The Book Muncher

Thoughts on my publishing internships

2013-05-11T06:00:00.000-04:00

This is my last week as an editorial intern at the Arthur A. Levine Books imprint at Scholastic! So I thought now was as good a time as ever to talk a little bit about this and my other past internships, especially since I've never really done that before. I'll try to make this short and sweet (so that it won't read like a boring resume!), but feel free to comment or email me if you have any specific questions.

Lee & Low Books
This was my first ever internship in publishing. I was in my second semester of college, and all that I knew was that I wanted to do something with books (especially children's books) and to learn about the industry. Fortunately, Lee & Low Books gave me all that and more. Working in the publicity/marketing department, I got to be the person reaching out to bloggers instead of the other way around, and in editorial, I learned all about "reader reports," which are basically a compilation of all my thoughts on a submission to help the editor make a more informed decision about requesting the full manuscript. Learning to write reader reports was definitely my biggest takeaway from this internship—it's a huge part of any editorial internship and the editorial process in general!

Macmillan Children's Publishing Group
In preparing for the summer after my first year in college, I applied to tons of publishing internships because I wanted more than anything to learn more about publishing (okay, spending time in NYC was a goal, too). But nothing was happening until I got in contact with a Macmillan publicist I'd met once—she helped get my resume and cover letter to the right people, I interviewed, and then I got the internship! As a marketing intern, I did a lot of mailing (to bloggers, librarians, booksellers, industry people, etc.), but I also got create material for the teen website, which was a lot of fun. I think one of my favorite parts about this internship was that every week, Macmillan would host lunches for all of the company's interns; the week after BEA, after having mentioned that I had attended, some of the other interns thought that Macmillan had paid for me to go! I admit I felt a bit like a celebrity.

Fox Literary
I fell into this internship sort of by accident. I had just turned down another internship due to scheduling conflicts but really wanted to do some work, publishing-wise. A friend referred me, and things just sort of took off from there. As an editorial intern at a literary agency, I learned a lot about reading and writing—so, what makes a good story, what makes a good revision or rejection letter, and the like. It was really interesting to see the agency side of things; for once, I was helping prepare manuscripts to send to publishing houses instead of being on the receiving end of those manuscripts. I had an amazing experience at this internship, because I learned so much, but it also helped me realize that I want to be working in editorial at a publishing house instead of an agency. Which leads me to my next internship...

Scholastic
I turned down another internship to be an editorial intern at Arthur A. Levine Books, because Scholastic has always been one of my favorite children's publishers and because I knew that working with Cheryl Klein would be an amazing opportunity. And I have to say that I was completely right! I've learned so much at this internship, both in terms of just practicing reading and writing, but also because I've gotten to work a little bit with acquisitions—so basically, all the hurdles and approvals before an editor and buy and publish a book. Aside from all that, one of my favorite and most memorable tasks here was to read the manuscript of a sequel to a book that, at that time, had not yet been released; even though I had to read it over the weekend instead of in the office, I can't say that I complained, considering I really wanted to read this manuscript—it definitely didn't feel like work at all!

Well, having just looked at these huge paragraphs, I guess this post didn't turn out to be too short after all. But I hope it's been interesting and informative! As I said above, feel free to to comment or email about any specific questions—I am always happy to chat about my internships or publishing internships in general!

Born of Illusion by Teri Brown is Munch-Worthy

2013-05-10T06:00:00.000-04:00

Anna Van Housen is thirteen the first time she breaks her mother out of jail. By sixteen she’s street smart and savvy, assisting her mother, the renowned medium Marguerite Van Housen, in her stage show and séances, and easily navigating the underground world of magicians, mediums and mentalists in 1920’s New York City. Handcuffs and sleight of hand illusions have never been much of a challenge for Anna. The real trick is keeping her true gifts secret from her opportunistic mother, who will stop at nothing to gain her ambition of becoming the most famous medium who ever lived. But when a strange, serious young man moves into the flat downstairs, introducing her to a secret society that studies people with gifts like hers, he threatens to reveal the secrets Anna has fought so hard to keep, forcing her to face the truth about her past. Could the stories her mother has told her really be true? Could she really be the illegitimate daughter of the greatest magician of all?

Magic in the Jazz Age? Why, yes please! It's no secret that I'm a big fan of the flapper era, with all its danger and decadence, but what I love even more than straight historical is a historical story with a twist. With its focus on stage magicians, Born of Illusion promises just that.

The cover is...interesting, to say the least, but I have to say that if I were browsing shelves, I think I'd be intrigued more by the title. First of all, the lettering is quite lovely, fancy enough without being illegible. But, more importantly, the book is called Born of Illusion. Just the sound of those three words makes me want to read this book!

Releases June 11, 2013 from Balzer + Bray.

Interview with Katie Kacvinsky

2013-05-06T06:00:00.000-04:00

The First Comes Love paperback has a new cover! How do you feel about its new packaging and design?
I love the new cover. It reminds me of Stargirl, and that’s one of my favorite covers of all time. I like it when covers avoid using characters, so that readers can imagine them for themselves. I also love the cactus heart; it’s very fitting for the male character (Gray).

What were you trying to accomplish when you started writing First Comes Love? What do you feel you’ve accomplished with the finished product?
I was trying to vent. One of my best friends had recently lost her brother, and watching her go through the grieving process was so heavy, and I felt so helpless to comfort her, that I started writing First Comes Love as a way to expel all of these emotions cramming my head. I also wanted to write a realistic relationship story. Falling in love is easy, but staying in love and making it last is work and commitment.

