What do superheroes, a school for especially gifted students, vampires, witches, trafficked teenagers, gargoyles, and nineteenth century Paris have in common? If you’re stumped, don’t be too hard on yourself—it’s quite an eclectic range. But if you just screamed YOUNG ADULT FICTION out loud, then you’ve got your finger on the pulse. With series like Harry Potter, Twilight and The Hunger Games leading the charge, it’s no wonder that this is still one of the fastest growing and flourishing areas in publishing.

From dystopian to contemporary, from women’s issues to coming of age, from fantasy to science fiction, Young Adult Fiction (YA) has it all. It spans the gambit with action, romance, tears, thrills and more, but the greatest thing about YA is that it’s not just for young readers. With so much to choose from and such diversity, YA fiction appeals to all ages. In a recent study from Bowker Market Research, 55% of YA book buyers were over 18 and 28% were over 30!

So what’s the lure? What’s so compelling?

Apart from its strong voice, descriptive style, multi-layered plots, fast pacing, and intensely relatable characters, most YA fiction simply serves up a great read with the emphasis on storytelling. In addition, the subtle complexities as well as the messages in YA books can be just as powerful or more so than those in a book deemed “literary fiction.” Regardless of whether you’re a teen or an adult, at the end of the day, a good book is a good book.

As a writer, reader and a mother, I’ve also found that YA and middle-grade books are terrific bridges for parents to read with their kids. There’s nothing better than open dialogue and spirited discussion. I’ve had the most poignant discussions with my 8 year old over Wonder by R.J. Palacio, thought-provoking debates about good and evil in Harry Potter, and crazy-mad giggles over the stinky cheese in Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

The thing is regardless of whether it’s YA or adult, if you feel differently after reading a book, then that book has achieved its purpose—you have changed. It has changed you—it has affected the way you think, the way you feel, and the way you see the world at that moment. Even if it made you happy or sad or frustrated, the point is you felt something. And that is worth something. Dip your toes into the wonderful realm of Young Adult Fiction—you won’t remain unchanged, I promise you.

Support YA authors. Support YA books. Support your local bookstore. Support reading.

Also, I only have a couple of these sterling silver charms left, so enter if you want one!

Click on the link below to read and enter! Good luck!

INTERVIEW & GIVEAWAY from The Cover Contessa

Let’s talk about revisions, baby. Let’s talk about crossing T’s. Let’s talk about all the grammar and the syntax that may be. Let’s talk about revisions…

Yeah, not sure that works with that song (totally dating myself here and now I have that tune in my head), but you get my drift.

Moving on.

Revisions are a key part of any writer’s journey. Unless you’re some kind of alien superstar, you’re probably going to have more than one draft of your novel. You’re going to make changes that are structural, character or plot driven, grammatical, and/or any manner of change that can make your manuscript better. These revisions can come from your mom, your critique partners, your agent (& your agent’s assistant) or your editor (& your editor’s assistant), from the point you start writing to after you’ve sold your book.

For purposes of this post, I’m talking about revisions from an agent or editor.

So you’ve sold your book or gotten an agent. Now you wait for the revisions to come because you know they’re coming. You busy yourself writing and doing other things, and then something pops up in your inbox. Your heart starts pounding as you see your agent’s/editor’s name and the dreaded “REVISIONS” or any of its cousins (edits, line edits, suggestions, changes, recommendations) in the subject line. Opening up the email, you see several pages of notes about what you should change and why … wide sweeping paragraphs detailing everything you didn’t do well. You break out in an instant cold sweat of panic.

Breathe, it’s going to be ok. And it’s not a highlight of things you didn’t do, they are recommendations for things you can do better from someone who has experience selling books. Remember this — a good editor is worth his/her weight in gold.

So breathe, read the notes and step away from your computer for a day or so. Sleep on it (not your computer, the notes). The next morning, get ready to work. Open up the file and save it in Word. Go through the notes line by line and insert your comments in a different color. Agree or disagree, but support why you are doing so. You can certainly defend keeping a character in or a scene in, but you have to pony up the explanation as to why it should stay. This should take you a little while to do because you’re basically responding to your agent/editor’s comments. Wait a couple hours, then re-read what you have written. Make any changes.

Now open your manuscript and save it as a different file. Always SAVE AS and label your version clearly (I tend to use a date and revision sequence). Some people like to start at the beginning and work their way through the revisions. The thing that works for me is CHUNKING. Seriously, chunking is something you learn in first grade, which means putting information into smaller pieces so you can see it more clearly. So basically with a similar approach, I break the notes into manageable chunks. Then I go, piece by piece, and address the appropriate area in the manuscript — if it’s character-based, I focus on that one character from start to finish so I can see him/her as a whole in the novel. If it’s plot based, I focus specifically on that. If it’s pacing, then I address that area.

