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!

Stepping Out of the Real World

Thanks to the people who commented in last week’s post! Since the vote was unanimous, I’ve now jumped into the world of juggling two stories. While Lost and Found is set in the real world, my new story (right now I’m calling it Parlor) is set in a split universe- despite the world being what we know today, there are paranormal aspects. This is a new road for me, as everything I’ve written up to this point could easily happen in the real world.

I’ve found myself staring at my plot notes for Parlor, not knowing what direction I want to move the world into. Instead of just focusing on the plot, I must build a world that all characters can live cohesively. There are too many possibilities at my fingertips since the universe has no written rules. I don’t have the sticking point of “that can’t really happen” holding me back. It’s exhilarating, yet scary all at the same time.

As I venture into the paranormal world of teen fiction, I wonder just how far I will let myself go. I still want to hold on to real world aspects, but at what point does the fantasy part of the universe I’ve created feel haphazardly stuck on? When do people start to get pulled out of the world the author has created, saying “That can never happen” before putting the book down for good?

Questions for A.S. King

Got questions you're dying to ask A.S. King regarding her fabu pirate tale, The Dust of 100 Dogs, writing, or anything having to do with teen fiction? Here's your chance. Drop by our book club:

Remember to post your questions by Sunday, April 12 at 10 am PDT.

Poet and Didn't Know It: April is National Poetry Month

I just read several blog postings about the amazing activities poetry organizations are conducting to celebrate National Poetry Month--which is this month. And that’s groovy, because as a songwriter, as a writer, as a reader – I dig poetry.

When I was in high school I actually filled up a whole diary of poems. Not my own stuff though, which wasn’t worthy. No, I copied, by hand, my favourite, real live/dead poets', poems into a single bound, blue diary (indexed by first line, no less – can you tell I was destined to be a librarian??). I still have it on my bookshelf and skim the neat print on occasion.

I guess poetry has always been a thing for me. Now, I’m not going to say that I peruse a couplet daily, but I do go on poetry binges. I usually return to a few that I consider my favourites – my go to poetry beats if you will. I thought I’d share them. They’re short, they’re classics – part of the reason I love’m. Any errors in punctuation, formatting, etc….are, like, so my fault.

At the Last: Robert Louis Stevenson

She cometh no more:
Time, too is dead.
The last tide is led
From the last shore.
Eternity…
What is Eternity?
But the sea coming,
The sea going,
For evermore.

You Fit Into Me: Margaret Atwood

You fit into me
Like a hook into an eye

A fish hook
An open eye

The Living Hand: John Keats

This living hand, now warm and capable
Of earnest grasping, would, if it were cold
And in the icy silence of the tomb,
So haunt the days and chill they dreaming nights
That thou wouldst wish thine own heart dry of blood.
So in my veins red life might stream again,
And thou be conscience – calmed – see here it is –
I hold it towards you.

Reflections on Ice-breaking: Ogden Nash

Candy
Is dandy.
But liquor
Is quicker.

Reverses: Maya Angelou

How often must we
Butt to head
Mind to ass
Flank to nuts
Cock to elbow
Hip to toe
Soul to shoulder
Confront ourselves
In our past.

For more information about National Poetry Month activities, try these sites:

http://www.poets.org/
http://poets.ca/

The Juggling Act

I’m in the middle (literally, I’m on chapter 14 out of 28) of editing Lost and Found, my current work in progress. I’m actually having a great time, excited about my changes and implementing my fab crit partners’ notes. Things are going good. I’m happy.

The creative part of my brain? Not so much.

I had an idea a few months ago for a new story, several actually. I wrote one-liners down for each one in my Moleskine and thought that was the end of it, at least for awhile. Unfortunately, one idea has been haunting me...in the shower, at work, eating lunch. Plot points and dialogue will pop into my head at the worst of times. I write them down when I can, tuck my notebook away and go back to Lost and Found.

Originally, I told myself that I wouldn’t start a new book until my current WIP was ready for the query process. I wanted to give all of my attention to Lost and Found because I believe in it. Editing half the book, writing the query and synopsis, as well as getting feedback from friends is still in my future. Lost and Found is very much not there.

Now flash forward to the end of last week when I was innocently washing my hair (see? always the shower) and chapter one of the new idea (very different plot than Lost and Found) started to pour out of me like water from the faucet. I quickly rinsed off, wrapped the towel around me and bee lined to my notebook. As my hair dripped upon the pages streaking the fresh ink of my pen, the words flowed through me like I was possessed. Before I knew it, I was running late to work but, had most of the first chapter on paper.

I’m not sure what to do, so I'm asking for all of your help via the comments. Do I continue with my original plan and just focus on Lost and Found, or do I try to juggle both stories?

April's YA Edge Book Club Selection: The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King

About The Dust of 100 Dogs, by A.S. King:

In the late seventeenth century, famed teenage pirate Emer Morrisey was on the cusp of escaping the pirate life with her one true love and unfathomable riches when she was slain and cursed with "the dust of one hundred dogs," dooming her to one hundred lives as a dog before returning to a human body-with her memories intact.

Now she's a contemporary American teenager and all she needs is a shovel and a ride to Jamaica.

For more information, visit The Dust of 100 Dogs website:

The Dust of 100 Dogs website

Online links to buy The Dust of 100 Dogs:

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Powell's Books

Link to find an Indie bookstore near you:

Indie Bound

Link to find the nearest public library in the US:

US Public Library Search

Under My Skin: The Book Trailer

Wow - how cool is it to see a mini-movie, all slicked up and hip - and it's based on your book? I gotta say, it's pretty nifty.

I was lucky to find an amazingly talented teen designer, Madison at M² PRODUCTIONS through my friend, crit partner and fellow paranormal YA author, Kitty Keswick. After seeing the brilliant job Madison did for Kitty's FREAKSVILLE trailer, I asked for her contact information and wrangled a spot in her busy trailer-making schedule.

Madison is extremely professional for a young entrepreneur, had me send her physical descriptions of my characters, a brief synopsis of the book. I also sent a script, suggested themes to play up on, eg - red and black colours, wolves, etc.

And the result is sooo damn cool. You can view more fantastic trailers at Madison’s YouTube Chanel: http://www.youtube.com/user/signingupagain

Yeah, so, here it is - hope you like it. I had to make it a bit tiny to fit on this page: