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For all you Jerry Spinelli and STARGIRL fans, don’t miss out seeing STARGIRL on stage.

Stargirl

April 20—May 12, 2013

By Y York

Adapted from the novel by Jerry Spinelli

Directed by Samantha Bellomo

When an eccentric homeschooler arrives at Mica Area High School, hallways buzz with texts, whispers fill the air, and 11th grader Leo Borlock’s life is changed forever. Based on the critically-acclaimed young adult novel by Jerry Spinelli, the author of everyone’s favorite Maniac Magee, Stargirl celebrates first love, non-conformity, and the similarities that connect us all.  Best appreciated by ages 12 and up.

Join the actors after every performance to discuss the making of the production.

Meet Author Jerry Spinelli!

Jerry is the author of more than 30 books including Stargirl, Crash, Loser, Milkweed, Knots in My Yo-Yo String, and has recently released a new novel, Hokey Pokey.  In 1991 he received the Newbery Medal for Maniac Magee and was awarded the Newbery Honor in 1998 for Wringer.

Join us for book signings with Jerry Spinelli before these performances of Stargirl:

May 11 at 1pm

There are 5 shows still available from Thursday May 9th – May 12th and Jerry Spinelli will be signing books at 1 pm, before the 2 pm Saturday matinee.

Mother’s Day: The theatre is having a buffet brunch or prix fixe dinner with a performance of Stargirl on Sunday, May 12th! Experience their award-winning gardens and the charming, historic setting of the 18th-century farmhouse. What a nice way to celebrate Mom’s Day. Reserve your table and tickets now!

Calling all Star-people! Only today to work on this:

Enter to win tickets to a performance of Stargirl at People’s Light and Theater, along with a chance to meet Stargirl and receive a copy of the book, signed by Jerry Spinelli!

Simply send us a 250-word essay or link to a 2-min video describing to us the person you are, just like Stargirl does in her “The Person I Am” speech.

Essays and videos can be sent via email to artsdiscovery@peopleslight.org and MUST be received by Monday, May 6th.  Winners will be contacted directly so please be sure to include your name, age, and contact information (email and home phone).

(Note: If any of the pictures in this post or other posts are squished, refresh your screen and it will correct.)

Hope you live close enough to take advantage of this.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Filed under: Author, Contest, Events, opportunity, Young Adult Novel Tagged: book signing, Jerry Spinelli, Malvern PA, Stargirl play, The People's Light Theatre

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I have to point out the book trailer that Gayle Krauss sent me a few days ago. I knew that Gayle had published a book titled, RAT GIRL.  I was planning to buy a copy, because I know Gayle and I always try to support people I know, but somehow (Don’t be mad at me Gayle) the title did not entice me. I am so glad Gayle sent me this trailer, because it does exactly what a book trailer should do – sell the book. Now I am really  looking forward to reading RAT GIRL: SONG OF THE VIPER. Great job!

Gayle Krauss’s RAT GIRL: SONG OF THE VIPER book trailer.

Kit Grindstaff did a great job with her book trailer, too, for her new book THE FLAME IN THE MIST

Kit at her first book signing.

Paula Newcomer signing her poetry book, TOSSING OFF THE GLOVES.

Tori Corn’s debut picture book, WHAT WILL IT BE PENELOPE? arrived in the warehouse this week and will be available on June 4th. Here is the Amazon link.

It looks like Penelope is a popular name.

Robin Hutchinson has combined the fun of cooking and reading in this self published book titled, PENELOPE’S SECRET COOKING CLUB: IS THERE A SECRET TO KEEP? Here is the Amazon link.

Congratulations to all!

Hope I will be able to share your success on a future post.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Filed under: authors and illustrators, Kudos, News, picture books, Young Adult Novel Tagged: Book Trailers, Gayle Krauss, Kit Grindstaff, Paula Newcomer, Robin Hutchinson, Tori Corn

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I was going over my New Jersey SCBWI Conference Registration and noticed Lexa Hillyer co-founder of Paper Lantern on the faculty. I was not familiar with Lexa, so I read her bio. Here it is:

Lexa Hillyer received her BA in English from Vassar College and her MFA in Poetry from Stonecoast at the University of Southern Maine. She has received various poetry awards, including the 2011 Melissa Lanitis Gregory Poetry Prize for her first book of poems, Acquainted with the Cold. She was named one of the Best New Poets of 2012 by Matthew Dickman. Lexa worked as an editor at both Harper Collins and Penguin, and is co-founder of boutique literary incubator Paper Lantern Lit.

This still didn’t tell me enough, so I visited Paper Lantern Lit to see what additional information I could discover. I found out Paper Lantern Lit is a “book incubator” that creates hits for publishers–and careers for undiscovered writers. Lexa Hillyer and co-founder Lauren Oliver are story architects. I still needed more information so Lexa and I talked and she answered my questions in this interview. I think you will find what they are doing, very interesting.

What is Paper Lantern Lit?

We come up with story ideas, we plot them using our knowledge and experience with narrative structure, and we coach authors through the writing process. Like architects, we envision, design and layout all the basics of a book, but it’s our writers who inhabit them and bring them to life.

How did you and Lauren Oliver decide to start Paper Lantern Lit?

We met when we both worked as editors at Penguin, before Lauren decided to pursue a career in writing. After a few years, we had stayed friends, and realized we both had pieces missing from our lives. She missed editing, and often found she had more ideas than she could possibly write herself. I longed for more creative flexibility for my ideas, and the freedom to make stronger connections with writers. We discovered that we both possess creativity and passion for storytelling alongside a pretty unusual obsession with structure and form. We know that a great novel has both, and while the elusive power of an original, emotive voice may not be teachable, the a-to-z of plotting a book is. So why not build incredibly fun book concepts, offer to help new writers, and get the thrill of discovering them ourselves?

Once we had that all figured out, we just started having meetings. We took it one step at a time and taught ourselves what it would mean to really own a business. We made sure we had a lot of different projects we felt confident pursuing, so that our company would have longevity. Then we reached out to Stephen Barbara of Foundry Media, to ensure that we would have strong representation. Finally, we hired the most amazing interns ever, two of whom now work for the company full time!

Was this before she wrote the Delirium Series?

Yes, though I believe she was already working on it. It was right after her first book, BEFORE I FALL, came out. 

How does Paper Lantern Lit differ from a traditional Publisher?

We are not a publisher or an agency, though our company does have certain similarities to an agency: we seek out excellent writers, work with them on a project, and then typically sell the project to a publisher. However, at Paper Lantern Lit, we develop many of our book ideas in-house. So while a traditional agency looks for finished manuscripts, we are far more focused on finding the best new writers out there and fostering their voices. We pride ourselves on cultivating emergent authors, and providing them a context in which to further learn their craft.

So you could say you are a book packager?

Our business model is certainly similar, but we feel our approach is unique in that we put a major emphasis on the author and on our relationships within the industry. We’re not about making a product, package or sale. We’re about creating an experience that is hopefully lasting and has universal appeal. We attach writers and projects together much the way a matchmaker might: it’s all about finding the perfect pairing.

