If you read yesterday's post, you know that Bonnie J. Doerr had a great time at the Va Festival of the Book with fellow authors Ruth Spiro (Lester Fizz, Bubble-Gum Artist), Emily Ecton (Night of the Living Lawn Ornaments), Deborah Heiligman (Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith), and Laura Rennert(Emma, the Extraordinary Princess).
Here's a picture of the panel with their books (from far left): Bonnie J. Doerr, Deborah Heiligman, Emily Ecton, Ruth Spiro, and Laura Rennert (speaking).
The fun didn't end there. The group enjoyed getting to know each other before and after the panel. Here's another shot of them together. This time Fran Cannon Slayton (When the Whistle Blows), who served as moderator for the panel, has joined them. From far left the group includes Fran Cannon Slayton , Emily Ecton, Debra Heiligman, Bonnie J. Doerr, Ruth Spiro, and Laura Rennert.
Be sure to add the VA Festival of the Book to your list of must-dos for next year if you missed this one. I'm betting you'll see Bonnie there again. She thoroughly enjoyed her experience. And here she's relaxing around the campfire with author
One of the most successful and largest book festivals in the United States is the Virginia Festival of the Book—a celebration of the written word in all forms that enriches the city of Charlottesville, VA, for nearly a week. On March 20th, Leap Books author Bonnie J. Doerr was privileged to serve on a panel at this festival. But before the day of her panel, she was determined to make the most of this book extravaganza. Let’s listen in:
I’d barely unpacked when on Thursday, March 18, I hoofed it to UVa’s campus (asking students every two blocks where the heck I need to go) to hear authors discuss their Mentors, Muses, & Monsters. Wow, when Alice Randall (Rebel Yell) said she is inspired by and writes country music, I was hooked. Gotta love that lady.
Then on Friday, I ran from the Central Library to the City Council Chambers and then to an actual bookstore (YAY!) to soak up wisdom from more authors and get a glimpse of the inside story in the life of book reviewers. Listening to Ron Charles, The Washington Post Book Reviewer, describe how books are chosen for review, I realized there was no magic involved.
Here’s how it goes: Do they like the cover? Yes. Maybe that one will get reviewed. Oops, one fell on the floor. Sorry. That one won’t get reviewed. Didn’t we just review one similar to this last month? Yes. So, negative on that one. Hey, good ol’ so and so likes to review books like this, right? Yes. Send it to her. And you better hope you’ve already gotten a couple good reviews or your book won’t make the cut. Honestly, it was kind of depressing. And then there was the big discussion about what we already know—that with budget cuts, print reviewers are few and far between. And you know what? Reviewers get edited over and over also and don’t make much money. Just like authors! Does that make you feel better? Didn’t think so.
An air of celebration permeated every event and every business. The festival, beloved by hoteliers, restaurateurs, and retailers had been nearly served a death sentence mere days before it opened for what would have been its last season. However, the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, the organization that runs the festival, escaped a House of Delegates proposal to eliminate its state funding that very week. The people complained to their legislators, and the festival, though severely injured, survived.
Saturday there were several events for children’s book enthusiasts. Finally, my kind of people. It was sheer pleasure listening to my fellow authors and friends (Kathy Erskine, Fran Cannon Slayton, Sara Lewis Holmes, Sue Corbett, and Irene Latham) discuss their novels for the panel on Terrific Kids’ Novels Adults Will Love Too.
And then it was my turn. I shared the table with some amazing people: Ruth Spiro ( Lester Fizz, Bubble-Gum Artist), whose articles and essays have been published in the Writer, CHILD Magazine and Disney's Family Fun. Emily Ecton, author of Night of the Living Lawn Ornaments and Boots and Pieces, writer and producer for the NPR news quiz, Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!: Deborah Heiligman ( Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith, National Book Award Nominee for Young People's Literature (2009), School Library Journal Best Book of the Year (2009), and Printz Honor (2010)), and Laura Rennert ( Buying, Training, and Caring for Your Dinosaur and Emma, the Extraordinary Princess), senior agent at Andrea Brown Literary Agency, representing several New York Times bestselling authors. I was seriously awestruck by the talent at that table.
