Introducing the Electrifying Ellen Booraem

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.

In the Book Reviewer Hot Seat: And Another Book Read

She's shown us lots of love, but that doesn't mean we're going to go easy on her! That's right Tasha, it's your turn in the hot seat! And for our wonderful readers, it's your turn to enter to win Bringing the Boy Home by N.A. Nelson! All you need to do is leave a comment before June 29th. Winner will be announce June 30th. Okay,the Class of 2K8 knows our next guest very well, but you may not--so let's get started with some quick facts!



What's your handle? And Another Read, but I usually go by my real name which is Tasha.
What kind of books do you review? I mostly review YA books, but I'm starting to get into MG books as well. Sometimes there are a few adult books thrown in there as well.


Approx # of books reviewed? Probably around 100
Where can we find your reviews? http://andanotherbookread.blogspot.com/
Reading turn-ons: When the author makes me think, great characters, exciting plots, and some good romance is always fun!!
Reading turn-offs: Slow and confusing plots, your run of the mill characters, not being able to fully picture the situation.
Class of 2K8 books reviewed:
the opposite of invisible
i heart you, you haunt me
alive and well in prague new york
read my lips
shift
la petite four
undone
bringing the boy home
to come: bewitching season, dragon wishes, a horse her own, samantha hanson has rocks in her head, the magic thief, and my so called family.




You are made of Awesome! Also awesome are the crazy handles book reviewers come up with—tell us how you came up with yours! A little bit about how you got into book reviewing would be cool too.

I first started blogging as a way to share books, as not many of my friends read. So when I decided to finally set up my blog I brainstormed with my mom on good names. Not long after we had started did she come up with, And Another Book Read. I loved it as it seems I was always finishing a book, and thus the blog was born!!

Love it! Nothing like the satisfaction of finishing a book, even when we wish the book kept going and going! So let's get to the nitty gritty...the ratings. Describe your grading system and how that translates to the reader?

I don't really have a rating system like stars or out of 10, but I clearly express my feelings in the opinion part of my review. I feel this gives the reader a chance to hear my opinion, but also formulate their own.

That's a great system. Now, how do you pick the books you review? Or are they picked for you? Do you ever read books that wouldn't normally interest you—and if so have you ever been surprised by what you've read?

The books I review are usually sent to me or off of my shelf (which contain an amazing amount of unread books!) and sometimes from the library. As my name gets out there more and more I have been receiving more books to review, but I honestly love it and wouldn't have it any other way! I definitely read a ton of books that I wouldn't generally pick up. Some of my favorite books are ones that I have been asked to review that I wouldn't have pick out in the store. I even have found a new love in the vampire books after reading Claudia Gray's Evernight.

Reader Rabbit 1 loves the vamps too. You have heard of Edward haven't you? Speaking of hearing about delicious things...what are the best ways to find new books? Any advice for authors about getting their book noticed by reviewers?

The best way to find new books for me is to either go to the bookstore and pull out every one that has an interesting cover, or read author's blogs. Author's blogs always have great links to new authors and books and also some reviewers. I think the best way for author's to get their books noticed by reviewers is to have a website and/or MySpace. This enables the reviewers to easily contact authors about reviews and make the authors a little bit more familiar with the reviewers.

We have both! (shameless plug coming) Website and MySpace. Sorry, couldn't resist. Now, if you really aren't feeling a book—will you make the ultimate sacrifice and finish it for the sake of the review?

Of Course. I feel that since the author put their time and effort into writing the book then it is the least I owe them to actually finish it. Some great books that I have read have started out really slowly but then ended up good. In my review I really try not to bash the book, but do point out how it got better.

And what about if you really love a book—will you read it again? If so—what are some of the books you just had to read more than once?

O yes. I believe I've read some books like 7 or 8 times. But it's not as bad as my sister who loves Lisa Schroeder's, I Heart You, You Haunt Me, so much that she's read it over 20 times!! Some books that I've read multiple times are Silver Dollar Girl by Katherine Ayers, Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism by Georgia Byng and it's sequels, and of course the Harry Potter books. This doesn't include all the books I read as a little kid as there are so many the list would be endless!

Your sister is also made of awesome! Now, back to the reviews, do you have a basic philosophy on what should be included in a review—or does it depend on the book itself?

I think it depends on the book. I always give a summary of what the book is about and then my opinion, but what's actually in my opinion changes every time. I really like to focus on the positive aspects of the book, but then also tell about what I don't like. This can range from the characters to the plot to even the author's style. It all just really depends on the book!

True, each book is different. Tell us about the last time your jaw dropped open, you laughed, or you cried while reading a book.

Hmm…well a lot o f books come to mind such as Undone by Brooke Taylor, Girl, Hero by Carrie Jones, House of Dance by Beth Kephart and Alive and Well in Prague New York, by Daphne Grab. All made me laugh and cry and just all around were great books. While I'm sure there are others these are the ones that really stood out in my mind, which is saying something as I read a ton of books!

Did you know Carrie Jones was in the Class of 2k7? *waves to Carrie* Oops sorry, back to business...Is there any character in a book that you wish would come to life? Or any place you wish existed?

