Denise Jaden's Blog, page 69

The Gap Between Good and Excellent

Here are a few things that come easily for me (that I really wish didn't):

1. Comparing my road to publication with other authors.
2. Deciding that this particular place in my manuscript doesn't really NEED a metaphor.
3. Taking a week off of dance classes to stay home and eat chocolate.

Here are a few things that don't come as easily, but I'm kind of glad they don't. They leave me with a true sense of accomplishment:

1. Giving everything I've got through a grueling four-hour drill of all the most...

Teen Author Tuesday Presents Suzanne Young!

I'm thrilled to welcome another Tenner-author-friend this week, Suzanne Young. Suzanne's debut novel, THE NAUGHTY LIST, is due out February 4th from Razorbill/Penguin. It's YA for ages 14 and up.


I've had the pleasure of reading this one a little early and meeting Suzanne in LA at the SCBWI conference last year. If you ever have a chance to meet Suzanne, I highly recommend it. She's as much fun as her books are. Plus she's from Oregon, so I have high hopes that we'll run into each other...

The Cover!!!

Here is my long awaited cover for LOSING FAITH. (I've added a tiny border just so it doesn't blend with the white of the page, but that is not part of the actual artwork for the cover).


And here is the new text copy (for the upcoming Simon & Schuster catalog) to go with it...


A sister's sudden death is shrouded in mystery in this lyrical,emotionally intense debut.   When Brie's sister, Faith, dies in a fall from a cliff, Brie's world falls apart. As she goes through the bizarre and devastating...

Copyedits Unveiled

To go along with my Tenners Tell All post over at The Tenners site today, I've decided to also shed some light on the copyediting process while it's fresh in my mind. I just received my copyedits from my editor last Friday. I had absolutely no idea of what to expect, only that I had to have them completed and back to New York in ten days.

PANIC!

But there was no need. And I made a little YouTube video to show you why. (It's my very first vlog - is this pronounced Vee-log, or just vlog? -  so pl...

Teen Author Tuesday Presents Jen Nadol

This week I'm excited to welcome another fellow Tenner who writes for teens, Jen Nadol. Jen's debut novel, THE MARK, just came out on January 19th from Bloomsbury USA. It's a paranormal YA for ages 14 and up.



Welcome Jen! Can you tell me about your book in seven words or less?
life, death, decision, destiny, carpe diem

Oooh, sounds interesting! Other than your main character, who's a favorite character of yours in
your debut novel and why?
Jack. We don't see a lot of him, but he's that "maybe...

Fun With Photography!

If you keep up with me on my blogs on or Facebook, you know I had my very first author photo shoot this past weekend. There were a lot of decisions to be made, from choosing the right photographer to what kind of background and look I was going for.

I scanned through many photography websites, took recommendations, and finally decided to go with Cory Permack Photography, who came by recommendation of fellow author Danika Dinsmore (thanks, Danika!) He wasn't the cheapest available, but all the...

Teen Author Tuesday Presents Jennifer R. Hubbard

I'm thrilled to welcome another author for teens, this one who I know from The Tenners AND from The Class of 2k10 (there are a few of us cross-members out there!) I've gotten to know Jennifer a little bit through our combined efforts on the Class of 2k10 Blog Committee, and I definitely could not do it without her!


Jennifer R. Hubbard's debut novel THE SECRET YEAR was released from Viking (Penguin) January 7, 2010. It is Contemporary YA fiction for ages 14 and up.




Welcome, Jennifer! Can...

Friday Four

1. The Tenners are giving away a HUGE prize pack. I so wish I was eligible to enter, but I'm not. It's easy to enter, here's the link, and you only have until midnight tonight! Check out the HUGE amount of stuff (and click the above link to read exactly what's in here.




2. The Class of 2k10 has also started a feature on our blog called, "You Asked." Stop on by and find out the deets on The Call from some of our class members, or leave a comment suggesting a question for us.




3. I heard from my ed...

Teen Author Tuesday Presents Irene Latham

Teen Author Tuesday is a regular feature, including some of the hottest new authors of young adult fiction.

I'm excited to welcome my guest for this week, a member of The Tenners AND a member of The Class of 2k10, Irene Latham.



Ireane is the author of the recently released title, LEAVING GEE'S BEND, which came out Jan. 7, 2010 from G.P. Putnam's Sons. It's a historical middle grade novel for ages 9 and up.




And may I just say, having read this book...even though I'm A LOT older than nine and his...

Saturday Six

1. I guess my penance for missing the Friday Four is that I have to come up with six things for Saturday. (Notice how sneaky I was, by making this number 1?)

2. It's been a busy week! With four Class of 2k10 and three Tenner launches, plus a few mult-published friends who were launching books this week, I've been racing around the Internet just reading interviews and sending my congratulations. I'm a little nervous about listing the newly released books because I'm sure to miss somebody, but I...