Which of your characters in this book can you relate to most, and why?
Both. I am 50% Gray and 50% Dylan. Even my editor told me that the reason this story works is because Gray and Dylan are me. I suppose this is true. I have two extreme sides to my personality, one upbeat and adventurous and the other closed off and cynical.

Your two series, Awaken and First Comes Love, have very different settings, but both focus on relationships. What is it that draws you to this topic?
I love relationship stories. I think it’s so strange and mysterious to see who we are attracted to and who we connect with. The people that we invest our time in say so much about who we are.

What is the most interesting thing you learned while writing First Comes Love? (This can be about yourself, about writing, or anything at all).
I learned that I don’t believe in love at first sight. I learned that relationships build over time and experiences. I also learned that it’s more important to love people on their worst days than on their best.

What is the most rewarding part about being a young adult author?
There are so many “firsts” when you are young. First love. First heartbreak. First road trip. First job. In my experience, “firsts” are very overwhelming. I think that’s why I love writing YA books. There is endless drama.

If there was one thing you could change about First Comes Love, what would it be?
The design on the hardcover. I know it’s “steamy” but I personally don’t like steamy covers.

What are you working on next?
Well, I wrote a sequel to First Comes Love, titled Second Chance. The Gray and Dylan saga continues…and there will be a third and final book to wrap up their story. At the moment I’m concentrating on finishing the last book in the Awaken series.

Congratulations to...

2013-05-04T06:00:00.000-04:00

Brooke
who won a few mystery Harlequin TEEN books,

Sarah/appifanie

who won Home Sweet Rome by Marissa Moss,

&

holdenj
who won The Infernal Devices trilogy by Cassandra Clare

A weekend of wonderful book events

2013-05-02T06:00:00.000-04:00

Last weekend, I split my time between more scholarly duties and, you guessed it, a couple of awesome book signings!

On Saturday, I headed down to Books of Wonder for a great event with authors Lauren Appelhans, Kate Ellison, Adele Griffin, Lauren Morrill, Lauren Oliver, Jess Rothenberg, and Rachel Shukert.

the authors above, in alphabetical order!

The event space was pretty crowded by the time I got there (late, as per usual!), so I stood in the back to listen in. The authors all chatted a little bit about their writing and most recent books, and then they took questions from the audience.

I had a great time hanging out with some of my favorite book people, including bookish friends Adam, Jennifer, and Jen; blogger Melody from Hollywood The Write Way; and authors Lenore Appelhans and Adele Griffin.

Then the next day, I went to McNally Jackson Books, a wonderful bookstore in SoHo that I've been to many times but never for an event! Thus, I was very excited to go there for a YA panel moderated by David Levithan and featuring authors Jennifer E. Smith, Elizabeth Eulberg, Caela Carter, Barry Lyga, Lindsay Ribar, and Jessica Verdi.

clockwise from top left: Jessica Verdi, Jennifer E. Smith, Barry Lyga, Elizabeth Eulberg, Lindsay Ribar, and Caela Carter

Each author read a short segment from their newest book, and all the readings were wondering in very different ways. Then they answered some questions from David, and then took questions from the audience. The entire event was thoroughly entertaining, because the authors have such varied mix of personalities and books!

I hung around the event for longer than I intended to after, chatting with the lovely authors, especially Lindsay Ribar, as well as author Alison Cherry and blogger Khy from Frenetic Reader.

Needless to say, these events were a fun break from the craziness of the impending end of my college career!

I Rocked the Drop!

2013-04-30T06:00:00.001-04:00

A couple weeks ago, on 4/18, was Teen Lit Day, and I celebrated by Rocking the Drop!

While last year, I was able to document each and every of my 8 drops (and then live tweet them, of course), this year didn't quite work out that well. I had to go into my internship, so I couldn't exactly leisurely stroll around looking for great new places to drop my books. Instead, I gathered up my 10 books this year, woke up early, took a morning walk through the upper part of Riverside Park, and dropped all my books within 20 blocks or so.

the awesome books I dropped—some signed, some unreleased ARCs

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take another walk through the part later that day to see the results of my efforts (that people picked up my books!), but I have no doubt they have all found happy new homes. And this is why Teen Lit Day and Rock the Drop are one of my favorite days of the year!

Openly Straight by Bill Konigsberg is Munch-Worthy

2013-04-27T06:00:00.000-04:00

A funny, honest novel about being out, being proud...and being ready for something else.

Rafe is a normal teenager from Boulder, Colorado. He plays soccer. He's won skiing prizes. He likes to write.

And, oh yeah, he's gay. He's been out since 8th grade, and he isn't teased, and he goes to other high schools and talks about tolerance and stuff. And while that's important, all Rafe really wants is to just be a regular guy. Not that GAY guy. To have it be a part of who he is, but not the headline, every single time.

So when he transfers to an all-boys' boarding school in New England, he decides to keep his sexuality a secret—not so much going back in the closet as starting over with a clean slate. But then he sees a classmate breaking down. He meets a teacher who challenges him to write his story. And most of all, he falls in love with Ben...who doesn't even know that love is possible.

This witty, smart, coming-out-again story will appeal to gay and straight kids alike as they watch Rafe navigate being different, fitting in, and what it means to be himself.

