JILL CORCORAN ON A PATH TO PUBLISHING INTERACTION ONLINE WORKSHOPS AND GIVEAWAY

Today I’m thrilled to have Jill Corcoran here to share about her new A Path to Publishing online interactive workshops. Jill is an agent at Herman Agency and represents primarily middle grade and YA authors as well as select chapter book and picture book authors.

She is also the anthologist of DARE TO DREAM…CHANGE THE WORLD, Kane Miller Books, winner of the 2013 International Reading Association 2013 Notable Books for a Global Society Award as well as a 2013 California Reading Association’s Eureka! Nonfiction Children’s Honor.

Hi Jill. Thanks so much for joining us.

1. Tell us about your new A Path to Publishing online interactive workshops and why you started this.

I started A Path to Publishing to give authors the ability to talk directly to editors, literary agents, film/tv agents, art directors, sales, marketing and publicity directors, and more.

A Path to Publishing is powered by an innovative interactive video chat platform that allows participants to not only watch presentations but also participate with faculty directly--as though everyone is in the same room. (think Skype on steroids!) Plus, ALL WORKSHOPS ARE LIMITED TO 20-23 PARTICIPANTS.

Participants can use a phone, ipad, tablet or computer with a camera and microphone if they would like to participate. If they do not have a camera or microphone, they can still watch and hear the workshop, but we can't see or hear them.

With A Path to Publishing, participants ask questions of the faculty live ... from the comfort of their own home. It's an efficient, affordable way to learn, make connections, and progress down the path to publication.


2. That sounds like a fantastic idea for those of us who can’t afford to go to conferences to meet these agents and publishers. What are some of the workshops you have planned over the next few months and who will be the presenters?

1. Friday April 19, 2013 2-3:30 EST Agent Sarah Davies: How to Write a Great Thriller (Or Any Exciting Story)
2. Friday, April 19th 8-9:30 EST POETRY FRIDAY FIESTA with Ellen Hopkins, Jill Corcoran & Joyce Lee Wong
3. April 24, 2013 8:30-10:30 EST THE AGENTS OF THE ERIN MURPHY LITERARY AGENCY
4. May 8, 2013 8:30-10:30 pm EST EDITORS TURNED AGENTS-How I approach a new ms to ready for market with Sarah Davies/Greenhouse Literary + Alexandra Penfold/Upstart Crow Literary
5. June 19, 2013 8:30-10:30 pm EST A RARE VIEW INTO 3 TOP PUBLISHERS' PERSONAL IMPRINTS
Penguin/Nancy Paulsen + Macmillan/Christy Ottaviano + Random House/Wendy Lamb
6. May 6, 13 & 20 8:30-10:30pm EST or May 7, 14 & 21 12-2pm EST
JILL CORCORAN'S HOW TO SERIES + 1 HOUR PRIVATE CONSULTATIONS
You can do 1, 2 or all 3!
1-HOW TO WRITE A QUERY INCLUDES CRITIQUE OF YOUR QUERY
2- HOW TO CREATE A MUST READ CONCEPT INCLUDES CRITIQUE OF 2 OF YOUR BOOK CONCEPTS
3- HOW TO MAKE YOUR FIRST PAGES STAND OUT INCLUDES CRITIQUE OF YOUR FIRST CHAPTER
OR---1 + 2 + 3 + ONE HOUR PRIVATE CONSULTATION-HOW TO WRITE A QUERY LETTER, HOW TO CREATE A CONCEPT, HOW TO MAKE YOUR FIRST PAGES STAND OUT, EACH WITH CRITIQUES OF YOUR WORK1 HR PRIVATE + 3 WORKSHOPS: HOW TO WRITE A QUERY LETTER, HOW TO CREATE A CONCEPT, HOW TO MAKE YOUR FIRST PAGES STAND OUT, EACH WITH CRITIQUES OF YOUR WORK


3. Your workshops sound fantastic. And one of our followers attended two of your prior workshops and told me they were really helpful. Share a bit about the faculty for A Path to Publishing and how you picked them.

A PATH TO PUBLISHING faculty have so far included editors and marketers from Hyperion-Disney, HarperCollins, Penguin, Random House, and Macmillan as well as Agents from the best children’s agencies. I chose editors and agents that are at the top of the profession, are good teachers and who are generous in spirit.

4. Who do you think can benefit from these workshops and why?

No matter where someone is in their publishing career, this program provides them access to top industry professionals. They get immediate insight and answers to all their questions, plus reliable advice they can act on immediately to take their career to the next level.

5. Your website says that the workshops will be interactive and that attendees will be able to submit to the presenters after the workshop. How does that work?

I have purchased an amazing technology that allows allows 25 people to video chat with no lag time in picture nor audio. It is like we are all in the same room! This is an intimate workshop where everyone has the chance, if they would like, to ask questions, get clarification, and really get to know the faculty.

For publishers that are allowed to receive unsolicited ms (some publishers are simply not allowed to receive any subs except from agents), attending an A PATH TO PUBLISHING workshops is like a free pass that gets you in the door.

6. That would be amazing to attend an online workshop and feel you’re in the same room as the presenters. I want to ask you a few questions about your role as an agent. You represent picture book, middle grade, and YA authors. What genres do you represent and what are you looking for in submissions?

I rep Picture Books, Chapter Books, Middle Grade, Young Adult and Crossover Young Adult (New Adult)

I want books, actually characters, that have legs. If you haven't heard the term "has legs" that is marketing shorthand to mean the characters can live outside the confines of your book. They can spark a series, be transformed to the big or small screen (Herman Agency is based in NYC but I live in LA and have close ties to the Film and TV industry.), possibly go outside the library/bookstore market to gift stores, grocery stores, etc, become a genre leader rather than just another book competing in a market where discoverability is becoming the most challenging obstacle to sales and sadly some of the best writing is not rising to the top of readers' buy lists.

All books must have excellent commercial plus literary writing. What I mean by this is an utter command of the language that is accessible to most readers--not just the brainy kids. The concept must be fresh, organic, break-through. Just another one is not going to cut it. Yes, lots of copycat books make the hit list, but I am an agent, a talent scout. I am not looking to sell copycats. I am looking to discover the next big thing.

I want complexity of character, multi-level plot and theme, believability even in the fantastic, and pacing that blinds me to time and space.

I am a fan of the underdog, but the underdog doesn't always need to be the nerd, the foster kid, the kid from the broken home. It is irritating when the popular kids are bad and the outcasts are heros. I think most kids are average. Some are more popular than others but being popular often takes a lot of work and that work spurs a host of insecurity. Many kids define popular in different ways. Some cherish their inner and outer geek. I want "normal" teens in extraordinary circumstances (I leave the definition of normal to you:) ).

