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Publisher: Dutton (September 16, 2010)
Hardcover: 208 Pages
Book from Traveling Arc Tours

From Goodreads. A fable of a terrifying near future by critically acclaimed author Elizabeth Scott.

Grace was raised to be an Angel, a herald of death by suicide bomb. But she refuses to die for the cause, and now Grace is on the run, daring to dream of freedom. In search of a border she may never reach, she travels among malevolent soldiers on a decrepit train crawling through the desert. Accompanied by the mysterious Kerr, Grace struggles to be invisible, but the fear of discovery looms large as she recalls the history and events that delivered her uncertain fate.

Told in spare, powerful prose, this tale of a dystopian near future will haunt readers long after they've reached the final page.

Review
GRACE, by Elizabeth Scott, is a quick dystopian read that will keep you thinking about it for days after. The synopsis on the ARC I received did not do this book justice. When I read "Angel" I think white wings, pure heart, and fighting for the good guys.  This book was the farthest thing away from my initial idea.

The Angels in this book are chosen to be suicide bombers in a society that is ruled by a dictator. Our fearful heroine does the unthinkable and lives after her mission is complete. She tries to escape from her past and finds many surprises along the way. Scott's prose was very moving and I loved how she weaved snippets of Grace's life during the main story of her escape.

Although my expectations weren't met from my initial reaction of the story, I thought this was a great book and so beautifully written. The plot is horrible to think about but it definitely brings out emotion in each precise word.

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Let’s see. Federal public servant by day (blech!), and by night, online magazine founder and editor, writer, jewelry designer, spiritual advisor, home renovator, gardener, singer, guitar & piano player. Mom to 3 twenty-somethings (I started young!) and step-mom to a twelve year old. Oh, and primary caregiver of 2 cats, 2 rats, 3 Koi fish, and 1 frog. And might I boldly add Wife Extraordinaire.

I am 47, looking forward to 48, and 49, and 50, and …well, you get the idea.

You've started a new online magazine, please tell us all about it

I have been blogging on Silver & Grace for over a year, and in that year have met many talented writers who are as passionate about promoting aging gracefully as I am. I’m all about building community, so it was a natural progression for me to bring together all these writers into a single community.

We officially launch on October 4th – I am so excited! Each Monday, I will post an editorial on the week’s articles. Tuesday through Friday will feature articles of interest to women over 40.

What made you decide to start Silver & Grace?

One word - perimenopause! I was blogging under the pen name of the Urban Panther, and I found I was spending more and more time exploring the changes going on in my body, mind and spirit.

I wanted to face all these changes with informed grace. This meant reading everything in sight, and conversing with my ‘sisters’. Next thing I knew, Silver & Grace was born, and a community of like-minded women evolved.

Do you take freelance writing? How does one go about submitting?

I most certainly do! Just drop me a line at [email protected] and I will send you all the details.

What are you particularily interested in seeing?

First and foremost the articles must be targeted to the needs of women over 40. Beyond that the articles fall under the following categories: Relationships; Health & Wellness; Finance; Fashion & Style; Technology; Career & Business.

Are you a paying market?

As in, do I pay for submitted articles? Oh my, as an unpaid wr

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Thanks for sharing your stories!

They were hilarious....

The winner of their very own Glass Slipper is

MPAX


Congrads email me at [email protected] and I will get you in touch with Kay!

What makes a Winner?

I was on a kidlitchat the other night and something someone said really struck a chord with me.

The topic was - "what makes a book a winner?"

People were saying voice, plot, hook, characters, setting etc.

Then someone chimed in with, "You have a winner, when you get an offer."

If we were in a room, the room would have gone silent. At least 10 seconds went by where not one comment came through the chat. As if tweetdeck had crashed....again!

Now, my initial reaction was "you got that right!" I mean, if an agent doesn't offer representation or if an editor doesn't buy a book - than obviously the book is not a winner, right? That's how most of us feel right? Am I alone?

But then, surprisingly, an editor chimed in first and said, "So if an editor doesn't buy your book, then you don't think your books a winner anymore?"

I don't know why but that comment made me sit up in bed. (yes I am a lazy chatter! I lay down and chat while watching tv.)

I thought about it more. All night in fact.

I started thinking about a book I put down a year ago. A book close to my heart. A book I love. A book that I really thought was a winner.

I put that book aside to focus on my tween angel story because I felt it was more marketable.