Since Paper Lantern gets the advance for the books they sell, how does the writer get paid?

We pay the writer directly per project. You can consider it as doing Freelance or Work-for-Hire. Some of our deals offer sub rights and other financial participation—we want our authors to enjoy success as the book’s audience grows, and for them to feel invested in its future and their own!

Does the writer get their name on the books they write?
Sometimes yes, though many times we mutually agree to move forward under a pseudonym. Often that feels like the best way to give both parties the most freedom and most protection at the same time. We understand that many of our writers may be concurrently pursuing other work, and this allows for greater flexibility to do so.

Do you accept full manuscripts?

We are looking for writers, typically, not manuscripts, because our focus is on building story from the ground up. We are the story architects, after all! You might say we prefer to work on new designs rather than renovations: this way we can always vouch for the end result—we can guarantee a sound structure. However, there’s an exception to every rule. If you love what we do, we encourage you to reach out. You never know what opportunities will arise, especially as we turn our focus with more and more interest toward the digital publishing sphere.

How long have you been in business?

We officially launched PLL in May of 2010, so we’re at the three year mark.

How many books have you gotten published?

We have 25 domestic titles (this includes multiple book deals for each author). We’ve also sold our books in dozens of foreign countries. Of these, we have 9 that have hit shelves so far, and our 10th, TRUTH OR DARE by Jacqueline Green, comes out May 14, 2013!

Do you run your book ideas past editors before you look for an author?

Not often, but we certainly have many editor friends and are always discussing what they’re excited about and where we all feel the market may be headed. Further, we do ALWAYS share our ideas with our agent, Stephen Barbara, before taking on a writer. We consider him the third partner and take his objective reactions very seriously—it’s important to have some checks and balances!

So I would image that you work closely with the author to develop the book. Is that right?

Oh absolutely. It’s a very hands-on process. We check in with our authors weekly and provide very consistent notes and feedback. They constantly work to adapt the story so that it is truly theirs—in the end, sometimes they depart wildly from the original concept, but we communicate and work together the whole way through to be sure at all times that the structure is solid and that their voice is being heard.

I see you have a group of teens called Trendsetters who read pre-published YA books from you. Have you changed books due to this feedback?
Definitely! It’s fascinating to get a peek into what teens are really thinking, what their experiences are like, what they most care about. We take their input very seriously and we just love all of the awesome ways they get involved in our projects, from coming up with soundtracks to the books to creating character collages and inspiration boards. These teens are very savvy, very articulate, and love books—so of course, we love THEM!

Do you feel that an unknown author benefits from working with you, other than the freelance money they receive?

I very much believe and hope so, yes. Some of our authors have gone so far as to refer to us as a “paid MFA in writing.” Others call it novel-writing boot camp.  We offer a lot of insight and structure regarding the craft and the writing process, in addition to offering serious access to new contacts in the industry and help them reach their fans directly.

If the authors get school visits from librarian who come to you, do they get the full amount of money for the visit?
Yes!

I read that Paper Lantern has a Fellowship Program for a MFA student enrolled at Queens College’s MFA Program in Creative Writing and Literary Translation. What do they get if they are chosen?

The recipient receives full tuition remission for the spring semester in addition to a $1,000 internship stipend.

What do authors do to get you interested in working with them?

Send us your resume, a brief bio, and a ten-page sample of your best writing (preferably fiction.) Please submit all of the above in the body of your email (no attachments), and include your name and sample title in the subject heading. Also please let us know where you heard about us!

Show off their voice. Knowing your own individual strengths, rather than trying to prove you can be malleable, is key. Also show us that you are savvy with the interwebs and not afraid to have a presence there. If you fear your own audience or seem like a ghost when we google you, that can be concerning. Writing for young people these days means having confidence in your voice, what you have to say, AND your ability to interact with your audience.

You can still register for the New Jersey SCBWI Conference in June and get a critique with Lexa. Don’t miss this opportunity. Here is the link: www.regonline.com/njscbwi2013conference

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Filed under: authors and illustrators, Middle Grade Novels, opportunity, Young Adult Novel Tagged: Agent Stephen Barbara, Book Packager, Fellowship Program at Queens College MFA Program, Lauren Oliver, Lexa Hillyer, Paper Lantern Lit

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A few weeks back I posted an article about Hugh Howey’s dystopian novel WOOL, because it was such an inspirational success story. Since I own a Kindle Fire and the first part of the book was free, it was a no brainer to slip over and get it. After reading part one, I wanted to read the rest. For those who have read about the journey of WOOL and how Hugh started by publishing part one of WOOL  as an ebook, you may want to run off and do the same with your book.  I want you to know his writing is the reason for his success. If you decide to read the first part for free, I think you will see that we put up a polished story. Something we all should strive to achieve.

UNDER THE NEVER SKY:

After getting my Kindle, of course, I wanted to buy some ebooks to read.  Since I was enjoying all the YA dystopian novel series, I was looking for some new ones to read.  I looked at all the ebooks listed for $2.99 or lower and bought Under the Never Sky.  A few weeks later, I was on facebook and Carol Ferderlin Baldwin said she had just read Veronica Rossi’s Under the Never Sky and loved it, so I started reading, while reading the hardcover of Requiem. I never tried that before, but both books kept me reading and wanting to turn the page. Then I found myself away with only my Kindle and I tore through the second half of Veronica’s book. I have to agree with Carol Baldwin – I loved it! I tell you putting up her book on Kindle for $2.99 really  is a good marketing strategy, because there wasn’t any question about paying $10.00 plus tax for the second book, UNDER THE EVER SKY, which I am reading as we speak. Of course, I finished reading Requiem before I started Veronica’s second book. Veronica is represented by the wonderful Adam’s Literary Agency.

And have you noticed the other marketing tool that authors and publishers are using? Most of the authors are writing short stories about various characters in their books. This works really well, because they charge a few dollars for the ebook, so it brings in money and it keeps the excitement going while the author finishes their next book. Plus, if the author probably has the stories of the other characters in their mind in order to write the series, so they can put it out without having to come up with another plot. I see this as a great boom for authors and their fans.

REQUIEM:

Requiem is the third book in Lauren Oliver’s Delirium Series. It came out on March 5th. I highly recommend all three. Sometime the second book can not live up to the first, but I actually think the second was even better. If you like dystopian YA novels, don’t miss this series. When I noticed that Lauren lives in Brooklyn, I immediately suggested the New Jersey SCBWI Conference Committee consider Lauren for the keynote speaker. Lauren agreed and better yet, Stephen Barbara is Lauren’s agent, so we’ll be treated to both at the conference in June. Come join us: www.regonline.com/njscbwi2013conference

What a great book month March was for me.  I have twenty ebooks sitting in the cue on my Kindle and a bunch of hardcovers on my nightstand waiting to be read. I really didn’t think I would enjoy reading books as much on the Kindle, but I was wrong. The funny thing is I read the ebooks much faster, which has surprised me. I am looking forward reading in April:

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
Crossed by Ally Condie
See you at Harry’s by Jo Knowles

The little character study “Hold you over” ebooks for Marie Lu’s Legend Series and Veronica Roth’s Divergent Series that are sitting in my Kindle to keep me going until their next books.

What are you planning to read this month? What are some of the recent books you  loved?

KUDOS:

At Little, Brown Children’s, Pam Gruber has been promoted to associate editor.

At Abrams,  David Blatty has been promoted to director of managing editorial, Dervla Kelly moves up to senior editor, Laura Dozier has been promoted to editor, and Samantha Weiner moves up to assistant editor.

Regional publisher Tilsbury House in Maine, which has a successful line of children’s books, was sold to Jonathan Eaton and Tristram Coburn, founders of Cadent Publishing. They plan to grow the company’s lines.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Filed under: Agent, Book, marketing, Young Adult Novel Tagged: Hugh Howey, Lauren Oliver, Marie Lu, Requiem, Under the Never Sky, Veronica Rossi, Veronica Roth

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I was going through the books that I read in 2012 and thought perhaps someone out there was looking for a book to buy as a gift or line up to read in 2013.  I received a bookstore gift card for Christmas and bought The Daughter of Smoke and Bone, because Natalie Zaman said it was great and Executive Editorial Director at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.  I was not disappointed, except for the fact that I had to wait until the end of the year to read book two, The Days of Blood and Starlight.

So, I spent the rest of the money on buying Delirium and Divergent, because they both started with D and I couldn’t remember which of the two was recommended.  I bet the reason I couldn’t remember was because both were recommended, because there I was again wanting more and the next books were not as of yet written – Pandemonium and Insurgent.

Debut author Veronica Roth burst onto the literary scene with Divergent, the first book in her dystopian thriller series filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

I love the way Lauren Oliver writes.  The way she forms her sentences.  How she describes things. Marry that talent with a great story and you really have something memorable.  I didn’t know who she was until I picked up delirium and now I am a big fan.  Can’t wait to read the third book, Requiem and her first book, Before I Fall, which is sitting on my piano calling to me.

Many times the first book of a series is the best, but I think pandemonium was even better than the first. When I reached the final paragraph of the book, I closed it and said, “Perfect.”

You will notice that each of these books does not capitalize the first letter of their title.  Can anyone tell me whether you do the same when you are writing about the book.  You will find it both ways in this post, because I do not know which is correct.  Any help out there?

If you decide to read Daughter of Smoke and Bone, which I loved, I would pick up both books and read them one right after the other, since I had a hard time remembering the names of the characters and who was who after leaving a year between books. I should have gotten up and read a few chapters of the first one before I started reading, but I was too lazy to get up and familiarize myself the first book again.  Not because there was anything wrong with the writing, but I had read so many other books during that in between time that I was mixing all the characters up.

The same thing happened with Divergent and Insurgent.  The author is so intimate with their books and characters that they probably never think about all those books in-between. This did not happen with Delirium and Pandemonium.

So now you won’t have that problem when you read the first book, you will be able to run out and get the second one to read.  They are wonderful books.

Then came Matched - About Cassia who has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when her best friend, Xander’s face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, she knows he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees another boys Ky’s face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. The Society tells her it’s a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she’s destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can’t stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society’s infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

I gobbled it up and will not have to wait to read the next two books - Crossed, which is waiting for me and Reached, which come out last month. Love the covers of these books, too.

Since I enjoyed so many dystopian books, I picked up Legend.

Once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths–until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

This book is full of action, suspense, and romance. I loved this book and can’t wait to get my hands on the next book, Prodigy, which comes out at the end of January.

Continuing on my search for more books along these lines of fantasy and dystopian novels, I found The Girl of Fire and Thorns and another debut author who nailed her first book.

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness. Elisa is the chosen one. But she is also the younger of two princesses. The one who has never done anything remarkable, and can’t see how she ever will.

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs her to be the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

He’s not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies, seething with dark magic, are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’s savior, and he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young, like most of the chosen do.

A 2012 William C. Morris YA Debut Award Finalist

One thing that I really liked about this story was how Rae Carson managed to write a story about a princess that was fat without calling her fat and how the situation she puts the princess in caused her to lose weight without the princess being put down and struggling to lose the weight to be accepted.  You just see her end up being slim and how it pays off for her.  Her weight was not the main story.  I just thought she wove that layer into the story with such finesse.

Then Glenn Beck came out with a book titled, Agenda 21, which is written by Harriet Parke.  I thought she did a good job writing the story of after the worldwide implementation of a UN-led program called Agenda 21.  When America is simply known as “the Republic.” There is no president. No Congress. No Supreme Court. No freedom. There are only the Authorities.

Citizens have two primary goals in the new Republic: to create clean energy and to create new human life. Those who cannot do either are of no use to society. This bleak and barren existence is all that eighteen-year-old Emmeline has ever known. She dutifully walks her energy board daily and accepts all male pairings assigned to her by the Authorities. Like most citizens, she keeps her head down and her eyes closed. Until the day they come for her mother.

I enjoyed the book, but it left me feeling like the full story was not told. After all other dystopian type novels I read this year, I felt like I had read half of a story, like it was just going to take off.  Perhaps there is going to be a sequel, but there should have been more story to this one.  Still worth reading and certainly it was a huge opportunity for Harriet Parke to have Glenn Beck put his name on the book - her first novel.  After the end of the story Glenn writes about the real Agenda 21 and how it came about and what it is all about.

After having heard about Jay Asher’s Thirteen Reason Why for years, I decided to read it.  I knew it was about teenage suicide, which was the reason I hadn’t picked it up sooner. It is an excellent book, well written, creatively written, and though it was sad in parts, it was also a page turner and did not leave you on a downer.  I kicked myself for not reading it sooner.

I did the same thing with Jerry’s Spinelli’s Milkweed.  I had read all of Jerry’s books, except for Milkweed, because it was about the Holocaust.  I guess by now you can tell I don’t like to be depressed by a book.  When I finally read Milkweed and closed the book, I said, “What was I thinking?  It was written by Jerry Spinelli.  You should have known it would be good.  In the middle of something so horrific, he wove in humor and showed how even in the worst of times, people try to live, love, and find happiness.”  If you haven’t read these books because you thought they would depress you, run, don’t walk to add them to your list of books to read.

I am a big Laurie Halse Anderson fan.  I have read all her books and this year re-read Twisted.  I love this book.  Everyone talks about Speak (which I agree is good), but in my opinion this one is better.  The protagonist is a teenage boy and she really has that voice nailed down.  The first time I read it, I kept closing the book and looking at the name Laurie and wondering if possibly I was mistaken  that Laurie was a woman and really was a man.  Though I am still upset about reading Chains without knowing that is was part of a series.  I ran out to get Forged without knowing that it was a series of three.  If you haven’t read these books, please wait until 2014, because that is when the third book comes out and you won’t be tormented by having to wait to read the whole thing.

