Shannon Messenger's Blog, page 48
April 25, 2012
Another Epic Milestone
There are a lot of surreal, exciting, amazing, unbelievable moments on this crazy journey I'm on (and thank goodness because they help balance the hectic, sleepless-night-inducing, terrifying ones). But yesterday was a BIG one.
I wish I could show you the absolutely GORGEOUS ARCs for LTSF that my amazing publisher sent me--but alas, I'm not allowed to since we haven't revealed the cover (which I am ALSO dying to show you). But I can't stop staring at them. Nor can I stop staring at my bookshelf, where BOTH of my books are now on display, which is so incredible I am having a hard time wrapping my head around it.
And then, there was this inside the ARC:
I ... I can't believe I already qualify for an "also by Shannon Messenger."
I also can't believe that these crazy stories that filled my head and refused to leave until I wrote them down are slowly making their way into the world. I've already gotten some amazing, tear-inducing emails from some early readers telling me how much they enjoyed it. And after BEA a LOT more people will have them.
It's scary and stressful and half the time I feel like there's an avalanche coming for me and I'm going to be clobbered any second. But I also get to hug my book--MY BOOK--and dance around with it and take embarrassing pictures to send to my agent and editor (oh, you know you'll do exactly the same thing!). And that is worth every single second of the stress--and then some.
So if you need me, I'll be twirling with my ARCs like the biggest nerd on the planet. And then diving back into book 2!
(Also, I'll be at Mysterious Galaxy tonight for the YA or Bust signing with Stephanie Perkins, Gayle Forman, and Nina LaCour. If you're in the area I hope to meet you there!)
I wish I could show you the absolutely GORGEOUS ARCs for LTSF that my amazing publisher sent me--but alas, I'm not allowed to since we haven't revealed the cover (which I am ALSO dying to show you). But I can't stop staring at them. Nor can I stop staring at my bookshelf, where BOTH of my books are now on display, which is so incredible I am having a hard time wrapping my head around it.
And then, there was this inside the ARC:
I ... I can't believe I already qualify for an "also by Shannon Messenger."
I also can't believe that these crazy stories that filled my head and refused to leave until I wrote them down are slowly making their way into the world. I've already gotten some amazing, tear-inducing emails from some early readers telling me how much they enjoyed it. And after BEA a LOT more people will have them.
It's scary and stressful and half the time I feel like there's an avalanche coming for me and I'm going to be clobbered any second. But I also get to hug my book--MY BOOK--and dance around with it and take embarrassing pictures to send to my agent and editor (oh, you know you'll do exactly the same thing!). And that is worth every single second of the stress--and then some.
So if you need me, I'll be twirling with my ARCs like the biggest nerd on the planet. And then diving back into book 2!
(Also, I'll be at Mysterious Galaxy tonight for the YA or Bust signing with Stephanie Perkins, Gayle Forman, and Nina LaCour. If you're in the area I hope to meet you there!)
April 23, 2012
Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: The Council of Mirrors (Sisters Grimm #9)--and a SIGNED book Giveaway!
Believe it or not, I actually have an MMGM for you guys this week!!!! Sadly, it's not because I've had time to read (book 2 is still killing me)--it's because sometimes a book is so special/exciting I'm willing to break my rule and feature it before I've read it because I KNOW I'm going to love every single word .
What book could I possibly be so confident about? THE COUNCIL OF MIRRORS (Sisters Grimm #9) by Michael Buckley:
Here's how the publisher describes it:
In the final volume in the Sisters Grimm series, Sabrina, Daphne, and the rest of the Grimms and their friends must face off against the Master to decide the fate of Ferryport Landing—and the world. When Mirror fails to escape the barrier using Granny Relda’s body, he turns to his plan B: killing all the Grimms so that the magical barrier collapses. In the meantime, Sabrina has gathered the other magic mirrors as advisors on how to deal with their mortal enemy. They tell her to join forces with the Scarlet Hand against Mirror, in exchange for offering all the citizens of Ferryport Landing their freedom. This final chapter is the end of the road for several beloved characters, but the conclusion is sure to satisfy devoted fans of the series.
If you've been following my blog for a while you know how very much I love this series (it's one of the reasons I decided to try writing middle grade) and I have been counting down the days until I could finally read the last book (even if it'll be slightly bittersweet knowing there are no more). So imagine my EXTREME GIDDINESS when I discovered that Michael Buckley was signing copies at the LATFOB this weekend, and you can bet I stood in the sun-scorched signing line to get my hot little hands on a copy. (and of course, to thank him personally for blurbing KEEPER)
See?
And I picked up a copy for you guys too--which is why I decided to do the MMGM feature on it early. Sadly, *I* can't read until I finish book 2 (it's going to be my reward!). But I don't think it's fair to make you guys wait just because I'm waging an epic battle with characters who are refusing to cooperate. So, I'm giving it away now--along with the strong, STRONG recommendation that you all pick up your own copies if you don't win (and if you haven't started this series, you need to get on that--stat!) because it's going to be amazing. EVERYTHING Michael writes is amazing. Plus, he did a reading from it at LATFOB and OMG. So. good.
To enter, make sure you leave a comment on this post by 11:59 pm pacific time on Saturday, April 28th. I'll draw one random winner and post their names on Sunday, April 29th. International entries welcome.
And for more awesome middle grade recommendations, check out these other MMGMs floating around the blogosphere.
If you would like to join in the MMGM fun, all you have to do is blog about a middle grade book you love (contests, author interviews and whatnot also count--but are most definitely not required) and email me the title of the book you're featuring and a link to your blog at SWMessenger (at) hotmail (dot) com. (Make sure you put MMGM or Marvelous Middle Grade Monday in the subject line so I see it)
**NOTE**I used to not have a cut-off time for adding links to the post, but with how insane my schedule is right now, if you don't email me by Sunday evening (usually around 11pm PST is when I put the links together) I can't guarantee I'll have a chance to add you. BUT, you are welcome to add your link in the comments on this post so people can find you!
