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Liz Gallagher - author, readergirlz diva, Through the Tollbooth blogger, VCFA grad and all around awesome friend is here to chat with us about her debut book, THE OPPOSITE OF INVISIBLE and the companion novel, MY NOT-SO-STILL LIFE (coming in May 2011!).

Thanks, Liz, for stopping by to tell us your secrets!

*****

THE OPPOSITE OF INVISIBLE is about Alice, a Seattle girl learning the difference between a crush and love and love and best-friendship as she’s caught between her always-been-there boy best friend and a crush who starts noticing her. It’s also about art and confidence, and it’s set at Halloween because I love that time of year.

MY NOT-SO-STILL LIFE is a companion to OPPOSITE. It tells the story, set a few months later, of another Seattle girl’s struggle to keep from growing up too fast as she’s caught between her innocent old friends and a group of not-so-innocent older coworkers at an art shop. The girl in the companion is Vanessa, Alice's rival in OPPOSITE.


Holly Cupala: I love the Seattle in OPPOSITE, almost a character in itself. What was your inspiration?

Liz Gallagher: OPPOSITE was inspired by the fall and the Seattle neighborhood of Fremont, where it’s set. I was walking through Fremont one near-Halloween day, and I got the idea of a character trying on a witch dress at this junk shop. My original first line was, “It all started with this dress.”

The second book has a more unusual origin story: I never planned to do it! My agent and editor both thought it would be cool to explore one of the more minor characters in OPPOSITE, and Vanessa was my natural choice...

Learn more about Liz's secrets and enter to win THE OPPOSITE OF INVISIBLE here...

~Holly Cupala

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I have such passion for this little novel! When I complete a book and it actually results in me wanting to stand up and DO something, that's a good book and with The Opposite of Invisible by Liz Gallagher, that "thing" was glass blowing. I SO want to learn how to do the amazing art that gets so much attention in the book. Pick it up...you'll see what I mean by the end.

Alice has been best friends with Jewel since they were little kids. They do everything together and are really able to be themselves in front of each other, sharing the art they both love, a passion for great coffee, and Indie shows. Both are perfectly fine with just each other and not being a part of the popular crowd. Until the day that Alice and Jewel share their first kiss AND Alice gets asked out by Simon, one of the popular guys. Alice starts to feel a pull towards Simon, yearning for something different and new, unfortunately, leaving Jewel behind.

As both Alice and Jewel explore new and incredibly different aspects of life, both with relationships, friendships, and art, each starts to grow more towards each other, whether either wants to acknowledge it.

What I really loved about this (besides the glass blowing) was how real Alice was. I could really be best friends with her, walking down the streets of Seattle, going to art shows and drinking awesome coffee. I also had great vibes towards both Jewel and Simon. Simon was never portrayed as the guy that came to steal the girl away and Jewel wasn't shown as the jealous best friend. Both seemed as if they were genuine and just plain nice!

The writing is fabulous and the realistic feel to the characters and setting are beautifully done. I felt pure happiness as I closed the cover on this book and had to just sit back and think about it for awhile. Liz Gallagher really did a great job at connecting with teens on this one.

To learn more or to purchase, click on the book cover above to link to Amazon.

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New Year's is always a time of reflection and it's coming quick. As we head toward the holidays we're taking a look at what we've accomplished this year and thinking forward to where we'd like to be in ten years.

MARISSA DOYLE

In 2008, my greatest accomplishments were:

1. Seeing Bewitching Season on shelves and not fainting or doing something else embarrassing.
2. Selling a third book to Henry Holt (erm, well, my agent did but you get the idea)
3. Beginning to learn how to speak in public without too much angst and stumbling over my words. It's a work in progress, though.
4. Learning to navigate in NYC and not be intimidated by its sheer size.
5. This isn't an accomplishment...it's more a source of gratitude...but being co-president of the Class of 2k8!