Sexuality is a very complex topic. It used to be, and sadly in some places still is, difficult just at admit to having a "not normal" sexuality. Now, many of us pride ourselves of being open and accepting of people who are different from us. I mean, every girl wants her gay best friend, right?

But, that's not quite right, is it? As I said above, sexuality is a little more complicated than that, and Openly Straight seems like it's going to bring those ideas to the forefront. I, for one, would love to read a story about a gay guy who doesn't want to be defined by only his sexuality. A "coming-out-again" story—you know, I think I'm going to really enjoy this one!

Releases June 1, 2013 from Arthur A. Levine Books.

That Time I Joined the Circus by J.J. Howard

2013-04-25T06:00:00.000-04:00

New York City girl Lexi Ryan is doing just fine—she’s got her music, her friends, and her dad, and that’s all she really needs. But when a terrible mistake and a terrible accident leave her on her own in the only city she’s ever called home, Lexi has no choice but to track down her estranged mother, who’s apparently somewhere in Florida with a traveling circus. Arriving at the circus’s next stop with her few worldly belongings and only a little bit of hope, Lexi is disappointed to find that her mother isn’t there, but with nowhere else to go and no idea what to do next, Lexi decides to stay on and join the circus. What she finds amongst the animals and midway rides are unexpected friends and the surprise that this traveling circus is starting to feel like home. But Lexi can’t ignore her past forever, though with a little help from friends both new and old, she just might be able to find what she was looking for all along.

That Time I Joined the Circus is a sweet and funny debut about family, friendship, love, and, of course, the sometimes hectic but somehow rewarding life at the circus. I found myself quite along for the ride (pun not intended) as Lexi navigated her transition from tough city girl to a girl running from her past to a circus performer, and I especially enjoyed how that narration switched between Lexi’s present story and the events that happened before Lexi left to find her mom. I felt like I really got to know Lexi’s character through seeing her background and her current hopes and anxieties, and that made reading her story all the more satisfying. That Time I Joined the Circus may not necessarily be particularly deep, but it does touch on a lot of important subjects, and I found the mix of humor and heart made this book a thoroughly worthwhile read.

That Time I Joined the Circus appeals to fans of Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson and The Beautiful Between by Alyssa Sheinmel.

Rating: 3.75

Review copy from publisher Scholastic

Win The Infernal Devices trilogy by Cassandra Clare

2013-04-23T06:00:00.000-04:00

CONTEST CLOSED

The City of Bones movie will be coming out in just a few months, so I'm teaming up with Appliances Online to have a little contest! Here's your chance to catch up on the prequel trilogy, The Infernal Devices, to prep yourself on all things Shadowhunters.

(1) lucky winner will receive Clockwork Angel, Clockwork Prince, and Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
courtesy of Appliances Online

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Other details:

US/Canadian/UK mailing addresses only.
Contest ends 5/01/13, at 9 p.m. EST.

Remember, you must complete the form to be entered, and only one form submission per person will be counted. If you have any questions about this contest, see my contest policy, or contact me and ask away.

Tale of a book signing with Jen Calonita, Elizabeth Eulberg, & Jennifer E. Smith

2013-04-21T06:00:00.000-04:00

Last Tuesday, I made my way down to Books of Wonder for a fantastic event titled "Girls Get Real." The panel featured authors Jen Calonita, Elizabeth Eulberg, and Jennifer E. Smith and was moderated by Sarah Mlynowski. I've been fortunate to see all of these authors before, so I knew that I was in for a treat (and I was right, of course!).

panelists Jennifer E. Smith, Elizabeth Eulberg, and Jen Calonita & moderator Sarah Mlynowski

To start off the event, each author introduced herself and her most recent book, and then Sarah got down to asking questions. The discussion was fantastic and included everything from why they write realistic fiction to their inspiration and research to, of course, how they write realistic boys. Then they took questions from the audience, including an interesting one about sexual content and why they do or do not include it in their books.

In all, the event was fascinating, informative, and most of all very fun! I had a wonderful time hanging out with my fellow publishing intern Eunice and getting to chat with the featured authors, particularly Elizabeth Eulberg and Jennifer E. Smith. And since last Tuesday was also one of my good friend's birthdays, I got a copy of Jennifer E. Smith's The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight signed for her, too.

Congratulations to...

2013-04-19T06:00:00.000-04:00

Kris

who won The Panem Companion by V. Arrow

Zoe Ortiz

who won a Fab Bag o' Swag to celebrate the release of

The Key & The Flame by Claire M. Caterer

Home Sweet Rome Blog Tour

2013-04-17T06:00:00.000-04:00

A very warm welcome to Marissa Moss! Her novel Home Sweet Rome, the second installment in her Mira's Diary series, came out earlier this month!

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How was your experience of writing Home Sweet Rome different than writing its prequel, Lost in Paris?
The experience was as different as being in Paris compared to Rome. I know both cities well, having lived in each for a year, but they have very distinctive personalities and I hope those characteristics found their way into the books.

The Mira's Diary books are formatted as a sort of sketchbook. Could you tell us a little bit about the process of creating an illustrated novel?
For me, it's easier than straight writing because the illustrations can get across a lot of information, freeing me from the burden of too much heavy-handed descriptions. Whenever art will get the point across as well as words can, I prefer to use a picture. Plus I love to draw, so that part of the book is pure fun.