What book could I possibly be so confident about? THE COUNCIL OF MIRRORS (Sisters Grimm #9) by Michael Buckley:
Here's how the publisher describes it:
In the final volume in the Sisters Grimm series, Sabrina, Daphne, and the rest of the Grimms and their friends must face off against the Master to decide the fate of Ferryport Landing—and the world. When Mirror fails to escape the barrier using Granny Relda’s body, he turns to his plan B: killing all the Grimms so that the magical barrier collapses. In the meantime, Sabrina has gathered the other magic mirrors as advisors on how to deal with their mortal enemy. They tell her to join forces with the Scarlet Hand against Mirror, in exchange for offering all the citizens of Ferryport Landing their freedom. This final chapter is the end of the road for several beloved characters, but the conclusion is sure to satisfy devoted fans of the series.
If you've been following my blog for a while you know how very much I love this series (it's one of the reasons I decided to try writing middle grade) and I have been counting down the days until I could finally read the last book (even if it'll be slightly bittersweet knowing there are no more). So imagine my EXTREME GIDDINESS when I discovered that Michael Buckley was signing copies at the LATFOB this weekend, and you can bet I stood in the sun-scorched signing line to get my hot little hands on a copy. (and of course, to thank him personally for blurbing KEEPER)
See?
And I picked up a copy for you guys too--which is why I decided to do the MMGM feature on it early. Sadly, *I* can't read until I finish book 2 (it's going to be my reward!). But I don't think it's fair to make you guys wait just because I'm waging an epic battle with characters who are refusing to cooperate. So, I'm giving it away now--along with the strong, STRONG recommendation that you all pick up your own copies if you don't win (and if you haven't started this series, you need to get on that--stat!) because it's going to be amazing. EVERYTHING Michael writes is amazing. Plus, he did a reading from it at LATFOB and OMG. So. good.
To enter, make sure you leave a comment on this post by 11:59 pm pacific time on Saturday, April 28th. I'll draw one random winner and post their names on Sunday, April 29th. International entries welcome.
And for more awesome middle grade recommendations, check out these other MMGMs floating around the blogosphere.
- The Mundie Moms are now part of the MMGM fun (eee!). Click HERE to see their newest recommendations. And if you aren't also following their Mundie Kids site, get thee over THERE and check out all the awesome!
- The lovely Shannon O'Donnell always has an MMGM ready for you! Click HERE to see what she's featuring this week!
- Karen Yingling also always has some awesome MMGM recommendations for you. Click HERE to which ones she picked this time!
- Gina Carey is spreading the love for MOON OVER MANIFEST--with a GIVEAWAY!!!! Click HERE for all the details!
- Dorine White is swooning over CINDERELLA SMITH, THE MORE THE MERRIER. Click HERE to see why.
- Barbara Watson has another special middle grade review written by an actual middle grader (her son this time). Click HERE to see what he thinks about THE NOTORIOUS BENEDICT ARNOLD.
- Michelle Isenhoff is featuring THE RED PYRAMID. Click HERE to learn why she thinks it's worth reading!
- Andrea Mack is soaring with love for FLYAWAY Click HERE to learn why.
- Gabrielle Prendergast is highlighting some of her favorite verse novels. Click HERE to see what they are.
- Temre Beltz is sweet on IT'S RAINING CUPCAKES (one of my favorites). Click HERE to see why she thinks you'll love it too.
- Brennan and Meyrick Murphy are championing FIRST KILL (Slayer Chronicles #1). Click HERE to see why they loved it.
- Laurisa Reyes has a fabulous author interview--and a GIVEAWAY for THE MAPMAKER AND THE GHOST. Click HERE for all the fun.
- Danika Dinsmore raves about a book she discovered thanks to MMGM (woot!): THE TRUE MEANING OF SMEKDAY. Click HERE to learn more about it.
If you would like to join in the MMGM fun, all you have to do is blog about a middle grade book you love (contests, author interviews and whatnot also count--but are most definitely not required) and email me the title of the book you're featuring and a link to your blog at SWMessenger (at) hotmail (dot) com. (Make sure you put MMGM or Marvelous Middle Grade Monday in the subject line so I see it)
**NOTE**I used to not have a cut-off time for adding links to the post, but with how insane my schedule is right now, if you don't email me by Sunday evening (usually around 11pm PST is when I put the links together) I can't guarantee I'll have a chance to add you. BUT, you are welcome to add your link in the comments on this post so people can find you!
April 20, 2012
Are you ready for some shenanigans????
I sure hope so, because I am packing them up and bringing them all over the place. (So if you can't handle my crazy you'd best consider fleeing).
It's going to be a CRAZY year with all kinds of events and things and places to find me--if you're so inclined. So I've gone ahead and added an Appearances page to this blog to help you all keep track, and I will be updating it regularly as things confirm / get added. But in case you don't feel like clicking over, here's some details on some upcoming events:
April 20th 6-9pm (hey--that's TONIGHT! OMG!)Pomona College, Room SCC-217The 5 Cs Out Loud is hosting a special dinner and workshop, where I will be giving a lecture on "Creating a Killer Plot!" (and *trying* to sound as smart as possible. If I can't pull that off I promise lots of Shannon Shame). The dinner is only for club members, but the workshop is open to anyone. Just email ahead of time so they know to have enough chairs. For more details, or to let them know you're coming, contact christinabejjani (at) gmail (dot) com
April 21LA Times Festival of BooksI am there as a fan, not officially--and I'm not sure which panels I'm hitting, but I'll be "around". So if you spot a giggling blonde girl feel free to come over and say Hi!
Saturday, May 19th 2-5 pm Bridge to Books Still getting all the details on exactly what I'll be doing, but I'll be there for sure and will update as soon as I know more. You're also welcome to contact the organizers--contact info is on their website.
