Helllllooooo! I know, I know, I've been MIA from the blogosphere... but for good reason. The last month has been a whirlwind both professionally and personally. I've survived a move, had lots of fun at signings and events, and have been working on writing whenever there's extra time. I thought I'd share some photos to bring you up to date on some of the recent events I've participated in below.
If you haven't been able to come to any of my signings/events yet (listed HERE), I'll be at the Neshaminy Mall Barnes & Noble in Bensalem, PA on Friday, July 8th from 5-7 pm. Also, I'll be signing at the PAYA festival in West Chester, PA on August 27th. I'd love to see you at either event!
And now for the pictures:
Books of Wonder, NYC
Class of 2k11 author panel at Books of Wonder (in NYC) during BEA week. L to R: Sheila O'Connor's arm, Bettina Restrepo, me, Alissa Grosso, Angie Smibert, Geoff Herbach, Christina Mandelski, Kiki Hamilton, Amy Fellner Dominy
Class of 2k11 display at Books of Wonder
I'm with super awesome James of Book Chic (check out his Lipstick Laws review HERE) and fellow 2k11 author, Christina Mandelski.
Natalie Zaman & Charlotte Bennardo, authors of SIRENZ
With a great group of students!
Voracious Reader, Larchmont, NY
Class of 2k11 authors at Voracious Reader in Larchmont, NY L to R: Bettina Restrepo, Alissa Grosso, (front) Amy Fellner Dominy, me, Gae Polisner, Geoff Herbach, Angie Smibert
L to R: Alissa Grosso, me, Gae Polisner, Geoff Herbach, Angie Smibert
Voracious Reader Class of 2k11 display
The Shelf Awareness Image of the Day 6/1/2011 from the 2k11 Voracious Reader event. L to R: Bettina Restrepo, Amy Fellner Dominy, Gae Polisner, Geoff Herbach, Carole Estby Dagg, me, Alissa Grosso, Angie Smibert
Gae Polisner with the henna artist. Yes, 2k11 had a henna artist at our BEA events!
Lipstick Laws signing at Borders in Exton, PA
KidLit Authors Club (KAC) group signing event at Borders in Stroudsburg, PA. L to R: Irene Breznak, me, Cyn Balog, Alissa Grosso, Cynthia Chapman Willis
Some of my favorite KAC authors! L to R: Cyn Balog, Alissa Grosso, Cynthia Chapman Willis
In this picture I'm with Lauren (teen blogger extraordinaire) from Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf at the Stroudsburg signing. Check out her review of my book HERE.
The fabulous KAC display at Borders in Stroudsburg, PA
I LOVE the holiday season... mainly because the month of December gives me an excuse to act like a loony holiday elf for several weeks without being questioned or escorted to the nearest nuthouse. This year I'm even more excited for the holidays because I'll be participating in some holiday blog events this month.
Please be sure to check out the 2011 Debutante Event at Badass Bookie's blog from December 1 to December 25! There will be lots of fun author posts & giveaways - woohoo! I'll be spotlighted on December 3 & 4. Please click HERE to check out the full author/giveaway schedule.
I'll also be participating in the Christmas Countdown Blog Event with another great lineup of authors from December 13 - 24. This event is being hosted by Amaterasu Reads and Fragments of Life. It will be filled with interviews, reviews & lots of giveaways! Please watch for my interview spotlight on December 17.
In other exciting news, the Class of 2k11 has a brand new trailer for you to watch! Yay! You can also check it out & comment about it on YouTube HERE.
Before the Split Blog Tour and Charity Auction Interview with Swati Avasthi, Author of SPLIT! Plus a Signed Book Giveaway!
Today, I'm welcoming Swati Avasthi (the fantastic author of the must-read book SPLIT) to my blog for an interview and signed book giveaway. But this isn't your typical author interview and giveaway... because Swati is also sharing the details of her upcoming book blog tour and charity auction for Domestic Violence Awareness Month starting on October 1st. Please help support the cause by reading the important info discussed in this interview, and checking out the blog tour and auction event (button links to tour & auction follow this interview). If you decide to bid on any of the auction items, you'll be helping a very important cause.