Now how did I end up buying four of Libba Bray’s books?  Libba was speaking at an SCBWI event.  I hadn’t read any of her books, but she is a very interesting speaker, so I decided I would buy a couple of her books and get them signed.  I didn’t have time to really to browse the books, so I picked up  Rebel Angel (I liked the cover) Going Bovine and got her to sign both.  They sat in my pile of books to read, until this year.  When I read the flap of Going Bovine, I decided I wasn’t up to reading about a dying boy, so I read Rebel Angels first and really enjoyed the book.  There were some references to backstory in the book, so I did some further investigating and found out that I had picked up the second book, , of a three book series.  But you know, that book really was able to stand alone.  I totally enjoyed the book, so I had to go out and buy the first, A Great and Terrible Beauty and the third A Sweet Far Thing, which I will get to in 2013.

Libba is a good writer and I did read Going Bovine and enjoyed it, but it is very different and I worried about his parents at the end, even though we see him go off to a better place.  It did not leave me feeling bad, so that was a good thing.

The this past June, editor Leila Sales was part of the faculty and picked up her two books at the bookfair – Mostly Good Girls and Past Perfect.  And because she is an editor and I am a writer, I was looking for things I could say she should have done better.  Mostly Good Girls was Leila’s first book and it had a sexy legs cover, so I started with that expecting to get a book where the girls were edgy.  First let me emphasize I did enjoy the book, but I didn’t get edgy and I found some spots where I could be nit-picky and say she could have done more here or there.

But when I started reading Past Perfect, I was sucked right in and wanted to keep reading until I was done.  The setting was perfect -  set in Williamsburg, so I guess the title is a perfect fit.  I was thinking it was going to have something to do with language (too much writing on this end).  Reminded me of the time I taught art in high school.  I told the kids the first day that we would get into graphics and I had a half of dozen kids drop the class.  I later found out that the thought I was going to do math in the art class – graphics – graphs – see the connection?

Every year I try to read a few if the Newbery books – the new ones and some that are sitting in my pile of books too read.  This year I read Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool which was the 2011 Medal Winner, Turtle in Paradise, which won the 2011 Honor award, and The Graveyard Book, which won the Newbery Medal for 2009.

Newbery Medal Winner: Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos book is still waiting for me (I ran out of time).  You can not go wrong when you pick up a Newbery winning book, so if you are a writer, or a well published author, you should read these books.

At the end of 2011 I picked up Okay for Now, because Editor Daniel Nayeri had talked about it in one of his workshops and said how good it was.  He was right.  I would say it is a perfect middle grade novel. I thought it should have gotten a Newbery for it.  Gary D. Schmidt won a Newbery Honor for Wednesday Wars, so I went out and bought that book.  I really enjoyed that book, too and I like the way some of the characters were tied into Okay for Now.  If you are writing Middle grade book, especially for boys, I would read both of these books.

You might wonder why I read Cirque Du Freak. A few years ago editor Connie Hsu at Little, Brown BFYR mentioned the series, so I picked up the first one and read it.  There are 12 to this series that Darren Shan wrote.  They are excellent, scary, and well written.  J.K. Rowling’s said: “Fast-paced and compelling, full of satisfying macabre touches.” There is a movie, too.

This book is the second of the series.  You might ask, why did you wait to read more when you say they are excellent?  Well, we are back to my little quirk of not wanting to feel bad after reading a book.  I loved the first book, but the premise of the story is to save his friend’s life the boy must go with the Vampire and be his apprentice, but in order to do that he has to become part vampire.  The Vampire fakes the boy’s death and you see the parents morning his death.  I am still bothered by that and worry about his parents.  This year I did some research and it looks like he makes it back to his parents in the end, so I decided I was going to read the rest of the series.  I would say, if you are thinking of getting these book for a young middle grade child, it might be too scary for them, but the story telling is exciting.

Kate DiCamillo was the keynote speaker at the 2012 NJSCBWI Conference, so I bought Because of Winn-Dixie and Tale of the Despereaux, which own the Newbery Award on 2004.  Because of Winn-Dixie was given a Newbery Honor Award in 2001.  So like I said you can’t go wrong reading these books.  Both are short, so it isn’t going to take you long to read.  I actually wasn’t ready to read Tale of Despereaux, but it was sitting on my table and I picked it up and opened it in the middle of the book and read a few sentences.  Little did I know I would want to keep reading.  It is the only book where I read the second half and then the first half.

Play, Louise, Play was sent to me by author Muriel Harris Weinstein when I started working on her website.  I was surprised how much I enjoyed the book.  It is non-fiction and I didn’t expect such lovely writing, plus she had an extremely interesting story to tell – Good writing – good story = good book.  It won THE 2012 PATERSON PRIZE FOR  BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE for Grades 4 -6.  It also was one of 11 books that won the Texas Blue Bonnet Award, which means an automatic purchase of over 20,000 books.

Ame Dyckman and Leeza Hernandez both had picture book come out this year and both are friends.  I have seen both of them and their careers grow and I am so happy for them.

Ame sent me her manuscript before she was going to send it out and as soon as I read it, I knew she and (it) was getting published.  Steve Meltzer (Dial) met her and read her manuscript.  He went up to Scott Treimel  and told him he should think about representing Ame and that is exactly what he did.  The rest is history.  Boy+ Bot is Ame’s first book published, but she already a number of additional picture books in the cue with publishers. I don’t remember when the second one hits, but if you read this blog regularly, you will know.

Leeza Hernandez started out as an illustrator and was inspired to write her own picture book after coming up with an adorable illustration of a dog.  Penguin saw the dog and immediately contracted the book.  Here book Dog Gone came out in June.  Both of these books are adorable – great artwork and great story. Leeza has a ton of things going on more picture books that she is illustrating for big name people and more books written and illustrated by her.  Both of these people are  writers to watch.  They are going to be big names in the industry.  Leeza was featured on Illustrator Saturday Click Here to see.

As most of you know I do Jerry and Eileen Spinelli’s websites, so I read all their books.  Of course that is not a problem, because the two of them write wonderful books.  It seems like Eileen is good for five or six book every year.  She always ends up with a fantastic illustrator, so all her books are special.  I do have a favorite and I bring it out and many times to show other writers, friends and children.  That book is When You are Happy.  That book is so beautiful – so much soul.  The perfect book for a parent or grandparent to give their child.  Every time I read it, I remember how much my parents loved me and that they sent this book to me to remind me of their love.  I see this book as a treasure that children will want to hold on to and remember that same feeling when they are adults.

Cold Snap is a gorgeous book.  The snow sparkles on the cover and pages.  It really has the WOW factor and would be a great present for someone this time of year.

Together at Christmas combines Eileen’s perfect rhyme and caring soul with beautiful illustrations from a wonderful new illustrator from China.  Bin Lee captures the true spirit of Christmas with his illustrations.  Take a look when you are in the book store.

Eileen you can catch a glimpse of the funny side of Eileen in Miss Fox’s Class Gets It Wrong. Ann Kennedy created the illustration for the perfect fit to this book.

Dianne Ochiltree sent me her picture book, Molly by Golly: The Legend of Molly Williams, America’s First Female Firefighter. I featured Kathleen Kemly the illustrator this year on Illustrator Saturday and showed you a lot of the artwork before the book came out.  It is really a great picture book that perfectly combines story with art.  Click here to view Kathleen Kemly Illustrator Saturday post.

