In 2009 I had just finished this little verse novel of mine and was finding my way around the children's literature community on-line. I came across a post about a new author named Bridget Zinn. In the course of one week, she'd signed with agent Michael Stearns, gotten married, and been diagnosed with stage four colon cancer.
In 2010, I learned Bridget was also an Apocalypsie, a debut author whose book was slated to come out in 2012. And in May 2011 I read these words from Michel Stearns.
Last month, I learned her novel POISON, was finally ready to release. I'm happy to join in the celebration, honoring a person who, though I never met personally, has been a light in my writing life these last four years.
Here's to you, Bridget! So glad this day has come.
Sixteen-year-old Kyra, a highly-skilled potions master, is the only one who knows her kingdom is on the verge of destruction—which means she's the only one who can save it. Faced with no other choice, Kyra decides to do what she does best: poison the kingdom's future ruler, who also happens to be her former best friend.
But, for the first time ever, her poisoned dart…misses.
Now a fugitive instead of a hero, Kyra is caught in a game of hide-and-seek with the king's army and her potioner ex-boyfriend, Hal. At least she's not alone. She's armed with her vital potions, a too-cute pig, and Fred, the charming adventurer she can't stop thinking about. Kyra is determined to get herself a second chance (at murder), but will she be able to find and defeat the princess before Hal and the army find her?
Kyra is not your typical murderer, and she's certainly no damsel-in-distress—she's the lovable and quick-witted hero of this romantic novel that has all the right ingredients to make teen girls swoon.
Interested in ordering a copy? Start here!
Amazon
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Here are some books I hope to tackle in the coming months:
Random House Children's Books pressies -- thanks, Lisa Nadel!
Books on craft
IRA goodies
Some Class of 2k12 and Apocalypsies books
The Power of Habit - Charles Duhigg
Code Name Verity - Elizabeth Wein
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking - Susan Cain
What are you reading right now?
16 Comments on Navigating a Debut Year: Private Life, last added: 6/16/2012
Have you read these books? One lucky commenter will win a packet of Apocalypsies and Class of 2k12 bookmarks. Let's get a discussion going!
The Wicked and the Just - J. Anderson Coats
Cecily’s father moves her to Wales where she must put up with her brazen servant, Gwinny, where every interaction between the girls is loaded with more meaning than Cecily initially understands, where heartache on both sides forges a shaky unity, and where the unflinching storyline cannot leave the reader unchanged.
Love & Leftovers - Sarah Tregay
Yanked from home by her mother when her parents’ marriage crumbles and longing to understand love, Marcie embarks on an exploration of boys, friendship, affection, passion, and understanding in this smartly written verse novel.
Scarlet - A. C. Gaughen
Robin Hood’s right-hand man, Will Scarlet, is recast as a delightfully complex girl, who’s feisty and fierce and secretly loves Rob -- rollicking fun!
Chained - Lynne Kelly
I couldn’t resist letting CHAINED speak for itself:
"This must be what Ne Min meant about being brave. Never in my life have I been so afraid, but here I stand."
Under the Never Sky - Veronica Rossi
A sweeping glimpse of a dystopian world that is equally strong in story and style, Rossi’s characters force readers to examine the difference between living life and merely existing.
A Voice for Kanzas - Debra MacArthur
6 Comments on One Sentence Debut Reviews: Spring 2012, last added: 5/29/2012
YAY--Welcome to my stop on the YAmazing Race with MGnificent prizes, a blog hop featuring over 50 debut authors, and prize packs that include ARCs, gift certificates, swag, and more!
The race runs from Wednesday, May 2 at noon Eastern to Tuesday, May 8 at noon Eastern and the winners will be posted on the Apocalypsies website on Wednesday May 9th. If you haven’t yet been to the Apocalypsies website, please click
here to read the complete rules.
I'm part of the Killer Penguins team--and even though I'm not sure if that matters to you guys, I CAN'T resist posting a mascot photo:
Phew--I feel better now. Okay, on to the race!
Here's a little info about my 2012 debut (*hint* read carefully--you'll be quizzed on it later)
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Twelve-year-old Sophie Foster has a secret. She's a Telepath--someone who hears the thoughts of everyone around her. It's a talent she's never known how to explain.
Everything changes the day she meets Fitz, a mysterious boy who appears out of nowhere and also reads minds. She discovers there's a place she does belong, and that staying with her family will place her in grave danger. In the blink of an eye, Sophie is forced to leave behind everything and start a new life in a place that is vastly different from anything she has ever known.
Sophie has new rules to learn and new skills to master, and not everyone is thrilled that she has come “home.” There are secrets buried deep in Sophie's memory—secrets about who she really is and why she was hidden among humans—that other people desperately want. Would even kill for.
In this page-turning debut, Shannon Messenger creates a riveting story where one girl must figure out why she is the key to her brand-new world, before the wrong person finds the answer first. Coming October 2, 2012 from Simon and Schuster (Aladdin).
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My interview with 2011 debut author Danette Vigilante is up over at the Apocalypsies blog!
Danette's first novel is The Trouble with Half a Moon, a contemporary middle grade novel about a young girl's risky friendship with an abused little boy in a Brooklyn housing project. It's pulling in terrific reviews, and I can't wait to read it.
I hope you pick up Danette's book and read what she has to say about The Trouble with Half a Moon and her writing life!
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Great post and tribute!
It's lovely what you and the other bloggers are doing to honor Bridget and her book.