closed to queries now

Just a quick reminder that I'm closed to queries now until 9/30/11.

I need to get caught up or this group will be at my door quite soon:

egad! this is bad! Contest winners from (ohmygodiva) June 25,

I hang my head in shame.


I totally forgot to post the contest results.

Thank goodness Tracy R. emailed me asking "wtf slacker fish, where are the results"**

** not the actual quote

So with no further delay, here are the results from the contest



Recognition for using one of my favorite phrases: "fell swoop"
Becky Mushko 9:02pm


recognition for knowing that everything is better with more cowbell
Sunny Insomniac 9:03pm




Recognition for including QueryShark which (like cowbell) makes everything better
Barry Evans 9:10pm




Recognition for giving me new ideas for dealing with recalcitrant writers
Eric 11:04pm




Recognition for giving me the great idea to rename The Lair "Club Swoop and Die"
abuckley23 5:29pm







These four entries were very good and made the first cut:

Terri Coop 9:02pm
thehappylogophile 6:06am
Kate Outhwaite 12:43pm
Jennifer Welborn 6:59pm




These two entries were VERY good and made the second cut:
wry wryter 10:21pm
Sasha Barin 12:44pm





These two stories are the finalists:


Kate Higgins 9:22am

The old sideboard was painted with stories. Minutely detailed life marched up drawers and across shelves. A tiny war folded around the doors, a carefully wrought conspiracy hid in the corners and a love affair gone wrong erupted over the intricately carved headpiece. Rendered mostly in browns and greens, a fragile swoop of red would brightly proclaim a birth…or a death.


This furniture was too precious to sell, too detailed to interpret, too disturbing to keep as is.
I dipped my brush in generic beige and reluctantly began to extinguish 87 years of lyrical angst.



Ted Bergeron 2:03pm

"Lyrical," says Robin.

"Brilliant. Bravo," says Beaver but he doesn't mean it. Grinding his teeth - sure sign of angst.

"A reluctant superstar you are," says Fox.

They're kissing my ass. I know it. I lick my paw and drag it across my brow. Howling tussles my fur.

It's a conspiracy. I know that too. But why?

A sob from behind Beaver. Shit. An intervention.

"I'm not coughing him up. Swoop in here like a bunch of do-gooders. I ate him because I have a self-esteem problem? He was good. That's why I ate him. Tasty."

Silence. That's it then. Shit.



Picking winners in these contests is always hard.  This time was not an exception. Both entries are terrific, but Kate Higgins takes the laurels. 

Congratulations Kate. Send me your mailing address and we'll send you a prize.

And yes, you all got the word connection relationship.  I was surprised how fast you managed to do that! Next time I'm really going to have to be much more crafty about the connection.

Another Ulfelder fan at the finish line!

Fredericksburg.Com (Virginia) reviews  PURGATORY CHASM and finds it to be: "a superb beginning for an author who shows much promise."

I couldn't agree more!

The more available agents are, the harder it is to get them to answer questions!

I'm seeing a rash of people asking me questions on Twitter.  I understand their motivation: they're trying to figure out how all this crazy publishing stuff works.

But I'm not on Twitter to answer questions. And I generally don't. I'm pretty sure that's frustrating as hell to writers.  All those agents, and they only talk about scotch, cupcakes, and books.

It's the same thing with phone calls to the office.  I've gotten a couple of those last week, and people are furious I won't help them on the phone.

So, what to do?

One way to get questions answered: go to a conference or a writing workshop.  There are lots of good conferences. Most agents post lists of where they'll be.  Since you can't pry me out of NYC with a crowbar, I'll be at Backspace here in NYC on 11/3.


And my pal Jenny Milchman is teaching a class called POLISHED AND PUBLISHED: Readying a Novel for a Changing Industry.  Jenny is a whiz at explaining how publishing works and helping writers navigate the arcane ways of this crazy industry.

Conferences and classes cost you money.  It's a good investment in your career.  Do some research; figure out which class or conference will help you, then invest in yourself.

Friday Night at the Question Emporium! with a bonus POEM!

