10/11/11

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10/11/11

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10/11/11

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06/29/11

Deborah Halverson is the author of Writing Young Adult Fiction For Dummies and founder of the writer’s advice website DearEditor.com. Deborah edited young adult and children’s fiction with Harcourt Children’s Books before picking up a pen to write the award-winning teen novels Honk If You Hate Me and Big Mouth.

So, tell us about your writing journey that led you to your new book.

My journey started with a secret. I’ve wanted to be a writer as long as I’ve been old enough to think about what I wanted to be. But I didn’t tell anyone. Not when I was a kid and adults asked me “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Not when I was in high school and actually thought seriously about what I wanted to be when I grew up. Not when I told my dad I wanted to major in English and he asked what in the world I wanted to do with an English degree (“Be a lawyer,” I replied with a straight face). Not when I graduated from college with an English degree or when I began my career as a children’s book editor or even when I started writing my first novel at age 34 and my husband asked what I was doing: “Oh, just typing,” I answered. He knew, though. But he let me have the space to do what I needed to do—which was, finally, to find out if that dream I carried within me was really something worth carrying any longer. I guess it was, because that “typing” led to my debut teen novel Honk If You Hate Me, which was followed very quickly by my teen novel Big Mouth. And now here I am, writing about writing in Writing Young Adult Fiction For Dummies. All the things that happened to me during my writing journey—becoming a children’s book editor, leaving the office job to raise triplets and freelance edit, teaching writing to college students and writers’ groups—added to my understanding of the business as well as the craft of writing, and it’s all finally coming to play in one book.

Any advice for writers?

No matter what genre or category you write for, keep your language and phrasings dynamic. Who wants to read about a character who sits or runs or gives up their wild ways when they could read about a character who lounges or bolts or stops with all the hoo-ha? Inject personality into your narrative with flavorful, evocative words and phrasings.

What about attracting readers, what have you found most helpful?

To attract readers, you’ve got to give them what they want: a great read. And then you’ve got to give them what they don’t know they want. That is, make sure your story has unexpected elements. That means crafting unpredictable endings, of course, but it also means thinking out of the box at the concept stage. Always strive to develop a project that fits a particular genre and category in the marketplace but which also offers that market something fresh. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, for an extreme (and gory) example. Or perhaps a Revolution-era historical fiction in which the son of an African princess is raised wearing the finest clothes in the finest home with the finest education—only to discover that he’s really an enslaved captive in a twisted philosophical experiment. (The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation). Fit your story into a market but then make it stand from that market. That’s how you get readers to stop browsing the shelves and pick up your book . . . and then discover your fantastic work within it.

What’s next for you?

I’m pleased to be turning, once again, to a novel I started writing before Writing Young Adult Fiction For Dummies came into my life. I’m very proud of WYAFFD and believe it offers techniques and insights for writers of all levels, but I have to admit that there were moments when I wanted to set to stop writing about writing fiction for a few days so that I could write some fiction myself. Now I can—and huzzah for that!

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06/21/11

I am a reader. No kidding, you might say? No, I mean I believe I am personally responsible for keeping my old Bookstore in Business, or at the very least paying one of their employee’s salaries.

Before I ever attempted to capture a story myself, reading was/is my greatest pleasure. Often vacations or specific moments in my life are tagged by books. I see myself in college, flopped on my apartment floor reading THE TOMMYKNOCKERS, and a 2 day get away with my sister-in-law is epitomized with THE WEDDING. My first adult book in fifth grade was JAWS and I haven’t looked back since. I read almost every genre. Some more than others, but to steal a line from agents, I’ll read anything where I love the voice.

So, many readers discover an author and read their entire backlist. I do this too.

If you’ve ever bought from AMAZON, they have that suggestive selling feature, which says for ex., ‘If you like Dean Koontz, you’ll love XXXXX”

I’ve discovered EDITORS.

Huh?

I’ve discovered when I read a new author, and fall in love with them, I track down who their editor is. I’ll be honest and admit this starting as an author endeavor, but it quickly morphed into a new way to re-stock my to-be-read pile.

If you’ve loved a book this editor bought, chances are you’ll love her taste. Think of it like Kathleen Kelly in ‘You’ve Got Mail’.

How can your average reader find out this information? First, check the book. Authors usually thanks their agent and editor somewhere…and honestly, this is the age of google and wikipedia. The information is readily available.

