Cutting and chopping

Hi,

So I was M.I.A on my last few posts and I am very sorry for that. Life kind of threw up on me lol. Anyway, I'm back now and I wanted to handle a topic that a lot of writers say they're fine with but when it comes down to the nitty gritty they actually balk more often than not. We're talking chopping your manuscript up into little pieces and rebuilding.

 

Yeah, we all know we need to cut our darlings and, yes, it can be tough. But what if someone wants to cut a character? A major plot twist? An entire location? A theme? An ending? A start?

Think it can't happen? Wrong. It totally can.

Now, I'm not saying it'll happen to you, but you need to be aware that it could. Especially if you're wanting to get published and an agent or editor says, "well, you know that handsome, cute MC's boyfriend you have...well he has to go."

Most writers get really offended, upset and sure that the agent/editor is trying to turn it into their book and not yours.

But hold up a minute there, folks. Because you're totally on the wrong track. Agents and editors see YOUR vision. They see what you want to achieve, what you want readers to hear and what is the best way possible to get that story out there. Sure, it might seem odd that they ax a character you feel develops your theme, or they cut a location that you think is central to your world building. But before you take up arms...

Your agent/editor is experienced and can see things you can't. They can help you to fully visualize the core of your book. And at the end of the day, if it doesn't work, you can always change it back. Remember, edits are up for discussion. Bat ideas back and forth with your professional companion. Talk things through. Work out plans.

After all, you want your book as good as you can get it, right?

Never forget...this is also a business.

Readers First: A New Spin on Marketing

My book is in the world, my book is in the world! Now buy it, buy it, buy it!

(please?)

('cause, I gotta eat . . . and maybe, one day, get another book deal . . .)

Such is the case of every author with a book for sale. And especially nowadays, authors have to become their own publicists, sales reps, and marketers. Selling your book is a full-time job, which leaves little time for writing. 

As a debut author, this is something I've struggled with this year: the push-pull of "am I writer or am I a salesperson?" has guided my every workday from January 1, 2015 (and my book, Becoming Jinn, came out on April 21). 

I'm one of those debut authors who has done a lot: from blog posts to bookstores to festivals to giveaways to conferences, I've been in the world selling my book. I haven't been writing as much, but that's something I'm rectifying. And next year, when the sequel, Circle of Jinn, releases on May 17, 2016, I hope to have a better handle on balancing that push-pull. That's another blog post for another time!

This post is about the one aspect of marketing my book that I've found the most fun and rewarding: putting the reader first.

This should be a no brainer. Books are for readers, right? Yes, but sometimes, when all you want to do is reach more readers, that simple fact gets lost in the noise.

I recently completed a project with some of my best author friends that brought the joy of connecting with readers to the forefront. I'm sharing the project with you here in the hopes that it inspires you to find new (and enjoyable) ways to market your own book.

I live in New England, and this area is chock-full of talent. Middle grade and young adult authors have a strong footing here, and yet many readers are unaware of just how many writers live among them.

Who knows? The creator of a child's favorite story just might be behind them in line at the movie theater or next to them at the community pool. Authors such as Jeff Kinney, Suzanne Collins, and Rick Riordan call New England home. Not bad company to be in.

One day, Massachusetts-based authors Jen Malone, Jen Brooks, Trisha Leaver, and I were chatting (as we are wont to do), and we said: "We eat local, we shop local, why not read local?" 

And such was born our Read Local Challenge. We created a poster celebrating 30 MG and YA books written by New England authors, appropriate for the middle school level. We are distributing this poster free to more than 500 schools and libraries in the region, in addition to making them available at library conferences. Our goal is to reach as many schools and libraries as we can and encourage students and patrons to read local. As a bonus, the schools that read the most titles will win prizes from us, from swag to in-person school visits. 

This poster has our four books on it, of course. But it also has the book covers of 26 other authors. The only thing we asked of those other authors was to give us a cool fact about themselves that we could put on the poster to increase the fun factor. This project took a lot of time, effort, and funds, all provided by the four of us. But this is one of the most exciting and rewarding "marketing" efforts I've done, and I think the reason comes down to one thing: readers first.

This is not just promotion for me and my book, it's celebrating reading, something I am passionate about, and it's celebrating the region in which I live, something I'm also pretty jazzed about. I'm proud of us New England authors (and yes, all the snow does give us a lot of time to hole up and write).

And in turn, readers are responding in an overwhelming positive fashion to the project. 

Kids are loving the poster and the challenge. They want them to hang in their rooms. They want to check off all the ones they've read and start reading more. Librarians and teachers are excited as well, hanging them in their spaces and asking for more. This is a project that is bringing us closer to that elusive species: book readers. And in part it's doing that because it's not just about us four sponsoring the poster: it's about all authors and all readers. That's what makes it cool. That's the kind of marketing I hope to do more of in 2016.

What out-of-the-box initiatives have you done to reach your market?

Are you teacher or librarian in New England? Interested in the poster for your classroom or library? Visit my Web site for more information.

Are you in need of ideas for marketing your book? I'm offering consulting on this very topic. Check out my Web site for more information.

Lori Goldstein is the author of Becoming Jinn (Feiwel and Friends/Macmillan, now available!, sequel, Circle of Jinn, May 17, 2016, available for preorder). With a degree in journalism and more than 10 years of experience, Lori is a freelance copyeditor and manuscript consultant for all genres. She focuses on the nitty-gritty, letting writers focus on the writing.

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Introducing Moi!

Hello, YAtopia world! Happy NaNoWriMo!

First, I should introduce myself. My name is Sarah, and I’m a writer. (Shocked, anyone?)

When I first heard of the opportunity to become a blogger here, I was excited and immediately said, “Yes!” But then reality sank in. I’d have to write about something every month. Something interesting to both the faithful readers and myself.

Interesting? Every single month? Like this?

(At least no one is asking me to be interesting every single day.)

Obviously, the easiest topics to write about would be ones I obsess over. So I made a list of my obsessions:

Jeans 

Gilmore Girls 

Coffee

CrossFit

Running 

Diets 

Homeschooling 

Yarn 

Dogs 

While you might share some of those obsessions, none of those topics looked worthy of YAtopia. Then I realized I was overlooking the most obvious obsession of all. Maybe because it definitely feels more like a business decision than an obsession, but it’s going to be getting a lot of my attention over the next year:

Indie Publishing.

After five years of writing, I’ve decided to take the leap. I’m still seeking traditional publishing through my agent, but I have a project that’s all mine and perfect for indie publishing. So I’m reading articles and books, taking courses, and figuring out all the steps necessary. I hope you all will join the journey with me, from editing to choosing cover designs to uploading. And maybe that book you’re writing for NaNo will join mine next year.

This month, I’m looking for indie-published recommendations. What’s the best indie-published book you’ve read? How did you discover it, and what about the book makes you declare it “the best?”

Until next month . . .

Spooky NaNoWriMo Advice

Since Halloween is only a couple days away…Boo!

Oh, that didn’t scare you? How about…NaNoWriMo starts the day after that!

This weekend will be filled with lots of scary things. Little ghouls ringing your doorbell. Armies of Minions stomping over your lawn. Unholy amounts of sugar. 

But maybe the scariest of all are the thoughts of those who anticipate NaNoWriMo.

“Will I finish this year?”

“What if I hate my story?”

“What if I don’t have time?”

“I don’t have a clue what I’ll write.”

Fear not! Or maybe do, but in a different way. If you need a little inspiration to get you started and keep you racing toward the finish line, delve into your fears. Write what scares you. Common advice, right? Because it works. Here are four quotes to back up that nice, old nugget of wisdom:

    What do you say? Ready to face your fears this spooky weekend?


Creepily,
Jessie 

Guestopia! Poppy Inkwell

Today, I am delighted to welcome Australian author Poppy Inkwell to the Guestopia slot! Here's a quick bio before we get going with interview!