*Signed book giveaway entry details to follow this interview*
Can you tell us a bit about your upcoming blog tour and charity auction? Of course. Thanks for asking!
To honor National Domestic Violence Awareness month, I'm combining a blog tour for my debut novel, Split, with a fundraiser for Family Violence Prevention Fund. I'll be on twenty-six blogs with guests posts, a contest, an animated scene, a photo essay, cut scenes, and a, 8G pink nano ipod prize. Kari Olson from Teen Book Scene, coordinated the tour and you can see where I'll be at: http://theteenbookscene.weebly.com/split-details.html. Or my blog at www.swatiavasthi.blogspot.com, for that matter. For every comment, I'll donate $1/comment with a goal and cap of $250. If I receive 250 comments, I’ll double my donation.
But that's just the start. Even better, more than 40 agents, editors and authors have generously donated cool stuff for an online auction. Nathan Bransford donated a query critique, Sara Zarr donated a 25 page manuscript critique, etc, etc. We have memberships to YALITCHAT.ORG and Children's Literature Network, a wide array of different types of critiques, personalized signed books from wonderful authors, and even some items donated by other artists, including photographer John Magruder and graphic designer/author Amy Holder (a name you might recognize). All donations should be ready to bid on on October 1st. Follow the tour, get stuff you want, and help out a great cause all at once.
Why is the cause against domestic violence close to your heart? I coordinated a domestic violence legal clinic for three years and, in that time, listened to thousands of victims. It was inspiring to watch people with so much courage leave their abuser and get an order of protection, facing down the devil they didn't know and reject the devil. It was also heart-breaking. The experience left me asking a lot of questions about the nature of love and violence and of what it would mean to grow up with abuse as a regular occurrence.
What inspired you to write SPLIT? Once a woman came in with her two kids. While she was telling me about the abuse, I interrupted her and asked her if she wanted an intern to look after her kids. She said, "No, they seen it anyway." That was one of the hardest moments in the clinic for me because I was angry at her, instead of being angry with the man who was beating her. I knew better than to victim blame, but I found it hard to reconcile how she did nothing to protect her kids with my sympathy for her. I understood, intellectually, that if she couldn't protect herself, then she couldn't protect her kids and that it was the abuser's fault, not hers. But it took the writing of Split for me to accept that emotionally.
Although SPLIT is a fiction novel, Jace's situation is all too familiar to many individuals dealing with domestic violence in real life. How can people get involved to help domestic violence victims and/or survivors? If you think you might be experiencing abuse, it's worth talking to someone. There are a number of organization that can help. For teens, call the National Teen Dating Abuse Help 866-331-9474. Or, the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-SAFE, or at www.ndvh.org who can direct you to local resources. But do remember that what you do on your computer can be tracked, so be sure to connect from a safe place.
What's something you hope readers will take with them upon finishing SPLIT? That there is a life after abuse and, even though recovery is long, it is possible because we are defined by what we do, not by what has been done to us.
Thank you so much for this amazing interview and the details about your upcoming blog tour and charity auction, Swati! Is there anything else you'd like to add before we go? Thanks so much for having me. Good luck with your book! I'm excited to read it. Also, thanks so much for your donation to the Before the Split Blog Tour and Charity Auction.
You're very welcome, Swati! And thanks for including me in your auction! If you'd like more info about Swati and her must-read book, please check out her WEBSITE and BLOG. If you'd like to order SPLIT today, here is the Amazon Link.
Watch the very cool trailer for SPLIT:
Also, be sure to check out Swati's blog tour and charity auction! The button links are below. There are some great items to bid on, and remember, you'll be helping an important cause:
Button link to go to the blog tour schedule:
Button link to go to the charity auction site for the event:
And don't forget to comment at the various blog tour stops! Your comment(s) will add to the amount Swati donates to the Family Violence Prevention Fund!!!
******************************************************* SPLIT Signed Book Giveaway Entry Details: 1) Comment below for a chance to win a signed copy of SPLIT. 2) You will receive an extra entry to win the signed copy of SPLIT with each online shout-out you give about this giveaway (tweet on twitter, facebook status, and/or blog about it). Be sure to leave links to your shout-out(s) in the comment section of this post. 3) Help spread the word and support the cause by adding Swati's Blog Tour Schedule and Charity Auction links to your blog for an additional two extra entries to win the signed copy of SPLIT. Remember to let me know where I can find the links in your comment.
