Class of 2k8: Class Notes

The class is dead...

2008-12-30T07:42:00.000-08:00

Long live the class!!!

We've had a big year here at the CLASS OF 2K8. And now, as the year comes to a close, we're sad to say goodbye to our astounding debut experience, but also thrilled to leap into all the new books and adventures in store.

Who can tell what will happen to all of us in this next stretch?

Awards? Movie options? Will Oprah gather one of us to her bosom? Will one of us become involved in a SCANDAL?

I'd ask that anyone who cares to offer a 2009 prediction for our authors, or the book world in general, do so in the comments below...

And with that, we leave you now with a giant THANK YOU! Thank you for following along on our odd journey with us, and thank you for reading.

And we hope that you'll do the same for the CLASS OF 2k9!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Our School Librarian Contest

2008-12-29T00:01:00.000-08:00

After the crazy busy holidays, we're catching up with business. Good thing, too, because 2008 is drawing to a close.

So, today on the blog, we're wrapping up our School Librarian Contest. You didn't really think we'd forgotten, did you? Never. Never. Never. We love our librarians too too much for that!

Without further ado, let's choose the SIX winners...

First, we drag down our Official 2k8 Blog Bowl, dust it off and toss in the names of our many contestants.

Then, we break out the Official 2k8 Spoon and stir up all those bits of papers. Because we are all about fair here in our classroom.

Here's Barrie Summy's (I So Don't Do Mysteries) Child #4 who has loads of experience with random blog drawings. She has donned her beautiful and professional choosing shoes for this special occasion. She stirs the bowl and begins pulling names.

Amidst fanfare and drum rolls, here are our THREE third place winners. Congratulations ERIN FITZPATRICK-BJORN, MARCIA KOCHEL AND KAREN LEE! You'll each receive three books from the Class of 2k8 for your school library.

Let's hear it for COLETTE EASON and ANGELA SANDERS, our TWO second place winners! You'll each get a $50 gift certificate from Indie Bound (formerly BookSense) plus three books from the Class of 2k8 to add to your school library.

And here she is, folks, our grand prize winner, STEPHANIE ROUS! STEPHANIE wins her choice of a full set of the 27 Class of 2k8 books OR a free author visit from a Class of 2k8 author in your region (if available)!

A huge bloggy thank-you to all our marvelous contestants. The anecdotes and quotations (many of which were featured on the blog during November) were amazing and heartwarming. Thank you, thank you, thank you for playing. And, even more than that, thank you for the fantastic job you do, passing the love of books onto students.

Stephanie, Colette, Angela, Erin, Marcia and Karen--our people will be in touch with your people. :) Congrats again!

Check in tomorrow for our second last post of the year.

Last chat with Liz...

2008-12-25T09:42:00.001-08:00

Today, we asked Liz Gallagher to tell us some things about her first year as a published author.

Liz, what was the most amazing thing that happened to you this year?

I was at one of the big conferences, super-excited to be with my Vermont College friends. My book wasn't out yet, but some of theirs were (Hi, Sarah Aronson, Class of 2k7!). A friend who shall remain nameless and I waited in the long signing line to get Markus Zusak to sign The Book Theif. We totally fan-girled out about how much we love the book (and, privately, how he's the hottie of YA lit!). That night, we went to a cocktail party. And guess who else was there? Yes, Markus Zusak. So, after being adoring fans, we realized -- wow! -- that we're authors too, now, and we get to go to the author parties!

And how about the thing that has been most frustrating (be honest)?

The most frustrating thing this year was learning how many books get passed up completely by the chain bookstores. Yay, IndieBound! I'm so thankful for their efforts to make readers aware of a range of choices -- both in places and ways to shop, and in books themselves.

Last question-- tell us about the thing that wouldn't have happened without 2k8?

Because of 2k8, I feel like I experienced twenty-seven first-time novel releases this year, not just my own. I got to commisserate with and learn from all of the other class members. I love that the class decided to propose conference panel discussions together -- without 2k8, I wouldn't have done as much public speaking as I did this year. I might've done one or two events, but I can guarantee I would've been way more stressed out and a lot less interesting without other 2k8 class members speaking along with me.

Most amazing? Most frustrating?

2008-12-25T09:37:00.000-08:00

Today, we asked Sarah Prineas to recap, and tell us about her debut year...

Sarah? What was the most amazing thing that happened to you in 2008?

A lot of weird and amazing stuff has happened in the six months since The Magic Thief came out, but probably the coolest was the UK tour. The book's UK publisher, Quercus, brought me over for a week in September. I did school visits and signings in the London area and Bristol, and--the most amazing thing--participated in a panel at the Bath Festival of Children's Literature.

Now, my book was blurbed by one of the authors I'd put on the list of "dream blurbers" that my editor asked me for, and that was Diana Wynne Jones. Just getting an invitation to the Bath Festival was a big freaking deal, but then I found out that I was slated to present on a panel with DWJ herself, and also with YA fantasy author Mary Hoffman.

The day itself was kind of crazy. I had a school visit that morning in Bristol, and after six days of busy-ness was starting to get a little tired out. Plus, DWJ's travel curse meant that part of a building had to explode in downtown Bath, causing all the traffic in the city to come to a standstill. Despite a late start, the show went on. The panel itself was a thrill. We each read a little snippet from our books (DWJ read from The House of Many Ways and Mary from her latest Stravaganza book), and then we settled down for a moderated chat. It was a delight! I wasn't nervous at all. Then we signed. There I was, signing books next to DWJ!!! I seriously had to pinch myself. DWJ's fans absolutely adore her; it was very fun to see. After that, along with my publicist and the Festival organizer, John McLay (who had a lot to do with my book's international sales), a couple of other people, and Mary Hoffman (who was a really entertaining conversationalist), I went out for drinks and then a fancy dinner at a French restaurant. Then a walk back to the hotel through the cobbled streets of Bath. Pretty amazing.

And how about the most frustrating thing?

I am going to tell you a secret thing about writers:

WE ARE ALL CONTROL FREAKS.

Yes, it's true. It's a theory, anyway. We write partly because we enjoy creating worlds and creating characters and then controlling everything about them.

*pause for maniacal laughter*

Yet while it might satisfy our detail-oriented, micromanaging selves, the control aspect of writing can also lead to enormous frustration, especially after the book is published. Because once it is finished and out in the world, the control-freak author can no longer control the book, or anyone's reaction to it, or whether anybody buys it or not, and that is...

...well, "frustrating" is one word for it.

My book came out in June. I spent most of July absolutely obsessing over the tiniest details having to do with the book. I called that stupid Ingram's warehouse number at least once a day; I stopped in to my local bookstore to see how many copies they had left. I even (oh, the shame) checked the book's ranking on amazon.com.

Of course all of these numbers are just about meaningless, but checking them meant I had *control*--somehow--over how the book was doing.

It was a terrible month.

Finally the "frustration" got to be too much and I quit the obsession cold turkey. I started a word file and kept it on my computer desktop. It says this:

LET IT GO.

IT DOESN'T MATTER.

LET IT GO.

So that has been the most frustrating thing, a very difficult, hair-tearing, teeth-grinding thing. Just...letting go.

The last three questions: Lisa Schroeder...

2008-12-24T06:50:00.000-08:00

Today we're checking in with Lisa Schroeder, as she looks back on her year. Lisa, what was the most amazing thing that happened in 2008?

I wish I could say the most amazing thing that happened to me this year was that I traveled to Switzerland or had my book made into a movie or sang on stage with the Goo Goo Dolls. But alas, none of those things happened. In fact, I didn't even travel outside my home state of Oregon! So really and truly, the most amazing thing was having my debut novel released and getting a great response from readers. It was a fun year!

And the most frustrating thing?

The thing that has been most frustrating is not having enough hours in the day to do everything I need and want to do. I basically have three jobs – first a mother, then a Compensation Analyst, and finally, a writer. I want to do it all wonderfully and of course, some days I'm lucky if I get anything done at all. On the other hand, I'm very thankful for my rich and full life and I count my blessings every day.

And is there anything you don't think would have happened if you hadn't joined the Class of 2k8?

Well, I spoke at two conferences in Portland that I probably wouldn't even have known about if it weren't for the class – the PNW Booksellers Association and the OASL/WLMA (school librarian) Joint Conference. It was great meeting some of my classmates and getting some presentation experience under my belt.

The end of 2k8...

2008-12-22T07:55:00.000-08:00

This week, as we say goodbye to our debut year, we consider our highlights, our frustrations, and the things we wouldn't have had without this, our class!

Today we visit with Ellen Booraem. Ellen, what was the most amazing thing that happened to you this year?

Because I’m a mundane sort of person, the amazing things that happened to me this year were right in character. A little girl in Eastport, Maine, noticed a place where I was trying to be funny that nobody else had ever caught. The first kid who asked me to sign a book, back in September, got all excited when she found out she was the first. I talked to readers who found things in The Unnameables that I didn’t know I’d put there. No celebrities, no champagne toasts … just the kind of quiet glow that means everything to me.

Anything you found difficult about it, despite how fabulous it was?

The biggest frustration, I’d say, was my own ineptitude on the marketing side of things. I dropped my galleys at the independent bookstore in a nearby city over the summer, and this fall kept hearing that they hadn’t stocked it, even though it was doing well in other local stores and in stores across the country. OK, I thought, they didn’t think much of the book. At the end of November, I got my courage in my hands and went back with another galley. Of course, the problem turned out to be an oversight, which they hastily corrected. Now, why didn’t I do that earlier? Just another ill-timed attack of self-doubt, I’m afraid.

And is there anything you think would have been different if you hadn't joined the Class of 2k8?

I don’t like to think what would have happened to me without the expertise and support of my 2k8 pals. I would have no Web presence at all, and no sense of what’s “normal” about this process. Without the daily emails about fellow 2k8ers’ problems and questions, without their wisdom and reassurance, I’d be a gibbering wreck right now.

Seasonal books for you...

2008-12-19T07:15:00.000-08:00

Today, the last of our holiday book suggestions, from Michelle Barker:

I never EVER get sick of The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams (with original illustrations) – although the only holiday part is that the boy receives the rabbit for Christmas – but still, a good Christmas read, I think. I always thought of my stuffed animals as “real” when I was little, and this book confirmed it for me (which, unfortunately, makes it REALLY difficult for me to get rid of anything today!)

I wonder what you, our readers, think? Are there any books you love to read at the holidays, besides the usual suspects?

Non-holiday books for the holidays...

2008-12-18T13:37:00.001-08:00

Daphne Grab isn't Jewish, and The All of a Kind Family isn't technically a Chanukah book, and yet...

Daphne has this to say:

My favorite book for all holidays is All of a Kind Family, both the original and all the sequels. They capture the magic of each Jewish holiday with such a simple and truthful touch. I'm not Jewish but when I was a kid I wanted to be after my mom read me these books. They are about a working class family living in Manhattan around World War I (some books are before, some during, some after) and are a marvelous slice of history; the kind of novels that take you back in time with totally universal stories that resonate with readers of all ages, living in the present day. You get a feel for life on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, with the tenement houses, the polio outbreak, renting summer houses on Coney Island, etc. And you also get a feel for holidays.

Chanukah is beautiful, with the descriptions of foods, the lighting of the candles and the story behind the day. In the hands of a less capable writer it might come off as a primer for the Jewish holidays but instead you as a reader want to know the background as much as the kids in the story do. Papa is generally the one to give everyone the lowdown and the kids all have questions about their history. There's such a beauty in the love he has for each day and the pride he feels in sharing that with his kids. Which to me is what the holidays are all about!

Beyond the Grinch...

2008-12-18T05:47:00.000-08:00

In talking about Christmas books you may not know, Jen Bradbury offers this:

Since my daughter's birth I've become increasingly convinced that picture book writers are the smartest, most talented people on earth. It takes a special gift to craft a tale that's as entertaining for a two year old as it is for a parent. And even more rare is that story that both parent and child don't mind reading over and over again. And holiday titles are even trickier. But we were lucky enough to stumble upon a winner.

Mem Fox's Wombat Divine quickly earned a spot in our rotation last year after we discovered this gem at our local library. From the first reading we all fell in love with Wombat. He hopes to participate in the nativity, but is too clumsy to be a wise man, too sleepy to play Joseph. By the end of the book, Wombat finds the perfect role to play, and readers (at least the ones in my home) are as satisfied and amused by his casting as he is. It's one of those holiday books that has humor and warmth and a lovely nod to spirit of the season, all without being saccharine. Plus, the book features a cast of Australian animals, demanding read alouds be performed with your best Aussie accent. And what's not to love about that?

Holiday Books You Must Acquire...

2008-12-16T06:03:00.001-08:00

From Stacy Nyikos, a family favorite:

The Red Ranger Came Calling by Berkeley Breathed

A total Christmas classic at our house, this picture book is the story that Breathed's father told many years on Christmas eve about the Christmas he spent during the Depression on a Northwest island with his aunt.

His faith in Santa had sorely been tested, its being the Depression and presents being scarce. The particular year was shaping up to be no different. He'd wished for a Red Ranger bicycle but got an old pair of pajamas that his aunt has painstakingly turned into a Red Ranger outfit.

At the same time, he meets an old geezer who truly believes himself to be none other than the jolly Claus himself. And the boy finds himself trusting and believing, despite all of life's experiences that tell him otherwise.

The ending has a neat twist and a surefire conclusion that will have even the most resolute doubters questioning their steadfast views. A must read. We dive into it every year under the tree on Christmas Eve.

Holiday Books That Don't Suck...

2008-12-15T12:55:00.000-08:00

We've spent an entire year talking about our own books on this blog, but now, as we head into the holiday season, the Class of 2k8 wants to give you some suggestions for holiday books you aren't sick to death of.

Today, Laurel Snyder's pick:

Our holiday book of the day is a classic, Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins which was kindly sent to my kids by my friend Tamar, after I vented that I detest most of the holiday picture books on the market. She assured me Hershel would delight.

And he does!

The fabulous and Grinchy goblins that seek to ruin Hanukkah are outwitted by the clever Hershel. And readers barely notice that the book is actually a retelling (of sorts) of the Hanukkah/oil story . A testament to how a clever Jew, with a little faith and passion, and a sense of humor, (plus, perhaps a little help from beyond)can undo powerful enemies.

As a rule, I'm known to despise holiday books. They can be message-y and obvious. But this one is great!

Shameless Saturday...

2008-12-13T13:36:00.000-08:00

The year may be winding down, but the Class is still on fire!

Brigham Young University Education Librarian Rachel Wadham has selected Michele Barker's book, A Difficult Boy as one of the 12 best YA books for 2007/08

Also, her work-in-progress, which is a sequel to A Difficult Boy, received a letter of merit from SCBWI's Work-in-Progress Grant competition (okay, she'd'd rather have the grant, but it's nice to be acknowledged!)

In a related story, both Michele and Jody Feldman, author of The Gollywhopper Games, were shortlisted by the Eva Perry Mock Newbery Book Club!

And the biggest news of the week is that our own Elizabeth Bunce has been nominated for the ALA's William C. Morris Award!!! For her novel, a Curse Dark as Gold.

Yip!

It's Been Fun, Barrie Summy!

2008-12-12T12:00:00.000-08:00

It's already Friday and our last day of launch week for Barrie Summy, debut author of the humorous tween mystery I SO DON'T DO MYSTERIES.

But before we give her the big Class of 2k8 send-off into the exciting world of book signings and contracts and new books (well, yes, and kids and homework and colds and sports and piano lessons), we have a few more questions we'd like her to answer.

Question #1: So, Barrie, where do you work?

Well, this is where my family wishes I worked. It's a nice compact desk with doors. I bought the whole kit and kaboodle expressly for writing purposes.

Instead, I work here. Right in the thick of things.

When it gets too chaotic even for me, I escape to this coffee shop with a quiet back room and free wireless.

And when a deadline looms, I've been known to check into a skanky hotel.

And this is where I plotted I SO DON'T DO MYSTERIES. Seriously. I swam laps three to four times a week. And there's lots of time of time for thinking when you're swimming back and forth...and back and forth...and back and forth.

Wow. A swimming writer. Very cool. Okay, Barrie, it's the end of the week. And you know that everything you share on this blog, stays on this blog. So, how's about it? What's a question no one would know to ask you?

Well, you already know how much I love licorice, right? So, each year in my Christmas stocking, my husband puts a large package of licorice. He lets me nosh on a small amount, then hides the packages and doles out minuscule portions to me each day.

And...?

I know where he hides it.

That is so perfect. Thanks for sharing your launch week with us,Barrie Summy. Now, everyone out there in the blogosphere, don't you want to pick up a copy of I SO DON'T DO MYSTERIES and...

Meet reluctant sleuth Sherry Holmes Baldwin!

a defunct laptop + Rachel Vater

2008-12-11T02:40:00.000-08:00

There will only be an uber mini post here today because...

Child #4 spilled an entire cup of water over the keyboard of my laptop.

Can you say fried?

Oy.

Oh? You wonder how I'm managing to post this?

Magic. Pure and simple. (Did no one tell you we hold our classes at Hogwarts?)

But would we, at the Class of 2k8, leave you postless on this glorious Thursday in December. Uh, no!

Go directly to Rachel Vater's blog. Rachel's my agent. She's a huge sweetheart, a tough negotiator and basically the type of person that makes you want to move to New York (even though they have nasty winters) so you can hang out together.

GO TO RACHEL VATER'S BLOG HERE. And, blush blush, she's blogging about me.

~Today's uber mini-post was brought to you by Barrie Summy, debut author of the humorous tween mystery I SO DON'T DO MYSTERIES. (Like you didn't know it was me!)

2008-12-10T11:13:00.000-08:00

The entire Class of 2k8 huddles around the fancy schmancy espresso coffee machine at the back of our classroom. And, yeah, it's squishy.

Class: So, Barrie, how was your launch day?

Barrie Summy: It was so wonderful that I cried.

The class nods knowingly.

Barrie: And I just want to say thank you to the nth degree to Warwick's and especially to Susan, Event Coordinator Extraordinaire, for making my very first book signing ever so much FUN! And for making me feel welcome and comfortable. Susan was calm and organized and all over the place at the same time.

Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of Susan. Because I wasn't overly calm or organized or thinking about the blog.

Thank you to DH and Child #4 for coming down. Their presence was invaluable. I loved how Child #4 kept filling up my book display when it started to run low.

(left to right) Liz, Eileen, Barrie, Cindy

And yay yay for my great friends who came to offer support! They drove all the way to La Jolla, bought books and hung out with me at the bookstore. Some took me to dinner before the signing. Some took me for drinks and Mexican afterwards until late. Even though it was a school night.

Barrie and fellow blogger San Diego Momma who is incredibly cool!

Thank you to all the shoppers who stopped to chat and buy books. They were beyond friendly.

And thank you to Fellow Classmate, Nancy Viau, author of Samantha Hansen Has Rocks in Her Head. Nancy sent a mystery visitor to buy her a copy of I SO DON'T DO MYSTERIES.

Barrie and Rick, Nancy Viau's wonderful son

Here he is. He's Nancy's adorable, interesting, amiable, fun son Rick. Thank you, Rick.

Guess what, guys? I'm exhausted. I didn't get any homework done. My house is a mess. My dog wants a walk.

So....

See ya!

I'm playing hooky for the rest of the day!

I'll get notes from somebody tomorrow.

Bye!

Class of 2k8: Join us tomorrow when Barrie shows us where she writes. And can we just say "non-traditional"?

Shhh...Cyber Surprise Party for Barrie Summy

2008-12-09T00:00:00.000-08:00

Class of 2k8: Shhh....Everybody, come on in. Quickly. Keep the lights dimmed. We're throwing a cyber surprise party for Barrie Summy.

Why?

BECAUSE IT'S THE ACTUAL RELEASE DATE OF HER HUMOROUS TEEN MYSTERY I SO DON'T DO MYSTERIES AND SHE HAS HER VERY FIRST SIGNING THIS EVENING!** (Classmate slaps hands to mouth and starts whispering) The actual date. And we have gifts to help her through the day. (points to pile of wrapped presents in classroom corner) Now, find somewhere to hide.

(Twenty-six creative classmates scurry to crouch under desks and behind chairs. The door opens.)

Barrie: Hello! (turns on lights)

Class of 2k8: SURPRISE!!

Barrie: (hanging onto desk for support) Wow, you guys. Just wow. (She looks super shocked.)

And here are the gifts...

a variety of utensils to sign your book

a really cute rhino stamp for next to your signature

adorable teal and purple ink pads

licorice because we know how much you love it

And...your very own book trailer for I SO DON'T DO MYSTERIES!

Barrie: You guys are THE best! A million thank-yous!

**p.s. Barrie really is signing tonight. So, if you're anywhere near San Diego, go see her at Warwick's, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla, CA 92037, 6:00-8:00PM, Dec. 9, 2008

Our Last Book Launch: Barrie Summy!

2008-12-08T00:22:00.000-08:00

Yes, peeps, it's true. We're launching our very last classmate this week.

Please lift your glasses in an enthusiastic clink for Barrie Summy and her humorous tween mystery I SO DON'T DO MYSTERIES.

Ya gotta admit this cover's a beaut!

And here's the hot-off-the-press scoop!

A girl. A guy. A ghost. A heist. Yikes!

Sherry (short for Sherlock) Holmes Baldwin wants more mall time, less homework and a certain cute guy. Instead she's recruited by her mother's ghost to prevent a rhino heist at San Diego's Wild Animal Park.

Meet reluctant sleuth Sherry Holmes Baldwin!

And, believe us, you'll totally fall for this hilarious, sassy, resistant, cell-phone-toting heroine as she juggles a tricky mystery, a ghost-mother, a doubting BFF and, of course, Josh Morton, the coolest, cutest guy in the Southwest .

I SO DON'T DO MYSTERIES (the first in the series) goes on sale tomorrow, Tuesday, December 9. Head down to your local Barnes & Nobles or your neighborhood indie or order online here.

Ya know what's really got Barrie excited? She's finally caught up with the rest of the class. And the next time we do a group signing, she'll have her very own book to sign too.

Congratulations, Barrie, you're a Real Published Author now!

Enjoy your launch week on our blog!

Come on, people, show her some love.

See you all tomorrow when we unveil the fantastic book trailer for I SO DON'T DO MYSTERIES!

Shameless Saturday...

2008-12-06T09:13:00.001-08:00

This week, once again, the Class of 2k8 is SHAMELESS!

In class news:

Laurel Snyder’s fairy tale novel, “Up and Down the Scratchy Mountains” is declared a “must-read” by Atlanta Parent Magazine. Laurel was also delighted to be interviewed by Miss Erin as part of the Winter Blog Blast Tour. Check it out!

Elsewhere in the blogosphere, Nancy Viao is hanging out with out very favorite siren of all, The Story Siren!

Zu Vincent's "The Lucky Place" gets some major review-love from Suzanne Morgan Williams:

...Gently written in the trusting voice of a child...Drunkenness, divorce, anger, and childish wishes seem all the more chilling seen through Cassie's young eyes... The prose is lovely and the story held my attention from page one to the end...

And Ellen Booraem's "The Unnameables" has attracted the attention of several on-line reviewers:

I’ve got that warm squishy feeling I get when I’ve just finished something I really, really enjoyed... I love it when an author introduces interesting ideas and leaves the reader free to come to her own conclusions.

&

refreshingly philosophical approach to a coming-of-age tale that stands well above the pack.

Not to mention...

Booraem presents some of the universal themes of children's literature in a new way, and readers cannot help but cheer Medford on as he discovers the meaning of family and friendship, independence, and the importance of art and expression.

Go Ellen!

Friday thank you!!!

2008-12-05T05:29:00.000-08:00

Closing out our week of year-end THANK YOU NOTES, we have Barrie Summy, author of I So Don't Do Mysteries (who'll you'll be getting to know much better next week)!

Barrie, of all the people who've made your debut year great, I wonder who you have in mind today?

Well, I'd like to send a big bloggy thank-you to kidlit blogger Shelf-Elf.

Here's the backstory:

This summer, I wandered into The Flying Drago n Bookshop while I was in Toronto on vacation.

I chatted with the owner, Cathy Francis, gave her an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of I So Don't Do Mysteries and one of our Class of 2k8 brochures.

Turns out Cathy already knew all about the Class of 2k8!

How?

A kidlit blogger named Shelf Elf works part-time at The Flying Dragon!

I quick raced back to my car and grabbed another ARC to leave as a surprise for Shelf Elf. Who read it and posted a wonderful review.

Thank you, Shelf Elf, for spreading the kidlit word through the blogosphere! And thank you for my very first online review!

Jody thanks...

2008-12-04T13:28:00.000-08:00

Jody Feldman, author of the Gollywhopper Games, (as well as one of the fearless leaders of the 2k8 ship) has a LOT to be thankful for...

Right, Jody?

Absolutely. But let me tell you about one person in particular...

"When people come into the store and tell you they have a book coming out," Vicki Erwin of Main Street Books in St. Charles, Missouri, says (and I'm paraphrasing), "you get a little concerned that you might not connect with it. I was so relieved after I read your book."

For me, Vicki was more than relieved. She was more than a passive fan of the book. She started talking about The Gollywhopper Games, and not just to readers. She talked it up to members of the Midwest Booksellers Association.

Although Vicki claims that it wasn't just her, that a lot more members had to really like my book to give it the honors the MBA did, I know it all started with her. And it was a big honor that when we were at the MBA Conference in St. Paul, Minnesota, this past fall, that she introduced me twice with something wonderful and different to say each time. My debut year would not have been the same without her.

Thanks, Vicki!

Thank you from Laurel...

2008-12-03T15:21:00.000-08:00

Another thank you today, this one from Laurel Snyder, author of Up and Down the Scratchy Mountains...

Laurel?

Gosh, there have been so many amazing people I've met in the last year, people wish I could thank in a meaningful way. All the usual suspects--my agent Tina Wexler and my editor Mallory Loehr, as well as every librarian and bookseller I've come into contact with. Greg Call who did the illustrations, and Nicole de la Heras who designed the book, my publicist Elizabeth Daniel. Not to mention the wonderful editor who pulled me from slush, Lisa Findlay.

But the person I really want to thank today is Sherri Smith, at Park Road Books. (shown here, goofing off with Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson)

Sherri is one of those people who wears about 37 hats in the book world, and when she agreed to have me come and sign copies at her store, I had no idea how many of those hats I'd get to see her wear. But the thing that mattered the most to me is that without my asking, she set up my very first school visits, something I was petrified about. I had no idea where to begin!

Not only that, but then Sherri coached me through the experience. We spent the entire day together, and I felt no stress as I met hundreds of kids, interacted with teachers for the first time, and (YAY!) sold a ridiculous number of copies. All because Sherri is one of those people who goes beyond the call of duty, in the name of literacy and literature.

Not to mention that she didn't say a word about the fact that I was dragging around 2 rugrats and my mother.

So, THANK YOU, Sherri! You've totally set the bar for me, showed me how the right person can turn a job into a mission!

Wow! Sherri does sound amazing. Maybe the rest of us will get a chance to meet her too (hint hint).

Thanks and thanks and more thanks!!!

2008-12-01T16:49:00.001-08:00

To continue with our theme, we asked Sarah Prineas, author of The Magic Thief, who she wanted to thank today.

Sarah?

Hmmm. It's hard to pick just one person to thank after months of meeting booksellers, teachers, and librarians from all over the country, and after seeing how hard everybody at my publisher works.

I considered Becky Anderson, owner of Anderson's Bookshop in Naperville, who hosted the prepublication dinner where I met the first kid readers of my book; I considered thanking the book's editor, Melanie Donovan, for acquiring the books and being such a joy to work with; I considered my publicist at HarperCollins, Cindy Tamasi, who cheerfully made all the fall tour events run so smoothly.

But one thing I've realized in the six months since The Magic Thief came out is that the independent booksellers are hugely important. Most of the indy booksellers I've met have been passionate advocates for the books they love. I thank them all for that, but the one I thank the most is Diane Capriola at The Little Shop of Stories in Decatur, Georgia.

When The Magic Thief was a Summer 2008 Booksense Children's Pick , Diane was the one who wrote the blurb. She invited me to attend the Decatur Book Festival, where I had an absolutely fabulous time and enjoyed meeting Diane and her staff in person. She also told me she nominated the book for the E.B. White award .

How can I thank booksellers like Diane enough? I don't think I can. But still, I'll try: Diane, thank you!!

And let us all join Sarah in thanking Diane too!

We're thankful for...

2008-11-30T15:31:00.000-08:00

This week, as we recover from Thanksgiving and head into the final month of our debut year, we find that we have a lot of people to thank.

So many people are involved in the making and the selling and the reading of books, and a LOT of those people don't ever get recognized for all they do. But if it weren't for booksellers and festival organizers, bloggers and teachers, librarians and publicists--it would be a LOT harder for authors to find readers, and kids to find books.

This week, because our mamas raised us right, we want to send out thank you notes to some of those special people...

When we asked M.P Barker (author of the genius historical novel, A Difficult Boy) who she wanted to thank this week, she had this to say:

Hmmmm….where to begin?? So many friends who’ve helped plug my book, but I’d say the biggest thank you goes to Lynne Blake, CRM at the Barnes & Noble in Worcester, Mass. She’s the lady who got the ball rolling on what Marissa calls the Class of 2k8 World Domination tour, when Nina, Courtney, Ellen, Marissa and I zipped through three Barnes & Nobles, the Odyssey Bookshop in South Hadley, MA, and had a great writers’ lunch with fellow authors D. Dina Friedman, Jeannine Atkinson, M.W. Penn, Nancy Castaldo, Melissa Stewart, and Cicily Corbett, plus friends and fans.

Lynne had asked me to do a signing back in May, was a great host, and invited me back with fellow 2k8ers in October, then helped me arrange back-to-back events with B&Ns in Holyoke, MA and Enfield, CT. Lynne was fun, friendly, and fantastic! Thanks, Lynne!

So there you have it. Lynne, you go far above and beyond, and we want the world to know. Please accept HUGE thanks from the Class of 2k8. We owe you big!

Surprise! We're posting on a Sunday!

2008-11-30T00:00:00.000-08:00

Surprise! We're back! Just when you thought it was safe to turn off your computer, put up your feet and start channel surfing. Uh, no. We have one more post for you this week. We're that generous.

Quite frankly, Zu Vincent, debut young adult author of THE LUCKY PLACE, submitted such an interesting post about her childhood library that we just couldn't resist sharing.

So, heeeeere it is...

There was a mysterious little library in the beach town where my grandmother lived. A lone, tiny building from the 1800s, rickety and spent, it stood on sand like the house made of sticks in The Three Little Pigs.

The library’s presence seemed impossible hovering beyond the general store and gas pumps, its back against the bay. Sad fronted, dire even, the big bad wolf in the form of sea winds had already taken its huffs and puffs. The place was about to splinter down.

It took some courage to mount the steps.

Inside was dim. Floor to ceiling shelves. Beyond the puny walls the waves on the bay lip-lipped. The little library had become a cave, a den, a lair, where smallness disappeared. I’d opened a book.

Here's a pic of the library in Inverness, CA Zu was writing about. However, that's not Zu at the door.

And don't you just love this old English proverb?

A good book is the best of friends.

Shameless Saturday

2008-11-29T08:20:00.000-08:00

(left to right) Jennifer Bradbury (SHIFT), Jody Feldman (THE GOLLYWHOPPER GAMES), P.J. Hoover (THE EMERALD TABLET), Nancy Viau (SAMANTHA HANSEN HAS ROCKS IN HER HEAD), Brooke Taylor (UNDONE), Stacy Nyikos (DRAGON WISHES)

These awesome 2k8 classmates rocked at the National Council of Teachers of English conference with their panel: New Voices for a New Generation. They shared the scoop on how to grab reader interest in a technological world. San Antonio, Texas may never be the same again!

More accolades this week for Ellen Booraem's middle-grade THE UNNAMEABLES!

School Library Journal says THE UNNAMEABLES has "a style and charm all its own," and the American Library Association's Booklist says "Patient readers who like a little quirk in their fantasy will enjoy this stick-it-to-the-status-quo romp."

Go, Ellen!

And...you can catch up with Ellen on a couple of blogs! Here she is on the ever-popular Cynsations, talking about her writing life. And then there's a really fun interview on Laura Bowers' Shop Talk

And...Happy Birthday, Jonathan Swift! (November 30, 1667)

Fave Librarians!

2008-11-28T00:00:00.000-08:00

Some people have a favorite Others have a favorite pair of slippers.
number.

Here, at the Class of 2k8, we have our...

favorite librarians!

Okay, guys, it's your chance to share.

M.P. Barker is waving her hand madly. Yes, we see you. Yes, you can go first M.P.

Thanks! I grew up in Chicopee, Massachusetts, and I remember going to the Aldenville Branch Library once a week (at least!)—one person could check out only four books at a time, so we went back often. There was always a summer reading contest with a free movie at the Rivoli Theater for readers who reached their quota, and I remember what a sense of accomplishment it was to see my marker go around the map or chart or whatever record-keeping scheme they had that year (and how disappointed I was the year they decided to stop doing the movie and just gave out prizes instead).

It was a teeny tiny storefront library, and the librarians were just great. The kids’ section was at the front, and the adults’ section was at the back, and always seemed sort of like a forbidden city. OOOHHH, to some day be grown-up enough to check books out from that section!!

But of all the librarians I’ve known, I didn’t meet my absolute favorite one until I was all grown up. That’s my boss, Maggie Humberston, who’s the head of the Genealogy and Local History Library and Archives at the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum in springfield, MA. And I’m not saying that just because she brings me chocolate, either. She’s unfailingly patient cheerful, goes wa-a-a-ay beyond the extra mile to help our researchers, and has a magic gift for dealing with the…um…eccentrics. You know how most people would like to kill their bosses? Well, Maggie is the kind of boss that I would kill FOR. Some day I hope I can be as good a person as she is…but it’s not likely!

Librarian Maggie Humberston & M.P. Barker, debut author of the historical young-adult A DIFFICULT BOY

And, at the back of the class,Elizabeth C. Bunce, debut author of the young-adult fantasy A CURSE DARK AS GOLD, is holding up a photo of the library where her favorite librarian used to work.

Okay, Elizabeth. We've thrown up the photo. Now tell us about your favorite librarian.

When I was growing up, our local children's librarian was my best friend's mom. She used to let me read the new books before they went on the shelf! I still remember the horror my brother and I felt when we got toothpaste on a brand-new copy of Tamora Pierce's ALANNA: THE FIRST ADVENTURE (that book is still in the library, toothpaste stain and all!). I was lucky enough to have my launch for A CURSE DARK AS GOLD back at my hometown library, and it was so neat to have Mrs. Elbert there to celebrate with us. She's retired now, of course, but I'll always think of her as my personal librarian.

And we leave you with this delightful quotation sent to us by Brenda Eley, Librarian, Beckman High School, Irvine, California:

"Books may well be the only true magic."~~Alice Hoffman

Thanksgiving Trivia

2008-11-27T00:00:00.000-08:00

Below are some fascinating Thanksgiving facts. Memorize them before heading off to your Thanksgiving dinner or before opening your front door to your guests. This trivia is guaranteed to make you look smart, fun and interesting!

1. What do you call a female turkey?
2. What sound does she make?
3. How fast can a turkey run?
4. Which state produces the most turkeys?
5. How many feathers does a mature turkey have?
6. What drink did the puritans bring with them on the Mayflower?
7. What do you call a baby turkey?
8. Which vegetable did the Pilgrims decide not to eat for Thanksgiving because they thought it was poisonous?
9. Why is difficult to sneak up on a turkey?
10. What do you call a turkey under 16 weeks of age? How about if it's five to seven months old?

Answers:
1. A hen
2. She clucks.
3. 20 mph
4. Minnesota
5. 3,500
6. beer
7. a poult
8. potatoes
9. Turkeys have a wide field of vision (270 degrees) and a great sense of hearing. Not germane to this answer, but interesting nonetheless, turkeys see in color.
10. A fryer, a roaster

What was that you said? You have a question for us. Go ahead. Shoot.

What's the number of calories in the average Thanksgiving dinner?

Are you crazy? You do not even want to know the answer to that question. You definitely don't want to take that kind of information to a Thanksgiving feast. You'll be shunned. You'll be miserable and lonely. You'll only get passed the pickle tray.

Now, off you go. It's time to celebrate. See you Friday.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM THE CLASS OF 2K8!

(And if you don't celebrate Thanksgiving, HAVE A GREAT DAY!)

Sources:
http://www.creative-baby-shower-ideas.com/thanksgiving-trivia.html
http://home.aristotle.net/Thanksgiving/trivia-index.asp
http://www.thanksgivingnovember.com/thanksgiving-facts.html
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/tgturkeyfacts.html

Librarians are so not scary!

2008-11-26T00:00:00.002-08:00

"You see, I don't believe libraries should be drab places where people sit in silence, and that's been the main reason for our policy of employing wild animals as librarians." ~~Monty Python

We thank Colette Eason, Librarian, Marsalis Elementary School, Dallas, Texas for the above quotation. It's beyond excellent!

Classmate Ellen Booraem, debut middle grade author of THE UNNAMEABLES, has a story about librarians who really know how to woo skittish library patrons.

My partner, Rob, was a childhood victim of one of the Old School of librarians, the ones with real-life “shushing action.” He and his peers called the guy Snagglepuss. Giggling in the stacks was strictly forbidden, and books were sent home with a long list of handling instructions. Heaven help you if brought one back late.

We moved to Brooklin, Maine, which has the world's warmest and loveliest library, with matching librarians. Rob, an avid reader, refused to pass the library’s doors. The then-librarian, Gretchen Volenik, met him frequently at the post office and general store, and did her best to persuade him that he could giggle in the stacks all he wanted. But he persisted in hunting for reading material at yard sales rather than borrowing it from the Evil Place. He wouldn’t even read library books I brought home for him, fearing that he would mistreat them in some way.

Then he became addicted to books on tape, which he played all day long as he painted (he’s an artist). The yard sales soon ran out of fodder. Gretchen saw her chance, and started sending me home with audiobooks she knew would interest him. Sometimes, she would send him donated tapes that hadn’t even been catalogued yet, with no scary due date at all.

Today, Rob’s in the library at least once a week, checking out audiobooks and faithfully returning them on time. A month or so ago, the current librarian, Stephanie Atwater, entrusted him with a box full of uncatalogued tapes and CDs, carrying on the tradition. Take that, Snagglepuss.

The lovely Stephanie Atwater, Librarian, Friend Memorial Public Library in Brooklin, Maine.

And now for some great quotations sent to us from librarians across the country.

From DaShannon Lovin, Library Media Specialist, Blanchester High School, Blanchester, Ohio:

"I really didn't realize the librarians were, you know, such a dangerous group. They are subversive. You think they're just there at the desk, all quiet and everything. They're like plotting the revolution, man. I wouldn't mess with them. "~~Michael Moore

And from Angela Sanders, Librarian, Augusta Elementary School, Augusta, Arkansas:

"My test of a good novel is dreading to begin the last chapter." ~~Thomas Helm

"Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book." ~ ~Author Unknown

"You know you've read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend." ~~Paul Sweeney

Librarians touch our hearts

2008-11-25T02:35:00.000-08:00

Classmate Lisa Schroeder, author of the Young Adult I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME, shares this about her childhood library:

It's hard being the young child of divorced parents. My life was pretty chaotic for awhile. And that's probably why I loved going to the Salem Public Library in Salem, Oregon with my mom during the summer vacations of my elementary school years. As soon as I walked into the children's area, I instantly felt welcomed and at home. Everything was in its place, and just as it should be. What a comfort this was to me at the time, and I can't even describe how much I loved our bi-weekly trips to the library. When I walked in, I knew right where I could find my good friends Betsy and Star, Encyclopedia Brown, Mrs. Piggle Wiggle, and more.

I remember one summer, when they had a reading program going on, they had a detailed map on a big board sitting horizontally, and each child had a little marker he/she moved around the map. I can vividly remember sitting and admiring that map every time we visited, and it made me so happy to move my marker around as I read books that summer.

I'm so thankful to my mom for taking me to the library, and to the librarians at the Salem Public Library who did such an awesome job making the children's area a fun, welcoming, and friendly place.

And here's a little history from the Salem Public Library's website:

Salem Public Library was founded in 1904 by a group of determined volunteers from the Salem Women’s Club. The first library was housed in a corner of the City Council Chambers for the City of Salem . The library was operated by the Salem Women’s Club until it became a department of the City of Salem in 1912.

