Spooky News & Links

Skin Hunger: A Resurrection of Magic, Book 1, by Kathleen Duey (Atheneum, 2007): a recommendation by Greg Leitich Smith from GregLSBlog. Here's a sneak peek: "Duey skillfully uses Sadima's story to illuminate Hahp's, creating characters that are expertly drawn and a fantasy world that is textured and real." Read the whole recommendation and a Cynsations interview with Kathleen.

"Spiderwick Chronicles meets up with SexySassySmartTV" at YouTube. Catch a short interview with Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi. Now learn about the movie and the next Spiderwick series, also at YouTube. Visit The Spiderwick Chronicles, and read a Cynsations interview with Holly. Source: Melissa (subscribe to her blog at MySpace). Note: plan to see the "The Spiderwick Chronicles" movie on opening weekend! Coming February 2008!

Reminder to vampire fiction fans: don't miss Heather Brewer's fang-tastic new series, The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod (Dutton, 2007-). Check out this trailer, read an interview with Heather by Little Willow at Slayground, and visit Heather at MySpace!
The Graphic Novels Guy from Buzz, Balls & Hype by M. J. Rose.

Attention writers: if you haven't already, take a look at this writer montage from YouTube! Source: Tanya Lee Stone. Note: just for fun!

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From Publisher's Lunch, new deals for Dec. 14: "Cynthia Leitich Smith's Tantalize, a graphic novel adaptation of the author's prose romantic suspense novel Tantalize, retelling the story from the werewolf's point of view, to Deb Wayshak at Candlewick, for publication in 2009, by Ginger Knowlton at Curtis Brown (World English)." Note: I first learned to read by myself with the comic format (and have continued to enjoy it since), and the early drafts of Tantalize were written from Kieren's POV, so writing this book feels like coming full-circle as a reader and with this story. I'm thrilled!

In addition, Listening Library will be releasing an audio edition of Tantalize in 2008! Note: The book will be read by Kim Mai Guest, whose audio credits include Wait for Me by An Na, How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff, and Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles.

Interview with Cynthia Leitich Smith by Sarah Aronson at Through the Tollbooth. This interview highlights my own writing process; however, it's also very much about the author's life more globally. I answer questions about blogging, creating a Web presence, the five keys to success now, our greatest obstacle, and promotion. Here's a sneak peek: "I have found that it helps to celebrate every victory no matter how small. You finished your draft? Celebrate! You received a personal rejection letter? Celebrate! Your workshop leader says your story arc is stronger? An agent asks for the whole manuscript? You've sold your first book? Your fiftieth? Celebrate! Celebrate! Celebrate! Celebrate!" Thanks to Jo Knowles, Debbi Michiko Florence, and Elizabeth O. Dulemba (congratulations, Elizabeth!) for related posts! Read a Cynsations interview with Sarah Aronson of Through the Tollbooth.

Reminder: I'll be chatting at Faerie Drink Forums from Jan. 1 to Jan. 8. See complete list of authors and schedule.

The December giveaway at the Tantalize Fans Unite! group at MySpace is two gift certificates for Italian dinners and two copies of The Far Sweet Thing by Libba Bray (Delacorte, Dec. 16 2007). Read a Cynsations interview with Libba. Visit me at MySpace!

Congratulations to the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications at The University of Kansas in Lawrence on its 60th anniversary! I'm a 1991 graduate in news/editorial and public relations. Note: I'm also a 1994 graduate of The University of Michigan Law School in Ann Arbor.

Thank you for your support and enthusiasm in 2007! Happy Holidays!

Candlewick to Release Tantalize Graphic Novel

From Publisher's Lunch, new deals for Dec. 14: "Cynthia Leitich Smith's Tantalize, a graphic novel adaptation of the author's prose romantic suspense novel Tantalize, retelling the story from the werewolf's point of view, to Deb Wayshak at Candlewick, for publication in 2009, by Ginger Knowlton at Curtis Brown (World English)."

I first learned to read by myself with the comic format (and have continued to enjoy it since), and the early drafts of Tantalize were written from Kieren's POV, so writing this book feels like coming full-circle as a reader and with this story. I'm thrilled!

