Cecil Castellucci's Blog, page 14
May 20, 2011
Come see me at the Silverlake Jubilee!
Hello my fine friends.
Just a quick update that I'll be hanging out over at the Silverlake Jubilee this Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday I'll be on a panel with the LA Review of Books (you have been checking that out, right?) (I'm the YA editor! Fun!)"The Electrocution of the Book: Reading, Writing, and Publishing in a Post-Print Culture," (which sounds scary! but super cool!) moderated by LARB's own Tom Lutz and featuring once and future LARB contributors Grace Krilanovich, Cecil Castellucci, Matthew Specktor and Ben Ehrenreich. (my fellow panelists are all totally impressively awesome!)
I'll also be hanging out at the LARB booth and the Skylight Books booth. So make sure to come and say hello! 
May 10, 2011
May 3, 2011
Los Angeles Review of Books!
As some of you know, I am the YA Editor over at the brand new Los Angeles Review of Books. They have a preview site up, and today marks the first YA review. It's of Zora and Me by Victoria Bond and TR Simon, reviewed by Margaret Stohl
April 24, 2011
LA Festival of Books Schedule
LA Festival of Books Schedule
(don't forget! This year at USC!)
SATURDAY APRIL 30
2:00 PM YA STAGE
* The Practical & the Powerful: Writing Fantasy or Keeping it Real
* Panelists: Robin Benway, Gayle Forman, Gennifer Choldenko, Allen Zadoff
* Moderator: Cecil Castellucci
5:00 PM
* LAYAPALOOZA! YA STAGE
* A live game show for lovers of books for teens & tweens
SUNDAY MAY 1
12:00 PM YA STAGE
* Believe in Yesterday: Historical Young Adult Fiction
* Panelists: Judy M, Blundell, Sherry Shahan, Sherri L. Smith
* Moderator: Cecil Castellucci
4:00 PM YA STAGE
* LAYAPALOOZA!
* A live game show for lovers of books for teens & tween
April 14, 2011
in which I do a short interview with the delightful figment.com
When I was at the NY Teen Book Festival Figment.com did a tiny interview with me where I read from Rose Sees Red and talked about music play lists and process.
March 8, 2011
NYC Teen Book Festival March 14th – 20th
I am so excited that I'm on the east coast and that I'll be participating in the NYC Teen Book Festival begins. I'll be on a panel on the first night, Monday March 14th.
I hope you come and say hello!
behold the schedule!
Monday, March 14
Chatham Square Branch of the NYPL, 33 E Broadway., 6-8
Finding Voice, Giving Voice: Speaking Up for Characters
Authors:
Cathleen Bell
Jen Calonita
Cecil Castellucci – me!
Brent Crawford
Elizabeth Eulberg
Brian James
Kekla Magoon
Melina Marchetta
Marie Rutkoski
Moderator: David Levithan
Tuesday, March 15
B&N Union Square, 7-8:30
YA Reader's Theater
Authors:
Holly Black
Judy Blundell
Gayle Forman
Eliot Schrefer (aka E. Archer)
Host: David Levithan
Wednesday. March 16
South Court, 42nd Street NYPL, 6-8
YA Rocks, featuring Tiger Beat!
Tiger Beat:
Libba Bray
Daniel Ehrenhaft
Barnabas Miller
Natalie Standiford
With music-related readings from:
Philana Marie Boles
Libba Bray
Daniel Ehrenhaft
Barnabas Miller
Jon Skovron
Jeri Smith-Ready
Rita Williams-Garcia
Host: Jack Martin / Chris Shoemaker
Thursday, March 17
Five Borough Read, 10-12
Manhattan:
Seward Park Branch, 192 E Broadway, Manhattan, 10am
Alma Alexander
Philana Marie Boles
Leanna Renee Hieber
Lena Roy
Mark Shulman
96th Street Branch, 228 E 96th St, 10am
Violet Haberdasher
Kimberly Marcus
Micol Ostow
Eliot Schrefer
Natalie Standiford
Washington Irving H.S (in conjunction with Mulberry St Branch) – 40 Irving Place, 10am.
