By: Casey (The Bookish Type),
on 9/7/2011
I was incredibly lucky to meet Nick James at the Teen Author Carnival and again where I formally introduced myself to him at BEA. Girls, this is a really cute, young author! He sent me an e-mail yesterday with the new cover of his book which, let me tell you is SO much better than what they had on there! Well here it is (and below will be his author photo, which you'll drool over. Move over Karsten! :)) I'm excited for this book by Flux!
You might not be aware that when this blog was created, the original group of posters agreed to keep it going for 843 days exactly. We had done some pretty complicated calculations on the shelf-life of a blog about speculative fiction for teens and pre-teens, with some assistance from several persons (and a robot) who arrived from the future to warn us about impending utopian conditions.
So here we are at Day 843, feeling compelled to say goodbye so that we can enjoy the sudden utopia we have been informed is about to be created on Earth. (We’ve been told there will be free iced coffee and several Harry Potter sequels for everyone.) We’d like to thank you, blog readers, for following us for so long (two and a half years! over 500 posts!). We’ve appreciated your comments and silent visits alike. We feel this has been a great opportunity to explore our thoughts on various topics important to us science fiction- and fantasy-lovers, and to chat with people we otherwise would never had known existed.
We hope that you will continue to visit us on other places on the web so that we can chat about books and hear your recommendations for what we should be reading and share thoughts about writing and publishing. You can find links to our websites here. Thanks, lovely blog readers, and Happy Reading!
This I AM NUMBER FOUR thing is a very interesting story — perhaps for all the wrong reasons, but interesting nonetheless. The book was sold in May of 2009 for a September 2010 release. Written by Pittacus Lore (a pen name for the team of controversial author James Frey and much younger co-writer Jobie Hughes), the book had a cool — and easily marketable — premise: teen aliens living on Earth hunted by the bad guys. It’s been done before, but it works. I could understand, especially given the author, why it was such a big deal. However, what I found especially interesting at the time was that in addition to buying the manuscript, they were going to adapt it into a movie scheduled for release only a few months after it landed in readers’ hands.
Because of the premise, and the curiosity factor, I picked up the book last September to give it a whirl. I only made it about halfway through (the writing wasn’t my cup of tea) and struggled to understand what the big deal was. Judging by other reader reviews, I wasn’t exactly alone. Still, being the movie nerd that I am, I went to the theater this week to see the adaptation. Yes, I gave it another chance to wow me. Sometimes these things take time, right?
Like with the book, I was under-whelmed… to say the least. It opened and closed with a whiz-bang intro and climax, but the middle was a long slog through Twilight-esque teenage romance, much like the book. I know, I know. I was a little foolish to expect something different.
This is my genre. I’m the guy they’re pitching this series towards, so why has it left me cold? And what did they see in this manuscript back in 2009? Was it nothing more than name recognition? Marketability? Plenty of huge books come out each year without attached movie deals (Michael Bay movie deals, to boot). What convinced the head honchos to put so much behind an unproven series, by a known (but not in this genre) author, when there are so many other long-standing YA sci-fi series begging for this kind of movie deal? I mean, ARTEMIS FOWL, MAXIMUM RIDE. I get those. This I AM NUMBER FOUR thing is just a head scratcher. And to cap off its story, the movie version under-performed at the box office. What does this all mean folks? (I ask in all honesty because typing up this post has made me even more confused!)
Nick, who wants to be Number 500. Nice, clean, and minimal chance of dying by evil alien hands.
Alright, this will be the most shameless post I’ve written, and I promise not to make a habit out of it, but it’s not every day you get to reveal the cover for your book… especially your debut. So I wanted to share with you my awesome, hot-off-the-presses cover for the first book in my Skyship Academy series. It will be released in September of this year, and I’m very excited!
I’ve set up a facebook fan page to keep readers in the loop. I’ve got lots of fun stuff planned, so make sure to “like” it!
There’s also more information about the book on my newly launched website.
Finally, I want to link back to my Spectacle debut, an interview I did with Joni last March.
As a closing note, I’ve got to say that working with my publisher, Flux, on this cover was an absolute joy. I was allowed input from the start and they updated throughout the process, from the initial comp (a sort of rough draft idea of the concept) to the final version.
I debated about this post since there have been quite a few others on this blog that are pretty similar, but this is a question that I’ve been thinking about in my own writing of late and I think it’s worth revisiting from a writer’s (and reader’s) perspective with a slightly different bent. I’d imagine the answer’s more than a little subjective, dependent on individual fears.
So, my question:
What makes a character (in particular, a villain) truly scary? What traits–physical or emotional–give you chills?
As a jumping off point, here are the top ten scariest children’s book villains as voted on by 600 adult readers (surveyed by Penguin Books around this time last year). I wonder, do they have anything in common?
1. White Witch (The Chronicles of Narnia by C S Lewis – 1950)
2. Captain Hook (Peter Pan by J M Barrie – 1904)
3. The Grand High Witch (The Witches by Roald Dahl – 1983)
4. Wicked Stepmother (Snow White by Brothers Grimm – 1810)
5. Cruella de Vil (The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith – 1956)
6. Voldemort (Harry Potter books by J K Rowling – 1997)
7. The Child Catcher (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by Ian Fleming though in the1968 film not book)
8. Miss Trunchbull (Matilda by Roald Dahl – 1988)
9. The Wolf (Red Riding Hood by Brothers Grimm – 1810)
10. Long John Silver (Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson – 1883)
(Link)
Nick, who always enjoys a good scare.
As I begin to amp up for my debut to be released later next year, thoughts have definitely turned to promotion. That’s why I was delighted to run across this interview with Kevin Smokler, co-founder and CEO of BookTour.com.
It’s a lengthy interview, and will probably appeal more to authors than readers, but it’s well worth sitting down and having a listen. To borrow an over-used phrase from Oprah, there’s a veritable parade of “ah-ha” moments here.
I think the word “promotion” sends a shiver down many people’s backs. At its worst, it connotes a situation where an author is more or less trying to shove a product down readers’ throats. Very few people want to feel like salesmen. And not everybody is skilled in that area. That’s why Kevin’s definition struck me so strongly.
Promotion, he says, is primarily “an opportunity to meet people who are interested in your book and thank them for their interest.” Or, more succinctly, it’s “an expression of gratitude and graciousness.”
Kind of turns the whole thing on its head, right? Having this philosophy as a framework for promotion is the way to go, I think. Not only does it feel better for the promoter, but it’s gotta feel better for possible readers, too.
What do you guys think? Is this your promotion philosophy or do you see it differently?
– Nick James
I recently stumbled upon this article and thought it was too interesting not to share. People are always talking about new publishing models when it comes to the book business. And while this one probably won’t revolutionize the industry, it deserves a mention just because it’s so cool.
To summarize, the article focuses on Concord Free Press, a new publishing house recently launched in the US. It acts like any other publishing house, except its books are free. Readers can head to the publisher’s website and order a book of their choice.
But here’s where the generosity part comes into play. Readers who order a book also commit to donating to a charity of their choice. It’s all honor system, dependent on the kindness of their readers. And it’s pretty awesome.
What surprised me the most is that this isn’t some little company run out of a garage somewhere. This is the real deal. It’s overseen by an advisory of writers, including Joyce Carol Oates, Russell Banks, Megan Abbott and Gregory Maguire, and goes through all the steps any other book at a big publishing house would. And these aren’t ebooks, either. These are physical, hold-in-your-hand books.
What do you guys think?
Read more about it here.
Nick thinks this this model is just perfect for the holiday season.
The looming presence of Halloween has me reminiscing about the very first series of books that gripped me as a child. I’ll be showing my youth here, but in 3rd-6th grade there was nothing better than R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps books. They were quick to finish and filled with cliffhangers — perfect for a somewhat reluctant reader such as myself.
They’re still popular today, though they’ve apparently gone through several iterations since that initial copy of Welcome to Dead House found its way into my hands back in 1992. Whenever I work in libraries, kids are constantly asking for “scary stories,” and although some of these books are approaching their 20th anniversary, Goosebumps remains the go-to series for elementary school students looking for a safe scare.
This got me thinking: is there a current series like this — a fantasy/horror mix for the mid-grade set — that’s even comparable in popularity? I’m not sure there is. There are many for younger readers (minus the horror element). The Magic Tree House and Secrets of Droon books seem to be especially popular. But what we’re missing right now is a solid mid-grade fantasy/sci-fi/horror series. Trends come in cycles, for sure, and it seems like these types of books had their last big heyday in the 90’s (the Animorphs series also comes to mind), before the age of the weighty Harry Potter-esque tomes took over. But it seems to me that there’s a hole in the market. Maybe it’s time for a Goosebumps-style comeback.
Nick fondly remembers the first chapter book he “read in a day.” Goosebumps. Why I’m Afraid of Bees, to be exact.
Before getting a published, I created a music blog. Four years later, and I still post almost daily. Me being me, I relate things heavily to music, both in life and fiction.
Yet I find it very difficult to write with music playing. The quieter, the better. I’m easily distracted that way. Still, music is a huge influence in my writing (and in my reading, too). I often construct mental soundtracks for books I’m writing or reading. Nothing creates mood like music.
For sci-fi, it’s gotta be symphonic, synth-flavored rock music. Something like Muse, before they went all Twilight. Dramatic, electronic sweeps. Lots of crescendos. I’m all about the drama. Or, for those more thoughtful books… icy, moody electronica.
