Liz Writes - Elizabeth Briggs

5 Questions & 1 Confession with Rachel Searles

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Briggs) — Thu, 24 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Today we have another interview with one of my critique partners, this time the amazing Rachel Searles! Rachel and I met over a year ago and became in person writing buddies, and I'm pretty sure I would have lost my sanity by now if it weren't for her. She's working on an awesome MG sci-fi, which I hope you'll all get to read someday!

Where did you get the idea for your book?

Um, it's been so long that I'm not really sure of the answer to this anymore. My initial idea was basically "Kids in space!" and after I had a few main characters and my initial worldbuilding, I kept adding layers of complications to the story. And then there were too many complications and wayyyy too many words, and I had to spend a bunch of time dialing everything back, haha.

Where do you do most of your writing?

At home, either on the desktop in our home office or on the sofa with my laptop and a cat on my feet. I need utter silence.

What movie or tv show do you wish you could adapt into a YA or MG book?

Hmm, that's a tough one--all the ones I've thought of so far seem like they already have a YA version! Maybe a YA Breaking Bad, where the talented MC turns to crime to help support his family and gets in way over his head, and to survive turns into a person he kind of despises...

What advice do you have for new writers?

You may already be a great writer, but there is so much more to writing a novel than just being a good writer. Take every opportunity to learn, build up your support network of fellow writers, and be patient, because this takes time. And always be professional.

What were you like as a teenager?

I was quiet, smart, not athletic. I thought of myself as a nonconformist at the time, but in retrospect I think I was a pretty tame Midwestern version of that. I had bushy hair (still do). I liked putting together the occasional weird outfit. Sometimes I wish I still had the guts to do that, but now there's this adult voice in my head telling me "They're all gonna laugh at you!"

Tell us something geeky about yourself:

Didn't I already? Ha. Well, my favorite hobby is cooking and I own hundreds of cookbooks--they fill my bookshelves, coffee table, end table, kitchen counters. It's probably why I buy all my fiction reading as e-books. I've tried to impose cookbook-buying moratoriums on myself in the past but it never lasts. There's just something very relaxing about sitting down with a cookbook and flipping through the pages--I don't need pictures--and thinking about which ones to try. My perfect day would involve an even split between cooking, reading, and writing. Is that geeky enough? I also know the words to any song by the Beatles, including the German ones, and I love the smell of hot milk. Find me a candle in hot milk scent, please.

Thanks Rachel! I kind of hope you write this YA version of Breaking Bad now...

The House Of Overflowing Books

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Briggs) — Tue, 22 May 2012 17:36:00 +0000

Today's Blog Me MAYbe topic is "May I tell you something about myself?"

One thing that always surprises people (or maybe not?) when they come to my house is the sheer number of books we have. My husband and I are both fast, voracious readers, and we spend way too much of our paycheck on books. In fact... you can find books in EVERY SINGLE ROOM of our house.

In the library/guest room:

In the office:

In the living room:

In the TV room:

In the bedroom:

In the bathroom:

And even in the kitchen!

(If you look closely, you can see Nicki's reflection in the microwave. The dogs always sneak into my photos somehow!)

Okay, so that was embarrassing. Does anyone else have books taking over their house? Tell me I'm not alone here!

YAY KAREN!

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Briggs) — Fri, 18 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000

I HAVE BIG NEWS! One of my critique partners, the lovely and amazing Karen Akins, has sold her book!!!

Karen Akins's LOOP, in which a time traveler accidentally brings a boy from the past into the 23rd century, only to discover he's already in love with her future self and is keeping his own set of secrets, pitched as HEIST SOCIETY meets BACK TO THE FUTURE, to Terra Layton at St. Martin's, in a two-book deal, by Victoria Marini at Gelfman Schneider (world).

I'm SO happy for Karen! In fact, my feelings can only be properly expressed with an interpretive dance from Nicki:

I LOVE THIS BOOK! I've read it twice and I promise you'll want to buy LOOP as soon as it comes out. It's funny, it's quirky, it's romantic, and it has a great mystery too. Plus I love the future world Karen has created, and all the crazy time travel twists she somehow managed to keep straight. I'm so excited that her book will be published so other people can read it too!

Make sure you visit Karen and congratulate her! YAY!!!

5 Questions & 1 Confession with Cortney Pearson

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Briggs) — Thu, 17 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000

For Blog Me MAYbe Thursdays I decided to do a series of interviews with some of my closest writing friends, which I'm calling 5 Questions & 1 Confession. If this goes well, maybe we'll extend this series past May and feature lots of different writers!