What made you decide to write about time travel?
I love history and I thought time travel could be a way of making particular times and places come alive for readers. I wanted to tell historical stories in a way that would seem relevant to people today. At least, that's what I hope I'm doing with these books!

What sort of research did you have to do for Home Sweet Rome?
A huge amount! I read a lot of books on subjects ranging to 17th Century daily life in Rome to the philosophy of Giordano Bruno. Plus I watched an Italian documentary on Bruno (complete with re-enactment of his death) and I explored the archive of secret documents housed in the Vatican at a special exhibit in Rome. Some of my research was simply walking the streets, sketching things that would make interesting Touchstones.

What is the most interesting thing you learned while writing Home Sweet Rome? (This can be about yourself, about writing, or anything at all).
I'd have to say the more I read about Giordano Bruno, the more fascinated by him I became. He was such an unusual thinker, really a lot like a modern-day physicist, except in the 17th century that kind of work was considered philosophy. It was striking that at that time, there weren't the same kind of separations as we have now between science and religion, art and philosophy. They all had to do with a search for the truth, for better understanding the world around us.

What is the most rewarding part about being a middle grade author?
The biggest compliment I get is when kids write to me that I've inspired them to write themselves—or encouraged them to read when before they thought books were boring. That kind of response is deeply rewarding!

If there was one thing you could change about Home Sweet Rome, what would it be?
I wanted to have more sketches of Rome. The city is so rich visually, I ended up with far more drawings than fit into the book. I wished they could have all gone in!

What are you working on next?
Mira goes to London next, during WWI, where she meets some interesting authors as well as suffragettes. It's another period full of juicy stories that I want to somehow fit in to the book.

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CONTEST CLOSED

(1) lucky winner will receive Mira's Diary: Home Sweet Rome by Marissa Moss

courtesy of Sourcebooks

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Other details:

US/Canadian mailing addresses only.
Contest ends 4/26/13, at 9 p.m. EST.

Celebrating Harlequin TEEN

2013-04-16T06:00:00.000-04:00

Since its launch only a few years ago, Harlequin TEEN has come to make up a valuable part of the YA market. They're worked with already established authors, like as Maria V. Snyder and Kady Cross, as well as talented new authors, such as Hannah Harrington. I've been a fan of their books for what seems like a long time, so I was really excited to be invited to "Unleash My Teen Spirit" (in their words, not mine!) with them last week.

In addition to chatting with some of my favorite book people Cialina from muggle-born and my friend Charlee, it was great being able to talk with so many different people working at Harlequin TEEN about their books and basically why they're passionate about what they do. I was fortunate to briefly chat with a couple of their amazing editors—it's always wonderful to meet other people who care as deeply about great YA books as I do. And I can tell you, the editorial team at Harlequin TEEN is committed to bringing the best of the best YA to you!

From debut Ink by Amanda Sun to a sure-to-be-amazing new contemporary novel from Elizabeth Scott to the next installments in The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa, Harlequin TEEN has lots of great-sounding books coming out in the next few months. Needless to say, I was pretty excited that I was able to snag a few of these, particularly Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott, at this event!

Since I really need to be realistic about the amount of books that I can read in the foreseeable future (in addition to the quantity of books that I'll have to schlep when I have to move), I'm going to give away a couple of Harlequin TEEN books here! The only catch is that I won't tell you what the books are!

CONTEST CLOSED

(1) lucky winner will receive some mystery Harlequin TEEN titles

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Other details:

US mailing addresses only.
Contest ends 4/25/13, at 9 p.m. EST.

Quick Snacks: Diviners by Libba Bray

2013-04-14T06:00:00.000-04:00

Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City—and she is pos-i-toot-ly thrilled. New York is the city of speakeasies, shopping, and movie palaces! Soon enough, Evie is running with glamorous Ziegfield girls and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is Evie has to live with her Uncle Will, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult—also known as "The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies."

When a rash of occult-based murders comes to light, Evie and her uncle are right in the thick of the investigation. And through it all, Evie has a secret: a mysterious power that could help catch the killer—if he doesn't catch her first.

Magic, mystery, and the occult, oh my! And all in the Roaring 20s on top of that. Very few authors would be able to successfully pull off such a combination, and fortunately, Libba Bray is clearly among those few. Despite the large and varied cast of characters, and therefore many individual if loosely connected storylines to keep track of, I quite easily and quite quickly became thoroughly invested in this story. And I think other readers will feel the same way too—even given the sheer size and length of this book! In all, The Diviners is another winner from the illustrious Libba Bray.

Rating: 4.5

Review copy from ALA

Linked by Imogen Howson is Munch-Worthy

2013-04-12T06:00:00.000-04:00

Elissa used to have it all: looks, popularity, and a bright future. But for the last three years, she’s been struggling with terrifying visions, phantom pains, and mysterious bruises that appear out of nowhere.

Finally, she’s promised a cure: minor surgery to burn out the overactive area of her brain. But on the eve of the procedure, she discovers the shocking truth behind her hallucinations: she’s been seeing the world through another girl’s eyes.

Elissa follows her visions, and finds a battered, broken girl on the run. A girl—Lin—who looks exactly like Elissa, down to the matching bruises. The twin sister she never knew existed.

Now, Elissa and Lin are on the run from a government who will stop at nothing to reclaim Lin and protect the dangerous secrets she could expose—secrets that would shake the very foundation of their world.