Eireann Corrigan
Jocelyn Davies
Anne Heltzel
Matt de la Pena
Patrick Ryan
Leila Sales
Muhlenburg Branch, NYPL, 209 W 23rd St
Alexandra Bullen
Helen Ellis
Sarah Mlynowski
Matthue Roth
Adrienne Maria Vrettos
Robin Wasserman
Brooklyn
Central Branch, Brooklyn Public Library, Dweck Auditorim, 10 Grand Army Plaza
Cathleen Bell
Gayle Forman
Christopher Grant
Melissa Kantor
Jeri Smith-Ready
Melissa Walker
Bronx:
Bronx Library Center, 310 E Kingsbridge Road, Bronx
Margie Gelbwasser
Sarah Darer Littman
Arlaina Tibensky
Maryrose Wood
Queens:
Library TK
Brent Crawford
Barry Lyga
Melina Marchetta
Neesha Meminger
Staten Island:
St George Branch, 5 Central Ave, Staten Island, 10am
Elizabeth Eulberg
David Levithan
Michael Northrup
Danette Vigliante
Friday, March 18th,
Scholastic Event
Scholastic, 557 Broadway
10am
Reading/Signing:
Alexandra Bullen
Judy Blundell
Libba Bray
Elizabeth Eulberg
Kim Harrington
Sarah Darer Littman
Michael Northrup
Patrick Ryan
Eliot Schrefer
Maggie Stiefvater
Signing only:
Eireann Corrigan
Aimee Friedman
Barry Lyga
Michael Northrop
Matthue Roth
Lisa Sandell
Samantha Schutz
Natalie Standiford
Suzanne Weyn
Friday, March 18th,
Symposium
South Court, 42nd Street, 2-6pm
2:00 Introduction
2:10 – 3:00: Telling the Truths – Hard Topics, Illuminating Fiction
Authors:
Eireann Corrigan
Donna Freitas
Sarah Darer Littman
Kimberly Marcus
Micol Ostow
Moderator: DL
3:00 – 3:50: Debut Author Showcase
Authors:
Jocelyn Davies
Margie Gelbwasser
Christopher Grant
Anne Heltzel
Kimberly Marcus
Arlaina Tibensky
Moderator: Jack Martin / Chris Shoemaker
3:50 – 4:00: Break
4:00 – 5:00: I Think I Love You (But Maybe I Don't?) – Writing About Teens in Love
Authors:
E. Lockhart
Terra Elan McVoy
Sarah Mylnowski
Patrick Ryan
Moderator: David Levithan
5:00 – 6:00: Under the Influences: Discussing Influences on YA Fiction
Authors:
Libba Bray
Susane Colasanti
Barry Lyga
Carolyn Mackler
Lena Roy
Adrienne Maria Vrettos
Maryrose Wood
Moderator: Barry Lyga
Saturday. March 19th,
Symposium
South Court, 42nd Street, 1-5:30
1:00 – Introduction
1:10 – 2:00: The Ties That Bind, Part One: The Struggle Against Darkness
Kim Harrington
Lisa McMann
Maggie Stiefvater
Robin Wasserman
Moderator: David Levithan
2:00 – 2:45: The Ties That Bind, Part Two: Family Bonds
Melissa Kantor
Melina Marchetta
Alyssa Sheinmel
Natalie Standiford
Danette Vigilante
Moderator: Jack Martin / Chris Shoemaker
2:45 – 3:30: The Ties That Bind, Part Three: Friends and Community
Matt de la Pena
Ellen Hopkins
Torrey Maldonado
Michael Northrop
Leila Sales
Moderator: Barry Lyga
3:30-3:40 – Break
3:40 – 4:20 – Tribute to Michael Cart
Host/Opening: Jack Martin
Speakers/Readers: David Levithan and Jacqueline Woodson
Acceptance: Michael Cart
4:20-5:30: LGBTYA: Past, Present, and Future
Nick Burd
Michael Cart
David Levithan
Patrick Ryan
Jacqueline Woodson
Moderator: Jack Martin / Chris Shoemaker
Sunday, March 20th
Books of Wonder Signing (1-4)
Authors:
1-1:45
Lizabeth Zindel (A Girl, A Ghost, and the Hollywood Hills, Penguin)
Maryrose Wood (The Hidden Gallery, Harper)
Suzanne Weyn (Empty, Scholastic)
Danette Vigilante (The Trouble with Half a Moon, Penguin)
Maggie Stiefvater (Linger, Scholastic)
Natalie Standiford (Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters, Scholastic)
Mark Shulman (Scrawl, Roaring Brook)
Alyssa Sheinmel (The Beautiful Between, RH)
Kieran Scott (She's So Dead to Us, S&S)
Leila Sales (Mostly Good Girls, S&S)
Patrick Ryan (Gemini Bites, Scholastic)
1:45-2:30
Marie Rutkoski (The Celestial Globe, FSG)
Lena Roy (Edges, FSG)
Michael Northrup (Trapped, Scholastic)
Sarah Mlynowski (Gimme a Call, RH)
Neesha Meminger (Jazz in Love, Ignite)
Terra Elan McVoy (After the Kiss, S&S)
Lisa McMann (Cryer's Cross, S&S)
Kimberly Marcus (Exposed, RH)
Melina Marchetta (The Piper's Son, Candlewick)
Torrey Maldonado (Secret Saturdays, Penguin)
Barry Lyga (Archvillain, Scholastic)
2:30-3:15
E. Lockhart (Real Live Boyfriends, RH)
Sarah Darer Littman (Life After, Scholastic)
David Levithan (Dash and Lily's Book of Dares, RH)
Melissa Kantor (The Darlings Are Forever, Hyperion)
Carla Jablonksi (Resistance, First Second)
Ellen Hopkins (Fallout, S&S)
Gwendolyn Heasley (Where I Belong, Harper)
Kim Harrington (Clarity, Scholastic)
Christopher Grant (Teenie, RH)
Margie Gelbwasser (Inconvenient, Flux)
Elizabeth Eulberg (Prom & Prejudice, Scholastic)
Helen Ellis (The Turning, Sourcebooks)
3:15-4
Daniel Ehrenhaft (Friend is Not a Verb, Harper)
Sarah Beth Durst (Enchanted Ivy, S&S)
Matt De La Pena (I Will Save You, RH)
Brent Crawford (Carter Finally Gets It, Hyperion)
Eireann Corrigan (Accomplice, Scholastic)
Susane Colasanti (Something Like Fate, Penguin)
Marina Budhos (Tell Us We're Home, S&S)
Kate Brian (Book of Spells, S&S)
Philana Marie Boles (Glitz, Penguin)
Judy Blundell (Strings Attached, Scholastic)
Cathleen Bell (Little Blog on the Prairie, Bloomsbury)
February 28, 2011
SCIBA dinner
I had great fun being the EmCee for the SCIBA Children's Book dinner. There were many lovely authors there at the dinnerand the four keynote speakers – Judy Blundell, Brandon Mull, Andrew Smith and Dr. Cuthbert Soup were charming and it is always so wonderful to hear writers talk about writing.
