Cassandra Clare and Holly Black re-cap

It was a sunny Friday afternoon when this lovely blogger and her #entourage signing friends (Gail, Nikki, the other Danielle and Jen) hopped in the car for a two-ish hour ride to South Hadley, MA. This cutesy little bookstore called The Odyssey hosted a signing for two big-time authors, Cassandra Clare and Holly Black.

It was my Cassandra Clare signing—and I’m a huge Cassie Clare fangirl, so I was pretty excited. I’m still excited. I was also excited for Holly! I’m knee deep in White Cat and loving it. If you’ve never been to a Cassie Clare/ Holly Black signing—it looks a little something like this. Well, that's the line. It was packed out! ---->

And if you didn’t know this, Cassie is super hilarious and Holly is probably the sweetest lady I’ve ever met in my life. So they are both winners—and you can tell they’re friends because they bounce comments back and forth like it’s second nature. I love it. It made for a thrilling event.

Cassie and Holly both did readings. Cassie from Clockwork Prince (WOW!) and Holly from Red Glove.  I got a small snippet from Cassie before my camera freaked out.

Cassie reading:


They also did q&a from the audience. Here are some recaps from that!

What’s harder about a series: the first book or the last?

Holly: The first book because you have to do so much world building.
Cassie: The last book because you have to pay-off everything you’ve set up.
Holly: The last can be difficult if you didn’t figure out something you thought you would by then.

Where did the idea for Shadowhunters come from? Which side has more in the uprising? Which book was your favorite to write?

Cassie: Shadowhunter idea came after visiting with a friend and seeing tattoo designs and then playing the “what-if” game. That friend still does the drawings for all the runes in the books; The Clave because they had warning and enough time to gain help from the Downworlders; City of Glass because of the pay-off.

Do you like writing Jace or Will more?

Cassie: “That’s hard. Jace is comfortable. I’ve known Jace longer and better; he's very easy and familiar. Will is crazy!”
Holly: “Crazy as a bedbug!”
Cassie: “He’s very fun because you don't know where he will go and there's pleasure in that.”

Do you feel bad for killing off characters and have you ever not killed a character?

Holly: Cassie doesn't feel bad ever! I've never planned to kill someone and not killed them but I have given more scenes because I liked them.

Cassie: I've put off killing them (like the character that dies in the third book) because I thought it would be more upsetting to the readers if he was around longer. I enjoy slaying. And if they didn't die it'd remove the conflict from the story and happy people are boring.

Favorite character from each other’s books?

Cass: Rioban in Tithe; Jarrod, Ian and Cassel’s grandpa in White Cat.

Holly: Luke and Will. I love Luke. She’ll tell me about something and I’ll always ask “Well, what about Luke?” or “How does that affect Luke?” And Will but not in a shipping way. I love Will because he’s crazy. There’s a scene in the new one where he chases a demon in a circle at a party. There are guest and everything and he’s chasing the demon around and yelling.

Cassie: It’s a small circle

Holly: That’s worse!

Why do you change POVS in the book? (Someone also asked specifically about “more Alec in CoLS” and “why Holly switched between Tithe/White Cat”)

Cassie: You get the most interesting things that way from all the characters with the back and forth. Otherwise, you’d be watching people sleep and eat pizza. And yes, there will be more Alec in book five because he follows up on an offer made in CoFA.

Holly: Book two (of Tithe series) was supposed to be new book about kids who live in subway and deal with addiction with the twist of a modern tale about a girl who wants to be a knight. Then, as I wrote it I ended up putting in the same world as Tithe.

With Curse Workers, I wanted to try something new so I did first person and present tense. But hard things are hard—and you can try them but they are still hard. Now, I have to keep going on it but I may not do it again.

Where did Magnus come from?

Cassie: I was clubbing with my friend John in NYC and he was encrusted with glitter. We went Sbarro’s to some Coke to drink and the lady behind the counter says, "Never in my life have I seen such a shiny man!" And there was Magnus. John, like Magnus, is very intelligent, rounded, wise, fun and sparkly. Initially Magnus was only supposed to appear at the party but I liked him and he got more screentime.

*Possible spoiler for CoB-CoG* How did you get the idea to have Jace and Clary believe they were brother and sister?

It was a real-life story that she saw in a hotel in England. A boy and girl were married and both were adopted. So, they did genetic screening to see if they carried any factors that could affect their children. The results came back that they were brother and sister. The country made them get divorced but the idea that you loved someone that you absolutely couldn’t was really appealing.

What advice do you have for writers?

Holly: We have a list for this. I handle advice and Cassie handles writers block.

1. Read everything and read outside comfort zone to learn new ways to do things. 2. Write a lot and figure out your style, plot and characters. 3. Get a crit partner at the same level you are how can tell honestly how it is and ask you hard questions. The accountability is important so they can ask, "Why didn't you do this?"

Some other tidbits of information:

• Would Holly and Cassie ever co-write a book? Yes! They have written shorts together and would be interested if schedules worked out.
• In the overall series of Infernal Devices you will find out where/what Tessa's parents are any why/how she was in City of Glass with Magnus.
• In original draft of City of Glass, Alec and Jace kissed but she took it out because it didn’t work. It’s online somewhere though if you are curious.
• Cassie has no tattoos of her own, but she’s really honored that people get them because of her books. “You’re always obsessed with things you don’t have yourself.”
• Weirdest fan encounters: someone threw water on Holly but no one knows why. Cassie met a couple who were naming their baby Jace. When she asked the father if he was okay with it he said “That’s a badass name!” And thought it was cool that Jace has a flying motorcycle and kills demons. 
• Holly said: “I knew I wanted to write b/c I looked around one day and everyone else had grown up and stopped but I hadn’t.

It was a great event! They did the signing after and we spent two hours waiting in line for Cassie, but it was fantastic. I got to chat with Holly some while we waited; we talked about make-up, writing and I even convinced her to read CLARITY. The time passed quickly.  Plus, since we were the last ones up to see Cassie and they ran out of chapter samplers and TMI postcards, Cassie gave each of us some Shadowhunter goodies! The other Danielle and I now each half a friendship rune necklace--so that's all sorts of awesome. The other perk? We got to get a group shot!

Breathless Reads Tour

Wednesday night I had the pleasure of journeying to New York City with some of my blogger buddies (Gail of Ticket to Anywhere, Nikki of Wicked Awesome Books, Dani of Overflowing Shelf & Jen of Secret Life of a Bibliophile) to the first stop on the Breathless Reads tour at Books of Wonder.

It was a long day--complete with six hours of driving and 2 hours on a train where we ladies talked loudly and excitedly about books, blogging, authors, music and everything under the sun. It was joyous. We had pizza, met some other bloggers & delivered cookies to our author friends. (Yum.)

The authors: Kirsten Miller, Brenna Yovanoff, Andrea Cremer, Ally Condie & Beth Revis. The first part of the signing was q&a with the authors.

Here are some highlights from that thanks to Jen, who furiously tweeted as many answers as she could. She rocks. :) 

Q: Is there any of you in your character?

Brenna: My crit partners tell me I am the Morrigan. She went on to explain that it's only occasionally. 

Beth: There's a little bit of me in all my characters. Amy embodies the loneliness that she felt and Elder the adventure and desire to know things that she doesn't understand.

Q: What advice to do you have for young writers? 

Brenna Yovanoff

Beth said to find things that you're interested in go do those things instead--you have to experiences to write about and writing can't get in the way of living.

Brenna said to write. She spoke about having a balance between the living and the writing or one wouldn't get done.

Ally said to have a something else happening in your life as well---and to write.

Andrea Cremer

Andrea said that you need to write for yourself, for the story that has to be told--because if you do it any other way then you won't be satisfied.

Kirsten says you have to have a thick skin so you're able to handle the things people say to you. She also said to be able to sit for a long time.

Q: Did you always want to be a writer?

 

Beth said: "I always wanted to be a writer because typing was cool and I was good at it. Then, someone said I should have another plan. I agreed that I wanted to have money--so I became a teacher....I took a creative writing class that wasn't fun." Beth said the teacher wouldn't let her write what she wanted to but eventually she started writing. She talked a lot about blowing stuff up, which all her early stories involved. "I wrote ten really bad novels and then a good one."

Ally and Andrea both taught prior to writing, and both wanted to write. Andrea started because she broke her leg and was in a cast for 12 weeks. So, she used the time to write. Ally started writing because she stayed home with her son and "babies go to bed at like 7." Everyone had great answers! I wish I would've been able to catch them all for you.

Beth shared a story about "Frexing" that was really great. She initially used "Frak" but didn't know about Battlestar. So, she was searching for a term they could use on the ship and she read "Frex" on a blog. She liked it, used it & discovered it meant "For Example." Luckily, it also ended up being an acronym for....well, I won't say. It's in the book. You go search and figure it out!

Q: What's harder to write: the first line or the last?

Kirsten says the first line is the hardest because everything starts there. Andrea says the last because it has to be perfect. Ally said the last as well. Brenna said the first. Beth said both--but even more important is the line in the middle of the book. :)

Q: What was your favorite subject in high school?

Kirsten Miller

Kirsten was good at English and liked English. But--she really loved Chemistry (even though she wasn't good at it.) "We had an expensive, fancy lab and I really wanted to blow things up!"

Andrea said drama and history--which she taught at a college level prior to writing.

Brenna didn't really care about English back then; she loved PE.

Ally said Biology because they didn't have an expensive, fancy Chemistry lab but they did have "lots of dead animals" she could cut up.

Beth said history and science. And typing.

Ally Condie

Q: Can you remember the first story you ever wrote?

Ally's first story? "It was called Unicorn Party. I had plastic unicorn necklace and I dropped in the stable." (It became REAL!) "I had a real unicorn--and it was pregnant. I had pregnant unicorns so naturally, I had a party to celebrate. That was the whole story."

There were many more great questions and answers. It was a fun stop and they are hilarious ladies! If they come anywhere near you make sure you're there!! Check out the rest of the dates here.

Us with Kirsten Miller

Us with Ally Condie

Us with Andrea, Beth and Brenna. :)

What would a signing be without a prize for my lovely followers?

What you can win:

Prize 1: Buttons & an ARC (I have Eternal Ones, Across the Universe and Nightshade to choose from)

Prize 2: SIGNED bookmarks for The Replacements, Nightshade & The Eternal Ones....and an ARC. (Same options as above, minus winner's choice.)

Prize 3: This poster signed by all the authors. 

To win: 
Leave a comment on ANYWHERE ON MY BLOG that includes #breathlesstour in the comment (and your email if you aren't a GFC follower) so I can find you. OR fill out the form. Please do NOT do both.



I'm going to draw three winners based off the comments using random.org (starting with prize #1).  US/Canada only.  The contest will end Thursday, February 17 at midnight.

Lauren Willig book signing!

I know I only talk about my love for YA typically, but there's another series that has my attention. One that is so a-typical for me but full of intrigue, mystery, romance, funny characters and espionage! This series is non other than The Pink Carnation novels!

I first discovered this series (The Secret History of the Pink Carnation) back in 2006 when my best friend and I found one single copy in a $4 bin at Borders. (Note: I found both of favorite fiction authors this way! Always look!) Anyway,
she was taking a bus trip but I wanted to read it. So, she bought it, I read it/loved it and then she read it. I remember our conversation as something like, "There should be more of these" and lo and behold--there were! Over the years since then, Ashley and I gathered the books as we found them and now we are officially only short the newest book, The Orchid Affair. We live states away, so the trading is sometimes difficult BUT I am slowly reading and thoroughly enjoying. When a friend said Lauren Willig would be here for the Orchid tour, I jumped at the chance to go.

Lauren & me...

She started the night off with a reading of three passages from The Orchid Affair.  The storyline for Orchid is completely enchanting--as were the pieces she read. I can't wait to get there. I'm only on book 3: The Deception of the Emerald Ring but I'm looking forward with excitement! It was great. Lauren was funny, charming, wore the cutest dress and entertained us with her stories of falling in the Boston snow, Paris policemen and claims of being nothing like character Eloise (despite both women studying history at Harvard, &going to England to work on a dissertation.)

Lauren said of Orchid, "It's a different book. Paris in January--and no one is English." She said Orchid--as well as any book/movie about nannies--follows two rules of The Sound of Music. This book is "Sound of Music meets James Bond." Rule 1: The nanny must inform the leader of the house that she disapproves of the way the children are raised/treated or the upkeep of something in the house. Rule 2: She must attend an awkward party where she feels inadequate and under-dressed. Here's the description to further pique your interest!


