Jennifer A. Nielsen's Blog, page 33

Teacher Thank You

In most areas of the country, school is out for the summer, which makes it the collective time of year for teachers to draw in a slow breath and then actually sit for a few minutes. Having taught high school for a handful of years, I know that feeling. It’s a good one!

But it’s more than just the relief of knowing you’ve finished another school year. It’s also the curiosity of what will happen in coming years to the students you’ve genuinely grown to love. It’s wondering if you could have done anything more. If you mattered.

(That pic is of kindergarten age me!)

When I was in school, 1st grade was the year we learned to read. The problem was that, thanks to a diligent older brother, I had started kindergarten already able to read. And as you would expect, my kindergarten teacher wasn’t excited about this. (Sarcastic font there, right?) She asked me not to read until 1st grade because I might develop bad habits.

Naturally, I rebelled, and became a secret reader. I pretended to look at the pictures in the book, but really, I was reading the words.

I know the story sounds odd, really the opposite of what we’d expect from a teacher. And my kindergarten teacher was a good teacher, but a bit old school.

Then in 1st grade came Mrs. Flores. She not only celebrated that I could read, but did everything she could to push my skills ahead. This included inviting 6th grade students down to read independently with me, pulling books from older classrooms to give me, and always making me feel like reading early was a wonderful thing.

From Mrs. Flores, I learned to love words, and to be proud of myself as a reader.

In the upcoming MARK OF THE THIEF series (2/24/15), each book will be dedicated to a different teacher who made a difference for me. Book 1 is for Mrs. Flores.

Sometime before the book releases, I hope to find her, so that I can tell her this in person and give her a copy of the book.

If you had a teacher that ever mattered to you, will you tell them too? Or leave a comment about your greatest teacher below.Because she doesn’t know I’ve become an author, and I want her to know that for me, she mattered.

 

Mark of the Thief – Cover Reveal!

To those who’ve asked what I’m working on now, here it is! MARK OF THE THIEF will release on FEBRUARY 24, 2015.

MARK OF THE THIEF is Book 1 of a new series by the same name (yeah, no creativity put into naming the series). It takes place in Ancient Rome with an escaped Roman slave, some stolen magic, and a battle to control the fall of an empire.

 

It’s an alternate history of the Roman Empire, but a lot of the story is based on actual facts. Such as:

* Emperor Julius Caesar used to claim he was a literal descendent of the Goddess Venus.

So I thought…hmm, what if he was telling the truth? That would’ve made him a Demigod. What if he had magic before he was killed? What happened to his magic afterward?

* The lowest existence in Rome was for mining slaves. Because the work was so dangerous, the average mining slave lived only seven years.

So I thought…hmm, what if that’s my hero? Nic, a mining slave who has nothing else to lose. Except those he loves. What if he discovers Caesar’s lost magic?

* The Colosseum wasn’t known by that name in Ancient Rome. They simply called it the Amphitheater, and it could hold about 50,000 Romans, all who were invited free of charge to watch the games.

Hmm, what if we introduced some magic in the Amphitheater? A magic which Nic has no ideahow to use or control.

* Part of the games involved a Venatio or hunt. They would fight each other to the death, or animal hunters would take part in the battles.

And what if one of those animals belonged to the Gods? A griffin, perhaps?

Here is the Goodreads description: The new series follows a boy in ancient Rome where powerful forces struggle for control of a hidden magic; the boy becomes embroiled in a fight for freedom, survival, and the safety of the future.

You’ll see a lot about this book over the next several months, including giveaways for advance copies later this fall. If you enjoyed The False Prince, I think you’ll enjoy this too. Though the heroes have some differences, they are for similar readers.

 

Finally, to answer a few questions:

1. It’s listed on Goodreads as The Praetor War series.

Yeah, for now. That was an old series title. Publishing works that way sometimes. Ignore it. The series name is Mark of the Thief.

