How to use this Page

Hey guys! Hannah here. Last month, I posted some tips on little ways to take your query out of the blah zone. JJ and Kelly also posted an awesome podcast on the query process.

When giving query advice, a lot of us take for granted that you’ll know what we mean when we tell you a query must have a short synopsis of your story. We also take for granted that you’ll figure out how to do this in 300 words or fewer. I’d like to talk a bit more about what goes into creating a good, cohesive summary that will entice an agent to read more in just a few paragraphs.

You’ve probably seen a lot of advice that tells you a good query is comprised of a hook followed by a summary of your story, ending with a bio and a few sentences on why you chose the agent you are querying. Structurally, this is sound. But when you have a sprawling epic with many perspectives, or even a quietly complex contemporary, it can be tough to know how best to distill your story into a summary that makes sense.

What I usually see in the slush is this: a summary that goes over many of the big points in the plot but rushes through due to lack of page space and direction. The agent reading might miss key plot points, or have no idea what that made-up word is. Maybe the summary began too deep into the story, and the agent is confused by the list of events. These questions are distracting for a query reader, and can bring them out of a query quick.

So how do you summarize your novel and do it well? We have a tendency to think we must somehow shove the entire plot into this tiny space. But that isn’t actually the case. The best summaries (even the sprawling, epic ones) contain these: your inciting incident, your main conflict, the plan, and the stakes.

Before we get into the summary, let’s talk about the hook. There are two reasons why your hook is so important. Number one: It’s the hook! Okay, that one is obvious. It’s designed to give agents a peak into your character that entices them into reading more. Number two: if done well, it should help you cut huge swaths of fluff from your summary.

A good hook tells us about the character and the conflict in one go. I’m taking this example of a hook from Erin Bowman’s post Querying: The Do’s and Don’ts (thanks, Erin!), to show you what I mean:

Gray Weathersby is counting down the days until his eighteenth birthday with dread, for in the primitive and isolated town of Claysoot, a boy’s eighteenth is marked not by celebration, but by  his disappearance.

We know who the main character is, we know something personal about him when the book opens, and we know what his conflict is going to be. I’m intrigued to keep reading.

Next: What is an inciting incident? This is that moment when the status quo is no more, and the character is forced to take action. This is a step I often see skipped in queries, resulting in a strangely disjointed summary.

Figure out what the inciting moment is for your character, and tell us about it. For example, a precious jewel is stolen from a museum—this is the catalyst for the Private Eye to enter the picture and solve the mystery. Or, your protagonists loses her job and instead of applying elsewhere, chooses to fulfill a dream and travel the world. Tell me about the moment when everything your character thought she knew is turned on its head.

Now that your character has been called to action, tell us what needs to be accomplished. This is where you flesh out your conflict. We don’t need each and every detail; just enough to show us what the protagonist must overcome. The P.I. must now solve the mystery of the stolen diamond—but a nefarious gang will stop at nothing, including murder, to prevent it from happening. And, the more the P.I. digs, the more he unearths about a political conspiracy (give some detail on that conspiracy) attached to the diamond theft. The World Traveler has all of her money stolen in a foreign country. The hostel where she was staying burns down with all of her worldly possessions. Maybe she, too, stumbles into a political conflict she knows nothing about.

So what are your characters going to do about it? They have decisions to make. These decisions are informed by the stakes. For a lowly P.I., getting in the middle of a nefarious gang AND a political conspiracy might not be worth it. So tell me why he gets involved anyway. Is he blackmailed? Does he have a personal tie to a person or plan within the gang or the conspiracy? Tell us why he MUST solve the murder, and what is at stake for him if he doesn’t. For the World Traveler who has lost everything, tell us how she plans to get home, what she must sacrifice to do it, and what happens if she fails. Is her father dying back home? Is her sister getting married? Is her house set for demolition? Why is it important for her to overcome this conflict?

A note on fantasy: it’s very tempting to try and give all the backstory about the world, its magical systems, its government, or its religion. These are things you’ve worked hard on – your story is not the same without these elements. But if character IS story (and it is), then the most important thing is to make us understand your character’s struggle at the most basic level. Leave the made-up words and the complicated hierarchies out of the query.

