Hilary Wagner's Blog, page 10

OH NO SHE DIDN'T! Someone already wrote my book!

YOU WROTE A HORSE BOOK TOO!???I had a writer email yesterday. It was a very nice email, just reaching out and saying hello. The writer has a manuscript in process that happens to be about rats. The writer admitted they had a bit of a start when someone directed them to my series, THE NIGHTSHADE CHRONICLES, thinking maybe I had beat them to the punch and it would hurt their chances of becoming published, but after looking at my excerpt, etc, the writer soon realized there was no need to worry. Our books were quite different.
Long story short, has this ever happened to you? Have you been in the middle of a manuscript only to discover there is a new book out there--already on the shelves--quite similar to yours?
Well, if it has, don't freak out.
I REPEAT: DON'T FREAK OUT!
It happens, but it's not the end of the world. In fact, it may actually help you. And by and large, if you actually read the book, you'd probably find out it was very, very different from your own. So keep writing your book! Never write for the market or for what you think might sell. Write for you. That's the surest way to get published.
xoxo -- Hilary

What Are Your Writer Pet Peeves???

These do not inspire my bunny picture book at all.On Facebook today, I posted how I can't stand justified text. I know that it's used for most print media and I understand why it's used...I just don't like how it looks on a word document--anyway MAJOR pet peeve of mine. I compare it to people who don't like their food touching--you know--peas touching your potatoes and now you refuse to eat either.

So what bugs you in terms of writing? It can be anything! Formatting do's & don'ts, grammar issues, maybe something you discovered about writing or publishing that made you scratch your head and not in a good way. You get the idea. And if you don't have a writing peeve, feel free to rant about anything else. Like the guy at Starbucks who talks purposefully loud on his cell phone so everyone within a mile radius can hear his fantastic weekend plans! Please, shut it already! Ha, ha! ;)

It's dish the dirt Friday, so start dishing! ;)

Writer Cat (and I) say HAPPY EASTER!!!! 


xoxo -- Hilary

Winner of the Great Book Giveaway is...

Sarah Woodard
Hooray for Sarah!
Sarah loves to read as though it is breathing. She is a junior in high school and lives in Washington! Her blog, Sarah's Random Musings, is all about books, both middle-grade and YA! I highly suggest you give her a follow! She is a veteran book reviewer and one of her favorite movies is Sixteen Candles, so how could you not love this girl?!
Thanks to everyone who entered! I love hearing about everyone's favorite books. It's so nice to know books can be life changing! ;)

The Great Book Giveaway!! Win TEN Awesome Books!

Okay, my private stash of books is overflowing, so I'd thought I'd throw a contest, giving away a bunch of snazzy new books (both middle-grade and YA) to one lucky winner! And yes, I will ship overseas for this!
To enter to win: All you have to do is follow my blog (if you don't already) and leave a comment naming a book--any book--that changed your life!
The winner, randomly chosen, will win ten, yes, TEN AWESOME BOOKS!  I'll be sending the winner a signed hardcover of NIGHTSHADE CITY, but if you already have it, please let me know and I can choose another random winner for that!
Contest ends this Sunday, so please be sure to spread the word!
So, here is the list of the winner's TEN book booty:
I KISSED A ZOMBIE AND I LIKED IT, Adam Selzer (Paperback - SIGNED)NIGHTSHADE CITY, Hilary Wagner (Hardcover - SIGNED)THE GUARDIAN OF THE GATE, Michelle Zinc (ARC)THE LIAR SOCIETY, Lisa & Laura Roecker (ARC)BREAKAWAY, Andrea Montalbano (ARC)TIME RIDERS, Alex Scarrow (ARC)MONKEY SEE, MONKEY ZOO, Erin Soderberg (ARC)STRINGS ATTACHED, Judy Blundell, (ARC)THE KISSING GAME, Aidan Chambers (ARC)THE DEADLIES, Kathryn Lasky (ARC)
xoxo -- Hilary

Nancy Gallt Agency Hooray! 2011 CBC List!

Hooray!I want to say "HOORAY" to Marietta Zacker and Nancy Gallt for having such an awesome list of 2011 CBC picks! They work tirelessly (not to mention put up with me), so I'm so happy they have such a nice list of best books! Please check out the list of books below if you're interested in some good reads or want to get to know the agency better--they have picks in every age range. And yes, that one about the rats is pretty awesome--you know I had to add that. ;) Click the link below for the complete 2011 picks!
The Children's Book Committee of the Bank Street College of Education announced the 2011 Best Children's Books of the Year BIG RED LOLLIPOP illustrated by Sophie Blackall PECAN PIE BABY illustrated by Sophie Blackall PRINCESS SAYS GOODNIGHT by Naomi Howland IVY'S EVER AFTER by Dawn Lairamore NIGHTSHADE CITY by Hilary Wagner WILDWING by Emily Whitman THIEF EYES by Janni Lee Simner EMPTY by Suzanne Weyn xoxo -- Hilary

Thank You for making the Voices Stop...

