As some of you already know, I am a co-founder of a workshop for intermediate and advanced writers for children called Better Books. This will be our fifth year already–wow! Attendees will unite in Menlo Park, California from October 12th to the 15th. Better Books focuses only on craft. This is truly what I love best about it. There are many places to learn marketing techniques, but our faculty focuses on creating excellent, publishable stories that will inspire children to read and learn and think.
I mean, really, it’s about so much more than the first ten pages or the opening line. What about the middle muddle or the ending or deepening character or scene structure? And what a lineup of faculty we have this year–Emma Dryden (founder of Drydenbks, a premier children’s editorial/publishing consultant company), Harold Underdown (independent editor/publishing consultant), Stephen Fraser (senior agent at the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency), and Tiffany Liao (editor: Henry Holt Books)–and just 25 accepted writers to keep it all intimate and personal. The application period has now officially opened until May 31st, so if this is what you’ve been looking for, much like we once were, head over to Better Book Marin to learn more. Hope to see you soon!
Arrival of the ARKISH ARC!
Yesterday, the best mail arrived. Five precious ARCs of my book. For those less familiar, “ARC” stands for Advanced Readers Copy, and it’s purpose is to be used for reviewers. It’s a paperback preview version, not yet fully edited, of the hardcover that will be released on September 19th, 2017. Oh, these things are a work of beauty! The cover, soft as buttery leather. Inside are actual words that I wrote–for real.
When I told my friend about my lovely box of books, she texted that she would love to review my “Ark.” I laughed at first, thinking of course of Noah’s Ark, but then I realized that her typo was a more accurate depiction of said product than correct acronym. My ARC is very much an ARK. For starters, I have a lot riding on this thing. I want my ARK to stay afloat in a sea of wonderful book. And finally, I am hoping for a miracle (from reviewers.) I have now officially entered a time where I must patiently plan for my ARK’s journey. Soon, Boyds Mills Press and I will launch them to people who will either help the book float or sink. It’s terrifying, to be honest. But, like Noah, I have something going for me: faith. And so I build on, praying for sunny days ahead…
We Have a Cover
At last, we have a cover for Stolen Secrets! It’s beautiful, and eye catching, and intriguing. I can’t wait to share it with everyone. But alas, I can’t just yet. In the meantime, I am on the hunt for people who want an advanced electronic copy in exchange for an honest review. 
If that’s you, drop me a line. I am so excited to share this book. It’s been a labor of love for so long, I don’t dare admit the years of marination out loud. Let’s just say the idea has been circulating in my head for longer than some of my target readers have been alive. Truthfully, the concept was overwhelmingly wonderful, and it took me ages to get the courage to actually write the thing. But now it’s almost done–the final round of edits comes any day now. Soon, it will be out of my hands and into yours. Oh, and hey, you are invited to my launch party at Book Passage on Saturday, September 23rd at 5 p.m. Let’s celebrate together.
Synchronicity Strikes Again
Here’s the most curious thing that happens to me: Whenever I’m working on a new project, synchronicities appear like a knight on a white horse. They can be fascinating or sometimes eerie, but mostly fascinating. I better rewind. I recently started a new project, a young adult novel with a very different tone than my last two. This one, it turns out, wants to be funny. I remember my agent once suggesting that I write something humorous, because I guess I can be a funny/quirky/eccentric person on occasion. When she said that, I thought, No way can I pull off humor, like, in every chapter. Talk about pressure. 
But to my surprise (and happiness), I’m finding that the funny comes without much effort on my part. Once again the characters volunteer to do the heavy lifting. But wait, I think I wandered off topic. Okay, so here I am, writing a book about an Italian Exchange student, when my fifteen year old daughter announces that [Read more…]
