Daisy Whitney's Blog, page 6

Online Video Looks Suspiciously Like TV

Online video tech firm Freewheel has found that the number of ads that run in the middle of online video shows has increased by 8 times since the start of the year – this is the latest evidence that Internet TV is going to be chock full of commercials, just like regular TV. Also, this week's New Media Minute includes details on why the Digitalsmiths acquisition of Gotuit could potentially power recommendations for the likes of an Amazon or Netflix.
Tags: daisy whitney, new media minute, natpe, digitalsmiths, the platform, freewheel, online video ad load, cw, abc, mid roll ads, digitalsmiths, gotuit, completion rate for ads online

NPR Picks The Mockingbirds as a Top Teen Read

I was thrilled to learn that NPR had picked THE MOCKINGBIRDS as one of its top teen reads for the year! Hurrah! I was even more thrilled because of the company I'm keeping on this list of books – I LOVE all the other authors' works on the list! Thanks NPR!

When to say goodbye to your characters…

Whew.

I just turned in what will likely be the final editorial draft of the second Mockingbirds book. Sure, we'll have line edits and copy edits and page proofs. But pretty soon, I'll be closing the door on Themis Academy.

Yep. I'm moving on to new characters.

What????

You mean you're not writing a trilogy?

Nope.

Not every series needs to be comprised of three books.

The Mockingbirds and its sequel are just that — a book and a sequel.

(Unless of course the public demands a third book and my publisher has no choice but to shower me with gobs and gobs of money in which case – there will be many Mockingbirds books!!)

But barring that, it's time to move on. I am ready to hang out with new characters. To develop new backstories and get to know new boys and girls. I'm working on my FRANKENSTEIN NOVEL now, which is no longer a Frankenstein novel. It's a completed story that I've revised a couple times and am now digging into another set of revisions so I can show it to my agents before Christmas. I love hanging out with these characters because I haven't spent as much time with them as I have the teens at Themis Academy. I have new romances to develop and new kisses to write and new boys for my main girl to fall for. Or not!

And then I'll be working on an entirely new story that I'm super excited about. I wrote a rough draft of the first chapter of this novel and without sharing names, we'll call it BOY NOVEL for now because the main character is a boy. So once FRANKENSTEIN goes to my agents, I'll be spending time with BOY NOVEL.

And then there is a SUPER TOP SECRET PROJECT I can't even tell you about. But it's awesome!!!

The point of all is this is – you have to know when to say goodbye to stories and characters. You have to know when to move on. And you have to know whether a series is best served as one book or ten or somewhere in between.

THE MOCKINGBIRDS named to Indie Next List for kids! (Winter 2010-2011)

Thanks indie booksellers! THE MOCKINGBIRDS was named to the Winter 2010-2011 Indie Next List for kids! Lots of great company on this list so I'm thrilled! Here's what the Tattered Cover had to say in its blurb that'll be included in the list.

The Mockingbirds, by Daisy Whitney

"Themis Academy is a co-ed boarding school of the highest caliber. According to the administration, everything is perfect there. According to the students, that's not quite correct. In response, The Mockingbirds, a very organized judicial force of students is formed. Alex never dreamed that she would need their services — until she is date-raped. This is a very strong story that is difficult to put down, with an important message for everyone." — Jackie Blem, Tattered Cover Bookstore, Denver, Colorado

Meet Caridad Ferrer! Author of WHEN THE STARS GO BLUE

As part of the Girlfriend's Cyber Circuit, I am pleased to host Caridad Ferrer today. Her novel "WHEN THE STARS GO BLUE" is now out!

A dancer driven to succeed. A musical prodigy attempting to escape his past. The summer they share. And the moment it all goes wrong.

Dance is Soledad Reyes's life. About to graduate from Miami's Biscayne High School for the Performing Arts, she plans on spending her last summer at home teaching in a dance studio, saving money, and eventually auditioning for dance companies. That is, until fate intervenes in the form of fellow student Jonathan Crandall who has what sounds like an outrageous proposition: Forget teaching. Why not spend the summer performing in the intense environment of the competitive drum and bugle corps? The corps is going to be performing Carmen, and the opportunity to portray the character of the sultry gypsy proves too tempting for Soledad to pass up, as well as the opportunity to spend more time with Jonathan, who intrigues her in a way no boy ever has before.

But in an uncanny echo of the story they perform every evening, an unexpected competitor for Soledad's affections appears: Taz, a member of an all-star Spanish soccer team. One explosive encounter later Soledad finds not only her relationship with Jonathan threatened, but her entire future as a professional dancer.

Daisy: If you met your 16 year old self, what piece of advice would you give her?

Caridad: Not that I'd listen, but I'd tell myself not to be so afraid. To not be afraid to take risks. (A lesson I'm still learning, btw) And that it'll get better. That I'm tougher than I think I am.

Daisy: I have created magnificent ass dents in two couches from all the writing time I log. I also have a pair of white fuzzy boot slippers that look like something a yeti might wear if yetis wore boots. What piece of clothing or item in your home would provide the necessary evidence to prove to the authorities that you are a writer if questioned?

Caridad: I have a t-shirt that reads "Hell hath no fury like a writer interrupted and yet… here you are." I wear it with an ever expanding wardrobe of sweats and what I call "inside pants," AKA, flannel or thermal jammy bottoms. And my lavender UGGS. Because I am ALL about the comfort. As far as items, the scads of research books crammed into shelves and piled on the floor might provide a hint or two.