Riveting, thought-provoking and utterly compelling, Linked will make you question what it really means to be human.

I'll admit it—it was the cover that first drew me to this book. Isn't it eye-catching? I love they way that one simple image has been replicated and manipulated to become so striking. Now, that's what I call successful cover art!

Reading the summary only made me more interested in this book. I'm fascinated by doubles and the interesting links between them, and I'm curious to see where Howson will take the doubling between Elissa and Lin.

Releases June 11, 2013 from Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality by Elizabeth Eulberg

2013-04-10T06:00:00.000-04:00

Lexi’s always been the funny one, the girl with the great personality. Everybody loves to hang out with her because they can always count on her to make them laugh. And while that’s all fine and well, lately Lexi has been getting tired of being shoved into that category. She wants guys to see her as girlfriend material, not just as a friend who’s a girl. But how can she get everyone to start thinking about her differently? With a little help from her friends and some inspiration from the beauty pageant scene her seven-year-old sister Mackenzie frequents, Lexi hatches a plan: with a little makeup and some hair product, Lexi’s going to be the new beauty queen at school. But things don’t quite turn out as planned, and Lexi will have to figure out, under her new exterior, who she really wants to be.

With a fabulous title like Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality and the promise of the lighter and darker sides of beauty pageants, I knew that I would enjoy this book before I picked it up. My instincts were correct, and I blew through this story. I was expecting quite a few laughs, but I wasn’t as prepared for how heartwrenching Lexi’s story could be at times; Eulberg adds a lot of depth to what could have been a more frivolous, lighthearted look at the beauty scene by including the complexities of Lexi’s family as well as her desire to break out of her “great personality” shell. I’m not always a fan of stories that aren’t completely or mostly self contained, since I find a lack of concrete conclusion unsatisfying, but even though everything doesn’t wrap up for Lexi at the end of this book, I still left her story with a sense accomplishment—that Lexi had grown as a person and that she was on her way to living her life on her terms. So, even if she doesn’t get everything she’d hoped for at the beginning of her story, in terms of guys and her family, she’s become more comfortable with herself, as a girl who’s proud to have a great personality. And that made for a very satisfying story.

Fans of Eulberg’s earlier novels, especially The Lonely Hearts Club, will not want to miss Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality, nor will readers who also enjoyed North of Beautiful by Justina Chen and My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters by Sydney Salter.

Rating: 4.5

Review copy from publisher Scholastic

The Key & The Flame blog tour

2013-04-08T06:00:00.000-04:00

A warm welcome to the lovely Claire M. Caterer, whose middle grade novel The Key & The Flame released just last week!

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Four Things I’ve Learned About Publishing

First of all, let me say thank you to Rachael Stein for hosting me today on The Book Muncher! She asked me to talk a bit about the publication experience today, which turned out to have a few surprises. Here are the four truths about the biz that I’ve learned on my publication journey.

1. Publishing is really slow.

Years ago, I dreamed that someday I’d get the Call from an editor, we’d work on my brilliant manuscript, and within six months, my book would be on the bookstore shelves.

Not so.

Between finished manuscript and bound book, it was 3 years and 4 months—10 months to find an agent, another 10 months of revisions with him, 2 months to get the Call, and 18 months from there to bound book. And I’ve heard it taking longer than that—much.

2. They get excited about your work.

This should have been obvious, but I was unprepared for how pumped my editor was about my book, talking about my characters as if they were real people. When I had lunch with her, she uttered a very un-kid-friendly expletive about how gorgeous the cover was. Maybe publishers of adult lit are jaded; I don’t know. But kidlit pub folks really love books.

3. Promotion costs money and time.

I knew I would be responsible for a lot of the promotion for my book. But I didn’t realize how much time and money that would entail. A professionally designed website, printed bookmarks, travel to conferences or book festivals, swag and other items for giveaways—these are costly. But the time it takes to organize and purchase it all is enormous. I don’t do nearly as much blogging, Tweeting, and Facebooking as some authors I know, and yet I have spent nearly as much time on promotion as I have on writing.

4. A network is essential.

Meeting people is hard for me. That’s why I stay in my room and talk to imaginary people on paper all day. But in a fit of writerly enthusiasm, I joined the Lucky 13s, a network of kidlit/YA authors debuting in 2013. The writer’s life is a lonely one, and when you’re pubbing for the first time, the journey is bewildering. No matter how supportive your mom or spouse or dog can be, they won’t really understand what you’re going through the way another writer can. From advice on writing, revisions, web design, book trailers, and changing agents to just offering a shoulder to cry on when it’s all going to pot, the Luckies cover it all. This road would have been so much harder to travel without them.

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CONTEST CLOSED

And now for a contest! Claire is offering a giveaway of a Fab Bag o' Swag with signed bookplates, stickers, tasseled bookmarks, and a charm bracelet to (1) lucky winner!

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Other details:

US mailing addresses only.
Contest ends 4/15/13, at 9 p.m. EST.

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The blog tour continues tomorrow at GreenBeanTeenQueen, where Claire will talk about how one city’s library was her anchor during the early writing years. Get the full blog tour schedule right here.

Congratulations to...

