Mad Ravings....

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http://www.authorsnow.com/?p=5210

Who: Commenters on the blog link below, at least 13 years old

What: 7 YA/MG books from the Class of 2k9 up for grabs

When: Dec 1- Dec 5

How: Leave a comment at the post below

Where: http://community.livejournal.com/classof2k10/1843.html

Celebrating the “graduation” of the Class of 2k9!

Holy Cannoli! The Class of 2K10 (aka classof2k10 ) is having an awesome book giveaway. Follow the link below to enter by reading about these fabulous books & then leave a comment! WooT

http://community.livejournal.com/classof2k10/1843.html

What they said on NPR:
"...the alleged killer was shot by a lone officer."

What I heard, nearly causing me to drive off the road:
"...the alleged killer was shot by a loan officer."

I am spending December and January (egads, 2010?!?) rethinking and redesigning my webspace. One thing is for sure, everything will be HERE.

No LiveJournal, no EBlogger...other than notification of new posts. Eventually I will be deleting both accounts.

I have imported all my posts from here and eblogger to my wordpress website and that is where I will continue my blogging and cyber life in the New Year!

Phew! Just got an email regarding the revision I sent one of my editors yesterday for an upcoming pb.

My favorite sentence: "I love this revision!!"

Oh, how I love the word 'love' in an email like this. And the double exclamation points. They are so shiny.

Finally got the go-ahead from Hyperion to show HEX HALL'S final cover (although the Tenners got to see it all seeeeekriiiiitlllly a week or so ago. ;-))

But here it is, and I COULD NOT be more thrilled. It's spooky, but funny, and really, taht's what the book is all about. Hope you enjoy!

I've decided to participate in the Debut Author Challenge. I'm sure I'll be adding more to the list as I go, but you can see the ones I've got in the sidebar. Did you find it? Over there on the left, under my avatar and link to my web site. Go on, take a look, I'll wait for you.

Ah, you're back now. Great! If you'd like to participate, click on over to The Story Siren and sign yourself up!

 

Go on.

Read on!

Write on.

I've been reading a lot of message boards, Twitters, etc. (I am not on Twitter, so don't look for me; My husband is, and he has Beastly as a search, so I get to see every single tweet that even uses the word, Beastly in another context) , and I've seen a lot of people who are worried that CBS is going to "ruin" the book in their movie version.

My message to my fans: Thank you SO much for loving my book enough to worry about it. That is super-flattering, and I'm very grateful that you love the book as much as I do.

However: Don't worry.

Honestly, I've read the script because, basically, I'm not good with surprises (like, I really try to find out what my Christmas gifts are ahead of time if at all possible), and the folks at CBS were kind enough to let me read it. I've heard horror stories about books that were ripped to shreds as movies. For example, most people may not know this, but Lois Duncan's book, I Know What You Did Last Summer was suspense, not horror. I got to see Ms. Duncan talk about this at a conference, and this was a big surprise to her. She brought her grandchildren to the movie. Oops.

And don't even get me started on Wicked, the musical. I mean, I love Stephen Schwartz and all, and Wicked is a good show, but if you've read the book (or The Wixard of Oz), you know it doesn't end well for Elphaba. To quote one blog I read, "The @%#*& witch dies!" So that was a bit of a shocker. I mean, I understand why the writers did that. You couldn't really have a fun, popular musical where the main character you've grown to love dies violently by melting in the end, unless it was sort of a Sweeney Todd-type musical (and, much as I love Sweeney Todd, it has never been a moneymaker like Wicked). So they changed it. I celebrate Wicked, the musical for what it was, but it wasn't profound like Wicked, the book.

Sorry to ramble. I'm just giving examples of what I would consider killing a book for a movie (or theatrical) version.

Early in the casting process, CBS offered the role of Kyle to a well-known actor who stated that he thought Kyle/Adrian should have a closer relationship with his father. This would have been, in my mind, a BIG change. It would definitely have bothered me because what attracted me to the Beast's story was that he seemed so abandoned and alone. That's what the book was about -- loneliness, abandonment, desperation. I related to the Beast because of my own strong feelings of loneliness as a teenager (and that is why he reads all the books I loved as a teen, such as The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Picture of Dorian Grey), and while I like this actor a lot, I wouldn't have been happy if his casting had meant they'd change that part of the book.

But that actor isn't involved in the movie (To any teen girls reading this: Have you SEEN Alex Pettyfer?), and the writer put the script back.