June 4-8 Book Expo of America I'm still getting all the details on my schedule, so I don't know all the where/whens yet--but I will BE THERE. All week, in fact. And so far I can confirm that you WILL be able to get KEEPER ARCs there--and I will even be doing an autographing session on Tuesday, June 5th from 10:30 am - 11:00 am. You can find details on that HERE. I'll also be doing a meet and greet with some of my fellow Apocalypsies on Tuesday from 3-5pm. Details on all of that can be found HERE. And lots more to come on this. There are several other events I'll be at, but I don't have all the final info yet.
June 21-25ALA Annual Summer ConferenceOne of my favorite conferences of the year and I'm SO excited it's in Anaheim this time. You will find me stalking all the booths and seeing all the people and probably crashing all the parties. More details to come as I have them.
July 11-15Comic-Con San DiegoI'm not sure if I'm doing anything officially, but I'm SO there (though maybe NOT in costume this year...) You'll for sure find me at all the book panels and hunting for Batman swaggish things.
Hee, I love how many times I had to say, "I don't know the details". What can I say--let's call it a work in progress. And like I said, more details WILL be added as I know them.
Plus there are lots of other exciting things in the works too (including the launch parties for KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES--and yes, I said parties plural). But all that stuff is still very much in the planning stages, so I will update you on all of that once I have a few more things ironed out. Check back soon!
And if you think/know you're going to be at any of these places PLEASE let me know so I can try to keep an eye out for you. Though fair warning: I tend to be a bit overwhelmed/oblivious in crowds, so there's a very very VERY good possibility I will walk right past you without noticing. If I do, you're welcome to shout things at me. Or throw things at me. Just nothing sharp please. Or sticky. :)
It's going to be a CRAZY year with all kinds of events and things and places to find me--if you're so inclined. So I've gone ahead and added an Appearances page to this blog to help you all keep track, and I will be updating it regularly as things confirm / get added. But in case you don't feel like clicking over, here's some details on some upcoming events:
April 20th 6-9pm (hey--that's TONIGHT! OMG!)Pomona College, Room SCC-217The 5 Cs Out Loud is hosting a special dinner and workshop, where I will be giving a lecture on "Creating a Killer Plot!" (and *trying* to sound as smart as possible. If I can't pull that off I promise lots of Shannon Shame). The dinner is only for club members, but the workshop is open to anyone. Just email ahead of time so they know to have enough chairs. For more details, or to let them know you're coming, contact christinabejjani (at) gmail (dot) com
April 21LA Times Festival of BooksI am there as a fan, not officially--and I'm not sure which panels I'm hitting, but I'll be "around". So if you spot a giggling blonde girl feel free to come over and say Hi!
Saturday, May 19th 2-5 pm Bridge to Books Still getting all the details on exactly what I'll be doing, but I'll be there for sure and will update as soon as I know more. You're also welcome to contact the organizers--contact info is on their website.
June 4-8 Book Expo of America I'm still getting all the details on my schedule, so I don't know all the where/whens yet--but I will BE THERE. All week, in fact. And so far I can confirm that you WILL be able to get KEEPER ARCs there--and I will even be doing an autographing session on Tuesday, June 5th from 10:30 am - 11:00 am. You can find details on that HERE. I'll also be doing a meet and greet with some of my fellow Apocalypsies on Tuesday from 3-5pm. Details on all of that can be found HERE. And lots more to come on this. There are several other events I'll be at, but I don't have all the final info yet.
June 21-25ALA Annual Summer ConferenceOne of my favorite conferences of the year and I'm SO excited it's in Anaheim this time. You will find me stalking all the booths and seeing all the people and probably crashing all the parties. More details to come as I have them.
July 11-15Comic-Con San DiegoI'm not sure if I'm doing anything officially, but I'm SO there (though maybe NOT in costume this year...) You'll for sure find me at all the book panels and hunting for Batman swaggish things.
Hee, I love how many times I had to say, "I don't know the details". What can I say--let's call it a work in progress. And like I said, more details WILL be added as I know them.
Plus there are lots of other exciting things in the works too (including the launch parties for KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES--and yes, I said parties plural). But all that stuff is still very much in the planning stages, so I will update you on all of that once I have a few more things ironed out. Check back soon!
And if you think/know you're going to be at any of these places PLEASE let me know so I can try to keep an eye out for you. Though fair warning: I tend to be a bit overwhelmed/oblivious in crowds, so there's a very very VERY good possibility I will walk right past you without noticing. If I do, you're welcome to shout things at me. Or throw things at me. Just nothing sharp please. Or sticky. :)
April 18, 2012
In which I decide to be positive...
I'm having one of those weeks. You know the kind--where everything takes 10 times longer than its supposed to in a week that was already packed with too much until it all piles on top of you and you just feel like:
Or maybe...
But instead of using this post to whine and stress and panic (I know, I'm sure you're all very disappointed about that) I thought I'd try positivity for a change. Because the thing is, I have a lot of freakishly amazing things to be grateful for.
So really, what I want to do is focus on a few things I'm especially grateful for this week--in no particular order:
The Elixir of Life!I know you Coke fans will probably disagree with me on this--but I'm sorry, Pepsi is basically the nectar of the gods. (though in a pinch I will settle for "the other") And for those of you who want to discuss calories and chemicals and teeth staining and whatnot I gladly plug my ears and say LALALALALALA I can't hear you!
The Hubs!(Yes, I listed Pepsi before my husband--I said this was random order!!!)He may have questionable taste in clothing, but the part of him that is far happier in a Shredder sweatshirt than anything else is the same part that allows him to just laugh at me when I'm freaking out and then somehow get me to laugh too. Like yesterday, when he bought me new squinkies. Bless his immature heart.
The Cuteness!Totally giving away my crazy cat lady-ness here, but on a stressful day there are few things better than stopping to rub a kitty tummy. Or three. (okay, five--but two live outside DON'T JUDGE ME THEY WERE ALL RESCUES!) I'm also fairly certain the sound of a purr is healing to the soul. So yes, they shed and they have hairballs and they insist on being pet at the most inopportune times and they have the worst breath EVER. But thank goodness for those fluffy cute things who cuddle with me when I'm having a bad day. I almost want to get another.
Team Shannon!Um... they don't know I call them that (and if they did they'd probably ask to resign) but they are the people who calm the crazy. Whether it be fielding all my panicky emails/chats or wading through my messy pages or sending me hilariously awesome care packages like this one, they are the ones who give me that boost I need to keep going.
Without all of that I would probably be curled up in the fetal position waiting for the Crazy Wagon to come take me away today. But I'm not! (though that would probably be safer for the world...)
And some of you may be noticing that there is a decided lack of cupcake gratitude in this post--to which I say: YOU'RE RIGHT!!!!!!!! That is the secret survival key I've supremely overlooked. So clearly I need to correct that right now.
*races for the bakery for Emergency Relief Cupcakes*
Or maybe...
But instead of using this post to whine and stress and panic (I know, I'm sure you're all very disappointed about that) I thought I'd try positivity for a change. Because the thing is, I have a lot of freakishly amazing things to be grateful for.
So really, what I want to do is focus on a few things I'm especially grateful for this week--in no particular order:
The Elixir of Life!I know you Coke fans will probably disagree with me on this--but I'm sorry, Pepsi is basically the nectar of the gods. (though in a pinch I will settle for "the other") And for those of you who want to discuss calories and chemicals and teeth staining and whatnot I gladly plug my ears and say LALALALALALA I can't hear you!
The Hubs!(Yes, I listed Pepsi before my husband--I said this was random order!!!)He may have questionable taste in clothing, but the part of him that is far happier in a Shredder sweatshirt than anything else is the same part that allows him to just laugh at me when I'm freaking out and then somehow get me to laugh too. Like yesterday, when he bought me new squinkies. Bless his immature heart.
The Cuteness!Totally giving away my crazy cat lady-ness here, but on a stressful day there are few things better than stopping to rub a kitty tummy. Or three. (okay, five--but two live outside DON'T JUDGE ME THEY WERE ALL RESCUES!) I'm also fairly certain the sound of a purr is healing to the soul. So yes, they shed and they have hairballs and they insist on being pet at the most inopportune times and they have the worst breath EVER. But thank goodness for those fluffy cute things who cuddle with me when I'm having a bad day. I almost want to get another.
Team Shannon!Um... they don't know I call them that (and if they did they'd probably ask to resign) but they are the people who calm the crazy. Whether it be fielding all my panicky emails/chats or wading through my messy pages or sending me hilariously awesome care packages like this one, they are the ones who give me that boost I need to keep going.
Without all of that I would probably be curled up in the fetal position waiting for the Crazy Wagon to come take me away today. But I'm not! (though that would probably be safer for the world...)
And some of you may be noticing that there is a decided lack of cupcake gratitude in this post--to which I say: YOU'RE RIGHT!!!!!!!! That is the secret survival key I've supremely overlooked. So clearly I need to correct that right now.
*races for the bakery for Emergency Relief Cupcakes*
April 16, 2012
Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: All the incredible links!
*Sigh* Yet another week where I haven't had time to read. (UGH! *stares at pretty, unread books* *stares more*)
So once again I have no MMGM feature of my own. But fortunately, there's still lots of awesome middle grade love going on today.
In fact, I want to take a second to thank all of you for supporting the meme and spreading the love for so many amazing books. I'm blown away by how many bloggers participate and it's so awesome to see middle grade getting a bigger presence in the blogosphere. Basically--you guys rock! And I promise I will be back on track as soon as book 2 is done. In the meantime, check out these awesome links:
If you would like to join in the MMGM fun, all you have to do is blog about a middle grade book you love (contests, author interviews and whatnot also count--but are most definitely not required) and email me the title of the book you're featuring and a link to your blog. (Make sure you put MMGM or Marvelous Middle Grade Monday in the subject line so I see it)
**NOTE**I used to not have a cut-off time for adding links to the post, but with how insane my schedule is right now, if you don't email me by Sunday evening (usually around 11pm PST is when I put the links together) I can't guarantee I'll have a chance to add you. BUT, you are welcome to add your link in the comments on this post so people can find you!
**Also: Thanks to a boatload of spam--and my missing a bunch of important emails because of it--I'm now using a new email address. So make sure you update your records because I'm slowly phasing the other address out. New email is: SWMessenger (at) hotmail (dot) com. Hopefully now I won't miss some of your MMGMs, like I have been.**
So once again I have no MMGM feature of my own. But fortunately, there's still lots of awesome middle grade love going on today.
In fact, I want to take a second to thank all of you for supporting the meme and spreading the love for so many amazing books. I'm blown away by how many bloggers participate and it's so awesome to see middle grade getting a bigger presence in the blogosphere. Basically--you guys rock! And I promise I will be back on track as soon as book 2 is done. In the meantime, check out these awesome links:
- The Mundie Moms are now part of the MMGM fun (eee!). Click HERE to see their newest recommendations. And if you aren't also following their Mundie Kids site, get thee over THERE and check out all the awesome!
- The lovely Shannon O'Donnell always has an MMGM ready for you! Click HERE to see what she's featuring this week!
- Karen Yingling also always has some MMGM recommendations for you. This weeks she's cheering for BITTERSWEET SUMMER and BITTERSWEET. Click HERE to see why
- Barbara Watson has a special middle grade review written by an actual middle grader (her daughter). Click HERE to see what she thinks about THE SHIFTER.
- Michelle Isenhoff is featuring THE PENDERWICKS. Click HERE to learn why she thinks it's a 'must-read'.
- Natalie Aguirre is interviewing Ruth McNally Barshaw and GIVING AWAY signed copies of 2 of her Ellie McDoodle books! Click HERE for all the details.
