By: Terry Pierce,
on 10/26/2016
Over at EMUS Debuts this week, we're celebrating the launch of Elaine Vickers's middle-grade novel, LIKE MAGIC! Author Jason Gallaher asked the EMUS if we had any significant friendships that had changed our lives. Of course, I just had to talk about my husband, Mark.
Read Jason's piece here (and get to laugh at my high school homecoming dance picture!)
By: Terry Pierce,
on 10/21/2016
This week on EMU'S DEBUTS, we're celebrating the release of Elly Swartz's debut novel, FINDING PERFECT.
I am happy to tell you about Dripping Blood Cave and Other Ghostly Stories from Crickhollow Books today and to be GIVING AWAY ONE FREE COPY from the publisher. Just leave a comment on this post by Sunday, May 8 at 8:00 p.m. CST for your chance to win (U.S. and Canada mailing addresses only please). You don’t need to tell us anything special in your comment to enter the contest, but if you want to tell us your favorite ghost/spooky story or why you like spooky stories, then please do. Make sure to leave an e-mail address with your comment. Now on to the book. . .
*Middle-grade novel, paranormal
*Teenage boys as main characters
*Rating: Dripping Blood Cave is full of cute ghost stories and quite a cast of characters. Kids will love these ghostly adventures.
Short, short summary: Here’s another installment in the Hank and Clifford series. Hank is courageous and does everything right. Clifford is a coward and does everything wrong–but in a loveable sort of way. The two find themselves facing several ghosts in this sequel, along with their girlfriends, Rosie and Mary Ethyl. For example, at Dripping Blood Cave, some angry Native Americans are seeking revenge or there’s the Civil War soldiers and the island that people aren’t returning from. What happens when the four friends face these ghosts and more? Find out in this latest installment. (You do not need to read the first two novels in order to enjoy this book.) By the way, Raymond Bial has written over 100 books for kids and adults!
So, what do I do with this book?
1. The characters in this book are so strong and unique. This is a great book to do a character study with, especially comparing and contrasting Hank and Clifford. Students can start with a Venn diagram and then write a paragraph or paper about their similarities and differences.
2. Challenge your students to write their own ghost story after discussing how Raymond Bial set up his. How did he create suspense? Why do you believe his stories could actually happen? How did he set up his world? and so on. . .
3. Raymond Bial brings some history into his ghost stories. Students and children can discuss what parts of the book are based on historical stories and what part is completely made up. If students are working on ghost stories, they can bring historical facts into their stories.
Don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win.
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I would like to welcome, Patti Wheeler, co-author of the Travels with Gannon and Wyatt adventure series to my blog today. Patti is giving away a copy of the first book in the series, Botswana. To win a copy of this well-written book in “journal-style” that kids will just eat up, please leave a comment or question for Patti by next Sunday, January 30 at 8 pm below in the comments section. One winner (who lives in either the United States of Canada) will be chosen and a book will be mailed to her. Middle-grade readers, boys and girls, will love this book!
On to the interview. . .
Patti Wheeler feels her greatest accomplishment is being the mother to twins Gannon and Wyatt. Her priority has been to educate, nurture, and to help the boys develop the important qualities of generosity, leadership, and compassion. For years, it has been Patti’s goal to create a children’s book series that instills the spirit of exploration in young people. Travels with Gannon and Wyatt is the realization of her dream. (Future books include adventures in the Great Bear Rainforest, Egypt and the Serengeti.) In addition to the book series, Patti is the founder of Claim Stake Productions/Publishing, executive producer and director of the TV pilot Travels with Gannon and Wyatt Off the Beaten Path: Egypt and co-wrote, with Keith Hemstreet, the screenplay Botswana, which was an official selection of the 2010 Beverly Hills Film Festival. Patti lives in Aspen, Colorado with her husband and sons.