Here’s one example. And I’ve never met nor chatted with this author. I recently started reading Heather Dixon’s
ENTWINED. I am a huge fan of folklore and reworked fairytales. A little research shows it’s from Greenwillow Books, and her editor is Martha Mihalick. A little more research–voila! This editor has her own website! I’m fairly certain if I loved this.

I will love her other books too.

Another suggestion. Love a movie? Was it a book first, perhaps by a not-household-name author? Find them!! Then search their backlist. If you fell in love with their film (yes I know Hollywood takes liberties) their backlist will most likely be hidden treasure for your particular mind.

So…ladies and gentlemen, start your search-engines….and let me know what wonderful titles you discover.

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05/23/11

Our fellow muser Grace has hit the NY Times. We are all so happy and proud of you.

http://tinyurl.com/3gh423p

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04/27/11

In this case-the reader being, me. Long before I finally made the leap to transcribe those long-hand notes on lined yellow paper into a book, I was a reader. A voracious one.

When I was a teen, my mom would shop for hours, and long about the FIRST hour, I’d be done. I’d wander through the bookstore reading back cover blurbs, knowing I could only buy so many.

WHY we read is an individual as who we are. Are you looking for adventure, to cry, to puzzle out a riddle? My to be read pile is hilariously tall.

I’m currently reading The Maze Runner….just started it, but am loving is so far.

I also just got a blurb from Amazon about a book which sounds fantastic….however….due to my job as a therapist, I must be a certain mental place to read this book—steeled and ready to cry. One has to navigate the emotional walls carefully lest one fall in the pit, and have difficulty returning to real-life drama and trauma.

So here’s the blurb for the ‘must be ready to read this’ story.

The Story of a Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon

Product Description
It is 1968. Lynnie, a young white woman with a developmental disability, and Homan, an African American deaf man, are locked away in an institution, the School for the Incurable and Feebleminded, and have been left to languish, forgotten. Deeply in love, they escape, and find refuge in the farmhouse of Martha, a retired schoolteacher and widow. But the couple is not alone-Lynnie has just given birth to a baby girl. When the authorities catch up to them that same night, Homan escapes into the darkness, and Lynnie is caught. But before she is forced back into the institution, she whispers two words to Martha: “Hide her.” And so begins the 40-year epic journey of Lynnie, Homan, Martha, and baby Julia-lives divided by seemingly insurmountable obstacles, yet drawn together by a secret pact and extraordinary love.

What about you? Where’s your genre, erm, mind today?

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04/13/11

Today I’m trying something different, not interviewing for a new release–but I’m a total fangirl of C.J.’s blog….please welcome C.J. Redwine–writer, teacher, blogger-of-hilarity.

Bio:

C.J. Redwine writes adult urban fantasy and young adult novels and is represented by Holly Root of Waxman Literary Agency. Once upon a time, she was a high school English teacher who bribed her students with cookies and disciplined them with Super Soakers. Now, she runs a quirky blog, teaches online writing workshops, and meets her writing goals while raising four kids and keeping a day job. And all without losing her mind!

Okay, that last sentence is a bald-faced lie.

RR: I’ll admit being addicted to CJ’s blog. From the moment I opened her blog and saw the subtitle, ‘Paddle faster, I hear banjo music’ I was smitten like Tom Cruise to Renee.

I was also frightened by the similarities–the male-brood, the fact we both were electrocuted by cow fences…..

When did you begin writing?

CJ: I was actually the last kid in first grade to learn how to read (Can we say STUBBORN STREAK?), but once I started, I never looked back. In second grade, I realized I could create stories too, and I’ve been writing fiction ever since.

However, if your real question is when did I start writing with the intent to seek publication, that would be when I was 30. I’d had 3 boys back to back (Oh… you mean I’m supposed to take this little pill at the same time every night or I’m not necessarily covered?) and my brain felt like the creative equivalent of a block of Swiss cheese.

But then, I was diagnosed with cancer, had a nasty little scare, and when I was done fighting for my life, I realized waiting around to pursue my dream of being published until my life lined up perfectly was foolish. Who knows how much time we have? If we want a dream, we have to reach out and grab it.

RR: What genre do you write?

CJ: *laughs* Um … the broad answer is YA and adult urban fantasy. The truth is, every book I’ve ever written that has been worth anything has crossed genres. It seems to be the way my brain works. (Must be the Swiss cheese.)

RR: Words of wisdom for those just beginning this winding journey to publication?

