The details are still being sorted out, but since it's the authors sorting them out we don't need to wait for permission to share ;)

In September 2010, the author organized "Smart Chicks Kick @ss" (and for the not-cussing among you, "Smart Chicks Kick It" works too) tour will be visiting 6-8 cities. 

The logic behind the tour was  that booksellers & readers keep saying they like group events, but publisher organized group events--for logistical reasons--are restricted to authors from one publisher.   Readers don't read from one publisher; booksellers don't sell from one publisher.  I, of course, adore my publisher*  & a number of HC authors . . . but I also like trying new things.   I did a multi-author event last year with non-Harper authors.  I did a co-event with a non-Harper author.  It was fun.  Umm, I also did a slew of things with Kelley . . . which was also fun. So I approached Kelley, & then we approached Alyson, & now . . . we're approaching more authors.

It could devolve into chaos, or it could work out.  I've done a few tours now, but they were all organized by my lovely publicist.  This one is organized by . . . umm, authors. So we will have a learning curve.

The Facts
WHEN:  September 2010

WHY: We didn't want to tour in conjunction with our release dates.  We're already doing stuff then via our publishers. [Yes, I will do a Radiant Shadows tour.  It'll be 6 cities]   We expect someone will have release then, but Kelley & I conceived of this to NOT be in conjunction with our releases bc we want it to be about the GROUP.  We opted for September for *surprise* logical reasons: summer vacation is over; school is back in session; winter (with travel delays) isn't yet; and it's a year to plan. 

WHO: Kelley Armstrong,  Alyson Noel, & I will be at each stop.  Also, at each stop will be 3 authors from this list (still in progress): Jeri Smith-Ready, Jennifer Barnes, Rachel Vincent, Kimberly Derting, Jessica Verday, Carrie Ryan, Mary Pearson . . . [NOTE: The list is very in progress, as we just started inviting folks.  We will update as we go.]

UPDATES: We'll be updating overe HERE on Facebook.  It's a year away, so there's a lot to figure out.

WHERE: Cities are in discussion. Over on the Facebook page (linked above under updates), you can suggest a city.

OTHER: There will be swag, .contests, prizes, & . . . other things we can't share yet.   We debated waiting until we had all the data, but well, if we're doing it OUR way, we're doing it full out our way--which means the only who could say "no, don't tell yet"  is us, & as you all know, I have a difficult time with that.

QUESTIONS: Yeaaaah, about that, feel free to ask, but I don't have any answers yet : ) What I know is all right here in the blog post.

____

* As you will recall if you've been reading a while, "I heart Harper" was my initial quote given when asked for a remark for the press release on the YA deal in late 07, & when I sold Graveminder, I ONLY spoke to Harper even though I wasn't contractually required too : )