Suzanne Young's Blog, page 8
March 9, 2012
Oh, by the way...
Cyn Balog, Georgia McBride and Michelle Zink, eds.'s TWO AND TWENTY DARK TALES: Dark Retellings of Mother Goose Rhymes, a charity anthology in which authors including: CynBalog, Nina Berry, Sarwat Chadda, Leah Cypess, Shannon Delany with Max Scialdone, Debra Driza, Leigh Fallon, Angie Frazier, Jessie Harrell, Nancy Holder, Heidi R. Kling, Suzanne Lazear, Karen Mahoney, Lisa Mantchev, Georgia McBride, C. Lee McKenzie, Gretchen McNeil, Pamela van Hylckama Vlieg, K.M. Walton, Suzanne Young, Michelle Zink, and one previously unpublished writer, Sayantani Das Gupta, explore the dark, hidden meanings behind some of our most beloved Mother Goose rhymes through short-story retellings, with a foreword by Francisco X. Stork, to Georgia McBride of Month9Books, for publication in October 2012 (World). --From Publishers Marketplace
My short story--THE WISH--will be in the mix somewhere. And it's dark, romantic, and maybe just a little bit twisted. Fun times!! Look out for the AMAZING cover being revealed next month!!
January 31, 2012
YALSA's Readers' Choice List--YAY!!!
Yay for Charlotte and Harlin!!!
(They're excited, too)
And you'll see more of Harlin in A WANT SO WICKED, coming out this summer.In the meantime, I'm going to celebrate! Check out the full list HERE!
January 19, 2012
SCBWI Annual Winter Conference 2012: Ken Wright
In a Team Blog pre-conference exclusive, I'm here with awesome agent Ken Wright of Writers House! Ken will be speaking at this year's SCBWI Winter Conference in NYC, and we will for sure be crowding his session. Let's ask some questions!
1.) What topics will you cover in your workshop?
Well, the title of the workshop is "Non-fiction," which may or may not tell you much! But it's one of my areas of expertise, so I am guessing that most of the people who attend will want to know a bit about the state of the market for kids non-fiction, what publishers might be looking for these days, and, as an agent, what kinds of things jump out at me to make me take notice---those kinds of topics. I like the give and take of a session made up mostly of questions and answers, as it keeps things lively and lets me actually provide the kind of information people want to have, so I think that's pretty much the way I will handle it.
2.) What would be your dream conference scenario when it comes to meeting writers?
Gee, I just always like the time I get to spend with writers, talking about the state of the business, what's working in the marketplace and what's not, where publishing is heading, and hoping to read something that completely makes me crazy it's so good---the anticipation of maybe finding something really wonderful is what keeps most of us coming to these great events. But more than anything, I just like being around smart people who have interests similar to mine. It's a pretty selfish reason, I know, but if I can be helpful to a few people at the same time, then it's a win-win, right?
3.) What can a published author gain from attending a conference like this?
I know many published and successful authors (including a bunch of mine) who attend a lot of conferences like this. Some of them do so to "give back," so to speak. And that can be very rewarding in and of itself. They so well remember what it was like BEFORE they were published, and they have valuable advice to offer. It's also a great opportunity for them to meet new editors and art directors and other publishing professionals, as a way of continuing the networking that is so important these days for writers and illustrators. And I also think there are always new things for seasoned writers to learn in this business, and some of the workshops and sessions can provide that opportunity.
4.) Are you currently accepting submissions?
Absolutely. Each and every day. I have a pretty full and "mature" client list now, ranging from picture book people to middle grade and YA, fiction and nonfiction, but like all of us on this side of the desk, I am always on the lookout for something new that will really grab me. And I just really hate the idea that I might miss the next best thing!
You can catch more with Ken Wright and lots of other agents, editors and authors next weekend at the conference. Check out interviews and up-to-the-minute action on the official SCBWI conference blog! And look for hashtag #NY12SCBWI on Twitter.
See you in New York!
Suz
January 3, 2012
A WANT SO WICKED
And here's the A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL jacket which I loved nearly as much!
December 19, 2011
Happy Holidays: A Need so Beautiful style
Hop on over to the blog and see what other novels were immortalized by snowmen. :-)
Happy Holidays!
December 5, 2011
Ice Cream and Cake
November 10, 2011
Win- A WANT SO WICKED!
Sara at Novel Novice is running an awesomely cool contest to win the FIRST advance copies of A WANT SO WICKED!! Plus some other prizes! Wanna win?? Go HERE and see how!