2. Does this mean you aren’t publishing any more books in the Ascendance Trilogy?

It means I’m not publishing any more right now. If Jaron comes knocking at my imagination again, then we’ll see. But for now, my focus is on this series and the standalone book, A Night Divided (Fall 2015).

3. Any movie news?

It’s not related to this post in any way, but since I get asked this question A LOT, here’s the status: Nothing new. There probably will not be any news until February 2015, when the contract option with Paramount expires. At that point, they will decide yes or no, and I will have almost nothing to do with that decision. If/when there is news, I will shout it out here on the blog first.

Credit for the book’s cover design goes to Christopher Stengel and jacket artwork by Larry Rostant. My warmest thanks to them for their immense talents!

I Read YA

Summer is coming. Thank goodness you can put the books down for a few months, right?

No! Are you kidding? This is the BEST TIME to read.

Why, you ask? Because now you can read whatever you want!

It isn’t a classic? So what – read YA!

It isn’t on your reading level? So what – read YA!

It isn’t on your teacher’s approved reading list? So what – well, you know the drill. Read YA!

Here are some of my favorite YA reads of the year…

 

The Living by Matt De La Pena

When Shy took a summer job on a cruise ship, it’s only to earn a few extra dollars and maybe enjoy the girls in bikinis. He never anticipated the Big One earthquake which hits off the coast of California and sends shock waves into the ocean. Suddenly, Shy is in a fight for his life, and even remaining among the living, doesn’t mean you’ve won…

 

 

 

 

Divided We Fall by Trent Reedy

Danny Wright enlisted in the Idaho National Guard because he wanted to serve his country. He certainly never intended to fire the shot that brings down the United States of America. Gripping, tense, and with far too many comparisons with the real world, you won’t be able to put this book down!

 

 

 

Nil by Lynne Matson

I confess that I haven’t read this yet, though it’s at the top of my to-read list and one I am sure I’ll love. Here is the tease from Goodreads: On the mysterious island of Nil, the rules are set. You have one year. Exactly 365 days–to escape, or you die.

Yep, that’s enough for me. I’m in!

 

 

 

 

Grave Mercy and Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers

These 15th century stories of assassin nuns are clever, romantic, and dangerous. The third book of the trilogy will be released this fall, so if you haven’t been reading these, it’s time to get caught up now!

 

All righty dear readers, I’d love to hear what you’re reading, YA or not! Let’s get those recommendations rolling!

FOUR Announcements

There’s so much exciting stuff to announce today!

First is some award news. THE FALSE PRINCE is the winner of the YA category of Utah’s 2014 Beehive Book Award. This is a huge thrill and honor because it’s my home state. Thanks to all the Utah children who gave this book their vote!

Second is more award news. THE RUNAWAY KING is the winner of the MG category of the 2014 Whitney Award. Again, I have a great respect for the other books that were nominated, and I thank those Storymakers who voted!

Third is that the fund raising for Robison Wells is going well, but has a long way to go. If you aren’t aware of his situation, Shannon Hale explains it better than I could. Please see her blog HERE or go directly to the IndieGoGo page HERE. Donating will help him, and provides some amazing book perks for you too!

And finally….this announcement just came out in Publisher’s Weekly:

Lisa Sandell at Scholastic has acquired two stand-alone middle-grade novels by Jennifer A. Nielsen (The False Prince), beginning with A Night Divided, a story of danger and intrigue in Cold War-era East Berlin, about a girl whose family is split in half when the Berlin Wall goes up. The first book is scheduled for publication in fall 2015. Ammi-Joan Paquette of Erin Murphy Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.

As you know, I wrote the sixth book of the INFINITY RING series, which takes place in World War Two Germany. Afterward, I became curious to learn more about what happened to Germany following the war. Things were bad, of course. Parts of Germany had been bombed to rubble, and the country was divided amongst each of the four allies in the war: United States, Britain, France, and Russia. The first three worked together and became West Germany. By then, Russia had turned to Communism and ran East Germany.

