Rajani LaRocca's Blog, page 38
February 14, 2019
NY SCBWI 2019!
I made an amazing trip to NYC for the NY SCBWI 2019 conference! I got to visit two of my publishers, do my very first book signing of ARCs of MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM, celebrate the announcement of I’LL GO AND COME BACK, meet up with old friends and new, and hobnob with stars like Melissa Stewart, Meg Medina and Elizabeth Acevedo! I also got to see Justice Sotomayor speak, which was the joy of a lifetime!
February 10, 2019
A New Picture Book Announcement!
I’m utterly overjoyed that a picture book of my heart, I’LL GO AND COME BACK, will be illustrated by Sara Palacios and published by Candlewick Press! The Publisher’s Weekly announcement is below; you can also find the announcement here.
February 5, 2019
Book Riot’s List of Must Read 2019 Debuts includes MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM!
Book Riot chose MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM as one of their “50 Must-Read Books by Debut Authors for January-June 2019!” Click here to read the article!
February 4, 2019
The Fruits of Pitch Wars
There’s some Pitch Wars excitement in the air this week!For those who aren’t familiar with it, Pitch Wars is a mentoring program where more experienced authors, editors, or industry interns mentor unagented writers. Mentors, either solo or in pairs, read full manuscripts, choose their mentees, and offer suggestions on how mentees can improve their manuscripts and make them shine. Mentors also help edit their mentees’ pitches and query letters.
Months of revision culminate in an agent showcase in which the pitch and beginning of each mentee’s manuscript is featured on the Pitch Wars blog. This year, over one hundred agents are participating, and…the agent showcase starts this week!!!
Today, I’m reflecting on what Pitch Wars has done for me and for others in the MG debut world this year. Read about amazing writers with ties to Pitch Wars, and their fantastic books publishing this year. Don’t forget to enter the giveaway!
Jeanne Zulick Ferruolo was a Pitch Wars mentee in 2016 and
received an offer from her agent during the agent showcase. Jeanne has this advice for writers who are considering entering Pitch Wars: “Do it! I’ve never regretted entering any writing contest because, regardless of the outcome, my manuscript has improved each time. Pitch Wars is a unique experience because you get the advice of some pretty amazing and talented writers who provide feedback on the whole novel. I can’t say enough about how incredibly talented and generous my mentors were and how PitchWars changed everything for me!” Jeanne’s debut novel, RUBY IN THE SKY, publishes TODAY, February 5, 2019!
Cory Leonardo
was also a 2016 mentee whose debut MG novel, THE SIMPLE ART OF FLYING, will release in the U.S. on February 12, 2019. Cory says, “Pitch Wars was my foot in the publishing door. But it was also where I learned how to edit and where I subsequently found the writing community and some of the most wonderful friends in the world. I was hesitant to enter. I had so many questions and concerns, but I did it anyway. And it changed everything. ENTER.”
The Pitch Wars 2016 mentee class also included Lisa Moore Ramee, the author
of A GOOD KIND OF TROUBLE (March 12, 2019). When asked about her experience with Pitch Wars, Lisa said, “Although I didn’t get an agent through Pitch Wars, what I got was more important. A community of people who buoyed me when I was depressed over another rejection and cheered every request for pages. It helped me by showing me I wasn’t alone. PW is for people who are good. (Really good-I’ve seen my fellow mentees work) but still need help. Their manuscript needs help/guidance. And they (the potential mentee) is ready to WORK. Don’t enter thinking you won’t almost entirely rewrite your book. The whole point is to revise. It’s hard.”
Naomi Milliner was a 2013 Pitch Wars mentee. Her MG debut, SUPER JAKE AND THE KING OF CHAOS, releases May 7, 2019. Naomi says, “The whole experience not only improved my ms., but gave me confidence to start subbing it around. My mentor was fantastic, and we remain close today. She is still someone I consider both a friend and adviser.“ When asked to give advice to writers considering Pitch Wars, she says, “Do it! Do it before you lose your nerve. If you don’t get picked the first time around? Do it again! You will learn a lot in the process and, UNTIL you are chosen as one of the lucky mentees, your queries and elevator pitches will become stronger as a result. So it’s a win-win! Nothing to lose.”
Nicole Melleby is a 2018 Pitch Wars mentor. Nicole says, “Pitch
Wars was a way to help uplift other writers in the way the community in which I surrounded myself with helped uplift me (I particularly was looking for an LGBTQ mentee to help!) DO IT! NO RISK NO REWARD! FINDING A COMMUNITY IS EVERYTHING!” Nicole’s debut, HURRICANE SEASON, publishes May 7, 2019.
Gail D. Villanueva, author of MY FATE ACCORDING TO THE BUTTERFLY (July 30, 2019), was a 2017 mentor and a current committee member and technology director. Asked how Pitch Wars helped her, Gail says, “being picked gave me the confidence that there IS room in publishing for very Filipino books like mine. I’ve met wonderful people in the mentors’ group and they’re now my closest friends today 
January 26, 2019
My new interview on a book blog!