Today I'd like to introduce you to Cortney Pearson, one of my critique partners and good friends. We met at the March 2011 Big Sur Writing Workshop and have kept in touch ever since. She's just finished up a YA Horror novel called Phobic, which I've read and loved. She's on Team Cupid for The Writer's Voice, so make sure you root for her!

Where did you get the idea for your book?

I've always wanted to write a creepy story just because I'm into the dark stuff like that. Except since I got married I'm a total wuss and I can't watch scary movies anymore, lol! But last Halloween several random ideas sort of came together to form what is now Phobic. Most of them came from my great aunt's super spooky house down in Utah, the same one built by her father in the early 1900's or something, and there were definitely some otherworldly happenings going on there! My brother slept in the basement one night and got the most horrible feelings and heard creepy voices. I think he even saw flashes of light. And one night my mom and I were driving from California and got to Aunt Vay's super late. Mom couldn't find her key, but the door opened ON ITS OWN. When I checked the knob, it was still locked. No joke. I'm also super intrigued by the Winchester Mansion, which was supposedly built to accommodate the ghosts haunting Sarah Winchester, so the staircase leading to the ceiling and the floating door idea in my story came from that.

Where do you do most of your writing?

There's a desk in the dining room of my in-law's house (which we are house-sitting for them) and I've staked my claim on that. It's nice because it's out in the open where my kids play, so I can be near them while writing. Here's a pic of my writing space, and no it's not always that clean, lol!!!

What movie or tv show do you wish you could adapt into a YA or MG book?

I'll go with one of my faves. Empire Records, a semi-oldie but goodie, would make a great YA book. A day in the life of a record store with all the hoodlum teenagers who work there and their various problems? Yes! That's one I used to quote all the time, ha ha. Gilmore Girls would also make a fun YA book.

What advice do you have for new writers?

I'd say read! Read books and study the writing, see what works and what doesn't, how they generate emotion and structure their characters and stories. Read self-help writing books to learn your craft even more. And also, get online and meet bloggers or go to conferences. I think I've learned the most from going to conferences and associating with other writers. Conferences are also how I found my awesome critique partners.

What were you like as a teenager?

I used this picture even though it's a little blurry because it's the only one I could find of me and all three of my best friends. We're decked out in our Concert Choir dresses. As a teenager, I was ALWAYS with my friends, listening to music, watching movies, taking long drives out in the country to hang out in spud cellars. (Shh, don't tell the farmers, lol). We were constantly quoting Wayne's World ("Garth, that was a haiku."). My BFF Arielle's car was even dubbed *the mirthmobile*. I was also majorly crazy for my friend's brother, and I was a band nerd who spent oodles of time practicing my clarinet. Oh, and on Wednesday nights you were sure to find me watching the latest Buffy episode. I LOVED Buffy!!

Tell us something geeky about yourself:

Yikes, what ELSE is geeky about me? I love the funky, patterned socks. Polka dots, Powerpuff Girls, stripes, Christmas patterns, I even have bright orange socks with black Halloween cats all over them. My husband is always teasing me about my dorky socks. I'm also a sucker for big band jazz and professional drum lines and I'd love to see Harry Connick, Jr. or Michael Buble in concert someday.

Thanks Cortney! I'm going to have to check out these socks when you come to the SCBWI Summer Conference!

Introducing Jonathan Coulton

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Briggs) — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:41:00 +0000

I've been slacking this week on Blog Me MAYbe. My only excuse is that I'm having post-retreat blues. I went off to a cabin in the woods for four days with five other awesome writers, and got a lot done on my new book. You can check out photos from the retreat on Dana's blog!

Today for Friday Fun I's like to introduce you all to Jonathan Coulton. If you're a geek and don't know who he is, I'm here to educate you! JoCo did the song for the video game Portal, and the tv show Code Monkey. His songs have been in Rock Band and sung live by Neil Gaiman. He's basically a living legend in geekdom.

He doesn't really do music videos for his songs (as far as I know), but his fans do. Here's one of my favorites, for his song Re: Your Brains:

And here's my all time favorite JoCo song, Skullcrusher Mountain:

Now that you've been introduced to Jonathan Coulton I hope you'll check out even more of his songs. Happy Friday, and I hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Dust It Off Bloghop - What I Learned

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Briggs) — Mon, 07 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Today is the last day of the Dust It Off Bloghop, and the topic is: what did you learn from your shelved book?. My post today also works for the "writing" topic of Blog Me MAYbe, yay!

As a little background about the book, it was a MG Fantasy about a princess who gets stuck as a little fluffy white dog, like this one:

My inspiration!

1) Genre - Today, I can tell you that the book is MG due to the themes, the characters, and the things that happen in the book. But back when I wrote it I just thought of it as something for the "Harry Potter audience." This was also my first book not written for adults, and made me realize how much I liked writing for teens. Because of this book I started reading more YA and MG, and figured out exactly what I wanted to write.