Then I featured author/illustrator Roger Roth on Illustrator Saturday and he was kind enough to send me two books that I admired – The Roller Coaster and a book that his wife wrote and he illustrated titled, Star of the Week.  They adopted an Asian baby girl (she is no longer a baby), but they wrote this book for her and you can just feel the love they have for her oozing from the pages. BEAUTIFUL!  Click here to see Roger’s feature.  Most of the artwork is there for your pleasure.

Another talented featured author/illustrator, Carlyn Beccia sent me one of her picture books, probably because she knew I loved her artwork, so when I found a copy of Who Put the B in the Ballyhoo?  I snatch it up. The artwork in this book  is awesome.  I’m a big fan. Click here to see Carlyn’s Illustrator Saturday post.

Then Kathi Ember sent me a copy of one of her picture books, Mother’s Day Surprize, after she was featured on Illustrator Saturday.  It is about a snake named Violet who watches the other animals make Mother’s Day gift for their mom’s and tires to think of something nice that she can make for her mother.  I love Kathie’s illustrations.  You can see her work by clicking here.

Ame Dyckman sent me I Want My Hat Back written and illustrated by Jon Klassen when I was getting my knee replaced.  I hadn’t read any of his books, but it is another perfect picture book.  Thanks Ame for introducing him to me.

On Black Friday, Amazon had a great deal on a Kindle Fire, so I bought myself a Christmas present.  My first purchase for the Kindle was Stephen King’s book ON WRITING.  Who would think a “how to” book could be so interesting and such a good read.  I love the way he talks about problems and solutions with his own books and ties in the events in his life that influenced his books and how he give you such straight talk about how to approach writing a novel. I am so glad I listened to the writers around me telling me to buy the book.  Love it!  Stephen King’s On Writing Book is the first “How to” book that I have read from cover to cover.

Everyone one says you have to read to be a good writer.  Stephen reads about 80 a year and  he says that is low.

I won Writing and Selling the YA Novel by K. L. Going at the June NJSCBWI conference and like her advice in this book.  She is an author and used to be a literary agent.  I use it mostly as reference and pull it out and read sections, when I need some guidance.

If you have any suggestions on what I should add to this year’s book list, please let me know.  Right now I have the following:

Before I Fall – Lauren Oliver

Everyday – David Levithan

Crossed – Allyson Condie

Reached – Allyson Condie

Prodigy – Marie Lu

Crown of Embers – Rae Carson

Requiem – Lauren Oliver

Dead End at  Norvelt – Gantos

A Sweet and Far Thing – Libba Bray

Cirque Du Freak – Book 3

Killing Kennedy Bill O’Reilly

Can you help me fill my list?

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

IT IS TIME TO NOMINATE WRITING AND ILLUSTRATING www.kathytemean.wordpress.com for the WRITER’S DIGEST’S 101 BEST WEBSITES FOR WRITERS!

If you have enjoyed the articles and information you received everyday this year, please help by dominating my blog. Submit an email to writersdigest@fwmedia.com to nominate my blog www.kathytemean.wordpress.com

I would greatly appreciate your help.

Thanks!

Filed under: authors and illustrators, Book, Middle Grade Novels, picture books, Publishing Industry, Young Adult Novel Tagged: favorite books, Lauren Oliver, Newbery winning books, On Writing, Recommendations

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The above illustration was sent in by Author/illustrator Carlyn Beccia.  In 2008 she debuted with, Who Put the B in the Ballyhoo? which was a the Golden Kite honor recipient for picture book illustration. In 2009, The Raucous Royals was the winner of the International Reading Association’s 2009 Children’s and Young Adult Book Award for Intermediate-Nonfiction. Her latest release, I Feel Better with a Frog in my Throat was the nonfiction picture book Cybil Award winner, Parent’s Choice Silver Honor medalist, an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio award winner and received a Silver Honor from the California Reading Association’s Eureka! Nonfiction Children’s Book Awards.

Here is a no-fee Novel Writing Contest I thought you might like to know about.  They date to submit opens on January 14th, so you have a few weeks to get your manuscript ready.

The Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest is right around the corner. You won’t want to miss this incredible opportunity to win a publishing contract with Amazon Publishing. Now in its sixth year, this international contest promises to be the best yet. Here’s what’s new:

One Grand Prize winner will receive a publishing contract with an advance of $50,000, and four First Prize winners will each receive a publishing contract with an advance of $15,000. Visit the Prizes page for the full list of prizes and details.

We’ve expanded the categories to include five popular genres: General Fiction, Romance, Mystery/Thriller, Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror and Young Adult Fiction. And we’re accepting entries from more countries than ever before. For complete eligibility details, view the official contest rules, or read details on how to enter.

Amazon Publishing is the official publishing sponsor for 2013 — which means a faster publishing timeline, higher royalties, ability to launch the books in multiple formats (print, audio, ebook) and worldwide distribution. Visit CreateSpace to learn more.

Preparing Your Entry

1) Prepare a strong pitch. More than a summary, your pitch should highlight your concept, protagonist, setting and writing style—all the elements that make your story unique. View sample pitches from past entrants.

2) Select the Genre that best fits your book: General Fiction, Romance, Mystery/Thriller, Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror, or Young Adult.

3) Stay within the word-count limits — pitch, up to 300 words; excerpt, 3,000 to 5,000 words; manuscript, 50,000 to 150,000 words.

4) Remove all identifying information from your pitch, excerpt and manuscript, including: your name and/or pen name, contact information, any awards received for your book and an author bio/resume.

5) Submit all your materials in the English language.

6) For complete entry requirements, view the Official Contest Rules.

7) Create an account with CreateSpace (if you haven’t already).

(1) the complete version of your manuscript that is between 50,000 and 150,000 words (“Manuscript“);

(2) up to the first 5,000 words, but not less than 3,000 words, of your Manuscript, excluding any table of contents, foreword, and acknowledgments (“Excerpt“);

(3) a pitch of your Manuscript consisting of up to 300 words (“Pitch“); and

(4) the personal information required on the entry form. (1-4 collectively, an “Entry“). We will not review any Entry that does not comply with these Official Rules. Entries for General Fiction must have an accompanying genre selection.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS. You must be the only author of your Manuscript, and your Manuscript must be a novel between 50,000 and 150,000 words. Any Manuscript submitted as an Entry written by two or more authors will not be eligible. Additionally, poems, short stories, and collections of works are not eligible. Your Manuscript, Excerpt, and Pitch must:

(a) be your original creation;
(b) be fictional;
(c) be in the English language;
(d) be of interior black and white text without images;
(e) not currently or previously have been the subject of a publishing agreement with any publisher (but you may submit your self-published novel if you retain all worldwide distribution rights in and to the novel);
(f) not include your real or pen name anywhere in the Manuscript, Excerpt, or the Pitch;
(g) not include any information that identifies the author in any way including, but not limited to, a resume, previous awards received for the work, or the identity of additional works by the author, but excluding any file document properties that may identify the author; and
(h) meet the content guidelines found at http://www.amazon.com/contentguidelines (which are incorporated in to these Official Rules by this reference).

Additionally, you must submit your Manuscript digitally in Microsoft Word .doc, .docx, .rtf, or .txt format. Any entry that we determine, in our sole discretion, to meet these requirements will be considered a “Valid Entry.” You may be represented by an agent on the condition that you – not your agent – agree to comply with these Official Rules.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Filed under: Contest, Places to sumit, publishers, submissions, Young Adult Novel Tagged: Amazon, Breakthrough Novel Award Contest, CreateSpace, Get Published, Manuscripts

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The SCBWI Work-In-Progress Grants are designed to assist children’s book writers and illustrators in the completion of a specific project, and are made possible by a generous grant from Amazon.com. Grants for first place ($2000) and runner up ($500) are awarded in each one of seven different categories:

• General Work-In-Progress grant
• Grant for a contemporary novel for young people
• Nonfiction research grant including Anna Cross Giblin Award
• Grant for work by an unpublished author
• Grant for work from a multi-cultural/minority perspective
• Barbara Karlin Grant for unpublished picture book writers.
• Don Freeman Grant for unpublished picture book illustrators.

In any given year, an applicant may apply for ONE Work in Progress Grant. The Grant for an Unpublished Author may not be applied for — it will be chosen by the judges from all the entries in the other Work-In-Progress categories. If you check “unpublished” on the application form, and your status as such is verified, you will be automatically entered for this additional grant. Please note: All grants must now be submitted electronically.  Please read the new guidelines carefully before applying. Submissions: The Work-in-Progress grants are going electronic! Only PDFs will be accepted!

 Eligibility: The Grants are available all current SCBWI members.  Your membership must be current through the date the award is given (September 2013). The grants are not available for projects on which there are already contracts. Grant Amounts: Seven Grants of $2,000 will be awarded annually, one in each category. Seven Runner-Up Grants of $500 will also be awarded, one in each category. Authors of other projects cited by the judges as noteworthy will receive a Letter of Merit. In any given year, the SCBWI Grant Committee reserves the right to withhold the grant for that year.
Deadline: Completed application and accompanying materials must be received between February 15th and March 15th. The recipients of the grants will be announced in September.
Application materials and full guidelines:

• 2013_Work-In-Progress_Application
• 2013 Don Freeman Application
• 2013 Barbara Karlin Application
• Frequently Asked Questions

If you are a member of the SCBWI, you should take advantage of these contest.  There is plenty of time to get something put together.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Filed under: authors and illustrators, Competition, Contest, earn money, Middle Grade Novels, opportunity, picture books, Young Adult Novel Tagged: Amazon Grant, Grant Money for Writers, SCBWI

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Bob Diforio launched D4EO Literary Agency in 1989 after a long career at New American Library. Today D4EO is a full-service, six-agent literary agency representing authors of a very broad range of commercial fiction and non-fiction for children, young adults, and adults. Books represented by the agency have topped the The New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists and agency authors have received awards that include the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense and the Nero Award.

With over 1,000 published books under contract, the agency has launched the writing careers of more than two hundred authors.

Samantha Dighton joined D4EO in September 2012. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Hobart and William Smith Colleges with degrees in Writing & Rhetoric and Dance Theory & Performance Studies.

Prior to joining D4EO, she worked at The Sagalyn Agency and as a reader for Curtis Brown.  She is based in Washington, D.C.

Sam is looking for character-driven stories with strong voice. She likes characters who are relatable yet flawed, vibrant settings that take on a life of their own, and a story that lasts well beyond the final page, generally falling within the categories below:

-Literary Fiction -Historical Fiction -Mystery/suspense -Magical Realism -Psychological thrillers -Young Adult (Realistic) -Narrative nonfiction

Please no science fiction, paranormal/urban fantasy, or bodice-ripping romances (though romantic subplots are always welcome!)

Email Submissions only.

-Send to samantha@d4eo.com .

Mandy Hubbard joined D4EO Literary Agency in February 2010 as a Young Adult and Middle Grade specialist, and has since expanded to include genre romance. Before agenting, she worked with Jenny Bent at The Bent Agency and is also a multi-published YA author. Her books include PRADA & PREJUDICE (Razorbill), YOU WISH (Razorbill), DRIVEN (Harlequin), BUT I LOVE HIM (Flux) RIPPLE (Razorbill), and others forthcoming.

Her leading clients include Lee Bross, author of  TANGLED WEBS (Disney-Hyperion, 2014), Emily Murdoch, author of IF YOU FIND ME (St. Martin’s, 2013)Imogen Howson, author of  LINKED (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2013), and Jessica Martinez, author of VIRTUOSITY (Simon Pulse, 2011).

email: mandy@d4eo.com [No Queries at this address] twitter website

• Email submissions only
• Put “Query: Book Title” in the subject line of the email
• Paste the first five pages of your novel below your query
• No attachments
• Email Queries to: Mandy.Hubbard.queries@gmail.com

Current Wishlist: You are welcome to query anything that falls within the MG/YA realm, as well as select genre romance but in particular, Mandy is looking for:

• Contemporary genre (Read: adult) romance, the steamier the better
• Regency Romance
• “New Adult” romance (characters in their early 20s!)
• YA Horror and/or thriller, preferably with a body count
• A YA novel in verse
• MG with a fun girly angle and series potential
• YA Romance, whether historical or contemporary
• Historical YA novels based within real tragedies, a la BETWEEN SHADES OF GREY by Ruta Septys, REVOLUTION by Jennifer Donnely, etc.
• YA with a hook, a la HEIST SOCIETY by Ally Carter or THIRTEEN REASONS WHY by Jay Asher

Do NOT query anything meant for adult audiences (unless it would be published in the romance section), or non-fiction of any kind.

Paste the first 10 pages in the body of the email, below your query -Please include “Query: Title” in the subject line.

Bree Ogden joined D4EO in November 2011, after having been an associate literary agent at Martin Literary Management for nearly 2 years representing children’s, YA, and graphic novels.

Bree graduated with her BA in Philosophy from Southern Virginia University where she served as editor-in-chief of the University’s newsmagazine. She was awarded Most Valuable Player and Editor of the Year, as well as SVU’s Pioneer Award, an honor the University awards to two students each year. She then received her MA in Journalism with an emphasis in editing and expository writing at Northeastern University where she worked on both the New England Press Association Bulletin, and also served as the features editor of the premier campus music magazine, Tastemakers Magazine.

Bree has spent many years working as a freelance journalist and currently co-operates the macabre children’s magazine Underneath the Juniper Tree where she serves as Editorial Director. Bree is an instructor and columnist for the Web site LitReactor.com where she teaches Intro to Graphic Novel Writing. Bree is also the newest judge for the Ghastly Awards–Honoring Excellence in Horror Comics.

Email: bree@d4eo.com  Twitter  Blog Bree’s LitReactor Content  Bree’s Comic Book Reviews

Seeking:
• Email submissions only
• Paste the first five pages of your novel below your query
• No attachments

*NOTE: I am actively seeking children’s/YA nonfiction. NO memoir unless you have a gigantic platform (i.e., The Pregnancy Project). I would love something in the vein of The Letter Q, Dare to Dream!: 25 Extraordinary Lives, The Forbidden Schoolhouse, or a Starvation Heights type historical fiction.

