How to use this Page

Ignore the fact that SCBWI Miami took place in January--I've finally downloaded/uploaded my pictures, and I want to post them. (Click to make them larger.) I was not only an attendee, but I also appeared as a speaker on the First Books Panel, along with Marjetta Geerling and Debbie Reed Fischer.


Linda Bernfeld, SCBWI Regional Advisor of Florida, (on the right) is ready to party down after months and months of planning! It paid off, Linda! From left to right, the other conference attendees are Lynne Hansen, Shannon Hitchcock, me, and Angelina Dunbar. Lynne writes YA horror and gave me great tips on how to drum up book signings. Shannon and I had some great conversations, and Angelina was my conference buddy.



I'm standing next to Marjetta Geerling, Alex Flinn and Mindy Weiss. Marjetta wrote Fancy White Trash and signed my copy with a fancy pink pen. She told me YA doesn't have to be depressing and she was right! I read her book, loved it, and saw positive themes throughout the novel even in the midst of serious subject matter. Alex Flinn is the author of many books and the recipient of many awards. Go Alex! Mindy is a Blueboard friend and it was nice to meet her in person.


The great Lisa Yee! What can I say? I loved Millicent Min! Don't let Lisa's small stature and cuteness fool you--she's sharp as a razor and really funny (very quick texter, too).



Gaby Triana worked behind the scenes for months to get the conference going. Not only is she the author of several award winning novels and a nice person to boot, she's hot, too!





Donna Gephart wrote As If Being 12 and 3/4 Wasn't Bad Enough, My Mother is Running for President! My daughter snagged this book from me when I got home and she loved it! Donna and I had exchanged a few emails before the conference, and I was eager to meet her. She is a warm and caring person, and I love her for that.



I had a blast hanging out with Debbie Reed Fischer. She introduced herself as a military brat like myself, and said we had much to talk about. The author of Braless in Wonderland and Swimming with Sharks, Debbie is quick, funny, and just as pretty as the models she writes about.



This is what it looks like when children's writers party! Kimberly Lynn constructed all the decorations, and she did a fantastic job!

Display Comments Add a Comment

Here's what Booklist says about Kristin O'Donnell Tubb's middle grade historical, WINIFRED OLIVER DOES THINGS DIFFERENT: "Tubb’s inventive heroine comes across as a female version of familiar characters, such as Gary Paulsen's Harris or Robert Newton Peck's Soup. This homespun tale,f ull of folksy humor and based on historical fact, will appeal to young fans of Deborah Wiles' and Ruth White's books."


Book Chic loves Debbie Reed Fischer's Young Adult, BRALESS IN WONDERLAND. Read the interview here.

SWIMMING WITH THE SHARKS also by Debbie Reed Fischer was given the Gold Star Award for Excellence by TeensReadToo.com. Here is the review.






Guess what independent booksellers for children across the nation are recommending?

THE MAGIC THIEF by Sarah Prineas and THE POSSIBILITIES OF SAINTHOOD by Donna Freitas
Check out the catalog.


GO GANG!

Add a Comment

Peyton Grady has finally made it to the varsity cheerleading squad and Alpha status at Beachwood preparatory Academy and only her BFF Maya knows her carefully guarded secret, that she’s a scholarship student. So why would Peyton risk being seen talking to the school misfits?

Ellika Garrett is the new jumbo-sized cheerleader whose mother bought her a spot on the squad with a hefty donation to the school. Peyton wonders just how far she’ll have to go to make Ellika understand that she does not want to be her friend. Who wants a weepy-eyed walrus looking over your shoulder when you’re trying to get the attention of Von Cohen, the hottest guy in school? Every time Peyton gets the nerve up to ask him to the Sadie Hawkin’s dance, Ellika appears and chases Von away.

Luckily, Von doesn’t give up easily. Everyone can see he’s totally into Peyton and it’s not long before she finally has her first real boyfriend, a definite plus on the Alpha girl scale. But how will she explain to him about Compular? Yes, even wealthy prep schools have those super smart nerdy guys who brag about outrageous things nobody believes. Peyton can’t avoid Compular. If he doesn’t tutor her in Trig, she could lose her scholarship.

As Peyton teeter-totters on the brink of social elitism, Lexie, the captain of the squad, tips the balance. Peyton, along with the other varsity cheerleaders, is expected to contribute ideas to a hazing list that becomes crueler with each idea. The point is to make Ellika so miserable that she’ll quit the team. In her quest to be one of the Alpha girls, Peyton has already sacrificed her friendship with Maya. What else will she destroy, who else will she step on, to get on top? Can she really do this to Ellika? To herself?

SWIMMING WITH THE SHARKS by Debbie Reed Fischer is an incredible book. It’s a page turner that is as difficult to put down as it is to read. Are there teens out there that are really this cruel? What would you, the reader, be willing to sacrifice to have it all?

I can tell you as a teacher of teens for 20 years that, without question, there are teens who have an adult persona and a totally different peer persona. This book will force you to take a look at yourself and those around you. I believe this book will inspire its readers to stand up for what they believe is right. For that reason, and because the characters have stayed with me so vividly, I’m giving SWIMMING WITH THE SHARKS the coveted Gold Star.

My thirteen-year-old theatre vagabond-band geek-cheerleader daughter grabbed this book before I could read it and read it in a day. She raved about it. Then my almost fifteen-year-old band geek-football playing-student council representative son saw “sharks” in the title and picked it up, also finishing it in a day. They both loved it. I can’t think of too many books on this topic that resonate with boys as well as girls.

I had the pleasure of reviewing Debbie Reed Fischer’s debut novel, BRALESS IN WONDERLAND, and was thrilled to found out I would also get the opportunity to review SWIMMING WITH THE SHARKS. I was not disappointed. Well done, Ms. Fischer. You have earned yourself a gold star! Thank you for a terrific read!

This review was originally posted here at Teens Read Too.

Add a Comment

It's November on the Class of 2k8's blog. And we're starting the month off with a Shameless Saturday.

So, take a deep breath and jump in. Lots of good news blew in this week.

A couple of 2k8ers have signed new book contracts. Wow!

Jennifer Bradbury, author of Shift, recently sold two more books to Atheneum Books for Young Readers. Wrapped features seventeen year old Agnes Wilkins on the eve of her debut in 1815 London. The young adult adventure/mystery features mummies, espionage, and plenty of Jane Austen references. Wrapped will come out in Summer 2010, and its sequel will be available the following year.

From Publishers Weekly: Marissa Doyle's Waterloo Plot, the third book set in the same world as Bewitching Season, in which a young witch must overcome physical and emotional scars while investigating who is attempting to assassinate members of the British War Cabinet, including her father, in 1814-1815, to Kate Farrell at Holt, by Emily Sylvan Kim at Prospect Agency (NA).

The Sierra Magazine took notice of three 2k8 classmates:

"Autumn Winifred Oliver Does Things Different (Delacorte Books for Young Readers), by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb, introduces a headstrong girl who discovers, among other things, an ingenious method of thwarting a stinky flock of geese from eating the family garden. Luka, the 13-year-old hero of Bringing the Boy Home (HarperCollins), by N.A. Nelson,longs to return to the Amazon's Takunami tribe in a journey of self-discovery and courage. Samantha Hansen Has Rocks in Her Head (Abrams), by Nancy Viau, is a tale of a fourth-grader with a white-hot temper and a love of rocks and science."

Kudos from Confessions of a Bibliovore for Swimming with Sharks by Debbie Reid Fischer:

Fischer walks a delicate line in Peyton, managing to keep her sympathetic while making it clear that she is in it as much as the rest of the cheer squad. At the same time, she is victim of a far more subtle bullying pattern than Ellika. Her redemption toward the end feels like our own. Pick this book up for a thoughtful and all-too-probable story about how anybody can bully, or be bullied.


And The Book Muncher said this about Stacy Nyikos' Dragon Wishes:

I was very impressed with Nyikos’ debut middle grade novel and hope she plans to write more in the future. Dragon Wishes can be enjoyed by both younger and older readers, particularly fans of books with Chinese culture or novels with dragons.

For those of you participating in NaNoWriMo, (National Novel Writing Month), we wish you the very best of luck. Not to mention incredibly fleet fingers!

Be sure to check back Monday as we begin our week-long launch for P.J. Hoover's The Emerald Tablet.

Add a Comment

Our story is making amazing progress! Very few ideas make it to manuscript form, fewer still get the agent's nod, but now that it has reached the editor's desk--we'll know if it has any shot of all of ever getting on the shelves! Today we have Andrew Karre, acquisitions editor for Llewellyn Worldwide and FLUX to discuss his role in taking a story and turning into a book:

Display Comments Add a Comment

Do you remember that cute Schoolhouse Rock song all about how the little Bill fights his way through all the red tape and goes through all the committees in order to become a Law? Well, it is the same long and complicated trek a story idea takes to becoming a book on a shelf. This week we're going to follow the path a story takes from idea all the way toward its goal of becoming a book on a shelf--from author to agent to editor to book store buyer! Today we're going to talk about how story ideas form and what authors go through to get them down on the proverbial paper!

