YA Fusion

EMAIL SIGNATURES: FREE PROMOTION TO THE PTA AND BEYOND!

2012-02-26T20:23:00.002-05:00

I’ve always kept the various aspects of my life compartmentalized. My PTA Mom role stays separate from my Intense Writer role, which stays separate from my Fanatic Exerciser role. That’s comfortable to me. No need to sweat all over my manuscripts or try to discuss the current trend toward self-publishing with a weary mom of four who is unaware she has baby puke on her shoulder.

So when, this week, the VP of Communications for the PTA grabbed my wrist right before the start of a monthly PTA meeting and said, “Oh my Gosh! I read your short story!” I felt a definite, gut-churning crashing of roles.

Especially since the story she had come across, “Him,” was about a teenage sex addict. Edgy, even by today’s teen writing standards.

This wide-eyed PTA mom stood there staring at me, waiting for me to say something – anything -- but all I could think about was that her “keep our kids safe and healthy”-focused mind had soaked up my sordid story in its entirety. And the first fifty words were enough to make my mother blush.

I’m in a stranger’s bed

a college guy from the cigar shop at the mall. He smells like

tobacco, tastes like mints. He pulls my shirt over my head, weaves his fingers

through mine to pull me down. And I get the same thought.

Every time. The same. I shouldn’t be here.

You get the picture.

And so did she.

So I managed to squeak out, “So, um, how did you find that story?”

“Well,” she said all chipper, “your email signature with your blog sites was at the bottom of your last email, so I just got onto your blogs and looked around.”

Crap! I had made a habit of taking off my Intense Writer electronic signature to any email going to anyone associated with PTA Mom. Apparently, I had been rushed and left it on.

Then this woman of two adorable young children said, “And I couldn’t stop reading! I loved it! I wanted another 250 pages of it. So you better get on that.”

I was stunned. Baffled. I mumbled a “Thanks” and then did what anybody whose compartmentalized world had suddenly shifted would do -- I went to the nearest Italian restaurant with a girlfriend to discuss the situation over chocolate martinis.

A half a martini in, it struck me – I should be promoting myself more. I’m a good writer. I’ve won some awards. My stuff is racy, but with reason. Hell, why haven’t I been using that email signature to death?

After all it’s FREE MARKETING. It gets your name out there and connects people to all your online sites all in one shot. And those people share what they read, which sends other people to your sites, which ultimately will sell more of your writing. It’s a beautiful thing.

After my World’s Collide experience with the PTA, I decided to make sure that if I was going to throw my email signature out to the whole world and nothing but the whole world, I’d better be certain it had everything it was supposed to have. So I consulted http://www.writersmarketing.com/ for those key elements a writer’s email signature needs. They said, in a nutshell:

Your book’s title and a link where people can buy it.
Your website and blog links.
If your website or blog doesn’t offer up your email (though they should), include it in the signature for quick-clicking contact.
Stick to five lines or less.
Add a touch of color (but don’t go wild!) and break up the lines to make it more visually appealing and help it stand out.
Consider creating more than one signature and rotate them to highlight different projects, awards, or sites.

Here are the email signatures of a couple YA Fusion bloggers. They contain the elements needed to effectively market these writers. And note Tracy’s cool color choice! Way to go, ladies!

Tracy Bilen
What She Left Behind (formerly Riding Backwards)Simon Pulse/Simon and Schuster - May 1, 2012
http://tracybilen.com

Katie McGarry
Pushing the Limits ~ Harlequin Teen ~ Summer 2012
www.katielmcgarry.com

YA Fusion Group Blog: http://yafusion.blogspot.com/

And so, I’ve revamped mine to include some awards I’ve won, just for that added “oomph”!

Heather Smith Meloche

http://heathersmithmeloche.blogspot.com

YA Fusion Group Blog: http://yafusion.blogspot.com

2012 Winner of the VCFA Katherine Paterson Prize for YA/Children’s Literature

2012 Winner of the Writer’s Digest National Competition – Children’s/YA Category

So lesson learned: you need to create a signature that reflects you. That gets your name in front of people. That highlights your successes and those imperative links to your website and blog. That gives that fantastic, final flourish. And once you’ve created it, use it. Own it. Embrace it as a key marketing tool that can help get the word out about how wonderful a writer you are. Then target all those soccer moms, room moms and dads, and PTA parents because you never know. They just might be craving some well-written YA!

Has your email signature ever helped to sell a book or given you extra hits on your website? Let us know by posting below!

Happy Book Birthday to Jennifer Armentrout's Shadows

2012-02-19T11:56:00.005-05:00

Here at YA Fusion we love a good reason to celebrate and this week gives us a reason to party down. On Tuesday, February 21st, Jennifer Armentrout's Shadows debuts!

I first learned about Jennifer from our shared agent, Kevan Lyon. Kevan spoke very highly of Jennifer and I knew immediately I wanted to read Jennifer's books. This is what Kevan has to say about Jennifer: Jennifer always gives readers the type of story we all love – one that keeps us up far into the night reading – pulse pounding suspense and that sense that you can’t turn the pages fast enough to find out what is going to happen!

Now that is the type of story we all want to read. So, now let's chat with Jennifer.

Hi Jennifer!

Can you tell us a little bit about Shadows?

Shadows occurs before Obsidian, and even though it's a novella, it's almost a full length book that centers around Dawson (Daemon's twin) and Bethany, the girl that Katy sees on the missing person's posters in Obsidian. You get to see the world through three different POVS: Dawson, Daemon, and Bethany, and readers will also get to see Daemon before Obsidian, which is really fun to share.

Who is your favorite character in Shadows?

I'd have to say Dawson. He is so different from Daemon.

Do you have a favorite sentence from Shadows? Can you share it with us?

“You probably should have thought about that before you Lite Brighted her ass.”

How would your favorite character in Shadows answer the following questions?

That would be Dawson, so...

1. Beatles or Rolling Stones? Rolling Stones

2. Novel or Graphic Novel? Graphic Novel

3. Ice cream or Brownies? Ice cream

4. Camping or Hotel? Camping all the way.

Thank you so much for sharing with us Jennifer! Congratulations on your release!

The Recipe For Swoon

2012-02-10T11:04:00.014-05:00

From the dictionary

Swoon : To enter a state of hysterical rapture or ecstasy.

About sums it up, right? It's that warm, squishy feeling you get when you come across something that makes you swoon. There are a million things that could do it. A beautiful picture. A rare bird. A pretty face.

Cheese…

*ahem*

But today I’m talking about swoonage in relation to fictional characters. Every once in awhile we come across a character that makes us go totally cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs. A character—male or female (see the serious girl-crush I have on Darynda Jones’ Charley Davidson)—that we can’t stop thinking about. We want to quote them, hang out with them, hell, even be them.

Different things do it for different people.

There's the rough exterior that hides a soft, squishy center. You know the kind of character I mean. The abrasive, sometimes seemingly mean guy (or girl) that has a heart of mush. They might act like they doen't care, but every now and then, they slip up and we get to see the goodness they've try so hard to hide. Aww moments ensue, and everyone falls in love.

What about the kick-ass attitude and never-say-die mentality? Determination is a biggie for me. I’m a sucker for characters that take things into their own hands instead of waiting around for someone else to swoop in and save the day. Sometimes they're a little rash, charging into the fray without a plan or backup, but be lets honest... That only makes us love them even more.

How about the romantic type? The characters willing risk life and limb for the ones they love? I have a special kind of swoon reserved for them. Hell, even bad guys make us swoon sometimes. Give me a villain with a troubled and complicated past that has ultimately forced them to be the bad guy and I’m a happy puppy.

Now it's your turn to share. What's the recipe for your swoon?