2) 1st vs 3rd person - This is the only book I've written in 3rd person. It was a fun experiment, and I might try it again someday, but I realized after this book that I enjoy writing in 1st person the most.

3) Worldbuilding - I had the idea for this book about 10 years ago. And then I spent 5 years plotting out 4 different magic systems and races, and about a billion different countries with different intricate cultures, and finding cool pictures of my characters, and...

FIVE. YEARS.

A lot of this was done in college, when I was a Sociology and Anthropology major. I was so excited to use every single thing I learned in college to build all these cool societies. But when I actually sat down to write the book, I realized I had barely any plot, all my characters were flat, and most of the countries and cultures I created never even appeared in the book! After writing this book, I learned to not spend ALL MY TIME worldbuilding, and that I needed to learn a lot more about developing plot and characters.

Thank you so much Cortney and Theresa, for creating this bloghop and inspiring me to look back at my older novels!

Dust It Off Bloghop - Excerpt

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Briggs) — Fri, 04 May 2012 15:30:00 +0000

Today is day 2 of the Dust It Off Bloghop! Yesterday I gave you a rough pitch of my MG Fantasy novel, and today I'm posting an excerpt. I'm doing it a day early so it will coincide with the Blog Me MAYbe topic of something funny. Cause looking at old, unpolished writing is always funny right? Har har.

One of my favorite things about this book was writing from the perspective of someone who could turn into a dog, so I chose one of those scenes as my excerpt. (Please remember I wrote this many years ago!)

Sariela bounded through the snow, savoring the feel of it under her paws. Her curly white coat had ice sprinkled through it, and her black nose was delightfully wet and cold. She scampered after a white fox, who was about the same size as her, and she had to run quickly to catch up to him. Every time she got close enough to snap at his tail he sped up just enough to escape her jaws. It was hard to keep her eyes on him since he blended into the white landscape, but her sensitive nose and ears allowed her to follow him with ease.

She forced her legs to move faster, narrowing her eyes against the cold wind whipping across her face, and edged closer to her prey. She was nearly upon him now, but still just out of reach. The fox darted around a thick tree trunk and Sariela slid around it, and then dug her claws into the snow and leapt. Her ears flew backward as she crashed into him, knocking him over with her weight. The two growled and rolled about in the snow, tugging at each other's fur with their fangs. With her tail wagging behind her, Sariela swatted at the fox's face with her paws, laughing at how his fur stuck out everywhere from their tussle.

The fox jumped up and dashed back into the forest, calling out "Bye!" over his shoulder before he disappeared. Sariela grinned in his direction, her tongue hanging out the side of her mouth as she panted. The air was so cold she could see her own breath, but the adrenaline of the chase and her thick fur kept her warm. She flopped down on her stomach in a soft patch of snow and stretched her back feet out behind her, her heart still hammering in her chest.

I'll always love that book, but I can't help but look at that excerpt and wish I could take a red pen to it. It's amazing how much our writing improves over the years isn't it?

Dust It Off Bloghop - Pitch

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Briggs) — Thu, 03 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Today is the first day in the Dust It Off Bloghop! I'm a little nervous about sharing info about my shelved novels, but I'm going for it anyway.

I wrote two complete novels before I began writing ALTERNATE, along with a screenplay and a handful of books I started but never finished. The first novel I actually finished was an adult urban fantasy about a vampire who hunted other vampires when they got out of line. I know, super original right? That book was 100% a practice novel. I never revised it and never planned to send it to agents. I won't even post an excerpt because it is just too cringe-worthy.

My second completed novel was a MG Fantasy that never got a real title. Heck, I didn't even know what MG was when I wrote it. I originally planned to revise it, but eventually I realized it was better off as another practice novel. Over the next couple days I'll post an excerpt and talk about what I learned while writing it (hint: SO MUCH).

Here's a rough pitch: 13 year old Sariela is the crown princess of a country of people who can shapeshift into their spirit animal, but has been ridiculed her entire life because her animal is a small, fluffy white dog. When Sariela is cursed to remain in her animal form forever, she must flee her enemies and rely on the reluctant help of Elwen, a 15 year old mercenary, to break the spell.

It's not the best pitch, and it probably sounds a bit ridiculous now, but it was really fun to write. And although I write sci-fi now, thinking about it makes me really want to write another fantasy novel!

Come back tomorrow for an excerpt!

What's your totem animal?

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Briggs) — Wed, 02 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Yesterday I said if I was an animal, I'd be a red panda. I guess I consider red pandas to be my totem animal. They most feel like "me" (although some days I might be more polar bear!).