In the meantime, Sara interviewed me about A WANT SO WICKED to find out more about the story. You can preorder your copy of AWSW HERE.
Interview:
I know when you originally finished A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL, you felt very happy with the ending — but ultimately, your editor wanted more. Tell us about the process of rethinking the story to write the sequel, A WANT SO WICKED.
I made the decision to write the sequel the day we sold A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL. But I had NO IDEA how I would accomplish that. Originally, I intended to write Onika's story—but after thinking about the end of ANSB, I realized there was still so much to learn about the main characters. A WANT SO WICKED picks up about nine months after ANSB ends, and I think it helps deepen the story of the original, while creating a universe of its own.
How does Onika's story fit into WANT?
We only got a taste of what Onika was about in A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL. Now we learn the HOW and WHY of becoming a Shadow. How far would someone go to be remembered? What are the consequences of that decision? The answer is a dark one, and seeing Onika go through it helps to understand her and see how her existence fits into the universe.
NEED was very much about the light, but you've said WANT is much more about darkness and the Shadows. Tell us how this figures into the story!
The mythology of the Forgotten is the main aspect of book one, but now we explore the other side. Although the choice to stay or go was never easy, now we find out exactly what happens when a Forgotten turns away from the light—we find out what the opposite of hope is. And we find out where true evil starts.
And Harlin's back! Did you have a favorite Harlin moment?
In this book? Oh, man. Harlin has changed a bit from A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL—having survived a serious trauma and now having a new purpose. But I think his maturity is for the better, and let me just say this—there is an amazingly sexy haircut scene. I've said too much.
Anything else you want people to know about WANT?
I think AWSW is the natural progression of the story from A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL. If you questioned anything about why or how from the first book, you'll get your explanations here. And you'll also get to see two people fall in love—the kind that can transcend lifetimes—which was really fun to write.
Don't forget to enter the contest at Novelnovice.com!!
November 8, 2011
A WANT SO WICKED
For now, here is the official cover for A WANT SO WICKED, along with the synopsis. Can't wait to show the full jacket. I think it's breathtaking. I'm very happy with Balzer & Bray/HarperCollins for the amazing work they did on this book. Hooray!
A WANT SO WICKED-June 26th, 2012 (PREORDER HERE)
Elise is a normal seventeen-year-old girl until the day she wakes up in a desert park, with no idea who she is.
After that episode, her life takes a bizarre turn. She's experiencing unexpected flashes of insight into people's lives—people she's never met before. Strangers frighten her with warnings about the approaching Shadows. And although Elise has never had a boyfriend, she suddenly finds herself torn between two handsome but very different young men: Abe, the charming bad boy whose affect on her both seduces and frightens her, and the mysterious Harlin, who's new to town but with whom Elise feels an urgent, elemental connection—almost as if they are soul mates.
Now Elise begins to question everything about her life. Why do these guys both want her so desperately? What are the Shadows? Why does the name Charlotte inspire a terrifying familiarity? And who is Elise, really?
November 6, 2011
Vegas, baby!
Spent some quality time with Lisa Schroeder and Liz Gallagher outside our hotel.
Author dessert trip with Emily Wing Smith, Lindsey Leavitt, Brodi Ashton, Bree Despain, Daisy Whitney, Lisa Schroeder, Becca Fitzpatrick, ME, Heather Davis, Jay Asher and Liz Gallagher.
Heather Davis, me and Liz.
Lisa, me and Lindsey were enjoying the crisp weather... or maybe it was the promise of ice cream.
Met the BLUE MAN GROUP!
Pre-panel hang out with Cat Patrick.
(Thanks, Nieves Maria Silva and Crystal Perkins for a few of the pictures)
The entire crew!! Daisy Whitney, Lindsey Leavitt, Emily Wing Smith, James Dasher, Rachel Hawkins, Becca Fitzpatrick, Suzanne Young, Bree Despain, Brodi Ashton, Jay Asher, Cat Patrick, Veronica Wolff, Rachel Caine, Crystal Perkins, Sophie Jordan, Liz Gallagher, Heather Davis and Tera Lynn Childs.
The Paranormal Ball!! Authors in costumes? Too fun. Lisa and I nearly slayed James Dasher. But we resolved our issues.
Super awesome blogger of Kate's Book Club took a second to tear up the dance floor with me.
Me and Lady Rachel Hawkins.
Miss everyone already!
And check out this AWESOME videoblog for fun interviews with the authors, and don't forget to go on youtube and enter Kate's contest!!
November 4, 2011
In Vegas?
Check out this amazing LINEUP!
