Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Exciting Announcement from Leap Books

Leap Books is pleased to announce the newest addition to our editorial staff. We'd like to welcome Judith Graves as Acquisitions Editor for SHINE, our e-novella line. Judith will be accepting both agented and unagented submissions at: submissions@leapbks.info.



The nitty-gritty details:

  • SHINE word counts: 15-20k
  • We’re looking for solid storytelling with romantic elements, engaging voices, and characters that LEAP from the page
  • All genres will be considered, but preference for: contemporary, thriller, paranormal, and mystery


Why an enovella with Leap Books SHINE?

  • Introduce readers to your young adult fiction brand / style / tone / voice / worlds by giving them a short, fun, affordable read. Snag their interest in your other projects by offering a tale sure to SHINE
  • If you want to step into the ebook arena, but have been hesitant to offer a full-length novel, here's your chance to test this market
  • Each book will be professionally edited and have an eye-catching cover
  • At a small press, you’ll have more one-on-one contact with our editors and other authors
  • Each title will be launched with a 9-week (3 stops per week) blog tour facilitated by a successful blog-tour organizer
  • SHINE titles may be compiled into anthologies to be sold in both print and ebook formats

About Judith Graves

Award-winning author Judith Graves has multiple young adult novels and short stories published with Leap Books,  Orca Book Publishers, Compass Press, and, under the pen name, Judith Tewes, is also published with Bloomsbury Spark. In addition, Judith is an award-winning screenwriter and playwright, writes freelance articles for literary magazines, and facilitates writing workshops for both adults and young adults. She has always been keen to delve into the flipside of publishing and joins Leap Books to manage our newest line. She will assist in the selection of titles, provide editorial services, and supervise the direction of the SHINE young adult e-novella line.

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Storm Watcher Discussion Guide

Discussion Questions for Storm Watcher by Maria V. Snyder

1.    How did Luke’s mother die? How does Luke feel about this? How do his brothers feel? How does his father feel? How does this affect the dynamics of the family?

2.    Why does Luke want a papillon? What does his father think of that? Why? What would you do if you were Luke?


3.    Describe Luke’s relationship with his father. How did it change through the course of the novel?


4.    What did Luke learn while working on Willajean’s farm? Have you ever had a job? What did you learn from the experience?


5.    How does Luke feel about weather at the beginning of the novel? How do his feelings change? What events in the novel led to this change? How do you feel about weather? Why?


6.    Describe your personal experience with dogs. How is it similar to Luke’s? How is it different?


7.    Consider the fathers in this novel. How are they similar? How are they different?


8.    What makes someone a hero? Is Luke’s father a hero? The dogs? Luke? Anyone else? Do you know any real-life heroes?


9.    Describe Luke’s science fair project. Describe Megan’s. How might each of them have expanded or improved their projects? Have you ever participated in a science fair? If so, describe your project. 


10.    What does the guidance counselor say that Luke suffers from? How does Luke feel about that? What do you fear? Is fear normal?




BLOG AUTHOR


Mary Helen Sheriff lives in Richmond, VA with her husband, two children, and two cats. She has an MFA in children’s literature from Hollins University and is an experienced teacher of elementary, middle grade, and college students. Her most recent publishing credits include four middle grade short stories for a reading comprehension website and a YA short story for an anthology written for Ethiopians learning English. She is currently writing a novel and maintaining a blog where you can read her thoughts on writing and education. 


 

Sunday, May 18, 2014

A Poem in a Blade of Grass




I've been working with a young girl from Korea since the beginning of the school year. At first she was on a Fancy Nancy reading level and couldn't understand English very well (especially Southern English). Now we are currently reading Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring. We've read the entire Harry Potter series, The Hobbit, and a few other smaller books that she enjoyed including Savvy and A Series of Unfortunate Events. Her reading level went from kindergarten to sixth grade and she's only in fourth grade. I. Am. So. Proud.

So yesterday afternoon as we were sitting on the university's quad reading out loud to one another I stopped her. We began talking about the difference in the English language from one book to the next. When I asked her what she thought the difference was, she said older books sound prettier. I could not agree more.

While there are wonderful children's books out there that are written in modern English and include slang kids use in school now and also a few choice words, there's something to be said about going back to the basics and reading a book that causes a child to really think. 

The two of us have enjoyed the songs in Tolkien more than anything and I have had so much fun with her as we went line by line and made an entire paragraph of story from three words in a song. I explained the hidden treasure in these words.



I recently read an explanation of Whitman's "A Child Said What Is Grass?" and as we sat on the quad I had her list every word she could think of that described the grass.

Green.
Long.
Soft.
Sticky.
Full of bugs. (By the way, she prefers the library to the quad any day, what a girl!)

So I went with sticky. "Why on earth would the grass be sticky?"

"Because it's wet?"

"Yeah! So, if the grass is wet, and you've already said it's green, what does that mean?"

"It's healthy."

"Exactly. So we could just say it's sticky and let the reader know it's green and healthy. If it wasn't, it would be crunchy, right?"


I took this conversation and ran with it, explaining Whitman's lines such as, "Or I guess it is the handkerchief of the Lord/ A scented gift and remembrancer designedly dropped/ Bearing the owner’s name someway in the corners/ that we may see and remark/ and say Whose," which took us into a conversation about the tradition of handkerchiefs.

Book Cover

Also, "Or I guess the grass is itself a child…the produced babe of the vegetation," versus "And now it seems to me the beautiful uncut hair of graves," which told us the earth could be described as young or old depending on the image.

I'm sure you can see the point I'm getting to here; our words can cause a child to think or not think. We have gotten lazy in our writing, it is much more difficult to find good vocabulary words in a children's book, and there is less to talk about. Kids are reading for entertainment, but there is no brain food there.

So, here's the writing challenge:

Choose an object, scene, or person and describe them without being direct. Use metaphors and similes that you have completely made up and haven't borrowed from other writers. Write for 15 minutes without stopping and then go back and cross out words that aren't necessary because of the descriptions you’ve created such as "sticky" instead of "green and healthy." Post your exercises below.

ABOUT THE BLOGGER

Courtney Warren is a writer for her local newspaper, as well as a graduate student at Hollins University where she is pursuing a degree in Children’s Literature. She has a bachelor’s degree from Delta State University, the home of the Fighting Okra (which she is incredibly proud of). She loves to read just about anything placed on the shelves but has a special place in her heart for the Harry Potter series.

When she is not writing about herself in third person, she loves to write stories about middle schoolers with spunky attitudes who intend to save the world, as well as drinking Earl Grey tea from a very prissy teacup.

Check out her blog, Tea, the Spirit, & a Pen.

Thursday, May 1, 2014

All Out of Ideas? Tips for Finding Something to Write About...


You're out of ideas and can think of nothing new. You sit and stare at that computer screen or blank paper, and it laughs at you. Your mother keeps telling you all of your ideas are wonderful when you know FOR A FACT they are hot garbage.

Any writers who say they have never had trouble coming up with a new project or have never been stuck on where to take characters are liars.

Coming up with a new idea is hard, especially after you've just finished a project. Many times, you've poured out all of your brilliant brain juice into your previous project, and now you simply have nothing left.

Fear not! Grab some tea, sit down, and listen.

One of the most helpful things to do when you can't write is read.

I have heard so many authors tell new writers, "You must read. It's your best tool."

As a matter of fact, my eighth-grade yearbook quote was about this. Right next to my crimped hair, braces, and overdone eyeliner, it said, "If you don't have the time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write." –Stephen King.

If only my graduate self would listen to my eighth-grade self. I can go back and look at journals and poem books where I was pumping out some writing every five seconds! It was horrible, absolute garbage, BUT it's better than the blank page I've been staring at for the past few days.

So, my solution? Take everyone's advice and read. I spent the entire weekend in the bookstore drinking overpriced coffee and what I refer to as "rich girl water," which is shaped like a square and fits in no cup holder. Book after book, I explored the store. Some books I saw and thought, "What in the Hello Kitty is this? I never would that thought of this, it's brilliant!" Others I thought, "This, ladies and gentlemen, is why the youth of today are the way they are." Either way, I came back with several ideas. 

Whether it's a character, a setting, a plot from a story you think would be cool to continue or one you want to write a prequel to, you'll find something to write about.

Courtney's Bookstore Tips:

1.     Go alone. You can't possibly form amazing, wonderful, literature-changing thoughts with someone yapping in your ear about how they want to check out the sale at J. Crew. Although the sale is important, your writing is "importanter."

2.     Get an overpriced coffee or water. It just makes you feel better.

3.     Don't bring a heavy purse that you have to carry on your arm. This was my mistake, I couldn't juggle my book stack and rich girl water AND my purse. I abandoned the purse in the car later that morning. Put your stuff in your pockets or if you’re one of those people who must have a purse (me), use a crossbody.

4.     Have a notebook and something to write with. You will see and read through so many things in less than thirty minutes, there is no way you'll remember all of the ideas you have. WRITE THEM DOWN. Forgot paper? Use your phone.

5.     Don't be afraid to look at books you wouldn't normally read. Science fiction? Romance? Horror? You never know what you might discover. Maybe you'll want to create the story of that pathetic blonde girl screaming at the top of her lungs on every classic horror cover. Why is that girl freaking out and not running? Answer that question, and you're well on your way to a thrilling story of your own.

If All Else Fails...

Never fret about not having an idea. Take a step away from your computer or paper, and get involved in life. You'll find something to write about. Also, write anything down, even IF it's hot garbage. Maybe you can clean it up and create a story that will make someone other than your mother proud.



ABOUT THE BLOGGER

Courtney Warren is a writer for her local newspaper, as well as a graduate student at Hollins University where she is pursuing a degree in Children’s Literature. She has a bachelor’s degree from Delta State University, the home of the Fighting Okra (which she is incredibly proud of). She loves to read just about anything placed on the shelves but has a special place in her heart for the Harry Potter series.

When she is not writing about herself in third person, she loves to write stories about middle schoolers with spunky attitudes who intend to save the world, as well as drinking Earl Grey tea from a very prissy teacup.

Check out her blog, Tea, the Spirit, & a Pen.