Please...make the voices stop...


See this picture? This is how I felt last week! With an entire book to edit, I was literally losing my grip on reality! Well, it looks like I will be getting my edits for THE WHITE ASSASSIN done on time--turning them into my editor tomorrow! I want to thank everyone who cheered me on last week! It's so nice to have such support. When I wrote NIGHTSHADE CITY, I was completely alone, no writer friends or support networks to speak of and now I have gobs of good writer buddies telling me I CAN do it--not just myself. So, thanks. You are all the best. :)

xoxo -- Hilary

She said WHAT???

This is how I feel this week, but less hairy--well, a little lessOkay, talked to my editor and I have eight days to finish edits for THE WHITE ASSASSIN or I won't have ARC's in time for BEA. Etch it in stone, you heard it hear first, I WILL get them done! I'm determined, especially when it comes to deadlines. Anyone else have any writing deadlines they need to meet, self-imposed or otherwise? Even if I give the deadline to myself and no one else is holding me accountable, I seem to hit my goals much better. How about you? 

xoxo -- Hilary

Nightshade City - Crystal Kite Semifinalist! WoW!!!

Check out the nominees in your region here!So, on St. Patrick's Day I woke up to the exciting news that NIGHTSHADE CITY is a Semifinalist for the 2011 SCBWI Crystal Kite Award!!  I was so shocked--and this is the truth--I voted for my own book before I even looked at the 4 other nominees, because I was afraid it was a mistake and I better vote fast! My family thinks that's pretty funny! ;)

Click here to see the group of nominees in each region! If you're an SCBWI member, not to be all MTV-ish on ya, but go rock the vote for your favorite children's book of 2010!

Congrats to the semifinalists and thanks to everyone who voted! SCBWI RULES! 

xoxo -- Hilary

THE LIAR SOCIETY BLOG TOUR OF AWESOME - How to write as a team!

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!!! To start off this special day, epic authors Lisa and Laura Roecker are here to talk about their debut YA novel, THE LIAR SOCIETY, and talk about what it's like to write as a team. Gah! I can't imagine! The Liar Society is full of awesome and it would not have been, if these co-authors/sisters couldn't get along! See how they did it here and don't forget to buy your copy of the THE LIAR SOCIETY, in stores NOW!!! Oh, and super awesome contest deets below!
Take it way L&L...
THERE IS NO 'I' IN TEAM

One of the most common writing-related questions we get is "How do you possibly write together and not want to kill each other?" Because we all have nightmares of group writing projects where you're assigned with the kid who can barely spell or the girl who writes nothing but run-ons. Writing is usually a solitary sport, typically works best when done independently. So how is it possible to write an entire book together?

When we first started out, we weren't sure how it would work. We just thought it might be fun. Turns out, it was fun and, shockingly, it seemed to work. But, not right away. Our first manuscript was full of little quirks that tipped agents and editors off that there were indeed two hacks writing--that and pages full of telling, one dimensional characters and head hopping, but that's another post for another day. 
Our first order of business (aside from actually learning the difference between showing and telling) was to learn how to create a unified voice for our work. Our biggest tool in developing our voice was our blog. It's amazing how writing one blog post a day about completely random topics forces you to figure out a way to make it work. By the time we completed our second manuscript we had the process down pat. We knew how to edit each other to create that elusive cohesion. The highest praise we've ever received from our agent was, "Holy crap, I had no idea two people wrote this manuscript." Ok, fine, maybe she didn't actually say "holy crap," but something along those lines. 
Of course for all of its challenges, writing as a team has some distinct advantages as well. First and foremost, writer's block is practically nonexistent because you always have someone reading over your shoulder with fresh eyes and new ideas. And when you get rejected (and there was A LOT of rejection on our bumpy road to publication) you've got another person who really understands what you're going through. Someone who cries with you and isn't afraid to tell you when it's time to stop crying and start writing. Honestly, we can't imagine ever going it alone. We're having way too much fun as a team.
If you want to enter The Liar Society Blog Tour of Awesome contest, and really, who wouldn't want to enter!?! There's a $100 Amazon gift card up for grabs! Just click here and enter the super secret password, SLAMBOOK, for an entry. Remember you can enter one time for each stop on our blog tour, so be sure to click here and see where else we're visiting this month to maximize your chances of winning.
Audi, Vide, Tace,
L&L

POSSUMS ARE AWESOME blog tour! Meet Jen K Blom and her MC Princess!