*Sorry, this giveaway is open to USA and Canada residents only*
The winner of the signed copy of SPLIT will be randomly selected and announced on October 7th here on my blog. Good luck! *******************************************************
Losing Faith Launch Blog Tour Celebration: Interview & Signed Book Giveaway with Author Denise Jaden
Today, I'm happy to welcome Denise Jaden back to my blog (CLICK HERE for Denise's first appearance) as a part of her book launch blog tour celebration for LOSING FAITH. Just when I thought Denise couldn't get more awesome, she offered to donate a signed copy of her book to one lucky commenter. So now she isn't just sitting at the very top of the awesomesauce totem pole, she's hovering over it. Not only will you have a chance to win a signed copy of her amazing book by commenting below (details to follow the interview), you'll also be entered to win more celebratory prizes that she's giving away on her own blog. In fact, every time you comment at one of LOSING FAITH's blog tour stops (including this one), you'll be entered to win lots of fabulous prizes. To check out all the prize goodies in question, CLICK HERE.
But enough about prizes, because now it's time to learn more about Denise and LOSING FAITH:
What inspired you to write LOSING FAITH?
When I was sixteen, I lost a close friend in a car accident. After her death, I learned so much about her that I hadn’t known before from her parents and friends. I think that was the nugget that started the story of a girl losing her sister, and discovering her sister’s secrets after her death.
Which character do you relate to the most and why?
I think I relate most to my main character, Brie. She has a real determination and tenacity that I think comes from me. And, like her, I was a little bit rebellious as a teen. Okay, sometimes I still am J.
What was your reaction to your gorgeous cover art?
To be honest, the first look at my very white cover art on the white background of my computer screen was not love at first sight. But I printed it off, and once I could see it the way it was meant to be viewed, I immediately fell in love. It has so much going on in it, much of which many might not even notice. But I love that! And the butterflies are my favorite.
Do the butterflies on the cover have any relevance to the book's content?
Okay, another moment of full disclosure here. Like I said, I really love the butterflies, but really, I think they were only added as a hopeful image. And there is a hopefulness to LOSING FAITH that goes well with this, especially with the black butterflies, since the book has some darker themes. But after seeing my cover art, I did add one very small paragraph about butterflies to a scene in the graveyard and asked my editor if we could add it in. I doubt anyone will even notice it, but I really wanted just a very slight reference to the butterflies in the text.
What's one thing you hope readers will take with them upon finishing LOSING FAITH?
I hope readers will feel a renewed sense of inner strength and a confidence to look for answers life’s big questions for themselves.
What's your best advice for aspiring writers wanting to be published?
Read a lot, write a lot. Don’t compare your experience to others’ as it really is apples and oranges, even with the same agent or publishing house. Write for yourself first. Sorry, I guess that’s a mishmash of many pieces of advice.
Thanks so much for the awesome interview, Denise! And thanks for letting me participate in the LOSING FAITH online book launch party!! For more information about Denise, please check out her WEBSITE & BLOG.
******************************************************* LOSING FAITH Signed Book Giveaway & Grand Prize Entry Details: 1) Comment below for a chance to win a signed copy of LOSING FAITH. 2) Your comment will also enter you in the drawing to win one of Denise's grand prize packages (for full details on the grand prize giveaways and links to the other blog tour stops, go to Denise's blog). 3) You will receive an extra entry to win the signed copy of LOSING FAITH with each online shout-out you give about this giveaway and/or Denise's blog tour (tweet on twitter, facebook status, and/or blog about it). Be sure to leave links to your shout-out(s) in the comment section of this post.
*Sorry, this giveaway is open to US and Canada residents only*
The winner of the signed copy of LOSING FAITH will be randomly selected and announced on September 15th here on my blog. Good luck! *******************************************************
Interview & Signed Book Giveaway with Author of FAITHFUL, Janet Fox
I'm happy to welcome the very talented and super sweet Janet Fox to my blog for an interview and book giveaway. Janet's book, FAITHFUL, is a beautifully written historical YA novel that's sure to please. For a full description, check out FAITHFUL's goodreads page HERE. The entry guidelines for a chance to win a signed copy of this amazing book will follow Janet's interview below:
What's one thing you hope readers will take with them upon finishing FAITHFUL?