Judging from the script, there haven't been huge changes to the book. Really, only one small plot change (having to do with how Kyle talks Lindy's dad into letting her stay, and Kyle's motivations), but it all flows nicely. I can honestly say that, had my editor suggested this change to the book, I would have considered making it. Any other changes are along the lines of cutting a 300+ page book down to a 120-ish page script. Again, since my book isn't terribly long, this didn't result in huge changes to the plot.

The characters are the same people. They changed Magda's name, probably because the actress who is playing her is not Hispanic, but she's still the same wise mentor. And yes, I know Vanessa Hudgens doesn't look the way I described Lindy in the book, but she is the same person too. I was in New York two weeks ago, and I got to see about a 10-minute clip of the movie, the party scene where Kyle (as in the book) fights with Sloane, talks to Lindy, and snubs Kendra, then the scene back at his apartment with Kendra. Vanessa Hudgens comes off very smart, and sweet and self-deprecating as Lindy in the scene, and she was definitely in sharp contrast to Sloane, Trey, Kyle, and the other snotty kids at the school. This was the most important thing to me, that Lindy would be a normal, middle class, smart girl, and she nailed it. I really enjoyed her in Bandslam, and I look forward to seeing her in the whole movie.

And Mary-Kate Olsen -- OMG! I've recently had the opportunity to watch a million Full House reruns with my kids (Other than Candace Cameron's hairstyle, it never gets old), and if you think about it, you can tell that Mary-Kate and her sister are extremely talented girls. But New York Minute wasn't exactly the vehicle to show that off. In Beastly, though, Mary-Kate gets a role into which she can really sink her teeth. Honestly, she is Kendra, and I don't say that lightly because Kendra is my favorite character in the book, and the one to whom I most relate. I don't care how thin she is; She's perfect (and her costumes are awesome). She's SCARY! She will be a highlight of the movie.

Anyway, if you're a fan in the book, you can rest easy in the knowledge that the movie version is pretty true to it. Not one major plot point is different. Not one major character has been deleted. The ending is identical, and Alex Pettyfer is going to be great as Kyle.

And -- yesss! -- I sent in my new book yesterday. It will be out in a year, and the title (drum roll, please) is . . . Cloaked.

I cannot believe it’s December 1st! That’s crazy. December is officially winter and coldness, although it hasn’t’ really snowed here yet. Just once, and only for about an hour or so, and then it was gone. Not that I’m complaining – we’ll get it soon enough, and then I’ll really want it to go away. (My thoughts on snow is that it should be over after the holidays – it should be just swept away after the new year, taken out with the Christmas trees and put away with the holiday lights, not to be seen or heard from again until next year.)

My Thanksgiving was fun – we went down to the Cape to visit with the in-laws. My sister-in-law just got engaged, so it was fun to ooh and ahh over her shiny new ring.

We also played Pictionary. Probably none of you have ever seen me draw, but if you did, you would know that I’m not so good at this game. (One time someone asked me if I was doing the illustrations for my chapter book series, and I was thinking, “Um, no, not unless they want them to be stick figures.” But the truth is, I’m not even that good at stick figures.)

But somehow, this year I wasn’t that bad. My ten-year-old niece was on my team, and I swear it was like we had mind-meld. I drew this blob on the paper and then circled something in the middle, and she was like, ‘BRAZIL!” which was totally right! Do you think that’s why I like writing tween books so much? Because I am deep down ten years old?

But the best part was that we got home to find that while we were gone, SoapNet had DVR’d the Beverly Hills, 90201 Chillin’ With Dylan marathon. Hello, how lucky! (The Boy didn’t think so. But whatever. The DVR also has lots of UFC and boxing on it, which is unlucky for me, so it all works out.)

I turned in a book yesterday, so I’ve been catching up on the episodes. Some of them are really good. Um, the first episode where Dylan and Brenda meet? And the whole Brenda/Kelly/Dylan love triangle? When she yells, “I hate you both, never talk to me again!” Love it!

Some of them are not so good. Like, for example right now Dylan is in some kind of coma, and the whole episode is this really weird dream sequence where he’s making out with Kelly and then getting operated on by his high school principal. Creepy. And confusing.

Anyway. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday!

Happy December! I’ll blog tomorrow about my nanowrimo being pretty much an epic fail…

ETA: Now the high school principal has a gun for some reason, and Dylan is chasing a little girl down some railroad tracks. This one might need to be deleted…

More later,
xx

We're giving away an advance copy of The Mark, due out in January 2010. This ARC will be signed by the author.

Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Cassie struggles to learn what, if anything, she should do with her ability to see people marked to die within a day’s time

The rules:
Give us your holiday shopping recommendations...