"The reason I started writing The Gollywhopper Games is well-documented in my acknowledgements (and in some resulting reviews). But wanting to write a book that might appeal to a lover of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory provided a huge set of challenges. Dahl had already claimed candy. Dahl had already claimed a spot as a top master. So how could I craft a book one particular 5th grader would love without being derivative of a master work? I'd give you a replay of my process, but my methods of brainstorming are near-impossible to document. They do, however, involve doodling, massive amounts of pacing and utter disregard for household chores." Jody Feldman author of The Gollywhopper Games

"I was a model booker for years, which gave me lots of material for the book. I worked at two busy agencies, but I was always scribbling down story ideas onto notepads instead of working. Sometimes I’d be interviewing a model, looking at her portfolio, and a detail about her photos would strike me as interesting or funny, so I’d say, 'Excuse me just a sec,' then I’d whip out my notepad and start jotting away while the poor girl had to wait. I also took notes when models made comments I liked, usually something like, 'I’m an excellent actress, as long as there’s no dialogue.' Years later, I referred to all those notepads when I sat down to write BRALESS IN WONDERLAND. I guess I only pretended to be a model booker. I spent most of my time scribbling. I should probably give my ex-boss her money back. " Debbie Reed Fischer author of BRALESS IN WONDERLAND and SWIMMING WITH THE SHARKS

"I paid for my writing time. Seriously. After my third child was born, I hired a babysitter to come for three hours a day, three days per week. I would need a sitter to go to any other job, I rationalized, so why not for being a writer? It is amazing how much you can get done in three hours, especially when those hours are costing you money. However, it’s not the cheapest way to write. Until I sold a book, my job actually cost me more money than I earned. But it was so worth it! I never would have finished my novels without it." Jenny Meyerhoff author of THIRD GRADE BABY and THE IMPOSSIBLE SECRETS OF ESSIE GREEN

Tomorrow our story must head to agent Erin Murphy at the Erin Murphy Literary Agency!

Display Comments Add a Comment

Display Comments Add a Comment

That's Donna!

What Class of 2k8 books were spotted?

The Unnameables by Ellen Booraem, The Lucky Place by Zu Vincent, & Swimming With The Sharks by Debbie Reed Fischer

Thousands of terrific books were up for grabs for anyone brave enough to weave through the crowd, stand in line, or fight for floor space. What a great day!

Stay tuned tomorrow we have more from the floor of BEA!

Display Comments Add a Comment

2k8: We're back for the second day of debut author Debbie Reed Fischer's launch week. Her young adult novel, Braless in Wonderland, is available everywhere.

Debbie, you've got to tell everyone that great story of how you became a model booker. AND explain the strange pic at the top of today's post!

Debbie Reed Fischer: Well, I sort of fell into it. Or rather, it fell into me.

During my senior year of college, I had an internship at a model and talent agency. On my first day, I was told to file head shots and resumes in these huge, floor-to-ceiling filing cabinets. There were six of them. Wildly curious about the talent repped by the agency, I spent more time reading the resumes than filing. So I wasn’t paying attention to the fact that I had pulled open every single drawer on this one filing cabinet.

Until I heard a strange creaking sound.

And jumped out of the way just in time.

The entire filing cabinet tipped over, knocking into the one next to it, then into the next one, and so on and so on and so on, until the last mammoth filing cabinet crashed into the wall. It was like giant dominoes.

The owner actually had to hire a moving company to set the cabinets straight again!

Certain I was fired, I sneaked out early. Later, I received a call from the owner. “You’re the best intern we’ve ever had,” she said. “I want to hire you.”

I took the job, and the next day, told the story to this stunning model lounging in the waiting area. “Don’t you think it’s weird I got hired?” I asked her.

“No,” the model replied. “That’s the business. It’s crazy.”

And she was right. It was glamorous AND crazy.


2k8: How did get from being a model booker to writing Braless in Wonderland?

Debbie Reed Fischer: I’m a graduate of the University of Miami’s screenwriting program, so my plan was to write screenplays. Although, as fate would have it, I fell into the business side of the film industry, starting out as a talent agent for TV and film.

And then I did the model booking thing in Miami. The modeling world provided me with a treasure chest of material to write about. I usually felt like the blonde on The Munsters, scratching my head and wondering what planet I’d landed on. I kept notebooks on everyone and everything while I worked there, and years later, those notes came in very handy when I sat down to write the Braless in Wonderland. The book is fiction, but the notes make the scenes really authentic.

2k8: Thanks, Debbie!

Oh, yeah, and about those modeling terms from yesterday's post--

backdrop: whatever's behind the model at a photo shoot (eg. seamless paper)

clean-clean: clean hair (as in washed), clean face (as in no makeup), how you might be instructed to show up at a photo shoot

cyc studio: a photo studio with no corners

(From Model Business)


Join us tomorrow for the inside skinny on where Debbie does her writing!

Psssst! In the meantime...hop on over to Nineteen Teen where M.P. Barker, author of A Difficult Boy, is guest blogging today. You don't want to miss it!

Display Comments Add a Comment

Display Comments Add a Comment

Please welcome the author of Braless in Wonderland...

and the upcoming Swimming with Sharks...

Debbie Reed Fischer!

Did you have an “ah-ha” moment that made you decide to write a book about the model biz? What was that moment?

