Bye Bye Banned Books

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. "

She Said- She Said RWA National Conference

What happens when two 2K8ers who've only met online, get together and become roomies for the 2008 RWA (Romance Writers of America) National Conference? Answer: Cute clothes, lots of networking, and really great workshops. And, oh yeah, don't forget the margaritas! Authors Teri Brown and Brooke Taylor ask and answer questions about their conference experience:


Q: What’s it like sharing a room with someone you’ve only “met” online? Were you nervous you wouldn’t get along?

Teri: Oddly enough, I wasn’t that nervous. Brooke and I have known one another for two or three years and I knew I could be a good roomie. It’s all about being courteous. Turns out we got along fabulously. We were both social and independent, so we did things together and apart. Brooke has a wicked sense of humor and we laughed a lot.

Brooke: I’ve exchanged emails with Teri for a long time now, we critted each other’s work, and acknowledged each other in our books, so rooming with her wasn’t scary at all. It turned out to be a lot of fun, and we had a whole “kismet” moment when I unpacked my Magic Bullet blender and she unpacked two margarita glasses.

Q. How do you keep it real as a YA author at a non-YA centric conference?

Teri: There were so many YA people there it wasn’t that hard. I met lots of YA writers that I’d only previously met online. I took workshops aimed at YA writers and then a couple of workshops that were more about the writing life. You know, creative energy type workshops. If I went to a publisher’s spotlight, I made sure they had a YA line so I wouldn’t be wasting time. Also, I was very upfront about my genre… see the t-shirt I wore for the book signing!



Brooke: YA has been growing in RWA by leaps and bounds. We’re even starting a YA chapter. There are more workshops—two years ago there was only one, this year there were 3 or 4. Last year Meg Cabot was even the keynote speaker! Still, I find I must keep my YA identity—I too did it with clothes, check out the sparkly skull-n-crossbones under my signing suit:

Q. How much networking can you really do at a conference? Any tips for introverted writers?

Teri: I did a TON of networking at the conference! It seems like every time I turned around I was meeting an important person. You just have to learn to bring up conversations whenever you meet someone. I once asked someone the type of writing they did, only to learn that it was the senior acquisitions editor for an important publisher.

For introverted writers, it can be quite challenging. Nothing is louder than a group of mostly women writers. I suggest taking breaks, I took myself out to a fancy restaurant for one of my evening meals. I really needed that alone time to recharge.

Brooke: Teri’s not kidding. Almost every time we’d reconnect, she tell me about some one she’d met. I’m not quite that good at meeting new people. For me it is much easier when I’ve met someone online. That gives me some things to talk about. So I try to be part of YA loops and keep up with YA bloggers. That and I bring a blender so if all else fails I can always invite them up to my room for drinks!

Q: What was more valuable for you—the workshops or meeting people?

Brooke: Both. When I first started going to the RWA conference, every day was packed with workshops. I had my schedule and highlighter and used them well. Now, I’m more into catching up with my writer friends and having that all important face time with my agent. It is so much easier to talk face to face about works in progress and career directions. I’m looking into conferences where I can do the same but with my editor.

Teri: Absolutely meeting people. Not only was my networking fabulous, but I made some great long term friends. Don't get me wrong, the workshops were great too, but I loved meeting all the people. I think because writers work on their own so much, the social aspect is very appealing...at least for awhile!

Q: Was there someone you met That you had always wanted to meet?

Brooke: This year I was excited about meeting fellow YA author Alyson Noel. She’s always so supportive and encouraging on the Yahoo teenlit loop and we’ve commented back and forth a few times on each other’s blogs. Plus I’m a total fan girl—love her books!! Anyway, I’d coordinated the National Reader’s Choice Award YA category and knew she had won. I wanted to be sure she was at the conference, because we have a wonderful award ceremony, but I couldn’t tell her she’d won. So I kept asking, so you’re going to be there aren’t you? It was touch and go, but she did come and I’m soooo glad she did. It was wicked cool getting to meet her!! And I was dying to meet Teri Brown, of course!

Teri: There were so many! I've been wanting to meet Rachel Vincent for a long time and we actually got together several times. It was awesome. Also, I have been a fan of Lynda Sandoval's work for ages and she just seems so nice online. We not only met, but hung out awhile with fellow 2K8er's Terri Clark and Brooke Taylor. Lynda is so funny. Just love her.

Q: What tips would you give other writers to get the most out of a conference?