Regarding romance, I want authentic vulnerability and innocence as well as hot, steamy yearning, and in some cases, more than yearning. I want to love your characters so I understand why your characters love each other. I want to be so enmeshed with your character that when his/her heart breaks, so does mine. When your characters are kissing, or doing more than kissing, I want to feel that pull in my body too.

To query me please send queries + the first 10 pages of your manuscript pasted into your email to queryjillcorcoran@gmail.com

7. Thanks for sharing so specifically what you’re looking for. That’s really helpful for those of us querying. What genres don’t you represent?

I do not represent poetry, screenplays, short story collections, academic or educational work, adult fiction (except New Adult).

8. I know some writers who will be glad you’re open to New Adult. What queries are you seeing too much of?

Dull concepts that do not stand out and make me jump up and want to read the manuscript. There are still too many dystopians coming in and other ‘trend’ books where the trend has already passed.

9. I’ve heard that it’s harder to sell dystopians. But as a reader, I still really like reading them so hope there are a few unique ones still out there. What’s a common mistake you see authors make in the querying process?

Most people that query me seem to do their homework, so I am lucky. It could be because I have a number of posts on my blog that explain how to write a query, how to look up comp books, how to research agents, etc. Here is a link to a post that has many of those posts: THE HOW’S AND WHY’S OF GETTING PUBLISHED http://www.jillcorcoran.blogspot.com/2012/02/what-makes-book-sell.html

Common mistakes are queries that talk more about why someone wrote the book than about the book itself, queries that do not have a clear pitch or indicate to me that the author is out of touch with what kids today are reading.

Thanks Jill for sharing about A Path to Publishing. It sounds fantastic.

You can find A Path to Publishing and Jill at:

www.HermanAgencyInc.com

www.jillcorcoran.blogspot.com

www.daretodreamchangetheworld.com

http://apathtopublishing.com/

Jill has generously offered a one-half off coupon to one of her Path to Publishing workshops to one lucky winner. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower (just click the follow button if you’re not a follower) and leave a comment by midnight on April 27th. I’ll announce the winner on April 29th.

If you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog, mention this in the comments and I'll give you an extra entry. You must be 13 or older to enter. International entries are welcome.

Here’s what’s coming up:

Next Monday I’m interviewing Lisa Rojany Buccieri and giving away a copy of WRITING CHILDREN’S BOOKS FOR DUMMIES. I worried a bit that this book might be too basic for many of you, but one of the things I liked about this book was that Lisa hit the key elements of each subject she presented, for example, developing engaging characters, plotting, and revising. And she had a few great tips I hadn’t thought about for many of these subjects. Lisa has a lot of editorial experience so I know you’ll enjoy her interview. And once you read this, you might want to pass it on to a newer writer to help them out.

Next Tuesday, I have a Tuesday tip by Judith Roth and a giveaway of SERENDIPITY AND ME, a middle grade contemporary novel.

Wednesday next week, I’m participating in the Shower of Books Book Giveaway Blog Hop. I’ve got a great choice of new YA books to choose from.

And don't forget our Tuesday Tips and Casey's Thursday agent spotlights.

Hope to see you Monday!

TIP TUESDAY #159 AND THE FALLEN STARS GIVEAWAY

Tip Tuesday features writers' tips on craft, research, querying, blogging, marketing, inspiration, and more. If you'd like to send in a tip, please e-mail me at agentspotlight(at)gmail(dot)com.

Hi Everyone! Natalie here today. Today I have author Stephanie Keyes here to share her tips on developing your characters. Stephanie is the author of THE FALLEN STARS, a YA fantasy and book 2 in The Star Child series, that released on April 12, 2013. Details on the giveaway are at the end of the post.

So here's Stephanie!

After you've identified which characters will take on starring roles in your work, one of the most challenging aspects of writing comes in being true to him/her. Understanding how that person would react and respond in any given situation and infusing that knowledge into your work is key. It helps set the context for the story to come, but also defines that all-important world. I'm not talking about Fantasy worlds per se, but the world in which your characters and their central conflict exist.

How do you get into your character's heads? Here are a few common ways:

• Character Interviews: There are dozens of character interview questions which can help you get on your way towards understanding your character better. Just Google "Character Interview Questions" and dozens pop up.
• Biographies: Write out your character's history. Even a two-page summary of her background will go far, as you formulate your ideas.
• Re-write Existing Content Through New Eyes: In this scenario, you would take a fleshed out section of work and rewrite it as though it were coming from the new character’s perspective. How would she react differently?

Every writer attempts to get inside their characters' heads by applying their own unique approach. There isn't a ‘‘one size fits all’’ fix. For me, although each of the above exercises is valuable, they're generally solitary approaches. In my mind, the term ‘‘‘solitary’’’ equals "not talking". As anyone who knows me will attest, I can't do anything without talking - that includes writing.

For my latest book, I decided to add a third point of view, Gabe. I pictured him as having a surfer-style voice, blond, blue-eyed good looks, with a teddy-bear personality. This character is also loyal and intelligent, though the latter doesn't always come across because of his conversation style and word choices. I envisioned the character in his early twenties, a Yale graduate and Harvard Law student from an affluent family. Gabe was worlds away from a Pittsburgh mom of two who'd been married for eleven years, so how would I get into his head?

Role Play

Since I like to talk, why not play to my strengths? That night at dinner, I started participating in the conversation as Gabe. It went something like this.

Husband: "How was your day?"
Me: Shoulder roll. Looked at my plate. "It was okay."
Husband: "Just okay? You seem like you're in a bad mood tonight."
Me: "Whatever."
Husband: "Are you mad at me? What's going on with you?"
Me: "Just chillax, okay? Don't be a hater."
You can imagine how this went down with my husband. However, after a few more exchanges, he asked, ‘‘Channeling Gabe, huh?’’ He’s pretty slick, that husband of mine.

Problem Solving

Whenever a problem would come up during my day, I would try and approach it from the character's perspective. How would he respond in any given situation? I recognized beforehand that I would, in most cases, probably not achieve the same outcome. However, I could try. For example, when preparing my tax documentation, I actually read the instructions for each form, including any disclaimers, the way a law students might've. Continuing my role-play efforts, I called the accountant and said, "Dude, this is like...messed up" before putting everything in a neat pile and covering it over. I will admit that I did go back and retrieve it later.

Time Management

On the first Saturday morning after I'd begun this project, I slept until noon and ignored my husband's pleas to come and help with the children. I didn't make any plans, but instead spent the weekend suggesting random, previously unplanned activities. This stressed my husband to no end, but again, this was Gabe's approach. Not mine.’’

Reader Engagement

Of course, these situations are funny, but they ended up being highly valuable. After four days of living in Gabe’s shoes, I knew everything about him, from his deepest, darkest secret, to the ringtone he had on his phone. Maybe I walked a mile in his shoes, or maybe only a few feet. However, by the time the exercise ended, my husband and kids got involved.
"Gabe would never say that. He'd say 'Dude, you're a hot mess', my husband informed me one day at lunch. Now imagine if every reader could be so invested in your characters. Wouldn't that be fabulous?
These are just a few examples of the steps I took to try and get inside the head of my character. So if what you've been doing isn't working for you, consider changing it up. Try a role-play and spend some time in his or her shoes. How would they respond? There's no right or wrong - just what works for you. Either way as Gabe would say, ‘‘Just chillax. Don't be afraid to try something new, dude.’’

The Fallen Stars

by Stephanie Keyes

Paperback, 530 pages| Expected publication: April 12th 2013 by Inkspell Publishing

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Book Depository | Trailer | Add to Goodreads

When all is lost, he will have to make the ultimate decision.

Kellen St. James was just your average seventeen-year-old prodigy, until he eighty-sixed the Lord of Faerie and proposed to the Celtic Goddess, Calienta. But then everything in Kellen’s life gets turned upside-down when he and Cali end up on the run from a seriously irritated group of faeries. The worst part? They have zero idea why they’re being hunted.

Suddenly, Kellen is stuck in the middle of another prophecy that foresees him turning away from Calienta and embracing the dark. He’ll be forced to take sides in a struggle to claim his birthright, while discovering secrets about his father’s past. Meanwhile, his passion for Cali grows stronger, even as the prophecy threatens to tear them apart.

In the end, will Kellen and Cali survive the fates? When the ultimate power is within reach, which side will he choose?

Also available: The Star Child (The Star Child, Book #1)

Stephanie generously offered a copy of THE FALLEN STARS for a giveaway. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower (just click the follow button if you’re not a follower) and leave a comment by midnight on April 27th. I’ll announce the winner on April 29th.

If you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog, mention this in the comments and I'll give you an extra entry. You must be 13 or older to enter. International entries are welcome.

Hope to see you tomorrow for my interview with agent Jill Corcoran about her new A Path to Publishing workshops and of course I asked her what submissions she’s looking for right now. There’s a giveaway too!

MILA 2.0/BLACK CITY/THE COLOSSUS RISES/ AND BACKPACK WITH GOODIES GIVEAWAY AND ASK THE EXPERT INTERVIEW

Happy Monday! Hope you had a great weekend. It was my daughter's 16th birthday on Saturday. She'd already had a sleepover the weekend before. But we had a fun day going out to breakfast, getting her hair cut (six inches) and her new hairdo looks cute, and the big sister/little sister group she founded and volunteers at played lazer tag for their monthly meeting. We brought a cake so it was kind of a birthday party. And our new puppy, Ellie Mae, is such a sweetie. We're still working on no pee accidents in her crate. She had a no accident day on Friday!

Before I get to my interview and book giveaways, I want to announce the winners of a few contests.

The winner of EMBLAZE is Jill at the O.W.L.!

And the winner of WHEN THE BUTTERFLIES CAME is Nicole!

Congrats! E-mail me your addresses so I can send you your books. Please e-mail me by the end of Wednesday or I'll have to pick another winner.

Today, I’m excited to interview, J.P (her first and middle initials), a 7th grader, and the daughter of Barbara Watson, an aspiring author, blogger, and follower. I follow Barbara’s blog and recommend you do too. You can find her blog here.

Hi J.P. Thanks for joining us.

1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself, your school, and what you like to read.

A little bit about me is I love basketball. Anytime I see a basketball hoop or a ball, I get excited. I also play on a traveling basketball team. I like to play any games that include running, and I am very competitive. I also love animals, hanging out with friends, reading, and trying new things. I am homeschooled by my mom. Fantasy is my favorite genre, but a book just has to be good (to me) for me to like it.

2. My daughter’s a competitive swimmer so I can relate to how much time you must spend on basketball. Fantasy is my favorite genre too. How do you find out about the books you read? What about new books coming out? Does the fact that your mom is an aspiring author and blogger influence what you read?

I find out about the books I read from friends, my mom, posters at book stores, browsing the library and bookstores, and I have certain authors I like and read all their books. I always know when an author I like is coming out with a new book from posters or their website. The fact that my mom is a writer and blogger does sometimes influence what I read. She will say, “Hey, does this sound interesting?” or “You might like this one.” But I also pick up books at the library on my own.

3. That’s so awesome that you check for favorite authors’ websites to find out about upcoming books. I bet your mom has lots of good book recommendations for you too. What are you reading now? What books are you waiting to be released?

Right now I am reading A Dash of Magic by Kathryn Littlewood. Next I will read the third Beyonders book by Brandon Mull. I am waiting for the the fourth book of The Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan to come out.

4. Reading a book in the Beyonders series is on my list to read too. And I love Rick Riordan too. It sounds like we have similar reading tastes. Do you buy most of your books or get them at the library? How often do you go to a bookstore?

Almost all of the books I read come from the library. Occasionally my mom buys me a book I really, really like. I also sometimes read books my mom wins off blogs. I go to a bookstore about once a month.

5. Do you read any teen book blogs, author blogs, or author or publisher websites? Are you a fan of an author on Facebook? Why?

No, I don’t read any blogs or websites, and I am not a fan of any authors on Facebook. I sometimes read my mom’s MMGMs (Marvelous Middle Grade Mondays) or write an MMGM on her blog. I like reading books better than reading blogs or websites about books. I only go on author websites very, very rarely when I want to find out when their newest book is coming out. Sometimes I go to author talks with my mom. We just saw Brandon Mull a few weeks ago.

6. I’ve enjoyed the MMGM posts you’ve written for her. Hope you write more of them. Has your teacher recommended any blogs or websites to your class or to you?

My mom is my teacher and she reads all the MMGMs and tells me about books I might like.

7. Well, I know your mom is a good recommender of books from following her blog. Are there things your favorite authors could do that would make you more likely to visit their website, their blog, or become a fan on Facebook?

No, not really. I can’t think of anything.

8. Have any authors visited your school? Who? Is there anything you’d recommend that an author do to make their presentation more interesting to you and other kids at your school?

No, not my school since I am homeschooled, but I do go to a homeschool book club and five local authors have visited there. I have also seen some at bookstores and a few at libraries. Here are a few I’ve seen: Brandon Mull, Lois Lowry, Brian Selznick, and Anne Ursu. I like when they talk about how they started writing, how they chose the plot and setting, about the characters, and I like when they leave a lot of time for question and answer.

I loved meeting Brandon Mull. There were tons of kids who were his fans at his book signing. Thanks for sharing all your advice, J.P.