I Need a Hero

2012-02-05T19:46:00.007-05:00

Yes, I’m in Bonnie Tyler mode (without the big hair). The last 10 weeks have been very stressful. I was lucky enough to sell my house twelve days before Thanksgiving, and had to be out within seven days. That’s good news, right?

I’m holding out for a hero till the end of the night.

Except I hadn’t been house hunting. I mean, who expects to sell around the holidays? So for 10 weeks, I’ve been living with my BFF and her family while I look for a house. My running total of houses seen is 38. (So if you’re thinking about looking at a house in the Louisville area, just ask. I’ve probably been in it at some point.) I’ve got a place to live and I’m already much closer to work (my goal in moving). So that’s good, right?

He’s gotta be strong.

Except when I packed and stuffed everything into storage, I thought I’d only be homeless for a month. Meaning all of my books, including research books, all my pens and papers and notes are sitting in a Space Center Storage locker. At least everything’s safe and dry. So that’s good, right?

And he’s gotta be fast.

Except I need to check some facts for accuracy. At least that’s what I keep telling myself as I stare at my computer, my fingers aching from hours of hovering in the ready position. I need my things around me. For ten weeks I’ve pretty much stared at the same old words with the same new ideas swirling around in my head but never making the leap from brain to fingers to screen. But given that I’m losing my phone an average of twice a day, and I’m losing thoughts in the middle of sentences, maybe this isn’t so bad, right?

And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight.

Except all this aimless confusion is driving me crazy! That’s why I need a hero. Not the kind that saves the day, but someone to show me how to survive. How to thrive. How to conquer.
Creating these heroes is why I write. It’s why I read. It’s also why I bought a second copy of The Hunger Games (my other is in storage and I need it NOW.) It’s why I’ve watched Lord of the Rings. It’s why I’ve re-watched Sherrilyn Kenyon’s 2011 Awards Luncheon Speech on RWA enotes (Volume 11, Issue 14. If you haven’t seen/heard this, it’s incredibly inspiring!)
I need epic. I need larger than life. I need a fighting spirit that won’t quit.
Which is why I’ve become fascinated with a new hero. A different breed of hero. I found him on YouTube and he’s absolutely indomitable. Unstoppable. He’s everything I need to be.

Who's your hero, Baby?

Happy Birthday Article 5!

2012-01-29T11:41:00.003-05:00

Happy Birthday Week Article 5!

January 31^st will mark my debut novel’s release into the wild, which means that I am biting my fingernails down to nubs and am so freaking excited/terrified that I’m no longer able to form coherent sentences. And in times like this I turn to my friend and full-time therapist, author Katie McGarry!

For a writer, it’s essential to find a sounding board that resonates at the right frequency. Who gives feedback in a way you understand and can digest, and who can pull you back to the surface when you’re drowning. For me, Katie is this person. She’s been there through countless calls, processing and plotting and working through stuck points, and because of this, she knows Article 5 nearly as well as I do.

So…shall we see what Katie thinks of Article 5?

So Katie, tell us. If you could describe A5 in 5 magic words, what would they be?

Thrilling

Romantic

Amazing

Heartbreaking

Sizzling

Sizzling, hmmm? Well that’s…awesome. Ok, who is your favorite character and why?

Hard question.

I fell in love with your secondary characters: Sean and Rebecca. They are so well developed and it’s a story line I never saw coming.

Ember is such a great lead character. She’s strong, but at the same time, she’s vulnerable. In the midst of her entire world falling apart, she lets love push her forward. That is a characteristic that made me cheer for her.

Deep down, Chase is my favorite character. His undeniable need to protect Ember made this book a real page turner.

Now one thing I know—we both love a good romance. What are your thoughts on the romance in Article 5?

I continued to think about Ember and Chase after I finished the last page. Chase is this awesome combination of bad boy and Boy Scout. He’s hot and I love the constant conflict between the two. Their attraction and love for each other leap off the page.

If you were running from the Federal Bureau of Reformation, what are 5 things you would take with you?

Food

Water

Clothing

Money

My copy of Article 5 by Kristen Simmons

Like, as a survivor manual? Or to burn in case you can’t find kindling for a fire? Or maybe to throw in self defense? Never mind, don’t answer that.

As my super author BFF/beta reader, you’re one of the few people who have read the sequel to Article 5. What can you tell us about what we have to look forward to?

Oh!!!! I finished the sequel in a matter of hours! I couldn’t put it down! Let’s see…there are explosions, kissing, fist fights, riots, kissing, snipers, and did I mention kissing?

Well, that just about does it for today’s show. Thanks for sharing your thoughts Katie, and can’t wait to do the same in July for the release of Pushing the Limits!

We Heart Book Bloggers!

2012-01-22T19:52:00.006-05:00

Win cool prizes- Book Bloggers- answer any of our questions, or tell us your experiences in the comments to be entered. Everyone else- tell us about awesome experiences you've had with the book blogging community to enter your book blogging friends to win cool prizes! (contest open until I get back from SCBWI- which will be Tuesday January 31.

Okay, so if you've been on the internet much over the last few weeks, you may have seen some drama brewing over at Goodreads and spilling over onto Twitter. It made me think about the differences between the internet book community (specifically the growth of Goodreads and Twitter) over the last few years- or at least between 2008 when my first book came out, and 2012, as I wait, impatiently, for Masque of the Red Death to be released. I blogged about it on my own mostly-neglected blog.

With the growth of internet reading communities have come entire communities of book reviewers or book bloggers. How completely and totally awesome to have so many people reading so many books! They promote books! They promote discussion of books! They exude passion for books, and they do it just because they love reading!

Today we're going to take some time to appreciate the book blogging community. Help us out by answering questions in our comments, and you'll be in the drawing for (4) $5 Starbucks gift cards,

We're also giving away a $20 gift certificate to the Indy bookstore of your choice (if you don't have a local bookstore that I can purchase a card from online, then we'll pick my local independent bookstore).

Okay, so as an author (and an English teacher) I'm thrilled that the book blogging community exists, but I'm not always sure how to respond to reviewers, and I thought I'd ask some questions that sort of float around in my head. (I showed these questions to a few other authors and they all were like, I need to know the answers to these questions, too!) So obviously these questions occur to other authors, and it isn't just me being neurotic.

An odd relationship exists between authors and reviewers. On one hand, book bloggers are fans. On another, they are critics. In life, we tend to respond differently to fans than we do to critics.
Is it cool for us to make comments and tell them we appreciate them, or does it seem like kissing up, or trying to get better reviews? Do we come off as stalkers as we relentlessly google our names and the names of our books? When we don't comment do we seem aloof? Are there bloggers who would rather just be left alone to write their opinions, without feeling the eyes of the author, staring over their shoulder *stares over everyone's shoulder* Oh wait, um yeah, I don't stare over shoulders...or internet stalk...but I usually check my Goodreads account each morning, and I not only check for interactions on Twitter, I google Masque Red Death...because it's interesting to see how many people are talking about Poe, and sort of awesome on days when more people are talking about me than Poe. :) (author of the Original story Masque of the Red Death, not that I really ever need to write that, I just like to!).

So, I asked five questions, and talked three book bloggers into answering them - Sara Gundell at Novel Novice http://novelnovice.com/

Momo O'Callaghan at Boys Over Books http://booksoverboys.blogspot.com/

BOOKS OVER BOYS

"We read to know that we are not alone." — C.S. Lewis

Oh and Adding in
Kathy Coe from http://glass-of-wine.blogspot.com/
 (due to my procrastination in asking people to participate, not hers! she's using my book cover as her twitter/goodreads profile picture, so she's one of my favorite people right now!) 

These were my questions-

1. As a book blogger, how much interaction do you want to have with authors? When are author comments appreciated and when are they intrusive?

