News

June 2010
Coming - a fourth book in The Seven Realms series and two more Heir Books!

You asked for it. Well, some of you did. The paperwork is finally done, and I can officially announce that I’ve just signed a three-book deal with Hyperion, my publisher, for two more Heir books and a fourth Seven Realms novel. Now I know that the next thing somebody’s going to ask is what and when and how and who, and the answer is, I don’t know, exactly. I mean, I have an idea. And a contract. I DID write a proposal. Sort of. Possible titles for the upcoming Heir books include The Sorcerer Heir and The Enchanter Heir, but that’s not graven in stone (I love that word graven. Kind of like craven, but more durable.) Likely I'll finish the Seven Realms books first (I'm working on #4 right now.) I am scheduled to write a book a year. So that’s what I’ll be up to for the next few.

Feb. 2010 San Antonio, TX Writing Retreat Six YA writers met in San Antonio, TX for writing and critiquing. From left to right: Debby Garfinkle, Jody Feldman, Mary Beth Miller, Kate Tuthill, Cinda Williams Chima, and Martha Levine.

Dec. 2009 Exiled Queen Cover Artwork The preliminary cover artwork for The Exiled Queen is out. UK illustrator Larry Rostant has done the artwork on all my covers since The Warrior Heir. All of his covers have been spectacular, and this one is no exception.

Aug. 7, 2009
My editor, Ari Lewin, discusses The Heir Chronicles at the national SCBWI conference in Los Angeles August 7, 2009.

Editor Ari Lewin at the SCBWI conference

July, 2009
Here's a link to an interview I did a while ago for TheTorchOnLine.com

Cinda Williams Chima Interview: "It's Hard Work Creating Strange New Worlds"

April, 2009
Shadowslayer Symphony Wins Salvner Music Award

The Warrior Heir was one of the featured books at the 2009 Youngstown State University English Festival. Ursuline High School students John Vitullo and Dan Catello wrote the Shadowslayer Symphony, a composition based on The Warrior Heir. The symphony won the festival's annual Jeremy Salvner Memorial Music Award. This award is given to junior and senior high school students participating in the English Festival who create the best original music compositions inspired by one or more of the books on the festival's reading list.
Click here to hear their stellar work.

Feb. 2009 Demon King Cover Artwork The cover artwork for The Demon King has just been finalized. UK illustrator Larry Rostant did the artwork. The word from Disney Hyperion is that the cover will be printed on metallic stock. It should be spectacular! Can’t Wait for The Demon King? Do You Speak Dutch? I’ve just received news that The Demon King is being released in the Netherlands in May, 2009. Here is the cover.

Jan. 2009 Cleveland Magazine's Most Interesting People 2009 I was thrilled and surprised to be among 30 people named to Cleveland Mag's Most Interesting People. Interesting is good, right? Better than boring. The story appears in the January 2009 issue. You can get the details here........ Most Interesting People 2009 Click on the Most Interesting People 2009 article

Sept. 2008 Park City, UT Writing Retreat Five YA writers came together in Park City, UT for intensive writing and critiquing. From left to right:   Mary Beth Miller www.marybethmiller.net/ Debby Garfinkle www.dlgarfinkle.com/ Cinda Williams Chima This site Kate Tuthill   Martha Levine www.writerdoc.com/

Sept. 6,2008 Writers and Their Friends The Ohio Theatre Playhouse Square, Cleveland I was among ten Cleveland-area writers showcased in this unique literary event. As the Lit Web site put it, “Ten jury-selected works are woven into one unique dramatic (and often comic) script that is performed to a sold-out audience one night only.” Tickets were $25, and the event benefited The Lit, a home for all things literary in Northeastern Ohio. For more information visit www.the-lit.org

The Honorees: Kazim Ali, Cinda Williams Chima, Michael Dumanis, Shurice Gross, Paula Mclain.	David Giffels, Ted Lardner, Philip Metres, James Renner, Frank Vazzano.
Reception in the lobby of the magnificent State Theater.	Signing books after the award ceremony .
Executive Director: Judith Mansour and Emcee: Ray McNiece	Actress Teresa McDonough read an excerpt from The Wizard Heir.

Aug. 12, 2008

I recently spent two weeks at the beach, which naturally brought on the rains. When on vacation, I’m used to hearing the locals say, “I’ve never seen it rain like this in July,” or “Thank God, the drought is over.”

So on the one sunny day we had in the first three, I stayed out too long and got burnt. (I was the one slathering on broad-spectrum SPF70 under the beach umbrella while my husband and sons were flying kites and basking in the sun.) They got scarcely toasted; I got roasted.

So yesterday while I was sitting on the lanai, writing and gazing out at the ocean, pining for sun and sand, the significant others made a sand sculpture of The Dragon Heir. It was the talk of the beach.

Isn’t it cool?