have an answer, and even when I said something, it was just some vague, wishy-washy deflection along the line of ‘there’s potential but I don’t know’. The truth is, a sequel was in discussion for a while. Once Echoes came out, I started working on a synopsis and everything for what the sequel could potentially be. But things weren’t set in stone for a while, until they were.

   Three days ago the following announcement went live — 

   FISSURES, the sequel to ECHOES, is coming winter 2020!

   I know, 2020 is still a while away, but I hope the wait will be worth it. Thank you to each and every one of you kind readers who got interested in Echoes and decided to buy it, read it, and sometimes even review it. Thank you also to everyone who reached out to me on IG (@alicereedsbooks) or twitter (@Alice_Reeds) to let me know how much you enjoyed the story and fallen in love with Miles and Fiona. Your support means so much to me, and certainly helped to make the sequel happen. Thank you for giving my book a chance, and thank you to my amazing publisher, Entangled Teen, and brilliant editor, Lydia Sharp, for giving me the opportunity and support to write the sequel.

   I can't wait for you to read FISSURES, even if the wait seems long now. 

Thank you and have a lovely weekend!

ECHOES IS OUT NOW

   On March 21st 2017 I announced that I signed with Entangled Teen and after more than a year of rewriting, outlining, brainstorming, and waiting, the day has finally come! My YA mystery Thriller, Echoes, is finally out today and you can get it online or in stores (if you're in the US or Berlin, Germany). All the links will me at the bottom of this post.

   For a very long time I've dreamed of seeing this very story on shelves and being read by people, receiving positive reviews and just pulling readers into its spell. I'm so happy I didn't shelf this manuscript and instead gave it another chance and that it's finally here. It took over 3 years, but it was more than worth all the hours of 'lost' sleep, anxiety, nerves, and creative elation. 

   Yesterday I actually went to Dussmann / The English Bookshop in Berlin, Germany, to sign the copies of Echoes they had in stock. It was a surreal experience that I can barely put into words properly. Seeing something you worked so hard on in a bookstore just waiting for someone to pick it up and buy it, it's amazing and mind blowing. I couldn't stop smiling while I signed book after book, though I was also worrying that I might spell my name wrong or my signature might turn out ugly haha. 

   This entire experience was simultaneously everything I wanted it to be, so exciting and fun, but also extremely scary and downright terrifying. Launching a book, waiting for the release day to come, it's something I still can't properly put into words. My feelings were torn, all over the place, a wild cocktail of simultaneously wanting for the day to just finally be there while also hoping to have just a little more time, to prepare some more. But then, the day is finally here, and it feels like I signed the contract just yesterday.

   But, at the end of the day, this book wouldn't be a book without a number of people helping me along the way and making this dream a reality, and this experience so much fun despite also being endlessly terrifying, so I think it would only be appropriate if I'd say thank you:

   Thank you to my brilliant team at Entangled Teen. Everyone did an amazing job at answering all my questions (no matter how silly or long my emails), setting up interviews and guest posts, blog tours and getting ARCs into people's hands. THANK YOU for everything you've done for me and I can't tell you just how happy I am that I got to work with all of you.

   I couldn't have done this without my mom and her endless support in form of words of encouragements, an infinite supply of coffee, brainstorming with me, or just letting me talk at her until I found whatever solution I was looking for. I love you so much!

   A big thank you also goes to my CP, Mia, for her marvelous feedback and help while I was trying to get Echoes up to speed, for all her encouragements and DMs. Thank you for being a wonderful friend and making me feel like I can do it even when I wasn't so sure. The same also goes to you, Judi. You're amazing and a kickass friend and mentor. Thank you for being there for me.

   And finally, my friends (y'all know who you are you amazing beings) who didn't give up on me despite how much time I spent writing and working instead of answering texts or getting with them. Y'all are amazing and I am grateful for everything you've done for me. Cheers to more years of friendship!

   They wake on a deserted island. Fiona and Miles, high school enemies now stranded together. No memory of how they got there. No plan to follow, no hope to hold on to.

   Each step forward reveals the mystery behind the forces that brought them here. And soon, the most chilling discovery: something else is on the island with them.

   Something that won't let them leave alive.

