Denise Jaden's Blog, page 41
June 17, 2011
Friday Four
1. Guess what I saw in Publisher's Marketplace today?!
Author of LOSING FAITH Denise Jaden's untitled novel, exploring the fragile relationship between two teen sisters - one, a gifted photographer, and one, a dancer who struggles with bulimia, to Anica Rissi at Simon Pulse, with Annette Pollert editing, for publication in Summer 2012, by Michelle Humphrey at ICM.
2. Yay! I must admit, though, I'm a bit frustrated at not having a title. This is the book formerly known as APPETITE FOR BEAUTY. It won't quite feel like a real book that's being published until I have something to call it.
3. The brilliant folks at Simon Pulse are, however, working on a cover for this untitled novel. I've seen one mock-up (though I'm not able to show that around yet) and I love the direction they're going with it. I also have a tentative release date in July 2012.
4. I received a hefty set of line edits on the first 130 pages of this book. I was worried about whether I'd have enough mental focus to complete them, but actually it's been nice to sink myself into something else for a while.
I hope you all have a happy weekend. I know Father's Day will be difficult for my family, but hopefully the weather will hold out and we'll do something picnicky together.
Author of LOSING FAITH Denise Jaden's untitled novel, exploring the fragile relationship between two teen sisters - one, a gifted photographer, and one, a dancer who struggles with bulimia, to Anica Rissi at Simon Pulse, with Annette Pollert editing, for publication in Summer 2012, by Michelle Humphrey at ICM.
2. Yay! I must admit, though, I'm a bit frustrated at not having a title. This is the book formerly known as APPETITE FOR BEAUTY. It won't quite feel like a real book that's being published until I have something to call it.
3. The brilliant folks at Simon Pulse are, however, working on a cover for this untitled novel. I've seen one mock-up (though I'm not able to show that around yet) and I love the direction they're going with it. I also have a tentative release date in July 2012.
4. I received a hefty set of line edits on the first 130 pages of this book. I was worried about whether I'd have enough mental focus to complete them, but actually it's been nice to sink myself into something else for a while.
I hope you all have a happy weekend. I know Father's Day will be difficult for my family, but hopefully the weather will hold out and we'll do something picnicky together.
June 14, 2011
GCC Presents Amanda Ashby and FAIRY BAD DAY!
I'm excited to welcome another author from the Girlfriends Cyber Circuit, Amanda Ashby! Amanda's latest novel FAIRY BAD DAY is out from Puffin/Speak this week.
[image error]
About the book:
It's going to be a fairy bad day
First, my rightful designation of dragon slayer is STOLEN right out from under me by Curtis Green. Sure, he's really cute, but that doesn't give him an excuse.
On top of that, I am assigned to slay fairies. I know what you're thinking—how hard could it be, right? Wrong! These menacing beasts with their tiny hipster clothes and mocking sarcasm love taunting me. And they won't STOP!
But the thing that tops my list of stuff to ruin my day? That would be the GIANT KILLER FAIRY that I have to hunt down and slay because I am the only one who can see it. There is someone who can help me. Unfortunately…it's Curtis.
About Amanda:
Amanda Ashby was born in Australia, and has spent the last fifteen years dividing her time between England and New Zealand before finally deciding that to move home. When she's not moving country, she likes to write books (okay, she also likes to eat chocolate, watch television and sit around doing not much, but let's just keep that amongst ourselves, shall we?)
She has a degree in English and Journalism from the University of Queensland and is married with two children. As well as writing, she works part-time at the children/teen desk of her local library, which basically means that someone pays her to talk about books. Her debut book, You Had Me at Halo was nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice award, and her first young adult book Zombie Queen of Newbury High was listed by the New York Public Library's Stuff for the Teen Age 2010.
[image error]
A short interview with Amanda:
1. Tell me about your book in seven words or less.
Funny, cute and full of skittles!
2. Other than your main character, who's a favorite character of yours in your novel and why?
I have some little fairies in the book that spend most of the time making Emma's life hell and they were lots of fun to write. I tend to get a bit carried away with secondary characters and these guys are the perfect example. All they do is mock people, hang out at the mall and moon people!!!!
3. What's one piece of writing advice you would give to aspiring authors?
If you're writing for publication then you need to keep the faith and believe in yourself. This is a tough business that is full of rejection and if you don't have that little kernel deep down inside to push you through, it can be hard going.
4. What did you write when you were a teen? Did you journal? Write poetry? Write overly literary or emotional stories? Or avoid writing altogether?
I didn't do any private writing at all, however I was always good at creative writing in school and the more people liked what I wrote, the more over the top I became with my writing. I then went to college and studied English and Journalism (which was a sad disappointment when I realized that I had to tell the truth and we weren't allowed to make things up!). But it wasn't until I was in my mid-twenties that I realized I wanted to actually write books!
5. What's the last book you read that you really loved?
Eon by Alison Goodman. She's an Australian author but the book is out in the US now and it is extraordinary. It's the story of a young girl who has to disguise herself as a boy to try and become a dragon warrior.
What people are saying:
"Teens with a taste for the paranormal school story and a tolerance for raucous humor will be involved with and amused by this romantic fantasy. The exciting plot, humor throughout—often provided by the little fairies—and relatively innocent romance between characters will grab readers and keep them involved. " Kirkus Reviews
"In a fun mashup of the modern and the magical, Ashby (Zombie Queen of Newbury High) creates nicely developed characters and supports them with strong plotting and zippy writing. Laced with humor, danger, and romance, this book will have readers smiling all the way to the last page." Publisher's Weekly
"Great fairy fun from page one! If Buffy and Harry Potter got together and threw a magical slayer party, it would be the world Amanda Ashby created in Fairy Bad Day. With plenty of laugh-out-loud humor, emotional depth, and cute boy romance, reading this book will guarantee your day is fairy awesome." Tera Lynn Childs, award-winning author of Oh. My. Gods. and Forgive My Fins
"Fairy Bad Day is fairy awesome supernatural slaying fun." Stacey Jay author of You are So Undead to Me and Undead Much
"I really liked that no matter how mad Emma wanted to be at Curtis, she just couldn't stay mad—not with those beautiful brown eyes and that lopsided grin. I loved the cover design, it really drew me in. This was a very good book and I would highly recommend it."— School Library Journal Vanessa, age 12
Want to find out more about Fairy Bad Day?
http://www.amandaashby.com
http://www.amandaashby.blogspot.com/
https://twitter.com/#!/amandaashby/
[image error]
About the book:
It's going to be a fairy bad day
First, my rightful designation of dragon slayer is STOLEN right out from under me by Curtis Green. Sure, he's really cute, but that doesn't give him an excuse.
On top of that, I am assigned to slay fairies. I know what you're thinking—how hard could it be, right? Wrong! These menacing beasts with their tiny hipster clothes and mocking sarcasm love taunting me. And they won't STOP!
But the thing that tops my list of stuff to ruin my day? That would be the GIANT KILLER FAIRY that I have to hunt down and slay because I am the only one who can see it. There is someone who can help me. Unfortunately…it's Curtis.
About Amanda:
Amanda Ashby was born in Australia, and has spent the last fifteen years dividing her time between England and New Zealand before finally deciding that to move home. When she's not moving country, she likes to write books (okay, she also likes to eat chocolate, watch television and sit around doing not much, but let's just keep that amongst ourselves, shall we?)
She has a degree in English and Journalism from the University of Queensland and is married with two children. As well as writing, she works part-time at the children/teen desk of her local library, which basically means that someone pays her to talk about books. Her debut book, You Had Me at Halo was nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice award, and her first young adult book Zombie Queen of Newbury High was listed by the New York Public Library's Stuff for the Teen Age 2010.
[image error]
A short interview with Amanda:
1. Tell me about your book in seven words or less.
Funny, cute and full of skittles!
2. Other than your main character, who's a favorite character of yours in your novel and why?
I have some little fairies in the book that spend most of the time making Emma's life hell and they were lots of fun to write. I tend to get a bit carried away with secondary characters and these guys are the perfect example. All they do is mock people, hang out at the mall and moon people!!!!
3. What's one piece of writing advice you would give to aspiring authors?
If you're writing for publication then you need to keep the faith and believe in yourself. This is a tough business that is full of rejection and if you don't have that little kernel deep down inside to push you through, it can be hard going.
4. What did you write when you were a teen? Did you journal? Write poetry? Write overly literary or emotional stories? Or avoid writing altogether?
I didn't do any private writing at all, however I was always good at creative writing in school and the more people liked what I wrote, the more over the top I became with my writing. I then went to college and studied English and Journalism (which was a sad disappointment when I realized that I had to tell the truth and we weren't allowed to make things up!). But it wasn't until I was in my mid-twenties that I realized I wanted to actually write books!
5. What's the last book you read that you really loved?
Eon by Alison Goodman. She's an Australian author but the book is out in the US now and it is extraordinary. It's the story of a young girl who has to disguise herself as a boy to try and become a dragon warrior.
What people are saying:
"Teens with a taste for the paranormal school story and a tolerance for raucous humor will be involved with and amused by this romantic fantasy. The exciting plot, humor throughout—often provided by the little fairies—and relatively innocent romance between characters will grab readers and keep them involved. " Kirkus Reviews
"In a fun mashup of the modern and the magical, Ashby (Zombie Queen of Newbury High) creates nicely developed characters and supports them with strong plotting and zippy writing. Laced with humor, danger, and romance, this book will have readers smiling all the way to the last page." Publisher's Weekly
"Great fairy fun from page one! If Buffy and Harry Potter got together and threw a magical slayer party, it would be the world Amanda Ashby created in Fairy Bad Day. With plenty of laugh-out-loud humor, emotional depth, and cute boy romance, reading this book will guarantee your day is fairy awesome." Tera Lynn Childs, award-winning author of Oh. My. Gods. and Forgive My Fins
"Fairy Bad Day is fairy awesome supernatural slaying fun." Stacey Jay author of You are So Undead to Me and Undead Much
"I really liked that no matter how mad Emma wanted to be at Curtis, she just couldn't stay mad—not with those beautiful brown eyes and that lopsided grin. I loved the cover design, it really drew me in. This was a very good book and I would highly recommend it."— School Library Journal Vanessa, age 12
Want to find out more about Fairy Bad Day?
http://www.amandaashby.com
http://www.amandaashby.blogspot.com/
https://twitter.com/#!/amandaashby/
June 10, 2011
Friday Four
1. I've taken the exclamation point off of my Friday Four. I'm still not feeling peppy enough to use exclamation points.
2. I'm generally doing pretty well. Still very busy with exhausting details in the aftermath of my dad's passing, but feeling a bit more like myself. I'm even going to go back to the gym today for the first time in months. I don't really care about the workout--my big challenge is to get in and out of there without crying (not that I mind crying, but really, do I have to do it at the gym?)