Listening Library to Release Tantalize on Audio

Listening Library/Random House will be releasing an audio edition of Tantalize in 2008!

The book will be read by actress Kim Mai Guest, whose audio credits include Wait for Me by An Na, How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff, and Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles.

Author Interview: Laurie Faria Stolarz on Project 17

Laurie Faria Stolarz on Laurie Faria Stolarz: "I grew up in Salem, Massachusetts, attended Merrimack College, and received an MFA in Creative Writing from Emerson College in Boston. I am currently working on Deadly Little Secret, the first book in the Touch series (Hyperion, fall 2008), also for young adults." Visit Laurie's LJ and MySpace page!

We last spoke in August 2006 in conjunction with the publication of Bleed (Hyperion, 2006). Could you update us on your writing life over the last year?

I've been busying myself this past year with the marketing of Bleed, the editing of Project 17, and the writing of Deadly Little Secret--the first book in the Touch series, a new suspenseful series of books I'm working on.

Congratulations on the release of Project 17 (Hyperion, 2007)! What was your initial inspiration for writing this novel?

Thanks! I'm really excited about it. I wanted to do a companion book to Bleed, using one of my Bleed characters. Around the time I was thinking up ideas for a new project, the newspapers in my area were flooded with stories surrounding the controversial tear down of Danvers State Hospital, an abandoned mental hospital 30 minutes north of Boston.

Many people were against tearing it down because it's considered an historical landmark, built in 1878. Developers wanted to use the land to build luxury apartments and condos. In the end, it's the developers who won, and two-thirds of the hospital was torn down. People are now living in the new developments.

Growing up, the hospital, which has a very dark history, was finally shut down in 1992 due to budget cuts and overcrowding. Rumored to be haunted, it became a notorious hot spot for break-ins and dares.

Coincidentally, in Bleed, one of my characters, Derik LaPointe, breaks in to the hospital to go exploring. This is how the initial idea for Project 17 sparked. I thought, why not have Derik break in with a group of teens, on the eve of the demolition, to spend the night and film a movie? There are six teens that break in--all with their own motivations and agendas, and what they end up finding is far beyond anything they could ever imagine.

What were the challenges (literary, research, psychological, and logistical) in bringing it to life?

Once the story idea and sample pages were accepted by the publisher, I started to delve into the research--visiting the hospital, talking to former patients and staff, and reading and viewing everything I could get my hands on concerning the hospital. I got completely haunted by the research, so much so that I started keeping myself awake at night.

I couldn't get it out of my mind, particularly after I visited the place from a writer's perspective--how was I going to write an entire novel that takes place here?

The hospital itself had always been a source of scares growing up, with its Gothic spires and castle-like architecture, but nowhere near as scary as when I started to really get into the individual stories of those connected to the place.

After a while, though, for better or for worse, I started to numb up a bit to everything I was researching, including hours of audio and visual footage. That numbness enabled me to take a step back and write the book.

I don't scare easily, but there's some serious creepiness here. What advice do you have for writers seeking to scare spooky-story readers like me?

Try writing about something that genuinely terrifies you. Project 17 is scary because I was scared--because I was so haunted writing it.

As one of your regular readers, I would've been eager to grab your latest in any case. But after seeing your book trailer, I was especially intrigued. Could you share with us the story behind the trailer?

Mike Dijital, an urban explorer, created it for me. He has a wide array of visual (and audio) footage of Danvers State that you can view (and play) from his website: www.dijitalphotography.com.

The footage on the trailer is his, and it's all authentic, taken from Danvers State during one of his urban explorations. Mike was a great resource to me when I was writing the novel.

The novel is a work of fiction, but I wanted to be as true as I possibly could to the setting, and that's where he stepped in. When I first approached him to ask questions about the premises, he told me I could ask him anything; he visited the place so often he'd know if an empty Coke can was turned over from one visit to the next.

How do you balance your life as a writer with the responsibilities (speaking, promotion, etc.) of being an author?

I am very self-disciplined. I have to be. I have a lot to balance with writing, marketing, and family. When I'm on deadline, I write ten pages per week with no exceptions. I also set time aside each week for marketing and business. It all needs to get done, after all. Because I have a family, I spend a lot of time working at night and during my kids' nap times.