• Highly artistic picture books (high brow art, think Varmints)
• Middle grade
• Young Adult
• Adult
• Graphic Novels
• Nonfiction
• Humor
• Pop Culture
• Art books

Genre-specific (Both in Adult and YA):

Transgressive fiction ~Genre horror ~Genre noir ~Genre romance

Bree’s wish list: (don’t limit your queries to these!)

• Dark (not angst-ridden)
• Realistic
• Psychological horror (with no paranormal elements)
• Hard sci fi. Meaning no fantasy, or magical realism at all
• A Dexter-ish type YA black comedy (COMEDY being the operative word)
• A Roaring Twenties historical for YA
• A manuscript written in the era of Mad Men with panache and style
• A unique and theme-driven art book • Any book dealing with Anne Boleyn or Marie Antoinette (historical fiction, not nonfiction)
• Historical fiction (love crime-driven historical fiction, i.e. Black Dahlia)

Kristin Miller-Vincent was promoted to associate agent in February of 2011, after interning with Mandy Hubbard at D4EO Literary Agency. She graduated from the University of Washington with degrees in English Lit, Women’s Studies and Secondary Education. She publishes magazine and website articles and young adult novels under a pen name, teaches writing and works editorially with clients and other writers.

email: kristin@d4eo.com  (no queries here, please) twitter

Seeking:
middle grade, young adult and picture book (author/illustrators only, please)

Picture Books: Unique, groundbreaking, inventive art; playful, character-driven stories; humor. Nonfiction on topics and people that are interesting and unique, but not very well known as yet, told in a lively way that young child would enjoy. Manuscripts that are less than 750 words. NO morals, NO lessons, NO instructive stories. When querying, please paste the entire story below your query and include a link to an online resource that showcases examples of your art. Please don’t attach art to the query.

Middle Grade: Authentic voice is most important. On the one hand, I love fun, adventure, mystery and big, big characters on a unique journey. On the other,  timeless middle grade with siblings learning about themselves, each other and the world with lovely, literary prose. Something classic, the next The Penderwicks or Anne of Green Gables. Multicultural stories across the spectrum.

Young Adult: Talented writing, first and foremost. I’d like to see writing that shows care for one’s craft. I’m very open to good experimental writing, too. More specifically:

• Sweeping historical fiction, especially with a heavy romance and/or mystery element. I’d love something decadent and lush, set perhaps during Tsarist Russia or the Golden Ages of Vienna or Budapest. British settings work, too. No stilted dialogue, please.
• Contemporary with feminist and social issues themes, characters, concerns. Heavy focus on great voice and crafting. Literary contemporary.
• Horror, but I’d prefer it to be psychological rather than gory, subtle rather than in-your-face.

email submissions only to Kristin.D4EO@gmail.com

• put “Query, genre, title” in the subject line of your email
• paste the first 10 pages below your query in the body of the email
• no attachments

Hope this helps on your search for an agent.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Filed under: Agent, Editor & Agent Info, Middle Grade Novels, opportunity, Publishers and Agencies, submissions, Young Adult Novel Tagged: Bree Ogden, D4EO Literary Agency, Kristin Miller-Vincent, Mandy Hubbard, Samantha Dighton

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ONE SPOT available for Weekend Writers Retreat with Stephen Frazer, agent from Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency.

March 22nd – 24th at DOOLAN’S SHORE CLUB ON HIGHWAY 71 IN SPRING LAKE, NJ. http://www.doolansshoreclub.com/

Friday: Arrive afternoon – Leave Sunday at lunch.

One Hour Full Manuscript Critique for each writer with Stephen Frazer (Yes, you heard right. This is a fabulous opportunity to get your whole manuscript read, get to ask the nagging questions in the back of your mind and receive a lot of feedback).

One Hour Group Critiques

Time to talk with Stephen about the state of the publishing industry, your career, and the best road to take.

Pitch critiques on Sunday morning.

Includes single room both nights, dinner with Stephen on Friday and Saturday night, Saturday lunch with Stephen and continental breakfast Saturday and Sunday.
Cost $495 

Contact me ASAP! Spot could go fast. I will send you the address on where to send you money. Kathy.temean(at)gmail.com

 Author Illustrator Timothy Young is having a book Launch Party for his new book I HATE PICTURE BOOKS at Books of Wonder on March 2nd in NYC.  He invites you to stop by.

Monday, February 11th - 6:30pm – 8:30pm

They always say acting helps you with writing your actors, so I thought you might be interested in joining New Jersey SCBWI Member Kelly Calabrese’s ‘Acting Bootcamp’. It is for the beginning actor that needs a little guidance from an instructor who has been around the scene for a while.  This one night class will cover the basics of getting started the RIGHT way in order to help you gain more success in booking real acting work. The class is focused on the Business aspects of show business. Click Date at top for more info.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Filed under: authors and illustrators, Events, Middle Grade Novels, need to know, opportunity, revisions, Young Adult Novel Tagged: Stephen Fraser, Weekend Writer's Retreat, Whole Novel Critique

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I have been saying for years that teen books provide great reads and fit into my life style so much better, because they are a quick literary fix. They remind me of buying a delicious gourmet frozen dinner – Pop it in the Microwave and voila you are happy and fed.  They are shorter, faster-paced, and designed to appeal to discriminating readers.

Apparently, I am not the only one who feels this way, because many of the readers buying books aimed at the teen market are no longer teenagers. But the numbers are more dramatic than we may have guessed. According to the Bowker study, 55 percent of customers who buy young adult books are 18 or older. In fact, the largest group of readers purchasing titles labeled “young adult” are actually 30 to 44 years old – not the target demographic for the books.

The teen readers genre, which is officially slated for readers 12 to 17, has crossed age lines over the past decade as series like “Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling,” “Twilight by Stephenie Meyer,” and Suzanne Collins’ dystopian trilogy “Hunger Game”s have appealed to adults as well as the younger readers at which they were aimed.

Just look at the first 9 months of Amazon’s “best of the month” picks. It included a young adult title in its “Top 10 list” four times – not on a separate “young readers” list but as part of its overall survey of best titles available. “Every Day” by David Levithan was selected in September, while “Shadow and Bone” by Leigh Burdago made the June list. “The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green cracked the January list and “Daughter of Smoke and Bone” by Laini Taylor made it to the September roll call.

This leads us to publishers who now have coined the phrase “New Adult”. The School Library Journal has a good article with links to a number of sites that discuss how they see “New Adult” fitting into the market. http://blogs.slj.com/teacozy/2012/12/28/what-is-new-adult

New market research shows that 55 percent of those buying books labeled ‘young adult’ are in fact 18 and over, a trend that’s increasing, so it is something you definitely should be aware of if you write for teens. Five years ago, editors wouldn’t even look at a book that had an eighteen year old on their way to college or making their way out in the adult world – more proof that things are changing and with that more opportunities for writers.