3. I've finally gotten back into reading. I had thought I had lost my ability to concentrate on books. It turned out I was trying to read the wrong books. I picked up WHERE SHE WENT by Gayle Forman the other day--the day before yesterday, actually--and I'm on the last chapter. I'm really enjoying this book and it's even feeling a bit cathartic to me.
4. I do that often--pick up books where the characters deal with similar hardships as I'm going through at the moment. WHERE SHE WENT is the follow up to IF I STAY, where Mia lost her whole family in a car accident. When I had recently miscarried, I read plenty of novels about pregnancy. I think a lot of people would purposely avoid these types of books that hit too close to home, but I search them out and they really help me process.
This whole topic makes me think of the whole #YAsaves topic on Twitter (there's also a funny parody hashtag - #YAkills - which is quite fun to follow) and the Wall Street Journal articles/opinion pieces that sparked it. I can see that there are two sides to the story--it's too bad that edginess is seen sometimes as a marketing tool. But as for me, personally, I'm very glad I have books that deal with the harder stuff that I can read in the midst of the harder times of my life.
I'm not going to get into a big rant one way or the other. That's all I have to say on the topic, really, but I'd love to hear other thoughts too if you have them.
Happy weekend, everyone!
2. I'm generally doing pretty well. Still very busy with exhausting details in the aftermath of my dad's passing, but feeling a bit more like myself. I'm even going to go back to the gym today for the first time in months. I don't really care about the workout--my big challenge is to get in and out of there without crying (not that I mind crying, but really, do I have to do it at the gym?)
3. I've finally gotten back into reading. I had thought I had lost my ability to concentrate on books. It turned out I was trying to read the wrong books. I picked up WHERE SHE WENT by Gayle Forman the other day--the day before yesterday, actually--and I'm on the last chapter. I'm really enjoying this book and it's even feeling a bit cathartic to me.
4. I do that often--pick up books where the characters deal with similar hardships as I'm going through at the moment. WHERE SHE WENT is the follow up to IF I STAY, where Mia lost her whole family in a car accident. When I had recently miscarried, I read plenty of novels about pregnancy. I think a lot of people would purposely avoid these types of books that hit too close to home, but I search them out and they really help me process.
This whole topic makes me think of the whole #YAsaves topic on Twitter (there's also a funny parody hashtag - #YAkills - which is quite fun to follow) and the Wall Street Journal articles/opinion pieces that sparked it. I can see that there are two sides to the story--it's too bad that edginess is seen sometimes as a marketing tool. But as for me, personally, I'm very glad I have books that deal with the harder stuff that I can read in the midst of the harder times of my life.
I'm not going to get into a big rant one way or the other. That's all I have to say on the topic, really, but I'd love to hear other thoughts too if you have them.
Happy weekend, everyone!
June 6, 2011
GCC Presents Jessica Brody and MY LIFE UNDECIDED!
I'm excited to welcome another guest from the Girlfriends Cyber Circuit, Jessica Brody. Her latest release MY LIFE UNDECIDED is out this week, and if you haven't heard about this book yet, this is the place to be! Scroll down to see the fabulous trailer, the summary, and an interview with Jessica.
Book Summary:
PLEASE READ THIS! MY LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!
Okay, maybe that was a bit melodramatic, but I'm sorry, I'm feeling a bit melodramatic at the moment.
Here's the deal. My name is Brooklyn Pierce, I'm fifteen years old, and I am decisionally challenged. Seriously, I can't remember the last good decision I made. I can remember plenty of crappy ones though. Including that party I threw when my parents were out of town that accidentally burned down a model home. Yeah, not my finest moment, for sure.
But see, that's why I started a blog. To enlist readers to make my decisions for me. That's right. I'm gave up. Threw in the towel. I let someone else be the one to decide which book I read for English. Or whether or not I accepted an invitation to join the debate team from that cute-in-a-dorky-sort-of-way guy who gave me the Heimlich Maneuver in the cafeteria. (Note to self: Chew the melon before swallowing it.) I even let them decide who I dated!
Well, it turns out there are some things in life you simply can't choose or have chosen for you—like who you fall in love with. And now everything's more screwed up than ever.
But don't take my word for it, read the book and decide for yourself. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll scream in frustration. Or maybe that's just me. After all, it's my life.
Reviews:
"Brooklyn is a sympathetic protagonist with whom teens will identify. Her journey is fun to read, and decision-challenged readers will learn an important lesson about self-acceptance along the way."
--School Library Journal
"Brody taps into a universal human desire...An amusing coming-of-age story with many funny moments...[Brooklyn's] flustered, off-the-cuff narration should keep readers as invested in her actions as her blog followers are."
--Publisher's Weekly
About the Author:
A few fun facts about Jessica Brody's own life undecided:
• Jessica was born in Los Angeles, moved to Colorado when she was twelve, moved back to California after college and now indecisively splits her time between both states.
• Jessica graduated from Smith College in Massachusetts with majors in Economics and French because she was convinced she wanted to be an "important business woman." After a brief stint as a strategic analyst for MGM Studios, she abandoned her business background to become a full-time writer. Now she uses her mad spreadsheet skills to build complicated outlines for her books.
• Appropriately, when writing this book, Jessica couldn't decide on a title. So she polled 50 of her closest friends to finally come up with My Life Undecided.
The Interview:
1. Welcome, Jessica! Can you tell me about your book in seven words or less?
Girl lets blog readers run her life.
2. Other than your main character, who's a favorite character of yours in your novel and why?
Ooh, toughie! I think I'm going to have to say Mrs. Moody, the cranky old lady who lives at the nursing home where Brooklyn has to do her community service hours (a direct result of one of her notorious bad decisions). Mrs. Moody was really fun to write. She's very true to her name!
3. What's one piece of writing advice you would give to aspiring authors?
Write every day. Writing takes practice, just like a sport or musical instrument. And the more you write, the better you'll get.
4. What did you write when you were a teen? Did you journal? Write poetry? Write overly literary or emotional stories? Or avoid writing altogether?
Actually, I was a pretty big writer when I was a teen. I was just going through a box of old school work from high school and found this Shakespearean style sonnet I was assigned to write in one of my English classes. I read it and was like, "What the heck does that mean?" Apparently I was a little more poetic back then than I am now! Haha. Or I was just a really convincing poser. But I did like to write poetry and short stories. And I even tried my hand at a few novels but never got past page 30 or so.
5. What's the last book you read that you really loved?
I just recently read RUBY RED by Kerstin Gier which was just released. It's the first in a series and I'm now TOTALLY hooked. I'm dying for the second one. The series was originally published in Germany and I'm about this close to buying the German edition and running it through Google Translate, just so I can find out what happens! Too bad I studied French!
Thanks Jessica! Visit her online at: www.JessicaBrody.com.
And coming soon: www.MyLifeUndecided.com, where you can post your own undecided questions, poll the community, and get some answers.
Book Summary:
PLEASE READ THIS! MY LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!
Okay, maybe that was a bit melodramatic, but I'm sorry, I'm feeling a bit melodramatic at the moment.
Here's the deal. My name is Brooklyn Pierce, I'm fifteen years old, and I am decisionally challenged. Seriously, I can't remember the last good decision I made. I can remember plenty of crappy ones though. Including that party I threw when my parents were out of town that accidentally burned down a model home. Yeah, not my finest moment, for sure.
But see, that's why I started a blog. To enlist readers to make my decisions for me. That's right. I'm gave up. Threw in the towel. I let someone else be the one to decide which book I read for English. Or whether or not I accepted an invitation to join the debate team from that cute-in-a-dorky-sort-of-way guy who gave me the Heimlich Maneuver in the cafeteria. (Note to self: Chew the melon before swallowing it.) I even let them decide who I dated!
Well, it turns out there are some things in life you simply can't choose or have chosen for you—like who you fall in love with. And now everything's more screwed up than ever.
But don't take my word for it, read the book and decide for yourself. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll scream in frustration. Or maybe that's just me. After all, it's my life.
Reviews:
"Brooklyn is a sympathetic protagonist with whom teens will identify. Her journey is fun to read, and decision-challenged readers will learn an important lesson about self-acceptance along the way."
--School Library Journal
"Brody taps into a universal human desire...An amusing coming-of-age story with many funny moments...[Brooklyn's] flustered, off-the-cuff narration should keep readers as invested in her actions as her blog followers are."
--Publisher's Weekly
About the Author:
A few fun facts about Jessica Brody's own life undecided:
• Jessica was born in Los Angeles, moved to Colorado when she was twelve, moved back to California after college and now indecisively splits her time between both states.
• Jessica graduated from Smith College in Massachusetts with majors in Economics and French because she was convinced she wanted to be an "important business woman." After a brief stint as a strategic analyst for MGM Studios, she abandoned her business background to become a full-time writer. Now she uses her mad spreadsheet skills to build complicated outlines for her books.
• Appropriately, when writing this book, Jessica couldn't decide on a title. So she polled 50 of her closest friends to finally come up with My Life Undecided.
The Interview:
1. Welcome, Jessica! Can you tell me about your book in seven words or less?
Girl lets blog readers run her life.
2. Other than your main character, who's a favorite character of yours in your novel and why?
Ooh, toughie! I think I'm going to have to say Mrs. Moody, the cranky old lady who lives at the nursing home where Brooklyn has to do her community service hours (a direct result of one of her notorious bad decisions). Mrs. Moody was really fun to write. She's very true to her name!
3. What's one piece of writing advice you would give to aspiring authors?
Write every day. Writing takes practice, just like a sport or musical instrument. And the more you write, the better you'll get.