By 2018 I hope to have:

1. Ten more books out (hey, isn't one a year reasonable?)
2. Learned how to write MG as well as YA because MG readers are soooo cool and just learning how to be truly passionate about books
3. Gotten this public speaking thing down well
4. Three kids successfully through college
5. A smaller dress size

LIZ GALLAGHER

In 2008, my greatest accomplishments were:

1. Publishing The Opposite of Invisible!
2. Realizing that I'm not afraid of public speaking.
3. Balancing a day job and the writing life.
4. Starting my training in kung fu (yes, I spar!).
5. Watching friends publish awesome books!

By 2018 I hope to have:

1. Co-authored a YA novel.
2. Published a few more solo YA books.
3. Stopped needing a day job!
4. Become a blue belt or higher in kung fu!
5. Watched friends publish BUNDLES more books!

TERRI CLARK

In 2008, my greatest accomplishments were:

1. Publishing SLEEPLESS and BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO
2. Booking author events and speaking engagements.
3. Making a strong online presence for myself.
4. Strengthening the teen programming and attendance I do at my day job.
5. Keeping my kids from killing each other.

By 2018 I hope to:

1. have built a strong, enduring, successful career as an author
2. be more financially stable.
3. stop needing a day job!
4. see my kids happy, healthy and well-adjusted in their lives (they’ll be out of the house then!)
5. have been to Hawaii and taken other great trips with my husband.

Have you met your New Year's Resolutions yet?

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We've got lots to celebrate here at 2k8 with contests and rave reviews. Please give us a woot!

SLEEPLESS author, Terri Clark, is giving away an authentic Navajo dream catcher on her blog. For your chance at sweet dreams and for a sneak peek of her paranormal thriller, click here.

Also, Terri is pleased to announce that her essay in FLIRTING WITH THE MONSTER, an anthology about Ellen Hopkins and her work, will be published by BenBella books in May of '09.

PJ Hoover celebrated the launch of her middle grade science-fiction novel THE EMERALD TABLET! THE EMERALD TABLET received a great review from Brianna over at Balanced Steps. Brianna compares THE EMERALD TABLET to Harry Potter and says this: "Anyone who enjoyed discovering the world of magic with Harry Potter will enjoy diving into a different magical world with Benjamin Holt and his friends...for you Potter fans, the experience is TOTALLY different from Harry's." Thanks, Brianna!

Tasha at And Another Book Read gave THE EMERALD TABLET a fantastic review! She had this to say: "I loved every minute that I was reading it, and I feel like I want to reread the book over and over again. ... While reading the book I kept thinking that in a way it was almost like a myth that was being told and how cool it would be if it was actually true... Fans of Rick Riordanʼs PERCY JACKSON series will particularly enjoy this book."
Thanks, Tasha!

And Book Chic also gave THE EMERALD TABLET an awesome review including this tasty morsel: "This is a wonderful beginning to a fantasy middle-grade trilogy. Hoover's writing is extremely compelling and makes the book hard to put down." Thanks, Book Chic!

And speaking of Book Chic, this has been one busy reviewer. He's also written a great review for THE OPPOSITE OF INVISIBLE by Liz Gallagher and plans to feature Courtney Sheinmel as November's Fresh New Voice in YA and Barrie Summy as December's Fresh New Voice in YA!

Cynthea Liu posted a fun interview with Nancy Viau, author of SAMANTHA HANSEN HAS ROCKS IN HER HEAD.

Publisher's Weekly gave Courtney Sheinmel's MY SO-CALLED FAMILY a starred review and called it "smart, original and full of vitality."

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Liz Gallagher is a grad of the Vermont College of the Fine Arts, as well as a member of the class of 2k8 (www.classof2k8.com). Talk about popular--she could start her own entourage if she wanted! She was lovely enough to answer all three of my questions for this party:

1) What's the most outrageous/silliest/weirdest thing you've ever done for the sake of popularity?

I think I wanted to be popular when I was a teenager, but I don't remember ever doing anything about it. I knew it wasn't that important in the long run. A friend of my brother's, who had a popular sister in my grade, once told me that his sister's popular friends would love me if I just showed up to one of their parties and asked for the keg. I never did that; as if I'd want people to like me because I want to party and drink with them! That conversation did, however, make it into The Opposite of Invisible. My main character, Alice, does flirt with popularity. She's got a crush on a boy in the popular crowd, and when those kids start to accept her into their fray, she realizes that they're just people, too, and that some of them are sweet and some are mean, and all of them are just trying to figure out the world, same as she is.