I am an aspiring poet from Australia. I have been working on a manuscript of poems, and whilst it will not be completed till around the end of the year, I figured I should start looking for a literary agent ahead of time. 

I realise you do not accept poetry submissions but I was wondering if you could perhaps refer me to someone who does? 

I realise you may only have International contacts but I cannot find a single literary agent in Australia that will accept poetry submissions. I am entering competitions and seeking publication through literary magazines whilst completing the manuscript to get my name out and about - so I should be able to offer a bit of publication history to anyone who may be interested.



I don't know any agents who accept books of poems from a first-time client. You get known as a poet by having poems published. Then, those poems are collected and published by the very few presses that do poetry.


The poets I do represent were signed for book-length projects, not poetry. So, yes I represent poets, but not poetry.


You're on the right track by submitting to contests and magazines. Avoid the scammers. Avoid the contests with exorbitant entry fees.


Look in collections of poems for the places the poems were originally published. That will help you build a list of reputable places to submit.


You don't need an agent right now, and looking for one will probably be discouraging because you'll hear more than the usual number of No's.



Here's a poem I love a lot. I was privileged to hear Miss Giovanni read this at Symphony Space a number of years ago.  I hope you'll love it as much as I do.

Reach

You think this is about one thing, but it's really about something else.

Read it.

Prepare to not be able to do much of anything else for a little while afterwards.

I found this because I subscribe to Longreads.  Of course, you should too.

I am SO happy: new books!!

In case the titles are hard to read:

 top to bottom:

MAKING WAVES by Tawna Fenske

TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE by Kristan Higgins
CATCH OF THE DAY by Kristan Higgins
MY ONE AND ONLY by Kristan Higgins

KILLING FLOOR by Lee Child
FAITHFUL SPY by Alex Berenson

Left to right:
PIGEON ENGLISH by Stephen Kelman
UNTOUCHABLE by Scott O'Connor
CONTENT RULES by Ann Handley and C. C. Chapman

GORKY PARK by Martin Cruz Smith
101 MISUSED WORDS by Mignon Fogerty
GRAMMAR GIRL'S QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS FOR BETTER WRITING by Mignon Fogerty
THE GRAMMAR DEVOTIONAL by Mignon Fogerty



And what you can't see cause I downloaded it was:

EVERY BOOK IS A START UP by Todd Sattersten

What happened and why it matters. A lot.

"What happened was this: On the second of July, at the height of its runoff, the Yellowstone River scoured out a 12-inch crude oil pipeline that had been trenched beneath the river bottom.

The pressure of the water ruptured the pipe, sending a gush of oil downriver.

By the time somebody at ExxonMobil noticed the leak, an hour later, 42,000 gallons of oil had been carried downstream with the flooding waters."

The rest of Kevin Canty's elegant, heart-wrenching article.

Writing memoir? Here's a tip

Ann Beattie wrote a terrific line in one of my favorite short stories of all time, “Snow.”

This is what she said: “Any life will seem dramatic if you leave out mention of most of it.”

Holy Ghosts is a memoir and like most memoirs it leaves out a lot of the day-to-day experiences that a person has—standing on a line at the grocery store, cleaning the house, cooking food, doing laundry, the mundane but necessary things we do at work. To include all those things in a memoir would make for a cumbersome story and probably just bore people to tears.

So, this book really does focus primarily on the extraordinary circumstances that happened over a twelve month period in my family’s life (as well as a number of flashbacks from when I was a young boy). 

the complete interview with Gary Jansen is here.

closing to queries 8/1-10/1

I'm going to take a break from receiving queries for August and September.  I did the same thing last year, but only for August, and it worked out well. This year because Bouchercon is early and I've got a bunch of stuff going in September, I'm going to add that month as well.

I know I'll miss out on some good work, and that doesn't make me happy, but I really need the break to get caught up on the queries I have now and the fulls I have yet to read.

Are you in San Antonio TX on July 21?

Dick Cavett...criminal

Dick Cavett writes a blog post periodically for the New York Times.   Great Jumping Jehoshaphat, that man makes a pen glad to meet paper.