When you look at the summary in this way, you can see that even sprawling epics can be broken down into short summaries. These components make up the heart of the story, and that’s what an agent wants to see in a query.

I hope this has been useful! If anyone is interested in a Part Three, let me know below!

 

Add a Comment

Huzzah, huzzah, huzzah, it’s finally here!

If you guys have been living under a rock, then you might not have heard of Erin’s awesome new YA Western pitched as True Grit meets the legend of the Lost Dutchman. I’ve wanted this book ever since I read the synopsis:

Vengeance Road

Welcome to the Wild West.

When Kate Thompson’s father is killed by the notorious Rose Riders for a mysterious journal that reveals the secret location of a gold mine, the eighteen-year-old disguises herself as a boy and takes to the gritty plains looking for answers and justice. What she finds are devious strangers, dust storms, and a pair of brothers who refuse to quit riding in her shadow. But as Kate discovers more about her family’s secrets, she gets closer to the truth about herself and must decide if there’s room for love in a heart so full of hate.

In the spirit of True Grit, this novel makes the cutthroat days of the Wild West come to life for a new generation.

If that doesn’t make you want to read this, then just check out this trailer!

If you’re still not convinced, then look at the heaps of praise piled on to Vengeance Road!

★ An unflinchingly bloody tale of the Wild West…Thoroughly engrossing.

—Publishers Weekly, starred review

A vivid portrait of a lawless world…The book demands the same stoicism from its readers as the heroine herself possesses.

—School Library Journal

Refreshingly believable. Readers will be entranced by Bowman’s swiftly paced, romantic revenge drama.

—Booklist

Fast-paced [and] entertaining.

—VOYA

A story of grit, love, and deadly revenge that climbs off the page and into your heart–saddle up for a thrilling, harrowing ride!

—Alexandra Bracken, NYT bestselling author of The Darkest Minds trilogy

Vengeance Road is a page-turning, unputdownable story of revenge. Bowman paints a thrilling, vivid picture of 1877 Arizona, and Kate is a heroine to be reckoned with.

—Jessica Spotswood, author of The Cahill Witch Chronicles

Gritty and honest, Vengeance Road captures the heart of the Wild West.

—Mindy McGinnis, author of Not a Drop to Drink

A take-no-prisoners heroine with a bloody debt to settle. I’m still breathing in the dust and hot Arizona sun.

—Megan Shepherd, author of The Madman’s Daughter

Relentlessly readable, Vengeance Road is a perfect western. You won’t be able to turn in until you get to the very last page!

—Saundra Mitchell, author of The Springsweet

Flinty and fierce, Kate is a formidable addition to the pantheon of tough young adult heroines. Her story and voice crackles to life.

—A.C. Gaughen, author of the Scarlet trilogy

Gold madness, a good-for-nothing posse, and frontier justice: Vengeance Road is everything you could want in a Western.

Jodi Meadows, author of the Incarnate trilogy

Vengeance Road had a bit of everything I love most in storytelling: a kick-butt heroine, life-or-death stakes, action to make my heart pound, and morals that go gray around the edges. This is the kind of book I’ll re-read again and again.

—Susan Dennard, author of the Something Strange and Deadly series

PLUS, Vengeance Road is one of PW’s Picks of the Week!

Based on all the excitement over Erin’s cover reveal, I know I’m not the only one dancing to read this. I love a good western. Growing up in California, my family history was shaped by the Wild West, gold mining, and cattle ranching, and the cowboy mystique holds some shiny for me still. I can’t WAIT to share this book with y’all!

To celebrate Erin’s release, I am giving away one hardcover copy of Vengeance Road. Tweet us a message, visit our Facebook page, add to your Goodreads shelves, or leave us a comment letting us know what your favourite Western is! Contest open until September 8, 2015 (sorry, US only!).

CONGRATS, ERIN!!!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ERIN BOWMAN is a YA writer, letterpress lover, and Harry Potter enthusiast living in New Hampshire. Her Taken trilogy is available from HarperTeen, and her new book Vengeance Road is out now from HMH. You can visit Erin’s blog (updated occasionally) or find her on Twitter (updated obsessively).