I hope you don’t mind if I mention more than one thing. I hope that readers who have suffered a loss – especially loss of a parent – will take some comfort in Maggie’s discovery. I hope that girls who read FAITHFUL will recognize how difficult it was for a girl in 1904 to have the freedom to choose her own path. I hope that readers are moved.
What about Maggie's character do you think is a product of the time period she lives in, and might change if she were alive today?
At the beginning of FAITHFUL, Maggie is trapped – and feeling sorry for herself, and helpless, and she isn’t sure what she wants. By the end of the novel, she has discovered her inner strength and the core of her that is like her mother. The “prison” in which Maggie is caught is a reflection of her time – men dictated all the terms to their wives and daughters. If Maggie were alive today, she would never have felt compelled to do exactly as her father wishes; she would have walked out on the situation in which he places her. But, then, she might never have discovered the magic of Yellowstone.
Why did you pick Yellowstone as the major setting for this book?
Yellowstone is a place that is close to my heart. And it is a place of natural magic – like another realm, fantastical. I thought that setting a story there could evoke that fantastic element and provide a rich backdrop for Maggie’s transformation.
If you were to travel back in time to 1904, the era of FAITHFUL, what's one modern day amenity you'd want to take with you and why?
Things weren’t so bad in 1904, as long as you were wealthy – wealthy people did have indoor plumbing and electricity and telephones, and even automobiles. But for the poor or even middle class, that was a different matter. If I were poor, what I’d miss the most is indoor plumbing. I can’t imagine using an outhouse at 20 below. I would hate to only be able to bathe once a week and have to haul my water and heat it on a stove before I could bathe, and then in a tub in which the water was first used by my older siblings so the water would already be dirty and cold.
You have already published a non-fiction book called GET ORGANIZED WITHOUT LOSING IT. What's the biggest difference that you've encountered between the publishing process for non-fiction and fiction?
When writing non-fiction it’s acceptable for submissions to be outlines – that is, you create the concept and market that. Only rarely would you write a non-fiction book in its entirety and try to sell it. But fiction requires a complete manuscript, at least for a beginning writer. Perhaps once you’re successful you can sell a fiction concept, but not initially. I sold my non-fiction book from a synopsis and chapter outline; I had to have a complete and well-revised manuscript of FAITHFUL before it sold.
What's your best advice for aspiring writers wanting to be published?
Read. Read constantly and broadly. Write. Write daily and reexamine your writing in craft terms. Learn the key components of craft: character, pacing, voice. Find a critique group and share and be willing to listen. Revise, then revise again. Find like-minded writers and learn from them. Writing is a career; it’s not easy. Most writers do not get rich. If you’re in it for the fame and fortune, good luck. If you’re writing for the long haul and because you love crafting beautiful stories, I promise you will succeed.
Thank you for stopping by my blog for an interview, Janet! To learn more about Janet and her book(s), visit her WEBSITE, BLOG and/or AMAZON PAGE.
For a sneak peek, check out Faithful's trailer, created by Janet's talented son:
******************************************************* FAITHFUL Signed Book Giveaway Entry Details: 1) You must be a follower of my blog for a chance to win. 2) You will be entered once by reading and commenting about Janet's interview and/or book in the comment section below. 3) You will also receive an extra entry for each online shout-out you give about this giveaway (tweet on twitter, facebook status, and/or blog about it). Be sure to leave links to your shout-out(s) in the comment section of this post.
***That means you have the chance to be entered up to four times in the random drawing, increasing your odds of winning. The lucky winner will be chosen at random from the entries I receive and will be announced on Monday, August 30th. Good luck!***
*Sorry, this giveaway is for US and Canada participants only*
Some of you may know that on every Thursday, a 2011 debut author from The Elevensies shares a blog post about a day in her (or his) writing life. Well, today is my day to share...so, I thought I'd post it here on my blog too. If you'd like to see my post over at the 11sies (which is pretty much the same thing as here), check it out HERE.