Add on GoodReads

Amazon (US / UK / CAN / AUS / DE) // Barnes & Noble // Book Depository

Playlist

Cover reveal: Echoes

   I'm beyond excited for this day, I can't even begin to describe how much I've been waiting to finally be able to reveal the cover for ECHOES. Eleven months ago I signed with Entangled and now the cover is finally here. 

   The cover is honestly everything I ever hoped for and so much more. It fits the story perfectly, the color scheme and general aesthetic is perfect and it just mirrors the mood of the story wonderfully. The cover designers at Entangled Teen did a brilliant job and I honestly couldn't be happier.

   So, without further ado, here is the cover for ECHOES, my YA Thriller!

Echoes by Alice Reeds

Expected Publication: August 7th 2018 by Entangled: Teen

Number of Pages: 400 Pages (Paperback)

Genre: YA Thriller

Goodreads

Pre-order: 
Amazon US / DE / CA 
Book Depository
Barnes and Nobel

   "Fast-paced and thrilling. ECHOES is a heart-pounding and addictive love story." —Mia Siegert, author of Jerkbait

   They wake on a deserted island. Fiona and Miles, high school enemies now stranded together. No memory of how they got there. No plan to follow, no hope to hold on to.

   Each step forward reveals the mystery behind the forces that brought them here. And soon, the most chilling discovery: something else is on the island with them.

   Something that won't let them leave alive.

   Echoes is a thrilling adventure about confronting the impossible, discovering love in the most unexpected places, and, above all, finding hope in the face of the unknown.

   What do you think? Let me know all your thoughts about the cover in the comments below, or via twitter (@Alice_Reeds), because I'm super curious to know if you love the cover just as much as I do. I honestly can't wait for you to read the book in August!

Most Anticipated 2018 Reads (Part 1)

   Hey everyone!

   As always, to no one surprise really, I'm totally late to the game and posting this about a month late but, hey, at least I am posting it so that should have to count for something. Anyway, today I want to talk about all the releases of the first half of 2018 that I am looking forward to. In typical me fashion most of them are either YA contemporaries or sci-fi, which just goes to show once again how those two might be my favorite genres currently.

   Among all these books there is of course one that I am looking forward the most, for totally none obvious reasons *loud coughing*, which is a YA Thriller that you should totally consider checking out and maybe even pre-order.

   Anyhow, lets jump right into my list:

Unearthed by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Published: January 9th 2018 by Disney-Hyperion

Number of Pages: 336 Pages (Hardcover)

YA Sci-Fi

   I really, really enjoyed These Broken Stars from this amazing duo so I can't wait so see what they've come up with this time. I mean anything YA sci-fi from this duo is basically a must buy tbh. 

* * *

By a Charm and a Curse by Jaime Questell

Expected Publication: February 6th 2018 by Entangled: Teen

Number of Pages: 300 Pages (Hardcover)

YA Fantasy (?)

   I've been meaning to read some kind of circus related or centric book for ages and this seems like a good one to start off with. Curses/charms and traveling across Texas, figuring how to break said curses etc, sign me up! It definitely sounds like a fun read.

* * *

The Beauty That Remains by Ashley Woodfolk

Expected Publication: March 6th 2018 by Delacorte Press

Number of Pages: 352 Pages (Hardcover)

YA Contemporary

   This one sounds absolutely fantastic and that color is amazing, so colorful and pretty. A story containing music as its central piece and some kind of tragedy sticking and almost tearing a group of friends apart? Now that's guaranteed to be an emotional read and, honestly, I'm all about that.

* * *

The Exact Opposite of Okay by Laura Steven

Expected Publication: March 8th 2018 by Electric Monkey

Number of Pages: 352 Pages (Paperback)

YA Contemporary

  This one sounds amazing, exciting and just like a truly intriguing read I certainly want to get my hands on. Also that cover is, again, gorgeous and I am simply weak for books with pretty covers (than again, isn't everyone?).

* * *

Obsidio (The Illuminae Files #3)by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Expected Publication: March 13th 2018 by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Number of Pages: 608 Pages (Hardcover)

YA Sci-Fi

   It's absolutely no secret that I LOVE The Illuminae Files trilogy so I cannot wait to have Obsidio in my hands, have it on my shelf next to Illuminae and Gemina, and to read it, obviously. I'm always a bit weary of trilogy finales since there is a lot of room for left down expectations, accidentally left unanswered questions or not sufficiently or convincingly, but I have A LOT of faith into Amie and Jay that this will be just as brilliant as the previous two books, easy.

