Watch for The Shifter by Janice Hardy

[keyan_bowes]

I think perhaps the next best thing to getting published one's self is to watch a writer-buddy go from manuscript to publication... especially when, like me, you get to be one of the lucky beta-readers. Janice Hardy's marvellous YA Fantasy, The Shifter (originally, and in the UK, The Pain Merchants) is coming in October from Balzer & Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

 The Query Letter she used is up on Pub Rants, her agent's blog.  It's about a teenage war orphan named Nya who has the ability to draw pain from one person and shift it to another - and another strange power the dictator who has conquered her country mustn't find out about.

It's one of a trilogy (or maybe a series?), called The Healing Wars, but it definitely stands alone. It's worth reading when it comes out, even if, like me, you usually prefer not to start on a series until all the books are in place.

Comments

[julieandrews.livejournal.com]

That's a cool cover.

[csinman.livejournal.com]

I am in your exact position, and I agree--I think I might be even more jacked about kaerfel's book than I would be if it was mine. After all, I get all the excitement and none of the paperwork! Haha! :)

I'll be sure to buy a copy of The Shifter. Nya's power is intriguing. I can't wait to see what Hardy did with it!

[keyan-bowes.livejournal.com]

Yes to both - it's a cool cover (there's a whole story to that - ask Janice).
And Nya's power is definitely intriguing. Haven't encountered that one before.