Read Chapter One of The Water Seeker (Holt, 2012) from Kimberly Willis Holt . Note: now available in paperback!
Character Trait Entry: Courage by Angela Ackerman from The Bookshelf Muse. Peek: “After reflection or a moral assessment, they will step up in a situation, no matter the odds, because they know inside it is the right thing to do.”
Dark and Stormy First Lines, compiled by P.J. Hoover from The Enchanted Inkpot. Various authors offer their picks for the “best first line ever.”
Julie M. Prince Tribute Fund from SCBWI Arizona. Peek: “SCBWI Arizona has established the Julie M. Prince Fund to honor its member Julie M. Prince, who passed away in June 2011. Donations to the Fund will be used to underwrite eligible SCBWI members wishing to attend an annual SCBWI AZ ‘Welcome to Our House’ Conference or other events.”
Stacy Barney: How I Got Into Publishing from CBC Diversity. Peek: “My first job in publishing was a lucky and invaluable internship at Lee & Low, an independent multicultural children’s book publisher in New York. I learned a great deal about editing, acquisitions as well as marketing and publicity from this experience.”
How to Spread the Word About Your Work by Chris Guillebeau from. Peek: “Being willing to promote in an authentic, non-sleazy manner is a core attribute of micro-business success.” See also How to Launch a Book Without Losing Your Mind by Elizabeth S. Craig from Writing Mysteries is Murder.
Jennifer L. Holm, Author: a new author blog. Features news of Babymouse and Squish as well as Jennifer’s novels, events, and educator resources. Source: Book Moot.
On Anthologies and Writer Compensation by Janni Lee Simner from Desert Dispatches. Peek: “if an …anthology is selling well enough to offer serious exposure, it’s also selling well enough to earn real royalties, and if I’m going to write a portion of the anthology, I deserve a share of those.”
Three Mistakes Authors Make from Ann Bauer. Peek: “I find out about other authors before I meet them. I read their work. I remind myself—often—that my almighty book is not at the center of everyone’s universe.”
Protecting Your Professional Reputation by Carolyn Kaufman from QueryTracker.net. Peek: “…digital backups are constantly being made of everything online. Even if a picture, blog, review, or site is taken down, it may still show up in searches and cached versions of the removed information for years afterward.”
In Defense of Summer Reading Freedom by Kate Messner from Kate’s Book Blog. Peek: “That’s what we in the education world call fluency. And it’s an essential element of literacy — one that we can’t always develop as well as we’d like in the classroom because it takes time. Lots and lots of time reading books that kids love.”
Conquering the Cliché by Ash Krafton from QueryTracker.netBlog. Peek: “Don’t allow your teen protagonist to be a carbon-copy (cliché) of every other teen you know.”
 |
| From Tu Books, a Lee & Low imprint |
Multicultural Publisher Holds It’s Own — Lee & Low Keeps Growing, Despite Competition from Giant Rivals by Maggie Overfelt from Crain’s New York Business. Peek: “The company’s sales force has landed large orders in St. Louis and parts of Florida.”
New Visions Writers Award from Tu Books/Lee & Low. Peek: “…for a middle grade or young adult fantasy, science fiction, or
mystery novel by a writer of color. The Award winner receives a cash grant of $1000 and our standard publication contract, including our basic advance and royalties for a first time author. An Honor Award winner will receive a cash grant of $500.”
Authors: Why You Shouldn’t Respond to Bad Book Reviews by Joan Stewart from The Publicity Hound’s Blog. Peek: “You might develop a reputation on blogs and discussion boards as an author who can’t stand the heat.”
Call for Writer Quotes! Lindsey Lane, author of Snuggle Mountain, invites writers at all stages of the publication journey to share their favorite quotes about writing at her regular blog feature, “Quotable Tuesday” at The Meandering Lane. She says: “Quotable Tuesday is a place where I invite writers to share the quote that gets you to sit down and write. Or the quote that reminds you to keep going. Or take a break. Or the one that helps you feel less alone.” If you would like to share your favorite quote at Quotable Tuesday, you can email Lindsey (lindsey(at)lindseylane(dot)net). If you have a story about how you found the quote and why it’s meaningful to you, include it, too, as well as any news or photos you would like to share.
The Ethics of Blurbs by Jan Fields from the Institute of Children’s Literature. Peek: “I’ve heard editors and agents moan because their names are plastered on self-published books as endorsements when the editor actually rejected the book as not yet ready to be published.”
Book Launch Award from the Society of Children’s Book Authors and Illustrators. Peek: “The SCBWI Book Launch Award provides two annual awards of $2000 each for an author or illustrator to use for marketing a book scheduled for release during the next calendar year.”
 |
| Gold Medalist — Nonfiction |
Parents’ Choice Award Winners
See medalists in:
Boston Globe – Horn Book Awards
- Picture Book Winner: Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen (Balzer + Bray).
- Fiction Winner: No Crystal Stair: A Documentary Novel of the Life and Work of Lewis Michaux, Harlem Bookseller by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie (Carolrhoda Lab).
- Nonfiction Winner: Chuck Close: Face Book, written and illustrated by Chuck Close (Abrams).
See honor books and more information.
Cynsational Giveaways
Enter to win a set of three author-signed children’s books, written by Jane Kohuth — Duck Sock Hop, illustrated by Jane Porter (Dial, 2012); Estie the Mensch, illustrated by Roseanne Litzinger (Random House, 2011); and Ducks Go Vroom, illustrated by Viviana Garofoli (Random House, 2011)! The winner also will receive Duck Sock Hop magnets! To enter, comment on this post (click previous link and scroll) and include an email address (formatted like: cynthia at cynthialeitichsmith dot com) or a link to an email address. Or email Cynthia directly with “Jane Kohuth” in the subject line. Author-sponsored. Eligibility: U.S. Deadline: June 18.
Enter to win one of two author-signed copies of The Year of the Beasts by Cecil Castellucci (Roaring Brook, 2012). To enter, comment on this post (click previous link and scroll) and include an email address
(formatted like: cynthia at cynthialeitichsmith dot com) or a link to an email address. Or you can email Cynthia
directly with “The Year of the Beasts” in the subject line. Publisher sponsored. Eligibility: U.S./Canada. Deadline: midnight June 11. See also Cecil Castellucci on Medusa, a Childhood Friend.
One-Year from Solstice Giveaway from P.J. Hoover at Roots in Myth. Up for grabs are four YA ARCs!
Attention U.K. readers: check out the book giveaways at tall tales and short stories!
This Week at Cynsations
- New Voice: Lynne Kelly on Chained (the sale and keeping the faith)
- Agent Update: Mary Kole of Movable Type Management
- New Voice: Jennifer Gennari on My Mixed-up Berry Blue Summer (keeping the faith and craft resource recommendations)
- Giveaway: Jane Holuth’s Duck Sock Hop, Estie the Mensch and Ducks Go Vroom
- New Voice: Lissa Price on Starters (writing community & marketing)
- New Voice: Lynda Mulally Hunt on One for the Murphys (being an author-teacher and first sale)
More Personally
 |
| Happy summer! Here’s a sunflower in my yard. |
My priority this week was preparation for the upcoming Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers Conference in Utah. I’m working on speeches about writing fantasy and writing voice.
I’m also flirting with the idea of joining Pinterest and using Rafflecopter for giveaways here at Cynsations. Any insights on either one would be appreciated!
In summer movie news, I saw “Snow White and the Huntsman” and was particularly wowed by Charlize Therone as “Ravenna” (the queen). The cinematography and effects also were visually arresting.
Letters to the Inner Teen by Cynthia Leitich Smith from TeachingBooks.net. Peek: “As an author of young adult books, I’ve written from the perspective of a guardian angel, a were-opossum, and even a pesky human or two. But the character who was the hardest for me to connect with was my own teen self.”
What Draws Teens to Fantasy Novels? We Ask Authors, Booksellers and Teens. By Sharyn Vane from The Austin American-Statesman. Features quotes by me and a recommendation of both my latest, Diabolical (Candlewick, 2012), and, by fellow Ausinite Nikki Loftin, The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy (Razorbill, Aug. 2012). Peek: “At Austin’s BookPeople, fantasy books are twice as popular with young
readers than novels set in a more realistic world, says children’s book buyer Meghan Goel.”
Remember A Prayer to the Silent at CBC Diversity, as part of the It’s Complicated series? Find out how you can become a CBC Diversity partner.
Finally, due to a cancellation, one spot has opened up for my Vermont College of Fine Arts Post-Graduate Writing Workshop in August. Snag it fast!
Personal Links:
- Are We Famous Yet? A Writer’s Dream by Nikki Loftin
- The Gospel of Stephen King from CNN
- Gender Pay Gap Persists as Women Age from MSNBC
- Want a Great Career? Find Your Passion from CNN
- The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth by Lee Wind
- Bulgaria: Skeletons Treated for Vampirism Found
- Why Do We Photoshop People? by Maureen Johnson
From Greg Leitich Smith:
Cynsational Events
Central Texans! Mark your calendars for June 9 at BookPeople! Greg Leitich Smith will speak on “Writing Speculative Fiction” at 10 a.m. and Don Tate will host a book launch and signing of It Jes’ Happened: When Bill Traylor Started to Draw (Lee & Low, 2012) at noon.
Cynthia and Greg Leitich Smith will appear June 30 at Bastop Public Library in Bastrop, Texas.