I'm busy, but I'm lucky. I have a lot to be grateful for.

What can your fans look forward to next?

Deadly Little Secret, the first book in the Touch series is about a mysterious boy who has a very dark past and a very special power. Ben Carter, 17, has the ability to touch a person or object and sense something from him/it. Sometimes this touch power is a blessing; most of the time it's a curse, especially when he's unable to control it. The main character, Camelia Hammond, 16, falls for Ben--hard--despite his dangerous past and despite how much she also fears him.

The novel is loaded with suspense, drama, romance, and mystery. Deadly Little Secret is slated for a fall 2008 release.

Spooky News & Links

The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray (Delacorte, Dec. 26, 2007). From the promotional copy: "It has been a year of change since Gemma Doyle arrived at the foreboding Spence Academy. Her mother murdered, her father a laudanum addict, Gemma has relied on an unsuspected strength and has discovered an ability to travel to an enchanted world called the realms, where dark magic runs wild. Despite certain peril, Gemma has bound the magic to herself and forged unlikely new alliances. Now, as Gemma approaches her London debut, the time has come to test these bonds.

"The Order--the mysterious group her mother was once part of--is grappling for control of the realms, as is the Rakshana. Spence's burned East Wing is being rebuilt, but why now? Gemma and her friends see Pippa, but she is not the same. And their friendship faces its gravest trial as Gemma must decide once and for all what role she is meant for."

Visit Libba's LJ.

Wrath by Gail Giles from The Seven Sins of YA Literature: Presented at ALA PreConference June 2007, Washington, D.C. Here's a sneak peek: "Anger rules the teen years. It's normal and in my opinion it's important. Some teens can climb the steep hill from childhood to adulthood with grace, dignity and poise. My best friend did. I certainly did not. I chewed and stomped and clawed and knuckled my way through every single minute." Gail offers the texts of several additional speeches of interest, including: The Key to Unlocking Mystery and Suspense; Keeping You on the Edge of Your Seat; Reaching Reluctant Readers; Stereotypes in YA Fiction; Getting Out of Your Own Way; Taking Risks; and Why Teens Need Edgy Fiction.

Check out the pumpkin photos at David LaRochelle's site. David is the author of Absolutely, Positively Not (Scholastic, 2005).

Mystery Writing Lessons from Kristi Holl.

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Cheers to Ms. Dorsey's English 9 class in Oxford, NY! I hope you're enjoying the read-aloud of Tantalize (Candlewick, 2007) and that you like the autographed bookmarks! Keep reading!

Attention, JacketFlap subscribers! Oddly, my last news-and-links post doesn't seem to have been snagged by the system. But highlights include the opportunity to bid for manuscript critiques by such luminaries as Julie Larios and Martine Leavitt.

Spooky News & Links

Hunger Mountain's Holiday Fundraising Auction begins Dec. 1 at Ebay. From between Dec. 1 to Dec. 8, bid on manuscript critiques with notable authors, custom signed new books, and limited edition letterpress broadsides. Find out more about Hunger Mountain, The Vermont College Journal of Arts and Letters. Youth literature authors offering manuscript critiques include Martine Leavitt and Julie Larios. Martine was a 2006 National Book Award Finalist in Young People's Literature for Keturah and Lord Death (Front Street). Julie's Yellow Elephant: A Bright Bestiary, illustrated by Julie Paschkis (Harcourt) was a 2006 Boston Globe-Hornbook Award Honor Book in fiction and poetry. Read a Cynsations interview with Julie.

Sea Princess Azuri: official site in celebration of the books by Erica Reis (TOKYOPOP, 2006 and 2007). Erica is originally from Austin and now lives in Illinois.

Are you a YA reader? Don't miss the December giveaway books at TeensReadToo! Good luck with your entries.

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Congratulations to the winners of the 2007 Scariest Story Contest, sponsored by the Valley Morning Star of Harlingen, Texas! Thanks too Loreen at the Star for all of her efforts and cheers to my co-sponsors, children's authors Alexis O'Neil, Janet Wong, April Halprin Wayland, Julie Lake, Jeri C. Ferris, Joan Bransfield Graham, Merrily Kutner, Barbara Bietz, and publishing company Lee & Low.