Annie Cardi's Blog, page 43
July 17, 2013
Links Galore
Lots of mid-week link goodness:
Take some pointers about writing thrilling stories from the guy who brought you ghosts, revenge, and wacky sibling hyjinks.
Chris Crutcher’s graduation speech to a charter school includes “Do not use the word “perfect,” and “Do not root for the Washington Redskins.”
Excellent post about how exciting/terrifying the debut process is. Will be rereading this one a lot.
Surprised not to see Mango Street on this list of authors’ favorite fictional streets. (I’d have to choose Jellicoe Road.)
Even quiet stories need stakes.
Judy Blume on being categorized as YA, Friday Night Lights, and where you can find the Tiger Eyes movie.
I had no idea about how important preorders are.
Yes, it is ironic.
New England fan of good books and good music? Stop by Books on the Square on Saturday to hear about Bruce Springsteen and the history of rock.
It’s your last chance to ask me questions for my very first Q&A video! Example topics I’m prepared to talk about: writing, reading, gifs, chocolate, singing incorrect song lyrics.
July 16, 2013
New Title Reveal!
One of the first things I learned about being a debut author was “Don’t get attached to your title.” Even if it sounds perfect to you, it’s still part of the book’s editorial journey and, just like particular scenes or characters, is very likely to change*.
That change was part of my book’s journey. I’m happy to announce my brand new title…
…
…dramatic pause…
…
…suspense…
…drum roll…
THE CHANCE YOU WON’T RETURN
Tada!
I’m feeling really good about the new title, and I think it suggests a lot of the themes/emotions from the book–loss and hope and grief and uncertainty and searching. I really liked Queen of the Air, but ultimately I think The Chance You Won’t Return hits the vibe of the book way more, and feels more like YA.
With any luck, that means lots more reveals to come. (Covers! Blurbs! More kittens!) Major thanks to my wonderful editor and agent for working through the new title process with me; you guys are the best!
*Check out where some classic titles came from; one famous book was originally called Something That Happened.
July 15, 2013
Poetry for Office Survival
It’s mid-July. A lot of people are on vacation. Going to work can feel like you’re in a barren wasteland of tumbleweeds. But this Wednesday, you don’t have to battle it out alone with the freezing office AC–it’s Take Your Poet to Work Day! Cut out a picture of your favorite poet, decorate him/her, attach it to a popsicle stick, and take your poet-puppet to work.
My work poet has to be T.S. Eliot:
Whenever I’m shuffling on public transportation with a lot of other commuters, I think about The Waste Land. Particularly:
Unreal City,
Under the brown fog of a winter dawn,
A crowd flowed over London Bridge, so many,
I had not thought death had undone so many.
Sighs, short and infrequent, were exhaled,
And each man fixed his eyes before his feet.
Flowed up the hill and down King William Street,
To where Saint Mary Woolnoth kept the hours
With a dead sound on the final stroke of nine.
If anyone understands how necessary that extra cup of coffee is, it’s Eliot. My suggestions for Take Your Poet to Work Day activities:
Write haiku about your favorite office supplies.
Print out sonnets and put them in random mailboxes.
Instead of listening to streaming radio, crank up your favorite poetry reading recordings.
Take meeting notes in iambic pentameter.
Have fun with your punctuation, ala e.e. cummings.
Share your ideas for Take Your Poet to Work Day in the comments.
(H/T bookshelves of doom)
July 12, 2013
Friday Fifteen
Happy Friday, everyone! Somehow it feels like a surprise this week, like my brain is still on Thursday. But I’m all too happy for it to be Friday and to be sharing this week’s roundup of book reviews in fifteen words or less.
1. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
As a redheaded Anne, I so connect to this book. Plus Matthew makes me cry.
2. The Devil in Massachusetts by Marion Lena Starkey
Read for a 7th grade history report. Not sure if it’s entirely historically accurate.
3. Sneaking Out (Sweet Valley Twins #5) by Francine Pascal
Jessica sneaks out to a concert, Elizabeth stays home. Suspense?!
4. Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier
Dug it more than I expected to. Vivid portrayal of life in 17th century Holland.
5. Ronald Morgan Goes to Bat by Patricia Reilly Giff
Could understand not being a natural athlete; the ice cream scene particularly appealed to me.
July 11, 2013
Links Galore
Some great links for your afternoon:
At least now we have someone to blame when stuck in seemingly endless revisions.
Need inspiration for your opening? Check out this list of great first lines.
One reason I love YA: it pushes boundaries like gender norms.
Great collection of diversity-related YA links.
Still sad that the Golden Compass film was such a failure, but I’m glad they never tried the rest of the series.
Also sad about the Harper Lee lawsuit. Anyone who can take advantage of an author of this stature while she’s in a compromised state of health is on my hate list.
Even though the idea of being a full-time writer is great, it’s good to remember that keeping a day job might lead to less life stress overall.
