Behind the Pages of Shadowed Summer: a vlog from author Saundra Mitchell. Smart, interesting, and smokin' cool.
Behind the Pages of Shadowed Summer
Book Business: Creepy Cool by Lori Atkins Goodson from ALAN Online. Peek: "...it's the term I use for books that are a little edgy, a little unpredictable, a little uncomfortable to read, and incredibly engaging. "
Can a bad review end your career? by Tess Gerritsen from Murderati: Mysteries, Murder, and Marketing. Peek: "I recall hearing about the time Stephen King got a PW review that was so brutal, so nasty, that it almost made him stop writing entirely." Source: Elizabeth Scott's Blog. Note: My feeling is that youth publishing is a bit more forgiving; markets may vary.
Check out the book trailer for Dragon Wishes by Stacy A. Nyikos (Blooming Tree, November 2008). Source: Buried in the Slush Pile.
Monster Month of Giveaways -- Ghost Week from Brooke Taylor. Featured books include Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell; Must Love Black by Kelly McClymer; A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb; Project 17 by Laurie Faria Stolarz; Ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley. Note: zombies are next week!
Pretty Monsters by Colleeen Mondor from Bookslut. Recommended spooky reads for the season.
Unwind by Neal Shusterman: a Book Blast Book Giveaway Contest from The Kids' Book Club Book. 25 copies will be given away. Deadline: Nov. 15. Must be 18 to enter.
V-Blogging: Kidlitophere 2008 Conference in Quick from Elizabeth Bird at A Fuse #8 Production. Note: unexpectedly brought tears to my eyes--love you kidlitosphere!
Untitled from Elizabeth Bird on Vimeo.
When all the wrong wishes come true: an interview with Justine Larbalestier by Heidi Henneman from BookPage. Peek: "'What if there was such a thing as a parking fairy, but you were too young for it to be useful?'" Read a Cynsations interview with Justine.
YA YNot?: a new social network from TeensReadToo! See my page on the network! Enter to win one of the many October giveaway books at TeensReadToo!
Want A Book Dedicated To You? (Contest!) from author Linda Joy Singleton. Peek: "the prize will be to have either Dead Girl 2 or Dead Girl 3 dedicated to you. Yup, that's right--your name on the opening page of a published book. Plus an autographed copy of the book when it's published." Linda Joy is looking for a book trailer and great promo ideas. See details. See also a new interview with Linda Joy from Enchanting Reviews; peek: "They could cast my characters as cartoons if that's what it would take to sell to Hollywood."
More Personally
Thank you to my hosts at last weekend's inaugral Youth Literature Festival, sponsored by the College of Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign!Special thanks go to: Violet J. Harris, Alex Schmidt, and everyone at the college; librarian Patricia M. Palut of Bottenfield Elementary; librarian Sherri Bolen of Holy Cross School; Robert Warrior of Native American House; Debbie Reese of American Indians in Children's Literature and her colleague LeAnne Howe of the American Indian Studies Department, who hosted an informal social; and my festival escorts Lizz and Haeny!
Highlights of the weekend included the school visits on Friday, the reception at the University of Illinois President's Mansion, meeting Kim Reis-Schultz (an Eastern band Cherokee jingle dancer), and visiting with fellow author participants such as Marc Aronson; Susan Campbell Bartoletti; Jennifer Holm; Richard Van Camp, whose picture book What's the Most Beautiful Thing You Know About Horses?, illustrated by George Littlechild (Children's Book Press) is highlighted here; and Janet Wong, among others. The Spurlock Museum was also a great venue.
The winner of my Books with Bite Teen Read Week Giveaway is Jennifer at Natrona County Public Library in Casper, Wyoming! Martha won a signed paperback copy of Tantalize (Candlewick, 2008), a signed copy of Immortal: Love Stories with Bite, edited by P.C. Cast (BenBella, 2008)(exclusively to Borders/Waldenbooks), a Sanguini's T-shirt, and 25 autographed Tantalize bookmarks! Notes: Sanguini's is the fictional vampire restaurant in Tantalize. YALSA's Teen Read Week 2008 is Oct. 12 to Oct. 18, and the theme is "Books with Bite."