1. Keep writing.
2. Make friends in the writing community who encourage and inspire you.
3. Run from those who’ve clearly been sipping crazy juice for breakfast. No, really. RUN.
4. Grow a thick skin and learn how to take your critiques/reviews/rejections like a professional.
5. Try Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate w/Sea Salt. You’ll thank me.
6. Don’t leap into any agent/critique partner/publisher relationship simply because you’re grateful SOMEONE WANTS YOU. This is long term. Keep your eyes open and choose wisely.
7. Read. Widely. Outside your genre as well as in.
8. Never let your gorgeous prose get in the way of telling a compelling story.
9. While you’re querying, write something new.
10. I mean it about the Ghirardelli.

RR: You interview writers, but your blog….is very unique. How, and when, did Jack Sparrow and the deadly llama commandere your blog?

It’s no secret I’m a huge Johnny Depp fangirl, and that Captain Jack is one of my all time faves. When I was thinking about how to structure my blog content to a three days a week schedule, I decided I wanted to do author interviews because a) I’m a fan, b) I wanted to introduce them to others and c) I thought it would be fun, I quickly realized the same old author interview questions weren’t going to cut it for a blog as quirky as mine. I had this crazy idea that I would create three characters (Captain Jack, the Were-llama, and the Spork of Doom) and let THEM interview and it grew from there. It’s been a ton of fun!

RR: Anything your alter ego’s would like to share?

CJ: Captain Jack’s been “inspecting” the cargo hold full of rum again, and is rather indisposed. The Spork of Doom is out gathering minions and conquering a small island off the coast of Greece. He likes their pie. But there Were-llama is here, and he says “Bring me a cake worthy of my awesome were-llama status or I shall spit in your general direction.” Since he’s adept at spitting from either end, I suggest you obey.

RR: There’s a myriad of reasons people seek to be published; validation, fame, money. For me….it is about the Llama. Since I found him, my primary publishing goal is to become NY published, so that I may release the zombie-goat-herders upon the blog…and the nation.

RR: Thanks so much to CJ and her ‘friends’ for coming.

CJ also teaches a very popular query class. Can you give us your link and when is the next class?

CJ: The link is http://queryworkshop.blogspot.com/ and a list of upcoming workshops for May and June is on the front page.

Thanks for having me! I enjoyed my stay. Though now I have a serious craving for some Dark Chocolate w/Sea Salt. *wanders off to check super-secret stash*

CJ–this is my little surprise for you. I bought this picture…or is it an ominous premonition of things to come? Clearly, the child is terrified.

Posted in Odds & Ends| 25 Comments »

03/23/11

Ok. Yes, this book was published in 2008. I don’t care, I’m reviewing it anyway.

When you are a writer, this is a major problem. You have your own work in progress, your critique partner’s projects, and beta reads for another set of buddies…so by the time you get to the books on your to-be-read pile, your reviewing books published in 2008.

I read in most genres, but young adult and historicals and fantasy (somebody stop me) are my favorites.

I wrote Kathleen Kent to gush my love for the book. I’m currently working on a Salem-based fantasy historical, and the witch trials always fascinated me.

Kathleen Kent is a descendent of Martha Carrier, and the book was derived from ten generations of Carrier family legends.

The book affected more than any I have ever read. I do not cry easily–I have a very difficult, sad, soul-sucking day job, so am tough as nails.

I cried 13 times. I counted because I couldn’t believe I was blubbering yet again. It was the selflessness of the characters which brought me to my knees. And snotted my shirt.

The aspie in me was immediately drawn to Martha. She was a no-nonsense, spirited woman who spoke her mind–despite the constraints of her time period.

Other connections ensued and captivated me. Martha had 3 sons. I have 3 sons. Her middle son’s mind was ravaged by smallpox; one of my children is vaccine injured. Her husband was HUGE; I think it was 6 foot eight? My own is six foot, six inches.

AND–I’m now best friends with Ancestry.com and Who do you think you are? show.

Because Martha’s daughter lived through the horrendous trials and grew up to marry….a Chapman.

I. Am. A. Chapman.

**In tribute, I’m giving away the Audiobook of The Heretic’s Daughter to one lucky commenter today.
Here is Kathleen’s website, and if you want a beautiful, haunting read, filled with courage, ignorance and possibly group hysteria–this is the book for you.

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03/9/11

I’ve blogged before about my love of travel in the name of research….as I have major spring fever–I thought I’d think of April and just mentally hibernate till it arrives. A new book is rattling around in my brain…and new books usually culminate in new trips.

For my book about synesthesia, I visited Salem, MA. It was a historian’s disneyland.

Read the rest of this entry »

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