Attention NYC

This just in from GalleyCat: Strand Books announced late last week that their Fulton Street annex will be shutting down for good at the end of August. That means that starting today, everything in the store is discounted 20 percent. It's got good selection, and it's conveniently located across the street from the subway entrance, so you might want to make a little side trip. (No word yet if this price cuts will get deeper as the final date approaches, so you're on your own figuring out the "amazing discounts versus diminishing stock" calculus...)

Sad that the annex is shutting down, but definitely a good opportunity to stock up on some wonderful summer reading.

xoxo
Lisa GW

Getting Bogged Down

I hate my WIP. This always happens to me in the middle of a first draft. In the beginning I’m all excited about starting out, about all the potential that’s there and getting to know my characters. And at the end I’m all excited to wrap things up, to have a big payoff that is satisfying and ideally a bit surprising. But it’s that time in between that kills me. This is when things drag. I throw in scenes I’m not sure I’ll need because I’m worried I’m not exploring a subplot enough. Or I’ll feel obligated to write a scene to move things along, even though I’m not really feeling it.

When I’m working on the beginning or the end, not feeling a scene means it’s probably not working. But in the middle it could mean that but it could also just mean it’s the middle and I don’t like the middle so I’m not going to be feeling even the most spectacular of scenes. It’s the one time where I really can’t just trust my gut.

I’m not sure why the middle is the place where it all slows down and give me time to think, “is anyone really going to care about any of this?” Which is never a good question to be asking yourself when you’re trying to be productive.

Where do you guys get bogged down in writing? And how do you shake out of it?

#daphne

ALA advice...

If you're going to ALA this weekend, please stop by the Scholastic booth (#1108) on Sunday at 1:00.

Why?

Because I'll be signing copies of KENDRA, that's why!

Before the signing, I have to read at the Scholastic Brunch, and I still haven't decided what chapter to read. If I read the first chapter, I won't have to do any setup, but if I read a later chapter it might be a little more interesting. I'm freaking out a little about this because I haven't read from KENDRA anywhere yet, so the first time will be in front of a large group of librarians (who are always great and supportive, but still, I don't want to bomb big-time!)

When you hear authors read from their books, do you prefer to hear the beginning? Or do you like being thrown into the action? I need to make a decision already!!!
:-)
~Coe

Looking Back

If you are not yet familiar with Lizzie Skurnick's AH-MAZING column FINE LINES on Jezebel, please make yourself aware STAT. Lizzie rereads classic middle grade and YA novels, the ones we allllllll were obsessed with in our youth, and gives a plot summary and some fresh perspective.

I adore this column, especially after I completed an assignment in grad school where we had to reread a novel we loved from our youth and see how it stood up (or didn't) over time. I chose THE SECRET GARDEN and it was a totally different than the book I had remembered as a kid. Lizzie's latest post, on another favorite of mine, JULIE OF THE WOLVES, had me rolling on the floor.

Anyhow, Lizzie has just sold a book proposal based on her column to Harper Collins, and is now looking for content recommendations as she starts writing her book. Check out all the details here and pitch her your favorite.

What an awesome, awesome idea!!!

-=siobhan=-

Writing Quote of the Day

"Some critics will write: 'Maya Angelou' is a natural writer' - which is right after being a natural heart surgeon." - Maya Angelou

I love you, Maya Angelou! I had the pleasure of hearing her speak and read in Binghamton when I was in college. It was truly awesome.

Have a good day!
Lisa GW

Ask the Longstockings: Agent Protocol

The Longstockings received this question:

"My agent and I are having a meeting to discuss a submission plan for my book. However, a friend of mine asked me if this was unusual, because she's at the same agency and her agent did all that without discussing it with her. Which way is right? Is one scenario more common?"

As far as I know, every agent works a little differently, regardless of their agency. I have only worked with one myself, and she and I discussed who we wanted to send my book to before she sent it out. However, I do have friends whose agents manage the entire submission process and only let them know when there is good news (they don't even share the bad news!). That type of relationship may be suitable for some people, but not me. While I defer to my agent's expertise, I like to know what's going on, and I like to hear even the bad news, as sometimes it can be helpful.