Laura Grey, a veteran governess, joins the Selwick Spy School expecting to find elaborate disguises and thrilling exploits in service to the spy known as the Pink Carnation. She hardly expects her first assignment to be serving as governess for the children of Andre Jaouen, right-hand man to Bonaparte’s minister of police. Jaouen and his arch rival, Gaston Delaroche, are investigating a suspected Royalist plot to unseat Bonaparte, and Laura’s mission is to report any suspicious findings. At first the job is as lively as Latin textbooks and knitting, but Laura begins to notice strange behavior from Jaouen—secret meetings and odd comings and goings. As Laura edges closer to her employer, she makes a shocking discovery and is surprised to learn that she has far more in common with Jaouen than she originally thought. 

After her readings, she took some q&a from guests.

Q: Will any of the books feature Hortense Bonaparte?
Hortense actually started course Lauren took toward this series because of a mini-series she watched in 5th grade and loved. Said she even wrote a novel in high school about Hortense. She also said ninth book featured Bonaparte--as well as an American in Paris--but nothing about Hortense. "Someone should write it!"

Q: How many books will there be?
At one point she said six...and this is eight. So, she wasn't saying definitely but maybe 15. "The last three will draw the characters together."

Q: Will more of the books take place in other countries?
Lauren said she'd love to--especially doing something in Latin America because Bonaparte's reign even stretched there. Book 10 is Tommy Fluellen book and takes place in Wales. She explains that in 1804, there was an underground revolution group and the first railroads were tested in 1805. Both of those aspects can appear in the book. She also said Jane could possibly go to Italy in her book during the Napoleonic Wars.

Q: What is Colin's mystery?
She didn't tell us. She did say three things. 1) He has multiple. 2) He may be a spy--or he may not be. It can go either way. 3) There are more secrets to come out. "That family has secrets in the closet like others have skeletons!" She also mentioned that she'd love to write a spin-off murder mystery book featuring Colin and Eloise as murder suspects. "It may not happen but the person wouldn't be a surprise and it would deserved."

Q: Will August W.  have a book? (I didn't catch his name--if anyone knows it!)
His book is book 9! Most of the chapters begin with verses that he likes to write (poorly!) He receives mysterious advice that Napoleon has a secret device and August wants to get it. He secures an invitation by helping a girl named Emma write masques--it's disastrous since August can't write his own. She also tells us that Gwen is featured as a pirate queen and reminds the children to "pillage before you burn." 

Sounds like fun! I can't wait to get through the series. If you get a chance to see Lauren Willig or read her books--you should do it! They will not disappoint.

 (Order: Pink Carnation, Black Tulip, Emerald Ring, Crimson Rose, Night Jasmine, Blood Lily, Orchid Affair.)

Hey, good looking! Let's celebrate!!

If 2011 is going to continue like this, I have no doubt that it will be absolutely awesome! *throws confetti*

For starters, look at my blog! Isn't it just so lovely? The amazing Amy re-designed everything for me--including my header which I'm in love with. She even made those cute buttons in my sidebar so everyone can pass along the noise! I owe a hugely ginormous thank you to Amy for taking the time. I love it!  Another thing that will happen in a few weeks will be loosing the blogspot IP address and gaining a .net one. Stay tuned for that.

This is my Nook!!

His name is Tennant Fitzwilliam North. You may call him Fitz or Tenne (pronounced Ten-nay) or Doctor. His name is a mouthful but it took a lot of thinking. 

Tennant: as in David Tennant, aka Tenth doctor from Doctor Who.  He was my favorite and I think he's brilliant. One of my goals this year is to watch everything he's been in that I can find. 


Fitzwilliam: as in Darcy. As in Pride & Prejudice. As in yum. 


North: as in main character from Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken. I love North. And it just sounds good at the end. :) 


Last night was epic again because I finished Part One of my WIP! I've been toying with this story since September and really writing since NaNo. It's a three part beast. I wrote Part Two first and have been dying to finish Part One. It felt like it would never happen but now it has! I'm pumped about it. Only thing that's left is Part Three and then I can share with my readers and CP and jump into edit mode! Woo!!!


Now, the big announcement: I'm *almost* at 200 followers! *throws more confetti* It's kind of mind-blowing. I thank each and every one of you because you are awesome! I'm devising a giveaway of awesome to celebrate! After I reach 200, I will let you know all the details once I've figured them out. I promise I will try to make it amazing!

We're only five days in but how was 2011 been for you?

The Classic Challenge

Happy 2011! Hope day one went well for everyone.