3. Have you had any particularly positive or particularly negative (without naming names :)) interactions with authors?

4. Does friendship, or even positive interaction, with an author ever make you question your review? Or think twice about what you are going to say

5. Obviously you love reading, but it seems book bloggers devote a lot of time to reading and reviewing, and obviously that adds a lot to the online reading community. What rewards do you get from maintaining your blog and reviewing books regularly?

And, now the answers!

1. As a book blogger, how much interaction do you want to have with authors? When are author comments appreciated and when are they intrusive?

Sara- Honestly, I love interacting with authors. In some cases, I've become friends (or friendly with, at least) the authors I've interacted with. But regardless, part of what I love about blogging is promoting books and getting the word out to potential readers -- so it's really fun for me to be able to coordinate my effort with the author. Or at least, after the fact, to have the author recognize the work I've put into my blog posts and say, "Hey, that's cool!" I fangirled last year, when Meg Cabot wrote on her website about the educational features I'd put together for her book Abandon. I don't make any money from my blogging, so it's purely a labor of love -- but seeing that kind of recognition (especially from such a well-known author) is really rewarding. I get the warm fuzzies. (I also get the warm fuzzies even when I get such responses from lesser-known or debut authors, too!)

On that note, I should mention this: I hate posting negative reviews. It's my firm belief that EVERY book has merit. My goals as a book blogger are to promote books, reading and literacy. I want more people (teens, especially) to read -- and I strongly believe that the key to getting kids reading, is helping them find the right book for them. That's why I hate the negativity that gets directed at the Twilight series these days. I don't care if you think it's a good book or not -- it got a crapload of people reading!!! And now those Twilight fans are reading MORE books! So when I review a book, I might be critical of it -- but I also always look for its good qualities, too. I want to be fair, and not turn off a reader simply because I personally didn't like a book. In a similar vein, there have been a few rare cases where I refused to post a review at all because I had nothing nice to say about a book. I know there's a lot of discourse in the book blogging community about negative reviews, and whether or not to post them, etc. For me, I don't post them not because I'm worried about pissing off authors or publishers -- but because I don't want to turn off readers. Sure, I might have hated a book ... but it could still be that book for a reluctant reader out there. So I won't say anything bad about it publicly.

I also make it a point when tweeting links to my reviews, to only "@" reply an author if the review is 100% positive. If I'm critical of it in any way, I don't "@" reply the author. That's just mean,

Momo- As a book blogger, I would like a lot of interaction with authors because I think bloggers do help spread the word about books so being active with the authors would be helpful. Author comments are generally appreciated on any sort of blog posts, in my opinion. Their feedback and opinion means just as much as the next blogger. Like I said, I think author comments are welcomed on any sort of blog post discussion so I don't think their comments could become intrusive.

Kathy- Interaction with authors is something I really enjoy. It's always a little thrill to see that an author has taken the time to retweet a review that I wrote, or comment on something I've done. As I do this in my spare time, it's nice to see the work I put into something recognized and appreciated.

As a lover of books I love getting the word out there and sharing that passion - it's a bonus when I can involve the author as well. It's also nice to get to know a little bit about the person who wrote the latest novel we're fangirling over.

2. To be specific- do author comments (positive ones, of course) ever bother you in these instances- When you post reviews on Goodreads? Status updates on Goodreads? When you tweet about a book? When you blog about excitement for an upcoming book? When you publish the actual review on your blog?

Sara- I've already made it pretty clear that I find authors posting negative/defensive comments on reviews to be in poor taste.

That said, I love getting positive comments from authors on my blog, or in response to tweets. (Technically, I have a Goodreads account for Novel Novice, but other than occasionally reposting my reviews from the blog, I don't spend a lot of time there.) As I mentioned earlier, I put a lot of work into my site -- so it's always nice getting good feedback, and blog comments are some of the best out there. When an author stops by to say, "Thanks for reviewing my book" or "I'm glad you enjoyed it" or "Thanks for featuring my book on your such & such a list," it's a very rewarding feeling.

Momo- I don't think author comments ever bother me in any of those instances because when I get excited about wanting to read a book or if I'm in the middle of reading a book that I'm really enjoying, I would like for the author to know how I'm feeling about it, especially if it's something that I really like and it's positive feedback that I'm sending back.

Kathy-- No, I have never felt that an author commenting was a bad thing. I like having the author know that I am excited about their book, or that their book blew me away. As a balance to this I don't think it's appropriate for us to send negative reviews and comments directly to the author, and in the same respect authors should not comment on negative reviews/comments either. It's sort of a two way street.

3. Have you had any particularly positive or particularly negative (without naming names :)) interactions with authors?

Sara- Yes and yes, mostly positive. Almost entirely positive, actually. But again, I strive to present a professional, positive book blog -- so the response has been in kind.

One of the most rewarding experiences I've had working with an author was for our August 2010 Book of the Month, which was for Cassandra Clare's Clockwork Angel. Cassie is no small-time author, but she spent plenty of time emailing with me, brainstorming ideas, making sure I had all the materials I needed (her publisher was excellent about this as well -- but Cassie went out of he way to double- and triple- check), and she contributed tons of content to our features -- writing two guest posts and providing us with lists of materials to include. And she made sure to retweet all our links and get the word out to her followers. To this day, Cassie is one of my favorite authors to work with. It's always a rewarding and positive experience -- and I'm constantly in awe of how she manages to do so much, what with her intense writing schedule and her crazy number of fans. This is by no means the only example of positive author interactions I've had, but it continues to be one of the most rewarding -- because even after our month-long feature was over, Cassie and I have continued to collaborate.

Momo- - I have had many positive interactions with authors; if I've read a really good book that I've enjoyed and loved 100%, I let the author know how I feel and from there I continue to help spread the word about the author's books and I continue to support the author.

Kathy-- I have only positive interactions with authors. They've all been so wonderful and supportive. It amazes me what a wonderful community the YA community really is.

4. Does friendship, or even positive interaction, with an author ever make you question your review? Or think twice about what you are going to say

Sara- No, because my friends -- even the ones who are authors -- know I'm honest in my reviews, no matter what. I do, however, try to be very transparent about this on my blog. For example, I'm good friends with Suzanne Young. I've raved on my blog about her book A Need So Beautiful -- but I also stated that I was friends with Suzanne in the same blog posts. But, I also adored Suzanne's book, and I would adore it even if Suzanne were the bitchiest person on the planet. And Suzanne knows if she ever writes something I don't like, I'll tell her.

Momo- For me, being a huge fan of an author's book leads to lots of conversations with the author on twitter and facebook which results in a friendship so yes, that does make me question my review and what I'm going to say. If I'm friends with the author on twitter or the likes, and I end up not enjoying the book, it becomes harder on how to write my review because I don't want to hurt my friend's feelings. It goes the same way for writing positive reviews - if I'm close friends with an author on twitter or if we engage in conversation a lot, m aybe sometimes my reviews might be a bit biased.

Kathy- No, I think you have to remain honest, and write your reviews based on that. Your outside relationships shouldn't impact your feelings towards the review. I really try to keep it all separate.

5. Obviously you love reading, but it seems book bloggers devote a lot of time to reading and reviewing, and obviously that adds a lot to the online reading community. What rewards do you get from maintaining your blog and reviewing books regularly?

Sara- Books and reading are my passion -- and since I don't get to work in the publishing industry, this is a way for me to express that passion. Beyond that, as I mentioned, I'm also passionate about promoting literacy, and Novel Novice gives me an outlet to further that cause. So, there's a lot of satisfaction built into the process itself. But also as I mentioned, I get a kick out of working with authors and their publishers to come up with creative ways to promote their books on my site, and getting positive feedback and comments on the site from both readers and authors alike is the best treat.