Now that the book is off my plate, I've been contemplating what book to focus on next. I went through my idea document and picked a couple. Started a couple. And for some reason, during this time, I didn't really think about the book I love. That book was somehow and for some reason - still on the back burner. Why was I not focusing on Grace? After all, I had several agent offers of rep on Grace. Grace was developed - flaws and all. Grace had evolved so much. Grace got me my agent.

Had I given up on it? Had I given up on a winner?

This morning, as I was doing the dishes, I started to cry. (yes I am emotional that way. And it wasn't over the crusted overnight dishes.) Over the crusted spaghetti and old oatmeal, 'it hit me.

Over the last year, I've lost my way a little.

You see once you get an agent, you no longer write for yourself. And I can imagine that only gets harder and harder as you move through the process. Get an editor, deal with marketing, sell to stores. Now your agent needs to love the book as much as you. You are a team. Their reputation is on the line as well as your career. When an agent takes you on - they are stamping their name on you professionally. I don't care what anyone says, your agent must like your work

Somewhere along the way, I started writing for my agent, for editors, for submission, for everyone

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And now I give you my trailer :) You can check out the blurb of the book on the side of my blog.
Let me know what you think!!!






Marketing Muse: Inexpensive Book trailers
Onetruemedia.com is where you can make your book movie trailer. I have had some emails about book trailers and thought I would show a sample of what you can do for little money and time. I personally think it is great for any author to have one - if they have a completed book they are subbing. It is a marketing tool prepubulished authors may be able to use to get an agent/editor (especially if they visit blogs) and published authors to add to a multi-media marketing campaign.

My Book Trailer Stats:

• Total time: about 10-12 hours total (includes finding pictures, choosing page elements, posting, testing, building)
• Features: you can upload photos, choose how your pics move, choose to zoom, and enter captions.
• Positives: cheap, easy, fun, cool way to promote your book!!
• Negatives: on the free version, the water mark interferes with words and advertises the web site. You also cant do some music or captions on the free acct
• Reasons to upgrade - if you want no watermarks and you want captions. The free one is fine if you just want photos and music.
• Making it was free at Onetruemedia.com . If you want to upgrade for different fonts/layouts - it is 4$ a month. (i did the free one so you could see the cheapest version)
• Total cost: 45$ for 6 months - including 20$ (1$ a piece) for photos at istockphoto.com, 24$ for 6 months of a Premium account (3.99 a month b/c I wanted captions!) and 1$ for music file at itunes.com.
• NOTE: If you test a book trailer and start using it to sell an actual product - you will need to check licenmsing/copyright issues with the pictures and music. They are all different.
  
  UPDATE:
  
  I just found out that Purple Clover's book trailer was also done at OneTruemedia.com and it was FREE (again, i wanted captions which upped the price with an upgrade :) Go check it out. This gives you a range of what you can do between 0$ to 50$ for your own book trailer.
  
  Someone sent me a question offline and i wanted to address it.
  
  "If you are not published, why would you want to do a book trailer? And what is the benefit? How would you use it if you were published or unpublished?"
  
  OK here goes - 1) Most people (especially kids!) are visually-oriented meaning, that is how they connect to things, 2nd is tactile (touching) and 3rd is auditory (which is where reading would fall).
  
  2) you can put in on your web sites and blogs to hopefully attrack an agents' or publisher's attention. I would bet if one of them came ot your site - they would be more apt to watch a one minute video than read about your book on the side of your blog.
  
  3) When you get published, it is just one other marketing tool. You can use it at book signings to mkae them multi-media which kids love. Technically from a marketing standpoint, you want to hit 3 of the 5 senses.
  
  let me know if you have any more questions!

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When subbing you novel, I've always heard you should include a comparison for books or movies in your pitch.

I have been trying to think of mine for Grace as I send it out into the agent querying world.

I want it to be commercial enough yet unique enough. I have good things to use but they don't seem known enough.

In a nutshell - Grace Under Fire is about a small-town teen who gets caught up in a big-time drama. After her ranger father goes missing, Grace is determined to uncover the truth, convinced someone is hunting on his animal santuary. She uses her self defense moves and wilderness training to uncover a local conspiracy that threatens her family, the nature of her beloved North Carolina Mountains, and her chance at first love. (you can see the longer pitch on the side.)

So what do you think? Here are a few I have been tossing around but are they too obsure?

Grace Under Fire is a Sammy Keyes and the Wild Things for teens.