Daisy:When you tell people you write books for teens, what do you say when they ask, "Oh, like Twilight?"

Caridad:I say, "Only in that they have teenaged protagonists." And then I proceed to tell them about how fabulous and wide and varied teen literature has become; how it's a microcosm of adult literature with respect to the sub-genres and subject matter, and that even if you're not a teenager, you can relate to the books and find something you really love to read. I do tend to get on a soapbox about it. And if I'm feeling particularly testy, I'll mention that my debut YA novel, ADIÓS TO MY OLD LIFE, won the RITA for Best Contemporary Single Title Romance, beating out several adult romance titles, so there had to be something there the readers enjoyed and related to

Daisy: When you're not reading or writing, where can you most likely be found?

Denise: ICuddled in my bed, watching TV. Or more lately, playing tourist in my new hometown of Seattle. It's the first time in my life I've ever lived west of the Mississippi and it's such a wonderfully different environment. It's fantastic. I love to get in my car and just drive.

Daisy: In my first novel The Mockingbirds, a group of boarding school students form an underground justice system to right the wrongs of their peers. Looking back on your high school experience, what type of secret society did your school need the most?

Caridad: It needed a society of the nerds and geeks who could keep the Beautiful People in line. Actually– check that– to keep the teachers who favored the Beautiful People in line. There's nothing more frustrating to a kid than to see a teacher playing favorites and overlooking someone because they're too quiet or shy or different to speak up. They missed out on knowing a lot of great people and taking the opportunity to encourage a lot of students and make a real difference.

Daisy: Most people want to know who would play your main character if your novel became a film. But I'm a Broadway geek, so I want to know what you would call the show-stopping number from your novel when it becomes a Broadway musical.

Caridad: El Tango– Borrowed shamelessly from El Tango de Roxanne from Moulin Rouge. I'm an unabashed Baz Luhrmann fangirl and that song/scene from the film, played such a huge role in the book for me. I'd love for the big showstopping number to also take its inspiration from it. It would seem very full circle.

Daisy: I'm going to tweet this blog post. So tell me in 140 characters or less, why people should buy your book.

Caridad: WHEN THE STARS GO BLUE is for anyone who loves music, dance, passion, intrigue, & betrayal. It's 1st love, heartbreak, & the beauty of both.

Thanks, Caridad!

How to Get Your Videos Found Via Search

Want to get more views for your videos? Have you optimized them for search? Knowing how to get your videos found via search can make a big difference in your views. But it's something few video producers do. So come learn the tricks of Google video search from Mark Robertson with ReelSEO!
Tags: daisy whitney, new media minute, natpe, digitalsmiths, the platform, mark robertson, reelseo, video search, google video site map, video content search, google search

What happens in Vegas should happen everywhere!

I love all bookstores. But I especially love bookstores that recommend and sell out their stock of The Mockingbirds! Like this Borders in Las Vegas where manager Crystal Perkins has made my novel a staff pick and has sold out! Thanks Borders! Thanks Crystal!!

New Media Minute – Napa Valley Edition!

It's the New Media Minute from Napa Valley edition! Get the latest on new online video measurement tools for marketers and agencies, all while watching lush vineyards in the afternoon sun as the backdrop. This episode includes the latest news on how brands can benchmark their "share of voice" in branded video, thanks to tools from Visible Measures. And you'll also learn about how a trio of online video networks – BBE, ScanScout, and YuMe – paired up to show how online video ads alone could significantly drive awareness for a new apparel maker.
Tags: daisy whitney, new media minute, natpe, digitalsmiths, the platform, visible measures, share of choice, hoodie buddie, yume, scanscout, bbe, ad networks, online video research

Radio interview!

I did a radio interview with WORT in Madison, Wisc. this morning about The Mockingbirds and we had a great chat. Here's what the show's host had to say about my book.

"It's got a bit of a Harry Potter dynamic to the story in that the kids have to create their own society and justice system. It's fascinating that the teens take on all these issues of morality, ethics, and justice–without bringing in adults."

That's from Jonathan Zarov, host of "Friday 8 O'Clock Buzz." (My interview is about 38 minutes in.)

A whirlwind!

Wow. Last week was a whirlwind. My book is out and I spent most of the week in New York City juggling work and book events and it was all amazing! I'm pleased to report that The Mockingbirds scored some good news last week by making several industry "best-of" lists. To start the week, my book was named one of the top young adult novels of the year by Romantic Times, then GoodReads picked it as a "mover and shaker" for November. That accolade was for ALL books, fiction and non-fiction, and put my book alongside The Autobiography of Mark Twain as one of the six Movers and Shakers for the month! And then the Association of Booksellers for Children picked The Mockingbirds as one of its top "New Voices of 2010."

A big thanks to all of you for supporting my book! And a big thanks to Romantic Times, GoodReads and ABC for their enthusiasm! And a huge thank you to Books of Wonder in New York City for hosting my launch party.

Now some pics!

Signing Books at Books of Wonder

Talking about books!

More Book Talk!

Gratitude...

Look at this display! Thanks Books of Wonder!

My talented agents! No, you can't have them!!!