An organic by-product of my blogging has also been building a network of new friendships, as well. Most of the people I know "in real life" aren't big readers, or they don't read YA -- but through blogging, I've become friends with other bloggers and passionate readers, and in some cases, with the authors themselves. That's not what I set out to accomplish when I launched Novel Novice -- but it's been one of my favorite surprise rewards!

Momo -The rewards I receive from maintaining my blog and reviewing books regularly is just getting that satisfying feeling that someone enjoyed a book as much as myself and when I can actually get someone excited enough to go out and purchase a copy of a book, it makes all I do totally worth it because the excitement in reading books is being able to share it with others.

Kathy- The biggest rewards that I get is the new friends I've met in the book blogger community. I don't really know a lot of people "in real life" that read as much as I do. It's nice to talk to someone that totally gets my passion and feels the same. It's nice to talk to someone who has read my favourite book and we discuss it for hours. There is also nothing better than turning someone in to a fan of your current favourite read.

The whole sense of belonging to this little community is a pretty awesome feeling.

_________________________________________________________

Okay, so authors, add your questions and comments! Tell us about reviewers who are great! Bloggers, add your responses, and let us know where you blog so we can follow you! We will enter you in our drawing, which is only a tiny way to show how much we appreciate what you do every day (and buy some good reviews...wait...did I say that out loud?) And thanks so much for Sara and Momo for answering my questions in like minutes from when I sent them! (I might've procrastinated a little this week, on my blogging--might've been working on a certain sequel). :D

Spotlight on Jobs in Publishing - District Sales Manager for Random House Children's Books

2012-01-12T11:36:00.026-05:00

Several of our YA Fusion blog contributors have 2012 debut novels, and I'm learning all kinds of behind-the-scenes publishing info. from them. So I thought I'd highlight another publishing team member that we rarely hear about, an important liaison between publisher and bookstore. Introducing Dandy Conway, district sales manager for Random House Children's Books. She's based in northern California, but her territory also includes Utah and Oregon.

What led you down this career path?

I started out as a children’s bookseller during college & never in a million years thought it would lead to a wonderful career in publishing that I love and continue to be thankful for as each year passes.

I would love your job too! Describe a typical work day.

1. Walk down to my office in the basement with a large cup of coffee, check emails & do some follow up (calling in author event orders, contacting NY about author event requests, checking on orders for accounts, etc…)

2. Drive to a great locally owned bookstore to talk about new books, come up with some marketing ideas that might help my booksellers sell the book to their customers. Eat lunch in the car on the way to my next appointment.

3. Repeat #2 above.

4. Drive home

5. Check on emails/phone calls/faxes that have come in while out for the day.

6. Read-after I have dinner & put my kids to bed

What is your favorite/least favorite/most challenging part of your job?

I love driving authors around & watching them connect with their readers. It is one of the most satisfying things to see a room full of kids meeting an author after they’ve just finished a book. They are so engaged & notice things in books that totally escapes me. It reminds me that this is a REALLY cool job.

I had no idea you got to interact with authors and their readers so much - how rewarding! Share some of your favorite YA novels, including recent debuts. Go ahead and shout out about your upcoming 2012 releases.

So many favorites, but I’ll just talk about my recent favs & some new ones to come- Running Dream, by Wendelin Van Drannen, Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly, Maze Runner trilogy by James Dashner, You Against Me by Jenny Downham, You Are My Only by Beth Kephart, Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley (due 2/12). Sadly, since my reading time is very limited I find I don’t have much time for reading books outside of work. So, full disclosure - these are all RHC books.

I loved Revolution, too. Thanks for the book recommendations and the quick peek into your world!

Dandy and her colleagues have a blog about children's publishing. Check it out for more insights from these industry insiders: http://randomactsofreading.wordpress.com/ and go here for their Facebook page.

I don't have a giveaway for you this week, but the Apocalypsies are hosting The YAmazing Race with MGnificent Prizes. The fun begins Monday, January 16th, so check it out now: http://apocalypsies.blogspot.com/

How many of you set writing goals for your New Year's resolutions? To fuel your writing willpower, check out my tips at Literary Rambles on Tuesday, January 17th. Then go back again on Wednesday to enter their 2000 follower giveaway! 8 winners will choose from a great selection of books. Go here and enter by January 28th.

Happy 2012!
Kristin Lenz

EMBRACE YOUR TASTE

2012-01-08T19:22:00.005-05:00

I’m the type of person who tries to avoid reading directions as hard as most people try to avoid mosquitos on a Kentucky July night. I like to dive into a project without considering if I have any skill whatsoever or even knowing if I have all the necessary tools (which I rarely do). But when I get excited about a project, I’m unstoppable. I’m a maniac with tunnel vision who can only tear myself away from it for necessities like… feeding my children or animals.

Maybe it’s due to the fact that I’m a part-time insomniac, or the extreme case of ADD that I surely have, or maybe it’s just that I’m a learn-by-doing-kinda-girl. Years ago when I learned to make jewelry, a rather tedious craft that takes a bit of skill to bend and twist thin wire into miniscule earring loops, I read zero instructions. Perhaps if had, I would’ve known that a pair of round nose pliers were essential to making perfect circles instead of the triangular-ish blobs that I was producing. No doubt, a little research would’ve saved me time, money, and frustration, but reading a complicated how-to instruction manual would’ve probably crushed my burning desire to make jewelry altogether.

The same is true with my writing. When I started writing my first YA novel, I jumped in before really studying the craft of novel-writing. Sure I had some experience writing children’s books, but it was quite different than keeping track of an entire novel.

My process was messy: a little handwriting, a lot of typing, an enormous amount of skipping around. I am the queen of cutting and pasting and I possibly hit the delete button more often than I write the word was. But eventually, after extensive hair pulling, cursing, and many, many potato chips later, I did manage to peace the puzzle into a readable novel. Even though I’m certain I took the long way around, my unorganized, chaotic process worked for me.

At least, it did until I started book two—when I tried to do things the conventional way—directions first. Seeing that organization and plotting were working wonderfully for my critique partner, I decided to give it a whirl. After arming myself with some crisp new writing books, I began the study of how one should actually go about writing a novel. It wasn’t long before I was completely overwhelmed by all the rules and information. I plowed through them anyway (mostly) and learned a ton--if only I could retain and apply it all.

And I tried--I really did, to plot it all out like a real writer before I started writing the actual book. But my characters seemed more like stick figures floating in space rather than multi-faceted characters in a story. The whole point was to save me time and headaches down the plot-hole road, right? So I forged ahead, convincing myself that I would indeed shape these eighty plus pages of storyline into something magical.

Here’s the crappy part; when I started writing the actual book, I was completely derailed on page freaking one by a character who was nowhere to be found within my mountain of plotted scribble. Dammit!

Now what? I had spent all that time and had really grown to like my story ideas. So naturally, the next step for me was brainwashing—myself. I desperately wanted to believe that the new random guy who showed up on page one was just that—some random guy. Only thing is, my instincts told me otherwise. When I called an emergency meeting with my crit partner to discuss my dilemma, she totally called me out on it. “No,” I insisted, “he’s not the guy”.

Her reply confirmed my worst fears; he was THE guy and not only that, I was writing two separate books. As much as I wanted it not to be true, I knew she was right and so were my instincts. After my initial oh-crap-what-now-moment, I eventually went back to my original process and let my characters lead me where they wanted to go instead of the other way around.

So my advice to those trying to maneuver this writing maze; by all means, study the rules and directions, but know that you don’t have to read them first. Stop fighting your process and do what works for you! In simpler terms: Stop trying to make yourself develop a taste for Uno’s deep dish if you secretly prefer Totino’s Party Pizzas!!

Embrace your taste!!

A NEW BOOK FOR A NEW YEAR

2012-01-01T16:47:00.000-05:00

On January 3, K.M. Walton's CRACKED will be released!!

