FAKE ID
FAKE ID in stores NOW
It’s been a long time coming, folks. My novel, FAKE ID, is now available all over. Click HERE to purchase a copy from your preferred bookseller.
Many of you have asked how you can show your support, and I want to thank you for that. Below, you’ll find a few things you can do to help the book (and me) succeed:
1) Buy a copy of FAKE ID (http://www.harpercollins.com/books/Fake-Id-Lamar-Giles/?isbn=9780062121844): This is the best way you can help. Good sales numbers prove to my publisher that I am a good investment, so they will continue to invest. Awesome sales numbers open up the possibility for bestseller lists, which increases visibility, which…well, it goes back to the return on investment thing. Sales keep writers employed.
2) Encourage a friend to buy a copy of FAKE ID: See point 1…
3) Post a review of FAKE ID: FAKE ID has a page on Amazon, B&N.com, Goodreads, or wherever books are sold or reviewed. More reviews increase visibility on those sites. More visibility leads to more sales.
4) Come out to a FAKE ID event: For those in the DMV (D.C., Maryland, Virginia) area, I’ll be doing several events over the next few weeks. Come out and say hi. The first event will be Saturday, Jan. 25th from Noon to 3 at the Greenbrier Barnes & Noble (1212 Greenbrier Pkwy, Chesapeake, VA 23320). The second event will be on Saturday, Feb. 1st from 2PM – 4PM at the Hopewell branch of the Appomattox Regional Library (209 E. Cawson Street, Hopewell, VA 23320). Books will be on sale at the events, so if you’d like to wait and purchase your book on those days, me and the booksellers would greatly appreciate it.
5) Promote Literacy: When I was growing up, I often heard the term “RIF”—Reading is Fundamental. It was true then, it’s still true now. Let’s make sure no one forgets.
Thanks everyone. I’m going for the win in 2014 and I hope you join the team. I will see you on the other side of this crazy and exciting season! Take care.
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FAKE ID, HarperCollins, L.R. Giles, On Sale, publishingClimbing Out of the Hole (my new book)
From The Dark Knight Rises, Warner Bros.
I know I’ve been MIA for roughly a thousand years, but for good reason. I sold another book (cue airhorns, confetti, balloon drop). Thing is, I sold this book on proposal, meaning my publisher (HarperCollins, again) only saw a summary, and some sample chapters before ponying up some cash. Also meaning I had to produce an entire manuscript based on that summary and sample chapters. In six months. While working a brutally demanding day job. And preparing for the 1/21/2014 release of FAKE ID.
These are what we call “good” problems, I suppose. But, boy, did I have to hustle.
So, yeah, I descended into the WriterCave for many moons. Had to climb out. When I did, I emerged with…
The New Book
It’s called ENDANGERED (for now, titles change and I’m almost positive this one will, too). The short description goes like this: Lauren “Panda” Daniels wants to photograph wildlife for National Geographic someday. In the meantime she settles for snapping shots of her cruel classmates in compromising positions and posting them anonymously on the web. When Panda receives a photo of herself—caught red-handed in her voyeuristic revenge act—she expects the mystery photographer to bust her. Instead, she receives a series of dangerous photos from the shutterbug she dubs “The Admirer,” and along with the photos, a dare: top the death-defying snapshots. Panda meets every challenge, until the little game turns deadly. Now Panda must save the classmates she once exposed—their lives, and hers, are at stake.
That’s my latest baby, delivered to my editor at 12:22 PM yesterday. There’s still plenty of work to do here, but it’s a heck of a relief anytime you can call Draft 1 (or, if this was an Apple product, iDraft 1.04) done.
What’s Next?
Now, I must switch gears, as FAKE ID’s release is right around the corner. I’m busy talking to folks about the book (librarians, booksellers, journalists), attempting to make arrangements for a book release party, and generally getting comfortable with the idea of being the front man for a roadshow starting early next year. Is it scary? Hell yeah! In the best way possible? You know it.
In coming posts, I’ll let you know how the lead up is going. My very next post will be about some of the lessons I’ve learned as a pre-debut author. I think you’ll find it interesting and eye-opening if you have any illusions that a writer’s work is glamorous in any way. Getting a book deal is just one of many hurdles, folks. Come back and I’ll tell you about it.
I’d Appreciate Your Help
Book sales matter, particularly the sales in the first few weeks of a book’s release. It would mean a lot if you would either pre-order FAKE ID from your preferred bookseller, or make plans to order it on the release day, 1/21/2014. I’d like to keep doing this for a long time, but ultimately, it’s you who makes that decision.
Every little bit helps, and I appreciate you supporting my work. Thanks.
‘Til next time…
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Endangered, FAKE ID, HarperCollins, Lamar Giles, publishing, thriller, Young AdultCover Reveal: Wanna See My FAKE ID?
Hey Gang,
Hafsah at IceyBooks just gave the world its first look at the cover for my upcoming Young Adult debut, FAKE ID, which is out in January. Get thee over to IceyBooks for a glimpse of what’s coming, and enter to win an Advanced Reader Copy of the book (Yes, that means you get to read it before most of the world…NICE!)