After I’ve completed all the revisions (and about thirty start to finish re-reads), then I re-read the manuscript one last time, keeping an eye out for pacing, flow and making sure all the revised elements have been smoothly incorporated. You don’t want your book to be clunky or contrived because you’re trying to fix/do too many things. Pick and choose what works. Once I’m done, I submit to my agent/editor and wait to see if they have any further comments. If they do, then I apply the same thought-process and action. If they don’t have any comments, we move on to line or copy editing, which is a different animal that I’ll address another time.

In the meantime, good luck with your revisions. And remember that with a good editor, your book will probably be better for it. Respect their knowledge and experience — take advantage of it. They are in your corner and want your book to sell! That said, if you believe in something and want to fight to keep it in or take it out, then don’t be afraid to have a discussion with your agent/editor. They’ll likely back you up. After all, it’s your book and there are going to be some things worth fighting for. Just remember to use wisdom (my mom always tells me this and I’m still trying to work out what it means half the time), and give yourself a pat on the back. You’re one step closer to seeing your amazing book on the shelf!

If you came here looking for my bonus material, a sneak-peek teaser from WATERFELL (coming from Harlequin TEEN November 2013), you’ll have to keep hunting!

At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize–one lucky winner will receive one signed book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours — until noon PST on Sunday April 7th!

Check out the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are TWO contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the RED TEAM–but there is also a blue team for a chance to win a whole different set of twenty-five signed books!

If you’d like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt homepage.

SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE

Directions: In my post, you’ll notice that I’ve hidden my favorite number in RED somewhere. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the red team, and then add them up.

Entry Form: Once you’ve added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.

Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian’s permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by April 7th, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.

ARE YOU GUYS READY?!?!

So for those of you who don’t know me, I’m the author of BLOODSPELL, a novel that dabbles in magic and dark romance. I’m also the author of the following forthcoming books–WATERFELL from Harlequin Teen (November 2013), ALPHA GODDESS from Skyhorse Publishing (Winter 2014), and THE ALMOST GIRL from Strange Chemistry (Spring 2014).

I am super-thrilled to be hosting the awesome HEATHER ANASTASIU for this leg of the YA Scavenger Hunt!

About Heather: Heather Anastasiu recently moved to Minneapolis with her family, and when she’s not busy getting lost exploring the new city, she spends most days writing at a café or daydreaming about getting a new tattoo.

Can I just say that I am IN LOVE with Heather’s insanely cool tattoo sleeves? Like I want to take her arms and hoard them for myself, but then I remind myself that she may actually need her arms, you know, for doing important things like writing all of the awesomeness. Speaking of writing, Heather’s featured book on this hunt is called SHUTDOWN, the third installment in the Glitch Trilogy. Check it out below!

Zoe and her fellow Resistance fighters are on the run, having lost their home, their protection, and their leader. They are outnumbered and outmatched by the powerful corporation that controls the world, and the cruel Chancellor is inches away from completing a scheme that would kill most of humanity. Zoe’s only remaining option is to chase the impossible dream of upending the Link system, freeing the world from the hardware that controls their thoughts and emotions, and hope it will trigger a revolution. Full of romance, high-adrenaline action and shocking twists, Shutdown is a heart-pounding conclusion to an exciting sci-fi adventure trilogy for young adults.

Find out more information about this exciting series by checking out Heather’s website or get your very own copies of the first two books in the GLITCH TRILOGY here! SHUTDOWN will be available from St. Martins Press July 2013.

EXCLUSIVE CONTENT

And now for the moment you all have been waiting for … Heather’s exclusive content … a bonus scene from SHUTDOWN!! Well, seek no more. ENJOY!

Hunt over. Exclusive content removed. For more information on Heather’s books, please click the links in this post. 

*********************

WHOA! Wasn’t that incredible? Makes you want to read more about these two, doesn’t it? Well, if you’re interested, be sure to click on the links above to Heather’s website to learn more about the GLITCH trilogy.

Don’t forget to enter the contest for a chance to win a ton of signed books by me, Heather Anastasiu, and more! To enter, you need to know that my favorite number is hidden somewhere in this post (hint: scroll up a few paragraphs – it’s in red, it’s the end date of the hunt, and it starts with S and ends with N). Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on the red team and you’ll have all the secret code to enter for the grand prize! Also keep in mind that most of the authors are doing their own giveaways so there are many chances to win something unique and special.

While you’re here with me, be sure to enter the personal contest I’m hosting below. Up for grabs (international) is THE ARCS OF AWESOME GIVEAWAY, which includes ARCs of MIND GAMES by Kiersten White, PARALLEL by Lauren Miller, CREWEL by Gennifer Albin, THE GODDESS INHERITANCE by Aimee Carter, WHEN WE WAKE by Karen Healey, and PIVOT POINT by Kasie West. And just to sweeten the pot, I’ll throw in a signed copy of BLOODSPELL!