I had many a-ha moments working as a booker. It’s a wacky, surreal business. At different times in my career, I repped all kinds of talent: Models, actors, comedians, athletes, kids, animals. How could I not be inspired to write? With models, I guess what struck me the most was the discovery that a lot of my preconceived notions about them were dead wrong, especially the most common belief, that models are stupid. They’re not stupid. Many are just really young, from small, rural towns, very wide-eyed at the glitz and glamour of it all. When people ask me if models are dumb, I answer, “How smart would you be if you were a teen making $1500 a day, in a city for the first time, away from your family and on your own?” It’s true that many young models do miss out on a college education, but there is no shortage of intelligence. I repped models who had been accepted to Harvard, who were law students, who had their own businesses at the age of eighteen. Models are a varied bunch; they just happen to have the right height and bone structure, as well as that illusive “X” factor, the mystery gene that makes them photograph well. The college issue is not an easy choice for some of them, though, and it’s something that definitely inspired a lot of BRALESS IN WONDERLAND.

So…South Beach. :) Beautiful people, lots of talent. Do you have a wacky or memorable moment to share during your time as a model booker?

Too many to count, but the one that comes to mind is the time I had a booking for a gorgeous French model/dancer named Florence. It was for a film and the scene was a hip South Beach dance party. She was told to wear something sexy and fun. I let my assistant take care of the booking because I was really busy that day casting drag queens for the film The Bird Cage. So my assistant sent Florence, only she sent the wrong Florence. You see, we represented two Florences: the French beauty, plus another lady who was approximately 90 years old and had been a Zeigfield girl way back when. The ancient Florence, who was very excited to have a booking after so many years, especially one that wasn’t for Metamucil or a cruise line, showed up to the set in a limo wearing a ballgown and feather boa. Luckily, the client had a sense of humor. He was cool about it and actually let her stay and do the job. The other Florence never found out she lost a booking.

What was your writing process for BRALESS IN WONDERLAND?

I was always taking notes on everyone and everything when I was a booker. Years later, I still had those notes and used them when I was writing the book. It makes every scene really authentic. Also, one of my closest friends is still in the business and I often ran bits of the book by her since some things have changed in the last few years. Her name is Allee. I named my main character after her.

Tell us about “the call”—the moment you learned BRALESS IN WONDERLAND was going to be published.

I was home when my agent called to tell me he had an offer for me from Dutton. I shook, I cried, and I yelled stupidly, “HOW DID YOU DO THAT?!” Then when my kids came home that day, we released balloons into the sky and talked about how dreams can come true. We decided to celebrate June 14 as our own family holiday every year because that’s the date I got the call. Except we don’t release balloons any more because it’s bad for the ozone layer. We just eat cake and discuss our goals and dreams. The kids also discuss how weird I am to invent a holiday based on a phone call.

What’s the coolest thing about being an author?

Meeting other authors like you. :) Being part of the writing community is wonderful.

Your author photo is gorgeous! How do we (meaning the style challenged) get model-blown hair in our author photos?

LOL - find a good hairstylist! A good photographer helps too. That photo was taken by Niki Taylor’s mom, Barbara Taylor. She is a photographer in addition to being a Supermodel mom. And to tell you the truth, my hair is usually in a pony tail.

What’s one tip you could share with aspiring writers that you’ve learned recently.

Read what blows your skirt up, write as much as you can, take workshops, attend conferences, meet as many other writers as you can, and most importantly, never, ever give up. The biggest reason why writers don’t get published is because they give up. Keep going. For writing tips, I have a lot on my website: www.debbiereedfischer.com. Feel free to add your own writing tips there. I love being inspired by other writers.

JB: I’ve got to agree with Debbie about reading what you love. Study your favorite novels and take notes on how the stories progress, the characters evolve and how the author managed to hook YOU.

What’s next? Any new projects on the horizon?

My second YA comes out in September. It’s called SWIMMING WITH THE SHARKS. The main character is Peyton, who has finally earned a coveted spot on the varsity cheerleading squad. For her, it’s the end of standing on the social sidelines and the beginning of being in the Alpha Clique. The problems start when Lexie, the charismatic and powerful squad captain, orders Peyton and her team mates to drive another girl off the squad by bullying her. As the cruel hazing spirals out of control, Peyton is torn by her conscience, yet seduced by the chance to have everything she wants.

Now, because Debbie is so fabulous, she's giving away a killer prize package! ONE lucky commenter will win a signed copy of BRALESS IN WONDERLAND and a pair of adorable Havianas in your choice of size and color. Just leave a comment on BlogSpot, LiveJournal or in both places to win. You have until Sunday (April 6) at 10pm EST to enter. The lucky winner will be announced on Monday and she/he will have 48 hours to follow instructions posted on Monday and contact me about claiming the prize.

Good luck!


BRALESS BOOK TRAILER:

Display Comments Add a Comment

Debut Author of the Month: Jody Feldman...

Debut author Jody Feldman's first book, The Gollywhopper Games was just released by Greenwillow a few weeks ago. And thanks to her experience working in the advertising industry, new author Feldman was prepared with an arsenal of promotional tools. Below she tells us about her book and what inspired her to write it (nearly two decades years ago) as well as what she's done to spread buzz for her book, how she found her agent, her thoughts on revision, and more.

