Silvia Acevedo's Blog, page 11

Young People Can Handle It — at the Wisconsin Writers Association

Wisconsin Writers Association Kid Lit Panel – Pat Schmatz, Silvia Acevedo, moderator Melanie Boyung, Jessica Freeburg, and Miranda Paul

I had the honor and pleasure of talking on a panel about kid lit at the Wisconsin Writers Association‘s Annual Convention yesterday. Beside me were some of the most talented writers of the day, their works spanning from picture book to young adult novel.

A few of the questions had to do with taboo topics and whether we censor our writing for the sake of our audience. The answer was a universal no to censorship but that, of course, a writer’s presentation is tweaked depending on age range and relevancy to the story. We all agreed that stories are a safe place to explore new worlds and perspectives. Besides, those readers who don’t enjoy a book will self-censor, that is, decide a particular book isn’t for them and put it down. It comes down to choices, which is an integral part of growing up.

Not every book covers deep, heavy topics, but most offer a window to emotional growth. My God Awful Loser is a light read and yet doesn’t gloss over the protagonist’s womanizing. He and other characters eventually learn, with the readers riding their wave, to value those around them.

Do kids need books to teach them such lessons? Perhaps another question is in order: Who remembers reading a book at just the right time and having it profoundly affected their worldview?

Scrapping a Chapter for “Wisconsin Writes”

Soon Wisconsin students engaged in writing will have video proof that, yeah, sometimes you just have to scrap what doesn’t work. And who got to teach them that? Why, yes, it was me.

It was part of an interesting video project being put on by the Wisconsin Department of Public Schools, the state agency that runs public schools. The “Wisconsin Writes” project aims to catch Wisconsin authors wherever they happen to be in their work-in-progress to talk to students about how they’re advancing their work and to answer a few tough questions.

It so happens that I was at a point in which I’d explored a certain path only to find it didn’t work, and so I was on the cusp of scrap a full chapter. So that turned into a talk about how sometimes you just have to try something out, see how it goes, get messy, be willing to change it or let it go if it’s not your vision, and embrace picking it up again where you left off. I hope hearing that is helpful to students.

Here I am signing a book for the program’s host. Thanks, Marci, for asking me to join in.

What I’m Reading – A Confederacy of Dunces and Double Exposure

Today’s post is a sample of my eclectic reading, which I’m sure is no different than that of most people. I mean, who reads in the same genre all the time without exception? Not me.

A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole was recommended to me by Interviewing Authors podcast host Tim Knox, who interviewed me for his show (you can give it a listen here: http://interviewingauthors.com/silvia-acevedo-tv-journalist-great-time-god-love/) shortly after the release of my young adult novel, God Awful Loser. Knox gave me a huge compliment (although I didn’t know how huge at the time) by saying that he hadn’t laughed as hard since reading A Confederacy, which garner a 1981 Pulitzer Prize. Of course, I rushed the book to the top of my To-Read pile, and Knox was as good as his word.

A Confederacy of Dunces is a comedic marvel. It has pretty mixed reviews, many of the negatives focusing on the “likability” of the protagonist, who is a snobby, idealistic, physically grotesque bum who still lives with his mother. She induces him to find work, and hilarity ensues. I tend to not dismiss books on the likability of the protagonist. I focus more on whether he or she experiences emotional growth and on the quality of the writing. Whether you love Ignatius Reilly as a character or not, no one could deny there’s a lot of great humor there. Thanks, Tim!

My next read was Double Exposure by Bridget Birdsall in which an intersexed teen (having both male and female sexual organs) leaves his bullying high school across the country to start fresh as a girl in a Wisconsin high school. Her lifelong interest in basketball helps her make friends and eventually keeps her sane when her past inevitably roars into the present.

This is not normally the sort of thing I’d read, and maybe that’s exactly why it’s good to change habits once in a while. It’s good to expand your world. Double Exposure‘s story was engaging, the characters sympathetic, and the conflict real for our times. I’d recommend it to anyone who might benefit seeing the grey between the lines. In the interest of full disclosure, I acknowledge that I have met the author through events at SCBWI, but that doesn’t matter. It’s an enlightening read.

What about you? Read any good books lately?

Featured on “Interviewing Authors”

What an honor it is to be interviewed about your work, but it’s especially wonderful when the interviewer is Tim Knox, author, entrepreneur, and host of the hugely popular “Interviewing Authors” podcast.

Tim Knox has interviewed many fascinating and talented publishing professionals. His podcasts are endlessly entertaining and a treasure trove of insight. I’ve enjoyed them, each and every one, for a long time now.

Tim and I had a fun talk about my newly released fantasy novel, God Awful Loser, my TV life, and just how interfering Venus is, really. And Tim is so complimentary, calling God Awful Loser “one of my favorite books of the year, and I don’t say that lightly.” Here’s a link to our talk. Enjoy!

http://interviewingauthors.com/silvia-acevedo-tv-journalist-great-time-god-love/

LOVED Signing at the beautiful Tribeca GalleryCafe & Books

I loved meeting readers and writers this weekend at Tribeca GalleryCafe & Books in Watertown, WI. They promoted my appearance and my young adult book, God Awful Loser, which I’m thrilled to say they called “an awesome summer read you can’t miss!”