2) Do you have any horror stories (or sweeping success stories) about participating in student government back when you were in school?

I never did!

3) What's the most unexpected cause you ever found yourself lobbying behind?

I don't think I've ever actually lobbied for anything, but I'm thinking about how small the world's become thanks to the internet. Now, I know that if I have an issue, I can likely get right in touch with the people in charge. For me, so far, that's meant being part of a campaign to save the tv show Friday Night Lights. I suppose it is kind of unexpected that I'd be writing emails in support of a tv show -- but just imagine what might've happened if we could've done this back when My So-Called Life got canceled! On a more serious note, I really do think the internet is a powerful tool that lets anyone --including teens-- voice their opinion and gather numbers for a cause.

Liz Gallagher grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia and was an English major at Penn State. She worked on the editorial staff of Highlights for Children. She is a graduate of the University of Denver Publishing Institute and the Vermont College MFA program in writing for children and young adults. Her home in Seattle is within chomping distance of the Fremont Troll. The Opposite of Invisible is her first novel, and her dream come true. Visit Liz at www.lizgallagher.com.

Liz will be giving away a signed copy of The Opposite of Invisible.

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A Web site offers fun features.
There is one part on my Web site that I had a lot of fun doing: thinking of my all-time favorite girl and guy characters in YA lit for my Favorites page. I wanted to write YA because I read it all the time. Because much as I enjoy adult novels, I love YA more. Which means I've read, and loved, an awful lot of YA books with some pretty awesome characters. There are some amazing girl characters out there, and some pretty fabulous guys who spring to life off the written page. So who did I choose to feature on my site? Click on the link below to find out!
~Daphne Grab, Author of Alive and Well in Prague, NY,
http://www.daphnegrab.com/


A Web site is proof.
My publisher tells me that kid readers are especially interested in the authors of the books they read. It's as if they can't believe an actual person wrote the book. A website proves an actual person did write the book, and a well-designed site gives extra interesting details about that person, like how many cats she has. It’s a great way for readers to continue to interact with the book.
~Sarah Prineas, Author of The Magic Thief,
http://www.sarah-prineas.com


Teens spend time online.
I think it's important to have a personal web site because the world is so Internet-ty! Especially because I write for teenagers, who seem to spend lots of time online and be very savvy, it's the most efficient way to reach out to them, let them know about me and my book, events, news, and whatever else is going on in my book-world. I happen to be a writer who's interested in communicating with young readers, so it's a step to accomplishing that. I think teenagers almost expect the experience of a book they love to go beyond the page. Everything else seems to go online somehow! Look at popular TV shows, like Lost, who are doing webisodes to accompany the television broadcasts. Not to mention message boards!
~Liz Gallagher, Author of The Opposite of Invisible,
http://lizgallagher.com/


A strong Web presence can do amazing things for your career.
It cultivates your readership, creates word-of-mouth interest, gains press, excites your publisher, and more. With that in mind I started researching Web site designers by visiting author sites. I noted what layouts and features I liked, what I didn’t and which designers I could afford. I wanted a website that was user friendly, had teen appeal and that I could build on as my career grew. I thought of it like a starter home. I couldn’t spend $5000 on a site (or even $2000), but I could build an affordable base site and add on to it. And later on, if I wanted to, I could always remodel. My site designer, Barb of Jaleroro Web Designs, did a fantastic job of taking my ideas and making them a reality. I’ve already received positive feedback on my site and it has generated interest in my upcoming books.
~Terri Clark, Author of Sleepless,
http://www.terriclarkbooks.com/


Anybody who’s anybody has a Web site.
I think it's important to have a personal web site because everyone keeps telling me that it is, even though I'm not entirely sure what I should put on it. Frankly, I'm a pretty boring person. If I were all that interesting, I wouldn't be spending my time making upstories, now, would I?
~M.P. Barker, Author of A Difficult Boy,
http://mpbarker.net/


Web sites keep Amazon.com in business.
Personal websites make me want to read more books. Sometimes the websites give the back-story of a particular book, and I feel compelled to go straight to Amazon and order the book right away. I’ve discovered some of my favorite books this way, and I suspect I’m not the only one.
~Courtney Sheinmel, Author of My So-Called Family
http://courtneywrites.livejournal.com

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Debut Author of the Month: Liz Gallagher...

