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Hey all, hope you’re having a great week! I just began reading SAFER OUTSIDE and have to share a teaser with you. I’m excited about going on Liz’s journey. Her story might be the perfect “curl up” read to take the edge off this crazy cold weather! Enjoy 
Liz
Starting my sophomore year at a new school was bad enough but trying
to pull off a new persona seemed a bit ridiculous. I’d grown up with a lot of
the kids at that school but in the two years since they’d seen me, I’d lost twenty
pounds and changed by name. I kept asking myself if they would accept me as
the new and improved “Liz” or if they’d laugh at the feeble attempt dorky “Beth”
was trying to make a new start? — Teaser from SAFER OUTSIDE
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Mature YA Romance by Kristina Renee
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Safer Outside, Book One of the Outside Series
When Liz moves to a new high school, she hopes for a fresh start. School is her escape from the violence at home and her only hope for breaking the cycle of
poverty she was born into. Trying to shield her siblings from her stepfather’s fury gets harder each day so when she meets Logan, she thinks it will be a
harmless distraction from the fear.
She’s Wrong.
Logan has the resources to change her life but at what cost? Her relationship is the best thing that ever happened to her but it could also be the worst. If she’s
not careful, she may lose everyone that’s important to her. But it’s hard to be careful when you’re fifteen and in love.
For readers 16+
Kristina Renee was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. She married her high school sweetheart after college and they have two sweet and adventurous sons. She spends her time chauffeuring her kids around and doing technical marketing but when she can escape, she loves reading, writing and editing. Learn more at www.KristinaReneeBooks.com
follow @authorkristinar
like facebook
visit goodreads |
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Hattie Ever After, a sequel to the Newbery-honor winning Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson, pubs tomorrow, and I'm thrilled to be hosting Kirby for an exclusive interview. Don't forget the giveaway at the end of the post.
Hattie Ever After by Kirby Larson (Delacorte Press, February 12, 2013, for ages 10 and up)
Synopsis (from the publisher): After leaving Uncle Chester's homestead claim, orphan Hattie Brooks throws a lasso around a new dream, even bigger than the Montana sky. She wants to be a big-city reporter. A letter and love token from Uncle Chester's old flame in San Francisco fuels that desire and Hattie jumps at the opportunity to get there by working as a seamstress for a traveling acting troupe. This could be her chance to solve the mystery of her "scoundrel" uncle and, in the process, help her learn more about herself. But Hattie must first tell Charlie that she will not join him in Seattle. Even though her heart approves of Charlie's plan for their marriage, her mind fears that saying yes to him would be saying no to herself.
Why I liked it: This novel is bursting with historical flavor, so if you're a fan of historical fiction, you'll definitely want to read this. I learned a lot about the time period. And even if you're not into historical fiction, read it for Hattie herself. She's wonderful -- a strong female character full of life and sass and gumption.You'll find yourself cheering her on as if she's a real person.
You could read this without reading Hattie Big Sky, but it definitely helps to be familiar with the first book. And although it's considered YA and it's all about careers and marriage, there is absolutely nothing too mature about the book. I suspect it's the kind of novel I would have cherished when I was 11 or 12.
Hi Kirby! Welcome to My Brain on Books! In your author note you state that when you wrote Hattie Big Sky, you had no intention of continuing her story. I'm so glad you changed your mind. Can you tell us about the seeds that grew into Hattie Ever After and how much influence your reader fans had on the decision?
I am a firstborn and am very much into following the rules and keeping other people happy. So, even though I thought I had completed Hattie's story, when I kept hearing from readers, I felt compelled to pay attention. And, honestly, who wouldn't like spending a little more time with such a spunky and stubborn orphan? But I knew that if I were to take on a sequel, I couldn't simply do another version of the homestead story. I would need to find something completely different. I was sure Hattie was going to go on a road trip, but she had other ideas. After fighting with her for some time, I finally got the picture: she wanted to be a writer. I certainly knew about that dream! Once that fell into place, so many other things did, too. I think when we completely give ourselves over to a book -- a terrifying experience!-- we will be given what we need to tell the story. At least, that is how it seems to happen for me.
I love it when a character takes over! Please tell us a little about your journey to publication. Was Hattie Big Sky the first novel you ever wrote? How long did it take you to find an agent? And how much time passed before you signed your first publishing contract?