For those who don’t know anything about your book, give a quick teaser/summary of The Gollywhopper Games.

Exactly 25,000 contestants will enter, but only one will win what might be the biggest, bravest, boldest kids competition the world has ever seen--The Gollywhopper Games. Gil Goodson may have more reason to win than anyone else. It was, after all, the Golly Toy & Game Company that had had his father arrested and ruined Gil’s life. If Gil can get through the questions, puzzles and stunts, he might have a chance at redemption. Does he have what it takes to win? Do you?

You first began writing Gollywhopper in 1989! What kept you interested in the story for so long? And what was the incident that inspired it so long ago?

Oh, you give me too much credit for my ability to stick with something that long. I’m a fast first-draft writer. I once wrote a novel in 10 days. (Never to be repeated except under bizarre circumstances.) The Gollywhopper Games took me about 3-4 months, puzzles and all. The thought of one 5th grade kid kept pushing me to get it done.

I was volunteering in the school library when that 5th grader rushed in, waving Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, proclaiming it the best book he ever read. When he asked the librarian for something just like it, and Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator was checked out, neither she nor his teacher could find anything to satisfy him. It was at that moment I decided to write a book for that kid.

As soon as I finished that first draft, I let it lie on the desk for about 20 minutes before I set about the task of revising, which, at the time, meant an equation like this:
Line Editing + Adding An Extra Character = Full Revision = Mail MS Immediately

Do I need to mention I was young and naïve, and there were no online communities to draw wisdom from at the time? Do I need to mention that no one sent me a contract right away?

I did have enough sense to return from the post office and start writing something new, another middle grade. When I finished that one, I moved on to younger YA, then on to edgier YA, back to younger, trying to find my voice. So while I have a number of manuscripts in my file cabinet, many of which I soon realized, I could file under Novel Writing 101, I always felt The Gollywhopper Games had that something.

I’m not sure what inspired me to bring it out of retirement, make some substantial revisions (I’d learned a lot in 12 years) and submit it for a critique the first time I went to the SCBWI National Conference in LA, but it was a fortuitous inspiration. When your critiquer, an editor, tells you that if, for some reason, you can’t sell the book, you should come back to her, and she’d figure out a way to serialize it to fit her imprint; when you hear that, you know/hope/pray it may just be a matter of time.

How did you find your agent? Can you tell me a little about your path to publication?

The 2002 SCBWI Conference was huge for me. It was there I met agent Jennie Dunham. I didn’t race up to tell her what I wrote. I didn’t give her a pitch. I didn’t talk about me at all. About half an hour previously, she’d finished giving her keynote speech, and I found her almost alone in the lobby outside the auditorium. I merely thanked her for her talk, asked her a quick question about it and left her to the others. I’d achieved my sole purpose in approaching her. I needed to know if I could feel comfortable handing my career over to this stranger. I submitted to Jennie as did so many anonymous others from that conference. In the end, it was the writing that won her over. I know she didn’t remember the conversation.

Before she took me on as a client, she wanted me to understand that I would need to do a rewrite for her, adjusting my main character’s age (from 15 to 12 … what was I thinking, making my MG character 15?). I also needed to understand that my story, not a perfect fit in any genre, might take a while to sell. And even with that initial rewrite, it did take a while. Three and a half years. It was only after a subsequent rewrite, my most significant rewrite in 16 years, that it sold to the fabulous people at Greenwillow the next time out.

That all goes to show, even with an agent, you shouldn’t start spending that advance check of your imagination. I’m very fortunate I have an agent who, I say in my acknowledgments, believed in me sometimes more than I believed in myself.

In a blog post, you mentioned that seven years ago, you were “introduced to the true meaning of revision and the amount of work it takes to stand a chance to succeed in this business.” What’s the true meaning of revision?

True revision means being brave enough to imagine your story could possibly be different than when you first conceived it. It’s easy for writers to believe that what they’ve put into words is the unshakeable truth. They forget that they were the ones who made up the characters, plots and settings. It’s within their power to modify or even destroy what they once thought was essential to the story.

Let me put this into more real terms.

In every version of The Gollywhopper Games, until the one just before it sold, there existed Danny, a graduate student who lived next door to my MC, Gil. The two were almost like brothers. Danny was the device through whom Gil revealed his backstory. Danny was Gil’s confidante. Danny was the one who accompanied Gil to the Games. But why, a rejecting editor (one to whom I’ll always be grateful) said in her letter, why would a 22 year old have such an interest in a 12 year old? What was in Danny’s background that made this relationship work? Had his own little brother died or … ? I didn’t want the story to go there, but something needed to change. I was either brave or desperate when I gave Danny the old Delete Button. But the act of re-imagining the story without Danny, dividing his role among other characters, existing and new, gave the book a better truth.

When the time came to revise for my editor at Greenwillow, I was still scared to death, but I understood what might have to be done. More important, I understood I was capable of doing it.

You’re a member of the Class of 2k8. You’ve already begun doing school visits. You have a YouTube video and a sophisticated looking website. Just how much promotion must a first-time author do?

It’s how much this first-time author must do. My education and background are in advertising, so I am only too aware of the possibilities that exist for promotion. When I had that advance in hand, I decided to reinvest a healthy portion of it in my book. Sure, I would have liked a new sofa for my den, but I figured that would come, and maybe I could add a plasma TV, if I my promotional investment paid off.

I understand this may be unusual among writers, but I think of publishing as a business. If I can positively affect my publisher’s bottom line, I become more valuable. I don’t mean to sound cold, and I rarely think of it so clinically, but that’s how I made my reinvestment decision. I don’t know if my efforts will account for appreciably more book sales, but I do know I would have felt disappointed in myself if sales were less than stellar and I hadn’t tried.

To that end, I have two websites: my personal one and one for the book itself. I also maintian a blog, limiting my entries to the writing and author experience. I hand out bookmarks because it’s easier than spelling “Gollywhopper” and having people remember it. And because my cover lends itself to T-shirts, I couldn’t resist. To have kids be walking billboards for you? Great bang for the buck. I’m excited to cut short a weekend away to go to Des Moines and meet with the Midwest Booksellers Association who have named The Gollywhopper Games a Connections Pick. And while that’s an investment in time only, it’s still great for promotion. I do have that video on YouTube as part of the Class of 2k8 . And I also worked with a group of senior advertising students at the University of Missouri who came up with a whole advertising and marketing plan for me. I haven’t yet decided which of those elements I will use.

But back to the question: What must first-time authors do? Whatever they feel comfortable doing outside one near-essential element. It’s near-essential, today, to have at least some online presence in order to be responsive to readers. That can be as inexpensive as a free blog with weekly entries. It can merely be a simple, static website. But readers expect to find authors online.

I love being accessible to kids who are growing and learning and getting excited about the words and ideas I’ve brought to them. Everything else is just gravy.

How has membership in the Class of 2k8 been helpful?

Anytime you can bounce ideas off, gain support from, borrow the wisdom of 26 other intelligent, energetic and articulate authors, you’re going to come out stronger. We have not only used each others’ strengths and resources to try and reach the booksellers, librarians and teachers who will make our books available to a larger readership, we’ve also relied on each other to become, individually better promoters and better authors. With my background, I was probably capable of tackling all the tasks on my own, but I’ve found I’ve been taken to school a time or two or more and have a stronger promotional portfolio to show for it. And along the way, I have a cheering section, shoulders to cry on and so many new, good friends.

Was your speaking gig at the SCBWI Florida conference the first time you presented to other writers? What was your topic? How did it go?

I loved, loved, loved every minute of that experience. Yes, it was my first time, and I was thrilled to share it with fellow 2k8 member Debbie Reed Fischer (Braless in Wonderland, Dutton, April 2008), another perk of being in the class.

Our official topic title … Jumping Into Bed with the Competition: Can 27 Authors Plan a Mass Promotion and Sell Happily Ever After? We spoke as representatives of the Class of 2k8 on taking what we’ve learned from collaborative marketing and showing authors how to apply it, both on an individual basis and in group situations.

And even though I was speaking well within my comfort zone--harkening back to my advertising/promotional background--I don’t think I ever felt more like an author than I did at that January conference in Miami. I’m hooked, and when I come up for air, I’d love to do it again. And again.

It’s kind of refreshing to see in your bio that you indeed can remember a time when you didn’t want to be a writer, and that you once found writing boring and difficult. Why the change?

You do need to understand that while I never, ever, ever, ever saw myself being a writer, I was always good at it in school. I could write fast. I’d get A's. So I knew I was capable of being a competent writer, but as an occupation? No way. No, thank you. Kill me first.

So I entered college as a psychology major, but found those classes even more unsuited for me than writing. The night I realized I needed to change majors, I sat on the dorm desk, staring into the night from my 8th-floor window. Fifteen minutes later, I had decided that as long as I was at the University of Missouri, on the campus of the one of the world’s top Journalism Schools, I should take advantage of it. I didn’t need to write long, involved articles, either. I could write advertising. It couldn’t be hard to write a few lines to sell something. It wouldn’t even feel like writing. I found it easy and surprisingly fun.

But how did I go from writing 50-word ads to 50,000-word novels? The short version of the time line goes like this.

1. Degree in advertising.
2. Job as a copywriter.
3. Fast writer = spare time most afternoons = boredom at office.
4. Wordplay doodling looks like I’m still working.
5. Decision to be next Dr. Seuss.
6. Realization I’m not Dr. Seuss.
7. Stab at other picture books.
8. Previously mentioned incident of 5th grader in library.

Puzzles are featured throughout your book. Can you remember a time when you didn’t like puzzles?

No.
Some early memories:

• Watching, fascinated as my mom worked crossword puzzles.
• Being home sick from school, trying to keep my eyes open to watch the morning round of game shows.
• Asking my parents to set up a follow-the-clue treasure hunt with my birthday present at the end of it. (How many kids want to delay getting presents?)
• Figuring out a puzzle-type problem in two minutes when our first-grade teacher Mrs. Gabriel was probably trying to keep us occupied for at least ten. (That’s when she introduced me to Venn diagrams because I couldn’t explain how I came up with answer. The whole process thrilled and fascinated me.)

Kirkus references Roald Dahl’s Charlie books in a review of The Gollywhopper Games. What do you admire about Dahl as an author? How did it feel to read that comparison?

I admire Roald Dahl’s imagination, his ability to go deep and dark, but make much of it seem light and funny. Just as I realized I wasn’t Dr. Seuss, I tell the kids in school presentations, I’m not Roald Dahl, and I never will be. I do, however, hope to find a fragment of his audience.

As for the comparison, I pretty much set myself up for that. It all started with my wanting to write a book for that 5th grader, and it continued with my first submission letter where I mentioned the inspiration. I assume, also, because it’s a strong identifier, the Charlie reference filtered down and fit naturally into the publisher’s marketing of the book.

Kirkus hasn’t been the only one to use the reference. Some haven’t been quite as kind in their comparison; others, though, have been very favorable. Just to have reviewers pick up on that, and show The Gollywhopper Games playing in the same ballpark as Roald Dahl, is, indeed, an honor.

Are there any other projects you’d like the mention? Any works in progress?

I’d love to mention several projects, and I’d love to give you exact publishing dates, one a year for the next ten years. But … considering I’m not writing fiction in this interview, I can’t. I do have a completed story under review with my agent. I hope that will be my next official book. I have a very terrible first draft completed for Potential Book #3. And I’m halfway through another not-as-terrible first draft of Potential Book #4.

All three of those should find an audience with the same type of readers who will love The Gollywhopper Games. Stay tuned!

What’s your advice to authors trying to get published?

Find your own 5th grader. She may be 3 years old. He may be 17. Now, write your story with that person at the edges of your mind. Who should be in the forefront? You. You as a kid. What made you choose a book? What propelled you to turn the pages? How did you feel at the end? Use the memories.

Find a way to fit writing into a hectic life on a regular basis. Make a daily date with your manuscript file. Even when you’re sick, you can manage a paragraph on the back of an envelope. A snippet of conversation. A thought. A connection. An idea.

Be open to criticism. Save the defensiveness for the football field or the courtroom. Listen. Absorb. Read. Write. Experiment. Pull out an important scene. Write it a different way. Maybe from a different point of view. What have you learned? How can you make it stronger?

Realize, you need to really want this. You need to have enough passion to push you through yet another rewrite. And another. And another. You need to write because you can’t see yourself doing anything else.

Writing takes time. Writing takes effort. And if you don’t know exactly how to take that next step, remember, the children’s writing community is one of the most supportive group of professionals I’ve ever seen. Ask. Then listen. Then act.

Add a Comment

Today's Totally Important Post is about class member Daphne Grab. Teen reviewer Gela gushes about Daphne's book, Alive and Well in Prague, New York. Check it out.


Now, back to this week's topic: Group Marketing...

Debbie Reed Fischer is the other person who was part of the dynamic duo that took SCBWI Florida by storm in January. Let's find out what she has to say about doing a workshop with another author.

Debbie?

Chatting online every day for months creates a very unique bond with someone, and that is especially true in 2k8. Like the rest of the class, Jody and I had already spent hundreds of hours discussing book promotion, as well as sharing opinions, triumphs, disappointments and jokes. So when I arrived at the conference and we found each other, it wasn't the polite, tentative greeting that usually takes place when meeting someone for the first time. From the moment we hugged in the main conference room, I felt as though we'd been friends forever. When we did sit down to discuss our presentation, there was a comfort level of two people who had been working together for a long time. It made planning and executing our presentation as easy as two friends talking about a common interest. That was a direct result of being in the Class of 2k8.

The really great thing about 2k8 is that members have professional backgrounds in areas other than publishing. How is that a plus, you ask? Well, when Jody and I were speaking about book promotion, I was grateful she had worked in the related field of advertising for many years. It was reassuring to have her expertise handy.

One attendee told me, "You usually see workshops on the same thing at all these conferences. This was something truly different." That 'something different' is another thing 2k8 brings to the table, and Jody and I were eager to talk about it. We have mutual enthusiasm for the group and its purpose, which really showed in our presentation. Our Class of 2k8 brochures were received with interest and curiosity, and a lot of people wanted to know more. Another attendee complained that our workshop wasn't long enough, after we spoke for an hour and a half! Not to mention it was the very last workshop of a three-day conference!