Thank you, Natalie, for interviewing me!

So today I’m also doing a few mini reviews of books I want to share with you so I can get more books out to you without having blogging every day.

First, I’ll share MILA 2.0. Here’s a blurb from Goodreads:

Mila 2.0 is the first book in an electrifying sci-fi thriller series about a teenage girl who discovers that she is an experiment in artificial intelligence.

Mila was never meant to learn the truth about her identity. She was a girl living with her mother in a small Minnesota town. She was supposed to forget her past—that she was built in a secret computer science lab and programmed to do things real people would never do.

Now she has no choice but to run—from the dangerous operatives who want her terminated because she knows too much and from a mysterious group that wants to capture her alive and unlock her advanced technology. However, what Mila’s becoming is beyond anyone’s imagination, including her own, and it just might save her life.

Mila 2.0 is Debra Driza’s bold debut and the first book in a Bourne Identity-style trilogy that combines heart-pounding action with a riveting exploration of what it really means to be human. Fans of I Am Number Four will love Mila for who she is and what she longs to be—and a cliffhanger ending will leave them breathlessly awaiting the seque.

The idea of someone being part robot/part human intrigued me. The story moves quickly from Mila’s current life where she’s trying to figure out why there’s big chunks of her memory missing to discovering what she really is. I found Mila’s reaction to the big shock of discovery what she was really is very realistic.

I really thought this was well plotted. There is lots of action, problems and revelations and Mila and her mom go on the run to where they end up.

Mila is sympathetic as a character. My heart went out for her as she struggled to accept the machine parts of herself through her human feelings. And she always tried to keep that human part of herself. The secondary characters were not around as much as some stories, but I really enjoyed the parts with her mom, Hunter, and Lucas. I really recommend this to sci fi/dystopian readers.

Second up is BLACK CITY. Here’s a blurb from Goodreads:

A dark and tender post-apocalyptic love story set in the aftermath of a bloody war.

In a city where humans and Darklings are now separated by a high wall and tensions between the two races still simmer after a terrible war, sixteen-year-olds Ash Fisher, a half-blood Darkling, and Natalie Buchanan, a human and the daughter of the Emissary, meet and do the unthinkable—they fall in love. Bonded by a mysterious connection that causes Ash’s long-dormant heart to beat, Ash and Natalie first deny and then struggle to fight their forbidden feelings for each other, knowing if they’re caught, they’ll be executed—but their feelings are too strong.

When Ash and Natalie then find themselves at the center of a deadly conspiracy that threatens to pull the humans and Darklings back into war, they must make hard choices that could result in both their deaths.

This is a combination dystopian/vampire story. And I really liked the fresh look at a vampire story. The Darklings aren’t the strong ones, are kept separated in a ghetto, and are discriminated against by the humans.

Ash is stoic and broody. Natalie is a privileged human. I enjoyed seeing how they both grew as the story progressed and they found themselves falling in love. And I’m always a sucker for forbidden love.
There was plenty of action and secrets revealed. I found this to be a really quick read and I can’t wait to read PHOENIX, book 2 in the series which releases on June 4, 2013.

The last book is an upper middle grade book, THE COLOSSUS RISES. Here’s a blurb from Goodreads:

One Boy

Jack McKinley is an ordinary kid with an extraordinary problem. In a few months, he’s going to die.

One Mission

Jack needs to find seven magic loculi that, when combined, have the power to cure him.

One Problem

The loculi are the relics of a lost civilization and haven’t been seen in thousands of years.

Seven Wonders

Because they’re hidden in the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Rick Riordan wrote a blurb about this: “A high-octane mix of modern adventure and ancient secrets.” I think that’s so true.

Very soon after the story begins, 13-year-old Jack is whisked off to a secret hospital where he discovers he has a rare genetic problem that’s going to kill him. He goes on an adventure with his friends Marco, Aly, and Cass to find the Loculi. The plot moves quickly, filled with action, exploring new parts of their world, and danger.

Jack is a great character whose view on life I immediately liked. His voice really came through. Marco, Aly, and Cass have their own unique powers and idiosyncrasies which make them great characters too. With all the action and the story being told from Jack’s POV, I can see a lot of boys liking this as well as girls.

And I also have a small backpack that I thought one of your kids would like, including a teddy bear and a thumb drive with a sneak peak into THE FIFTH WAVE, by Rick Yancy, that has gotten great reviews.


So I’m giving away an ARC of MILA 2.0 and BLACK CITY a print book of THE COLOSSUS RISES, and the backpack. Thanks to Harper Collins and Penguin for these books and the backpack.

To enter, all you need to do is be a follower (just click the follow button if you’re not a follower) and leave a comment by midnight on April 27th. Please let me know your first two choices of books and I'll try to match the books to the winners. I’ll announce the winner on April 29th.

If you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog, mention this in the comments and I'll give you an extra entry. You must be 13 or older to enter. International entries are welcome except for the backpack due to postage costs. I will pick no more than one international winner because of postage costs so please let me know if you live outside the US or Canada.

Marvelous Middle Grade Mondays was started by Shannon Messenger. You can find the links to all the Marvelous Middle Grade Monday bloggers here.

Here’s what’s coming up:

Tomorrow, I have a Tuesday tip by Stephanie Keyes and a giveaway of THE FALLEN STARS, a YA paranormal romance.

On Wednesday I’m interviewing agent Jill Corcoran about her new A Path to Publishing workshops and of course I asked her what submissions she’s looking for right now. There’s a giveaway too! I can’t wait to share Jill’s interview with you.

Next Monday I’m interviewing Lisa Rojany Buccieri and giving away a copy of WRITING CHILDREN’S BOOKS FOR DUMMIES. I worried a bit that this book might be too basic for many of you, but one of the things I liked about this book was that Lisa hit the key elements of each subject she presented, for example, developing engaging characters, plotting, and revising. And she had a few great tips I hadn’t thought about for many of these subjects. Lisa has a lot of editorial experience so I know you’ll enjoy her interview. And once you read this, you might want to pass it on to a newer writer to help them out.

Next Tuesday, I have a Tuesday tip by Judith Roth and a giveaway of SERENDIPITY AND ME, a middle grade contemporary novel.

Wednesday next week, I’m participating in the Shower of Books Book Giveaway Blog Hop. I’ve got a great choice of new YA books to choose from.

And don't forget our Tuesday Tips and Casey's Thursday agent spotlights.

Hope to see you tomorrow and Wednesday!

ERIN BOWMAN INTERVIEW AND TAKEN GIVEAWAY

Today I’m thrilled to have debut author Erin Bowman here to talk about her new dystopian novel, TAKEN, that will be released on April 16, 2013. OMG, I loved this. I was immediately sucked into the story because Gray is waiting for his older brother Blaine, who’s turning 18, to be taken in The Heist. Then I had to keep turning the pages as he finds a strange note and we get to see what’s on the other side of the wall. This is filled with action, plot twists, and revelations.