I have set a few goals this year (I'll probably post them later this week) and one of those goals is to read 100 books. When I was trying to figure out what I wanted to read, I realized I want to read classics. I haven't read many classics. I've counted and from my memory, I can recall fifteen. I've read fifteen classics in 23 years. That's not cool. SO, for 2011, I'm going to read some more.

Of those 100 books, I'm going to read at least 12--that's only one a month but it's more than I've ever read before! And, since I operate better with accountability, I thought I'd extend the challenge to all of you! 

 

 

If you want to join me in reading some classics, then please do!! If you want to read at least twelve classics this year, you can fill out the form below and join me! I know I'd love that. I'll have a form that you can use to keep track as you read--and of course, the other amazing people who are reading with you. 

 If you decide to participate, can take a button from over there on the sidebar --->

What do you think? Are you up for reading some classics?

NaNoWriMo

Is underway! I'm about to die. I think this month will overwhelm me, chew me up and spit me out. BUT I'm thinking positive...positive...positive.

Here are my goals:

-Being ready for each day by 9 am
-Writing 1,660 words a day
-Reading/editing 10 pages a day for CP
-Reading about 20 pages a day for fun

I know it's supposed to be all about writing but this way I'll be sure to get it all done. Plus, I'm working so it's going to be a hard task! Hence, the waking up each morning earlier than I need to. Since it's on my blog, everyone can make sure I'm doing it!

I should say, I'm not being strict with this. For me, I'm working on a novel that I've been working on for months so if I don't finish it, that's ok. I feel like this challenge is making me work on it and not giving me any excuses to not do it. Yes, I'm going to try to get all the words done but if I don't, that's okay too! I'm excited about it.

Add me.

What are you doing for NaNoWriMo?

Boston Book Fest (part 2): YA panel

As promised, here's part two of the great event. This one features the YA panel! And, a giveaway. As yesterday, things I loved are underlined. 

Photo from the AMAZING Kim Harrington, who sat beside me.

This was the thing I was most excited about all day! The panel featured: Noni Carter (Good Fortune), Kathryn Lasky (Guardians of Ga'hoole), Francisco Stork (Marcelo in Real Life, Last Summer of the Death Warriors) and Kristin Cashore (Graceling, Fire). 

"It" panel: Four YA authors discuss what's hot and what's not.

Noni Carter started writing her novel when she was 12. (She's now 19 and a student at Harvard.) The idea for her novel came from the true story her aunt told her as a child about her great-great-great grandmother Rose, who's mom was sold in slavery. Rose watched as a ship sailed away with her mother, who she never saw again. Noni knew that stories were important and she started writing. "We can't move forward in life unless we understand where we came from."

Noni Carter reading from her book.

Kathyrn Lasky was next---and she took a seat and took off her shoes. She addressed the issue of the panel discussion by jumping into "Hot or Not." Kathryn said that most stories (even fiction) are written on a deep personal level and come out with some form of that on the pages. "Writers don't write stories to start trends; they write because there is something burning inside them, a story that has to be told."

She also presented some really great ideas that trends stem from previous works of fiction. She pointed out three specific examples:  Catcher In the Rye (which was written in the 50's) and shaped many of the stories written in the 70's. The Giver, which has given way to the current influx of dystopian novels. Interview with a Vampire, which has given way to Twilight and the other vampire novels. She said that there were others and that these were just a few examples but it was impossible to deny that works of the past affect the future.

Kathryn also shared the story of her inspiration for Guardians of Ga'hoole. She has some non-fiction novels as well and her husband is a National Geographic photographer. She was really interested in owls and wanted to write a non-fiction book about them. Her husband said it was too much work. Owls were hard to find and they'd have to live in the woods. "'Just make it up,' he said. So I did!"

Francisco Stork took a seat next to Kathryn and, with a smile, said, "What's hot? I don't feel like I can answer that because it's not me." Precious! But he tackled the answer with ease. He said that there were two options for finding that answer: the best-seller list and the books that keep appearing everywhere. He specifically suggested looking at the Hot Reads tables at bookstores. "Those are the books that people are reading and they all have something in common. If you really want to figure out what's hot, read those books."

FS: The motivation with which you write a book affects the book and what comes out. That's what makes a book hot--YA especially. Teen years are full of hyper-sensitivity, hyper-awareness--hyper-everything--it's a time when you are in touch with the mysteries of the world around you and all the new things. There are a lot of firsts: loves, losses, kisses. The "hot" books embody these things and deal with ultimate concerns. "Who am I? What do I do? Why am I here? What can I do? What do I want?" These are the things that matter.