- Laurisa Reyes has a fabulous feature--and a GIVEAWAY--for the adorable NEVERSINK. Click HERE for all the fun.
- Andrea Mack is raving about ICEFALL Click HERE to learn more about it
- Joanne Fritz is celebrating THE MAPMAKER AND THE GHOST with a guest post from the author. Click HERE to read more.
- Jennifer Rumberger is cheering for THE HUMMING ROOM (one of my favorites). Click HERE to see what she thinks.
- Dorine White joins the MMGM fun with a feature on THE BATTLE BEGINS. Click HERE to welcome her to the group!
- Brennan and Meyrick Murphy are championing MEDUSA THE MEAN. Click HERE to see why Meyrick loved it.
- Susan Olson has two recommendations for you this week: TIME FOR ANDREW: A GHOST STORY and THE BOOK OF STORY BEGINNINGS. Click HERE to see more.
- Natalie Dias Lorenzi--another MMGM newcomer--makes her debut with an interview with author Joanne Rocklin. Click HERE to welcome her to the fun!
If you would like to join in the MMGM fun, all you have to do is blog about a middle grade book you love (contests, author interviews and whatnot also count--but are most definitely not required) and email me the title of the book you're featuring and a link to your blog. (Make sure you put MMGM or Marvelous Middle Grade Monday in the subject line so I see it)
**NOTE**I used to not have a cut-off time for adding links to the post, but with how insane my schedule is right now, if you don't email me by Sunday evening (usually around 11pm PST is when I put the links together) I can't guarantee I'll have a chance to add you. BUT, you are welcome to add your link in the comments on this post so people can find you!
**Also: Thanks to a boatload of spam--and my missing a bunch of important emails because of it--I'm now using a new email address. So make sure you update your records because I'm slowly phasing the other address out. New email is: SWMessenger (at) hotmail (dot) com. Hopefully now I won't miss some of your MMGMs, like I have been.**
April 15, 2012
Critique Winners
Hey! Having a crazy weekend so I'm just dropping in quickly to announce the winners of the 25 page critiques from the lovely Faith (aka the Book Babe). There are two lucky winners this time, and they are:
Rebecca (RivkaBelle)
and
John Sankovich
Yay!
*tosses confetti*
If that's you, email Faith at iamthebookbabe (at) gmail (dot) com to arrange your critique. Like I said in the post, she most likely won't have time to actually critique your pages until June, but you'll still want to let her know you won and made sure she's expecting your pages. And yay, now you have time to revise before you send. :)
Hope everyone's having a good weekend. See you back tomorrow!
Rebecca (RivkaBelle)
and
John Sankovich
Yay!
*tosses confetti*
If that's you, email Faith at iamthebookbabe (at) gmail (dot) com to arrange your critique. Like I said in the post, she most likely won't have time to actually critique your pages until June, but you'll still want to let her know you won and made sure she's expecting your pages. And yay, now you have time to revise before you send. :)
Hope everyone's having a good weekend. See you back tomorrow!
April 13, 2012
The Great Critique Partner Question!
Since I'm so hopelessly behind on email (my inbox has reached nightmare-inducing levels) I'm trying to tackle some of the questions that keep popping up, that way I'm answering all of them at once! And these are two that show up a LOT:
Do I need Critique Partners?How do I find them?
The answer to the first question is easy: YES.
Yes, I personally feel that you need CPs. I know a few published authors who work without them--but they sorta fall into that same strange crack as the people who write their book in like a week or sell their novel after like a day on sub. The rest of us live in reality. And the reality is, you need CPs--especially when you're just starting out. My writing went to a whole other level once I had people who could point out what I was doing wrong--not to mention having people to turn to when a scene isn't working or a plot thread needs brainstorming is a priceless, priceless thing. So yes. Get a CP. Get 2 or 3 if you can.
Which inevitably leads to the follow-up question of: How do I find them? And that, unfortunately, I don't have an easy answer for.
Honestly? It's HARD. I think that's why so many people keep asking if they even need them, because it's so hard to find them. And I remember feeling the exact same way.
Because here's the thing: you're not just looking for any writer willing to read your pages and offer suggestions. You're looking for a writer who not only has valuable suggestions to offer (cause uh... not all suggestions are good ones) but who also "gets" your story and what you're trying to do--and who you get along with well enough on a personal level that you can accept their critique without getting your feathers too ruffled. And THAT is a tall order.
So all of that being said--how do you do it? How do you find CPs?
Basically, you have to put yourself "out there" and LOOK.
I know some people have found them through conferences, or flyers posted at their library or on the bulletin board at a nearby college. If you're looking for "local" CPs who you could meet with in person, that's probably the best way to go. But I think the majority of us prefer to have a bit wider of a pool to choose from, so we find our CPs online.
Sadly, theperfecrCPforyou.com doesn't exist (if only...) but there are several forum websites where people connect with other writers, like Absolutewrite.com and VerlaKay--even WriteOnCon when the conference is going. And I know lots of people who've had great success with posting in there that they need a CP and seeing who responds. I've even seen bloggers do "CP Matchmaking" or seen people post "ads" on their blogs looking for CPs. Whatever works for you.
Personally, I found my CPs through the blogosphere. I searched for other bloggers who looked like they were at the same "place" as I was--i.e. serious about writing but still learning--and then spent a few weeks getting to know them through their posts and emails. And once I'd decided that they *might* be a good fit, I proposed the idea of exchanging pages--and squealed with glee with they agreed. And that--as they say--was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
(side note: a lot of time the tendency people have is to reach out to the writers who are already agented/published, wanting their experience--which I get, but ... usually those writers already have CPs they're working with--plus deadlines and publishing obligations--so they usually don't have time to read for anyone else)
Basically, it's hard. And definitely not an overnight process. But it's SO worth it. Do not let the fact that its hard scare you off from trying. Trust me--good CPs are worth their weight in gold.