What's your totem animal? Or, what type of animal would you want to be?

5 Random Facts

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Briggs) — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the first day of the Blog Me MAYbe blogfest. This should be fun! I can't promise to blog every day in May, but I plan to try.

Today we'll start off with 5 random facts about me, which you probably didn't know:

1. In YA books I'd be Ravenclaw, Erudite, and District 3 (Technology). You might have noticed a theme there. Go nerds!

2. I only type with my two index fingers, but I type FAST. This freaks people out when they see me typing away. I've tried to teach myself normal typing a dozen times, but my brain doesn't work that way for some reason.

3. I'm allergic to fish, although I will admit this might be 100% psychological. Even really strong fish smells make me feel like I'm going to gag. Don't open a can of tuna next to me, please.

4. I live next door to another YA writer. I didn't know her before we moved in, so it is just an awesome coincidence that we became neighbors!

5. If I was an animal, I'd be a red panda. Look at this guy, lounging in the sprinklers. That's the kind of life I want!

Upcoming Blogfests & Events

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Briggs) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Blogging is hard work, but joining blogfests can help you find topics to blog about. Plus they're a great way to meet other writers! And in May there are three exciting blog events you should consider taking part in:

First up, is the Blog Me Maybe blogfest, which runs all throughout May. Every day of the week there is a prompt, so you don't have to worry about what you're going to blog about. For example, on Mondays you blog about writing, Tuesday about yourself, and so forth. If you struggle to find things to blog about, or want to blog more often, this is the blogfest for you!

On May 3 - 7 my critique partner Cortney is hosting the Dust It Off bloghop, during which participants will blog about their shelved manuscripts and first writing attempts. Over three days you'll post a short pitch, an excerpt, and what you learned while writing the book. This could get a bit embarrassing, but will be a ton of fun!

Also starting May 3, four bloggers are hosting the Writer's Voice blogfest and contest. To participate, you must have a complete manuscript ready to query. Inspired by the TV show The Voice, this event will take place over the entire month, with different teams competing and multiple agents judging the entries - and hopefully requesting a ton of manuscripts! I'm not participating in this, but I will be rooting all the contestants on (especially Team Krista, since we share the same agent!).

Are you going to participate in any of these blogfests? Do you know of any others coming up I should look into?

RTW: Images & Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Briggs) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 23:36:00 +0000

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.

Today's Topic: What images inspire/ represent your WIP?

I'm in the middle of brainstorming, outlining, and writing the first draft of a new book, so this is a perfect topic for me. (You can see the previous post I did for my book ALTERNATE here.)

The book I'm working on now is tentatively titled 24 HOURS IN THE FUTURE, and is a time travel murder mystery. Here are some images that represent it:

Good News Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Briggs) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 16:35:00 +0000

Thank you to everyone for all of your kind words about my good news! The YA community is amazingly supportive, and I'd like to give back to as many people as I can. That's why I'm having a big giveaway to celebrate! Here's what you can win:

1) TWO winners will receive one book from any of my agent Kate Testerman's clients. You can see a few of the new releases above, and here is the complete list of authors you can choose from. You pick the book, and I'll send it to you from Book Depository. Pre-orders are fine too.

2) FIVE winners will receive a "get ready to query" package, in which I will critique your query letter, the first 10 pages of your book, and even your 1 sentence pitch if you have one. I'm definitely no expert, but my query had a pretty good request rate, and I will give you honest, unbiased feedback on how to make yours more appealing to agents.

You can enter to win one of these prizes or both. There will be 7 winners total! You don't have to be a follower, or tweet about it or anything, although that would be appreciated. This contest is international, and will end on March 26th at midnight PST. Good luck!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED - THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ENTERED!

Big News! I have an agent!

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Briggs) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:28:00 +0000

I am thrilled to announce that I am now represented by the amazing agent Kate Testerman of KT Literary!!!

I'm still in shock, so Gabby is going to help me tell the story. I finished revising my YA sci-fi novel ALTERNATE back in September 2011, and queried Kate in my very first batch of agents. I was a bit cocky back then (oh silly, naive past-Liz), so naturally I queried my top agents first... and got rejected by all of them. Except Kate - she asked for a partial in October. I was so excited!

Things are looking up!

A week later I got a phone call from an agent who wanted to talk about revisions! She said she loved my book but couldn't offer because one of her clients was working on something similar - and then spent the next two hours giving me suggestions on how to improve my entire trilogy. I will always be grateful for the time she took to give me revision ideas and encouragement. But now I had more work to do...

Time for more revisions.

I stopped querying and spent the next two months revising my book based on this agent's suggestions. Once I finished I sent Kate the revised partial, and went to England and Wales for the holidays. When I got back in January Kate asked for the full! I couldn't believe it. It was my first partial to full request. I guess my revisions paid off, because my dream agent wanted to read my entire book!