CONTINUE THE HUNT

If you’re ready to move on to the next author on the hunt, click HERE to head over to SCOTT TRACEY’S website.

Good luck and have fun!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here is the much anticipated author reveal for the upcoming Spring YA Scavenger Hunt 2013! I will be on the RED team! The hunt starts on Thursday April 4th at noon pacific time and ends on Sunday April 7th also at noon pacific. Along with the grand prizes which include a book from every author on the team, I will also be hosting a personal contest here on my website.

I’ll be showcasing my new book WATERFELL from Harlequin Teen on this hunt, which will be released this coming November! I’m so excited about this book and cannot wait for you all to read it! You will notice that there’s no cover for WATERFELL in the team list below–that’s because there’s going to be an awesome COVER REVEAL shortly down the track, so be patient! Trust me, it’s SO worth the wait!

See you on the hunt!

THE BLUE TEAM

AMBER ARGYLE

JOSEPHINE ANGELINI

KATE AVELYNN

LISA BURSTEIN

TERA LYNN CHILDS

KATE EVANGELISTA

TARA FULLER

RACHEL HARRIS

COLLEEN HOUCK

JUSTINA IRELAND

ELLIE JAMES

CARRIE JONES

JESSICA KHOURY

CINDY MADSEN

MAUREEN MCGOWAN

MEGAN MIRANDA

ERICA O’ROURKE

DIANA PETERFREUND

AMY PLUM

BETH REVIS

GINA ROSATI

VICTORIA SCOTT

JESSICA SPOTSWOOD

K.A. TUCKER

LISA VOISIN

THE RED TEAM

HEATHER ANASTASIU

JENNIFER ARMENTROUT

KENDARE BLAKE

RACHEL CARTER

RENEE COLLINS

LEIGH FALLON

MARLEY GIBSON

ALYXANDRA HARVEY

AMALIE HOWARD

CHLOE JACOBS

J.R. JOHANSSON

STEPHANIE KEYES

SUZANNE LAZEAR

MARI MANCUSI

GRETCHEN MCNEIL

LEA NOLAN

KATHLEEN PEACOCK

APRILYNNE PIKE

LISSA PRICE

ELIZABETH RICHARDS

MINDI SCOTT

JESSICA SHIRVINGTON

SCOTT TRACEY

ERIN UNDERWOOD

BRENNA YOVANOFF

A New Kind of Vampire Book: Larchmont Author Amalie Howard

Modern-day vampires—portrayed in shows like “True Blood” and books like Twilight—are often caught between passionate love for a mortal that can’t be suppressed and an underlying need to drink their blood for survival. Clearly, the two are at odds, but the idea of a love that not even the threat of a pair of fangs in your neck could quench makes for a great storyline.

Read the rest of this article at The Patch.

You can also read the official announcements here:

Harlequin Teen WATERFELL Publishers Marketplace Annoucement

Skyhorse/Sky Pony Press ALPHA GODDESS Publishers Marketplace Annoucement

Strange Chemistry THE ALMOST GIRL Press Release

So now it’s time to share some of my super-sparkly rainbow giddiness in the EPIC “Share The Love” GIVEAWAY. Since you awesome readers live all over the world, this giveaway shall be international!

UP FOR GRABS ARE TEN TERRIFIC BOOKS

Crash by Lisa McMann (ARC)

Until I Die by Amy Plum (SIGNED ARC)

Prodigy by Marie Lu (ARC)

Fathomless by Jackson Pearce (ARC)

Soulbound by Heather Brewer (ARC)

Apollyon by Jennifer L. Armentrout (ARC)

Hunted by Ednah Walters (ARC)

Minder by Kate Kaynak

The Blessed by Tonya Hurley (Hardcover)

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand (Hardcover)

Here’s how it works–the grand prize winner will have FIRST choice of FIVE of any of these books. The second place winner will pick three of the remaining five books. And then I’ll draw one last person to receive the remaining two books (which will also include a special extra super-secret prize … hint, it’s shiny and pretty). So that’s three chances to WIN!

I’m also in the process of migrating the Bloodspell Page on Facebook to a more comprehensive Author Page. Anyone who currently likes the BloodspellBook page and moves over to my new page Amalie Howard Author will  be entered for the ongoing $25 Gift Card thank you giveaway.

GOOD LUCK, and thanks for being such amazing friends, fans and readers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Excuse me while I dance around my living room in complete and utter delight. I’m so happy that this book has found such a great home with the most perfect book/publisher match-up ever. It’s like FATE, people … two stars colliding in the universe and making some kickass magic. Ok, I know … I’m going off on a Notebook-like tangent. But yes … TOTALLY DELIRIOUS!!!

