Ten Things to Do After Receiving a Revision Letter or Critique by P.J. Hoover from Roots in Myth. See also Paying It Forward with Partials: P.J., Elana Johnson, Shannon Messenger, Lisa and Laura Roecker, and Sarah Wylie all are giving away 25-page critiques. Deadline: Nov. 15.The Care and Feeding of Your Author: Tips for a Successful Classroom Visit by Bobbie Pyron from From The Mixed-Up Files...of Middle Grade Authors. Peek: "To ensure the kids and the author get the most of their time together, there are some things you, as a teacher or librarian, can do to maximize the event."
Acquiring an Agent After Self-Publishing by Jane Lebak from QueryTracker. Peek: "Writing that moves people to tears and earns unasked-for praise will inevitably attract an agent's attention. If you've got that kind of talent, surely you have more than one book in you. You can then leverage your self-publishing success in order to show an agent that your work has wider appeal."
Getting Story Ideas by Verla Kay from Verla Kay's Blog. Peek: "Are you stumped for a story idea? Don't have a clue what to write about? Try asking yourself some of these questions..."
Nathan Bransford, formerly of Curtis Brown, Ltd., is no longer a literary agent. However his writing/publishing blog and forums will remain active. Peek: "I am leaving the world of publishing to work at the tech news/review site CNET, where I will be helping to coordinate social media strategy."
The Monstrumologist Giveaway from The Compulsive Reader. Peek: "I love a nice, creepy story, no matter what time of the year, and right now I'm digging Rick Yancey's The Monstrumologist (Simon & Schuster, 2009). (And hey, it was a Printz Honor Book, you know, if you're into knowing those types of things.) And so, I'm going to be giving away a copy of each The Monstrumologist and the next book, The Curse of the Wendigo (Simon & Schuster, 2010)..." Deadline: Nov. 23.Online Persona Workshop Week 6: Creating Content by R.L. LaFevers from Shrinking Violet Promotions. Peek: "So. Content. It’s the core of your online presence. It’s not only how you communicate who you are, but it makes you relevant to others."
Top Ten Promotional Activities by Leah Cypress from 2010: A Book Odyssey. This cooperative debut author group ranks what has worked best for them. Peek: "A website is your business card; you’ve got to have one."
In the News This Week by Alice Pope from Alice's Pope's SCBWI Blog. More to know! Note: cheers to fellow Austinite Chris Barton, whose Shark vs. Train, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld (Little, Brown, 2010) was named a Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2010.
The Fear Whisperer by Rosemary from Genreality. Peek: "The Fear Whisperer is especially vocal in the middle of a novel, when the going gets tough." Source: Elizabeth Scott.
Vermont Novel Writing Retreat
2011 Novel Writing Retreat for Middle Grade & Young Adult Writers from the MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults at Vermont College of Fine Arts. From the retreat information:
The Vermont Retreat, scheduled for March 18 to March 20, is limited to 25 serious writers of middle-grade or young adult fiction. Each participant will choose between a critique track or a writing track. Critique track includes informal small critique groups where participants read and critique other members’ work.
Critique track participants will receive a one-on-one critique with either two-time Canadian Governor General's Award Winner Tim Wynne-Jones or ALA Michael Printz Honor author K.L. Going. The writing track will give participants the stimulation of lectures, chunks of time to use for writing, and the opportunity to network. All participants are welcome to take part in scheduled sessions with the three presenters. Evenings will include a Q&A session and an open mike session.For an additional cost, 13 participants from either track can put their first chapters (up to 10 pages) under the editorial microscope and have a critique with Julie Strauss-Gabel, associate publisher of Dutton Children's Books. These critique slots are filled in the order applications are received. Please don’t hesitate if you’re interested.
The fee includes accommodations (double occupancy) in the dorms at Vermont College for Friday and Saturday nights. Meals from Friday dinner through Sunday lunch will be prepared by the New England Culinary Institute.
Spooky Screening Room
Check out the trailer for the audio production of White Cat by Holly Black (Listening Library, 2010).
Two Chances to Win a Blessed ARC
Win an ARC of Blessed by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Candlewick, 2011) from Jama Rattigan from Jama Rattigan's Alphabet Soup. Deadline: Nov. 21. See details. Peek: "Sounds tantalizing, no? If you're seriously salivating over the prospect of more amped-up vamps, generous servings of diabolically delicious suspense, romance, wit and gothic gore presented in a contemporary setting, enter this giveaway post haste!"Win an ARC of Blessed by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Candlewick, 2011) from Steven R. McEvoy from Book Reviews and More. Deadline: Dec. 1. See details. Peek: "This much anticipated book ties the stories from Tantalize and Eternal together in a wonderful new story."
Look for the ad for Blessed (Jan. 25, 2011) in the back of the Candlewick Press catalog! See also pages 24 to 25 for more details on the book. On the bottom, right-hand corner of page 25 you can "snap a sneak peek!" "To the first seven chapters of Blessed, you can snap a displayed tag with your smart phone." Note: an URL for the app is included. See also the media kit for Blessed (PDF).
More Personally
Women Writers of Color: Cynthia Leitich Smith: an interview by Miss Attitude at Color Online. Peek: "Write every-kids and make people a little uncomfortable, but never forget to honor the hero in you."Tasha at Vampire Sisters recommends Eternal (Candlewick, 2009, 2010)! Note: Vampire Sisters is dedicated to the love of all things vampire!
Spooky Events
2010 Library Jubilee will be from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Nov. 16 at ESC Region 12 in Waco, Texas. Note: I look forward to giving the keynote presentation.
“Give Yourself a Longer Shelf Life: Marketing for the Long-Term" panel discussion at 7 p.m. Nov. 18 at BookPeople. Panelists: Cynthia Leitich Smith, Jay Ehret and Dana Lynn Smith. Jay is a book marketing expert, and Dana is a book marketing coach and author of The Savvy Book Marketer Guides. Sponsored by the Writers’ League of Texas."Fangs vs. Fur" event will include Cynthia Leitich Smith Nov. 19 at the University Hills Branch of the Austin Public Library.