4. What did you write when you were a teen? Did you journal? Write poetry? Write overly literary or emotional stories? Or avoid writing altogether?
Actually, I was a pretty big writer when I was a teen. I was just going through a box of old school work from high school and found this Shakespearean style sonnet I was assigned to write in one of my English classes. I read it and was like, "What the heck does that mean?" Apparently I was a little more poetic back then than I am now! Haha. Or I was just a really convincing poser. But I did like to write poetry and short stories. And I even tried my hand at a few novels but never got past page 30 or so.
5. What's the last book you read that you really loved?
I just recently read RUBY RED by Kerstin Gier which was just released. It's the first in a series and I'm now TOTALLY hooked. I'm dying for the second one. The series was originally published in Germany and I'm about this close to buying the German edition and running it through Google Translate, just so I can find out what happens! Too bad I studied French!
Thanks Jessica! Visit her online at: www.JessicaBrody.com.
And coming soon: www.MyLifeUndecided.com, where you can post your own undecided questions, poll the community, and get some answers.
June 3, 2011
Friday Four
1. I feel like I haven't blogged in forever. I'm here because I miss it. I miss having casual conversation about the smaller things in life. I'm doing pretty well, my family is slowly adjusting to the loss of my dad. Still really busy with appointments and details and stuff, but getting through it. People have been so incredibly kind, giving us everything from cyber-hugs to flowers and meals. It has all been so incredibly appreciated!
2. My cross-border friend, Angelina Hansen, told me about her wonderful library and even went online to figure out the details of how I can join it. That was a while ago, of course, but I finally got myself a Whatcom County library card this week, and Angelina was right - they do have a lot of teen new releases! I think I have ordered over 20 books to be brought in for me so far (like I don't have enough waiting for me on my shelves!)
3. Losing Faith is headed into its second printing! As an author, I think every step along this road to publication leaves you with different "wants", and that was definitely a big one of mine - that my first book would be into a second printing before it's first year was up. Many of these things are not in our control, of course, so it was a nice little surprise to get a happy email from my editor about it. Yay! We made it!
4. I think I only have 3 things this week. There's not much to talk about in my life right now, aside from the stuff that no one would want to hear about. But I did miss you all and missed blogging and really just wanted to say Hi.
2. My cross-border friend, Angelina Hansen, told me about her wonderful library and even went online to figure out the details of how I can join it. That was a while ago, of course, but I finally got myself a Whatcom County library card this week, and Angelina was right - they do have a lot of teen new releases! I think I have ordered over 20 books to be brought in for me so far (like I don't have enough waiting for me on my shelves!)
3. Losing Faith is headed into its second printing! As an author, I think every step along this road to publication leaves you with different "wants", and that was definitely a big one of mine - that my first book would be into a second printing before it's first year was up. Many of these things are not in our control, of course, so it was a nice little surprise to get a happy email from my editor about it. Yay! We made it!
4. I think I only have 3 things this week. There's not much to talk about in my life right now, aside from the stuff that no one would want to hear about. But I did miss you all and missed blogging and really just wanted to say Hi.
May 30, 2011
Not Going To BEA Winner!
I'm a little late getting back here to draw the winner of this awesome prize pack, but better late than never, right?
This beautiful boatload of books goes to...
Chey!
I've also contacted Chey by email, but if you get this first, send me your mailing address to d (at) denisejaden (dot) com and Ill get them out in the mail to you as soon as I can.
Thanks so much to all who participated, and also thanks for all the kind words and condolences over my dad's passing. My family has really appreciated all of your thoughts and prayers. I hope to be back to talking about books here soon, but still just taking one day at a time right now.
Congratulations again to Chey, and hope to see you all again soon!
This beautiful boatload of books goes to...
Chey!
I've also contacted Chey by email, but if you get this first, send me your mailing address to d (at) denisejaden (dot) com and Ill get them out in the mail to you as soon as I can.
Thanks so much to all who participated, and also thanks for all the kind words and condolences over my dad's passing. My family has really appreciated all of your thoughts and prayers. I hope to be back to talking about books here soon, but still just taking one day at a time right now.
Congratulations again to Chey, and hope to see you all again soon!
May 23, 2011
GCC Presents Elizabeth Scott and BETWEEN HERE AND FOREVER!
As part of the Girlfriends Cyber Circuit, I'm excited to welcome one of my favorite authors, Elizabeth Scott. I've also featured her new book, BETWEEN HERE AND FOREVER, on The Contemps blog tomorrow.
Also, if you're not going to BEA, make sure to enter my Not Going to BEA contest, as there's a copy of BETWEEN HERE AND FOREVER included in the prize pack!
Onto the interview...
1. Welcome Elizabeth! Tell me about your book in seven words or less.
Small town, family, secrets, falling in love
2. Other than your main character, who's a favorite character of yours in your novel and why?
I'm pretty fond of both Eli and Clement. And Katie and Dave, of course!
3. What's one piece of writing advice you would give to aspiring authors?
Read as much as you can, in as many genres as you can.
4. What did you write when you were a teen? Did you journal? Write poetry? Write overly literary or emotional stories? Or avoid writing altogether?