2013-04-06T06:00:00.000-04:00

Victoria Zumbrum

who won The Ultra Violets by Sophie Bell

holdenj

who won Firebrand by Gillian Philip

Quick Snacks: Nameless by Lili St. Crow

2013-04-04T06:00:00.000-04:00

When Camille was six years old, she was discovered alone in the snow by Enrico Vultusino, godfather of the Seven—the powerful Families that rule magic-ridden New Haven. Papa Vultusino adopted the mute, scarred child, naming her after his dead wife and raising her in luxury on Haven Hill alongside his own son, Nico.

Now Cami is turning sixteen. She’s no longer mute, though she keeps her faded scars hidden under her school uniform, and though she opens up only to her two best friends, Ruby and Ellie, and to Nico, who has become more than a brother to her. But even though Cami is a pampered Vultusino heiress, she knows that she is not really Family. Unlike them, she is a mortal with a past that lies buried in trauma. And it’s not until she meets the mysterious Tor, who reveals scars of his own, that Cami begins to uncover the secrets of her birth…to find out where she comes from and why her past is threatening her now.

New York Times bestselling author Lili St. Crow thrilled legions of fans with her dark paranormal series Strange Angels. Now she has crafted an evocative update of Snow White, set in a vividly imagined world and populated by unforgettable new characters.

I've immensely enjoyed most of the fairytale retellings that I've read, but unfortunately, Nameless was not one of them. While I could tell that St. Crow had some really great and complex ideas, especially with regards to Cami's mysterious past, the execution of those ideas was much less satisfactory. Part of the problem was that there were just too many elements in this new, alternate world that none were sufficiently explained. This, as well the lagging pace of the plot and my annoyance with Cami's inexplicable propensity to make (what I saw as) stupid decisions, prevented me from truly getting into the story.

Rating: 3.0

Review copy from publisher Penguin

A Corner of White by Jaclyn Moriarty

2013-04-02T06:00:00.000-04:00

Madeleine and her mother have run away from their old life—well, Madeleine ran away, her mother followed, and they just never went back. Now they’re living in Cambridge and Madeleine’s doing her best to adjust to things and not miss everything she used to have. Meanwhile, in the town of Bonfire in the Kingdom of Cello, Elliot is in search of his father. The whole town thinks that his dad killed his brother and ran away with the Physics teacher, but Elliot is sure this can’t be what really happened and is determined to figure out the truth. As Madeleine and Elliot go about their lives, a crack—the first in centuries—opens between their worlds, and the two begin a very strange correspondence. At first, it’s the companionship and their sometimes silly exchanges that spur them to unravel their own mysteries, but soon it becomes clear that there are greater things at stake: color storms, old forgotten friends, the Butterfly child, the lives of their loved ones, and a set of perplexingly missing persons.

I have been a devoted fan of Jaclyn Moriarty ever since I read and fell in love with The Year of Secret Assignments years ago, and while I have not absolutely loved every single of her books that I’ve ever read, I am always eager to pick up her new ones. I am so pleased to say that Moriarty’s newest novel, A Corner of White, is most certainly one worth reading. Though it took me some time to truly get into the story, especially since there are so many different perspectives, I soon found myself thoroughly invested in the happenings of Madeleine’s life in the real world and Elliot’s life in Cello. Moriarty is a delightful storyteller; as in her previous books, she weaves so many charming, quirky, and sometimes strange details into A Corner of White that the reader feels transported to these rich new settings, both realistic and fantastical. I was completely along for the ride in this spectacular book, and the cliffhanger ending only makes me more eager for the next installment in The Colors of Madeleine trilogy.

Fans of Moriarty’s previous books will not want to miss her new one in A Corner of White, nor will readers who also enjoyed Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor and Why I Let My Hair Grow Out by Maryrose Wood.

Rating: 4.75

Review copy from publisher Scholastic

The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler is Munch-Worthy

2013-03-31T06:00:00.000-04:00

Jude has learned a lot from her older sisters, but the most important thing is this: The Vargas brothers are notorious heartbreakers. She’s seen the tears and disasters that dating a Vargas boy can cause, and she swore an oath—with candles and a contract and everything—to never have anything to do with one.

Now Jude is the only sister still living at home, and she’s spending the summer helping her ailing father restore his vintage motorcycle—which means hiring a mechanic to help out. Is it Jude’s fault he happens to be cute? And surprisingly sweet? And a Vargas?

Jude tells herself it’s strictly bike business with Emilio. Her sisters will never find out, and Jude can spot those flirty little Vargas tricks a mile away—no way would she fall for them. But Jude’s defenses are crumbling, and if history is destined to repeat itself, she’s speeding toward some serious heartbreak…unless her sisters were wrong?

Jude may have taken an oath, but she’s beginning to think that when it comes to love, some promises might be worth breaking.

I do love a good contemporary novel, and The Book of Broken Hearts seems like it's going to be just that. I'm hoping, in this case, that history does repeat itself and that I will love Sarah Ockler's upcoming book just as much as I did her book Twenty Boy Summer.

Also, there's something about the combination of cover and synopsis that just screams Sarah Dessen to me (aside from the fact tat this novel is written by a different Sarah)—but believe me, that's definitely a good thing. I can always go for a Sarah Dessen-esque book any day.

Releases May 21, 2013 from Simon Pulse.