Here’s the synopsis of CRACKED from Goodreads:

Sometimes there's no easy way out.

Victor hates his life. He has no friends, gets beaten up at school, and hisparents are always criticizing him. Tired of feeling miserable, Victor takes abottle of his mother's sleeping pills—only to wake up in the hospital.

Bull is angry, and takes all of his rage out on Victor. That makes him feelbetter, at least a little. But it doesn't stop Bull's grandfather from gettingdrunk and hitting him. So Bull tries to defend himself with a loaded gun.

When Victor and Bull end up as roommates in the same psych ward, there's no wayto escape each other or their problems. Which means things are going to getworse—much worse—before they get better

(picture of K. M. Walton, author of Cracked)

I read the openingchapters of CRACKED (as can you, atK.M. Walton’s website) and wasimmediately drawn in by the voices of these two main characters. I can’t wait toread the rest of the story on Tuesday! I asked Kate a few questions about CRACKED …here is what she had to say:

Tracy: Was the first draft of this book in two voices, or is thissomething that developed along the way?

Kate: While attending one of the SCBWI Winter Conferences, one ofthe speakers talked about how interesting books are from alternatingperspectives. It struck a chord with me. I went back to my hotel room and madea T-chart—one side said “Bully”and the other side said “Victim” and I began bulletpointing a list of character and plot points. Cracked was born!

Tracy: Did you know all along howthe story would end?

Kate: No, I’m a pantserthrough and through. I never know the endings of my books. I typically startwriting with nearly formed characters and some major plot points and see wherethe characters take it.

Tracy: What inspiredyou to write this story?

Kate: Anti-bullying was the core principal of myteaching career. I believed it was my job, as the adult, to discuss and addressbullying – every single time it reared its hideous head. I wanted my studentsto see each other for the human beings they were, not the labels or assumptionsthey attached to each other. CRACKED was a natural write for me because of mypassion for the subject.

Tracy: Do we find out what city/state this story takes place in?

Kate: It’s my home town, West Chester , PA. I made up the name ofthe high school and the hospital – but they’re actually real places.

Tracy: Can you tell us about the inclusion of Cracked in No Name CallingWeek?

Kate: I was blown-away-excited when Cracked was chosen to be apart of No Name Calling Week. NNCW is an annual week of educational activitiesaimed at ending name-calling of all kinds and providing schools with the toolsand inspiration to launch an on-going dialogue about ways to eliminate bullyingin their communities. The week was inspired by a young adult novel entitled"The Misfits" by popular author, James Howe (nonamecallingweek.org).

For all of thefilmmakers out there, Kate is sponsoring a fantastic BOOK TRAILER CONTEST, which you can read about on her website. The deadline isJanuary 17, and the top prize is $500CASH and a FILM CRITIQUE by sometop industry professionals.

In addition, Kate isoffering a chance to win a $25 AMAZON GIFT CARD if you e-mail her apicture of Cracked on the shelf of a bookstore. Details here:

Consider the Eggnog

2011-12-25T13:27:00.004-05:00

This is another early attempt at starting what ultimately became my Work-in-Progress. This one is more specifically Christmas themed, but still has little in common with the final story. You can see more about my efforts to start this story in my earlier post, Free Tickets.

The following scene takes place on the night of the annual Morgan County High School Christmas party, at the home of fraternal twins, Stacy and Marcus Addleberry. After years of getting the boot from his much cooler hostess sister, Marcus has finally managed to stay inside on party night. What’s more, he’s staked out a spot in the basement, sitting on the legendary SOMTKWPGOSGL—Sofa Of Much Tongue Kissing With Popular Girls Of Supreme Good Lookingness. Alas, his sister has no intentions of letting him stay.

Consider the eggnog, it neither toils nor spins. Unless I give it a swirl, then it spins in a really cool liquid pudding kind of way. Shame it doesn’t grow like the lilies. That would be nice—a never ending holiday beverage, a permanent Christmas break. I chug the glass, lean back on the sofa, and stare up into a scowl.

“Marcus,” Stacy growls down at me, “you’re under my mistletoe.”

I peer past her blistering face, see a weed nailed to the ceiling. “Somebody has high hopes for tonight.”

“Hopes that do not involve you.”

“I think we should leave that up to the impending party hotties.”

“They will not be interested in you. Besides, any hotties will be here because I invited them. And I haven’t invited you, so why are you here?”

“Well, it all started seventeen years ago when Mom and Dad did something I’ll explain to you when you’re older.”

“We are the same age, dweeb.”

“And I look back on our time in the womb with fondness.”

“This is my party.”

“Which was your attitude even in utero. Who’s the unfortunate boy for whom you’ve topiaried the ceiling?”

“There’s only one boy.”

“Ah.” My least favorite person in the entire world. “Him.”

“Go away, Marcus.”

“Why would I leave my own basement?”

“I didn’t invite you.”

“An oversight on your part. Happily, I’m not easily offended.”

“Marcus, I don’t ask for much.”

“Bit early for making resolutions you won’t keep. New Years is two weeks away.”

“All I ask is that you be gone.”

“I could take that the wrong way, you know.”

“As long as you take it somewhere else. Even you must have someplace to be on Christmas.”

She stares at me until I return to my eggnog, and because it isn’t bottomless, I can’t sip my way through the awkwardness that is the rest of my life with no place to be.

Free Tickets

2011-12-18T18:19:00.005-05:00

I’m almost finished with the first draft of my first YA novel, and that’s got me thinking about free tickets. See, a last-minute complementary concert seat is how this novel started. The music was loud and thick and textured—and to tell the truth—entirely over my musically illiterate head. So there was my brain, happily overwhelmed and free to wander. It made up a short story, which I wrote out the next day and submitted to my crit group. They said yes, and I grew the little daydream into a completely different novel. But looking back, I can still see hints of the original characters. Here is that short story for your reading pleasure. Enjoy.

HE SAYS

If this is a romance—which it totally isn’t—I’ll be introduced at the post-game party as an A-1 loser goof. You know, camera pans a living room full of rowdy juniors and seniors, zooms in on the Zit Kid sporting miss-matched threads. As if stripes aren’t just half a plaid, and plaid isn’t just extra stripes. Think about it.

But not for too long, because the camera’s still moving, frames the door—music swells—and this totally hot chick like the new girl who just walked in, walks in. Pow, I fall for her, but she thinks she’s too good for me and I believe her. Not that I do.

Flash forward to Act II. Her snooty friends pull a prank on us and we end up on a road trip through Death Valley, where our perfectly good car dies of measles. It happened to Freddy Thompson’s mom’s car. Swear.

We bake in the sun, hot chick and me, ’til she snaps, says something honest but mean and I snap back, say something honest but worse. I can be like that. Stone cold. I just need a little time to think up a comeback.

You know, now that I think about it, Mrs. Thompson’s car might not have had measles. It could have had bad injectors, because I’d bet Freddy that a diesel could run on alcohol, but the only stash we could find was my brother’s pot and I figured one high was pretty much the same as the next and we spiked the tank with weed.

Anyway, chickie has insulted me and I’m all, “Snap, insult you back!” She cries and runs into the frickin’ desert and I have to chase after her. Then I save her from a rattlesnake—no a brown recluse, I don’t like snakes. She says she’s sorry, I say I’m sorry, and buckets of rain fall where it hasn’t rained in like, forever. Figure that out Mr. Weatherman.

We roll in the mud because we were so happy to be alive, then night falls and we steal new clothes from a broken-down Halloween costume van. All she can find is a Wanda the Wench dress, and I’m sharper than sharp in a Dracula tux. She sees my total dapperness in the moonlight—even though the moon doesn’t always come out at night, sometimes it comes out in the day, because that’s how orbits work—and ten seconds later we’re doing it in the back seat of her dad’s Lexus, ’cause I don’t even own a car.

Plus, and this is how I know this story’s not a romance, I’d have spent the whole introduction doing a babbly voice-over.

Damn.

There’d better be a ninjas in the next scene, or I’m ditching this story.

SHE SAYS

If this is an action adventure—and let’s be clear on the subject, verb, and object, it is not—then… Sorry, backup. By “it” I meant the story. Implied subject. Mrs. Jackson, my old English teacher, would totally rap my knuckles with a ninjato for that, and for using a “to be” verb in a topic sentence. But cut a girl some slack, it’s her first night in town.

Back to the scene. If this story is a macho fist-fest, the Big Muscle Dudes will be too busy grunting to notice that my eyes are puffy from crying. Instead, Big Muscle Dude Number One hits on me. When all I want is chocolate. Then Big Muscle Dude Number Two hits on me. Seriously, how about a little conversation to take the edge off a foreign town? And maybe an ibuprofen. But BMDs don’t do talking, so they hit on each other, instead. The other kind of hit on, I mean. Unless they’re cute and will let me watch.

But no, by Act II we’re in a car chase. I’m strapped into the passenger seat next to Dude One, who shaves with a machete and thinks it’s spelled with a Y. We race across the desert, scaring the crap out of me and some lonely kid looting a broken down Halloween costume van, while Dude Two blasts us with heat-seeking, laser-guided missiles that somehow miss us—but blow open the door to his secret desert lair.

Yeah, Dude Two is a super villain with a catch phrase like, “Mr. Evil, because it’s all about M. E.” Bullets fly, and just when you think it—the story I mean—can’t possibly get any more testosterone stupid, they fight it out in CGI animated super suits. Seriously.

Plus, and this is the real action-adventure giveaway, I’d be holding back more than lonely tears right now. I’d be holding back the truth about being a secret government agent on a last-chance mission to find the Chosen One—the boy who can save our country from the forces of darkness. And I’d have throwing stars appliquéd to my underwear.

Damn.

If I don’t get chocolate and a little hand-holding in the next scene, somebody’s getting stainless steel perforations. I nominate the plaid fashion disaster who’s about to trip over the wrestling team’s beer keg.

Giveaway and Interview with Ruta Sepetys

2011-12-11T10:35:00.007-05:00

Have you ever read a book that changes you? A book that alters your soul after you've read the final page?

I have and that book is Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys. Here is a description of the story from the official book website:

Have you ever wondered what a human life is worth? That morning, my brother was worth a pocket watch.

In 1941, fifteen-year-old Lina is preparing for art school, first dates, and all that summer has to offer. But one night, the Soviet secret police barge violently into her home, deporting her along with her mother and younger brother. They are being sent to Siberia. Lina's father has been separated from the family and sentenced to death in a prison camp. All is lost.

Lina fights for her life, fearless, vowing that if she survives she will honor her family, and the thousands like hers, by documenting their experience in her art and writing. She risks everything to use her art as messages, hoping they will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive.

It is a long and harrowing journey, and it is only their incredible strength, love, and hope that pull Lina and her family through each day. But will love be enough to keep them alive?

Today I have the honor of interviewing New York Times Bestselling and multiple award winning author, Ruta Sepetys. Thank you so much for joining us Ruta!

Between Shades of Gray is a very powerful book full of struggle and hope. What helped you find the right balance between the two?

RS - Thank you! It was difficult at times to find that balance. I was trying to address the search for self in the face of death, which can be pretty dark and depressing. My editor, Tamra Tuller, continually pushed me to focus on the hopeful elements. Many of her revision suggestions centered around amplifying the sense of hope. I enjoy bleak stories so my first drafts tend to be pretty depressing. Tamra's suggestions added incredible dimension to the story but allowed me to retain the dark atmosphere I felt was critical for historical authenticity.

Lina is a wonderful character and I remember thinking several times while reading the novel that you had picked a perfect age for her. What made you decide to make Lina fifteen turning sixteen in the book versus a younger or older protagonist?

RS - Many of the survivors I met with were teenagers when they were in Siberia. Their stories were incredibly compelling and they were all so full of fire and bravery. I thought it might add an interesting dimension to the story if it were told from the point of view of a teenage girl. Also, since this is such a little known piece of history, I was hoping that it might be discovered by teachers and librarians. There are so many wonderful librarians who support the YA genre.

When writing a historical, do you plot then research or do you research then plot?

RS - When I started "Between Shades of Gray" I decided to write the book as I was researching. I hoped writing amidst the research process would create a sense of immediacy in the narrative. I'm not sure I'd do that again! I ended up revising quite a bit. I think next time I will research, plot, then draft.

4. Your cover perfectly captures the a ray of hope in a barren wasteland. Can you tell us anything about the journey of your cover and title?

RS - Thank you! I love the cover. I can't take any credit for it though. I wasn't involved in the process at all. Penguin sent me an email saying, "Here's your cover!" and I fell in love with it. They are now designing a new cover for the paperback version which will be released next spring. I can't wait to see it. In terms of the title, "Between Shades of Gray" was my original title for the book. In meeting with survivors I learned that their situation was complicated and choices were difficult. I think we tend to categorize things in extremes (good/evil, love/hate, etc.) But things aren't always black or white. More often, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. And sometimes, when we peel back the layers, the extremes fall away and we can find love and tolerance there, between shades of gray. Not all the Soviets were cruel. Some showed compassion. So the Lithuanians couldn't hate all of the Soviets. Hope and truth lived between endless layers of gray. That was the inspiration for the title.

5. Can you tell us what you are working on now and when it might be available?

RS - I just finished a novel that's set in New Orleans in 1950. It tells the story of a very gifted girl who is the daughter of a French Quarter prostitute. Despite her background and society's opinion of her, she applies to a prestigious college. It's a story of the courage and fortitude it takes to fly when you're born with broken wings. And since it's in New Orleans there's a mystery and a cast of eccentric characters! Philomel/Penguin Young Readers Group is publishing the book in Spring of 2013.

6. What are some of your favorite books?

RS - Ooh, there are so many! I love anything by Toni Morrison, Truman Capote, or Ellen Gilchrist. Beth Kephart has a new YA coming out called "Small Damages" that's fantastic. Beth is one of the most beautiful writers. Even her blog posts are poetic. I recently read "Letters From Home" by Kristina McMorris and adored it. I also love Laura Kasischke, a writer from Michigan. Her YA novels are published by HarperTeen and her adult books are through Harper Perennial. If you're looking for a fun, compelling read you must pick up "Dead Rules" by Randy Russell. If I had to choose an all-time favorite book it would be "How I Live Now" by Meg Rosoff.

Thank you so much for visiting with us Ruta!

YA Fusion is excited to give away a signed copy of Between Shades of Gray. To enter, leave a comment below. A drawing will be held the week of December 18th. Tell us about the post, about Between Shades of Gray, or about a book that changed your life.

Please leave your e-mail in the comment so I can contact you if you win. Also, the contest is limited to entries in the U.S. and Canada.

Read an Interview with Deborah Halverson and Win a Copy of WRITING YOUNG ADULT FICTION FOR DUMMIES!

2011-12-04T09:31:00.002-05:00

My writing used to seriously bite. It’s really not that hard to admit.

If I look back at what my fiction writing was fifteen, ten, or even five years ago, I’m a million times better, primarily because of searching out strong advice and practicing.

Oh so many moons ago, when I was at Michigan State University, my poetry mentor there, the fabulous poet Diane Wakoski, would tell me, writers are formed from practice. The more they work on their craft, the better they get.

So I’ve worked.

Hard.

Really Hard.