I didn't write when I was teen. I was always "sick" whenever we were assigned "creative writing" assignments.
5. What's the last book you read that you really loved?
You can check out books I've read and loved on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/363405.Elizabeth_Scott
Great! Thanks so much for visiting my blog, Elizabeth, and all the best with the release of your new book!
Also, if you're not going to BEA, make sure to enter my Not Going to BEA contest, as there's a copy of BETWEEN HERE AND FOREVER included in the prize pack!
Onto the interview...
1. Welcome Elizabeth! Tell me about your book in seven words or less.
Small town, family, secrets, falling in love
2. Other than your main character, who's a favorite character of yours in your novel and why?
I'm pretty fond of both Eli and Clement. And Katie and Dave, of course!
3. What's one piece of writing advice you would give to aspiring authors?
Read as much as you can, in as many genres as you can.
4. What did you write when you were a teen? Did you journal? Write poetry? Write overly literary or emotional stories? Or avoid writing altogether?
I didn't write when I was teen. I was always "sick" whenever we were assigned "creative writing" assignments.
5. What's the last book you read that you really loved?
You can check out books I've read and loved on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/363405.Elizabeth_Scott
Great! Thanks so much for visiting my blog, Elizabeth, and all the best with the release of your new book!
May 17, 2011
Teen Author Tuesday Presents Amy Fellner Dominy and OyMG!
I'm excited to welcome another 2011 debut author to the blog! Amy Fellner Dominy's contemporary YA novel, OyMG was released from Walker/Bloomsbury May 10, 2011. It is aimed at ages 11 to 16.
Welcome, Amy! Can you tell me about your book in seven words or less?
Jewish girl. Christian camp. Holy moly.
Haha. Sounds great! Other than your main character, who's a favorite character of yours in your debut novel and why?
I can't believe I'm going to pass on the hot guy, but I have to admit that my favorite character is Zeydeh, Ellie's grandpa. (Zeydeh is the Yiddish word for grandfather.) He's grouchy and prickly. He spouts Yiddish curse words and talks to ghosts. And his heart is pure gold. He and Ellie have an amazing connection full of love and respect. It's one of my greatest regrets that Zeydeh is imaginary. He's the grandpa I would have loved to have.
Can you tell my readers a little more about yourself, Amy?
Random facts: I got sick on vanilla frosting when I was a kid, and I still don't like it. I hate to shop but I love to buy shoes. I do triathlons—races where you swim, bike and run. I talk out loud while I write.
And here's a little pic, so you can envision her talking while she writes!
What's been the most surprising thing about your path to publication so far, Amy?
How much I didn't know. Every step of the way has held surprises: copyedits, first pass pages, marketing expectations, ARCs, cover jackets. I've discovered that a sale isn't an end. It's just another beginning.
So true. What's one piece of writing advice you would give to aspiring authors?
Finish. It's amazingly difficult to actually finish a work-in-progress. I'm not sure why that is, but it's true. (Which is why many writers have a lot of beginnings and no endings.) My advice is to write all the way to the end. To finish whatever you're working on. That, in itself, is a huge accomplishment.
Great advice! Are you swept up with promotion for your debut book right now or can you give us a sentence or two about something new you're working on?
My next book is titled Audition and Subtraction, and it'll be out fall 2012, from Walker & Company. (I'm so glad to continue working with my editor!) It's about fourteen-year-old Tatum who could suddenly lose her spot in District Honor Band—and her best friend—when a new guy transfers to her school. Friendships change and romance develops in unexpected places.
Sounds great! What did you write when you were a teen? Did you journal? Write poetry? Write overly literary or emotional stories? Or avoid writing altogether?
Besides keeping a diary, I also wrote a lot of stories as a teen. It appears I had a darker bent in those days. My first chapter book was titled, Cecelia and the Coffin of Blood.
What's the last book you read that you really loved?
The first book that comes to mind is Something Like Hope by Shawn Goodman. It's a new debut and a powerful story about a girl in juvenile detention. I couldn't put it down, and neither could my daughter.
If readers want to find out more about you and your writing, Amy, where should they look?
Website: www.amyfellnerdominy.com, Facebook: www.facebook.com/amyfellnerdominyauthor, Twitter: http://twitter.com/amydominy, And for a sneak peek of OyMG, watch my book trailer here on YouTube.
Thanks so much for visiting, Amy, and all the very best with your launch! I can't wait to read it!
Welcome, Amy! Can you tell me about your book in seven words or less?
Jewish girl. Christian camp. Holy moly.
Haha. Sounds great! Other than your main character, who's a favorite character of yours in your debut novel and why?
I can't believe I'm going to pass on the hot guy, but I have to admit that my favorite character is Zeydeh, Ellie's grandpa. (Zeydeh is the Yiddish word for grandfather.) He's grouchy and prickly. He spouts Yiddish curse words and talks to ghosts. And his heart is pure gold. He and Ellie have an amazing connection full of love and respect. It's one of my greatest regrets that Zeydeh is imaginary. He's the grandpa I would have loved to have.
Can you tell my readers a little more about yourself, Amy?
Random facts: I got sick on vanilla frosting when I was a kid, and I still don't like it. I hate to shop but I love to buy shoes. I do triathlons—races where you swim, bike and run. I talk out loud while I write.