[chuckling] First novel? Um, HBS was perhaps my fifth. But, it was my first effort at historical fiction. My first published book, a chapter book, came out in 1994; then I had four more books published, including two ghost written series books. Beginning in 1997, I contracted submission pox -- everything I submitted for the next seven years was rejected. I was ready to pitch it all in and go to work as a Starbucks' barista. Or maybe a Walmart greeter. Then, through a sad and wonderful set of circumstances, I was led to my great-grandmother's story of homesteading in eastern Montana as a young woman and spent four years researching and writing Hattie Big Sky. When the manuscript was ready to submit, I sent it to half a dozen editors--one of whom called me ten days after receiving it to say she wanted to publish it. Though I had had agents (two) earlier in my career, HBS was unsolicited/agentless. After the book won the Newbery Honor, I was introduced to Jennifer Holm's agent, Jill Grinberg, and the rest, as they say, was history.
That's quite a journey. How amazing that Hattie Big Sky was agentless! You used to teach writing classes. What advice can you give us on revising a rough draft?
First, celebrate the fact that you have completed a first draft. Most people never make it that far! Have you adequately celebrated? Really? Was there chocolate involved? Okay. Now you can move on. I'd say the first thing to do is find a trusted reader. Mine is my picture book co-author, Mary Nethery, who has earned several jewels in her heavenly crown for nudging me to actually include a plot in my novels. Respond to the concerns of that trusted reader (e.g. in my case, add a plot). Then, scout the manuscript for narrative chunks: such chunks probably indicate telling, rather than scene-building. Convert those sections to scenes and you're most of the way there! Don't forget to take a look at motivation: yes, you need John and Jenny to have a spat in Chapter Four. But why are they having that spat? And does the spat grow organically out of the preceding action? Finally, read EVERY SINGLE WORD aloud. That will save you from all kinds of clunkers and faux pas.
Ah, yes, I did celebrate with chocolate when I finished my first draft, thank you! And thank you for the rest of this great advice too. Do you listen to music while you write? Do you have a theme song that best fits Hattie Ever After?
Good lord, no. I have to have it very quiet while I write. Theme song? I think Etta James' version of At Last fits almost any situation!
Other than music, what's your writing process like? Are you an early morning writer or an evening writer? Do you write in your PJ's? Drink gallons of coffee? Do you chain yourself to a writing desk or take your laptop and spread out on the couch?
I'm an all-day writer because this is my job. In fact, both my husband and I office at home, so are a trifle workaholic. We have resolved for 2013 to quit work earlier a couple of times a week and have some non-writing or acounting kind of fun. Two nights ago we went to the Seattle Opera. The week before that, it was a date to see Silver Linings Playbook. Next week, it's a tour of the newly relocated Seattle Museum of History and Industry.
As the result of an unfortunate event that occurred when our son was in elementary band, I do not write in my PJs (long story). I get up around 6:30 or 7 and have a cup of coffee and do the NY Times crossword puzzle (on Mondays, I feel like the smartest person in the world!). Then I walk Winston the Wonder Dog and we come back and have breakfast (he eats a bit of kibble with a home-cooked patty of turkey and veggies; I often eat a poached egg and toast). Then we are in my office by no later than 9. I write all day (breaking for lunch and that very important afternoon constitutional for Winston). I now use a Mac mini hooked up to a big monitor so I am pretty much chained to my office. But I do have an iPad so sometimes go to my local coffee shop to play around. I especially like to print out my manuscripts and take those to a coffee shop to work on revisions.
You're so good at writing historical fiction (the Hattie novels, The Friendship Doll and even a Dear America book!). Will your next book also be that genre? Or will you go back to nonfiction picture books like Nubs or The Two Bobbies? Which is your favorite to write: picture books or novels?
[Thank you for that lovely compliment; I do work very hard on my historical fiction.] Mary and I are dying to find a third narrative non-fiction book together, along the lines of Two Bobbies and Nubs. So I am hoping a book like that is in the not-too-distant future. As for my individual work: I am totally and passionately in love with historical fiction. My next three books will be in that genre, for sure. After that -- who knows? As far as which is my favorite genre: such a thing doesn't exist. It's the story, not the genre, that counts.
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions. And congratulations on tomorrow's release of Hattie Ever After!
