How to use this Page

Last evening, between storm surges and convention watching, Bill and I finished filming the sixth video in our memoir series (see our introductory video here). We put the finishing touches on the packet we're about to send to the first dozen writers (we love them all already) who will be joining us for our five-day workshop on the old farm in September. We looked, again, ahead.

Here's where I'll be (when not in this house reading and writing memoir) over the next few months:

On August 4th, I'll be at the Stone Harbor Yacht Club in Stone Harbor, NJ, sharing my Jersey Shore novel, This Is the Story of You and reading some of the Jersey Shore pieces I've written over time (a chapter in Small Damages, a chapter in Love: A Philadelphia Affair). We'll also have some memoir writing fun. The event begins at 3:30.

On September 4, I'll be in Decatur, GA, for that most amazing AJC Decatur Book Festival, sharing a panel with young adult writers Alexandra Sirowy and Ami Allen-Vath.

On September 11, I'll be on a farm with the incredible memoirists who have said yes to the inaugural Juncture Workshop series. 

On October 15, I'll be joining fiction writers Angela Flournoy and Toni Jensen, poets Robin Coste Lewis and Chloe Honum, YA fantasy writer Brenna Yovanoff, mystery writer Will Thomas, and romance author Sherry Thomas at the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma for the Nimrod Conference Readers and Writers.

On November 1, I'll be in Cape May, NJ, for the second Juncture Workshop.

On November 8, I'll be conducting training for the T/E School District.

Add a Comment

This past weekend, I got the chance to attend the Decatur Book Festival.

At first I was going to take copious notes of the author panels so I could give a summary of the total goodness that happened but then I just got caught up and just couldn’t keep up with all the fabulous that I was hearing and seeing.

So instead I will share with you the books from the authors I met and who were featured at this year’s festival. So much book love! These authors were so gracious. I didn’t get all my books signed but hopefully my paths will cross with them in the future.

You may find some good book recommendations to include in your To-Be-Read (TBR) list.

The Turner House by Angela Flournoy
The Star Side of Bird Hill by Naomi Jackson
Balm by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
An Untamed State by Roxane Gay

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh
Simon vs. The Home Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
Tiny Pretty Things by Sona Charaiporta and Dhonielle Clayton
More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera

The Living by Matt De La Pena
Written in the Stars by Aisha Saeed
Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
Shadowshaper by Daniel Jose Older

Display Comments Add a Comment

In August, I attended the Decatur Book Festival. My favorite session by far celebrated the picture book and included author and children's book historian Leonard Marcus, author Laurel Snyder, author Mac Barnett, and author/illustrator Chris Raschka.

Here are some notes I took while listening in:

Last year, a front-page New York Times article talked about the picture book being on the way out, due to the digital revolution and ambitious parents interested in bypassing them all together.

Yet picture books still have an important place. They are a "gateway to a life-long appreciation of art and literature" and are "an authentic meeting place for parent and child." Author Laurel Snyder believes picture books are the "most innovative form of writing [she's] ever encountered." Mac Barnett spoke of the "sweet spot" blend of literary and commercial literature that isn't available in any other genre.

The simplicity of the picture book is deceiving. There is a tension between the text and image that is something bigger than the work the author and illustrator create. It is as if the two together equal more than the whole. Both adults and children make up the audience for these books, and the most effective satisfy both. There's the "rhythm of the page turn" to consider, as illustrator Chris Raschka says.

"Your language becomes clear and true when you take words away." - Laurel Snyder

"If I've written a picture book that works without pictures, I've failed." - Mac Barnett

Display Comments Add a Comment

Add a Comment

NEWSFLASH

Since I've started to get more requests, my marketing biz is focusing more author client for swag and promotion. So if you need any buttons, posters, flyers, postcards, bookmarks, tshirts, twitter/blogger backgrounds, or custom web site designs that you can manage - keep me in mind. I can also help come up with book campaigns, other giveaways, and teaser lines you can use on the road. Some of this can be for published AND prepublished authors. I give 20% off to SCBWI members. You can get more information at my web site. Also if you need fabulous book trailers, my friend Vania rocks!

Decatur Book Fest

Had the best weekend.

Not only was most of it spent with my family. But on Saturday, I spent the whole day in Decatur amongst writer friends, gorge weather, and frawesome panels.

Hung out with Jennifer Jabaley (Lipstick Apology), book trailer guru, Vania, Rachel Hawkins (Hex Hall, DemonGlass), Myra McEntire (Hourglass, 2011, Egmont), Victoria Schwab (The Near Witch, Hyperion 2011) and Michelle Hodkin (THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER, S&S 2011).

Some authors I got a chance to chill with were Carrie Ryan (yes you heard that right! Holy crap right and she was a sweetie pie ) and the always-hilarious, Jackson Pearce.

Panel - Chicken Nuggets of Brilliance

Romantic Realism, Realistic Romance with Terra Elan McVoy (author of Pure and After the Kiss) and David Leviathan (co-author of Will Grayson, Will Grayson)

• The mechanics of romance is not what grabs teens. Its the emotional romance.
• Think about what makes it real. Love is not perfect so when a love scene is - its boring
• The awkward moments are where the realness lies.
• Sometimes romance is impacted by the surroundings and what is happening
• Pull from real life - but ask what if to change the scenarios. What if I hadn't had my first kiss. What if my first kiss was good? bad?
• Romance i funny not serious. Funny moments are always buried under the glistening eyes and puffy lips.

Creating a Fantastical World with Jessica Verday (The Hollow), Kathleen Duey (Skin Hunger), Saundra Mitchell (Shadowed Summer), Cinda Williams 18 Comments on Decatur Book festival recap, last added: 9/9/2010