Denise Jaden's Blog, page 42

Teen Author Tuesday Presents Clete Barrett Smith and ALIENS ON VACATION!

I'm excited to welcome another debut author, an Elevensie, Clete Barrett Smith. Clete's debut novel, Aliens on Vacation, releases May 3rd, 2011 from Disney-Hyperion Books for Children / Disney Publishing Worldwide. It's a Middle Grade novel, for ages 8-12.


Welcome, Clete! Please tell us about your book in seven words or less.
Boy gets job at hotel for aliens.

Ha. Sounds great. Other than your main character, who's a favorite character in your debut novel and why?
I really like my antagonist, a suspicious local sheriff who wants to shut down the bed & breakfast for aliens. He's grumpy and sees himself as the sole protector of this little town, so he tries to intimidate anyone who he views as a threat. I think he's hilarious and his scenes were the most fun to write.

Can you tell my readers a little more about yourself?
I live in the Pacific Northwest with my wife and two daughters. I have always loved hiking in the forests here, and my childhood game was to make up stories about fantastic things happening in the woods that only I knew about. I finally wrote one of those stories down and I'm excited to share it with kids!

Well hello from another Northwest writer! What's been the most surprising thing about your path to publication so far?
I was most surprised by all of the people reading my book: agents, editors, marketing people, publishers in foreign countries who ended up buying the book. I had worked on this thing in relative isolation for years with only a few close friends and colleagues looking at it. Now the story feels like it's out there in the world and doesn't really belong to me anymore. I wish it well on its journey!

Any advice for aspiring authors?
Get help. Join a critique group, go back to school, read craft books. Don't try to do this all alone.

Great advice, Clete! Can you tell us about anything new you're at work on?
I am currently in rewrites with my editor on a sequel to my debut novel entitled Alien on a Rampage.

What did you write as a teen?
In middle school and high school I took Journalism class and wrote for the school newspaper, where I basically tried to make people laugh. My friend and I had an ongoing feature where we reviewed terrible slasher films. Instead of the traditional "five stars" rating system, we used a little "bloody chainsaw" icon to rate movies.

What's the last book you read that your really loved?
I read The Yearling last year and was amazed. Great characters, laugh-out-loud funny and a story with heart.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog today, Clete, and all the very best with your release! If readers want to find out a little more, where should they look?
My website: http://www.cletebarrettsmith.com/Website/Welcome.html

My Facebook author page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Clete-Barrett-Smith-WriterEducatorSpeaker/128946553839867

A Hug for a Not-So-Happy Mother's Day

I know that for many women, including me, Mother's Day can be a difficult holiday. There are many women who have lost their mothers, or who have lost babies, or have never been able to have children, and for them this holiday sometimes feels like it brings focus back to their loss, while it seems like it's bringing joy to everyone else in the world.

So this is a virtual hug for anyone who's feeling sad and alone. For anyone who doesn't want to be anywhere near a flower shop or a restaurant today.

You're not alone. And it's good to remember that.

Friday Four!

1. If you're around the Bellingham or Vancouver areas, I have two events coming up this weekend, and I hope you'll stop by. Details are here if you missed them.

2. Today is my second to last day of teaching my writing class for teens. I never did get around to posting some of my notes from my classes, but I still intend to do that. Sorry! Time just slipped away. Today is an open house day where other homeschoolers can drop in to see if they want to be part of the program for next year. So in other words: now that I've finally gotten my introverted students talking to one another and to me, we have to open it up to strangers! But actually, truth be told, some of my brave students have volunteered to read a bit of their writing to 200-some people on the last day. We've come a long way, baby!

3. I've wanted to watch Veronica Mars for a long time, but my husband was never into it, and quite honestly, I never watch TV on my own. If I have time to myself, I feel like I should be writing, since I don't get enough writing time as it is. Anyway, miracle of miracles, this week I put on an episode and my husband didn't fight me on it. In fact, he enjoyed it, and now we've watched four episodes!

4. It's been a pretty crazy month for me. Actually a couple of crazy months. I know I haven't been terribly insightful or interesting on my blog lately, haven't been writing craft posts or updating much on the publication process, but it would take an entire blog post of its own to explain my reasons. So for now I'll just say that things are looking up, and I'll hopefully be back to my normal self soon (not that that is terribly interesting or insightful either, but you know what I'm sayin').