Here’s a description from Goodreads:

There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends…and he’s gone.

They call it the Heist.

Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive.

Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side?

Hi Erin. Thanks so much for joining us. Happy Debut!

1. Tell us about yourself and how you became a writer.

The simplest answer is to say I've always been one. As soon as I could hold a crayon and make a poor attempt at spelling, I was scribbling stories into notebooks.
The more formal answer would be that I took a lot of writing classes in high school (electives) and college (for my minor), and then continued to write on the side once I started my career as a web designer. Eventually, TAKEN was drafted and unlike the other works under my belt, I thought it was might be worthy of seeing the light of day. I started researching how one goes about getting published, and you know where it goes from there… ;)

2. I wish I’d known I liked writing earlier and taken some classes. My learning curve would have been so much quicker. I loved the idea of this story—guys being taken away in The Heist when they turn 18 and the town of Claysoot being a mostly female society. That’s really unique. Then you show us so much more about the world Gray lives in. Where did you come up with this fantastic idea?

It sort of fell into my lap. Actually, the story didn't, but Gray did. He walked into my head nearly fully formed, and for that, I'm incredibly lucky. (Not all of my characters come to me this way. In fact, very few do.)

In this instance, I saw Gray's predicament clearly: an isolated town he could not escape, his older brother's approaching birthday, how no boy made it a day beyond eighteen. I started asking why? and as I began digging for answers, the story revealed itself.

3. I love how the seed of the story just came to you and then you really made it explode by digging for answers. I read that you aren’t a plotter. But your book is filled with plot twists and revelations. Share your secrets for creating such a well plotted story.

I don't plot in the sense that I never write detailed outlines before drafting. (I've tried, but they always end

up extremely vague and manage to kill most of my creative drive.)

Instead, I brainstorm and daydream for a few days/weeks, and usually by the time I start drafting, I can see all the major plot points in my head. I jot a few of them down in a notebook. Then I start drafting. As I write, and as smaller details become clearer, I make note of those as well. (It's sort of like I'm always looking a chapter or two ahead, which I think is called headlight outlining.)

With TAKEN, the process was similar. I knew the major twists ahead of time, but how to effectively weave them together came to me during drafting and were later polished while revising. It was all about layering in subtle clues and timely hints.

4. That’s a great process and one I’m following right now too. I really enjoyed that the story was from Gray’s POV. There aren’t too many YA stories out there from the guy’s point of view. Did he come easily to you as a character or did you find challenges in writing from his POV?

Voice has always been a crucial element for me as a writer. If I can't hear or understand my protagonist, his/her story always comes out forced.

With Gray, I was lucky, because his voice was shockingly clear from day one. We have very little in common, Gray and I, but I understood him so well that slipping into his head--while weird at times--wasn't excessively difficult.

5. Your agent is Sara Crowe. Tell us about how she became your agent and your road to publication.

Before I started querying agents, I spent a good two months researching them. (Let me take a moment to

shout my boundless thanks to Literary Rambles, which was one of my frequent haunts during those days.) Sara requested a full off my query, but I ended up with another offer of rep shortly thereafter. When I followed up with Sara to let her know I'd be making a final decision within the week, she was home sick. But she read anyway. And then immediately called to talk about TAKEN and Gray, stuffy nose and all.

The tell-tale signs of a good match existed in our phone chat--Sara got the story, had smart suggestions and submission plans, made me feel totally at ease--but it was talking with her existing clients that sealed the deal. I sent a few emails to some of her authors and everyone gushed and praised Sara; for her insight and sharp business intellect, but also for her patient, calming ways. (Now speaking from experience: all so true!)

I signed with Sara and she found TAKEN the very best home with Erica Sussman at HarperTeen just a few months later.

6. I’m using the agent spotlights right now and totally know what you mean about them being super helpful. And that’s a great idea to e-mail the agent’s authors before making a final decision.

You’re a part of the Pub(lishing) Crawl blog, which I love. (Everyone, you can find the blog here and I recommend you follow it.)  How did you become a part of this blog and how has it helped you as you prepare for your book release?

I was approached by Sarah Maas at the end of 2011 with an offer to join the blog as a contributor. Sarah is a good friend of mine now, but at the time, we were complete strangers. In fact, I didn't know any of the PubCrawl girls personally back then, but I did obsessively read the blog (then Let the Words Flow) and knew I couldn't pass up an opportunity to work with such sharp minds.

I don't know what made them reach out to me, but I'm so glad they did! The road to publication is an exciting one, but it's also stressful and over-whelming, filled with lots of anxiety and self-doubt. The PubCrawl ladies have become a wonderful support system. We cheer each other through highs and lows. I can't imagine having gone through this without them.

7. That sounds like it’s been such a great opportunity. I’d love to become friends with all the authors there. I read on your website/blog that on May 29th, Susan Dennard, Sarah Maas, Kat Zhang, and you are going on a multi-city, pay-it-forward book tour. It sounds fantastic and I wish you were coming to Ann Arbor. Tell us about it and how it got organized. What does it mean that it’s going to be pay-it-forward?

The four of us have been discussing the idea of a group tour since the summer of 2012. We wanted to hit the road together (what's more fun than a road trip with friends?), but we also wanted to give back.

We all started writing young, and we each owe a lot of our success (and love of stories) to mentors who encouraged and inspired. The ability to pay-it-forward became a crucial part of our brainstorming, and in addition to bookstore visits and signings, we decided to host free writing workshops for young, aspiring writers while on tour.

You can learn more about tour plans (and the schedule) here. 

8. Have you found Twitter to be a good way to make connections with other authors and potential readers? How? What advice do you have for aspiring authors starting out on Twitter? That’s me and I could use some advice.

I love twitter! Love, love, love. And yes, it's been great for making connections. Some of my closest writing friends were once nothing but an avatar in my twitter feed.

The biggest advice I can give is be yourself and engage in two-way conversation. Twitter is a party, not a podium. If you talk too much solely about your own writing/book, I can almost guarantee that people will grow bored and start tuning you out.

The people I love following on twitter are the ones who talk back to me and also share good content. They tweet compelling links and videos. They’re insightful. If they also happen to have a book coming out, that's an added bonus. But I follow them for what they bring to the table, first and foremost.

9. Thanks for the tips on Twitter and the inspiration to spend some time there. What are you working on now?

I'm putting the final touches on TAKEN2 while simultaneously drafting book three. In between deadlines for the series, I also bounce between two standalone novels (a fantasy and a sci-fi) in various stages of drafting. So many story ideas and never enough time! :)

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Erin. 