ALSO! Two other PubCrawlers (one current, one alumna) also have books/novellas out today! Congrats to Jodi Meadows for the release of The Glowing Knight (an Orphan Queen novella) and Sarah J. Maas for the release of Queen of Shadows!

Add a Comment

I'm reading an ARC (advanced reader copy) of Erin Bowman's Vengeance Road. 

Here's my notes as I pick up and start to read Vengeance Road. Summary is in standard font. My questions, comments, observations are in italics.

Notes on August 23, 2015

The front cover: Cactus, skulls (human and animal), pistols.

Debbie's thoughts: This is a western. 

The back cover: Blurb tells me the story is about 18 year old Kate Thompson. Her father is killed "for a journal that reveals the secret location of a gold mine."

Debbie's thoughts: Hmmm... an old west story, something to do with gold mines. Anytime a story is about the west and mining, I wonder if it'll include the fact that those mines were on Native homelands. I wonder if it'll include the violence Native peoples endured by those who staked claim to those homelands. 

The map that appears on two pages, after the title, CIP, and dedication pages: Dated "Arizona Territory, 1877.

Debbie's thoughts: I don't see any Native spaces on the map. It has things like "Thompson Homestead" but I think it is fair to say the map erases Native presence from their homelands. Obviously, we're talking about point of view. I wonder who made the map? Was it made by someone in the story? Carlos Montezuma was born, in Arizona, around 1866. He was afraid to be kidnapped. By then, Native peoples were doing all they could to protect their homelands, AND, protect their families from being abducted and forced to work in mines. I'll need to get Ned Blackhawk's book, Violence Over the Land, out again if I need/want to say more about this! 

Chapter 1

Kate (the protagonist) is at the river "yanking a haul" on her Pa's plot of land, which she calls "the best plot of land 'long Granite Creek" (p. 1).

Debbie's thoughts: wondering how that plot of land came to be his? And what makes it best? I think yanking a haul means hauling water.  A search of Google maps tells me that Granite Creek is north of Prescott and southwest of Flagstaff. 

Smoke and yelping cause Kate to head to the house but it is too late. Her father is dead, swaying from a tree, and the house is on fire. She sees figures riding away and shoots at them. One falls. Scene switches to the Quartz Rock Saloon in Prescott (five miles away), where Kate, dressed like a boy, is watching the person who fell. She's sure he won't last long. She listens to conversation around her, which includes "a pair of uniforms from Fort Whipple" who are "hammering 'bout the Apache."

Debbie's thoughts: Apache. First mention of a tribe. That's important, but will there be context for the existence of that fort? And, context for why the Apaches are the subject of conversation?

The guy leaves the saloon. Kate follows him to an outhouse where she yanks open the door and points her pistol at him. He's inside it, sitting on a pot that is set into a wooden seat in the outhouse. He isn't using the outhouse for its purpose; he's sitting in there to look at his gunshot wound.

Debbie's thoughts: Small point, but a pot inside an outhouse? Doesn't make sense to me. 

He tells Kate that her dad had a secret, told to him and his friends by Morris, a clerk at Goldwaters. He won't tell her what that secret is. She shoots him.

End of chapter 1.

Debbie's thoughts: Bowman is using the shoot-em-up style of writing in a way that will definitely appeal to readers who like this style, but it is, so far, very much within the master narratives of US history. By that, I mean the praise of prospectors who set out to "strike it rich" on resources that belonged to someone else. Of course, that someone else is dehumanized in these stories. "Savage Indians," you know, who don't "properly use the land" -- which justifies what was done to them, in the name of capitalism and manifest destiny. Yeah, I didn't use caps for manifest destiny. Just don't want to right now.   

That's it for now. Other things to do before I start chapter 2, but hitting the 'publish' button on this. I'll be back.

Add a Comment

by

Erin Bowman

—

I am so excited to reveal the absolutely gorgeous cover for VENGEANCE ROAD, my historical fiction western YA novel coming out from HMH on September 1st.