M.P. Barker also knows how important group marketing is...

Being part of 2k8 has helped me because I'm a terrible procrastinator, very disorganized, and know absolutely nothing about marketing. I'm very bad at meeting personal deadlines if I'm not responsible to anyone but myself, but fear of shame and humiliation makes me very good at meeting deadlines when they're imposed by somebody else. Having a group to be answerable to forces me to get my act together and get things accomplished. It's also great to have a support group of people whom I can learn from and who are going through all the same things I am.


Liz Gallagher simply puts it this way:

It makes the fish a little bigger in that big pond.

So, if you're thinking of joining a group to help you get the word out about your books,

Add a Comment

If you've just discovered our game, see Monday's blog for details. And remember, this is for fun. The only prize you get is the satisfaction that you're a darn good detective! And the opportunity to get a sneak peek at some gorgeous covers, of course!

Add a Comment

No poetry book reviews today! No silly little ditties or moldering old poems either! Today I am posting links to websites and webpages with poetry resources for children, teachers, homeschoolers, and anyone else who happens to be a poetry lover like me. Enjoy your reading!

ESPECIALLY FOR KIDS: SCHOLASTIC’S WRITING WITH WRITERS

Poetry Writing with Writers (Main Page)

Poetry Writing with Jack Prelutsky (Grades 1-4)

Writing I Spy Riddles with Jean Marzollo (Grades 2-5)

Poetry Writing with Karla Kuskin (Grades 4-8)


POETRY RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS AND HOMESCHOOLERS

Celebrate Poetry…all year long! Find some great poetry ideas for teachers from award-winning poet Kristine O’Connell George

Favorite Poem Project’s Classroom Lessons and Projects. Find ideas for poetry activities developed by teachers who participated in the Summer Poetry Institutes for Teachers, which were sponsored by Robert Pinsky’s Favorite Poem Project and the Boston University School of Education. (I was a participant in the first institute in 2001.)

Representative Poetry Online from the University of Toronto. This site includes more than 3,000 English poems by 500 poets, a glossary of poetic terms, and a link to the Canadian Poetry website.

Teach Now! National Poetry Month (From Scholastic): Here you will find a wealth of poetry ideas and resources under the following headings: Poems and Classroom Activities, Poetry Writing Workshops and Events, and Poetry Resources.


From the Yale New Haven Teacher Institute: Three Entire Curriculum Units for Teachers

Poems That Work

Poetry for the Elementary Classroom

Reading, Writing, and Reciting


From the Children’s Book Council

Lists of children’s poetry books from 1999 to the present

Free downloadable bookmark with a poem written by J. Patrick Lewis, a popular children’s poet


ONLINE ARTICLES ABOUT CHILDREN’S POETRY

From the Children’s Book Council

Good Poetry for Trying Out Loud by Sylvia M. Vardell, Ph. D. (Sylvia served on the Cybils poetry-nominating panel. Visit her blog Poetry for Children.)

Entice Readers to Poetry by Carol D. Fiore

Classrooms Full of Poetry by Kate W. Ray and Lester L. Laminack


From The Horn Book Website: The following articles appeared in the May/June 2005 Horn Book Magazine Special Issue: Poets & Poetry.

On Originality in Children’s Poetry by J. Patrick Lewis

Purposeful Poetry (Forcing poetry into the lesson plan) by Susan Dove Lempke

I highly recommend ordering this issue of The Horn Book Magazine. It not only includes articles about poetry—it also includes poems written by Douglas Florian, Mary Ann Hoberman, Eloise Greenfield, Nikki Grimes, George Ella Lyon, Marilyn Nelson, David Greenberg, Kristine O’Connell George, Ron Koertge, Paul B. Janeczko, Marilyn Singer, Walter Dean Myers, Alice Schertle, Constance Levy, Betsy Hearne, Karla Kuskin, Jane Yolen, Janet Wong. How’s that for a lineup of great poets?


A SAMPLING OF CHILDREN'S POETS WEBSITES (Listed alphabetically.)

Kristine O’Connell George

Mary Ann Hoberman

J. Patrick Lewis

Joyce Sidman

Janet Wong


ANNOUNCEMENT: I am going to be launching my own blog, Wild Rose Reader, on the first day of April, which also happens to be the first day of National Poetry Month. That is, I hope I will be launching my blog on Sunday! Those of us kidlit bloggers who are old enough to receive mailings from AARP aren’t always the most technically savvy people. I do hope you’ll stop by occasionally and check out Wild Rose Reader—and leave a comment every now and again. I will still be posting at Blue Rose Girls from time to time.

To the Blue Rose Girls: Thanks so much for welcoming me into your circle of friendship and for inviting me to be a regular contributor to your great blog. I send a special note of thanks to Grace Lin, one of the most talented children’s book creators and one of the finest individuals I have ever met. It was she who encouraged me to become a blogger.

HAPPY POETRY MONTH !

Display Comments Add a Comment