Poppy Inkwell was born in the Philippines and immigrated to Australia as a toddler. She grew up in Campbelltown, in Western Sydney, the youngest of three girls. She spent a year as an exchange student in Japan, graduated from the University of Sydney with a BA in Asian Studies and has worked in a variety of fields, including, a DJ for 2RSR Koori Radio, an interpreter for a Japanese ultra-marathon runner in the Sydney-to-Melbourne race, and PR for bands like Vicious Hairy Mary and Sydney’s avant-garde performance artists, The Post Arrivalists. Curious about Islam, she went to Brunei to teach English to ASEAN diplomats and ended up living there for almost 15 years.

Her five children inspired an interest in children and creativity which led to the development of PicassoPlay (an art group for toddlers), a transition-to-school programme and an Early Literacy programme.

She lives on the Sunshine Coast with her family.

She has sky-dived once.

 

Hi Poppy! Thank you so much for joining us today! Let's go!

Is this your first published book

The Alana Oakley series are my first published books.

Which genre?

Mystery/humour.

Which age group?

They’re aimed at ‘tweens’ but adults seem to enjoy them too.

Is it a series or standalone?

Series.

Are you an agented author?

No.

Which publisher snapped up your book?

Big Sky Publishing.

Do you have another job?

I’m an Early Childhood professional but I also run Early Literacy programmes for children learning to read, or for those who need extra support.

Did you receive many, if any, rejections prior?

My first manuscripts were added to many a ‘slush pile’ and very rarely did I even hear back to be rejected. I worked with a professional assessor who helped me get a foot in the door with Walker Books with a different manuscript to Alana. They liked the style or ‘voice’ of my writing but not the content. They asked to see more of my work. I showed them a picture book but they’d committed to another writer on a similar idea so it was back to the drawing board. I decided to write something completely different – Alana Oakley – which at that point was a stand-alone piece. When it was finished my assessor suggested Big Sky Publishing because he knew the acquisitions editor had similar taste to his. They were keen but wanted a series. This required a big mental shift for me but after a few stops and starts I got it done.

What created/what were you doing or watching when the first idea for this book sneaked up on you?

I’m a huge YA fan and had just finished reading Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games trilogy and Veronica Roth’s Divergent, Insurgent and Allegiant. While I loved them, I was aware of how ‘dark’ they were. I wondered what alternatives were available for someone wanting light comic relief. I didn’t find much and set about filling the gap.

Once you started, did the story flow naturally or did you have to step in and wrestle it into submission?

I’m a very visual person. I think it’s because I was a TV addict as a kid. While I was a big reader, I also watched a LOT of shows like Batman and Robin, Get Smart, and the Thunderbirds. So when I write I see ‘mini-movies’ in my head (complete with cartoon-like Kablams!) For Alana, I only started writing when I had a clear beginning and an end because I love all my stories to have a twist. Everything flowed very easily after I established a writing routine. Book 2 was not as easy to write. I’d never written a series before so I wrote the second one as if it was a separate story, introducing new characters with very little connection to the first. It was all wrong – something my assessor very gently pointed out. Sean nurtured me towards making critical changes that made it a cohesive addition to the Alana storyline. It was an enormous learning curve.

How many drafts did you write before you let someone read it? Who was that someone?

I did countless revisions as I wrote, three professional revisions with an assessor and two with Big Sky Publishing, but I think I bored my husband every step of the way with every new chapter.

How many drafts until it was published?

Too many to count!

Has the book changed dramatically since the first draft?

The guts and bones of it remain but it’s very different to the first. The role of an objective, professional eye in the writing process is invaluable.

Are there any parts you’d like to change even now?

I don’t believe in ‘living in regret’ and our ‘mistakes’ are just as valuable as our so-called successes. As the books are already published, I believe in putting my energy into the things I can change so I do a lot of re-writing and editing of the manuscripts.

What part of writing do you find the easiest?