And here's a little pic, so you can envision her talking while she writes!
What's been the most surprising thing about your path to publication so far, Amy?
How much I didn't know. Every step of the way has held surprises: copyedits, first pass pages, marketing expectations, ARCs, cover jackets. I've discovered that a sale isn't an end. It's just another beginning.
So true. What's one piece of writing advice you would give to aspiring authors?
Finish. It's amazingly difficult to actually finish a work-in-progress. I'm not sure why that is, but it's true. (Which is why many writers have a lot of beginnings and no endings.) My advice is to write all the way to the end. To finish whatever you're working on. That, in itself, is a huge accomplishment.
Great advice! Are you swept up with promotion for your debut book right now or can you give us a sentence or two about something new you're working on?
My next book is titled Audition and Subtraction, and it'll be out fall 2012, from Walker & Company. (I'm so glad to continue working with my editor!) It's about fourteen-year-old Tatum who could suddenly lose her spot in District Honor Band—and her best friend—when a new guy transfers to her school. Friendships change and romance develops in unexpected places.
Sounds great! What did you write when you were a teen? Did you journal? Write poetry? Write overly literary or emotional stories? Or avoid writing altogether?
Besides keeping a diary, I also wrote a lot of stories as a teen. It appears I had a darker bent in those days. My first chapter book was titled, Cecelia and the Coffin of Blood.
What's the last book you read that you really loved?
The first book that comes to mind is Something Like Hope by Shawn Goodman. It's a new debut and a powerful story about a girl in juvenile detention. I couldn't put it down, and neither could my daughter.
If readers want to find out more about you and your writing, Amy, where should they look?
Website: www.amyfellnerdominy.com, Facebook: www.facebook.com/amyfellnerdominyauthor, Twitter: http://twitter.com/amydominy, And for a sneak peek of OyMG, watch my book trailer here on YouTube.
Thanks so much for visiting, Amy, and all the very best with your launch! I can't wait to read it!
May 15, 2011
Update
I wanted to give a quick update, but I'm not thinking very clearly, so I may just do this in point form.
The "Not Going to BEA Contest" is still on. Scroll down for details and feel free to keep entering/spreading the word. I may be a little late getting back here to draw a name and announce a winner, but I promise I will get to it eventually.
I have a few author interviews pre-scheduled to post on the blog, but other than that, I probably won't be around much for a little while.
Some of you may have heard, but for those who haven't...I was already having a very difficult month, with my health and other things. Apparently things were only going to get harder.
On Thursday afternoon my dad passed away suddenly. Some of you may have already heard,maybe some haven't, but I've been getting lots of emails from people who know me and/or my family well (some very kind words - thank you!) and may want some details. If this isn't you, please feel free to skip the rest of this post and I'll see you again when I'm back to blogging.
The details: Thursday morning my dad went to work on a job appraising a group of seven buildings (he's a real estate appraiser). At around 11:30 he went into one building alone, we think to take some pictures. The building had no electricity, and he was found around four o-clock in a very dark part of the building. He had taken a fall down a long flight of stairs and was unconscious. After being rushed to the local hospital, he was still unconscious and we were told he had several broken bones as well as two skull fractures. They rushed him by ambulance to another bigger hospital to undergo neural surgery. The doctors warned us that he may not survive the ambulance ride. Unfortunately his heart stopped in the ambulance on the way. They were able to restart it for a short time, but it didn't last.
We are all very shocked, we miss him terribly, and it continues to hit us again and again each day. We have a small but very close family, and we are all pulling together to get through it. I was very close to my dad--he was one of the best and most selfless people I've had the privilege of knowing--but each day is getting a little bit better, a little bit easier.
Please go tell all your loved ones how important they are to you. I know my dad knew how much we loved him, but still, I can't help wishing I had one more day to spend with him, one more time to say all the important things.
Thank you all for your good thoughts and prayers for my family during this time. We appreciate it so much, I can't even tell you.
The "Not Going to BEA Contest" is still on. Scroll down for details and feel free to keep entering/spreading the word. I may be a little late getting back here to draw a name and announce a winner, but I promise I will get to it eventually.
I have a few author interviews pre-scheduled to post on the blog, but other than that, I probably won't be around much for a little while.
Some of you may have heard, but for those who haven't...I was already having a very difficult month, with my health and other things. Apparently things were only going to get harder.
On Thursday afternoon my dad passed away suddenly. Some of you may have already heard,maybe some haven't, but I've been getting lots of emails from people who know me and/or my family well (some very kind words - thank you!) and may want some details. If this isn't you, please feel free to skip the rest of this post and I'll see you again when I'm back to blogging.
The details: Thursday morning my dad went to work on a job appraising a group of seven buildings (he's a real estate appraiser). At around 11:30 he went into one building alone, we think to take some pictures. The building had no electricity, and he was found around four o-clock in a very dark part of the building. He had taken a fall down a long flight of stairs and was unconscious. After being rushed to the local hospital, he was still unconscious and we were told he had several broken bones as well as two skull fractures. They rushed him by ambulance to another bigger hospital to undergo neural surgery. The doctors warned us that he may not survive the ambulance ride. Unfortunately his heart stopped in the ambulance on the way. They were able to restart it for a short time, but it didn't last.