Brooke: Pace yourself. Take breaks, like Teri said. I always take one night off for room service and to rest my feet (they don’t do well in conference shoes!). If you’re a workshop junkie—buy the CD’s—well worth it. I’ve listened to workshops from each year. I pull out my CD’s whenever I have a writing issue to work through and it is just like being there. So don’t kill yourself to get to them all. Make sure you get out and meet people. Take advantage of your local chapter, online friends, and any other networking group you are involved in, find an outgoing person and ask them to introduce you around. Talk to the person sitting next you—I’m still friends with a lady I met at my first conference, at the very first workshop—we were both new and hung out from that point on.

Teri: Don't pack your schedule too full. Leave room for serendipity. At one conference I started talking to a woman who turned out to be Julia Quinn. She invited me to sit with her friends, Jayne Ann Krentz, Catherine Coulter, and Stella Cameron. I had a workshop I was going to take, but figured I could learn more where I was!

Stay tuned all week for more conference advice and gossip from both RWA and SCBWI!

Shameless Saturday

Reviews:

N.A. Nelson’s BRINGING THE BOY HOME found to be “refreshing, well put-together, and completely original” at teensreadtoo!

Brooke Taylor’s UNDONE “completely spell binding” at And Another Book Read… AND "seriously amazing!" at Midnight Twillight's Book Blog (be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win an ARC of Undone!)

The Gollywhopper Games by Jody Feldman garnered a couple of local newspaper reviews far away from her hometown ... from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Book Reviews: These puzzlers are treats for tweens and from the Miami Herald Breezing through summer with books that are fun - 06/07/2008 - MiamiHerald.com

Interviews:

Susan Van Hecke interviewed M.P. Barker for Authorlink.com. You can read it out HERE and then go check out the trailer for A DIFFICULT BOY and more on Susan’s blog "Adventures in Authorhood"

Busy Busy:

Teri Brown takes time from her Read My Lips Simon Pulse Launch Gala for a guest blog at And Another Book Read…

Daphne Grab has been very busy the launch of ALIVE AND WELL IN PRAGUE:

Check out her guest blog on Teen Book Review, her interviews with Sea Heidi and Jessica Burkhart, and a review from School Library Journal- here's Daphne’s favorite line:

"The story provides a safe and positive alternative to teens who are hoping for happy endings in their own lives."

Going Live:

The microsite for Sarah Prineas' The Magic Thief is live at http://www.magicthief.com/. It includes games, exclusive content, wallpaper, podcast, etc. so be sure to check it all out!

Check out Terri Clark's funny and fierce book trailer on Youtube for her short story, DON’T MIND ME, in the YA anthology BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO with Ellen Hopkins, Lynda Sandoval and Niki Burnham. Sometimes...breaking up is for the best.

Summer Events:

Look for Zu Vincent at these Upcoming Events:

ALA Book Signings: Front Street will host two signings for Zu Vincent's young adult novel The Lucky Place at the American Library Association's Annual Conference on June 28th & 29th in Anaheim, California.

Zu will present on the panel “Managing Your On-line Career” at Vermont College Masters Program Alumni Weekend on July 13th.

Zu joins other 2K8ers for a panel presentation "Turning Old Writing Tricks into New Reading Tricks for Today's Young Audience " at the 110th California Library Association's Annual Conference & Exhibition in San Jose, California, November 14-17.

Zu's radio interview about writing her novel The Lucky Place first aired on "Nancy's Bookshelf," KCHO 91.7 FM, Saturday, May 24, 2008, at 3 P.M. Pacific Standard Time.

And don't forget Terri Clark, Teri Brown, Brooke Taylor, and Regina Scott will be signing at Readers for Life Literacy Event in San Francisco July 30th.

Romance is What Summer is All About!

Attending the Romance Writers of America's National Convention in San Francisco (July 30-August 2nd) will be Terri Clark, Teri Brown, Brooke Taylor, and Regina Scott! All will be participating in the annual “Readers for Life” Literacy Autographing, where over 450 romance-fiction authors will be signing romance books donated by publishers. The signing is open to the public an proceeds of the sales go to literacy charities, so make sure you come by and meet the all the authors!


Regina Scott provides some insight into the Romance Writers of America National Conference held every July:


One of my must-go conferences is the national conference for Romance Writers of America. I’ll be there this year in San Francisco with several other members of the class, including Teri Brown, Terri Clark, and Brooke Taylor. The literacy signing Wednesday afternoon is amazing: over 400 authors packed cheek-to-cheek in a ballroom, madly schmoozing with fans and autographing our books for charity. But my favorite part of the conference is a little-known event called the Beau Monde Soiree. The Beau Monde is the chapter of RWA focused on writing about the Regency period. Wednesday evening after the literacy signing, we gather for period dancing, period card games (and gambling with chocolate coins), exceptional food, and excellent conversation. Many members come in costume. Because it’s a bit difficult to get into the dance moves when everyone dancing is generally female, I decided to come in costume as the “girl dressed like a guy” made famous in romance and historical novels. Thus, Sir Reginald Scott was born. The only problem is that he’s more popular than I am! Now everyone who sees me on Wednesday asks, “So, is Sir Reginald coming tonight?” But at least I get my pick of dance partners, including cool gals like Avon romance author Shirley Karr and Kensington romance author Nonnie St. George.

Isn't Sir Reginald Scott handsome!

Thanks Teri!

We've really enjoyed having her this week, but it's time for us to say goodbye to the wonderful Teri Brown! Be sure to check out her debut book Read My Lips!

Day 5: Real World Launch!

Teri Brown tells us all about her real world launch party (that means real world cake!! Yum!) for Read My Lips at the Washington School for the Deaf:

It’s hard to even express how awesome my launch party was, but because this is a blog I’m going to try. And plus, that’s what writers do— we attempt to describe the indescribable.

I exchanged a volley of emails with an English teacher at the Washington School for the Deaf over the last five or six months. Because my main character is a deaf teen, I wanted to honor the deaf community and have my launch party with them. Since this was the only real world launch party I was going to have, I went all out. I picked up a cake from the fabulous Beaverton Bakery (It had my cover on it!), and bought tons of Starbucks cards and Barnes and Noble cards to give away. I also raffled off my five books.

Teri and Shauna!

After my best, most awesome friend in the world, Ann, set up the table, (it was gorgeous!) and teacher, Shauna Bilyeu introduced me, I was live in front of a group of about 50 deaf teens.

And they rocked.

The Interpreters!

The teachers had set up a computer and projected my book trailer up onto a big screen. I then read a passage of the book, talked about my own high school years and took questions. And did they have some questions! Of course, it always helps to sweeten the deal by promising to chuck chocolate lips at those who asked one. They got a huge laugh at my non-existent throwing arm. I think I actually bounced one off one kid’s chest. The students were so interested in the flying chocolate and asking questions, the teacher had to step in and tell us we only had time for one more. After the raffle, it was time for CAKE!

Teri's name in sign language!

The students couldn’t believe I had thrown the entire party for them. Shauna came up and introduced me to a special girl, the amazing Olivia, who read my book in less than a day and adored it. I had one book left to my name and I gave it to her. Another young man came up and told me he was too embarrassed to admit in front of his friends that he was working on a book. He wanted to know what I did when I had writer’s block. We spoke for several minutes about writing and I told him to get in touch with me via email and I could send him the names of several books that could help. Another girl, Cassandra, came up and, through the Interpreter, told me that only a deaf person can give a hearing person a sign name. She then gave me mine: the t sign combined a sign that meant flicking through the pages of a book. TeriAuthor.

Teri and Cassandra!

The teachers were wonderful, the interpreters were fabulous and there aren’t enough adjectives in the world to tell how welcoming and fantastic those teens were. You know, I’ll probably do future presentations in schools, but I will never forget the time I spent with those kids.

Day 4: Read My Lips Character Interview

Today we’re talking to Patrice, one of the leaders of an exclusive secret high school sorority and Serena, skate chick extraordinaire and Patrice’s nemesis.

Patrice: Oh, she’s not my nemesis, now. We’re friends. Right, Serena?

Serena: Sure, Patrice. Whatever you say.

Patrice: (Flipping her blond hair back.) Of course, we are. Honestly, I get along with most everyone. If I want to.

Serena: (Snort)

Patrice: What? I do!

2k8: Excuse me? Can we get started on the interview now?

Patrice: Go for it, I’m not stopping you.

2k8: Um, thanks? Serena, what’s it like starting a new school in the middle of high school?

Serena: I guess pretty much the same as is it for everyone. I think being deaf just made it that much harder, cause you know, people are weird.

Patrice: No, we liked you right off.

Serena: (rolling eyes) No. Rachel liked me right off. You didn’t even look at me until you found out how well I can read lips.

Patrice: That is so not true! But you have to admit that is an extraordinary talent.

Serena: It is so true! The minute you found out you had me digging up all the school gossip!

Patrice: (Laughing) Well, it was a lot of fun!

2k8: (Jumping in) Patrice, what else did you like about Serena besides her talent for reading lips?

Patrice: Serena is a G. Other than her questionable taste in guys…

Serena: (Interrupting) Leave Miller out of this!

Patrice: … she’s got a lot of guts. She even took me on and that’s no easy task, trust me.

2k8: So what’s the sorority going to look like next year?

Patrice: Oh, it'll be better than ever! I’m going to…

Serena: Shut up Patrice! Let people read the book!

Patrice: Don’t tell me to shut up!

2k8: And I think that concludes this interview…

Serena: Well, don’t say things you’re not supposed to and I won’t!

Patrice: I never say things I’m not supposed to!

Serena: (Snort)

Day 3: Teri Brown debut author or spunky skater chick?

Tell us Teri--just how much do you have in common with your spunky main character?

In spite of the fact that my main character Serena is deaf and I’m not, I actually have a lot in common with her.

In Read My Lips, Serena moves to a new town and has to try to find a place within the social structure of her new school. While she wasn’t in the mainstream of her old school in the city, she did find a group of skate guys who pretty much let her be herself. There are no skate guys in the new school. In fact it’s pretty much all preps, which makes fitting in that much tougher for her.

I moved a lot when I was a child and trying to start over in a new school is always tough, no matter what age you are. If you feel like fitting in isn’t going to happen, the next best thing is to fly under the radar. And like Serena, I always struggled with being my own, weird, quirky and rebellious self and changing my behavior to fit in.

What was really tough was that I always had hippie type leanings and my high school was full of cowboys. That made it hard for me to fit in. And like my Main character, I always got along with guys way better than girls!

Day 2: The Inside Scoop on Teri Brown

As promised, today we're getting down with Teri Brown, asking her lots of questions about her life as a writer and her new book Read My Lips! Check it out:

So, where do you do most of your writing? What's it look like? (maybe
include a picture if you can get it!)

I actually work in my dining room, only it’s no longer a dining room. We took out the kitchen table and I bought a corner desk. I have all of my stuff (fax, computer, printer, filing cabinet, supplies, etc.) in one area, which I never had before. And I also have this… the best Christmas present I have ever received.

Oooh, a framed cover flat of Read My Lips! Very nice! Can you tell us how the book came about? How did you begin writing it?

My deaf niece told me about an experience she had with someone who tried to speak to her in sign language even though my niece doesn’t sign. I took that experience and fictionalized it. That turned out to be the first scene in the book.

It's amazing the things that spark our imagination. Did anything surprise you or catch you off guard when you were writing your book?

The first YA I wrote (which wasn’t published) was written pretty much straight through. Maybe it was because I was less experienced as a writer, but the process seemed pretty straight forward. When I started on LIPS I was amazed at how much the characters changed and grew as the story progressed. The plot kept changing too, and I had to go back and rewrite a gazillion times. That totally took me by surprise. Now I know that every book is different!

That's so true! Speaking of other books-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 do you want to write next/someday and why?

I actually have two dream stories. One is the one I am working on, a paranormal set in Las Vegas. The characters are so alive in this one, I can’t seem to stop thinking about them. This is pretty unusual because I never thought I would write a paranormal. Even though this is a pretty light paranormal, it still has that element.

The other dream book is partly autobiographical which is probably why I keep putting it off. It’s a coming of age story set in Alfalfa, Oregon where I was raised. It’s going to be called Surviving Alfalfa. Great name, huh? I’m pretty much afraid of getting sued, though!

Clearly Teri's survived Alfalfa and then some! Come back tomorrow to find out just how similar Teri and her skater chick main character Serena really are!

Introducing the Amazing Teri Brown!

Summer is here and school may be out, but the Class of 2K8 is still in full swing with lots of amazing releases! Kicking off our summer of fun, we're pleased to present you with Teri Brown and Read My Lips!

Serena just wants to fly under the radar at her new school. But Serena is deaf, and she can read lips really well—even across the busy cafeteria. So when the popular girls discover her talent, there’s no turning back.

From skater chick to cookie-cutter prep, Serena’s identity has done a 180…almost. She still wants to date Miller, the school rebel, and she’s not ready to trade her hoodies for pink tees just yet. But she is rising through the ranks in the school’s most exclusive clique.

With each new secret she uncovers, Serena feels pressure to find out more. Reading lips has always been her greatest talent, but now Serena just feels like a gigantic snoop….