How you work with your particular agent is entirely up to you. What's most important is that you and your agent are able to discuss your working relationship so that it suits you both. If you would like to be a part of the process, and your agent says no, well then that's a red flag. Finding the right agent is a lot harder than just getting someone to agree to represent you. It should be a comfortable fit, based on open lines of communication, much like a romantic relationship or close friendship.

Good luck with your submissions!

*caroline hickey

The Nina, the Pinta, and the Incredible Jill Santopolo

There aren't many people who are brilliant, charming, kind, and super-duper pretty too, but the fabulous Jill Santopolo just happens to be one of them. Not only is she an editor at HarperCollins (where she edits both my books and Daphne's too), she also happens to be a writer, with her debut chapter book mystery, The Nina, the Pinta, and the Vanishing Treasure: Alec Flint, Super Sleuth, Book 1, in stores now. Daphne and I had the pleasure of reading an advanced copy and, not shockingly, we both thought it was amazing. Here, we talk to Jill about Christopher Columbus, the art of writing mysteries, and lots more good stuff.

DAPHNE: How do you balance editing and writing? I know first hand what an amazing and involved editor you are and this book rocks so I'm thinking maybe you don't sleep?

JILL: Thanks so much for both those lovely compliments! Unfortunately, your guess about lack of sleep is a good one. Over the past two years, sleep has taken a bit of a backseat... What I try to do--though it doesn't always work--is make a No Editing Outside The Office policy, so that once I get home, the only thing on my mind is writing my own books. In practice, this often means I stay in the office kind of late so I can finish editing there before I go home, but on the whole, it seems to be working out for me. I also find that writing a little bit each day works well for me, too, because I can pretty much always find time to write a little something, and it keeps me in a writing mind-set.

LISA: I want to second Daphne's opinion that you are a fabulous editor!! Do you think there ways in which being an editor has informed your writing, and vice versa? Are there any ways in which being one makes the other more difficult?

JILL: Thanks to you, too, Lisa! I definitely thing being an editor has informed my writing, and being an writer has informed my editing. And I think I've become a better writer and a better editor because I've been wearing both hats. I can empathize with my authors and I can empathize with my editor--it's kind of like being an athlete who coaches, too. I actually don't think there are any ways that being one makes the other more difficult...well, except for the time crunch Daphne was asking about before.

DAPHNE: I love how the book interweaves the plot with interesting bits of history. How did you choose to write about Christopher Columbus?

JILL: I've always been interested in Christopher Columbus because he's such an important historical figure, but also such a controversial one. And then, right when I was starting to think about writing a mystery based in a museum, Christopher Columbus seemed to follow me everywhere. I wrote the first draft of The Nina, The Pinta and the Vanishing Treasure while I was living on Columbus Ave. And the subway stop I got off at to get to work was Columbus Circle. Then I went to Washington, DC, and there was a Columbus fountain. I figured if a historical figure was taking the time to follow me around, the least I could do was write about him.

LISA: I liked the Christopher Columbus bits, too, and I really enjoyed that you didn't shy away from the fact that he's a controversial figure--but you didn't beat kids over the head with history, either. What kind of research did you do for the story? And were there any interesting Columbus tidbits you ended up leaving out that you'd care to share here?

JILL: I researched a bunch about Christopher Columbus before I began writing--I read a lot of books written for 7-10-year -olds so I'd know what kind of knowledge my audience might have about Columbus, and then I read some books and online articles written for adults to see if there was anything else I wanted to use. I included most of the facts that I thought were especially interesting or especially funny--like the live animals who hung in slings while the boats crossed the Atlantic --but I did find out a bunch of information I didn't include because it didn't deal directly with Columbus's voyages.

LISA: Alec's friend and sleuthing partner, Gina, comes from a big Italian family, and I love that there is Italian language and culture sprinkled throughout the story. Do you come from Italian roots yourself?