Erin Fitzpatrick-Bjorn, a librarian in Gresham, Oregan shares this about her middle school library:

A few years ago I was working on a poetry unit with fifth graders. They came into the library and we looked at great poets and poetry, and they did some of their own writing. Here's a favorite poem I have that a student wrote that year modeled after "i live in music" by Ntozake Shange.

I live in the library
By Kaylie

i live in the library
is this where you live
i live here in the library
i live on fairy tale street
my friend lives on mystery avenue
do you live here in the library
pages fall round me like snowflakes
on other folks
books touch my face
warm as fire and
cool like the winding air
thinking they waz fairy tales
i got fifteen chapter books where other
people got hips
and a thick book for both sides of my heart
i walk around in pages like somebody else be walkin’ on sand
i live in the library
i live in it
sleep in it
i could even hear it
i wear books on my fingers books
fall so fulla words ya cd make a river
where yr arm is and hold yrself
hold yrself in a book.

Librarians touch our hearts.

Merci beaucoup to librarians everywhere!

2008-11-24T00:00:00.000-08:00

We're calling on one of our very own 2k8 classmates, Kristin O'Donnell Tubb, debut author of the middle grade historical AUTUMN WINIFRED OLIVER DOES THINGS DIFFERENT, to spill about her cool librarian story. Think wrinkles and clocks, dear blogger friends. Okay, taaaake it away, Kristin.

When I was in sixth grade at City Park Elementary in Athens, TN, our librarian, Sheila Rollins, held a school-wide reading competition. The prize? The winner got to interview Madeleine L’Engle by telephone! As soon as I heard that, I started flipping those pages, and sure enough, I won! I remember sitting in a tiny conference room that only the teachers were allowed to go into (hee-hee!), and a box the size of a Kleenex container sat in the middle of the table. It was a speaker phone, the first I’d ever seen, and I just knew that this was going to be a memorable day. But honestly, I forget most of what happened. The one thing I do remember, however, helped define my life. Toward the end of the interview, I told Ms. L’Engle that I wanted to be a writer. “Good for you!” she answered. “Keep reading and you can do it.” So thank you to Madeleine L’Engle (forever!) for the great advice, and thank you to Shelia Rollins, SuperLibrarian, who always knew what reading could achieve.

And here's another example of how librarians can affect a life. Thanks for sharing, Shelly Kraal, Librarian, Universal Academy, Flower Mound/Coppell.

I am the librarian at a K-12 charter school. Recently, there was a scheduling snafu and I had a class of 6th graders added to my schedule every day. This has created a magical moment for my kinders and 6th graders. On Mondays and Fridays they are book buddies. Only this past month I discovered just how cathartic that time is for one of my 6th graders. He lost his little brother (who would have been a kindergartener) over the summer. James' mother approached me and told me that the book buddy time is actually helping James to get over the loss of the little brother to whom he read on a daily basis. It just melted my heart to discover how my makeshift solution to having two classes at one time in the library met the needs of one young man who was really hurting inside.

Merci beaucoup to librarians everywhere!

Shameless Saturday

2008-11-22T13:00:00.000-08:00

Oh, but we have been busy this past week!

(left to right) Zu Vincent (THE HAPPY PLACE), Barrie Summy (I SO DON'T DO MYSTERIES), Stacy Nyikos (DRAGON WISHES), PJ Hoover (THE EMERALD TABLET) and Courtney Scheinmel (MY SO-CALLED FAMILY) spoke about "Turning Old Writing Tricks into New Reading Treats" at the California Library Association's annual meeting last Monday. They were amazing and awesome! If we do say so ourselves. (Courtney is missing from the picture.)

There was a time when kids went outside to play, made up imaginary games evoking historical characters and aliens from the future, families went on road trips in search of gold, radiation was still a new treatment for cancer, and cancer was still mysterious. In THE LUCKY PLACE by Zu Vincent, families are becoming visibly dysfunctional through the eyes of Cassie, spanning ten years from age three to thirteen...There are complex relationships rich with emotion, told from a soft, gentle, very human perspective. This book will capture the attention of 5th grades and up.

Read the entire review by Lyda At Tales from the Treehouse.

Ellen Booraem loves Kirkus Reviews, which included THE UNNAMEABLES in its Best Children's Books of 2008 special section. The section recommends 50 kids' books for the year. THE UNNAMEABLES also is on the Indie Bound Kids' Next list for Winter 2008/2009. This is 59 books recommended by independent booksellers.

Wow! Go, Ellen!

From Portrait Magazine: SWIMMING WITH SHARKS is a captivating tale that brilliantly portrays the cruel world of teenage girls. Despite the things she does, Peyton is still a character the reader can relate to and empathize with and the reader is taken on a convincing journey with our heroine and narrator as she finds herself in various challenging situations, leading up to a very dramatic and satisfying conclusion.

There are lessons to be learnt about bullying and prices we all pay for it in this strong second novel from author Debbie Reed Fischer. Definitely worth checking out.

With shushing action!

2008-11-20T13:21:00.000-08:00

Barbara Gopas Gubbins send us the perfect quote for these troubling economic times.

"Libraries will get you through times of no money better than money
will get you through times of no libraries."

How true is that! We can’t even imagine a time with no libraries. The horror. But it might make a great topic for a great dystopian ya novel.

We're so thankful to live in a place where the following anecdote is possible. Where a librarian in a school with little funds still manages to put books on the shelves! Thanks Sandi Jones in Arizona for sharing!

"I’m a firm believer in the power of a good book collection. When I started working in my current high school library in a poor rural district two years ago, the fiction section had an average copyright date of 1980. Needless to say, teens couldn’t relate to the books on the shelves, and there were hardly any titles of interest to our diverse student population. One student actually asked me how I could stand working in such a lonely boring place! Seeing the need for change, I became determined to replace all those dusty, never-circulated titles with hot bestsellers. Soon after I started ordering books, a shy senior walked through the door one day and began checking out books. A few weeks later, that same senior—by then a regular patron—admitted in three years of high school she’d never been inside our library.
Today, my favorite part of my job is when a new box of books comes in the door and the students attack the carton like vultures. Kids hang out in the library at lunchtime because they want to and enjoy browsing the shelves. I’ve been told that the "boring" place is the heart of the school now."

DID YOU KNOW!!!

Librarians have their own action figure.

This librarian superhero is based on real life librarian Nancy Pearl and caused a bit of controversy amongst librarians keen to change their image. But anyone who loves librarians knows they are so much more than shushers!

I think Paula Poundstone said it best. "It's funny that we think of libraries as quiet demure places where we are shushed by dusty, bun-balancing, bespectacled women. The truth is libraries are raucous clubhouses for free speech, controversy and community. Librarians have stood up to the Patriot Act, sat down with noisy toddlers and reached out to illiterate adults. Libraries can never be shushed."

I Brake For Librarians!

2008-11-19T12:54:00.000-08:00

This week two librarians remind us what a difference books can make.
Pat Vaninwagen in Connecticut says:

"I have been a school library media specialist for going on 4 years but I
will never forget my first year and the boy who showed me that I can make a
difference. He was a second grader and arrived in the library in tears
because his teacher wanted him to take out a book to read during quiet
reading time. "Why are you crying?" I asked. He replied, "I just don't
know what I like to read." So we spent a few minutes talking about what
kind of books he liked and I took him to my favorite author, Dick
King-Smith, handed him Billy the Bird and encouraged him to read it.
Imagine my delight when he arrived in the library the next week, waving the
book and calling out "Have you got any more like this?" He had discovered
the joy of reading and I was reminded that a good librarian can help anyone
find a book that suits his or her style."

And Michelle Yu in Wisconsin tells us her favorite quote by Maya Angelou

“When I look back, I am so impressed again
with the life-giving power of literature.
If I were a young person today, trying to gain a sense of
myself in the world, I would do that again by reading,
just as I did when I was young.”

Thank goodness for school libraries and media centers. What would we do without them?

DID YOU KNOW???

Of the over 130,000 libraries in our country, nearly 99,000 of them are in schools, both public and private.

Nearly two-thirds of Americans have library cards!! Yay! But some of the most frequent users of libraries are parents with young children. Double yay!!

There is a national library symbol/highway sign.

Now all we need is a bumper sticker.

Thanks to ala.org for all the great statistics!

The Perks of Being a Librarian

2008-11-18T10:44:00.000-08:00

We all know that being a librarian has its perks, but here’s one not many get to experience.
From Cheryl Beatty in Fairfield, CT:
“I usually learn of the Newbery Award winners via a press release. Not so in 2003. That was the year that I got a personal announcement from a winner whom I’d never met. Patricia Reilly Giff called my school library saying that she’d just won the Newbery Honor for Pictures of Hollis Woods. She wanted to share the good news with her grandson who was a sixth grade student. A former teacher herself, Ms. Giff was afraid the school office staff would be unwilling to pull the child out of class, but she knew a librarian would. She was right!”

Wow! Thank goodness she didn’t hang up, thinking it was a prank call!
But hearing from students can be just as exciting as hearing from famous people. Check out this great story from R. Jean Gustafson in Washington. (No pun intended!)

"With only two grades I do not worry about remembering names as much as making connections with my kids. I do not remember the initial meeting with this student, (knowing me, I probably saw her choice and said you don’t want that, try this!) I do remember by the time she left my campus she was a happy teen with a group of friends and not one bit afraid to talk. [This is a letter she sent me.]

'Mrs. Gustafson, when I was in Jr. High we both know that I read more books in a day then talked to people. Books were my escape and you were the mysterious stranger come to direct me in the right direction (That’s not redundant at all!) You opened the door of Fantasy, from Tamora Pierce to Jack Whyte; you have solidified my love for that genre.
Words are not enough to express my gratitude but they are all I have to give, those and this picture. Who knows, maybe one day you’ll be recommending a book to a shy timid student, written by me!'

We never know what students we will reach; many won’t say thanks as she did. Her picture and message sit proudly on my treasure shelf!"

Librarians are changing lives on a daily basis!
But did you know?????
!!!!It's time for LIBRARY FUN FACTS!!!!

Say the word library and most of us picture a cozy building filled with books. Sure there are computers as well, and magazines. Some libraries even have a fireplace. The building might be sprawling or cozy, but really we’re just talking variations on a theme. All over the world, however, some libraries have gotten very creative. Here, we’ll show you what we mean.

Here is a library train in Thailand.

This donkey pulled library wagon brings books to readers all over Kenya.

This library boat travels the world.

This space age library looks like it's from the future, but it's really from California.

What's the most unusual library you've ever visited?

Hurrah for Librarians!

2008-11-17T04:31:00.000-08:00

You all know how much the class of 2k8 loves librarians. We love them so much we held a contest dedicated to them! Thanks so much to all who entered touching, funny and thought-provoking quotes and anecdotes, we’re rooting for each and every one of you! But we don’t want to be the only ones whose hearts are touched, whose funny bones are tickled and whose brains are proded, so this week we are going to share some of the great responses!

C. Whisennand in Texas sent in this story:
“People, librarians especially, are always going around complaining that they are taken for granted and that they rarely feel that patrons appreciate them. I was looking up the library record of a student who was checking out, when to my surprise he stopped, turned to his mother and said , ‘This is Mrs. Whisennand, she knows all the books in this library. She can find you any book that you want about anything. I know her from before when she was at my Elementary School.’ It warmed my heart. This student had changed on the outside. He was no longer the cute kindergarten student. He had multiple piercings in his ears and his hat was on backwards. I was sad that I had not recognized him, but in my defense I taught 15 years as an Elementary School librarian and more than 14,000 students came in and out of the library doors during that time. I guess that we do make a difference.”

You certainly do make a difference!
L. Di Sunno in New York sent us this quote:
“An intelligent person is not someone who knows everything, but someone who knows how to find answers to questions about everything."

So, I bet you’d like to know what famous people know how to find answers to questions about everything. Welcome to a feature we’re calling...
LIBRARY FUN FACTS!!

Did you know???
The following people were all librarians at one point in their lives: Mao Tse-Tung, J. Edgar Hoover,
Laura Bush, Madeline L’Engle
Phillip Pullman, and Lewis Carroll..
But wait! There's more!
Benjamin Franklin, Karl Marx, Immanuel Kant, Cassanova, Pope Pius XI, Beverly Cleary, Golda Meir and David Hume were all librarians too!

Shameless Saturday

2008-11-15T11:16:00.000-08:00

Here's what Booklist says about Kristin O'Donnell Tubb's middle grade historical, WINIFRED OLIVER DOES THINGS DIFFERENT: "Tubb’s inventive heroine comes across as a female version of familiar characters, such as Gary Paulsen's Harris or Robert Newton Peck's Soup. This homespun tale,f ull of folksy humor and based on historical fact, will appeal to young fans of Deborah Wiles' and Ruth White's books."

Book Chic loves Debbie Reed Fischer's Young Adult, BRALESS IN WONDERLAND. Read the interview here.

SWIMMING WITH THE SHARKS also by Debbie Reed Fischer was given the Gold Star Award for Excellence by TeensReadToo.com. Here is the review.

Guess what independent booksellers for children across the nation are recommending?

THE MAGIC THIEF by Sarah Prineas and THE POSSIBILITIES OF SAINTHOOD by Donna Freitas
Check out the catalog.

GO GANG!

Day 5: Thanks, Stacy A. Nyikos!

2008-11-14T00:00:00.000-08:00

2k8: Writing is hard. Publishing is harder. On this last day of Stacy A. Nyikos' launch week, let's find out what she struggled with.

Stacy: The hardest part about writing and publishing DRAGON WISHES was the emotion that went into it. I revealed on Tuesday that the story emerged after a near fatal sledding accident my daughters were in. They healed, but I didn’t. I went through all of the stages of grief – which, on a good day, I thought was just plain wrong. They were still alive. I didn’t want to think about what would have happened if they had died. But think about it I did. It haunted me.

Writing out the emotions was the only way I could work through them. That proved rather difficult since I’d sworn off writing, and I’m not much for journaling. At some point, nearing the edge of my sanity, I forced myself to sit back down and take the overwhelming emotion of loss and turn it on its head. What would it be like for a child to go through this? I’m an adult. I’m supposed to be trained by life itself to deal with loss. But a child? What would a child do?

That idea loosened my silent pen. I would turn my loss and fear around. I’d write a story, one that could be a beacon to kids going through the overwhelming craziness of loss that I’d gone through.

2k8: So, then did the story come quickly or slowly?

Stacy: The ideas for the story came pretty quickly, and the writing part went relatively smoothly. It was the revising that was a battle. My critique group pushed me to do better, like all critique groups do. I am indebted to them. Alone, I don’t think I could have done it because they forced me to take on the most difficult scenes – when Alex has to let somebody love her again or drown in her own feelings of loss – and write them until they ached with my main character’s struggles. It made the story so much stronger, but I was a real bear to live with when I was revising certain scenes. I could have thought of a million places I would have rather have been – childbirth, a lecture on international political economics, watching paint dry – than in those emotions, trying to shape them into something positive.

At times, I wondered if I hadn’t actually jumped off the deep end. Who in their right mind tries to shape the emotions of loss? Aren’t we just supposed to figure out how to survive them?

2k8: Now DRAGON WISHES is a real book sitting on the shelf. The writing and revising are behind you. How do you feel?

Stacy: In the end, the story became one I’m really proud of. My characters emotions are real. They are at times raw. The rawness gives them an unmistakable authenticity that I very much hope helps kids dealing with loss find their own path through the darkness.

2k8: Stacy, it's been a great launch week. We've all enjoyed getting to know you better. Thank you so much for sharing. We wish you the very very best in your writing career. We know it's going to soar.

To read an excerpt of DRAGON WISHES, click here.

Day 4: Stacy A. Nyikos and Johnny Depp!

2008-11-13T00:50:00.000-08:00

We're back for Day 4 with Stacy A. Nyikos, debut author of the middle-grade fantasy DRAGON WISHES.

Stacy's gotten really comfortable on the blog. So, today, we're handing the mic over to her and letting her have at it.

"Hey, Stacy. Feel free to just chat away. DRAGON WISHES on the silver screen. Who do you want in it and why?"

The following confession is pretty pathetic, but I actually wrote one of the parts in my book with a particular actor in mind. Reader should now picture author hanging her head like a scolded dog because yes, I wrote Uncle Norbert as a Johnny Depp character. (NOTE: If you’re reading Johnny, please just have your agent get in touch with my agent. I’m sure it will all work out. Uncle Norbert is really written for you.)

Personal fantasies aside, if that ever does happen, believe me, I will so absolutely blog about it.
Still, you may be wondering, why did I do this? Massive star crush perhaps? Only slightly. The bigger reason is because Uncle Norbert is someone eccentric, off the wall, and odd. I kept thinking of some of the amazingly bizarre characters Johnny Depp has played – and there have been a few. I pictured Mr. Depp with rumpled hair, his shirt half untucked, meandering around the house with an old book in one hand, a spongy pastry covered in powdered sugar in the other, and this surprised look in his eyes. He was the big guest star appearance in my book.

As for the others, well, it would be an unusual cast.

First off, the most real and important. Last year while I was doing a school visit I met a student who is the real live Maddie, Alex’s best friend. She goes to a school in a Chicago suburb and is named, no kidding, Maddie. I met her well after the book was finished, but she was, in almost every way, the living version of my character – cheerful, mile a minute chatterbox. If you’re reading, Maddie – which is so much more likely than Johnny Depp – you’d just have to play yourself in my movie, okay? You’re the all time perfect best friend.

The next one I would cast is Mrs. Chen. I’d ask, beg, badger – and pretty much pester nonstop – Amy Tan to play Mrs. Chen. I know she’s not an actress per se, but since I get to do the casting, I’m promoting her to screenstar extraodinaire. She writes such strong female characters, I think she could pull off Mrs. Chen, no problems.

Auntie Ling would have to be played by my best friend, Ching Ling Teng, who guided me through the Chinese world with such aplomb. I know she’s not an actor – she’s a physicist actually – but she is Auntie Ling. That has to count for something.
Mr. Cisneros, the school principal, would have to be played by the illustrator of my picture books, Shawn Sisneros. He’s a starving artist too, but with so much talent. I think he could totally handle the acting thing. Plus, I borrowed his name. There have got to be some sort of royalties on something like that to get him a screenpart.

Mr. Sanchez, the bus driver who rushes Isa to the hospital, would be played by Cheech Marin. I think I had Cheech’s face half the time while I was writing Mr. Sanchez’s character, somebody with a little attitude but a huge heart willing to go above and beyond to help.

My hairdresser has already claimed the part of the art instructor, Degas Rivera. I had no choice, since I’d like for my hair to continue to look halfway decent, but to promise him the part.

Although my book has no official narrator, someone has to read the dragon story. I’d like it to be Mark Twain. Yes, I realize he is no longer among the living, but there’s no other person I know with a better voice.

As for Alex, Isa, and Shin Wa, and the entire soccer team, I would like to have an open casting day for the kids at all of the schools I’ve visited as an author. I’ve met some real personalities along the way, as well as a few drama queens. I think we could have those parts filled in no time flat.

And that's a wrap. Although we're sure Stacy will have cameo roles for all her 2k8 classmates!

Day 3: Stacy A. Nyikos--True or False?

2008-11-12T00:00:00.000-08:00

Our Stacy A. Nyikos, debut author of middle-grade fantasy DRAGON WISHES,can really spin some tall tales. We love having her in class. Cause ya just never know what she'll come up with!

So...which of the following do you thing are true? And which are not?

Numero Uno: I’ve heard some crazy stories from author’s on the road, but the one I’m about to tell happened to me when I was on author tour for my picture book, DIZZY. It was the last day of a grueling two-week stint. I decided to take my girls–who had come along for the whirlwind ten city tour across the Midwest and down the Eastern seaboard–for a hike in the Shenandoah mountains on the last day of the tour. I’d lived nearby at one point in my life and often gone hiking in the mountains. Never saw anything scarier than the next bend in an endless uphill hike. On this particular occasion, however, nature decided to write her own little story with me as the main character. It all began when a water moccasin slithered into the water right next to my youngest daughter’s foot as she crossed a small stream. If I had known what was going on, I’d have called it foreshadowing. Instead, I called it nature. The next, building “incident” were leeches in the waterfall the girls played in. I kept thinking, when in nature expect to see nature. I wasn’t really ready for the black widow that wandered over our pass as we began to make our way back out of the park. But they were all just building to the actual climax – we ran into a black bear. And by ran into, I mean, we were close enough to touch it. We ran one and a half miles uphill out of the park, no stopping. I’ve never been so scared in my life.