I seriously need to thank my WARRIOR PRINCESS agent, Liza Fleissig of the Liza Royce Agency, for making this happen. She shall be showered with chocolate confetti and golden truffles!! Liza, you rock my world.

Check out the official Press Release here.

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” ~Corinthians 13:4-7

Happy Valentine’s Day to those who love, who have loved, who will love.

So as part of this series, I think it’s time to outline the value of having a Literary Agent as opposed to not having one. Many people may tell you that with the changing landscape of publishing, securing an agent isn’t necessary. After all, you can submit to many flourishing independent small presses on your own or during their open submission periods, and you can self-publish in a snap (both in POD and digital e-publishing formats). I went a long time without an agent (while I was between my second and third). However I did have a literary lawyer who negotiated my contracts so I wasn’t technically in no-man’s land.

While going solo may certainly be a viable option, here’s why I think you will be better off with an agent. Simply put, to get a deal with the mythical “Big Six” publisher (or big five, or whatever it is now), you need an agent. Most of these publisher imprints will not accept submissions that aren’t represented by an agent … which means that your chance of getting in the door is nonexistent. And don’t even think about “making up” an agency because they can check this easily, and of course that impacts your credibility and trustworthiness.

That said, getting an agent is not all unicorns and rainbows. I’m on my third agent, but hopefully third time’s the charm. Finding an agent who clicks with your vision both professionally and personally isn’t easy. On the one hand you have to look for the sales track record–that’s Business 101. You need a savvy, successful, gutsy agent who can SELL your book, and one who has established relationships with editors. On the other hand, you need to feel like there’s a connection with this person–after all you’re going to be working day in and day out with them. You need to click. Compatibility is a factor in all your other relationships so why should this one be any different? What your gut says matters and you should definitely take it into consideration. So now that I’ve said all that, what does a literary agent actually do?

Here are the top 10 reasons why I think a Literary Agent is worth their salt. Again, this is based on my personal experience so different avenues/options may work for other people. This is also stuff that MY agent does for me, which again may be different from other agents and other author/agent relationships.

1) An agent has relationships with editors at major publishing houses. This means your agent can get you in the door and knows what these editors are looking for. These relationships are critical for agents to be successful, and in turn, for you to be successful. In addition, your agent can pair you with an editor who will hopefully be a great fit for you and your book.

2) An agent knows the industry and the market. This means that your agent can tell you if your New Adult manuscript may not be the right fit for a particular publisher or whether a specific imprint doesn’t accept books in a certain genre.

3) An agent is your advocate. They represent you and go to bat for you if necessary. Mine is incredibly passionate and sometimes I think she loves my books and believes in me more than I do, which is very humbling. Bottom line, you need someone who believes in you and your work, and who is enthusiastic about working with you.

4) An agent negotiates your contracts with your publisher. I’m very lucky that my agent is a lawyer by trade and since she knows industry benchmarks like rights reversion or option clauses or percentage payments inside out, I know she’s going to make sure the terms are fair.

5) An agent handles subsidiary rights, foreign rights, media rights, film rights, etc. These are areas that earn you more money and gain you more exposure as an author. You want an agent actively selling you in these markets/areas.

6) An agent oversees the publishing process. They make sure that your publisher meets agreed-upon goals/objectives and keep you on track. They make sure you get paid on time and/or address any issues that may come up during the term of the agreement.

7) An agent provides pre-submission suggestions to improve your work. They can edit and critique your proposal or your manuscript to get them in ship-shape for submission (minor editing, structural suggestions, etc.)

8) An agent negotiates mulitple offers (oh, happy day!) and ensures that you get the best deal/terms (advance, royalties, etc.)

9) An agent serves as your advisor. Who wouldn’t want someone in their corner providing free career advice? What if I want to write in a different genre? Or try something insanely different? I love being able to bounce ideas off my agent. And I know she’ll tell me the truth, even if it may not be what I want to hear. A story about a teen who transforms into a cockroach by night and finds love over a piece of moldy cheese? Um, that’s a no.

10) An agent provides moral support. An agent doesn’t necessarily have to do this but I can’t tell you the number of times my agent has talked me off a ledge or gotten me to focus on specific priorities. That’s just a bonus … a much-needed, totally under-appreciated, amazing bonus. So if you have that with your agent, treasure it. And make sure to tell your agent “thank you” once in a while.

That’s it. My two-cents on why an agent matters. On top of these things, my agent is also responsive (I can contact her at any time for anything … freak-outs included), and she has a quirky sense of humor, which I love. She gets me and she’s selling my work. All in all, win WIN. If you have a fabulous agent who does other things I haven’t included, be sure to let me know in the comments. At the end of the day, agents take care of all the stuff that makes it possible to focus on what we as writers do best … WRITE. So what’s not to like?