I enjoy all parts of the writing process but there’s no exact bit that is consistently easy or hard. I usually write in chunks and sometimes out of chronological order. If I can’t/won’t/don’t want to write a particular part, I’ll make a note in highlighted brackets to fill in later, e.g. ‘(describe her face here.)’ Editing, researching, coming up with ideas; they’re all crucial to the overall process and some days certain tasks are easier than others. The important thing for me is to maintain momentum.

What part do you find hardest?

In the original manuscript for Book 2, I had the idea of including an excerpt from William Shakespeare’s Star Wars by Ian Doescher so I went through the usual channels and ended up in conversation with someone from Lucas Films. Sadly, they did not give their permission so I had to re-think the idea of making ‘Shakespeare Week’ contemporary. My younger daughter, Meg, told me about her friend, William Brien, who had won the school’s Shakespeare Rap competition and he very kindly let me include it in the book. It was a win-win for everyone. Plus, I got rejected by someone from Star Wars... how cool is that?!

Do you push through writing barriers or walk away?

I try and push through but if I’m not successful I’ll give myself another, but related task, and return to it later. 

How many projects do you have on the go at the same time?

Usually one but I’ll jot ideas down into separate files so that I don’t lose an idea that might be incubating for something else. 

Do you think you’re born with the talent to write or do you think it can be learned?

I don’t know. A combination of both? Neither? You do get families of writers, and then again, you have authors whose children have no interest in writing themselves. Who knows what’s in our DNA? I do know I’m still learning to write and that the better the constructive feedback, and the more practise I get, the easier writing becomes.  

How many future novels do you have planned?

There are three more stories in the Alana Oakley series. I have another series with a male protagonist incubating in my head. And a few stories planned for much younger readers.

Do you write other things, such as short stories, articles, blogs, etc?

I write articles and guest blogs on occasion, and a short story once in a blue moon, but mainly I focus on the series. 

What’s the highlight of being published so far?

Actually holding the physical book is a very special moment, but also having an opportunity to explain aspects of the series have been an unexpected bonus so interviews and guest blogs are a highlight too. I think all fiction writers are philosophers in a way. Why we choose our characters’ paths, their decisions, or place them in certain situations and their subsequent response, is a reflection of us and our values.

It has also been a fabulous opportunity to collaborate with different people in unique ways. For example, to include William Brien’s Shakespeare Rap in Book 2, provide a platform for Alice Wilson’s song, Set Me Free, in the interview with TheOtherHamish&Andy (a song she wrote when she was ten!!!) or to reach out to an audience on Instagram and ask for suggestions for a character name for a dog featuring in Book 4.

We live in a different era and the rules have changed. It’s very, very exciting.

Give me five writing tips that work for you.

Seeking professional advice/feedback.

Typing out my favourite passages from my favourite books if I feel I can’t find my ‘voice’.

Repeatedly reading my favourite books from my favourite authors. It’s a bit like having a song on ‘repeat’; but you pick up on different nuances each time.

Establishing a writing routine that is interruption-free – I generally write in the morning and when I’m ‘less fresh’ I edit or tweak. Every writing session involves re-working passages I’ve written and I try to complete one chapter in one sitting.

Having a shower – I’ve had some of my best ‘Eureka’ moments in the shower!

And one that doesn't.

Reading reference books on how to write. 

Can you give us a clue or secret about the next book?

New neighbours have moved into the creepy old house across the road and Alana suspects they could be vampires. With a kilo of organic garlic in her pockets I think this sassy sleuth has it covered, don’t you? 

Thank you so much, Poppy! We wish you a bunch of luck with the Alana Oakley series!

If you would like to know more about Poppy and her books, here are a few links that might help.

Website
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads
Big Sky Publishing

 

 

 

My Secret Identity: Writing Under Multiple Pen Names

I've gone to four conferences in October and there is one thing I got asked about at every single one, even though I didn't speak on the topic in an official capacity: my pen-names.

For those who don't know, I write YA under the name Sarah Nicolas and romance under the name Aria Kane. (New release coming 11/15!)