I know a number of writers are into this, even posting a tracklist for the “soundtrack” to their work on their website or blog. So I wonder, what music do you associate with different spec-fic books? The Hunger Games? Ender’s Game? Feed? And what about you published authors? Is there a song or songs that influence your work? And do you work with music playing? I’ve known writers who crank up instrumental soundtracks while drafting action scenes. I’ve never tried that personally, but it could be an interesting experiment.
Nick lives in a world where growing up and becoming an author is every bit as cool as being a rockstar.
James Cameron is about to re-release his hit film Avatar to theaters with added footage, which got me thinking about bonus features in books — things like “deleted scenes” (aka: extra chapters), maps/diagrams, character profiles, etc. Not as many books include this kind of stuff as I’d expect, especially given the all-access world we live in now.
It seems like sci-fi and fantasy are the genres best tailored to this. The opportunity to improve a reader’s experience by including bonus features is unlimited. Personally, I love when publishers include detailed maps or diagrams that help flesh out the world of the story. But I imagine this might annoy other readers who want to visualize everything themselves.
And what about deleted scenes? I know that when I write, I end up cutting scenes that don’t move the plot forward. They may offer a further glance into the characters’ world, but stall the pace I’m aiming for. Outside of the main story, I’d imagine scenes like this could deepen the experience, especially in books and series lucky enough to gain a rabid following. Readers would have a chance to “live in the world” a little longer.
Then again, maybe this is something best kept in the realm of fan fiction. What do you guys think? Are you a fan of bonus features in books, or do they annoy you?
Nick James thinks he would devour an entire tome of bonus scenes from Harry Potter, and he wouldn’t be the only one.
I came across this NYT essay from my publisher, who recently shared it on facebook. With Mockingjay out in a few weeks, I think we’ll be seeing a lot of essays/articles like this. In fact, this one starts out mentioning that very book.
Y.A. lit (both spec. fic and not) is being read more and more widely by adults. We all know this, and I am certainly one of those adults (in fact, I read Y.A. almost exclusively). What interested me most about this essay were some of the reasons given for the genre’s success. I found myself agreeing wholeheartedly. Here are a few examples quoted, though the entire thing‘s worth a read:
“Good Y.A. is like good television. There’s a freshness there; it’s engaging. Y.A. authors aren’t writing about middle-aged anomie or disappointed people.”
“A lot of contemporary adult literature is characterized by a real distrust of plot. I think young adult fiction is one of the few areas of literature right now where storytelling really thrives.”
“There’s a timelessness to the period. These books are far from you, yet are also the same as you.”
And here are some pretty staggering statistics:
“47 percent of 18- to 24-year-old women and 24 percent of same-aged men say most of the books they buy are classified as young adult.”
“Today, nearly one in five 35- to 44-year-olds say they most frequently buy Y.A. books. For themselves.”
What do you guys think? What percentage of your reading falls into the Y.A. category?
Source: New York Times – http://nyti.ms/c3l3EM
(essay by Pamela Paul) Nick James looks forward to the day when adults stop flashing him weird looks when he professes to reading “kid books.”
As a substitute teacher, I have the pleasure of meeting thousands of kids each year. In addition to being a nonstop inspiration for stories and dialogue, I get to talk to kids about books. What they’re reading, what they like, etc.
I was recently in a fifth grade classroom (filled with some tremendous writers, I must add) and took a few minutes to pick their brains about sci-fi/fantasy. Here are some of the responses they came up with:
What’s your favorite sci-fi/fantasy book or series?
Most popular by a mile: Erin Hunter’s Warrior series (and its many offspring). These books are huge in schools! Artemis Fowl, The Lightning Thief, Pendragon and Gossamer also received notable mentions.
What draws you to sci-fi/fantasy?
Adventure, mystery and comedy were big draws, and almost every student noted that they liked using their imaginations and experiencing a world where anything could happen. Though one boy expressed his opinion pretty succinctly: “Fights. Lots of fights.”
What type of sci-fi/fantasy book do you wish there was more of?
I’m gonna throw a lot out there because these answers really interested me:
fairies, practical stories about vampires, aliens, cryptids, steampunk, bounty hunters, “comedy in the future”, werewolves, book/video combos (à la Skeleton Creek), “animals with unrealistic powers”, fight scenes, twists, “plants that glow” (receiving more than one mention!), cryptids, no romance (a backlash against Twilight and its ilk, perhaps?).
Most of these received more than one mention.
What elements make up a good sci-fi/fantasy story?
“intense” plot twists
inner dialogue/feeling
great characters
ups and downs (so you don’t know where the story’s going)
So there you go, straight from the source!
Nick James remembers fondly his fifth grade year, hijacked by one R.L. Stine. It was dang near an obsession.
This is pretty neat! Sounds pretty cool and love that picture used. :) Thanks for sharing.