Six Interviews on a Friday

Here are the final six WBBT interviews. If you haven’t had a chance to read them, please be sure to make some time. There is a wealth of information you can learn on writing craft.

• Marilyn Singer at Writing and Ruminating
• Jennifer Donnelly at Shelf Elf
• Ted Chiang at Shaken & Stirred
• Sofia Quintero at A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy
• Maria Snyder at Finding Wonderland
• Julie Kagawa at HipWriterMama

Go here for highlights and shiny links for more Winter Blog Blast Tour interviews.Enjoy!

WBBT Interview: Chemistry, Persistence and Julie Kagawa

Julie Kagawa

I’ve posted Julie Kagawa’s WBBT interview over at my new HipWriterMama blog. It seems so selfish not to share it with all of you, so here’s the introduction to Julie’s interview. For more info about Julie’s writing tips and process, go here.

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When I heard the buzz about Julie Kagawa’s debut YA novel, THE IRON KING, I had to check it out. Not only did fans rave about how much they enjoyed the book, they were also quite vocal about the two love interests — Team Puck vs. Team Ash. In the spirit of research, I decided to read this series to find out whether the story, and of course the chemistry of the characters, worked. How could I resist?

The good news…yes,these books certainly hold up to the buzz. The bad news? THE IRON QUEEN isn’t out until February 2011 and then there will be a wait for THE IRON KNIGHT, from Ash’s POV…

Julie creates a fascinating world with riveting characters. Talk about a page turner. And Puck and Ash? *sigh* Ash is sizzling hot; Puck is a total keeper. There. I’ve said it.

Are you ready to find out more about the woman behind this fey world? You know the drill. It’s time to go over to my new HipWriterMama blog — www.hipwritermama.com — for the rest of Julie Kagawa’s WBBT interview. You’ll be glad you did. See you there!

WBBT Interview: Finding Time to be Good Enough with Paula Yoo

I’ve posted Paula Yoo’s WBBT interview over at my new HipWriterMama blog. It seems so selfish not to share it with all of you, so here’s the introduction to Paula’s interview. For more info about Paula’s writing tips and process, go here.

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I first heard about Paula Yoo when her book, GOOD ENOUGH, was the featured title for readergirlz in September 2008. I've read a handful of YA books that resonate completely with me, in terms of my own teenage experiences. GOOD ENOUGH is one of them.

Paula is MULTI-TALENTED and keeps herself busy. Not only is she a children's book writer, Paula is also a tv writer (currently Co-Producer for the Eureka series on The SyFy Channel and may I also add, has writing credits to NBC’s The West Wing!!!) and a professional classical and alternative rock violinist. And may I repeat, Paula writes books!

How does she find the time to write books? Well my pretties, read further and you'll discover Paula's secrets. Kick back and hold on. This is good stuff.

You know the drill. It’s time to go over to my new HipWriterMama blog — www.hipwritermama.com — for the rest of Paula Yoo’s WBBT interview. You’ll be glad you did. See you there!

2010 WBBT: Writing, Humor, and the Emotional Truth with Allen Zadoff

Allen Zadoff

I’ve posted Allen Zadoff’s WBBT interview over at my new HipWriterMama blog. It seems so selfish not to share it with all of you, so here’s the introduction to Allen’s interview. For more info about Allen’s writing tips and process, go here. Thank you!

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I am so pleased to welcome Allen Zadoff to my blog. Allen is the author of FOOD, GIRLS, and OTHER THINGS I CAN'T HAVE, one of my favorite reads this year. This book has special powers--it made me laugh out loud, cry, and then start laughing again. Allen is a master of getting to the core of an emotion and twisting every drop of it to bring out humor. It should be no surprise FOOD, GIRLS, and OTHER THINGS I CAN'T HAVE received the honorable distinction of winning the 2010 SCBWI Sid Fleischman Humor Award.

Of course once Allen agreed to an interview, I had to read his bio on his website. It should be no coincidence this was meant to be... Allen was born in Boston; I live near Boston. He lived in upstate New York; I grew up there. We both graduated from the same college. See what I mean? I know, I know. It's a stretch, but maybe some of Allen's humor will rub off on my writing...

Wait until you read what Allen has to say. He is simply a wonderful soul. You're going to want to grab your favorite beverage and hang out for awhile.

Oh, wait! It's time to go over to my new HipWriterMama blog — www.hipwritermama.com — for the rest of Allen Zadoff’s WBBT interview. You’ll be glad you did. See you there!