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment on this post by Wednesday, December 2 at 5 PM EDT telling us a book you’ll be giving this holiday season (Hush, Hush, Beautiful Creatures and When It's Six O'Clock in San Francisco for me – hopefully my sisters & son aren’t reading this) or the book you’d most like to get (gotta go with Catching Fire).

One entry per person. If you don't have a LiveJournal or Open ID and you post anonymously, include some name or nickname in your comment so that we can identify you. You need not put your address in the comment; we’ll only ask for the winner's address.

Who's eligible: Anyone age 13 and older. Anywhere. The recipient will be chosen at random.

Good luck!

It's the day before Thanksgiving, and my heart is filled with gratitude. My life hasn't always been easy, but as I enter the nail salon, I'm counting my blessings.

I browse the rainbow assortment of polishes, choosing a lighter shade to complement my fair skin. And when I’m notified that my manicurist is late, I settle into a plush chair with the latest issue of People, flip-flopped feet barely skimming the floor.

An older woman walks into the salon, tall and elegantly dressed. She grabs a bottle of polish in a deeper shade--a perfect match for her deep brown skin--and then glances at her watch. “I guess I’m early,” she says.

I smile up at her, sweeping my handbag off the chair next to me. “Here, have a seat.”

She perches on the edge, stiletto-clad feet crossed at the ankles. “I’m Mary,” she says, in a drawl that stretches her vowels from here to tomorrow.

I'm curious about her accent, a honey-sweet mixture of Southern and SoCal. “Where are you from?” I ask, and she tells me she’s from Chapel Hill, Tennessee.

“I’ve spent a lot of time in the South.”

She gives a polite, noncommittal nod, and the conversation drifts into silence. Side by side, we flip through glossy magazines, waiting for our appointments. But the minutes are dragging, and the articles uninspiring, so I try to revive our conversation. “Did you ever go to tent meetings?”

She smiles broadly, as if she’s seeing me anew. “Oh honey, we lived and breathed tent revivals where I come from!” Then she groans. “Those sermons would go on for hours. I’d start thinking about Sunday supper and my stomach would get to growlin’—"

I interrupt her mid-sentence. “Let me guess the menu,” I say. “You served fried chicken—or maybe catfish. Skillet cornbread with lots of butter…”

She nods. “Mmm hmm. And okra. Or collard greens with pork.”

“And banana pudding with ‘nilla wafers—”

She slaps my knee. “Or red velvet cake with homemade ice cream! Nothing better than that in the whole wide world, now is there?”

By then, our stomachs are carrying on their own conversation. “Seems like we must've sat at the same table,” she says.

“I believe we did, Mary. I believe we did." She eyes me quizzically. "I guess I should have mentioned this earlier," I say. "I’m a tent evangelist's daughter.”

“You?” She searches my face, maybe to see if I’m jesting.

“Yes, me.” I lock eyes with her, slow down my words so she can really hear what I have to say next. “Thank you, Mary. I owe my life to generous people like you.”

She shakes her head slowly. "Well, I’ll be," she says, and I can tell she needs time for the words to really register.

She slips her hand into mine, ebony and ivory intertwined. And then we sit quietly, side by side, allowing our souls to speak the words we cannot.

Finally I break the silence. “So—would you ever have guessed it?”

“Not in a million years," she says, "Not in a million years.”

Back in September, while I was working on the revision of my YA, MERCY LILY, my agent, Caryn Wiseman, sent over a critique from the agency’s newest member, Mary Kole. I was about ¾ through my revision and was thrilled to see that Mary had hit on many of the same sections I had, and then some. So I incorporated her suggestions and became more and more excited about this manuscript I’ve loved for a long time because I sensed that Mary really loved it too. Her enthusiasm totally rejuvenated me!

At ABLA, the agents works in teams but still handle their own clients, too. So last week, I was surprised when Caryn proposed that I be officially repped by Mary. With Mary’s enthusiasm about MERCY LILY and her ability to devote a bit more time to it, plus the fact that they have that team thing going on, I felt it was an offer I couldn’t refuse. ;-)

It’s like the best of both worlds and I’m grateful to Caryn for steering me to Mary. It’s all good! Mary and I talked and had a great conversation. She’s smart, friendly, funny, professional, and a go-getter! Everything Caryn said she was. I feel like I’ve won the jackpot twice. I heart ALBA!!

Mary will do some following up on a few submissions and then get this revision to the editors-in-waiting.

Yay! I'm stoked!

A month of reruns begins today!

***

Another run, run, run kinda day.

