skary childrin and the carousel of sorrow

Skary Childrin and the Paperback of Sorrow

Skary Childrin and the Carousel of Sorrow! Coming in paperback March 12th! Go get it! What? You already have it in hardback and as an ebook? Then you'd best complete your collection! ;-) And because I know you'll ask: I'm presently wrapping up some edits on Chapter 2 of my next book. So another book's happening, too. But it'll take a little longer than March 12th.

Skary Childrin and the Carousel of Sorrow

Hold your mail!

I'm changing my PO Box! The old one is officially closed. I'll post my new address once that's all set up. So, if you were wanting to send me letters or books to sign, please hold onto them! My PO box mail will not forward! Stay tuned for the new address. More news:

  • As usual, whenever I release anything, I get a lot of questions about Boy. Boy is still in the works, though I've had to put it on hold for other projects. Death & Elsie is something to keep you all entertained for a while as I work on those other projects, which, at the moment, include another novel. But I'm reallyreallyreally going to try to put Boy out before 2012 is a distant memory! Cross my heart!
  • About that other novel: the one I'm currently working on is not a sequel to Skary Childrin and the Carousel of Sorrow, but I think it's something you'll all like if you liked Carousel. I can't say much about it right now, but I'll continue to make posts now and then about the process.
  • By the way, I get a lot of questions about an audiobook of Carousel. I'm not aware of any plans for an audiobook right now. The excerpts I posted were just a little something for the people who weren't able to attend the readings I did when the book first came out. If it ever does come up, however, I'll be sure to announce it. If my daydreams came true, Tim Jones would get to do the honors.
  • Death & Elsie Part 2 is called An Elephant's Memory and should, cross my fingers, be ready by this weekend. Part 3 will be out soon after.

El carrusel de las sombras: y los niños espantosos!

Oh, hey! I can't read anything on this site because my knowledge of Spanish is limited to a few polite greetings and half the lyrics to "La Bruja," but it looks like this is one place where you can purchase EL CARRUSEL DE LAS SOMBRAS: Y LOS NIÑOS ESPANTOSOS. If you know of any other sites selling the Spanish translation of Skary Childrin and the Carousel of Sorrow, let me know! Skary Childrin in Espanol

How to get your books signed

Lots of you have asked me how to get your copies of Skary Childrin and the Carousel of Sorrow signed, which makes me smile from ear to ear, and smiling that wide makes my face hurt. But enough of you have asked that I thought it high time I just posted the info publicly so that you have quicker access to it. If you've got a copy of the book, and you'd like to have it signed by me, here's what you do:

1. Mail your copy of the book to me along with a prepaid self-addressed envelope that's big enough to hold the book. If you're in the US, it's easiest if you use a Priority Mail flat rate envelope. Send it to:

ADDRESS TBA (I've closed the old box.)

2. Email me to let me know you've sent me something so that I'll know to go and actually, you know, check my mail. If you don't do this, you're at the mercy of my laziness.

3. Be sure to let me know what name to sign the book to and if there's any special message you want me to write. Otherwise, I'll just make out the inscription to the name on your return address.

And that's it! Easy, isn't it?

 

Without breaking a sweat, either.

I'm a little late to this one, but check out this review of Carousel from 6th grader Tam! My favorite line: "Maggie, on the other hand is uncomfortably strong. I'm talking strong as in she can carry a whole mantelpiece jam-packed of enormous heavy dictionaries in one hand, and without breaking a sweat either." So true!

And the winner is...

Merry Skary Christmas, everyone! I hope that all of you are having a marvelous day, whether you celebrate or not. Now *drumroll* for the winner of the contest to win a signed copy of my book: *more drumrolling* BRYAN CALLAGHAN and his daughter. Bryan, send me an email at http://skary.com/contact and tell me where to send the book and to what name I should write the inscription. :)

We Wish You a Skary Christmas

What's the one thing you want for Christmas more than anything? Well, I'm afraid I can't give you a unicorn that transforms into the Batmobile on command, but I can give you the next best thing:  a signed copy of Skary Childrin and the Carousel of Sorrow! All you have to do is comment on my Facebook or Google+, OR follow and tweet @katytowell on Twitter, telling me why you want this book. You can enter to win it for yourself or gift it to someone you love! Send your comments today through Christmas Eve (until 11:59pm Pacific, December 24th)! The (one) winner will be picked and announced some time on Christmas Day. The contest is open to anyone in any country, and the book will be mailed to the winner after the announced winner sends me his/her/their giftee's mailing address. Happy holidays from the Childrin!