Thank you for having me. It was an honor to stop by!

You can find Erin at:

Website
Twitter
Tumblr

Erin and her publisher Harper Teen have generously offered an ARC of TAKEN for a giveaway. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower (just click the follow button if you’re not a follower) and leave a comment by midnight on April 27th. I’ll announce the winner on April 29th.

If you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog, mention this in the comments and I'll give you an extra entry. You must be 13 or older to enter. International entries are welcome.

Here’s what’s coming up:

On Monday I have an ASK THE EXPERT Interview with a 7th grader and a giveaway of BLACK CITY, a YA dystopian/paranormal story, THE COLOSSUS RISES, a middle grade fantasy Percy Jackson fans will enjoy, MILO 2.0, a YA Sci fi story, and a cute backpack with goodies for one of your kids.

On Tuesday I have a Tuesday tip by Stephanie Keyes and a giveaway of THE FALLEN STARS, a YA paranormal romance.

Next Wednesday I’m interviewing agent Jill Corcoran about her new A Path to Publishing workshops and of course I asked her what submissions she’s looking for right now. There’s a giveaway too!

The following Monday I’m interviewing Lisa Rojany Buccieri and giving away a signed copy of WRITING CHILDREN’S BOOKS FOR DUMMIES. Even though you might think this is too basic for you, I found it had a lot of great tips on the craft of writing and some on social media. And they were all discussed so succinctly. I really found it and Lisa’s interview really helpful and I think you will too.

And don't forget our Tuesday Tips and Casey's Thursday agent spotlights.

Hope to see you on Monday!

Tip Tuesday #158

Tip Tuesday features writers' tips on craft, research, querying, blogging, marketing, inspiration, and more. If you'd like to send in a tip, please e-mail me at agentspotlight(at)gmail(dot)com.

I just love this clever tip sent in by Dale S. Rogers. Visit Dale at her blog dalesittonrogers, and check out her past tips, including #120 and #142. Enjoy! 

Grammar Problem?  Fix it With Addition and Subtraction

Grammar is complex, and it takes years to learn it correctly. But what if someone has to make a split-second decision and there's no time to pull out grammar books for an in-depth study of the English language?  I know we're talking about grammar, but the answer is addition and subtraction.

My mother taught English for years, and she expected her children to use proper grammar. We learned little tricks that make it simple to add pronouns to sentences. There's no need to complicate or overcompensate. Simply think about how the sentence would be without the new pronoun. Just because one is added, that doesn't mean the first one changes. Below are examples of the most common mistakes.

"Henry and I."  "Henry and me."  Which is it?  It depends on the sentence.

Some people think it's always better to say "I" rather than "me," when there are two pronouns in a sentence, but that's not the case.  I've even heard people on television being admonished for saying, "Henry and me," when it's correct. The person is overcompensating while trying to avoid the slip-up, "That's for me and Henry."  No one says, "That's for I," so why would anyone say, "That's for Henry and I?"  Without getting into subjects and direct objects, let's simplify the process. Subtract "Henry" for a moment, and you have your answer: "me."  "That's for Henry and me."

"Henry and I want to go."  "Henry and me want to go."

It's pretty obvious that "I" is proper this time. You would say, "I want to go," rather than, "Me want to go."  In your mind, add what is understood.  "want to go."  Who wants to go?  "Henry and I."

"Him and I."  "Him and me."  "He and I."

You wouldn't say, "Him is going," or "Me is going."  It's "He is going," and "I am going."  Who is going?  "He is."  "I am."  By adding the portion of the sentence that's understood, you have your answer.  "He and I are going."  "He and I."

It's unusual, but I actually heard someone say, "Henry and I's tickets."  It's also not, "Mine and Henry's tickets."  You wouldn't say, "Mine tickets." It's simply, "Henry's and my tickets."  Subtract Henry or the personal pronoun, and you have your answer.

So the next time you're in doubt, add it in or leave it out.

~ Dale Rogers

KIT GRINDSTAFF INTERVIEW AND THE FLAME IN THE MIST GIVEAWAY AND MY NEW PUPPY

Hi Everyone! Before we get to the interview today, I want to share a few pictures of my new puppy, Ellie Mae. She's almost three months old and is a real sweetie. She's a mutt--part lab and part golden retriever. We've only had her since last Tuesday. And already I'm in love. My parents were not pet people so I never had a dog or cat growing up. This is my first dog.

This week we've been spending lots of time outside working on potty training. We're not quite there yet, but we're doing pretty good. My daughter was on spring break last week, so it made it easier. Starting this week, both my husband and I will have to come home from work to let her out of crate and take her outside until she can hold it in for longer. Luckily, he comes home from work early afternoon. So if I don't visit your blogs quite as much for a bit, I hope you'll understand. Ellie Mae's taking a lot of my time. But it's so worth it!

So here she is!

And I have a winner to announce.

The winner of PLASTIC POLLY is Sara Bowers!

Congrats! E-mail me your address so I can send you your book.

Today I’m excited to have debut author Kit Grindstaff with us to talk about her book, THE FLAME IN THE MIST, that releases tomorrow. I loved the slightly creepy, fantasy world Kit created and Jemma is such a great, determined kid who you can’t help cheering on as she discovers who she really is.

Here’s a description from Goodreads:

Set in an imagined past, this dark fantasy-adventure is for fans of Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass. Features Jemma, a fiery-headed heroine held captive in Agromond Castle, yet destined to save mist-shrouded Anglavia.

Fiery-headed Jemma Agromond is not who she thinks she is, and when the secrets and lies behind her life at mist-shrouded Agromond Castle begin to unravel, she finds herself in a chilling race for her life. Ghosts and misfits, a stone and crystals, a mysterious book, an ancient prophecy—all these reveal the truth about Jemma's past and a destiny far greater and more dangerous than she could have imagined in her wildest fantasies. With her telepathic golden rats, Noodle and Pie, and her trusted friend, Digby, Jemma navigates increasingly dark forces, as helpers both seen and unseen, gather. But in the end, it is her own powers that she must bring to light, for only she has the key to defeating the evil ones and fulfilling the prophecy that will bring back the sun and restore peace in Anglavia.

Hi Kit. Thanks so much for joining us.

Hi, Natalie! Thanks so much for inviting me.

1. Tell us a bit about yourself and how you became a writer.

I’ve always loved reading and making up stories. I still have a couple of school books from when I was 8 or 9 with early tales scrawled in them. They’re carefully hidden away, though…
As an angst-ridden teen I began writing poetry. Music being another major passion, I wrote my first (pretty tortured) song at 16. I never looked back, and after school and college, during which time I was always in some band or other, I ended up in the music business. I’ve been a professional songwriter for years.

With my love of rhyme, when I was in my early 20s I wrote a rhyming picture book illustrated by my artist sister. We tried to get it published, with no luck—I can see now what its (serious) flaws were! Around that time, I became captivated by Maurice Sendak’s work, and eventually the bug to write for children nibbled harder, then gnawed, then bit, until I couldn’t ignore it any longer. You can see the teeth scars right here. (*Points to ankles…*)

2. Awesome that you write songs and that you’ve been able to pursue that professionally too. I’ve read that you grew up in England. Did that influence your world building, like Agromond Castle and the mist filled woods surrounding it, which I loved, and if so, how? 

It absolutely influenced me! England has thatch and cobbles a-plenty, and the literary air I breathed as a kid was full of the atmosphere of Olden Tymes. Great Expectations was a favorite (I read the abridged version when I was 8), with all the misty mystery of the swamps where Pip first meets Magwitch. Oliver Twist was another, with London’s Victorian streets blanketed by fog and teeming with seediness. Mist…fog…yes, definitely an influence!

To add to that, I’ve been fascinated by spooky places for as long as I can remember. Damp churchyards, with their moss-and-lichen covered graves. Castles. The Tower of London. The evidence of England’s dark history is everywhere. Even the glamorous veneer of Henry VIII’s court, for example, had its murderous underbelly, he being a king that women literally lost their heads over. Those kinds of grisly tales grow into your bones, ready to seep onto the page in another guise.

But although I enjoy immersing my imagination in this chilly past, I am not a fan of British weather! Give me sunshine, any day. That might be partly why I need that light at the end of the tunnel, whatever I write. I don’t want to leave my readers shrouded in doom and gloom any more than I want to be shrouded in it myself!

3. I’d so love to visit England and all those castles. What inspired the central conflict between the Agromonds and the Solvays?

I started with the idea of a girl trapped in a castle, who’s never, as far as she knows, been beyond its

walls. She longs to see the rest of the country and to experience life outside of the mist, which is all she can see from her window.

So there had to be a rationale for her being there, held virtual prisoner, as well as for the mist. I loved the “misfit in evil family” idea, and working backwards, came up with the basic back story of how Jemma—now named—got there, and where she’d come from.

The rest grew organically from tracing the back story to its origins. The must-have high concept ingredient of Good vs Evil emerged as a centuries-old vendetta between the two families, one craving power and dominion over all and aiming to clinch it with this magical child, the other wanting to bring healing and light to their beleaguered country. That back story comes to a head with Jemma, and is played out through her adventures.

4. I love hearing about your process. And it’s a great way for the rest of us to take our seed of an idea and really develop it. There are a lot of plot twists and revelations in THE FLAME IN THE MIST. What did you learn about plotting out your story from writing it? Do you have any tips for the rest of us?

The plot by no means arrived fully formed. I knew that Jemma had to get from A to Z, and roughly what would happen at each stage, including the ending. But beyond that basic skeleton, most of the twists, turns, sub-plots and revelations came as I was writing.

I think being prepared to ask, at any stage, “What’s the worst that could happen here?” and then answer by throwing a ton of adversity at your main character (and/or others) is one way to keep plotting fresh. It took me to places I wasn’t expecting. The whole Blackwater episode came that way, for example—A total surprise to me! Just as Jemma and Digby are about to rest for the night…well, I couldn’t let it be that easy for them.

Once there, that episode gave me a tremendous opportunity to up the ante against Jemma, to ramp up the ticking clock element, and also allow her to hone her healing powers. Plus, it added a new character who I enjoy a lot—and who, as it turns out, plays a far more prominent role in book 2.

The unexpected doesn’t have to be in the form of conflict, though. I’m thinking of a couple of revelations I don’t want to give away—a certain character’s identity, for example. (I think you’ll know who I mean!) I had no idea about that when I started writing the book. The only down side is needing to go back and work any such changes/revelations into previous pages, but that’s a small price to pay for how they deepen the story.

Another way to layer plot is to allow the characters similar leeway. There were times when, in mid-scene, I’d realize that someone was doing or saying something I hadn’t anticipated at all! Following their lead often shaped the story line in a different way. And I think if the author is surprised at what’s pouring on to the page, then the reader will be, as well.

There’s one caveat, though, which is to remember that such detours do occasionally need reining in. Otherwise, they can have the opposite effect and tangle the plot too much. For me, having some idea of the over all shape of where I’m going helps with that, as well as asking, “Is this ultimately serving the over all story?”

So these are a few guidelines I use—hopefully helpful ones—but there are no hard and fast rules, no right or wrong way. Some authors write totally to an outline; others are total pantsers. It’s a matter of preference and what works best for you. Either way, don’t worry at the outset about the layering. That’ll come once you get rolling.

5. I write like you and am just starting a draft of my new project. So this is really helpful. I loved the parts of the story where Jemma and Digby journeyed together. Share a bit about them as characters and who was the most challenging one to write. Why?

Having Digby keep Jemma company lightened things up considerably—for me and for her! His down-to-earth dry wit and directness was really fun to write, and gives Jemma something to rub against. I love that about him. He’s pretty uncomplicated, and as loyal as they come, but by no means boring. I think of him, along with the rats, as being Jemma’s voices of reason. He has a stability that comes from his roots, like an unshakeable oak.

Jemma, on the contrary, has led a much more complicated life, fraught with constant conflict. She’s had to face tremendous dangers on her own, forcing her to be quick-thinking and resourceful. She’s the more complex and contradictory of the two—smart, plucky, volatile and headstrong, which often leads her into trouble.

On the surface, that might suggest that Jemma was the more difficult one to write. But each had their challenges. For Digby, it was to have him be a grounding influence without making him predictable; and for Jemma, to have her flaws get in her way while also giving her consistency and focus. Their interplay helps define each of them: Jemma gives Digby the chance to exercise his wry humor, and he, by being her life raft in very dark waters, gives her the chance to step up and shine.

6. I read about your road to publication and it’s a little different than most I’ve heard. Tell us about it. Have you found it difficult not having an agent? 

Once I (thought I’d) finished the manuscript, I started querying agents, the general rule being that without one, getting published by one of the (then) “Big 6” houses was a virtual impossibility. While fielding rejections, I kept honing the first chapter. Just as I was ready to bite the next batch of query bullets I heard about the NJ SCBWI conference with its amazing number of attending editors and agents, and the opportunity to sign up for critique sessions: an editor, agent and/or author would critique your first 15 pages, for an added fee. I decided to go for broke, and signed up for the max.

At that time, participants didn’t get to choose who they were paired with (now, I believe, they do), so based on my genre and the pages I’d sent, Kathy (Temean, then-RA of the NJ SCBWI) paired me with Michelle Poploff, VP and Executive editor from Delacorte. I liked her immediately, and at the end of our session she asked me to send the full ms. Yay!

I polished up the ms some more and sent it off, expecting a 3-6 month wait. 4 weeks later, I received an email, the gist of which was, “Love the world, the Mist, and Jemma; needs some changes”, quickly followed by my ms, completely marked up, and an editorial letter from Michelle. My middle suffered from major sag, which I’d known, but had no clue how to fix it. Michelle’s letter gave me fabulous guidelines. Months later, I sent her the much re-written ms. Within weeks, she responded with the offer of a contract. One of the best days of my life!

I’m still un-agented, and can’t say I’ve missed having one. Michelle has pitched the book to all the right places, including Listening Libraries, who picked it up as an audiobook. (Another Yay!) She’s a fantastically responsive editor, and always replies to emails within a day, if not an hour. If it weren’t for that, though, I daresay there would have been times I’d have wished I had an agent. And hearing from other soon-to-be-published authors how their agents help in different ways, I do feel it’s time to look again. For example, seeing their book onscreen is probably on every author’s wish list, and is certainly on mine! Very few make it, but one can dream, right?

7. That’s an awesome story. It’s a good reminder of what can happen at those SCBWI critiques. They’re so well worth it. You’re part of The Lucky 13’s (http://thelucky13s.blogspot.com), a group of debut authors whose books are releasing in 2013. That’s where I found out about you and a lot of the authors I’m interviewing this year. How did you find out about this group? How has it helped you through your debut year?

I’d been dipping into Twitter for a couple of months when I got a tweet from Alison Cherry, one of the

Luckies. She’d read my Twitter profile (one good reason to make sure your profiles are informative, folks) and invited me to head to the Lucky 13s blog to sign up.

That was a huge turning point. Having fellow debut authors to navigate the pre-publication waters with has been invaluable. We share tips, marketing advice, support, lend shoulders to cry on, throw virtual confetti at triumphs. It really is true that there’s strength in numbers.

Opportunities have come through them, too: joint signings, requests for interviews from bloggers, etc. The kidlit world at large is tremendously helpful and supportive, and having the very specific community of Luckies, of which a good quarter of us are very actively involved, is a massive bonus. With our proboards, I have an immediate place to go to give and receive support. I’d recommend any author with an upcoming release to join a group if they can.

8. Yeah, I definitely want to join one of those. Marketing a middle grade book can be harder than marketing a YA book because there seems like there are less book review blogs with lots of exposure that spotlight middle grade books. What are your plans for marketing your book? Have you and any of the other middle grade authors from The Lucky 13’s shared tips or banded together? What advice do you have for us aspiring middle grade authors?

Though many YA blogs also have a middle grade section, and I have the sense that interest in mg is growing, it’s true that at the moment there are far fewer blogs spotlighting middle grade. Just as there are far fewer mg titles. We middle grade Luckies prove that: there are only 20 of us, compared with 100+ in the YA camp.

Those 20 of us do have our own group under the Lucky 13s umbrella. We do a monthly “Meanwhile, Middle Grade” post on the Lucky 13s blog, and we’ve also paired up to do interviews with one another which will be posted on release day. Down the line, we hope to set up group signings. Anything to get our presence felt as much as we can!

As for my plans, the promo I’ve done so far for The Flame in the Mist has been entirely online, mainly connecting with bloggers via Twitter and Goodreads. I’m currently doing a blog tour, including a few stops on YA blogs. I also have several more interviews lined up through May.

My other online tool is the trailer, which was blasted a couple of weeks ago. If you didn’t see it yet, you can check it out on YouTube—a search for it under the book title should reveal it. I’m thrilled with it, and hopefully it’ll draw people’s attention to the book. Nobody really knows if trailers help with sales, but to my mind any exposure is good.

Once the book is out, it’ll be time to get my physical presence out there too. Yep, marketing is about to take to the material world! I have a few signings lined up in PA for later this month, and am working to set up school visits here and in NJ. I’m also planning a mini-tour of stores wherever I have friends I can visit; so far NH is on the cards for mid-May. Then there’s conferences—in June, for example, I’ll be co-presenting a couple of workshops at the NJ SCBWI conference—and book fairs.

So, to condense the main points into simple advice: Get out there and connect! Online, and in person. Network. You really never know what will come of a chance meeting at a conference, or a chance Tweet. I’ve met people who are now some of my closest friends, as well as others who turned out to be bloggers or book reviewers. And as you pointed out, my being one of the Luckies is how I met you. That wouldn’t have happened without Twitter.

And while you’re out there, promote others. You’ll find them rallying around you, too. And don’t forget those editor/agent critiques at conferences! That’s how I got here.

9. That’s awesome advice and you sound really organized. What are you working on now?

I’m writing a sequel to THE FLAME IN THE MIST. It starts about fifteen months after the end of FLAME. Jemma is now 14, and…well, that’s all I’m going to say for now!

I can’t wait to read it. Thanks Kit for sharing all your advice.You've really given me a lot to think about.

You’re very welcome, Natalie. Thanks so much again for hosting me. It’s been fun!

You can find Kit at

Her website 
on Facebook
and on Twitter @kitgrindstaff.
She’s also on Goodreads

Kit and her publisher, Delacorte, have generously offered an ARC of THE FLAME IN THE MIST for a giveaway. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower (just click the follow button if you’re not a follower) and leave a comment by midnight on April 20th. I’ll announce the winner on April 23rd.

If you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog, mention this in the comments and I'll give you an extra entry. You must be 13 or older to enter. International entries are welcome.

Marvelous Middle Grade Mondays was started by Shannon Messenger. You can find the links to all the Marvelous Middle Grade Monday bloggers here .

Here’s what’s coming up:

On Wednesday I’m interviewing debut author Erin Bowman about her new YA dystopian TAKEN and giving away an ARC. It’s about a world where boys are heisted away to some mysterious future on their 18th birthday. This was so well plotted that I could not put it down.

Next Monday I have an ASK THE EXPERT Interview with a 7th grader and a giveaway of BLACK CITY, a YA dystopian/paranormal story, THE COLOSSUS RISES, a middle grade fantasy Percy Jackson fans will enjoy, MILO 2.0, a YA Sci fi story, and a cute backpack with goodies for one of your kids.

Next Tuesday I have a Tuesday tip by Stephanie Keyes and a giveaway of THE FALLEN STARS, a YA paranormal romance.

Next Wednesday I’m interviewing agent Jill Corcoran about her new A Path to Publishing workshops and of course I asked her what submissions she’s looking for right now. There’s a giveaway too!

And don't forget our Tuesday Tips and Casey's Thursday agent spotlights.

Hope to see you on Wednesday!