Thank you so much for taking the time to come up with such thoughtful questions! I really appreciate your support and encouragement of my work.
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Readers, to celebrate Kirby Larson's book launch tomorrow, I'm giving away my ARC of
Hattie Ever After, along with a paperback of
Hattie Big Sky (in case you haven't read it). To enter, simply be a follower and leave a comment on this post. This giveaway is open internationally and will end at 10 pm EST on Saturday February 23, 2013. Winner to be announced on Monday, February 25. Good luck!
Today, I'm honored that for my final Class of 2K12 interview,* I'm talking with Kim Sabatini, a delightful debut author I've actually met in person (at the SCBWI Eastern PA Poconos retreats)! First, let me tell you about her book:
Synopsis (from Indiebound): When Elliot finds herself dead for the third time, she knows she must have messed up, big-time. She doesn’t remember how she landed in the afterlife again, but she knows this is her last chance to get things right. Elliot just wants to move on, but first she will be forced to face her past and delve into the painful memories she’d rather keep buried. Memories of people she’s hurt, people she’s betrayed…and people she’s killed. As she pieces together the secrets and mistakes of her past, Elliot must find a way to earn the forgiveness of the person she’s hurt most, and reveal the truth about herself to the two boys she loves…even if it means losing them both forever.
My take: I was lucky enough to receive a review copy of this book, and I can tell you all, it's a ravishing and unique look at the afterlife. The lives of four characters are woven together in an intricate dance after death. As the story unfolds, layer by layer, we grow to love Elliot and her friends and realize the truth of E.M. Forster's famous phrase: "Only connect." Touching the Surface is all about connecting with other lives, and making choices. Even the most minor decision can affect the other people in your life. This is one of those stories you can't stop thinking about long after you've finished the last page. And isn't that cover gorgeous? I'll be giving away my review copy; details at the end of the interview.
Kim's Pinterest site
Welcome to my blog, Kim! I'm almost as excited as you are that Touching the Surface makes its official debut in four days! (And it's already been selling out in bookstores!)
Did the idea for your book spring from your own childhood or from some other source? And did you start with a character or with an image or phrase or setting?
The idea for my book came mostly from the fact that my father had died recently. I think I chose to write a story that took place in the afterlife so that I could explore my own feelings about my where my dad had gone and why he had to leave. It also came from hearing the story of a local girl who had done something “unforgivable.” I couldn’t stop thinking about her. I realized that if I’m so hard on myself about small things, I didn’t know how someone could survive making a life-altering mistake. It made me want to write something that would make her feel better—and make me feel better too.
Do you outline before you write? If so, does it end up changing before you finish the first draft? What change surprised you the most?
I’m a pantser. A definite fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of a girl when it comes to a written outline, but that doesn’t mean I don’t plan ahead. I’m a mullet girl at heart. I mull over my story, characters and plot in my head for long periods of time before I write it down. Perhaps you could even call it a mental kind of an outline, because when I sit down to write I have very strong ideas about where I’m headed. But having said that, I’m really open to going where the story leads me. This is when it’s advantageous to be a mental outliner—it’s very easy to make corrections to the master plan. I just head in the new direction and start mulling all over again. I swish my imagination all around until the new ideas are real to me.
Coffee, tea, or hot chocolate while writing? And where do you write? Briefly describe your writing space.
HOT CHOCOLATE!!!! Don’t forget the whipped cream. I have a cute little desk area with a nice window view that I’ve put together with a couple of folding tables. But recently I’ve developed some achy spots from running and dancing and I find that sitting at my desk too long makes my legs hurt. So…I’ve kind of moved my office onto my bed. In essence, I’ve become my cat. We get up in the morning, make the bed, do the mom thing, exercise and/or run errands then curl up in a nest on the bed for the afternoon. Of course the cat gets to sleep on a pillow like a princess and I’m working like a crazy person, but I have hot chocolate with whipped cream—so I’m not complaining.
You were the first author I knew to go on Pinterest, when you posted on your blog about your Touching The Surface board. Can you talk about why you're so enthusiastic about Pinterest? How has it helped your writing?
I have always been a visual person. As a writer, I very clearly need to see my characters and setting in order to be able to create a believable story. Pinterest is a quick, easy and portable way to visually support my writing. I've always manually built a bulletin board on the wall at home, but now I can write anywhere and access it from any place. I also think it's cool to be able to share an extra layer with readers. Some people don't want to have their own imagery spoiled, which I completely understand, but like myself, many are fascinated with what the author was thinking about when they were writing. I love checking out these kinds of author boards.
What can we expect from you next? What are you writing now?
Right now I'm revising my second novel, THE OPPOSITE OF GRAVITY. I'm really excited about it and I'm hoping that after the launch of TOUCHING THE SURFACE I'll have a little more time to polish it up. I've also decided to do NaNoWriMo for the first time this November. I know this sounds insane considering it kicks off two days after my book launch, but I feel like I've got book three, CHASING ADAPTATION, knocking on my brain right now. If you see me in a puddle on the side of the road in early December, you'll know that my head exploded. LOL!
Ha ha! Good luck with NaNo! And thanks for joining us today, Kimberly! Readers, I'm giving away my hardcover copy of Touching the Surface, AND some cool swag from Kim herself! One lucky person gets to win all this, plus the book (and yes, that is an origami crane!): To enter, you must be a follower and you must comment on this post. International entries welcome! Extra entries for tweeting, mentioning on facebook or your own blog. Please let me know. This giveaway ends at 10:00 pm EST on Wednesday, November 7, 2012. Winner to be chosen by random.org. Good luck!
*Special thanks to Caroline Starr Rose, for asking me to participate in the Class of 2K12 interviews/guest posts. It was an honor.
I was lucky enough to meet these two authors at this year's PAYA festival. What's PAYA? Bringing YA to PA is all about raising money for Pennsylvania libraries. It was started by an ambitious high school student in 2008. There were over 30 authors at this year's festival, some of whom had already signed books for me at the bookstore (like A.S. King, Ellen Jensen Abbott, K.M. Walton, and Beth Kephart!).
Alissa Grosso is the author of POPULAR (and the more recent FEROCITY SUMMER, which I need to read next!).
Elisa Ludwig is the author of PRETTY CROOKED and the sequel PRETTY SLY (Coming March 2013 from Katherine Tegen Books/Harpercollins).
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| Alissa Grosso (from her website) |
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| Elisa Ludwig (from her website) |
Elisa Ludwig website (Check out her cool book trailer on the main page!)
I'd met Alissa and Elisa once or twice before, but never got a book signed by either, so this was my opportunity. And I'm thrilled that I did. Both books are about high school cliques, but take vastly different approaches.
Popular by Alissa Grosso (Flux, 2011) Alissa Grosso manages to pull off an amazing feat: juggling five different points of view from the five high school girls who form a tight clique at Fidelity High. Hamilton Best is the queen of the clique, and her followers, Olivia, Nordica, Shelly, and Zelda, are squabbling among themselves and fighting to bring her down. Her boyfriend, Alex, seems moody and distant. Or maybe just confused.
But -- hold everything! -- this isn't just another Gossip Girls or Clique novel. The truth is not always what it seems in this fascinating psychological story. I read this in one day. And I was stunned.
Pretty Crooked by Elisa Ludwig (Katherine Tegen Books/Harper, 2012)Willa Fox's artist mom has finally sold some paintings and they can settle into a real house for once, with the opportunity for Willa to attend a prestigious private school in Arizona. She quickly makes friends with some of the Glitterati of Valley Prep and finds herself swept up in shopping sprees and parties (and attracted to a hot guy). But when the popular girls prove to be the power behind a mean-spirited website that bullies scholarship students, Willa decides to even the playing field by turning into a modern day version of Robin Hood. Steal from the rich and go shopping for the poor girls: what could be so wrong with that? This is a fun, fast-paced read that isn't afraid to delve into some social issues of class and race differences.
What recent YA books have stolen
your heart?
Wow! Today's Class of 2K12 interview is with a debut author who has not one but TWO young adult novels launching this year. Meet Corrine Jackson, author of:
IF I LIE, (August 28, Simon Pulse)
Quinn’s done the unthinkable: she kissed a guy who is not Carey, her boyfriend. And she got caught. Being branded a cheater would be bad enough, but Quinn is deemed a traitor, and shunned by all of her friends. Because Carey’s not just any guy—he’s serving in Afghanistan and revered by everyone in their small, military town.
Quinn could clear her name, but that would mean revealing secrets that she’s vowed to keep—secrets that aren’t hers to share. And when Carey goes MIA, Quinn must decide how far she’ll go to protect her boyfriend…and her promise…
Corrine's also the author of:
TOUCHED (coming November 27 from K-Teen) Seventeen-year-old Remy O’Malley heals people with touch, but her power comes at a steep cost. Every illness or injury she cures becomes her own. The pain she can handle, but she worries a day will come when she won’t recover from healing some terrible disease. Then she meets eighteen-year-old Asher Blackwell. Scarred and dangerous, he knows more about her abilities than she does, and she can’t resist wanting to know everything about him.
Class of 2K12 websiteCorrine's websiteFollow her on Twitter |
| Corrine Jackson (from her website) |
Q. Do you outline before you write? If so, does it end up changing before you finish the first draft? What change surprised you the most?
A. I’m an outliner. Usually, the characters come to me and I keep a file with notes that I collect. They’re everything from scene ideas to character traits to bits of dialogue. I write a bit to get a sense of the character’s voice. Once that’s in place, I go back and outline the whole book. My outline is flexible, though. I never feel locked in. If a scene takes me somewhere new, no big deal. I just revise the outline. I’ve been surprised at times by a new character popping up (George in IF I LIE) or an emotional scene I didn’t plan on (in TOUCHED). George was definitely my biggest change. My entire book morphed once he appeared. I love those moments.
Q. Those are cool moments! How long did it take to go from the idea for the book to the draft your editor accepted? Was it months or years? Did you go through endless revisions, beta readers, etc, before starting the submission process? Did you ever want to pull out your hair?
A. Depends on the book. With TOUCHED, I wrote it in 3 ½ months. I went through draft after draft in revisions and lots of beta readers. Once I got an agent, we went through one more revision. That’s the one my editor bought. With IF I LIE, I wrote it over a year, sent it to a few beta readers, did one round of revision, made a few changes at my agent’s suggestion, and that was it. Since I spent more time writing it, I edited it along the way, so my first draft was pretty clean. I also showed pieces to readers as I was working on it.
To be honest, I don’t like editing as much as I do writing. I’d rather do a slower, cleaner first draft, but that’s not always realistic with deadlines. I’m adapting, but I do want to pull my hair out at times.
Q. I hear you! Do you listen to music while writing or at least while thinking about and planning a book? What song or album had the most influence on this novel?
A. I always listen to music. I create playlists for each book. In the book FROM WHERE YOU DREAM, Robert Olen Butler suggests that listening to the same music for a book each time you write, drops you back into that creative space faster. I agree. As soon as I put the music on and read a snip of what I wrote the day before, I’m off and running on new words. When writing TOUCHED, I listened to a lot of Tyrone Wells, Taylor Swift, Tim Easton, Ben Harper, and others. Lots of soulful love songs or longing for love songs. I shifted gears a bit on IF I LIE. That book takes sad to a new level. I listened to a lot of Glen Hansard, The Swell Season, and The Frames. Glen Hansard has this voice that rips at your guts and it fit what was happening to my characters.
Thanks for joining us today, Corrine! Your books are amazing. Congratulations!
* * *
Readers, I have one hardcover copy of IF I LIE to give away! Sorry, this giveaway is only open to residents of the US or Canada. Must be 13 or older to enter. The rules are simple: You must be a follower and you must comment on this post! You have until Saturday September 8 at 11 pm EDT to enter. One extra chance to win if you Tweet about this giveaway. Another extra chance for mentioning on facebook OR on your own blog. Please note your extra entries in the comments. Thanks!
Meet Suzanne Lazear, author of INNOCENT DARKNESS!
INNOCENT DARKNESS: Book 1, The Aether Chronicles (Flux, August 8, 2012, for ages 12 and up)
Wish. Love. Desire. Live.
In a Steampunk version of Victorian Los Angeles sixteen-year-old Noli Braddock's hoyden ways land her in an abusive reform school far from home. On mid-summer's eve she wishes to be anyplace but that dreadful school. Her wish sends her tumbling into the Otherworld. A mysterious man from the Realm of Faerie rescues her, only to reveal that she must be sacrificed, otherwise, the entire Otherworld civilization will perish.
