Enter to win Blessed (Candlewick, 2011), an ARC of Tantalize: Kieren’s Story, and more from Jen Bigheart at I Read Banned Books. U.S. only; ages 13-up. Deadline: midnight CST, April 25.

Check out the Blessed Readers’ Guide.

Check out the previous books in the series, Tantalize and Eternal.

Shop the Sanguini’s Store at Cafe Press; images designed by Gene Brenek.

More News & Giveaways

Top Board Books for the Youngest Readers by Debbie Reese from American Indians in Children’s Literature. Peek: “Each of the books are written or illustrated by a Native author or illustrator, and in some way, they are ‘tribally specific.'”

Debut Novel Expectations by R.L. LaFevers from Shrinking Violet Promotions. Peek: “Middle grade novels in particular, rarely come out of the gate with the same big splash potential that YA novels can engender.”

IBBY Asian Newsletter (PDF) from The International Board on Books for Young People.

New Agent Alert: Judith Engracia of Liza Dawson Associates from Chuck Sambuchino at Guide to Literary Agents. Seeking: “literary fiction, urban fantasy, paranormal romance, thrillers, mysteries, YA, and middle grade.”

The Whole Novel Retreat, presented by the 9th Pacific Coast Children’s Writers Workshop, will take place Oct. 7 to Oct. 9 in Santa Cruz, California. Faculty include agent Joan Slattery of Pippin Properties and Susan Van Metre, senior VP and publisher at Abrams/Amulet and an MFA instructor in Writing for Children at The New School in New York. Application deadline: May 15 (later applications will be accepted until June 25 or until the workshop is filled).

Interview with R.L. La Fevers by Jen Wrote This from The Enchanted Inkpot. Peek: “I approach the merging of history and fiction with the idea that my first job is to tell a great story; the history must serve the story, not the other way around.”

A Book By Any Cover by Deborah Heiligman from I.N.K. Interesting Nonfiction for Kids. Note: check out the hardcover (grown-up appeal) and paperback covers (kid appeal) for her Passover and Easter books.

How Authors Get Paid from Cinda Williams Chima. Peek: “The fun begins when I discuss royalties. Royalties are monies authors get for each book sold. I say to the students, ‘Let’s say you buy a hardcover book for $18. How much of that do you think the author gets?'”

Congratulations to Tim Crow, winner of the Joan Lowery Nixon Award at this spring’s Houston SCBWI conference. Manuscripts are nominated by conference faculty and then a winner is chosen to work on his writing for a year with author Kathi Appelt, in memory of Joan’s tradition of mentoring.

Underdogs in YA by Michael Northrop from Crowe’s Nest. Peek: “There may be no other type of writing where the underdog is more common and more important, because in one way or another, almost every main character in YA is one.”

More Giveaways

Enter to win an author-autographed copy of Noodle & Lou by Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Arthur Howard (Beach Lane, 2011)! To enter the giveaway, comment here or email me (scroll and click envelope) and type “Noodle and Lou” in the subject line. Deadline: midnight CST April 22. Note: Author sponsored; U.S.-Canadian entries only.

Note: Liz Garton Scanlon will be signing Noodle & Lou, illustrated by Arthur Howard (Beach Lane, 2011) at noon April 23 at BookPeople in Austin. See curriculum guide.

Check out Liz’s Story as Author-in-Residence at ReaderKidZ. Peek: “One time I actually took in a rooster but that lasted just one night.”

See also Inside the Writer’s Studio with Liz Garton Scanlon by Bethany Hegedus from Writer Friendly, Bookshelf Approved. Peek: “A student asked me recently if I’d lose my job if I didn’t come up with any more good ideas. I laughed at the time, but really, that’s the secret fear in all of our hearts, isn’t it?”

Deena in Rochester, New York; is the winner an autographed copy of Odd Girl In by Jo Whittemore (Aladdin, 2011). See also Odd Girl In: a recommendation by Greg Leitich Smith from GregLSBlog. Peek: “Alex and her brothers are hilarious and genuine as they navigate their way through the CHAMPS program and their sibling rivalries, and come to a greater appreciation of each other and their family.”

Poetry, Prizes and a PURRfect 6-1/2 List from Author Lee Wardlaw from Donna Gephart at Wild About Words. Note: includes giveaway of Lee’s Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku, illustrated by Eugene Yelchin (Henry Holt, 2011) and a catnip mouse.

Cynsational Screening Room

Check out the video for Rotters by Daniel Kraus (Delacorte, 2011). See excerpt.

More Personally

After numerous events, I’m spending the next month deep in the revision cave, working on book 4 in the Tantalize series. Please hold off on any non-critical correspondence until I flash the green light. (By “critical,” I mean you’re drowning, bleeding or on fire.)

I’ve already posted my photo report from the Texas Library Association annual conference and the YA A to Z conference, sponsored by the Writers’ League of Texas. But here’s a couple more fun pics from the festivities!

Joy Preble at Moonshine Restaurant Patio Bar & Grill.

Margo Rabb, Varian Johnson and Mandy Robbins Taylor at the Hyatt Regency.

Thanks again to everyone involved with both conferences! See also Greg’s report!

Happy Easter and a belated happy Passover to those who celebrate, and many blessings to everyone!

Cynsational Events

Chris Barton will be signing Can I See Your ID? True Stories of False Identities, illustrated by Paul Hoppe (Dial, 2011) at 7 p.m. May 14 at BookPeople in Austin. See discussion guide.

Diversity in YA Fiction: Austin Tour Stop 7:30 p.m. May 9 at BookPeople. Featuring authors With authors Bethany Hegedus, Malinda Lo, Guadalupe Garcia McCall, Cindy Pon, Dia Reeves, and Jo Whittemore, and moderated by Varian Johnson.