I was lucky enough to snag an interview with one of the hottest new picture book authors!   See what I mean? Not only is she gorgeous and talented, she's also clever and funny.

That's why I predict her new book, Too Purpley, will soar to the top of best seller lists everywhere!  
And, it will be followed shortly by its companion: 

It's easy to see at a glance just how much kid-appeal these books,illustrated by the extraordinary Genevieve LeLoup, have jam-packed in them. And Jean's not even done yet! To learn about other work coming soon, check out her award-winning website. But first you can find out more right here.

What inspired you to write these particular picture books?

Too Purpley! and Too Pickley! were initially inspired by a niece and a nephew of mine. When my niece Sarah was in preschool ─ she’s now old enough to have two children of her own ─ every article of clothing in her closet had just a little something wrong with it. Whether the tag was too scratchy or the pattern too stripy, every shirt, skirt or sock needed to pass the comfort test with Sarah. But then, when I had kids of my own, we all encountered our own closet monsters of strangling turtlenecks, creepy jeans and suffocating sweaters. And it’s not as if I’m any different. I spend most writing days in my favorite sweatpants and t-shirt ─ a perk of the job.

 

Likewise, Too Pickley! begged to be written for my nephew, Frank. Frank now sups on anything from wasabi to White Castle’s, but for many years in his young life, he only ate hot dogs ─ WITH THE SKIN PEELED OFF. Then a few years later I had food frenzies with my own kids ─  Pat, whose only fruit was apples; Tim, who gagged on whipped cream; Catherine, my bottle-free baby and Molly, my gourmet. I soon realized that grilled cheese tantalized everyone’s taste buds, so grilled cheese it was. Lots and lots of grilled cheese.

Lots of people seem to think that writing picture books is easy because of the simple language and short length of the books. Anyone in children's publishing can tell you that’s a misconception. What do you find to be the hardest part of the picture book-writing process?

 

I’d like to make out that I have the most difficult job in the world. But, while picture book writing may not always be easy, it is always fun. Probably the most fun part of picture book writing is getting to think like a kid and behave like a kid on paper. I have to take my mom hat off when I write for children. Otherwise Too Purpley! might have been titled

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This has been a WONDERFUL year for me (much better than 2008), and I'm anxious to see what 2010 brings.
By the way, I've decided on "twenty-ten," over the more cumbersome "two-thousand-ten." How about you?

I'm wondering a couple of things about my f-list. So tell me a couple of things:

One really great thing that happened to you this year and
Two great books you read in 2009!

As for me, the arrival of The Littlest Prince tops my list as the greatest thing that happened to/for me this year. There really isn't anything better than a warm baby snuggled into your neck, or listening to baby giggles. Life is good here at the Prince homestead.

As for the two greateset books I read in 2009:

I'm tempted to name the ones that I've read repeatedly from early inception, like Soul Enchilada and Scones and Sensibility, but that would probably be "cheating." So, I'm going to name a couple of others instead:

Also Known as Harper by Ann Haywood Leal, which is probably considered a "quiet" middle grade but has stuck with me all year long
and
Waiting for Winter by  Sebastian Meschenmoser, a picture book with such striking illustrations, they cannot be ignored.

Now, don't get me wrong, those are just two great books that were released in 2009. I also read a few books for the first time this year, which were released awhile back, but that I love, love, loved:

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Alexie Sherman

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

and

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Anyway, that wraps up this year for me. Tell me about you!

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It's out in the world now!

As of yesterday, the hottest new tween book is on shelves and ready to be snatched up!
If you have a tween on your shopping list, no need to look any further!

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A poignant coming-of-age story, THE YEAR OF THE SAWDUST MAN chronicles a year in the life of Nissa Bergen. Her impulsive mother has just run off, leaving Nissa and her father behind in the wake of small town gossip.
A fairly quiet and reflective book, I found it to be insightful and realistic. Flashbacks focused on Nissa’s unique and fun relationship with her missing mother, while the eleven-year-old also dealt with the current problem of watching her father move on with another woman.
One thing I found particularly compelling was the way Nissa’s feelings about her mother wavered uncertainly. One day Nissa would think of her with adoration and complete loyalty, ready to fight whomever spoke a bad word. The next day, she’d remember her mother’s flightiness and instability and be appropriately angry at her abandonment. This felt very believable and understandably confused.
Milkweed Editions has sparked my interest lately, as I make my way through books that have waited far too long on my shelves for their due attention. I look forward to unburying more treasures like this one from my “to be read” stack.
Off to Turn Another Page….

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Please allow me a "geek" moment.

Like many people, I check out my Google Alerts now and then. Ya know, to be sure none of the other "Julie Prince"s out there are starring in porno flicks or anything I should know about before I learn it the hard way.

Anyhoo, I found a professor's 'Intro to Literature' assignment that quoted yours truly:

"In her review of The Lucky Place for ALAN, Julie M. Prince comments that, 'The challenge of keeping a character’s voice believable and consistent is always difficult. Vincent manages it under doubly difficult circumstances, since this story spans from Cassie at age three to Cassie at age twelve. Vincent has done an amazing job of capturing the world from a preschooler’s perspective and growing the voice along with the character.' Your challenge in this week's discussion forum is to first write your adult version of the event, and then try to capture that same event or memory from the perspective of the kid you used to be, the one who lived it firsthand."