Authors publish under different names for a variety of reasons and handle it a variety of ways. If you ask ten different pseudonymous authors, you might get ten different answers. Here are the most common questions I get about my multiple personalities and my answers:

1) Why do you write under a pen name?

Short answer: marketing/branding

Long answer: It's all about marketing and branding.

I actually don't write anything under my legal last name, for two reasons. One is that I started in the YA world and my real name is the same as a popular European lingerie designer (i.e. the Google Image results are not YA-friendly). The second is that someone with my name self-published an unprofessional fantasy/post-apoc novel and I didn't want that associated with my name.

My reasons for a separate pen name for romance are different. Imagine a teenager tells her mother she wants to read my books. The mother searches amazon and finds these covers:

Now imagine, on the opposite side of things, a reader who enjoys my sexy romances and accidentally buys and starts reading Dragons are People, Too, which has, like, some light making out. A hundred pages in.

Neither customer would be happy.

Frequently, romance authors will use a pen name if they live in a conservative environment, are active in their church, or are teachers. I have seen parents go all pitch-and-forky when they find out their child's teacher is a romance author.

Also, a couple of years ago, I saw a discussion on another reason for someone to use a pen name: job applications. An author had a potential employer google her (which everyone does now) and he doubted her intentions and her staying power because the assumptions are: the author already makes more than enough money (hahahahahahahahaha *ahem*) or is going to leave as soon as they start raking in the cash (again, hahahahahaha). So there's that to consider.

The old-school reason to write under different names is so that your mystery (J.D. Robb) books don't get shelved in the romance section (Nora Roberts) of the bookstore, because bookstores like to keep all of an author's books together. This is still a concern but is becoming less influential in these kinds of decisions.

More reasons other authors choose a pen name: Your name is very common or the name of another author (or the name of, say, a serial killer). You worry about stalkers. Your name is hard to spell or pronounce.  Bad sales history. Gender concerns (men writing m/f romance, women writing scifi).

2) Why did you choose the name(s) you chose?

Sarah is my first name and Nicolas is a derivative of my middle name. And the domain name was available.

As for Aria Kane, I've always liked the name Aria and it has some of the same sounds as my first name. One of my favorite names in the world is Cian, but nobody knows how to say or spell it. Also, a couple years ago, a report came out that romance authors with a strong-sounding Anglo-Saxon last name sold better than their counterparts. I don't know how true that is, but why not?

Plus, the domain name was available.

(I told you it was all about marketing)

3) What about your agent?

My agent and I have a very special arrangement when it comes to my pen name. This is a very personal decision. If you are not yet agented, you should have this conversation with any agent who offers representation. If you are agented, you should have the conversation with your agent to figure out how to proceed if you want to start writing in another category or under a different name.

Some agents:

• represent all the author's work, regardless of genre. If this is what you want, look for agents who represent (almost) everything you're interested in writing.
• represent only one category/name while another agent represents the other
• work out a deal with another agent in their house who represents the genre they don't
• any mixture of the above three options

4) How do you keep them straight?

Sometimes I don't. I signed an Aria email the other day with "Thank you, Sarah."

It requires different email addresses, different social media accounts, different personalities.

People look at me like I'm crazy when I say Aria and Sarah have very different personalities. The key is: they're both me, I just accentuate different aspects of my personality, depending on who I am. For example, I let out every bit of my flirtiness and dirty mindedness when I'm Aria. Sarah is more snarky/sarcastic. I'm all of those things.

5) What should I call you?

I don't care. I know some authors will, but if I'm at an event as Aria and you call me Sarah, I'll answer and won't correct you. I now answer to Aria almost as automatically as Sarah. I'm "out."

Sometimes I even forget what name I should introduce myself as. If you see me glance at my badge before I say my name, this is what has happened.


I hope that answers some of your questions about writing under multiple names. If you have any other questions, let me know in the comments!

Book Reviews - Consider Before You Review!