This is where the writing happens...
In all honesty, my day to day writing life varies like flavors of jelly beans. Some days I'm lucky to get a bunch of delicious tasting jelly beans. Other days, I'm stuck with the ones that taste like black licorice -- yuck. Since my writing life isn't always predictable (and is sometimes downright snooze-worthy), I thought I'd do something a little different with this post by taking the things that happen most frequently and creating a recipe from them. So, here it goes... hopefully it doesn't taste terrible.
*Note* Chocolate consumption for extra authorly behind cushioning is recommended.
3 email accounts plus passwords 2 liters of waiting at room temperature 4 tablespoons of patience, separated 5 social networking site cubes (Blogger, Twitter, Goodreads, Facebook, Myspace) 1 stick of melted internet stalking...er, I mean browsing 1 wise editor 1 medium rare manuscript 1 peeled work in progress (WIP) Long to-do list 1 cup of good news (optional)
*Note* Any publishing/writerly progress is considered good news.
Cooking Directions: Attach 1 authorly behind securely to semi-comfortable chair. Turn on computer to bake. Crack open email accounts with various passwords, read & respond. Pour 2 liters of waiting in a large pot, adding 1 tablespoon of patience at a time as needed; stir and let simmer. In a small bowl of procrastination, dissolve social networking site cubes into the melted stick of internet browsing, mix until well blended. In a separate bowl of quit stalling and get with the program, fully squeeze 1 wise editor for a flavorful marinade. Pour all but 1 tablespoon of wise editor marinade over medium rare manuscript in an 8.5 X 11 nonstick baking dish. Bake until well done. Meanwhile, slice off dead ends and bruises from peeled WIP, and drizzle left over editor marinade on top. Continue to shape and mold WIP until satisfied. All the while, cross off to-do list when appropriate to provide a slight sense of accomplishment. Finally, blend all ingredients together in a large casserole dish. Cook on high for 8-10 hours until crisp. Serve warm.
**For an extra sweet day in the writing life, sprinkle 1 cup of optional good news over the writing casserole before serving.**
My recent sweet good news was getting my first pass pages -- woohoo!
Finally, I shouldn't forget to add that my day in a writing life wouldn't be complete without my four furry, verbally challenged sous-chefs by my side:
Clearly I've watched one too many episodes of Top Chef. Thanks for checking out a day in my writing life. Now I'm hungry.
*Disclaimer* No real editors were squeezed during the making of this day in the writing life.
*************************************************** On a side note, if you'd like to win a fabulous SIGNED copy of Kristin Walker's A MATCH MADE IN HIGH SCHOOL, don't forget to enter for a chance to win HERE. The winner will be announced on July 30th!
As I wait for my own author site to make its debut (I promise, it's coming...), I'd love to share some other great new sites for your cyber stalking pleasure:
First, if you're a fellow writer/author, you'll want to check out the new book tour site called The Teen Book Scene, created by book blogging extraordinaires Kari (from A Good Addiction) and Kelsey (from The Book Scout). Not only are these girls awesome, they've mastered the art of online book tours and author promotion. If you're looking for a free way to help promote your (YA or MG) book, be sure to contact them to set up a tour!
In author news, Carrie Harris just launched her fantastically freaky WEBSITE. Check it out for yourself to get in on all the monster mania. If you sign up for her NEWSLETTER, you'll be entered for a chance to win an ARC of Bad Taste in Boys & a poster of the very cool homepage illustration... and who in their right mind wouldn't want a poster of a monster prom? That's prime dining room art right there.
But the author news doesn't stop there... Gae Polisner , another fellow 2k11er, also launched her fabulous AUTHOR SITE not too long ago. Check it out for the inside scoop on The Pull of Gravity (her 2011 YA debut) and her other writing endeavors.
Finally, have you ever wondered which famous writer your writing compares to? Take this fun QUIZ to find out. Word on the street is that it's had over 100,000 hits in a single day. Sounds like a lot of people are curious to see what their own writing stacks up to. And yes, I admit I took the quiz... several times. I got a different answer with each entry, ranging from Chuck Palahniuk to James Joyce. Not sure if that means the quiz isn't accurate or my writing has multiple personalities (or maybe both?), but it's a fun experiment nevertheless. If you try it, be sure to tell me which writer you get.
**Come back this Friday for an author interview & signed book giveaway with Kristin Walker**
Today, I'm closing this wonderful week of inspirational interviews with debut author Denise Jaden. Her young adult novel, Losing Faith, will be available this fall.
Tell us about your book. Losing Faith is due out September 7, 2010 from Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster. After Brie’s sister, Faith, dies in a mysterious accident, Brie uncovers her sister’s role in a dark and twisted religious cult…a cult that now wants Brie as a member.
Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publication? The road to finding an agent was definitely an arduous one for me. I queried three different novels over several years and now have enough rejections (yes, I kept them!) to easily wallpaper a room. I always kept about five queries out with agents and replaced those (or reworked my query and book) as rejections rolled in. At the time, I was also submitting short stories to magazines, and though I don’t believe you can ever actually become immune to rejection, it certainly became easier for me because of the regularity of it. The first offer I received for representation is still the moment I consider the most rewarding of my career so far. It was the first time I felt truly validated as a writer, the first time an industry professional used the “L” word about my writing. I still have her message saved on my answering machine.
Was there ever a time you felt like giving up? Why didn't you? I think anyone who seriously pursues publication will feel like giving up from time to time. It’s a hard business! And to be honest, I did give up on the idea of getting published several times. What made me continue to write, and eventually submit again, was learning to fall back into love with words and sentences, characters and stories. I believe that this process of embracing the creative side and temporarily forgetting the business side is what helps breathe life into my stories. I’m in a better mood when I write and express my creativity every day, and what I always have to do is come back to the writing for the sake of writing. Publication is a secondary goal for me, and I won’t regret any of my writing, even the pieces that will never see the light of day.
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and telling us about Losing Faith and your publication journey, Denise!
Today, the inspiration continues from this interview with debut author Gae Polisner. Her young adult novel, The Pull of Gravity, will be available in 2011.
Tell us about your book. The Pull of Gravity is my first YA novel. It’s about two kids who go on a brief road trip to keep a promise to a dying friend and maybe fall in love and learn a little bit about Steinbeck in the process. It’s slated to be released spring 2011, by Farrar Straus & Giroux, Books for Young Readers. I love the kids in it – Nick & Jaycee – they’re really funny and real together. And a piece of trivia, the title comes from a Yoda quote that appears in the book, but you’ll have to read it to know where and why.
Can you tell us a little about your road to publication? It took me about six years of shopping my first manuscript, a piece of women’s fiction called The Jetty to get agented. You heard me, six years! The Jetty got some great editorial feedback (and was a Top Semifinalist in the first Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest), but never got published. In the meantime, I wrote The Pull of Gravity and another women’s fiction novel. Gravity got picked up first (a deal, finally, eight years after I set out to get one!), but I still have huge hopes for my women’s fiction. And, fyi, the editor who ultimately fell in love with and bought The Pull of Gravity came my way through a stroke of pure luck (not my agent). These days, I believe getting published almost always takes some luck, plus the talent to back it up when it comes your way.
Was there ever a time you felt like giving up? Why didn't you? Not really. I’m a lawyer, a mother, a wife. I’ve been around a long while. And I knew I wanted this more than anything. In my many years on this planet, I’ve learned I’ll pretty much accomplish anything I want to, as long as I keep trying. So, the only option was to keep trying. And, see, voila!
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and telling us about The Pull of Gravity and your publication journey, Gae!
Today, I'm continuing this week of inspirational interviews with author Bettina Restrepo. Her young adult debut, Illegal, will be available in 2011.
Tell us about your book. Illegal is the story of Nora, a Mexican immigrant who crosses the border illegally to find her missing father in Houston. We are all immigrants, so this story just isn’t about one nationality looking for family in a Texas town. It’s about how we love and survive.
I started Illegal in 2002, and it was accepted by Katherine Tegen Books, Harper Collins, in April 2009. Illegal will be in stores in January 2011. Nine years.
