This is it!  At 11:59 pm this evening, I’ll be closing off entries for the Contest.  You have until then to tweet your heart out for a chance to win fabulous prizes such as a manuscript critique or signed first edition books from today’s hottest YA authors.

At some time on Tuesday, I’ll fire up Ye Olde Random Number Generator (seen below) and randomly select six winners from all the entries.  I’ll post the names/Twitter IDs of the winners on Wednesday (and contact them via DM) and then the fun begins! (In other words, everyone who followed me solely to win swiftly unfollows me and I’m left friendless and alone once more…. *sniff*….)

Ye Olde Random Number Generator (steam powered)

Coming later this week… Some of you may recall I was involved in a Bet.  Some of you may recall I won said Bet.  Some of you recall that I announced there would be glitter and prizes for the stories generated by the Bet.  Well, the inaugural Brian Awards will be announced this week, complete with star studded gala.  Stop back to see who’s wearing what, who was nominated, and who wins!

Today marks the 30^th anniversary of the first diagnosis of AIDS in the United States. The disease had been killing silently around the world since at least 1978 (much evidence suggests it had been around longer but the pieces of the puzzle started coming together in ’78).

Of course, at the time, they didn’t have a word for it.  The words “gay cancer“ were floated around.  Later, the grotestque ‘gay-related immune deficiency’ (GRID) popped up. The more accurate, and less vilifying, AIDS was coined in 1982. By then, it had become an epidemic, owing largely to extreme denial on the part of the Reagan administration and the reluctance to acknowledge that a problem even existed.

This was homophobia at its ugliest.  The mere perception that the disease was exclusive to homosexuals made the people who could have done something about it ambivalent at best. (If you’re interested in learning more about the history of AIDS, I highly recommend Randy Schilts’ excellent AND THE BAND PLAYED ON.)

Back in the ‘80s, everyone was scared because nothing was known about HIV.  Today, we know it can—and does—affect anyone.  But sometimes it seems that, 30 years on, we’re still as much in the dark now as we were when this was just a condition whispered about with a mixture of fear and shame. Advances in the treatment of HIV and AIDS have fostered complacency in many.  A lack of strong education on the dangers of HIV—supported by those who still live with the idea that it’s strictly a “gay disease”—have seen a return of reckless sexual practices that endanger thousands of men and women—gay and straight—every day.

The shadow of HIV/AIDS hovers over WITH OR WITHOUT YOU. To be clear, it’s not a book about HIV/AIDS. I consider it a book about acceptance, belonging, and love.  These are all concerns of anyone living with HIV/AIDS. These are concerns we all face.   Almost daily, I remind myself to reflect on this often overlooked intersection.

There’s still much to learn.  There’s still much to say. And I can’t escape the feeling that the most important fact that needs to endure is: This is not over and it does affect you.

Have a brief but incredibly meaningful conversation with the current DOCTOR WHO showrunner, Steven Moffat, a man whose work you greatly admire.

Also of note: 11 hours later, the tweet to me was still at the top of his Twitter feed. As if he couldn’t bear to tweet someone else and move me down a notch from such a place of importance.

The subtext might as just well say, "Yes, world, Brian Farrey and I are BFFs."

Henceforth, I shall be known as Brian Farrey: Editor, Author, Drooling Husk.

Rainy Day? Check.

Monday? Check?

Down? Not so much.

It’s hard to be down given the terrific response to the Contests and all the kind things people have been saying about WITH OR WITHOUT YOU.  Thanks to all who’ve entered the Contests.  There’s still one week to go before I haul out Ye Olde Random Number Generator and choose six lucky prize winners. (Hint: There are for more entrants into the writers’ contest than the readers’ contest so if you’re just looking to win SOMETHING, tweet about contest 2 too.)

