Holly Cupala's Blog, page 35

rgz in March: Scott Westerfeld

Over at readergirlz, our featured author this month is none other than Scott Westerfeld, and we're chatting about LEVIATHAN and awesome steampunk worlds all month. It's going to be a wild ride! Learn more at the readergirlz March issue, and be sure to chat with us March 17 at 9 p.m. Eastern, 6 p.m. Pacific at the readergirlz blog:

And don't miss the books the postergirlz committee has worked hard to recommend, including:

The Cabinet of Wonders by Marie Rutkowski
Skybreaker by Kenneth Oppel

DIY Friday: Get a kit to make a readergirlz bookmark!

This is so cool: Jen Funk Weber has put together this fantastic bookmark craft - and you can get a free kit to make one yourself! - to help get readergirlz involved with Stitching for Literacy. Check out this video on how to make one of your own (maybe even to drop with a book for Operation Teen Book Drop!):

Request your kit by March 15 by emailing readergirlz AT gmail DOT com. Readergirlz will be posting instructions on how to make the bookmark soon.

Fun!

Story Secrets: SPLIT by Swati Avasthi + Giveaway!

Would you believe I met Swati Avasthi, 2010 debut author of SPLIT, in the elevator at a writing conference? (See how to win a copy below!) Here's how it went down:

Me (spotting Swati and realizing I have to figure out how to put on my red Indian sari, given to [image error] me by husband's relatives, for the Red Party that eve): You're Indian! You can help me! Will you help me?

Swati: Uh, sure.

After that, we were fast friends. Then later, after the red sari incident:

Me: So what do you write?

Swati: I'm worki...

Tomorrow: National Grammar Day!

Tomorrow is March 4th, the only day that is both a date AND an imperative - but more importantly, it is the only national holiday (seriously! look it up!) that was coined by our very own Martha Brockenbrough, the grammar genius behind THINGS THAT MAKE US [SIC:] (illustrated by friend Jaime Temairik). It's National Grammar Day!

And if that isn't a reason to march forth and pick up a hilarious look at the English language (and toast fabulous friends), I don't know what is.

You can also join The...

Greg's Happy Accident Giveaway

Greg Pincus was giving away a social media consultation over at his terrific blog, The Happy Accident ("the happy accident: using social media to help create happy accidents"), and I won! Thanks, Greg!

The really cool part, beyond winning , is that Greg, an expert in harnessing the power of social media tools, gave away this consultation to kick off his new social media consultation service. Want to know about tweeting, friending, facebooking, and following? Greg is your guy. In fact, he...

Happy Birthday, readergirlz!

Can you believe readergirlz is three years old! Yup, that's right. It was started three years ago this month by four amazing women: Justina Chen, philanthropist and author of beautiful novels, whose latest, NORTH OF BEAUTIFUL, pretty much blows the socks off of everyone who reads it... Lorie Ann Grover, verse novelist of novels resounding with heart, such as HOLD ME TIGHT, and who is the glue that holds readergirlz together... Dia Calhoun, award-winning author of fabulous and thoughtful...

DIY Friday: Get Yourself Some Socks

People are always asking me where I get my socks, legwarmers, and arm warmers. Well, wonder no more!

Behold, Sock Dreams - where all your sock, leg-, and arm-warmed dreams can come true.

Story Secrets: ONCE WAS LOST by Sara Zarr

Sara Zarr is without a doubt one of my favorite authors - she writes down-to-earth, thoughtful stories that could very well be written by your best friend, they are that true.

I first ran into Sara at the second annual Kidlit Blogger Con in an elevator (Holly's Elevator Story #1) and had to keep myself from pouncing on her with my fandom! Luckily I didn't scare her away, and I'm thrilled to welcome her todayto chat (LIVE! a video!) with us about her latest masterpiece, ONCE WAS LOST.

Welcome, S...

Good Stuff Around the 'Sphere

The Cybils are announced! SLJ also gives the Cybils a nod as a force to be reckoned with in kidlit, thanks to the many dedicated bloggers involved. Congrats to Courtney Summers for CRACKED UP TO BE in the YA category!
Shrinking Violet Promotions just did a terrific interview with friend Shelli Johannes Wells of Market My Words on marketing before and after publication - excellent advice here!

Molly Blaisdell, one of my best writing friends and a gem of a writer, is doing a series of Golden...

Really cool trailer includes TELL ME A SECRET!

Chris Cheng, Aussie author of 60 Classic Australian Poems for Children, Lady Cutler Award-winner, and a good friend since my SCBWI WWA Asst RA days, made this very cool trailer, featuring books by a number of friends, including Joni Sensel (TIMEKEEPER'S MOON just hit the shelves!), Sydney Salter (stay tuned for SWOON AT YOUR OWN RISK), Janet Fox (FAITHFUL...can't wait), and more.



Thanks, Chris, for the terrific work - stop by his blog to say g'day!