Happy weekend to you all!

Teen Author Tuesday Presents Jessi Kirby and MOONGLASS!

I'm excited to welcome another Elevensie to the blog today! Jessi Kirby's debut novel,
MOONGLASS, releases May 3, 2011 from Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers. It is
Contemporary YA for ages 12 and up.



Welcome, Jessi! Can you tell me about your book in seven words or less?
Loss, mother, romance, beach, summer, sea glass, mermaids
Sounds great! Other than your main character, who's a favorite character of yours in your debut novel and why?
Another of my favorite characters from Moonglass is the crawling man on the beach. He's actually based on a real man I used to see and wonder what his story was. In Moonglass, I got to give him a story.
Can you tell my readers a little bit more about yourself?
I worked as a lifeguard for four years, which is where I got many of my ideas for this story. I found a red piece of sea glass on my birthday this year. I have a thing for mermaids and all the myths that surround them.

What's been the most surprising thing about your path to publication so far?
The most surprising thing so far has been that it's actually happened! I still only kind-of believe it. The other thing that's surprised me along the way is just how long a process it is to see a book through from its initial draft to it hitting the bookstore shelves. I had no idea how many steps are involved along the way, but they're all well worth it.
What's one piece of writing advice you would give to aspiring authors?
Read as much as you possibly can! It's the best way to study the craft and artistry of writing. Read the authors you love and pay careful attention to why you love their stories so much, how they speak to you, and what they inspire in you. Then go write!

Great advice, Jessi! 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?
Right now I'm working on revising my second novel, IN HONOR, along with writing the first draft of my third. Busy days!
What did you write when you were a teen? Did you journal? Write poetry? Write overly literary or emotional stories? Or avoid writing altogether?
Ooh, it's like you knew me! I did the first three—journals, terrible poetry, and overly dramatic stories. I wrote all the time, and most of it was terrible.
What's the last book you read that you really loved?
THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE by Jandy Nelson. Hands down the best I read last year. I wanted to wrap myself up in its pages.
I couldn't agree more! I loved that book. If readers want to find out more about you and your writing, Jessi, where should they look?
My website: www.jessikirby.comMy blog: http://beachjess.livejournal.com/
Great! Thanks so much for visiting today, Jessi, and all the very best with your book launch!

Bellingham and Vancouver Peeps: Children's Book Week!

It's Children's Book Week. At least in Canada it is, maybe someone can let me know if this is also the case in the U.S.

As part of the celebrations, I am involved in a couple of different events:

Friday, May 6, 2011 - Yapalooza! at Village Books in Bellingham, WA
I'm thrilled to have been invited for a panel discussion, along with Teri Hall, Alexa Martin,
and Kimberley Derting! This will take place from 6:30 - 8:30 P.M.

Saturday, May 7, 2011 - TD Canadian Children's Book Week, Vancouver B.C.
1-3 PM at the Burnaby Public Library, Bob Prittie Metrotown Branch

I hope to see some of you there!

Ordering From Bookstores by Jeri Smith-Ready

This post was written by Jeri Smith-Ready and originally posted on her blog. Since she's happy to share it, and I think it's great information, I'm cross-posting it here as kind of a guest post:

***

Has this ever happened to you? You walk into a bookstore on any given Tuesday (the usual day for new releases), giddy with excitement over the book you've been dying to read for weeks. Within a few hours you'll be curled up on your couch with your favorite hot drink, or stretched out in the sun with your favorite cold drink, reveling in the printed word.

You search the store's shelves, the tables, and endcaps. But the book isn't there. If you're feeling intrepid, you check the computer or go to the information desk and ask for it.

Nope. It ain't there. Maybe the store only ordered a few copies and they're already sold out. Maybe the books haven't been delivered yet. Maybe the store simply hasn't ordered any at all.

SADFACE!!

You go home, disappointed, and write the author an e-mail, or comment on their blog or Facebook or Twitter, telling them the store didn't have their book.

DOUBLE SADFACE!!

Now two people feel bad, but there's a difference between these two people.

Because authors have no control over which stores sell their books (oh, how we wish we did). Even publishers don't have that control (oh, how they wish they did).

But readers do. By making one phone call, you can be sure your favorite store will have a copy of Shift waiting for you on or near release day.

After all, your store wants to sell books. An order is a guaranteed sale, so they are more than happy to get a book in for you. Everybody wins!

There are two ways to do this, in order of certainty:

1. Phone your closest bookseller. Here are links for store locators for independent bookstores, Barnes & Noble, Borders, and Books-A-Million. Tell them which book you want. They'll call you when it comes in. No wasted time and gasoline on your part--yay!

2. Sometimes you can pre-order it online for in-store pickup, or order it online for pickup once it comes out. But if it's not in stock to begin with, the website might disable this option, and the only way to get it is to call. Here are the links for Shift:

Independent bookstores
Barnes & Noble
Borders

These days, bookstores are buying smaller initial amounts of each book from the publishers than they used to. It has nothing to do with the individual books--it's across the board (not including huge bestsellers, of course). If a book sells out fast, they might reorder it, they might not.

So if you really want to help to an author (and help yourself), pre-order their book at your local store. It will not only help get that copy where you want to buy it, it'll also encourage the bookseller to buy more of that author's next novel. And thus, we get to stay employed. Everybody wins again!

There's certainly nothing wrong with preordering from Amazon or another online bookseller. Authors still earn royalties on those sales. We love you for buying our books anywhere and any time.

But each pre-order on Amazon results in one sale. If enough people pre-order a book from their local chain or independent bookseller, that might convince the store to order extra copies to put on their shelves. Clearly people want this book! So a pre-order (or an order) to your neighborhood store might ultimately result in two, three, five, or ten sales.

I know, the business of bookselling is really confusing, and it's changing every day. I can't guarantee that your store will be carrying Shift next Tuesday, or at all.

But you can. You have the power. USE THE FORCE, LUKE! Or, you know, the telephone.

Thanks--you rock!

***

Thank you, Jeri and congrats on your upcoming release of Shift! One thing I just want to add, because as a reader I never really considered this. While there's nothing morally wrong or illegal with buying books used, unfortunately none of the proceeds get to the author that way. Rather than buying used books, I now save myself the two or three dollars (plus shipping) and check them out from my library (or ask my library to order them if they don't already carry them). Heaven knows most of us can't afford to buy every book we want to read brand new, but library sales do still benefit authors - and hey, isn't "free" the best price?

Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Winners!

Thanks for all those who entered the Hoppy Easter Eggstraveganza Contest!

I had several hundred entries, so as promised, I will give away three books from my shelves. There were a few people who couldn't read the titles, and I apologize for my lame camera, but rest assured, everyone's name did go into the hat, whether you had chosen books or not.

The winners are...

WAKE will go to Leebee19!

LOSING FAITH will go to Stellarbookblog!

PERSONAL DEMONS will go to brittanylovesbooks!

Congrats to all, and thanks so much for entering!

Teen Author Tuesday Presents Allan Woodrow and THE ROTTEN ADVENTURES OF ZACHARY RUTHLESS!

Today I'm happy to welcome another debut author from The Elevensies. Allan Woodrow's first novel, The Rotten Adventures of Zachary Ruthless, releases May 1, 2011 from Harper/HarperCollins. It is a Humorous Middle Grade, for ages 8-12.


Welcome, Allan! Can you tell me about your book in seven words or less?
World's most evil kid, up to rottenness.

Ha. Sounds great! Other than your main character, who's a favorite character of yours in your debut novel and why?
Zachary Ruthless would be helpless without his henchman, Newt. But despite his lofty evil position, doubts remains about Newt's true rottenness. After all, he has freckles and evil people never have freckles. True, one of his freckles looks like a small rat. Well, maybe it's the shape of a kitten. No, definitely a rat. But he does play a "Jiminy Cricket" role to help guide Zachary down less evil paths. He's the "heart" of the books.
Can you tell my readers a little bit more about yourself, Allan?
Growing up, I was cursed with a boring, happy and loving family, giving me nothing interesting to write about. I resented it for years. Eventually, a voice inside my head convinced me to write children's books. At least that's what I think the voice said; i had a head cold at the time. The Rotten Adventures of Zachary Ruthless is my debut novel, with additional Adventures launching every six months. Additionally, I have written for TV and work as an advertising Copywriter and Creative Director. I live in the Chicago area with my family and two goldfish. The goldfish are wanted in 22 states.