Skary Childrin and the Carousel of Sorrow

 

 

 

Shout-out to Mrs. Corcoran and class!

This is the kind of email (okay, so there are many kinds, but this is definitely one of them) that makes me smile. From: Mrs. Corcoran's class

We have been reading aloud your story for the last 2 months.We feel that it is exciting, scary, and a little disgusting. Whenever our teacher reads, we are completely enthralled by the story line. We just found your website and wondered if you are planning to make a movie in the future? Please contact us.

Hello, Mrs. Corcoran's class!

I'm so happy to hear you're all enjoying the book. :) I don't have any plans for a movie made of it yet, but I have been contacted by movie producers before, so who knows? It could happen! In the mean time, I'm working on unrelated animated shorts and writing another book that I hope will be even more exciting, scary, and a little disgusting, too. ;-)
Thanks for emailing me!
Katy

You like it! You really like it!

As of this post, there are over 9,000 fans on my Facebook page, almost 25,000 YouTube subscribers, 2200+ Twitter followers, and 200-some folks have me in their Google+ circle. Let's not get started on the messages in my inbox right now. ;-) I'm not bragging - okay, I'm totally bragging, but I'm also saying thank you to all of you for following along, and for interacting with each other and me! You all continue to make it worth it. Here's a look at what's on my project list right now:

 

A bit of Carousel for your ears

With my upcoming relocation, I haven't been as punctual with my 31 Days of Halloween episodes as I've been in previous years. Not to worry, though. I'm swiftly catching up! And while I do exactly that, here's a little something to occupy a few minutes of your time. Tim Jones and I have both recorded excerpts of Skary Childrin and the Carousel of Sorrow for your listening pleasure, whether you've read it yet or not. And if you haven't read it, what are you waiting for?

From Chapter 1, read by me: httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn6abSK2XZs&hd=1
From Chapter 3, read by the excellent Mr. Jones: httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6u4S29k9HmE&hd=1

Thanks for chatting with me!

A whole bunch of you came to tonight's chat, and it was fun! My voice wore out fairly early on, thanks to allergies, and there were audio quality issues, but you and a Vegemite-branded mug of mint tea helped me power through. What you missed if you missed it:

  • Me reading an excerpt from Skary Childrin and the Carousel of Sorrow (I totally did voices, you guys.)
  • Me relating my haunted daybed experience (with hand gestures)
  • Answers to a lot of really great questions.
  • A demonstration of my sock monkey nesting dolls
  • Your fellow fans!

So, if there's a next time, you really must come by.

Reminders and things!

Don't forget to pop by Tinychat tonight for an e-reading from Skary Childrin and the Carousel of Sorrow and a chat with me! All you need is a Tinychat account and a way to listen in. You can participate in the chat via webcam, mic, or text-chat! And while we're talking reminders, here are some more places to find me:

And places to find my book:

Speaking of the book, check out the latest fan art I got! Aw, Phillip. And sandwiches! Good job, Zoe. And that reminds me that I may have to do a book-related fan art contest soon. Been a while since I had a contest, hasn't it?

 

Sit a spell and have a chat with me!

What are your plans next Friday night at 8pm Pacific? How about parking yourself in front of your computer and listening to me read to you a bit... live? And if it's all right with you (and even if it isn't), a Q&A session after. All you need is a Tinychat account and speakers or headphones to listen in. And you can join the conversation with a mic, a webcam, or just your good old-fashioned keyboard. Maybe I'll even be sitting in that same chair with that very same IKEA teacup. OR MAYBE NOT. TUNE IN TO FIND OUT.

P.S. - this is open to all ages, so please behave yourselves.

Your thoughts on Skary Childrin and the Carousel of Sorrow

I'm almost done with that Ash Tree cartoon I mentioned a while back, and I'm making progress on a detailed synopsis of my NEXT book, which I can't tell you anything about just yet. In the mean time, I've been receiving a lot of wonderful emails and Facebook/G+/Twitter/YouTube comments from people who have read Skary Childrin and the Carousel of Sorrow (or whose children/grandchildren have)! I just had to share some of them with you.

Dear miss towell~ I have ordered your book , and it arrived two days ago , i read it and it gave me goosebumps , my favourite part was the henry part , my face was like glued to the book ,my cousin wants to borrow it but my face Wont let her , (^0^)/ and you are my favourite author , i hope you keep making more awesome and brilliant books .