Francisco Stork. I just want to hug him.

Fransisco also suggested to ask the question, "What can I do to make sure my book is read five years from now?"

And when you are writing, find out what happens when a, b, c and play with all the concerns and outcomes. That's where the story is.  "Write with an attitude of discovery. The questions everyone asks has to be embodied and sought out." He also said to strive for that "Hot" table.

Kristin Cashore was last and immediately I was shocked by how hilarious she was! First words: "I don't feel like I should be talking about what's hot. What do I know? I spend all my time hiding in a room far away from everything else. Maybe that's hot now and I missed it..."

Kristin spoke about her revisions with Graceling and her writing process. She works with emotions and characters. (Yes, they talk to her but she doesn't talk back and she knows they are fictional! Just in case you wondered...) She figures out that and the plot comes last, which is the hardest part for her.

KC: I write in notebooks with pen. I keep my notebooks in a fire-proof water-proof trunk. Then, of course, the paranoia kicks in and I worry about meteors. They are going to land on that safe and destroy everything. So then so I make copies and keep them at a neighbor's house down the road, so I can worry about the meteor hitting the whole block.  After 20-30 pages, I use word recognition software and email it to every email account I have--just in case the meteor does hit and a computer survives.

She showed us one of those notebooks. #10. She said that she writes at least two pages a day and her current novel---yes! Bitterblue!!--was the longest she's done and will ever do. She started on #10 and is on notebook #16 now. Most of the pages she showed us, were completely marked out and crossed out.

Her thoughts on what's hot?

KC: You start from something you love and not what you think other people will love. It's not easy. Don't get discouraged. It can be crap. When a writer says her work is crap, she's not being humble. It actually is crap....The way to get to the right thing to say is to say the wrong thing ten times. If you know that you're a writer then you will always go back to it.

Then, the authors tackled some q&a from the audience.

What do you do when you are working on something and everything you do with the story isn't good? (This question came from a girl who is writing and revising but hates everything she does. She said she wasn't sure where to go next with her work. Basically.)

KC:  There are different kinds of writers--some have passion but no discipline to do the work. Sometimes you get tired and you just need to stop and step away. Seek out a writing group or readers. That's what I had to do. Sometimes you need it. The writing always calls me back when it's ready.

NC: You'll always want it to be better. There's a point where you need to just stop and trust yourself more.

FS: You can never trust how you feel about your writing. Sit and wait. Writing is a gift but it also takes effort and sometimes, that effort is doing nothing.

Do you share your project with young adults since it's for young adults? When does someone that age see it?

KC:  When it's published. I don't write specifically for YA but I write for whoever reads. I appreciate children's literature--I studied it--but I didn't set out to write a YA novel. Just write a good book that all will read. Don't focus so much on the audience as the story.

It was a GREAT panel--for writers and readers. And it was packed. They all signed books after and I got to talk to Kristin a little. She was really encouraging. All in all, I had a great time at BBF. I can't wait to go again next year!


Oh yea...a giveaway. How would you like a signed copy of Graceling? Sounds awesome to me! You know the deal. Fill out the form and cross your fingers!

Rules: 

• US/Canada only. 
• Must fill out form completely! 
• Contest ends on Thursday at noon! 
• Get extra entries by commenting, following & tweeting! (+1 each) 

Boston Book Fest (part 1)

Boston Book Festival happened Saturday in...well, Boston. It's the second annual free mini-convention and I'm really glad I got to go. BBF was a lot of fun. I took some ferocious notes because it was full of really good information. I'm trying to condense but I have a feeling it will run through a couple of posts. If you don't want to read it all, I highlighted the things I liked the most.

First Time's a Charm with Justin Cronin, Joshua Ferris & Jennifer Haigh

My first session of the day I was really excited for because...well....Joshua Ferris is a cutie pie--and a great author. I love his books. (He was discovered before I read YA.) Anyway, the session started with a "brief" introduction of all the authors and then a great panel discussion. I wrote it all down. Enjoy!

I didn't catch the first question specifically---but it was about writing and their journey--and how winning a big award affected that.


Justin:  I spent eight years on my first novel. When I was in Iowa (at writing workshops) someone said to me, "Try not to worry. It'll take you at least ten years. It has. You learn a lot with book one but I can die happy just because I wrote it. The biggest moment in the process is holding the final hardcover copy in your hand. You need success, it's the trail of breadcrumbs of encouragements to keep going.

