THE LIFE OF GLASS cover!

I've been talking about my next YA book, THE LIFE OF GLASS, for a while here on my blog. But finally I have a gorgeous cover to share!!!

And here's the jacket description of the book:

Before he died, Melissa’s father told her about stars. He told her that the brightest stars weren’t always the most beautiful—that if people took the time to look at the smaller stars, if they looked with a telescope at the true essence of the star, they would find real beauty. But even though Melissa knows that beauty isn’t only skin deep, the people around her don’t seem to feel that way. There’s her gorgeous sister Ashley who will barely acknowledge Melissa at school, there's her best friend Ryan, who may be falling in love with the sophisticated Courtney, and there’s Melissa’s mother who’s dating someone new, someone who Melissa knows will never be able to replace her father.

To make sure she doesn’t lose her father completely, Melissa spends her time trying to piece together the last of his secrets and completing a journal her father began—one about love and relationships and the remarkable ways people find one another. But when tragedy strikes, Melissa has to start living and loving in the present, as she realizes that being beautiful on the outside doesn't mean you can't be beautiful on the inside.

This is a lyrical tale of love, loss and self-discovery from the author of THE SEPTEMBER SISTERS.

Now it's feeling like a real book, and I can't wait for it to come out. Is it winter 2010 yet?!

Fabulous News!!!

I'm so excited to announce that I've sold my first adult women's fiction book, THE TRANSFORMATION OF THINGS!!! I was beyond thrilled to accept an offer from Avon (HarperCollins) this afternoon!

I really didn't think anything could top the excitement I felt after selling THE SEPTEMBER SISTERS, but today I realized that selling a book is absolutely just as exciting the second time around (and conversely, having a book out there on submission to editors is just as nervewracking)!

I've felt such a particular attachment to this novel, that I'm so happy I'm going to get to watch it bloom and transform now into an actual published book. And also, I'm so, so grateful that I get to keep on doing what I love.

More details about the book to come -- stay tuned!!

Book of the Month (and Denmark)

I was so honored to find out that Michelle's Bookshelf has named The September Sisters "Book of the Month" for May! And check out this cool graphic from her blog:

I also learned that the Danish version of The September Sisters (or as it's called over there, September Sostre) is out. Check out the Danish cover:

Now if only I could read Danish . . . !

Project Book Babe

If you've been wanting to get a copy of The September Sisters, here's a great way to do it!

A signed copy is being auctioned on E-bay this week as part of Project Book Babe's auction. If you haven't heard of Project Book Babe you should click here to check out their website, but the "Book Babe" is a children's book buyer who was diagnosed with breast cancer. Proceeds from the auction will help support her as she undergoes treatment.

I'm excited that I get to be involved in a very small way with this cool auction, so click here to head on over to E-bay and bid! It's for a great cause.

April ALAN pick!

I was really honored to see that The September Sisters was named an ALAN (Assembly on Literature for Adolescents) pick for April. In their review of the book they said, "With echoes of The Lovely Bones and even To Kill A Mockingbird, Cantor unflinchingly explores loss through its many incarnations."

I'm also excited to be a part of the awesome "blogoversary" going on over at Bookluver-Carol's blog this week. You can check out my interview here, and stay tuned over there for a giveaway from me as well!

Award Nominations!!

I feel so honored to have been nominated for an award over at YA Reads! They're currently hosting Reader's Choice awards, and I was nominated for Best Debut Author and Best Author, and The September Sisters was nominated for Best Book. I'm so flattered to be in such great company, and if you head on over and vote, you can be entered for a chance to win The September Sisters and other fabulous books: Fade, The Fetch, Wherever Nina Lies, Shadowed Summer, and Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side.

Click here to see all the nominees and to vote.

A Rejection Letter and a Great Review!

The other day I opened my mailbox, and saw staring back at me a self-addressed stamped envelope, written in my own handwriting. Strange. I hadn't gotten one of those since the days when I was querying agents, back in the summer of 2006. So I was shocked to open it up and find this: (my comments are in red)

Dear Ms. Cantor:
My apologies for the unforgivable delay (more than two and a half years) in responding to EVEN TO THE EDGE (The original title of The September Sisters). A number of submissions got squirreled away, and your partial was among them. I'm sorry.

I read over the manuscript and am sadly passing on it. Even though I admired much about it, I'm afraid I wasn't as completely as engaged by EVEN TO THE EDGE as I'd hoped to be.

Thanks for sending me the partial to consider, however, and I hope that in the meantime you've found thoroughly enthusiastic representation.

As I read this I couldn't help but laugh! I can't tell you how many nearly identical letters I received when I was trying to find an agent, and how soul crushing each one felt. But this just goes to show you, how little these rejections can mean. While this one agent "squirreled" my first three chapters away, another agent took me on and sold the book, at auction. So to all you aspiring writers, don't let the rejection letters get you down!

Oh, and just after I got this, I also got my very, very awesome Publisher's Weekly Review. They call The September Sisters a "memorable debut novel" and the story "startlingly real." You can click here to read the whole thing.