Grace Under Fire is like James Hall's Gone Wild meets Nancy Drew.

Grace Under Fire is like James Hall's Gone Wild meets Veronica Mars.

Grace Under Fire is where Carl Hiassen meets Sammy Keyes.

Grace Under Fire is where Thoreau meets Sammy Keyes (is this too cheesy)

I think I need to relate it to wilderness/nature/environment but still bring out the teen love and mystery/suspense elements.

Thoughts?

Help!

If I pick yours, I will give you 1 free hour of marketing/brand brainstorming. I'll keep this up until my interview goes live on Monday!

Can any of you think of a nature sleuth for kids?

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When you get on Amazon - you've made it to the big time - RIGHT???

Holy crap guys!

I made it to the Quarterfinals at the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award!!!

You can go here and read my first chapter. They posted it (copyright me of course). It is so weird to see it online.

Please comment! I'll give you 10 extra points if you read it and comment on it!! Id love your feedback.


Publisher's Weekly is the next round.

The first round was decided by Sue Grafton (OMG I love here!) and Sue Monk Kidd.

They chose the top 500 out of 10,000 entries!!

I am 1 out of 78 in the Thriller/Suspense Category.

You'd think I'd won the lottery. Or got an agent. Or a 4 book deal! ;)

Right now, I get to use the little symbol and add it to a resume. But hey, I'll take it. It is one more confirmation for me that I am on the right track.

Only 499 to go! :)

My hands are shaking.

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When I first started writing my book - almost 2 years ago - I needed a name for my character who was tough yet soft. To me, everything is in a name. Names give you feelings about a person before you even know them. It's funny how names fit people, isn't it.

I immediately thought of the name Grace but Grace was one of the names we had on our list for kids. We almost called my daughter Grace but she ended up a Madelyn (Maddy) - which suits her perfectly. I always loved the name Grace and what it stood for. But decided to save it for my next baby, b/c I was prego at the time. That was, until I found out my baby was a boy, who we named Gray (close to Grace :)

That left Grace fair game.

A few months after I started getting to know Grace and her story, I came across this beautiful U2 song that totally inspired my book and its core message of love and overcoming evil. When I came acorss this video - it touched me deeply. (FYI - the first girl crying with mascara running is Grace! It is so wierd! Wish I knew her name.)

I use this song when am beefing up details around Grace's character. She is a tough cookie and this song helps me keep an underlying femininity to her that she has yet to explore.

Some lyrics:
Grace
It's a name for a girl
It's also a thought that changed the world.
And when she walks on the street.
You can hear the strings,
Grace finds goodness in everything

What once was hurt
What once was friction
What left a mark
No longer stings
Because grace makes beauty
Out of ugly things
Grace makes beauty out of ugly things

Enjoy!

How did you come up with names for your characters?

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Those who know me know that I write to music. (this along with lots of gum and MMs and coffee and coke zero. ugh!)

I know it seems crazy but it's true! Maybe it is my ADHD. But I write better with noise.

So - that's how Grace Under Fire came to be. Thanks to a list of great songs. I have completed that book and already working on book 2: A Blazing Grace.

I have a playlist for each book I am working on. And a song that represents the essence of each chapter - that gives me a vibe of what the chapter is about. So if I am writing on that chapter - I listen to that song. Now, I only use this when I just want to get a chapter down on paper and I don't want to think about editing or cliches. Once I am working a chapter to death, in detail. I usually listen to some form of instrumental music with no words.

I thought I could start sharing my playlist songs with you.

Here's is the one I writing to today - "Let me go" by Cake.

be prepared to bounce. Though the song is not truly happy, the beat it.

Enjoy!

PS I am so proud I figured out how to do this. Man I am computer savvy. :)



This one is not on my playlist but it was too cute to pass up. :) This country gonna have a Par-ty!

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If you’re a children’s writer, is the children’s educational market for you?

Take the following quiz from Rita Milios to find out.

Answer each of the following questions as honestly as you can:

1. Are you an “information junkie?”

a) Definitely. I love discovering new information, reflecting on new ideas and broadening my scope of expertise.
b) Sort of. I enjoy discovering new information and ideas, but I value my own ideas just as much.
c) I really don’t care that much about information; I create mainly from my own imagination.