Suzanne Lazear writes Steampunk stories for adults and teens. Her Young Adult Steampunk dark fairytale INNOCENT DARKNESS, book 1 of The Aether Chronicles, will be released from Flux on August 8, 2012. She always plays with swords, is never described as normal, and has been known to run with bustles. Suzanne lives in Southern California with her daughter, the hubby, a hermit crab, and two chickens, where she’s currently attempting to make a raygun to match her ballgown. Visit her blog at http://www.suzannewrites.blogspot.comand her website http://www.suzannelazear.comClass of 2K12 Hi Suzanne, and welcome to My Brain on Books!Do you outline before you write? If so, does it end up changing before you finish the first draft? What change surprised you the most?
Well, INNOCENT DARKNESS didn’t start out Steampunk. I steampunked it on the fly from a contemporary outline. My main characters—Noli, V, and Kevighn--stayed the same but new characters like Charlotte appeared. The basic story stayed the same, but adding in the Steampunk elements forced me to change a lot of things, and I had to create an entire alternate world as I went along (which required research and strange google searches). From this process a lot of details I didn’t know about emerged, like Noli’s love of botany, Kevighn’s sister, and certain details about V and his past…I personally enjoy learning things about my characters as I write. Not all stories are like this for me. Sometimes I outline, sometimes I don’t, and sometimes I just jot down ideas. It all depends on the story, world, and characters.
Do you revise one novel while writing another? Or do you feel you need to write and revise one novel and get it as polished as possible before moving on to your shiny new idea?
I like to have several projects in different stages going on at once. It makes me feel more productive. I work on the one that’s most pressing (or if not on deadline, with the characters speaking the loudest), but if I get burned out or need a break, I can switch to another project for a day or two and feel like I’m still being productive. Also, I have something to do while a project is off being read by betas. It’s that whole multi-tasking thing. I like multi-tasking. And lists.
Coffee, tea, or hot chocolate while writing? And where do you write? Briefly describe your writing space.
Because I have a full time job and a family I write whenever and wherever I can. I do a lot of writing on my laptop on the couch. I write during lunch at work, I’ve been known to bring my laptop to birthday parties and family functions when on deadline, I’ve even contemplated trying to use Dragon to write while driving since I spend so much time commuting—but I’m not that brave and given my writing style, I’m not sure that would work for me.
Do you listen to music while writing or at least while thinking about and planning a book? What song or album had the most influence on this novel?
I really like to listen to music when I write and often make complicated playlists of “mood music” for each project. For some reason I never made a special list of music to listen to just for the writing of this book – though I do have a soundtrack for it. I wrote a bulk of INNOCENT DARKNESS during NaNoWriMo 2009 – 66k in three weeks—while working a dayjob so that may have had something to do with it. Yeah, I nearly died. I did write large chunks of ID while listening to Emilie Autumn on continuous repeat—especially “Across the Sky,” which I consider to be the book’s theme song, as well as “Shallot” and “Opheliac”. I adore her work, she’s a “Victorian industrial” artist and since I’m writing Steampunk, the vibes meshed really well. I also listened to a playlist of sappy love songs I’d compiled for drafting another project—especially when writing the kissing parts.
Wow! That sounds daunting. I love that your book has a theme song. Tell us what darling you had to kill that you really really wish you could have kept and what was the most fun to write.
More kissing!!! Just kidding. I actually had to cut an entire scene with Kevighn, my anti-hero, that I really liked. It introduces a new character towards the end, so it does work better to save it for book two, but I really liked the relationship between Kevighn and that character. It added a more little background and depth to my naughty huntsman. My favorite scenes involve Noli—Noli and her flying car, Noli and her friend Charlotte, Noli and V… Though I do have to say, Kevighn, being the bad boy, was really fun to write. Probably even more fun to write than V, who’s such a sweet, honorable guy. Inventing all the steampunk gadgets was a ton of fun as I tried to meld the Victorian feel with modern technology to get things like hoverboard and flying cars, yet make them as natural to Noli as a car is to us.
Thank you so much for having me on today!
Thanks for being here, Suzanne! And congrats on the book!