Speaking of running...

Last night I pulled out an inspirational book I like to flip through now and then. IF YOU WANT TO WALK ON WATER, YOU'VE GOT TO GET OUT OF THE BOAT.

I randomly opened the book last night and I came to the page that talked about the movie CHARIOTS OF FIRE.

I don't think I saw this movie??? I remember hearing about it. But I don't think I saw it. But apparently one of the characters lost a race. He was ready to quit. Give up running and racing.

He said something like, But I race to win.

And the woman he was talking to said, but if you don't race, you won't win.

Sometimes we need to hear that message over and over again. To try is not to fail. To NOT try is to fail.

That is why I keep sending my work out, even though my drawer is full of rejections. If I don't race, I won't win. If I do race, I might not win. But you never know. Someone has to win. Why not me?

My running shoes are on. Anyone want to join me?

(originally posted on 10.26.05)

So a couple of days ago I put a call out on twitter, saying that the first three people who emailed their query letter to me would get it critiqued on my blog. It was the holiday weekend, and The Boy had friends over, so I was tucked away in our bedroom trying not to get in the way of male bonding time :) Anyway, I turned a book in yesterday, so this morning I sat down to critique.

(Disclaimer: These are JUST my opinions. Feel free to take what helps you and ignore the rest. Also, I haven't read the books these queries are for, so when I needed plot stuff, I just made it up or did an kind of thing. These are also rough, as I wrote them off the top of my head, and would definitely need a little smoothing before they were sent.)

Query Number One:

Dear Ms. X,

The monsters who lurk in the shadows might think Elle is a kindred spirit -- they're wrong.

Elle hates being a werewolf, hates that the blood of the beast who killed her family also runs through her veins. But now she has a new home and family, including Cass, her dhamphir foster-sister. The girls join forces to keep the local supernaturals in line and make their town as normal as possible.

It's a job they treat like a hobby, until the night something attacks the high school quarterback, leaving him like a living zombie. As friends, enemies, and strangers alike fall prey to the soul-stealing demon spawn, Elle and Cass are forced to up their game. Rather than pinpointing a suspect though, Elle's werewolf senses have her chasing her tail -- and her cute new tutor, who smells a little too much like the demon spawn.

When her foster-mom is attacked, Elle's home life is shattered. Armed with more attitude than experience, and running out of suspects, Elle must embrace her inner beast if she wants to stop the demon spawn from destroying her new family -- or at least their souls.

PRETTY SOULS, a young adult urban fantasy, is complete at 85,000 words. It will appeal to readers of Kelley Armstrong's Darkest Powers series, Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series, and Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely series.

I would be thrilled to send sample chapters or the full manuscript at your request. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Writer Number One

My Thoughts:

Paragragh #1 - I think you need to cut the first paragraph. I get that maybe you’re going for something that will get attention right off the bat, but I think the next paragraph does it.

Paragragh #2 -- There’s an intriguing set-up here. Unfortunately, I think it’s a little bit confusing. I like that Elle’s a werewolf, and that werewolves also killed her family. But I want to know how she came to live with a half-vampire foster-sister, and also how/why the two girls join forces. And to do what exactly? What kind of creatures are in their town and how do they keep it normal? Also, did she just move in with the foster family or has she lived there since she was born? I need a little more info.

Paragraph #3 -- The third paragraph is good, but I think it needs to be streamlined and include just a touch more info.

Paragraph #4 --The last paragraph, I like -- it’s like the last straw is her foster mom being attacked, the catalyst for her embracing who she really is. But I don’t know if the whole “home life shattered” line needs to be there. Obviously her home life would be shattered. Also, I like that she has now decided to “embrace” her inner beast, but I’d like to know a little more about HOW or WHY she decided to do this. Is there some power she has that she hasn’t used yet for some reason? Or maybe she has to infiltrate the group of wolves that killed her biological family? Also I think the “or at least their souls” can be cut.

Maybe Try Something Like:

“When sixteen-year-old Elle’s family is killed in a vicious werewolf attack, Elle is sent to x to live with x. Elle hates being a werewolf, hates that that blood of the beast that killed her family runs through her veins. But Elle has a new family now, including Cass, her damphir foster sister.

Once Elle is settled in to her new home, the two girls join forces, spending their days and nights keeping the local (specific supernaturals?) in line by (whatever they do that shows they are keeping the town as normal as possible, but that’s it’s still only a hobby).