Seattle-based writer Liz Gallagher's debut novel The Opposite of Invisible, was released just days ago by Random House imprint Wendy Lamb Books. Below Gallagher tells us about her book and what inspired her to write it as well as the Class of 2k8, the Vermont College MFA program, how she found her publisher, promoting her debut, and why her city is the perfect backdrop for a YA novel.

Tell my readers and me about your debut novel The Opposite of Invisible. Would you say your book is a coming-of-age novel?

I would say it’s a coming-of-age novel, yes. But it’s not on an epic scale; it’s not representative of all of the ways youth helps my character grow into herself. It’s about a particular moment in her growth. The book centers on Alice, a 15-year-old Seattle girl, who has always lived in what she thinks of as a comfortable cocoon with her best friend, a boy named Jewel. Their friendship is a real cornerstone of her life, but she starts to realize that it might not be enough, and when the boy she has a crush on starts to take notice of her, she emerges from that cocoon. She remains aware, however, that she might lose her most important friendship by expanding her circle. She’s also trying new directions in art.

Your website bio says you’ve always wanted to be a writer. Had you written or submitted novels before The Opposite of Invisible? What inspired you to write the book that would become your published debut?

Opposite is the first novel I wrote. Falling in love with young adult novels was really the key for me in deciding to pursue a career as a novelist. When I first realized that I was passionate about writing for young people—and about reading the literature that other people write for young people—I was lucky enough to get a one-year editorial internship at the magazine Highlights for Children. My first short story for younger kids was published in Highlights. I thought at that point that I would continue on an editorial path, but finally decided to pursue writing after I fell in serious love with YA—which happened while I was working at All for Kids Books & Music in Seattle. I was inspired to write this particular story based on the scene of Alice buying the dress that she wears to the Halloween dance; that was the kernel of the beginning of the character starting to see herself in a different light, and I wanted to see where that new vision would take her. It was the first scene of Opposite that I wrote.

What made you decide to enroll in the Vermont College MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults? Tell me about that experience.

I knew that I wanted to study writing craft and, for a while, it seemed like every book I was reading and enjoying mentioned in the acknowledgments that the writer was either a graduate or a faculty member at Vermont! Most notably, I was obsessed with M. T. Anderson’s books Feed, Burger Wuss, and Thirsty, and he was, at the time, the faculty head at Vermont. Once I did a little bit of research, it was a no-brainer that Vermont was my choice for an MFA. Not many programs give the degree specifically in writing for children and young adults. I think that I owe Opposite to the program; without deadlines and careful feedback from my advisers, I don’t think I would’ve accomplished the goal of writing an entire novel. The experience is intense, and wonderful in every way. Above all, it’s a community of like-minded readers and writers. Eight other graduates and I have a blog where we discuss writing craft and interview other writers.

I love the name of your main character! Any particular reason you called her Alice?

Hmm—I wonder why you would love it? Cute! Honestly, I’ve always had brain strain when it comes to naming characters. Toward the beginning of the writing process, I did some journaling in the voice of my character, about names, and she told me, “My name’s Alice. Am I supposed to live in Wonderland?” It stuck.

Judging from your website, you’re quite enamored with your town. What makes Seattle the right backdrop for Alice and Jewel? How important is setting in a YA novel?

I think that setting is important in any novel, but what’s even more important is the writing element that Seattle was able to lend to Opposite: atmosphere. Because of the drizzle, Alice and Jewel practically live inside of sweatshirt/jacket hoods. It’s cozy, but it also highlights the completeness of their small cocoon. The rain also helps to amp up the discomfort in scenes that are…uncomfortable. I love the grayness of Seattle for exactly that reason: it fits both warm and fuzzy moments, because you get to bundle up, and it fits restless moments because it can be annoying. Seattle is also a good choice for Alice and Jewel because it’s a city where kids their age can be free to roam to cool and quirky places on their own, without cars or parental escorts. They take buses, or walk. When I look around Seattle, I see that I’m lucky to live in a place where you can go by foot or bus to the movies, to concerts, and to about a ga-jillion coffee shops! I do love Seattle.

