Sarah Honenberger's Blog

While I write for a living, and read as part of that, I read for pleasure too, as I have since I was a small child. So pleased to see that Marilynne Robinson has a new book of essays about just that. WHEN I WAS A CHILD I READ BOOKS. Can't wait to bury myself in her uniquely intense celebration of the story and words. I digress. This winter I retreated once again to Florida, a turquoise house in old Bradenton this year and three tiny Yorkies with more personality than any character in a Twilight book. NIGHTWOODS started me off, a backwoods look at running away and being confronted with what you feared despite your best efforts. After her sister's murder, Frazier's hermit is the only relative for the neice and nephew who don't talk for the things they've witnessed, and then the murderer tracks them down and chases them into the woods. Another strong woman, but none of the historical richness of his other books, worth reading.
And then by chance, thanks to the Kindle recommendations, I found Laura Grodstein's A FRIEND OF THE FAMILY. A powerful, tight story of a father and son, the weight of friendship, and the speed with which a family can fall apart. Like DeLillo in THE BODY ARTIST, the scenes between husband and wife are so real you think you're living them. For writers, Grodstein sets out a perfect example of how to build narrative tension in literary fiction. If only Frazier would write more quickly. And where is Paul Harding's next book?

I may be particularly tuned in lately to teenage boys after my own novel CATCHER, CAUGHT but Emma Rathbone's PATTERNS OF PAPER MONSTERS evokes the world of juvey in an accessible and realistic story about 17 year-old Jacob who's tendency to violence stems from his anger at the world and his mother's boyfriend. The 'kids' in this book are so real and the adults who want to help so fairly portrayed despite the disrespect Jacob has for them, it will appeal to adult and teenage readers. And Rathbone works magic with words, amazing descriptions of buildings "the cartilage" and people "once they've reached the end of whatever personal disppointment corridor they've started on, a secret shoved way down deep into the butt pocket of the universe. . ." WOW. The Patterns of Paper Monsters

Here's the link to sone photo shots of the filming in Central park for the movie from Foer's book. http://www.monstersandcritics.com/peo...

I've been doing reading survey of books with teenage protagonists because of 16 year-old Daniel in Catcher, Caught. (So I can talk intelligently about my program on April 17 on "YA OR NOT: That is the question" at Charlottesville, VA WriterHouse at 7 pm.

My first contest posting for CATCHER, CAUGHT was way too complicated, sorry, friends and readers. PLEASE help me out here, if you see me making another huge gaffe like that one, tell me RIGHT AWAY. The book giveaway was much more successful, four wonderful readers are being mailed books today, Canada and Australia and 2 in USA. If you want to help your favorite author, post a review on Goodreads and Amazon, etc. The reviews help the stats, and raise the visibility of books so new readers can discover the author you love. THANKS.

$$$$$$$$$$ ME TO YOU: B & N Gift card ($50) and a first edition copy of CATCHER, CAUGHT

YOU TO ME: Post a TWITTER, Goodreads and/or FB message to your friends "READ the best-selling novel CATCHER, CAUGHT." (Add the link below)
Be sure your friends send me a message that has your first name and Catcher, Caught in the message.
(IE Ben says I should read the best-seller Catcher, Caught)

The first one who gets 100 of their friends to add themselves as FANS to the CATCHER, CAUGHT FB page will win BUT there is a proviso/condition to win.

PROVISO: BONUS $$ If any of the messages/posts with your first name say which character first says "LIFE IS GLORIOUS." Catcher, Caught

And be sure you friend me here on Goodreads and put in your friend request to me that you are doing the contest for Catcher, Caught. Catcher, Caught

Just received the wonderful letter from The Library of Virginia that Catcher, Caught is a nominee for their 2010 Fiction award. Now, we have to see who the competition is ... and pray.

"It'll be Holden and me at the last in New York City, searching for whatever, hanging on to life like the first time you ride a Ferris wheel and realize how big the world really is."

Loads of launch parties and readings for this third novel. I'll be in San Diego for the librarians' mid-winter conference, signing and talking with new and old friends about 16 year-old Daniel's leukemia battle. Come by the Brilliance Audio site at the conference center exhibit hall on Saturday afternoon and tell me about your readers.Catcher, Caught

Library of Virginia Fiction award nomination announcement came some weeks ago now, and yesterday the Virginia Press Women notice that Waltzing Cowboys won a prize in their annual novel contest. The winners will be announced in Roanoke at the Taubman museum. I'm excited about seeing the new art museum and lots of press women friends. I'm at a book club event tonight in Essex County, Virginia, the setting of my forthcoming novel CATCHER, CAUGHT. They're busy on cover, edit's done, and the publicist assignment should come in the next few weeks. What a crazy schedule and the river house is more and more my retreat. I've done a few short stories this winter but am anxious to finish the next novel, about the rural Virginia antique dealer who gets arrested and extradicted for war crimes in Argentinia (allegedly).

Submitting to contests is different than writing for a contest. The stories that bubble to the top will be written whether there's a contest for them or not. But if you review or know the writing of a particular judge, you should certainly consider that when you are choosing a story or novel to submit to that contest. Different readers have different interests. An author who writes thrillers will be more likely to choose a story that is plot-centric, and an author who writes literary fiction will be more likely to select a story that's character driven. Okay, okay, all generalizations have exceptions. And if you've written an incredible story, it will stand out to any judge.

Another consideration to increase your odds: Start local, move to regional and never submit something you wrote yesterday. Writing has to steep, percolate, whatever term of art you use for putting it away and looking at it with some perspective, a perspective that the passage of time enhances. Editing is what makes words more powerful. It's fine-tuning and with writing it's crucial.

As a semi-finalist in the 2009 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest, one of 100 out of thousands of original manuscripts and with a publishing contract in hand for my third novel CATCHER, CAUGHT from AmazonEncore, the newest traditional publisher on the stage, as # 15 in their first catalog ever, I can recommend contests. A resume entry, sure, but also a way to gain exposure, build readership, inspire confidence, and move your writing forward.