But when the high school quarterback is found on the football field, brutally attacked and left as a living zombie, Elle and Cass are forced to up their game. Suddenly, the town is reeling, and as friends, enemies and strangers alike fall prey to the soul-stealing predator, Elle’s werewolf instincts have her chasing her tail. Her only suspect? Max, her cute new tutor, who’s setting off her senses with his weird behavior.

When Elle’s foster mom is attacked, Elle realizes the threat may be closer than she thought – and she wonders if she’s the real target. Armed with more attitude than experience, and running out of suspects, Elle must finally find a way to embrace her inner beast if she wants to stop the demon from destroying her family.

Query Letter Number Two:

Dear Ms. X:

Madeline, "Maddie" McGee hates cleaning. Always has – always will. Her motto? "I solve your mystery...you clean my room."

But when her messy room becomes an obstacle in her vacation plans, she needs a case…in a hurry! In the nic of time, a nerdy fellow student, Victor, comes to Maddie for help in finding Sylvia (his boa constrictor). Unfortunately, Maddie hates snakes almost as much as she hates cleaning. But since her room is even scarier than the boa constrictor – the search is on!

As the mystery deepens, Maddie learns that snakes aren’t always hidden in the grass…sometimes they are in plain view, wearing a suit and tie.

SEEKING SYLVIA: A Maddie McGee Mystery is a completed chapter book written in first person. I hope you will allow me to send you the entire manuscript. Thank you for your time.

Joy and peace,

Writer #2

My Thoughts:

Paragraph #1 -- I like the concept of this! A girl sleuth, what’s not to like? The problem is, when you start with Maddie McGee hates cleaning, it makes it seem like it’s a book about cleaning. Also, it’s a little unclear -- she solves mysteries, and every time she does, the person has to clean her room? If so, I think you need to make the fact that she solves mysteries front and center. Also, I didn’t get a real sense of Maddie’s age from the beginning, which was confusing. I was picturing this book as a middle grade, but later you say it’s a chapter book. So I’d put her age in here somewhere.

Paragraph #2 I like the set up for the mystery. I just think you need more info, and I think you need to make it more clear that Maddie

Paragraph #3 The suit and tie part is great – I love thinking that maybe there’s a mysterious man who has something to do with it! But the mystery, which is such a huge part of the book, is kind of buried here. How does the mystery deepen? We need a few more details, especially since otherwise there’s no real mystery – it’s just a search for a snake.

Side note: This is a minor thing, but I wonder if you need a snappier title. I don’t know if “Seeking Sylvia” is catchy enough for a chapter book. Something with the word “snake” in it, like SNAKE ON THE LOOSE! Or something that would appeal to kids more and is a little catchier might be better.

Maybe Try Something Like:

Eight-year-old Madeline “Maddie” McGee is a super sleuth. Whether it’s figuring out x or x, Maddie can do it. Her only request? You clean her room in return.

When Maddie’s parents lay down the law – clean her room or risk missing the family vacation -- Maddie realizes she needs a case…and fast. So when Maddie’s classmate Victor asks Maddie to for help finding Sylvia, his boa constrictor, Maddie signs on. The only problem? Maddie hates snakes almost as much as she hates cleaning. Almost. Besides, how hard can it possibly be?

But soon a simple chase for Sylvia turns into a bunch of weird happenings as Maddie starts uncovering x, x, and x. And when a mysterious man shows up, one might know more about the case than he’s letting on, Maddie starts to realize that snakes aren’t always hidden in the grass..sometimes they’re in plain view, wearing a suit and tie.

Query Letter Number Three:

Dear Ms. X:

I am seeking representation for my 60,000 word YA novel Through Her Eyes

Leila Lefley is awkward. While the rest of the students in Eastbay High are panicking over prom and college applications, Leila struggles to come to terms with the real meaning of idioms, her peer’s lack of interest in van Gogh’s disfigured ear, and the need to wear heels. Why would someone willingly risk a bunion the size of a golf ball? Leila resigns herself to drooling over her crush Neil from a distance. What would the insightful, fashion savvy heartthrob want with Loony Leila? Especially since Leila has Asperger’s syndrome.

Then she bumps into the crude Thor, literally. He tells her that he is a nymph and she is his charge. His mission is simple-- make Neil fall in love with Leila. Welcome to Dating 101. As a nymph, Thor is a master of seduction. A simple look from Thor and the school’s ancient Latin teacher is ready to drop her pants. But this nymph has his work cut out for him since Leila is different. Cue uncomfortable silences, unnecessary rambling and cringe-worthy situations.