2. What does it mean to you to share ideas with children and shape their learning?

a) I view this as a big responsibility and therefore I feel the need to consider carefully everything that I write for them.
b) I recognize that a responsibility exists, but expect editors to be the ones responsible for the educational aspect of a writing project.
c) I really don’t feel any special responsibility; I just write what I write and let the market figure out how it fits.

3. How often do you write on assignment?

a) Often. Assignment writing is my main method of working. I enjoy it.
b) Only occasionally, but I would like to do more. I enjoy it.
c) Never. I prefer to make my own schedule and execute my own ideas.

4. How closely do you follow writer’s guidelines?

a) I realize that they are crucial; therefore I read them carefully and follow them exactly.
b) I view them as suggestions; if they fit my plan I follow them, but I feel free to adjust them as I see fit.
c) I really don’t consider these important; guidelines stifle my creativity, so I usually ignore them.

5. How much communication do you expect to have with an editor when you are writing on assignment?

a) I expect a fair amount of contact in the beginning, probably via guidelines and email updates, then less as the work goes on. But I do expect that I will be able to ask questions and have them replied to promptly.
b) I expect that an editor will be available to do a little “hand-holding” as I find my way through a project. If I have questions, I expect to be able to call an editor and get it answered right away.
c) I expect an editor to be train me (preferably via phone) in the specifics of a
project and to return all my phone calls promptly.

5. How flexible are you in working with editorial changes–project delays or crunches, changes in editorial direction, new components added to a project, etc?

a) I realize that changes in direction and new requirements are often a part of
such projects and I deal with them professionally-–doing what is asked as
promptly as possible, without complaining.
b) I realize that changes in direction and new requirements are often a part of
such projects and I try to deal with them professionally-, but I sometimes
feel obliged to let my editor know about my frustrations with such changes.
c) I feel that such changes are unacceptable and I will not make these kinds of adjustments. That is the job of the editor.

6. How comfortable are you with research and where do you find it?

a) Reputable research is vital, so I use only sources recognized as reliable (primary sources, academic materials, internet sites related to a college, institution or association that is regarded for its expertise in a field, etc.).
b) I recognize that reputable sources are important, and I use these; but I place equal value on more informal research such as blog posts and personal websites.
c) Google is the only source I ever need. I use whatever sites are returned as
the top sites in a Google search.

7. How important do you believe creativity is in education writing?

a) Creativity is extremely important. It is what separates great educational
writing from mediocre and is a expected by publishers today.
b) Creativity is helpful; when you have the flexibility to be more creative, it is good to incorporate it into the writing.
c) Creativity does not have much place in educational writing. Writing that is
mostly didactic and encyclopedic is perfectly acceptable.

8. Are you capable of (and enjoy) writing at various grade levels?

a) Definitely I can write equally well at a variety of grade levels, and I enjoy the challenge and creativity of such options.
b) I have written for at least a couple of different age levels and I am eager to learn the specific requirements for each grade level.
c) I only write for one age or grade level and do not want to add more.

9. Are you capable of (and enjoy) creating different kinds of materials–books, workbooks, quizzes, crafts, activities, flash chards, etc.?

a) I have created many of these in the past, and I know I can learn how to create others.
b) I have not done much of this kind of work, but I am willing and eager to learn how.
c) I never want to write anything other than the nonfiction articles or fiction
stories that I currently write.

10. How familiar are you with curriculum guidelines?

a) I know where to access different states’ curriculum guidelines, and have
used these for previous educational assignments.
b) I trust that I can find this information and am willing to spend some time learning how to use it in my educational writing,
c) What? This sounds too restrictive for me. I’m not interested in adhering to such guidelines.

****************************
Scoring: Give yourself 10 points for each “a” answer, 6 pints for each “b” answer and 3 points for each “c” answer. Total your score for all answers.

If your Total is 80-100 points, congratulations! You are definitely ready (or already on your way) to be an educational writer. You have the right combination of professional attitude, skills, knowledge, curiosity, and social responsibility to make a great children’s educational writer.

If your Total is between 60 and 80 points, good for you! You have the right attitude, curiosity and some of the skills and knowledge you’ll need to be a great children’s educational writer. You also have the willingness to learn and grow in your skills and knowledge in order to achieve your goal.

If your Total is between 40 and 60 points, you may need to work harder to accomplish your goal of writing for the children’s educational market. Look back at the questions you gave “c” answers to. Do these reflect an unwillingness to compromise or to be flexible? Do your answers indicate that you consider your personal independence as a creator of the utmost importance? If so, you may need to adjust this attitude and recognize that the requirements of educational writing, which is often based on assignments and detailed guidelines, is in its own way creative.

