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By: Sherrie Petersen,
on 9/1/2014
Are you ready for a giveaway? I’ve got an ARC of a book that releases next week, EVIL LIBRARIAN by Michelle Knudsen. Previously known for writing middle grade (The Dragon of Trelian and The Princess of Trelian) and picture books (the best-selling Library Lion), this is her debut novel for young adults. I have to […]
By: Sherrie Petersen,
on 7/28/2014
The best part of summer is having time. Time for reading, time for vacation, time for kayaking, time for baking, time for redesigning the website. I’ve been doing all of these things. You’ll see the website redesign soon, but I have to say, my family is definitely more appreciative of the baked treats I’ve been […]
By: Sherrie Petersen,
on 6/9/2014
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By: Caroline Starr Rose,
on 4/25/2011
By: Caroline Starr Rose,
on 9/15/2010
It's time for a check in, verse novel readers. Are you reading? What books? Anything to share?
Stehpanie Cheryl
Valerie Geary
Rebecca Herman (no link yet)
Sherrie Peterson
Gabi
Kate T
Amy Sonnichsen
Alexis (no link yet)
Jackee Alston
Elana Johnson...are you on board??
Remember, you must read five verse novels by the end of the year and create a post about participating which links back to my original post.
One participant will win
By: Caroline Starr Rose,
on 7/18/2010
How's it going, verse novel challenge participants? I have quite a treat for you today.
I'm thrilled to share with you an interview with Lisa Schroeder. Stick around and enter to win a signed copy of her book, FAR FROM YOU.
Can you tell us about FAR FROM YOU?
It’s a book about 16 year-old Alice, who is struggling to come to terms with her step mother and new half-sister, as her dad has been able to move on after her mother’s death while Alice is still missing her terribly.
What inspired you to write this story?
With each of my stories there is usually a seed or two that sparks the book. And until I start writing, I’m not sure if it will work as a book or not.
I had been thinking about the wonderful verse novel OUT OF THE DUST, by Karen Hesse, and how she did such a great job conveying the heat and the dust through her verse, and I thought, I bet a snowstorm would be a great thing to write about in verse as well. Especially since lots of dialogue doesn’t work well in a verse novel, and someone being trapped in a storm would allow for lots of inner reflection.
I had also wanted to write a story about a girl who was a singer/songwriter, and a book with Alice in Wonderland elements had appealed to me as well. So I combined those three things and a book was made!
How does verse serve this story best?
For me, verse is all about atmosphere. I don’t know why other authors choose to write in verse, but I choose to do it because it helps me to create an atmosphere I can’t get with regular prose. After my agent read my first novel, I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME, she wrote in her e-mail back, asking to set up a time to talk, that “the verse created such a unique atmosphere for the story.”
It also allows me to get to the emotional truths of the story, and to accentuate them.
You have successfully published three novels-in-verse. What is it about this technique that attracts you? Challenges you? Feels like the right fit for your writing?
My strength is not beautiful, flowery prose. At times, I wish it were. I read Laini Taylor’s work, and the way she puts words and sentences together, and I’m in awe.
I seem to do well trying to convey scenes, thoughts, emotions, etc. in a sparse, poetic way. I have always loved music, and in some ways, writing a novel-in-verse feels like writing a giant song to me. The rhythm and the flow and trying to say a lot in a few words – it’s challenging, absolutely, but my brain works well that way.
I fought it, at first, when I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME, my first verse novel, wanted to come out in verse. I thought, what am I doing? I don’t know how to write like this. But I decided to give it a try, and the novel poured out of me and I had a draft written in about six weeks. That little book, which my agent and I had a hard time placing because no one seemed quite sure what to do with it, is now in its 9th printing and over two years after it released, I st
By: Sherrie Petersen,
on 6/16/2010
- It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...
- It was a dark and stormy night.
- When my brother Fish turned thirteen, we moved to the deepest part of inland because of the hurricane and, of course, the fact that he'd caused it.
- When the doorbell rings at three in the morning, it's never good news.
- The Friday before winter break, my mom packed me an overnight bag and a few deadly weapons and took me to a new boarding school.
- There was a hand in the darkness and it held a knife.
By: Caroline Starr Rose,
on 5/10/2010
And the winner is...Kelly Hobbs! Kelly is a student teacher just about to graduate. She says she's excited about sharing verse novels in her future classroom. Congratulations, Kelly. I'm dropping your ARC in the mail today.
This Saturday, I'll be speaking in New Orleans at an SCBWI technology meeting. I've been asked to share about my blogging experience. While I've already pulled together my talk, I'd love to hear what all of you have to say.
By: Caroline Starr Rose,
on 5/3/2010
Welcome to a day of young adult/mid-grade recommended reading! Here's the complete list of bloggers/books participating in Elana Johnson's Spread the Awesome. You can also click on the link below to read the next post on the list. Before you go, make sure to enter my contest for your own signed copy of THREE RIVERS RISING.
I have always loved how historical fiction gives a glimpse of everyday lives at a different time. Add to this the mix of natural disaster, a love story, secrets between sisters, a class system thrown off course by tragedy, and a chance at redemption, and you have Jame Richards's beautiful debut, THREE RIVERS RISING: A NOVEL OF THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD.
3RR is a YA historical novel-in-verse. I know a lot of you aren't familiar with NiVs, so here's a feel for Jame's story:
Thunder falls toward us
from high up the mountain pass.
Breath and screams
leave the lungs
all at once.
Fingernails dig into the tree
and my face buries itself
in the wet trunk.
It's coming.
The water is on its way
and I am already drowning.
From the cover: Sixteen-year-old Clelestia vacations with her family at the elite resort at Lake Conemaugh, a shimmering Allegheny Mountain reservoir held in place by an earthern dam. Tired of the superficial cheer and sly judgments of the society crowd, she much prefers to swim and fish with Peter, the hotel's hired boy. It's a friendship she must keep secret -- her parents would never approve -- and when companionship turns to romance, it's a love that could get Celestia disowned.
These affairs of the heart become all the more wrenching on a single, tragic day in May 1889. After days of heavy rain, the dam fails, unleashing twenty million tons of water onto Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in the valley below -- the town where Peter lives with his father.
Told by multiple narrators, Jame Richards's searing novel in poems explores a cross-class romance, the random hand of disaster, and a tragic and indelible event in American history.
Not only is Jame's work remarkable, she is approachable. When I first heard about her novel (thank you, Valerie!), my own historical NiV was on submission. It's stressful having any book out with editors, but I think there's a special anxiety for those of us whose work isn't commerical or cutting edge, or for that matter, written as prose. I emailed Jame, asking about her submission process. She shared with me her experiences and told me there would eventually be an editor who got what I was trying to do. I've kept a print out of that email in my calendar ever since. Thank you, Jame, for encouraging me along the way.
If you would like to win a signed copy of Jame's THREE
By: Caroline Starr Rose,
on 4/30/2010
The fabulous Elana Johnson has pulled together Spread the Awesome: Books That Deserve Ten Stars for Monday, 3 May. Dozens of kitlit bloggers will come together to promote books they love.
Elana will have the entire list of participating bloggers at her site. Each post will also link to the next blogger on the list, meaning you can click through from one blog post to the next.
On Monday I'll post about Jame Richards's YA historical novel-in-verse, THREE RIVERS RISING, and give away a signed copy of the ARC. For those of you participating in my Verse Novel Challenge (and those of you who aren't), this is a book worth reading.
Thank you, Everyone, for stopping by, reading R.L. LaFever's interview, and taking the time to comment. Isn't Robin awesome?
We knew it would be hard to choose a winner, but we didn't realize just how hard. You all created such great secret societies, plus, you kept us entertained.
But, there can be only one winner.....
Ello! Send me your snail mail address to hipwritermama @ comcast dot net and Robin will send you an ARC of Theodosia and the Eyes of Horus.
Before you all leave, Robin has a nice surprise. There will be one more winner!
Tricia! Send me your snail mail address to hipwritermama @ comcast dot net and Robin will send you an ARC of Nathaniel Fludd, Book 2.
Be good, All. You never know what else might come up! I'm a little bit in shock--I just got my 100th follower and will need to think of a good way to celebrate!
By: Susan Mitchell,
on 7/3/2008
A Fiendish Sneak Peek!
I wanted to let everyone know that my husband, children's author PJ Bracegirdle, has just been interviewed on Presenting Lenore. Head on over to read all about his new trilogy THE JOY OF SPOOKING, on shelves from August 5.
If you would like a chance to read the book before its release date, Lenore has three ARCs (advance reviewer copies)of the first book, Fiendish Deeds, to give away, each containing a signed bookplate. Just stop on by and leave your name in the comment section. Lenore is also offering the chance to earn up to four fiendish bonus entries by: reading the first chapter and answering Lenore's skill-testing question; blogging about the contest; commenting on next week's review of the book; and signing up as a fan on PJ's facebook page!
Best of luck!
I can't wait to read all three of these books! This year is just full of amazing reads thus far.
I was just told Wither was awesome, crossing my fingers :)
Those are FANTASTIC one-liners!! And all three are on my wish list. :-)
oooh, love it. Wither is on my wish list.
I would love to win a copy of Wither! I have it on my "Gotta read" list!
Wither looks reaallly good! And I wish I could make my manuscript sound as good as these novel lines :D
I've been hearing so many great things about Wither. Thanks for the contest. :)
These 3 all look really good - they're on my wishlist!
They all look great, Wither in particular sounds fascinating!
All of those look great. Definitely going to keep my eyes open for them.
Very cool! I love contests that are easy to enter. Thank you, Caroline!
Amy
I really want to read Wither. Thanks for the contest. And I agree with A.L., thanks for making it easy.
Drop my name in the hat for that one!
I keep hearing about Wither. I'd love to read it and see what all the fuss is about :)
I've wanted to read this book ever since I saw the cover. (Hope that isn't sad) It is so gorgeous!
Fun! I've had my eye on Wither ever since its beautiful cover art caught my eye.
I would love to win a copy of Wither! Thanks for the contest. And the reviews.