Auracle by Gina Rosati, coming August 7, 2012 from Roaring Brook Press/Macmillan, for ages 12 and up
Trapped outside her body, Anna sees and hears but cannot touch the one she longs to hold. Anna has a secret: she can astrally project out of her body. But when there's an accident and her classmate Taylor gets into Anna's body, what was an exhilarating gift threatens to become a terrifying reality. Anna and her best friend Rei form a plan to set things right, but they don't anticipate the feelings that are beginning to grow between them. Auracle by Gina Rosati is an exciting, sensual novel that explores the relationship between body and soul and the power of a single touch.
Meet Gina Rosati! As soon as she could ride a bicycle, she’d visit her local public library and check out as many books as she could fit in her bike basket. When she was 15, Gina got her first ‘real’ job in the Newton Free Library shelving books. Leaving the library for a job as a supermarket cashier was a huge mistake … not only did she have the misfortune to be working the night three guys showed up with panty hose masks and sawed-off shotguns to rob the store, but Gina became trapped in the food industry. After many years of scooping ice cream, decorating cakes and assorted secretarial drudgery which included fetching coffee for a boss who called her his “Tomato”, she finally escaped. Now Gina happily writes and volunteers at her local middle school library in southern New Hampshire, where she lives with her husband and two teenagers. Auracle is her first novel.
Did the idea for Auracle spring from your own childhood or from some other source? And did you start with a character or with an image or phrase or setting? The idea of a novel using the concept of astral
By:
Robin Brande,
on 3/27/2012
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Robin Brande
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I love this description from the Houston Library for the interview I just did with them: “Robin Brande discusses writing,…
First, I must announce the
winners:The winner of the signed hardcover copy of Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King is
DONNA GAMBALE
The winner of the signed hardcover copy of Secrets at Sea by Richard Peck is:
NATALIE AGUIRRE
Congratulations! Expect an email from me asking for your mailing address.____________________________________________________
(If you didn't win, never fear. Today's YA Friday will
also include a giveaway!)
CRACKED by K.M. Walton (Simon Pulse, 9781442434424, January 3, 2012, $16.99, for ages 14 and up)
Source: advanced reading copy from publisher (Thanks to my awesome sales rep, Tim Hepp)
Synopsis (from the publisher): Victor hates his life. He's relentlessly bulled at school and his parents ridicule him for not being perfect. He's tired of being weak, so he takes a bottle of his mother's sleeping pills -- only to wake up in the hospital.
Bull is angry, and takes all of his rage out on Victor. He's the opposite of weak. And he's tired of his grandfather's drunken beatings, so he tries to defend himself with a loaded gun.
When Victor and Bull end up as roommates in the same psych ward, things go from bad to worse. Until they discover they just might have something in common: a reason to live.
Why I liked it: This book made me gasp and cry and laugh. Bullying is a hot topic right now, and the author alternates between two points of view, the bully and the victim, and somehow manages to make them both sympathetic characters. Victor and Bull quickly became real teens to me, and I was pulled into their double story with a kind of horrified fascination. I like how K.M. Walton shows that bullies are often bullied themselves, without justifying the bully's actions. Bull's home life sucks. But then so does Victor's, even though Victor has everything Bull doesn't have -- money, a nice house, plenty to eat. What does all that matter when your own parents are distant and uncaring?
The already fast pace picks up even more when both boys wind up in the same psych ward, with the two storylines converging in an impressive way that made me race to finish the book. The author has clearly done her research; the details are amazing.
I have two treats for you: an interview with the author and a giveaway of a signed pre-order of the book! (Remember, it pubs January 3, 2012.)
Kate Walton lives in my hometown (Yes, I'm very lucky! Not only is she an amazing writer, she's a
By:
Robin Brande,
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Okay, you have to act fast on this. My new novel DOGGIRL is available FOR FREE through tomorrow. So if you want it, get it!
You can download the PDF version, or a Kindle or other ePub file here.
Use coupon code KP65S to get it for free. Go!
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Hi everyone - The kids in my area have a little over 5 weeks until they are out for the summer and that means it's nearly time for the Teen Summer Reading Program. Many of you authors generously donated autographed books and promo items (bookmarks, magnets, shirts, etc.) for last year's Readathon. I had 30 teens participate in the 6 hour reading challenge and every kid was able to leave with a great prize. (Some authors even donated to me later in the year and those books were used for volunteer prizes and with the creative writing club.) I'd love to be able to do the same again this year. If you're interested in donating books and/or promo items please email me and I'll give you the library address. Thank you very much! I can't tell you how much this means to me and my teens. You can reach me at [email protected].