Numero Dos: I spent my junior Spring Break re-stitching the linen wing on an old plane. Honest to Pete. Here’s how it happened. My grandfather is a pilot, my father is a pilot, three of my uncles are pilots, and my brother is a pilot. You probably won’t be shocked to learn that I can fly too. I’m not sure I’d have been allowed to leave the house without learning. It was more important than driving. Not only did I learn how to fly, I learned all things air and plane related, including how to rebuild a plane. My father was a crop duster part time. He came across an old linen plane in a barn up in Indiana where I grew up. I think something in his heart went out to that old, beaten up plan. When I was twelve years old, he bought it, and we spent most of my teen years rebuilding it. I learned how to stretch the fabric, apply it to the wings and body, and how to cover the frame so the material wouldn’t be ripped off by the wind either on take off and landing, or, god forbid, while flying through the air. The real test came, though, when we took off for the first time. Everything was going really well until we came up upon a flock of ducks. My dad tried to pull up and out of the flock, but one of the birds got confused and collided with the wing, tearing a huge hole in it. We made an emergency landing. As unbelievable as it sounds, the bird, a mallard, got away more unscathed than the plane. Not me. Or the wing. Which is why I spent Spring Break re-stitching it.

Numero Tres: I think I’ve had one of the most unusual visits to the White House. It all came about when I was on the drive out from Oklahoma to Virginia to start my PhD at the University of Virginia. On the way, I spent the night at a hotel in Tennessee. After a long day of driving, I decided get some exercise, so I headed over to the workout room. I had it all to myself except for one other guy. He was pretty nice. We talked off and on as we worked out. I caught about half of what he said because there was music playing. Before he left, he said I should come out and visit him in Washington, D.C., which is pretty close to the University of Virginia. I was in my mid-twenties and thought he was hitting on me, but I said sure. He left to get his business card. When he gave it to me, my jaw nearly hit the floor of the workout room. He was a secret service agent. I asked him what he was doing in Tennessee? He told me he was there on detail for the Vice President. Then, he repeated his offer. If I was ever in D.C., I should call him up and he’d take me on a backstairs tour of the White House. I did. It was shortly after Christmas, and I asked him, how many people I could bring along? As many as I wanted. This was, I have to admit, pre-911. I showed up with my aunt and uncle, my roommates from grad school, a friend from the navy, and another friend who was in the Marines. We didn’t get to see the president, but we did get to see the Oval Office, the Roosevelt Room, a bunch of other rooms, and the old Executive Offices. Afterwards, we took the secret service agent out to eat at a nearby restaurant where we scrounged our pennies together to pay for his meal. And that’s how I got to see the White House.

So, whaddya think, blogosphere friends? Are any of these true? Are they all true? Or what?

Day 2: More on Stacy A. Nyikos

2008-11-11T00:01:00.000-08:00

2k8: We're back with Stacy A. Nyikos, debut author of the middle grade fantasy DRAGON WISHES. And because we're classmates, we get to ask her pretty much whatever we want. So, here goes.

Stacy, where do you do most of your writing?

Stacy: I do most of my writing in my office. I’ve tried sitting in a comfy chair facing the window, but that was sort of counterproductive, although I was really well rested! Much as I liked that great view, I realized that I’m pretty much a desk person. I guess I need a little bit of discomfort to keep my mind focused. I’m in good company, though. Hemingway wrote standing up. He said that helped him pare down and only write what absolutely needed to be said. I’m glad I don’t have to go to such extremes, but the desk definitely helps me slip into my own imagination and unlock the stories waiting in there to be told.

2k8: What made you begin writing DRAGON WISHES?

Stacy: DRAGON WISHES came to be through a number of factors. The first, and most monumental, was an event. About five years ago, my daughters were in a near fatal sledding accident. When they crashed into the back of a parked horse trailer, my world came to a crashing halt. I stopped writing. I became depressed. My personal life fell apart. Ironically, it was pen and paper that got me through the darkness. The emotions my daughters’ accident left me with had taken on a life of their own. It wasn’t all that productive. I needed to redirect. Turn them into something good, rather than destructive. The heart of Dragon Wishes was born – how do children work through the grief and sadness of loss. Heavy stuff, I know, but that’s where it all started.

2k8: And how did DRAGON WISHES find a publisher? Give us the *real* dirt!

Stacy: I submitted, and submitted, and submitted. I wish I could say there was some real dirt, but it was mostly pure, unadulterated rejection – like high school all over again. Then one day, as I contemplated the ratio of time it would take to burn my manuscript as opposed to the time it took to write it, I got an email from a friend about a regional publisher that was–dare I say it–looking for new works to build its line. It was Blooming Tree Press. I submitted to them. Instead of a rejection letter, I got a call from Miriam Hees shortly before Christmas. Well, okay, it was December 8, and I was actually frantically grocery shopping at Whole Foods (not that I remember exactly what I was doing). Through the clatter of carts, crinkle of plastic and roar of my heart, I heard those words I’d been waiting to hear for soooooooo long – the book had been accepted. It was the best present ever.

2k8: Imagine you have an offer from your dream press to publish your dream book, no matter how insane or unmarketable it might be (though of course it might *not* be). What's the story?

I’m pretty sure I jumped off the deep end a long time ago when I decided to write for a living. I’m a starving artist! I’ve pretty much given in to the insanity of my profession and write whatever I feel most strongly about. I have to have a strong reaction to stay with the labor of creating the story and then the marathon of revisions. So, I’m writing my dream book right now, Pelorus Jack, which is set in late 19th century New Zealand, and is about a boy and a dolphin who become inseparable friends.

What question won't most people know to ask you? What is your answer?

It’s one I’ve heard a few brave–and very wise–children ask. How much do you make? The answer is really easy – less than their teachers. I’d really really really like to make more money at it, don’t get me wrong. If there is an agent out there who can make it happen, please give me a call! But in the end, I write because I am passionate about storytelling. I have the great and elusive gift of being in love with what I do. Without that, I’d go back to my day job tomorrow.

For today, we leave you with a gorgy photo of a two-year-old Stacy. Who knew this cutie patootie would grow up to be a passionate writer!

Click back tomorrow for more on Stacy A. Nyikos and her fantasy middle-grade, DRAGON WISHES!

Day 1: Introducing Stacy Nyikos!

2008-11-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

It's another super exciting week on the blog. We're celebrating the launch of classmate Stacy A. Nyikos' debut middle-grade novel DRAGON WISHES.

Ahhhh....What can we tell you about Stacy?

She has always been a storyteller. When she was little, her parents called her a ham. Why? Because she acted out her stories!

Then she learned to write. And we're happy she did.

Besides writing, Stacy loves to travel. In DRAGON WISHES, she flies her readers high above the earth and into the mythical world of Chinese dragons.

Stacy also has three children's picture books under her belt: SQUIRT (2005), SHELBY (2007), and DIZZY (2007).

When she isn’t traveling–either through her imagination or around the globe–Stacy lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with her husband and two daughters.

Guess what else? Stacy has a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Virginia. She's one smart cookie.

Okay, Stacy, tell us about DRAGON WISHES and how it came to be.

Eleven-year-old Alex is searching. So is Shin Wa. They both need to find a path out of the darkness that surrounds them. Shin Wa’s journey leads her to the Black mountains of the far north in China. There she discovers more than just the last surviving dragons. She finds a way to save mankind. It all lies in a single pearl of wisdom. The gem is also the key to Alex’s own journey. The pearl travels through the ages to find the struggling young girl and her sister. But it is not until Alex discovers how to use the pearl that she finds a path out of the darkness.

Here's the story behind the story. I wanted to build a strong sense of family into my book. The Asian culture offered that to me. Now, I have to say, I am neither Asian nor did I grow up in an Asian household. I did grow up in a family very proud of its heritage. I am a third generation Hungarian. However, when I moved back to the United States from Germany to start my PhD, my best friend was Ching Ling Teng, from Taiwan. We celebrated holidays together, both Western and Eastern. We cooked ethnic foods. We told stories. She and her extended family took me in and made me feel at home again in the U.S., odd as that may sound.

When I began working on DRAGON WISHES, Ling and I had long conversations about names and what they mean, festivals and their importance, Chinese storytelling, and stories from her childhood. Many of them found a place in my story.

But dragons? I knew next to nothing about Chinese dragons. I began researching. I read books. I combed the Internet. I learned a lot. But I still wasn’t quite ready to write. Then one day, I learned that Asian dragons protect knowledge. And that knowledge is symbolized in a very unusual way, by a pearl.

Many Chinese dragons, both drawn and as statues, have a small pearl around their neck. They are said to guard this pearl of wisdom. For me, it became the key to my story. It became the element that could crossover from the legend into the real world and spur Alex into action. Thanks to the pearl, Alex began to change her life. Granted, she didn’t get it right at first. Does anybody? But she had guidance, a family that loved her, and, finally, the will to move in the right direction.

The pearl of wisdom became more than just magical, or symbolic of knowledge–or even the dragon story–in Dragon Wishes. It became a representation of storytelling in our lives. As such, it led Alex to three things: family, wisdom, and love. I had my story.

Very cool, Stacy. We love hearing the story behind the story.

Join us tomorrow for the inside scoop on how Stacy landed her publishing contract with Blooming Tree Press. We're looking forward to a week learning about Stacy A. Nyikos and her fantasy middle-grade DRAGON WISHES!

Shameless Saturday

2008-11-08T00:00:00.000-08:00

Looking for some excitement?
Head on down to Books of Wonder in New York City tomorrow (Sunday, Nov. 9) at 1:00. Nancy Viau and Courtney Sheinmel will be there!

Look how much Bookpage loved Autumn Winifred Oliver Does Things Different:
" Kristin O'Donnell Tubb has written a wonderful debut novel, full of history, excitement and sensitivity. She has done her research well, loosely basing Gramps and Cody's uncle on real people. There is also plenty of action, including a wild ride that Autumn and Cody take in a wooden coffin down a rain-swollen river. Autumn is a funny, likeable and very real character, and readers are treated to many fine glimpses of the Cove's vanishing mountain traditions, such as a visit to a moonshine still and the community 'Syrup Soppin' Festival'."

Read the entire interview .

Holy Texas Longhorns! Jody Feldman's Gollywhopper Games has been placed on the master list for the 2009-2010 Texas Bluebonnet Awards!

Day 5: Farewell PJ Hoover

2008-11-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

It's Friday and time to wrap up our launch week with PJ Hoover, debut author of the middle grade sci fi THE EMERALD TABLET.

We're putting PJ in the driver's seat. She's promised to take us on a tour of some of the settings in THE EMERALD TABLET.

Take it away, PJ....

THE EMERALD TABLET is set in some unique places, some only mythological.
First off, the five kids are from the hidden continent of Lemuria. If you aren’t sure where this continent is, it’s under a giant dome at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.

In addition to Lemuria, there’s of course Atlantis, the sunken continent in the Atlantic Ocean. I’ve included a map in case you’re curious where these continents are.

Benjamin Holt (our protagonist) and his friends get to travel to some pretty cool places. One place they go is the Royal Palace in Bangkok—to the temple of the Emerald Buddha. And in case you were curious, this is where the picture on the front of The Emerald Tablet is taken from.

Thank you 2k8 classmates for a wonderful, exhilarating launch week on our blog!

You're very welcome, PJ. Our pleasure.

Before you click away, dear bloggy friends, here's what's ahead. Tomorrow is Shameless Saturday where we bring you the week's good news. Then next week is...launch week for Stacy Nyikos, debut middle grade author of DRAGON WISHES. You won't want to miss it.

Day 4: Can PJ Hoover trick us?

2008-11-06T00:30:00.000-08:00

We're baaaack! It's Day 4 of PJ Hoover's launch week for her debut middle grade sci-fi THE EMERALD TABLET.

Well, well, well. What have we learned about PJ so far?

She writes good books. Proof: THE EMERALD TABLET.

She's fun. Proof: We've got pics of her real-life launch party.

She's brave. Proof: She picks up scorpions with her bare hands.

She's smart. Proof: She designed chip doohickeys for years. More proof: She can solve a Rubik's Cube in two minutes.

Hmmm.....But just how smart is PJ Hoover? Can she fool us? Maybe. Maybe not.

Here's PJ's description of THE EMERALD TABLET

Benjamin and his best friend Andy are different from normal. They love being able to read each other's minds and use telekinesis to play tricks on other kids. In fact, they are getting all set to spend their entire summer doing just that when Benjamin's mirror starts talking. Suddenly, Benjamin's looking at eight weeks of summer school someplace which can only be reached by a teleporter inside the ugly picture in his hallway. And that's the most normal thing he does all summer.

Now we have to guess what happens next. Read carefully. Don't let PJ trick you.

Answer 1: The teleporter takes Benjamin to Mars, along with his best friend Andy, where they must go undercover in a city of mutants to investigate oxygen shortages and corruptness within the government which leads Benjamin to find out he has really been brainwashed and is secretly working for the government and trying to eliminate the scornful mutants.

Answer 2: Benjamin finds himself the new ensign on the Starship Enterprise. Wesley Crusher has been promoted to Chief Engineer, and someone young and new is needed on the bridge. But no sooner does Benjamin teleport to his new post, the Enterprise is attacked by the Q. The Q realize Benjamin’s potential and convince him to join their ranks. Benjamin agrees as long as his best friend Andy can come along also. And so Benjamin and Andy roam the universe, creating havoc and making new friends as they go.

Answer 3: Benjamin teleports under the ocean to a structurally impossible dome. But the dome hasn’t been created by humans, and Benjamin discovers he’s not really a human after all. He thinks the summer will be a blast until an age old relic convinces him he needs to save the world by finding a way to stop the age old war with Atlantis and restore peace to the earth.

So which is the right answer? What do you think really happens in THE EMERALD TABLET?

Day 3: PJ Hoover and Her Real Life Launch Party!

2008-11-05T00:01:00.000-08:00

My release party was a blast! You'd have thought it was a wedding. Everyone was staring at me. Except there was no big white dress and no flower girls twirling down the aisle.

So many people came out to support me. And I had awesome little pumpkins with candy corn and laminated backpack tags as party favors. See the way I'm thinking, it's much harder to throw away something laminated, especially when it already has a clip on it ready to hang on a backpack zipper.
Oops, just realized I forgot to put these on my kids' backpacks these mornings.

First and most important, Team Emerald Tablet. My son was thrilled to help set up, his specialty being stacking the water bottles.

So what to do at a release party?
First, have lots of candy for the kids. The punch was also a hit.

My awesome editor, Madeline Smoot, introduced me to the over 150 people who showed up (!).

I showed my book trailer (note - I need LOUDER speakers).
And then I gave a presentation featuring tons on pictures, PowerPoint animation (a new skill for me), a reading of the first few pages of The Emerald Tablet, and a quiz with giveaways.

Featured in the prize pumpkins were

laminated The Emerald Tablet bookmarks
a notebook and pencil to write down ideas
glow sticks to stay up late reading The Emerald Tablet
and t-shirts featuring the cover of The Emerald Tablet and the Lemurian Alphabet.

We sold out of books and took orders for tons more!

Before the party, my books were actually on the shelf (yes, right up there with The Hunger Games and Libba Bray)!

So that’s it! I’m officially released!

Day 2: Getting the Scoop on PJ Hoover

2008-11-04T00:00:00.000-08:00

PJ Hoover enters cautiously and looks around.

2k8: (indicates straight-back, wooden chair in front of her) Have a seat, PJ.

PJ: What's going on? What am I doing here?

2k8: (flips on bright light and pulls out notebook and pencil) It's your Launch Week interview. And we want the scoop. On you.

PJ: Uh, okay.

2k8: (slides large, dark sunglasses up her nose) So, where do you do most of your writing? Photo, please.

PJ: I write in a 7x8 loft. It’s small but cozy, and thanks to shelving from Home Depot, I can keep everything within hand’s reach. It’s funny because our house used to have a double story entry area, but I started eyeing the extra area as more square footage, so we had a small loft put in.
And yes, I do keep my desk that neat pretty much all of the time!

2k8: Seriously? Your desk is always that neat? Wow. (looks at notebook) What made you write THE EMERALD TABLET? How'd the book came about?

PJ: I started writing after both kids were born. It was one of those “I’ve always wanted to write a book” moments, so I headed upstairs, sat down at the computer, and started brainstorming. Really. Just that fast.

2k8: Wow. Impressive. And how did it find a publisher? (lowers voice) Give us the *real* dirt!

PJ: Lots and lots of trying. Revisions. Not being afraid to revise. But finding my publisher almost happened by accident. I decided I wanted to live the writer’s life, so I jet-setted off to NY for a winter SCBWI conference one year. While there I met an editor who offered to read the manuscript and give me feedback to help with my revisions. Her feedback was phenomenal, and I was so excited to revise, I ripped apart the manuscript and sent a revision back to her. Which she read. And I revised again. And she read again.
This happened a couple more times until one day she told me she wanted to acquire the whole trilogy!

PJ with Editor Madeline

2k8: Anything surprise you when you were writing your book?

PJ: How much I had to learn about writing!
How much had to be cut from my first draft!
How awesome the writing community is.
How experienced writers really want to help new writers.
How much I would absolutely love writing!

2k8: What's a question won't most people know to ask you?

PJ and her Rubik's Cube collection!

Question: How long does it take you to solve a Rubik’s Cube?

Answer: Just around 2 minutes. That’s for the 3x3x3. The 4x4x4 and 5x5x5 take much longer – so long I never really time myself. Everyone should learn to solve a Rubik’s Cube.

So, there you have it, folks. The scoop on PJ Hoover, debut middle grade author of THE EMERALD TABLET PJ's just as fun and interesting and creative as we've thought all year long. Although her desk is a little cleaner than we were expecting.

Oh wait, this just in. Another pic...

It's PJ holding a scorpion! Ack!

Well, she's braver than we thought too.

Join us tomorrow to find out about PJ's real-life launch party.

Day 1: P.J. Hoover

2008-11-03T00:01:00.000-08:00

We're cracking open a bottle of cyber bubbly to celebrate our launch week for P.J. Hoover, MG author extraordinaire of The Emerald Tablet

And let us tell you a little about P.J.

P. J. Hoover grew up in Virginia visiting museums and dreaming of finding Atlantis. Prior to writing full time, PJ worked as an electrical engineer in Austin , Texas , where she lives with her husband, two children, Yorkshire terrier, and two tortoises (King Tort and Nefertorti).

P. J. is the author of the FORGOTTEN WORLDS trilogy, a middle grade science fiction series for kids 8-14. The first book, The Emerald Tablet, tells the story of Benjamin Holt who not only is from a hidden world under the Pacific Ocean , he’s not even human. And he’s stuck spending his summer saving the world.

From the cover flap:
Benjamin and his best friend Andy are different from normal. They love being able to read each other's minds and use telekinesis to play tricks on other kids. In fact, they are getting all set to spend their entire summer doing just that when Benjamin's mirror starts talking. Suddenly, Benjamin's looking at eight weeks of summer school someplace which can only be reached by a teleporter inside the ugly picture in his hallway. And that's the most normal thing he does all summer.

Some great reviews from older reviewers include:

"I enjoyed it as an adult, but I know that I would have adored it as an 11-year-old. In truth, ever since I finished it, The Emerald Tablet has been popping back into my head, as I wonder what's going to happen to Benjamin and his friends going forward. Highly recommended for later elementary and middle school readers, boys and girls, fans of traditional fantasy or not." -- Jen Robinson, Jen Robinson's Book Page

Five Stars - Recipient of the Gold Star Award for Excellence"I loved every minute that I was reading it, and I feel like I want to reread the book over and over again. ... While reading the book I kept thinking that in a way it was almost like a myth that was being told and how cool it would be if it was actually true... Fans of Rick Riordan’s PERCY JACKSON series will particularly enjoy this book." -- Teens Read Too

"Anyone who enjoyed discovering the world of magic with Harry Potter will enjoy diving into a different magical world with Benjamin Holt and his friends " -- Balanced Steps

"This is a wonderful beginning to a fantasy middle-grade trilogy. Hoover's writing is extremely compelling and makes the book hard to put down." -- Book Chic

And let’s not forget the kid reviewers:

" The Emerald tablet was THE best book I read in a long time! It is a great/awesome book and you will NEED to buy it on October, 21,2008! " -- Bookworms' Reviews (Bookworm Number 1)"Step aside, move down, you unworthy Newbery Award winning books, and such! This book qualifies as the greatest, most AMAZING book in the history of books! I couldn't put it down." -- Bookworms' Reviews (Bookworm Number 2)

"This is FREAKING awesome!" -- Eleanor at Present Lenore

Come back tomorrow for the skinny on how PJ found a publisher. Plus some stuff about PJ and working a Rubik's cube at lightning speed. We kid you not.