That's pretty much all I have to say on the subject--other than a few random pointers for making the CP process a bit smoother:
Don't ask them to read your pages without offering to read theirsStart by only exchanging a small batch of pages, rather than entire MSs, that way you can make sure you're both a good fit for each other and that you can work with their notesCome to some sort of agreed upon schedule for when you'll each be returning pages with feedback. Obviously you both need to be reasonable and flexible--but exchanging of notes should also be mutual, so make sure you're getting critiques back to them in a timely fashion and that they're doing the same for you.If you don't like their notes, don't be afraid to politely say it's not working out. Not all people have the same vision for a project / can work together. HOWEVER...Remember, you're working with a CP because you want to grow as a writer--not because you want someone to pet you on the head and tell you everything is perfect. A good CP will both praise and push you, and you need to let them, not argue with / ignore them.
Okay, I think that pretty much covers it. Hope that helps!
HAPPY FRIDAY!
Do I need Critique Partners?How do I find them?
The answer to the first question is easy: YES.
Yes, I personally feel that you need CPs. I know a few published authors who work without them--but they sorta fall into that same strange crack as the people who write their book in like a week or sell their novel after like a day on sub. The rest of us live in reality. And the reality is, you need CPs--especially when you're just starting out. My writing went to a whole other level once I had people who could point out what I was doing wrong--not to mention having people to turn to when a scene isn't working or a plot thread needs brainstorming is a priceless, priceless thing. So yes. Get a CP. Get 2 or 3 if you can.
Which inevitably leads to the follow-up question of: How do I find them? And that, unfortunately, I don't have an easy answer for.
Honestly? It's HARD. I think that's why so many people keep asking if they even need them, because it's so hard to find them. And I remember feeling the exact same way.
Because here's the thing: you're not just looking for any writer willing to read your pages and offer suggestions. You're looking for a writer who not only has valuable suggestions to offer (cause uh... not all suggestions are good ones) but who also "gets" your story and what you're trying to do--and who you get along with well enough on a personal level that you can accept their critique without getting your feathers too ruffled. And THAT is a tall order.
So all of that being said--how do you do it? How do you find CPs?
Basically, you have to put yourself "out there" and LOOK.
I know some people have found them through conferences, or flyers posted at their library or on the bulletin board at a nearby college. If you're looking for "local" CPs who you could meet with in person, that's probably the best way to go. But I think the majority of us prefer to have a bit wider of a pool to choose from, so we find our CPs online.
Sadly, theperfecrCPforyou.com doesn't exist (if only...) but there are several forum websites where people connect with other writers, like Absolutewrite.com and VerlaKay--even WriteOnCon when the conference is going. And I know lots of people who've had great success with posting in there that they need a CP and seeing who responds. I've even seen bloggers do "CP Matchmaking" or seen people post "ads" on their blogs looking for CPs. Whatever works for you.
Personally, I found my CPs through the blogosphere. I searched for other bloggers who looked like they were at the same "place" as I was--i.e. serious about writing but still learning--and then spent a few weeks getting to know them through their posts and emails. And once I'd decided that they *might* be a good fit, I proposed the idea of exchanging pages--and squealed with glee with they agreed. And that--as they say--was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
(side note: a lot of time the tendency people have is to reach out to the writers who are already agented/published, wanting their experience--which I get, but ... usually those writers already have CPs they're working with--plus deadlines and publishing obligations--so they usually don't have time to read for anyone else)
Basically, it's hard. And definitely not an overnight process. But it's SO worth it. Do not let the fact that its hard scare you off from trying. Trust me--good CPs are worth their weight in gold.
That's pretty much all I have to say on the subject--other than a few random pointers for making the CP process a bit smoother:
Don't ask them to read your pages without offering to read theirsStart by only exchanging a small batch of pages, rather than entire MSs, that way you can make sure you're both a good fit for each other and that you can work with their notesCome to some sort of agreed upon schedule for when you'll each be returning pages with feedback. Obviously you both need to be reasonable and flexible--but exchanging of notes should also be mutual, so make sure you're getting critiques back to them in a timely fashion and that they're doing the same for you.If you don't like their notes, don't be afraid to politely say it's not working out. Not all people have the same vision for a project / can work together. HOWEVER...Remember, you're working with a CP because you want to grow as a writer--not because you want someone to pet you on the head and tell you everything is perfect. A good CP will both praise and push you, and you need to let them, not argue with / ignore them.
Okay, I think that pretty much covers it. Hope that helps!
HAPPY FRIDAY!
April 11, 2012
The Book Babe Spotlight: Author Chris Gall--With a Critique giveaway!
You guys know the Book Babe by now, right? The supremely awesome Faith?
If you don't you SHOULD. She's not only the most amazing mentor and cheerleader EVER--and offers incredible editing services (WHICH SHE IS GIVING AWAY BELOW!!!!)--she is also an AWESOME source for book recommendations. In fact, I discovered several of my favorite authors because of Faith--and nothing makes me happier than one of her gushy emails telling me about a book I HAVE to read.
So Faith occasionally puts together spotlights on some of her favorite authors for me to post for you guys, so she can tell you herself why you need to discover these incredible authors.
Here's her latest Spotlight:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Chris Gall: Artist Extraordinaire!
My memory of seeing Chris Gall's first picture book, America the Beautiful is a vivid one. The minute I laid eyes on the artwork, I was an instant fan. It was stunning, eye-catching and yet another reminder of why I LOVE picture books.
That was 2004.
I had to wait 2 agonizing years to see another book from him. I was sure he couldn't top the first one. But he did, not only with illustrations but with the story itself. Dear Fish was charming, witty and even more captivating than his first book. It was also educational since Chris accurately depicted over 30 species of fish. Every time it was used for our weekly story-time at the bookstore I worked at, it drew oohs and aahs from parents and children alike. Yet again, I thought there was no way Chris could top himself.