Today seems as good a day as any to talk about book reviews. There are heaps of articles and blogs online discussing them, not to mention fabulously painful conversations that go viral of authors challenging someone who's left a negative one. But now that my debut has been available for nearly six months, and the reviews are not so much pouring but trickling in, (because my goodness, getting reviews = blood from stone), I've experienced both sides of the divide: reader vs author; reviewer vs writer; giver vs receiver.

From an author's point of view they can provide the biggest buzz in the world, but they can also hurt. Like 'crumble and curl up in a ball, making guttural sobbing sounds' type pain. Ouch.

Most of my reviews have been positive. Phew. So far, anyway! And for those readers who've taken the time to leave one on Goodreads, Amazon, Netgalley or on their blogs, I'm eternally grateful. I wish I could hug you back (I'll find a way!). But there have been a couple of negative ones. Now, no author wants to hear anything negative about their story. Just as no parent wants to hear anything negative about their child. It hurts. Badly. So much so, I've known writers to give up writing for several months as a result. All that effort, that love, that passion – smashed to smithereens in a handful of sentences. Another ouch. This isn't me, but I've certainly been affected for a day or two afterwards. (At this point, please don't tell me I shouldn't read my reviews – ain't gonna happen. I obsess. Can't fight it, so I accept I might not always be happy with what I find!) But I have wanted to challenge the reviewer. I've wanted to explain the bits they've misunderstood. I've wanted to email them and say, 'My book is mid-grade NOT YA!' But I won't. Because no matter how I look at justifying the powerful internal force convincing me I should, I'm the author, and I need to maintain my distance and my professionalism.

I write, therefore I cannot please all.

However, I don't know many writers who can't take CONSTRUCTIVE negativism. Most writers want to hear a reader's opinion. It's the nature of the writing beast. If a reader says they didn't enjoy the book and then gives their reasons, but in an honest, open and explanative tone, that's life, and fair. Every writer has been rejected at some point, and we've all read bestsellers that we didn't connect with, so why should other titles be any different. It's one of the beautiful things about this industry: there are so many tastes to please, every style and genre has the potential to reach a readership, and give a smile. But when a review is vicious, pointless and cutting, takes a pop at the author, or knocks any previous positive reviews, well that sucks. It's low. And completely unnecessary. It really doesn't say much about the person leaving the review, either.

How would you like it if a complete stranger walked into your recently decorated house that you spent the last month breaking your back and bank balance over to look amazing, and told you it sucked, they hated it, worst paint job they'd ever seen, that you're probably the most untalented decorator they've ever met and will now tell everyone through every means they can what a terrible job you've done, but will definitely not give you a reason as to why they think this. Smidge unfair if you ask me. (Not the best likeness, I know! But it's the best I could come up with today.)

I've heard all too often people who've watched a Steven Seagel or Bruce Willis movie saying it was pointless, farfetched and unbelievable. 'The hero killed everyone with a revolver and ten bullets yet never even took a single bullet, even though fifty baddies were all shooting at him at once with machine guns.' Err, point. Of course, he didn't. He's a hero in a film that isn't meant to be real, it's pointless, farfetched, unbelievable entertainment. Grrrrr!
 

And books are exactly the same.

It's good for a reader to branch out and read different things if they feel the need. Why not? You might just find the book of your dreams. But if you're reading sci-fi for the first time when all you usually read is hardcore gory horror, then it's simply not fair to the author, or potential readers, to compare this book to  those in your backlist. Readers have to be as open-minded and fair in reaction as the author.

So, if you're planning to leave a review (which you absolutely should) of a recent book you've devoured, consider exactly what you're reading or agreeing to review first. Before you read, even before you buy, and definitely before you review. Have an idea of your expectations of the book beforehand. Who is the intended audience? What's the genre? Then review it with these considerations in mind. Don't compare a light-hearted, fun fantasy adventure with a heart-wrenching contemporary. They're not going to be the same. Obvs.  

Take the story for what it is and don't forget your manners.