What's been the most surprising thing about your path to publication so far?
Although I write this sheepishly ... how easy it was. I didn't write for years and get tons of rejection slips, which is what I expected and was prepared to endure. I promised myself to be positive and persistent. But I didn't need to be. I decided to write children's books as my New Year's Resolution, 2009. By the time 2010 rolled around I already had an agent, a book deal for four books with HarperCollins, and a boatload of hope. But I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. I'm sure I'll need to suffer through years of writing turmoil at some point, maybe soon.

Wow, I must say, that's the first time I've heard that! But congratulations on a quick and painless journey! May it continue to be that way for you, Allan. What's one piece of writing advice you would give to aspiring authors?
Your book isn't going to write itself. At the risk of sounding like an athletic shoe, Just do it. I dreamed of writing a novel forever and never tried it because I assumed I was going to be rejected; I wasn't good enough. Why risk my dream being crushed? Then, when I finally decided to go for broke, it happened quickly. Ignore the negative in you. You just never know.

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?
I have two different .mss in my agent's clutches, both potential series starters: one chapter book and one older MG; and have been hired to create an entire imaginary world, humanoid characters (but not human), and three books for a potential book/TV/merchandising series . None of which I will go into detail about, in fears I'll jinx any/all the projects. But I keep busy.

Wow, a busy guy! They both sound very interesting. What did you write when you were a teen? Did you journal? Write poetry? Write overly literary or emotional stories? Or avoid writing altogether?
Lots of short stories and unfinished random books which I haven't looked at since I was a teen but might be in my basement somewhere. I wrote for my High School literary magazine and a short story I wrote for was the inspiration behind, "The Rotten Adventures of Zachary Ruthless."

What's the last book you read that you really loved?
The Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness. I could say the Hunger Games Trilogy, but that's like saying I like the Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest trilogy -- very unoriginal, although I loved them both, too.

If readers want to find out more about you and your writing, where should they look?
My website: allanwoodrow.com
The book website: evilbadguystuff.com
Follow Zachary on Facebook: www.facebook.com/zachary.ruthless
My blog: woodrowbooks.wordpress.com/




Great! Thanks so much for visiting, Allan, and all the best with your first book's release!




Interested in seeing more? Here's the book trailer for THE ROTTEN ADVENTURES OF ZACHARY RUTHLESS! Enjoy!

April #wipmadness Check-In

I think this is our last Monday check-in! I won't be continuing the official check-ins here, but I do plan to keep updating once in a while on my progress. I hope you'll all continue to use the #wipmadness hashtag though, so we can keep in contact and find out how we're all doing.

As for my last week, I spent some time outlining my bright, shiny idea, and although it's really kind of a mess right now, I have found a beginning, middle, and and end for the story! I'm really happy about that, and now this week I will get back to working on my priority proposal.

How about you? How's progress? Do you think you'll meet your April goals?

If you haven't entered my Hoppy Easter Giveaway yet, it's not too late. I have another Teen Author Tuesday guest planned for tomorrow, but will be back with the giveaway prize winner on Wednesday.

Happy Monday, everybody!

Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Blog Hop & Giveaway!

Welcome to the Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Blog Hop! This hop has been organized by I'm a Reader Not a Writer blog.

Over 260 participating blogs are offering a book related giveaway and we are all linked up together so you can easily hop from one giveaway to another.  The hop runs from Wednesday, April 20th through Monday, April 25th.

I'm opening up TWO of my bookshelves for you to pick a book from. I will give books away to up to THREE winners (for every 50 entries I will add another prize). Some are advance copies, a few are even signed copies! (Click on pictures to enlarge.)





Giveaway Details:
To enter giveaway please follow this blog, then fill out the form below.
Last Day to Enter is 4/25/11
Open to Canada/US mailing addresses only

Optional Extra Entries:
+1 Be or become my friend on Goodreads
+1 Follow on Twitter
+ Follow this blog

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After you have entered my giveaway, hop to another giveaway on the list: