Something To Look Forward To

Hi YA Fusion friends,

First a pause to acknowledge that today is Memorial Day.   Thank a veteran--but not just today.

As many of you know, I am a Co-ARA for SCBWI Midsouth (along with fantastic YA author Courtney Stevens--whose debut was discussed here by Bethany Griffin ).  My ARA duties largely revolve around setting up and maintaining the new Midsouth website, though I am also on the committee for the 2014 Midsouth Fall Conference.  Those duties overlap in the form of the conference registration.  After a looooooooooong and frustrating month of trying to early-adopt the new SCBWI registration system, I am pleased to report that the Midsouth conference brochure is live now, and registration opens on June 1st (albeit using an older system).  Massive credit for the conference and brochure go to others, I am just a conduit here.  Well... I'm gonna take credit for some of conference work, but really, it's almost all being done by the other folks you'll find listed in the brochure.

Anyway.

The faculty, as you will see, includes some fine YA authors, including our own Fusionista, Katie McGarry.  The keynote speaker is none other than Gennifer Choldenko.   And, Midsouth RA and YA author, Kristin Tubb, will teach an intro to publishing class.

But wait, there's more.  I've attended the conference for years, and I can promise you that many fine YA authors will be in the building, either helping to put on the conference or attending.  

Not looking to attend a conference?  Don't forget the book store where faculty sell and sign their books--a great chance for a little one-on-one with a great author.

Here's a  link to the website, where you will find a link to the brochure.  Happy browsing.  Hope to see you in the fall.

2014 Midsouth Fall Conference

Masque Winner!

Congratulations to Heather Dent who won our drawing for a copy of Bethany Griffin's Masque of the Red Death.  Be sure to check out the After The Masque.., More Masque post below to learn more about the impending sequel.

After the Masque... More Masque!

Time for all Bethany Griffin fans to celebrate.  Her deadly, sexy, (and alligator-filled) Masque of the Red Death is now available in paperback.  What’s more, the conclusion to the two-book series, Dance of the Red Death, comes out on April 23^rd.  To celebrate, we’re giving away a paperback copy of Masque.  But first, here’s a bit about the books.

If you haven’t read the first book, Masque, you’re missing quite a ride with heroine Araby Worth.  I won’t spoil the ending, but I can promise romance, action, costumes, steampunkish gear, monsters (both the human and animal kind), plus the heavy air of revolution.  The emotional weight of Bethany’s writing is addictive.

Good as Masque is, though, Dance is even better.  The world grows larger and denser, Araby hits new highs and lows, the plot--as they say--thickens.  On her website, Bethany begins her description of Dance with the phrase “Everything is on fire” and I agree.  Reserve your copy now.

     

Please comment below to be considered for the drawing. Extra points offered for posting about the contest on Facebook or Twitter (please include mention of this in your comment). Email MUST be included in the comment to be considered. Open to US and Canadian entries only - apologies. Contest closes at midnight EST on 4/14/13.

Contest Winners!

The winner of my surprise YA book giveaway is... Vicky Alvear Shecter from Georgia! I had planned to give away Jandy Nelson's The Sky is Everywhere, but Vicky already read it, loved it, and owns a copy. So, we went with A Northern Light, an older favorite of mine by Jennifer Donnelly.

The winner of Bethany's book giveaway is... Donna Maloy from Texas! Donna, please email Bethany to select your free book out of those mentioned in her post or the comments.

Thanks to everyone for checking out our blog and entering the contests. Happy Mother's Day to all the book-sharing, story-telling moms out there!

Bethany Griffin

Hi, I'm Bethany Griffin, and I've been stalling to post anything about me, because I've been waiting for this to become official, and it just did, on Friday!

Children's: Young Adult

Bethany Griffin's MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH, a post-Apocalyptic reimagining of Poe's gothic horror story of the same name, in which a girl trying to escape everything holds not only her own life in her hands, but also those of two boys warring for her heart...and the fate of her crumbling society, to Martha Mihalick at Greenwillow Books, in a three-book deal, for publication in Summer 2012, byMichael Bourret at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management (NA).

 I am a high school English teacher. Besides English II, I teach Young Adult Literature, Speculative Literature, A Survey of Poetry and Lyrics, and Creative Writing. I love my job!

After the publication of my first YA novel, Handcuffs (Delacorte), I scandalized a few people with some public readings, as Kurt and Collette will attest, and then settled in to write something completely different. This weekend I've had the first experience of referring to myself as the author of The Masque of the Red Death. It feels pretty weird! Also, like maybe I should avoid alcoholic beverages, since I don't want to be found out passed out in an alley (Poe reference, not an indication of my extracurricular activities).

I have  two fabulous children, a husband who does all the bed-time reading so I can write, and a great network of writer and non-writer friends, both IRL and online!

Also, I have recently become obsessed with English Major Armadillo (I have a BA in English from U of L, as well as Masters in the Art of Teaching and Secondary Education)