Shameless Saturday

2008-11-01T15:00:00.000-07:00

It's November on the Class of 2k8's blog. And we're starting the month off with a Shameless Saturday.

So, take a deep breath and jump in. Lots of good news blew in this week.

A couple of 2k8ers have signed new book contracts. Wow!

Jennifer Bradbury, author of Shift, recently sold two more books to Atheneum Books for Young Readers. Wrapped features seventeen year old Agnes Wilkins on the eve of her debut in 1815 London. The young adult adventure/mystery features mummies, espionage, and plenty of Jane Austen references. Wrapped will come out in Summer 2010, and its sequel will be available the following year.

From Publishers Weekly: Marissa Doyle's Waterloo Plot, the third book set in the same world as Bewitching Season, in which a young witch must overcome physical and emotional scars while investigating who is attempting to assassinate members of the British War Cabinet, including her father, in 1814-1815, to Kate Farrell at Holt, by Emily Sylvan Kim at Prospect Agency (NA).

The Sierra Magazine took notice of three 2k8 classmates:

"Autumn Winifred Oliver Does Things Different (Delacorte Books for Young Readers), by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb, introduces a headstrong girl who discovers, among other things, an ingenious method of thwarting a stinky flock of geese from eating the family garden. Luka, the 13-year-old hero of Bringing the Boy Home (HarperCollins), by N.A. Nelson,longs to return to the Amazon's Takunami tribe in a journey of self-discovery and courage. Samantha Hansen Has Rocks in Her Head (Abrams), by Nancy Viau, is a tale of a fourth-grader with a white-hot temper and a love of rocks and science."

Kudos from Confessions of a Bibliovore for Swimming with Sharks by Debbie Reid Fischer:

Fischer walks a delicate line in Peyton, managing to keep her sympathetic while making it clear that she is in it as much as the rest of the cheer squad. At the same time, she is victim of a far more subtle bullying pattern than Ellika. Her redemption toward the end feels like our own. Pick this book up for a thoughtful and all-too-probable story about how anybody can bully, or be bullied.

And The Book Muncher said this about Stacy Nyikos' Dragon Wishes:

I was very impressed with Nyikos’ debut middle grade novel and hope she plans to write more in the future. Dragon Wishes can be enjoyed by both younger and older readers, particularly fans of books with Chinese culture or novels with dragons.

For those of you participating in NaNoWriMo, (National Novel Writing Month), we wish you the very best of luck. Not to mention incredibly fleet fingers!

Be sure to check back Monday as we begin our week-long launch for P.J. Hoover's The Emerald Tablet.

CYAL8R

2008-10-31T06:00:00.000-07:00

It's been a fun week with our Now & Later lists. As you dig into your kids Halloween candy tonight and find those sassy, sweet squares, be reminded of where you've been and where you're going.

PJ Hoover

In 2008, my greatest accomplishments were:

1. Writing 2 new books
2. Releasing my debut novel, The Emerald Tablet
3. Signing with agent Laura Rennert
4. Quitting my day job to write full time
5. Spending more time with the people I care about!

2018 I hope to have:

1. Published 10 more books
2. Met Zahi Hawas
3. A full time housekeeper
4. Someone else to cook my meals (since I rarely do)
5. Regular writing retreats with my awesome critique group

Jen Bradbury

In 2008, my goals were:

1. To revise my wierd mummy book
2. Start our kitchen remodel
3. Blog a little
4. Learn to make really good Chili Rellenos so we don't have to go out for Mexican once a week
5. Not obsessively check my Amazon ranking

By 2018, I hope to:

1. Finish that kitchen remodel
2. Have a new book out every year
3. Have my kids in school so I can maybe teach part time again (we'll need the cash for that remodel)
4. Not hate gardening
5. Have completed a big bike tour with our kids with us on tandems! Europe? New Zealand? We'll see!

M.P. BARKER

Greatest writing accomplishments:

1. Had an actual published book in my hands with MY name on the cover, after 10 years of work and more than 70 rejections!

2. Being a part of the Class of 2k8

3. Pulled off nearly 50 book promotion events (so far!) from signings and discussions at bookstores, libraries and schools, to radio & TV interviews to online interviews and guest blogs--including the Class of 2k8 Southern New England Mini-Tour and slumber party extravaganza all without killing myself (so far, that is)

4. Got good reviews in Publishers Weekly, and School Library Journal, and was featured in Kirkus First Fiction Special Issue

5. Learned how to make a web site.

In 2018, I hope to:

1. Be making a full-time living as a writer, with a new book written every year.
2. Take at least one super-fantastic vacation to another country every year
3. Finish renovating my house and yard!!!
4. Read more books, watch more movies, listen to more concerts
5. Learn to relax and enjoy life and not run around like a crazy person all the time

We'll be seeing you Now and Later. Happy Halloween!

Day 4: Now and Later

2008-10-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

New Year's is always a time of reflection and it's coming quick. As we head toward the holidays we're taking a look at what we've accomplished this year and thinking forward to where we'd like to be in ten years.

MARISSA DOYLE

In 2008, my greatest accomplishments were:

1. Seeing Bewitching Season on shelves and not fainting or doing something else embarrassing.
2. Selling a third book to Henry Holt (erm, well, my agent did but you get the idea)
3. Beginning to learn how to speak in public without too much angst and stumbling over my words. It's a work in progress, though.
4. Learning to navigate in NYC and not be intimidated by its sheer size.
5. This isn't an accomplishment...it's more a source of gratitude...but being co-president of the Class of 2k8!

By 2018 I hope to have:

1. Ten more books out (hey, isn't one a year reasonable?)
2. Learned how to write MG as well as YA because MG readers are soooo cool and just learning how to be truly passionate about books
3. Gotten this public speaking thing down well
4. Three kids successfully through college
5. A smaller dress size

LIZ GALLAGHER

In 2008, my greatest accomplishments were:

1. Publishing The Opposite of Invisible!
2. Realizing that I'm not afraid of public speaking.
3. Balancing a day job and the writing life.
4. Starting my training in kung fu (yes, I spar!).
5. Watching friends publish awesome books!

By 2018 I hope to have:

1. Co-authored a YA novel.
2. Published a few more solo YA books.
3. Stopped needing a day job!
4. Become a blue belt or higher in kung fu!
5. Watched friends publish BUNDLES more books!

TERRI CLARK

In 2008, my greatest accomplishments were:

1. Publishing SLEEPLESS and BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO
2. Booking author events and speaking engagements.
3. Making a strong online presence for myself.
4. Strengthening the teen programming and attendance I do at my day job.
5. Keeping my kids from killing each other.

By 2018 I hope to:

1. have built a strong, enduring, successful career as an author
2. be more financially stable.
3. stop needing a day job!
4. see my kids happy, healthy and well-adjusted in their lives (they’ll be out of the house then!)
5. have been to Hawaii and taken other great trips with my husband.

Have you met your New Year's Resolutions yet?

Day 3: Now and Later

2008-10-29T06:00:00.000-07:00

You've really got to work Now and Later candies hard before you can enjoy the sweet reward. They're a perfect metaphor for our class, which has worked really hard this year and reaped in lots of sweet rewards. Just imagine the things we'll accomplish over the next decade!

REGINA LUNDGREN

In 2008, my greatest writing-related accomplishments were:

1. Made my dream research trip to England
2. Saw my first YA novel La Petite Four published
3. Submitted proposals on request to an adult romance line and a new YA line
4. Met many of my 2k8 sisters in person
5. Actually learned how to blog, do MySpace, and generally have an online presence

By 2018, across my life goals, I hope to have:

1. Landed long-term contracts with two publishers, both of whom love and respect my work and my writing voice
2. Seen both my sons graduate from high school and go on to education and work in fields they love
3. Published many books in both adult and YA, earning a devoted readership that clamors for my unique characters, exciting plots, and dash of humor
4. Not let writing take over my life, so that I enjoyed time with my husband, family, and friends
5. Continued to grow closer to Jesus my Savior.

LAUREL SNYDER

2008 accomplishments:

1. Published Up and Down the Scratchy Mountains
2. Published Inside the Slidy Diner
3. Actually made more money from my writing than I spent in babysitting!
4. Potty trained successfully! (my son, not me. I've been potty trained for at least a year or two))
5. Wrote my next novel, Any Which Wall!

Hopeful 2018 accomplishments:

1. Manged to avoid a desk job (and/or dress clothes) for a full decade
2. Took an actual vacation to someplace where I don't have family.
3. Healthy! Healthy! Everyone healthy!
4. Actually working out and eating well for the first time ever!5. Spent a month at a writing colony.

STACY NYIKOS

2008 accomplishments:

1. First middle grade novel launches
2. Finished my first ya novel
3. Slept
4. Remembered to eat...occasionally
5. Hung with the Classof2k8!!!!!!!!!

Hopeful 2018 accomplishments:

1. I'm still alive
2. I've been to Asia
3. I've written a few more and better books
4. My husband and I survive our children's teenage years
5. My children - who will then be in college - think I'm not half bad

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Day 2: Now and Later

2008-10-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

Today is day two of our now and later series when classmates share what their greatest accomplishments were from 2008 and what they hope to achieve by 2018.

LISA SCHROEDER

In 2008, my greatest accomplishments were:

1. Writing and finishing a mid-grade novel that is fun and marketable. I've always wanted to sell a MG - my agent thinks we're getting close!
2. Selling my second YA novel, FAR FROM YOU, to Simon Pulse. It comes out in just a couple of months.
3. Presenting at the Oregon conference in May, and at three different conferences this fall with members of the class of 2k8/2k9! So much fun!!
4. Watching I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME go into its fifth printing in eight months time.
5. Being a part of the amazing and successful class of 2k8!

By 2018 I hope to have:

1. more time to write as well as do fun things like travel
2. more money to do fun things like travel
3. more books on the shelf with my name on it
4. sold lots of those books with my name on it
5. a 10-year reunion somewhere fun with the class of 2k8

NANCY VIAU

In 2008, my greatest accomplishments were:

1. deciphering copyediting notes, and realizing how much I love revision

2. signing arcs at national conferences like BEA and ALA, while (hopefully) not making a fool of myself.

3. overcoming my fear of being a debut novelist

4. publication of Samantha Hansen Has Rocks In Her Head

5. personally "rehabing" a major shoulder injury that froze due to Butt-in-Chair-When-It-Should've-Been-At-The-Gym/Physical Therapist Syndrome

By 2018 I hope to have:

1. at least one more MG novel published
2. at least one picture book under contract
3. several chapters of a memoir completed4. gone to the high school or college graduation of each one of my kids, and I hope I'm thoroughly enjoying being an empty-nester
5. enough long term memory loss to forget how long (and hard) it was to get where I am today; enough long term memory to remember how fun it was

ELLEN BOOREAM

In 2008, my greatest accomplishments were:

1. Managing to sleep occasionally and maintain a portion of my stomach lining even though I have an actual book coming out with my name actually on the cover.

2. Writing a second book even though I have a book coming out with my name on the cover.
3. 2k8!

4. Creating a web site and a blog, which I never thought I'd do.

5. Getting ideas for third and fourth books, and maybe a fifth.

By 2018 I hope to have:

1. Figured out how to write better novels.

2. Made at least one reader shout at the page, "No! No! Don't do it!"

3. Heard from a kid that he/she read something of mine under the covers with a flashlight.

4. Figured out how to write a decent short story.

5. Published five-to-seven additional books with my name on the cover.

Are you reviewing where you've been and where you're going?

Day 1: Now and Later

2008-10-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

It's nearly November and we're quickly realizing just how soon our debut year will be done. No doubt it's been an exciting time for us. We'd like to take this opportunity to review our greatest accomplishments for 2008 and outline our goals for 2018, when we hope to have one heckuva ten year reunion!

BARRIE SUMMY

In 2008, my goals were (some of these are from my list of New Year's Resolutions):

1. floss daily

2. finish Book #2

3. exercise 3x a week

4. watch more TV

5. buy cute clothes

6. survive the launch of I So Don't Do Mysteries

What I accomplished from this list:

1. I've been incredibly good about daily flossing, especially now that I've found a brand of floss that I actually like. Visit to the dentist planned for November where I will no doubt be awarded stickers for a cavity-free appointment. Which I so deserve.

2. Book #2, currently titled I So Don't Do Spooky, is done and revised and revised and copyedited. Amazingly, I still like it.

3. I'm pretty good with the exercising, although I did take off a month this summer to go to Toronto and eat some of my favorite foods like ketchup potato chips, butter tarts, Nanaimo bars, Swiss Chalet chicken.

4. I'm watching a little more TV now that I've figured out how to download (is it upload?) shows to my ipod. I watch the shows while treadmilling it at the gym. Currently, I watch The Office and sometimes Grey's Anatomy. Please feel free to give suggestions!!

5. I have failed miserably at this. Except when my friend, L, came with me to buy an outfit for my author's photo.

6. Ask me Dec. 21 (the day after my launch)

By 2018 I hope to:

1. still have my own teeth

2. have written 10 or 20 books

3. still be exercising. I'd like to try a personal trainer (if I find a really nice one who doesn't push too hard).

4. watch a reasonable amount of TV so I know what everyone's talking about

5. enjoy book signings

6. have a fashion sense or have convinced L to shop with me on a regular basis

NINA NELSON

In 2008, my greatest accomplishments were:

1. Having fun launch parties in CT and MO

2. Speaking at schools, libraries, and bookstores

3. Being able to maintain balance in my life

4. Completing the 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk

5. Having fun working on my second novel

By 2018 I hope to have:

1. Lived in Europe

2. Finished a triathlon

3. Continued to have written books I'm proud of

4. Continued to have balance in my life

5. Climbed another big mountain

What's your now and later?

Shameless Saturday

2008-10-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

We've got lots to celebrate here at 2k8 with contests and rave reviews. Please give us a woot!

SLEEPLESS author, Terri Clark, is giving away an authentic Navajo dream catcher on her blog. For your chance at sweet dreams and for a sneak peek of her paranormal thriller, click here.

Also, Terri is pleased to announce that her essay in FLIRTING WITH THE MONSTER, an anthology about Ellen Hopkins and her work, will be published by BenBella books in May of '09.

PJ Hoover celebrated the launch of her middle grade science-fiction novel THE EMERALD TABLET! THE EMERALD TABLET received a great review from Brianna over at Balanced Steps. Brianna compares THE EMERALD TABLET to Harry Potter and says this: "Anyone who enjoyed discovering the world of magic with Harry Potter will enjoy diving into a different magical world with Benjamin Holt and his friends...for you Potter fans, the experience is TOTALLY different from Harry's." Thanks, Brianna!

Tasha at And Another Book Read gave THE EMERALD TABLET a fantastic review! She had this to say: "I loved every minute that I was reading it, and I feel like I want to reread the book over and over again. ... While reading the book I kept thinking that in a way it was almost like a myth that was being told and how cool it would be if it was actually true... Fans of Rick Riordanʼs PERCY JACKSON series will particularly enjoy this book."
Thanks, Tasha!

And Book Chic also gave THE EMERALD TABLET an awesome review including this tasty morsel: "This is a wonderful beginning to a fantasy middle-grade trilogy. Hoover's writing is extremely compelling and makes the book hard to put down." Thanks, Book Chic!

And speaking of Book Chic, this has been one busy reviewer. He's also written a great review for THE OPPOSITE OF INVISIBLE by Liz Gallagher and plans to feature Courtney Sheinmel as November's Fresh New Voice in YA and Barrie Summy as December's Fresh New Voice in YA!

Cynthea Liu posted a fun interview with Nancy Viau, author of SAMANTHA HANSEN HAS ROCKS IN HER HEAD.

Publisher's Weekly gave Courtney Sheinmel's MY SO-CALLED FAMILY a starred review and called it "smart, original and full of vitality."

Day 5: Party On, Court!

2008-10-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

You absolutely CAN and SHOULD have your cake and eat it too!

On October 21, 2007 – exactly a year before My So-Called Family was set to be published, my mother invited me and a couple friends of my over for dinner. After we finished our burgers, my mom brought out a cake that said “Happy Book” across the top in bright red letters. As my fellow Class of 2k8 member, Sarah Prineas, observed, the book was -1 years old. It seemed like an important milestone to me; and really, who am I to turn down an excuse for chocolate cake?

My second book, Positively, comes out on September 8, 2009, and on September 8th of this year (the -1st birthday of Positively), I was in Lancaster, PA visiting family. Not to be outdone by my mother, my stepsister bought a cake that said “Positively Successful” in bright orange icing. She even stuck candles in it, and took pictures as her kids and I leaned forward to blow them out. The cake was delicious, and the kids were extremely generous, letting me eat most of the flowers made out of orange icing.

My book party for the official release of My So-Called Family is coming up fast – actually, by the time this blog is posted, it will already have happened. I have been planning this for so long, celebrating negative book birthdays, and not quite believing that this thing I wrote is going to be a real-live book. Almost all of the people closest to me are coming to my party – my family, my friends, my favorite teacher from college, the kids I used to babysit (and their parents too), my dentist, and even a couple members of the Class of 2k8 who live in the New York area. It’s going to be at the art gallery of a family friend; there won’t be cake, because I’m afraid of getting icing on the paintings. But there will be wine and cheese and tons of pictures.

We wish we could all be there! Thank you for spending the week with us, Courtney. Best of luck to you and MY SO-CALLED FAMILY. We look forward to reading your upcoming titles, POSITIVELY and SINCERELY, SOPHIE/SINCERELY! And now, we'd like to unveil the trailer for MY SO-CALLED FAMILY.

Day 4: Courtney's Clique

2008-10-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

Courtney feels blessed to have a lot of support, but her BFFs have been her greatest strength.

The acknowledgments section at the front of my book is pretty long – two pages packed full of people who supported me all through the years, and not just when I was writing. But there are four people in particular who mattered a lot during the writing of My So-Called Family: my friends Lindsay, Amy, Jackie and Llen.

Lindsay, Amy and I met during law school; Jackie and I met when we were studying for the bar; and I have known Llen for so long that I barely remember life without her. (Actually, Llen and I overcame incredible odds to become friends; I didn’t invite her to my Halloween party in the fourth grade, but she showed up anyway. The rest is history.)

I had been tossing the idea for My So-Called Family around in my head – I didn’t really know anything about it, other than who the narrator would be. I decided her name would be Leah, and I sat down and wrote a first chapter. Then, not really knowing what to do with it, I forwarded it to four of my friends. I told them they didn’t really have to read it, but in case they were bored and looking for something to do, there it was.

Within a couple of hours, I had heard back from all of them – Lindsay, Amy, Jackie and Llen said they loved it and wanted to see more. To this day, I’m not sure I would have really continued with the story if I didn’t have them rooting me on. They read the whole book, chapter by chapter, as I wrote it. If I took too long between chapters, I would get emails asking for more, pushing me forward.

My So-Called Family is dedicated to my parents – and I think they deserve the honor. But I gratefully acknowledge my wonderful friends for their love, support, and incredible cheer.

Tomorrow is our last day with Courtney, but before she goes buh-bye she shares some celebratory milestones and screens her book trailer.

Day 3: Calling Courtney

2008-10-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

Yay! We've got another exciting sale story for everyone. Give a listen to Courtney's "call."