JILL: I'm kind of a mutt. My family comes from all over--different countries, different religions, different cultures--but my grandfather on my dad's side is Italian, which means my last name is Italian, and because of that I decided to learn Italian while I was in college. I actually was on a trip to Italy when I found out that Scholastic wanted to buy The Nina, The Pinta and the Vanishing Treasure--I read the e-mail from an internet cafe in Rome (where, by the way, I found a street named after Christopher Columbus. And I found another one in Capri.).

DAPHNE: I can't imagine writing a mystery--I think it must be such a challenge to know how to drop just enough info so that the reader is following but not figuring every thing out until the end. What are your tips for how to write a mystery?

JILL: My biggest tip for mystery writing is to plan everything out before you start. I find that knowing the ending, the clues, and the red herrings in advance of putting pencil to paper--or finger to computer key--makes the whole process much easier. Once you have all those pieces, you can slot them in like a puzzle so that something interesting or important happens in each chapter of the book.

LISA: The illustrations in the book (by C.B. Canga) are just awesome. What was it like working with an illustrator?

JILL: I've never met C.B. Canga, but I love the art he did for Alec. The folks at Scholastic asked me for written descriptions of all the characters, and then C.B. created the black-and-white line art in the book based on my descriptions. It was so, so cool getting to see my characters come to life on the page.

DAPHNE: Tell us about Alec's next adventure.

JILL: Alec's next adventure, is coming out next summer (2009) and is called The Ransom Note Blues: An Alec Flint Mystery. In the book, something has gone missing from Laurel Hollows, Alec and Gina's town, and a note sent to the local newspaper is the only clue. Alec and Gina have to figure out what was stolen from the town and where it was moved to before the villain makes good on the threat to "turn the town blue." I just sent the manuscript off to my editor earlier this month, and I'm hoping she likes it!

Before I go, I want to mention a contest that Scholastic is running. The first three people to e-mail me (jill@jillsantopolo.com) with their mailing address telling me that they saw me on The Longstockings and that they've cracked the following coded message will receive a free, autographed copy of The Nina, The Pinta and the Vanishing Treasure. (Hint: The key to Alec and Gina's code is over on my site www.jillsantopolo.com)

Here's the coded message that needs to be cracked: GSZMP BLF HL NFXS, ORHZ ZMW WZKSMV! RG DZH HL MRXV GL ERHRG!

LISA: Thanks for visiting us, Jill! (Or should I say, GSZMPH ULI ERHRGRMT, QROO! BLF'IV GSV ZDVHLNVHG!)

~lisa graff~

P.S. For more great interviews with Jill, check out Through the Tollbooth and Fuse #8.

P.P.S. Why is it that spellcheck thinks "BLFTV" is a perfectly acceptable word, while "ERHRGRMT" is problematic??

DC Writing Retreat in Pictures

We had such an amazing retreat last weekend in lovely DC. Caroline and her husband Mike were the perfect hosts. A ton of writing and gossiping and friendshipping was accomplished. Reunited and it felt SO GOOD!

Here's a recap in pictures...

first things first - we all marveled at the size of Caroline's belly. have you ever seen a more beautiful preggers writing lady? she looked soooo pretty, and (rightfully) excited!

then, Caroline's husband made us a breakfast feast. pancakes, bacon, eggs, oj...the works!
Mike = dreamboat

after a bit of morning typing, we visited Politics & Prose for a field trip.
the children's section was HUGE...and took up nearly the whole basement.

and look what we saw in the stacks! yay Daphne!

back at Caroline's, we had some delicious writing snacks provided by mom-in-law Darlene.
luckily... the sugar high kicked in fast!

tag team writing, LisaLisa style!

Jenny and I wrestle with my new plot.

seriously though, we wrote and wrote and wrote. and it was so nice being together, brainstorming, laughing, smack-talking, and strolling around Caroline's quaint neighborhood. these girls make the hardest work feel like fun.

finally, we celebrated a long day of writing with a feast of maryland crabs

Lisa Graff got crackin'

and everyone toasted a writing weekend well done, with a special
bon voyage shout out to Kathryne!

And another writing retreat bites the dust. *sniff* Let's do it again soon, ladies!

-=siobhan=-

How to poo-poo a bad review?