Because I know you’re going to immediately scroll down to the cover, lets just right to the good stuff!

 ……………

…….

…

.

.

.

.

.

I don’t have official jacket copy yet, but here’s the short-and-sweet synopsis on retail sites:

When her father is killed by the notorious Rose Riders for a mysterious journal that reveals the secret location of a gold mine, eighteen year-old Kate Thompson disguises herself as a boy and takes to the gritty plains looking for answers–and justice. In the spirit of True Grit, acclaimed young adult novelist Erin Bowman brings to life the unpredictable and cutthroat days of the Wild West.

Guys, I am so in love with this cover. The Design team at HMH did a fantastic job brainstorming how to capture the atmosphere of VENGEANCE ROAD, and then the illustrator behind the artwork–Teagan White–hit it out of the park. From the pistols to the cactus to the skulls to the bits of gold, I could not imagine a more perfect cover for this book. It feels true to the time and setting (1877 Arizona), but still feels fresh and relevant to today’s YA landscape.

I had an absolute blast writing this book and am so excited for you to read it! VENGEANCE ROAD is radically different than the TAKEN trilogy, but if you like spitfire characters, gritty worlds, and a good revenge tale, I think you’re going to love Kate’s story.

But don’t take my word for it! Here’s what other amazingly talented writers have had to say about VENGEANCE ROAD:

“A story of grit, love, and deadly revenge that climbs off the page and into your heart–saddle up for a thrilling, harrowing ride!” –Alexandra Bracken, New York Times bestselling author of The Darkest Minds trilogy

“Vengeance Road is a page-turning, unputdownable story of revenge. Bowman paints a thrilling, vivid picture of 1877 Arizona, and Kate is a heroine to be reckoned with.”–Jessica Spotswood, author of The Cahill Witch Chronicles

“Gritty and honest, Vengeance Road captures the heart of the Wild West.” –Mindy McGinnis, author of Not a Drop to Drink

“A take-no-prisoners heroine with a bloody debt to settle. I’m still breathing in the dust and hot Arizona sun.” –Megan Shepherd, author of The Madman’s Daughter

“Relentlessly readable, Vengeance Road is a perfect western. You won’t be able to turn in until you get to the very last page!” –Saundra Mitchell, author of The Springsweet

“Flinty and fierce, Kate is a formidable addition to the pantheon of tough young adult heroines. Her story and voice crackles to life.” –A.C. Gaughen, author of the Scarlet trilogy

“Gold madness, a good-for-nothing posse, and frontier justice: Vengeance Road is everything you could want in a Western.” –Jodi Meadows, author of the Incarnate trilogy

“This is the kind of book I’ll re-read again and again.” –Susan Dennard, author of the Something Strange and Deadly series

If you feel so inclined to pre-order a copy of VENGEANCE ROAD, you can do so on most major retail sites: IndieBound / B&N / Amazon / Book Depository. You can also add VENGEANCE ROAD to your goodreads shelf here.

And because I’m feeling super grateful for the opportunity to put this story into the world–not to mention the gorgeous cover and the kind words from fellow authors–I’d like to give away an ARC of VENGEANCE ROAD to one lucky reader. This is US only (sorry, folks!), and the ARC will ship once I receive them from my publisher. Use the handy widget below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

—

Erin Bowman is a YA writer, letterpress lover, and Harry Potter enthusiast living in New Hampshire. Her TAKEN trilogy is available from HarperTeen (book three out 4/14/15), and VENGEANCE ROAD publishes with HMH on September 1st. You can visit Erin’s blog (updated occasionally) or find her on twitter (updated obsessively).

Add a Comment

by

Jodi Meadows

–

Lately, I’ve been thinking about how much my other creative pursuits influence my writing — and even help me get through tough problems when I’m working.

There’s something about knitting, for me, that allows me to keep my hands busy and focus juuuuust a little, but frees the rest of my mind to work out a plot tangle or a question about character arcs. I’ve found the same thing in spinning (yarn, not exercise — ugh), and even calligraphy.

(Click to enlarge.)
I started wondering if some of my fellow Pub Crawlers had other creative outlets, as well. And yep. When I put out the call, they delivered.