How did you end up with Wendy Lamb Books and why is that a good place for you? Tell me about your path to publication—do you have an agent?

I do have an agent, Rosemary Stimola. I signed on with her right before I graduated from Vermont, and right after I graduated, she had three interested editors. One was Wendy, and she made a preemptive offer. My path was “easy” because I had done my homework: put myself in the right communities to meet mentors, researched which agents and editors would be a good fit for me and my story, and worked hard on a manuscript.

Your bio says your “inner voice is perpetually 15 years old.” Many YA authors say the same sort of thing. Why do you think so many writers are compelled to tap into their teen selves? Why are you so compelled?

That voice in your head only matures to a certain point, I think. For some of us, it stops in teen-hood. I know mine did. I just feel that teen awkwardness so strongly, and the almost-tangible importance of events that to some adults might seem like silly teen things. Almost nothing seems unimportant when you’re a teenager, questioning the world for the first time. The things on my mind fit well with the themes of adolescence – Who am I? What do I want? Where will I end up? What really makes me happy? Some adult writers of teen books say that they eavesdrop on teen conversations to pick up language and speech cadence. I don’t do that. Maybe some day I will, but for now it’s all in my brain. I think what a lot of us YA writers are trying to do is honor teen-hood. We want to say to teenagers: Yeah, this time of your life really does matter. And we even want to say to other adults: Remember how much that summer when you were fifteen changed you?

Your book is just coming out and you’ve planned a number of events. What did you do to promote these events? Are you nervous? Excited? Psyched?

I think that e-vites are a good way to go, and I plan to use them in the future, but for my main two events—a release party at Chester County Book & Music Company in West Chester, PA, and another at All for Kids Books & Music in Seattle, WA—I had postcard invitations made and sent them to everyone in my address book! People have been so supportive over the two years since I signed my contract, and I want to celebrate that support by having as many friends around as possible. I’m lucky that I know a world-class poster designer, Jeff Kleinsmith, whose main gig is making rock show posters (and doing other graphic design) for Sub Pop Records. He created a truly beautiful image based on my book, and I used that for my Seattle postcards and for posters to have as keepsakes and to put up in the coffee shops I frequent. I’m really excited for those two parties! I’m a bit more nervous for other events—school visits, radio interview, smaller signings. Luckily, I’ve spent a few years working in schools, and that’s a great way to gain confidence in public speaking. I also just love talking YA books, so I’m excited to meet more YA readers! I truly feel like Cinderella at the ball, only better because there’s no midnight looming.

How and why did you get involved in the Class of 2k8? How has it been helpful to you?

I was originally scheduled for publication in 2007, and knew about the Class of 2k7. At ALA Annual in Washington, DC, I ran into Jody Feldman. She’s the co-leader of the Class of 2k8, and when I mentioned that I was interested, she put me on the waiting list and I ended up in the class. It’s definitely been helpful to have another community of support and advice; we’re all learning the steps after the writing and selling together, and it’s definitely helpful to have the experience of 27 other writers to learn from and commiserate over. Some of us have learned how to create a MySpace page; some have bounced publicity plans off of everyone; all have celebrated together.

In addition to being in the 2k8 collective, you have a website and a blog. Any other promotional tools you would recommend?

I think that having a web presence—be it a site, blog, MySpace, Facebook, or other—is key. So many readers, booksellers, teachers, and librarians are online, and my hunch is that teen readers are especially likely to seek out writers online. I also think it’s so cool that you can become friends with someone based on a true shared interest, regardless of geography, age, or any of the other roadblocks to “real life” friendship. For the record, I’m loving Facebook and if anyone wants to feed my pet penguin over there, Snowflake, he could use the strength! I also have a new Shelfari membership, to keep track of what I’m reading, and I like BookTour.com to post my own events and to keep track of others. I think contests are great. The other day, I rushed to do Cynthia Lord’s name-the-author photo contest so that I could win some books. And of course you can’t talk about Internet publicity and networking in the YA world without mentioning John Green and the phenomenon that is Brotherhood 2.0. Video blogs are certainly on the upswing. With all of that Internet stuff said, I know lots of writers who simply don’t want to get involved in blogging and web sites. The real secret to promotion? Write a great book.