Sirens by Janet Fox

2013-03-29T06:00:00.000-04:00

It’s 1925, and Jo Winters is a modern girl, but not in the same way as all those flappers. No, she wants to finish up high school, maybe go to college, and get a job. But her father has different ideas for her, and she doesn’t have much of a choice when he sends her off to Manhattan to find a husband. But as soon as she arrives, Jo starts to suspect that’s there’s more to the story than her future marriage. Too many people are asking her questions, particularly about her beloved older brother Teddy—questions that she can’t or won’t answer. Teddy trusted her, and she can’t betray that, no matter how alluring a new life as one of Manhattan’s elite could be. But, whether she knows it or not, Jo has been ensnared in a grander scheme of the most powerful man in town. Forced into the glamorously dangerous world of New York’s gangsters and their molls, will Jo be able to save herself?

I am definitely a huge fan of the flapper era, particularly its danger and decadence, which is why I was drawn to Sirens. Unfortunately, there was something about this world that failed to draw me in; while I certainly got the sense of the magic of New York City in the 20s, at the same time I felt distanced from it, perhaps because Jo is somewhat resistant of some of the attitudes of the time. This is certainly a different type of 20s story, despite having its fair share of the glitz, and that maintained my interest, though only up to a certain point. The plot has a good mixture of mystery, romance, and Jo’s more personal quest to find a place in her world, but ultimately, I just wasn’t very engaged in what was happening. Part of this had to do with the awkwardly paced released of information regarding Jo’s brother Teddy and the fact that some details were just too overwritten, but more than that, Jo’s character was just not sufficiently emotionally developed to make me truly care about her story.

Though I failed to really connect with this story, Sirens will still be enjoyed by fans of Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen and The Girl Is Murder by Kathryn Miller Haines.

Rating: 3.5

Review copy from publisher Penguin

Win The Panem Companion by V. Arrow

2013-03-27T06:00:00.000-04:00

CONTEST CLOSED

Waiting impatiently for the next Hunger Games movie to come out? Well, here's something you might want to look at in your spare time:

Go deeper into the home of the Hunger Games with the creator of the best-known fan map of Panem

What does Panem look like?

How does Panem define race?

How do Panem’s districts reflect the major themes of the trilogy?

What allusions to our world are found in Panem names like Finnick, Johanna, Beetee, Cinna, Everdeen, and Mellark?

The Panem Companion gives fresh insight into Suzanne Collins’ trilogy by looking at the world of the Hunger Games and the forces that kept its citizens divided since the First Rebellion. With a blend of academic insight and true fan passion, V. Arrow explores how Panem could have evolved from the America we know today and uses textual clues to piece together Panem’s beliefs about class, ethnicity, culture, gender, sexuality, and more.

And don't forget to visit the Smart Pop Books website, where you can learn more about The Panem Companion and get free book excerpts just by signing up for their mailing list!

(1) lucky winner will receive The Panem Companion by V. Arrow
courtesy of Smart Pop Books

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Other details:

US/Canadian mailing addresses only.
Contest ends 4/05/13, at 9 p.m. EST.

NYC Teen Author Festival recaps

2013-03-25T06:00:00.000-04:00

Last week was my spring break. Last week was also NYC Teen Author Festival. So, basically, that means I spent almost all of last week running around to different bookstores and library branches, gazing lovingly at books, and chatting with all the book people. That's what I call great timing!

Day 1

I'll Take You There: A Change of Scenery, A Change of Self

moderator David Levithan & panelists Jennifer E. Smith, Melissa Walker, Bennett Madison, Gayle Forman, and Kristen-Paige Madonia

As I am someone who is always rushing to get places and always over- and under-budgeting time, it is no one's surprise that I made it to the Mulberry Street branch of the NYPL only minutes before this event started. Fortunately, my publishing intern friend Eunice was kind enough to save me a seat, and a great one at that!

Since the books of each of these panelists revolve around some sort of important change in scenery (think international traveling, a road trip, or a summer vacation), the panel focused on how a change in scenery—specifically, the accompanying sense of disorientation, destabilization, and insecurity—encourages and is even vital to character growth. The authors discussed the difficulties and complications in writing characters that need to grow as well as the pros and cons of writing about fictional or real places.

In all, it was a fascinating discussion, and I had a great time chatting with my friend Eunice, other bookish friends Adam and Marisa, as well as authors Alison Cherry, Nicole Lisa, and Michael Northrop.

Day 2

The Only Way Out Is Through: Engaging Truth through YA

moderator David Levithan & panelists Amy McNamara, Jessica Verdi, and Crissa-Jean Chappel

panelists Crissa-Jean Chappel, Tim Decker, and Ellen Hopkins

I sadly arrive about 20 minutes late to this event due to an unfortunate encounter with the G train (to my chagrin, I went a few stops in the wrong direction before realizing my mistake!). But, as you can tell from the pictures above, I did make it safe and sound to WORD in Brooklyn.

This panel touched upon a topic that I find endlessly fascinating: the idea of truth through fiction, specifically YA. I'm a big believer that you can find truth in something that is by nature not a truth (i.e. fiction), and it seems that many of the panelists were on the same page as me on this issue. But then comes the difficulty of how to handle that truth, whether it's grief or STDs or teen prostitution (or more lighthearted matters, of course), and how to convey it in a way that's not cliched.

I had a wonderful time at this event chatting with my bookish friends Ruth and Adam, author Michael Northrop, and blogger Khy from Frenetic Reader.

Day 5

Reader's Theater

Jeff Hirsch, Elizabeth Eulberg, Nova Ren Suma, Rainbow Rowell, Eireann Corrigan, and David Levithan

I am a big fan of reader's theater, especially when it's at least in part orchestrated by David Levithan. So, I went to the Barnes & Noble in Union Square with the hopes of laughing and left with my expectations far exceeded!

Before getting into any of their individual books, the authors did a trial run of sorts to introduce reader's theater anyone unfamiliar with the concept—by reading from Go Ask Alice. Needless to say, it was overdramatic and a complete riot. The rest of the event included a reader's theater version of each author's newest book, a brief intermission between readings for a small panel discussion, and finally, a signing. I made sure to get my copy of Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality signed, since it sounds absolutely hilarious!

I got to chat (although too briefly!) with a lot of fabulous people at this event, including my bookish friend Adam and authors Alison Cherry, Nicole Lisa, Frankie Diane Mallis, Elizabeth Eulberg, and Michael Northrop.

Day 6

Symposium

This was a day of five amazing panels and/or sets of readings. Though I arrived a little late, I made sure to stay through the end of the event—and boy was I glad that I did!

panelists A.S. King, Aaron Hartzler, Marisa Calin, and Jacqueline Woodson & moderator David Levithan

As I mentioned, I arrived a tad late for this panel, titled "Defying Description: Tackling the Many Facets of Identity in YA," but I still feel like I got to hear a really great discussion. The authors talked about the many qualities and things that make up identity, from race to sexuality, and their concerns about what kinds of identity that they're comfortable writing. I'm always a little comforted and relieved to see that many authors deeply care about the identities of their characters and making them true to life, because these are things that many readers care about too.

author J.J. Howard

The next section included short readings from four debut authors, including J.J. Howard (pictured above), Kimberly Sabatini, Tiffany Schmidt, and Greg Takoudes. I meant to take pictures of the rest of the authors, but I think I was so enthralled with the readings that I just forgot!

panelists Katie Sise, Kathryn Williams, Jen Calonita, Hilary Weisman Graham, Deborah Heiligman, Amy Spalding, and Kody Keplinger & moderator Terra Elan McVoy

After that, the next panel "Under Many Influences: Shaping Identity When You're a Teen Girl" focused on basically what its title suggests: influences on teen girls as characters and people. This led to a lively discussion about everything from parents to friends to boys—and the question of which is worse: getting dumped by a boyfriend or a best friend.

panelists Lindsay Ribar, Jeri Smith-Ready, Jessica Spotswood, Alexandra Monir, Maya Gold, Gina Damico, and Jessica Brody & moderator Adrienne Maria Vrettos

The penultimate panel, titled "Born This Way: Nature, Nurture, and Paranormalcy," focused on the paranormal. Specifically, the authors discussed why they chose to give their characters certain special abilities and whether they'd have liked to have these same abilities when they were teens (the resounding answer to that question was a pretty absolute NO!).

The symposium ended with a short panel ominously titled "The Next Big Thing." I was having such a great time listening to everything that I completely forgot to take a picture, but I did remember to take somewhat detailed notes. Four authors, including Leanna Renee Hieber, Barry Lyga, Maryrose Wood, and a fourth author whose name I unfortunately can't remember for the life of me, basically came up with pitches for what they thought would be the next big thing in YA. So, what will be big? It might be anything from panda mermaids to books that are vampires (not just about them), but the final consensus was: Carrie Babies (horror meets middle grade meets Sex in the City), YA about adults, bondage-themed fiction for kids, and books about unicorn existentialism (some of these might not sound funny in this list, but I guess you had to be there...). This was probably my favorite panel of the day, which is why I'm so glad I stuck around for it. It was completely hilarious!

I got to hang out and chat with so many awesome people at the event, including bookish friends and bloggers Adam, Julie from Bloggers[heart]Books, and Khy from Frenetic Reader; authors Marianna Baer, Kody Keplinger, Alecia Whitaker, Lindsay Ribar, Frankie Diane Mallis, Donna Gambale, Jeri Smith-Ready, Katie Sise, Amy Spalding, and J.J. Howard; as well as one of my favorite editors at Scholastic.

Day 7

No-Foolin' Mega-Signing

The recurring theme for me for this year's NYC Teen Author Festival, aside from books and authors of course, seems to have been running late or almost late. Yes, I was running a little late to this event, but fortunately, I got to Books of Wonder just in time for all the action.

I unfortunately completely forgot to take pictures (despite having made sure to pack my camera that morning), so there are no visual accompaniments to this part of the recap. I also didn't get very many books signed this year—just a few for me and a friend—so that saved me the hassle of having to drag around an enormous, super heavy bag. So, I had a lot of time to just chat with many other people at the event, including but not limited to bookish friends Adam, Jennifer, Danielle, Sam, and Marisa; bloggers Khy from Frenetic Reader, Renee from The Book Girl, and Rachel from Bookshelf Lust; and authors Kody Keplinger, Lindsay Ribar, Alison Cherry, Nicole Lisa, Michael Northrop, Sarah Beth Durst, Susane Colasanti, Jen Calonita, A.S. King, and Jeri Smith-Ready.

In all, it was a fantastic end to a fantastic week of fantastic events! (Did I use "fantastic" too much? I think not!)

Congratulations to...

2013-03-23T06:00:00.000-04:00

Liviania

who won an ARC of Spellcaster by Claudia Gray

LeAnne

who won an ARC of A Corner of White by Jaclyn Moriarty