In the fall of 2005, I received two BIG calls from the guy who is now my agent – one offering representation for my book; and another letting me know that Simon & Schuster had officially made an offer to buy it. I had known that Simon & Schuster was considering the manuscript. I’ve been a huge Carly Simon fan for as long as I can remember, and this part of an email I sent to myself on October 27, 2005, the day the offer was supposedly coming in, so I could record what I was thinking:

My palms have been sweating all day today, literally. I listened to Carly Simon music on my commute to work this morning, hoping that she would send luck my way and somewhere some cosmic force would make the connection between my adoration of Carly Simon and my hopefulness about publication by Simon & Schuster -- her father's company.
I'm so impatient. It is one o'clock now. I'm impressed for making it to the other side of morning. How many more hours could it be? What if I don't find out today at all? What if it is bad news? What if I never get published?

It seems so silly to reread it now. I mean, I still love Carly Simon – but I can’t believe I actually thought listening to her music would determine whether I was published . . . or maybe it did. A few hours after I sent myself that email, I received THE CALL from my agent – the second big call. I was sitting in my office right off of Wall Street in New York City, where I should have been reading legal briefs, or something like that. But instead I was listening to my agent, saying Simon & Schuster was in fact offering representation.

The next month, November of 2005, my sister and I went to Carly Simon’s concert at Lincoln Center. It was absolutely incredible – the perfect way to celebrate everything that had happened.

Now that's a story! And we know you're going to listen to Carly now. ;) Tomorrow Courtney talks about her dedication of MY SO-CALLED FAMILY.

Day 2: All About Courtney

2008-10-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

Today we're finding all about Courtney, including where she finds inspiration. Could be you'll find some too!

2k8: So, Courtney, where do you like to do most of your writing?

CS: Usually I sit on my bed with my laptop computer on my lap. Sometimes I bring my computer over to my best friend’s apartment (she lives in the same apartment building, just down the hall) and write over there. I also keep a little pad of paper in my purse so if I have an idea for a book while I’m out of the house, I can write it down before I forget.

2k8: Purse check, everyone! Now that we're prepared for emergency inspiration, tell us how the book came about? What got your started?

CS: The idea came to me in pieces – I have a friend who used a donor to have a baby, and my best friend told me about a movie that featured a number of donor kids. Then one day I was watching The Today Show, and there were a bunch of women being interviewed whose kids all had the same donor. I thought about what it would be like to have siblings you might not even know about, and the character Leah was born.

2k8: It's so awesome when puzzle pieces come together like that. How did you end up finding a publisher?

CS: I have been very, very lucky so far. When I finished my first manuscript, I called one of my professors from law school, who is also a writer. He gave me the name of his agent – I ended up signing with another agent at the same agency a few months later. After a few tweaks to the manuscript, my agent made a list of publishing houses he thought would be a good fit for me and my book, and the offer from Simon & Schuster came pretty quickly after that. The hardest part has been waiting for actual publication – I signed with Simon & Schuster almost three years ago. But it has all been well worth it.

2k8: Whoa! That is lucky. Did anything surprise you or catch you off guard while you were writing MY SO-CALLED FAMILY?

CS: I am pretty good at writing the first couple chapters of a book – it is what comes in the middle that is most difficult for me, and then I am caught off guard when I realize that I’m actually close to finishing – that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

2k8: That light is lovely, isn't it? Now imagine you have an offer from your dream press to publish your dream book, no matter how insane or unmarketable it might be. What story would you want to write and why?

CS: Each time I start to write a book, it becomes my favorite book – my dream book. I think because I see it as filled with possibility. Right now I am in the beginning phases of a new book, about a New York City girl who has to move away for the summer with her mom and sister, to Lancaster, PA. One of my current dreams is being able to finish it, and to see it also published by Simon & Schuster, since working with S&S has been an absolute dream come true.

Good luck with that Court! We're positive we'll see that story published with S&S.

We're pleased to introduce Courtney Sheinmel

2008-10-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

You've heard about Courtney on tour, now here's your chance to better know this debut MG author.

Courtney Sheinmel grew up in California and New York and has always loved to write. She graduated with honors from Barnard College, part of Columbia University, and attended Fordham University School of Law. After practicing law for several years, Courtney left to concentrate on her writing full-time. Her second book, POSITIVELY, will be published by Simon & Schuster on September 8, 2009, and SINCERELY, SOPHIE/SINCERELY, KATIE comes out in 2010.

Leah Hoffman-Ross just moved to New York and she wants her new friends to think she’s a typical thirteen-year-old. But Leah has a secret: she doesn’t have a father, she has a donor. Before Leah was born, her mother went to Lyon’s Reproductive Services and picked Donor 730. Now Leah has a stepfather and a little brother, and her mom thinks that they should be all the family Leah needs.

Despite her attempts to fit in and be normal, Leah can’t help but feel like something is missing. When she finds the link to the Lyon’s Sibling Registry, Leah knows she has to see if she has any half-siblings. And when she discovers that one of the other kids from Donor 730 is a girl her age, Leah will do anything to meet her—even if she has to hide it from everybody else.

Rave Reviews:

"First-time novelist Sheinmel, a PW reviewer, motivates Leah insightfully and sympathetically—readers will understand her conflicts, both petty and major, as she gets to know another daughter of Donor 730 and keeps it a secret from her disapproving mother (“She's not your sister,” her mother insists when she finds out). As narrator, Leah's voice is right on key, whether describing the give-and-take of family life or revelations about what constitutes family. Smart, original and full of vitality." --PW (Starred)

“A thought-provoking and compelling debut, challenging readers to consider: ‘What makes a family?’” – Cynthia Lord, author of Newbery Honor Book Rules

“This story rocks – it’s warm, insightful, and utterly un-put-down-able” – Lauren Myracle, author of ttyl

“[O]ne of the truest self-discovery stories I have ever read” – 5 Stars, Gold Star of Excellence, courtesy of Teens Read Too

ALAN pick, September 2008

Wow! Talk about impressive reviews. Come back tomorrow for our 1-on-1 with Courtney where she'll share what part the Today Show played in inspiring MY SO-CALLED FAMILY.

Shameless Saturday

2008-10-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

Jennifer Bradbury (SHIFT) recently sold two more books to Atheneum Books for Young Readers. WRAPPED features seventeen year old Agnes Wilkins on the eve of her debut in 1815 London. The young adult adventure/mystery features mummies, espionage, and plenty of Jane Austen references. WRAPPED will come out in come out in Summer 2010, and its sequel will be available the following year.

~2K8 TOUR~

Five class of 2k8ers have been mini-touring around southern New England this week. M.P. Barker, Ellen Booraem, Marissa Doyle, N.A. Nelson, and Courtney Sheinmel, have been touting the advantages of networking for writers and readers at Barnes & Noble stores in Enfield, CT, and Holyoke & Worcester, MA. Read all about them in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette and the Hartford Courant.

They also squeezed a networking lunch into their schedules with kidlit writers D.Dina Friedman, Jeannine Atkins, Nancy Castaldo, Mellissa Stewart, and M.W. Penn, and assorted readers and friends, sharing the joys and woes of the writer's life. Read about it on Jeannine's blog, and see Jeannine's photos of those bright shining 2k8 faces and their bright shining books.

Come back on Monday to better get to know debut MG author, Courtney Sheinmel. It's her launch week and we can't wait to learn all about My So-Called Family.

Day 5: Right Next To Heaven

2008-10-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

It's been a great week with Kristin. Before we say ta ta she's going to give us an exclusive tour of Cades Cove, TN where Autumn Winifred Oliver Does Things Different takes place.

Autumn is set in Cades Cove, TN, which is now part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In 1934, the year in which Autumn takes place, the Cove was still quite isolated thanks to its geographical location, so the culture within the area was unique. Cades Cove is a broad, swishy meadow set within a ring of cloud-tipped, rolling mountains:

The formation of the National Park drives Autumn’s story. Here are some of the things you’d see if you visited Cades Cove today:

Cable’s Mill, which is powered by Abrams Creek. Cove residents would gather here once a week, usually Saturday, to grind their grain or corn into meal.

Elijah Oliver’s cabin. The Oliver family was the first Caucasian family to settle in Cades Cove, so Autumn naturally took their last name.

The Primitive Baptist Church. There were two churches and one schoolhouse in the Cove in the 1930s, and most social events took place in one of these “hot spots.”

Cades Cove is the most-visited section of the most-visited national park in America, hosting over 2 million visitors each year. If you haven’t yet visited the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, book your next vacation today! It is, as Autumn would say, right next to heaven!

In the mean time: check out my book trailer and come visit me! I’m online at http://www.kristintubb.com/ and http://www.kristintubb.blogspot.com/.

What gorgeous pics! Thanks for everything, Kristin. We can't wait to read Autumn.

Day 4: Interview of a lifetime

2008-10-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

Ask an author what inpired her to become a writer and she's sure to have a story, but few, like Kristin O'Donnell Tubb, can honestly answer it came from a wrinkle in time.

When I was a sixth-grader at City Park Elementary School in Athens, TN, the school librarian – Shelia Rollins – held a school-wide reading contest. I won. The prize was that I got to do a telephone interview with (drum-roll, please)… Madeleine L’Engle! I remember two things from this interview: first, that it was conducted via speakerphone. It was the first time I’d seen this “new” technology, and it was the coolest thing ever. (I’m quite old.) Second, when I told Ms. L’Engle that I wanted to be a writer, she said, “Good for you! Keep reading and you can do it!”

Amazing! True sparks of inspiration last a lifetime. Join us on Friday when Kristin shares a pictorial tour on the setting of her book and unveils her book trailer.

Day 3: Calling Kristin

2008-10-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

There's nothing better than a good "call" story and Kristin has one of the best!

Okay, I’ve shared this story here before, but it’s gotta be one of my all-time favorites. So, back by popular demand: the absolutely true story of where I was when I got The Call:

The scene: Early February, 2007. My editor, Wendy Loggia, calls my cell phone. I am nine months pregnant. I am AT THE OB/GYN.

Wendy: "Hello, Kristin? It's Wendy Loggia from Random House."

Me: "Oh my gosh! It's so good to hear from you! I'm at my gynocologist's office right now."

Wendy: silence

Me: "Oh, um - I should say, I'm not in the office right now - I mean, I am, but I'm checking out. I'm done." Shut up Kristin. "I mean - I'm scheduling my induction for my new baby. I was newly pregnant when we met, remember?" Shut UP, Kristin. "Everything's great! Healthy baby! I'm scheduling his arrival right now. That's why I'm at...my...OB's office..."

Wendy: laughing "I think this is a first for me."

Me: unbelievably mortified "Uh, me too?"

Wendy: "So I wanted to talk to you more about this wonderful story you sent me..."

And that was that! There, in my OB/GYN's office, I was offered my first book deal. Two weeks later, my son was born. It was one heckuva month.

Bet your editor has a hard time topping that story! Tune back tomorrow when Kristin tells us what FAMOUS author personally inspired her to become a writer.

Day 2: 1-on-1 with Kristin O'Donnell Tubb

2008-10-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

Today we're sitting down for a little 1-on-1 with Kristin. We know you're going to enjoy getting to know her a little better.

2k8: Hi, Kristin! Where do you like to do most of your writing?

KOT: Most of my writing is done at the Williamson County Public Library in Franklin, TN, on the second floor, in the far west corner, next to the parenting books. Yes, I’m a creature of habit! It’s quiet and I can spread out on an entire table. The downside? It’s amazingly cold, even in summer, so when my fingers freeze, I move down the street to Panera and heat them up with a green tea. I also write in my bed. A lot. I have stacks and stacks of books and notes to myself all around my bed. Kinda defeats the whole rest-and-relax function of the bed, right?

2k8: We'd bet you're not the only one who writes from bed. So, how did Autumn come about? How did you begin writing it?

KOT: In 2002, I was on a guided tour of Cades Cove, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I stood in a cabin that once belonged to John Oliver, and was marveling at how tiny and uncomfortable the cabin seemed when it occurred to me: this had once been someone’s home. How did it become part of a National Park? How does that even happen? I did a little research, and discovered the fascinating history of the folks of Cades Cove.

2k8: We love inside stories like that. How did it find a publisher?

KOT: I met my editor, Wendy Loggia, at an SCBWI conference in Nashville in September 2006. After critiquing Autumn, she asked to see the full manuscript, which I promptly forwarded. She requested a round of revisions prior to making her offer, so whenever I hear writers ask, “Should I really put more effort into this without a contract?,” I am the first to jump forward, yelling, “Yes! Yes! Absolutely yes!”

2k8: That's excellent to know! Did anything surprise you or catch you off guard when you were writing this?

KOT: I was surprised at how much fun Autumn was to write. I’d written two (really awful!) novels before Autumn, but this was the first time I laughed and chuckled and had fun with the writing, rather than labored through the first draft.

2k8: Doesn't that make all the difference in the world?!? Okay, now imagine you have an offer from your dream press to publish your dream book, no matter how insane or unmarketable it might be. What would you write and why?

KOT: I’m already at my dream press – truly! When my daughter was younger, she and I would play pretend with the telephone. You know: “Brrring! Who’s on the phone? Grammy’s calling for you, sweetie!” When it was my turn, I’d always say, “Oh, yes, this is Random House calling? And you want to publish my book? Well, how delightful!” It was always Random House. So when my Delacorte editor called, it really was a dream come true. (And yes, we now play: “Random House? And you simply must have my next book? Oh, well, okay…”)

As for a dream book, I’d love to write and illustrate a picture book some day. (I know – doesn’t that sound like everyone you’ve ever met at a cocktail party?) But seriously, I dabble with illustrations as well, and it’d be such fun to create something like that.

2k8: You may just start a new fad of playing telephone! Tell us what question most people won't know to ask you? And what's your answer?

KOT: People won’t know to ask me if I can lay on my belly and arch my back until my toes touch my nose. And the answer? I could do this before I had two kids, but now I can’t. Bummer. It was such a great trick.

Too bad she doesn't have a picture of that! Come back on Wednesday when Kristin will play a little more telephone and give us the real scoop on her "call."

Please welcome Kristin O'Donnell Tubb

2008-10-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

The class of 2k8 is pleased to introduce another extraordinary MG author this month. Won't you help us welcome Kristin O'Donnell Tubb, author of Autumn Winifred Oliver Does Things Different?

I grew up in East Tennessee, near Cades Cove, where Autumn Winifred Oliver Does Things Different is set. Autumn’s story came to me when I was on a guided tour of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There we were, standing in what was once someone’s home, and I thought: what if my home became a national park? How does something like that even happen? When I did a little research, I discovered the fascinating history of the people of Cades Cove.

No one does things like Autumn Winifred Oliver. Autumn Winifred Oliver prides herself on doing things her way. But she meets her match when she, her mama, and her pin-curled older sis, Katie, move in with her cantankerous Gramps. The Oliver gals were supposed to join Pop in Knoxville for some big-city living (they’d even sold their house!), but Gramps’s recent sick spell convinced Mama to stay put in Cades Cove, a place of swishy meadows and shady hollers that lies on the crest of the Great Smoky Mountains.

And it’s not like there’s nothing going on in the Cove. Folks are all aflutter about turning their land into a national park, and Autumn’s not sure what to think. Loggers like Pop need jobs, but if things keep going at the current rate, the forests will soon be chopped to bits. And Gramps seems to think there’s some serious tourist money to be made. Looks like something different is definitely in order…

"Kristin O'Donnell Tubb has written a wonderful debut novel, full of history, excitement and sensitivity....Tubb takes no easy shortcuts - but she finds a satisfying and very real resolution." Alice Cary for BookPage

“Tubb skillfully weaves Autumn’s internal coming of age struggles with the very real struggles faced by the people living in the hollows and hills of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, before the park existed….What makes Tubb’s story so unique and rich is her knowledge of the people, the geography, the history, and their culture. Tubb masterfully brings these folks to life….Under the exquisite language and personalities lies a true story—one that should spark classroom debate. I hope teachers everywhere add Tubb’s book to their reading lists.” BookPleasures.com

“Peppered…with Appalachian superstitions and homey, colorful phrases.” Kirkus Reviews

Kristin, we're so happy to celebrate your debut this week! And we can't wait until tomorrow when you share your "call" story with us.

Shameless Saturday

2008-10-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

It's that day again...that day where we toot our horns and celebrate good news.

Courtney Sheinmel's My So-Called Family was a September 2008 ALAN pick and it was featured as one of the four Most Promising October Releases for Teens!

The September/October issue of Instructor, Scholastic's venerable magazine for teachers, recommends "three must-read fantasies": The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and The Unnameables by our own Ellen Booraem. Nice company you keep, Ellen!

Kristin O'Donnell Tubb will be featured as the October Debut Author of the Month in the CWIM newsletter and on Alice Pope’s CWIM blog.

This week brought two great reviews for The Emerald Tablet by P. J. Hoover! Says Mrs. V at Mrs. V's Reviews, "Last night I stayed up later than I should because I just could not put down P.J. Hoover's The Emerald Tablet until I finished it!" Read the whole review here. Says Lenore at Presenting Lenore, "Eleanor did a guest review of this book for me back in July and she loved it. Now that I’ve read it I can see why." Read the whole review here. With The Emerald Tablet coming out in just a couple weeks, this is one book you don't want to miss!

Brooke Taylor's Undone and Jen Bradbury's Shift have been nominated for ALA Best Books for Young Adults. Double congratulations!

Brooke Taylor's Monster Month of Giveaways continues with Ghost Week--stop by a share your own ghost story to enter and win!

M.P. Barker's A Difficult Boy and Courtney Sheinmel's My So-Called Family were two of ALAN Online's September picks.

HarperTeen is giving a special sneak peek of Terri Clark's YA thriller, Sleepless. To read the first four chapters click here!

Five members of the Class of 2k8 will be touring Massachusetts and Connecticut in mid-October, presenting a panel discussion called "Networking for Writers and Readers, or How Many People Does It Take to Get a Book Written and Sold?"

The saying goes that "It takes a village to raise a child" -- in the literary world one might say, "It takes a village to publish a book." A common misconception is that writing is a solitary pursuit. Our panel will dispel that myth by describing the support networks that helped us on our journey from first word to finished product. Writers will pick up tips on creating networks of their own, and non-writers will gain insight into how many others (and who) it really takes to create that book that they hold in their hands. The panel will be at the Barnes & Noble store in Enfield, CT, on Thursday, October 16, at 4 p.m. (information: 860-745-7756); in Holyoke, MA, Friday, October 17, at 4 p.m (information: 413-532-1786); and in Worcester, MA, Saturday, October 18, at 2 p.m. (information: 508-853-2236). All events are free and open to the public. The panelists will be M.P. Barker (A Difficult Boy, Holiday House), Ellen Booraem (The Unnameables, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), Marissa Doyle (Bewitching Season, Henry Holt), N.A. Nelson (Bringing the Boy Home, HarperCollins), and Courtney Sheinmel (My So-Called Family, Simon & Schuster). For more information and an online media kit, go to: http://mpbarker.net/work3.htm

Come back on Monday to meet MG author Kristin O'Donnell Tubb!

Day 5: Meet the Characters

2008-10-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

The Unnameables characters in a painting by Rob Shillady, painted after the first draft. That’s Medford at lower left, with Prudy and her brother Earnest standing behind him, the Goatman and dog at right. In the background is a character who no longer exists, plus the unpleasant Deemer Learned; his daughter, Essence, and the Constable brothers.

We’re on Island, in the auditorium on the second floor of Town Hall. It’s set up for Book Learning: a dozen or so student desks in rows before the Council table and the map of Island and Surrounding Waters taking up half the front wall. Ellen is sitting at the Council table with Medford and his friend Prudy. The Goatman is sitting on the floor beside a pile of scrap paper left over from Book Learning.

On a lectern nearby is the Book , whose real name is A Frugall Compendium of Home Arts and Farme Chores by Capability C. Craft (1680), as Amended and Annotated by the Island Council of Names (1718–1809).