What’s your advice for unpublished YA authors? Have you gotten any particularly useful advice from publishing industry types or authors you’ve met?

It goes back to what I said up there about writing a great book. The most important part to becoming a published YA author is to write, write, write and read, read, read. Know what books are out there—which you probably do anyway; if you love writing ’em, you probably love reading ’em. Have a discerning eye. Study craft; read a few craft books, but don’t take them as gospel. (There is no instruction book, but I love Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird and Robert Olen Butler’s From Where You Dream.) Once you’ve got a manuscript that you believe in, do some research online and in the writers’ guides to find out which agents/editors might be interested. Be professional. Learn the process. Write an appropriate query letter. For me, mentorship was key. My friend Lara Zeises was leaps ahead of me in the publishing game (still is!) and she helped me narrow down the field of agent possibilities, was a very helpful eye on my query letter, and a generally peppy cheerleader. Overall, the YA world is a very friendly place! Scour the Internet for industry news, communities, places to commiserate. SCBWI is a good organization to join if you’re just starting out. The process of earning an MFA was essential to my personal journey in that it allowed me to give myself permission to prioritize writing, but the degree in itself is certainly not a must. Write away!

Can you give us a teaser for your second novel (also under contract with Wendy Lamb Books)? When will it be published? Did you sign a multi-book deal?

I did sign a two-book deal, and am working on a companion piece to Opposite, set the summer before Opposite and exploring the character of Vanessa. I’m still only mid-way in the writing process, and don’t know when it will be published. I have a third novel mostly written that I hope to see in print someday. I’d like to do this forever!

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This poem is from Tracie Vaughn Zimmer’s book Reaching for Sun.

choked by kudzu

There’s this vine
called kudzu
someone brought over from
Japan,
trying to make
here
look more like
there.

Thing is,
that vine goes
crazy in this climate,
blanketing whole forests.
No sunlight
or even fresh air
can get under the umbrella
of its leaves
so things can breathe
and grow.

The way Mom and I don’t talk
out what happened
grows between us
until the air
feels
choked
like
those
trees.

As you drive south through Virginia, you see where the kudzu has taken over patches of trees along the highway, so I felt a connection to this particular poem in this book of verses. I also really like the poem “Poppies,” but Little Willow had used it before for Poetry Friday, so I picked something new.

I read Reaching for Sun while my daughter took her ballet class, and while I enjoyed it, I felt that I had not honored the book somehow by reading it while occasionally giving my daughter the listen-to-your-teacher glare. So today I sat outside in the sun, to read it surrounded by the daffodils, the crocuses, and that yellow flowering bush... thing. And if you can, that’s the way you want to read this book, with beauty all around you and beauty on the pages in front of you.

Josie has celebral palsy and struggles with her desires for friends and independence. She is isolated in school where she is either ignored or teased. She hates the painful and embarrassing sessions of occupational therapy. While her mother and grandmother are loving, she feels babied and restricted. She only feels valued unconditionally at the nursing home and is only at peace in the garden. Things begin to change for her as she finds a new friend and grows up, allowing her voice to be heard.

Two personal notes. One, I was excited to see the reference to Tidewater Community College, which is in my other home, Virginia Beach. Yeah, Greater Tidewater Area! Two, I tried to get in the mood for reading this book by weeding my little garden. I thought it would make a lovely post for me to make the connection between the book and my own forays in the fertile soil. But instead of having a spiritual experience preparing the garden and sprinkling the seeds that I received with the review copy of the book, I managed to turn up a termite infestation which gave me the willies for a solid half-hour. Chalk it up, again, to my irony-prone existence.

Chicken Spaghetti does today’s Poetry Friday round-up. Leave her a comment if you want your post included.

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