tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51419428694928490952024-03-18T21:41:43.326-07:00Neverending StoriesLiterary Agent Christa Heschke on Children's Publishing. Neverending Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-75731624960851627282020-03-09T15:11:00.001-07:002020-03-09T15:17:21.270-07:00Cover Reveal: THE VERY LAST LEAF by Stef Wade<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Molengo; font-size: 15.4px; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #073763;">I'm thrilled to reveal the cover for Stef Wade's next picture book THE VERY LAST LEAF, illustrated by Jennifer Davison, which comes out August 1, 2020 with Capstone! </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;"><i>Lance Cottonwood is the best and brightest of the leaves, but even the top students on the tree have worries. Can Lance conquer his fear of falling and just let go when the time comes for his final exam, or will he let his worries take over? </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;"><i>In this funny and encouraging picture book, best-selling author Stef Wade (A Place for Pluto) tells an engaging story and deftly addresses social and emotional struggles many kids encounter each day...feeling anxious, wanting to be perfect, facing fears, etc. These themes combined with illustrator Jennifer Davison's delightful characters and rich autumnal colors make The Very Last Leaf a perfect book for the start of a new school year, the arrival of autumn, or any period of transition in life.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.4px;">Ok, get ready, the cover is about to be revealed!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;">I'm not sure this could get any cuter! I can't wait for the world to meet Lance!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw-AxccFdPiA66sXFrvtbFxESQ2pDzaApp3AlugNN0Mtkwk1DEs7_Wv_MkWOntQ8MY6qrIb6LYCMh3Xa6UCLev4rwpXgn_9iOC-HS0NBh92j-ZLzjiGwGv2EWTlZCE_tgeoVuKkfBOfCjG/s1600/swade1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #073763;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw-AxccFdPiA66sXFrvtbFxESQ2pDzaApp3AlugNN0Mtkwk1DEs7_Wv_MkWOntQ8MY6qrIb6LYCMh3Xa6UCLev4rwpXgn_9iOC-HS0NBh92j-ZLzjiGwGv2EWTlZCE_tgeoVuKkfBOfCjG/s200/swade1.jpg" width="133" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;">Stef used to write about cardboard boxes, but thinks writing books is far more exciting.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;">Stef is the author of A PLACE FOR PLUTO, Honorable Mention for the Council for Wisconsin Writers Toft/Wright Children’s Literacy award, a 2018 Barnes & Noble story time pick, 2019 TXLA 2×2 Reading List Book, 2019 UK Summer Reading Challenge book, and a 2019 LITA Golden Duck Notable Picture Book.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;">Her newest picture book, THE VERY LAST LEAF, illustrated by Jennifer Davison, releases from Capstone August 1, 2020. And her third picture book, Q & U CALL IT QUITS, illustrated by Jorge Martin, releases from HarperCollins in 2021.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;">She holds a BA in advertising from Marquette University and an MBA in Integrated Marketing Communication from DePaul University.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;">Stef is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). She’s bounced all over the midwest with her college sweetheart husband and her three historically and literary named boys and currently resides in the Milwaukee area.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="background-color: #eefff9;">You can follow Stef on </span><a href="https://twitter.com/Stef_Wade" style="background-color: #eefff9; text-decoration-line: none;">Twitter </a><span style="background-color: #eefff9;">and visit her on </span><a href="http://stefwade.com/" style="background-color: #eefff9; text-decoration-line: none;">her website!</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;">You can pre-order THE VERY LAST LEAF on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1684461049/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-very-last-leaf-stef-wade/1136120752?ean=9781684461042" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Barnes and Noble</a> and <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781684461042" style="text-decoration-line: none;">IndieBound </a>now!</span></div>
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Neverending Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-66649986590775098042019-12-19T12:49:00.000-08:002019-12-19T14:46:05.411-08:00Author Interview and Cover Reveal: ALIEN TOMATO by Kristen Schroeder<br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">I'm thrilled to reveal the cover for Kristen Schroeder's debut picture book ALIEN TOMATO, illustrated by Mette Engell, which comes out in July 2020 with Page Street Kids! Check out my interview with Kristen below. We talk about picture books, revising and, of course, ALIEN TOMATO!</span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #20124d;">It streaked through the sky on a perfect day in July and landed in the garden…</span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">When a mysterious red orb appears one day, the vegetables aren’t sure what to make of it. They decide that it must be an alien tomato! They name her Allie and try to make her feel as welcome as possible. But Gopher isn’t convinced. He’s sure it’s just a ball.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">This delightfully silly tale and its equally hilarious art are a perfect fit for gardeners and sci-fi fans alike.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">Ok, get ready, the cover is about to be revealed!!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9M4jUPjEeqQ4N8efE-AcbhY5EKc2SQvARaJqkn_h2Yg0TNv4ktgj0PVdFuyBVZpJg8s-D2IUtaOSIxLZtFvzlIA3-01gp_ZGVJdhuME3TDMfbqaaYU7lIxq0laxEJ4F8bL0ItuOhOpWXL/s1600/AlienTomato_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1478" data-original-width="1600" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9M4jUPjEeqQ4N8efE-AcbhY5EKc2SQvARaJqkn_h2Yg0TNv4ktgj0PVdFuyBVZpJg8s-D2IUtaOSIxLZtFvzlIA3-01gp_ZGVJdhuME3TDMfbqaaYU7lIxq0laxEJ4F8bL0ItuOhOpWXL/s320/AlienTomato_cover.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">ALIEN TOMATO has such a zany, fun
premise! What gave you the original idea? Tell us a bit about the process of
creating this story. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><i>The title was something my daughter
blurted out one day. We still have no idea why or how it came out of her mouth,
but I wrote it down as a possible story idea. I started thinking about what
would happen if a round red object landed in a garden and the veggies thought
it was an alien tomato.</i></span><i><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><b>Have you always been an avid reader? What was your favorite
picture book growing up?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5WtRSSq0w3JJPDFb-DSXUpQ5jUJhyphenhyphenyrhP5Ci5djVOVQ1-kb7DC9NeI1DhGQiQA0iCHGa6wkfJJIFNh4mJrC67EDEiLw_TcKkgyY9_iPstWaEFiQaU9dT4c_Ln_O0tn6J7kHpKtXO7-_9A/s1600/nutshell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="349" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5WtRSSq0w3JJPDFb-DSXUpQ5jUJhyphenhyphenyrhP5Ci5djVOVQ1-kb7DC9NeI1DhGQiQA0iCHGa6wkfJJIFNh4mJrC67EDEiLw_TcKkgyY9_iPstWaEFiQaU9dT4c_Ln_O0tn6J7kHpKtXO7-_9A/s200/nutshell.jpg" width="139" /></span></a><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><i>I was a huge reader growing up. My
mom was an English teacher and she passed along her love of reading to me. She
recently dropped off some of my old picture books and the memories came
flooding back. I loved pouring over the illustrations in Richard Scarry’s books
and I had quite a few Little Golden Books. My absolute favorites would probably
be the Nutshell Library by Maurice Sendak. It’s a collection of four tiny
little books that have their own case. Some of the stories have a subversive
tone, for example, in PIERRE, a little boy who continually says, “I don’t care,”
eventually gets eaten by a lion.</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYJktG1cKsqTheNkhfQRfuiAWHhVE9JKyN_SEjKSXNBX8uGU-OMovuWDTGlv0pwQJ413Fhx7o6xENIWS3Avwfod38pZUI8KQU0fTbos6RQvOGBTnQ4jj4pLlFiBIORdxk8r6r_Q47Snwj/s1600/kristen1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHZEM8Qq6RyDABvL40findODRQyJw3bQ4JU42LHqLoEX1O1a5x9oxyMomxc7z9tab7wdm-z6SSNbhnksDca4ti94KW5Nl4sIBxgMW6KYImithVXtVjGzuqdrVawPRE_swc4Au8D4vb86B/s1600/kristen3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"></span></a><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><b>What inspires you to write picture books, as opposed to books
for older readers?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><i>Because I read my picture books
over and over as a child, they had a profound effect on me. There is something
magical about putting a combination of words and pictures in the hands of
emerging readers. Picture books are a unique art form in that regard. Likewise,
books for older children are also hugely important and I am working on a middle
grade novel in between picture books. </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><b>You're a dual citizen of America and Australia.
How has your experience having different homelands influenced your writing? </b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background: white;">I think about how
my stories will be received in different countries. I definitely have some very
“Aussie” stories, that wouldn’t sell in the US. Likewise, being from Minnesota,
I have written a snowy, wintery story that wouldn’t be popular down under.</span></i><span style="background: white;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><b>ALIEN TOMATO is your debut! Tell us a bit about what the process
of seeing your first book published has been like.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><i>It’s been very exciting and filled
with many “pinch me” moments so far. The cover reveal is a fun milestone
because I get to share a sneak peek of ALIEN TOMATO’s illustrations for the
first time. I am thrilled with Mette Engell’s artwork. I recently got F&Gs
(fold and gathered copies) so it’s starting to feel real. The book comes out on
July 14, 2020; about seven months from now. I am part of a debut picture book
group called the PERFECT2020PBs. </i><a href="https://perfect2020pbs.weebly.com/">https://perfect2020pbs.weebly.com/</a>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>We all have picture books coming
out in 2020 and are supporting each other on this author’s journey.</i> <i>We share information on how to
promote our books, what kinds of SWAG to order, holding a launch party, scheduling
school visits, etc. There’s a lot to think about and I’m glad to have their
support! </i><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><b>You're quite active on social media! What advice would you give
to debut writers trying to make a place in the #KidLit online community? </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">My advice is to just dive in. I got
on Twitter because of my writing and wanting to connect with the Kidlit
community. It took me a little while to figure it out and I’m still learning,
but it has been so rewarding to connect with other authors. Writing can be a
solitary endeavor, so making those connections is hugely important. We are all
learning from each other and I have found the Kidlit community to be extremely
generous and supportive. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><b>You recently attended Highlights Foundation's Picture Book Boot
Camp. Tell us about your experience! </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYJktG1cKsqTheNkhfQRfuiAWHhVE9JKyN_SEjKSXNBX8uGU-OMovuWDTGlv0pwQJ413Fhx7o6xENIWS3Avwfod38pZUI8KQU0fTbos6RQvOGBTnQ4jj4pLlFiBIORdxk8r6r_Q47Snwj/s1600/kristen1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYJktG1cKsqTheNkhfQRfuiAWHhVE9JKyN_SEjKSXNBX8uGU-OMovuWDTGlv0pwQJ413Fhx7o6xENIWS3Avwfod38pZUI8KQU0fTbos6RQvOGBTnQ4jj4pLlFiBIORdxk8r6r_Q47Snwj/s200/kristen1.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><i><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">I was extremely honored to earn a
spot this year at Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple’s PBBC. It was the first time
they held it at the Highlights Foundation campus, so I was able to check two
items off my bucket list at once. It was definitely one of the highlights (ha!)
of 2019 for me. I tried to soak in all the knowledge I could from Jane, Heidi,
and the other amazing authors in attendance. My favorite part was Bedtime
Stories read by Jane and/or Heidi.</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><b>Talk to us about your writing and revising process! How do you
know when something isn't working, and how do you go about making changes to
your WIPs?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><i>My gut tells me when something isn’t
working and usually a critique partner or two will back that up. It’s good to
get their validation and sometimes an idea for how to move forward if I’m
stuck. When a manuscript still isn’t working, and it starts to feel like
torture, I usually put it away and work on something else. Forcing it doesn’t
seem to work for me. </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><b>You work closely with a critique group. How has that helped you in
your writing process? </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><i>I have two separate online critique
groups that have been invaluable in my writing process. Critique partners are
KEY. I am an extrovert and truly need feedback from others to hone and polish
my stories. (Shout out to the PB&Js and the BIC & HOP Club.) I believe
it was Marcie Colleen who shared, “You only get your agent’s fresh eyes once.”
That really stuck with me and I try not to send you anything in a really raw
state. I appreciate that you are an editorial agent and I want to make sure to
take advantage of that by not sending you a hot pile of doo doo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><b>Share a few of your favorite non-writing hobbies</b><i><b>!</b><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHZEM8Qq6RyDABvL40findODRQyJw3bQ4JU42LHqLoEX1O1a5x9oxyMomxc7z9tab7wdm-z6SSNbhnksDca4ti94KW5Nl4sIBxgMW6KYImithVXtVjGzuqdrVawPRE_swc4Au8D4vb86B/s1600/kristen3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHZEM8Qq6RyDABvL40findODRQyJw3bQ4JU42LHqLoEX1O1a5x9oxyMomxc7z9tab7wdm-z6SSNbhnksDca4ti94KW5Nl4sIBxgMW6KYImithVXtVjGzuqdrVawPRE_swc4Au8D4vb86B/s200/kristen3.png" width="200" /></span></a><i><o:p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">In my spare time, I spend a lot of
time watching my two children’s sports and musical activities and driving them
around. Staying active with yoga and walking is a priority as well, and of
course I still love reading! I took up ice hockey five years ago with a group of
women called Chicks with Sticks. I prefer to keep all my teeth so I don’t play
in a league or anything. I mostly just skate around our backyard pond with my
kids. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #20124d;">Kristen Schroeder was inspired to write this, her debut picture picture book, when her daughter blurted out the title one day. In addition to writing, she owns and manages her own business. Having studied and worked around the world, she now lives with her family in Maple Grove, Minnesota.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">
<span style="color: #20124d;">You can follow her on <a href="https://twitter.com/KLSchroed">Twitter</a> and visit her at her <a href="http://www.kristenschroederbooks.com/">website</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KLSchroed/?modal=admin_todo_tour">Facebook page</a>!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;">You can pre-order ALIEN TOMATO on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Alien-Tomato-Kristen-Schroeder/dp/1624149766">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/alien-tomato-kristen-schroeder/1132911673">Barnes and Noble</a> and <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781624149764">IndieBound </a>now!</span></div>
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<br />Neverending Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-59490463614316685472019-07-08T13:19:00.002-07:002019-07-08T13:19:31.705-07:00Author Interview and Giveaway: IN THE WOODS by Carrie Jones and Steven E. Wedel<span style="color: #20124d;">I'm happy to post my interview with the amazing author and person, Carrie Jones. Her latest, IN THE WOODS, written with co-author, Steven Wedel, publishes with Tor Teen on July 16th! Carrie and I chat about everything from her latest book, writing for different age ranges and her wonderful rescue dogs. I will be giving away a hardcover copy of IN THE WOODS to one lucky winner! </span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdumsvS2OHsJ4ecPApdvDji7E2LUKoXuQnK7oeYIXJRxcmXqPUC9DzjActTit7llscU5hytTjW7UvLpM6cKNo63tmXlYQkQgM7Zfv2E0gaG-doE6TwgJBtieqkgWPyTMGSJ6j8XX6MOAm/s1600/inthewoodscover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdumsvS2OHsJ4ecPApdvDji7E2LUKoXuQnK7oeYIXJRxcmXqPUC9DzjActTit7llscU5hytTjW7UvLpM6cKNo63tmXlYQkQgM7Zfv2E0gaG-doE6TwgJBtieqkgWPyTMGSJ6j8XX6MOAm/s320/inthewoodscover.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;">
<i><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><b>New York Times bestselling author Carrie Jones teams up with acclaimed cowriter Steven Wedel in the supernatural mystery, In the Woods…</b><br /><b></b></span></i></div>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i><i>It should have been just another quiet night on the farm when Logan witnessed the attack, but it wasn’t.</i><br /><i>Something unexplainable. </i><br /><i>Something deadly.</i></span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-top: -4px; padding: 0px;">
<i><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">Something is in the woods. </span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-top: -4px; padding: 0px;">
<i><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">Hundreds of miles away, Chrystal’s plans for summer in Manhattan are abruptly upended when her dad reads tabloid coverage of some kind of grisly incident in Oklahoma. When they arrive to investigate, they find a witness: a surprisingly good-looking farm boy.</span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-top: -4px; padding: 0px;">
<i><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">As townsfolk start disappearing and the attacks get ever closer, Logan and Chrystal will have to find out the truth about whatever’s hiding in the woods…before they become targets themselves.</span></i></div>
<span style="background-color: #eefff9;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">1. You've
written for all different age ranges, from picture books to middle grade to
young adult. What have been the challenges of moving from one to another? Is
there any age range you gravitate most toward?</span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">Anyone who has met me in real life pretty much knows that my
natural voice is young adult, so I gravitate towards that the most and then
middle grade. Really, even my actual speaking voice sounds much younger than I
am. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">Also it sounds dorky. Can dorky be an age range?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">I love trying out new genres and new age ranges, mostly because I
am so easily bored and I like challenges.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">The hardest part is trying not to disappoint readers who expect to
read a YA contemporary that’s literary fiction about epilepsy and social
justice and they end up with a middle-grade fantasy story with flying pig cars.
I hate disappointing people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">The only other hard thing is that sometimes people who aren’t
familiar with kids and teen fiction don’t realize that you can write it without
being a teen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">I received the Maine Literary Award one time. It was supposed to
be all big and glamorous. There was a ceremony. People did not wear socks with
sandals at the ceremony. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">I was all, “Yes! Made it! Finally glamourous!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">And when I got my award, the governor’s wife said into the
microphone, “Congratulations, Carrie! And what high school do you go to?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">Because I’m so incredibly cool and full of social grace I blurted,
“No. No… I’m old. I’m really old.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">So there’s this aspect of expectations and not wanting to disappoint
people that is the hardest part for me. Someday, I’ll be glam though. Someday.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2. Likewise, you've written in a range
of different genres. How do you switch between them so easily? Which has been
your favorite?</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">My favorite genre to write in is actually fantasy or creative
nonfiction or poems. I know! Weird, right? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">I used to write a lot of columns and editorials when I was a
newspaper editor and I miss that. I started out as a poet. I miss that, too,
because I like the truthful aspect of those forms, the way you can play with
words and white space to pull things out and make them more magical and
poignant. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">Why do I like fantasy? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
just really love magic, the possibilities that open up when you see things
beyond reality. When I was a kid, I had a rough time sometimes. I saw a lot of
death. I was hurt a few times. And fantasy novels were beautiful ways of
escaping, of hoping, of trying to feel like good guys could sometimes win
against the most impossible odds. A girl can travel across time to rescue her
dad. A hobbit could survive a dragon. How amazing is that? Fantasy gave me
hope. Hope kept me surviving. For that, I’ll always love fantasy and always try
to write it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">3.
What was it like working with your co-author, Stephen E. Wedel, on this
book? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">It was so much fun writing with Steve. We sent chapters back and
forth via email and we’d always be waiting completely impatiently for the other
person’s chapter. It was like waiting for the person you’re crushing on to
finally text you back and you know that they’re writing it, but it hasn’t
arrived yet? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">That’s what it was like. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">A vlogger once thought this meant that Steve and I like-liked each
other. IT IS NOT WHAT THAT MEANS! It just means it was an awesome way to write
a story and waiting for those new chapters and the surprises and twists that
might happen was like waiting to open a really awesome birthday present. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">The slight improvisational aspect and lack of complete control was
really freeing and collaborative. Steve and I think in really different ways
about a lot of things, so working with him was expansive. It helped me think
beyond myself, my characters, and my vision and made me more flexible in the
creation of story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">4.
Living in Maine seems to be an important topic to you! How do you bring that
into your writing?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">I am very much a Maine writer. Maine is this amazing, beautiful
place. I live on an island with little baby mountains and tourists who flock
here in the summer. Then in the winter, it’s super cold and stark and beautiful
in an entirely different way. That setting and the barren, cold trees and wind
tends to be something that I plague my characters with, like poor Zara in the
NEED series. I like seeing how different characters react to that environment,
the raw beauty of it, the force of it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">I think it’s because I am not a cold-weather person. I whine a lot
in real life. That whining comes through in my books. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">Basically, I need to move to Jamaica so that can start informing
my writing more. I couldn’t make a Kickstarter for that, could I? Kidding!
Kidding.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">5. You
do lots of promotional work for your books, even making videos! What have you
learned from this process that you'd like to share with other writers?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">Ha! I don’t even think of it as promotional work. I just think of
it as different ways of creating. I think if I went about things going, “Oh,
let’s promote this book,” I would never ever do it. Straight promotion is
really hard for me. It’s just not my skillset. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">I can publicize and write and market about nonprofits like Rotary
International or ShelterBox constantly, but promoting myself is so much harder.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">If I think of writing a blog post or making a dorky video as a way
of helping other people, making them laugh, or giving them a writing tip? It’s
so much better then. That makes it easier than saying, “Here! Buy my book!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">I think that’s what I’ve learned. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">Promotion is boring for me. Creation is fun. If you’re like me,
think of things as creating. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">I’ve also learned that I can’t be an author who talks about how
awesome I am. That feels really inauthentic, mostly because I am not all that
awesome as a human. So, instead I like to communicate with other people, hear
their stories, and listen to that instead of promoting mine. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">That’s not the best promotion advice, but it’s okay life advice,
maybe? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">Life is about connections. Writing is about communication. All of
that? It’s a two-way discourse. It’s not supposed to only be about the author.
It’s supposed to be about the reader, too.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">6. You
also work as a writing coach and offer manuscript critiques. How has this
helped you in your own writing?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">It’s given me great empathy for my agent and editors. I think
every story that I help with, helps me become a better writer, but also feel
closer to the writing community. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">It’s so much easier to understand how to help other authors in
their journeys than to realize your own flaws, and fears, and issues. When I
feel badly about myself, it helps to be able to look at the writers whose
journeys I’ve been a part of. So it helps a lot emotionally. I love seeing
people succeed and get agents and get their books on the shelves. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">I think it’s also helping me really start to hone in on the most
important thing for writers (other than plot and character and all that), which
is what is it that I want to say to this world? What is it that I believe and
feel? How does that come into the stories that I write? How do I do that
better? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">By helping others learn to make their strongest stories, it helps
me make stronger stories, too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">7.
You've been known to make art to go with your books. That must be such a fun
process! Tell us a bit more about how that happens--do you usually make the art
first, or start writing the book first? How do the two mediums inform each
other?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">I get images stuck in my head. Sometimes those images can come out
with words. Sometimes those images come out with paint. So, the process changes
a lot. It changes almost every week. The art and the writing inspire each
other. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">When I get stuck in a story, I head to the basement (YES! I KNOW!
It sounds so dire and scary) and I paint. That helps me get unstuck and helps
me understand the themes and emotions that are trying to play themselves out
with words. I sometimes get very frustrated with words. I know! I know! That’s
not a cool thing for a writer to admit.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">8.
What's the biggest piece of advice you'd give to a writer hoping to write a YA
thriller in the vein of IN THE WOODS?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">Find Steve Wedel? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">But, if you can’t find Steve, find the things you’re scared of,
think of how you’d try to survive those scary situations. Think of how to make
people turn the page. Think of how to make people care whether or not your
character does survive. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">Try to make the readers know that things are wrong, but not know
exactly how things are wrong or how they will end up. Don’t be afraid to be
intense. Don’t be afraid to be different.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">A lot of thrillers and horror novels have a very precise tone.
From the first word, you know you’re reading something scary. Steve and I
wanted to play with that and make the tone lighter and less typical. We’ll see
if that choice works for the readers, but there is a lot to explore within the
thriller genre. Don’t be afraid to explore it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">9. How
did you tackle the thriller and horror elements of IN THE WOODS? What is
your process like for writing the scarier scenes?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">Oh! I think I just answered that. I imagine horrible
possibilities. I write them. I think, “What if?” I think, “What would terrify
me? Make that happen.” I think, “What would have terrified my mom? Make that
happen.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">To be fair, everything terrified my mom. She was so afraid of
birds that she couldn’t watch cartoons with birds in them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">10.
You have a podcast, DOGS ARE SMARTER THAN PEOPLE! Has that been a tough medium
for you to break into as a writer? Tell us a bit about your podcast and what
you hope to accomplish through it.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">I don’t think of the podcast as a quirky improv act. I grew up in
Bedford, New Hamsphire with Sarah Silverman and Seth and Josh Myers. I’d see
Adam Sandler at the mall of New Hampshire. My distant relative was Jack Benny.
My family stands by death beds and makes jokes. This is just what we do. We
improvise our way through life. We’re weird and quirky and I grew up being
heavily influenced by a lot of weird and quirky theater people along with truck
drivers and carpenters and the occasional drug dealer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">So, DOGS ARE SMARTER THAN PEOPLE is a natural extension of what my
life is like. Goofy. Earnest. Occasionally inappropriate, which is hard because
I’m a kids book writer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">I’m always gasping out, “I can’t say this! It’s inappropriate!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">I don’t worry about the podcast actually doing well, which would
probably make it be less authentic and more stilted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">There are a ton of podcasts that are literary and focused and
intellectual. We aren’t those podcasts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">Ours is just fun to do. We have a random thought that’s usually
created in the car or in bed. Then we have a writing tip and a dog tip for
life. There’s been 90,000 downloads so far, which I think it okay? I’m not
sure. It’s just a lot of fun. Sadly, we’ve been talking about poop and
underwear a lot lately. And yes, I do relate it back to writing, I promise. Yes,
even when it’s about poop or underwear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">Art, podcasting, trying different genres and age levels, are all
about learning, having fun, and exploring things, but especially about being
brave. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">When I was a kid I slurred my s’s a lot and went to speech
therapy, but I could never completely fix it. A teacher told me that I’d never
accomplish anything, be loved, get a job, get into college, or be taken
seriously because of my voice, because of my sloppy s sounds. So, podcasting
and speaking at Rotary International gatherings and vlogging are all really
hard because those predicted negative outcomes resonate inside of many of us for
so long.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">You hear them over and over: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">Nobody
will take you seriously because of your s’s.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">Nobody
will ever love you because of your s’s. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">But they become motivating forces sometimes, too. Wanting to prove
that teacher wrong forces me to be braver. For a long time, I couldn’t listen
to the podcast because every time I heard my voice, I thought, “Nobody will
ever take me seriously. Everyone will laugh. Nobody will love me anymore.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">Then I cuss those voices out and journey on <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">11.
And speaking of which...tell us more about your adorable dogs! I bet they make
great writing partners!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sparty and Gabby are two rescues dogs with
ridiculously different personalities. Sparty was found roaming the streets of
Alabama and is part lab and he’s food-focused and rarely barks. All cats and
birds and bugs love him. It’s wild. Bees hitch rides on his back when we walk
through Acadia National Park. We’ll go camping and he’ll be passed out on the
site and a bird will be hopping all around him. I’ve seen them jump on his paw.
Our cat, Marsie, is absolutely obsessed with him. He’s slightly embarrassed by
the attention when we’re looking, but if he thinks nobody’s watching? It’s
totally cuddle time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Gabby is fluffy and was abused and malnourished
and spent her first year chained to a tree, so she didn’t develop correctly and
is actually small for her breed, which is a Great Pyrrenes. She loves to bark
and she loves hard. I mean, this dog is all about cuddles and protecting you.
She hops around like a bunny when her people come home and she hates all things
white. She doesn’t trust any man who has a certain energy, which is usually
sort of a cocaine-vibe. Is that too much information? I have no filter. Gabby
doesn’t either. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I love them too much. They tweet motivational
thoughts every week day. Sometimes Marsie helps. They also are really good at
being emotionally supportive of s-slurring writers who use Maine as a setting
in their stories. </span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<a href="https://carriejonesbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/img_1604-copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;"><img alt="Carrie Jones with Wet Hair" border="0" height="200" src="https://carriejonesbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/img_1604-copy.jpg" style="background-color: transparent;" width="200" /></span></a><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Carrie Jones is the The New York Times bestseller author of the Need series, Time Stoppers series, Flying series, Girl, Hero, Tips on Having a Gay (ex) Boyfriend, and Love (and other uses for duct tape). She is also the coauthor, with Steve Wedel, of After Obsession and In the Woods. She also writes picture books about unconventional spies. Her books have been published all around the world, been bestsellers in France, and have received numerous awards. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Carrie lives in Bar Harbor, Maine and launched the Bar Harbor Kids Book Festival, and is active in Rotary International as the Public Image Coordinator for much of Canada and a lot of the UnitedStates. She’s also part of the Rotary Campaign against Human Trafficking. </span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: start;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">A former newspaper reporter, police dispatcher, city councilor, gymnastics coach, and volunteer firefighter, Carrie has won numerous press awards for newspaper writing and photography. <br /><br />She is a big fan of rescue animals and currently has three, Spartacus, Gabby, and Marsie.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Nunito Sans"; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">
<span style="color: #20124d;">You can follow Carrie on <a href="https://twitter.com/carriejonesbook?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Twitter </a>and go to her website and blog <a href="https://carriejonesbooks.com/">here</a>! </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Nunito Sans"; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">
<span style="color: #20124d;">You can pre-order IN THE WOODS <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780765336552">here</a> or at your local bookstore!</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Nunito Sans;"><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="856da3b99" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/856da3b99/" id="rcwidget_fvkha5k4" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Nunito Sans;"><script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script></span></div>
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Neverending Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-61298325073596423302018-10-04T11:24:00.000-07:002018-10-04T11:34:41.556-07:00Author Interview and Giveaway: POLAR BEAR ISLAND by Lindsay Bonilla<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9t8MOAB-lqhlO34KUgAWn06Z2vuGiSyp0VY6TB7hQkxdbHcQnohLlIfCPRajwyySjPzpflMPhSyO9uuRUv4zgxXtBBc5nLxzkTU0FIMb0E8UApXbKyXTZpge0EWZPd1A-IjiKuICDwyuO/s1600/polarbearcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #073763;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="406" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9t8MOAB-lqhlO34KUgAWn06Z2vuGiSyp0VY6TB7hQkxdbHcQnohLlIfCPRajwyySjPzpflMPhSyO9uuRUv4zgxXtBBc5nLxzkTU0FIMb0E8UApXbKyXTZpge0EWZPd1A-IjiKuICDwyuO/s320/polarbearcover.jpg" width="259" /></span></a><span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;">I'm happy to post my interview with the wonderful Lindsay Bonilla, author of POLAR BEAR ISLAND which just came out with Sterling on October 2nd! Below Lindsay and I talk growing up an avid reader, her inspiration for the book, and why she's drawn to writing picture books among other things. I will also be giving away one signed hard copy of POLAR BEAR ISLAND to one lucky winner!</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #073763;">“Welcome to Polar Bear Island. NO OTHERS ALLOWED!” Parker is the mayor of this peaceful, predictable island, and he wants to keep it just the way it is. But Kirby, a penguin, thinks the place is paradise, and she wants to stay. Parker says no, but the other polar bears love Kirby —and soon they’re begging Parker to let Kirby (and her family) move in. Will Parker agree . . . and make the island fun for EVERYONE? With its gentle message of inclusivity, this playful and lighthearted story will delight children.</span></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "crimson text" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px;"><i>"The text is accessible and good fun to read aloud. A good bedtime read."</i><b>--Kirkus Reviews</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>You were an avid reader AND writer as a kid. What sorts of things
did you like to read and write about?</b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;">I think my first love was reading about animals. I got the Ranger
Rick magazines as a kid and was fascinated by them. Growing up, I had two dogs,
Bernie and Wickett, who were the main characters in many of my early stories. I
also created many different animal kingdoms based on some of the animal facts I
learned. I still have the notebook with all of those writings and drawings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: black;">Where did you get the initial idea for POLAR BEAR ISLAND?</span></b><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;">I think it was building for awhile, but there was one day in
particular that my husband, Estith, a Colombian immigrant, came home from work
very frustrated. A supervisor on a job he was managing had avoided speaking with
him because of his accent. He felt both disrespected and hurt.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;">A few years prior to that some other Colombian friends were
walking through a store parking lot when a random person yelled at them, “Go
back to Mexico! We don't want you here.” Of course that was an ignorant comment
on more than a couple of levels, but the fact that someone would just shout at
two wonderful people who were going about their business, not bothering
anybody, was upsetting to me on so many levels. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;">I think I really started to pay attention to the negative
attitudes toward immigrants right out of college. That's when I'd taught
English as a Second Language classes to a group of seasonal laborers from
Mexico. At the completion of the class, they told me and the co-teacher that some
of their best times in the US were in our class because we treated them like
people. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So I think it was a slow build with tons of other incidents along
the way that kept pushing me to tell this story. But the pivotal moment was
that day with my husband. That's when I finally said, “I want to tell a story
that paints a different picture of immigration, one that children can connect
to.” I honestly don't remember how it came to feature polar bears and penguins,
but I think maybe the grumpy polar bear was the first thing that came to mind.</span></span><b><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The art style for POLAR BEAR ISLAND is so much fun! What were your
first thoughts when you saw it?</span></span></b><b><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">I</span> loved it! I'd gotten to see some examples of Cinta's work before
she began working on POLAR BEAR ISLAND, and I knew whatever she did was going
to be amazing. But when I saw her sketches for the first time I was ecstatic. I
felt like she really nailed the characters, especially Parker – and I loved the
way she gave each of the penguins such unique personalities with her special
touches.</span></span><b><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: black;">What has been your favorite part of the publishing process so far?</span></b><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;">Lately I've been posting on Twitter about how picture books aren't
created in a vacuum. There's a whole team of people involved in putting a book
together, and I'd say it's this collaborative aspect of publishing that I love
the most. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;">I adore the whole editorial process. Working with someone else who
is just as passionate about your story as you are is a gift. I love going back
over my manuscript and pinpointing the additions, changes, and improvements
that came about thanks to my editor, agent, and critique partners.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;">That is followed closely by seeing the illustrations for the first
time. That is quite a thrill too! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">What draws you to write picture books? What do you think is the
most difficult part of writing for this age range?</span></b><b><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;">Probably the fact that I still feel like a kid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter how old I get, I feel like I
haven't grown up. Sure, I have adult responsibilities, etc, but the things I
loved as a child -- to create, imagine, act things out – it's all the same. I
love that anything is possible in picture books – talking animals, kids who can
do/be anything. That's the kind of world I want to live in – one full of
possibility – so it's fun helping to create that. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;">As a parent, I also see the impact that reading books together has
on children. It's not just about the book, it's about the relationship that is
created when you read together. To be part of creating an experience that
strengthens relationships between parents and children, teachers and students,
etc – it's just an amazing thing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I think the most difficult part of writing for kids is making sure
that I'm giving my young readers enough credit. It's tempting to try to wrap up
every story with a nice, neat moral, but that's not necessary or desirable.
Kids are astute. They can understand and appreciate nuance, sometimes with
greater clarity than adults, if we let them. My four year old has blown me away
with some of his observations in the books we've read – so I want to be sure
that my writing leaves room for children to draw their own conclusions about a
story.</span></span><b><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tell us about your work with National Storytelling Network!</span></span></b><b><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;">The National Storytelling Network is an amazing organization
advancing all forms of storytelling in our communities. I don't work for them
directly, but I am a member, and as a professional storyteller, I owe a lot to
them in their commitment to keep the art of storytelling going strong. Through
their conferences, I have met and learned from some amazing storytellers. The
storytelling community is very similar to the kidlit community – tight-knit,
giving and very warm and encouraging. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;">I do an interactive style of storytelling that incorporates my
background in theatre and creative drama and that gets the audience to
participate both vocally and kinesthetically. I focus on telling multicultural
folktales because I love introducing people of all ages to other cultures
through folklore. I also love the way that folktales, which have been passed
down for generations, still resonate so deeply with listeners of all ages
today. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><b><span style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></b><b><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">How has being an actor shaped your writing?</span></span></b><b><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;">Probably one of the biggest ways is that when I'm writing I tend
to think in dialogue. When you're reading a play, all you have is the dialogue,
with only a few other sparse details to help you create the world of the
characters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tend to visualize my
stories playing out in my mind, as if my characters were in a stage play. I can
see and hear their voices quite clearly. In college and beyond, I wrote a lot
of dramatic sketches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also wrote two
screenplays which were turned into films under the direction of a friend who is
an indie filmmaker friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These
experience so writing dialogue is probably one of the easiest/most enjoyable
parts of writing for me. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: black;">Are there any certain plays you’ve been in that inspired certain
books?</span></b><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;">I don't know that any plays I've been in have inspired particular
books directly. I actually haven't done any stage acting for about ten years
now. I moved over to the world of storytelling not long after I got married. As
much as I love the stage, storytelling gives me more flexibility so that I can
be home most nights and weekends with my family. <span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;">Being immersed in folklore and fairy tales has definitely inspired
some of my stories. I think that all great art inspires my creative process.
Sometimes I'll see a play, hear a song or read a book and think to myself, I
want to create something that makes readers feel the same way I'm feeling now, or
that strikes that same chord or theme from a different angle. That happens
quite a lot actually. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You’ve traveled quite a bit! What have your travels taught you,
and how have they helped your writing?</span></span></b><b><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;">Yes, I LOVE to travel. I could probably write a book about all
that I've learned, but one of the biggest lessons I've learned is that there
are many different ways of doing things. We all grow up in a particular culture
that influences the way we do things and how we see the world. Culture is such
a powerful shaping force in our lives, but we don't realize it. We think that
our way of doing something is THE way of doing it. Then we travel or become
friends with people from other places and realize that's not the case. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;">For example, when I moved to Spain, I was shocked that people
didn't eat dinner until 10pm. My first inclination was to think, “What!?
Dinnertime should be between 5 and 7pm. 10Pm is just WRONG!” I had the same
reaction to the siesta. How could all of the businesses in the city of Madrid shut
down for 3 hours right in the middle of the day at precisely the time I needed
to do my shopping? Again, everything in me said, “This is wrong!” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;">But in time I came to appreciate that these things weren't wrong
–<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>just DIFFERENT. In fact, I've come to
love some of the aspects of other cultures that I've experienced and wish we
could incorporate some of them into our way of doing things here. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I think all of my travel experiences have given my writing a more
global perspective. In fact, I'm sure I'd never have written POLAR BEAR ISLAND
if not for my time living in Spain. (That's actually where I met my husband!)