We agreed on a night. There were but three malefactors in the car. Henkle and Breslow had to miss our D-Day for some kind of graduation ceremony, I think it was. But we had set our date and seemed possessed with some sort of near-fanaticism so gripping that, probably, like Macbeth’s hired murderers (paraphrasing) our spirits shined through us.


It's the sentence -- There were but three malefactors in the car -- that caught my eye.  I've been hollering about simplicity and sentence order (subject verb object) over at QueryShark for more years now that really bear recalling.

Yet here it is: There were but three malefactors in the car. 

Is there a simpler way to say this? Yes: Three malefactors were in the car

Compare the two. Which falls upon your ear more gently?

The rules are there to get you started. Once you know them, you don't always have to obey them. But you must break them intentionally...and beautifully.


One of the ways to learn how to do that is to see it done.  Dick Cavett blog posts are a good resource.

Tracey Townsend is a smart woman

not just cause she chose to be born as Suzy Townsend's younger sister (although that was a brilliant move) but for what she says in this blog post about quitting her job and going to New Zealand for a year.

And I thought learning to read right to left was bad

The word of the day "boustrophedon" makes me grateful I didn't major ancient Greek.

I'm sorry, but HOLY FUCK

I can't believe this. Honest to god, can you?

Look!

(thanks to Lauren at BiblioBuffet the source of many moments of astonishment)

yep yep

Yup, exactly what those smart agents over at BookEnds LLC said.

Quote of the day

Querier to me: "In my spare time, I drink martinis and stalk literary agents*"

*referencing my bio: I drink martinis and stalk Jack Reacher 

Thrillerfest final day

Turns out I bought the wrong hangover nostrum.  Found out the hard way when I woke to find myself drenched in blood!  Amazing how fast and furiously a nose can bleed!

Waking up drenched in blood at ThrillerFest  is a bit too ironic even for me.  Clearly I needed a cup of joe and a muffin to get myself back on track.   Thinking I'd save money and not order room service, I headed downstairs.  By the time I slunk back to my room, I was feeling rather subdued.

Fortunately croissants and coffee do solve all problems and I was soon ready to attack the day.  I slithered down to the bar, yes the bar! at noon! to see who'd swim by.

And this is one of the many many benefits of going to a conference.  As I sat in the bar reading I reconnected with a pal from other conferences, an editor I'd seen just casually before and a couple other people who had some interesting things to talk about.  It was three hours of allowing serendipity to work its magic.

By the end of the day though I'd still not connected with one of the editors I'd hoped to meet. He's from out of town and this weekend was an ideal time for connecting over more than a phone line.


But, no luck. So I flagged a cab, settled in and headed back to the office.  At 35th and Madison my phone chirruped the theme from Jaws.


"Hello!"


Yes, it was the editor I'd been stalking!
He had time to meet.
Yay! When?
NOW?
Yikes!


Cab driver, stop! Break right! What do you mean it's a one way street? Right! Right!
Levitate if you must!


A quick vault over oncoming traffic and we were on Park Ave heading north.  A quick zip up the overpass and there I was, back at the Hyatt. My seven dollar cab ride to the second floor!


I threw myself out of the cab, clutching my luggage and messenger bag, heading straight home to the bar.


And yes, we had a lovely meeting.


If you're a writer and you're looking to make connections, there's a whole lot to be said for a conference.  I met with several writers outside the pitch fest, just very casually, and I read two manuscripts over night for writers I'm interested in. That doesn't happen often, but it does happen. The ONLY way it happens is if you're there, ready to take advantage of an opportunity.

um yea good morning

Ah yes, morning at ThrillerFest.

Wearing my shark jammies and a fierce scowl, I stumble to the elevator for a quick sortie downstairs to replenish my caffeine cells.

Ding! Elevator doors open.

Who is in the elevator looking chipper?

Oh yes. Good morning Robert Crais.

And to up the ante, who's standing next to him?

Oh yes. Good morning Editor Extraordinaire Keith Kahla.