JJ: I’ll start! When it comes to other creative outlets (or as I call them, other procrastinatory outlets ;-)), I tend to play my piano or guitar, draw, take pictures, or redesign my website. I think they all fulfill different functions; for example, I often redesign my website when I’m stuck or between drafts because fiddling with CSS and other types of code is soothing. There is something about typing one thing and have it show up as a concrete THING on the other end that is very, very comforting (especially when writing fiction, which is anything BUT concrete sometimes). I find it kind of mindless in the way algebra is mindless: simple enough to keep me occupied and let the subconscious wander free. (Which is why I am often redesigning my website when I am stuck.)

Music is less mindless to me, and I often play when I need to completely shut off and do something else for a while. I studied piano for 15 years, but when I play now, it’s less the classical stuff and more the “I just the heard the latest pop song and I want to do a cover” type of thing. Usually I cheat and figure out the chord progressions on my guitar first (I am a terrible, terrible, terrible formal musician. 15 years and I know fuck-all about theory.), or sometimes look up the tabs. Then I transfer the work to the piano. (Luckily, 99% of all the pop songs are the same four chords I-V-vi-IV.)

Sometimes, I doodle drawings of my characters. But that’s usually when I’m doing something ELSE and unable to write (that’s often at the day job). Doodling sketches of my characters keeps me in the right frame of mind for my story, but it also helps me figure out what they look like in my head. (I often post my doodles to Instagram and Tumblr. My doodles can also be found on my blog and Deviantart.)

I also take photographs.

If there’s a procrastinatory technique, then I will do it. Are you sensing a theme here?

Susan: I enjoy tap dancing, sewing, and blogging/newslettering. They all demand really different kinds of creative energy.

One thing that I started doing this year (and that I do a lot of now) is making my own body products and makeup. It’s like cooking crossed with chem lab. Lots of stirring and weighing and melting involved. Plus, you have to really understand how various butters or oils, oxides or clays interact–otherwise the consistency of the cream/lotion/lip gloss won’t be right. Or you might end up with a blush that’s TOO red or a pressed powder that’s so pale you look like a corpse. I find that all that mixing and melting and measuring requires just enough focus that I can’t totally zone out, but it also frees up enough headspace for my subconscious to work through story knots.

Erin: As most of you know, I was a web designer prior to jumping into writing. Design is still a huge outlet for me. Even though it’s related to writing, I absolutely love designing my own promotional materials (bookmarks, stickers, postcards, etc), as well as maintaining my website. I’m a bit type nerd, too, so I tend to collect (read: buy) way more fonts than I should.

Another huge distraction for me, while not necessarily creative, is getting outdoors. Walks, hikes, camping, canoeing . . . you name it. I find being outside, totally away from the computer/technology is one of the best ways to give my brain a break and reset the creative well, if you will.

Kat: I love all kinds of art, and I get really inspired watching people dance, or put on a play, or things like that. As for as things I actually do myself, though, I paint (mostly watercolor at the moment), and I’ve gotten into digital art (“painting” with a wacom tablet and photoshop) this past year or so. It’s a great creative outlet that’s not word-based.

I love photography as well, but since I’m mostly interested in portrait/lifestyle photography, my ability to do it is limited to the times when my friends are willing to play model

I post a lot of both my art and my photography on my Tumblr

Janice: I’m a graphic designer by trade, and I think that’s helped me a lot with being able to handle feedback without taking it personally. Clients always ask for changes and comment on my “art” and it’s helped me be able to see my creative work as a product and not just an expression of myself, and how the creative process can be a group effort to great success.

The last few years I’ve been drawing and painting for fun, and crazy as it sounds, I’ve been painting Nerf guns and toys. All of the guns were bright orange and yellow plastic when I started. My husband gave me a huge AT-AT toy for my birthday that I’m dying to paint. It takes hours, but it’s a lot of fun and very absorbing. It’s a combination of spray paint, fine detail hand painting and dry brushing.