Additionally, I think my travels have taught me to be more open-minded and
humble, and I try to bring both of those postures into my writing process.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxeitn1sZmJCxKEBsSebs7pBivCVzHTo80OuENCHM0Y4naEcK1QnUJYg5V3XU5WQ5Gv0Db9YRxOV96A-IOHo9hVr_RHz9BnkS_FaCMHLiaplIao9htAWND2AeaUlZiev9vhSyUeWQRQAWS/s1600/lindsay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #073763;"><img border="0" data-original-height="230" data-original-width="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxeitn1sZmJCxKEBsSebs7pBivCVzHTo80OuENCHM0Y4naEcK1QnUJYg5V3XU5WQ5Gv0Db9YRxOV96A-IOHo9hVr_RHz9BnkS_FaCMHLiaplIao9htAWND2AeaUlZiev9vhSyUeWQRQAWS/s1600/lindsay.jpg" /></span></a><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;">Lindsay Bonilla performs interactive folktales for her company, World of Difference Ltd., and teaches children about foreign countries and cultures. She lives in North Canton, OH, with her husband, sons, and rescue dog. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #eefff9;">You can pick up a copy at </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Polar-Bear-Island-Lindsay-Bonilla/dp/1454928700/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1538676154&sr=8-1&keywords=polar+bear+island" style="line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Amazon</a><span style="background-color: #eefff9;">, </span><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/polar-bear-island-lindsay-bonilla/1128187503?ean=9781454928706#/" style="line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Barnes & Noble</a><span style="background-color: #eefff9;">, </span><a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781454928706" style="line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">IndieBound, </a><a href="https://www.target.com/p/polar-bear-island-by-lindsay-bonilla-school-and-library/-/A-53902520" style="line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Target</a><span style="background-color: #eefff9;"> and your local bookstore! A discussion guide and activity kit are available<a href="https://www.sterlingpublishing.com/9781454928706/?collection=children-new-releases"> here</a>!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;"><br />You can follow Lindsay on <a href="https://twitter.com/LindsayBonilla">Twitter</a> and go to her <a href="http://www.lindsaybonilla.com/" style="background: transparent; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">website</a>!</span></div>
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Neverending Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-38467078505208588972018-08-14T12:19:00.001-07:002018-08-14T12:19:48.382-07:00Author Interview and Giveaway: A TOUCH OF GOLD by Annie Sullivan<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCvZLq33AYVIQpIaP5rxpdlBN088Rghn4mb9zmQ17l0ahAE9_EsfR4nbldTH3UCAGyhlztFOe6TMOj-KGr3sef_4Z4aqebgxo50RygmdzkC-_ROpipk1VJGDn1jH3bDtPg6NBY1ZYERZaF/s1600/touchofgold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="328" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCvZLq33AYVIQpIaP5rxpdlBN088Rghn4mb9zmQ17l0ahAE9_EsfR4nbldTH3UCAGyhlztFOe6TMOj-KGr3sef_4Z4aqebgxo50RygmdzkC-_ROpipk1VJGDn1jH3bDtPg6NBY1ZYERZaF/s320/touchofgold.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm thrilled to put up my interview with the wonderful and talented Annie Sullivan whose debut YA fantasy A TOUCH OF GOLD debuted today with Blink/HarperCollins! A TOUCH OF GOLD has been featured in </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;">U</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;">SA Today’s Happy Ever After, The Nerd Daily, Hypable, B&N’s 50 Most Anticipated YA Fantasy Novels of 2018, and 19 Most Anticipated YA Debuts of 2018 (July to December) among others. </span>Below Annie and I discuss her debut, inspiration, her promo tips for authors and much more</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">. I'm also doing a giveaway. One lucky winner will receive a signed hardcover of A TOUCH OF GOLD and a tote!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>King Midas once had the ability to turn all he touched into gold. But after his gift—or curse—almost killed his daughter, Midas relinquished The Touch forever. Ten years later, Princess Kora still bears the consequences of her father’s wish: her skin shines golden, rumors follow her everywhere she goes, and she harbors secret powers that are getting harder to hide.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Kora spends her days locked in the palace, concealed behind gloves and veils, trying to ignore the stares and gossip of courtiers. It isn’t until a charming young duke arrives that Kora realizes there may be someone out there who doesn’t fear her or her curse. But their courtship is disrupted when a thief steals precious items from the kingdom, leaving the treasury depleted and King Midas vulnerable. Thanks to her unique ability to sense gold, Kora is the only one who can track the thief down. As she sails off on her quest, Kora learns that not everything is what it seems—not thieves, not pirates, and not even curses. She quickly discovers that gold—and the power it brings—is more dangerous than she’d ever believed.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Midas learned his lesson at a price. What will Kora’s journey cost?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>From author Annie Sullivan comes A Touch of Gold, the untold story of the daughter King Midas turned to gold, perfect for fans of Cinder and The Wrath and the Dawn.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">"A dazzling retelling full of adventure with a dash of betrayal, A Touch of Gold will grab your heart and not let go." <b>--</b></span><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333;"><b>Brenda Drake, New York Times bestselling author</b></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">"...a diverting addition to the genre." <b>--</b></span><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333;"><b>Booklist</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>A TOUCH OF GOLD has such a unique premise! Where did you get the initial idea for this book, and what led you to tell the story from the perspective of King Midas’s daughter?</b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I came up with the idea for A TOUCH OF GOLD after watching the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie. There’s all that cursed gold, which led me to thinking about King Midas. But I like to write strong female characters, so I focused on King Midas’s daughter because I knew she had to have a story to tell after being turned to gold as a child. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The cover for A TOUCH OF GOLD is so beautiful! What was your reaction when you first saw it?</b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s amazing! I couldn’t believe it when I first saw it. I love the burst of gold at the top and the hand holding the rose. Basically, I love everything about it! </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What draws you to writing fantasy and fairytales?</b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Growing up, my mom read me countless fairytales, and I watched every Disney Princess movie I could find. But when it came to writing my own stories, I didn’t want to write about princesses who have to be saved all the time. I wanted to create a new generation of fairytales that today’s readers could relate to.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>You’ve traveled a lot! Where have you been that’s had the most influence on your writing? Was there anywhere in particular that inspired parts of A TOUCH OF GOLD?</b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I love traveling, and I think bits of it find its way into all my stories. I’ve been a few cruises, and many of the scenes that take place on the ship are inspired by that. I’ve also been to Greece, so I kept those memories in the back of my mind as inspiration when I created the fantasy world in A TOUCH OF GOLD.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What has been the most exciting part of your path to seeing A TOUCH OF GOLD published?</b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Honestly, all of it is exciting. From getting the call that I had a deal to see the advanced copy of the book to seeing the final copy. I think I’m also really looking forward to seeing the book on store shelves!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What was your favorite scene to write and why?</b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There’s a scene where Kora, the cursed daughter of King Midas, and her cousin face off against some mythical creatures, and they really have to save the day. It’s all up to them. The whole scene shows how powerful they are and shows Kora that maybe things she thought were flaws about herself aren’t really flaws after all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>I bet you had to do some pretty hefty research for A TOUCH OF GOLD! What was the most interesting thing you learned?</b></span><b style="font-family: inherit;"> </b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I did a lot of research into Greek mythology. Just learning about the personalities and attributes of the gods was pretty inspiring.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>You’ve done a ton of promotional work for A TOUCH OF GOLD. What advice would you give to other authors looking to branch out in that area?</b></span><b style="font-family: inherit;"> </b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I could write a whole book about all the marketing that I did! I think I had a lot of success gaining followers by doing giveaways on Twitter and Instagram. I chose books with audiences similar to mine and tried to give signed copies of books away where I could to draw in a bigger audience. This requires planning ahead if you’re going to an author signing so you can buy an extra copy just to give away. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Who were some of your favorite teen authors growing up? Who do you love to read now? </b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Growing up I loved Madeline L-Engle, Robin McKinley, Shannon Hale, and Meg Cabot. Some of my recent favorite authors include Marissa Meyer, Elly Blake, Mary E. Pearson, and Stephanie Garber.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What’s the best part for you of being part of the YA author community?</b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The YA writing community is so supportive. I don’t know of any other job where people are so willing to support each other by reading, blurbing, and promoting each others work. It feels like a big family, and I love that!</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Can we have a sneak peek of what projects you have in the works?</b></span><b style="font-family: inherit;"> </b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, hopefully A TOUCH OF GOLD will have a sequel, so get ready for that! But I’m also working on a few new fairytale and fantasy retellings that I think readers are really going to love. Stay tuned! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijzuEGmCtaOg33zKSieAGS5G1FLhIHgzU-R-nuLDf2a7TLUxTX1h3vhGnw04i1XGaTbc_RpyWMbH-2maCcwxjnNdQ_0k08UUT5vL7kK1m8nwXkZUUDGExMmK3x-nXnn9YnX5Tawq_tePNW/s1600/Annie+Sullivan+Headhsot+FINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijzuEGmCtaOg33zKSieAGS5G1FLhIHgzU-R-nuLDf2a7TLUxTX1h3vhGnw04i1XGaTbc_RpyWMbH-2maCcwxjnNdQ_0k08UUT5vL7kK1m8nwXkZUUDGExMmK3x-nXnn9YnX5Tawq_tePNW/s320/Annie+Sullivan+Headhsot+FINAL.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Annie Sullivan is a Young Adult author from Indianapolis, Indiana. Her work has been featured in Curly Red Stories and Punchnels, and her novel, Goldilocks, won the Luminis Books Award at the 2013 Midwest Writers Workshop. She loves fairytales, everything Jane Austen, and traveling and exploring new cultures. When she’s not off on her own adventures, she’s teaching classes at the Indiana Writers Center and working as the Copy Specialist at John Wiley and Sons, Inc. publishing company, having also worked there in Editorial and Publicity roles. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You can pick up a copy at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Touch-Gold-Annie-Sullivan/dp/0310766354/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1534185799&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=a+touch+of+gold+annie+sullivan&psc=1" style="background: transparent; color: #990066; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-touch-of-gold-annie-sullivan/1127456128#/" style="background: transparent; color: #990066; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Barnes & Noble</a>, <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780310766353" style="background: transparent; color: #990066; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">IndieBound, </a><a href="https://www.target.com/p/touch-of-gold-by-annie-sullivan-hardcover/-/A-53746116" style="background: transparent; color: #990066; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Target</a> and your local bookstore!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You can follow Annie on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/annsulliva/" style="background: transparent; color: #990066; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/annsulliva">Twitter</a> and go to her <a href="https://anniesullivanauthor.com/" style="background: transparent; color: #990066; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">website</a>!</span></div>
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Neverending Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-81452912339362882392018-06-26T14:11:00.001-07:002018-06-27T10:06:57.488-07:00Illustrator Interview and Giveaway: Colleen Kong-Savage<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6XTShdD1ZPiWyDLKoEXoHTNQG4nHNJXIchjR06X5fz3DZC9Rw6H4nFWBbQXR4DnmjiKVmBhIwlh5wWMzyat7B006dNiUkrCaOKjd-XU04vsJVDXXB7ZFA4WMMc1HC0mJmwhqQIPfXavEq/s1600/turtleship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="402" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6XTShdD1ZPiWyDLKoEXoHTNQG4nHNJXIchjR06X5fz3DZC9Rw6H4nFWBbQXR4DnmjiKVmBhIwlh5wWMzyat7B006dNiUkrCaOKjd-XU04vsJVDXXB7ZFA4WMMc1HC0mJmwhqQIPfXavEq/s320/turtleship.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm beyond excited to post my interview with the amazing Colleen-Kong Savage, illustrator </span>extraordinaire,<span style="font-family: inherit;"> today along with a giveaway of her debut THE TURTLE SHIP (a hardcover signed by <i>both</i> the author and illustrator!) which came out with Lee & Low this month to great reviews, including a starred review from School Library Journal!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Long ago in
Korea, a young boy named Sun-sin spent his days playing with his pet turtle
Gobugi and dreaming of sailing around the world. As a poor villager, though,
his dream to travel seemed impossible. Then one day, the king's court announced
a contest to find the best design for a new battleship to defend the land from
invaders. The winner would sail the ocean with the royal navy.</i><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Determined to
win, Sun-sin attempts to build an indestructible battleship with a few found
items. Each attempt fails miserably against the powerful sea, and with it
Sun-sin s dream also sinks to the bottom. Turning to Gobugi for comfort,
Sun-sin notices how his pet turtle is small but mighty, slow but steady, and
impossible to sink. Suddenly, Sun-sin has a great idea.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Loosely based
on the true story of Admiral Yi Sun-sin and his Turtle Ship, this delightful
tale by debut author Helena Ku Rhee and debut illustrator Colleen Kong-Savage
introduce young readers to a fascinating episode in Korean history and naval
engineering.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Kong-Savage’s
collage illustrations bring the story to life through almost 3-D imagery and
are beautiful to look at…A great mix of myth and history for most picture book
collections.” <b>—School Library Journal starred review</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">“The splendor
of Kong-Savage’s paper collages adds to the storytelling with rich overlapping
compositions and patterns. This debut packs a double punch modeling the
experimental process while spotlighting an intriguing historical figure and his
warcraft. —<b>Kirkus Reviews</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">“…Kong-Savage’s
striking, precise paper-collage scenes are equally effective in conveying the
sweeping drama of ocean views and the personality and warmth in close-ups of
Gobugi’s small, green face. An afterword about the story’s historical roots
closes this engaging tale with a strong STEM focus from two debut creators.” <b>–Publishers
Weekly</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Could you tell us about your
previous illustration work?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In my other
illustration life I make pictures and do graphic design for small businesses
and nonprofits. I help create their visual brand to communicate their
personality and what they’re about. I also have design a collection of cards
called Konga Line. One day it will be a greeting card empire, but for now it’s
distributed through Greeting Card Universe.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What made you want
to work with kids books?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Who wouldn’t want
to work with kids books? You draw characters that make you grin as you go
along. You play with a colorful palette. If you work in mediums that you can
touch, people won’t consider you outdated. Nobody considers you old-fashioned
for holding a pencil instead of a stylus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">What was your
favorite illustrated book growing up?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>The Monster at the
End of this Book: Starring Lovable, Furry Old Grover</i>! written by Sesame
Street writer/producer Jon Stone, illustrated by Michael Smollin. It’s brilliant, and Grover is indeed lovable.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Who are some of
your favorite illustrators? Who do you look to for inspiration?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Two of my favorite
illustrators are Robin Rosenthal (<a href="https://www.robinrosenthal.com/">https://www.robinrosenthal.com/</a>)
and Mikela Provost (<a href="http://www.mikelaprevost.com/">http://www.mikelaprevost.com/</a>).
I follow them on social media. Robin’s characters are such characters—some take
themselves very seriously and have no idea how hilarious they are. Mikela’s
images are also often funny, and very sweet. Her paintings are beautiful and
warm. I’m also a fan of Lane Smith—I love his humor, and there’s always so much
texture in his illustrations, no matter how complex or simple. Emily
Gravett—again, I am charmed by characters—and Shaun Tan, I love them both for
their mastery in drawing. Jane Ray for her color. Paul Zelinsky for being a
chameleon, always experimenting with styles. And of course, Ezra Jack Keats for
his beautiful collage/painting style, for color, for his sweet characters, and
because his pictures just make me feel good inside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">What initially drew
you to THE TURTLE SHIP? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was drawn because
the editor said, “It’s a historical fiction, so it involves research,” which
made the assignment sound like a lot of work (and it was), but now I had an
excuse to learn about a whole new culture in 16th century Korea. What did they
wear? Where did they live? What does the palace look like? What’s the story
behind the turtle ship? Who is this Admiral Yi Sunsin? Why is he such a hero?
I’d go to the art museum and call it work. I’d watch a blockbuster Korean movie
and call it work. Surf the internet… Creating the world in which this story
existed was like assembling a puzzle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Could you talk a bit about
the process you went through illustrating THE TURTLE SHIP?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Half the process
was revision: drawing, rethinking, redrawing with feedback from the art
director. I did four rounds of pencil sketches for almost every spread. Final
illustrations were done in collage, which made a mess of my apartment (paper
bits everywhere), and now color was in the mix. So after sending Lee & Low
home scans of “final” illustrations, more edits were requested and made before I delivered
final artwork to the office to be professionally scanned. Upon delivery, I
spread all the collages across the conference table, and folks in the office
stopped by to oo and ah—it was so gratifying… And after I received the
professional scans of the original artwork, another round and a half of edits
done in Photoshop.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Was THE TURTLE SHIP
different from your usual illustration process?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yes. Usually when
I illustrate for clients, they say, “Great!” My clients usually aren’t art
people—that’s why they hire me and trust my judgement. With a picture book art
director and editor, it’s a different story. I had a lot of freedom, but each
time I came back to them, they would point me in a slightly different direction
to strengthen the story or consider the reader.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">What was it like
working with your art director and Lee & Low?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Awesome! This was
my first picture book assignment, so I learned a ton. I learned how much
processing goes on before settling on a final image. I learned simple rules,
like illustrate all motion going from left to right to match the flow of the
pages, or let the reader see the character’s face as much as possible because
that is how readers connect best. And with repeated prodding, I learned just
how complex in detail I can make my art. I’d get pages of notes, and feedback
was always clear. If I disagreed with a call, the art director and editor
always heard me out and sometimes even agreed with me. The process was a
dialog.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">What was the most
challenging part of illustrating THE TURTLE SHIP for you?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The most
challenging part was trying not to go blind as I cut out all the tiny details.
My eyes got tired easily. I finally got a magnifying lamp. Before that, I would
literally not be able to see what I was cutting. I was looking at a blur in my
fingers as I snipped the paper, hoping it was coming out right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">What’s the biggest
lesson you’ll take away from the process?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Biggest lesson:
just when you think you’re pretty darn good at what you do, you’ll discover
there’s a whole lot more to learn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">What would you say
to others who aspire to illustrate books for children?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The process of
breaking into the industry is a marathon, so be prepared. It can take years,
even if you are a fantastic illustrator. There is so much noise, so much
talent, and I think publishers are hesitant to take chances with new artists
because they have no idea how easy or difficult you will be to work with. You
need to put in the hours. Always be building up your chops because the
competition is fierce, always be looking at what’s out there in picture books
and through social media. Keep sending out your work. The amount of your
success directly correlates with the amount of rejection you can tolerate
(illustrator David Gordon taught me that). Join SCBWI, go to their conferences
to gather information, feed your spirit, meet fellow artists/writers, and be a
part of a community. This is a tough climb with some jagged rocks. Connections
you make with fellow creatives will keep you going.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Any fun facts about
you?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I fall asleep a lot
when I sketch, particularly when I don’t know what I’m doing, and I’m
struggling with the composition. Brain goes on strike and shuts down. Somewhat
inconvenient.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijuC-Ys1GMkFJg9AXOpEo4f-63ZAy3b7PcKpgj2DvOqpXIHhb7ml_C2p-PEXNblEcAofxfTlsLp3k-4qWN4eAUEjMkZioK1AOY_h29wDoFuohu-LCW3qSYYscRm_eiuf30lwlnhez1PqPm/s1600/quilt2+CKS+smile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1391" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijuC-Ys1GMkFJg9AXOpEo4f-63ZAy3b7PcKpgj2DvOqpXIHhb7ml_C2p-PEXNblEcAofxfTlsLp3k-4qWN4eAUEjMkZioK1AOY_h29wDoFuohu-LCW3qSYYscRm_eiuf30lwlnhez1PqPm/s320/quilt2+CKS+smile.jpg" width="278" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: 700;">Colleen Kong-Savage</span> is a full-time illustrator and graphic artist. When she first moved to New York City, Kong-Savage worked at an art supply store, where she spent half her paycheck on decorative papers. For this debut picture book, she spent countless hours researching the clothes, living conditions, and landscape of the Joseon Dynasty, and then finding the right paper for each item. The papers used in this book come from around the world, including Korea where traditional paper is handmade from mulberry bark. Kong-Savage lives in New York City.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You can pick up a copy at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Turtle-Ship-Helena-Ku-Rhee/dp/1885008902" style="background: transparent; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-turtle-ship-helena-ku-rhee/1127414371" style="background: transparent; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Barnes & Noble</a>, <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781885008909" style="background: transparent; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">IndieBound, </a><a href="https://www.leeandlow.com/books/the-turtle-ship" style="background: transparent; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Lee & Low</a>, <a href="https://www.target.com/p/turtle-ship-by-helena-ku-rhee-school-and-library/-/A-53584609" style="background: transparent; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Target</a> and your local bookstore!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You can follow Colleen on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kongsavage/" style="background: transparent; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/KongSavage?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor" style="background: transparent; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Twitter</a> and go to her <a href="http://kongsavage.com/" style="background: transparent; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">website</a>!</span><br />
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Neverending Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-19659314649046360502018-03-05T11:05:00.000-08:002018-03-05T11:37:51.499-08:00SELFIE SEBASTIAN by Sarah Glenn Marsh: Story Time and Giveaway! <span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm excited to share my very first <i>Author Story Time</i> with Sarah Glenn Marsh. In the video below, Sarah gives a sneak peak of her debut picture book, SELFIE SEBASTIAN, publishing with <a href="https://www.sterlingpublishing.com/9781454921295/">Sterling</a> tomorrow (March 6th, 2018)! I am also giving away one hardcover copy of the book to one lucky winner! Enter below. </span><br />
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><i> Sebastian is one handsome
fox—and he really, really loves to take selfies. But somehow, no matter how
camera-ready he is, his pictures always lack a certain something. And he can’t
put his paw on exactly what. So Sebastian sets off on an elaborate quest to
take the perfect selfie, dashing from a glamorous red carpet in Hollywood to
the vast expanse of the Grand Canyon. He even zooms to the Moon! Still, none of
Sebastian’s photos make him happy. Could it be that the secret to his special
selfie is right where he started . . . at home, with his friends?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sarah Glenn Marsh writes young adult novels and children’s
picture books. An avid fantasy reader from the day her dad handed her a copy of
The Hobbit and promised it would change her life, she’s been making up words
and worlds ever since.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When she’s not writing, Sarah enjoys watercolor painting,
ghost hunting, and pursuits of the nerd variety, from video games to tabletop
adventures. She’s never met an animal or a doughnut she didn’t like.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sarah lives in Richmond, Virginia with her husband and their
tiny zoo of four rescued greyhounds, three birds, and many fish. She is the
author of </span><em style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.75pt; line-height: 107%;">Fear the Drowning Deep</span></em><span style="font-family: inherit;">,
the </span><em style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.75pt; line-height: 107%;">Reign of the Fallen </span></em><span style="font-family: inherit;">duology,
and several picture books.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You can pre-order SELFIE SEBASTIAN on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Selfie-Sebastian-Sarah-Glenn-Marsh/dp/1454921293">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/selfie-sebastian-sarah-glenn-marsh/1126941240;jsessionid=4F17CC71D239D264CDEC64160F24F3E0.prodny_store02-atgap10?ean=9781454921295&st=AFF&2sid=Goodreads,%20Inc_2227948_NA&sourceId=AFFGoodreads,%20IncM000004">Barnes & Noble</a> and <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781454921295">IndieBound</a>. </span><br />
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Follow Sarah on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/SG_Marsh?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">@SG_Marsh</a> and visit her <a href="http://www.sarahglennmarsh.com/">website</a>.</div>
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Neverending Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-88466897532675234012018-02-09T15:00:00.000-08:002018-02-09T15:00:08.160-08:00Cover Reveal: Stef Wade's A PLACE FOR PLUTO illustrated by Melanie Demmer<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am so excited to do Neverending Stories' first ever cover reveal for the wonderful Stef Wade's A PLACE FOR PLUTO illustrated by Melanie Demmer which comes out this August/September with <a href="http://www.capstonepub.com/library/">Capstone</a>. </span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pluto got the shock of his life when he was kicked out of the
famous nine. His planet status was stripped away, leaving him lost and
confused. Poor Pluto! On his quest to find a place where he belongs, he talks
to comets, asteroids, and meteoroids. He doesn’t fit in anywhere! But when
Pluto is about to give up, he runs into a dwarf planet and finally finds his
place in the solar system. This feel-good picture book combines a popular
science topic with character education themes of self discovery, acceptance, and
friendship. It has bonus material in the back matter to support
curriculum. </span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ok, get ready! The cover is about to be revealed!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNVEIsgloN6PPl5B7KHn0k-YA4BSYHRDMX3Hs3YJAkCdR1o5NljZXsjHlpMH0-9DujujHjyMFvLaPZz-fcgD0gVTxGyVh31R-VUHGIrTWGYlN8MRDJ7woXJvBBqcUOg2s02TcZC9VTMVb/s1600/coverpluto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1599" data-original-width="1447" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNVEIsgloN6PPl5B7KHn0k-YA4BSYHRDMX3Hs3YJAkCdR1o5NljZXsjHlpMH0-9DujujHjyMFvLaPZz-fcgD0gVTxGyVh31R-VUHGIrTWGYlN8MRDJ7woXJvBBqcUOg2s02TcZC9VTMVb/s400/coverpluto.jpg" width="361" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Is this not the cutest? I totally want to be Pluto's friend and maybe it's just me but this brings me back to 4th grade when I learned about the planets and Pluto was still a planet. <b>M</b>y <b>V</b>ery <b>E</b>nergetic <b>M</b>other <b>J</b>ust <b>S</b>erved <b>U</b>s <b>N</b>ine <b>P</b>izzas anyone? :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Melanie Demmer perfectly captured Stef's text. Can't wait to see this on shelves! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You can add it on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38471287-a-place-for-pluto?from_search=true">Goodreads here!</a> and I'll add pre-order links when they're up! Comment below. We'd love to hear what you think!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK3cFYxuEe1yhvqeSNaBsl1gAQlnZWjodGW1W9lFnywcbbTuD-ANBguhmxuLGq06gFHEm6k2bljvmHEMceGKR9ljZj33pRhxTRwcCNbkVCLUp08crX1f8vdKJtOywCYc-ixWYSD3Eldrkr/s1600/swade1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK3cFYxuEe1yhvqeSNaBsl1gAQlnZWjodGW1W9lFnywcbbTuD-ANBguhmxuLGq06gFHEm6k2bljvmHEMceGKR9ljZj33pRhxTRwcCNbkVCLUp08crX1f8vdKJtOywCYc-ixWYSD3Eldrkr/s200/swade1.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #252525;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Stef Wade</b> used
to write about cardboard boxes, but thinks writing books is far more exciting.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #252525;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She was
the co-creator and writer for the former cooking and home blog <a href="http://www.hauteapplepie.com/" target="_blank" title="Haute Apple Pie"><span style="color: #b5cc3d; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Haute Apple Pie</span></a>,
featured in Taste of Home, local Milwaukee press and nominated for multiple web
awards. Stef is a Chicago-born media maven with a passion for philanthropy,
fashion and Italian beef sandwiches.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #252525;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She holds
a BA in advertising from Marquette University and an MBA in Integrated
Marketing Communication from DePaul University.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #252525;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Stef is a
member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).
She’s bounced all over the midwest with her college sweetheart husband and
her three historically and literary named brood of boys and currently resides
in the greater Milwaukee area.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #252525;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can follow Stef on <a href="https://twitter.com/Stef_Wade">Twitter </a>and visit her on <a href="http://stefwade.com/">her website!</a></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1PrvLq5iVoqa9U1GH3kJsK_amQGXdG9vV8c7gjyqy7sx6axUVgitH1TZ4skN53csaEr9JkkF_NbxbhS6fKC2D_fo6subdtdu3Ilb5bqJkV3ieGOM-kBt1-O4WiWkKn2kAQxlCywJBrShO/s1600/HeadShot_MDemmer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1PrvLq5iVoqa9U1GH3kJsK_amQGXdG9vV8c7gjyqy7sx6axUVgitH1TZ4skN53csaEr9JkkF_NbxbhS6fKC2D_fo6subdtdu3Ilb5bqJkV3ieGOM-kBt1-O4WiWkKn2kAQxlCywJBrShO/s200/HeadShot_MDemmer.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Melanie Demmer</b> is a freelance illustrator and designer in animation based out of Los Angeles, California. <br /><br />Originally from Michigan, Melanie is a graduate of the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, where she earned a BFA in Illustration. <br /><br />Melanie is represented by the <a href="http://thebrightagency.com/">Bright Agency</a>. <br /><br />She has previously worked as a 2D Prop Designer at PUNY Entertainment on a cartoon for Amazon called Danger and Eggs. <br /><br />You can follow Melanie on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/melaniedemmer/">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/melaniedemmer">Twitter</a> or visit her on <a href="https://www.melaniedemmer.com/">her website</a>!</span>Neverending Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-17182336142695033132017-09-05T12:51:00.000-07:002017-09-05T12:51:36.569-07:00Author Interview: Betsy Aldredge and Carrie Dubois-Shaw<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwVyoOHmy5krcw7a5RrBhjSldqI2Ft6z0XoAwsZajpCN59Y9bEa6m2FZqLd7-zBy7FHUSNam25mWjWGv2QqT2q3ohATSTe3US29Iu9K2adtlcPaKf8nJQXXjflUjx_BhhR3r_r3K_tgLm/s1600/b2ap3_thumbnail_Sasquatch-Final-Cover-final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="312" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwVyoOHmy5krcw7a5RrBhjSldqI2Ft6z0XoAwsZajpCN59Y9bEa6m2FZqLd7-zBy7FHUSNam25mWjWGv2QqT2q3ohATSTe3US29Iu9K2adtlcPaKf8nJQXXjflUjx_BhhR3r_r3K_tgLm/s320/b2ap3_thumbnail_Sasquatch-Final-Cover-final.jpg" width="208" /></a> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I virtually sat down with co-authors Betsy Aldredge and Carrie Dubois-Shaw to talk about writing, becoming published authors and their debut YA, </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sasquatch, Love and Other Imaginary Things</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> which came out in August </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to some great reviews and nice buzz! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I'm also running a giveaway. One lucky winner will receive a finished, autographed hardcover copy of Sasquatch, Love and Other ImaginaryThings along with some swag! Enter at the bottom of the post below through Rafflecopter. You can enter between 9/6 at 12am through 9/13 at 12am. Get those entries in! </b></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pride and Prejudice meets Animal Planet’s Finding Bigfoot in this humorous and heartfelt debut about a loving, quirky family on the hunt for the mythical Sasquatch.</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hunting for monsters was never so awkward. </span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s bad enough that Samantha’s parents, charter members of the Northern Ohio Bigfoot Society, have dragged their daughter around forever, hunting for yetis. But now they’re doing it on national TV, and worse, in front of an aristocratic prep-school crew including a boy who disdains Samantha’s family.</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But when he scorns her humble Ohio roots, she becomes determined to take him down. As they go to war, their friction and attraction almost distract them from the hint that Sasquatch may actually be out there somewhere…</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PRAISE FOR SASQUATCH:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="color_26">“</span>Samantha’s first-person narration is marked by her sarcastic, wry, and delightfully snarky humor. ‘Squatching’ doesn’t get any funnier than this.<span class="color_26">” </span>–<a data-content="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/betsy-aldredge/sasquatch-love-and-other-imaginary-things/" data-type="external" href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/betsy-aldredge/sasquatch-love-and-other-imaginary-things/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background: transparent; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Kirkus</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“The most hilarious, charming, feminist Sasquatch-hunting book ever to grace a bookshelf.” –Alison Cherry, author of For Real</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I fell head over Bigfooted heels for this delightfully quirky and downright hilarious debut! <i>Sasquatch, Love, And Other Imaginary Things </i>will have you believing in adorkably ever afters and more.” –Darcy Woods, award-winning author of Summer of Supernovas</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Everything you want in a Jane Austen retelling: reality TV, Sasquatch sightings, and young love at odds.”– Stephanie Scott, author of Alterations, a 2017 RITA® Award Finalist</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“An original, magnetic, and endearing debut seamlessly spun by two sharp new voices. Fans of nature, Austen, family, reality TV and Wood Apes will devour this story (that basically means everyone. Yes, I mean you. Stop reading my raving–get to reading this book already).” –Lindsey Leavitt, author of GOING VINTAGE</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">________________________________________________</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This was your first book. What was
the most surprising part of the publishing process for you?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Book people are the best. The most
surprising thing has been how awesome and supportive other writers, bloggers,
and readers have been. It’s like finding “your people” for the first time in
high school. Also, publishing is much slower than we imagined. There’s a whole
lot of waiting. We think whomever first said “patience is a virtue,” must have
been a writer!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJK-MS57KDNEC9TF6PhA9Ii_1-E96014OpBw1S32F39Q7MDmeRR7d6mZUS1aWWkZOeDTYB4wwoBj4JWu7z_3nbcc-nAhiSkFAW__IEbw8EMkpF2TC7LHiIie2lzeSHvOmHaxghAseITDL/s1600/betsy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJK-MS57KDNEC9TF6PhA9Ii_1-E96014OpBw1S32F39Q7MDmeRR7d6mZUS1aWWkZOeDTYB4wwoBj4JWu7z_3nbcc-nAhiSkFAW__IEbw8EMkpF2TC7LHiIie2lzeSHvOmHaxghAseITDL/s200/betsy.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Every author has their own creative
method. What is each of yours like individually, and can you describe your
process for creating books together?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Betsy: </b>I like to have a basic roadmap
of where a story is going but be surprised along the journey. Some characters
come to me fairly fully formed and some surprise me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Carrie:</b> I like more structure and to make
a detailed outline of everything before digging in. And then I break the
outline down into very small, bite-sized pieces and work on it bit by bit.
Otherwise I feel overwhelmed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-Otjk8ccnNjrQHTFq-38V1XwvqTpzhI3k7dKhhzc3DW6TDcS6FXGqF0fuQhs_v9Q0n37wLW_zTaKyz_tlqbmUfT2xwoDsVdsy-22MD2B4GtwUEW6Fx5OOBYNBxR-7T0Zhi5PLxSDY3_i/s1600/carrie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-Otjk8ccnNjrQHTFq-38V1XwvqTpzhI3k7dKhhzc3DW6TDcS6FXGqF0fuQhs_v9Q0n37wLW_zTaKyz_tlqbmUfT2xwoDsVdsy-22MD2B4GtwUEW6Fx5OOBYNBxR-7T0Zhi5PLxSDY3_i/s200/carrie.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Together we have a method that works
for us. We brainstorm and plot together. Then Betsy tackles the first, messy
draft and just writes the heck out of it. Then she sends it off to Carrie to be
whipped into shape. Carrie then does all sorts of cool timelines, graphs, and other
things that involve tons of color coded post it notes in order to revise it and
shape the story. After that huge overhaul, we make multiple more passes for
different reasons (setting, minor character arcs, etc.) until it’s in good
enough shape to be read by other people. Then, based on feedback, we revise
some more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What drew you to YA (as opposed to
writing for younger kids or adults)?</b> YA audiences are so passionate. We really
feel like what we read at that point of our lives had a profound effect on us.
Also, we’re not sure we ever got over high school. Does anyone?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>If you could give one piece of
advice to aspiring authors, what would it be?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Keep writing, and make friends with
other writers whether at conferences, through online contests, or writers
groups. It’s so much better when you have that support.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What was the most interesting (or
funniest, weirdest, most memorable, etc.) fact you learned in your research for
this book? </b> Researching this book was a
blast. We learned a lot about different methods of tracking Bigfoot, from
studies animal droppings and foot prints to knocking on trees. There’s a lot to
it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This book has such a great cast of
characters. Who’s your favorite?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Betsy:</b> I think while I’m fond of all
the Berger sisters and their parents, some of the smaller characters were extra
fun to write, like Hal the camera guy who’s a little too obsessed with Roswell
and Yoda, but also loves a good romance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Carrie:</b> Hal’s my favorite too, with
Caroline a close second. It was so much fun to flesh out her character from
typical pretty, rich, mean girl into something more three-dimensional and
interesting. (That was a great suggestion from our agent!) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Why Sasquatch (as opposed to any
other mythical creature)?</b> Bigfoot believers are so passionate and have such a
good sense of humor about themselves that the subculture just seemed ripe with
opportunities for high stakes and hijinks…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>There have been supposed Sasquatch
sightings all over the US. What made you decided to set the story in the
Pacific Northwest?</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There’s something magical about the huge trees and forests
there that appealed to us. We studied Shakespeare in college and loved the idea
that forests are a metaphor for change. Characters go into the woods and come
out transformed - much like the transformations we go through when growing up.