I totally wish Harry Potter could come to life!! It would be amazing to be able to do magic and just be friends with the all around great guy Harry is! It would also be amazing if Narnia was real. I mean we get to see it in the amazing movies, but it would be even better if it were real and we could experience it. What could be bad about an alternate world where you could stay for ages and then return to reality not a minute older?!

That would be cool! Hey, wait--did you just travel to an alternate universe without us knowing about it? Spooky. Okay, what books do you find yourself recommending over and over and why?

Definitely all of Beth Kephart's book, Molly Moon, A Great and Terrible Beauty, Alive and Well in Prague, New York, The Luxe, it all just depends on the person's favorite genre or what they are willing to try. These books all hold a special place in my heart. They are all amazing and definitely deserve to be recognized. I especially think that these books would work for anyone, so I try and get their names out there.

We love that! But there are, erm, some thing we don't love. And I have to ask... the E.S.Q.—really bad reviews—do you ever fear giving them? Ever had an author get upset with you? (It's okay—you can tell us, just don't name names!) And what advice do you have for authors who get a bad review?

I have given a couple. I mean I always try to point out the good, but sometimes it's really just not there. I always feel really bad giving them, but like I said before sometime it's just not there and why should we read bad books when there are phenomenal ones out there? I haven't necessarily ever had an author get mad at me, but I've had one ask me to take my review down. This was because it was one of the first links to pop up on google and it wasn't the most positive. I understand the author not wanting everyone to know that someone had a negative opinion of their book, but I don't think that people should form their opinions of a book on just one review. I think author's who get poor reviews should take the criticism and use it to improve their next book. I can't tell you the number of author's who have one disappointing book and then a marvelous one follows. Definitely the author with the best attitude about this subject is Alexa Young. She takes every bit of criticism and uses it constructively, and she's hilarious about it!!

Great advice! Thanks for all the wonderful answers! One last question: if they aren't scared off by all that bad review talks and an author would like you to review her book, what should she do?

For me all the author has to do is contact me. My email is up on my blog or you can contact me via MySpace. I usually accept all requests unless they are for books that don't really fit into the age group of books I like to read. But if the books sounds interesting then I definitely go for it and review the book for the author.


Don't forget to leave a comment for your chance to win N.A. Nelson's debut novel Bringing the Boy Home (officially launching on our blog this Monday! Same day as winners will be announced), here's what Tasha had to say about it:

"I think this was definitely the most unique and original coming-of-age story I have ever read!" And Another Book Read

And Kirkus loved it too:

"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, who on the eve of their 13th birthdays must endure the soche seche tente, a test of manhood. ... 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." Kirkus Review

(Click here for more great Hot Seat interviews)

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.

May we introduce you to...Jennifer Bradbury

We're very pleased to introduce you to Ms. Jennifer Bradbury, a YA author who's spinning onto the scene with her enthralling debut novel SHIFT.

Jennifer Bradbury used to teach high school English, now she is a stay at home mom who writes (mostly) during her two-year old daughter's naptime. She and her husband took a two month long bicycling trek from Charleston, South Carolina to Los Angeles, California for their honeymoon, changing more than fifty flat tires along the way.

SHIFT tells the story of what happens when Chris Collins returns home from a cross-country bike trek without his former best friend and riding partner, Win. As Chris deals with pressure from Win's father, a persistent investigator, the challenges of his first semester of college and his own concerns about Win, he recounts the trip in flashbacks. Ultimately, the story asks what it means to outgrow a best friend. Want a sneak peek? Click here.

Advanced praise for SHIFT:

"Bradbury's keen details about the bike trip, the places, the weather, the food, the camping, and the locals add wonderful texture to this exciting first novel, as Chris remembers the trip and returns to find what really happened. Best of all is the friendship story; many teens will recognize how even between close buddies, there's rivalry, anger, and heartbreak."
-Booklist, starred review

" Fresh, absorbing, compelling."
-Kirkus, starred review

"I found SHIFT to be an exceptional coming of age story about fathers and adolescent sons."
-Richie's Picks

"Though the element of mystery is always there, Shift is not a whodunit. Instead, it asks: Why did Win leave? Who is he, really? How well do we really know anyone?"
-Little Willow

" Making skillful use of flashbacks to tell the story, Bradbury does a terrific job of balancing details of the bicycle trek with development of the relationship between the friends (and their parents), and Chris's attempts to uncover/accept what really happened. Part road trip, part mystery, SHIFT is at all times compelling and thought-provoking."
-Greg Leitich Smith

Tune in tomorrow, as we have a more in-depth talk with this fascinating author and discover how she came to write SHIFT in India, why it's cool to be considered one of the guys and how she'd like to bring debutantes and mummies together.

2k8 Classmates are turning heads...

There are ONE, make that TWO, make that a whopping THREE starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews. Let's hear it for:




Shift by Jennifer Bradbury

A Horse of Her Own by Annie Wedekind

The Magic Thief by Sarah Prineas

AND


Marissa Doyle's Bewitching Season is an Editor's Choice pick for this quarter at the Historical Novel Society, a review mag dedicated to historical fiction. Here's the really nice review.