Questions were asked and in answer we shared our collective and varied experience along the path to publishing. Do you need an agent? Not necessarily, but it’s recommended. (Two of us were published without one, but would now like to be represented.) What is the process for query letters? Depends. Read what each editor requires and follow it to a T. Big publishing house vs. small? Big house—more money, wider distribution. Small—(Finally, my chance to brag about Leap Books.) I love the easy and fast communication with my editor and the opportunity to influence cover and book design. Best advice for aspiring authors and illustrators? Join SCBWI, read the trades, attend conferences, take workshops, study the craft, develop a thick skin, read your genre, don’t try to gauge the market. Oh, and keep your day job!
Finally, I enjoyed listening to David Macinnis Gill, Jennifer Hubbard, Amy Brecount White, and Paul Chase Hyman talk about their Hot Young Adult & Teen Fiction. Awesome!
The next day I packed my bags and took my energized brain and inspired soul off to Maryland to chill with my dear friend and fellow author, Edie Hemingway (Road to Tater Hill, Parents Choice Gold 2010). What beats a gourmet campfire cookout, served by a charming man, complete with wine and s’mores. The perfect ending to an brilliant trip.
Author Bonnie J. Doerr has been traveling to promote her eco-mystery Island Sting. She’s been to FL, PA, VA, MD, and NC. Next up: TEXAS. She’ll be in the San Antonio area this weekend and through next week, so if your bookstore, library or school is interested in having an author visit next Monday, contact Cathleen Cartwright, Public Relations Assistant for Leap Books, at marketing@leapbks.com.
Teachers and reading specialists have been raving about Island Sting. It’s a fast-paced mystery that ties into the science curriculum. Suitable for tweens or hi/lo and reluctant teen readers, Island Sting pits a group of teens against a deadly poacher of the endangered Key deer.
Not familiar with Key deer? These tiny deer, about the size of a German shepherd, are only found in the Florida Keys. A former science and reading teacher, Doerr shadowed the National Key Deer Refuge rescuer workers and now helps out the shelter by donating profits from her books.
Stay tuned this week as we feature some stories from Bonnie’s travels—from accompanying rescuers of endangered turtles to helping to save dying pelicans. She also shares her adventures with authors Ruth Spiro (Lester Fizz, Bubble-Gum Artist), Emily Ecton (Night of the Living Lawn Ornaments), Deborah Heiligman (Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith), and Laura Rennert(Emma, the Extraordinary Princess), and Edie Hemingway (Road to Tater Hill).
If you weren't in Cold Lake, Alberta, this weekend, you missed out on some great fun. Yep, that's author Judith Graves at the mic, ready to sing about her book characters, accompanied by the all-girl band, Shenanigans.
A singer/songwriter, Graves is multi-talented, which she had an opportunity to demonstrate not only through song, but during her book reading. You can catch some of the fun here or at Graves' Wolfy Chicks blog:
Thanks to radio station Kool 101.3 FM in Bonnyville, AB. They've been advertising Judith Grave's author appearance with spots throughout the week. And Judith went in for an interview on Wednesday morning.
We'll post some mp3s of the visit and the great ads.
Do something wonderful for the planet today. Pick up trash. Turn off the electricity for an hour. Or try one of the main ways our author, Bonnie J. Doerr has compiled to help save the environment. She made a list of 25 suggestions. We'll post them a list next week when you find out more about Bonnie. In the meantime, here are two quick suggestions you can try:
1. Downloading music saves production of the greenhouse gas produced during the making, packaging, and distribution of the discs UNLESS you burn a CD.
2. Americans eat at least four servings of beef a week. If you consume only one less beef meal a week you can reduce your environmental footprint by 25%. Why care? Raising cows requires acres of land, tons of water, grain, and pesticides. And cows produce a staggering amount of methane (yes, through belching and “tooting”), thus contributing to global warming.
Stay tuned for more environmentally friendly ideas or visit Ms. Doerr at Bonnie Blogs Green for more ways to save the planet. Better yet, pick up a copy of her book Island Sting to see how other green teens not only save the environment, but also nab the poacher of the endangered Key deer.
Judith Graves' launch party begins in 3 more days.
In addition to great food, a chance to meet this exciting debut author in person, and to hear her reading from Under My Skin, you'll get to hear awesome tunage by Shenanigans, an all-girl band. Some of the band members used to be part of Judith's former band.
Yes, this multi-talented author is also a singer/songwriter. And she'll be joining the band for a song or two. If you want a sneak peek at Judith's abilities, check out her vlog below. She's written a song about her book characters.
You won't want to miss any of her Shenanigans this weekend. So head to Cold Lake, AB, or join us for some live footage of the event via her vlog posts. And check out the Wolfy Chicks blog for some awesome coverage of the event.
Author Judith Graves is going black, black, black this weekend. These two huge walls have been painted black in her honor. And this corner of a coffee house will be the scene of a graveyard, complete with crows and roses.
A goth dream...or nightmare, as the case may be.
So break out the black eyeliner and lipstick and head on over to the party. Everyone's invited--goth or not.
WHEN: April 24, 2010
WHERE: BeanTrees coffee house 5112 50 St
Cold Lake AB, T9M 1X2
WHO: Mural created by Lauri Ansell, based on illustrations within Under My Skin (UMS), created by Val Cox
WHY: To celebrate the launch of UMS written by author Judith Graves
Ta, da! The finished product. And if you're curious about the original art on which this was based, here are some of the great illustrations by Val Cox that Lauri used.
If you can't get to Cold Lake, Alberta, this weekend--or even if you can--you can enjoy seeing these pictures of a work in progress. Even better, watch it unfold via vlog. And meet Judith and Lauri in person.
So if you're into the paranormal, love werewolves, vamps, sprites, and other beasts that haunt graveyards, Bean Trees is the place to be this Saturday night. Great music, stuff to eat and drink, and lots of paranorms roaming the crowd...
Skulls, dead trees, crows... All this great goth stuff on a vintage T-shirt. Author Judith Graves is giving them away to celebrate her book's release. Wanna snag one? It's easy, but you only have until the witching hour--midnight EDT (or EST) tomorrow (Wednesday, April 21, 2010) to enter.
All you have to do is visit the Wolfy Chicks blog and ANSWER THIS QUESTION:
What's YOUR favorite paranormal creature, and why?
Be sure to let the Wolfy Chicks know you heard about it here. Maybe they'll give you bonus points. You can also show up at the launch party for another chance to win. Good luck!!
And if you need more info about the launch, here it is....
Stayed tuned for the countdown and more fun stuff about the launch every day this week.
The town of Cold Lake, Alberta, is getting prepared for the big day. The vendor who will be selling books at the launch party is Lots-a Books. So far, the books are selling fast. They may be all sold out before the party. Here's all they have:
Not much left, as you can see, on their once-full display table. More books are winging their way to Canada, but will they arrive in time? The town of Cold Lake is rallying behind their hometown author, and a signboard outside the store (see below) has been luring the locals in. If you live in the area, you might want to hurry in to get one of the last few copies before they're all sold out.
Not to worry if you miss out, as you can still order the books from Leap Books, and we'll ship them right out to you. Be sure to check out our spring special rates and enter the coupon code at checkout. The books are also available from Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and through major distributors, such as Ingram and Baker & Taylor.
So what's all the excitement about? Is it the cool gothic art by Val Cox that decorates the pages? Or is it the engrossing story of Eryn McCain written by Judith Graves? Most likely it's both. Check back all this week for some sneak peeks at the art and excerpts from the novel. Today we'll just tantalize you with the first lines from the book:
I ran as if my life depended on it.
Maybe it did.
Who needs to stay alive and why in this cold northern Canadian town of Redgrave? A town infested with paranorms...
Is it possible? Can it be? Does the fictional town of Redgrave resemble Cold Lake? The thought is chilling. If so, maybe it's the paranorms who've been snapping up those books before the humans find out their deep dark secrets.What has author Judith Graves revealed about them in the pages of her book?
Vamp thrall...wolven vs. werewolves...
witches and warlocks...and other beasties of the nightromp through the pages of Under My Skin (UMS). Get your copy to discover the hidden magick buried in Redgrave. Or perhaps, Cold Lake?
You'll meet many Beasties of the Night at Judith Graves' launch party on Saturday Night, April 24, 2010. Stop in for cake and drinks, great music, and an autographed copy of UMS. And maybe you'll discover some paranorms in disguise...
Under My Skin arrived. Here's author Judith Graves reading her copy. Even her dog is checking out the book. Curious about why they're both so absorbed?
Stay tuned this week for some fun snippets from the book. You'll find out why everyone who's read it is raving about it.
Here's what Rosemary Clement-Moore, author of Prom Dates from Hell, Hell Week, Highway to Hell, and The Splendor Fallshad to say about it:
"Under My Skin is a roller-coaster romp through a supernatural world filled with scary beasties, otherworldly magic, and characters you'll root for. Eryn is a tough but likable protagonist whose paranormal problems make a compelling story full of mystery, magic, action and romance. A fun and engaging read. I'm looking forward to the sequel."
And best of all, you can get Under My Skin for 30% now through the Leap store. Also available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.
And if you live near Cold Lake, Alberta, get ready to party this weekend: The big day is April 24, 2010. Find out more at the Wolfy Chicks blog.
We continue our series exploring the secret lives of people who turned their passion for reading into a career. Check out today's guest's take on teens and technology.
What turned you into a reader?
I was surrounded by books when I was growing up. My parents were avid readers and we had books all over the house, in every room including the basement and attic.
If you hadn’t become a librarian, what might you have done instead?
Television producer – probably news or documentaries.
What can booklovers and publishers do to help with the current library funding crisis?
Ask good questions about what a library in 2010 should be doing for the community and don’t make assumptions about what a library is all about. The library is more than a place that members of a community have because they think they should, or because it has sentimental value. The library is a living breathing organization that has a lot to give to a community. Find out what that is and make sure that you get it.
What kind of books are most popular at your library?
I am a consultant and library school educator, so don’t work in a library currently. However, in conversations with teens and librarians I know that a wide-variety of titles are currently popular. There is still interest in supernatural stories with werewolves, vampires, fairies, and so on. These stories that take place in a world which teens can relate to and with which they are familiar has something to do with their popularity. Manga and graphic novels are popular with many teens and these titles span a variety of genres. Non-fiction on topics related to contemporary interests and web-trends are popular as well.
Most people picture librarians sitting around reading all day. What’s wrong with this picture?
Libraries are a customer service institution, just like a bookstore, coffee shops, or computer stores. That means that librarians working on the front lines are always helping people find what they need, answering questions face-to-face or virtually, and making sure that the services provided meet the needs of the community.
What advice do you have for turning non-readers/reluctant readers on to books?
I have advice for the adults that live and work with reluctant readers. Be willing to recognize that reading on a computer screen or a digital device is reading. Help kids and teens that don’t think they like to read see themselves as readers by acknowledging that reading happens in lots of different forms and formats in 2010. When we start to recognize that kids and teens are always reading, and are willing to call that type of reading reading, kids and teens who don’t think of themselves as readers, but who are because they are constantly reading in non-traditional formats, will begin to think of themselves as readers and begin to be more interested in reading as something they like to and want to do.
Did you ever sneak out a window? No fair only answering yes, you have to tell us when and why.
I snuck out of a second floor porch when I was a freshman in high school in order to meet my boyfriend.
What was the worst clothing disaster you ever faced?
It wasn’t a disaster when I was a teen but when I look back now I see it that way – a halter top that was short in front as well as missing in back.
Do you have a tattoo?
Don’t have one and am too scared of the pain to get one.
If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be and why?
Adults would recognize teenagers as human beings that are valuable to a community and have brains that work. Adults would not treat teens as second-class citizens and would support teen development and not pretend, in many cases, that teens don’t really exist.
If you could star in any TV show or movie, what would it be and why? Gilmore Girls because I loved the relationships between the characters.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to turn a passion into a full time job? Well, that's what librarians have done. They've turned their love of reading into a career. Imagine getting first crack at all the new releases while the rest of us have to put our names on the reserve list. And if someone's annoying you, you get to tell them emphatically to Shush. Sweet!
We decided to talk to some of our favorite librarians. We get them to dish on what a great job they have and maybe even get them to share a few secrets. Shhh!!! Don't tell!
Obsession: book covers (subject of her dissertation)
Loves: libraries, family time, YA books What turned you into a reader?
My mom claims I'm a reader because she liked to sleep late. When I'd wake up really early as a toddler, she'd change my diaper, give me a bottle, a banana, and a Life magazine. She swears the Life magazine was worth another hour's sleep for her.
Tell us about your most disastrous author visit. (No names please.)
We host several authors a year and thankfully the great majority are warm, gracious, and interesting. Unfortunately divas do exist. I have frantically driven all over town at 10:00 on Sunday evening looking for "ruby-red grapefruit juice, no sugar." I have been summoned with an imperious wave and told, "Your author is hungry, and I don't do fast food." One author showed up late with his Botoxed wife in tow, was rude, and had his manager call and cancel the afternoon sessions with an hour's notice.
Most people picture librarians sitting around reading all day. What’s wrong with this picture?
That we don't actually get to do it!
What advice do you have for turning non-readers/reluctant readers on to books?
I think it takes the reader finding just the right book. And to find that book, it normally takes a caring librarian or teacher who reads like crazy and is willing to get to know the kid well enough to say, "Hey, I think you'd really like this book."
What can an author do to ensure a successful visit/booksigning?
Like kids. Smile. Get rid of the canned presenation. The best author we've hosted lets the students ask him questions the whole hour, so every session is fresh and it's what the kids want to know.
Here's the secret stuff:
Did you ever sneak out a window? No fair only answering yes, you have to tell us when and why.
Yep. In high school I crawled out my window to meet this guy who had already graduated and was still hanging around (there's one in every small town). My sister told on me, and my dad followed me to the square where we were sitting and talking. Humiliating. My freshman year in college the guy actually called and asked me out, saying "Maybe your dad won't follow you this time." I was too freaked out to go.
Tell us about a paranormal experience you’ve had.
In middle school I got on a kick of reading books about ghosts, ESP, and reincarnation. I badly wanted to see a ghost, but the closest I ever came was pretending to feel something in the room after playing with the Ouija board at a sleepover.
The authors have been announced for the Teen Author Carnival in NYC on May 24, 2010, from 5:00 - 8:00 PM.
And Leap Books is thrilled that author Judith Graves will be one of the attendees. Other fabulous authors attending include (click on their names to check out their websites):
Jefferson Market Branch Library
425 Avenue of the Americas [at 10th St.],
New York, NY 10011-8454
For a a night of Q&A, activities, and giveaways, join these authors and the hosts of the event (Devyn Burton, Mitali Dave, & Korianne Wey) for a star-studded evening in the Big Apple.
Thanks to The Book Butterfly for a great review of Freaksville, Kitty Keswick's novel. Here's a short excerpt from her review:
"FREAKSVILLE is a unique novel, both in the storyline, well defined characters, artful little illustrations and blog format....the posts themselves were so well written and entertaining, I enjoyed reading them and quickly became engrossed in the plot line.