And then, in 2009 came the book Dinotrux. Dinotrux is, and always will be, on my list of All-Time-Favorite-Books-Ever. It's about--you guessed it--Dinosaur Trucks! The story is funny, the illustrations are as wonderful as ever and the dinosaur/truck combos still make me smile. The sequel, Revenge of the Dinotrux will be published in May and is just as wonderful and amusing a book as Dinotrux.
You may be asking yourself "What is so extraordinary about some dude who illustrates picture books?" To which I would say "Aha! He does more than just picture books!" Chris recently collaborated with Jim Meehan (Meehan owns and operates PDT, a famous East Village speakeasy); to do a cocktail book that is so wonderful and creative, I can't even describe it. I am not even a drinker and I bought a copy as soon as it was available just so I could look at the illustrations! Chris also designed the poster for the 2009 Rose Bowl, and has had his art published inTime Magazine, NYT, Washington Post and other publications, too numerous to name. And, he was commissioned by the city of New York to do art for the subways! I know right? He totally rocks!
Not only is Chris a great artist and creative story teller, he is also one of the nicest people in the world. And, if that was not all, his school visit presentations are some of the best I have ever seen. Ever!
Wait, am I gushing too much?
Anyway, I suggest you check out his WEBSITE and marvel at the fabulous amazing awesomeness that is Chris Gall.
Can you tell how much I adore him?!
Happy Reading/Viewing!
~Faith
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As someone who has met Chris--only briefly though--and seen many of his books I can testify that Faith is right about everything she just said.
But right--I know what you're thinking: YOU PROMISED US A CRITIQUE GIVEAWAY. And you're right. I have one--two, technically. Since Faith's is so committed to helping other writers, she asked if it would be okay to give away critiques with this post--to which I was like, DO YOU EVEN HAVE TO ASK??? Of Course!
So two lucky commenters will each win a 25-page critique from Faith*--and trust me, you want to win this prize. I have Faith read all of my manuscripts because her notes are absolutely priceless. To enter, make sure you leave a comment on this post by 11:59 pm pacific time on Saturday, April 14th. I'll draw two random winners and post their names on Sunday, April 15th. (That's it--that's all their is to it. Though I *recommend* you also follow my blog in some form, since it's the only way you can make sure you don't miss when I post the winners. #justsayin')
Ready? And.... GO!
*Due to Faith's schedule, the winners will most likely get their pages back in June. But that works in your favor because it gives you time to clean them up a bit more before you even send them off!
If you don't you SHOULD. She's not only the most amazing mentor and cheerleader EVER--and offers incredible editing services (WHICH SHE IS GIVING AWAY BELOW!!!!)--she is also an AWESOME source for book recommendations. In fact, I discovered several of my favorite authors because of Faith--and nothing makes me happier than one of her gushy emails telling me about a book I HAVE to read.
So Faith occasionally puts together spotlights on some of her favorite authors for me to post for you guys, so she can tell you herself why you need to discover these incredible authors.
Here's her latest Spotlight:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Chris Gall: Artist Extraordinaire!
My memory of seeing Chris Gall's first picture book, America the Beautiful is a vivid one. The minute I laid eyes on the artwork, I was an instant fan. It was stunning, eye-catching and yet another reminder of why I LOVE picture books.
That was 2004.
I had to wait 2 agonizing years to see another book from him. I was sure he couldn't top the first one. But he did, not only with illustrations but with the story itself. Dear Fish was charming, witty and even more captivating than his first book. It was also educational since Chris accurately depicted over 30 species of fish. Every time it was used for our weekly story-time at the bookstore I worked at, it drew oohs and aahs from parents and children alike. Yet again, I thought there was no way Chris could top himself.
And then, in 2009 came the book Dinotrux. Dinotrux is, and always will be, on my list of All-Time-Favorite-Books-Ever. It's about--you guessed it--Dinosaur Trucks! The story is funny, the illustrations are as wonderful as ever and the dinosaur/truck combos still make me smile. The sequel, Revenge of the Dinotrux will be published in May and is just as wonderful and amusing a book as Dinotrux.
You may be asking yourself "What is so extraordinary about some dude who illustrates picture books?" To which I would say "Aha! He does more than just picture books!" Chris recently collaborated with Jim Meehan (Meehan owns and operates PDT, a famous East Village speakeasy); to do a cocktail book that is so wonderful and creative, I can't even describe it. I am not even a drinker and I bought a copy as soon as it was available just so I could look at the illustrations! Chris also designed the poster for the 2009 Rose Bowl, and has had his art published inTime Magazine, NYT, Washington Post and other publications, too numerous to name. And, he was commissioned by the city of New York to do art for the subways! I know right? He totally rocks!
Not only is Chris a great artist and creative story teller, he is also one of the nicest people in the world. And, if that was not all, his school visit presentations are some of the best I have ever seen. Ever!
Wait, am I gushing too much?
Anyway, I suggest you check out his WEBSITE and marvel at the fabulous amazing awesomeness that is Chris Gall.
Can you tell how much I adore him?!
Happy Reading/Viewing!
~Faith
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As someone who has met Chris--only briefly though--and seen many of his books I can testify that Faith is right about everything she just said.
But right--I know what you're thinking: YOU PROMISED US A CRITIQUE GIVEAWAY. And you're right. I have one--two, technically. Since Faith's is so committed to helping other writers, she asked if it would be okay to give away critiques with this post--to which I was like, DO YOU EVEN HAVE TO ASK??? Of Course!
So two lucky commenters will each win a 25-page critique from Faith*--and trust me, you want to win this prize. I have Faith read all of my manuscripts because her notes are absolutely priceless. To enter, make sure you leave a comment on this post by 11:59 pm pacific time on Saturday, April 14th. I'll draw two random winners and post their names on Sunday, April 15th. (That's it--that's all their is to it. Though I *recommend* you also follow my blog in some form, since it's the only way you can make sure you don't miss when I post the winners. #justsayin')
Ready? And.... GO!