It seemed perfect. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you could meet any creature from
myth, folklore or legend, other than Sasquatch, what would it be and why? </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Betsy:</b>
I’d have to say a unicorn, because it would make me much cooler in the eyes of
my 7-year-old daughter if I could hang out with unicorns. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Carrie:</b> I’m really interested in the Mothman
right now. It’s a giant moth…who is also a man. That’s just awesome. Of course
his appearance usually foretells an impending disaster so maybe meeting the
Mothman is not a great idea. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Are you Sasquatch believers
yourselves?</b> Sure! Why not? There are stranger
things out there...like the platypus. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p>You can buy <i>Sasquatch</i> from these retailers: <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781481480703?aff=simonsayscom" style="background: transparent; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Indie Bound</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sasquatch-love-and-other-imaginary-things-betsey-aldredge/1125306621?ean=9781507202807" style="background: transparent; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Barnes & Noble</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MYCJ6VW/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1" style="background: transparent; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://www.target.com/p/sasquatch-love-and-other-imaginary-things-hardcover-betsy-aldredge-carrie-dubois-shaw/-/A-52484116" style="background: transparent; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Target</a> and <a href="http://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Sasquatch-Love-and-Other-Imaginary-Things/Betsy-Aldredge/9781507202807" style="background: transparent; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Simon & Schuster</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can visit Betsy and Carrie’s <a href="https://www.betsyandcarrie.com/" style="background: transparent; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">website</a> and follow them on Twitter: <span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr"><a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/carriedubois" style="background: transparent; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">@<span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="font-weight: 700;">carriedubois</span></a> </span></span><a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/BetsyAldredge" style="background: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">@<span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="font-weight: 700;">BetsyAldredge</span> </a></div>
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Neverending Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-23501122360827218502017-01-30T11:25:00.003-08:002017-01-30T11:28:28.350-08:00Author interview: Erica M. Chapman<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtYp76SCNSAsmgmQ9n8uBUq4U6gy-OwsOgexCUqPqv5n7FiAFHP4mMImyd_0scSIboSJKEpZvtxDtcZLo2F3EHEZ9JtxgiWdAALrRkyiYDcKaX9KZlk2abBIxR6v6bkMQ0PtDnbRrzd9Es/s1600/Author+Photo_EricaMChapman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtYp76SCNSAsmgmQ9n8uBUq4U6gy-OwsOgexCUqPqv5n7FiAFHP4mMImyd_0scSIboSJKEpZvtxDtcZLo2F3EHEZ9JtxgiWdAALrRkyiYDcKaX9KZlk2abBIxR6v6bkMQ0PtDnbRrzd9Es/s200/Author+Photo_EricaMChapman.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I virtually sat down with author Erica M. Chapman to talk about writing, becoming a published author and her debut YA, <i>Teach Me To Forget</i> which came out in December </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">to some great reviews and nice buzz! It’s on the</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> </span><a href="https://www.bustle.com/articles/195537-the-8-best-ya-books-of-december-2016-to-close-out-your-year" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Best YA Books of December list</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">from Bustle, Barnes & Noble’s</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> </span><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/teen/anticipated-december-ya-books/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Most Anticipated December YA books</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">, The Children’s Book Review</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> </span><a href="https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/weblog/2016/12/best-new-young-adult-books-december-2016.html" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Best New Young Adult Books of December 2016</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">and was named one of Goodreads’ </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/featured_lists/385-ya-best-books-of-the-month-December-2016?utm_medium=email&utm_source=ya_newsletter&utm_campaign=2016-12&utm_content=movers3&ref_=pe_2620350_217303060" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Best YA Books of December</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">!</span><br />
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<b>I'm also running a giveaway. One lucky winner will receive a finished hardcover copy of Teach Me To Forget along with a free digital download of the audio book! Enter at the bottom of the post below through Rafflecopter. You can enter between 1/31 at 12am through 2/7 at 12am. Get those entries in! </b></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: inherit;">Teach Me to Forget is the story of Ellery, a girl who learns how to live while waiting for the date she chose to die.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ellery’s bought the gun, made arrangements for her funeral, and even picked the day. A Wednesday. Everything has fallen into place.</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now all she has to do is die.</span></em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYMmqHHgJOd5Fxpph7aP59JbQcI31OMJ7ZLXgmO7SPTBsVgj-V47P-n1UGSz-_SjeN1YuhyphenhyphenljZOrNgDQdF2HAcZ3yRf2Xf7oA4yGH5NlOLCpunGrEfaPY6-6GN-4zpxS6XrXAodjgSIxLR/s1600/Teach+Me+to+Forget_cover+11_11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYMmqHHgJOd5Fxpph7aP59JbQcI31OMJ7ZLXgmO7SPTBsVgj-V47P-n1UGSz-_SjeN1YuhyphenhyphenljZOrNgDQdF2HAcZ3yRf2Xf7oA4yGH5NlOLCpunGrEfaPY6-6GN-4zpxS6XrXAodjgSIxLR/s200/Teach+Me+to+Forget_cover+11_11.jpg" width="129" /></a><em><span style="font-family: inherit;">When her plans go awry and the gun she was going to kill herself with breaks, she does the one thing she has control over–return it and get a new one. After tormenting the crusty customer service associate by trying to return the gun with the wrong receipt, Ellery gets caught by the security guard who also happens to be someone she knows–the annoyingly perfect Colter Sawyer from her English class.</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>Colter quickly uncovers what she’s hiding and is determined to change her mind. After confessing a closely held secret of his own, he promises not to tell hers. Ellery tries to fight her attraction to him as the shadows of her past cling tight around her, but when she’s faced with another tragedy, she must decide whether her love for one boy is more important than a lifetime of pain.</em><em style="font-family: inherit; text-transform: uppercase;"><br /></em></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">PRAISE FOR TEACH ME TO FORGET</span></span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">“In this stunningly brave and necessary debut, Erica M. Chapman takes us on a journey to the edge and back—exploring grief, depression, and suicide with candor, insight, and above all, hope.”</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">–Amber Smith, </span><em style="font-family: inherit;">New York Times </em><span style="font-family: inherit;">bestselling author of </span><em style="font-family: inherit;">The Way I Used to Be</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">“A beautifully crafted, dark, and heartbreaking look at depression and suicide. Ellery’s story is needed and necessary; Chapman is a writer to watch.”</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">– Kathleen Glasgow, </span><em style="font-family: inherit;">New York Times</em><span style="font-family: inherit;"> bestselling author of </span><em style="font-family: inherit;">Girl in Pieces</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Ellery’s voice is engaging and authentic, and her edgy black humor comes into play…. Sadness gives way to redemption and an unforced hope in this thoughtful read.”</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">–</span><em style="font-family: inherit;">Kirkus Reviews</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: 700;">“</span>Chapman has crafted a hauntingly beautiful story with richly developed characters. A moving tale to recommend, especially to readers who loved Jennifer Niven’s <em style="margin: 0px;">All the Bright Places.”</em></span><em style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">—School Library Journal</span></em><br />
<b style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">___________________________________________________________</span></b></div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">So, this is your debut
YA. What was the process like for you from query to book? What was your
favorite part of the process?<span class="m7013414178559217898gmail-m-3088836362172716630m-6140602798473638609m8441548550573271853m-5858166563223092042gmail-m-7753906671677917571apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span class="m7013414178559217898gmail-m-3088836362172716630m-6140602798473638609m8441548550573271853m-5858166563223092042gmail-m-7753906671677917571apple-converted-space" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Once I talked to you on the phone I
knew we had the same taste so I knew our partnership would create some awesome
stuff (I was right!). We were on submission for a while but you always kept my
hopes up. When I was ready to throw in the towel you suggested a newer imprint
to sub to... and that was Merit Press! Thank YOU, it's because of you. Never
give up hope people. You just never know... My favorite part of the process is
getting that first response (usually a pass but ya never know) once you go on
submission. It makes it a lot more real and gives me that determination to keep
going ;o)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="m7013414178559217898gmail-m-3088836362172716630m-6140602798473638609m8441548550573271853m-5858166563223092042gmail-m-7753906671677917571apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background: white;">How does it feel to
have TMTF out in the world?</span></b></span><span class="m7013414178559217898gmail-m-3088836362172716630m-6140602798473638609m8441548550573271853m-5858166563223092042gmail-m-7753906671677917571apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="m7013414178559217898gmail-m-3088836362172716630m-6140602798473638609m8441548550573271853m-5858166563223092042gmail-m-7753906671677917571apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;">It's pretty surreal. At first it was
really weird knowing that people were reading my words and not knowing what they
would think. I've gotten used to it now and I'm really enjoying the ride. I
hope I can help people feel less alone and maybe give those who have been
fortunate enough not to have depression or suicidal thoughts a glimpse into
what it may feel like. I've been so touched by the reviews and messages I've
received so far. </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="m7013414178559217898gmail-m-3088836362172716630m-6140602798473638609m8441548550573271853m-5858166563223092042gmail-m-7753906671677917571apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background: white;">Every writer has a
different writing process. What is yours like? Do you have a place or time you
like to write? </span></b></span><span class="m7013414178559217898gmail-m-3088836362172716630m-6140602798473638609m8441548550573271853m-5858166563223092042gmail-m-7753906671677917571apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;">Hmm, well I write in my recliner
mostly at night, but I'm moving and planning on getting a desk and have an
"office," so we'll see how that goes. I write quick first drafts then
revise for a while, make sure I have readers read it after the second revision,
then I send it to you! Then I typically revise a couple more times... Lots of
revision!! I also LOVE to read my drafts on my kindle paperwhite, I always find
mistakes and plot holes I didn't on the screen.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="m7013414178559217898gmail-m-3088836362172716630m-6140602798473638609m8441548550573271853m-5858166563223092042gmail-m-7753906671677917571apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background: white;">Your opening is quite
impactful. What led you to start the book this way? </span></b></span><span class="m7013414178559217898gmail-m-3088836362172716630m-6140602798473638609m8441548550573271853m-5858166563223092042gmail-m-7753906671677917571apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;">Thank you ;o) Well, it seemed natural
to me to start it on the day she wanted to kill herself but I also wanted
readers to get to know Ellery and care about her before we followed her down
the rabbit hole... Having her talk to Jackson and say goodbye lets the reader
get to know her and their friendship which is important so we know what she has
to lose. Also, I like books that just start right in, grab hold of you and
don't let you go! Interesting side note, the beginning never changed in all the
revisions. It's still the same as it was the first day I started writing it.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="m7013414178559217898gmail-m-3088836362172716630m-6140602798473638609m8441548550573271853m-5858166563223092042gmail-m-7753906671677917571apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background: white;">How do you come up with
your characters? Do you draw inspiration from people in your life? </span></b></span><span class="m7013414178559217898gmail-m-3088836362172716630m-6140602798473638609m8441548550573271853m-5858166563223092042gmail-m-7753906671677917571apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;">I think it's hard not to draw from
people in your life or people who influence you in some way. I think there's
definitely parts of me in Ellery and Colter. I talked to some friends who
helped me flesh out Ellery a lot so she has influences from them too. But more
than anything, characters I write embody what I'm feeling at the time,
characteristics are fluid and organic most of the time. It could also be that I
read an article on sand art and decide that's what would be perfect for a
character to love, then I research it and add it. So I pull from all around me
for inspiration.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="m7013414178559217898gmail-m-3088836362172716630m-6140602798473638609m8441548550573271853m-5858166563223092042gmail-m-7753906671677917571apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background: white;">Suicide is a tough
topic to talk about. Do you hope that this will spark conversation among teens
and parents? </span></b></span><span class="m7013414178559217898gmail-m-3088836362172716630m-6140602798473638609m8441548550573271853m-5858166563223092042gmail-m-7753906671677917571apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;">Yes, I would be so honored if TMTF
had anything to do with teens and parents, really anyone, talking to each other
about the topic of suicide. It's SO important. I think in addition with
starting the conversation, we also need to accept each other for who we are
instead of who we want each other to be. I've said that in a couple other
interviews and I'll continue to say it, that's an important layer to peel away.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background: white;">Did you have a playlist
or any songs that you liked to listen to while you wrote? What would Ellery’s
theme song be? </span></b><span style="background: white;">Yes! I shared my playlist on <a href="https://allthewritenotes.com/2015/10/12/my-playlist-for-teach-me-to-forget/" target="_blank">All The Write Notes blog</a> last year, but I can list
them here. It's rather long as music is a huge part of my life and in many ways
saved my life as a teen. I have a music note tattoo on my wrist to remind me
that there is always hope. </span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As for Ellery's theme
song... there are SO many songs that represent her. Broken Hearted Girl, The
Lonely, Heavy in Your Arms. So many. Colter's would be the last one, Your
Guardian Angel By The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Heavy in Your Arms</span></b><b> </b>– <em style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: 0px;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Florence
+ The Machine</span></em>: Ellery and Colter struggle through the book to love
each other. She feels a burden to him on more than one occasion and this song
beautifully represents that struggle.<br />
<b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Broken Hearted Girl</span></b> – <em style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: 0px;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Misty Boyce</span></em>: Pretty simple.
Ellery’s heart is broken for a lot of reasons. This is a soft song that tells
that story.<br />
<b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Mad World</span></b> – <em style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: 0px;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Gary Jules & Michael Andrews</span></em>:
I’ve always loved this one. It’s so haunting and the lyrics have always
affected me. Ellery’s world is a bit mad.<br />
<b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">You Found Me</span> </b>– <em style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: 0px;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">The Fray</span></em>: Once she meets Colter
she feels as though someone finally notices her, although she’s not happy about
it.<br />
<span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Oblivion</span> – <em style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: 0px;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Bastille</span></em>: This is such a sweet
song. I can see Colter singing this to Ellery.<br />
<b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">The Lonely</span></b> – <em style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: 0px;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Christina Perri</span></em>: Ellery is very
lonely, and this song’s lyrics are just so perfect for her. “I’m a shell of a
girl that I used to know well.” It’s just so beautifully written.<br />
<b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">I Should Have Known</span></b> – <em style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: 0px;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Foo Fighters</span></em>: This could work for
either of them, really. It’s a song about regret which they both have painful
reminders of constantly.<br />
<b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Breathe Me</span></b> – <em style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: 0px;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Sia</span></em>: This song. You can just hear
the emotion in Sia’s voice and it so perfectly matches Ellery’s state of mind
in this story.<br />
<b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Tourniquet</span></b> – <em style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: 0px;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Evanescence</span></em>: I love a good
Evanescence song and this one really represents Ellery’s struggle with what she
chose to do and the decisions that come along with that.<br />
<b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Wait</span></b> – <em style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: 0px;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">M83</span></em>: “More Time” is the lyric that
is uttered through this song and that’s just what Colter wants for Ellery. It’s
such a simple song but it says so much.<br />
<b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">How To Save A Life</span></b> – <em style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: 0px;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">The Fray</span></em>: I listened to this song
on repeat bawling my eyes out while I wrote this book. We just want Ellery to
want to live but how do you do that?<br />
<b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Indifference</span></b> – <em style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: 0px;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Pearl Jam</span></em>: Ellery wishes she could
care about what’s going on in her life but more than upset, she’s indifferent
to it. When I discovered this song (and heard it live OMG amazing) I knew it
was perfect for TMTF’s playlist.<br />
<b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Comfortably Numb</span></b> – <em style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: 0px;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Pink Floyd</span></em>: Ellery has a lot of
moments where she just wants to be numb to the world. To forget everything
that’s happened to her.<br />
<b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Black</span></b> – <em style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: 0px;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Pearl Jam</span></em>: Such a haunting song.
The pain in Eddie Vedder’s voice mirrors that of Colter’s so much.<br />
<b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Untitled</span></b> – <em style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: 0px;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Simple Plan</span></em>: This is the perfect
song for the tragedy that leads to Ellery’s attempted suicide in the beginning.<br />
<b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Trembling Hands</span></b> – <em style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: 0px;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">The Temper Trap</span></em>: One scene in
particular comes to mind when I hear this song. A very heated one with
consequences that affect both Ellery and Colter.<br />
<b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Asleep</span></b> – <em style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: 0px;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">The Smiths</span></em>: At some point Ellery
just wants to sleep and get rid of the pain. Such a sad song.<br />
<b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">I Will Follow You Into The Dark</span></b> – <em style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: 0px;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Death
Cab For Cutie</span></em>: There comes a time when you have to choose to join
or abandon someone in pain. I think this represents that choice.<br />
<b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Your Guardian Angel</span></b> – <em style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: 0px;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus</span></em>: Colter
wants nothing more than to protect Ellery and save her, be her guardian angel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background: white;">What scene was the
hardest for you to write? </span></b><span style="background: white;">Oh, romance can be really hard for me, but the chapter where
a very sad event happens that makes Ellery feel deeply for the first time in a
long time was really hard to write because it felt so real to me. I keep a lot
bottled up myself so when I'm writing it, it's like I'm opening my own wounds
too. I think they become the most beautiful pages but boy they can be tough to
write!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background: white;">You’re very active on
social media. What is it like being a part of the YA writing community? Any
tips for first time authors looking to build a platform? </span></b><span style="background: white;">I love to make connections
with people so social media has been a great outlet for that. I've been on
social media a long time--way before I ever had a published book. I love being
a part of the YA writing community. It's full of people who are advocates and
lend their voices for incredibly important causes. They're giving and
understanding and I'm proud to call many of them my friends. Social Media is
how I met a lot of the friends I have. I would say to first time authors to follow
certain hashtags to learn more, like #amwriting #10queries #pitchwars, #writing
#YAlit and many more. Meet other writers and share ideas. For debut authors I
would say to join a debut group either on Facebook, or a blog. The Sweet16s (a
2016 debut MG/YA group) were amazing and I'm so glad I joined. I would also
say, don't worry about promoting your book so much as being genuine and talking
to others. That's the best promotion you could have in my opinion ;o) Also,
share others' tweets and articles, and blogs by RTing, and promote books you
love and support your fellow authors. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background: white;">What’s your favorite(s)
recent YA that has come out or is coming out? Did you have a favorite book
growing up? </span></b><span style="background: white;">Ohhh, there are many. I adored SUMMER OF SUPERNOVAS by Darcy Woods, it
was such a fun romantic read, GIRL IN PIECES by Kathleen Glasgow was so gritty
and unforgettable, THE WAY I USED TO BE by Amber Smith was so beautifully
written and important, STALKING JACK THE RIPPER by Kerri Maniscalco was
mysterious and lyrical. I can't wait for her next one out this year! I've read
so many lately that are just SO good! Growing up I loved the Baby-sitters club
books by Ann M. Martin and Christopher Pike books! </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background: white;">Anything else you’d
like to say?</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">I just want to thank those
of you who've read TEACH ME TO FORGET, who have talked about it, shared tweets
and posts, thank you for continuing to make my dream come true.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Follow Erica on Twitter <a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/ericamchapman" style="background: rgb(245, 248, 250); text-decoration: none !important;"><span style="color: black;">@<span class="u-linkComplex-target">ericamchapman</span></span></a> and visit her website: <a href="http://ericamchapman.com/">http://ericamchapman.com/</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You can order Teach Me To Forget here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Teach-Me-Forget-Erica-Chapman/dp/1440594570/">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/teach-me-to-forget-erica-chapman/1123509349">Barnes & Noble</a> | <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781440594571">IndieBound</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And an audio edition is also available from <a href="http://www.audible.com/pd/Teens/Teach-Me-to-Forget-Audiobook/B01N6BTPVX/">Audible</a>! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>Neverending Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-29136620132074857272016-12-02T13:34:00.003-08:002016-12-02T13:56:15.591-08:00Happy Book Birthday to Teach Me To Forget by Erica M. Chapman!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnXVpA5EVHv9Y2cbo3xXaK3gBny1-C-BbXWRiP36m-LxxzRzVV3l_TvCYxdaYadxsSu_onHTYydjPGZGoYBF99XyugBf8enE9sx-neDFKf9VF6sdfqw8jZ0AZyR1nToTUnr0TslvwhLoE4/s1600/Teach+Me+to+Forget_cover+11_11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnXVpA5EVHv9Y2cbo3xXaK3gBny1-C-BbXWRiP36m-LxxzRzVV3l_TvCYxdaYadxsSu_onHTYydjPGZGoYBF99XyugBf8enE9sx-neDFKf9VF6sdfqw8jZ0AZyR1nToTUnr0TslvwhLoE4/s320/Teach+Me+to+Forget_cover+11_11.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Erica M. Chapman's debut YA T<i>each Me To Forget</i> published today to some great reviews and nice buzz! It's on the </span><a href="https://www.bustle.com/articles/195537-the-8-best-ya-books-of-december-2016-to-close-out-your-year" style="font-family: inherit;">Best YA Books of December list</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> from Bustle, Barnes & Noble's </span><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/teen/anticipated-december-ya-books/" style="font-family: inherit;">Most Anticipated December YA books </a><span style="font-family: inherit;">and was named one of Goodreads' </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/featured_lists/385-ya-best-books-of-the-month-December-2016?utm_medium=email&utm_source=ya_newsletter&utm_campaign=2016-12&utm_content=movers3&ref_=pe_2620350_217303060" style="font-family: inherit;">Best YA Books of December</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 1px;"><i>Teach Me to Forget is the story of Ellery, a girl who learns how to live while waiting for the date she chose to die.</i></span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-top: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Ellery’s bought the gun, made arrangements for her funeral, and even picked the day. A Wednesday. Everything has fallen into place.</i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-top: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Now all she has to do is die.</i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-top: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>When her plans go awry and the gun she was going to kill herself with breaks, she does the one thing she has control over–return it and get a new one. After tormenting the crusty customer service associate by trying to return the gun with the wrong receipt, Ellery gets caught by the security guard who also happens to be someone she knows–the annoyingly perfect Colter Sawyer from her English class.</i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-top: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Colter quickly uncovers what she’s hiding and is determined to change her mind. After confessing a closely held secret of his own, he promises not to tell hers. Ellery tries to fight her attraction to him as the shadows of her past cling tight around her, but when she’s faced with another tragedy, she must decide whether her love for one boy is more important than a lifetime of pain.</i></span><i style="font-family: inherit; text-transform: uppercase;"><br /></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-top: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-transform: uppercase;"><i><b>PRAISE FOR TEACH ME TO FORGET</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">“In this stunningly brave and necessary debut, Erica M. Chapman takes us on a journey to the edge and back—exploring grief, depression, and suicide with candor, insight, and above all, hope.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">– Amber Smith, <i style="margin: 0px;">New York Times </i>bestselling author of <i style="margin: 0px;">The Way I Used to Be</i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">“A beautifully crafted, dark, and heartbreaking look at depression and suicide. Ellery’s story is needed and necessary; Chapman is a writer to watch.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">– Kathleen Glasgow, <em style="margin: 0px;">New York Times</em> bestselling author of <i style="margin: 0px;">Girl in Pieces</i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Ellery’s voice is engaging and authentic, and her edgy black humor comes into play…. Sadness gives way to redemption and an unforced hope in this thoughtful read.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">–<i style="margin: 0px;">Kirkus Reviews</i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="margin: 0px;">“</b>Chapman has crafted a hauntingly beautiful story with richly developed characters. A moving tale to recommend, especially to readers who loved Jennifer Niven’s <i style="margin: 0px;">All the Bright Places.”</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">—School Library Journal</span></i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Chapman has brilliantly
written from a perspective of authenticity that produces a genuinely wrenching
story. Ellery is heartbreakingly realistic, and readers will find themselves
lost in her turmoil. Fans of Laurie Halse Anderson and Jennifer Brown will
clamor for this debut novel from an author whose dark and emotional story will
resonate with teen readers.”—<i>VOYA Magazine</i></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You can buy <i>Teach Me To Forget</i> from these retailers: <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781440594571">Indie Bound</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/teach-me-to-forget-erica-chapman/1123509349?ean=9781440594571">Barnes & Noble</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Teach-Me-Forget-Erica-Chapman/dp/1440594570/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480714298&sr=8-1&keywords=teach+me+to+forget">Amazon</a> and <a href="http://www.adamsmediastore.com/teach-me-to-forget">Adams Media Bookstore</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Also available in audio from <a href="http://www.audible.com/pd/Teens/Teach-Me-to-Forget-Audiobook/B01N6BTPVX/">Audible</a>!</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You visit Erica's </span><a href="http://ericamchapman.com/" style="font-family: inherit;">website</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> and follow her on Twitter </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">@ericamchapman</b><span style="font-family: inherit;">! Watch our for Erica's author interview right here on my blog soon!</span>Neverending Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-80253449591238741532016-11-15T13:30:00.000-08:002016-11-15T13:30:29.454-08:00Happy Book Birthday to Ed Young's The Cat From Hunger Mountain!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3za1bLh2i0qbrZDoclLFMKjZyTMcowFHhoXhkOWISRqhyphenhyphenzJfLn7Jo_U5iIWPt5MbSHUsYBmg8oSPTbsb9dpjMNacJpPNQf4HG8fpzGz-HO6VbKhOBzjnsXSF540V0fmNL_L-rUDd0b2ux/s1600/CatFromHungerMountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3za1bLh2i0qbrZDoclLFMKjZyTMcowFHhoXhkOWISRqhyphenhyphenzJfLn7Jo_U5iIWPt5MbSHUsYBmg8oSPTbsb9dpjMNacJpPNQf4HG8fpzGz-HO6VbKhOBzjnsXSF540V0fmNL_L-rUDd0b2ux/s320/CatFromHungerMountain.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>
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Caldecott winner Ed Young's latest picture book came out today from Philomel, an imprint of Penguin Random House. <em>The Cat From Hunger Mountain</em>, which he wrote and illustrated, has published to amazing reviews (including three starred reviews!), was selected as one of <a data-mce-href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/03/books/review/best-illustrated-books-of-2016.html" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/03/books/review/best-illustrated-books-of-2016.html">New York Times Best Illustrated Books of 2016</a>, an <a data-mce-href="https://www.amazon.com/b/ref=s9_acss_bw_cg_BOTYkid_2c1?node=10238950011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-2&pf_rd_r=PJKXCG6W6BBDFGBFCFA7&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=8a10ac97-a29c-4885-a2da-8a8a60c9f63b&pf_rd_i=10207133011" href="https://www.amazon.com/b/ref=s9_acss_bw_cg_BOTYkid_2c1?node=10238950011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-2&pf_rd_r=PJKXCG6W6BBDFGBFCFA7&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=8a10ac97-a29c-4885-a2da-8a8a60c9f63b&pf_rd_i=10207133011">Amazon Best Book of the Year</a>, is one of <a data-mce-href="https://www.bookish.com/articles/fall-2016s-best-childrens-and-middle-grade-books-royal-babies-refugees-and-reincarnation/" href="https://www.bookish.com/articles/fall-2016s-best-childrens-and-middle-grade-books-royal-babies-refugees-and-reincarnation/">Bookish' Best Children's Books of Fall 2016</a> and is currently a #1 New Release in the Children's Asian Literature category on Amazon. </div>
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<em>In a place called Hunger Mountain there lives a lord who has everything imaginable yet never has enough. To satisfy his every desire, he hires builders to design the tallest pagoda; a world-famous tailor to make his clothing from silk and gold threads; and a renowned chef to cook him lavish meals with rice from the lord's own fields. What more could he possibly want?</em><br /><br /><em>Yet when drought plagues the land, Lord Cat is faced with his first taste of deep loss, he ventures down the mountain and what he discovers will change his life forever.</em><br /><br /><em>Rendered in exquisite mixed-media collage, Caldecott Medalist Ed Young's deceptively simple fable is a deeply affecting tale about appreciating the value of treasures that need not be chased.</em></div>
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“Young is at the height of his powers in this fable that offers a feast for the eyes, mind, and soul. A visual masterpiece.”--<em>Kirkus Reviews</em> <strong>starred review</strong></div>
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“compelling fable…is crucial for humanity and will spark meaningful classroom conversations.”--School Library Journal <strong>starred review</strong></div>
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“Young crafts his images from a variety of patterned papers and photographs, a repurposing that gracefully echoes the story’s themes.”--Publishers Weekly <strong>starred review</strong></div>
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You can buy <em>The Cat From Hunger Mountain</em> at <a data-mce-href="https://www.amazon.com/Cat-Hunger-Mountain-Ed-Young/dp/0399172785/ref=lp_10238950011_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1479244114&sr=1-6" href="https://www.amazon.com/Cat-Hunger-Mountain-Ed-Young/dp/0399172785/ref=lp_10238950011_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1479244114&sr=1-6">Amazon</a>, <a data-mce-href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-cat-from-hunger-mountain-ed-young/1123459756?ean=9780399172786" href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-cat-from-hunger-mountain-ed-young/1123459756?ean=9780399172786">Barnes & Noble</a>, <a data-mce-href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780399172786" href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780399172786">Indie Bound</a>, <a data-mce-href="http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/317280/the-cat-from-hunger-mountain-by-ed-young-illustrated-by-ed-young/" href="http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/317280/the-cat-from-hunger-mountain-by-ed-young-illustrated-by-ed-young/">Penguin Random House </a>and your local bookstore!</div>
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Learn more about Ed and his boyd of work at his <a data-mce-href="http://www.edyoungart.com/" href="http://www.edyoungart.com/">website</a>!</div>
Neverending Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-65081315221303569702016-09-21T14:09:00.001-07:002016-09-21T14:22:41.221-07:00Author Interview and Giveaway: Sarah Glenn Marsh<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUg8SVPuCx5B6kbWCyG_yM5zRi53baaB617blZ-H7PNGFdIFjKMI91FcDsljrlWmAXRAewwjMtutl9dQuA3KitI9kQ7DWJbeOzMZJSXuSHXA7gjWqm8FXAy2BGEfbOj44bql32E7Fx9uZe/s1600/marsh_DSC_6325_2015_web_size.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUg8SVPuCx5B6kbWCyG_yM5zRi53baaB617blZ-H7PNGFdIFjKMI91FcDsljrlWmAXRAewwjMtutl9dQuA3KitI9kQ7DWJbeOzMZJSXuSHXA7gjWqm8FXAy2BGEfbOj44bql32E7Fx9uZe/s1600/marsh_DSC_6325_2015_web_size.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I virtually sat down with author Sarah Glenn Marsh to talk about writing, becoming a published author and her much-anticipated debut YA, Fear the Drowning Deep (Sky Pony, October 11th, 2016). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br />I'm also running a giveaway. One lucky winner will receive an ARC (advanced readers copy) of Fear the Drowning Deep! Enter at the bottom of the post below through Rafflecopter. You can enter between 9/22 at 12am through 9/29 at 12am. Get those entries in! </b><i style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: 21.6px;">S<span style="font-family: inherit;">ixteen-year-old Bridey Corkill longs to leave her small island and see the world; the farther from the sea, the better. </span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: 21.6px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When Bridey was young, she witnessed something lure her granddad off a cliff and into a watery grave with a smile on his face. Now, in 1913, those haunting memories are dredged to the surface when a young woman is found drowned on the beach. Bridey suspects that whatever compelled her Granddad to leap has made its return to the Isle of Man.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Soon, people in Bridey’s idyllic village begin vanishing, and she finds an injured boy on the shore—an outsider who can’t remember who he is or where he’s from. Bridey’s family takes him in so he can rest and heal. In exchange for saving his life, he teaches Bridey how to master her fear of the water—stealing her heart in the process.</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="line-height: 21.6px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But something sinister is lurking in the deep, and Bridey must gather her courage to figure out who—or what—is plaguing her village, and find a way to stop it before she loses everyone she loves.</span></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwAy8dq3A3poTDBd-fCcCA2BGZpBzKubqL12ml2v-wto-bO3I8eCr-dicfJFbxIkp49SKfX8CNplF6hsqU6AtOWOcWEHg7gU3CNadpkDgpefyQCmKIWHSXtib0U35ObGeB2_E1DnOH4O5I/s1600/cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwAy8dq3A3poTDBd-fCcCA2BGZpBzKubqL12ml2v-wto-bO3I8eCr-dicfJFbxIkp49SKfX8CNplF6hsqU6AtOWOcWEHg7gU3CNadpkDgpefyQCmKIWHSXtib0U35ObGeB2_E1DnOH4O5I/s200/cover.jpg" width="127" /></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px;">"Haunting—gripping—beautiful. So powerful!" —Tamora Pierce, #1 </span><i style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px;">New York Times</i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px;"> bestselling author of the Beka Cooper trilogy</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px;">"[A]tmospheric historical fantasy . . . evocative setting, memorable characters, and use of obscure folkloric elements all contribute to the novel’s strong sense of place." —</span><i style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px;">Publishers Weekly</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-style: normal;">"[T]his watery take on “Beauty and the Beast” will be catnip to paranormal-romance readers." —</span><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Kirkus Reviews</i></i></span></div>
<b>So, this is your debut YA. What was the process like for you from query to book? What was your favorite part of the process? It must be exciting that your release date is quickly approaching!</b><br />
Fear the Drowning Deep had an interesting start, because it wasn’t a book I queried with; I was actually writing it when I was offered rep for another YA project, but it was clear even back then that this book was meant to be my debut!<br />
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My favorite part of the process was probably getting the call about the offer of publication; it felt so absolutely life-changing, and I can still remember my energy, excitement, and ultimate exhaustion after sharing the news with my husband, family, and closest friends!<br />
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<b>How do you come up with ideas for the books you write?</b><br />
I come up with ideas in a couple ways; sometimes, like with Fear, I’ll read a book about something and then want to put my own spin on it (prior to writing Fear, I’d been reading a lot of stories with ocean settings, and I wanted to experiment with that atmosphere and lore for myself!). Other times, I’ll take some bit of mythology (for instance, the myth of Orpheus) and brainstorm on how I can use it in a way that’s different from how other authors have interpreted it for their work.<br />
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<b>Manx folklore is new to a lot of people. How did you come across it and what about it inspired you to write this book? </b><br />
When choosing the setting for Fear, I had only a vague idea for a story in mind ("Girl is afraid of the ocean. She has to save her town from something terrible in the water. Wouldn't it be agony to fear the ocean and be stuck on an island your whole life?"). As I looked up various islands, I came across a map of the Isle of Man, which I'd never heard of before. The first time I saw it in pictures, I thought, "This is a place where magic could happen." What stood out to me is that it's beautiful and rugged enough to be something out of a fantasy land, and the culture there is steeped in centuries of lore. It’s the sort of wild, untamed place where anything seems possible, and the more I read about it, the more I envisioned my story unfolding there on the rocky cliffs, among sea birds and starfish. The Manx culture, landscape, and mythology really helped shape the story in a magical way!<br />
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<b>Did you have a playlist or any songs that you liked to listen to while you wrote? What would Bridey’s theme song be?</b><br />
I do! I have a playlist for Fear the Drowning Deep that I loved to listen to before writing, to set the mood. Here’s a sampling from it:<br />
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*You Brought Me Up by Méav<br />
*When It Comes to Us by Frances (ft. Ritual)<br />
*Salt Skin by Ellie Goulding<br />
*Full Fathom Five by Méav<br />
*Runaway by Aurora<br />
*Bow Down by Chvrches<br />
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Bridey’s personal theme song would be Wild Child, by Cardiknox!<br />
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You can listen to the above mentioned songs and other music that inspired Fear the Drowning Deep with this handy playlist on YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwQ_WEcPM-Ora15odQ05xidaRforntP1X">https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwQ_WEcPM-Ora15odQ05xidaRforntP1X</a><br />
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<b>How do you come up with your characters? I’ve heard some writers will dream about their characters or hear them in their head begging them to write their story! </b><br />
I’ve never dreamt about my characters, but they’re definitely the first element I need to establish when I’m starting a new book! They usually come to me when I’m jotting down the bare bones of a story idea, and I’ll hear them in my head, then develop them before moving on to any other parts of the plot or world building!<br />
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<b>What was your favorite scene to write and why? </b><br />
I loved writing the scene where Bridey finds Fynn on the beach, half-dead! I loved writing it because it was so full of tension—she’s wondering at first if he’s dead, and she’s hesitant to even approach—and because there’s this innocence about the way she approaches a naked boy that’s almost comical and also endearing. And writing their interaction when he wakes up had me giggling the whole way through!<br />
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<b>Was there ever a point where you were stuck wondering where to take the story next? What did you do to break the writer’s block?</b><br />
My trick for writer’s block is one I’d heard a few times before, but was skeptical of until I tried it for myself: take a shower! Whenever I was (or am) stuck in a draft, taking a break for a hot shower always helps me brainstorm; there’s something about relaxing your mind that lets the best ideas float to the surface. In fact, I keep a waterproof notepad in the shower because it’s where the majority of my ideas hit me!<br />
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<b>Are there any upcoming book events you’re excited for?</b><br />
I’m especially excited for an event I’m doing with fellow authors Martina Boone, Jodi Meadows, Lisa Maxwell, and Victoria Scott at One More Page Books in Arlington, VA on October 25th. So many authors in one adorable bookstore should make for an awesome party! We’ll be celebrating the book birthday for Illusion, the conclusion to Martina’s Southern Gothic YA trilogy!<br />
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And of course, I’m really excited to have the launch party for Fear the Drowning Deep at Books of Wonder in NYC on October 14th!<br />
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<b>From an agent’s side of things, I can say that people who work in children’s publishing are really nice and just plain awesome. How has it been connecting with other authors? </b><br />
Connecting with other authors has been nothing short of amazing. I’m constantly impressed by everyone’s generosity—from donating critiques for various auctions to just going out of their way to help fellow authors. I’ve made so many wonderful friends, both online and in person, as a result of joining the YA community, and I’m grateful for them all!<br />
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<b>What’s your favorite (s) recent YA that has come out or is coming out? Did you have a favorite book growing up?</b><br />
Asking about books is dangerous—I could go on for hours! But, I’ll try to keep this brief.<br />
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As for favorite YAs coming out soon, there’s one I blurbed that I’m really excited about! It’s fellow Sky Pony author Jill MacKenzie’s Spin the Sky, a heart-wrenching contemporary YA about family and hardships and a dance competition. Another YA I loved earlier this year was Shannon Parker’s The Girl Who Fell. I sat down on my couch with it, thinking I’d try a few chapters, and wound up reading the whole dark and twisty story in one sitting!<br />
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My favorite book series growing up was Harry Potter, since I grew up alongside Harry! In my later teens, my favorite series became The Lord of the Rings.<br />
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My newest favorite book doesn’t fall into the YA category, but it’s worth a mention all the same: The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers. It’s a sci-fi that I keep recommending it to everyone because the characters are so well-done, and it’s beautifully diverse!<br />
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<b>So you write picture books too. How is the process different between the two?</b><br />
The interesting thing about picture books is how you have to convey so much with very few words; in YA, you of course have far more space to get your ideas across. In picture books, too, you have to be mindful that illustrations should tell part of the story, while in YA, you’re trying to paint a picture for your readers without any visuals at all!<br />
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Follow Sarah on Twitter @SG_Marsh and visit her website: <a href="http://www.sarahglennmarsh.com/">http://www.sarahglennmarsh.com/</a><br />
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You can pre-order <a href="http://skyponypress.com/skypony?catid=0&id=11475">Fear the Drowning Deep</a> now!<br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fear-the-drowning-deep-sarah-glenn-marsh/1123362778?ean=9781510703483#productInfoTabs">Barnes & Noble</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781510703483">Indie Bound</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fear-Drowning-Sarah-Glenn-Marsh/dp/1510703489/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474492419&sr=8-1&keywords=fear+the+drowning+deep">Amazon</a></li>
</ul>
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Neverending Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.com103tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-67307155812458983682016-06-06T10:45:00.001-07:002016-06-06T10:47:42.687-07:00THE HOLE STORY OF THE DOUGHNUT receiving great reviews!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HXF8oRsOqGLFRVNiHejGnJeIvMf6ne9hIrS2AkkDouBcMrSlsE0HNivDAtEu7oZtDdep2ztERYkqKA2WQ_-zhO7Zs5d7LYm4ZTCc0O8o8QL0U70ZUf2ByhlLhNwuC5RUlD1uTCrQbmUy/s1600/61I7a3mQlkL._SX496_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HXF8oRsOqGLFRVNiHejGnJeIvMf6ne9hIrS2AkkDouBcMrSlsE0HNivDAtEu7oZtDdep2ztERYkqKA2WQ_-zhO7Zs5d7LYm4ZTCc0O8o8QL0U70ZUf2ByhlLhNwuC5RUlD1uTCrQbmUy/s320/61I7a3mQlkL._SX496_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="318" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 26px;">Illustrator Vincent X. Kirsch's latest from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt published last month to some great reviews! </span></span></span><strong style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 25.5px;"><u>Junior Library Guild</u> has selected <em style="position: relative;">The Hole Story of the Doughnut </em>as one of their 12 elementary nonfiction selections for 2016! </strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 26px;">Written by Pat Miller, <i>The Hole Story of the Doughnut</i> tells the true story of the invention of the beloved pastry by Hanson Gregory. </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;">In 1843, fourteen-year-old Hanson Gregory left his family home in Rockport, Maine, and set sail as a cabin boy on the schooner </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;">Achorn</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;">, looking for high-stakes adventure on the high seas. Little did he know that a boatload of hungry sailors, coupled with his knack for creative problem-solving, would yield one of the world’s most prized and beloved pastries. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">School Library Journal praises the book saying, "Kirsch has admirably complemented the story with bright, cartoonlike illustrations that evoke the history and the humor of the tale. Clever "porthole," or "doughnut hole," borders frame each page. Whimsically, the artist has placed doughnuts throughout, from the endpapers, which include several varieties, to the back cover, which features an octopus holding a doughnut on each arm. VERDICT A lively offering for reading and sharing that will encourage the youngest of researchers to wonder and learn about other everyday items in their world."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;">K</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26px;">irkus Reviews said, "Kirsch’s charming watercolor collages liberally employ round motifs: on many spreads, the circular illustration on the right page is “cut” from the left, freeing up a circle of white space for text... Delicious</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26px;">!"</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a;">Booklist called Doughnut an, "Entertaining</span><span style="color: #2a2a2a;">...tasty bit of history." </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Publishers Weekly exclaims, "I</span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">n colorful scenes that evoke 1970s </span><em style="color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">Schoolhouse Rock</em><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 24px;"> vignettes, Kirsch (</span><em style="color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">Gingerbread for Liberty!</em><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">) depict rows of wide-mouthed seafarers with entire doughnuts between their open jaws; later, sailors enter Gregory’s mother’s harbor-side doughnut shop stooped over and exit dancing jigs on the other side, “holey cakes” in hand. Mimicking Gregory’s ring-cutting innovation, the book’s memorable design takes large circular cuts out of Kirsch’s vibrant watercolors, transplanting the circles to the facing pages while leaving behind an empty frame for Miller’s (</span><em style="color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">Substitute Groundhog</em><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">) text."</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Hole Story of the Doughnut is available now!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fdfdfd; color: #505050; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">Vincent X. Kirsch is an author, illustrator and designer living in Los Angeles. He has lived in Florence (Italy), New York City and Boston. His illustrations are created in a two-dimensional adaptation of this paper cut toy theaters that he has been building for most of his life. His work is very influenced by theater, puppetry, poster art, classical painting techniques and Hollywood films. His whimsical character designs and storylines range from the fantastically out-of-this-world to inspiringly down-to-earth.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fdfdfd; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: #505050; font-family: "old standard tt" , serif;"><a href="http://www.vincentxkirsch.com/">http://www.vincentxkirsch.com/ </a></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 26px;">Links to the full reviews can be found here:</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 26px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/pat-miller/the-hole-story-of-the-doughnut/">https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/pat-miller/the-hole-story-of-the-doughnut/ </a></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 26px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-544-31961-5">http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-544-31961-5</a></span></span>Neverending Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-81143690073906261452016-03-29T08:43:00.002-07:002016-04-07T13:15:12.317-07:00Author Interview: Linda Marshall<div class="MsoNormal">
So, I wanted to start doing some author features and interviews on my blog with the talented, amazing authors and illustrators I am lucky enough to work with :) The first in my blog author series is Linda Marshall. <span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-kyNS914v1XKn-pUrY3UgQZXseid7yZFCjFj-0aU8nFy68wDNm-3U8MlX3lBN23A1FP4px3dVJcIKlkI8p7mZHyvL9jjtymT7vI78vhGUmMCfCqy5t86UkxCwgoc1RuU3DjJgi2NUbEV/s1600/Authorphoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-kyNS914v1XKn-pUrY3UgQZXseid7yZFCjFj-0aU8nFy68wDNm-3U8MlX3lBN23A1FP4px3dVJcIKlkI8p7mZHyvL9jjtymT7vI78vhGUmMCfCqy5t86UkxCwgoc1RuU3DjJgi2NUbEV/s1600/Authorphoto.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photograph credit: Deborah Feingold</td></tr>
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Linda (Elovitz) Marshall comes to writing for children after
several other careers including teaching early childhood education, parenting
education, working on her Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology, owning and operating
her own bookstore, freelance writing, producing “as-told-to” autobiographies,
and raising four children and a small flock of sheep. Regarding writing for
children, Linda’s a late-bloomer, having her first picture book accepted for
publication when she was already a grandmother. Since then, ten more of her
picture books have been published or accepted for publication. Linda also
writes chapter books and Middle Grade novels as well as occasional essays for
newspapers and magazines. She enjoys writing about just about everything –
except for things with hormones!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.lindamarshall.com/"> <b>Website</b></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/LindaMarshallBooks?ref=aymt_homepage_panel">Facebook</a></b></div>
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<b>Twitter:</b>
@L_E_Marshall</div>
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Hi Christa,<o:p></o:p></div>
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First, I’d like to thank you for inviting me to participate in
your blog interview. It’s been so great working with you…and I <i>love </i>the
feedback you give me that helps me make my stories better and better. Thank
you!<br />
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1.<span class="apple-tab-span"> </span><b>What
is must-know about your upcoming project, MOMMY,
BABY AND ME (Peter Pauper Press, 2017)? </b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="apple-tab-span"> <u1:p class=""></u1:p></span>Prior to
writing for children, I taught early childhood education and parenting
education. I raised my four children and a small flock of sheep, studied
cultural anthropology, and owned a bookstore. In various ways, almost all of my
projects relate to experiences I’ve had or things I’ve learned along the way.