 

www.katejfoster.com

www.katefosterauthor.com

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NaNoWriMo draws near...

So last month I talked a little about my NaNoWriMo prep, such as it was. To be honest, I wasn't taking it super seriously since I wasn't even sure I'd really commit to writing a new book. But then October happened and a bunch of good writing buddies signed up and now I've fully succumbed to the best kind of peer pressure and decided to actually do this thing.

But in order to do this thing, I need to take the whole planning part a little more seriously. Every author works differently - I have come to love Excel and the ability to create multiple spreadsheets in one document. I know some people swear by Scrivener, but that has never worked for me so I'm staying old school. I'm also writing fantasy, which makes keeping track of the world, cultures, languages, and different magic systems laborious enough never mind actually working out the plot and character arcs.

I have spent October building my spreadsheets. These are the individual tabs I have all in one planning document:

1) Plot - including a 7-point plot structure, a synopsis, notes for future scenes and a chapter-by-chapter breakdown of the chapters I've already worked out. The rest is all broadstrokes at this point and subject to change, but I have a very good idea of where the story is going and how I need to get there.

2) Characters - more than just physical descriptions and personality traits, this tab also includes the details of the protagonists' character arcs and how these match with the plot points.

3) Magic - including all the defining characteristics of the different systems, and how these manifest culturally such as style of dress or what's held sacred. This also ties in with the religions of my world.

4) Languages - since our thoughts are very much dictated by the language we speak, the vagaries of my fantasy languages highly influence the voice of the my POV characters and this is where I keep tabs on that.

5) Geography, flora and fauna - self-explanatory really and a tab I know I'll use a lot once I get into writing and need to describe the setting.

For now, those are the five tabs I'm working on. I might need to add to them as my story world develops though. I can see myself needing to create a Politics or Trade & Commerce tab, but for now my focus is on getting character arcs to match up with plot, and make sure I've got the bones of a good story before I start writing in earnest come November.

As a previous pantser, I'm finding plotting time-consuming and extremely taxing, but it's definitely worth it. When I eventually start to write, I won't need to keep stopping to research my world, it'll be all there for me in my spreadsheet.

Are you a plotter or a pantser? How do you prepare before starting to write?

~Suzanne~

Touching Fate by Brenda Drake - HAPPY RELEASE DAY!

I'm so excited to share this book with you all. Brenda Drake is not only an amazing and giving person, she's one of the loveliest people I've met in the writing community. She's one of my critique partners and I love the concept and strong elements this book shows off. I am so happy to leave you with a review of a book about a boy and a girl who meet and shouldn't possibly be with each other, but want it all the same. My review is below.

  

Touching Fate by Brenda Drake

Release Date: 10/12/15 

Entangled Teen: Crave

Review:

Brenda creates a world with likable characters that you grow to feel for and love. The twist of fate? The touching of the cards? Absolutely well done. I liked that most of this spanned a large chunk of the school year, and that Aster and Reese actually clicked for me. 

While they were immediately aware of/attracted to each other, the passage of time is quite obvious in that it takes them a while to actually fall into synch. It took me back to those moments in high school when you have a new crush, and then realize that they really could be more. The complication, the curse of fate as it were, is well handled and while I definitely came to feel more for Aster, I felt a little sorry for Reese too. 

Brenda deftly weaves obstacles in the way of these two, but Aster's stubbornness and the for once present in a YA novel parents of Reese (who are quite awesome and caring, love their son and want the best for him - I know right, hard to believe) - leads to an ending that cuts it down to the wire. 

Keep in mind that I don't usually read pure romance, but Brenda Drake threw in just the right amount of magic to make me a fan. The chemistry between the pair works well, as does the tension that rises due to the circumstances they face. 

I'm not fond of spoilers so most of my review is vague, but suffice it to say: I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted story with a fresh twist on a cursed man's fate, and lots of heart.   

  Summary from Goodreads: 

 Aster Layne believes in physics, not psychics. A tarot card reading on the Ocean City Boardwalk should have been a ridiculous, just-for-fun thing. It wasn't. Aster discovers she has a very unscientific gift—with a simple touch of the cards, she can change a person's fate. 

 Reese Van Buren is cursed. Like the kind of old-school, centuries-old curse that runs in royal families. Every firstborn son is doomed to die on his eighteenth birthday—and Reese's is coming up fast. Bummer. He tries to distract himself from his inevitable death...only to find the one person who can save him. 

 Aster doesn't know that the hot Dutch guy she's just met needs her help–or that he’s about to die. 

 But worst of all…she doesn't know that her new gift comes with dark, dark consequences that can harm everyone she loves. 

   Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Entangled   

  

About the Author Brenda Drake grew up the youngest of three children, an Air Force brat, and the continual new kid at school. Her fondest memories growing up is of her eccentric, Irish grandmother’s animated tales, which gave her a strong love for storytelling. So it was only fitting that she would choose to write stories with a bend toward the fantastical. When she’s not writing or hanging out with her family, she haunts libraries, bookstores, and coffee shops, or reads someplace quiet and not at all exotic (much to her disappointment).   

  Author Links: Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook   

  GIVEAWAY: Fire HD 7, 7" HD Display, Wi-Fi, 8 GB US/Canada or $100 Amazon Card if the winner is international 

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  Book Tour Organized by: YA Bound Book Tours

Agentopia: Jen Hunt and a Pitch Party!

This month Jen Hunt from the Booker Albert Agency is in the Agentopia spotlight, and things are working a little differently!

Check out Jen's interview below. If you think your manuscript is a good match, feel free to leave a short pitch of approximately 35 words (and only the pitch!) in the comments.

Set it out with:

Title:
Category & Genre:
Word count:
Pitch:


If Jen wants to see more, she'll let you know. You can then send Jen your query along with any other requested materials to the submissions email below. Don't forget to put 'Agentopia' somewhere in your subject line!

Although she became an agent only recently, Jen Hunt has been in the publishing world for quite some time. With  B.A, In English Literature from the University of Reno, Nevada, she started out as a reviewer for Divertir Publishing and ended as the Acquisitions Editor where she saw several books from start to publication. Even though that process was rewarding, Jen always had the desire to not be a step in their journey, but apart of it. To share an author's highs and lows, through every project. Thankfully, Jordy and Brittany gave her that opportunity to live her dream and it is amazing. 

To query Jen:  query[at]thebookeralbertagency[dot]com

1. What are you looking for in YA/MG submissions right now? 

I want strong characters that don't cry all the time. Angst is fine but I don't want a lovesick teenager. Why? Bookstores are drowning in those. They're a dime a dozen. Let's not chase genres, let's trend set! I want something clean for the age range. Also, and this might ruin a lot of my submissions, nothing in high school. I know, I know - but I hated high school growing up. Put that environment in a different era/time/place and I am very interested. At Divertir, Tony Russo is about to put out YA Diesel-punk where the female lead goes to flight school and it has a high school feel. THAT'S what I want (I was VERY lucky to edit that one). Give me scene setting with unique detail (as in not cliche) and a decently flushed out world.  

2. What's an immediate turn-off in a query, something guaranteed to get the author rejected? 

Let me approach this a different way. If a query is straight forward, clean, and linear, I will most likely read the first few lines of the attached story. A query all over the place without any idea who the main characters are, their plight, and what they need to overcome usually results in me clicking over to the next email. I like simple and straight forward. Also, submitting to me what's not in my genre. No horror, straight thriller, sex, etc. As an author, I understand how important and special it is to be championed by an agent, but if an author cannot take the time to write a clean query, I won't give them my time. Do your homework.

3. What's the story got to have to make you want to represent it?

That is a tough one. I don't want retellings of the same plot lines. Give me age ranges in places we normally don't see. Give me unique descriptions, things described in your own voice. Keep one POV per chapter/section. 

If Jen sounds like the agent for you, please leave your pitch below in the comments. Good luck!