The tension between Kasey’s family and the Johnstone clan added some depth to the plot line and I look forward to this aspect being explored in FURRY & FREAKED, the fabulously named sequel to FREAKSVILLE."
Other bloggers also were intrigued by the Maxwell-Johnstone feud, which will play an even greater part in later books. In Bed with Books mentioned it:
"FREAKSVILLE was fun, and not just because of the cute illustrations. Kasey has a strong voice, and I liked her habit of making lists. I liked her relationship with Gillie. The two girls supported each other without getting jealous of the other's relationship. I liked the background feud between the Maxwell and Johnstone families - I can't wait to see that expanded as Kasey and Josh further their relationship."
Curious about the Johnstone-Maxwell clan wars? Although Freaksville is fiction, Kitty Keswick researched a centuries-old feud between the Maxwells and the Johnstones to gather background information for her novel. She even traveled to England and visited the site along the Scottish border that was the setting for clash between the clans. Here's a photo of the remains of Lochwood Castle, destroyed by a fire set by the Maxwells in the sixteenth century.
Want to find out more? Feel free to ask Kitty a question about her research. And be sure to stop by the Wolfy Chicks blog for some special giveaways.
Serious about vampires? Looks like they are in the UK. Headlines from today's Telegraph say "University to Hold Vampire Conference." So does that mean vampires from all over the world will be at this conference? Wouldn't that be cool--a whole campus filled with bloodsuckers?
The title of the conference is Open Graves, Open Minds: Vampires and the Undead in Modern Culture. And what will they learn? Most likely they won't be studying calculus or philosophy. Although biology and anatomy classes might be of interest. Or maybe they'll choose from seminar topics. What do vampires need to learn? How to choose the proper victim? How to suck blood without leaving a trace? How to select the proper flatware and distinguish silver from platinum?
Sorry to disappoint you, but it's actually a literature conference about the new sexy teenage vampires in novels and why YAs find them so appealing.That's easy enough to understand: Who doesn't like hot guys, bloodsuckers or not?
So if you find them enticing, you'll want to check out Judith Graves' Under My Skin. Here's a snippet from the book:
I shifted closer, entranced by the minty scent rising from his blood. Hunger pangs twisted my stomach as if I hadn’t eaten for weeks. I pressed myself against his body. My lips parted. I sighed against his warm skin. Wade turned his face up for me, like he wanted me to take his lifeblood, feed on his flesh. I almost fell for it. Vamp thrall. I gasped, fighting his seductive glamour. His grey eyes stared into mine. Mesmerizing. Inviting… Don’t forget devilish. The voice of reason brought me back from the brink. And evil.
And kudos to the University of Hertfordshire for coming up with such an appealing subject for a conference.
Although we've experienced production delays for Under My Skin (UMS), author Judith Graves is hard at work prepping for her launch party now rescheduled for April 24, 2010.
Judith worked with artist Lauri Ansell, who set the stage for the party by painting larger-than-life images of Eryn, the main character of UMS, and other details from the book. The original art from the books was done by graphic artist Val Cox. Val's cool art can be viewed to the left. Val created images of the UMS characters that enhance the book pages.
Now Lauri has translated some of those images onto the walls of Bean Trees, a coffee house in Alberta, Canada. If you happen to live near Cold Lake, why not take a stroll by to see the artwork, or feel free to drop in at the launch party. The more the merrier. And you'll get to hear Judith sing along with some of her former bandmates, who now perform with all-girl band Shenanigans.
If you aren't in the area, you can still enjoy the fun via Judith's vlog. Almost as good as being there in person. And Judith, your US fans are expecting another vlog on the night of the launch!
Here's the vlog:
You can view the vlog full size at YouTube and find out more about Judith and the launch party at the Wolfy Chicks blog.
