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By: Kathy Temean,
on 3/16/2013
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Nancy Viau is the author of Samantha Hansen Has Rocks In Her Head (MG 2008), Look What I Can Do!(March 2013), and Storm Song (April 2013), and (Middle-Grade Novel, 2008). She is having a book signing and you are invited.
You had a book launch party when your first middle grade book, Samantha Hansen Has Rocks in Her Head, debuted. What are your “Send Off” plans for Look What I Can Do!?
There are no local bookstores in my area, but I’ve always been in love with Children’s Book World of Haverford, PA, and visit there as often as possible. So, the second I found out I would (finally) have a picture book published, I called them up and asked if they’d consider hosting my book launch. They said YES! The date/time is set for March 23rd at 1:00. Visitors will also get a sneak peek at Storm Song (release date, April 16th), and I have few copies available already! Everybody is welcome. Bring the kids! I’ve got a ton of goodies for them.
Did an agent help sell Look What I Can Do to Abrams?
I was unagented when Abrams made the offer.
What was the idea spark for Look What I Can Do!?
I live next to a forest with a field and stream nearby and one day it hit me: Those cute little creatures out my window work so hard at every thing they do, and they don’t ever give up. I pictured my own kids working equally as hard at human things—walking, talking, skipping, catching a ball, etc. and that’s when the idea really took off. The refrain says it all:
Friends of forest, field, and stream,
Keep trying on your own.
Be proud today.
Have fun and play.
In time you will be grown.
Can you tell us about the journey that you took to get Look What I Can Do picked up by Abrams?
It’s a really long story that spans almost ten years. Suffice it to say, that an editor at Abrams rejected this piece early on, but gave me personal comments. Many other editors did the same. I let the story slide into oblivion, but in 2008 I brushed it off and began revising it (for the twentieth time). Abrams bought it in 2009.
Did you have any involvement with choosing Anna Vojtech to do the illustrations for Look What I Can Do?
Abrams knew that I wanted real-life animals in the spreads, not cartoon-like ones. For a long while, award-winning illustrator Nancy Tafuri was the frontrunner for illustrator but that fell through. I had sent Abrams a few illustrators I liked and Anna was one of them. Abrams didn’t bite and they sent me others to consider. A year or so went by. Then one day, I got an email that included Anna’s name as a possibility! I guess it was meant to be. I really believe her work is exceptional and perfect for my story.
Since it takes so long to get a picture book published and I see that Robin Benjamin was the editor for Storm Song, I wonder if this book started out with Marshall Cavendish?
Yes, Storm Song was acquired by Marshall Cavendish, and I was thrilled to be associated with that house because their books have always been among my favorites. However, M.C. sold the children’s division to Amazon, and I was one of a couple hundred authors who ended up with a new publisher. At first I was concerned, but Amazon Children’s Publishing/Two Lions Imprint has been awesome. I have a team of seven marketing professionals on my side, and have had conference calls with all of them at once! Their support is incredible and the book is beautiful. What more could I ask for?!
How much interaction did you have with Robin Benjamin?
Robin has been my editor since Marshall Cavendish originally made the offer. I didn’t hear from her a bunch because she felt that only one stanza needed revision. (Whew!) They did ask me what I thought of Gynux, the illustrator (he’s amazing!), and once his sketches were done, I was even able to give feedback on one spread that I felt needed tweaking. Robin always kept me informed about the book’s progress, and it has been a pleasure working with her.
Did an agent sell this book?
It sold a few weeks after my agent and I broke up, but that agent remains the one on record for it.
Are you working with an agent now?
Karen Grencik of Red Fox Literary is my wonderful agent. We celebrate a one year anniversary soon!
What things are in the pipeline?
Stay tuned! ; )
Do you have any words of wisdom to share with other children’s writers?
1. Be patient, and 2. Drink lots of wine.
Nancy, best of luck with the books. I am so sorry your party is on the same weekend as the Writer’s Retreat I am attending.
WRITERS TIP: I you live anywhere within driving distance to Children’s Book World in Haverford PA, it would be worth your while to get to know them. They are very supportive of children’s authors.
Talk tomorrow,
Kathy
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Before Catherine Stine, Nancy Viau, Alison DeLuca, and I met yesterday afternoon at Rosemont College for our Push to Publish YA/Children's Book Panel, we were invited to submit questions and answers for potential mulling during our panel. As the group's moderator, I promised the audience that I would share those very questions and answers here, to supplement the many other things we discussed during our it-flew-by-so-fast hour.
Many thanks to all of you who came, to Catherine, Nancy, and Alison, who spoke so intelligently, and to Christine Weiser, Queen of Philadelphia Stories (from which the annual Push to Publish conference springs), who took this photograph for us.
Catherine Stine:
1. How important is social media to your promo plan and when should you start to implement it?
The best advice I got from an early mentor was to start a blog way before my next big book came out, not when it came out. I started Catherine Stine’s Idea City about two years before my latest novel was published, and by that time I had over 340 followers, who helped with my book blog tour, and other promo posts such as interviews, features and giveaways, as well as me guest posting on their blogs.