WBBT Interview: Opening up Worlds with R.J. Anderson

I've posted R.J. Anderson's WBBT interview over at my new HipWriterMama blog. It seems so selfish not to share it with all of you, so here's a portion of Rebecca's interview. For more info about Rebecca's writing tips and process, go here. Thank you!

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When I first read FAERY REBELS: SPELL HUNTER by Canadian writer R.J. Anderson, I was expecting the typical faery story. Instead, I found a whole new world to explore. What a joy!

R.J. Anderson, known to her friends and family as Rebecca, wrote a wonderful, imaginative series which will engage MG readers. Rebecca takes age-old myths of powerful faeries and makes them work to find their strengths, while the weak are capable of far more than we ever would give them credit for in real life. Doesn't this sound like a story you'd like to read?

Oddly enough, we need to wait for Rebecca's faery books. R.J. Anderson is a bestselling fantasy author in the UK. Rebecca's debut book, KNIFE ( aka FAERY REBELS: SPELL HUNTER in the US), was a nominee for the 2010 Carnegie Medal of Literature. It hardly seems fair we need to wait for these books to make their way to the United States. Currently, FAERY REBELS: SPELL HUNTER (Book 1) and WAYFARER (Book 2) are available in the US. Book 3, ARROW, will be released in the UK January 2011, with no set US release date. Sigh.

Lest you think all Rebecca writes is about faeries, just wait. ULTRAVIOLET, her YA paranormal thriller, will be out next year (Orchard Books UK, Carolrhoda Lab US, Summer/Fall of 2011). This is a far cry from the faery world...



Curious about the author behind these worlds? Time to go over to my HipWriterMama blog — www.hipwritermama.com-- for the rest of R.J. Anderson's WBBT interview. You’ll be glad you did. See you there!

WBBT 2010 Interview Schedule

• Elizabeth Hand at Chasing Ray
• Maya Gold at Bildungsroman
• L.K. Madigan at Writing & Ruminating
• Paolo Bacigalupi at A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy
• R.J. Anderson at HipWriterMama

Tuesday

• B.A. Binns at The Happy Nappy Bookseller
• Daisy Whitney at Bildungsroman
• Adam Gidwitz at Fuse Number 8
• Salley Mavor at Seven Impossible Things
• Josh Berk at Finding Wonderland

Wednesday

• Andrea Seigel at Shaken & Stirred
• Adele Griffin at Bildungsroman
• Susan Campbell Bartoletti at Chasing Ray
• Charles Benoit at A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy
• Sarah MacLean at Writing & Ruminating
• Allen Zadoff at HipWriterMama

Thursday

• Kathi Appelt at Shelf Elf
• Heidi Ayarbe at The Happy Nappy Bookseller
• Julia DeVillers & Jennifer Roy at Bildungsroman
• LeUyen Pham at Finding Wonderland
• Paula Yoo at Hip Writer Mama

Friday

• Marilyn Singer at Writing and Ruminating
• Jennifer Donnelly at Shelf Elf
• Ted Chiang at Shaken & Stirred
• Sofia Quintero at A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy
• Maria Snyder at Finding Wonderland
• Julie Kagawa at HipWriterMama

Go here for highlights and shiny links for more Winter Blog Blast Tour interviews. If you haven’t had a chance to read them, please be sure to make some time. There’s a wealth of information you can learn on writing craft. Enjoy!

A NOVEL GIFT: First Book and readergirlz

BREAKING NEWS! readergirlz and First Book are partnering to give away more than 125,000 brand-new books to low-income teen readers.

They’re great books, too, donated by generous publishers. Among the three dozen choices are P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast’s HOUSE OF NIGHT series and Alyson Noël’s SHADOWLAND.

We need your help getting the word out about the A Novel Gift campaign. Right now! Right now! As in, now!

Let's get organizations serving these teens registered with First Book so they can be matched with inventory during the holidays.

Here’s what we need you to do: Post to Facebook and tweet your beak off about these books using the hashtag #novelgift.

Here’s a tinyurl link to their registration page: http://tinyurl.com/2a5mwpj.

Or you can link to this readergirlz blog post: http://readergirlz.blogspot.com/2010/11/novel-gift-over-125000-free-books-to.html

Then, get in touch with every group you can think of that works with young adults–schools, after-school programs, church youth groups, community centers, etc.—and let them know that these books are available now.

The five-minute online registration these groups can use is here:
http://booksforkids.firstbook.org/register/.

First Book is also eager to answer questions, either by email to help@firstbook.org, or by phone at 866-READ-NOW or 866-732-3669.

If you participate, please drop us a note at readergirlz@gmail.com to be included in our blog roll of thanks to run December 31.

Be a part of A Novel Gift! OK, go!
Thank you,
from First Book and the readergirlz teams.

Book Giveaway: HARMONIC FEEDBACK by Tara Kelly

Want a chance to win a copy of HARMONIC FEEDBACK by Tara Kelly? NOTE: This is a YA book. Subject matter is appropriate for older teens.

Go over to my writing blog and check out this post. All you have to do is go back to your teen years and tell me about your favorite song. What memory does it bring back for you? Any help you can offer to spread the word (via your blog, Twitter, Facebook, etc.) is greatly appreciated. Deadline for this giveaway is November 26th, the day after Thanksgiving. Good luck!

readergirlz news

From the readergirlz blog:

Hey rgz,

As we get ready to celebrate Teen Read Week together, we also wanted to celebrate rgz upcoming new format.

This October is our last feature as you know it. So be sure to share the love with Laini in these remaining weeks.

So what's up? Well, how about the realization that we ALL read way more than one book a month, right? And the postergirlz pick such awesome recommends. How about this:

* the divas choose a theme a month
* you nominate songs for that theme, and Little Willow will build the playlist
* we'll have a community service spotlight for the theme
* the postergirlz'll nominate the very best YA books for the theme, new releases or old
* one book will be featured EVERY Monday

*squeeeeee* Our Author Liaison diva, Micol Ostow, will be outreaching to each weekly feature for a guest blog post and will invite them to hang with us in the comments. If the author is under deadline and can't make it over, we'll still have a post and be able to chat it up, share the love, leave questions, and so on.

The readergirlz website will continue to hang with a final issue, hence that playlist you all helped build. And the fabbity archives will remain available for your book clubs and libraries.

Feel free to spread the news and be ready for quick changing content of the very best in the children's lit industry. Of course we'll still have Cover Stories and Story Secrets and other posts of awesome that the divas bring to the table. The rgz SALON and Street Team will also continue with their posts, along with reports from our rgz HOSTS across the country.

You know we are always looking for great ways to further teen literacy and social service. Watch for this changeover on November 1. So, what do you think?

Enjoy Teen Read Week, and always, always, always: Read, Reflect, and Reach Out!

readergirlz chat with Maureen Johnson tonight! 6pm PST/9pm EST

Fresh from readergirlz...

Join readergirlz and me for a Twitter chat tonight with Suite Scarlett and Scarlett Fever author Mareen Johnson!

***sounds of cheering***

It all starts at 6pm PST/9pm EST - search for the #rgz discussion and follow @readergirlz and @maureenjohnson.

Don't have a Twitter account? It's fast and easy to set one up!

At http://twitter.com/, just click on the yellow "Give it a try" button to get started. All you will need is your name, a unique user name, and an email address. Add a password, and you're now on Twitter!

Search for readergirlz to begin following us and our tweets.

If you want others to see your posts ("tweets") during the chat, make sure the "Protect my tweets" box is not checked on the Accounts tab. If you want to get fancy, you can add a picture and customize your page in the Design tab.

Protect your privacy! No one can see your email address on twitter, but it's a good idea to choose a user name that doesn't give away your real name or location (especially if you are not an adult).


To join the Maureen Johnson chat:

Click on the "Home" page and enter #rgz in the Search box. Our chat will come up, and you can jump right in! Be sure to include #rgz in your chat posts so that everyone else can see them and respond.

We'll see you there tonight!

BREAKING WAVES ebook: 100% of Proceeds go to the Gulf Coast Oil Spill Fund

Kelly Fineman, one of my blogging/writing pals, shares some great news:

Guys! Guess what! It's September 15th, and that means that it's the release day for BREAKING WAVES: An Esoteric Collection to Benefit the Gulf Oil Spill Relief Fund, edited by Tiffany Trent and Phyllis Irene Radford, now available from Book View Café. The collection includes 34 stories, essays and poems, opening with "In England in the Fifties", a poem by Ursula K. Le Guin, and closing with "Troubled Water", a poem by Kelly Ramsdell Fineman.

Yes, you read that right. I can assure you that when I first learned that my poem would be the closing bookend to a collection of works that opens with a poem by Ursula Le Guin, I was torn between swooning and an desire to caper about with glee. (Capering eventually won out.)

