All right, so: This isn't really
Book Expo America. But I like the photograph, so I place it here, and while I'm at it, I invite you to join me at the real and actual BEA, Javits Center, New York City, on Wednesday, May 25th, where I'm privileged to be appearing at two events:
YOU ARE MY ONLY Book Signing: 10 AM (author autographing area)
AUTHOR TEA: 3 PM
Perhaps our paths will cross? I can't promise you a Googer's Cake or Thing. But I can promise you conversation, and maybe the Famous Elizabeth Law will walk by and sing a tune in your direction, or maybe Egmont USA's Katie Halata or Greg Ferguson or Mary Albi or Doug Pocock or Rob Guzman will lay down some ink for you. Or maybe Nico Medina will at last wear a costume on my behalf.
A girl can dream.
Big thanks to Florinda. She knows what for.
I made my way up from a client meeting on Wall Street to Park Avenue yesterday, where the always-wonderful Egmont USA troupe welcomed me in, bling and all. You throw your arms around these people when you see them. You talk travels, sun, book jackets, dreams, classes taught and classes taken, Mickey Mouse, impersonations, architecture, radical movie flops, the delicate matter of the comma. You go home feeling warmed, alive, like books still matter, after all. That's Lawsy and me, in the final picture, aligning our bedazzling silver trim.
You know how it is: You write a book because it is furied up inside you—molten and untouchable but ineluctable, too. You are the huntress. You're after something you don't quite understand, and you're going to win; you're going to conquer; in the process, you're going to get burned. You're going to make up words and fury nouns and add commas where you shouldn't. You're going to mix metaphors.
(It's like writing a blog, sort of, without the back-up support.)
Thankfully, then, there are agents like Amy Rennert who calm you down, and editors like Laura Geringer who ask questions, and a team like Egmont USA, which stands behind you, relieves you of you. One of the great gifts, in this process, is the gift of copyediting, which Egmont's Greg Ferguson and Nico Medina handle so well. This time, additionally, Egmont engaged a certain Hannah to read the pages of YOU ARE MY ONLY (due out next fall), and Hannah made sure, among other things, that I didn't have a certain character deciding to take the day off on the day that was already her day off, and that I didn't have the moon wane too quickly.
I've just now finished reading the book through, and can I say (would it be boasting?) how excited I am? I can't wait for this one to be on the shelves. I am so grateful to all of those who are helping it come to pass.
News on Egmont USA...
Today Publishers Lunch reports editions to the editorial staff at the recently established Egmont USA:
Egmont USA announced new hires including Greg Ferguson as editor (he was at Harper Children's) and Nico Medina as managing editor (he was at Viking Children's). The company has acquired 15 titles for their launch list, starting in fall 2009.
Below is the recently created listing with information provided by Elizabeth Law. (Egmont did not make the 2009 CWIM, but will appear in the 2010 edition):
EGMONT USA 443 Park Ave South, New York NY 10016. Estab. 2008. The Egmont Group was founded in 1878. (212)685-0102. Website:
www.egmont-us.com.
Acquisitions: Elizabeth Law (VP & Publisher), Regina Griffin (Executive Editor). Publishes 5 picture books/year; 5 young readers/year; 20 middle readers/year; 20 young adult/year. 25% of books by first-time authors. "Egmont USA publishes quality commercial fiction. We are committed to editorial excellence and to providing first rate care for our authors. Our motto is that we turn writers in authors and children into passionate readers."
Fiction Picture books: animal, concept, contemporary, humor, multicultural. Young Readers: adventure, animal, contemporary, humor, multicultural. Middle Readers: adventure, animal, contemporary, fantasy, humor, multicultural, problem novels, science fiction, special needs. Young Adults/Teens: adventure, animal, contemporary, humor, multicultural, problem novels, science fiction, special needs. Upcoming titles:
Leaving the Belleweathers, by Kristen Venuti (Fall 09);
Back, by Julia Keller (Fall 09);
The Cinderella Society, (Spring 2010).
How to Contact/Writers Only interested in agented material. Fiction: Query. Responds to queries in 4 weeks; mss in 6 weeks. Publishes a book 18 months after acceptance. Will consider e-mail submissions.
Illustration Only interested in agented in material. Works with 5 illustrators/year. Uses both color and b&w. Illustrations only: Query with samples. Contact: Alison Weiss, Editorial Assistant. Responds only if interested. Samples are not returned.
Terms Pays authors royalties based on retail price. Pays illustrators royalties.
I will be at BEA and I am determined to meet you in person this year after just missing you last year.
It's a date!! And look at how much time I have between things. :)
Some day I will go to BEA. And I will bring a HUGE handbag.
Oh to be there...sigh.
Someday, I hope.
Someday, Q, you will be on my team for real, and someday, Becca. Someday.
Wish I could be there!!!
Have a wonderful time, Beth! It sounds amazing! Lucky, lucky folks who will be there and get to meet you! (Love the photo, too.)
I am SO glad the rumors were true, and I don't intend to miss meeting you! (Can I bring a couple of your other books and ask you to sign them too?)
I wish I could be there.
oh well, that the day I won't be at BEA.
Have a great time! (Wonderful photo)
I will be there and I hope to see you! What's an author tea? I want tea.
Yay - I'm so glad you will be there and shining in person!
Wish I could be there to cheer for you in person, but I have to work lunch rush at Googer's, dangit.
I'll be there in spirit - have a fabulous time!!
XO
A.