I had no idea that the blogosphere would be so friendly and eager to help. Part of the fun is that it’s a mixed age-community, with everyone from savvy book reviewers, still in high school, to seasoned authors in their sixties. The key is to care about what others are posting! If you want good comments on your posts, you must return the favor.I’ve learned so much about publishing and writing from this vibrant community, and from indie authors as well as ones who are published with the Big Six. Other important social media to develop: a Goodreads author page, a Facebook author or book page, a Pinterest page and a twitter account. There are others, but this is a great place to start!
Topical online reads:
1. Publishers’ Weekly article on YA Marketing-Digital versus Physical:
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bea/article/52455-bea-2012-ya-marketing-digital-vs-physical.html
2. Basic Marketing Tips from YA author, Elana Johnson:
http://elanajohnson.blogspot.com/2012/02/basic-marketing-plan-for-authors-who.html
3. What the heck is Pinterest, you ask? Check out a sampling of YA books for OCT on Pinterest! http://pinterest.com/BCSPLS/october-2012-children-teen-ebooks/
2. What are the big differences between indie and traditionally published books/authors? Between ebooks and paper copies? How do you see these trending in the future?
I see a blending in the future of who is published traditionally to who is publishing on their own, or with small houses. It will be more about the quality of the fiction and the authors’ growing readership than how authors publish. I’ve published with big houses such as Random House and American Girl, and I’ve also published through my own Konjur Road Press. Many traditionally published authors are now publishing their own out-of-print-books and novels that their agents haven’t placed. As publishing houses become more gun-shy and picky (because of less physical bookstores to sell to!) and authors learn how much they can potentially earn on their own the quality of indie fiction will grow ever higher! There is also a trend toward POD printing—that means print on demand. For instance, if someone orders your POD book through Amazon, or B&N, their publishing arm will print as many paperback copies as are ordered and no more. This has an upside for a beleaguered industry: publishers will no longer have to deal with huge store returns, which lose money for the houses when they must refund that revenue. On the other hand, it means less variety on the physical bookshelves. As more and more readers get comfy with ereading devices, more and more ebooks will sell. In the Catskills, where I go on the weekends, I feel the burn of bookstore closings. There are no more bookstores within 40 or 50 miles! People won’t stop reading, they will always want stories; they will simply buy more ebooks. Some related online articles:
1. A post by indie fantasy author, Lindsay Buroker:
http://www.lindsayburoker.com/tips-and-tricks/successful-indie-authors/
2. A post by Susan Kaye Quinn, indie YA author: http://www.susankayequinn.com/2011/09/taking-road-less-traveled-redux.html
3. Trends in YA? Write to trends or to what I love?
It’s always a gamble to predict specific trends because they change from year to year. And one should never, everwrite specifically to the trends. You should write that amazing novel that only you can write! I tell my students to focus on a subject or theme that they are totally inspired by, because maintaining fuel for those entire 250 to 350 pages is something only fierce interest and passion can drive. That said, there do seem to be trends for 2013/14: realistic YA is making a comeback, after a paranormal and fantasy-saturated market. Vamps are trending out, but there will probably always be room for that unique, geeky or charismatic vamp! Historical fantasy is in with novels such as Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly. Magical realism is growing, as is confidence in YA sci-fi like Black Hole Sun by Gill and space opera, such as A. Ryan’s Glow. Horror and unusual blends are growing in popularity as seen in novels like Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by R. Riggs. There is also a trend toward sci-fi romance, as in novels like V. Rossi’s Under the Never Sky. And then, there are the trend-busters whose mind-bending novels start entirely new trends! Will you write one of these?
Nancy Viau
How do I avoid the slush pile?
It's the "kiss of death" to address your submission to Dear Editor, Agent, or To Whom It May Concern. Research a name and target your manuscript to a real person, one who is acquiring work in the genre in which you write. There's a wealth of info to be found on websites such as www.publishersmarketplace.com http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/> (monthly subscription is about 20 bucks), www.agentquery.com <http://www.agentquery.com/> , www.querytracker.net <http://www.querytracker.net/> , and www.scbwi.org <http://www.scbwi.org/> . Bloggers like Casey McCormick, www.literaryrambles.com <http://www.literaryrambles.com/> , often feature authors and agents, and many editors and agents have blogs and are on Twitter or Facebook. But, instead of relying only on info found on the Internet (where everything's always correct, right? Ha!), find a better, more personal connection by going to conferences and/or getting one-on-one critiques at conferences. Strike up a conversation, exchange business cards, and schmooze your way to success.
What is in a query letter to an agent? How about a cover letter to an editor?
The best way for me to answer this is to give each person copies of letters I wrote to the above people. I'll dissect what I've included and why, and tell the group if it was a successful or not. I feel that the best "takeaway" is something someone can actually take away. : )
What types of picture books are children's book editors looking for?