The first book set in Botswana introduces you to Gannon and Wyatt and the journal format as the brothers find themselves faced with a poacher while on an African Safari. Will Gannon and Wyatt stop the poacher in time? A perfect book for boys (and girls!).
Margo: Welcome, Patti, thanks for visiting with me about Travels with Gannon and Wyatt. Where did you get the idea for Travels with Gannon & Wyatt: Botswana?
Patti: I got the idea one year while traveling with my family. I was thinking about all the fascinating and wonderful places we were visiting each year. We wanted to share our incredible adventures with the world, and what better way of doing that than through books and video.
Margo: I completely agree. What other books are planned for the series?
Patti: The books that are already planned for the series are Great Bear Rainforest, Egypt, Greenland, Iceland, Tanzania, and there are six more being discussed (including possibly China, India, the South Pacific, and the American West).
Margo: WOW! Sounds awesome! Who are the perfect readers for this book and the sequels?
Patti: 4th-12th graders who are interested in travel or adventure–our sweet spot is grades 4 through 8.
Margo: What can children learn from reading Travels with Gannon & Wyatt?
Patti: Children can learn that the world is their classroom, and “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” (Mark Twain). Children can also learn to explore, help their communities, and embrace diversity through philanthropy.
Margo: I love that Mark Twain quote! What are two or three activities children can do that come from reading this book?
Patti: This book offers students the opportunity to read and turn in book reports in school. Children are introduced to the Youth Exploration Society (Y.E.S.) in the book, which promotes giving back to communities, encourages exploration, and supports a clean and healthy environment. Also, reading this book encourages readers to ge
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By Julie Daines
After my vow to stop whining and start doing yesterday, I finished my taxes (even though I did do some more whining about having to do them. 
) So, I’m so excited today to be back on writing. This afternoon, I plan to work on my query letter. Exciting!
But I digress.
I’m catching up with some blog/email reading and found some interesting newsy tidbits I wanted to share.
First up, a lovely Los Angeles Times story about the strenth of YA. The paper reports that adults are reading YA now — no news to us regulars in this sector — and that Harry Potter started this, followed up by the Percy Jackson series, Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games and Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief — again, nothing new to us — but here’s the nice part:
Where adult hardcover sales were down 17.8% for the first half of 2009 versus the same period in 2008, children’s/young adult hardcovers were up 30.7%.
Yay! That’s worthy of a celebration, I think. Now, I write middle-grade, but the way I see it, is any good news in the children’s section is good.
And why are all these adults choosing YA over fare written for older folks?
Well-written, fast-paced and engaging stories that span the gamut of genres and subjects.
Exactly what we’re striving for.
And here’s a great quote from Lizzie Skurnick, author of the Shelf Discovery collection of essays about YA literature:
“YA authors are able to take themselves less seriously. They’re able to have a little more fun, and they’re less confined by this idea of themselves as Very Important Artists. That paradoxically leads them to create far better work than people who are trying to win awards.”
Yeah, I agree. We have much more fun.
Another sign of the strength of YA: Lerner Publishing is starting a new YA imprint called Carolrhoda Lab. According to Publisher’s Weekly, the Lab’s launch line will have four fiction titles.
In more news, an independent publishing line focusing on middle grade and YA fantasy and science-fiction that features characters of color, Tu Publishing, garnered $10,000 in donations to launch, and, thanks to the haul, attracted the attention of bigger publisher Lee & Low Books. Recognizing that something great was going on here, Lee & Low has acquired Tu Publishing, and here’s the cherry on top — the donation money is going to be returned to the donators. Nice to see a corporation doing the right thing.
Got any other news to share?
Write On!
2 Comments on Young adult still strong and other links, last added: 3/11/2010
Revision update: On chapter 18 of 30. Getting a little behind my goal, so tomorrow, I’ve got to step up my game.
Alexandra Cooper
In my third report from the Houston SCBWI conference, Simon & Schuster editor Alexandra Cooper talks about submitting to an editor, including herself.
