Debut Month Lovelies!

Ok, so today is Saturday, March 29, and NIL has been out for about three weeks.

It's been an AMAZING whirlwind of three weeks.:) I've had a dream-come-true launch party with family and friends ... been a part of the Riverdale Literary Festival in South Florida (AWESOME!) ...  did my first book signing at B&B in Ft. Myers ... run several crazy fun #WinNIL contests on Twitter each Wednesday ... had wonderful blogger support for NIL in reviews and on-line love ...  dropped into bunches of Barnes & Nobles and Books-A-Million and signed every copy of NIL in stock ... and basically have been touched EVERY SINGLE DAY by someone who read NIL and loved it.

A full photo recap coming soon!

But in the meantime, want to know what started off my debut month with epic goodness? This amazing picture of Charley sketched by my talented author friend, Natalie Whipple:

And sweet Natalie posted this amazing graphic of Charley on the morning NIL debuted . . . her surprise post is here. Natalie has been an amazing supporter of me and NIL from my pre-agent days, and even before I got to know her, I followed her blog, because Natalie is an amazing supporter of all writers. If you're a writer, I encourage you to check out her blog, Between Fact and Fiction, and poke around. Lots of writing and publishing gold over there! Natalie is not only  a fantastic writer, she's a fantastic person & friend. :)

Thank you SO MUCH Natalie, for starting NIL's book birthday off in the most amazing way possible! *sends all the hugs* I can't wait to cheer for HOUSE OF IVY & SORROW in a few weeks!

And #NILtribe, check back Monday for the full debut month wrap-up--with pics!

xo
Lynne

#WinNIL

Hi y'all!

It's Wednesday…so that means today you can play #WinNIL!

Check out the hashtag #WinNIL on Twitter and FB for a chance to win a copy of NIL! All you need to do is is RT (or share the FB post!) and answer the following question:

You're stuck on a deserted island. What's the one thing u DON'T want to find?

Don't forget to use the #WinNIL hashtag! And as always, follow the #NILtribe hashtag for deets and winners!:)

Good luck y'all! Contest runs until 9 pm!!!!:)

And we'll be playing again next Wednesday!!!! :)

xo

Lynne

NIL is out today!!!!!!

I've been waiting for this day FOR SO LONG!!!! NIL is out today!

ON THE SHELVES!

IN YOUR HANDS!!!

I'm so excited to have y'all meet Charley and Thad and the entire cast of NIL…they belong to you now.:)

And guess what? I just got my first official review!

Here's the review from Publisher's Weekly:

Matson makes a strong debut with this tense, cinematic struggle for survival on a peril-filled island that may have some readers flashing back to episodes of Lost. A mysterious portal transports 17-year-old Charley to the possibly sentient and certainly capricious island of Nil, where she encounters a community of teens who have also been stolen from the lives they once knew. While circumstances remain clouded in uncertainty, Charley quickly learns the chief rule: she has one year to find and catch a portal home (these "gates" appear and vanish at will), or she will die. When Charley falls for handsome Thad, whose own deadline swiftly approaches, she must choose between love and survival, with no guarantee either will last. Matson's eye for detail and skillful characterizations fuel a fast-paced story that blends beauty, horror, romance, and adventure. A memorable cast of attractive and resourceful teens, along with the lush and deadly island, offer an effective hook, while the story's psychological intrigue, cleverly subverted expectations, and slow unveiling of information contribute genuine drama. Ages 14–up. Agent: Jennifer Unter, the Unter Agency. (Mar.)

--Review 03/03/2014

YAY!!!!! SO crazy happy!!!!!

Huge thanks to my family and friends, all my critique partners, my awesome agent, Jennifer Unter, my amazing editor, Kate Farrell, and the whole Macmillan team for making today possible.

I love you all!!!!

1 day

One day.

Actually, 5 hours.

In 5 hours… NIL is OUT.

On the shelf.  IN YOUR HANDS.:)

AHHHHHHH!!!

I'm SO excited!!!!!!:)

*commences island dancing*