My friend Jill talks about changes going on in academia and academic publishing, and why she’s concerned about content.
Great post about why kids join gangs, and why blaming that on “dark” YA novels is absurd.
Awesome infographic about when readers give up on a book.
Attention word nerds: Stephanie found a fun way to challenge your vocab skills.
These summer jams + beach reading + beach house = ideal summer.
July 10, 2013
You’ve Got Questions, I’ve Got Answers
One reason I like blogging is that it’s an easy way to share all the awesome things you find online. Stumble across a cool article? Blog about it! Interesting infographic? Blog about it! Adorable hedgehog video? Oh you better blog about it!
But that means I don’t tend to post a lot about myself, and when I do it’s usually in relation to whatever article/infographic/video I’m posting about. I’ve also been wanting to get in on the world of vlogging, so I figured I’d combine the two issues into a first-ever, brand-new Q&A vlog post!
Which means I need your questions! Specifically, your questions that I might be able to answer. They can be writing-related, reading-related, life-related; they can be serious or silly; they can be easy or hard. A few examples to get you started:
What’s your favorite kind of cookie?
What’s on your summer reading list?
If you could have a superpower, which would it be?
What’s your writing process like?
Feel free to post your questions in the comments and I’ll answer as many as possible–which could really vary, depending on how the first video-creation experience goes. And if you don’t have any questions, I’ll have to talk about my favorite kind of cookie. (Who am I kidding? I’m just going to make a video about cookies.)
July 9, 2013
Books, Ghosts, and “The Stars”
A pop-up book art project tribute to Jukebox the Ghost? YES PLEASE.
Jukebox the Ghost is also the unofficial soundtrack artist to one of my future projects, so their music has a special place in my heart. And I love this use of an old book in an art project.
(H/T Walt McGough)
July 8, 2013
Don’t Hate Boo Radley, Hate the Game
In college, my friend a professor whom we all described as the filmmaker version of Shaft. He was a dedicated teacher, a bold and thoughtful filmmaker, and his syllabus included the phrase “Get ya asses to class.” Needless to say, his students loved him.
Thug Notes has a similar approach to the canon of English literature. Sparky Sweets, PhD recaps the plot of classic novels and dives into the major themes of the books. For example, his take on To Kill a Mockingbird:
Even cooler? In the Youtube comments, people are clamoring for Sweets to tackle other works of English literature. Most badass way to get people involved in literature ever.
(via Book Riot)
July 5, 2013
Friday Fifteen
Happy Friday, guys! Let’s get this holiday weekend kicked off with some fifteen-word (or fewer) book reviews:
1. How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr
Unsure about the dual narrators initially, but both Jill and Mandy were real and distinct.
2. Blue Ginger: East Meets West Cooking with Ming Tsai by Ming Tsai, Arthur Boehm
Interesting recipes with well-balanced flavors. Probably not for a beginner cook.
3. Enna Burning by Shannon Hale
With great (fire) power comes great responsibility. Nice look at the costs of war.
4. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
First chapter is arresting. Wish I’d been as captivated by the rest.
5. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle’s Magic by Betty MacDonald
The “Thought-You-Saiders” cracked me up. First memory of a book making me laugh like that.
July 4, 2013
Revolutionary Reading for the Fourth of July
Happy Fourth of July, everyone! One reason I like living in New England is that Revolutionary War history is all around. From the Old North Bridge in Concord, to the Granary Burying Ground on Tremont Street, to the Bunker Hill Monument, the American revolution still feels very much like a part of the area.
Me at the Old North Bridge.
Also, one of my favorite things is to see historical re-enactors/tour leaders shopping for groceries or riding the T in colonial garb. History lives!
Maybe you don’t live in a city featuring tour guides in historical garb. Fear not! In case you’re looking to add a little Revolutionary War-era historical children’s/YA literature to your Independence Day, I’ve got a few suggestions:
The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
My mom read this poem aloud to my brother and me when I was around seven or eight. It’s not exactly historically accurate (sorry, William Dawes!), but it’s a fun way to introduce kids to an exciting night in American history.
Felicity: An American Girl by Valerie Tripp
Before we started really learning about the American Revolution at school, I read about it in the Felicity books. Again, maybe not the most historically accurate books, but the series is a great way to start kids thinking about what the American Revolution meant for kids living in the colonies at that point.
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party and Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves by M.T. Anderson
The Octavian Nothing series is one I recommend to people who assume that YA is all about vampires and fluffy crushes. Anderson’s writing is stunning, and his story about a slave boy/social experiment who gets caught up in the Revolutionary War is brilliant. Not your typical look at the American Revolution, obviously, but an essential one.
Others to check out:
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
My Brother Sam Is Dead by James Lincoln Collier
The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism & Treachery by Steve Sheinkin
Hope you all have a happy Fourth of July!