The collection includes works by fabulous authors including noted scientists and award-winning fantasy authors, including Tiffany Trent, author of the Hallowmere series and forthcoming novels. Also in this book (just before my poem, in fact) is Patrick Samphire, who is married to my long-time LJ friend, Stephanie Burgis, author of A Most Improper Magick (aka Kat, Incorrigible). You can check out the full, fabulous Table of Contents online.

Congrats, Kelly!

BREAKING WAVES sells for $4.99 US from Book View Café. You can purchase the anthology as an epub, pdf, mobi or prc HERE. 100% of the proceeds go to the Gulf Coast Oil Spill Fund.

Book Giveaway on new HipWriterMama blog!!!

Want a chance to win a copy of Holly Cupala's TELL ME A SECRET? Go over here and leave a comment... Good luck!!

It's Time to Move...

I've decided to take advantage of a slow summer and move the HipWriterMama blog over to www.hipwritermama.com. I hope you'll join me over there! Everything is transferred over to the new blog, except for my blogroll. Hopefully, that will be up and running pretty soon.

Hope you're all enjoying your summer!

Holly Cupala, TELL ME A SECRET Blog Tour and Prizes!

I'm so happy to welcome readergirlz diva and debut author Holly Cupala (TELL ME A SECRET) to my blog. I've known Holly for a couple years now, through blogging and readergirlz, but didn't have a chance to meet her until the 2010 Midwinter ALA Tweetup.

Holly is such a bundle of energy, with true joy and enthusiasm. People gathered around her, wanting to find out more about TELL ME A SECRET. And there's good reason...Holly's book is raw emotion. It's haunting and beautiful. It's devastating knowing the place where Holly had to dig to write this novel, yet through it all, we see hope and a reason to go on.

Go and read TELL ME A SECRET. You won't be able to put it down.

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HWM: When did you realize you wanted to write YA?
HOLLY: Quite possibly the day I began writing my first teen romance, Stolen Love. Of course, that was when I was 13 and had not yet experienced teen romance, but that did not matter. What mattered was the line of girls in my class who waited to read it page by page… But art sort of began imitating life. After I actually experienced teen romance, heartbroken poetry and short stories followed…then hopes of writing the Great American Novel (while secretly writing an epic 1600-word rhyming picture book saga). At some point I realized I was completely off track, finished my M.A. (I was studying world lit), and joined SCBWI. For several years I spent time learning the craft of writing, then a painful event in my life inspired the story.

HWM: You won the SCBWI Work-In-Progress Grant in 2006. How did this change your writing life?
HOLLY: It was a beacon of hope! As writers, we spend so much time trying to get the story out on the page and having no idea where it might lead. The grant helped me keep going, and it was terrific motivation to finish the story because suddenly everyone wanted to see it. I’m very grateful to SCBWI for opening so many doors.

HWM: How long did it take before you signed with your agent and how did you know he was the right one?
HOLLY: I’d sent the manuscript to a select few agents in the summer and fall, but I really began actively seeking an agent in January—something about everyone having clear desks! I ended up with five or six agents looking at the full, and I met my agent, Edward Necarsulmer, Children’s Director at McIntosh and Otis, at an SCBWI event. There was another agent offer on the table as well, but he was just so passionate about the manuscript, and I really felt he would go the extra mile. He’s turned out to be a fantastic agent!

HWM: Do you write full-time or do you have a real world job?
HOLLY: Right now I am full time, but I’ve been a freelance graphic designer and writer and volunteer with readergirlz! My work hours happen to coincide with preschool (and soon kindergarten) hours. :-)

HWM: When did you know you had the right ending for TELL ME A SECRET?

HOLLY: Oooh, good question. The ending was quite possibly the most difficult part to write. I knew the second-to-last chapter would have the final knock-down-drag-out with the primary antagonist, and that there would be some significant secrets revealed that would shed light on the entire story. The first draft, I skipped it! The second, I muddled through and kept peeling back the layers until I felt like I’d hit on something true. My writing group (the wonderful Janet Lee Carey, Justina Chen, Molly Blaisdell, Peggy King Anderson, Katherine Bond, and Judy Bodmer) were also a tremendous source of help

HWM: Which character is most like you?
HOLLY: Every one, at least a little bit! I used to identify the most with Miranda, but then I realized the character most like me, at heart, is probably Nik. At least, I hope.

HWM: Who was the toughest character to write about?
HOLLY: I think maybe Miranda’s mom. I didn’t really understand who she was until I realized she had a secret, too, one that was driving her in ways she doesn’t even realize. Once I understood her, I could see why her behavior could be so caustic, and yet she was dealing with a mountain of internal shame.

HWM: Do you outline or free form?
HOLLY: I have a rough movie trailer in my head, and a big, free-form, crazy document where I record notes for the novel. I write a lot of notes! But I’m far too lazy to outline.

HWM: What is your writing process or ritual?
HOLLY: Procrastinate…tea, Earl Grey, hot…candy…Twitter…ack! Only two hours left! I’m trying to get better. A timer is great for this. I joke that TMAS took four years, the second took four months, and I hope the third takes four weeks….wait, I really do hope that!

HWM: What project(s) are you working on now?
HOLLY: I’m about to start editor revisions on my second YA, STREET CREED (tentative title, slated for Fall 2011), about a suburban girl with secrets who runs away from home to live on the streets of Seattle, in search of a boy called Creed. It’s gritty and romantic, ultimately about what it means to love. And I’m avoiding writing that third novel. (Four weeks? Please, four weeks?)

HWM: Your husband creates awesome videos (check out the "Parent Trap style" video below) and designed your website. What were the challenging aspects of working together (if any) so both of your creative visions shone through?
HOLLY: He does do awesome work! And luckily, we work really well together. He’s totally my secret weapon.

HWM: What has been the biggest surprise of your writing career?
HOLLY: Writing YA. Before, I was writing nice stories to impress people and not reveal too much. It took a major life event to strip all of that away…and suddenly, there was the story. It was tantalizing and terrifying. I’m amazed and grateful at the reader response.

HWM: Are there any genres you'd like to try writing?
HOLLY: I have a couple of other projects on the backburner…a fantasy, and maybe even an end-of-the-world thriller. Who knows, anything could happen!

HWM: What was the best writing advice anyone ever gave you?
HOLLY: Write through the bad stuff, Randy Powell and Kirby Larson. Your first draft can be sixty pages, Karen Cushman. First drafts are like hacking through a jungle with a machete, Laini Taylor. Find the dozen or so emotional anchor scenes in a story and write from there, Nikki Grimes. What can I contribute? Mitali Perkins.

HWM: What makes you laugh?
HOLLY: Heartfelt silliness…as you may have noticed on this blog tour! :-)

Thank you so much, Holly!

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TELL ME A SECRET Tour Contest Entry Rules

• Leave comments at any official tour stop or Holly’s blog (www.hollycupala.com) throughout the tour! Each comment counts as an entry (one comment per post*).
• Tweet about the tour (@hollycupala) and tell us what you think!
• Post about the tour, then leave a comment at my blog with a link.

Each week's prizes will be announced at Holly’s blog the following week - check back to see if you've won and contact Holly at the contact link at www.hollycupala.com (prizes will be held for 2 weeks).

Cleverly Inked will host Holly's blog tour tomorrow!

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Where You Can Find Holly:

Holly's website

Excerpt from TELL ME A SECRET

Holly's Blog Tour Schedule

Holly on Twitter

Holly on facebook

Holly on YouTube

July is All About Courage at readergirlz: The Gallagher Girls Series by Ally Carter

From the readergirlz blog:

We are thrilled to welcome Ally Carter to readergirlz. Her fantastic Gallagher Girls novels, specifically the newly released fourth, Only the Good Spy Young, is our July pick! Check out our interview with Ally, book party ideas themed around her book, and our Reach Out project idea--as well as the awesome soundtrack Ally has chosen for the book--on readergirlz.com.

Here's a little about Only the Good Spy Young:

When Cammie Morgan enrolled at the Gallagher Academy, she knew she was preparing for the dangerous life of a spy. What she didn't know was that the serious, real-life danger would start during her junior year of high school. Now the danger follows her everywhere and even Cammie "The Chameleon" can't hide. When a terrifying encounter in London reveals that one of her most-trusted allies is actually a rogue double-agent Cammie no longer knows if she can trust her classmates, her teachers - or even her own heart.

The Gallagher Girls must hack, spy, steal, and lie their way to the truth as they go searching for answers, recognizing that the key to Cammie's future may lie deep in the past...

And the buzz...

• Inclusion on the ALA Teens Top 10
• Georgia Peach Book Award
• Texas Lone Star Reading List
• Amelia Bloomer Book Award
• Romance Writers of America Rita Award Finalist

We are super excited to have the amazing Ally Carter with us this month! Join us all month right here on the blog for discussions and mark your calendars a LIVE #rgz twitter chat on Wednesday, July 14th at 6pm PST/9pm EST.

Happy July, readergirlz!