Because I believe in a little bit of quirky fun at these sorts of things, I made up a little "Cecil gets lost in their books" montage. So here I am, transported by their new books. I had photo help from photographer Ben High. Oh. And I also sang a song I wrote especially for the evening to help celebrate the awesomeness of Children's Literature. Yes. A little ditty from me to you. Mary from Skylight Books filmed it for you to enjoy. Fun!
Thanks to all who came out last night. I love you indie book stores!
February 15, 2011
Teeth!
I am delighted to have a short story, Best Friends Forever, in the upcoming anthology TEETH, edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling. It was great fun to write a vampire story and such an honor to have my story in there amongst the other fabulous writers including Genevieve Valentine • Steve Berman • Christopher Barzak • Neil Gaiman • Delia Sherman • Garth Nix • Suzy McKee Charnas • Kaaron Warren • Cecil Castellucci (me!) • Jeffrey Ford • Nathan Ballingrud • Kathe Koja • Catherynne M. Valente • Melissa Marr • Ellen Kushner • Cassandra Clare • Holly Black • Lucius Shepard • Emma Bull • Tanith Lee
I was so excited by this great review of the book by Charles Tan!
But the coolest thing was that many of the authors contributed to a video answering the questions "Would you like to be a Vampire for a month?" and "What Vampire trait would you most like to have?" It was fun answering and it was fun to see how everyone else answered!
Emjoy!
February 10, 2011
Wonder Woman, Plain Janes and Mac Make-up!
Comics Alliance posted this piece about the MAC Cosmetics ad for the new Wonder Woman makeup, which for the record, I am super excited about. I wants me some. The ad features Wonder Woman and Medusa and a bunch of plain Janes. And the Plain Janes in it and what they turn into by the magic of makeup are kind of reminiscent of me and Jim Rugg's Plain Janes. (Doesn't MAC know that the Plain Janes is a DC comic book, too?) (Also, here's a thought MAC makeup, PLAIN JANES makeup for teens!) And also, more weirdness! My next comic book (on Roaring Brook Press) has Medusa as a character in it! (I am not even kidding! It's being drawn by Nate Powell!) So to me, this ad is hysterical and kind of like, totally me. (also Dear MAC makeup. Does this mean I get some free Wonder Woman make-up?)
So then, over at twitter @mizelle said
RT @mizzelle @comicsalliance's Mac headline makes me picture a DC/Minx crossover. Would the Janes be Wonder Woman fans?
So I would like to show you all that YES. The Plain Janes do love WONDER WOMAN! And they are ready for a DC/Minx crossover! (DC, can we make this happen?) Behold the drawing I commissioned from Jim Rugg The Justice Janes! (We actually were going to have the Janes go to a costume party in book 3 or 4 where they would dress up like this. Cause we thought that would be hysterical!)
the plain janes by jim rugg
January 28, 2011
A Literary Diaspora
A few weeks ago I begun a conceptual art piece that I am calling a Literary Diaspora. It is going to be a year long affair and I invite you to follow along. I am interested in playing a narrative game with artists, authors and readers. The first step is sending out blank art postcards to visual artists. Each post card has a word or phrase on it. I am inviting the artist to be inspired by the word/phrase and create a piece of art. Part two is when I have gotten some back I will print ten postcards of each of the images received. I will send one of the postcards to a published author friend and ask them to write a micro story, or poem, or fanciful philosophy inspired by the image. The other nine I will scatter pressing the postcard within the pages of that authors books. It is my hope that an unsuspecting reader / fan of that author will then also send me back a micro story, or poem, or fanciful philosophy inspired by the image. This is all for fun. Think of it as my take on the surrealist exquisite corpse game.
Please follow along, won't you? LITERARY DIASPORA
photo of first batch of postcards sent to artists.
