Neil Armstrong Is My Uncle and Other Lies Muscle Man McGinty Told Me has been out since May. While that doesn’t exactly make me a seasoned pro, I have gone through the experience of a debut book launch. Here are some random thoughts about my first two months as a published author and some unsolicited advice for anyone who has yet to launch:
- Before your book comes out, get comfortable on all those social networking sites. Make friends on Facebook, decide what you’re going to say on your blog, and learn how to tweet. You don’t want to be dealing with all that book launch stuff and trying to figure out what RT means at the same time.
- No matter how much they hang in your face, do not get your bangs cut the day before your book launch. Feel free to disregard this if you have one of those hair stylists who always make you look fabulous. (If you do, and you live in NJ, please IM me)
- Once you step in front of a group of kids, you’re the one running the show. That means you need to acquire some basic classroom management skills. Think about what you’re going to say when a very angelic-looking 4th grader interrupts his classmate to tell a story that involves blood, guts and brain spillage.
- When you’re speaking to a class, pay attention to the teachers. You can learn a lot from their body language. When they stop their conversations, cross their arms, and lean toward you, you know you’ve just called on the child who will talk about brain spillage.
- Even after you’re published, you’ll still have to take the dishes out of the dishwasher. At some very weird level, this fact surprises me. (To everyone who has more than one book out there: When do they work the “no dirty dishes” clause into your contract?)
- Watch out for those 5th graders. One moment, they’re giggling and acting like little kids, and the next moment, their maturity and insight will leave you tongue-tied.
- If you give out Tootsie Rolls to large groups of 4th and 5th graders, many will lose teeth.
- There might be one or two people in your life who aren’t quite as happy for you as you’d thought they’d be. But for the most part, you will be overwhelmed by good wishes and good energy from friends and family.
- Don’t even attempt to seriously answer the question: “Why don’t you try to get on Oprah?”
- Even a starred review is not going to make you feel secure about your writing, if you happen to be a naturally neurotic writer. All those good feelings really do come from within.
- Getting the call from your agent, working with a great editor, and holding your book for the first time will live up to your every expectation. But it’s the things you never thought about, like the really wonderful email from a stranger or a surprise celebration from friends that will take your breath away.
- Do not become obsessed with your ranking on Amazon, B&N, Goodreads, LibraryThing, etc. It will only make you crazy. One day, I hope to follow this excellent advice. For now, I am a moth. Amazon is the flame.
- Being published changes nothing. In all probability, you will still have your day job, still spend a summer Saturday afternoon with the in-laws and I’ve already told you about the dishes.
- Being published changes everything. Something about a having a dream come true changes you to the very core.
I’m sure I’ve left a lot out, so please feel free to add to this list.
Categories: Connect
WHO: Anyone with a U.S. mailing address.
WHAT: Win the 20 Things grand prize, including 6 autographed debut books (Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler, Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog, Breathing by Cheryl Renee Herbsman, Prada & Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard, Models Don’t Eat Chocolate Cookies by Erin Dionne, and The Great Call of China by Cynthea Liu) and 14 fun summer goodies in the 20 Things in 20 Days blog scavenger hunt!
WHEN: June 11-30, 2009
HOW: Complete clues/activities to earn points toward the grand prize. Complete all or some of the clues, in any order, any time now through June…
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Categories: Contests
Who: US/Canadian recipients, at least 13 years old
What: As part of the YA Book Carnival, a giveaway of four YA books/ARCs (Crash Into Me, Watersmeet, Initiation, The Secret Year)
When: Now thru 6/27/09 at 5 PM EDT
How: Just leave a comment and see complete rules at http://writerjenn.livejournal.com/110176.html…
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Categories: Contests
Who: Must be at least 13
What: A copy of the MG novel Heart of a Shepherd; winner may also choose to receive a Skype author visit for your class or book club
When: Now thru Fri., 6/19, at 5 PM EDT
How: Leave a comment on this blog post: http://writerjenn.livejournal.com/109125.html…
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Categories: Contests
I met so many great people when I was at BEA a few weeks ago. There is one young lady, however, who sticks out in my mind. I don’t remember her name, just that she appeared to be in her twenties. She stopped in my line to get a signed copy of ONE WISH. She was making the rounds, and mentioned that she’d asked all of the other authors she’d met if they had any advice for her, so she asked me the same.
Categories: Connect
Because I'm creating a thirteen-year-old character for a WIP, I was trying to remember the year I turned thirteen. What did I look like? How did I feel? What was my world like then? I pulled out some old photo albums and thumbed through until I got to the pictures with the sepia tone--just kidding--only they did look more vintage than I'd expected.