The winner of the www.cynthialeitichsmith.com 10th anniversary giveaway is Laura in Colorado! Laura has won paperback copies of four books with a special meaning to me: The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare (1958); Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (1977); Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause (1997); and Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith (2008)(signed).
In other recent giveaway news, you can check out the fabu T-shirt--designed and donated by Angela at Pickled Pixel Toe--that HipWriterMama won from Cynsations here!
Online Events
Reminder: I'll be appearing twice to discuss Tantalize and related forthcoming books in October on the Eye4You Alliance Island at Second Life. From School Library Journal: "There will be two appearances, the first on the main grid of Second Life (for those 18 and over) on Oct. 14, and again on Oct. 28 on the teen grid of Teen Second." See more information.
National Events
Attention Ohio: Teen Read Week Author Visit: Rachel Caine. Vampires only come out at night – or do they? Find out at special appearances by Rachel Caine, author of the Morganville Vampires series. In keeping with this year's Teen Read Week theme, "Books With Bite @ Your Library," Caine will discuss the history of vampires, including fun facts. An open registration for grades 7-12 will begin Oct. 1 and is limited. To register, call 330-744-8636, ext. 149. Boardman, 9:30 a.m., Oct. 14; Poland, 12:30 p.m., Oct. 14. Read a Cynsations interview with Rachel.Assembly on Literature for Adolescents of NCTE (ALAN) Workshop in San Antonio Nov. 24 to Nov. 25. An event I utterly adore for the depth of discussions, sophistication and dedication of the attendees-leadership, and wonderful company of fellow YA authors. Note: NCTE stands for "National Council of Teachers of English," which has a preceding conference. Details on my signing and speaking schedule to come.
Texas Events
Tantalizing news! As the author of a novel set at a fictional vampire-themed restaurant here in Austin, I feel compelled to announce that Austin Restaurant Week is Oct. 12-15 and Oct. 19-22. Try the city's hottest fine dining locations at a discount, and don't forget to make reservations! Equally exciting: Paggi House reopens this weekend!
The first annual Hill Country Book Festival will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Georgetown Public Library (Georgetown, Texas). Participating authors/illustrators include Liz Garton Scanlon, Cynthia and Greg Leitich Smith, Don Tate, P. J. Hoover, and Deborah Frontiera. The Biscuit Brothers also will be performing! See schedule.
Celebrate the release of The Forgotten Worlds Book 1: The Emerald Tablet by P.J. Hoover (Blooming Tree, 2008) at 4 p.m. Oct. 26 at BookPeople in Austin, Texas!
R. L. Stein's Halloween Party will begin at 3 p.m. Oct. 31 at the Austin Children's Museum (201 Colorado St.). R. L. Stein will read and tell a communal (audience-participation) ghost story at 3:30 p.m. and sign books from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The event is free, but space is limited to 350. Costumes welcome. Note: Barnes & Noble will be selling books; sponsored by the Texas Book Festival in cooperation with the museum."Connections & Craft: Writing for Children and Young Adults:" hosted by Brazos Valley (Texas) SCBWI Nov. 15 at A & M United Methodist Church in College Station, Texas. "Editor Joy Neaves, agent Emily Van Beek, editor Kim T. Griswell of Highlights, and author Cynthia Leitich Smith comprise our faculty for this day-long event. Published BV-SCBWI authors will also conduct a hands-on Writers' Workshop." Download the brochure. Read a Cynsations interview with Emily.
Assembly on Literature for Adolescents of NCTE (ALAN) Workshop in San Antonio Nov. 24 to Nov. 25. An event I utterly adore for the depth of discussions, sophistication and dedication of the attendees-leadership, and wonderful company of fellow YA authors. Note: NCTE stands for "National Council of Teachers of English," which has a preceding conference. Details on my signing and speaking schedule to come.