I tore it up and made it better!

I sent the book to Kate and started querying again. And got many, many rejections. SO MANY. January and February were long, dark months. I checked Querytracker constantly. I got 3 form rejections in a row on my full manuscript, and thought, "I'm going to have to shelve this book." I was certain I would get a rejection from Kate any day.

I has a sad.

But last week, exactly six months since I started querying, Kate emailed me and said she wanted to talk! AAH! I got her email while I was at work and thought I might faint at my desk. I couldn't believe it! And a few days later Kate and I talked on the phone and she offered representation, and everything was SHINY!

WEEEEEEEEEEE!

Kate is my dream agent and I am so, so blessed that she loves my book. Not only does she represent some wonderful authors (like Maureen Johnson and Stephanie Perkins and Ransom Riggs), but she tweets about playing video games, and shares my love of Joss Whedon, and posts pretty pictures of shoes on her tumblr. I could not have found a more perfect match!

I am proof that you CAN get picked out of the slush pile, and that getting an agent usually doesn't happen overnight. It took me six months of querying, revising, and waiting, but it was all worth it. And just because an agent has your book for a few months doesn't mean she is going to reject it. It could mean that she is super busy selling her clients' books, and wants to read your book but doesn't have time yet. Don't give up!

I want to give special thanks to my four amazing critique partners (Rachel, Cortney, Karen, and Jessica) for helping to make my book as strong as possible and for keeping me sane throughout the querying process. And love always to my husband Gary, who kept telling me to be patient - he was right!

Party time!

Come back on Monday, because I'm going to have a big giveaway to celebrate!

Read These Books: Incarnate, Harbinger

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Briggs) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 11:00:00 +0000

I read two amazing YA books in February, and when I read amazing books I can't help but want to tell you all about them. Both of these books are from debut authors, and have unique and genre-blending premises.

Incarnate by Jodi Meadows - Incarnate is a beautiful fantasy combining so many things I love: reincarnation, dragons, fancy masquerade balls, laser guns, and awesome world building. The world in Incarnate is fun to read about, because everyone has been reincarnated for thousands of years, allowing them to create a "perfect" society. But when Ana shows up, the first new soul ever, she throws everything into chaos. I loved the mystery of why Ana was born and the romance between her and Sam. I thought the author did a great job of showing how remembering all your past lives would be both good and bad, and what kind of society it would create. I can't wait for the next book in the series!

Harbinger by Sarah Wilson Etienne - If you're looking for a unique and creepy read, you should definitely check out Harbinger. It's set in the future and has some dystopian elements, but since the book takes place in a boarding school you never actually see these elements up close. Instead, Harbinger reads more like a paranormal mystery with a touch of romance. The boarding school is deliciously evil, and I was glued to the pages trying to figure out what was going on. And since Harbinger is a standalone, you don't have to wait for the next book to find the answers. The ending is intense and original and unlike anything I've read before. Highly recommended!

Have you read any amazing books lately? Let me know so I can check them out!

March Madness Goals

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Briggs) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 16:45:00 +0000

Starting tomorrow I'll be participating in Denise Jaden's March Madness! It's open to writers, readers, bloggers, and illustrators who want to set challenging goals for the month and cheer each other on - and win prizes too! If you have a book you need to start or finish, or a huge TBR pile to get through, you should join us!

My goal for March is to write 30k words in a new book, which I'll be starting the first draft of tomorrow. I'm really excited about this book (it's a YA sci-fi murder mystery), but NaNoWriMo's 50k a month tends to burn me out, so I'm aiming for a more reasonable 30k. Hopefully this will allow me to write another 30k in April and finish the draft.

I'll be posting my progress here and on the March Madness blogs so you can make sure I keep writing, and yell at me if I fall behind.

Do you have any writing or reading goals for March? Are you joining us for March Madness?

And if you need some extra inspiration, check out Mandy Hubbard's post today. 2012 is going to be our year, I can feel it!

Writing Resources: Agent Contests

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Briggs) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:00:00 +0000

If you have a book ready to query there are a few contests you should consider entering. These contests run on people's blogs every month, but have agents pick the winners - usually resulting in a partial or full manuscript request.

These contests can be scary to enter, but they are a great way to get feedback on your entry from other writers and agents. Just remember that lots of people have opinions, and that doesn't mean you need to listen to all of them. And if you're nervous about people reading your writing, most of these contests are anonymous.

Even if you don't enter, you can watch the contests as they happen, and through the previous rounds to get an idea of what a particular agent is interested in.

Here are four I recommend:

Miss Snark's First Victim - The amazing Authoress does a monthly Secret Agent contest, where you submit your first 250 words only. The entries (usually chosen by a random lottery) are posted on her blog, where people can comment and critique your opening. The secret agent leaves comments too, and then picks winners. Miss Snark's First Victim is the longest running of these contests, and has led to many, many authors being signed by agents. You can read more about the rules here, and check out previous rounds on the right sidebar of her blog.

Mother. Write. (Repeat) - The lovely Krista hosts a monthly contest called An Agent's Inbox, where you submit your query letter and opening pages. Sometimes the agent is secret, and sometimes it isn't. Like MSFV, the agent comments on each entry and selects winners. You can read more about the contest (and see past rounds) here. Note: Krista's contests are currently on hold because she just had a baby - congrats Krista!

Operation Awesome - The wonderful authors at Operation Awesome host a monthly Mystery Agent contest, where you submit a pitch (sometimes a Twitter pitch, sometimes longer), and the mystery agent selects winners. This is a good contest to enter if you're afraid to post your query or opening page on someone's website. For more information on the contests, and a list of previous pitches and winners, click here.

Cupid's Literary Connection - This is the newest contest site, but Cupid already has huge buzz. Her first contest in January led to an author being signed with an agent, and her second contest (going on now) has a large list of agents participating. She seems to switch up the rules every month, so make sure you keep an eye on this one.

There are many other agent contests out there, but these are the ones that seem to run consistently every month. Do you know of any other regular contests? Have you entered any of these?

Read These Books: Cinder, The Fault In Our Stars, Ditched

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Briggs) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 01:13:00 +0000

Happy New Year to everyone! I hope you've all been having a wonderful 2012 so far. Mine has been busy, which is why my poor blog has been neglected. But I'm back, with three books I read in January that I want to share with you.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer - At first I wasn't sure I'd like this book. I mean, it has CYBORGS, which is a +10 in my world, but it's a Cinderella retelling which is a -5 (I'm just not a fan of retellings or fairy tales in general). But then I got an ARC and started reading, and completely fell in love. I adored Cinder, a smart, determined mechanic trying to get by as a 2nd class citizen due to her cybernetic implants. The world building is also great, and the fairy tale elements are blended perfectly into the story. If you loved dystopian but are a little burnt out now, definitely check out Cinder.

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green - You've probably read this one, but if not, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? I rarely cry, but I sobbed so hard for the last few chapters of this book. And yet, the book is delightful, and funny, and hopeful too, despite the sadness. John Green is that one author who makes me question why I even bother trying to write books. He's just. so. good.

Ditched by Robin Mellom - After TFIOS, you probably need something light and happy, and Ditched is the perfect choice. Justina has an authentic teen voice, and she's super funny too. The book is told in flashbacks, as Justina tells her prom night disaster story to two ladies at the local 7 Eleven. The things that happen to her are hilarious, and the romance is so cute. I highly recommend Ditched for a Valentine's Day read, or anytime you want a laugh out loud funny book.

Have you read any amazing books so far in 2012? Let me know so I can add them to my TBR list!

Class of 2011 YA Superlative Blogfest: Best in Show

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Briggs) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 22:51:00 +0000

Today's Topic: Best in Show

Favorite Cover - Wither, because I love how all the elements on the cover make sense within the book. Runner up: The Future of Us, for the awesome use of binary!
Cutest Couple - Lola & Cricket in Lola and the Boy Next Door. Of course.
Most Likely to Succeed (Or, pick a Printz Winner) - Daughter of Smoke and Bone, for the lovely prose.
Most Likely to Make You Miss Your Bedtime (The book you just couldn't put down!) - I could list a dozen titles here (I'm really bad about this), but I'll pick Lola and the Boy Next Door because I never put it down except for bathroom breaks!
Best Repeat Performance (Your favorite sequel or follow-up.) - Fury of the Phoenix for a sequel, and Lola and the Boy Next Door for a companion book/follow-up. Both were as good as, if not better, than the first book.
Romance Most Worthy of an Ice Bath - Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi. The romance is definitely scorching hot!
Pair Most Likely to Stay Best Friends Till They’re 80 - Emma and Josh from The Future of Us. How could they not?
Breakout Novel (Favorite Book by a Debut Author) - A three way tie between Across the Universe, Divergent, and Legend. I just can't decide.
Best Old-Timer (Your favorite read of the year, published BEFORE 2011.) - Little Brother by Cory Doctorow. To be fair, I re-read this book in 2011, but I loved it even more the second time.
Most Pleasant Surprise (The best book you didn’t think you’d like, but totally did.) - Forgotten by Cat Patrick. I'd read a negative review and thought I wouldn't like it, but I actually loved it!

Most Creative Use of a Love Triangle - Wither, for the polygamous marriage plus an additional love interest.

Sleeper Hit (Book you found so awesome you wish it had been hyped more.) - Clarity by Kim Harrington. More people need to read this one!

Today we're supposed to pick our own category for everyone to answer. My category is: Favorite Adult Novel of 2011, because we have to venture out of YA and MG sometimes right? Favorite Adult Novel of 2011 - Machine Man by Max Barry. This book is dark and hilarious and brilliant and disturbing and super geeky. There were many moments when I was reading along and had to stop to think, "WAIT, did that just happen? Did I misread that? Nope, that really happened. Whoa." This is a perfect book for engineers, scientists, computer geeks, robot fans, etc. What's your favorite adult novel of 2011? And that's it for the blogfest! Hope everyone has a wonderful New Years! See you in 2012!

Class of 2011 YA Superlative Blogfest: Elements of Fiction

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Briggs) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 23:48:00 +0000

Today's Topic: Elements of Fiction

Most Envy-Inducing Plot - The Future of Us. It's just such a fun idea!

Most Wonderful World-Building - Across the Universe. The claustrophobic world of Godspeed really comes alive in this book.

Most Formidable World (Or, the setting you most definitely would NOT want to travel to.) - Wither. Everyone knows what age they will die (I'd already be dead, yikes!), and women are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population going. No thanks.

Most Wanderlust-Inducing (Or, the setting I’d happily travel to) - Daughter of Smoke and Bone. Prague was described in such beautiful detail that you can't help but want to visit it.

Loveliest Prose - Daughter of Smoke & Bone. Laini Taylor is a master.

Best First Line - The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer: "My name is not Mara Dyer, but my lawyer told me I had to choose something." How can you not read on to see why she needs a lawyer and a psudonym?

Most Dynamic Main Character - Lola in Lola and the Boy Next Door. After my previous post I had to pick her!

Most Jaw-Dropping Finale - Divergent. I wasn't expecting a lot of the things that happen at the end!

Best Performance in a Supporting Role - Anna and Etienne in Lola and the Boy Next Door. Just because I was so happy to see them again.

Best Use of Theme - Divergent. I'm really bad at recognizing themes, but I liked how the themes here corresponded with the factions.

Tomorrow's Topic: Best in Show!

Class of 2011 YA Superlative Blogfest: Popularity Contest

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Briggs) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 10:00:00 +0000

I'm participating in the Class of 2011 YA Superlative Blogfest, hosted by Jessica Love, Katy Upperman, Alison Miller, and Tracey Neithercott. For the next four days we'll be posting about our favorite 2011 YA books and characters.
Today's Topic: Popularity Contest
Class Clown - Sophie in Demonglass. I love her sarcastic humor. Most Likely to Become a Rock Star - Max, Lola's boyfriend in Lola & the Boy Next Door. He's the only character I could think of that's in a band. Mostly Likely to Start a Riot - Day in Legend. You'll have to read the book to find out why...
Biggest Flirt - Chloe in Shut Out. She's sort of a young version of Samantha on Sex & the City (aka, awesome).
Fashion King and/or Queen - Lola in Lola & the Boy Next Door. She believes in costume, not fashion!
Girl You’d Most Want For Your BFF - Lola again. She's a bit neurotic but she'd be cool to hang out with. And think of all the cool outfits she could make you.
Boy You Wish You’d Dated in High School - Cricket in Lola & the Boy Next Door. He's so nerdy cute.
Most Likely to Become President - June in Legend. Or maybe not, after the end of the book... Quirkiest Character - Lola! Or maybe Karou in Daughter of Smoke & Bone. They're both super quirky and fun. Villain You Love to Hate - Zhong Ye in Fury of the Phoenix. You can't help but like him, even though you hate him at the same time. Favorite Parental Figure - Both of Lola's parents in Lola & the Boy Next Door. They're the best! Coolest Nerd - Lola! Or wait, maybe Cricket. Hmm... can't decide.

Yes, I just gave most of these awards to people in Lola and the Boy Next Door. That's because it is awesome. Go read it, now.

Tomorrow's topic: Elements of Fiction!

Class of 2011 YA Superlative Blogfest: Head of the Class

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Briggs) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:34:00 +0000

I'm participating in the Class of 2011 YA Superlative Blogfest, hosted by Jessica Love, Katy Upperman, Alison Miller, and Tracey Neithercott. For the next four days we'll be posting about our favorite 2011 YA books and characters.

Today's topic: Head of the Class: I've read 25 2011 YA books this year, and these are my favorites. Yes, I got a bit creative with the choices for some of the genres, but I didn't want to repeat any books!