No secret here, Teri Brown was born to write (it was that or become a fry cook):

Teri Brown turned to writing in a desperate attempt to keep from having to get a paying job at her local McDonalds. Fortunately, she's been successful, and is not only a contributing editor for iParenting Media, but also the author of two nonfiction books. Her magazine credits include Writer’s Digest, Women’s Health and Fitness, Dog Fancy, and Oregon Coast Magazine, among others. Teri lives with her husband and children in a dilapidated 1969 ranch style house in Portland, Oregon.

On why she wrote Read My Lips:

"Years ago, my niece was diagnosed as being profoundly deaf. Once the family had a chance to catch its collective breath, my mother in law went on a crusade that lasted until she passed away four years ago. Not only did she fight for her grandchild’s rights, but she went out on a limb to make things better for all deaf children here in Oregon. She was instrumental in getting the Oregon Newborn hearing screening law passed. She used me as a sounding board quite often and I even drove her to the capital a couple of times. The seed was probably planted during that time and grew to fruition while I worked on other things. "

Come back tomorrow when we'll be getting' down with Teri Brown. Erm...or should we just say interviewing her?

Shameless Saturday

Give us a week and SHAZAM good news bursts forth. It's literary lava and we are HOT!


RAVE REVIEWS

Nina Nelson’s Bringing the Boy Home received a glowing review from Kirkus. “"Told in two distinctive voices, this imaginative and beautifully realized novel, set in the Amazon, tells the story of two boys from the fictional Takunami tribe…their stories connect in a surprising yet totally believable way, giving psychological depth to this richly hued novel about the winding turns of destiny and the bonds between father and son, tribe and family.”

The Story Siren said Regina Scott’s “La Petite Four has a little bit of everything; mystery, suspense, romance and of course really beautiful dresses! The plot is interesting and captivating.” They also refer to Regina as an “awesome writer.”

BIZ BUZZ

M.P. Barker got an excellent write up in The Republican and was a featured author on Red Room.

Jennifer Bradbury’s Shift will be published in Dutch!

Teri Brown’s book trailer for Read My Lips is featured on CBS’s You Tube.

Laura Bowers is known for her amusing author interviews. Check out her latest 1-on-1 in which Daphne Grab confesses to singing to her cat.

Not only has Marissa Doyle been a featured author on the Fantasy Debut blogspot, her Bewitching Season was named in the editor's ten best summer reads for older readers in Scholastic’s Instructor, a magazine for teachers.

Sarah Prineas talks about killing your darlings aka revising as a guest blogger on Darcy Patterson’s Revision Notes. Even better, Czech and Slovak rights to The Magic Thief trilogy were sold to publisher Fortuna. That's a total of 12 languages, plus the UK/Australia!

Who knew Lisa Schroeder was an expert juggler?!? But she says as much in this great interview with Cynthia Leitich Smith. And I Heart You, You Haunt Me is going to be published in Polish. It’s official…2k8 is international!

Pittsburgh’s Lux did an awesome interview with Brooke Taylor (her first!). Check it out!

Sarah Beth Durst (Into the Wild) recently interviewed our Zu Vincent about her essay in the Teen Libris anthology, Through the Wardrobe: Your Favorite Authors on C. S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia.

Annie Wedekind’s new website is a must see in addition to her post about the love affair between girls and horses on the Feiwel and Friends blog.

Hurry Up & Wait!

Ask any writer what the worst thing about this industry is and you'll most likely hear...waiting. It seems like an endless loop of hurry-up-and-wait. We hurry to turn things in and then we wait and wait and waaaait some more. Just ask Teri Brown, author of Read My Lips.

My first sale took forever, but I’ll make the first sale story much, much shorter. My first book didn’t sell, much to my agent’s disappointment, (and mine!) but we had high hopes for the second one. In September of 06, we sent it out to a ton of editors. The first rejections were fairly quick, like in the first couple of weeks. Then the waiting began. Over the next eight months, we waited, following up from time to time. A rejection would trickle in here and there until our large list of editors had dwindled. I was working on my next book, but losing heart. Then we got news. A new editor at Simon Pulse, who had recently taken over for the editor we had submitted to back in September, happened to come across my manuscript. She was conversing with my agent on a different book and asked if mine were still available because she was really “enjoying the read.”

Do you want to know how many times I read that sentence? I lost track after like, 100. My agent sent her a quick note telling her it was still available. A few days later the editor wrote back saying she loved it and hoped to have an offer by the next week. It was positive enough that I began doing the happy dance, though part of me couldn’t believe it until the actual offer came in. And there it was. Read My Lips had sold. All it took was eight months, an editor leaving, and a new editor discovering the manuscript. So one thing I’ve learned in this business… never give up!