This is the million dollar question! Who really knows? Many agents and editors say they want a story based on a marketable character. (Ex: FANCY NANCY, LADYBUG GIRL, DON'T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS). In additon, they want short over long (less than 800 words), loud over quiet, and non-rhyming over rhyming. They'd also like you to be a celebrity! (*Smirk*) That being said, there are plenty of recently acquired books that break all these rules. (Ex: LOOK WHAT I CAN DO! and STORM SONG, my two picture books due out this spring. They are not character-based, they're considerably quiet, and they rhyme. And yes, I'm still shocked that they sold.)
Beth Kephart
What is the most surprising—or affirming—aspect of the YA writing community?
Although I’ve taught teens for years, I never planned to write books that were specifically set aside for that age group. It seemed, to me, like an entirely different language, a world that I would never effectively penetrate. Now with my eighth and ninth YA novels set for release, I have learned important things about the generosity of the YA writing community, the fervor of librarians and teachers, and the wide open heart of teen readers. Power—sometimes chaotic, sometimes strange, but nearly always mesmerizing—abides in the YA community. And that is why, I think, adults increasingly lean in our direction. That is also why so many teen books increasingly refuse to stay within set boundaries. We writers of teen books want everyone to share in the magic.
Is there room for the quiet YA book? I wasn’t sure there would be one, when I first started writing. In fact, my kind of book was a bit of an experiment for Laura Geringer, my first YA editor, then at HarperCollins. What would happen, she wondered, to teen books that were deliberately focused on emotion and mood, setting and ideas, language and light, in the age of Twilight? Would they find an audience? The good news is that there is an audience. Not a rip-roaring, I’m-going-to-be-rich-and-famous audience. But enough of an audience to enable me to keep writing my kind of book, to keep finding my kind of teen (and adult) reader. And for that I am hugely grateful.
What is the hottest trend in YA fiction?
I have been saying for a while now that we are at long last shedding categories with YA fiction. We are celebrating individuals who write books that break rules and boundaries. The Book Thief freed us, in that way. Writers like Patricia McCormick and A.S. King continue to remind us how powerful the unexpected is. And of course I still believe, as I wrote last year, that illustrated YA books, along with well-written, engaging historical novels, will find firmer marketing footholds.
A week ago today I was sitting in this Florentine bookshop (of the Anglo-American variety) interviewing the owners for a forthcoming profile in
Publishing Perspectives. Our conversation canvassed many topics. We spoke, in part, about what qualities turn books into the kind book sellers can believe in.
At the annual
Philadelphia Stories Push to Publish conference—happening tomorrow, October 13, 2012, Rosemont College, Rosemont, PA—writers, agents, editors, publicists, and readers will be having similarly intense conversations about the making, publishing, and promoting of books. I'll be moderating the "Writing for Children and Young Adults" panel at 2:30, hosting the well-loved
Nancy Viau,
Catherine Stine, and
Alison DeLuca throughout the hour-long conversation. We'll be talking trends (and their antitheses), traditional publishing, e-publishing, and self publishing, slush-pile avoidance tactics, the art of the query letter, and craft, too. We'll definitely talk a little about craft because, well, I can't help it.
We're hoping you'll join us.
By: Kathy Temean,
on 7/16/2011
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Our own Nancy Viau has signed a contract for a quiet picture book to Robin Benjamin at Marshall Cavendish Children’s, via her agent Joanna Volpe at Nancy Coffey Literary & Media Representation. The title is STORM SONG, a rhythmic telling of the sounds and beat of a thunder storm as a little boy is scared out of bed and then lulled back to sleep. Release date has not been announced.
Ruta Rimas has joined Simon & Schuster Children’s Atheneum and Margaret K. McElderry imprints as associate editor, reporting to Justin Chanda. She was at Balzer & Bray.
At Bloomsbury USA, Lea Beresford has joined the company as associate editor and assistant to the publishing director. She was at Random House for four years.
Allison McElgunn has been promoted to assistant editor at Holt.
Olivia Griffiths has joined Sourcebooks as associate marketing manager, children’s and YA. Previously she was an associate marketing manager for Holiday House.
Candlewick Press, Sarah Ketchersid has been promoted to executive editor. She has worked at Candlewick for 10 years.
Kristin Lindstrom has closed her agency, Lindstrom Literary Management, after 15 years to open a new business, Flying Pig Media. She will provide a range of publishing services to authors from craft/content editing to creative management of the electronic and print-on-demand books.
For all you True Blood TV fans, Charlaine Harris indicates she has the final two novels in the Sookie Stackhouse series planned: “I’m writing Book Twelve and then there will be Book Thirteen. And then I’ll think of something else new and wonderful to do.”
Question: This week I realized that the third weekend in June is Father’s Day Weekend. That is the weekend we had figured we would have to do the 2012 Conference, but I am afraid that will not work with most people’s schedule. So I am leaning towards changing it to the week before. The only thing is the hotel will have more people around, but the conference area will not be affected. Princeton University changed their graduation to the first weekend in June, which bumped us out of our traditional weekend in all the hotels in that area. Any thoughts?