Ironically, I woke up this morning thinking I wanted to post about bad reviews... How do authors deal with them? Should we ignore them completely, like starlets who refuse to read the tabloids, or should we try to take something positive out of it? These are all things I was thinking about while xeroxing library reviews at work today for some of my authors. And wouldn't you know it, there happened to be a review for my book (The Life and Crimes of Bernetta Wallflower) in the stack too. Awesome! I thought. A library review!

Ummmmmm.

Not so much. Because this particular library review, perhaps the most scathing I've ever read for any book ever (and I've read a LOT of library reviews), begins with the words "It is rare that I hate a book, but I really hated this one," and ends with the line "My suggestion is to throw the book in the trash."

Egad, that's bad. I mean, that's BAD, right? But weirdly it didn't bother me all that much. Actually, I've gotten much nicer reviews that I found lots more offensive (The "if a trifle earnest..." from Kirkus for my first book still stings...). Partly I think it's because this particular librarian seemed to be more offended by my subject matter than my writing (not shocking--if the idea of child thievery makes you squeamish, you're probably not going to be a huge fan of a novel about a twelve-year-old con artist), and I knew from the day I started a book that would probably be a sticking point with some people. But also, it's sort of weirdly awesome to get a review this bad. It's likely the worst review I'll get for a looooong time, which is nice to know.

So what do other writers do when they get bad reviews? Laugh? Cry? Throw them in the garbage disposal? Gabrielle Zevin, one of my favorite authors (and a former Longstockings guest star!), posts her very worst on her website for the world to see, in the very funny Gallery of Bad Reviews. What are some other ideas? Got any advice or horror stories? I'd love to hear!

~lisa graff~

FIREBRAND LITERARY to Start Book Packaging Division

According to this article, Nadia Cornier's Firebrand Literary is getting into the world of young adult packaging, by launching a new venture called TINDERBOX.

Interesting stuff. I'm guessing the agency would take a sales commission AND a separate packagers fee. But I think things would get tricky in terms of copyright. While some cases, the author retains 50% of the copyright in a packaged scenario, a lot of times it is simply work for hire with a small royalty. In those cases, it's because the packager themselves has taken the time to conceptualize an idea, outline the book, and you are basically just a typist-for-hire.

I wonder if Tinderbox will work the same way. Will they pitch fully formed ideas to their writers? Or will the writers pitch them ideas? If the latter is true, I wonder how that will differentiate from your basic agent-author relationship, as ideas are pitched and fleshed out and tested in house, before submitting to editors.

Anyhow, it gets a little blurry (in my mind) when your advocate is also getting potentially a huge cut of your services.

What do you think?

-=siobhan=-

ps. love you jenn!

Wowza

So check out this great new book GOODNIGHT BUSH. Sound familiar? It's a reimagining of Margaret Wise Brown's GOODNIGHT MOON, only this book is all about President Bush's finally days in the White House. The authors call it a "traumedy." The New York Times wonders if the secret to success in publishing isn't bashing Bush.

Little, Brown, I salute you.

Multi Platform Book Series

Lisa Holton's new publishing venture was announced in today's Publisher's Weekly. She's starting her own company, within Harper Collins, called Fourth Story. Here's what she'll be doing.

Fourth Story will produce stories and content that spans multiple formats, including books, Web sites, online games, DVDs, audio/digital downloads and social networks. Its first series is The Amanda Project, an interactive, collaborative fictional mystery series for girls aged 12 to 14, told across a variety of different media including books, a Web site that features games and a social networking platform, a related series of blogs and satellite sites, music, and merchandise.

Is this really the future of books? I mean, when I worked at Alloy Entertainment, we did strive to have a web component to all our properties. The most successful were the message boards on Lisi Harrison's website for The Clique series. Girls FLOCKED to those boards, posting to each other 24/7. It continued The Clique brand online...but it wasn't new content we had to develop, either.

I have kind of a hard time believing this is publishing's true future. After all, only certain and specific concepts can work with these multi-platform releases. And developing them...well, isn't that a cart-before-the-horse scenario? I don't know. I mean, I have a tough enough time trying to flesh out a straight-forward outline, never mind some insane cross-platform mega-package.