Here we are, the end of the blog tour.  The Teen Book Scene people have been so kind and generous, I can’t thank them enough. Special shout out to Kari for being the Puppetmaster behind the whole thing.  In this, the final week of the blog tour, you will learn:

• My favorite opening line from a YA novel.
• Why being pedantic means I’ll be the first to die in the zombie apocalypse.
• The Christmas gift I pitched a fit to get.

Monday, May 30: Alisia at Alisia Leavitt (Guest Post)
Tuesday, May 31: Tara G.Hobbitsies (This or That List)
Wednesday, June 1: Zoe at In the Next Room (Review)
Thursday, June 2: Danna at Friendly Reader (Teenage Garage Sale)
Friday, June 3: Jessica T. at Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile (Author Interview)

Winners of the Contests to be named next week.  More fun stuff on the way.  Stay tuned!

The majority of WITH OR WITHOUT YOU is set in Madison, Wisconsin, a city I love a lot. One of the story lines involves Erik, an amateur sculptor, unveiling a commissioned piece in a Madison park. Erik’s sculpture is of a pair of angels, fashioned from steel, who rise up over the park to defend the defenseless. The location in my book is fictional but it’s loosely based on Olin Park.

So I enjoyed reading about this installation by Christopher Murphy that can be found in Madison’s Olin Park.  The sculptures are awesome and this picture has a wonderfully creepy vibe. I think it would make an awesome book cover.

Photo by Peter Patau

My YA debut, WITH OR WITHOUT YOU, is officially in stores today!  To celebrate, I’m having two contests with prizes for people who help me spread the word.  Here’s how it works:

CONTEST #1: FOR WRITERS

Been slaving over your NANOWRIMO manuscript for months and would like a professional opinion?  Thinking you need to do one more draft before sending your work-in-progress out to agents but need input?  This is the contest for you!

As many of you know, during the day I’m the acquiring editor for Flux, the young adult imprint of Llewellyn Worldwide.  In this capacity, I’ve worked with New York Times Bestselling authors Simone Elkeles and Maggie Stiefvater. And if you’ll help me promote my new book, I’ll turn my critical eye to your manuscript.

First prize is a manuscript critique.  I will read up to 60,000 words of your work –in—progress and provide you with detailed, written comments.

Second prize is a partial manuscript critique.  I will read the first 50 pages of your work-in-progress and provide you with detailed, written comments.

Third prize is a micro-critique.  I will read the first 10 pages of your work-in-progress AND your query letter and provide you with detailed, written comments.

All prizes also include a signed copy of WITH OR WITHOUT YOU.

The more you enter, the more chances you have of winning. How to enter:

1)      For 1 entry: Follow me on Twitter (@BrianFarrey)

2)      For 1 entry: Tweet this exact message with hashtag (cut/paste, it’ll be easy): I can’t wait to read WITH OR WITHOUT YOU by @BrianFarrey  http://bit.ly/fPnlEk #wowy1

3)      For 1 entry: Tweet this exact message with hashtag:  Hey, writers, win a critique of your MG/YA WIP! (http://bit.ly/lCC6kC) #wowy1

Three chances to win right there!  And feel free to tweet #2 and #3 as often as you like for additional entries. (But, y’know, don’t scare away your own followers by filling up your feed.) The contest ends June 6 at 11:59pm Central time.  Using a random number generator, I will determine the three winners and contact them via Twitter DM.

Rules/Caveats:

1)      My reading of all work is not in my official capacity as editor of Flux. Meaning that by sending me your work for review, you understand that it is not being submitted for consideration to be published by Flux.  Flux, and its parent company Llewellyn Worldwide, have nothing to do with this contest.

2)      I require a minimum of two months to respond after winners have submitted their materials.

3)      All winners must submit their work to me within six months of winning. (In other words, winners should not start writing the moment they find out they won.  Ideally, they should start tightening an existing manuscript before sending it.) Submissions must be in the form of an MS Word document (please no PDFs and definitely no Works files). No hard copy submissions.