This Tuesday night ‘s dinner at Cafe Centro is with:
Agent Mary Kole, Agent Liza Flessig, Agent John Cusick, Agent Linda Pratt, Senior Editor Catherine Onder, Senior Editor Alexandra Cooper, Executive Editor Caitlyn Dlouhy.
Wednesday’s dinner is at A.J. Maxwell’s with:
Editorial Consultsnt Eileen Robinson, Agent Scott Treimel, Agent Marietta Zacker, Editor Shauna Fay, Editor Heather Alexander, Exceutive Editor Erin Clarke, Assistant Editor Sara Sargent, Senior Editor Rebecca Frazer.
Both have a few spots left and both cost $150 to attend.
Talk tomorrow,
Kathy
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The entire Class of 2k8 huddles around the fancy schmancy espresso coffee machine at the back of our classroom. And, yeah, it's squishy.
Class: So, Barrie, how was your launch day?
Barrie Summy: It was so wonderful that I cried.
The class nods knowingly.
Barrie: And I just want to say thank you to the nth degree to Warwick's and especially to Susan, Event Coordinator Extraordinaire, for making my very first book signing ever so much FUN! And for making me feel welcome and comfortable. Susan was calm and organized and all over the place at the same time.
Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of Susan. Because I wasn't overly calm or organized or thinking about the blog.
Thank you to DH and Child #4 for coming down. Their presence was invaluable. I loved how Child #4 kept filling up my book display when it started to run low.
(left to right) Liz, Eileen, Barrie, Cindy
And yay yay for my great friends who came to offer support! They drove all the way to La Jolla, bought books and hung out with me at the bookstore. Some took me to dinner before the signing. Some took me for drinks and Mexican afterwards until late. Even though it was a school night.
Barrie and fellow blogger San Diego Momma who is incredibly cool!
Thank you to all the shoppers who stopped to chat and buy books. They were beyond friendly.
And thank you to Fellow Classmate, Nancy Viau, author of Samantha Hansen Has Rocks in Her Head. Nancy sent a mystery visitor to buy her a copy of I SO DON'T DO MYSTERIES.
Barrie and Rick, Nancy Viau's wonderful son
Here he is. He's Nancy's adorable, interesting, amiable, fun son Rick. Thank you, Rick.
Guess what, guys? I'm exhausted. I didn't get any homework done. My house is a mess. My dog wants a walk.
So....
See ya!
I'm playing hooky for the rest of the day!
I'll get notes from somebody tomorrow.
Bye!
Class of 2k8: Join us tomorrow when Barrie shows us where she writes. And can we just say "non-traditional"?
By:
The Class of 2k8,
on 11/1/2008
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It's November on the Class of 2k8's blog. And we're starting the month off with a Shameless Saturday.
So, take a deep breath and jump in. Lots of good news blew in this week.
A couple of 2k8ers have signed new book contracts. Wow!
Jennifer Bradbury, author of Shift, recently sold two more books to Atheneum Books for Young Readers. Wrapped features seventeen year old Agnes Wilkins on the eve of her debut in 1815 London. The young adult adventure/mystery features mummies, espionage, and plenty of Jane Austen references. Wrapped will come out in Summer 2010, and its sequel will be available the following year.
From Publishers Weekly: Marissa Doyle's Waterloo Plot, the third book set in the same world as Bewitching Season, in which a young witch must overcome physical and emotional scars while investigating who is attempting to assassinate members of the British War Cabinet, including her father, in 1814-1815, to Kate Farrell at Holt, by Emily Sylvan Kim at Prospect Agency (NA).
The Sierra Magazine took notice of three 2k8 classmates:
"Autumn Winifred Oliver Does Things Different (Delacorte Books for Young Readers), by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb, introduces a headstrong girl who discovers, among other things, an ingenious method of thwarting a stinky flock of geese from eating the family garden. Luka, the 13-year-old hero of Bringing the Boy Home (HarperCollins), by N.A. Nelson,longs to return to the Amazon's Takunami tribe in a journey of self-discovery and courage. Samantha Hansen Has Rocks in Her Head (Abrams), by Nancy Viau, is a tale of a fourth-grader with a white-hot temper and a love of rocks and science."
Kudos from Confessions of a Bibliovore for Swimming with Sharks by Debbie Reid Fischer:
Fischer walks a delicate line in Peyton, managing to keep her sympathetic while making it clear that she is in it as much as the rest of the cheer squad. At the same time, she is victim of a far more subtle bullying pattern than Ellika. Her redemption toward the end feels like our own. Pick this book up for a thoughtful and all-too-probable story about how anybody can bully, or be bullied.
And The Book Muncher said this about Stacy Nyikos' Dragon Wishes:
I was very impressed with Nyikos’ debut middle grade novel and hope she plans to write more in the future. Dragon Wishes can be enjoyed by both younger and older readers, particularly fans of books with Chinese culture or novels with dragons.
For those of you participating in NaNoWriMo, (National Novel Writing Month), we wish you the very best of luck. Not to mention incredibly fleet fingers!