Jen: Writing your first novel is like running you first marathon--you're not trying to win; you're just trying not to die while doing it. Mrs. Kimble was the third novel I wrote. Winning the Hemingway was transformative as a writer. It made me take my own writing more seriously.

Josh: I started in advertising (which is what his first book is about.) I was too close to the subject and it was difficult to write. When I moved to do my MFA, I got away from the world and wrote the book more successfully until it's completion two years later. Rejection is the job as a writer. It's so frequent that rejection becomes the nature of the game. I had low expectations so everything that happened was a confusing, unexpected gift. Even later, after your published or have an agent, rejection is still the job--if not by others than by self and scenes and characters and whole projects.

What is it like to abandon projects?

Jen: Relief! I'm glad to stop working on them.

Justin: It's like this joke I heard once. "Why is divorce so expensive? Because it's worth it!" When you scrap something that doesn't work a weight is lifted. Don't write the book that doesn't seem to want to be written--write the book that does.
(He also talked about a project he was working on before he wrote The Passage. He had to stop and write The Passage and now, he says he realizes that it's a story that will take him years to be able to write because he's not ready for it yet.)

Josh: The failure is yours and not the book's. You have to learn and grow with each one. Sometimes you over-reach with a project. You need to be able to bring warmth to the story and give it time. If something doesn't work, shelve it.

The panel. Really bad picture...sorry.

How important is research?

Jen:  I adore it. It's become my favorite; it's easier than writing. For me, it suggest a lot of the story. One small detail that I find may speak the whole plot to me. The whole premise for my second book was discovered through research.

Justin: It's my personal goal to write about things that I know nothing about...There are some things that you have to do for yourself. Those opportunities are important research. (He told the story of how he learned to shoot a gun for research.)

What about narrative voice?

Justin: Josh is a masterpiece of this technique. 

Josh: MFA's get a lot of grief but they shouldn't because they teach you the craft of fiction and cover an enormous range of fiction basics. (With Then We Came To The End) I knew this was in first person plural because of the business world. (Everything is "us" and "we".) For me, I studied writing, what worked and what didn't. But I just wrote a book that threw them all together and had no rules. It was a mayhem of that POV that allowed me to use all I learned of the craft. I broke the rules.

Justin: Writing is all about finding a voice--yours as a person in the world as well --and how to approach the story idea. You have to ask "What's the voice?" The Passage was that for me. It started as a challenge from my 9-year-old daughter to write a book about a girl who saves the world. A story is nothing until you find a way for the book to speak. If it doesn't speak, it dies. If you find a voice you will write it. Voice always equals story--and sometimes even length. I knew once I found the voice in The Passage I knew it would be a trilogy.

Jen: I've never written in first person until the last one. I'm fascinated with third and what lies between how different characters see the same event. Things are easier to write in third--the last one took me a year just to re-do in first. Listen to the story; sometimes it's not how we'd like it to be.

Joshua Ferris & Jennifer Haigh signing books.

What does success look like?

Josh: Success is an anomaly. It's all about doing the writing. It's easy to get swept up in a dream-like happiness but that goes away because it's not real. It's not every book or every writer. It all comes back to the thing that gets you there: the love of writing. If that's not there then you will struggle with the writing. The love has to be there to succeed. 

Jen: It's like falling in love with someone new and your old boyfriend starts calling. The timing of the success is what kills us.

Justin: Success doesn't last. If a book does well then that's great but it always happens to someone else after you. In this industry, you're only as good as your last book.

Josh: The secret is a lot of words. Just work. Every hour you give is a dividend. You write for six hours a week, you earn six hours a week. What you put in, you will receive back in some way. It may not always be in the current project or the next, but maybe with the next. Like the story Justin stopped led him to The Passage. There is always something that comes out of writing. Writing is not a task but a reward.

Josh and Jennifer. (Justin was already gone.)

Jeff Kinney: Keynote speech

Jeff Kinney (Diary of a Wimpy Kid) gave a fun keynote speech about his journey, cartooning and all things Wimpy Kid.  He started out telling the crowd (full of adults and kids) that he was writing for a newspaper comic called Igdoof when he realized he wasn't a very good illustrator and he wouldn't have any success unless he drew as a 7th grader. So, there came Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

His speech was full of his history as an illustrator--in which he spent a year drawing characters in a notebook before he wrote anything. Once he finished, he'd planned to write the story in one really big book for adults. He talked about his journey to from the book on the internet to  Comic Con NY, where he took his newly finished novel to try to find interest. He did but the book went from one adult book to the series that children love.