Many of them relate to things I’ve learned as a parent, student of early
childhood development, or as a cultural anthropologist.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="apple-tab-span"> <u1:p class=""></u1:p></span>MOMMY, BABY,
AND ME addresses an important transition - <i>becoming</i> a
parent. That transition - from non-parent to parent – is forever. In my
opinion, American culture needs to give that transition more attention. As
humorist Erma Bombeck said long ago, “the thing about having a baby is that,
once you have it, you <i>have </i>it.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="apple-tab-span"> <u1:p class=""></u1:p></span> By seeing
the new baby from the point of view of a much-beloved (and now somewhat
displaced) family dog, MOMMY, BABY, AND ME highlights how an older sibling
might feel. Or to how a family dog might feel! Or, perhaps, how a close friend
might feel. With every birth (or death), a family undergoes a re-arrangement.
It takes time to adjust.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="apple-tab-span"> <u1:p class=""></u1:p></span>Personally, I
remember coming home with my first-born. My much-beloved dog skulked around,
unhappy. After awhile, he got used to the new baby….Who knows? If I'd had a
book to read to my dog, maybe the transition might have been easier? </div>
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<u1:p class=""></u1:p>2.<span class="apple-tab-span"> </span><b>What
draws you to write picture books?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>Spending years
in early childhood education, I developed a great love for picture books. I
love the language, the pictures, the concise - often poetic - way a story is
told. I love that a good picture book contains some “universal” element, gently
touching something we all feel. <o:p></o:p></div>
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3. <b>Where
do you primarily look for inspiration for your picture books? </b><br />
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-FV7bbtq-YMURnDbQwfsMuD0kMgKla6arlMiV6wASx_dNz7GmQzF_A-RlUyF5Jwn012j3sDAdtuLaXPHGGBxu4-lARGs9e_J6VLgi71y71Wi3jad7hxYCbcfwAE60wzv6r9zWKOGSzWx/s1600/RainbowWeaver+JKT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-FV7bbtq-YMURnDbQwfsMuD0kMgKla6arlMiV6wASx_dNz7GmQzF_A-RlUyF5Jwn012j3sDAdtuLaXPHGGBxu4-lARGs9e_J6VLgi71y71Wi3jad7hxYCbcfwAE60wzv6r9zWKOGSzWx/s200/RainbowWeaver+JKT.jpg" width="170" /></a></b></div>
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<o:p> </o:p><span class="apple-tab-span"> </span><br />
<span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>I find
inspiration all around. </div>
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<span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>Recently, I was
trying to help a close friend who is from Guatemala and who established a
not-for-profit weavers’ co-operative that enables Guatemalan Mayan women to
sell their artisanal products in the U.S. through Fair Trade markets. I wanted
to write <i>something </i>to help that co-operative. But, what? My friend and I
brainstormed some ideas. I wrote a rough draft. Then I went to Guatemala,
researched, and read the draft to Mayan women in the co-operatives. They helped
me hone the story. The result: RAINBOW WEAVER, forthcoming with Lee & Low
(2016). </div>
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<span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>RAINBOW WEAVER
tells the story of a young Mayan girl (Ixchel) who wants to learn to weave to
help her family pay for her books and school fees. Unfortunately, there’s not
enough thread - and thread is too costly for her to learn on. Instead, Ixchel
constructs her own loom and tries weaving with grasses, then with bits of wool.
Ultimately, she uses strips from the ubiquitous - and destructive - plastic
bags. Ixchel finally learns to weave - like the generations of women before her
- and, in the process, helps clean her village. </div>
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<span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>Indeed, Mayan
weavers in Guatemala <i>are </i>cleaning their environment by weaving with
plastic bags. They’re also supporting their families.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>Part of
the proceeds from RAINBOW WEAVER will directly help weavers in the Mayan
Hands and MayaWorks co-operatives. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>I feel very
proud to make this contribution.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4GoH_s3VaOkreeTyOsfb_RIRdCFTVuVE1jIDQYCssuk9F3P1nf_ISTQBfbVmTHAjd4JMWMs-sK6bBTPTAF0a1xUFwpECRHj7F_UN6etqvPLKcF9VRBcpbcPSnFDu-u3FmdgCWWbVFYzH/s1600/kindergarten.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4GoH_s3VaOkreeTyOsfb_RIRdCFTVuVE1jIDQYCssuk9F3P1nf_ISTQBfbVmTHAjd4JMWMs-sK6bBTPTAF0a1xUFwpECRHj7F_UN6etqvPLKcF9VRBcpbcPSnFDu-u3FmdgCWWbVFYzH/s200/kindergarten.jpg" width="166" /></a></div>
4. <b>Is
there are a project of yours that you are most proud of or excited about?</b><br />
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<o:p> </o:p>I’m so proud of
all my projects, it’s hard to single one out. </div>
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A forthcoming
book, KINDERGARTEN IS COOL! (Scholastic, 2016) is about going to school - and
all the joys and angst it entails. It’s a joyous, warm book. I hope it helps
new kindergartners be prepared for - and love - this transition in their lives.
If my book makes going to school easier for just one child…Wow! I’d feel great! </div>
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5.<span class="apple-tab-span"> <b> </b></span><b>How
do you approach writing for different age groups?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>I always try to
write with great respect for my readers - especially when writing for the very
young. I try to
keep everything I write - whether for adults or young children - clear and
accessible. I dislike obfuscation or jargon. Shorter is
better. Good writing is
good writing. </div>
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6.<span class="apple-tab-span"> </span><b>To
what extent do your own life and interests reflect themselves in your work?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>I have many
different life experiences and many different interests. Part of me is in <i>everything
</i>I write. It has to be. If part of me isn't there, the story doesn't ring
true.</div>
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7.<span class="apple-tab-span"> </span><b>Who
are some of your favorite picture book authors? </b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>Leo Lionni -
especially <i>Swimmy </i>and <i>Frederick</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="apple-tab-span"><i> </i></span>Candace Fleming<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>Ezra Jack Keats<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>Beatrice Schenk
de Regniers - especially <i>May I Bring A Friend? </i> </div>
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8.<span class="apple-tab-span"> </span><b>What’s
the revision process like for you? </b></div>
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<span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>I find revision
both never-ending and a great joy. I <i>adore </i>revision. I love to work
on the words until I get them - and the story - <i>just </i>right. With picture
books and essays, I am compulsive about revision. I’m also trying to learn more
about revision in longer works. It’s all a learning process. </div>
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9.<span class="apple-tab-span"> </span><b>What
do you know now about publishing that you wish you could tell yourself before
you started? </b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>Speaking of a
learning process, I wish I’d been encouraged earlier to write. As a young
person, I knew I was good at writing - but I assumed that everyone, with enough
education, could write clearly. I also thought that - with my relatively
normal, happy childhood - I didn’t have enough angst in my life to be a good
writer. And as a child who was not good at dancing, drawing, playing an
instrument, singing on-key, or even telling right from left, I assumed I had
absolutely <i>no </i>talent, whatsoever. It wasn’t until about ten
years ago, that I first attempted to write for children. I’m so happy now that
I’m writing for kids. I only wish that early on - in high school or in college
- someone would have guided me toward doing more writing. But, then, I wouldn’t
have had as many life experiences earlier. So, I guess it all works out
perfectly!<o:p></o:p></div>
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10.<span class="apple-tab-span"> </span><b>What do
you think the most important element of a good story is? </b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>For me, it all
depends on the story. Sometimes it’s character development, sometimes
humor, sometimes plot. What’s a good story for me might not be a good one for
someone else…Also, some stories work best in some seasons, at some places, and
some times in a person’s life. It all depends... </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Note: I previously interviewed Vincent X. Kirsch on the <a href="http://mcintoshandotis.com/2014/12/author-chat-vincent-x-kirsch/">M&O blog</a>.</span></div>
Neverending Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-2285611520277684192015-11-23T07:15:00.002-08:002015-11-23T07:15:54.452-08:00Ask the Agent!From 11AM to 4PM ET I am taking your questions about the industry, what an Agent does etc. etc. Please see my last post below for all the details! <br />
<br />
Please ask your questions in the comments section of this post.<br />
<br />
I look forward to answering your questions!Neverending Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.com45tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-27776786587880608262015-11-19T12:01:00.002-08:002015-11-19T12:01:27.400-08:00Ask the Agent 11/23!Hi everyone! It's been a while since I've posted so I thought I'd start with an "Ask the Agent" post!<br />
<br />
On Monday 11/23, I will be accepting questions relating to what an Agent does, questions about the industry itself, questions about different genres, craft, the Author/Agent relationship, my agenting style, my agency, the querying process etc.<br />
<br />
Please do <b>not</b> use this space to ask me if I read or received your query. I have a page about my submissions policy on this blog and I also regularly update where I am with queries here as well (the column to the right on the main page).<br />
<br />
Please also do <b>not</b> use this space as a place to pitch me!<br />
<br />
Remember I am a children's agent so please keep your questions within the realm of children's books! Thanks :)<br />
<br />
I will create a new post on Monday which will be open to your questions from <b>11 AM Eastern Time (ET) to 4 PM Eastern Time (ET) [8AM- 1PM Pacific Time (PT)]</b>.<br />
<br />
I look forward to answering your questions!<br />
<br />
-Christa<br />
<br />Neverending Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-58720406028070308692015-01-22T12:53:00.001-08:002015-01-22T14:59:19.764-08:00Giveaway: Freddie and Gingersnap Find a Cloud to Keep by Vincent X. Kirsch<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm excited to be announcing my first ever giveaway! <b>4</b> <b>winners</b> will receive <b>one (1) </b>copy of Vincent Kirsch's second book in the Freddie & Gingersnap series: <b>Freddie & Gingersnap Find a Cloud to Keep</b> and <b>one (1) lucky Grand Prize winner</b> will get <b>one (1) </b>copy of both books in the series: <b>Freddie & Gingersnap</b> and <b>Freddie & Gingersnap Find a Cloud to Keep! </b>The giveaway will run from 12am ET 1/23 to 12am ET 1/30! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you to <a href="http://books.disney.com/">Disney Publishing Worldwide</a> for providing the copies to giveaway!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;"><b><u>About Vincent X. Kirsch:</u></b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;">VINCENT X. KIRSCH </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;">is an author and illustrator living in Los Angeles. He spent over thirty years in New York City before heading for the sunny side of the country. Before he happened into picture books, Vincent kept busy doing things such as working as a stockboy at the original Dean & Deluca (he later became the visual merchandiser, overseeing everything visual for all stores around the world), serving as the print art director at Showtime, designing Broadway posters, designing windows and displays for Bergdorf Goodman, and illustrating book jackets, to name a few. Then… one day, out of the blue, an editor called from BloomsburyUSA Children’s Books and asked if he was interested in doing picture books. His answer was “Yes! Very interested!!”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;"><a href="http://www.vincentxkirsch.com/">Website</a> | </span><a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/VincenzoXKirsch" style="background: rgb(245, 248, 250); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 14px; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none !important;"><span style="color: black;">@<span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="text-decoration: underline !important;">VincenzoXKirsch</span></span></a><span style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #8899a6; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 14px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;"> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1437011.Vincent_X_Kirsch">Goodreads</a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjcIytTwVhvPfqjRzcqzZOZX9BtGPxylsuYpAG39cM24zEix02PqQCjVDUEMGTgc-Hyb2lYsiYh_69NtSBjYK2zDDmwpQVj7FrHenAtBDsiE8mmeMPLTRCo3YFKCE7Hu-cJN32jgfIMKWZ/s1600/cloudtokeepcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjcIytTwVhvPfqjRzcqzZOZX9BtGPxylsuYpAG39cM24zEix02PqQCjVDUEMGTgc-Hyb2lYsiYh_69NtSBjYK2zDDmwpQVj7FrHenAtBDsiE8mmeMPLTRCo3YFKCE7Hu-cJN32jgfIMKWZ/s1600/cloudtokeepcover.jpg" /></a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Freddie & Gingersnap Meet a Cloud to Keep (Disney, Jan. 2015):</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Freddie and Gingersnap meet a cloud. It's a peculiar cloud. It sings a song. It asks questions. It knows magic. And Freddie wants to keep it. . .but Gingersnap knows you can't keep a cloud. Or could you?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Enjoy this winsome reminder that sometimes the best and only place to keep something wonderful is in the heart.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"><br /></span></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxgapfe1Q6PlBdI0uGUciaiXLpe1pwgCYyUyWVe1q5qsZHa_XcUuuFpaAv5t8vjC7WNgSrdS7JI4eSy7YGiVdBZAUWR_TTwCUP0u8g5Aq_vEbG5sSRnT7NWjYBq_iEN7JkXQk5fz92HA-/s1600/F&G.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxgapfe1Q6PlBdI0uGUciaiXLpe1pwgCYyUyWVe1q5qsZHa_XcUuuFpaAv5t8vjC7WNgSrdS7JI4eSy7YGiVdBZAUWR_TTwCUP0u8g5Aq_vEbG5sSRnT7NWjYBq_iEN7JkXQk5fz92HA-/s1600/F&G.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Freddie & Gingersnap (Disney, Jan. 2014):</span></b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Freddie is a little dinosaur that wants more than anything to know what clouds are like. Gingersnap is a little dragon that wishes more than anything to fly. When Gingersnap in a failed first attempt at flight falls right on top of Freddie, the two glare at each other. Then they growl and hiss at each other. But when their individual howls and stomps find a common rhythm, their attempts at aggression transform into a dance of friendship and brings each of them that much closer to realizing his or her dream.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Young listeners are sure to enjoy the text’s vivid aural language and the Little Shop of Horrors–style illustrations...This makes a good story hour choice, with lots of potential for creative drama." --Booklist</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">"This stylish tale of an unlikely friendship has an infectious rhythm."--School Library Journal</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">If you missed Vincent's interview on the McIntosh & Otis blog check it out </span><a href="http://mcintoshandotis.com/2014/12/author-chat-vincent-x-kirsch/" style="background-color: white;">here</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">!</span><br />
<ul>
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<li>When the winners are chosen, it will be announced here and the winners will be emailed.</li>
<li>Please enter your email address in the Rafflecopter form and not the comments.</li>
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<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="856da3b91" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/856da3b91/" id="rcwidget_qitreowq" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>Neverending Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-51282924731320500702015-01-07T09:57:00.000-08:002015-01-07T10:03:08.116-08:00BIRD & DIZ, Illustrated by Ed Young, Receives Starred Reviews<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikttDsNuIGRo-nNvlhTFYXvJ6-u5MG_H8qkcpHNblTuVC8ukhkENn4ik8cwITRr8AiY1dZqrUXJFkXZ984pDyzevPNbTXlkzsCE119RSox-D9tktMzqg0OTFQCz7OsL6jMwmlrvWF0zfcM/s1600/Bird_and_Diz.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikttDsNuIGRo-nNvlhTFYXvJ6-u5MG_H8qkcpHNblTuVC8ukhkENn4ik8cwITRr8AiY1dZqrUXJFkXZ984pDyzevPNbTXlkzsCE119RSox-D9tktMzqg0OTFQCz7OsL6jMwmlrvWF0zfcM/s1600/Bird_and_Diz.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">BIRD & DIZ, a picture book homage to music legends Dizzie Gillespie and Charlier Parker written by Gary Golio and illustrated by Ed Young, has received two starred reviews</span><em style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">. </em><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"></span><em style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">Publishers Weekly</em><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"> notes, “scribbles of pink, orange, and blue correspond to bursts of bright notes…the book’s language and images are every bit as vibrant as the music they celebrate.” Meanwhile, </span><em style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">School Library Journal </em><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">praised the “amusing…frolicking” illustrations of “the ever-experimental Young.” BIRD & DIZ is available from Candlewick Press March 10th, 2015. </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">Congrats, Ed! </span><span style="line-height: 21px;"><a href="http://edyoungart.com/">http://edyoungart.com/</a> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 21px;"><u>About the book:</u></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>An award-winning author and a Caldecott Medalist improvise a
playful tribute to the creators of bebop—Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie.</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
When sax player Charlie "Bird" Parker and trumpeter John
"Dizzy" Gillespie make music together, they toss notes back and forth
like a game of tag and chase each other with sounds. As Dizzy’s cheeks puff out
like a frog with glasses, the two friends beep and bop and push each other to
create a new kind of music—a thrilling fast jazz full of surprises. Blending a
playful, rhythmic narration with expressive illustrations as fluid and dynamic
as their subjects, this tribute to the masters of bebop by acclaimed biographer
Gary Golio and beloved artist Ed Young will have readers hankering to listen
for themselves. </span><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">About the author and illustrator:</span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="line-height: 13.5pt;">Ed Young </b><span style="line-height: 13.5pt;">is the illustrator of more than eighty books for children,
seventeen of which he has also written. Among his books is the Caldecott Medal
winner </span><i style="line-height: 13.5pt;">Lon Po Po, </i><span style="line-height: 13.5pt;">which he both wrote and illustrated. He says
that his work is inspired by the philosophy of Chinese painting. He lives in
Westchester County, New York.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="line-height: 13.5pt;">Gary Golio </b><span style="line-height: 13.5pt;">is the author of several best-selling and award-winning musical picture-book biographies, including<i>Jimi: Sounds Like a Rainbow, When Bob Met Woody, </i>and <i>Spirit Seeker: John Coltrane’s Musical Journey. </i>Gary Golio lives in Hudson Valley, New York.</span></span></div>
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<o:p><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pre-order:</span></u></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780763666606"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Indie Bound</span></a></o:p></div>
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<o:p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bird-Diz-Gary-Golio/dp/0763666602/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1420653235&sr=1-1&keywords=bird+and+diz"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Amazon </span></a></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.candlewick.com/cat.asp?browse=Title&mode=book&isbn=0763666602&pix=n"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Candlewick Press</span></a></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
