Leap is drawn to authors who lead creative lives. We strongly believe that authors who are involved, engaged, and giving bring something extra to the pages of their work. When Leap Books opened, we sent out the following opening to our press release:
Once in blue moon, a publisher comes along who does things in an innovative way. Leap Books opened their doors on the night of the blue moon, expecting something magical to happen. And it did.
We launched our debut authors in the direction of their dreams. Now we invite you to take a Leap with us. You’ll be glad you did...
Not only have we launched several first-time authors, but we've been lucky enough to help one teen author reach her dream of publication.
For all of our authors, though, publication isn't their only dream. We've found that creative people tend to dream big, so for the next week or so, we'll be featuring some of the ways are authors are living their dreams. We hope it will inspire you to reach for the stars...
Want to learn more about writing? Leap Books Editor-in-chief, Kat O'Shea, will be presenting two online workshops this summer for Savvy Authors. These four-week-long classes are available at a bargain price. Here's information. Click on the links below to register. And if you don't want to wait several weeks, you can find writing advice from Kat now in "First Chapter Mistakes." Best of all, if you been dying to submit to Leap Books, taking one of these classes will allow you to do that. [Please note that except for special calls for submissions, such as for the Spirited anthology, Leap Books only accepts submissions from agents.]
Editing with an Editor
Instructor: Kat O'Shea. One of the fastest ways to get your manuscript rejected is to submit one that needs substantial editing. Grammar and punctuation are important, but they aren’t the only things that give your manuscript a quick trip to the rejection pile. Learn editors’ pet peeves and how to avoid them as well as how to tackle overall manuscript revision and still keep your sanity.
WHEN: Jun 27 - Jul 24, 2011
COST: $15 for Premium Members; $25 for Basic Members
Instructor: Kat O'Shea. An interesting and exciting beginning will draw readers in, but how do you keep their interest high throughout? A well-plotted story will keep them turning the pages and make them eager to read your next book. Both plotters and pantsers will benefit from knowing how to structure a story that readers can’t put down. Learn about different story structures, such as the 3-Act and the Hero’s Journey, and how introducing change bombs and writing cliffhangers can help you avoid sagging middles.
WHEN: Aug 1 - Aug 28, 2011
COST: $15 for Premium Members; $25 for Basic Members
One of the authors who is contributing to Leap Books forthcoming Spirited anthology, Linda Joy Singleton, has a FREE YA paranormal romance available for the month of May only. You can check out the book trailer HERE. Better yet, just pick up your FREE copy of Dead Girl Walking for the Nook and Kindle at Amazon.
Children's authors, illustrators, and publishers are banding together to help Japan. They've donated goods and services that are being auctioned at Children's Authors and Illustrators for Japan. Everything from books to prints to editorial services are available.
Leap Books editor Kat O'Shea is offering three critiques. Not only can you take advantage of her expertise, but if you've been dying to submit to Leap Books, here's your chance. Normally we only take agented submissions, but the three lucky authors that Kat critiques will have an opportunity to submit their completed manuscripts to Leap Books after they've revised them. We hope you'll leap at this chance to get your foot in the door. Watch for Kat's offering to come up. Here are the details:
Auction #67
From Thursday 3/31 @ 11:00AM EDT to Tuesday 4/5 @ 11:00AM EDT
Kat O'Shea: critique-50 pages
Value: $250
And while you're there, be sure to look at all the other great items. Nab a badge to show your support. Better yet, pop over to the website now and start bidding.
Here's your chance to immerse yourself in a weekend-long crime/mystery writing extravaganza. Killer Nashville is happening next weekend. The conference runs from Thursday evening, August 19, to Sunday afternoon, August 22, 2010, and is jam packed with great speakers, including our own Leap Books author, Bonnie J. Doerr, who is writing an eco-mystery series. Book 1, Island Sting, is already out. And Stakeout's on it's way in 2011. Pelican Peril will follow in 2012.
Here's a schedule if you're interested in attending. Keynote speaker is Jeffery Deaver; find out more about him on his website. And Bonnie Doerr will be presenting at a session on "Writing the YA Mystery." Agent and editor pitch sessions are included in the registration price. Hope to see you there.
We've had fans tell us how much they love UMS (That's Under My Skin by Judith Graves, if you haven't been following all the book blogs where Judith's appeared.) If you love werewolf - vampire books filled with other paranormal creatures, this is the summer read for you.
If you're already a fan or want to find out more about the book, you can hear Judith Graves on Book Bites for Kids next Wednesday, July 14 at 2 pm CST. She'll be talking about her writing process, her characters, and what's in store for those of you who are eagerly awaiting the sequels.
And if you missed them, two of our other authors, Kitty Keswick (Freaksville) and Bonnie J. Doerr (Island Sting), were also interviewed on this blog talk radio show.
So tune in next week and find out more about UMS, and werewolves and witches and vampires and wolven. And if you comment on our blog and let us know you've listened in, we'll put your name in a drawing for a free copy of UMS or another Leap Book of your choice.
Today's your last chance to attend a Children's Book Week event. This week, which runs from May 10-16, is coming to end. But don't despair, you can enjoy an exciting program today at Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, NC.
In addition to 6 other fabulous authors from a variety of publishing houses, you can meet Leap Books author Bonnie J. Doerr in person from 1-3 pm today. Pick up an autographed copy of her book Island Sting. And you'll also get to hear readings from Freaksville by Kitty Keswick and Under My Skin by Judith Graves. And get to see the great graphics by Val Cox. If you haven't already snagged a copy, all the books will be for sale at the event. Or get one from our Leap Books store for 30% off from now until May 31, 2010.
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 will be speaking at this event, which begins tomorrow (Wed., March 17, 2010) and continues through the weekend. She's part of a panel of children's and YA authors who will be discussing their path to publication:
Laura Rennert (Buying, Training and Caring for Your Dinosaur), Deborah Heiligman (Charles and Emma), Bonnie Doerr (Island Sting), Emily Ecton (Night of the Living Lawn Ornaments), and Ruth Spiro (Lester Fizz, Bubble-Gum Artist) share their stories.
Moderated by: Fran Cannon Slayton
Location:
Omni Hotel
Room: Preston
235 West Main Street
(434)971-5500
More exciting events and highlights of the programs can be found here:
If you love books, this is the place to be this weekend. Be sure to stop by and say "hi" to Bonnie. She'd love to meet you. She'll be autographing copies of her latest release, the eco-mystery, Island Sting.
Have questions you'd like to ask Kitty? Here's your chance. She'll be appearing on Book Bites for Kids tomorrow, February 11, 2010. If you wonder what inspired her to write Freaksville, or want to hear about her future plans for the series, tune in to Blogtalkradio.com/bookbitesforkids at 2pmCST.
And the following Thursday, February 18, also at 2 pm CST, Bonnie J. Doerr will be a guest on the same show.
If you miss the show, you can check out the archives and listen in later.
How 'bout you? Has the writing bug hit you? Most voracious readers have a secret (or not so secret) desire to become writers. So tell us about it. What was the first thing you ever wrote that made you feel proud? What are you working on now? Does anyone else know you want to be a writer?
Just remember, if you answers any of these questions, you'll have a chance to win some fun prizes from author Bonnie J. Doerr. (See the post below for details.) All commenters will be entered in our drawing.