Can you tell us a little about your path to publication? Illegal was the book that taught me how to write, because I had to write it over and over again. My main character, Nora, began her “life” as a nine year old searching for a lost book. She grew into a 14 year old searching for her missing father across the border in Texas. This happened through revision. Lots of it.
Illegal was also rejected by twelve publishing houses (including Harper Collins in 2004) and over thirty literary agents during its pre-acceptance life – and I am grateful. The book wasn’t ready and had not found its proper home. I NEEDED the no (although each time it hurt). Now, I know have the best book I could write.
When I was first starting out, Cynthia Leitich Smith told me, “You don’t want to be published fast. You want to be published well.” It is my mantra today – because I am impatient.
While I was working on the book, I did lots of other things; magazine articles for children and adults, a monthly column for a glossy under different names, fired an agent, found another agent, published a picture book, quit my “paying” job to be a mommy, became a mom to a learning difference child, and read thousands of books. It helped that all of my eggs were not in one basket. When one egg broke, I didn’t feel like the entire henhouse was coming down. Today, I feel like a juggler of eggs.
How did I find my agent? The first time – a conference. We didn’t work out- which sometimes happens. The second time - a query letter.
After my first agent and I parted ways, I knew that I wanted someone with an editorial eye and a nurturing spirit.
I researched a long list and was received many full manuscript requests – but I wanted someone who was looking at me as a career writer, not just a quick sell. That person became my forever agent - Blair Hewes, of Dunham Literary.
Was there ever a time you felt like giving up? Why didn't you? Yep. I convince myself that I am an utter failure and tie myself into knots. After a considerable amount of self torture, I look back at what I have accomplished in one year, three years, nine years. I re-read the rejections letters. I re-read some of my terrible stories. I realize that I have matured. I savor the fact that skills I wished for years ago are now turning into my writer muscles. Feel the pain and then decide it won’t kill you. Take a nap, walk outside, pet the dog…. Then start again.
Then, occasionally, I pick up an application from Starbucks. Just. In. Case.
My advice to writers: Your story does not have to be on a bookshelf to have meaning. Write for the craft and the art of the story well told.
This is a picture of Bettina's "little man" saying, "Put down the manuscript and PLAY!"
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and telling us about Illegal and your publication journey, Bettina!
Today, I'm continuing this week of inspirational interviews with debut author Sara Bennett Wealer. Her young adult novel, Rival, will be available in 2011.
Tell us about your Book. RIVAL is a high-stakes duet between two seniors--once friends, now enemies--who are preparing to go up against each other in a major singing competition. To Brooke, winning means escaping the in-crowd for life as a professional musician. Kathryn, meanwhile, sees victory as the key to a much-needed college scholarship. As the big day nears, each girl must face her fears about the future, her scars from the past, and the fact that the person she hates most might just be the best friend she ever had.
RIVAL will be released in Jan/Feb 2011 by HarperTeen.
Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publication? When I started querying agents (for a book I wrote before RIVAL), I actually landed the first one I ever contacted. But it turned out we weren't the right fit, which proves what everybody always says about taking your time and making sure you partner with the agent who's right for you. I know that folks who feel stuck in the query trenches right now are reading that going, "Easy for you to say! You're agented and have a book deal!" I know how it feels to be so desperate you think you'll take anybody who comes along with an offer, because my second agent search took a lot longer than the first one did. But I still ended up turning a couple of agents down because I'd learned my lesson the first time. When I finally hooked up with Holly (Root at Waxman Literary), I'd done my research and knew she'd be a great advocate for my work, and I was right!
Was there ever a time you felt like giving up? Why didn't you? I felt like giving up several times! Even after I'd landed an agent. Because getting a good agent doesn't automatically mean you'll get a book deal. Holly and I did a lot of work to get me to this point, and there were never any guarantees that all of the revisions and submissons were going to lead anywhere in the end. The urge to give up was even worse during those long, dark days when I was checking my email every half hour and either getting rejections or no responses, all the while struggling to keep myself motivated to write something new. When you're working toward publication, you have tons of opportunities to walk away. You're the one who sets your schedule (work on the book tonight or watch Dancing with the Stars?) and let's face it - if you let the dream fizzle out, nobody else really cares. You're only letting yourself down. So you have to talk yourself into continuing to move forward. In my case, I figured I'd come too far to give up. I believed in my books and in myself as a writer, and I'd read enough in my genre to know my work could stand up to most of what was out there. I tell people it's like banging your head against a brick wall. You get to a certain point where the next blow could be the one that knocks it down, so you tell yourself you're either going to end up with brain damage or you're going to make it to the other side. But either way, you are NOT going to stop.