(Click to enlarge.)I’m not sure how “creative” this is, but I’m a gamer and I’ve feel having to make decisions about what to do it games and thinking about what that character would do (their motivations) has helped me plot my novels easier. It forced me to think about cause and effect and how character choices created effects and consequences. There’s also a lot of creativity in designing a game for friends and running one, almost like writing a book where you have no control over the characters, hehe.

–

Jodi Meadows lives and writes in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, with her husband, a Kippy*, and an alarming number of ferrets. She is a confessed book addict, and has wanted to be a writer ever since she decided against becoming an astronaut. She is the author of the INCARNATE Trilogy (HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen).
*A Kippy is a cat.

Add a Comment

by

Erin Bowman

—

I still can’t really believe I wrote a complete trilogy. Or that all three books now have covers! *pinches self*

Because I know you’re going to scroll down immediately, let’s jump straight to the artwork for FORGED, the final installment in the TAKEN trilogy…

 

 

And here’s the official flap copy (But fair warning–minor TAKEN + FROZEN spoilers ahead!):

THE TIME HAS COME TO MAKE A STAND.

Gray Weathersby and his group of rebels are determined to bring down the Franconian Order. But they may be too late. The Order is closer than ever to its ultimate goal—building an unstoppable army—and every generation of Forgeries is more sophisticated, harder to detect, and deadlier than the one before.

Now the rebels have joined forces with new allies, the Expats. But when even the most familiar faces can’t be trusted, Gray will have to tread carefully if he wants to succeed—or survive.

 

Guys, this cover! I don’t know how the folks at HarperTeen keep outdoing themselves, but I love this artwork just as much (if not more) than the first two. The orange to purple gradient. The misty scenery. The fact that the reflections are split for the first time ever, and that the models finally feel united, rather than walking slightly apart. *sighs contently*

And look at how pretty they are lined up together:

 

And now, a quick Q&A! (No one’s actually asked these questions. Not yet, at least. But knowing what sort of questions popped up after the cover reveal for books 1 and 2, I’m trying to plan ahead)

It’s so pretty! When will it be in stores?!
Right?! And April 14th, 2015. Preorder links will be available in the coming weeks, once the HarperCollins catalog goes live. In the meantime, you can always add FORGED to your goodreads shelf!

Who designed it?
The very talented Erin Fitzsimmons, who’s been the brains behind Taken’s and Frozen’s covers as well. (She’s also designed some of my favorite YA covers to date, such as HOUSE OF IVY & SORROW, TEASE, and NOT A DROP TO DRINK.) If you love FORGED’s cover, you should go tell Erin on twitter. 

Who’s the girl on the cover–Emma or Bree?
I get asked this question a lot, and my answer is always the same: It’s whoever you want it to be! That’s the magic of books and reader interpretation. 

But in full disclosure: I’ve always seen Emma on TAKEN’s cover and Bree on FROZEN’s, even though the model is the same across all three covers. (Fun fact: she has an instagram!) I know exactly which character I see represented in FORGED’s artwork, but I worry people will assume whoever I name to be the outcome of the love triangle, so I’m keeping hush for now.

Elements on your covers always have significance to the story (the tree and city for TAKEN, the wintery landscape for FROZEN). So what’s with the mountains and mist?
I’m not sure if Harper had the same intentions, but I actually don’t see mountains when I look at FORGED’s cover. I see an island. A rugged island at early morning, with mist creeping in so that you can’t see the ocean surrounding it. Without giving too much away, there is indeed an island that makes an appearance in FORGED and is the site of some monumental developments (and action scenes!). If you feel like playing detective, said island is mentioned in one scene in FROZEN.

 

Well, that’s all for now. If you still have a question, leave a comment and I’ll do my best to answer it.

—

Erin Bowman is a YA writer, letterpress lover, and Harry Potter enthusiast living in New Hampshire. Her TAKEN trilogy is available from HarperTeen (book three out 4/14/15), and VENGEANCE ROAD publishes with HMH in fall 2015. You can visit Erin’s blog (updated occasionally) or find her on twitter (updated obsessively).

Add a Comment

featuring

Erin Bowman and Frozen!

