Heads-Up: Strange Chemistry News and Jodi Picoult Sweepstakes!

First piece of news:

You've probably already heard about Strange Chemistry, the YA imprint of Angry Robot, and its new book deals...but if not, here are the details! They've officially signed on the following three authors and titles so far:

Kim Curran and her novel Shift:

"When your average, 16-year old loser, Scott Tyler, meets the beautiful and mysterious Aubrey Jones, he learns he’s not quite so average after all. He’s a ‘Shifter’. And that means he has the power to undo any decision he’s ever made. At first, he thinks the power to shift is pretty cool. But as his world quickly starts to unravel around him he realises that each time he uses his power, it has consequences; terrible unforeseen consequences. Shifting is going to get him killed. In a world where everything can change with a thought, Scott has to decide where he stands."

This premise kind of reminds me of The Power of Un by Nancy Etchemendy. Sounds like it has the potential to be thought-provoking and philosophical with the whole 'butterfly effect' concept.

Sean Cummings and his novel Poltergeeks:

"Julie is an apprentice witch – or so she believes. When a dark power comes stalking out of the past to haunt her and her mother, Julie learns that she is far more than just a witch. With the help of her best friend Marcus and a rather unusual Great Dane, Julie has to race against time to ensure she can defeat the bad guy, save her mother and avoid being grounded – again!"

Witches definitely seem to be coming into style again in YA!

Gwenda Bond and her novel Blackwood:

"On Roanoke Island, the legend of the 114 people who mysteriously vanished from the Lost Colony hundreds of years ago is just an outdoor drama for the tourists, a story people tell. But when the island faces the sudden disappearance of 114 people now, an unlikely pair of 17-year-olds may be the only hope of bringing them back.

Miranda, a misfit girl from the island’s most infamous family, and Phillips, an exiled teen criminal who hears the voices of the dead, must dodge everyone from federal agents to long-dead alchemists as they work to uncover the secrets of the new Lost Colony. The one thing they can’t dodge is each other.

Blackwood is a dark, witty coming of age story that combines America’s oldest mystery with a thoroughly contemporary romance."

The mystery of Roanoke Island has always been one of those cool, unexplained events of history. I'm interested to see how it's tied into a contemporary mystery!

Also, for all of you aspiring-to-be-published writers out there: Strange Chemistry is holding an Open Door period from April 16 - 30. This means that they are accepting unagented submissions between these dates! For all the details check out: http://strangechemistrybooks.com/opendoor/. 

Second piece of news:

Simon & Schuster Canada is holding another Jodi Picoult sweepstakes! This time it's to celebrate the release of her upcoming book, Lone Wolf. There are 5 prizes: 2 are for Greater Toronto Area residents — a chance to meet Jodi Picoult personally before her launch, tickets to the event itself and a collection of all her books! — and the other 3 are for a complete set of her books including a signed copy of Lone Wolf.

If you'd like to enter, go here: http://www.simonandschuster.ca/sweepstakes/lone-wolf-sweeps.

Good luck!