Favorite Dystopian - Legend by Marie Lu
I really enjoyed Legend, and thought it had one of the more believable dystopian worlds, which is why I picked it for this category.
Favorite Science Fiction - Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Space ships! Cryo tanks! Can't wait for the next one.
Favorite Fantasy - Fury of the Phoenix by Cindy Pon
I loved Cindy's world building, and the way she made us empathize with the villain of the first book.
Favorite Contemporary - Shut Out by Kody Keplinger
I wish Kody Keplinger had been writing when I was a teenager!
Favorite Action/Adventure - Divergent by Veronica Roth
Although this is a dystopian, I loved the action in this book and I'm dying to read the second one.
Favorite Historical Fiction - The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler
I loved the fact that this book was set during the 90s, when I was a teenager!
Favorite Comedy - My Life Undecided by Jessica Brody This book reads like a movie! I could picture the entire thing in my head (especially the awesome ending).
Favorite Mystery - Clarity by Kim Harrington
If you loved The Body Finder, I think you'll enjoy this paranormal mystery too.
Favorite Romance - Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
I still can't decide if I liked this one better than Anna and the French Kiss. I loved them both.
Favorite Paranormal Romance - Forgotten by Cat Patrick
I loved the romance and the premise in this paranormal mystery.
Favorite Family Drama - Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles
This is technically a romance, but I also loved the family dynamics here. A great end to the series.
Favorite Genre Bender - Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Is it a paranormal romance? Is it a fantasy? An urban fantasy? Either way, it's beautifully written and I look forward to the second book.
Have you read any of these? Let me know which books are your favorites!
Tomorrow: the Popularity Contest!

Friday Five 12/16/11

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Briggs) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Gabby thought she could sneak in the luggage with the shirts.

1. I'm currently on a plane to the UK! Or maybe by the time this posts I'll already be there? Either way, I'll be in England and Wales for the rest of the year with limited internet access, so if you email me you might not get a response for a few weeks. I'll try to take some good photos, but the weather forecast says it will be raining most of my trip, so, we'll see...

2. The winner of my Legend giveaway was Dana Elmendorf! Yay! Look for more giveaways in 2012.

3. I started a tumblr (elizabethbriggs.tumblr.com), where I'm posting sci-fi pictures and other nerdy stuff. Let me know if you have one so I can follow you!

4. I also started playing Star Wars The Old Republic, which is an online game like World of Warcraft. Let me know if you're also playing! I'm Elira, a Jedi Knight on Beregen Colony. Sadly I won't be able to actually play until I get back from my trip.

5. Are you participating in the Class of 2011 YA Superlatives blogfest? I'm going to try to participate, and I can't wait to read all the entries when I get back.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday!

Happy Holidays Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Briggs) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:58:00 +0000

I'm going to be in England and Wales for most of December, celebrating the holidays with my husband's family. But before I sign off until 2012, I wanted to do one last giveaway as a thank you to all my readers. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!

I'm giving away one of my favorite books of 2011: Legend by Marie Lu. I have an ARC copy signed by Marie Lu at Comic Con, plus a matching Legend pin and magnet. I'll also throw in a bunch of other YA book swag for the lucky winner!

Contest is open internationally and will end at midnight on Monday December 12th. Good luck!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED - THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED!

Female Computer Geeks in YA?

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Briggs) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 16:43:00 +0000

Trinity, using actual hacking tools, in The Matrix Reloaded

One of the things I've focused on in my revisions is making my main character more believable as a computer programmer and hacker. This was a lot harder than I thought it would be, since I'm not a programmer or hacker myself!

To fix this problem, I asked my husband a ton of questions, and immersed myself in books featuring computer hackers so I can get an idea of how they think.

Here are some of the books I've read (or are next in my TBR pile):

YA:

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

Brain Jack by Brian Falkner

Evil Genius by Catherine Jinks

Adult:

Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson

Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson

Neuromancer by William Gibson

Machine Man by Max Barry

If you're familiar with these books, you might notice a severe lack of female protagonists. In fact, I can't think of a single YA novel in which the main character is a female computer geek. I even asked around on Twitter, and no one could think of any - although many people said they would love to read about one!

Male or female, the computer geek (especially the hacker) is often relegated to the role of sidekick or love interest in most books, movies, and TV shows. But sometimes (especially with the rise of the geek in our culture) the male computer geek gets to be the hero of the story. Not so for the female geeks. Even the upcoming Girl with the Dragon Tattoo movie (based on the insanely popular books) features a female hacker, but she is not the main character. She's stuck in the sidekick/love interest role, despite being arguably more interesting than the main character!

What do you think: why are there no female computer geeks in YA? Is it time for the rise of the female computer geek? And if you can think of any more hacker books, let me know!