Is it corny that I'm more proud of this than I am of my actual publications? *tee hee*

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I can't believe it's almost time for the December 22nd release of my critique buddy's debut middlegrade novel, SCONES AND SENSIBILITY!

As a HUGE fan of both L.M. Montgomery and Jane Austen, I can tell you that I heart the main character, Polly Madassa, and that you will too!

To celebrate this fantabulous book's release, author Lindsay Eland is holding a contest that just may allow YOU to get your hands on a copy of your very own! Check it out!

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This one doesn't hit shelves for a few months yet, but I loved it so much (almost as much as I love its author), I just had to post an early review over at YABC.

TOO PURPLEY! is made of awesome!!!!!!

I'll just have to update and feature it more as the publication date gets a bit closer.

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Positively by Courtney Sheinmel is an important book that stands head and shoulders above its peers. With a very real voice, it captures the important "firsts" of a girl who must move on with life after her mother dies of AIDS complications. Count on an emotional journey, including a powerful scene in chapter seven. Read my full review over at YABC!

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I've had some long-term technical difficulties that I didn't even know about. If I haven't responded to an e-mail sent to my "julie AT juliemprince DOT com address, please assume that I never got your message. We're talking within the past...say...six months!!!  *le sigh*

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What a fabulous show they put on at their annual "Welcome to Our House" Conference!
I had such a great time re-connecting with friends and colleagues, and I learned a ton from this year's amazing faculty:

Jennifer Rees, Senior Editor,
Scholastic Press
Miriam Hees, Publisher,
Blooming Tree Press
Katherine Jacobs, Associate Editor,
Roaring Brook Press
Laura Rennert, Senior Agent,
Andrea Brown Literary Agency
Loraine Joyner, Art Director,
Peachtree Publishers
Bradford Hees, Editorial Director,
Blooming Tree Press

Thanks to everyone who participated and to everyone who came up and talked to me throughout the day. I loved working at the conference again this year!

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I love reading Libba Bray's blog (libba_bray), and I know she has a wild personality. When I agreed to host her blog tour over at YABC (Young Adult & Kids Books Central), I knew we'd be in for a real treat. I was right!

Check it out!

 

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I have had a heart-to-heart with my lovely (and brutally honest) writing partner and come to an alarming realization: my book reviewing is keeping me from writing!

 

Of course, this had occurred to me previously, but the examples she pointed out made it too obvious to ignore.

 

When I started reviewing, the purpose was clear. I wanted to be well-read within the children’s and young adult genres. I wanted to help promote books and authors that I loved. I wanted to be able to break down plots and identify what I loved and what I disliked about certain books and storylines. I knew this would help me in my own writing. I was right.

 

But, for the past several months, my reviewing has dropped off significantly, and my guilt over that has kept me from writing (ie: I can’t justify writing anything new right now, when I’m so far behind with promised reviews). Sure, I have the obvious excuse of having a brand new baby. Pregnancy and newborn care are time consuming, energy draining, and downright exhausting! But, I have also been fighting with this review vs. writing balance that shouldn’t even exist.

 

So, I’m planning to finish reading the books I’m working on and the ones that I feel committed to reading and/or reviewing (I always agree to read the books sent to me, I do not agree to review them, although I try), and then I’ll retire from reviewing. I still intend to do casual and periodic reviews on my blog when I feel compelled and on the YABC and TRT sites if Kim and Jen will let me. I will also continue my author interviews for Teacher-Librarian Magazine and other forums (blog tour stops for YABC and here on LJ), as I think they help me stay connected in the kidlitosphere. That is very important to me.

 

Basically, I no longer intend to pressure myself or to feel guilty about not getting to certain reviews that I “should” do. I refuse to “should all over myself” any longer!

 

It’s time to get busy writing and stop making excuses for not following my dream!

 

If you have any questions about my news, please fire away via e-mail: [email protected]

 

Otherwise, I’ll still be around, so please stop by and say hi!

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As some of you may be aware, I write the Author Portrait column for Teacher-Librarian Magazine.

I've interviewed people like LJ's own Laurie Halse Anderson and Coe Booth, along with E. Lockhart, M.T. Anderson, Chris Crutcher, Suzanne Crowley, and a few others.

I'm wondering who YOU would like to see interviewed in the coming months?

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Oh, yeah!
I forgot to list a few of the other books I read during maternity leave:

MARCELO IN THE REAL WORLD
HUNGER GAMES
THE GRAVEYARD BOOK
CATCHING FIRE

How could I forget these titles?!
I listened to a couple of audio books as well. :-)

Plus, I'm currently reading FATE.

I'm a happy, happy reader, if a reviewer who's behind in reviewing.
A few of them are up on YABC's site: www.yabookscentral.com

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Thank you all for the many congratulations on The Littlest Prince!

Life is chaotic and exciting right now, as we fit the newest member of our family into his own little niche.