*Due to Faith's schedule, the winners will most likely get their pages back in June. But that works in your favor because it gives you time to clean them up a bit more before you even send them off!
April 9, 2012
Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: All the awesome links!
Yikes, another week with no MMGM--SORRY! I am hoping to get back on track soon. But, in the meantime, check out these amazing MMGMs going on today
(you guys are all so awesome for always supporting the meme!)
If you would like to join in the MMGM fun, all you have to do is blog about a middle grade book you love (contests, author interviews and whatnot also count--but are most definitely not required) and email me the title of the book you're featuring and a link to your blog. (Make sure you put MMGM or Marvelous Middle Grade Monday in the subject line so I see it)
**NOTE**I used to not have a cut-off time for adding links to the post, but with how insane my schedule is right now, if you don't email me by Sunday evening (usually around 11pm PST is when I put the links together) I can't guarantee I'll have a chance to add you. BUT, you are welcome to add your link in the comments on this post so people can find you!
**Also: Thanks to a boatload of spam--and my missing a bunch of important emails because of it--I'm now using a new email address. So make sure you update your records because I'm slowly phasing the other address out. New email is: SWMessenger (at) hotmail (dot) com. Hopefully now I won't miss some of your MMGMs, like I have been.**
(you guys are all so awesome for always supporting the meme!)
- The Mundie Moms are now part of the MMGM fun (eee!). Click HERE to see their newest recommendations. And if you aren't also following their Mundie Kids site, get thee over THERE and check out all the awesome!
- The lovely Shannon O'Donnell always has an MMGM ready for you! Click HERE to see what she's featuring this week!
- Michelle Isenhoff takes us back in time to MY SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN. Click HERE to learn more about this classic
- Natalie Aguirre is interviewing Jennifer Nielson and GIVING AWAY a copy of THE FALSE PRINCE! Click HERE for all the details.
- Temre Beltz joins the MMGM fun with a feature on LOVE, AUBREY. Click HERE to see why she thinks you'll love it.
- Brennan and Meyrick Murphy are in love with FAKE MUSTACHE. Click HERE to see why they enjoyed it.
- Chelane Green also joins the MMGM fun with a feature on ZOE THE FEARLESS. Click HERE to see her review!
- Barbara Watson is championing THREE TIMES LUCKY--with an ARC GIVEAWAY! Click HERE for details!
- Michael Gettel Gilmarten is highlighting TUA AND THE ELEPHANT. Click HERE to see what he thought of it.
If you would like to join in the MMGM fun, all you have to do is blog about a middle grade book you love (contests, author interviews and whatnot also count--but are most definitely not required) and email me the title of the book you're featuring and a link to your blog. (Make sure you put MMGM or Marvelous Middle Grade Monday in the subject line so I see it)
**NOTE**I used to not have a cut-off time for adding links to the post, but with how insane my schedule is right now, if you don't email me by Sunday evening (usually around 11pm PST is when I put the links together) I can't guarantee I'll have a chance to add you. BUT, you are welcome to add your link in the comments on this post so people can find you!
**Also: Thanks to a boatload of spam--and my missing a bunch of important emails because of it--I'm now using a new email address. So make sure you update your records because I'm slowly phasing the other address out. New email is: SWMessenger (at) hotmail (dot) com. Hopefully now I won't miss some of your MMGMs, like I have been.**
April 6, 2012
See Shannon ... Teach?
Believe it or not, I've been asked to teach.
I know, right?
Clearly they haven't been reading this blog, or they'd realize I will spend at least part of my lecture talking about cupcakes. But for the other, non-cupcake related part I'll be talking about one of the things I do actually know *something* about. Here's the flyer:
In case the graphic isn't loading right, here's the details:
Friday, April 20th 6-9pmPomona College, Room SCC-217Subject: Creating a Killer PlotSpeaker: ME
The dinner is only for club members, but the workshop from 7-9 is open to anyone. So if you live in SoCal, and want to watch me try to sound smart (and fill the awkward silences with in-depth cupcake discussion) feel free to join us. I promise I will do my best to make it worth while. (*dusts off tap shoes* *practices jazz hands*)
I *believe* the workshop is free--but don't quote me on that (I'm just the speaker, what do I know?) and if you decide to go, make sure you email them ahead of time so they know to have enough chairs:
christinabejjani (at) gmail (dot) com
And for those of you who can't go, I will try to eventually put together a blog post on the same topic. So if there's anything you've ever wanted to know about plotting please, feel free to ask away in the comments. I will definitely do my best to answer. Or... ramble about cupcakes. One of the two.
Hope to see some of you there!
Have a great weekend everyone!
I know, right?
Clearly they haven't been reading this blog, or they'd realize I will spend at least part of my lecture talking about cupcakes. But for the other, non-cupcake related part I'll be talking about one of the things I do actually know *something* about. Here's the flyer:
In case the graphic isn't loading right, here's the details:
Friday, April 20th 6-9pmPomona College, Room SCC-217Subject: Creating a Killer PlotSpeaker: ME
The dinner is only for club members, but the workshop from 7-9 is open to anyone. So if you live in SoCal, and want to watch me try to sound smart (and fill the awkward silences with in-depth cupcake discussion) feel free to join us. I promise I will do my best to make it worth while. (*dusts off tap shoes* *practices jazz hands*)
I *believe* the workshop is free--but don't quote me on that (I'm just the speaker, what do I know?) and if you decide to go, make sure you email them ahead of time so they know to have enough chairs:
christinabejjani (at) gmail (dot) com
And for those of you who can't go, I will try to eventually put together a blog post on the same topic. So if there's anything you've ever wanted to know about plotting please, feel free to ask away in the comments. I will definitely do my best to answer. Or... ramble about cupcakes. One of the two.
Hope to see some of you there!
Have a great weekend everyone!
