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Viewing: Blog Posts Tagged with: When Mike Kissed Emma, Most Recent at Top [Help]
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1. When Mike Kissed Emma

When Mike Kissed Emma by Christine Marciniak. Climbing Rose Press. 2009. Personal copy.

The Plot: Emma's life is perfect. Boyfriend? Yep, she has the perfect boyfriend, Trevor. Best friend? Lauren, BFF since preschool. Family? Ok, sometimes big bro Jake can tease a bit too much and little sis Sara needs a bit of confidence, but these three like each other and hang out together. School play? Yep. OK, well, she hasn't actually gotten the role of Leisl in The Sound of Music yet -- but she's confident she'll be playing Leisl to Trevor's Rolf.

What could ruin her perfect life? Getting the lead role of Maria. Which her BFF wanted. So Lauren is mad at her. And Trevor got the role of Rolf -- opposite Sara. Somehow, Sara is mad about that. And tattooed Biker Mike got the role of Captain von Trapp, because it turns out he can sing and act (not too mention some amazing blue eyes.) She's hanging out with him, reading lines, and no one is happy with that. What's a girl to do?

The Good: As I explained on the release date for When Mike Kissed Emma, I have been friends with the author for a very long time. Not only that; but I've read all drafts of the story. To be totally honest? There is no way I can give this book an impartial review, both because of my friendship with Chris and because I know this book, I've seen it grow, like a neice or nephew. I love this book -- but I think it's only fair for you to know that connection. Wow, that is one big disclaimer / notice!

So what did I like? Other than reading the book and seeing familiar passages and noticing new things from the last time I read it? Here are the top five things I like about When Mike Kissed Emma:

1. Emma's voice. When Mike Kissed Emma is told in first person, from Emma's point of view. She starts confident -- and then realizes that what she thought was true isn't. She has to readjust how she sees things; but even with realizing that some things aren't what they seem to be, she still has confidence in herself.

2. Dialogue. Whether it's Emma talking with her friends, arguing with her siblings, turning to her mother for help, or flirting with Mike (even though she would deny that it was flirting!) the dialogue is both true to life and funny.

3. The use of the play in telling the story. On the one hand, it's about a high school play and the drama that goes on around it. It could be almost any play; and any play with a romance for Mike and Emma to play against each other and fall in love. Marciniak makes use of this particular play, The Sound of Music: the dialogue, dance scenes, songs, all are not only woven into the story but also illustrate and illuminate points along the way.

4. The cover. Covers are so important; they can make or break a book. Oh, a talented librarian or bookseller can sell the greatest book with the worst cover, but only if they have a chance to booktalk it. A cover, basically, has to booktalk a book without words. I like that it isn't a photograph; some photographs on books are too bright, too photoshoppy. Instead, we have a boy and a girl, kissing, slightly off center stage. It fits the title of the book; it's inviting; you want to pick up the book.

5. The readers as well as the characters learn a thing or two. I wouldn't be surprised if the readers come to a conclusion or two before Emma, Mike, & company. But that's good; you don't want to spoon feed it all to the reader. A book shouldn't tell them something is wrong, or right; the reader should be able to figure it out themselves.

© Elizabeth Burns of A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy

4 Comments on When Mike Kissed Emma, last added: 10/8/2009
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2. When Mike Kissed Emma


Happy Book Day!!!!

Today is the official publication date for When Mike Kissed Emma by Christine Marciniak.

Christine (interviewed here) has been my friend for a very, very long time; which means that yes, I read the Charlie's Angels/ BradyBunch/ MarySue story. And was there for the KC/ Kate/ Meg/ Emma incarnations. I even remember WHY KC was KC. And the inspirations for other friends.

I've read Mike as he evolved from Nice Jim to Psycho Jim to Friend Mike to Biker Mike.

All those stories (and more!) about the journey of WMKE from idea to draft to story to revised story can be found at Christine's blog.

Books, like babies, sometimes come early. While today is the "it" day, Christine got her copies about two weeks ago and shared photos at her writing blog, Simply Put.

Here's the book trailer:





Go over and say "congrats" for Christine's first book!!

More information on the book is available at the publisher's website (Climbing Rose, an imprint of The Wild Rose Press).

And at Publisher's Weekly.

© Elizabeth Burns of A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy

3 Comments on When Mike Kissed Emma, last added: 8/22/2009
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3. Interview with Christine Marciniak

Christine Marciniak, whose first YA book will be published next year, is interviewed by Beth Revis at Writing It Out.

1 Comments on Interview with Christine Marciniak, last added: 11/24/2008
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4. Welcome, Christine!

Christine Marciniak and I have been friends since 4th grade at Cambridge Park School in Matawan. We had open classrooms. Ah, the joys of experimenting on school children with educational fads. Oops, topic.

Christine has been writing for as long as I can remember. And as long as I can remember, I've been reading those drafts and waiting eagerly for her first book to be published.

Good news -- Christine's first book was recently acquired! She agreed to sit down and answer some questions about her path to publication; look forward to more interviews as more publication milestones occur.

Liz B: Can you tell us a bit about the book?

Christine: When Mike Kissed Emma is about, well... about when Mike kissed Emma. Emma has the 'perfect' boyfriend and hopes to play opposite him in supporting roles, in the school musical. She wants to sing a romantic song with him and dance with him. But Emma gets the lead and the leading man is the school loner "Biker Mike". As they get to know each other she realizes that maybe the rumors about him and his past are jut that - rumors - and then...well, you guessed it - Mike kisses her. And suddenly Emma has to figure out if her 'perfect' boyfriend is really so perfect and if maybe there's more to Mike than she ever suspected.

Liz B: How did you find your publisher?

Christine: I had tried this story with several agents - and one seemed interested, but thought the plot needed to be punched up a bit. I did that and the agent turned it down, saying she thought the story was a bit too old fashioned. A member of my critique group mentioned Wild Rose Press and their new Climbing Rose Line for teens and I decided to submit. Oddly enough my punched up story line was too risque for them and once I toned it down, they accepted it.

Liz B: How did you find out they wanted to publish the book?

Christine: It was Columbus Day and the kids were home from school and I was checking my e-mail. I saw one from Wild Rose Press and I thought - oh, here it is, the rejection and I steeled myself to open the e-mail. It took about three readings for me to process that they were saying yes!

Liz B: What's your next step?

Christine: Well, I just got the cover design today - they designed that based on answers to a questionnaire I filled out and on November 21st I expect to get a revision letter. Then I'll have 30 days to make the changes. The book should come out in the spring of 2009.

Liz B: It's a great cover; and wow, you'll have a busy holiday season. I look forward to hearing more about your path to publication.

Christine blogs at The Simple and the Ordinary and Simply Put.

20 Comments on Welcome, Christine!, last added: 11/20/2008
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