10 books to read after the ‘Hunger Games’ trilogy

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Filed under: article, demystify, need to know, Publishing Industry, Young Adult Novel Tagged: Amazon, Bowker Market Research, Hunger Games, New Adult Books, Young Adult Books

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Filed under: Agent, Editor & Agent Info, Middle Grade Novels, opportunity, picture books, Young Adult Novel Tagged: Agent Building List, Jean V. Naffar Literary Agency, Jennifer Weltz, seeking middle grade and Young adult books, Seeking picture books

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DOES YOUR PICTURE BOOK MANUSCRIPT HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?

INSTRUCTOR:  Rebecca Frazer

Description:

This picture book workshop is intended for those with a picture book manuscript (or dummy) in progress.

Participants will analyze the strengths and weaknesses of their work.

Materials: A picture book manuscript and or dummy. Notepad and pencil.

_____________________________________________________________________________

“VOICE:  What Goes Into It & How to  Make It Work for Your Manuscript”

INSTRUCTOR:  Cheryl Klein

Description:

A novel’s voice is the emotional atmosphere that  carriers a reader through the story. In this session, Cheryl will discuss the  many elements that make up a narrative voice, including tense, rhythm, syntax, tone, and  personality.  We’ll learn the pros  and cons of different POV’s and tenses, and uncover common mistakes that make a  novel’s voice feel inauthentic.

Materials: Pen and Notepad

Attendees will be able to purchase Cheryl’s book titled, SECOND SITE: An Editor Talks On Writing, Revising and Publishing Books For Children And Young Adults and get it signed after the workshop.

Cheryl and Rebecca are staying over night and joining us for the Mentoring Workshop the following day.

Agent Stephen Frazer is also coming for dinner and giving a talk for the people who sign up to stay (not free) and will be a mentor on Sunday.

Adam Gustavson who is coming in on Saturday to do an oil painting Workshop for the Illustrators will be having dinner with us and staying overnight to work with Illustrator’s attending Illustrator Day on Sunday.

To read more: http://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2011/07/09/11650/

VERY IMPORTANT: You must e-mail to save space and then fill out the registration.  Space is limited, so we will be going on the registration forms that get mailed in to the Ringoes address.  We are not going to chase you around to find out  if you are showing up.  If we don’t have a registration from you, you may not be able to attend.  Please do not say you want to attend, knowing that you might not come.  That keeps someone else from coming.  Here is the link for the form:  http://www.newjerseyscbwi.com/forms/workshopregistration.pdf

Hope to see you there,

Kathy

Filed under: authors and illustrators, children writing, opportunity, Picture Book, writing, Young Adult Novel Tagged: Free Workshops, New Jersey SCBWI, November 5

2 Comments on November 5th Free Craft Day Editor Lead Workshops, last added: 7/20/2011

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Today, I have the pleasure of featuring 4RV Publishing author Laurie Boris and her NEW contemporary novel The Joke's on Me (http://thejokesonme.net). Laurie and I have a lot in common, her book will also be released this month, she's a fellow 4RV author, and we're both ghostwriters.


Okay, now for the interview:

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m a recovering perfectionist, a closet stand-up comedian, and an obsessive writer. I’ve scorched several pots of brown rice because I snuck away to my computer to write just a little bit more of the story. Once, even the smoke alarm and a horrid burning smell couldn’t penetrate my writing bubble. Finally, my mother bought me a rice cooker so I wouldn’t burn my house down.

What’s the novel about?

Love, redemption, family, baseball, tomatoes… you know, the usual stuff. Seriously, The Joke’s on Me is about Frankie Goldberg, a thirty-seven-year-old former stand-up comic and actress who has been in Hollywood struggling for success (and ignoring her family) for the last fifteen years. When a mudslide drops her bungalow into the Pacific, Frankie books it for home: her mother’s bed and breakfast in Woodstock, New York. But the joke’s on Frankie–there’s little TLC here, only the family she left behind. Her mother is now in a nursing home, and her older sister has taken over the business. Frankie needs to decide what role she wants to play in this new iteration of Goldbergs, if at all. When her childhood crush shows up, it makes her decision that much harder. And life a lot more interesting.

When did you decide to become a writer?

I always loved writing, and kept a journal (there have to be at least five dozen black marble composition books full of scribbled words in my closet, dating back from junior high), but I went to school for advertising and became a graphic designer. It wasn’t until I was in my mid-twenties and between jobs that I decided to become a writer. It just felt like the right time. Plus, it gave me something to do between interviews and freelance gigs. I wrote a lot of really bad short stories at first, and eventually got better.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

More writing! By day I’m a freelance writer. I ghostwrite, blog, write educational materials for kids, whatever people will pay me to do. When I’m not staring at my computer or burning pots of brown rice, I love to read, cook, and watch baseball.

There are a lot of food references in The Joke’s on Me. Does this stem from your love of cooking?

Yes, and my love of eating! Among the older generations in my family, like in Frankie’s, food was love, food was warmth, a kind of social currency. My grandmothers and great aunts literally ran around offering people food, selling us on second helpings like they would jump out a window if we didn’t eat. They were my inspiration for Frankie’s stand-up routine.

Can you tell us about your challenges getting your first book published?

The first book I tried to get

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We have secured the date for our NJSCBWI First Page Session this fall. It will take place on September 20th at the Wyndham Hotel and Conference Center on Scudders Mill Road in Princeton, NJ. Please note: This is a new location. The price is $30 for the session and $30 to stay for dinner afterwards with Sara Barley Associate Editor from HarperCollins and Ariel Colletti, Assistant Editor at Simon and Schuster. If you like the First Page Sessions, then I encourage you to sign up and join us. We need to have your support in order to continue doing these events in the future.

Sarah Dotts Barley is an associate editor at HarperCollins Children’s Books and HarperTeen.

Authors she works with include Georgia Byng, Holly Cupala, Gwendolyn Heasley, Geraldine McCaughrean, and with her editorial director, Donna Freitas and Joyce Carol Oates. Recent books that she has edited include THE GLORIOUS ADVENTURES OF THE SUNSHINE QUEEN by Geraldine McCaughrean, DEAR BULLY: 70 AUTHORS TELL THEIR STORIES, edited by Megan Kelley Hall and Carrie Jones, and DON’T BREATHE A WORD by Holly Cupala.

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Ariel Colletti assists Caitlyn Dlouhy on a wide variety of young adult, middle grade, and picture books.

Ariel moved to Atheneum Books for Young Readers this week at Simon and Schuster.

She is particularly enthusiastic about finding endearing and adventurous middle-grade novels and contemporary YA, but finds herself drawn to anything with an original, irresistible voice. Before coming to Simon & Schuster, Ariel worked at the independent publishing company Square One Publishers.

Here is the registration form: http://www.newjerseyscbwi.com/forms/firstpageform.pdf  Hope you’ll join us.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Filed under: Editor & Agent Info, Editors, Events, Middle Grade Novels, News, opportunity, picture books, submissions, Writing Tips, Young Adult Novel Tagged: First Page Session, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster 1 Comments on First Page Session – September 20th, last added: 7/27/2011