And it’s finally starting to pay off. This year, I snagged some prestigious literary awards (Yay, me!). So I want to take a little trip down Writing Resource Lane to highlight some books and advice that have really pushed me forward with my writing. Each book offers a takeaway that I try hard to apply every time I sit down to write.

Bird by Bird

by Anne Lamott –

My takeaway: It’s alright to produce that “s*%tty first draft.” That’s a HUGE piece of advice when fears and confidence create Empire State Building-size writing blocks.

It’s a Bunny Eat Bunny World

by Olga Litowinsky –

My takeaway: Children’s editors and agents definitely don’t have blue birds singing on their shoulders and adorable fawns curled at their feet. Truly, this whole children’s/YA writing thing is a rough business. Only the strongest and most determined survive and succeed. As writer Donna Jo Napoli recently told me, “Good is NOT enough -- you have to be persistent. So toughen up… just be tough, lady.”

The First Five Pages by Noah Lukeman –

My takeaway: That first line of a manuscript needs to be amazing, astounding, can’t-put-this-book-down hooking, so work it, Baby, and work it good! Lukeman, a literary agent, stresses some writing is just plain “better.” As one agent has told me, “We are looking for writing that’s superlative.” Lukeman, with his solid advice about voice, plotting, and writing style, tries to get every writer there.

Hooked by Les Edgerton –

My takeaway: Backstory can be a slippery slope. It can either send your reader sliding back and slipping straight out of your book and into the latest TV show they find more entertaining, or it can be sprinkled in effectively. Edgerton, in his “coffee house,” let’s-chat writing style, discusses the balance between present action and backstory. He even creates new terms – passive backstory vs. active backstory. Passive being that blow-by-blow-by-blow-by-blow (you get the idea) of what happened in the past. Active is that perfect little drop of telling the past and using it as a springboard for impending action. Great advice!

And my latest resource book to seriously influence my writing life is – Drum Roll, Please! - Writing Young Adult Fiction For Dummies

by Deborah Halverson.

My takeaway: Deborah rocks! Oh, and also, if you aren’t exactly sure what constitutes a YA novel or what goes into one to make it effective, then the writing pitfalls are wide and deep and will swallow your publishing aspirations whole. Yikes!

Even if I weren’t always thirsty for more writing advice -- YA writing advice, specifically -- I would have purchased this book because Deborah was key to helping me become a stronger writer. I hired her to edit one of my novels before I sent it out to the literary world because I knew she was an exceptional writer and editor.

Not only is Halverson the author of Writing Young Adult Fiction For Dummies (WYAFFD), but she is the award-winning author of teen novels Honk If You Hate Me and Big Mouth. In addition, she is contracted for three books in a forthcoming series for struggling readers as well as a forthcoming picture book about Santa Claus. Armed with a Master’s in American Literature, Deborah edited picture books and teen novels for Harcourt Children’s Books for ten years before leaving to write full-time. She is a frequent speaker at writers’ conferences and a writing teacher for groups and institutions including UCSD’s Extension Program. Deborah is also the founder of the popular writers’ advice website DearEditor.com and freelance edits fiction and non-fiction for both published authors and writers seeking their first book deals.

Deborah was kind enough to answer some questions about her career, the YA industry, and what writers can do to become better and stronger at their craft.

YA books have exploded in popularity. Why do you think YA attracts so many readers of all ages?

The spotlight is on young adult fiction, big time, thanks in large part to a succession of blockbuster movies and phenomenal sales for the books themselves. This high profile success has plenty of grown-ups looking twice at YA fiction, where they discover what longtime fans of YA have known all along—that young adult fiction is filled with rich characters and narrative voices, robust storylines, top-notch dialogue, and compelling concepts. Plus, YA storytelling is pervaded by a sense of wonder and curiosity about the world. Who can say “no” to a reading experience that promising?

Do you find you like to read the same types of fiction books you write?

Indeed, I tend to write what I read, and vice versa. I adore the magical realism of Tom Robbins, Salman Rushdie, and Don DeLillo, I delight in the quirky, spoofy humor of Libba Bray and M.T. Anderson, and I totally lose myself in the stunning character work of Karen Cushman and Phillip Pullman. When I read their books, I’m so inspired that I feel a physical urge to run to my computer to tap out my own fiction. That said, every writer should read widely in order to understand the bookselling marketplace as a whole and to find inspiration in different styles. Being an editor, it’s especially important for me to read broadly so that I can guide writers as they position and craft their novels no matter what genre they choose.

Your two YA novels, Honk If You Hate Me and Big Mouth, are both laced with humor even as the main characters deal with some difficult issues. How important do you think humor and levity are for teen readers?

I tend to approach life in general from a quirky angle. I like to be surprised—good or bad—by what lies beyond the surface, and coming at topics sideways lets me do that. It’s just how my mind works, and my stories reflect that. For example, beyond reveling in the delicious wackiness of someone wanting to scarf down 54 hot dogs (and buns!) in 12 minutes, Big Mouth explores the very serious issue of eating disorders in boys. And then there’s the basic fact that I love to laugh. Doctors say doing so adds years to your life, and I’m all for that.

Why did you decide to take on Writing Young Adult Fiction For Dummies?

I was privy to the inner workings of a major publisher for a decade, and then I got the writer’s view of the publishing game when I started writing novels. I really wanted to share what I’d learned on both sides of the editor’s desk; it just became a matter of figuring out the best way to do that. Writing Young Adult Fiction For Dummies is that book. The tone of the For Dummies series let me indulge my humorous side even as I had free rein to shape the book I felt would most empower writers. The top of my ‘must include in this book’ list? Tangible, actionable techniques. That’s what I want as a writer, so that’s what I’ve tried to serve up.

Any projects you’re currently working on that you can share with us?

I’m excited to be working on three hi-lo readers, in the process gaining personal insight into a different corner of the children’s publishing industry. The book concepts must appeal to seventh graders, while the vocabulary is at the first- and second-grade level. I’ve also just finalized a contract for a picture book about Santa Claus, which my six-year-old boys think is just the bee’s knees. And now that WYAFFD is solidly out in the world, I can finally get back to work on a YA fiction series that’s been waiting (somewhat) patiently on the backburner.

Since you’ve worked as both an in-house editor and now as a freelance editor, what do you think are the benefits of hiring an editor to review your work before submission?

I’m biased, of course. But the fact is, in-house editors are extremely careful about offering contracts these days. It isn’t enough to write a really good manuscript—you must write a manuscript that can compete with the cream of the crop. An experienced freelance editor can help you hone your general writing chops, improve specific stories and characters, and shape your project for the marketplace. That last one is very important: to be published, it’s vital that you offer something fresh for an identifiable marketplace.

Being a mom of triplets and a writer and a freelance editor, you know better than anyone what it’s like to have a lot of work to juggle. What does a typical workday look like for you, and what advice would you give other authors who have time constraints?

Much of a writer’s battle is with time, and I’m no exception there. But it’s a battle I’m happy to have. I’m a multitasker at heart, so my varied life feels quite natural to me. My trick to staying motivated is the old fashioned deadline. Nothing gives me greater pain than seeing that red “overdue” icon on my calendar app. I’ll even set my own deadlines when none are imposed upon me. That said, personal deadlines are the first to go when life hucks a monkey wrench my way.

Writers are always worrying about trends in the market. What do you say to writers who worry about whether or not their work will be “trendy”?

The publishing industry is a slow-moving one. By the time you recognize a trend, write and revise a manuscript to suit it, go through the submission process, and then get your book produced in-house and into stores, the trend will likely be over. Manuscripts most likely to benefit from a trend are those that are already in the publishing pipeline when the trend is recognized. Instead of writing to a trend, write to a very specific audience and genre and then put a fresh spin on your story so that you’ll stand out as something new within that established market.