Terri Clark
Teen Librarian and YA Author
Hollyweird - Flux 2011
Sleepless - HarperTeen
Breaking Up Is Hard to Do - Houghton Mifflin
TerriClarkBooks.com
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Thank heavens for Adrienne and Eisha. Because they were at the Rochester Teen Book Festival last weekend, and actually had the strength to write a post about it. Which I’m totally stealing now.
Or look at this one, which includes a clip of Wordgirl, with my new pal Jack Ferraiolo doing the [...]
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I haven’t even bothered unpacking from Dallas last week, because I’m turning right around and flying to New York this week. A day in New York City to have a 3-hour lunch with my editor (it’s our annual lunch, so there’s always a lot to catch up on–even though we just talked two weeks [...]
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[NOTE: THIS HAS BEEN UPDATED TO REFLECT AWESOME RESPONSES ALREADY!]
Okay, then, here’s the deal:
A friend of mine–a friend of many of ours–is too young to have breast cancer but has it. Believe me, we’ve all done a lot of cussing about this. And although we all know money can’t cure everything, we [...]
I love this post! I love historical fiction, both of my MG manuscripts take place in a different time period.I would love to have an office and be able to devote my entire day to writing. I also love the second question, it gives us all hope. Thanks for the great interview. I would love to win the ARC.
Thanks for the lovely interview, both of you! I've been anxious to read this book for a long time!
Must have! I've been a huge Hattie fan for a long time. Can't wait to see what happens next.
I've heard the hubbub about this one, and since I haven't read the first (I can't believe I haven't...I love historical fiction and try to read as many Newberys as I can), so thanks for the chance for BOTH of these!
Kirby, chocolate is absolutely necessary for any celebration! And I love that you mention reading your work aloud. It's such a marvel for catching what doesn't work/fit.
I can't believe I haven't gotten around to reading Hattie Big Sky yet! And now the next one is out. My daughter is 11, so she's the perfect age for us to share these. Thanks for the interview and giveaway!
I love this interview : ) Thank you so much for sharing it. I follow your blog in my google reader each day but I realized I wasn't an official follower! So now we are official...weeee!
Thanks for entering, Janet. Kirby's publication story is inspiring, isn't it?
Oh, it's lovely, Caroline. Worth the wait.
You're welcome, Faith!
Barbara, I can't believe you haven't either! Good luck. And I agree that Kirby's advice on reading aloud is very wise.
Oh yes, your daughter is just the right age for these books!
Thank you for following, Melissa!
gorgeous cover, and historical stories are always so interesting. thanks for sharing your interview!
Hi Gina! I love the cover too.
I love these covers! They are so beautiful. I am a fan of HF and these sound like books I could really get into. I can't wait to read them! The interview with the author was excellent. It was fun to learn more about her. Wishing her much success!
I would love to win a copy. GFC follower: Jessica Haight/DMS
~Jess
Wow 7 years of rejections! I don't know if I could've kept going. So glad she did. My daughter loves historical fiction so I'll have to make sure she knows of these.
These sounds like wonderful books. I haven't read either, so this giveaway sounds perfect. Thanks for hosting it!
I haven't read either of these books, but they both sound really good! I love historical fiction so these are definitely going on my TBR list : )
Thanks, Jess. I love your enthusiasm!
I'm also glad Kirby kept trying. And I'll bet you would too, Jill.
You're welcome, Jennifer!
Hi Alicia Marie! Hope you get to read them both.
Nice blog
Parfum pas cher
I'm eager to read Hattie Ever After. Splendid interview. I too need to remember to include a plot!
What a wonderful interview and giveaway! Kirby's publication journey is inspiring, and her advice to look for "narrative chunks" when revising is spot-on. Thanks too for pointing out that even though the books are considered YA, they aren't too mature for an 11/12 year old - which is my daughter's age!
Thanks, Ellen! Glad you stopped by.
Terrific interview. Can't wait to read these wonderful books. Thanks for running the giveaway.
You're welcome, Rosi. Good luck!
I always love agents stories that go beyond the norm. :D
Hi Stina! Yeah, that's an inspiring one.
This giveaway is now CLOSED.