Tuesday, May 10, 2011

DIVERGENT: An Editorial Love Story

(2011 marks the year that books that I've both acquired & edited begin making their way out into the world, so this is the second post in a new blog series: editorial love stories! Hope you'll enjoy reading some behind-the-scenes tidbits about the books I've been busy making.)

I'm a few days late with this post since I was traveling last week, but I trust that its author will forgive my tardiness.

I'm here today to tell you that a little over a year ago, I fell in love with a manuscript, and I fell in love with it hard. Like, up-all-night-reading-it love. Like, thinking-about-it-nonstop love. Like, holy-crap-I-can't-wait-for-the-whole-world-to-get-to-read-this-too love. (Which, really, is how editorial love always feels, but that doesn't make the heart-pounding giddiness any less wonderful each time that it happens.) Fast-forward one very busy year of editing and book-making later and I'm delighted that it's finally the whole world's turn to fall in love with DIVERGENT.


And so that I'm not just repeating myself all over the internet, I'll point you toward this interview and also to this one--in both of them, I share in-depth details about the thrilling experience of acquiring and editing this book. Here on my own blog, I'll just say this: every editor should have the joy of working on book like DIVERGENT, where an incredible story is matched by equally-incredible writing, and happiest of all, by a truly incredible author. Veronica Roth regularly teaches me wise things about storytelling, and about being a remarkable human being who lives her life with both simplicity and great intention. I'm humbled and honored to work alongside her as she creates her books.

Want to help celebrate the publication of DIVERGENT? Well, then, here's a few things you can do:

1. Follow Veronica's blog, where she regularly posts things both funny and profound. Ditto her Twitter account.
2. Check out the book trailer, as well as this clip of Veronica talking about DIVERGENT.
3. Start making plans now to attend one of Veronica's book signings in Canada in May, or as part of the Dark Days tour in June. (Or ALA Annual if you're a librarian or NCTE/ALAN if you're an English teacher.)
4. Find out which faction you'd be by taking the quiz on the DIVERGENT Facebook page (where you can stay up-to-date on exciting DIVERGENT news!)
5. Buy a copy of DIVERGENT! Or, start by reading a free sample. (Just don't say that I didn't warn you that this book might cause your own up-all-night-reading, can't-stop-thinking-about-it love story!)

9 comments:

  1. I picked up a copy on Saturday and finished it Monday night - it took me that long because I had four baseball games to attend Saturday and Sunday and I had to work Monday. It is truely one awesome book. I've got my mom picking up a copy and three friends are getting theirs too. I loved Tris, such a strong girl for only being 16. It will be a long wait for he next installment.

    Connie

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  2. What a beautiful post. I had the great pleasure of reading an ARC and falling madly in love with DIVERGENT months ago, but I still ran out and bought a shiny hardcover last week to add to my library. This is one of those books I tell everyone they *must* read. I even shared it with my mom and she's loving it.

    Thank you again for taking the time to answer our questions for Fallenarchangel. We're having a blast reading what faction people would choose for the contest this week!

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  3. Congrats, Molly! I just bought a copy on my e-reader to bring with me on vacation next week. Can't wait to read it. --Alli

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  4. Okay, I read some of the sample and now I have no choice but to buy this book!

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  5. Have to say I loved it. And as a writer appreciated the storytelling and structure of the book! Congrats to both of you.

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  6. It sounds like a match made in book heaven :D

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  7. Divergent is a fantastic book. And you edited Katheryn Fitzmaurice's book, too, which I consider to be a perfectly executed novel. So I'm thinking I have to check out the other authors in your sidebar now.

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  8. Your post just sold me. I've been looking for a good book to read. Looks like this shall be the one!

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