Shani Petroff's Blog, page 5

Book to Big Screen Panel

I helped put together this really cool panel -- if you are in the NYC area on May 5th-- I hope you can make it!

The Young Entertainment Division invites you to a panel discussion
From Book to Big ScreenFrom True Blood to the Harry Potter movies to Game of Thrones and more, so many popular television shows and movies were books first. Popular books are frequently being adapted into television series and feature films. Join us and meet the sources who have the inside scoop on the ins and outs of this process!

Panelists:
Peter Gethers, President of Random House Studio which turns Penguin Random House Inc. books into unscripted and scripted TV series and feature films and Senior V.P./Editor-at-Large for Penguin Random House.
Esther Newberg, co-head of the Literary Department and a Partner at International Creative Management (ICM), one of the nation’s top talent agencies.
 
Jeffrey Sharp, President/CEO of Story Mining & Supply Co. and producer of Academy Award winning and Golden Globe nominated adaptions including Boys Don't Cry, You Can Count on Me, Nicholas Nickleby and Proof.
Jonathan Tropper, internationally best-selling author of six books including This is Where I Leave You, which he adapted as a feature film for Warner Bros., starring Tina Fey and Jason Bateman, premiering in September 2014.
Michael Weber, screenwriter of (500) Days of Summer, The Spectacular Now, and The Fault in Our Stars, which stars Shailene Woodley and premieres in June 2014.

Moderator:Matthew Hiltzik of Hiltzik StrategiesMonday, May 5, 2014Location will be provided upon registration.
6:30 p.m. -- Private reception for Spotlight Circle* members7:15 p.m. -- General registration 
7:30 p.m. -- Panel to begin promptly
Reception to follow
Cost: $50 per person
The cost represents a charitable contribution.Register NowSpace is LimitedRefreshments will be served. Dietary laws observed

Blog Tour

I was asked to take part in a blog tour. It’s about my writing process (and then I’ll introduce you to three writers I respect--among them, Diana Kelly, who invited me to take part in this tour). So here it goes:
1.    What am I working on now?
I'm finishing up ASH - the first book in the DESTINED trilogy. I'm co-writing it with Darci Manley. It will be published next year! I'm also working on a new middle grade book. The rough draft is done, now it's time to revise, revise, revise! I completed a BEDEVILED screenplay and TV pilot—co-written with Santo D’Asaro—it’s being shopped around now. Fingers are crossed on that project! I also write/produce for a TV News station in NYC and have a weekly blog for a popular website.
2.    Why do I write?
I write because I have stories I want to tell. I’m constantly dreaming up new ideas (and often can’t fall asleep because I’m so busy thinking about them). I love creating something new, using my imagination, and watching a plot unfold before me. I’m a big reader—always have been—and I adore books, so getting to write my own feels amazing.
The non-fiction lets me explore a different style and keeps me on my toes. Writing a book takes time, but in the TV news world the turnaround is often very quick. There have been times where I’ve only had a few minutes to write a story, and as soon as I finished the TV anchor was reading it on air. There’s definitely an adrenaline rush to it! The stories are generally about 20 to 25 seconds long, so I have to decide what’s important—what’s the heart of the story—which also helps when I’m writing the outlines for my books.
Then there are the personal essays/blog posts. These let me share a different side of myself—to share how I feel and to give my thoughts and opinions. When people respond, they’re reacting not to a character—but to me. It’s always rewarding (and this is true for the fiction and even the news) when someone says your work really spoke to them or made them think or smile or feel.
Ultimately, regardless of the style or the genre, I write because I have something I want to say.
3.    How does my writing process work?
My writing process varies because my schedule is constantly changing, but I try to write whenever I can. I’m also really good with deadlines. If I tell my editor I will have it done by a certain time, I will have it done—even if it means giving up a party I want to go to, ignoring the shows on my DVR that are screaming my name, or forgoing some extra sleep.  When I’m not on a formal deadline, I try to pretend I am. I’ll sometimes take a class where you have to turn in a certain number of pages or I’ll promise to have them for a critique partner by a certain date.

Here are some incredible friends of mine that I've worked/am working with that you should meet:  
Michelle Lyons
Michelle and I work together at Fox 5! She's an Emmy-nominated, New York-based TV journalist who has produced and written shows for NBC, CBS and Fox. She blogs about her three passions: food, arts & culture and travel. Discover her at www.thelyonspost.com and follow her on Twitter @lyonsmichelle. 
Diana Kelly 
Diana was my editor for my weekly blog, and we've kept in touch over the years! Diana is a freelancer writer and editor living in New York City. Her specialties include weight loss, fitness, health, and healthy lifestyle topics, in addition to dating and relationships, travel, happiness, pregnancy, and sports. Diana Kelly previously held editorial staff positions at WeightWatchers.com and Prevention.com. Her articles have appeared in print and on the websites of Shape, Health, Fit Pregnancy, Weight Watchers Magazine, The Huffington Post, Bloomberg Businessweek, The Daily Beast, CNN, espnW, ESPN The Magazine, UpWave, Fox News, Men’s Fitness, Reader’s Digest, Yahoo!, MSN, How About We, and more. Her website is www.dianakelly.com. Follow her on Twitter @dianakelly.
Darci Manley
Darci and I met in a writing class years ago. We became quick friends and big fans of each other's work -- and as a result are writing a book series together! Darci is a Creative Director at a NYC design boutique, and has worked with clients such as Estee Lauder, American Express, M&M’S, Gucci, and Jeep. She’s always been passionate about storytelling in one form or another. Her first book, Ash, co-written with Shani Petroff is due, out next year. She is also the creator of the interactive adventure A Defender's Tale (http://www.adefenderstale.com/) with Mark Grochowski. Follow her on twitter @darcimanley. 

New Project!

Just wanted to tell you all about a new project I'm working on!
Here's what was listed in Publishers Marketplace:

Author of the BEDEVILED series Shani Petroff and Darci Manley's ASH and ULTRAVIOLET, the first two books in the "Destined" series, set in a dystopian society where every citizen has their individual destiny set from birth, when two girls ordained with opposing destines become unlikely allies in a quest to determine just whether the future truly is irreversible, to Jason Pinter at Polis.

I'm very excited about it -- and I hope you are too!

Quick Update

Hi everyone,
Here's a quick update on what I've been up to:
Writing, writing, writing. A trilogy about destiny that I co-wrote is being shopped around -- and so is a BEDEVILED TV show. A producer approached me to write a pilot, and now it's wait and see. My fingers are crossed!Meantime, I'm working on a new middle grade book (I think you'll like it!), keeping busy at Fox 5 (the tech special I produced was nominated for an Emmy -- it didn't win, but it was still cool to be nominated, and I'm writing a weekly blog post for a popular website.Thank you for all of your emails and FB messages -- if I didn't respond, I probably didn't get it -- so please send it again!I love hearing from you all!XO,Shani

KidLit Cares for Oklahoma!

Help the families of Oklahoma rebuild... and win one of dozens of signed books (including Bedeviled)... with KidLit Cares for Oklahoma!

http://www.katemessner.com/lets-help-kidlitcares-for-oklahoma/

This is what it says:


To be entered in the KidLitCares for Oklahoma Book Giveaway:Click here and make a donation of at least $10 for American Red Cross Disaster Relief. http://www.katemessner.com/lets-help-kidlitcares-for-oklahoma/
Ideally, you’ll do this now. Like, right now. But if you want to be entered for the book drawing, be sure to do it before 12pm EST on June 7th.  I’ll enter your name in the drawing once for each $10 you donate. So a $50 donation equals five chances to win.You’ll receive an email receipt from the Red Cross.  Forward that receipt to kidlitcares@gmail.com, and you’ll automatically be entered in the drawing for one of our donated signed books!  You can see an ever-updating list of donated signed books below!On June 7th, I’ll draw names for as many books as we have donated. I’ll contact you via email if you win so that you can provide a mailing address for the author to mail your signed book. Because our authors are donating postage, books can be mailed to US addresses only. (Sorry!) Again – the deadline is 12pm EST on June 7th.Authors: If you’d like to donate a signed book as a Donation Drive Giveaway, please email kidlitcares@gmail.com and I’ll send you a link to the donation page.  Thanks!
Agents and Editors: If you’d like to donate a signed book by one of your authors or clients, that’s great, too. Email kidlitcares@gmail.com and I’ll send you that link, too.Readers: Please help us spread the word about KidLitCares for Oklahoma by sharing this link on Twitter, Facebook and wherever else you have friends!http://www.katemessner.com/lets-help-kidlitcares-for-oklahoma/Here’s the list of books that have already been donated and will be given away on June 7th…
(It will grow…and I will try my best to keep up with it…please be patient! New books will be added daily.)HIDE AND SEEK by Kate MessnerTHE REINVENTION OF EDISON THOMAS by Jacqueline HoutmanSIRENS by Janet FoxBIGGER THAN A BREADBOX by Laurel SnyderPASSING THE MUSIC DOWN by Sarah SullivanSMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE by Joanne Levy1 ZANY ZOO by Lori DegmanTHE GENTLEMAN BUG by Julian HectorTRADING FACES by Julie DeVillers and Jennifer RoyBEDEVILED: DADDY’S LITTLE ANGEL by Shani PetroffHOUNDS: LOYAL HUNTING COMPANIONS by Becky LevineTHE SINISTER SWEETNESS OF SPLENDID ACADEMY by Nikki LoftinSPLISH SPLASH! by Naomi DavisCOUNTING ON GRACE by Elizabeth WinthropTHE GOLLYWHOPPER GAMES by Jody FeldmanPRINCESS OF THE WILD SWANS by Diane ZahlerFLUTTER by Gina LinkoWHERE DO DIGGERS SLEEP AT NIGHT by Brianna Caplan SayresTHE WIG IN THE WINDOW by Kristen Kittscher (will be sent in August!)I DARE YOU NOT TO YAWN! by Helene BoudreauTHE CENTER OF EVERYTHING by Linda UrbanSEE YOU AT HARRY’S by Jo KnowlesCANARY IN THE COAL MINE by Madelyn RosenbertNO SAFETY IN NUMBERS by Dayna LorentzHOPE IN PATIENCE by Beth FehlbaumCOWBOY CAMP by Tammi SauerTHE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS IN OKLAHOMA by Tammi SauerNUGGET AND FANG by Tammi SauerTHE WATER CASTLE by Megan Frazer BlakemoreONE FOR THE MURPHYS by Linda Mullaly HuntWANT TO GO PRIVATE by Sarah Darer LittmanLIFE, AFTER by Sarah Darer LittmanCHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL: THE POWER OF POSITIVE by Sarah Darer LittmanTHE UNQUIET by Jeannine GarseeSAY THE WORD by Jeannine GarseeBEYOND LUCKY by Sarah AronsonI’M BORED by Debbie Ridpath OhiTHOUSAND WORDS by Jennifer BrownMADHATTAN MYSTERY by John J. BonkTHE FLINT HEART by Katherine Paterson (signed by Katherine Paterson & John Rocco, donated by Anne Moore)TEACH YOUR BUFFALO TO PLAY DRUMS by Audrey VernickTHE UNIVERSE OF FAIR by Leslie BulionBROTHERS AT BAT: THE TRUE STORY OF AN AMAZING ALL-BROTHER BASEBALL TEAM  by Audrey VernickSCARS by Cheryl RainfieldSTAINED (ARC) by Cheryl RainfieldPHANTOM STALLION: THE WILD ONE by Terri FarleyTHE CAMPING TRIP THAT CHANGED AMERICA by Barb RosenstockFEARLESS by Barb RosenstockTHE SWEETEST THING by Christina MandelskiBOY + BOT by Ame DyckmanTHE MAPMAKER AND THE GHOST by Sarvenaz TashNEVER EIGHTEEN by Megan BosticMELONHEAD AND THE BIG STINK by Katy Kelly

Library Visit

Hi guys,
Today, Wednesday, April 17th, I'll be speaking at the Yonkers library!!
If you are in the area, please stop by!

Who Done It? Anthology

An incredible book for an incredible cause!
Check out my Fox 5 piece on the 'Who Done It?' anthology.Money from the book benefits 826nyc -- a great non-profit that promotes literacy!(it may take a few seconds for the video to load)http://www.myfoxny.com/story/21725693/who-done-it-mystery-promotes-literacy

Power of Social Media

One of the greatest things about social media is how it can connect people.
Ages ago I wrote about a friend who got back in touch with a woman he knew from summer camp, and it was all thanks to Facebook. Now they're married. I, myself, have been fortunate to connect with many people because of my online presence.
And, today, I'm hoping that the power of social media can do something huge.
I'm hoping it will help reunite an Auschwitz survivor and his twin brother.

This was posted on The Daily Beast:

'Menachem Bodner last saw his twin brother at age 4, when he was liberated from the infamous Auschwitz laboratory of Dr. Josef Mengele. Now, armed with proof that his brother also survived, he’s watching his search go viral online.'Let's help Menachem find his brother. Share the information and help reunite a family that never should have been separated. Here's the article: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/03/10/an-auschwitz-survivor-searches-for-his-twin-on-facebook.html

Library Visit

My Library visit at the Yonkers Riverfront Library has been rescheduled!
It will now be April 17th--if you are in the area, I hope you'll stop by!

Library Visit

Hi everyone,
I hope you are all doing well after Hurricane Sandy.
Fortunately, I didn't suffer any damage.
Unfortunately, the Yonkers Public Library did.
As some of you know, I was supposed to have a signing there on November 29th--but due to the water damage, it's going to be rescheduled.
The event will happen, but it will probably take place in the spring instead!
I'm looking forward to it!
XO,
Shani