Fresh YA Fiction: Class of 2k9

The life of a debut YA novelist is never dull. There are edits, more edits, galleys to proof, cover art to squeal about, release dates that get changed, and on top of it all….the overwhelming task of marketing.

Authors, whether published with a large house or a small press, are responsible for creating their own buzz. This means hours devoted to developing online followings through social networking sites like Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, IndieBound, etc – not to mention the live/face-to-face events – book signings, author talks, etc.

Whew – how does a first timer do it?

Well, there are easier ways to break ground than going it alone – I’m talking about author collectives. In particular, the highly successful "Class of 2k..." program. (Class of 2k7, Class of 2k8 ).

The program was created in 2006 by author Greg Fishbone. It has been featured in Publishers Weekly, the School Library Journal and networked extensively to booksellers, librarians and the YA audience. Each year a new class is born and another 20-40 authors untie to promote each other’s work.

Previous Class grads include big hitters such as: Rosemary Clement-Moore, Cassandra Clare, Tiffany Trent, Regina Scott, Ellen Booraem, and a host of other fabulous authors.

Support this wonderful resource and get exposed to fresh new fiction. Check out the current Class of 2k9!