There has been little time to read since June 6th, but as I come back to the land of the living, I've started to find time to catch up
on reviews from when I was reading like mad while expecting. Some people knit booties, I read!

Some books that stood out during this period:

I'M REALLY NOT TIRED written by Lori Sunshine, illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler
ALSO KNOWN AS HARPER by Ann Haywood Leal
and
ABSOLUTELY MAYBE by Lisa Yee

I also read and may be writing up reviews on:
I NEED MY MONSTER written by Amanda Noll, illustrated by Howard McWilliam
GOOD NIGHT WORLD
11 BIRTHDAYS
EMMA-JEAN LAZARUS FELL OUT OF A TREE
THE I LOVE YOU BOOK
DISTANT WAVES
LEAF
THE PATRON SAINT OF BUTTERFLIES
CHRISTIAN THE LION
NEWES FROM THE DEAD
HECK: Where the Bad Kids Go
A GARDEN OF OPPOSITES
I'M YOUR PEANUT BUTTER BIG BROTHER
THIS LITTLE BUNNY CAN BAKE
CHASING BLUE

In the TBR pile, we have:

HOLES
MAMA'S KISS
TEENAGE FAIRY PRINCESS
MEXICAN WHITE BOY

and too many others to list!

So, as you can see, we have the old, the new, and everything in between!
I know I missed some in each category. I can assure you that I loved some of these and I "dis-loved" some (including some that shall remain unnamed because I disliked them so much). I can't wait to fill you in on why I loved some of these and dis-loved others.

I'm still posting reviews on YABC (www.yabookscentral.com), TRT (www.teensreadtoo.com), and ALAN (http://www.alan-ya.org/), so watch for my reviews there as I get caught up!

Tell me what's new with you! What have you been reading, loving, and dis-loving?!

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June 6th. 7lbs, 6oz. 21"

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Bug Smoot has finally been released into the wild!

Congratulations to thunderchikin  on the release of his first fantastic book, SOUL ENCHILADA!!!

You're in for a wild ride when you open this book, and it doesn't stop until the very end. Unique doesn't begin to describe the premise, and I challenge anyone to come away from it without first falling in love with its main character.

Here's my own review:
 

 

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Son and I visited the Tucson Festival of Books today.
I forgot how tiring it can be to walk around in the third trimester. I need a nap.

But, it was definitely worth the trip, as I got to see lots of friends:

afraclose 
janni 
azang 
Juanita Havill
Michelle Parker-Rock
Jennifer J. Stewart

and a bunch of other friends from SCBWI AZ, The Gila Gang, and online .

I also got to listen to some authors I'd never met in person speak, like:
Neal Shusterman
Janette Rallison
Robin Brande
A.S. King
Lisa McMann

Those last three were on a panel together, and they bantered back and forth like a veteran comedy troupe!

There were readings and signings and panels...oh my!
Kids activities, music, food, and so many things to do, we didn't know what to look at next. What fun! There's just nothing better than hanging out with other book-lovers!!

And there's still one day left! If you're in the area, you MUST stop by!

 

Speaking of janni , have you guys read Bones of Faerie yet?       
I have!
*squee*



**I had all of this post done once before and due to a technical glitch, I lost most of it and had to start over with all the names and links, so if I forgot someone, please forgive my tired brain. I really need a nap now! **

 

 

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Susan Taylor Brown (aka: susanwrites ) is holding a suhweet contest on her blog. The prize is a copy of SAY THE WORD by Jeannine Garsee (aka: onegrapeshy ), one of my favorite contemporary YA authors. I fell in love with her work when I read BEFORE, AFTER, AND SOMEBODY IN BETWEEN.  Okay, and her hilarious LiveJournal blog doesn't hurt either. I just adore this woman's writing!

SAY THE WORD is due to hit shelves on March 17th. I've read the book, I've reviewed the book, and I'm telling you...you want it for your own collection!

As further proof of my adoration, I can tell you that I'm not even blogging about this to win a free book. I already have it, after all. I'm telling you because it's JUST THAT GOOD! So get on over and enter the contest. Susan's made it easy enough, so what's stoppin' ya? 

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If you haven't been over to the Cybils Blog to check those out yet, you really should go and take a look. What a great group of winners!

This year, I got an up close and personal look at what goes into pulling these awards together, and color me impressed! So many people dedicated to great children and young adult literature coming together in the Kidlitosphere to coordinate the honors!

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to be a final-round judge in the middle grade fiction category with a great group of insightful  people who really care about getting great books into the hands of kids.

Here are the panelists and judges in the middle grade fiction category:

Panelists (Round I judges)

Sarah Mulhern The Reading Zone
Alysa Stewart Everead
Mary R. Voors ACPL Mock Newbery
Sherry Early Semicolon
Kim Baccellia
Melissa Fox Book Nut
Matthew Wigdahl The Book Club Shelf

Judges (Round II)

Kelly Herold Big A little a
Eric Berlin
J.L. Bell Oz and Ends
Kerry Millar Shelf Elf
Julie M. Prince Off to Turn Another Page

In the end, this book came out on top:   The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd.

Congratulations to all the winners, and a special thanks to everyone who works behind the scenes to make these awards happen!
 

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