We are all very shocked, we miss him terribly, and it continues to hit us again and again each day. We have a small but very close family, and we are all pulling together to get through it. I was very close to my dad--he was one of the best and most selfless people I've had the privilege of knowing--but each day is getting a little bit better, a little bit easier.
Please go tell all your loved ones how important they are to you. I know my dad knew how much we loved him, but still, I can't help wishing I had one more day to spend with him, one more time to say all the important things.
Thank you all for your good thoughts and prayers for my family during this time. We appreciate it so much, I can't even tell you.
May 12, 2011
The "I'm NOT Going to BEA" #Contest
Many of you know I was psyched to go back to New York for Book Expo of America this year. Well, unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be. I've faced a few health issues and ended up having to cancel my trip. And I've been very, very sad about it.
But....rather than mope around the house, I've decided to harness my sadness and do something good with it...something that in it's own way will make me happy, because it will make someone else happy.
I have a lot of wonderful books here, and I've been holding regular giveaways from my bookshelves, but I've decided to do One Big Giveaway to make all of us who can't get to BEA feel a little bit better. There are three rules to this Contest of Awesomeness:
1. This contest is only open to those who are not able to attend BEA 2011.
2. Unfortunately I must keep this to people with a U.S. mailing address only because of mailing costs. If you can convince somebody to make media mail worldwide or otherwise cheapen the mailing rates, I would LOVE to open all of my contests up internationally.
3. The chances to win are limitless! All you have to do is let me know where you have spread the word about this contest, and you will get entries for everything you do, even if it's just telling your best friend about it! (If you use @denisejaden when tweeting, I'll be sure to count your entries there.)
As always, you'll get extra points for following this blog, following me on Twitter, GoodReads, and liking my Facebook Page.
Here's a tweet to get you started (go paste it into Twitter right now.)
Not going to #BEA11? Don't be sad! @denisejaden is having a Contest of Awesomeness just for you! http://www.denisejaden.com/Blog.html
Easy, right? And now for the GRAND PRIZE!!!
One lucky winner will receive an entire box of awesome books! Many are brand-new releases. I'll be drawing the winner's name sometime during BEA, so make sure you leave a way to get a hold of you in the comments or check back during that week.
Here is the bounty of books...
BETWEEN HERE AND FOREVER by Elizabeth Scott ACROSS THE UNIVERSE by Beth Revis INVINCIBLE SUMMER by Hannah Moskowitz REVOLUTION by Jennifer Donnelly BEAUTIFUL by Amy Reed THE SECRET YEAR by Jennifer R. Hubbard INFINITE DAYS by Rebecca Maizel THE SUMMER OF FIRSTS AND LASTS by Terra Elan McVoy ENDLESS SUMMER by Jennifer Echols
Now, go forth and spread the word...a little happiness and excitement for the rest of us this May, including some awesome summer books and three books edited by my amazingly talented editor! Best of luck to all of you!!!
But....rather than mope around the house, I've decided to harness my sadness and do something good with it...something that in it's own way will make me happy, because it will make someone else happy.
I have a lot of wonderful books here, and I've been holding regular giveaways from my bookshelves, but I've decided to do One Big Giveaway to make all of us who can't get to BEA feel a little bit better. There are three rules to this Contest of Awesomeness:
1. This contest is only open to those who are not able to attend BEA 2011.
2. Unfortunately I must keep this to people with a U.S. mailing address only because of mailing costs. If you can convince somebody to make media mail worldwide or otherwise cheapen the mailing rates, I would LOVE to open all of my contests up internationally.
3. The chances to win are limitless! All you have to do is let me know where you have spread the word about this contest, and you will get entries for everything you do, even if it's just telling your best friend about it! (If you use @denisejaden when tweeting, I'll be sure to count your entries there.)
As always, you'll get extra points for following this blog, following me on Twitter, GoodReads, and liking my Facebook Page.
Here's a tweet to get you started (go paste it into Twitter right now.)
Not going to #BEA11? Don't be sad! @denisejaden is having a Contest of Awesomeness just for you! http://www.denisejaden.com/Blog.html
Easy, right? And now for the GRAND PRIZE!!!
One lucky winner will receive an entire box of awesome books! Many are brand-new releases. I'll be drawing the winner's name sometime during BEA, so make sure you leave a way to get a hold of you in the comments or check back during that week.
Here is the bounty of books...
BETWEEN HERE AND FOREVER by Elizabeth Scott ACROSS THE UNIVERSE by Beth Revis INVINCIBLE SUMMER by Hannah Moskowitz REVOLUTION by Jennifer Donnelly BEAUTIFUL by Amy Reed THE SECRET YEAR by Jennifer R. Hubbard INFINITE DAYS by Rebecca Maizel THE SUMMER OF FIRSTS AND LASTS by Terra Elan McVoy ENDLESS SUMMER by Jennifer Echols
Now, go forth and spread the word...a little happiness and excitement for the rest of us this May, including some awesome summer books and three books edited by my amazingly talented editor! Best of luck to all of you!!!
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