Jeff's notebook with ideas for the characters.

"If you can tell a good story then you can do amazing things. Don't be afraid to dream big because your creations may fly." Like his is about to--Greg Heffley will have a float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade this year. All in all, he was very entertaining--and he answered the same question from the kiddos about ten times.

That's a long recap, yes--but so full of goodness! Part two is up tomorrow and it features the FABULOUS YA panel.

Fragment Friday #5: The Maze Runner/The Scorch Trials

Today's all about James Dashner.

It's been a long time but it's Fragment Friday! FF is a meme started by James of Book Chic. Basically the goal of Fragment Friday is to share a little snippet of what you're reading. I'm going to share the very beginning of The Maze Runner with you.  (And a random piece from The Scorch Trials...)

The sequel, The Scorch Trials, came out Tuesday and James Dashner was in town doing signings.

Some friends and I  saw him Wednesday night in Braintree. These friends (aka BAE, Boston-Area Entourage)  are really local bloggers and authors  including Kim Harrington (author of Clarity, Mar 2011), Karsten Knight (author of Wildfire, July 2011), Leah Cypess (author of Mistwood, out now), the other Dani (of Overflowing Bookself) and Irish (of Ticket to Anywhere).

We got to talk a lot at the store since the crowd was small (because Borders does crappy advertising for everything!) and get some books signed. We went out to dinner after and talked book-ish things. He's a really great guy and so much fun! You should check out his books.

The original plan was to go Thursday and since I had no other plans, Irish and I went again Thursday night and saw him at the B&N in Burlington. We played in their new YA section--and I coherced her into buying a book so I could read it later. :) There was a pretty good crowd for the signing and James talked with everyone, did some q&a and signed books. It was a lot of fun interacting (and watching) him with them. Local students came and they were really excited.

The q&a was fun and I should've taken notes. The thing that I remember most (aside from him saying Minho was his favorite!! {He's mine, too!}) was a mini-discussion James about e-books vs. paper copies. He told guests that he is reading his first book on his i-pad and he really likes it. He said that the version didn't matter. "The words of a book are obviously what matters." I really liked that. He also said he's a big movie buff and loves The Lord of the Rings movies--and is nervous about The Hobbit. If you want a more in-depth recap, Irish did that. She's just better than me. I need to be more like her.

We met some other local bloggers (who may or not have been recruited to BAE) Nikki of Wicked Awesome Books and Emily of Dragons Ate my Homework. They were super, duper fun.

Also, just for the record--first actual book signing. I've been to a couple other things (and received a few books) but this was "technically" the first. So, it was memorable. You should check out the locations near you where James is doing a signing. It's definitely worth checking out and saying hi!

 

 

Things that rock: Boston, Daisy Whitney, the Contemps

Yesterday, I spent the afternoon going all over Boston with Daisy Whitney.

At the Children's Bookshop in Brookline

She was full of smiles, wisdom, laughter, insight and yes, her shoes were adorable. We went to some local bookstores that were going to a pre-pub dinner for her upcoming book, The Mockingbird (Nov. 2). (And I've read that book. It's freaking awesome so make sure you go get it...and come back here for an interview and a review later.) I haven't really explored much of the city since I've only been here a month, but yesterday was fun and I'm super glad that Daisy wanted to spend time with me.

At Books on the Square (Porter Square!)

In summary....

Boston: fun.
Bookstores: *insert angel chorus singing sound of awe*
The Mockingbirds: Buy it November 2
Daisy Whitney: Love her.
Yesterday: Extreme win. :)

Here's a video!



ALSO, today is the launch of a new website for The Contemps. What is that? Well, let me tell you.

It's a group of 21 YA authors who write contemporary (here and now, real life issues with no vampires or werewolves or other things that want to kill you. Usually.) They are some great authors so you need to go check it out. They are also hosting a year-long challenge that if you read 18 of the 21 books, you can enter to win ALL of the books. (That's 21 if you are counting.) If you want more info, my friend  Irish breaks it all down really well on her site or you can straight to the source.


You should spread the word and join the movement.