If you missed my earlier reports, Scholastic editor and author Lisa Ann Sandell talked about making your query letter package stand out, and Balzer & Bray editor Ruta Rimas talked about what makes a great book.
Alexandra said she works with picture books, middle-grade and young adult fiction, but not easy readers or non-fiction. The exceptions are a few non-fiction picture books that came out of an idea she had and she assigned to a writer and illustrator.
When considering manuscripts, she takes into account the balance of her list as well as the list of her imprint. She said editors are responsible for bringing in books to add to the company’s bottom line, so they can’t always publish everything they’re passionate about. They will turn down good books if the imprint already has similar books, for example. However, she said, outstanding books won’t be turned down.
Editors want a balance between backlist authors and new authors (looking for writers she can work with again), as well as a balance between commercial and literary books.
Right now, she’s signing more novels than picture books, but it’s cyclical, she said. One of the reasons publishing companies are more cautious on picture books right now is the cost and economy. Color picture books are printed in China, and the weak dollar is making printing costs rise.
Finding an editor is like dating, she said, and as such, writers should want someone as committed to the book as the writer is.
The Internet and conferences such as the SCBWI ones are good places to find out about editors, she said. (And I fully agree. These conferences are great!)
As for the issue of most publishing houses not accepting unsolicited manuscripts except through conferences, Alexandra said a lot of the time it’s because of legal reasons. The company doesn’t want to open itself to a lawsuit if they turn down a book that’s similar to one they’re already working on.
However, she said the first book she acquired was from a query, so they do work.
Check back tomorrow for notes from National Geographic’s Nancy Feresten.
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By: Pamela Ross,
on 10/8/2009
Sharing a sister's dilemma. It's fodder for thought for those who think writing for children is easy.
We want our audience-- today's child-- to relate to our work and words.
How far do we go to connect to how they think and what they say? Are we selling out or reflecting truths?
I know one child does not speak for many or all.
But.
Yesterday, my almost-10 year old niece received an updated/amended invitation to a Halloween gathering at her Very Good Friend's house.
Whether I believe this or not, the Halloween Party mom said she had no idea the girl was printing up this edited invite to give out to friends at school.
The original invite did not include a mandate for choice of costumes.
In this follow-up version, the girl told her friends:
"We are now all going to dress alike.
We are all going to dress as a pimped-out ref."
A...what?
I don't even know for sure what a pimped-out ref IS.
But I think I get the point.
A PIMPED-OUT REF?
One mom read the invitation as she cleared the papers out of her daughter's backpack after school yesterday. A chain of phone calls ensued, one mom calling another to ask what this was all about.
I need to add these ten-year olds all have cell phones and MacBooks and closets bursting with designer jeans. This is not a negative characterization. This is what they are (or have). They're all charming and sweet and curious and lovely, the child you all were once upon a time.
I don't want to sound like an old fuddy-duddy doofus.
But are these the kids that are going to relate to my middle-grade novels? I've searched my characters, and not one of them has ever suggested her friends dress up as pimped-out refs.
I know. I know. If it's authentic and organic to the story, it works. It might date a book but it is reality.
But still. Behind closed doors, I don't know these girls and now I worry they are not going to want to read the books I write. They are probably not going to find a pimped-out ref anywhere between my pages. Does that make me yesterday's news?
The only one of these that was super shocking to me was 4 - characters with no cell phones, who knew. I guess I need to read more YA. Or, YA, that's not historical (actually took place in an era when cell phones had been invented). Are authors really still describing characters in front of mirrors? I thought editors had put an official ban on that :)
I haven't done any of these. Ok, I make comments now and then about math but it's never been important to the plot or character development.
Great list, Julie! Good thing the hot guy in my book has red eyes. I'm actually thinking of changing that color to orange...
Scott, that's because 99.9% of the world's population hates math. So, to say that a character hates math is just being realistic--not cliche. :)