West Germany began to prosper and rebuild, while East Germany’s progress was largely stagnant. Not surprisingly, easterners began leaving in droves, so many of them that it drew Moscow’s attention.

On the morning of August 13, 1961, easterners awoke to soldiers standing in front of barbed wire fences along the East Berlin border. Their guns were aimed at their own people, warning them not to dare a crossing. It became known as Barbed Wire Sunday.

Within days, a concrete wall began to rise, which became known as the Berlin Wall. It would stretch along the entire East/West Germany border, and through divided Berlin. But it was more than a single wall. There were two concrete walls, actually, and between them was a Death Strip expertly designed to stop, capture, and kill any East German citizen who tried to escape.

In the twenty-eight years over which the wall stood, thousands of people tried to escape. Some of them succeeded, and many were killed, then branded by their government as traitors, all because of the most basic of human desires – the quest for freedom.

The more I read, the more I began to wonder…what if a family found itself divided on Barbed Wire Sunday? What price would one girl pay to reunite them? How could she ever find a way across the Death Strip? Most importantly, would this girl risk everything, even her own life, for freedom, for family, and for her chance of a future?

If you want to learn more about the Berlin Wall, you can watch this on YouTube here.

 

 

Updates TOMORROW!

I have a lot to announce tomorrow afternoon (Tues April 29), so please come by for that.

No, it’s not movie news. But the biggest announcement has to do with this picture below. So stay tuned…

Thank you, Mabel’s Fables!

Most people are probably not familiar with the Toronto bookstore, Mabel’s Fables, but you should be! Not only is it an absolutely charming store, and not only are their store employees exceptionally knowledgeable about all things books, and you should definitely check out the gelato store right across the street. BUT ALSO, they do the most amazing window displays! And though every display is wonderful, they have outdone themselves this time. Check out what they’ve done for The Ascendance Trilogy:

If you want to see it in person, or just want to support such a cool store, they’re at 662 Mt. Pleasant Road in Toronto. If you’re in Canada and want to order a book (such as em, THE SHADOW THRONE perhaps?) from them, you can search for that title here.

And if you’re in the US, then find the indie bookstore closest to you and please support them! Go here, if you need help finding one!

THANK YOU, MABEL’S FABLES!!!

 

Thanks to You…

I have exciting news!

No…not movie news (it may be another year before there’s news here.)

No…not that announcement I promised you (It’s still coming.)

But…

THE SHADOW THRONE hit two huge milestones today.

It will be at #7 on the Mar 16 NYT Series Bestselling list! What is the significance of this? The series list measures sales for an entire series of book, not just the single title. Thus it measures the strength of all books. Getting onto the series list means competing with titles such as Percy Jackson, Divergent, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

And…

It will also hit at #114 for USA Today’s Bestselling list! I know that doesn’t sound like the most impressive number, but this list measures all books sold in this country, not just children’s titles. Which means last week, it was the 114th top selling of all books.

Due to higher than expected demand, the book is already going to its second printing.

And who I have to thank? Why, you! Those who bought books, or asked your library to get a copy, or recommended the book to other readers. Thank you, thank you. Getting to add these titles to my name is an honor for me, but an achievement by you. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you.

Plotting Characters: Climb Rather Than Fly

Hello all! This summer, I’ll be teaching about plotting at the WIFYR Conference (Writing and Illustrating For Young Readers), which is one of the finest conferences in the country. There are a great many authors who credit their publishing success with having attended this conference. Read more about WIFYR here, and if you can come, I’d love to have you in my class!

To give you an idea of the importance of plotting, Becca Birkin, WIFYR

assistant, is guest posting today. This is fairly rare for me, so you know this must be a good post!

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What an honor to visit Jennifer Nielsen’s blog as part of the WIFYR blog tour! I am a huge fan. Her books are exceptional. She really knows how to keep readers turning pages.  After hearing her speak at WIFYR 2013, I can’t wait for her to teach us how to improve our plot skills this coming June. Anyone who attends her mini workshop is in for a terrific learning opportunity.

