Remember that one time I got a puppy? Yeah… that was awesome.
I had forgotten how much work a puppy is! Also, I am realizing that Jackie is an easy dog to have in general. Our newest addition Banksy is a breed of dog that I have been waiting a kazillion million years to get. (Yes I am that old, I am pretty much immortal. I attribute my immortalness to diet coke and cheese dip.)
So anyway intro Banksy (whom you may watch grow up on Facebook. Yes he has a page. His quote about this? “Bitch I am fabulous.”) He is a blessing and a curse. He has taken my writing time but has given me a zen I haven’t had in years. I just wanted to share some pics of him and let you d’awwww with me at my luck. It is like having a new baby in the house and I love him dearly.
Think Geek has your Hunger Games Replica Clothing!
How about a cookbook ($18.99) with over 150 HG inspired recipes? For $99 you can have a a replica of the jacket Katniss wore in the arena. $40 buys you a replica of the training shirt. $11.99 for a replica Mockingjay pin.
Go forth and buy, may the odds of your size being there ever be in your favor.
World Book Night America
Guys I had so much fun giving out The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian to random teens on the street yesterday evening. A few blogger friends and I went together at a smaller mall in North San Jose and had a blast talking to people about the books we were giving out and that yes(!) they were free and we were doing it to promote literacy and because we love books.
I thought it would be easy guys. That I would go out on to the street and people would take the books like I was giving away free puppies. Alas, I found out exactly why a program like this is needed. It was hard to make people take a book. I could have went and stood near a bookstore and made it easy on myself, obviously people of the book are going to take a free book but I wanted to capture the true spirite of World Book Night and hit people coming out of video game shops and Target.
The best give was to a construction worker who asked me what the book was about! He was willing to take one but only if my description impressed him. And it did, and I felt like a BOSS. Now I will give you a pic of all of us holding our books in front of Target at the start of our WBN adventure!
A huge thank you to Hicklebee’s in San Jose for being our pickup point!
Did you give/get any books from WBN? What were they?
From left to right: Tara with The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao, Katherine with Because of Winn-Dixie, Anna with Because of Winn-Dixie, Me, Nancy with The Kite Runner.
Query!
Between reading my own queries, and Laurie’s as her assistant I get to read a lot of these emails. Even though I always read every single email in its entirety a sound and interesting query letter can sway me to ask for a partial or a full.
If you write funny realistic YA, finding a way to make me chuckle by using your character’s voice means a lot to me. If you are writing dark paranormal, giving me chills could make the difference. I consider these things winning at querying.
I know what you’re thinking. IT IS HARD TO DO THAT. And that is okay, you don’t have to make me emote. You can also write a very professional letter that shows your chops. I know its hard, but with practice you will get it!
Still worried? Don’t want to screw up that initial email with your dream agent? I have not one but two links for you.
Jay Kristoff’s article is extremely eye opening and shows how to use humor in a query letter.
C.J. Redwine has an ebook simply titled Query: Everything You Need to Get Started, Get Noticed, and Get Signed that will be most beneficial to those who are nearing the query period.
Good luck! May the force and the odds and whatever else always be in your favor!
IMM: Its been a long time
Hey guys, I know I haven’t done an IMM for a while but I hope to get back to it! If you are new here In My Mailbox is hosted by the The Story Siren who is awesome. Here’s what came in this week.
Picture Books
When My Baby Dreams by Adele Enersen
Plant a Kiss by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Just Because You’re Mine by Sally Lloyd-Jones
Middle Grade
The Magnificent 12: The Key by Michael Grant
Chickadee Louise Erdrich
Ungifted by Gordon Korman
by Bruce Coville
Cinderella Smith by Stephanie Barden
Cinderella Smith Te More The Merrier by Stephanie Barden
Summer of the Gypsy Moths by Sara Pennypacker
YA
Finished Copies
The Temptation by Alisa Valdes
Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins
Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin
The Selection by Kiera Cass
Thumped by Megan McCafferty
Wanted by Heidi Ayarbe
Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris
Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick
All the Right Stuff by Walter Dean Myers
Just Write: Here’s How! by Walter Dean Myers
ARCs
Erasing Time by C.J. Hill
The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna
Starling by Lesley Livingston
Two or Three Things I Forgot to Tell You by Joyce Carol Oates
Over You by Emma McLaughlin, Nicola Kraus
Defiance by C.J. Redwine
Life Happens Next by Terry Trueman
Don’t Turn Around by Michelle Gagnon
Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone by Kat Rosenfield
The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead
Adult
The Taker by Alma Katsu
Be My Prince by Julianne MacLean
Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones
The Midwife of Venice by Roberta Rich
A Wedding in Haiti by Julia Alvarez
Born of Silence by Sherrilyn Kenyon
From my Husband
A Mockingjay pin!