Neverending Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-88516583512526383942014-12-03T13:18:00.004-08:002014-12-03T13:19:38.727-08:00Jim Aylesworth’s My Grandfather’s Coat Published to Three Starred Reviews<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_euLkbZ8dpdeHvDu06hMpAKHbcmqd5eR9Dn6f0nd3Eunzi9Tt0VqSC9iSsEItq-oTom6kGg_wRD40fCPJ_uHAJG5a4NhpZv6UdjSr96JQI8Q1iYO__dWMBacXK5sZCCoJf0iQy3_aSCv/s1600/gfcoat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_euLkbZ8dpdeHvDu06hMpAKHbcmqd5eR9Dn6f0nd3Eunzi9Tt0VqSC9iSsEItq-oTom6kGg_wRD40fCPJ_uHAJG5a4NhpZv6UdjSr96JQI8Q1iYO__dWMBacXK5sZCCoJf0iQy3_aSCv/s1600/gfcoat.jpg" height="320" width="249" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #6d6e72; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, 'Arial Unicode MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 21px;">My Grandfather’s Coat</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #6d6e72; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, 'Arial Unicode MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> by Jim Aylesworth (illustrated by Barbara McClintock) was published October 21, 2014 to starred reviews from </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #6d6e72; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, 'Arial Unicode MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Kirkus</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #6d6e72; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, 'Arial Unicode MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">, </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #6d6e72; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, 'Arial Unicode MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Booklist</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #6d6e72; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, 'Arial Unicode MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">, and </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #6d6e72; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, 'Arial Unicode MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Publishers Weekly </em><span style="background-color: white; color: #6d6e72; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, 'Arial Unicode MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">and was n</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #6d6e72; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, 'Arial Unicode MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">amed one of PW's Best Children's Books of the Year</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #6d6e72; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, 'Arial Unicode MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">!</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #6d6e72; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, 'Arial Unicode MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #6d6e72; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, 'Arial Unicode MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #6d6e72; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, 'Arial Unicode MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Based on the Yiddish folk song, “I Had A Little Overcoat,” </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #6d6e72; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, 'Arial Unicode MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 21px;">My Grandfather’s Coat</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #6d6e72; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, 'Arial Unicode MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> tells the story of an immigrant man’s beloved coat as it is passed down through multiple generations. </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #6d6e72; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, 'Arial Unicode MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Kirkus</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #6d6e72; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, 'Arial Unicode MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> called the picture book “sweet and tender and joyful,” while </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #6d6e72; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, 'Arial Unicode MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Publishers Weekly</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #6d6e72; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, 'Arial Unicode MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> said, “Warmth emanates from this thoughtful book, which deserves to become a multi-generational family favorite.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #6d6e72; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, 'Arial Unicode MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #6d6e72; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, 'Arial Unicode MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Also, check out this nice review from The New York Times: </span><span style="color: #6d6e72; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, Arial Unicode MS, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/09/books/review/jim-aylesworths-my-grandfathers-coat-and-more.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0">http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/09/books/review/jim-aylesworths-my-grandfathers-coat-and-more.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0 </a></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #6d6e72; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, Arial Unicode MS, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #6d6e72; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, Arial Unicode MS, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PW's Best Children's Books of 2014: </span><span style="color: #6d6e72; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, Arial Unicode MS, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><a href="http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/64614-pw-s-best-children-s-books-of-2014.html">http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/64614-pw-s-best-children-s-books-of-2014.html</a></span></span>Neverending Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-36278440615320135542014-11-19T10:18:00.003-08:002014-11-19T10:19:40.623-08:00Starred Reviews for Gingerbread for Liberty!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRMZ6SGO_JJmoIHGpKcaWmTjt8A3sb5Us-7tD46eh-kTcI4Wuaw_CutCO5fVLCILEU6YyYwmT51zhQrCmG1JpBRCYlJDgxpnk0cKvXhnAhR_bjez1JEtdfcW-6CuuS2wAJ2WRiqYdIlsVj/s1600/gingerbreadcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRMZ6SGO_JJmoIHGpKcaWmTjt8A3sb5Us-7tD46eh-kTcI4Wuaw_CutCO5fVLCILEU6YyYwmT51zhQrCmG1JpBRCYlJDgxpnk0cKvXhnAhR_bjez1JEtdfcW-6CuuS2wAJ2WRiqYdIlsVj/s1600/gingerbreadcover.jpg" height="320" width="254" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #6d6e72; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, 'Arial Unicode MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 21px;">Gingerbread for Liberty!: How a German Baker Helped Win the American Revolution</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #6d6e72; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, 'Arial Unicode MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">, written by Mara Rockliff and illustrated by (my client, the wonderful) Vincent X. Kirsch, and due for release in January 2015, has received starred reviews from </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #6d6e72; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, 'Arial Unicode MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Publishers Weekly</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #6d6e72; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, 'Arial Unicode MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> and </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #6d6e72; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, 'Arial Unicode MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">School Library Journal</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #6d6e72; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, 'Arial Unicode MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">. The nonfiction picture book tells the tale of the extraordinary baking talent of Christopher Ludwick and how he used his cookies to help General George Washington and his American troops</span><em style="background-color: white; color: #6d6e72; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, 'Arial Unicode MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">. School Library Journal</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #6d6e72; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, 'Arial Unicode MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> notes that this book gives a “fresh look” on the American Revolution with its “accessible” dialogue-laden text and “charming illustrations.” </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #6d6e72; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, 'Arial Unicode MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Publishers Weekly</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #6d6e72; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, 'Arial Unicode MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> said, the story “celebrates an unheralded historical figure, reinforces the value of creatively employing one’s skills, and reminds readers that heroes can be found in surprising places.” Congrats Vincent! (</span><a href="http://www.vincentxkirsch.com/" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #4ca99e; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, 'Arial Unicode MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">http://www.vincentxkirsch.com/</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #6d6e72; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, 'Arial Unicode MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">) Twitter: </span><a href="https://twitter.com/VincenzoXKirsch" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #4ca99e; font-family: Rokkitt, Arial, 'Arial Unicode MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">@VincenzoXKirsch</a>Neverending Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-6325499558812633742014-09-23T10:10:00.002-07:002014-09-23T10:14:00.881-07:00Picture book presentation SCBWI Carolinas<span style="font-family: inherit;">As promised to those who went to my presentation on picture books at the SCBWI Carolinas conference, I am including some of the info from my talk here. I was going to put my entire Power Point up, but I worry about people distributing it and it's really just meant for the people who attended to get anything they missed. I figured this would mostly be all the links at the end, since the rest of the slides didn't have tons of text. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you attended and missed anything else, please write me in the comments section.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Picture book set-up: <span style="text-indent: -0.3in;"><a href="http://inkygirl.com/storage/pdfs/picturebooks/ThumbnailsForSS-v9flat.pdf">http://inkygirl.com/storage/pdfs/picturebooks/ThumbnailsForSS-v9flat.pdf</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Making a dummy: <span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><a href="http://www.ochiltreebooks.com/assets/pdf/fwapicturebookdummy.pdf">http://</a></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><a href="http://www.ochiltreebooks.com/assets/pdf/fwapicturebookdummy.pdf">www.ochiltreebooks.com/assets/pdf/fwapicturebookdummy.pdf</a></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My last slide (Questions and Closing):</span></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If
you want to query me please go to <a href="http://www.mcintoshandotis.com/">www.mcintoshandotis.com</a>
or my blog for submission guidelines. Email queries are preferred: <a href="mailto:chquery@mcintoshandotis.com">chquery@mcintoshandotis.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And
some inspiration… <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/juliapugachevsky/quotes-that-will-make-you-want-to-take-more-risks-with-your">http://www.buzzfeed.com/juliapugachevsky/quotes-that-will-make-you-want-to-take-more-risks-with-your</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/juliapugachevsky/quotes-that-will-make-you-want-to-take-more-risks-with-your"><br /></a>Resources:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/top_teaching/2011/02/helping-students-grasp-themes-in-literature">http</a><a href="http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/top_teaching/2011/02/helping-students-grasp-themes-in-literature">://</a><a href="http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/top_teaching/2011/02/helping-students-grasp-themes-in-literature">www.scholastic.com/teachers/top_teaching/2011/02/helping-students-grasp-themes-in-literature</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/216383957067000577"><br /></a><a href="http://www.yellapalooza.com/tutorials/dummies.html">http://</a><a href="http://www.yellapalooza.com/tutorials/dummies.html">www.yellapalooza.com/tutorials/dummies.html</a></span></div>
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Neverending Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-77463870060541681782014-09-16T15:06:00.005-07:002014-09-16T15:11:09.007-07:00Beating Pre-Conference nervesAs I'm preparing myself for the SCBWI Carolinas writers conference this weekend (Sept. 19-21) I have been thinking about any tips I could give to writers who are attending this conference, who attend conferences in general, or who are looking to attend conferences but haven't made the plunge.<br />
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Many writers worry about how they'll battle their nerves and impress that agent or editor. It can be intimidating to approach someone you don't know and pitch your book or have a critique with them. I think agents and editors often get put on these pedestals. I guess we're seen as gatekeepers of sorts and getting through to us can lead you to the promised land of the published author. And you might worry you won't be able to impress us or get your pitch just right. I'm not going to tell you to imagine the agent or editor you're approaching in their underwear (as that might make things a little weird and personally has never helped me with public speaking and nerves) but try to imagine them as a regular old human being (we are, we promise!). I personally get nervous before speeches, and most people do (even the best public speakers), and sometimes I get nervous meeting authors who I really admire. But, 9/10 times nerves are what happens before you actually start speaking, and once you start going they flit away.<br />
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If you tend to get nervous, practice can really help when it comes to pitching. Practice in front of a mirror; practice for friends or other writers. When you feel good about your pitch you likely won't be nearly as nervous about delivering it. But, be careful not to practice it to the point where you repeat it word for word kind of robotically. Try to be natural. If you have a decent amount of time with that agent or editor start off with a friendly, "Hello. How are you? It's nice to meet you! I hope you're having a nice conference." Starting off friendly and open will break the ice a bit with the person you're talking to. Generally if someone is nice and warm to you, you return that sentiment. It's much easier to speak with someone who you warmed up a little. Make sense?<br />
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Remember: Getting nervous is part of being human, and my point is that we aren't scary and are generally friendly, understanding people. As an agent or editor we work with a lot of people and if we were unapproachable and cold, we probably wouldn't get too far in the field. As agents and editors we want nothing more than to find more great voices to work with and publish, and often times we find them at writers conferences. I appreciate the courage it takes to talk to us and I respect it immensely.<br />
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You've already made that first step and have finished a book! If you ask me that in itself is a huge accomplishment. Be proud of that and use that confidence to move to the next level. Getting published generally takes a lot of hard work and the more you work to get it, the more you read and practice your craft, the more you stay on top of what is working for your genre or age group, and the more you stay true to yourself as a writer the higher your chances of success. You have to be willing to work for it and it may be a tough journey and take time.<br />
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As an agent looking for new talent I really enjoy getting to help writers with their craft (and I think most editors and agents who attend conferences share this joy). We're not there to criticize or judge or turn you away--we attend conferences to help writers. So don't be afraid for that critique session. See it as an opportunity to learn and network and hopefully make it to that next level. Think of the possibility of meeting that perfect agent or editor for you. One often has to put themselves out there to get positive results, and remember we're there to help you!<br />
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I hope this was reassuring and helpful in some way!Neverending Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-63084862821160628122014-09-04T13:39:00.001-07:002014-09-05T12:56:49.738-07:00What I look for in a protagonistI hope everyone is having a fabulous September so far! I thought it might be helpful to those querying or looking to query me to give you a better sense of some of the types of protagonists I am drawn to...and not drawn to as much.<br />
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Female protagonists:<br />
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I admit I am generally drawn more to female protagonists than male, which probably is in part to me being a female :) (but I'd love to find some more boy-centric books too! See below.) and there are certain characters I find myself more interested in reading about than others. But, bottom line: if the story has an engaging voice, I could find myself reading almost anything.<br />
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I love to read about strong, independent female characters. I tend to shy away from stories about girls who depend on their boyfriends or significant others to be happy and don't have a life of their own apart from them. While, I love a good romance, I like to see who a character is apart from that.<br />
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I have a harder time relating to main characters who are fashion obsessed, too into their looks and social status. I wouldn't mind reading about a popular girl or budding fashionista in the least, but I want it to go deeper than the surface stuff. And I enjoy some scandal and fashion (i.e. Gossip Girl), but I want to relate to the characters in some way. So perhaps your main character is rich and seemingly has it all, but she longs to go to a public school and be seen for herself not her background or wealth. That I can definitely get behind. Or she realizes being popular and all these things isn't so important. I love the Serena/Dan story line in Gossip Girl. Serena is not always the most likable and she makes mistakes, but there's more to her and I am a sucker for the star-crossed lovers story line. Dan is not part of her social group, he's seen as an outsider, yet they fall in love.<br />
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I would love to see something with a dancer (ballet, contemporary, hip hop etc.) or a budding filmmaker.<br />
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Give me a band geek (I was one myself) a kid into any of the arts, a kid who doesn't fit in, or an underdog and you've got my interest. I would love to see a girl who loves fantasy and sci-fi movies/TV and isn't ashamed of it. To add to this I've been loving novels like Eleanor and Park and Guy in Real Life. Give me a love story about two outsiders finding each other. There are so many love stories where even if the girl is a bit of a outsider she falls for the chiseled, tan star athlete and they end up together. I certainly can get into these types of romances, but two underdogs/outsiders getting together speaks to me on a deeper level. Or a popular girl who falls for a "geek."<br />
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While I generally don't want a straight up romance (meaning the entire story is driven by boy meets girl, boy meets boy or girl meets girl and it doesn't go beyond that), I love when it's a part of the story in some way, but perhaps the main plot is a bit bigger than that. One of my fave YA contemporaries is Perfect Chemistry. You have your starcrossed lovers and the romance is definitely central to the story, but it goes beyond that. Alex is stuck in a gang and having trouble getting out which is another big part of the story. Brittany on the other hand seems like her life is perfect, but actually has a tough home life. So as you can see it goes deeper than just a romance. Ok, I went a bit off topic here...back to protagonists!<br />
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I'd also like to see: a main character from another country now living in the US, characters of color, characters who are gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender, characters struggling with their identity in any way, characters who perhaps are seen as outsiders by some because of their religion or beliefs etc. Let's better represent all the wonderful cultures and backgrounds of the world!<br />
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Male protagonists:<br />
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I have a soft spot for "bad boys;" the misunderstood type, not the downright messing up on purpose all the time bad boys. So if your protagonist has committed 5 crimes, went to juvie and doesn't feel remorse or change it's probably not for me. But, if he was on the wrong side of the law and wants to change and works towards that, send it on over! It could even be the popular guy who is a bit of a womanizer but has changed his ways. I like some kind of edge, some kind of tough past that is turned around in some way.<br />
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Give me a guy who is a young Bill Gates (meaning he's really smart and perhaps fixes things or creates apps in his spare time or works on computers, a budding inventor) and is really sweet! Or maybe a guy who gets great grades and spends his spare time playing World of Warcraft with a heart of gold. I feel that some times really smart, sweet guys can be overlooked in YA for the tough, broody, guy.<br />
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The artsy guy: This guy has a passion for the arts. He's a musician, a painter, a sculptor, a writer, but whatever art it is he is all-in. It drives him. Think Adam from If I Stay.<br />
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I'm pretty open as long as this main character isn't overly shallow, a bad guy or a bully.<br />
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In the end, any character should be made up of many different parts. There won't be just one thing that drives them, or one part of their personality or one thing they're overcoming. It's how you combine those pieces that make the character. And it's how that character changes and grows throughout your novel that's also important.<br />
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I hope this helps some! This article is meant as a way to give you an inside look into what I'm drawn to. It's definitely not a call for anyone to write something using all the things I like above. You have to write what comes naturally to you! Feel free to ask questions in the comments section and I'll answer what I can.<br />
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<br />Neverending Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-86729119968641495812014-06-10T13:51:00.002-07:002014-06-10T13:51:42.495-07:00Querying Tip: The Subject lineI wanted to write a brief article on that all important subject line of an email query. I think a lot of people don't realize how important it really is. A good subject line can get your query read faster! So... what makes a good subject line? *Note:*This is personal to me, other agents likely have different submission policies and preferences.<br />
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First off, I generally read queries from oldest to newest, but I skim daily to look out for anything that needs my attention such as offers of representation/publication, check-ins, and other requests. So to look out for these things that need my attention, I am scanning subject lines. Most subject lines say something like "Query" or "Submission" or "Looking for Agent." These are all very general. While you can't write much in a subject line I think it's best to make it clear what I'll be seeing when I open the email.<br />
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Here are some examples:<br />
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YA contemp. TITLE<br />
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MG fantasy TITLE<br />
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I want to know what genre and age group the query is for as well as the title. Don't try to pitch me in a subject line. I open all emails and read them. There's just not enough space in a subject line to pitch. So no Gossip Girl meets Hannibal in the subject (hmm...that intrigues me. I wonder if that could even work? :)<br />
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You don't need to say "Query from a Published Author" or anything about you in the subject line. That can be explained in the query itself. But, if it's a referral or a conference submission or requested material you should note that:<br />
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Requested Material: TITLE<br />
SCBWI NY submission: TITLE<br />
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I look at requested materials, conference submissions and referrals before other queries. I keep a list of what I'm participating in on my blog so if you want your query read faster try to get involved!<br />
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And if you have an offer of rep note that very prominently in the subject line:<br />
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OFFER OF REP: TITLE<br />
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As you're likely noticing, I keep mentioning to put the TITLE in the subject of your query email. While titles often change from query to published work, never underestimate the power of a good title. A good title can grab my interest in a subject line. Put the title after the genre and age group.<br />
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Don't waste space writing "query" or "submission" anywhere in your subject line. I have a query email that is separate from my main email. So I assume anything coming to that email is a query.<br />
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I have always been a genre girl, but right now I am looking primarily for YA and MG contemporary. I'm tough when it comes to taking on fantasy of any kind as it's an area I know well...so, it has to be that much better for me to take it on. My list is pretty full of dark projects at the moment. I have dark contemporary and horror, so I am very selective in these areas as well currently. But, of course, what I'm looking for at any given time will shift somewhat as I fill spaces on my list or the industry changes so check out my blog occasionally for updates!Neverending Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.com7