Being both an editor and a writer, do you find your inner editor gets in your way when you are trying to write? What advice would you give to writers who can’t turn off their inner editor long enough to pump out a first draft?

My inner editor is a total pain in my . . . well, I write for young people, so I won’t finish that sentence. I recommend that you defy the ornery editor within by making a deal with it: agree to let yourself cobble together a draft that is little more than characters and events pinned to a bulletin board. It’s a painful proposition, I grant that, but if you can ignore the ugliness of that draft and nail down your basic story elements, your inner editor can be indulged in Draft 2 as you flesh out the characters and scenes and hone the narrative voice.

You do a great job in WYAFFD outlining the different publishing options for today’s writers. For someone who has a YA manuscript ready to send out, what quick advice would you give them about deciding between soliciting a traditional publishing house or going the self-publishing route?

Answering these questions as honestly as you can will help you decide: Are you self-motivated and willing to work hard? Are you market-savvy enough to position your book in the marketplace, to design a cover that appeals to that market, and to articulate to the world exactly what your story is and how it’s different from others like it? Are you willing to pay others to design your cover, or do you have the skills to create a high-quality cover yourself? Are you willing to put in the time and money to turn yourself into a self-marketing machine? Do you have the financial resources to self-publish—and are you willing to lose that investment if the book doesn’t sell more than the average several-hundred self-published units? If you can’t answer all of these questions with a confident “yes!” then traditional publishing is probably the more realistic choice for you.

Teen books often push the limits and get that “edgy” label. What do you say to someone who questions whether the current hard-hitting YA is worthwhile for teens to read, and do you think writers should be fearful of pushing the YA limits too far?

There’s been plenty of hullabaloo about the “dark” YA fiction in recent months. That’s an unfair portrayal of the YA realm. Plenty of books for young people leave out the sex and drugs and children killing children. Write the story you feel you need to write. If you push the limits too far, editors and agents will be vocal about their hesitations. Or try this: Picture yourself reading passages of your book out loud to a group of young people in a class, at a book club meeting, or at a book signing. If presenting that content to them face-to-face makes you squirmy, there’s your answer. Every writer has his/her comfort zone. Wherever you fall in the storytelling spectrum, be sure that the elements you include are organic and vital to the story. You must stand by the integrity of the story you’re writing, not just your right to write it.

A HUGE thanks to Deborah Halverson for sharing her insight! For more about Deborah, check out her website DeborahHalverson.com . And as a generous parting gift, Deborah is giving everyone access to a free downloadable WYAFFD cheatsheet - http://www.dummies.com/cheatsheet/writingyoungadultfiction -- Hurray!!

In addition, if you live in the United States or Canada, you have the chance to win a copy of Writing Young Adult Fiction For Dummies by submitting a comment for this post. Comment on Deborah’s interview or give a suggestion for a writing resource that has helped you become a better fiction writer. PLEASE LEAVE YOUR E-MAIL IN THE COMMENT SO I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN. A random drawing of posted comments will be done the week of December 11.

So think about the takeaways you have taken away and “Take It Away!” by posting for your chance to win. Good luck!

***WRITING YOUNG ADULT FICTION FOR DUMMIES GIVEAWAY UPDATE***

We have a winner in our drawing for a copy of WRITING YOUNG ADULT FICTION FOR DUMMIES. (Another drum roll, please!) Janet from Ripley, West Virginia is our lucky winner. Thank you to all who posted comments. And once again, thanks to Deborah Halverson for a fabulous interview!

Life Support...

2011-11-28T00:04:00.000-05:00

Recently I had to write my first acknowledgment page. Seems silly, but it was a moment. It was something I’d dreamed about for so long, and something that might not have even happened had I not crawled out from under my safe little rock…

I’ll admit it. I used to be delusional. I had this idea in my head that writers were solitary creatures that only crawled out from under their rock once or twice a day to forage for food and scope things out. This worked for me as I’ve always been incredibly shy. I know, I know—but it’s true. Unless I know you, getting more than three words from me face to face is life trying to yank a pineapple through a pin hole. So the whole works in solitude thing? I was in love.

And I did it for a while. Holed up under my nifty little rock and wrote like there was no tomorrow. But I knew my stuff was lacking. It needed polishing and objective opinions and I wasn’t going to get that by letting my family and friends read it. If I heard one more, Oh it was great. I loved it, and it’s perfect just the way it is, I was going to yak. So I clawed my way out of the hole and joined my first writers group. I kept up with it for a little while, but that particular one just wasn’t a good fit. I never really meshed with any of the members—and trust me. It’s all about meshing.

Finally ready to take another stab at it, I joined RWA for the sole purpose of joining FF&P. That went better. It was less cliquey and had fewer time restrictions on posting to their critique forum, and because it was such a specific kind of group, there were more people that wrote and read what I did. Through FF&P I found my first CPs (who I will chase to the ends of the earth should they ever try to leave me) and then, finally, Savvy Authors.

These people—these communities—are my life support. Without them, I’d still be the person who didn’t know pitches from prologues. The right community will encourage you, give honest feedback (no matter how hard it might be to hear), and supply a shoulder to cry on when rejections and the occasional bad review hit—because they will hit. It’s a part of the process. You’ll learn with each other and from each other.

Your turn! Tell us about how you found your first writing community or critique partner. Do you have one, or are you part of a group? I’m interested to know what people think of online groups versus face to face ones!

What the Heck Is This?

2011-11-20T05:23:00.001-05:00

I don't know about you, but before I start a manuscript, before the first word, before the first letter flashes on the screen, I do NOT think about genre. I just write. For me, 'genre' is a foreign word, Greek, (actually it's French)that stifles rather than encourages my creativity.

I first discovered my difficulty with that foreign word when trying to market my second completed manuscript. (Yes, the first is serving duty as a dust collector - doing a great job!)What did she mean, "What genre?" I squirmed in front of the agent as I murmured, "Romance." What did she think? This was RWA's national conference. What else would it be?

Then came the flurry of questions: Contemporary or Historical? Category or Single Title? Mystery? Women's Fiction? Sweet? Spicy? I started sweating. Erotic? Paranormal?

I left that pitch session determined to educate myself. But what I found made me think it would be easier to pull all my hair out, one strand at a time, than to split the often razor thin differences between the romance genres and their sub-genres.

Then I started writing YA. Simple, right? YA is YA. Or so I thought as I wrote that new manuscript. But when I started hanging in YA circles and heard rumblings of MG vs. YA my eyes crossed. I held my newly completed baby and wondered yet again, "What have I written?"

Well, thanks to a great break-out session at SCBWI's MidSouth Regional Conference in September, led by editor Alexandra Cooper, I realize I've birthed a full-blooded YA. Ms. Cooper clearly defined MG vs. YA, and given her position, I'm inclined to believe she knows whereof she speaks.

According to Ms. Cooper, it's all about . . . number of pages.

Bet you thought I was going to say the protagonist's age. Yes, that's part of it. But, surprisingly, so is the number of pages. The average MG has 150-200 pages. YA has more.

The biggest difference, however, is plot trajectory. With a MG, the plot runs the course of Home - Away - Home. Here, Home represents the ordinary world of family/friends. Away represents the challenge or opportunity that spurs growth. (Think cliques vs. individualization.) The character grows up a little, but in MG he/she always winds up back at Home. Wiser? Yes. More sure of self? Absolutely. But still at home.

In YA, the plot trajectory is Home - Away. Period. The protagonist starts at Home, but his/her challenge/opportunity pushes them toward independence. He/she may, in the end, still live with Mom and Dad, but it's obvious that those days are numbered. The YA protagonist is clearly ready to stand on her/his own. There is no real going back.

I hope these distinctions help you recognize your baby's family. But either way, keep writing. There are always hybrids! :0