In addition, it can be very rewarding to work as a team player once in a while. If you can achieve this new perspective, you will be much more likely to make a good educational writer.

If your Total is less than 40 points, yikes! You have challenges ahead, should you choose to pursue the niche of children’s educational writing. Review the questions and suggestions in the above scoring and see if these may indicate to you some areas where you may wish to make adjustments. If not, then education writing may simply not be your cup of teas, after all.

*********************

To learn more about writing for the children’s educational markets, join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club today and attend a special LIVE teleclass today at 2:00 eastern time with
Rita Milios. Once you join the club, you will receive an email invitation to this event. Later, you will receive a link to a recording of this event so you can listen to it again any time you want.

childrens educational markets, Rita Milios, writing for children, Writing For Kids

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This Thursday, February 28 , 2008, at 2:00 p.m. eastern time, the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club will offer another exciting and informative teleclass for children’s writers.

Rita Milios will present session 1 in the Writing for Children’s Educational Markets Series - The Lucrative Educational Market: Where Do YOU Fit In?

Join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club today and find out on Thursday if writing for the educational markets is right for you.

When you join the club you will receive links to these other three teleclasses that were presented earlier this month:

Lila Guzman - Show Me the Money: Writing Biographies for Young Readers

Margot Finke - Picture (Book) Perfect

Simon Rose - Beyond Belief: Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy for Young Readers (part 1 of a 2 part teleclass)

Every month, club members are given the opportunity to attend 4 LIVE 55-minute teleclasses about some aspect of writing and publishing for children. Later, the links to these recorded classes are sent to all members, too.

Join the CWCC here.

Childrens Writers Coaching Club, educational markets, Lila Guzman, Margot Finke, Rita Milios, Simon Rose, writing for children

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Author Rita Milios has recently joined the faculty of the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club.

Welcome, Rita!

Rita Milios, author and workshop presenter, is also a practicing psychotherapist, freelance editor and a former instructor for a national writing school. Rita has published more than thirty books, both fiction and non-fiction, for children, adults, teachers and counselors for publishers including Pearson, Harcourt, Rosen, Glencoe, McGraw-Hill and others. She also writes articles and educational supplements and test assessment materials for educational publishers focusing on science, social issues, language arts, health and character development.

Rita’s books for children include Anorexia and Bulimia, Discovering Positive Thinking, Sleeping and Dreaming. Many of Rita’s books appear on teacher recommendation lists.

Milios is a long-time member of SCBWI, the Association of Journalists and Authors and the National Speakers Association.

Click below to join the Children’s Writers Coaching Club with Rita<!--Begin--->

The Children’s Writers
Coaching Club


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Childrens Writers Coaching Club, National Writing for Children Center, Rita Milios

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We have an exciting lineup of guest authors this week on Book Bites for Kids, our LIVE radio show at blogtalkradio.com.

Monday, our guest will be YA novelist, Anne Gray, author of Rites of the Healer.

Sumach Press (Gray’s publisher) says, “Anne Gray creates a fascinating alternative world where the descendants of interplanetary colonists have built their society in a rich fusion of advanced technologies and ancient traditional ways of life. Sixteen-year-old Dovella is an engineering apprentice of great potential and talent, though her true vocation is for healing, for which she has a rare and extraordinary Gift. In four days, she is to go through the most important ceremony of her life, the Rites of the Healer, to join the ranks of the Healer’s Guild.”

On Tuesday’s show our guest will be Sally Rogow, author of They Must Not Be Forgotten (Heroic Priests and Nuns Who Saved People from the Holocaust), and Faces of Courage (Young Heroies of WWII).

On Wednesday, children’s author C.S. Larsen drops by to talk about his books and stories for children.

Stacey Kannenberg, coauthor (with Linda Desimowich) of the Let’s Get Ready series of books for young children and their parents is our guest for Thursday’s show.

On Friday, we’ll be talking with children’s author Rita Milios.

Listen to Book Bites for Kids LIVE every weekday afternoon at 2:00 (CST) or call in and ask questions or make comments by dialing 1-646-716-9239.

Anne Gray, author interview, blogtalkradio, Book Bites for Kids, C.S. Larsen, Rita Milios, Sally Rogow, Stacey Kannenberg

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