In the first picture of that thirteenth year I faced the camera, smiling and with my arms behind my back. My skirt stopped above two bony knees, one with a band aid. My hair was pulled into a…
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Categories: Connect
I’m curious what distinguishes a YA novel from a novel for adults.
Is it the age of the main character? The protagonist in most YA novels is anywhere from 14-18 years old. But adult fiction protagonists, such as in Life of Pi, can be teens, also. In the case of The Book Thief, there are two main protagonists—one is ageless and the other is a child. So this rule is not hard and fast.
The point of view? Many YA books are told in the first person. First person narratives can create a more intimate connection between the reader and the main…
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Categories: Connect
I didn't pay much attention to summer reading challenges when I was younger, because I never needed any incentive to get me to read. I read a lot of books, summer and winter (and fall and spring).
But I thought it might be fun to issue a challenge for this summer, to set some goals and see if anyone else cares to join in. Here's what I'm suggesting:
Read 10 books by Sept. 21. (I hope to read many more, but 10 is a nice, reasonable, summery goal.)
Of the 10, I suggest:
1 classic you've never read but always meant to (I think…
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Categories: Connect
For much of my childhood, we were a household of females. My mom, my sister and I lived in a house where nobody left the seat up, most of the dirty clothes actually made it into the hamper and nobody knew how to make realistic machine-gun sounds or burp the alphabet on cue. We also read a lot.
Fate now smirks when she sees me, as I am the only female in a house full of males – even the dog and both of the cats are boys. The presence of several Y chromosomes in my life has made me…
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Categories: Connect
"don’t be too precious with the book – the book is one piece of art and the film should be seen as another piece of art merely trying to tell the same story in a completely new way. "
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Categories: 0Content · Age Group · Articles · Contests · Faves on a Friday · Interviews · Perkovich, Olugbemisola Rhuday · Young Adult
Who: Anyone in the world.
What: An autographed advance copy of GIVE UP THE GHOST, plus two other great ghost books.
When: Now until 6/12/09
How: Just comment! Extra entry if you have a link to my website or blog on yours.
Where: http://www.megancrewe.com/blog/?p=10…
Categories: Contests
As summer approaches, I envision lying on a beach somewhere, cool drink by my side, kids happily playing in the water. And as I dig my toes down into the sand, I crack open a brand new YA novel and dig in.
That’s not such a far-fetched fantasy, is it? I have no idea if I’ll make it to the beach this summer, much less one where it’s warm enough for the kids to actually spend time in the water without wet suits. Northern California beaches are deceptively freezing. But a girl can dream, right?
And… Continue reading
Categories: Connect
Writers have sent in some great Opening Lines in the past two contests:
Here are the first two winners:
"The next time someone wants me to keep a secret, I'll do something easy instead--like baptize a cat."
Mike Boyd
"Like all my birthday parties, my own funeral is just plain boring."
Shelli
The rules for the June contest are simple: Write a compelling opening to a YA novel. It can be a few lines or a paragraph.
The prize is a signed copy of Sliding on the Edge.
Hope to see at
The
Categories: Contests
- Publication Season/Year: Fall 2011
- Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
- Release Date: TBD
- ISBN (hardcover): TBD
- ISBN (paperback): TBD
Go ahead. Look through the windows of any house in Nabor. It won't take you more than a couple of blocks to find Livvie Owen's name written on a wall. That's because Livvie, who has autism, has gotten the Owens evicted from over twenty homes in the town of Nabor. Of course her family doesn't say it's her fault. But Livvie can…
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Categories: 2009 Spring · 2011 Fall · Contemporary · Dooley, Sarah · Events · Family · Fiewel & Friends · Learning Disabilities · Middle Grade · North Carolina · Poverty · Rated PG · Siblings
- Publication Season/Year: July 2010
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster
- Release Date: July, 2010
- ISBN (hardcover): TBD
- ISBN (paperback): TBD
1 ZANY ZOO, told in rollicking rhyme, is the story of a boy who sneaks into the zoo before it opens. While in the zoo, he witnesses increasing numbers of crazy animal antics which all add up to 1 zany zoo!
The Author: Lori Degman
Location: Vernon Hills, IL
Lori Degman lives in the northern suburbs of Chicago with her husband and two sons and is a teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing. She returned to writing, after a fifteen year hiatus…
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Categories: 2010 Summer · Animal · Counting · Degman, Lori · Events · Humor · Illinois · Picture Book · Poetry · Rated G · Simon & Schuster BFYR