Be sure to check back Monday as we begin our week-long launch for P.J. Hoover's The Emerald Tablet.
Today is day two of our now and later series when classmates share what their greatest accomplishments were from 2008 and what they hope to achieve by 2018.
LISA SCHROEDERIn 2008, my greatest accomplishments were:
1. Writing and finishing a mid-grade novel that is fun and marketable. I've always wanted to sell a MG - my agent thinks we're getting close!
2. Selling my second YA novel, FAR FROM YOU, to Simon Pulse. It comes out in just a couple of months.
3. Presenting at the Oregon conference in May, and at three different conferences this fall with members of the class of 2k8/2k9! So much fun!!
4. Watching I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME go into its fifth printing in eight months time.
5. Being a part of the amazing and successful class of 2k8!
By 2018 I hope to have:
1. more time to write as well as do fun things like travel
2. more money to do fun things like travel
3. more books on the shelf with my name on it
4. sold lots of those books with my name on it
5. a 10-year reunion somewhere fun with the class of 2k8
NANCY VIAUIn 2008, my greatest accomplishments were:
1. deciphering copyediting notes, and realizing how much I love revision
2. signing arcs at national conferences like BEA and ALA, while (hopefully) not making a fool of myself.
3. overcoming my fear of being a debut novelist
4. publication of Samantha Hansen Has Rocks In Her Head
5. personally "rehabing" a major shoulder injury that froze due to Butt-in-Chair-When-It-Should've-Been-At-The-Gym/Physical Therapist Syndrome
By 2018 I hope to have:
1. at least one more MG novel published
2. at least one picture book under contract
3. several chapters of a memoir completed4. gone to the high school or college graduation of each one of my kids, and I hope I'm thoroughly enjoying being an empty-nester
5. enough long term memory loss to forget how long (and hard) it was to get where I am today; enough long term memory to remember how fun it was
ELLEN BOOREAMIn 2008, my greatest accomplishments were:
1. Managing to sleep occasionally and maintain a portion of my stomach lining even though I have an actual book coming out with my name actually on the cover.
2. Writing a second book even though I have a book coming out with my name on the cover.
3. 2k8!
4. Creating a
web site and a
blog, which I never thought I'd do.
5. Getting ideas for third and fourth books, and maybe a fifth.
By 2018 I hope to have:
1. Figured out how to write better novels.
2. Made at least one reader shout at the page, "No! No! Don't do it!"
3. Heard from a kid that he/she read something of mine under the covers with a flashlight.
4. Figured out how to write a decent short story.
5. Published five-to-seven additional books with my name on the cover.
Are you reviewing where you've been and where you're going?
We've got lots to celebrate here at 2k8 with contests and rave reviews. Please give us a woot!
SLEEPLESS author, Terri Clark, is giving away an authentic Navajo dream catcher on her blog. For your chance at sweet dreams and for a sneak peek of her paranormal thriller, click here.
Also, Terri is pleased to announce that her essay in FLIRTING WITH THE MONSTER, an anthology about Ellen Hopkins and her work, will be published by BenBella books in May of '09.
PJ Hoover celebrated the launch of her middle grade science-fiction novel THE EMERALD TABLET! THE EMERALD TABLET received a great review from Brianna over at Balanced Steps. Brianna compares THE EMERALD TABLET to Harry Potter and says this: "Anyone who enjoyed discovering the world of magic with Harry Potter will enjoy diving into a different magical world with Benjamin Holt and his friends...for you Potter fans, the experience is TOTALLY different from Harry's." Thanks, Brianna!
Tasha at And Another Book Read gave THE EMERALD TABLET a fantastic review! She had this to say: "I loved every minute that I was reading it, and I feel like I want to reread the book over and over again. ... While reading the book I kept thinking that in a way it was almost like a myth that was being told and how cool it would be if it was actually true... Fans of Rick Riordanʼs PERCY JACKSON series will particularly enjoy this book."
Thanks, Tasha!
And Book Chic also gave THE EMERALD TABLET an awesome review including this tasty morsel: "This is a wonderful beginning to a fantasy middle-grade trilogy. Hoover's writing is extremely compelling and makes the book hard to put down." Thanks, Book Chic!
And speaking of Book Chic, this has been one busy reviewer. He's also written a great review for THE OPPOSITE OF INVISIBLE by Liz Gallagher and plans to feature Courtney Sheinmel as November's Fresh New Voice in YA and Barrie Summy as December's Fresh New Voice in YA!
Cynthea Liu posted a fun interview with Nancy Viau, author of SAMANTHA HANSEN HAS ROCKS IN HER HEAD.
Publisher's Weekly gave Courtney Sheinmel's MY SO-CALLED FAMILY a starred review and called it "smart, original and full of vitality."
So what's the truth and what's a lie, Nancy? SPILL!
TRUE!
There is a teacher in Samantha Hansen Has Rocks In Her Head named Mrs. Montemore. She promoted science in every aspect of her classroom, but most importantly, she turned a smart, awkward kid into the science-lover she is today.
That kid is my (now) 12 year-old, not-so-awkward daughter.
TRUE!
Every character name in my book is found in my real life, although their personalities have been changed to protect the innocent.
Someone once told me that if I included the names of people I knew, they would certainly buy the book to see how I twisted their personalities, and that's true! And this has been a huge, very fun part of my launch!
LIE!
When I visited the canyon a few years ago, I found that the best part was the hike down Bright Angel Trail. I’ll never forget that—especially the look of surprise, awe, and exhaustion on my children’s faces when we reached the bottom.
Well...um...I imagined those looks, folks. We only walked about 2 miles down the trail because it was November and we were freezing! We promised each other that someday we would go back, and this time we'd do exactly what Sam has done in the book--make it ALL the way to the bottom and camp.
*****
NEWS FLASH!
One more question before we say good-bye, Nancy. What's the final amount for the Nat'l Park Foundation?
I added up all the comments from my week, including my own, rounded up, and the bottom line is that I'll be sending the Nat'l Park Foundation a check for 50 bucks. Thanks so much for helping me save the parks, everybody!
: )
We end our time with Nancy Viau this week with a 2k8 favorite... Two Truths and a Lie. See if you can figure out which is which!
1. There is a teacher in Samantha Hansen Has Rocks In Her Head named Mrs. Montemore. Mrs. Montemore loves science in my book, and this is ab-so-lutely the truth. She promoted science in every aspect of her classroom, but most importantly, she turned a smart, awkward kid into the science-lover she is today.
2. It’s so hard to choose names for characters, isn’t it? Every character name in my book is found in my real life, although their personalities have been changed to protect the innocent.
3. Most of you know that the story is based on a family trip to the canyon, but how much is truth and how much is fiction? When I visited the canyon a few years ago, I found that the best part was the hike down Bright Angel Trail. I’ll never forget that—especially the look of surprise, awe, and exhaustion on my children’s faces when we reached the bottom.
That’s it for Nancy’s week. Look for Samantha Hansen Has Rocks In Her Head in bookstores everywhere!
“…a terrific read for any 8-12 year old.” ~Teens Read Too
“Sam shares many qualities with Junie B.—the obligatory spunk, a chattily ingenuous voice—but her passion for science distinguishes her from other franchise heroines.” ~Kirkus Reviews
“(Sam is) lovable and full of the kind of spirit that makes for a lasting character. Nancy Viau weaves in seamless science lessons, sure to slide by young readers as casual plot, until they pop up and help them during science tests.” ~Young Adult (and Kids Books) Central
“A fantastic middle-grade novel…” ~Book Chic
Samantha Hansen May Have Rocks in Her Head, but Nancy Viau doesn't! Let's get to know this amazing author even better!
2k8: Imagine you have an offer from your dream press to publish your dream book, no matter how insane or unmarketable it might be (though of course it might *not* be). What story do you want to write next/someday and why?
Nancy: Is it weird to believe that I am already at my dream press? Abrams is made up of some very special people. From my editor who is lovely, quiet, and intelligent to the super-charged publicity director, and detailed oriented assistant managing editor, everyone has one thing in common—other than the fact they worked together on my book—they like each other, and it shows. I feel extremely fortunate. My dream would be to publish many books with them.
I have a ton of ideas for kids’ books, including picture books. I just love picture books. I’ll never outgrow them! Oh, and somewhere way back in my brain is a memoir floating around. Its working title is Bent Out of Shape and it’s both “insane” and (possibly) “unmarketable.” But...I’ll need to outlive plenty of relatives before I'm brave enough to put those thoughts on paper. And that’s all I’ll say about that!
2k8:What question won't most people know to ask you? What is your answer?
Do you wish you had begun a writing career sooner?
Nancy: And of course, the answer is YES…
and um…NO.
Yes, I wish I’d discovered my love of writing in college. I was one of those students who “aced” every writing assignment, no matter how large or small. I stayed up late “helping” the football team write research papers. (Shhhhh!) I also typed and edited reports for friends, and created fun stories for assignments for my elementary education major. Not once did anyone suggest I should look at writing as a career. Back then—at least in my little neck of the woods—women became teachers, nurses, or secretaries. My parents were simply thrilled that I was going college for I was the first in the family. So, I graduated, taught kids, had a few of my own, and did other things
No, not really. My best years and my best ideas come from the life I’ve lived. I wouldn’t trade those years for a second.
Remember to stop by tomorrow to play two truths and a lie!
Release date: August 20, 2008!
Ten-year-old Samantha Hansen loves rocks. And bugs. And fossils. She keeps an organized notebook filled with lists about her favorite rocks, the rocks she hopes to find, what she knows about planets, butterflies, and anything else related to science. She also makes lists like why she’d trade in Jen, her older sister, for a turtle.
Samantha’s good at science. Jen is good at getting her sister in trouble. She messes with Samantha’s rock collection, but it’s Samantha who gets in trouble for yelling. Jen plays her music much too loudly for a hard-working, conscientious scientist, and when Samantha very nicely asks her to turn it down, she refuses. So, again, Samantha’s mom tells Samantha to count to ten to avoid losing her temper. Jen gets away with everything and Samantha’s always the one in trouble.