In case you missed the other two links in this post, here’s another: http://www.iceybooks.com/2013/06/fake-id-by-lamar-giles-cover-reveal-and.html
Take a look and help spread the word!
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Boys read too, Cover, Cover Reveal, diversity, FAKE ID, HarperTeen, IceyBooks, Lamar Giles, Young AdultMy Next Big Thing: FAKE ID
Last week, I got tapped to participate in “The Next Big Thing”, an ongoing blogging experience for up-and-coming writers. The way it works is an awesome writer (A. B. Westrick, author of BROTHERHOOD in this case) tags me, I post details about my next project here, then I tag other writers to do the same on their blogs next week.
“Easy-Peezy,” as Brooks Hatlen would say.
What is the title of your book?
FAKE ID
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
A teen in witness protection investigates his best friend’s murder and stumbles on a dark conspiracy that may lead back to his own father.
Where did the idea come from for the book?
FAKE ID began as an adult novel with a female protagonist. I’d been reading a book by the founder of the Federal Witness Protection Program called INSIDE WITSEC and I found the genesis of the program fascinating. Particularly the stories about how witnesses wouldn’t follow the rules, thus endangering themselves, thus forcing their handlers to make in-the-moment adjustments…. like switching their identities and moving them to a new location. In my original story, I’d envisioned a protected witness, Nicole Perry, who was the daughter of a big-time crime boss, getting caught up in a small-town murder mystery. But, it just wasn’t coming together. I was bored writing it, which meant anyone who picked it up would likely be bored reading it.
Around the same time, a friend suggested some YA fiction to me…maybe the GONE series by Michael Grant. I’m not 100% sure, I’ve read so many YA books since. In any case, I was a bit ignorant to YA at the time, thinking it was all kid’s stuff. CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY and THE MYSTERIES OF HARRIS BURDICK came to mind. But, when I read whatever book it was, I realized my preconceived notions were way off. I began devouring YA books, realizing the creativity on display for teens was as deep, if not deeper, as anything I’d seen in adult books. The realization brought me back to my little murder mystery and I asked myself, ‘what if it wasn’t an adult female, but a teen? Maybe a teen boy?’ The story just about wrote itself after that, no boredom. Nicole Perry became Nick Pearson, and the rest is, as they say, history.
What genre does your book fall under?
Young Adult Mystery
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
For Nick and his Dad, I’d love to see the Smiths (Jaden and Will) in the roles. For the remaining cast, I’m having some difficulty. The Cruz siblings are Latino, and while there are a couple of names that come to mind for Reya (Selena Gomez, Victoria Justice), Hollywood’s limited diversity has me drawing a blank on others. I mean, think about it. For African-American father and son roles, who else do YOU think of besides Jaden and Will Smith?
That being said, maybe you all will have better suggestions once the book debuts.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
My book will be co-published by HarperCollins Children’s Books/Amistad and I am represented by Jamie Weiss Chilton of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
About 9 months. But there have been many drafts since. I just turned in a (hopefully final) draft to my editor yesterday. Draft 5 or 6, I think. I’ve lost count.
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
I think it could be called a mashup of REALITY CHECK by Peter Abrahams and I HUNT KILLERS by Barry Lyga.
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
Mostly, I wrote FAKE ID because I thought the story was cool. But, part of my inspiration has to do with how little diversity there is in YA. There are few male heroes represented, even fewer minority males. I wanted to write a story about a young, African-American male that was set in modern times and could be embraced by a large audience. Also, should I have a son one day, I’d like to be able to point to my work and say, “See, there are heroes who look like you. When I was growing up, there were few, maybe none. I did what I could to fix that.”
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
Here’s a more detailed synopsis than the one-sentence in my earlier answer:
Nick Pearson is pretending to be someone he isn’t. Not high school pretending. Witness Protection pretending. And the #1 rule is “stay low-key”. But, when his sole friend Eli dies in the school’s journalism room under mysterious circumstances, and Nick stumbles upon the conspiracy Eli planned on exposing, staying low-key takes a backseat to staying alive.
Newspaper Nerd Eli had a secret, an in-the-works story codenamed “Whispertown”. And it’s got a lot of folks interested. Like corrupt cops, the town’s shady mayor, and certain high-ranking government officials. Teaming with Eli’s estranged (and gorgeous) sister, Nick sets out to unravel the mystery and still maintain his cover. He’ll have to use all the deviant skills he’s gained from his racketeering dad, assassin godfather, and their Serbian gangster boss to find the truth. However, each clue brings him closer to answers he may not want. Whispertown is bigger than he could have ever imagined, and in its shadow stands a killer…a killer Nick fears may be his own father.
Next week on “The Next Big Thing”… author, Aimee Salter will be talking about her new project, IN YOUR SKIN. Be sure to check her out and keep the NBT chain going.
Thanks again to A.B. Westrick for the invite. This was fun. More soon, gang.