—

YAYYY!!! Today the sequel to Taken by our very own Erin Bowman releases! Alert: this book is called Frozen but is NOT the Disney Frozen. Although there are some definite similarities…

Snow, for one. High stakes. The importance of family, loyalty, and love. Deception. More snow. Actually, Erin did a really cool comparison of her Frozen vs. Disney’s. You should check it out. It will amuse fans of the movie AND the series.

Or, you can just read this summary and find similarities on your own:

The heists were only the beginning.

Gray Weathersby escaped from the primitive town of Claysoot expecting to find answers, but what he discovered shook him to the core: A ruthless dictator with absolute power. An army of young soldiers blinded by lies. And a growing rebellion determined to fight back.

Now Gray has joined a team of rebels on a harsh, icy journey in search of allies who can help them set things right. But in a world built on lies, Gray must constantly question whether any ally—or enemy—is truly what they seem. . . .

Doesn’t that make you want to read? It SHOULD.

I have to say: so vast is my love for both Frozens I might’ve mashed them together last night. Sing it! YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO!

(Sung to the tune of “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?”)

So there you have it! That’s my Disney/Bowman mashup, and I’m pretty proud of it. (I might’ve listened to the Frozen soundtrack on repeat all day yesterday in preparation for those lyrics. You never can listen to “Love is an Open Door” too many times.)

To celebrate the Frozen release, we’re doing a giveaway! It’s international, so ANYONE can sign up on the Rafflecopter form below.

And CONGRATS, ERIN!!! We’re all so excited for your latest book to be out in the world!! ♥

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Add a Comment

by

Jordan Hamessley London

and the Pub(lishing) Crawl Gang!

—

About three months ago, I had a life change. I left my job at Grosset & Dunlap at Penguin to become an Editor at Egmont USA. It was a very exciting move for me, if a bit scary. Grosset had been my first publishing job and my first “real job” out of college. I had a ton of memories there and it felt like my second home.

When I arrived at Egmont in December, I was thrilled to begin working on a new list and with a new team, but I realized something was missing. Now, this may sound crazy, but hear me out.

My desk at Grosset had been very lived over the course of my five years there, I had acquired numerous action figures, plush toys, photos, and trinkets from my authors. When I got home from my first day at Egmont, I knew I needed to bring in the little things that would make my desk feel like “home” again. What are those things?

Well, my Benjamin Linus bobblehead, of course.

 

And my paper machete, inspired by an amazing typo written by one of authors (attempting to spell papier mâché) and what I use on particularly intense edits!

 

At last, my workspace was complete!

My journey to complete my new workspace made me wonder where all of the other Pub(lishing) Crawl members do their work. Here’s a sneak peek at where they write/agent/and sell their books!

 The Pub(lishing) Crawl team is a great example of how everyone has a different place where they work. What makes your workspace unique and special to you? 

—

Jordan Hamessley London is an Editor at Egmont USA, where she edits middle grade and YA. Her current titles include Isla J. Bick’s new series, The Dark Passages (#1 White Space), Bree DeSpain’s new series Into the Dark (#1 The Shadow Prince), and more. Prior to Egmont, Jordan worked at  Grosset and Dunlap, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers where she edited Adam-Troy Castro’s middle grade horror series Gustav Gloom, Ben H. Winters and Adam F. Watkin’s series of horror poetry Literally Disturbed, Michelle Schusterman’s I Heart Band series, Adam F. Watkins’s alphabet picture book R is for Robot and more. When not editing, Jordan can be found on twitter talking about books, scary movies, and musical theater.

Add a Comment

50 Book Pledge | Book #14: Warriors and Wailers by Sarah Tsiang

Is there anything more irritating then being interrupted while lost in the pages of a book? If you added to my chorus of no, then this is for you. Thanks to the brilliant minds of Erin Bowman, Sarah Enni and Traci Neithercott those days are finally over. The trio have created dust jackets that send a clear message to onlookers: Go away. I’m reading.

Here are the three sets you can download free of charge:

1. Go away. I’m reading.

2. Snarky Beauties

3. Masterpieces

Enjoy!

Display Comments Add a Comment