When Mom announces plans for a scientist’s dream vacation to the Grand Canyon, Samantha knows she’ll have to learn to control her temper or Mom will decide she can’t go. But when Richard Frey says she had rocks in her head, and trips her on purpose, Samantha loses it and gets sent home from school for kicking him back. She knows she’ll have to plan something big so her mom will still let her go to the Grand Canyon. But she’ll need Jen’s help.
SAMANTHA HANSEN HAS ROCKS IN HER HEAD by Nancy Viau is a delightful story. Samantha is full of energy and is on a quest to learn everything scientific. But on her trip to the Grand Canyon, she learns more than facts about rocks and fossils. Before she returns home, she’ll find a caring sister, discover a proud mother, and learn more about her list-making dad who she doesn’t remember. And as a reader, don’t be surprised if you learn a little bit of science before you turn the last page. This is a terrific read for any 8-12 year old.
This review was originally posted at Teens Read Too.
By:
The Class of 2k8,
on 6/13/2008
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2k8: Class Notes
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Class of 2K8 & 2K9 at NJSCBWI
Marissa Doyle, Daphne Grab, Albert Borris (2k9 Co-Pres), Nancy Viau, Nina Nelson
Editors! Agents! And Authors, Oh My!
New Jersey has one of the largest SCBWI chapters on the East coast, and writers from Maine to Maryland sign-up early to attend the annual conference in lovely Princeton. This year top editors like Cheryl Klein, Robin Tordini, Jessica Dandino Garrison, Samantha McFerrin, Stacy Cantor, Nick Eliopulos, and came ready to dish out advice, provide critiques, and give workshops. Approachable agents were in the mix, as well, and the line-up included Dan Lazar of Writers House, Stephen Barbara of Donald Maass Literary, and Linda Pratt of the Sheldon Fogelman Agency.
Author Daphne Grab and Agent Stephen Barbara
Agent Stephen Barbara, Hallee Adleman, Daphen Grab
Nancy Viau and conference organizer Kathy Temean
By:
The Class of 2k8,
on 6/12/2008
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2k8: Class Notes
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The Class of 2K8 panel at NJSCBWI:Daphne Grab, Nina Nelson, Marissa Doyle, & Nancy Viau Members from the Class presented an afternoon workshop on guerrilla marketing called 28 Great Marketing Ideas from the
Class of 2k8.
Nina Nelson,
Marissa Doyle,
Daphne Grab, and
Nancy Viau spoke about marketing their debut novels, individually and as part of a group, to a packed room full of energetic attendees.
They began with the basics—have a signature line for every email that includes your information, create a professional-looking website that reflects not only your book, but you as an author. People nodded and smiled, and scribbled notes in the spaces left on the handout. Press kits were discussed, along with publisher/author communication, tie-ins to national organizations, and what can be done to create consistent buzz. People scribbled harder!
Nancy, Daphne, And Marissa
Half way through the presentation, Nina, Marissa, Daphne, and Nancy addressed the nitty-gritty of marketing and had a little show-and-tell of popular swag like posters, tote bags, pins, candy, and bookmarks. Library visits, school workshops, signings, movie trailers, and blogging were discussed as ways to spread the word about books. A topic that got a lot of interest was that of social networking, and numerous attendees had questions about the usefulness and safety of promotion through MySpace, Facebook, JacketFlap, etc.
Daphne, Nina,Marissa, and Nancy
The panel was a hit! Questions kept coming long after everyone filtered out into the hallway.
Check the Class website for more 2k8 presentations coming to local, regional, and national conferences this year.
Stay tuned: more pics from the NJSCBWI conference coming tomorrow!
By:
The Class of 2k8,
on 6/11/2008
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This was my first time at BEA. I'm somewhat of a camera addict, which drives my family crazy, but at least we have all the important events in our lives for posterity (as well as some not-so-important ones). My
2k8 classmates
Donna Freitas and
Nancy Viau were at BEA with me, and they didn't seem at all annoyed that I was following them around with my camera . . . but maybe they were just being nice.
Here are a few pictures from the first day at BEA, Friday May 30th (which also happened to be my grandmother's 93rd birthday -- Happy Birthday, Grandma!):
Nancy holding up a copy of our friend
Debbie Reed Fischer's book,
Swimming With Sharks, which was prominently displayed in the Flux booth.
Donna and me, posing in front of the poster for her excellent book,
Possibilities of Sainthood, in the FSG booth, and later Donna signing in the autographing area (the guy in the yellow shirt in the far right is Cheech Marin).
Children's book ambassador Jon Scieszka holds up a copy of my book,
My So-Called Family, right after I finished signing copies of my ARC.
