Margo Kelly's Blog, page 30
September 22, 2015
It's Almost Time for #YASH
The YA Scavenger Hunt Fall 2015 is coming: October 1st – 4th
160 authors have signed up to participate in this exciting event! There are eight teams of twenty authors each for the Fall 2015 YASH!
Check out the teams below to see which team is your favorite (but ... seriously ... TEAM TEAL is the one to check out). Also - the pictures below show which books are being featured and given away.
So mark your calendars, and come back on October 1st for the epic YA Scavenger Hunt!
For more information go to www.yash.rocks
160 authors have signed up to participate in this exciting event! There are eight teams of twenty authors each for the Fall 2015 YASH!
Check out the teams below to see which team is your favorite (but ... seriously ... TEAM TEAL is the one to check out). Also - the pictures below show which books are being featured and given away.
So mark your calendars, and come back on October 1st for the epic YA Scavenger Hunt!
For more information go to www.yash.rocks
Utah Humanities #Book Festival
#Utah peeps: mark your calendars! October 10, 2015, I'll be signing books at the Utah Humanities Book Festival at the Viridian Event Center in West Jordan, Utah.
The King's English Bookshop will be selling WHO R U REALLY?, and I'd be happy to personalize the book for you. So stop by and say hello!
The King's English Bookshop will be selling WHO R U REALLY?, and I'd be happy to personalize the book for you. So stop by and say hello!
September 16, 2015
Get #CyberAware this October!
The Internet is essential in our daily lives, and there is a collective effort needed to protect it. October is the twelfth annual National Cyber Security Awareness Month, and the theme for the month is “Our Shared Responsibility.”
We all play a role in making the Internet more secure for everyone. Margo Kelly’s critically-acclaimed and award-winning novel, WHO R U REALLY?, is about a thirteen-year-old girl who falls in love with a guy online; however, when he comes for her, he is not the person she thought he was. A reviewer on Goodreads commented, “This was one of the best online predator books I've ever read. … This is the first one I've read where the predator actually takes the time to "groom" Thea, and her slow release of information actually makes sense, as horrifying as that is.” Margo takes Internet safety very seriously, and she has spoken with many groups—both young and old—about the importance of online security, not only because she wrote a novel about it, but also because she lived through it when her own daughter was nearly abducted by an online predator. NCSAM 2015 is set to take on the digital safety challenges facing most people today with actionable advice and relevant resources. Each week will focus on a unique theme designed to raise awareness across a range of topics: Week 1: October 1-2 Five Years of STOP.THINK.CONNECT: Best Practices for All Digital Citizens Week 2: October 5-9 Creating a Culture of Cybersecurity at Work Week 3: October 13-16 Connected Communities and Families: Staying Protected While We Are Always Connected Week 4: October 19-23 Your Evolving Digital Life (Internet of Things) Week 5: October 26-30 Building the Next Generation of Cyber Professionals If you are interested in having Margo Kelly come and speak to your group about #CyberSecurity “Our Shared Responsibility” email her at margokelly1 @ outlook . com (without the spaces) for more information.
We all play a role in making the Internet more secure for everyone. Margo Kelly’s critically-acclaimed and award-winning novel, WHO R U REALLY?, is about a thirteen-year-old girl who falls in love with a guy online; however, when he comes for her, he is not the person she thought he was. A reviewer on Goodreads commented, “This was one of the best online predator books I've ever read. … This is the first one I've read where the predator actually takes the time to "groom" Thea, and her slow release of information actually makes sense, as horrifying as that is.” Margo takes Internet safety very seriously, and she has spoken with many groups—both young and old—about the importance of online security, not only because she wrote a novel about it, but also because she lived through it when her own daughter was nearly abducted by an online predator. NCSAM 2015 is set to take on the digital safety challenges facing most people today with actionable advice and relevant resources. Each week will focus on a unique theme designed to raise awareness across a range of topics: Week 1: October 1-2 Five Years of STOP.THINK.CONNECT: Best Practices for All Digital Citizens Week 2: October 5-9 Creating a Culture of Cybersecurity at Work Week 3: October 13-16 Connected Communities and Families: Staying Protected While We Are Always Connected Week 4: October 19-23 Your Evolving Digital Life (Internet of Things) Week 5: October 26-30 Building the Next Generation of Cyber Professionals If you are interested in having Margo Kelly come and speak to your group about #CyberSecurity “Our Shared Responsibility” email her at margokelly1 @ outlook . com (without the spaces) for more information.
September 12, 2015
More Terrific Opportunities to Read WHO R U REALLY?!