* * *

The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan

Expected Publication: March 20th 2018 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Number of Pages: 480 Pages (Hardcover)

YA Magical Realism

   A story set in Taiwan containing magical realism, angst, and feels, sign me up. Usually I'm not big on magical realism but this one sounds absolutely amazing, and reading books set in countries I've never been to, getting to know different cultures and lives, if that doesn't sound great, I don't know what does. I'm definitely very intrigued.

***

Picture Us in the Light by Kelly Loy Gilbert

Expected Publication: April 10th 2018 by Disney-Hyperion

Number of Pages: 368 Pages (Hardcover)

YA Contemporary

   This sounds absolutely amazing and I simply need it. Family secrets that get uncovered and friendships that might potentially be more than that, hi, yes, I'm in need! And that cover, yes!

* * *

Ship It by Britta Lundin

Expected Publication: May 1st 2018 by Freeform

Number of Pages: 384 Pages (Hardcover)

YA Contemporary

   Now THIS one just speaks straight to my fangirl heart and grabbed my attention immediately. It just sounds like such a fun story that's inspired by probably every fangirls dream--meeting the cast of whatever you are a fangirl of--but also nightmare--things turning out to be different than your shipper heart thought. I'm definitely curious how the show will handle the discussion of fannon vs cannon, and generally the whole issue of fans having certain expectations and how the show runners deal with the moments when expectations aren't met or things just go downhill for whatever reason. I need this like yesterday, tbh!

* * *

All of This Is True by Lygia Day Peñaflor

Expected Publication: May 15th 2018 by HarperTeen

Number of Pages: 432 Pages (Hardcover)

YA Contemporary

   A story about a group of teens being fans of a certain author and somehow ending up in said author's next book with horrible consequences, and all that told through interviews, diary entries and more? Yes please! I love books that use alternative narrative methods, and honestly this one just sounds fantastic!

* * *

LIFEL1K3 by Jay Kristoff

Expected Publication: May 29th 2018 by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Number of Pages: 416 Pages (Hardcover)

YA Sci-Fi

   While I'm not into the cover, the book itself sounds so interesting and intriguing, and also pretty damn epic. Besides I have a lot of faith in Jay Kristoff and his writing after loving The Illuminae Files (even if those were co-authored).

* * *

The Body Paradox by Natasha Neagle
Expected Publication: June 4th 2018 by Entangled Teen
Number of Pages: TBA
YA Sci-Fi

   This sounds pretty damn amazing if you ask me, and also I certainly am bias towards the enemies to lovers trope (obviously) so that only adds more to this. Also the idea of sharing a body with another person, hi, I'm intrigued, so I need this like today.

* * *

Echoes by Alice Reeds

Expected Publication: June 5th 2018 by Entangled Teen

Number of Pages: 400 (Paperback)

YA Thriller

   ECHOES is the story of two high school enemies finding themselves stranded on a mysterious and deadly island where nothing is quite as it seems, not even reality. I am very much bias, since this is my own book, but this is definitely the book I'm looking forward to most and I seriously cannot wait for you guys to pick it up and read it. This story has been my brain child of years and I just truly hope you'll love it just as much as I do.

* * *

A Thousand Perfect Notes by C.G. Drews

Expected Publication: June 7th 2018 by Orchard Books

Number of Pages: 300 Pages (Paperback)

YA Contemporary

   As someone who loves PaperFury's blog (and twitter) I am really curious for her book. I have really high hopes for it and can't wait to read it! Also it contains music and has a pretty cover, that's already two very convincing arguments for me, plus it surely also has all the feels and is an emotional read, so basically all my favorite things in one place (which sounds awful, doesn't it?).

* * *

A Flicker in the Clarity by Amy McNamara

Expected Publication: June 12th 2018 by HarperTeen

Number of Pages: 432 Pages (Hardcover)

YA Contemporary

   I loved Lovely, Dark and Deep, and Amy is basically a auto-buy author for me because of it, so like me being excited for this one is basically a given. I need it in my life asap even though I'm sure it'll be just as much of an emotional read as her debut.

* * *

   And that's it! If I actually manage to read even half of these in 2018 I'll be very proud of myself tbh. Which books are you looking forward to the most? Let me know down below or via twitter (@Alice_Reeds).