Donna met me in the autographing section of the convention hall right after my signing. We went to Nancy's signing for
Samantha Hansen Has Rocks in Her Head -- I can't wait to read it! Then we walked back to our hotel together. We meant to take a cab, but there were no cabs, so we carried ALL the books and galleys we had collected over the course of the day. I mean, bags and bags of books. It was about a mile to our hotel, but it seemed like 10 miles. The whole not getting a cab thing was kind of my fault because I made Donna leave through a different exit than the one she wanted to use. But she says she forgives me and that we're still friends. Anyway, it was a great workout.
Who signed in the autograph area?
Forget the TV/movie stars like Brooke Shields, Cheech Marin, and Barbara Walters. The real stars were our debut authors! Signing in the autograph area were:
That's Donna!
What Class of 2k8 books were spotted?
The Unnameables by Ellen Booraem, 
The Lucky Place by Zu Vincent, 
& Swimming With The Sharks by Debbie Reed Fischer
Thousands of terrific books were up for grabs for anyone brave enough to weave through the crowd, stand in line, or fight for floor space. What a great day!
Stay tuned tomorrow we have more from the floor of BEA!
Today, we have Nancy Viau, author of, Samantha Hansen Has Rocks In Her Head. Trust Nancy to talk about a vacation that is focused on, well, rocks!
Nancy: “I am not cooking this year!” I told my family. I was talking about Thanksgiving dinner, and three pair of eyes gazed at me as if I had gone completely insane. I explained that after so many years of being the “good mom” who prepared all the traditional favorites, I was ready for a change. (Besides, the big eaters—the grown “boys”—would not make it home, and I felt that the pigeon eaters—the girls—wouldn’t do my Turkey Day meal justice.) My family agreed, and one hour later, I had the four of us booked on a flight to Vegas. The Grand Canyon would be our destination.
We flew out to Vegas Thanksgiving day, ate a hot turkey buffet on the strip, and bunked in a cheap hotel outside of town. The next morning, we traveled to the Hoover Dam, got lost and ended up in a teeny bit of California (don’t ask), and then finally made it to the canyon. For two days, we hiked in freezing temperatures while listening to the complaints of our girls who would have preferred visiting their brothers in sunny, warm Florida. But we soaked up the awesome wonder of the park, and were forever changed by its beauty. Following that, we headed for Sedona. We drooled over guided backcountry tours and realized that none were in our budget. When we came to our senses, we realized we had been riding in a four-wheel drive vehicle for the last few days, and could easily take on the back roads ourselves. Duh.
What I didn’t know until months later was that this trip, with all its drama, would inspire a novel. Sure, Samantha Hansen Has Rocks In Her Head is just a story, but there’s a lot of truth in there, as well. Guess, it’ll be up to you to decide which is fact and which is fiction.
Now that's a Thanksgiving vacation!
Quick T.I.P.:
Little Willow/Slayground has interviewed Daphne Grab!
Read it now, then cruise on back for more about heroes.
To sum up this week's hero theme, we take a more serious turn and talk with Nancy Viau. Nancy is the author of Samantha Hansen Has Rocks In Her Head, a middle-grade novel that explores the heart and soul of a ten-year-old who loves rocks, and hates the fact she can’t keep her temper under control.
Who’s your hero, Nancy?
Well, when I first think of heroes, I think of the men and women who give up their comfortable lives to fight overseas. They do this unselfishly, and I am so grateful. It’s because of them that I (quite selfishly) get to do what I do—write. Thankyouthankyouthankyou!
On a personal note, my dad is my hero. And it’s not just because he served in the U.S. Army for 26 years. (I’m an Army brat, can you tell?) There was never a day that my dad did not believe in me. In fourth grade, when I told him I wanted to be an astronaut, he said, “You can do anything you set your mind to.” In high school, when I longed to be a Broadway dancer, he said, “That’s great!” And in college, when I told him I was planning to be an elementary school teacher, he looked at me kind of relieved, and replied, “Perfect.” Years later, as I worked toward getting published, his encouragement kept me going. He dealt with the death of a wife, son, and most of his good friends, and lived in extreme pain, yet this “Energizer Bunny” met each day with a positive attitude, a twinkle in his eye, and a sense of humor. I hope to honor him by doing the same.
Nancy has written a special tribute to her dad that can be found in the latest Chicken Soup for the Soul anthology: Chicken Soup for the Soul Celebrating People Who Make a Difference. Pick up this book in a store near you, and read her heartfelt essay: “Save the Best for Last.”
Think you’d like to try your hand at writing a personal essay? Click HERE for the “Recipe For A Winning Chicken Soup for the Soul Story.”
Stay tuned next week for a list you can’t miss:
28+ Reasons Why You Need a Web Site.
"a 1962 book by Richard Armour... Susan Perl is credited with the illustrations"
From Cartoon Retro where you can see many more illustrations.
I love the sound of the book. It sounds so soft and inviting 
Nancy, congrats to you! How wonderful this all sounds
I’m sure you’re enjoying the riiiiiiiiiiiiiiide… 
Wonderful news, Sounds like a great day (Children’s Book World is great!)
I love it, especially the drinking lots of wine part.
Wish you were coming, Kathy!