ELLEN: So, Medford, did you know you’re in a book yourself now?
PRUDY: How can someone be “in” a book?
ELLEN: Excuse me, Prudy. I was talking to Medford.
MEDFORD: I was going to ask the same thing anyway.
ELLEN: I’ve written a book called The Unnameables. It describes what happened to you last year, after the Goatman arrived.
PRUDY: How is that of any Use?
MEDFORD: I was going to ask that, too.
THE GOATMAN (stuffing a wad of paper into his mouth and chewing): It’s a ta-a-a-ale.
ELLEN: Exactly. It tells people what happened, so they know about it. (Whispers to Medford) And maybe they’ll enjoy reading it.
PRUDY: I heard that. Just as I thought…Useless. Maybe Unnameable.
ELLEN: Well, people could draw their own conclusions from what happened to you all. That’s probably Useful.
PRUDY: Why would they care? They don’t even live here.
MEDFORD: Does this book have me telling people how to do things? Because I don’t know how to do very much.
PRUDY: False modesty be as bad as bragging, the Book says. Thou knowst how to carve. And thou didst help Pa to build thy cabin.
MEDFORD: You’re talking Book Talk again.
PRUDY (stiffly): The occasion demanded it.
THE GOATMAN: Is it a good book?
ELLEN (stiffly): What do you mean?
THE GOATMAN (swallowing a wad of paper): I hope it tastes better than thi-i-is stuff.
PRUDY: I still don’t understand how one can be “in” a book.
MEDFORD: I think she just means she wrote about me in her journal. I don’t understand why, though.
GOATMAN: This book must be bi-i-ig. Do you cut a hole to get in, or is there a door?
ELLEN: Never mind. Forget I said anything.

Thank you for celebrating your debut with us this week, Ellen! Best of luck to you and The Unnameables.

Day 4: What Ellen is Mainely Thankful For

2008-10-09T06:00:00.002-07:00

Every author has an acknowledgement page where they give thanks to people who've helped them along their journey to publication, but few give kudos to an entire town....

The acknowledgements page in The Unnameables lists at least 25 people, mostly because I distributed the first draft far and wide to get critiques before I even thought about approaching an agent.

But the list also includes an entire town, which is another 900 people or so. Maybe this is a record for Most Populated Acknowledgments. I’ll have to check.

The town is Brooklin, Maine, where I’ve lived for 24 years as of October 11. Rob and I moved there from Providence, Rhode Island, looking for a place where we could afford to work part-time while he painted and I wrote. He’s the one who actually ended up doing what we intended. I got fascinated by the local weekly newspapers and ended up working more than full time as a reporter and editor—until the day came when I dropped everything to write this novel.

The Friend Memorial Library, heartbeat of Brooklin. It was revolutionized decades ago by New Yorker editor Katherine Sargent White (wife of E.B. White) and has remained true to her standards ever since.

It’s gorgeous in coastal Maine, but that’s not the reason we’re still in Brooklin. In part, it’s the sense of being looked-out-for. No smoke coming from your chimney on a frigid day will win you a knock on the door to make sure you’re OK. (And, when you say you’re fine, the person goes away and leaves you to get on with it, unless you invite him in for coffee.)

When a bunch of teenagers committed vandalism a decade or so ago, the result was not the threat of joovie but a new town-sponsored summer program called The Brooklin Youth Corps. Voters fund it every year without a peep, even though the town already pays through the nose for its tiny elementary school. And for each of the 60 kids in that school, there’s at least one townsperson volunteering there.

Brooklin residents line up for a ballot vote at the annual town meeting, held in the school gym the first weekend in April.

This fall, the selectmen and other community groups have formed a fundraising task force to buy heat for those who need it this winter. An appeal letter’s gone out, and last Friday hundreds upon hundreds turned out for a fundraising supper.

We have our disagreements and moments of grumpiness, of course. The fight we had about town governance two or three years ago got regional, if not national, press coverage. But then it all settles down.

When I told people I’d quit a perfectly good job to write a children’s novel, with no evidence that any publisher would ever want it, nobody said, “Are you nuts?” Instead, they said, “Huh. Great idea. Can’t wait to read it.”

Who could leave a town like this?

Who, indeed! Come back tomorrow for Ellen's interview with her characters.

Day 3: Two Truths and a Lie

2008-10-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

We're back to play two truths and a lie. And there's a prize involved! Which one is the fib? You decide.

The Goatman is an important character in The Unnameables. He provides most of the comic relief, and also kicks off the crisis that puts Medford at risk but eventually improves his life.

The Goatman has horns and hooves. He wears a purple robe, and walks with a staff. He eats the table linens. He can call down the wind, but he can’t control it.

Where did the ideas behind the Goatman come from? Three answers are below. Two are true and one is a lie. A signed copy of The Unnameables to the first poster to guess the lie.

1. My partner Rob Shillady invented Medford Runyuin as a cartoon character when he was just graduated from art school, and added the Goatman as a sidekick. The Goatman idea supposedly came from the Elizabethan narrative poem The Faerie Queene, even though I refuse to believe Rob read any part of it. In the poem, a group of goatmen (satyrs) rescue the heroine, and their leader helps her reach paradise. In Rob’s version, the Goatman and his people live in a fantasy world with a bunch of naked nymphs. I conducted a nymph-ectomy before stealing the character for my book.

2. My partner Rob Shillady spent part of his childhood in Washington, D.C., where there has been a persistent urban myth about the Maryland Goatman. This goatman supposedly lives in the woods of Prince George’s County and stalks lovers’ lanes. (At least one of his stories borrows from the urban legend about “The Hook”). Some tales identify him as just a crazy old man, but others insist he is part-human, part goat, the result of government genetic experiments. These tales resonated with Rob, and he cleaned them up to create an entertaining sidekick for Medford.

3. In college, I read Friedrich Nietzsche’s The Birth of Tragedy, which says that Greek tragedy is the perfect art form because of the way it combines the Apollonian and the Dionysian. (Meaning, roughly, order and chaos, the Greek god Apollo being an orderly character compared to the fun-loving, wine-soaked Dionysius.) Many years later, my faulty recollection of Nietzsche pitted Medford and his society (the Apollonian) against the Goatman (the Dionysian).

This is an early version of the Goatman, out for a flight with the original (adult) Medford and the dog who accompanies the Goatman. (The dog—here and in the book—is based on the late, lamented Saffron, who was Rob’s roommate before I joined the household.)

Day 2: Interviewing Ellen

2008-10-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

We're back today to better get to know Ellen. Please pull up a chair and join us for a little chat.

2k8: Welcome, Ellen. Please tell us where you do most of your writing?

Ellen: I have a room of my own! It’s tiny, and when we first built our house it doubled as a guest room. But that was OK because my main office was at whatever newspaper employed me at the time. Then we built an addition for my elderly mother, and after she was gone the addition became the guest room. So when I quit my job and started writing The Unnameables I took over the whole office for myself, along with hundreds of books.

Unlike most of the house, this room isn’t actually finished—it has no window trim or molding, and the floor is painted plywood. It’s always a mess, partly because I try to cram so much stuff into so little space. But it has a door that closes, and that’s the important thing.

2k8: That is important. Can you please tell us how the book came about? What got you started writing it?

Ellen: In 1984, I sat down to write a picture book for my partner, Rob, to illustrate. The two main characters were Rob’s alter-ego, Medford Runyuin, and his sidekick, the Goatman, both of whom Rob had been putting in recreational paintings since art school.

office mates

The story got away from me, and before I knew it I was writing a novel for older kids. I wrote a terrible first draft, then stuck it in a drawer and plunged into community journalism in the coastal Maine county to which we’d just moved. I thought I’d forgotten all about it, but some part of my brain kept working on it.

Fifteen years later, I started writing it again from scratch. Medford, who had been an adult, turned into a young teenager. The Goatman acquired hooves (he’d worn sandals in the first version) and the power to summon the wind, although not to control it. The setting changed from an isolated town to an isolated island.

There isn’t an illustration to be found, other than a couple of maps done by a stranger. Secretly, Rob is very relieved.

2k8: Wow! What an evolution. How did it find a publisher? Give us the scoop.

Ellen: The area where I live is rife with creative types, especially in the summer. Our town’s literary heritage includes Charlotte’s Web by longtime resident E.B.White. (Charlotte’s settings are based on our county fair and White’s own farm.)

The summer after I finished the new version of my book, I showed it to Bill Henderson, the founding editor and publisher of the Pushcart Prize and Pushcart Press. He lives in a neighboring town during the summer, and runs what he claims is the world’s smallest bookstore.

Bill and his wife, writer Genie Chipps Henderson, liked the book and sent it to Kate Schafer, then a colleague of Bill’s agent at Janklow & Nesbit. She took it on and submitted it to six publishers, all of whom rejected it. They gave me really good critiques, though, so I revised the manuscript before Kate showed it to Kathy Dawson at Harcourt Children’s Books (now part of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt). Kathy bought it about a year after Kate and I had started working together.

Kate now has moved to Colorado and started her own agency, k.t. literary. I stayed with her, of course, because she’s amazing. Matching the book up with Kathy Dawson was a stroke of genius— Kathy immediately understood the characters and the point of the book, but also diagnosed its problems in a way no one else had done before. And now we’re working together on my next book, temporarily called The Filioli.

2k8: That's an incredible story. So, did anything surprise you or catch you off guard when you were writing The Unnameables?

I had tried twice before to quit my job and write fiction, and both times I lost interest after two or three months and sought gainful employment. Part of the problem was that I stopped having fun and didn’t have the wherewithal to force my way through the shady bits and back into the light on the other side.

This time, I was determined to stick with it. But when I hit my first “writer’s block” about a month in, I thought, “Uh-oh. Here we go.” I considered various folk charms and shamanistic rites. But then, to my great joy, I discovered that I could write my way out of the problem by choosing a character and brainstorming a journal entry or two in that character’s voice. Sometimes what I wrote never made it into the book, but the process always got the juices flowing again.

So far, the method is foolproof. (Knock on wood.)

2k8: That's a great technique. Thanks for sharing it. Now imagine you have an offer from your dream press to publish your dream book, no matter how insane or unmarketable it might be (though of course it might not be). What story would you want to write and why?

Ellen: This is that book, and Harcourt is that publisher. On its surface, The Unnameables is not a supremely marketable book. It doesn’t really fit a genre, and there isn’t a swash or a buckle to be found anywhere, nor a magic wand. I still can’t believe anyone was willing to take it on. And it’s ten times the book it was when Kathy Dawson got her hands on it.

2k8: Incredible! Won't you please tell us what question most people won't know to ask you? And what's your answer?

Ellen: Probably no one would ever think to ask me if I am fluent in Mandarin Chinese.

The answer is no, I’m not.

It was great chatting with you, Ellen. Thanks for visiting. Come back tomorrow when Ellen plays two truths and a lie.

Introducing the Electrifying Ellen Booraem

2008-10-06T06:58:00.000-07:00

This month we're thrilled to have three debut authors. Our first celebration is for Ellen Booraem and her MG fantasy, The Unnameables.

“The Unnameables” is a whimsical fantasy set on an island where everyone is named for what he or she does. The hero is a 13-year-old foundling boy named Medford Runyuin, whose meaningless name underscores his status as an outsider in a rigid, orderly society. Medford has a dangerous secret that just keeps getting worse as he gets older. A smelly, chaotic goatman shows up to expose the secret, kicking off a chain of events that changes Medford’s life—and his island—forever.

Ellen quit a job she loved—arts and special sections editor for the county newspaper—to take her third stab at writing a novel. This time, it worked! Before taking the plunge, she had been writing and editing for rural weeklies for nearly twenty years. Before that, she wrote and edited employee newsletters for corporations and college publications.

Ellen and her partner, artist Rob Shillady, moved to coastal Maine from southern New England in 1984. In the early 90s, they bought land in their tiny town (population: 800) and built a house with their own hands (mostly Rob’s, since one of his day jobs had been carpentry). They live there now with a dog named Calamity Jane and a cat named McGonagall, after the Harry Potter professor who can turn herself into a cat.

Ellen is a founding director of the Brooklin Youth Corps, a summertime work and self-esteem program for teens. She is a mentor and writing coach at the local school, and freelances for the newspaper where she used to work.

Here’s what Kirkus Reviews had to say about The Unnameables:

(Starred Review) On Island, “thou art thy name.” At age 14, residents receive their names and their vocations from the Council. A cook becomes Cook, a tanner becomes Tanner and everyone follows the rules set forth in Capability C. Craft’s Frugall Compendium of Home Arts and Farme Chores (1680). Thirteen-year-old foundling Medford Runyuin hopes to be designated Carver, like his foster father. He also hopes no one will discover the Unnameable objects he’s created and hidden under his bed: They could cause his exile to Mainland forever. The Council puts off naming him, however, and he must continue to work hard for acceptance. When someone nameless and possibly Unnameable enters his life, all his plans—and the islanders’ way of life—could be in for drastic changes…but after 300 years, is that necessarily a bad thing? Booraem’s debut is an ever-surprising, genre-defying page-turner. Realistic characters deal with philosophical problems in vivid, flowing prose that is evocative and often funny. A sort of combination of witch-trial-era Salem and The Giver, this book offers a treat with nearly every page turn.

Shameless Saturday

2008-10-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

We ended one month and surged into another this week. The transition has 2k8ers mourning the close of summer and realizing just how close the end of 2008 is!

Fortunately several 2k8ers got to hang out at the Eastern PA SCBWI event where Laurel Snyder, Liz Gallagher, Nancy Viau and Daphne Grab presented a panel on the differences between MG and YA. They also chatted about their paths to publication, inspiration, what keeps them going, what writers can do to keep from quitting when the going gets tough, and general marketing stuff.

Laurel, Liz, Nancy & Daphne

Every children's author -- especially every new children's author -- loves to get mail from parents, telling them how much they and their children enjoyed the book. When they mention it in public, and when that public mention appears in an article citing many classic titles and prolific authors ... that thrill moves toward the top of the Jolt Meter. Wanna know what we're talking about? Click here to see what one homeschool parent calls the best kept secret for teaching your kids and look for her mention of Jody Feldman's The Gollywhopper Games.

Zu Vincent's The Lucky Place is on the Top Shelf Fiction list for 2008 at "Friends of Palms Middle School," one of only four schools chosen to select the 30 best middle school fiction books published between October 2007 and September 2008 for Voya (Voice of Youth Young Advocates).

And Linda Fischer at SSBRC (South Sound Book Review Council) gives The Lucky Place a recommended review saying, "I believe this book may become one of my best read "Girl Books"...Girls will love it."

Last Saturday 2k8ers Lisa Shroeder and Zu Vincent teamed up with 2k9 author Roseanne Parry to give a panel on group blogging at Portland's Kidlit Bloggers Conference. The conference was filled with amazing authors, book lovers, and bloggers. And the general buzz said group blogs like ours are the wave of the future!

Zu, Rosanne and Lisa

Stop by the kidlit blogspot to hear more including Kim Kasch's sound bites of Zu and Lisa.

And don't forget to nominate your favorite books for the Cybils, the children's and young adult bloggers' literary award. We hope you'll consider our 2k8 titles.

Lastly, look for THREE, count them, 1-2-3, author launches this month! On Monday we're pleased to introduce you to Ellen Booraem, MG author of The Unnameables.

Bye Bye Banned Books

2008-10-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

We're wrapping up Banned Book Week here at the class of 2k8 and it only seems fitting that we pay tribute to one of the best loved and single most banned authors ever. The incomparable Judy Blume has five books listed on the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000, but many of us wouldn't have been able to survive puberty without her.

Jenny Meyerhoff: "Many avid readers remember the book that got them “hooked” on reading. For me, that book was ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME MARGARET, by Judy Blume. I read the book in third grade, which, I suppose is bit below the age of the target audience. As a result, I learned earlier than my friends about the changes my body would someday experience. I waited impatiently for a puberty that wouldn’t arrive for several more years. I read the book twenty-one times in a row that year and many, many more times after that. It was the first book I’d ever read that felt so real, so absolutely connected to my own life. I never feared or dreaded maturing, the way other girls did. ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME MARGARET became the big sister I never had. Like a good sister, she introduced me to other books. I devoured everything that Judy Blume ever wrote, rereading them all many times. Now I have a daughter. I bought the book for her when she was in fourth grade. I’m proud to say that her copy is now dog-eared as well."

“[I]t's not just the books under fire now that worry me. It is the books that will never be written. The books that will never be read. And all due to the fear of censorship. As always, young readers will be the real losers.” — Judy Blume

Teri Brown: "Judy Blume had a profound impact on me when I was growing up. I was eleven when I first got a hold of Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret. I understood her loneliness, confusion and her eagerness to grow up. I wanted to be Margaret so badly that I tried to involve my friends in a club like the one in the book. Except I lived in Alfalfa, Oregon, and my friends weren’t ready for it… It ended badly with a screaming match on the bus where my bf (former) yelled, “You wanted to start a club on periods!” It was a total Blubber moment. They missed the point totally. But then, I think a lot of people miss the point of Judy Blume’s books. They aren’t about what adults need, they’re about what kids need. And kids need to have characters they can identify with. Like I did with Margaret and Deenie and most of her characters. They helped me feel a little less lonely at a time in my life where I didn’t fit in. "

Calling All Librarians!

2008-10-01T23:00:00.000-07:00

We interrupt our Banned Book Week blog posts for this special announcement:

School librarians rock, and we know it! Help us spread the word about the Class of 2k8's new fall contest, just for some of our favorite people on Earth. It's easy to enter and fun!

School librarians can enter by sending us an anecdote about books, reading, or life in the school library, or a snappy quote about books and writing. We'll be posting our favorites on our Class blog during November, but winners will be chosen randomly from among all entries. In addition, if you pass this on to other school librarians and they mention the referral, you and your school will be entered in the drawing twice--double the chance to win!

Prizes include:
First Prize: Your choice of a full set of Class of 2k8 books OR a free author visit from a Class of 2k8 author in your region (if available)!

Two Second Prizes: A $50 gift certificate from Indie Bound (formerly BookSense) plus three books from the Class of 2k8 to add to your school library.

Three Third Prizes: Three books from the Class of 2k8 to add to your school library.

Anecdotes and quotes must be e-mailed to us at contests@classof2k8.com. Pleas bee sure to include your name and contact information at your school with your entry. Entries will be accepted from October 1- November 10, and the winners will be announced November 24.

We're looking forward to hearing from you!

Day 3: Banned Books Week

2008-10-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

CLOSING BOOKS SHUTS OUT IDEAS.
That's one of the theme's of this year's Banned Book Week, a week when we celebrate our freedom to choose what we read.

When books are banned choice is taken away and what may offend someone may move another. Just ask Zu Vincent and Kristen Tubb.

Zu: "When The Catcher in the Rye was assigned to us in high school, I was already a voracious reader so far past the mere size of Salinger’s book that its slimness looked subversive. Not to mention the vaguely controversial English teacher who introduced it.

I thought I’d fall for Holden Caulfield, and I was surprised when I didn’t.

In fact, as a kid used to holding down jobs I found Caulfield annoying the way he slouched around whining about existence while others took care of him.

Who I fell in love with was J.D. Salinger. Here was a writer willing to tell the truth. He didn’t care if he pleased you or not. He just opened up his gut and sang.

The Catcher in the Rye taught me that truth is not so far off you can’t get it on the page. Like Caulfield himself tells us,
“What really knocks me out is a book that, when you’re all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it.”

CLOSING BOOKS LIMITS UNDERSTANDING.
Kristen: "I had a blessed childhood. The only death I knew belonged to far-away grandparents. Even my cat 'ran away.' Yes, I was sheltered. But no less curious about death. When I stumbled across Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson, it was my first 'real' experience with death. Those characters – Jess and Leslie – were so real to me, I mourned Leslie’s death like I would the death of a dear friend. This book showed me not only how powerful books could be, but also how powerful my own emotions could be. To that point, I’d never felt anything as sorrowful as the loss of Leslie.

When I read that this book is often challenged by parents who believe that death is not a suitable topic for a children’s book, I am amazed at how parents could deny their children those same feelings. Because while I was profoundly sad at losing Leslie, I learned from Jess that love continues even after death. I learned that honoring those we’ve lost with happy memories helps us heal. I learned there is hope – if Jess could recover, so could I.

To this day, no other book has affected me as profoundly as Bridge to Terabithia."

CLOSING BOOKS CLOSES POSSIBILITIES

The ten most challenged books of 2007 were:

1. “And Tango Makes Three,” by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell
Reasons: Anti-Ethnic, Sexism, Homosexuality, Anti-Family, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group

2. “The Chocolate War,” by Robert Cormier
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Violence

3. “Olive’s Ocean,” by Kevin Henkes
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language

4. “The Golden Compass,” by Philip Pullman
Reasons: Religious Viewpoint

5. “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” by Mark Twain
Reasons: Racism

6. “The Color Purple,” by Alice Walker
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language,

7. “TTYL,” by Lauren Myracle
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

8. “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” by Maya Angelou
Reasons: Sexually Explicit

9. “It’s Perfectly Normal,” by Robie Harris
Reasons: Sex Education, Sexually Explicit

10. “The Perks of Being A Wallflower,” by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

Have you read a banned book today?