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and telling us about Rival and your publication journey, Sara!
I'm beginning this week of inspirational interviews with debut author Kathy McCullough. Her young adult novel, Delaney Collins, F.G., will be available in 2011.
Tell us about your book. The book is called “Delaney Collins, F.G.” and it’s being published in November of 2011 by Random House/Delacorte. It’s the story of a teenage girl who discovers that her estranged father is a fairy godmother – and that she’s destined to become one as well.
Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publication? I began as a screenwriter and went to film school at Columbia University in New York City. After many years in Hollywood, working a little as a screenwriter (mostly in TV) and a lot reading other people’s scripts and books for different film production companies, I decided to try writing a novel. I’ve always loved young adult and middle-grade fiction, and I was reading a lot of popular kids books for companies like Walden Media, which spurred me on further. I signed up for a children’s writing class with author Karen D’Arc, and the first thing she told us to do was to join the SCBWI, which I did. I attended their conferences, which were always inspiring, and after a lot of stops and starts on various stories, I finally forced myself to finish something – and then I rewrote it about 8,347 times. But, as they say, the 8,347th time is the charm, and I landed agents and they sent it out – and it sold!
Was there ever a time you felt like giving up? Why didn't you? I constantly despair while I’m working on something new that I’ve lost any talent I ever had, and that what I’m writing is a stupid idea, badly written. But I’ve never really seriously considered doing anything else, because I don’t want to. I’ve learned to live on very little money for the long stretches of time that “starving artists” often experience, because it’s more important to me to have time to write than to buy a new car, for example. (Proof: I drive a used 1990 Honda Civic – but mostly I take the bus...in Los Angeles!) As many writers have said before me: no one who does this is sane. You write because you have to. If you could possibly do anything else, you would. So that’s the short answer: I’m insane.
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and telling us about Delaney Collins, F.G. and your publication journey, Kathy!
This week, I'll be interviewing five fabulous writers and debut authors who have successfully traveled down the long and bumpy road toward publication. I'm spotlighting one of them every day this week to hopefully inspire, entertain and/or encourage you to chase your dreams.
Just when you thought this week couldn't get any better, it does! The best part of this interview bonanza is that I'm not alone in spreading this positive beam of writerly light. Check out these other blogs (links below) each day this week for more inspirational interviews from writers who have book deals or agents, or both.
For those who have found this blog through my page on The Elevensies site... or by the 2k11 plug on The Class of 2k10 website, you're going to be a skip, leap and sideways somersault beyond this post.
However, for those of you who are debut authors or fellow book lovers who've stumbled on my blog out of the blue, or if you're making an entrance via the link on my new "coming soon" page at www.amyholder.com... or if you're that creepy cyber-stalker guy in the tight plaid shirt and adult underoos, this post is for you! Er - on second thought, creepy cyber-stalker guy, you can just go ahead and ignore this post... and all the others.
Moving on...
I'm proud to be a member of two fantastic debut author groups called the Class of 2k11 and The Elevensies. Both groups are filled with awesome MG and YA authors debuting in (drum roll)... you guessed it... 2011! While the Class of 2k11 doesn't have a public website yet, you can check out the fab group of 2k10'ers debuting this year at: www.classof2k10.com . If you happen to be a young adult or middle grade author debuting in 2011 and you'd like to join the Class of 2k11 club, I'd love to hear from you, so send me an email.
While you're breathing in all the debut author awesomeness, please check out The Elevensies and all the fun and inspiring Tennerviews going on right now at: http://community.livejournal.com/2011debuts/
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
I'm the author of THE LIPSTICK LAWS, a young adult novel published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt on April 4, 2011. I'm repped by Sarah Davies of Greenhouse Literary Agency.