I was interviewed by Jessica, who blogs about books. Click here to read more about me, MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM, my writing advice, my favorite movie, and the middle grade books I’m dying to read in 2019!
January 21, 2019
I’ve joined the Soaring 20’s!
As if 2019 weren’t exciting enough, I’m also planning ahead for 2020! I’ve joined a marvelous picture book debut group, the Soaring 20s! We are a diverse group of authors and illustrators with debuts coming in 2020! Stay tuned for exciting news about my book, SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS (Lee & Low Books), other creators’ marvelous books, and…perhaps more news from me about things coming in 2020!
Our website is under construction, but check it out to sign up for our newsletter, so you don’t miss a thing! You can also follow us on Twitter and Instagram @Soaring20sPB.
January 15, 2019
MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM on the Books Between Podcast!
I was utterly thrilled to find that MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM was selected as a 2019 anticipated debut on the Books Between Podcast! I’m honored to be featured along with so many incredible creators. Check it out, but be warned, your TBR pile will grow!
December 11, 2018
Savor
As we near the end of the year, many of us take time reflect on this year and set goals for the next.
2018 has been a banner year for my writing career. I started working with my amazing agent, Brent Taylor, sold my debut middle grade novel, MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM, sold a picture book, SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS, and…some other things I’m not at liberty to discuss yet.
The brand-new cover of MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM was featured in this lovely blog post in which the bloggers, Julie and Thea, discuss coming up with an inspiring word or phrase to help set intentions for the next year. I love words! But when I tried to choose just one, I found myself feeling a bit like this:
Luckily, they also pointed out a website where I could find an inspiring word by simply clicking a button. I clicked. And this is the word it came up with:
SAVOR
Now, for a person as food-obsessed as I am, whose baking-centric MG debut is coming next June, that word was too perfect to be believed. But as much as savor applies to food, it also applies to life in general, meaning to delight in.
2019 is going to be full of exciting moments, and I’m going to try to savor them, to slow down and revel a bit when I’m feeling joy. But I’m also going to do my best to savor the not-so-great moments, when there are disappointments, or when the writing won’t flow and every word feels like a struggle. I’m going to try to appreciate the work, even when it isn’t easy. Because work is good in itself. And because I am privileged to be doing work than may end up as books for children. I’m going to savor that. Or at least I’m going to try!
Today I’m sharing a recipe for my favorite dessert in the world. It’s called Kesari Bhath, and it’s a delicious pudding-like sweet treat made with semolina (cream of wheat), saffron, sugar, and plenty of ghee. It also includes roasted cashews and golden raisins, and it makes an appearance in MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM. I hope you love it as much as I do!
Kesari Bhath
Ingredients:
1 cup fine semolina or cream of wheat
3 tablespoons ghee, divided
1/3 cup cashews
1/3 cup golden raisins
3 cups milk
a pinch of saffron threads
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 tsp ground cardamom
Directions:
Roast the semolina: heat a pan over low heat, add the semolina, and cook, stirring frequently, until it has browned and lost its raw appearance.This should take 5-6 minutes; pour semolina into a plate or bowl and set aside. Alternatively, you can buy already roasted semolina at many Indian grocery stores.
In the same pan, heat 1 tablespoon ghee until bubbling. Add cashews and cook, stirring, until the are golden brown. Add golden raisins to the pan for the last minute or so until they plump up.
Heat the milk in a large saucepan until it is very warm and tiny bubbles form at the edges, but don’t let it boil. Crumble the saffron into the milk, and stir to turn it a lovely pale yellow. Pour in 1/3 cup sugar and stir until it dissolves; pour in the rest and keep stirring until it is all dissolved. Stir in the cardamom.
Slowly pour in the roasted semolina, whisking the whole time to get rid of lumps. Cook over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring the whole time, until all the liquid is absorbed and the semolina is cooked through.
Add the rest of the ghee and stir to incorporate. Stir in the cashews and raisins.
Serve warm and enjoy. In other words…savor!
Giveaway Time!
Enter below to win an annotated copy of MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM, which will arrive on June 4, 2019…as well as a 2018 #MG debut of your choice to savor now!
December 5, 2018
MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM Cover Reveal!!
Check out the cover reveal of my debut middle grade novel, Midsummer’s Mayhem, and read my interview at BookPage here!
November 25, 2018
Thankful
What happens when a group of middle grade authors get together in a snowbound wonderland for the weekend?
Fun. That’s what. Also discovery, bonding, and laughing. So, so much laughing.
In mid-November, I traveled to a magical place to meet seven fellow authors with middle grade debuts in 2019. We had no agenda beyond enjoying time together, sharing our books and our publishing journeys, and eating. A lot.
The magical place was the Highlights Foundation, and the wonderful authors I met were: Chris Baron, Jessica Kramer, Cory Leonardo, Josh Levy, Gillian McDunn, Naomi Milliner, and Nicole Panteleakos.
Along the way, we had to deal with some challenging weather.
But we took planes and trains and cars and made it to Milanville, PA.
Before the retreat, we had exchanged emails and messages and Facebook posts and Tweets, but it was the first time any of us had met in person.
And it was better than I could have imagined, because these authors were generous, honest, vulnerable, hilarious, and open-hearted.
We read from our forthcoming books, and told each other why we wrote them. We discussed the many Easter eggs in our stories. We conducted “mini-lessons” for each other on other interesting topics such as screenwriting, school visits, and picture books. We even took a hike in the beautiful snow-covered woods.
We stayed up late into the night, talking and laughing and playing games like “Empire” and “Telestrations.” And we managed to compile a very long list of inside jokes for such a short time together!
It was a wonderful weekend, a deep breath before our roller coaster debut year begins. I’m in awe of the the brilliance of these writers, and how unique and wonderful every single one of their books is. I’ve been lucky enough to read some of them already, and I can’t wait to read the rest. The middle grade readers of 2019 are in for such a treat!
Giveaway Time!
I am giving away PREORDERS of all my fellow MG 2019 retreat attendees’ books! Enter below for copies of these SEVEN marvelous books delivered to your home when they are published!
Cory Leonardo’s lovely book, THE SIMPLE ART OF FLYING, is about Alastair, an African grey parrot who dreams of escape from a dingy pet store to bluer skies with his beloved sister, Aggie. But when Aggie is purchased by twelve-year-old Fritz, and Alastair is adopted by elderly dance-enthusiast and pie-baker Albertina Plopky, the future looks ready to crash-land. In-between anxiously plucking his feathers, eating a few books, and finding his own poetic voice, Alastair plots his way to a family reunion. But soon he’s forced to choose between the life he’s always dreamed of and admitting the truth: that sometimes, the bravest adventure is in letting go.
This book is full of poetry and the truth about family and friends.
Pub date: February 12, 2019
Josh Levy’s SEVENTH GRADE VS. THE GALAXY is a hilarious sci-fi adventure about a middle school that’s on a spaceship orbiting Jupiter. When the school is mysteriously attacked, thirteen-year-old Jack discovers humanity’s first light-speed engine. To save the ship, Jack catapults it hundreds of light-years away and right into the clutches of the first aliens humans have ever seen. School hasn’t just gotten out: it’s gone clear across the galaxy. And now it’s up to Jack and his friends to get everyone home.
This book is laugh out loud, and not to be missed!
Pub date: March 5, 2019
Gillian McDunn’s CATERPILLAR SUMMER is a gorgeous, heartfelt story about Cat, a big sister devoted to taking care of her little brother, Chicken, especially after their father has died and their mother is working extremely hard to provide for them. But then Cat and Chicken need to spend three weeks with grandparents they never knew, and for the first time in years, Cat can be a kid again. The journey she takes shows that even the most broken or strained relationships can be healed if people take the time to walk in one another’s shoes.
This book is smart and heartwarming, and I adore it.
Pub date: April 2, 2019
SUPER JAKE & THE KING OF CHAOS 
by Naomi Milliner is about eleven-year-old Ethan, who escapes to a world of top hats, trick decks, and magic wands when family life with his special needs little brother Jake gets too intense. But just when Ethan makes it to the top five finalists of a junior magic competition, Jake falls dangerously ill and Ethan’s hopes and plans are in jeopardy. As he searches for any sort of magic that might save Jake, Ethan learns what is truly important . . . and what real magic is.
Naomi weaves in humor with big emotions in this beautiful story. I can’t wait to read the whole thing.
Pub date: May 7, 2019
PLANET EARTH IS BLUE by Nicole Panteleakos is an out-of-this-world beautiful story about Nova, a twelve-year-old autistic girl who is adjusting to life in a new foster family while awaiting the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger. Nova loves astronomy, but she loves her big sister Bridget even more. Bridget has disappeared, but she promised she’d return home to watch the launch with Nova. So Nova counts down as she writes letters to her missing sister.
This book is absolutely gorgeous and heartbreaking.
Pub date: May 14, 2019
ALL OF ME by Chris Baron is a novel in verse about a 13-year-old who is sick of being teased and bullied about his weight and decides to do something about it before his (already late) Bar Mitzvah. Except, with his parents’ marriage on the rocks, learning how to be a man is harder than he thought.
I was stunned and moved by the lyricism and honesty of this story, and I can’t wait to read it all.
Pub date: June 11, 2019
Jessica Kramer’s book, THE STORY THAT CANNOT BE TOLD, weaves together folklore and history to tell the story of a young girl finding her voice and the strength to use it during the violent final months of Communist reign in Romania.
This book features a mesmerizing interplay of folktales and the realities of life in a communist regime.
Pub date: October 8, 2019
