Mixing Music Into Your Writing by Alexandra Monir from Adventures in YA Publishing. Peek: “I knew that my readers needed more than just lyric excerpts on the page—they needed to hear the songs, as Michele and Philip would have heard them. So I set about recording their songs with a ten-piece band, which was the ultimate thrill.”
The Unjournal of Children’s Literature: “…an online, open-access, peer-reviewed…experience! …it strives to be more interactive than a traditional journal and encourages and embraces developing ideas and emerging voices in the field of children’s literature.” Source: Debbie Reese.
The Cybils 2013: nominate a book for the children’s and young adult book blogger awards. If you are an author, publisher or publicist, wait until after the public nomination period. You may nominate from Oct. 16 to Oct. 26.
28 Days Later: Call for Submissions from The Brown Bookshelf: United in Story. Peek: “The submissions window has officially opened for the seventh annual 28 Days Later campaign, a Black History Month celebration of picture books, middle grade and young adult novels written and illustrated by African Americans. We will take nominations today through Nov. 8.”
Is Teen Too Young To Publish? by Deborah Halverson from DearEditor.com. Peek: “With your parents’ help, get an agent to protect your rights, manage the money, and devise safe ways to put you and your books ‘out there.’”
The Author Died of Exposure by Darcy Pattison from Fiction Notes. Peek: “Sure, we need the general public to know we exist, to know what our work is like, and where they can buy our works. But we also have to pay our bills.”
Latin@s in Kidlit: Exploring the World of Latino/a YA, MG and Children’s Literature. Peek: “…share perspectives and resources that can be of use to writers,
authors, illustrators, librarians, parents, teachers, scholars, and other stakeholders in literacy and publishing.”
Does a Book Need a Hook? by Chris Eboch from Project Mayhem. Peek: “A hook—in this case the ‘high concept’ idea—can grab the reader’s attention and make a book stand out.”
Diversity for the “Cultureless” by Shana Mlawski from Heck YA. Peek: “…the lack of white diversity in YA is far, far less urgent a problem than the lack of characters of color. But it’s still a problem. It bugs me when I see white protagonists that seem to have been plucked from some over-tested, middle-of-the-road sitcom.” See also True or False? Multicultural Books Don’t Sell by Elizabeth Bluemle from Lee & Low.
How to Turn Real Science into Great Science Fiction by Charlie Jane Anders from io9. Peek: “Is there a particular journal that you should make sure to read? Should you actually try to talk to scientists? And how do you find a story that hasn’t been done before?”
Cynsational Giveaways
The winners of Texting the Underworld by Ellen Booraem were Katy in Michigan and Paige in Utah.
See also Young Adult Fiction Giveaways from Adventures in YA Publishing.
This Week at Cynsations
- Angie Smibert on How Not to Write a Series. Or How to Dig a Rabbit Hole.
- Editor Interview: Anny Rusk on IntoPrint Publishing
- New Voice A.B. Westrick on Point of View, Southern Voice & VCFA
- Lynn Miller Lachmann on the Best (LEGO) Launch Party Ever
More Personally
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| The Austin SCBWI Graphic Novel workshop at St. Edward’s University. |
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| Afternoon panel with editor Calista Brill and author-illustrator Dave Roman of First Second. |
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| At BookPeople with Shelli Cornelison, Greg Leitich Smith & April Lurie |
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| Celebrating Entangled by Amy Rose Capetta & Promise Me Something by Sara Kocek |
Even More Personally
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| Leo in a box–about the size of my college apartment |
Personal Links
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| Congrats to Greg Leitich Smith on new these new editions! |
- The Oddest Odd Jobs of 10 Literary Greats
- Rise and Shine: The Daily Routines of History’s Most Creative Minds
- Cover Reveal: The Great Greene Heist by Varian Johnson
- Cover Reveal: Cabinet of Curiosities by Claire Legrand, Stefan Bachmann, Katherine Catmull, and Emma Trevayn
- Books Don’t Want to be Free
- Why E-Book Sales are Leveling Off
- Support New Grant to Encourage Diversity in Sci Fi Writing
- NerdBait Guide to Fangirl: Real Life Fictional Love
- New Babymouse Book Trailer
- Don Tate on The Cart That Carried Martin
- Video: Scaredy Squirrel’s Halloween Safety Announcement
Cynsational Events
Cynthia Leitich Smith will offer several presentations the week of Oct. 20 in conjunction with Jingle Dancer (Morrow, 2000) being the featured title for children as part of the 2013 One Book, One San Diego campaign, sponsored by KBPS, more details forthcoming.
Cynthia Leitich Smith joins featured authors at the Texas Book Festival Oct. 26 and Oct. 27 at the State Capitol Building in Austin. She will speak at the “Girl Power(s)” session with Kami Garcia and Jessica Khoury from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Oct. 26 in Capitol Extension Room E2.014, with a book signing immediately following.
Join Cynthia Leitich Smith at the Illumine Award Nov. 8 at the downtown Hilton in Austin, Texas.
Join Cynthia Leitich Smith at the Kidlitosphere Conference Nov. 9 in Austin, Texas.
Cynthia Leitich Smith (Feral Nights) and P.J. Hoover (Solstice) will sign their new releases from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Barnes & Noble in Round Rock, Texas.
Cynthia and Greg Leitich Smith will speak at the Florida Association for Media in Education Conference Nov. 20 to Nov. 22 in Orlando.
The Craft & Business of Writing: Everything You wanted to Know About Writing, a fundraiser featuring C.C. Hunter, Miranda James and Lori Wilde for the Montgomery County Book Festival, on Nov. 16 at Lone Star College Montgomery Campus in Houston. Fee: $100. Registration deadline: Nov. 10. See more information. Register here.