Since Jennifer’s great plots arise partly out of unforgettable characters, I’ll review an essential plot rule: by the end of the story, your main character must have undergone a recognizable change.

Sound easy? Not really. This change has to happen naturally, or in other words, in a way true to the protagonist’s character. Since conflict is another plot essential, a good storyline should push the character into difficult situations that act as a catalyst for her change. Her reaction to these difficulties can’t, however, be a dramatic and unexplained departure from weakness to sudden strength. If she’s been limping throughout the book, she shouldn’t suddenly fly in chapter twelve.

As an example, if you write about a shy outsider having to speak in front of a huge school audience, his character dictates that he should sweat through every word. If, instead, he suddenly gains the polish of a presidential candidate, there’s no conflict, and thus no believability.

An article in the January 2013 Writer’s Digest explains it well. “Characters who demonstrate instant skill or comfort with something they’ve never tried before resides largely in the realm of schlock. The less familiar the behavior, the clumsier and more uncomfortable it should be.”*

Similar to a mountain climber’s ascent, your protagonist’s change should be the result of struggle, and the reader should feel and experience that upward slope of increasing conflict. In the instance of the awkward teen, as he stumbles through his talk, ignoring the sweat blurring his paper and the Senior hecklers on the front row, the scene tension increases, as does reader empathy.* When his words finally succeed in rallying the student body, his victory feels earned rather than forced.

This is just one example of the many elements needed to make a great plot.  While discussing them is much easier than their application, I don’t know of anyone who has mastered plot better than Jennifer Nielsen. That’s one reason I’m so excited to learn more from Jennifer at WIFYR this June.

“Push Your Characters to Their Limits,” David Corbett, Writers Digest, January 2013, p. 32.

 

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Note from Jennifer (me!): Thank you, Becca!

Note to local types wanting to publish. Check out WIFYR! June 16-20 in Salt Lake City. Early bird registration ends on March 15!

 

Book Launch Day!

Wow! Let me start with my thanks to all of you! To those who commented in various places online, those who came out to the book launch party, and those who have bought copies or asked for them to be at your local library.

I’ve seen many blogs and reviews about THE SHADOW THRONE, and loved them all. For as much as the online rankings can be measured, it got as low as #269 on Amazon and #58 on Barnes and Noble. And the turnout at last night’s launch party at King’s English Bookshop was extraordinary. Truly overwhelming. Here are some photos from that launch.

So many people came. I was sorry for those who didn’t get seats, but so happy to see everyone!

Finally, and most importantly – CHECK OUT THAT CAKE! It completely blew me away.

Thanks everyone for making yesterday the best launch day of my career!

If you missed the launch but are a Utah type, I’ll be at Barnes and Noble South Towne (10180 South State Street, SLC) this Saturday, March 1 from 1-4, at an authorpalooza with tons of your favorite local authors.

So…what am I doing today? Writing, of course!

 

The Shadow Throne, Quote 5

Today is the final quote from THE SHADOW THRONE. Why the final one? Because the book releases tomorrow! If you’re in regions served by the UK, then it releases on March 1. Foreign language copies will release at various times.

I’m warning you now…unless you are getting a copy very soon, you won’t want to read this quote. Seriously. So stop here….unless…well, you know.

From Jaron:

 

“The blame for the destruction of my country lay solely               at my feet. And I had no will to make any of it better.”

If you’re in Utah, the launch party will be on Tuesday evening (Feb 25th) at The King’s English (1511 South 1500 East) in Salt Lake City at 7 pm. There are rumors of cake!

If you want a signed copy, you can order it (or any of my books) from The King’s English by 7 pm tomorrow and they will ship it out to you. Just put the name you want personalized in the comments section during checkout. You can see more about that here.

I will also be at Barnes & Noble South Towne on Sat Mar 1 from 1-4 pm for an authorpalooza, along with dozens of your favorite local authors!