Day Two Banned Book Week

2008-09-30T05:15:00.000-07:00

Today, Ellen Booraem talks Harry Potter, which surprisingly has been banned or challenged numorous times. Take it away, Ellen!

I’m always puzzled when people try to ban the Potter books. Although they are supremely entertaining, these books also have an unusually strong moral message—you’re never in any doubt about the distinction between good and evil, or our responsibility to choose between them. The last book makes it clear that redemption is always possible, and the only completely evil person is the one who refuses to seek it.

J.K.Rowling is not a polemicist, though. Her story’s enthralling plot is driven by the character of Harry, a flawed hero whose salvation is his capacity for love. And the books are funny even when tragic—the wizarding world often is a hilarious send-up of our own, from the bureaucrats to the journalists. One of my favorite characters dies with a joke on his lips.

I guess it’s the witchcraft that bothers the banners, but it would be hard to find a less satanic brand of magic. I mean, a world where the first wizard Harry meets is a half-giant with a pink parasol for a wand? What’s not to love?

Thanks Ellen! If you don't think books are still being banned or challneged, think again. The following is an excerpt from a press release from the American Library Association and the Office for Intellectual Freedom,(OIF).

Each year, the OIF receives hundreds of reports on books and other materials that were "challenged" by people who asked that they be removed from school or library shelves. There were 420 known attempts to remove books in 2007, and more than 9, 600 attempts since the ALA’s OIF began to electronically compile and publish information on book challenges in 1990. Unfortunately, it is believed that for every challenge or banning reported to OIF, there are four to five incidents not reported.

You can read more here.

Banned Books Week!

2008-09-29T05:47:00.000-07:00

This week is banned book week and 2k8er’s are taking a good long look at some of the books that have been challenged or banned. What have these books meant to us and what might our world have been like if we hadn’t read them? How have these books affected our writing or our life?

First off, we have Barrie Summy, author of I So Don’t Do Mysteries talking about a family favorite, The Great Gilly Hopkins.

The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson (published 1978 for approx 10-15 year olds) was banned by many libraries and schools for rough language (the “n” word) and Gilly’s inappropriate behavior. (At the start of the story, she’s racist.)

The Great Gilly Hopkins won many, many awards including the National Book Award, a Newbery Honor, the ALA Notable Children’s Book List, The Horn Book’s Honor list, the Jane Addams Award, the Christopher Award, and the list goes on.

The book opens with Galadriel or Gilly as she prefers to be called and her social worker on their way to yet another foster placement for Gilly. This eleven-year-old girl is tough and mean and manipulative and purposefully difficult to get along with. Imagine her behavior when she finds herself living with Maime Trotter, an illiterate, religious and obese foster mother; William Ernest Teague, a shy, nervous, slow, seven-year-old foster child; Mr. Randolph, her blind neighbor who is black; Miss Harris, her sixth grade teacher who is also black.

Over the course of the book, Gilly learns respect for others and for herself. She learns that family comes in all different shapes and sizes and isn’t necessarily connected by blood. And when her maternal grandmother shows up to claim her and reunite her with her biological mother, Gilly learns that getting what you wish for doesn’t always turn out to be all that great.

In our family, The Great Gilly Hopkins is the first decent-sized chapter book (as in over 80 pages) that Child #1 requested after listening to a fellow classmate’s book talk.

So, a book that encourages discussion about family shapes, racism, and anger (to name a few topics) seems to me like a book you’d want kids to read. Hard to believe some people are still trying to get it banned. Thirty years after the fact.

For a really good sized excerpt, click here

2008-09-27T05:58:00.000-07:00

What a week! Let's get right to it!

The Class of 2k8 took over the New England Independent Booksellers trade show last week! Nina Nelson (Bringing the Boy Home) and Ellen Booraem (The Unnameables) signed books, and Donna Freitas was there, too, accepting kudos for The Possibilities of Sainthood.

Ellen Booraem At the NEIB

Nina Nelson Signing at the NEIB

Next, TheHappyNappyBookseller says Sherry (short for Sherlock) Holmes Baldwin, reluctant sleuth of I So Don't Do Mysteries is "just the right amount of pink."

The review goes on to say, "Summy has created a very lovable character in Sherry Baldwin and doesn't skimp us on the others. I look forward to reading more."

Thanks TheHappyNappyBookseller! You're the right amount of pink for us too! Check it out here! Congrats to Barrie Summy!

Guys Lit Wire reviewed N.A. Nelson's book Bringing the Boy Home, saying "This is a book for anyone who is after a classic adventure tale, and who enjoys survival stories with extreme settings. Nelson's tale really rips along...introducing us to a writer to watch." Yay Nina!

"Kiss the Book" says about Zu Vincent's The Lucky Place...

"The Lucky Place really shows everyone exactly how hard it can be to have an Old Dad and a New Dad and having to think you have to choose between them. Great book, an eye opener for sure. I would recommend (that) parents read this book to their children if they have to go through the same thing, also for Middle Schoolers, High Schoolers, and adults...This book is for everyone at every age." What a great review, Zu!

Second Books

2008-09-26T05:17:00.000-07:00

Today is our last day talking about second books. There's a lot to look forward to next year! Or perhaps the year after, because the year 2010 is the year Ellen Booraem, author of The Unnameables, comes out with her second book, The Filioli (Harcourt Children’s Books).

It sounds amazing!

When her basement is infested by a tribe of elegant fairies addicted to illusion, 13-year-old Mellie Turpin learns to value what’s real.

Another teaser! Let's chat with Ellen.

2k8: How does it feel to have a second book coming out?

Ellen: Selling the second book made the first one seem more real, and made me feel like less of an interloper in the novel-writing world. I drafted this book in between revisions of The Unnameables, and revising the second book has been a welcome distraction from the launch of the first one, which I find a bit nerve-wracking.

2k8: How was it different from the first book?

Ellen: My first book went through five revisions, three of them under the guidance of my Harcourt editor, Kathy Dawson. I think (I hope) I learned from that process—we’ll see. I do think the first draft of this book is better paced than the first draft of The Unnameables. And so far it’s the right length—I cut something like 100 pages from The Unnameables.

Thanks Ellen!

Don't forget to drop by tomorrow for Shameless Saturday, when we show everyone what the Class has been up to and next Monday, when we start our week long series on banned books!

Book Two for Jennifer Bradbury!

2008-09-25T05:35:00.000-07:00

As we speak, Jennifer Bradbury, author of Shift, is busily working on the edits for Apart, her second book with Antheum Books for Young Readers. While she doesn't as yet have a cover, let's take another look at the cover of her first novel, Shift.

Isn't it purty? And if you haven't read it yet, you really should!

But back to her second book, because that's the whole point of this week's blog-- second books! Jennifer shares this tidbit about Apart.

Three sisters must redefine what it means to be family in the wake of their father's descent into schizophrenia.

Okay, that's more of a teaser than a tidbit! Let's talk to Jennifer.

2k8: How does it feel to have sold a second book?

Jennifer: Honestly, it's a bit of a relief to have that second one waiting. I'm excited to share the story with readers, but a little nervous about how it might be received after SHIFT. Mostly excited, though!

2k8: What was different about writing this one than writing Shift?

Jennifer: The biggest difference was writing with a particular editor in mind. I've grown very used to my editor's voice, and think her insights are amazing, but it took some work for me to what I thought she might say and write the book that needed to be written. Luckily, we were both happy with the story in the end.

We So Do Second Books!

2008-09-24T06:04:00.000-07:00

Today we are featuring an author who's first book hasn't even released yet! Barrie Summy's, I So Don't Do Mysteries, will be released December 9th. (Check back for her launch party!) Her second book, I So Don't Do Spooky, is slated for sometime in 2009.

Nope, it doesn't have a cover yet, but Barrie said it will be similar in tone as the first book because both books have the same cover designer--an extremely talented woman named Marci Senders.

I So Don't Do Spooky is the second book in the middle-grade mystery series starring reluctant sleuth Sherry (short for Sherlock) Holmes Baldwin. In I So Don't Do Spooky, Sherry teams up again with her ghost mother to find out who's stalking The Ruler (Sherry's stepmom). And why. There's a zany cast including a teen psychic, a good-looking ghost hunter, a rival robotics team and, of course, Sherry's cute boyfriend, Josh, her BFF, Junie, and Junie's cousin-with-attitude, Amber.
2k8: How does it feel to have a second book coming out?

Barrie: Great! It removes the "when will I sell my second book" angst. But it's surreal too. I mean, it is pretty weird to think I'll have proofed the galleys for the second book before the first one is even on shelves. Weirder still, I'll probably be writing the third book in the series before the first book is out.

2k8: What was different about writing this book as opposed to the first?

Barrie: It was way way way easier. I sent a very detailed chapter-by-chapter outline to my editor. So, I knew going in what would work and what wouldn't. As it turned out, I ended up ditching a bunch of the material in the outline. It was either that or hand in a book that was something like a thousand pages long!

Another thing that made the second book easier to write is that I'm working with the same editor. An editor I totally trust. An editor who has the same vision for the book that I have. An editor I already have a really decent working relationship with.
Lastly, I've already spent hours and hours with the main characters. I know them better than I know some of my friends!

Second Book Madness

2008-09-23T05:33:00.000-07:00

Today, we continue with our second book series with Lisa Schroeder, who's haunting(no pun intended)debut novel, I Heart You, You Haunt Me had readers clamoring for more! Have you ever seen a more beautiful cover?

Do you believe in angels?

FAR FROM YOU is a story of love and loss, and reminds us what's really important in life. Fans of I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME are sure to enjoy this novel-in-verse feauturing 16-year-old Alice, a singer/songwriter who's had her share of hard times, and unfortunately, has more to come. What will pull her through? Her music? The love of her boyfriend, Blaze? Or perhaps, an angel, here on earth?

Now let's ask Lisa a couple of questions!

2k8: How does it feel to have a second book coming out?

Lisa: Amazing and terrifying. No, I'm actually really excited. I just got the ARCs and Simon Pulse has done a beautiful job with the design of this book. I feel like they're really trying to make it something special. And this one will be hardcover, which is exciting to me as well!

Obviously, more than anything, I want teens who enjoyed I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME to like this one as well. It's not as much a love story as the other one was, although there is definitely love and romance in this one too.

2k8: What was different about writing this book as opposed to the first?

Lisa: Both books actually came pretty easily. Once I got started, the words flowed and I got into my characters and the story. I really ripped through the first draft of I HEART YOU, like within a month I had a draft done, and FAR FROM YOU took much longer, so I guess that's one difference. The other interesting thing about FAR FROM YOU is that I used music a lot more to get me in the mood. I listened to a lot of Lifehouse and Sarah Mclachlan as I wrote. But other than that, it was a lot of writing, revising, more revising, sending to crit partners, more revising, just like the first one.

Second Books!

2008-09-22T05:15:00.000-07:00

As you already know, the class of 2k8 boasts many talented authors. We thought we would take a week and talk about their second books! First up, we have the uber talented Debbie Reed Fischer, author of, Braless in Wonderland. Her new book, Swimming With Sharks, is available NOW! That's right, you can go pick up this talented authors second book immediately! Check it out!

REMEMBER THE PACT. OR ELSE . . .

Five-foot eleven. Freckled. Flat s a surfboard. Peyton Grady sees her role on the varsity cheer squad as the only thing keeping her off the social sidelines at wealthy Beachwood Preparatory Academy. It's her umbilical cord to cool -- and it's constantly in danger of getting cut.

As a base, it's Peyton's duty to be stepped on -- literally -- by cheer queen Lexie Court. So when Lexie hatches a fierce hazing campaign against the frumpy new girl, Peyton has no choice but to support her flier. Soon the pranks become sadistically cruel, even criminal. Suddenly, Peyton has more to lose than her new-found Alpha celebrity. Will she gamble her entire future for "the good of the squad"?

"Blubber for the 21rst century. Debbie Reed Fischer's sizzling take on girl hazing and cheer pressure mixes the perfect ratio of humor to anger for a compelling, un-put-downable read."
---Alex Flinn, author of Breathing Underwater and Beastly

Of course, we had a couple of questions for her regarding second books...

2k8: How does it feel to have a second book coming out?

Debbie: I feel grateful. And busy! The whole experience is surreal. I realize I'm in a unique situation to have two books released in the same year. It happened because both my books sold within a few weeks of each other, each to a different publisher.

2k8: What was different about writing this book as opposed to the first?

Debbie: Actually, I wrote Swimming with the Sharks first. I sold my second book, Braless in Wonderland, on a partial submission, and was finishing it up as Sharks was being submitted to publishers. Even though Braless was released first, Sharks is really my first book.

Congrats on your second book, Debbie! Many happy sales!

Shameless Saturday!

2008-09-20T08:34:00.000-07:00

A lot going on this week!

2k8'ers, Teri Brown, Jennifer Bradbury, Lisa Schroeder, and Liz Gallagher, along with 2k9er Roseanne Perry, were spotted giving a presentation at the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association conference in Portland, Oregon last week. Too bad none of the fab five thought to take a picture!

Good thing another group of 2k8'ers weren't so forgetful! The amazing Barrie Summy has posted pictures of herself, along with Stacy Nyikos, PJ Hoover, and Jenny Meyerhoff at the Encyclo-media Conference In Oklahome City, Oklahoma. You can check it out here.

Other great news for the week:

A helpful reader alerted Regina Scott that The Chicago Tribune had reviewed La Petite Four! The paper called La Petite Four "a charming, expertly crafted traditional Regency romance." The full review is here.

Marissa Doyle's Bewitching Season was named to ALA Booklist's 2008 list of Top Ten Romance Fiction for Youth in their annual Spotlight on Romance issue.

Debbie Reed Fischer is spotlighted here on Chicklitgurrl blogspot.

The “Come as your favorite Made-Up-Saint Book Party” for THE POSSIBILITIES OF SAINTHOOD!

2008-09-19T04:53:00.000-07:00

Wow! This looks like one heck of a party! And why not? It's not everyday your debut novel launches! Let's join Donna as she dishes on her real life launch party!

Last Saturday I got to celebrate the publication of my first novel and I’m happy to report that it was a lot of fun. One of my geeky ideas for the party and in honor of my protagonist, Antonia, who proposes new saint specializations that she feels are in dire need of representation—was to have the guests dress as their favorite idea for a new saint. It was hilarious to see what people came up with, and we took special “saint portraits” of friends in costumes. Here are some of my favorites:

Here’s Lisa Graff—author of “The Life and Crimes of Bernetta Wallflower,” editor at FSG, and one of the Longstockings—as the Patron Saint of the Book Jacket. If there had been a contest I think Lisa would have won! How creative is that skirt? And note the headband and bracelets—all made of book jackets!

Do you know, that Chrysler Building headdress actually lights up? Cheryl Klein, editor at Arthur Levine Books/Scholastic, and I ham it up for the camera.

It’s the Patron Saint of Candy! And look at all that candy…YUM. Anyone who knows Alvina Ling, editor at Little, Brown, knows how much she loves sugar. By the end of the night most of that candy was gone…

The esteemed 2k8 class member and author of Alive and Well in Prague, New York, made it early on to the party and I had to make sure to catch her with the camera. Daphne was amazing moral support as I was nervous and getting everything ready before guests started to arrive—and I’m eternally grateful to this fellow 2k8-er and dear friend.

Hope you enjoyed a quick look into THE POSSIBILITIES OF SAINTHOOD launch party!

First Kiss Confessions and Book Trailer!

2008-09-18T05:46:00.000-07:00

Today, Donna Freitas talks about first kisses and sainthood!

My protagonist, Antonia Lucia Labella is preoccupied with landing her first kiss (perhaps even more than sainthood). As anyone still in that never-been-kissed category or who remembers their first kiss knows—sometimes finding that right person and right moment for this important event can be challenging. It’s so challenging for Antonia that, after a near-disaster boy-encounter when Antonia “gets more action than she bargained for” as one reviewer put it, Antonia writes the Vatican proposing a special saint that might help smooth the process for girls (and boys) her age everywhere in similar predicaments:

Vatican Committee on Sainthood
Vatican City
Rome, Italy

To Whom It May Concern (ideally the Pope if he’s available):

I’m writing to inform you of a grave oversight in the area of patron saint specializations. As yet, there is no Patron Saint of the Kiss, and, to be more specific, the First Kiss! I ask you: how is this possible? Lord knows, it is virtually impossible to get yourself kissed in general without some heavenly intervention, and then before you know it, a little prayer here, a little prayer there, to saints who clearly are not trained in the art of kiss intercession, and suddenly you are in big trouble.

I implore you to realize that naming a Patron Saint of the First Kiss and Kissing is essential.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Blessings,
Antonia Lucia Labella
Saint2b@live.com

P.S. I humbly offer myself as the ideal candidate to not only become the Patron Saint of the First Kiss and Kissing, but the first ever living saint in Catholic history! Hope to hear from you soon!

What do you think of Antonia’s idea for sainthood? Think the Vatican would ever go for it? Do you agree with Antonia that a little divine intervention on the kissing front could be helpful? We hope you get what you want Antonia... on all counts!
Now check out the book trailer for The Possibilities of Sainthood!

Catholic School Girl Uniforms...

2008-09-17T05:46:00.000-07:00

Today, Donna Freitas, author of The Possibilities of Sainthood, gives us advice on how to alter our Catholic school uniforms... who knew???

As a lifer at Catholic schools, beginning all the way back in first grade, I wore a school uniform for TWELVE entire years. After that much experience, a girl (and her best friends) eventually develop ways of…let’s call it “altering” the plaid and the wool and the knee socks and all that go with those God-forsaken outfits. My protagonist is no exception in the art of uniform alteration, and included in THE POSSIBILITIES OF SAINTHOOD is her very own guide to this all-important procedure for girls forced to wear uniforms on a daily basis. Here’s an abridged version of it:

Antonia Lucia Labella’s Catholic School Girl’s Guide to Uniform Alteration
1. Most important is rolling your skirt so that it is a virtual mini (you keep folding it over at the waist-band). The key to successful skirt rolling is to be sure your Catholic pleated plaid is already hemmed at least two inches above the knee. Otherwise, if you have to fold it over, like, twenty times at the waist, you end up looking as if you’ve got a serious amount of extra inches around the middle. Not attractive. If you have a mother like mine who insists on skirts at least to the knee, then you have several possible options: get out the ironing board and iron the desired hem, then either tape said hem or carefully safety-pin it all around the bottom, ideally so that none of the pins show through to the front.

Why not just pull out a needle and thread and hem it for real? Because you always need to be prepared for emergency hem-letting-down when your mother wonders why your skirt seems so short. If she realizes you illegally hemmed it, getting grounded is almost inevitable.

2. The question of boxer shorts: to wear or not to wear boxer shorts underneath your skirt? Mothers of uniform-wearing schoolgirls across the nation hate this trend of wearing boxers even more so than the rolling up of the plaid. Preferably, you should buy your own boxers. It’s weird to steal from Dad, though some girls do it. I don’t know when or who started the boxers craze, but it’s been going on for as long as I’ve been at Catholic school (which is always). To be honest, I don’t know why wearing boxers is cool, because sometimes, frankly, it looks kind of bad, but we do it anyway. Still, depending on how much you want the boys to see, boxers are a good preventive measure for the accidental ﬂashing factor.

3. Legs: as bare as possible. Wear socks only when you are made to, and when wearing them, make sure they are scrunched down to the ankles. Never, I repeat, never wear tights.

4. Standard white oxford: ideally two buttons un- done and never buttoned all the way to the neck. Cute, tight-ﬁtting tank top underneath for before and after school when you are hanging out in the parking lot.

The tank top allows you to remove the required oxford entirely if you so choose and transform yourself into the ideal sexy Catholic schoolgirl that every Catholic schoolboy wants to go out with. Note: Never ever let your mother or teacher/principal see you in just a tank top or you’ll be in trouble for sure.

So that’s Antonia’s advice!

Did you—or do you—have to wear a uniform to school? And if so, how did/do you go about altering it in creative ways?
Donna in her school uniform!