No doubt about it, sticktoitveness is key! Tomorrow Terri Clark will share her story of dogged determination.

A Bouncing Baby Book

In keeping with yesterday's baby theme, we introduce you to the first book baby of Lisa Schroeder, author of the current YA sensation I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME.

My first book sale was in the spring of 2004. I had been seriously writing and submitting stories since 2001, and was about to surpass the 100 mark for total number of rejections. (Now that's persistence!)

I remember I was at work, trying not to fall asleep, because I had been up with a very sick child all night. My husband stayed home with that very sick child while I trudged into work.

Around 2:00, my husband called me and said, "an editor just called you! You're supposed to call her back!"

I grabbed my cell phone and ran outside, wondering if I was going to miss her since I was the West coast and she was on the East coast. When she answered, I said something like, "This is Lisa Schroeder, and I'm so glad you haven't left for the day." She said, "And miss telling you the exciting news? No way!"

She was calling to tell me that Sterling Publishing was interested in publishing my picture book story, BABY CAN'T SLEEP. It was one of my favorite picture book stories that I wrote, so of course I was thrilled.

Today, BABY CAN'T SLEEP is still available, in hard cover as well as a board book format, which makes me happy, since it's my first "baby" and all.

Awww. Don't we just love babies and happy endings? Tomorrow we're going to hear another story about persistence from Teri Brown.

Totally Important Post!

TWO of our 2k8 books have been chosen for the Association of Booksellers for Children's (ABC) New Voices project: The Opposite of Invisible by Liz Gallagher and Magic Thief by Sarah Prineas. To give you an idea of how amazing this news is, only FOURTEEN books are chosen each year! Woot! Woot!

AND Magic Thief is a Top Ten Book Sense Pick for spring/summer 2008!

A BIG FAT THANK YOU and shout out to And Another Book Read for the fabulous review you gave Read My Lips by Teri Brown.

ANOTHER big fat thank you and shout out to Literate Lives for a wonderfully wonderful review of The Gollywhopper Games by Jody Feldman.

AND guess who loves Bewitching Season by Marissa Doyle? The Looking Glass Review!

With all this great 2k8 news, all of Broadway might be cheering!

Then again, it might just be us.

We're a pretty noisy class.

And in class notes....

Now ... for some Totally Important Posts from the Class of 2k8:

Jody Feldman's The Gollywhopper Games has already gone into its second printing!(Not that we're surprised!)

Kristin O'Donnell Tubb got her first review for Autumn Winifred Oliver Does Things Different from Susan Sales Harkins at BookPleasures.com. And it's fantastic!

Teri Brown, author of Read My Lips, got a great review from Little Willow!

Congratulations Classmates!

When Vacations Stink

We are continuing this week’s vacation stories with a camping story by Teri Brown, author of, Read My Lips. This story isn’t fishy, but it does smell…

My family went camping quite a bit when I was a kid. When we lived in Arizona, our favorite place was White Horse Lake where my parents could fish and I could play in the woods near the lake. One evening we were standing around our campfire roasting marshmallows when a foul scent permeated our campsite. We began sniffing in puzzlement when my Mom screamed from the doorway of our trailer, “Skunk!”

Turns out skunks can’t resist the scent of marshmallows either and had come to investigate. I’d never had a run in with our aroma challenged friends before and froze with my mallow still in the fire. My dad leapt onto the picnic table and told me to run to the camper. I did run, roasting stick and all. By the time I got inside, my marshmallow was flaming and Mom and I tried to blow on it while I waved it around in my excitement. It wasn’t just one skunk, however, but a whole family of them and we watched helplessly why they polished off our bag of marshmallows.

The skunk family visited the campground every evening in search of marshmallows, but that’s okay. I learned to eat them on the run.

Now Jody Feldman, author of The Gollywhopper Games, gives us a little glimpse into what vacations were like in her family!

Imagine three kids sharing a backseat on a cross-country trip. We’re talking 8-hour driving days, my two younger brothers and me. And we’re back there getting tired and needing to stretch out. But with only 18 inches or so per bottom – because, did I mention there were three of us, sharing that backseat? – stretching out was impossible. So what’s a big sister to do? It’s up to the big sister to suggest that the little brother would be oh-so-comfortable, stretched out, all by himself on the floor, transmission hump and all. I suppose I must have been pretty convincing back then.