In which the book is launched, long live the live the book launch
Well, Titan of the Stars has officially been unleashed upon the world.
I had a great release week, in that I mostly stayed home, started a new Dragon Age run, and watched people post pictures of my book on Instagram. I love the splashy book launches, don’t get me wrong, but sometimes it’s nice to sleep in your own bed. The response has been fantastic. In addition to all the readers I’ve heard from TITAN has five very nice trade reviews, three of which are stars!
Kirkus: A compelling and harrowing treat and highlighting the teens’ sheer cunning and urgent desire for survival.
Shelf Awareness: A tightly plotted, carnage-filled YA sci-fi horror tale that deftly marries the social commentary of [the] Titanic with the visceral horror of Alien.
The Horn Book: Johnston has established such authenticity that readers will never question the urgency as the pages just seem to turn themselves.
Also, I made this cake:
That said, I do have a couple of events this summer! I cancelled my American travel, but I’ll be at Bakka Phoenix on July 19th at 2pm for a joint celebration of TITAN and Sky on Fire. They usually have snacks! I haven’t done a Toronto event in, uh, a while, so I’m looking forward to seeing readers there again. On August 2, M.K. Lobb and I will be at Fanfare Books in Stratford from noon to 3. I should update my website.
But that’s not all I’ve got on tap for the Summer of 2025! I have to finish drafting the TITAN sequel. I have to start drafting [redacted]. At some point, I’ll have to revise the OTHER [redacted] that I drafted in March. I’m going to stare at the ocean from a small island near Ireland. I might (MIGHT) play Clair Obscur, which everyone says is amazing but I don’t know if I can handle the combat.
And, of course, on July 22, I get to launch ANOTHER book, the long-awaited, much-anticipated (by, like, 14 extremely enthusiastic people) Aetherbound sequel Sky on Fire. There was a time when I didn’t think I’d get to share this book with you, but Andrew Karre had a plan and it worked! I’m so excited.
And of course it’s Pride! And unlike in previous years, I have actually made a reading guide for you. I have attempted to divide it up by category, and obviously there is some overlap, but generally I think this is the most efficient way.
If you’re sitting here feeling like this newsletter is a bit of a filler, you are...not wrong. I have plans for July, but right now I am trying to finish a draft and romance Lace Harding before I get on an airplane, so we are all doing our best. I am extremely pleased to be able to share TITAN and SKY with you all, and I can’t WAIT to tell you what comes after that. It’s going to be killer. ;)