Tribeca is just a beauty of a bookstore with rows of great books, sumptuous coffee selections, unique local artistry, and an adorable children’s area upstairs that’s visible through the white picket fence. Enjoy a few pics of the event!

Tribeca GalleryCafe & Books

God Awful Loser right by the sweets!

Silvia and readers

Tribeca Book Of The Week!

Spelling Bee Bliss!

S-p-e-l-l-i-n-g Bee! (Photo credit Sandy Brehl)

How fun is this? I got to join some fellow authors at a corporate spelling bee to raise money for literacy!

I’d never been to a corporate spelling bee, and this experience was awesome. Participants raised money for The Literary Council of Greater Waukesha and even dressed the part for the literary theme of “Where the Wild Things Spell.”

Contestants Dressed the L-i-t-e-r-a-r-y Part (Photo credit Sandy Brehl)

Fundraising Baskets (Photo credit Sandy Brehl)

Authors from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators acted as judges to the very impressive spellers. The winning word: VOCIFERANCE, meaning “noisy.” The “ance” starts with an A, not an E, folks!

Here’s hoping we can do it again soon!

Left to Right: Ann Angel, Peggy Tromblay, Denise Ryan Martin, me, and Sandy Brehl.

Highlights of the God Awful Loser Book Launch

Had a wonderful book launch for my young adult fantasy, God Awful Loser, held Friday night at the incomparable Boswell Book Company in Milwaukee. Thank you so much to all of my friends and family — and complete strangers (but soon to be friends) — who came out to hear me babble about my book. The reading was fun, as was the mingling afterward. I’m really blessed to have people support me.

Boswell’s Flyer on my launch!

I spy God Awful Loser on Boswell shelves

Doesn’t God Awful Loser look great there?

My husband, Jeff, and me behind the sumptuous treats

Petit fours to mimic ambrosia, the food of the gods

Reading a passage

With former colleague Erica and her daughter

Esther, bright and fascinating

With Rebecca and family

With Lynn, Wisconsin’s celebrity stylist!

Eileen, my mom Iris, me, and my mother-in-law Regina

With my mom, Iris

With talented picture book author Janet Halfmann

Mingling with the faaaabulous people

Kathleen & Dano

The awesome athletes in my life

THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING!!!

Battering the Gods on The Blend

We are just a day ahead of my book launch, and in advance of it I chatted it up on Milwaukee’s favorite talk show, The Morning Blend. Hosts Molly Fay, Tiffany Ogle, and I talked about the light-hearted fun mythology can offer readers, my transition from writing news to now writing fiction, and of course how the gods misbehave.

You can view the video here in case you missed the show and the live stream. And please come on down to my launch party! It’s tomorrow, Friday, May 8th, at 7 p.m. at Boswell Book Company in Milwaukee. Love to see you there!

The event info is also on Facebook where you can RSVP:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1636692243217301/

Wisconsin is a Wealth of Talent

Wisconsin really should be one of the states you think of when asked to name a place with a deep pool of talent. The high number of acclaimed children’s book authors is truly impressive, and we should be proud.

Melanie Cecka Nolan

Lucky me, I got to spend an afternoon with some of those incredible talents at the spring luncheon of our state’s Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. We met for a delicious luncheon and interesting talk by Melanie Cecka Nolan, Associate Publishing Director at Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers. She covered some of the many changes in the book publishing industry in the past 13 years, including the digital revolution, which has changed the way some people read — and for others has taken away some reading time.

When I think of the digital revolution, though, the first thing that comes to my mind is the way reading has opened up. There are so many more titles in so many more genres. It’s a readers’ (and writers’) paradise, and digital formats reach new audiences which, for a host of reasons, find eBooks preferable to paper.

Yesterday was the official release date of my young adult novel God Awful Loser. It, of course, is available in paper (hardcover), yet I’m immensely pleased that its eBook format can now reach the world. We mustn’t take for granted that it wasn’t always so.

Now I look forward to my launch party this Friday, May 8th, 7 p.m., at Boswell Books. I hope you’ll come and join me on this fun ride. The wonderful ladies in this photo sure are supportive, and SCBWI is sure one great group.

Authors Diane Swanson, Julie Mata, Silvia Acevedo, Valerie Biel, and Wendy Alm Lombard.

Three Weeks Until The Big Day

Three weeks from today I will be at my book launch. It’s happening at Boswell Books on May 8th at 7 p.m. and of course you’re invited.

I admit to being awed that the book launch is my own. I’ve been to quite a few launches, being a member of the state’s writers’ association and being plugged in to that world. I’ve even attended the launch of a former WTMJ-TV reporter and colleague. I couldn’t be more proud of the writers I know who’ve put their words out into the world. It takes guts.

My launch, like theirs, marks the culmination of years of writing. It’s the release of a brand new, funny mythology into the young adult genre. More than that, it’s me putting myself out there in a way I never have before. It’s one thing, as a reporter, to talk and write about the accomplishments and talents of others; it’s another thing to accept a challenge for yourself and then go for it. It’s an exciting thing I’ve done.

There’s no single work of art or literature that absolutely everyone loves. Every creator has to accept that. As a reporter, I had to develop a thick skin early on. So I’m going to do my best to always focus on the positive on this new journey of mine. Regardless of how the work is received, I’m so glad that I did it. I tried something new, and my friends will be there to see it. Hope to see you among them.