What do you think? Is this publishing's future?

-=siobhan=-

WIP it. WIP it Good!

When a problem comes along, you must WIP it.

I finished my WIP!!!!! Well, finished the first draft anyway. That was my goal for this past weekend's Longstockings Summer Retreat, even though I didn't technically finish it until yesterday. I got the image for the final scene from my friend/fellow writer/former editrix Siobhan. And that image gave me the boost I needed to get through those final tough pages.

For some writers, finishing a first draft means just some chapter edits or line edits, and then poof! it's done. But not me. I have to revise and revise substantially. That's okay, though, because when I know where the story is going, and I know how my characters change from beginning to end, I can go back with a knowledgeable eye and fix all those dreadful scenes (usually in the third quarter of the book) where I floundered about in the initial draft.

So that is my task for the next few weeks. I will be playing Devo's "Whip It" before each revision session to pump me up.


*caroline hickey

Book Readings

Last week I did my very first bookstore reading and signing in my hometown of Red Hook, NY. It was really fun, though when I arrived it turned out the local cable channel was there to film me, so that was a bit nerve wracking. I had to wear a microphone while I read and answered questions. Hopefully I sounded okay since they are going to broadcast it in the next few weeks. But my friends in the area plus a lot of my mom’s and dad’s friends came out which was awesome and it was a very friendly crowd. There were even a few teens!

Afterwards I was chatting with the guy from the TV channel and a remark he made had me wondering if maybe I didn’t read from my book long enough. I don't think he was being critical but it got me thinking about how long one should read at a reading. I have three more coming up and I’m wondering how long I should try to read at each. There aren’t a whole lot of places in the book I can just read from without ten minutes of plot and character explanation, and I really want to avoid that. To me an ideal reading is between 5-10 minutes and mine was maybe about 6 minutes. What do you guys think- is that too short? What is your ideal for book readings? All input appreciated!

And here are my readings if you happen to be in the area:

*Wednesday June 25, 6:00 at the Jefferson Market Branch of the NY Public Library- I’m part of a group that includes Sarah Mlynowski, E Lockhart and Rachel Vail
*Thursday June 26, 6:00at Books of Wonder in NYC- I’ll be part of a middle grade and teen author group from HarperCollins that includes the one and only Lisa Graff.
*Friday July 11, 6:00 at The Alphabet Garden in Cheshire CT

#daphne

Books on writing

Hi everyone!

We're back from another awesome Longstockings retreat. The timing couldn't have been more perfect for me because school ended last Thursday and now I am on summer vacation! And summer vacation for me means writing! And of course it also means the pool, the beach, the park, sun and sunscreen. But this summer I also want to read as many books on writing as I can. I know we've discussed this on the blog before, but there are always new books out there. Please give me recommendations for the best books on writing. I'm starting with Escaping into the Open because Jenny Han loves it and has recommended it many times and it's been on my shelf for a while now just waiting to be read.

I can't wait to check out your favorite books on writing.

Thanks!
Lisa GW

My Book Party!

I had my book party for Alive and Well at the Bank Street Bookstore this past Tuesday. Lots of people braved the heat to come help me celebrate. Here are a few pics:

This is me with my super awesome editor Jill Santopolo. She was a dream to work with and said nice things when she introduced my reading, not once mentioning my numerous neurotic worrying emails.

I was really nervous reading but people were very supportive, including these guys, fellow writers Rebecca Stead, Donna Freitas and Courtney Sheinmel.

After reading I signed books. This is Karen Kanareck who was in our New School program, and that's the back of my daughter's head. If you look closely you can see that not only did she get chocolate all over her face but she managed to get some on the back of her neck as well!
Speaking of the chocolate, I'd gotten cookies from this amazing bakery on the Upper West Side, Levain. Here you can see people hanging out around the cookie table, including Lisa Graff, Kathryne and friends David and Aram. And on the far right that's the shoulder of my wonderful agent, Alyssa Eisner-Henkin. I'm not positive of the identity of the other shoulder. Peeking out from the back are the gorgeous sunflowers my New School mentor, Sarah Weeks, brought.
Afterwards we went for drinks and food at a nearby restaurant. This is me with Jenny and Lisa GW.

I had such a great time and am so thankful to everyone who came!

#daphne

Notes from the slush pile: Preposterous packaging

Recently arrived in my inbox: A box, sealed at every edge with difficult-to-tear-through packing tape. Inside that? An envelope (and not the rip-open-with-a-letter-opener kind, either; the dig-through-your-drawer-for-the-scissors kind). And inside that? ANOTHER BOX. Sealed with yet more packing tape. And finally, lo and behold, I got to the manuscript. About twenty years later.

To all my fellow writers out there, a word of advice: I realize that your manuscript is your baby. I know that. But don't make an editor jump through hoops to open it, or she's gonna hate that baby before she even sees it. It is paper, people. PAPER. It can go in a regular old envelope, I swear.

(All right, done venting now...)

~lisa graff~

Summer Writing Retreat!!

The Longstockings' Summer Writing Retreat begins tomorrow!

Because our group is extremely accommodating, they have offered to come to DC to see me for this particular retreat. Last June we stayed at an awesome B&B in upstate New York with a pool, so you can see this is very nice of them!!!! But I'm 8 1/2 months pregnant now so I really can't travel. Or bend over. Or sleep.

My mother-in-law is making us some great writing snacks, my husband is cooking us a big writer-y breakfast, and I will be taking the girls on the town for some fun dinners in Georgetown. We might also hit a few literary hot spots like Politics & Prose. Oh, and we're going to do a bunch of writing.

At the beginning of every retreat, we usually each set a goal for ourselves, which we share publicly (as incentive). My goal is to FINISH MY WIP. I'm almost there. I'm really close. It can be done.

Expect a few updates this weekend live from the retreat!

*caroline hickey

In between the Eye and the Freud Museum

As the school year ramps down, preparations for The Move ramp up. Wheee! My a/c broke down right before last weekend's heat wave, so I'm readier than ever to move to a country where it rarely gets above 80.

Of course, any major life change comes with some anxiety. In this as in everything, I turn to books to see me through. I've been re-reading Terry Pratchett like crazy, because that's what I always read when I'm stressed out. When I first found out we were moving, I re-read Peter S. Beagle's wonderful book, Tamsin , about a girl who reluctantly moves from the Upper West Side to Dorset, where she befriends a ghost. Daphne's Alive and Well in Prague, NY came at just the right time, too--another reluctant exile from the City! Though Matisse would probably be thrilled to trade places with me, so maybe I should stop complaining and start enjoying.

To get me in a London-y mood, my book club recently read Brideshead Revisited. I checked Westminster Abby, about an American exchange student, out of the library. My favorite recent find was Thames Doesn’t Rhyme with James, Paula Danziger's book about a bunch of kids on a London scavenger hunt. The first book in the series, Remember Me to Harold Square, first convinced me I had to live in New York, back when I was 11! My favorite thing about TDRwJ was that its narrator goes to London to be reunited with her long-distance boyfriend... my husband moved over to the UK in April, so I can definitely relate.

I need more!!! What are your favorite books about moving, or books set in London? My TV is moving before I am and won't arrive until about 6 weeks after I do, so I'm going to have a LOT of time to entertain myself. What should I read on the Tube, or over lunch in the museum cafe? What will get me excited about exploring my new home, or show me what I'll be seeing in a new way?

Also, for any UK-based readers out there: what kids lit should I pick up when I arrive? And which is the best book store for browsing?

--Kathryne

This year's commencement speech at a small Boston college

I can't believe I get to be the one to post this .

Scroll past the obnoxious students opining that the most widely-read novelist alive today isn't important enough to speak at their school. The very moving speech is in a box at the bottom.

--Kathryne

P.S. Thanks to Jezebel --home of the great Friday feature "Fine Lines"--for the link.

A Book a Year???

Interesting article about the pressure many top-selling authors feel to continue to pump out a book a year.