4)      Why is 60,000 words the cut-off for a “full” manuscript critique? Because I firmly believe that if you are an unpublished writer, this is the ideal length (or even shorter) for your debut.  If your manuscript is more than 60,000, I will only read the first 60,000. But, hey, that’s still a SUBSTANTIAL part.

There will be one first prize winner, one second prize winner, and one third prize winner.

CONTEST #2: FOR NON-WRITERS (aka “readers”)

Of course, not everyone who may be interested in winning is a writer.  Some people just read for the thrill of it. I like those people and I want them to feel included.  So here are the prizes for the non-writers.

First prize is an eclectic collection of signed, first edition hardcover books.  This collection will include:

• MOCKINGJAY by Suzanne Collins *
• PLEASE IGNORE VERA DIETZ by A.S. King
• THE REPLACEMENT by Brenna Yovanoff
• LINGER by Maggie Stiefvater
• NIGHTSHADE by Andrea Cremer

Second prize is an eclectic collection of signed paperbacks books.  This collection will include:

• GODLESS by Pete Hautman
• THE ALCHEMYST by Michael Scott
• M IS FOR MAGIC by Neil Gaiman
• BALLAD by Maggie Stiefvater

Third prize is a $25 gift card to the book retailer of your choice (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Borders, Indiebound, etc.).

All prizes also include a signed copy of WITH OR WITHOUT YOU.

The more you enter, the more chances you have of winning. How to enter:

1)      For 1 entry: Follow me on Twitter (@BrianFarrey)

2)      For 1 entry: Tweet this exact message (cut/paste, it’ll be easy): I can’t wait to read WITH OR WITHOUT YOU by@BrianFarrey   http://bit.ly/fPnlEk #wowy2

3)      For 1 entry: Tweet this exact message:  Win a collection of signed first edition YA books! (http://bit.ly/lCC6kC) #wowy2

As with the other contest, feel free to tweet #2 and #3 as often as you like for additional entries. The contest ends June 6 at 11:59pm Central time.  Using a random number generator, I will determine the three winners and contact them via Twitter DM

*=Please note: the signature in this book is the stamp signature developed for Suzanne Collins when she went on the Mockingjay tour in late 2010.

So much to talk about today.

First, let’s talk about The Bet. You can learn about it here.   For the record, I won The Bet and don’t have to write a story (which I’m cool with because I’m on deadline and don’t have time to anyway so there). As a result of The Bet, today you will be treated to three original short stories by authors Catherine Ryan Hyde, Kimberly Pauley, and Andrew Smith.  Go read and comment on their offerings. BTW, reading these stories from established and wonderful writers is 100% free.

Next, let’s talk about the third leg of the promotional blog tour for the release of WITH OR WITHOUT YOU.  Over the next few days,  on distinguished blogs across the blogosphere, you will learn:

• My dream apprenticeship
• What I learned from five of my favorite authors
• And the saga of how a master’s thesis called CHASERS became a YA novel called WITH OR WITHOUT YOU

Here’s where you’ll find me guest posting over the next week.

Monday, May 23: Cynthia at A Blog About Nothing (Author Interview)
Tuesday, May 24: Mariah at A Reader’s Adventure (Tens List)
Wednesday, May 25: Sarah atYA Librarian Tales (Review)
Thursday, May 26: Brent at The Naughty Book Kitties (Guest Post- Title Change)
Friday, May 27:Mandy at The Well-Read Wife (Review)

And finally, we should talk about the Contest.  Come back here to this blog tomorrow at 12pm CST to learn details about a contest where writers can win a full manuscript critique from a real, live editor and reading enthusiasts can win signed, first edition copies of books from today’s finest YA writers. Nothing to bid on. No purchase necessary.  All you have to do is help me spread the word about WOWY and I’ll tell you how.

More soon! Stay tuned.

UPDATE: There’s a short bit about WOWY and mini-interview on Adventures in Children’s Publishing.

Just over a week until the release of WITH OR WITHOUT YOU! (Or, as we call it in these parts: WOWY!)  My blog tour continues this week with a couple (planned) reviews of the book (I say [planned] because I’m hoping the reviewers have received their copies by now…) and my thoughts on any number of fascinating topics.

In this latest leg of the tour, you will learn:

• My Numero Uno pet peeve when reading submissions as an editor
• The best use for a pixie
• The chili recipe that won me first prize in a contest

Follow the leader….

Monday, May 16: Julia at Rex Robot Reviews (Guest Post)
Tuesday, May 17: Corrine at Lost for Words (This or That List)
Wednesday, May 18: Kari at A Good Addiction (Review)
Thursday, May 19: Sarah at YA Librarian Tales (When I’m Not Writing)
Friday, May 20: Jessica T. at Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile(Review)

Coming next week: details on The Contest.  You, too, could win a full manuscript critique from a real, live acquiring editor!  (Or, if you’re not so much a writer, there’ll be a chance to win some awesome signed books.)

Stay tuned….

As May 24 comes precariously closer, I’m being bombarded by reminders that, yes, I actually am about to have my first book published.  First up: the actual book!

It showed up at my door, looking all pretty!

The next thing that’s making this all too real is I’m doing a blog tour!  I’ll be doing guest posts, answering interview questions, and imparting Things You Never Knew You Never Knew About Me on the blogs of some of the nicest book bloggers on the web.  First up this week:

May 9–Interview with Kari at A Good Addiction

May 10–Mandy hosts Top Five Songs to Write To on The Well-Read Wife

May 12–Zoe visits me at ages 6, 12, 16, and 20 for book recommendations over at In The Next Room

More blog tour stops to be announced soon.  Much thanks to Kari, Mandy, and Zoe for sharing their blogs with me and kicking off the tour!

Coming soon: details on The Contest. (No, not the one from Seinfeld. Pervs.)  This Contest will be a chance to win some fabulous signed books by some of the best YA authors around AND there’s a chance to win a FULL manuscript critique by an actual, real live, honest-to-goodness young adult editor (for you writers out there)….

Stay tuned!

I’m a bit behind (in all things, really) so I haven’t had much of a chance to talk about the Bet that I’m involved in.  For a good account of how this went down, check out Catherine Ryan Hyde’s post about it here. The short version:  three other writers (Catherine, Kimberly Pauley, and Andrew Smith) and I have a bet about the Kentucky Derby.   The losers must each write a short story based on a title of the winners’ suggestion. (CRH explains it all very well.)

This came about because Stephen King had just published a short story in The Atlantic and an accompanying interview revealed that he wrote the story because he lost a bet with his son (and his son provided the title: “Herman Wouk is Still Alive”).  I mused on Twitter how fun this might be and suddenly these three wonderfully nutty people took me up on creating such a bet.

I’m the first to admit: short stories are not my milieu.  I adore reading short stories. I even dabble in writing them from time to time.  But I find them to be very difficult for how my brain works.  And I’m a bit out of practice. So I’m just a tad nervous.

Image from harlanellison.com

Harlan Ellison used to do something called “stories under glass.” He’d set up his typewriter in a store window and, right there under the watchful eye of spectators, produce a new short story based on a premise supplied by someone else.  Once I believe he got a suggestion from Robin Williams.  The one I recall vividly is when X-Files creator Chris Carter arrived with a sealed envelope.  Inside was a card that read “The 102-year-old pregnant
corpse.”   What amazed me about Ellison was that he didn’t even stop to think about it.  He got the idea and immediately started typing.  And as he finished pages, they were taped up in the window for all to see.

No editing. No changing. No nothing.

For the record, *I* will not be doing that, should I end up writing a short story. *I* will think long and hard before I start writing. *I* will change and edit and, most likely, fret over the whole thing.  But, I will also try to enjoy working outside my level of comfort.

The horse I’ve chosen to win is called Dialed In.  Fingers crossed.