P.S : i downloaded the warning posters and stuck them all over my room , and i placed some on my school note books , so my teachers can be safe :3

--Z

I have been trying to get my 11 year old Granddaughter Isabella to read more, in that effort I bought this book. She has not put it down since I gave it to her Saturday. She keeps asking if and when there will be another. Kudos and Thanks !

--P

Dear Katy Towell,

I absolutely LOVE your new book! So far I am only about half-way through it, but I already have in on my mental list of favorite books. The characters' personalities fit together so perfectly! I feel really sad for some of them sometimes though, for example, when [spoiler!]I almost cried for her. Becky Buschard has no soul... 

--V

I found myself reading the book out loud to my 16 y.o. daughter and 11 y.o. son in my car last week in a store parking lot. No intro, just at a random spot in the chapter where the scary childrin come in from their first detention with the new librarian. We ALL had a great time and were upset when mom came back from the store because that meant we had to move on and stop reading. Katy? Thank you so much.

--CM

 just finished it and WOW!!!! It was absolutely amazing! :D I loved Adelaide and Beatrice is adorable! 5 stars...no, 50 stars! :D

--ABW

 ...The news of your book made me not think twice and i pre-orered it and also intending to pay for it with my savings.I must admit i was too anxious to read it and what joy was when it arrived in the mail ,even though i was wet from the rain i sttarted reading it immediately!I Liked this book very much it became my most favorite one of all, since ithad evrything i wished that not so splatter horror but the creepy skary one that is very rare to find.Your work inspired me on writing again since i kind of left a unfinished project but your book maked me write again and hoping that i also will create my own book. 

...Im never been a "Fan" of nothing expect now i thank you for creating this world full of creepiness.

Your Skary fan from Finland

--AC

completed reading. this was really a page-turner. trying to encourage my 11 year old to abandon re-reading his wimpy kid books and start reading yours.

--WS

I just finished it. it's just amazing. really thrilling and touching and funny and awsome :D I'll probably buy a few more copies and give them to friends.

--CS

Hi! About an hour ago, my dad gave me my birthday present... Skary Childrin and the Carousel of Sorrow! Apparently, he had to drive an hour out of town to get it. :O I cannot *wait* to read it (over and over again). It's my favorite book in my collection and I haven't even opened it yet. xD Now to speed-read the book I'm currently reading to make time for Skary Childrin awesomeness!

--NH

I have read your book and i just loved it. I loved your cartoons too, they reminded me of my fears and monster I use to believe in when I was a little girl. Bringing it all back, it just touched me. You have made me a fan of your work.

--SN

It's AMAZING! I haven't read a whole book since high school. I've had the book for almost 3 days now and honestly I don't want to put it down!! :D

--HH

Bought this today. 20 pages in in less than 20 minutes. I AM LOVING THIS SO MUCH IT IS RIDICULOUS.

--wb

Myself im re-reading this book since i loved it to death,just a great book now one of my most dear favorite!Now i have this book in my arms everywhere i go and iff i made to have this boook in Finland then elsewhere will be easier to find!<3<3

--ssw

I finally got my copy and had a chance to read it. Bravo! Its been a long time since I've read a book cover to cover in a sitting. You've come quite a ways from the weather reports we did as kids (though you apparently still have a penchant for stories regarding unusual weather). As for my favorite part- the little details/asides. The part about the Beatrice's letter making an unusual stop in front of the cheese shop was perhaps my favorite detail in the book.

--AR (a childhood friend of mine)

Skary Childrin and the Carousel of Sorrow

Have you picked up your copy yet? Look for it at an indie store near you, Barnes & Noble (including your Nook), Amazon.com (including your Kindle), Book Depository, and many others!

Yay!

Pardon me in a little self-indulgence, but emails like these make my day! I just wanted to tell you that I grew up with skary.net... And I've loved it ever since my best friend showed it to me completely out of the blue. I think your brilliant, there's something about the way you write that very much grabs my interest! I saw that you had a book out, I just HAD to get it!! The book store is a tad drive away, and I was meant to wait for the weekend to go grab it when me and my friends went into town... But, I just couldn't wait! I called the store to make sure the book was there first of all,(when I told the woman the name of the book she giggled and said "wow great book title, very interesting) :) Luckily the book was there! I hurried myself down there and grabbed it, and I had my face stuck in the book until I finished it. I loved every minute of it. I really hope you continue writing more books, (along with your animations, of course). --B

Thank you, B!