Many writers below the top tier are also being urged to pick up the pace. In some cases, publishers have made a book-per-year promise an explicit condition of taking on a new author.

AND

The huge success of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter novels has tended to obscure the underlying stagnation of book publishing.

Yikes!! This is mostly in regards to adult suspense/thrillers, but a good read nonetheless.




*caroline hickey

Big Fat Awesome Read

Nico Medina's FAT HOOCHIE PROM QUEEN is one of the funnest books I've read in a long time. Madge Diaz is a big girl who loves herself and knows just what an awesome gal she is. Her sassy voice is the pulse of this book and Medina nails it again and again with sharp observations that at times were so right on they made me laugh out loud. Madge's sidekick is the fabulous Lucas, gay boy extraordinaire, who has just had a nasty break up with his beloved boyfriend. They are coasting along at the end of senior year, partying in style, when Madge is challenged by the evil Bridget Benson, golden girl of the school and star of her own TV show. There's a bad history between Madge and Bridget that leads the two to a face off: they challenge each other to a dual for prom queen and that's when the fun kicks it up into high gear. Along the way Madge discovers some truths about life and the book leaves you feeling good about the choices she makes. She may have a big, luscious booty but her heart is even bigger, and she's not afraid to flaunt either. This is an awesome read that I super highly recommend!

#daphne

What would you tell Obama to read?

Here's an interesting tid-bit from The New York Times Book Review. A bunch of writers got to give their literary recommendation for the Presidential candidates. Interesting, huh?

Now, what would YOU tell them to read?

Off the top of my head, nothing is really coming to me. Well, books are coming to me for Hillary, but sad times, she's no longer in the race. Maybe The New York Times Book Review will do another one for vice presidential candidates. Hmmm.

In the meantime, I have many of recommendations for Obama's daughters. They are so cute!

Happy weekend!
Lisa GW

All that and she bakes, too

Congratulations to Longstocking Lisa Graff who has just been promoted to Associate Editor at Farrar, Straus, and Giroux Books for Young Readers!

Somehow Lisa has managed to work full-time in editorial for over three years now while simultaneously writing and publishing three middle grade novels. There are only a handful of editor/writers that I know of (Jill Santopolo, David Levithan, Lisa Graff, who am I forgetting??) and it really impresses me. After long days of editing and reading slush and dealing with the production details of other people's books, how do they have the energy to write and revise their own?

My hat is off to these formidable writer/editors!

P.S. This little kid playing baseball has nothing to do with this post, other than he's celebrating. He was just so cute I had to use him.

*caroline hickey

Older and wiser

The past few years I've been noticing a strange trend in myself: Lots of things I used to totally hate are things I now totally LUV. Examples that spring readily to mind are beets (yum), pointy heels (awesome), and dudes with beards (word). I like to see this as a sign not that I am a totally fickle human being, but that my tastes are growing and maturing. Like a Gouda. (P.S. I just found this T-shirt on the internets, and now I totally want it.)


And my literary tastes are changing too. Like, since when did I start liking prologues and novels in verse??? Since now, apparently. There's even a prologue in one of my novels. So it just goes to show, you never know what you'll like a few years down the line. Ten years from now I expect to be totally enraptured by trilogies about millipedes told in the second-person.

So what all does everyone here like that they used to loathe?

~lisa graff~

My Book is Out!

After two years it's actually out and available! I just went on Amazon and it's no longer just pre order, it's the real deal (not that pre order wasn't a thrill too)! It says there are only four copies left but I find that hard to believe. Anyway, it's out and I'm so excited! As soon as I take the kids to preschool I'm heading to the bookstore to see it live. I seriously can't wait. And then it's home to do laundry and get some work done on my WIP that is giving me a hard time and call the vet and do all the other things in a regular day. But you can believe I'll be checking that Amazon page more than once today because my book is finally, finally out- yay!

# daphne

ps- Check out the fun interview I did with Heidi, who asks the best questions!

How to Make a Book Purse

If you have some free time, why not make a book purse?

Here's how


xoxoxo
Lisa GW

An Interview with Jennifer Laughran!