Okay, peeps! It's a very special day here! I have my awesome and dear (and weird) friend here, Jen K Blom (and her book's MC, Princess), talking about her debut middle-grade novel, POSSUM SUMMER, which releases THIS Tuesday, March 15th! Please help us celebrate her big day!

Welcome to the POSSUMS ARE AWESOME blog tour for the middle-grade book, POSSUM SUMMER, coming out IN EIGHT DAYS HOLY COW! (Have you preordered yet?)
"There's a person I know, she's the rattiest one around, everybody hides away when she comes into town..."Yes, I'll be here all week.
Today I'm (harassing) enjoying my stay here at Hilary's blog. P (Princess) had been forewarned about the Rat Queen...and she didn't disappoint.



First off, a little about the book:
A lonely kid.an orphaned baby possum.A dad that says no way.How do you keep that kind of secret? And what happens when you're found out?
Here we go or begin strange interview with JKB here:

HW: Jen, can you tell us if you do an outline or you just write from the cuff? It seems to be a hot topic these days!
JKB: Well, I would say before my newest MS** I always wrote without an outline. I like it better because it's more surprising. And I like surprises. Mostly. Unless they come without chocolate. **the new MS is by a synop. Weirdest feeling ever to have the entire story already written out! Good thing I like the idea, or I wouldn't bother.
HW: When do you find you do your best writing? Morning, night, sunny, rainy? Tell!
JKB: I think the best time is when I don't have something tugging on me, wanting something. So the Loki* is asleep, the cats are over on the heater, and the husband is at work. Which never happens, so I just do it when I can. (True story: POSSUM SUMMER was written on a train every morning as I made my way to work.)*Loki is my kid. She is a trickster.
HW: What is the main lesson you're trying to get across in POSSUM SUMMER?
JKB: I don't know that I have a lesson, per se. I always have a particular word/idea in mind when I write a book and for POSSUM SUMMER the word was :: sacrifice. (Now don't you wanna go read it? Go! GO!!!)

Princess: Lessons are stupid anyways. Nobody ever pays attention.
JKB: Now this should get interesting, as my MC, Princess, talks to Hilary!
P: It's the RAT QUEEN! The Rat Queen, right? I read your book! I loved it! Except there was no princess in it. And no dragons. I love dragons! But I want to know what your favorite food is anyway, even tho there are no dragons in your book!
HW: Hmmm...I'd have to say for the fancy stuff, I love Ahi Tuna with lots of fresh ginger -- the rarer the better! For something casual, I love paper thin pizza with garlic, spinach and pineapple!

P: Is there a difference between Ahi Tuna and that tuna you get in tunafish cans? Because if not, I have some serious concerns about what you're eating. I tried to give Ike somma that tuna in the can and he wouldn't even eat it! And rare? *shudder* what do you like to do, then, Miss Ratty Queen?
HW: Okay, that's a tough one. For me, I love spending time with the family. I love shopping (shocker, I know) and I love just chilling out with my husband and watching some brainless reality TV, the more brainless the better!
P: Family time is good. It almost makes up for what you say you eat. I thought maybe you woulda said you loved reading POSSUM SUMMER as your favorite activity? No? Well, what is something really interesting about you then?
HW: I'd have to say my hands. I'm double jointed, so I can bend back the tips of my fingers at a 90 degree angle, which really freaks people out, because it looks like their broken, especially if I make a breaking sound when I do it! Ha, ha! Uck, I know, but hey, it's fun at parties!

P: I had to look up what you mean by double jointed. I bet rats can do that too, which is why you're the Rat Queen, right? You ought to feel bad, because you just traumatized an 11 year old. Like, forever. So I went ahead and drew you as this:

P: I have to tell you ... JKB wanted me to make you a fangless snake. Or an ugly rat with a hairless skin condition. But here's what I told her (I read it in a book) THE MUSE CANNOT BE DENIED. You are indeed an eastern chipmunk! With pretty stripey stripes on your back! I can't guarantee that their fingers bend back like your freaky ones, but...
**scuffle**

JKB: Hil. Sorry! XD Thanks for having me!
Jen K. Blom writes a bout animals, the land, and kids, not necessarily in that order. Her debut, POSSUM SUMMER , is available March 2011.
Just the thing to give to a kid to start their summer of reading off right! (Available from your local indie , Amazon , Bar nes & Noble , Borders , or Book Depository !)
Seen the book trailer yet? Want more POSSUMS ARE A WESOME blog tour tidbits? Go here and knock yourself out!
 
HW: Okay, somehow I think Jen managed to insult me through Princess...hmmm...not cool! ;) Thanks everyone for cheering Jen and Possum Summer on! The book is AWESOME!


xoxo -- Hilary