Keith Kahla takes one look at me and chirps "oh ho! It's Janet Reid before coffee!"

Yea. Yea it is.

Good morning gents. Fine day for an elevator ride. In my jammies. Fin askew. Looking as tidy as a Jackson Pollack painting.  Oh yes, goooooood start to the morning.

I'm not sure who was a brighter red....me, or Bob Crais' Hawaiian shirt.


Moral of this shark tale: Room service is your friend!

The Sentry by Robert Crais

There are a LOT of good reasons to read THE SENTRY by Robert Crais.  It's a Joe Pike novel, which means there's not enough Elvis Cole (there's never enough Elvis Cole even in Elvis Cole novels, so that can't be helped) but other than that it's a terrific read.  Come for the characters, stay for the plot.

But, if you are a writer, really study the prologue. The prologue in this book is brilliant.  Utterly breathtakingly brilliant.  What it does is show character. And it shows character in a way that illuminates every chapter of the book.  It's exactly the reason you would have  a prologue. And since I hate loathe despise skip generally find prologues to be useless crap, that's saying something.

um...no. No. And also, no. "YA Fiction" panel at ThrillerFest

I planned to take notes at the YA Thriller panel to write a blog post like I did for Mark Tavani's panel yesterday.  I settled in the back, shark pen and paper at the ready.  During the introductions, the first thing I noticed was that each of the authors on the panel is also published in adult trade categories.  All of them.  That turns out to have some bearing on what happened next.

Because what happened next was kind of frightening.

It was as if the panelists didn't know what they were talking about. Statements were made about the kind of events that would be cataclysmic in a teen's life--and "end of the world" was dismissed because teens were mostly concerned about themselves and their lives.

I about dropped my fangs.  The last two YA books I had my mitts on, both of which sold in nice juicy deals are about stakes MUCH larger than one teen's life.  And there are some other good examples: HUNGER GAMES for starters.

I kept shaking my head at what I was hearing. I think the guy sitting next to me thought I was jamming to my Ipod at one point.


"Sex has no place in a YA thriller" almost pushed me out of my chair.  That's absolutely wrong.  Teens are sexual beasts like the rest of us. Sex is part of their lives whether they are participating in overt sexual acts or just trying their damnedest to do so.  Leaving that out of YA is like leaving out the color blue.

One of the panelists kept chiming in with views that were closer to mine, but she's a nicer person than I am and didn't just bellow "you're kidding, right?"

There were a lot of other statements made that I profoundly disagreed with but by that time I'd stopped making notes and started steaming.  I was rather annoyed that a really diverse and engaging category was being given such short shrift.

I swear I was within seconds of standing on my chair, raising my arms like a football referee signaling a touchdown and screaming

"DAUNTLESS!!!!" 

then grabbing the microphone, when I realized the panelists knew only their own books (or at least those were the only books they referred to often.)  Aha! They just hadn't read enough in the genre. They could certainly comment on their own experiences, and their own interactions with readers, but anything past that was unknown territory. These panelists were YA tourists, not residents.

And I think the reason they're not well-read in YA is probably that they're simply writing a LOT of books.  It's hard enough to find time to read for pleasure writing one novel a year. It's probably impossible when writing more than that. And for most of these panelists, I got the sense YA was their secondary market. I'd wager they are  a LOT better informed about adult thrillers cause they read them for fun.

I have no idea how a person attending the panel would know these guys were wrong about a lot of stuff.  If you're ever at a panel and you hear a choking sound from the back of the room, and I'm back there turning blue from holding my tongue...well, that's a clue.

It was an interesting and illuminating panel, but not for the reasons I thought it might be!

"Forget Your Weaknesses; Attack Your Strengths" a Thrillerfest workshop with Mark Tavani

One of the things I value about conferences like Thrillerfest, Bouchercon, Left Coast Crime and Malice Domestic is the chance to hear editors and writers talk about craft.  I'm not a writer.  I'm sure as heck not a novelist. I'm a reader.  Yet, I have to talk to writers about writing as part of my job.  I go to these panels to pick up tricks of the trade. I feel a bit like a spy!

This is the second day of Thrillerfest and I adore the Grand Hyatt Bar, so this morning  I was right there in the front row, brighteyed and bushytailed hungover and squinty eyed in the back of the room for Ballantine editor Mark Tavani's talk about thrillers.

He started with a list of ways that thrillers can be driven. 

Here's the list:

1. CONCEPT
It can be high or low but most thrillers have a succinctly explainable concept.  Mark used JURASSIC PARK as an example of a concept driven thriller:  A scientist clones dinosaurs and the experiment goes terribly awry.  When you're finished reading the book, what you want to talk about is the concept of the book: the very cool idea of cloning dinosaurs.  The book has other elements but the "calling card" is the concept.

2. PLOT.
It can be the continuous twists as in TELL NO ONE by Harlan Coben, or it can be the ending  as in PRIMAL FEAR by William Diehl but when what happens is the "real fun" of the book, that's a plot driven thriller.

3. PROSE.
It can be the beautiful prose of books like NIGHT SOLDIERS by Alan Furst ("that man can really write!") or brutal prose like that of Charlie Huston in CAUGHT STEALING -- when it's the writing you talk about,  that's when prose is the strongest point of a novel.

4. CHARACTER: When the people you meet are why you like the book. They can be the good guy like the Reacher novels by Lee Child, or the villain as in SILENCE OF THE LAMBS but when you want to talk about the characters, that's when CHARACTER is one of the novel's strengths.

5. SUSPENSE (or tension) 
FAITHFUL SPY by Alex Berenson has an immediate ticking clock that lets the reader know something must happen soon.  Almost anything by Stephen King will be masterful suspense; one of his best is MISERY.  This can also be thought of as "page-turning."


6. EMOTIONAL IMPACT
How much the reader gets attached to the characters and their ordeal.  A great example of a novel with intense emotional impact is MYSTIC RIVER by Dennis Lehane.

7. RELEVANCE
A classic example of a book published at just the right moment in time was THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER.  It had information that wasn't available to the everyday reader and came out at a time when the tensions with the Soviet Union were ratcheting up. Historical novels can also have relevance: history is key to the story in THE DANTE CLUB by Matthew Pearl.

8. VERISIMILITUDE
Does the reader believe the story can happen?  John LeCarre's TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY made us all believe in the world of spies.  (Mark didn't mention THE WIRE but that's always my example when I talk about fiction feeling very very real)



Mark used this list to help us decide what the strengths of a novel are. There can be more than one (he used GORKY PARK as an example and gave it 10 out of 10 in each category except plot and emotional impact)  Knowing what a novel's strengths are helps an agent talk about it to an editor. It helps the author know what s/he's good at.  And you don't have to be good in all things.  A high concept novel may not have great prose. It might not have much plot (JAWS doesn't have much plot but oh boy does it have suspense!)



This was a terrific presentation; the only drawback was it wasn't long enough. Just about the time I'd finished feverishly writing notes, it was over.

I love NY stories

One of my favorite places to find them is TheKnownUniverse.

Here's the latest

what the heck IS this?

(found here at Laughing Squid)

MINTBOX: Smashbox on Sale + Cash Back!

Celebrate the July 4th weekend with a grand little spree from Smashbox!  This weekend and until 7/4 only enjoy up to 25% off your favorite Smashbox items, including their new products.  You have to be a Mintbox member to take advantage of the deal, so be sure to accept your invitation (link at bottom of post) to access the Smashbox offer and many, many others.

Roxy's Picks

Second Skin Concealer - This is my personal concealer of choice right now.  I've been using it for about six months and am enjoying the fact that I apply it once in the morning and it stays put all day.  Great feature (and unique when it really works) for a concealer.  Professional-level coverage that’s customizable, comfortable and weightless. This high-performance formula conceals stubborn imperfections (even tattoos), while keeping complexions natural-looking with encapsulated pigment technology that re-creates the radiance of your own skin. Plus, it’s waterproof for a flawless look all day. Available in four easy to blend shades and retails for $29 a tube.

Full Exposure Mascara - Inspired by the on-set technique of layering a lengthening fiber mascara over a volumizing formula, the new studio-tested mascara exposes your longest, fullest lashes. No clumps, no flakes. Just maximum-impact, scene-stealing lashes. $19

• 104% increase in lash volume

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Video: Watch Pro Makeup Artist Lori Taylor bring this sexy mascara to life

Limitless Lip Stain & Color Seal Balm - It’s a lip revelation! On one side of this innovative, two-in-one product: a feather-resistant stain that won’t budge for 8 hours. On the other: a very emollient balm that can be worn alone or over the stain for a lustrous touch. The vibrant tint of color is designed to mimic the look of photo gels on set in the famous Smashbox studios.  $23

Video: Watch Pro Lead Artist Lori Taylor create a thoroughly modern look highlighted by a bright coral lip

Enjoying the eye candy?  See these and more great Smashbox delicacies via Mintbox this weekend for great value and cash back.  You must be a Mintbox member to shop their great deals so let this be a 4th of July little gift to yourself (don't worry membership is free!).

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source/images: Smashbox; Mintbox

Make Way, Kiddies, for the Magical World of Disney Fragrance

Why not?  Over the years, Disney has made its way into the hearts of every red-blooded American boy and girl in the world.  So why not secure their spot in the hearts of every beauty and/or fragrance addicted man and woman in the world too, right? 

Disney isn't proposing we blindly accept their bid into the world of fragrance and beauty by name alone, either. They loaded substance and, dare I say it, magic, into their new creation.  My co-workers (some with highly discriminating taste I might add) and I are loving these new items.  Seriously, I just washed my hands with the Liquid Hand Soap and am having to stop every few seconds as I write this post to breathe in the scent still present on my hands. More on that in a minute, though.

The first scent in a new line of exclusive, high-end fragrance products arrived in Disney Stores nationwide the first week of June. Inspired by Disney’s most timeless and beloved characters and stories, the scents were created in conjunction with some of the world’s leading fragrance houses, perfumers and an award-winning design team.  Each promises to capture the Disney magic in a new way.  Three new fragrances will be released throughout the year starting with Imagination (launched in June) followed by Magic in July and ending with Pixie Dust in the fall.

"The power of fragrance is truly magical – it can evoke memories and convey dreams and aspirations. Disney's rich heritage and most beloved characters also have that same allure", says Jim Fielding, President of Disney Stores Worldwide. "With the launch of Disney Store's own fragrance collection, we're touching all of the senses for the first time in a uniquely Disney way."

As hinted above I had the distinct pleasure of getting my hands on some of these items early on. Imagination, the signature fragrance used throughout the newly designed Disney Store, is described as an enchanted forest of sequoia trees, cool moss and green leaves. Inspired by the trees that line the route of the magical path within the new stores, the fragrance gives the sense of being in an enchanted forest. It's a timeless scent inspired by nature that instills a feeling of natural calm, allowing the imagination to soar.

My personal take on Imagination is that it reminds me lovingly of Dolce + Gabbana's Light Blue and Bond No. 9's Scent of Peace.  Fans of those scents will want to bask in the aromas of Imagination.  The candle fills the room with its pleasingly fresh, relaxing scent. The liquid soap and the body lotion are both long-wearing in scent, though I have to say the packaging of these two items leaves a bit to be desired (a bit cheap looking ... shhhhh it doesn't matter, it's what's inside that counts!). 

Imagination products are available as home fragrances, including candles and room scents, and in the liquid hand soap and body lotion.  They are available in Disney Store locations nationwide as of June 2011 and are moderately priced between $12.50 and $19.50.  Let me tell you, the Imagination candle alone is well worth this gorgeous scent at under $20 for approximately 50 hours of burn time!  Be sure to experience the fragrance next time you're shopping Disney Stores.



A   peek   at   what's   to   come   ...

Magic, an unforgettable blend of icy blue mint, rich chocolate and invigorating sea spray, epitomizes the adventure of Disney and all that is Mickey Mouse. Along with Imagination, its inspiration comes from the outside world to give it a refreshing sense of nature. Magic is the freedom of children playing outdoors; it's a breeze of fresh, cool, minty air, green grass, clean woods and a surprise of chocolate.  Magic home fragrances, candles and room scents will launch in stores in July 2011.

Pixie Dust, a shimmering scent of citrus sorbet, candied fruits and summer rain, is the fragrance inspired by Tinker Bell. It's the fragrance one could imagine floating through the air as Tinker Bell showers the earth with her Pixie Dust, causing nature to blossom. Pixie Dust captures Tinker Bell's personality perfectly – it charms with a shimmering sweetness yet it also has a subtle hint of sassiness that we love about this beloved Disney character. Pixie Dust comes as a range of personal products including Eau de Toilette, Body Mist and Body Lotion, available in all Disney Store locations in Fall 2011. Gift sets with body glitter, a roll on Eau de Toilette and lip gloss will also be available.


For more information or to purchase these delicious products, please visit Disney Stores nationwide or contact them by telephone at (866) 902-2798.


images: Disney / photo credit: Stuart Ramson

The Well Defined Eye via Clarisonic Opal x Tarte Cosmetics

It makes a statement when Clarisonic partners with a beauty brand to produce a beauty bundle.  I mean, they already have their own skincare products that are perfectly compatible with the cleansing and treatment tools they manufacture.  So why partner with a brand outside?

Answer:  Because they know their customers demand the highest possible quality results!  So when you see Clarisonic bundling with say Philosophy's Purity Made Simple Cleanser, it makes sense.  And when Clarisonic decided they wanted to extend their presence in the beauty market with their Opal Sonic Infusion System, they went to whom?  Tarte Cosmetics!

Here's why:
Clarisonic wants to give skincare aficionados the ultimate set for creating a sultry, defined and flawless eye. The Opal Sonic infuses serums into the skin more effectively than manual application. As the device is moved in small circles around the eye area, its soft applicator tip delivers products with more than 7,500 gentle micro-massages per minute. Serums and creams are absorbed more deeply and evenly, enhancing their ability to promote healthy, hydrated, and younger-looking skin.

Exclusively available now at Sephora, the new, limited edition set pairs the sonic device that with a selection of skinvigorating™ products from Tarte. The Opal gently infuses Anti-Aging Sea Serum beneath the skin’s surface, instantly hydrating, smoothing and brightening the eye area in just one minute.  Follow with Tarte's pioneering products made with high-performance naturals. Tarte's Lifted Natural Eye Primer with Firmitol gives the effect of younger, smoother eyes while acting as a base that locks shadow in place all day and boosts pigment payoff. With a fully refreshed eye area, follow your eye treatment with these other healthy, nourishing cosmetics from Tarte. Check around ... (seriously, google, check beauty reviews, other stores, etc.) you'll see the Tarte products in this set are truly in a class all their own in terms of their natural, nourishing ingredients and what they offer in way of enhancing what you already have to create the appearance of beautiful, enviable, head-turning eyes. 

This set contains:

Opal Sonic Infuser

1.7 oz Anti-Aging Sea Serum

2 Replacement Applicator Tips

Universal Voltage Charger

Wristlet Carrying Case

0.24 oz Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes! Mascara in Black

0.003 oz Tarte EmphasEYES™ Aqua-Gel Eyeliner in Black

0.08 oz Tarte Lifted™ Natural Eye Primer with Firmitol™

Sounds fantastic!  Though seemingly pricey at first glance, this is actually quite reasonable for this set of products and tools (compare Opal elsewhere).  The Opal Sonic Infusion System With Tarte Limited Edition Set is available only at Sephora and retails for $185. 

 Pssst ->  Don't forget to do all your online shopping (including Sephora) through Mintbox for exclusive discounts, % off purchases AND cash back options. You'll seriously be surprised at all the brands and tremendous deals you'll find there. Access your Mintbox invitation here!