Jennifer Laughran is a Jane-of-all-trades. She's an an agent at ANDREA BROWN LITERARY, a buyer for San Fran's finest independent BOOKS INC. and also 1/2 of the masterful duo behind the brilliant NOT YOUR MOTHER'S BOOK CLUB.

And, lucky us...she agreed to participate in our Agent Interview series. Jennifer's answers are truly illuminating, as she reveals how her experience and expertise in all aspects of the publishing biz have collided into the Perfect Storm. Enjoy!

1. Tell us how you became an agent.

Well, everyone's path to agenting is a little different; there isn't a school for it. I was a children's bookseller and event coordinator for a very long time before I became an agent. This gave me a terrific grounding in the kids book world and knowledge of the market. I really enjoy working with authors, and being an evangelist for my favorite books, so agenting seemed like a logical next step. I interned for a little while as a reader for Andrea Brown Literary Agency -- and I found some authors I really wanted to rep -- and the rest is history.

I love being at Andrea Brown because we all work very closely together. That means, though I am new at agenting, I have the benefit of years of experience and clout behind me. Plus, Andrea always brings popcorn to meetings.

2. What are your favorite and least favorite aspects of the job?

I love getting a great offer, of course! And telling it to the author -- I think it is really as exciting for me as it is for them. I hate that it sometimes takes me longer than I'd like to get to slush. I feel very guilty about that, and I wish there were more time in the day.

3. Have you ever not taken an author on because you met them in person and didn't like them?

No. I might, though, it would depend on the problem. I can deal with high maintenance, I can deal with a big personality (cause I have one too!) -- but I can't deal with mean. Luckily, children's book authors are a pretty jolly bunch for the most part.

4. Have you ever taken someone on not because you loved their stuff, but because you knew it would sell?

No. I am picky. There are lots of things that would sell, or have sold, for a lot of money, that I would have no interest in repping. I really have to believe in the book and author. That said, I am sure that the people that rep those projects DO believe in them wholeheartedly -- and probably wouldn't want to rep my authors. That's subjectivity for you...

5. Is a deal for more money always a better deal? Why or why not?

Certainly the advance money is important, but editor enthusiasm, the packaging / quality of the books from that publisher, a great marketing plan, etc. etc. - these are all factors too. Would you rather be a lead title with an incredibly enthusiastic editor at a medium sized press with a great reputation -- or get a little more advance money, but be lost in the shuffle as one of a hundred new books that month from Gargantua Corp.? We definitely love big advances -- but I advise my clients to look at all these factors when making a decision.

6. When you take on a client, it's generally with the intent to represent them for their career and not just one project. Therefore, what happens if you "fall out of love" with an author's work? Has that ever happened to you?

It hasn't happened to me. Knock wood. There have been surprises, too. For example, though I often don't love picture books, I have loved the picture books that my clients have given me -- clients that I signed based on their YA or MG books. And I've even been able to sell them!

7. What is a sure sign that you have gotten an awesome manuscript? And what is the surest sign that you are going to pass?

When I can't stop reading, of course! I definitely know I want it when I am reading and thinking of editors that I'd like to show it to. With books that I take on, I generally have my short first-round of submissions list pretty much figured out by the time I finish the book. Also, this might sound a little woo-woo, but, with every manuscript I've ever taken on, I've had a very real feeling that it could be a book -- I'll even be able to imagine the heft of it and what it looks like, down to the colophon on the spine.

Pass -- well, if I can't get through it, of course. But really, the toughest is when I like something, but I don't love it. I can see the author is talented -- but it just isn't quite clicking for me. That is really hard. I spend a lot of time debating with myself on those ones. Still, if I can't visualize it as a finished book and I can't think of editors I want to show it to... I have to say no, even if it is good.

8. Are you currently looking for new clients? What is your submission policy?

Sure. I am always on the lookout for terrific YA and MG books. Our submission policy is, email only, 10 pages in the body of the email -- and please read the agent bios carefully, as a no from one agent is a no from the agency. Submission guidelines and agent bios can be found at www.andreabrownlit.com

Thanks so much, Jennifer!

-=siobhan=-