A huge THANKS to everyone who entered, hosted, or otherwise participated in the recent paperback giveaway for WHO R U REALLY?!
The books have been mailed to the winners:
And most of the bookmarks have been mailed out (I'm still stuffing a few envelopes!):
If you didn't have a chance to enter the contest ... don't fret! Here are some terrific opportunities still available:
MY PUBLISHER IS GIVING AWAY 25 COPIES ON GOODREADS!
TARGET IS SELLING THE PAPERBACK FOR ONLY $7.66!
You can read WHO R U REALLY? for free with AMAZON'S KINDLE UNLIMITED PROGRAM!
You can also still receive signed bookmarks from me. Simply email me with your mailing address, and request up to five bookmarks! margokelly1 @ outlook . com (without the spaces included). If you're a librarian, and you'd like a stack of bookmarks - just let me know!
Happy reading, and thank you for your continued support!
The books have been mailed to the winners:
And most of the bookmarks have been mailed out (I'm still stuffing a few envelopes!):
If you didn't have a chance to enter the contest ... don't fret! Here are some terrific opportunities still available:
MY PUBLISHER IS GIVING AWAY 25 COPIES ON GOODREADS!
TARGET IS SELLING THE PAPERBACK FOR ONLY $7.66!
You can read WHO R U REALLY? for free with AMAZON'S KINDLE UNLIMITED PROGRAM!
You can also still receive signed bookmarks from me. Simply email me with your mailing address, and request up to five bookmarks! margokelly1 @ outlook . com (without the spaces included). If you're a librarian, and you'd like a stack of bookmarks - just let me know!
Happy reading, and thank you for your continued support!
September 8, 2015
Best #Movie I've Seen in a Long Time!
If you love movies that are well written, well acted, and a freaking rollercoaster ride of emotions ... you simply must go and see
Once I Was a Beehive
.
It's a movie about a sixteen-year-old girl, Lane, who must deal with the death of her father, and she is forced to deal with it sooner than she wants when her mother decides to remarry. While her mom and new step-dad are off on their honeymoon, Lane stays with members of the extended step-family and through a turn of events, she ends up at a summer camp. There she meets a wide range of characters including Phoebe (who deals daily with her own anxiety disorder) and camp leaders (who are a bit overzealous). As Lane begins to connect with the girls at camp, she learns lessons that help her find her own path to recovery.
Now if you have ever attended summer camp -- whether it was a church camp, girl scout camp, or a school sponsored camp -- you know there is a magic that happens during that time at camp where growth and bonding occurs. This movie brings out those cherished moments.
I usually don't like sitting in a sold-out theater, but this time, it added to the experience. The entire audience laughed and cried and gasped together. Honestly, I have not heard that much crying since I watched The Notebook in the theater.
Once I Was a Beehive is a terrific rollercoaster of emotions.
I had the pleasure of receiving an invitation to attend an exclusive screening of the movie in Boise, Idaho, and it was a great experience. Maclain Nelson (the director) and Clare Niederpruem (who played Bree in the movie) answered questions after the screening, and it was very interesting to learn more about the process. Clare explained that the bear in the movie is a trained bear that has appeared in numerous films, and he was the highest paid actor for this film! Clare said they were actually in the scene with the bear when they curled up and played dead. No green screens there. The bear was very close to them. They also shared with us that the ark in the film was intended to float, but when it would not float, they rewrote the script to accommodate that little obstacle.
Yes, the movie does have religion in it, including a lot of Bible references about Noah and Isaiah, but it is a church girls' camp. The fact that the main character is not sure what she believes about religion makes the movie very accessible to people of all beliefs.
Frankly, the movie is not about religion. The movie is about reaching out to the people around you, making connections with them, and then having gut-busting fun with them.
My husband and I attended the movie with another couple, and we all loved it.
It's a movie about a sixteen-year-old girl, Lane, who must deal with the death of her father, and she is forced to deal with it sooner than she wants when her mother decides to remarry. While her mom and new step-dad are off on their honeymoon, Lane stays with members of the extended step-family and through a turn of events, she ends up at a summer camp. There she meets a wide range of characters including Phoebe (who deals daily with her own anxiety disorder) and camp leaders (who are a bit overzealous). As Lane begins to connect with the girls at camp, she learns lessons that help her find her own path to recovery.
Now if you have ever attended summer camp -- whether it was a church camp, girl scout camp, or a school sponsored camp -- you know there is a magic that happens during that time at camp where growth and bonding occurs. This movie brings out those cherished moments.
I usually don't like sitting in a sold-out theater, but this time, it added to the experience. The entire audience laughed and cried and gasped together. Honestly, I have not heard that much crying since I watched The Notebook in the theater.
Once I Was a Beehive is a terrific rollercoaster of emotions.
I had the pleasure of receiving an invitation to attend an exclusive screening of the movie in Boise, Idaho, and it was a great experience. Maclain Nelson (the director) and Clare Niederpruem (who played Bree in the movie) answered questions after the screening, and it was very interesting to learn more about the process. Clare explained that the bear in the movie is a trained bear that has appeared in numerous films, and he was the highest paid actor for this film! Clare said they were actually in the scene with the bear when they curled up and played dead. No green screens there. The bear was very close to them. They also shared with us that the ark in the film was intended to float, but when it would not float, they rewrote the script to accommodate that little obstacle.
Yes, the movie does have religion in it, including a lot of Bible references about Noah and Isaiah, but it is a church girls' camp. The fact that the main character is not sure what she believes about religion makes the movie very accessible to people of all beliefs.
Frankly, the movie is not about religion. The movie is about reaching out to the people around you, making connections with them, and then having gut-busting fun with them.
My husband and I attended the movie with another couple, and we all loved it.
September 2, 2015
#IWSG: Enjoy the Ride!
... The thrills of the #publishing process make it all worthwhile! Keep #writing! ...
http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/"The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling."
Last month, I posted about my struggle with patience. Today, I want to share with you some of the triumphs that have happened since that last IWSG post. :)
1. I received tons of support and encouragement from all of you. Thank you.
2. I had the pleasure of announcing my next book deal.
3. I received my editorial letter for that book, UNLOCKED. The revisions only took me TWO hours, and I was able to send the manuscript back to my editor. (That was awesome!)
4. I wrote 80,000 words in a new manuscript. I kid you not!
5. And now I get to celebrate the paperback release of WHO R U REALLY?!
This publishing process is quite the rollercoaster, but I'm telling you, the thrills make all the tough parts worth it!
Enjoy the ride.
Have a cupcake to help me celebrate, and then scroll on down to enter to win a paperback edition of WHO R U REALLY?!
What do you find thrilling about the publishing process?
http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/"The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling." Last month, I posted about my struggle with patience. Today, I want to share with you some of the triumphs that have happened since that last IWSG post. :)
1. I received tons of support and encouragement from all of you. Thank you.
2. I had the pleasure of announcing my next book deal.
3. I received my editorial letter for that book, UNLOCKED. The revisions only took me TWO hours, and I was able to send the manuscript back to my editor. (That was awesome!)
4. I wrote 80,000 words in a new manuscript. I kid you not!
5. And now I get to celebrate the paperback release of WHO R U REALLY?!
This publishing process is quite the rollercoaster, but I'm telling you, the thrills make all the tough parts worth it!
Enjoy the ride.
Have a cupcake to help me celebrate, and then scroll on down to enter to win a paperback edition of WHO R U REALLY?!
What do you find thrilling about the publishing process?
August 29, 2015
It's a #Book #Giveaway!
To celebrate the paperback release of WHO R U REALLY?, I'm giving away 5 signed copies! For a chance to win one, simply follow the steps below in the Rafflecopter.
Here are a few of the exciting things that have happened since WHO R U REALLY? debuted as a hardback nearly a year ago:
It won 1st Place in the YA Category for the Idaho Author Awards:
The Department of Homeland Security took notice:
DHS invited Margo to partner with the STOP. THINK. CONNECT. campaign, which is the global cyber security awareness campaign to help people stay safer and more secure online.
Librarians have appla uded the story:
“This book is sure to spark a dialogue between parents and teens as well as tell an appealing cautionary tale to a younger audience and would be a good addition to any middle school, high school, or public library.” The Idaho Librarian
“With all the different trending social media out there, this book is intriguing because the story centers around a naive yet strong-willed girl who falls into the trap of an internet predator. … You will definitely want to read this book to find out what happens!” The Dallas Public Library
Industry experts have had positive things to say:
"This tense thriller offers useful lessons." --The Horn Book Guide
"Based on actual events, the story should be required reading for all teens." --VOYA Magazine
"Kelly shows us just how terrifying, dangerous and unknown the world of online gaming can be--especially for a young teen.... The book is well-written and the story believable and engaging ... I strongly recommend this book."
--The Idaho Statesman
Description of WHO R U REALLY?:
When Thea discovers a new role-playing game online, she falls under the spell of Kit, an older boy whose smarts and savvy can’t defeat his loneliness and near-suicidal despair. As Kit draws soft-hearted Thea into his drama, she creates a full plate of cover stories for her parents and then even her friends. Ripped from a true-life story, Who R U Really? willscare you as Thea’s life spins out of her control.
Here are a few places you can buy a copy of WHO R U REALLY?:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Rediscovered Books
And here is the magic place to enter for a chance to win a signed copy:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Here are a few of the exciting things that have happened since WHO R U REALLY? debuted as a hardback nearly a year ago:
It won 1st Place in the YA Category for the Idaho Author Awards:
The Department of Homeland Security took notice:
DHS invited Margo to partner with the STOP. THINK. CONNECT. campaign, which is the global cyber security awareness campaign to help people stay safer and more secure online.
Librarians have appla uded the story:
“This book is sure to spark a dialogue between parents and teens as well as tell an appealing cautionary tale to a younger audience and would be a good addition to any middle school, high school, or public library.” The Idaho Librarian
“With all the different trending social media out there, this book is intriguing because the story centers around a naive yet strong-willed girl who falls into the trap of an internet predator. … You will definitely want to read this book to find out what happens!” The Dallas Public Library
Industry experts have had positive things to say:
"This tense thriller offers useful lessons." --The Horn Book Guide
"Based on actual events, the story should be required reading for all teens." --VOYA Magazine
"Kelly shows us just how terrifying, dangerous and unknown the world of online gaming can be--especially for a young teen.... The book is well-written and the story believable and engaging ... I strongly recommend this book." --The Idaho Statesman
Description of WHO R U REALLY?:
When Thea discovers a new role-playing game online, she falls under the spell of Kit, an older boy whose smarts and savvy can’t defeat his loneliness and near-suicidal despair. As Kit draws soft-hearted Thea into his drama, she creates a full plate of cover stories for her parents and then even her friends. Ripped from a true-life story, Who R U Really? willscare you as Thea’s life spins out of her control.
Here are a few places you can buy a copy of WHO R U REALLY?:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Rediscovered Books
And here is the magic place to enter for a chance to win a signed copy:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
August 18, 2015
5 Ways to Give a #Book a Boost
The best compliment you can give an author, regardless of his or her prominence in the industry, is to help spread the news about a book.
Here are five ways you can give a book a boost (beyond buying multiple copies) ...
1: ONLINE REVIEW
Online reviews have gained significant value in recent years. When you’ve finished reading a book by an author that you love, take five minutes to go online and type up a review. It doesn’t have to be eloquent or long, but it does need to honest and thoughtful. If you know the author personally, do not say so in the review, because other people will often discount the value of your words because they believe you’re biased. Once you’ve written a review, you can then copy and paste that review to multiple sites such as Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, and others. Furthermore, take a minute to scroll through the other reviews and click “like” or “helpful” on the positive ones. Doing so will bump those reviews up to the top of the list. Once you’ve finished posting your review, link to it on your social media channels.
2: PUBLIC LIBRARY
Visit your local public library. Talk to the librarian about the book and ask if they already carry it. If not, place a purchase request. Most libraries will add books to their collections based on patron requests. You can also suggest the book for their next book club selection.
3: BOOKSTORE
Stop in at your local bookstore and ask an employee where the book is located in the store. This will bring awareness of the book to the staff. If they don’t already carry the book, let them know why they should. Tell them what you loved about it. If they do carry the book, still rave about it. Once you see the book on the shelf, turn it face out, and snap a picture. Then upload the picture to social media, tag the author, and let him or her know where you spotted the book. Authors love this.
4: SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow your favorite author on social media channels, and when he or she posts good news, share it. You can also click on the social media buttons featured on many sites that allow you to tell the world you just bought a great book or read a great book or reviewed a great book.
5: WORD OF MOUTH
Honestly, all of the tips mentioned so far are based on utilizing the word of mouth concept, which has a huge impact. But here are few more ideas … the most basic being: tell a friend about the book. Then take a friend with you to the author’s book signing event. Tell your book club members about it. Read the book in a public place so others can take notice of the book. And if you know a person of influence who would be interested in some aspect of the book, then by all means, tell that person to read the book and explain why. Then encourage that person to connect with the author.
Finally, yes, buying a book is a great way to support your favorite author. Heck, buying ten books is an even better way, but if you want to do a little bit more, any of these tips above will help give your favorite author’s book a boost. You certainly don’t have to do them all. Pick just one to do today, because the best compliment you can give to an author, regardless of his or her prominence in the industry, is to help spread the news about the book. And that will benefit you in the long run, because your author will be able to continue writing more books for you to read and enjoy for many years to come.
Do you have a tip to add to this list? Share it in the comments below!
[This post is also appearing over at the UncommonYA Blog. If you've not yet visited that site - - - stop in today and leave a blog comment or explore the site. Tons of great YA authors post over there.]
Here are five ways you can give a book a boost (beyond buying multiple copies) ...
1: ONLINE REVIEW
Online reviews have gained significant value in recent years. When you’ve finished reading a book by an author that you love, take five minutes to go online and type up a review. It doesn’t have to be eloquent or long, but it does need to honest and thoughtful. If you know the author personally, do not say so in the review, because other people will often discount the value of your words because they believe you’re biased. Once you’ve written a review, you can then copy and paste that review to multiple sites such as Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, and others. Furthermore, take a minute to scroll through the other reviews and click “like” or “helpful” on the positive ones. Doing so will bump those reviews up to the top of the list. Once you’ve finished posting your review, link to it on your social media channels.
2: PUBLIC LIBRARY
Visit your local public library. Talk to the librarian about the book and ask if they already carry it. If not, place a purchase request. Most libraries will add books to their collections based on patron requests. You can also suggest the book for their next book club selection.
3: BOOKSTORE
Stop in at your local bookstore and ask an employee where the book is located in the store. This will bring awareness of the book to the staff. If they don’t already carry the book, let them know why they should. Tell them what you loved about it. If they do carry the book, still rave about it. Once you see the book on the shelf, turn it face out, and snap a picture. Then upload the picture to social media, tag the author, and let him or her know where you spotted the book. Authors love this.
4: SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow your favorite author on social media channels, and when he or she posts good news, share it. You can also click on the social media buttons featured on many sites that allow you to tell the world you just bought a great book or read a great book or reviewed a great book.
5: WORD OF MOUTH
Honestly, all of the tips mentioned so far are based on utilizing the word of mouth concept, which has a huge impact. But here are few more ideas … the most basic being: tell a friend about the book. Then take a friend with you to the author’s book signing event. Tell your book club members about it. Read the book in a public place so others can take notice of the book. And if you know a person of influence who would be interested in some aspect of the book, then by all means, tell that person to read the book and explain why. Then encourage that person to connect with the author.
Finally, yes, buying a book is a great way to support your favorite author. Heck, buying ten books is an even better way, but if you want to do a little bit more, any of these tips above will help give your favorite author’s book a boost. You certainly don’t have to do them all. Pick just one to do today, because the best compliment you can give to an author, regardless of his or her prominence in the industry, is to help spread the news about the book. And that will benefit you in the long run, because your author will be able to continue writing more books for you to read and enjoy for many years to come.
Do you have a tip to add to this list? Share it in the comments below!
[This post is also appearing over at the UncommonYA Blog. If you've not yet visited that site - - - stop in today and leave a blog comment or explore the site. Tons of great YA authors post over there.]
August 10, 2015
It's a #Book Deal!
I'm thrilled to announce that my second book, UNLOCKED, will be published by Merit Press (the YA imprint for F+W Media)!
Here's the official announcement from Publisher's Marketplace:
Text from the image above:
"Margo Kelly's UNLOCKED, pitched in the vein of Lois Duncan, in which straight-laced Hannah chooses to participate in a hypnotism show at the local fair, but when the hypnotist leaves her mind open to suggestion, Hannah must learn to block out the demons that toy with her sense of right and wrong before she ends up killing her boyfriend to appease the demons, to Jacquelyn Mitchard at Merit Press, by Brianne Johnson at Writers House (World English)"
The idea of having a second book out in the world is beyond wonderful, and I'm so excited for you to read it!
Here's the official announcement from Publisher's Marketplace:
Text from the image above:
"Margo Kelly's UNLOCKED, pitched in the vein of Lois Duncan, in which straight-laced Hannah chooses to participate in a hypnotism show at the local fair, but when the hypnotist leaves her mind open to suggestion, Hannah must learn to block out the demons that toy with her sense of right and wrong before she ends up killing her boyfriend to appease the demons, to Jacquelyn Mitchard at Merit Press, by Brianne Johnson at Writers House (World English)"
The idea of having a second book out in the world is beyond wonderful, and I'm so excited for you to read it!
August 7, 2015
Those Who #Write Are #Writers
Haha! On Wednesday, I made a comment in my blog post about being a writer not a waiter, and today, I stumbled across this perfect companion picture:
What are you? A writer or a waiter?
What are you? A writer or a waiter?
