Hello, my name is Jordan and I am a student at Henry M. Jackson High School. I am required to do a Senior Culminating project in order to gradute, and I was hoping to do it on writing a children's book. My dilemma at the moment is finding a qualified mentor that is willing to... Continue Reading →
Nina Hess: editor extraordinaire
We're lucky to have in our midst Nina Hess, who edited this perfect-for-Halloween gem:A Practical Guide to VampiresHow old is a vampire fledgling? Why do vampires avoid mirrors? What’s the best way to slip into a vampire’s lair? New York Times best-selling author Lisa Trumbauer illuminates the twilight world of vampires in the next edition... Continue Reading →
Lee and Low new voices contest
Don't know how I missed this, but it's the last day to enter.From their site:About the AwardLEE & LOW BOOKS, award-winning publisher of children’s books, is pleased to announce the tenth annual NEW VOICES AWARD. The Award will be given for a children’s picture book manuscript by a writer of color. The Award winner receives... Continue Reading →
Time Traveler’s Wife: an interview with the author
So Writer's Digest has a great interview with Audrey Niffenegger, who wrote The TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE and just scored an advance in the neighborhood of $5 million for her new novel.The best part is the last paragraph, in which she inadvertently reveals she maybe doesn't read a lot of YA: Would you classify that as... Continue Reading →
Targeting an agent
Christina at MiG writers (a blog by mid-grade authors) has some good advice on organizing your agent search: make a spreadsheet; read the books the agent has worked on; collect tidbits on Twitter and elsewhere that give you a better picture.To read the whole thing, click here.
Yes, you can get a book deal from a blog
Cheryl Klein, the Scholastic editor who'll be with us at our November writing retreat, writes about how one prospective author's blog really helped sell the writer and her work. It's a good reminder about the power of new technology. If you do this stuff right, editors will get a sense of who you are, what... Continue Reading →
Chat tonight with Janet Lee Carey!
Stop on by readergirlz tonight at 6 p.m. Pacific/9 p.m. Eastern for a special event with readergirlz co-founder and local YA fantasy author Janet Lee Carey!Janet has been hard at work on several new fantasy novels - STEALING DEATH was on the premier launch list of new-to-the-States publisher, Egmont USA. Congratulations, Janet!Hope to see you... Continue Reading →
Editorial Freelancers Association classes
Our colleague Lisa Owens recently rejoined the EFA board as education chair, and she wanted to let us know about their Fall 2009 Education Program. They have an exciting season of targeted professional-development opportunities planned and hope you'll try out some of their online offerings and/or live events in Seattle and NYC.ONLINE CLASSESHow to Get... Continue Reading →
The excellence of an Exquisite Corpse
NPR has the tale of a posse of children's writers piecing together an online serial story called EXQUISITE CORPSE ADVENTURE. It's quite the group of writers, including Jon Scieszka, Katherine Paterson, and Kate DiCamillo.Check out the NPR story here, and the official EXQUISITE CORPSE ADVENTURE here.
New agent seeks author/illustrators
Chuck at GuidetoLiteraryAgents.com has this lead: Teresa Kietlinski joined Prospect Agency in 2009 after thirteen happy years of working in the publishing industry at Disney-Hyperion, Dial Books for Young Readers, Viking Children's Books, William Morrow and Company, and St. Martin's Press. Teresa has designed and art directed hundreds of children's books of all sizes and... Continue Reading →