The rules are straightforward. Follow Thor’s instruction, don’t like an idiot and most importantly, don’t fall in love with the nymph. Some things are easier said than done. The closer Leila gets to Neil, the more she finds herself longing for Thor. But Thor's mission comes with a timestamp, and with it, his own expiration. Leila has to make Neil fall in love with her fast, or she'll lose Thor forever.

Thank you,

Amna Mohdin


My Thoughts:

Paragraph #1 -- Okay. I like that this girl has Asperger’s syndrome. I think that there’s a real lack of strong YA heroines with disabilities in YA fiction. However, this paragraph has two main problems. One, it’s missing a really great opportunity to set up exactly who this girl is, and two, the voice is a little bit off for YA.

I did some googling, and found out that people with Asperger’s have trouble with idioms, and that Van Gogh is thought to have maybe had Asperger’s. But I wouldn’t know that unless I knew something about Asperger’s. So right now it just reads that those are the things she’s into. I think you should change it up just a little, so that agents/editors who are familiar with Asperger’s would get some of the references, but that if they don’t have that much background in Asperger’s, they would still think, “Wow, Leila sounds like a really cool character.” Also, we can cut the first sentence, since it becomes obvious that Leila is awkward. I also think the words “looney” and “heartthrob” are dated, so they should be replaced.

Paragraph #2 -- I like this set up, but I want to know a little more. Instead of saying “Welcome to Dating 101” can we see some examples of how Thor teaches Leila? Also, I didn’t really care for the school’s ancient Latin teacher dropping her pants. I think it would be more impressive if it were the hottest girl in school swooning ☺

Paragraph #3 – Like it! Good as is!

Maybe Try Somethingg Like:

While the rest of the students at Eastbay High are panicking over their facebook statuses and making sure the height of their stilettos is worthy of prom, seventeen-year-old Leila Leifley is researching the long-term implications of social networking sites, and debating whether or not Van Gogh’s early work showed signs of his depression.

Unfortunately, Leila’s differences haven’t left her immune to the torture that is high school crushes. Leila’s been watching Neil (last name) from a distance for what seems like forever. And she intends to keep it that way. Her Asperger’s Syndrome makes normal social interaction hard enough – forget about talking to the most sought-after guy at Eastbay.

Then Leila bumps into Thor. Literally. Thor’s a nymph, and his mission is simple. Make Neil fall in love with Leila. Thor is a master of seduction (one grin can make the hottest cheerleader swoon), but with Leila, he has his work cut out for him. She can’t flirt to save her life, she really does not get the point of short skirts, and she almost singes her hair off in an unfortunate incident involving hot rollers. Add her uncomfortable silences, unnecessary rambling, and tendency to take everything literally and Leilia wonders if she’ll ever get Neil to even look at her, much less fall in love.

But Leila’s determined to follow the rules. Do what Thor says, don’t act like an idiot and most importantly, don’t fall in love with the nymph. But some things are easier said than done. The closer Leila gets to Neil, the more she finds herself longing for Thor. But Thor's mission comes with a timestamp, and with it, his own expiration. Leila has to make Neil fall in love with her fast, or risk losing Thor forever.

-----

Thanks to all who sent their query letters! This was fun, and now that my book is done, I might do it again this week...

More later,
xx

Have you seen the awesome book trailer for Magic Under Glass?

You've got to see it!

Want to win a hardcover of MAGIC UNDER GLASS by Jaclyn Dolamore plus more prizes? See http://fabulousfrock.livejournal.com for details!

 

Write on!

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http://www.authorsnow.com/?p=5177

This week, we’re celebrating Hannah Moskowitz’s debut! Hannah Moskowitz is an eighteen-year-old writer slumming around Washington D.C. She likes crème brulee, tattoos, and playing dress-up. She has never broken a bone.

Here’s a little bit about BREAK (Simon Pulse).

Jonah is on a mission to break every bone in his body. Everyone knows that broken bones grow back stronger than they were before. And Jonah wants to be stronger—needs to be stronger, because his family is falling apart, what with his bickering parents, his allergic-to-everything brother, and the screaming new baby. Maybe if he breaks and heals enough times, he’ll show his family how to pick itself up after a fall. But how does he keep from destroying himself in the process?

If you had to give your book a movie rating: G through Rated R, which one would you give and why?

It’d have to be R just for the language. Besides that, however, it’s fairly clean—no drugs, no sex. There is some semi-graphic violence and some alcohol/tobacco.

What topics, issues, or themes does your book address? What drove you to write about them?

I wanted to write a book about self-injury that wasn’t a self-injury book. Jonah isn’t depressed and isn’t suicidal; he’s a boy trying to feel a part of a family that’s crashing and burning. He’s trying to fix an unfixable situation.

I wanted to take a premise that was so out there, so unbelievable, and so much more than what was already out there and make it understandable. Generally the books I write are “coming-of-age with a twist.” Breaking his bones is definitely the twist, but at its heart this is a classic coming of age story with a heavy influence on brotherhood.

Name three examples of readers who would identify or like your book.

Teenage girls who are sick of reading about how hard it is to be a teenage girl. Readers who like their comedies dark a la Chuck Palahniuk or John Green. Any teenage boy who has—or whishes he had—a brother to worry about. .

List a few statistically improbable phrases or sentences one might find in your book. These are phrases or sentences you might never find anywhere else.

• “He’s like six-foot-five in high heels.”
• “I’m going to turn into Benadryl.”
• Ugly-ass combat boots
• Unbroken, imperfect hand
• orange orange orange hurt

How can your book be used in the classroom?

It would definitely be relevant in a lesson about the strain an ill family member puts on the rest of the family. A teacher could also use it in a discussion on personal responsibility and ownership of one’s own actions. Jonah’s heavily into Confucianism and mentions that family is the smallest possible unit of measure—that families can’t really be divided into individuals. BREAK would fit well into a discussion of families as a unit.

Now tell us about other already-published books that readers of your book might enjoy.

SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson, SOMEDAY THIS PAIN WILL BE USEFUL TO YOU by Peter Cameron, AN ABUNDANCE OF KATHERINES by John Green, FIGHT CLUB by Chuck Palahniuk.

Take an insightful narrator like SOMEDAY’s, add some of KATHERINES’ dialogue, and give it a messy conflict like SPEAK and a dash of FIGHT CLUB dark absurdity.

Now whet our appetites with a teaser.

The first feeling is exhilaration.
My arms hit the ground. The sound is like a mallet against a crab.
Pure f*cking exhilaration.

Are you offering authors visits to schools, libraries, or other organizations?

Definitely, if they’re local. I might have trouble with scheduling, since I start college this fall, but I’m willing to try.

Are you willing to speak nationally?

Also yes, if I can make it work.

List a few example titles of presentations, talks, or workshops you might give for an author visit.

The Explosion of Young Writers: How Teenagers are Shaping Teen Fiction
Communicating With A Teenage Audience
Relevant vs. Trendy: How to Craft a Contemporary Novel
How to Keep “Problem Novels” Fresh

This concludes our interview with our latest author, Hannah Moskowitz. We wish her much success with her debut novel BREAK. To see what Hannah is up to these days, visit her website at http://www.untilhannah.com or her blog at http://www.hannahmosk.blogspot.com.

*GIVEAWAY ALERT* Hannah is giving away a signed copy of BREAK to 5 winners. Tell your friends and leave a comment for the author! Enter by December 8th, 2009 11:59 PM CST.

Your email address will not be displayed publicly and will only be used to contact you if you win! And don’t forget to participate in our other AuthorsNow! giveaways.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/authorsnow/~3/uIvF_a1FpJw/

http://www.authorsnow.com/?p=5171

This week, we’re celebrating C.J. Omololu’s debut! Cynthia Jaynes Omololu majored in English at U.C. Santa Barbara because she liked to read, not because she liked to write. In fact, for years all of her journals ended on or about January 21st because writing about her life was well…boring. After her kids were born, she discovered that she did like to write about the lives of fictional people, and that the voices in her head often have interesting things to say.

Cynthia lives in Northern California with her Nigerian husband (hence the vowel-filled last name) and two sons.

Here’s a little bit about DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS (Walker).

From the outside, Lucy’s home looks normal. Inside the front door is where the secrets begin. Towering piles of newspaper and magazines. Bags of junk flooding every inch of open space. The line of mold creeping along the window frames. This is what she’s kept from everyone—that her mother’s compulsive hoarding has reduced their lives to garbage . . . literally.

With only two years until graduation, Lucy finally feels like a normal life is within her grasp, and her new best friend, Kaylie, and her longtime crush, Josh, make a future feel almost possible.

Then one morning Lucy comes home to find something she never expected, something that will change her life forever. And she must ask herself—how far can she really go to keep the family secrets safe?

If you had to give your book a movie rating: G through Rated R, which one would you give and why?

PG-13. No sex, but some kissing and a little swearing. Oh yeah, a dead mother. Like right-there dead, not in the abstract.

What topics, issues, or themes does your book address? What drove you to write about them?

DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS is about the mental disorder of compulsive hoarding and what it does to a family. It’s also about how keeping secrets gives them power over you, and that no matter how bad they are, someone can always help you.

I got the idea from a magazine article about a woman who had grown up in a hoarded home. I didn’t grow up in this situation, but I’ve known some hoarders and have seen what the disorder can do. Once you start talking about it, it’s amazing how common the problem really is – almost everyone has known someone with some degree of hoarding. There wasn’t as much media exposure when I started writing this book, but now there is even a series on A&E called Hoarders.

Name three examples of readers who would identify or like your book.

DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS is for anyone who has had hoarding touch their lives or who is interested in the disorder. I think it would also appeal to people who have felt they had a big secret that they had to keep. As depressing as the subject sounds, I find the book one of hope and survival, so it really has broad appeal to anyone over the age of 12 (that’s been my own benchmark so far). There’s also a romance thread, because what is a YA book without a romance thread?

List a few statistically improbable phrases or sentences one might find in your book. These are phrases or sentences you might never find anywhere else.

• As it ripped away from the base, the pile of papers flipped into the air, and several of the maggots were flung off them and into my face like a larval rain shower.
• Over the past couple of years, I’d told people that Mom had a brain tumor, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, kidney failure, and irritable bowel syndrome as reasons for why I couldn’t do something or have them over.
• I reached out and curled my hand around her still, icy fingers. I held it there for a long time as I sat with my knees to my chest, wishing that just for a minute she could squeeze it back and tell me everything would be okay.

How can your book be used in the classroom?

DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS is a great springboard for discussion about how we all have secrets and how they affect our lives. A large portion of the book is written in flashbacks, so it is an unusual example of this writing style.

Now tell us about other already-published books that readers of your book might enjoy.

Kids who like edgy books by Laurie Halse Anderson or Ellen Hopkins would probably enjoy DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS. I love the new book The Mark by Jen Nadol (my sister in publishing) and think that readers who enjoy that would enjoy this.

Now whet our appetites with a teaser.

Everyone has secrets. Some are just bigger and dirtier than others.

At least that’s what I told myself whenever I stood in a crowd of normal-looking people and felt like I was the only one. The only person on the planet who had to hide practically everything that was real. It was soothing to look at all the unfamiliar faces and try to figure out the thing each person hid inside – true or not, it made me feel like less of a freak.

Are you offering authors visits to schools, libraries, or other organizations?

Yes.

Are you willing to speak nationally?

Yes.

List a few example titles of presentations, talks, or workshops you might give for an author visit.

• How to write sympathetically about an unsympathetic subject.
• Follow your “what ifs” into a great story.
• Your DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS – how they can change your life.

This concludes our interview with our latest author, C.J. Omololu. We wish her much success with her debut novel DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS. To see what C.J.  is up to these days, visit her website at http://www.cjomololu.com or her blog at http://www.cynjay.blogspot.com.

*GIVEAWAY ALERT* C.J. is giving away a signed copy of DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS. Tell your friends and leave a comment for the author! Enter by December 8th, 2009 11:59 PM CST.

Your email address will not be displayed publicly and will only be used to contact you if you win! And don’t forget to participate in our other AuthorsNow! giveaways.

Another JoNoWriMo+1.5 comes to a close today. How did you do? Check in over here: jonowrimo and let me know!

This year was a really special one. Several people met up at our community page to write together, and now some are even forming critique groups! We had such a lovely, supportive group this year. Thanks to everyone who participated!

:-)

I stole this idea from Greg Pincus who, back in April of this year, gave us 30 Poets in 30 Days for National Poetry Month. Every day, for 30 days, he highlighted a different poet and by the end of the month I had a great many new poets to follow. What a great idea!

When I was trying to think of what kind of gift I could give my blog readers the holiday season I thought I could introduce them to some blog they might not know about but that I think are worth checking out. So I introduce the first (for me) of 31 Blogs (You Might Not Know) in 31 Days. Every day in December I will post a little teaser about a blog that perhaps isn't as well known as some of the other blogs we tend to frequent. There will be writers and poets and maybe an illustrator or two. I hope you enjoy the journey.


Many of you are already familiar with author/illustrator Teri Sloat's beautiful picture books (I'm a Duck, There Was an Old Man Who Painted the Sky, and many more) and her exquisite art. What you might not know is that she is a brand-new blogger.

Her blog, Painting the Sky is all about her creative journey. A couple of my favorite posts are Julie and Julia and the Invisibile Audience where she talks about the lessons she took away from the movie Julie and Julia and Walking Through a Story where she talks about her love of creation stories.

Say hello from me when you stop by.