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SCBWI Young Adult Workshop

Jul 30, 2012 | , , , , , , | 8 Comments

During the SCBWI conference in Orlando, FL, I also attended the Young Adult workshop. This was led by Noa Wheeler, editor for Henry Holt, and Nancy Werlin, bestselling author of numerous books including Extraordinary. These two ladies did an excellent job exploring ways to tackle issues we face as young adult authors.

Noa Wheeler talked about how to deepen our characters by asking questions about them. One of the best questions she asked was “Is my character active?” She says we should be asking ourselves this question all through the book.

She also had us create 100 questions for our characters. I was really excited after I finished because these questions helped me build a more three dimensional character for my current WIP.

In the afternoon, Noa discussed how to write a flap copy and gave us specific examples from the books she’s edited. She said that usually the assistant editor writes these for the books, but they are a great exercise to find what the big issues of our stories are about.

Nancy is currently revising the third book that will come after Extraordinary. She broke down the revision process she is undertaking right now which I found fascinating in how she tackled her revisions. She also explained how she used the feedback from her critique partners to write another revision.

Overall, I came away with some new ways to revise and a stack of answered questions I hadn’t known about my main character.

Have you ever interviewed your characters? Did you find that helpful and if so, which questions did you find to be the most helpful?

I’m Wednesday on the YA Rebels for August

Jul 25, 2012 | , , , , | 6 Comments

Guess what? I’m going to be a guest vlogger on the YARebels for today and every Wednesday for the month of August.

This week on the Rebels, we are talking about Independent Bookstores. There are actually two Indies in the Orlando area (Thursday is taking B&L) and I did a spotlight on The Book Worm.

So check out my vlog and then go out and shop at your local Indie!

Interview and Giveaway with Elaine Wolf

Jul 23, 2012 | , , , , , | 9 Comments

 

Every secret has a price…

I’m very pleased to welcome Elaine Wolf today. She has offered to share her thoughts on her publishing journey and what inspired her to write her book, CAMP, published by Sky Pony Press (an imprint of SkyhorsePublishing). This YA novel tackles the issues of bullying, mothers and daughters, and the consequences of family secrets.

In case you were wondering what CAMP is about, here is the blurb from Amazon:

For most girls, sleepaway camp is great fun. But for Amy Becker, it’s a nightmare. Amy, whose home life is in turmoil, is sent to Camp Takawanda for Girls for the first time as a teenager. Although Amy swears she hates her German-immigrant mother, who is unduly harsh with Amy’s autistic younger brother, Amy is less than thrilled about going to camp. At Takawanda she is subjected to a humiliating “initiation” and relentless bullying by the ringleader of the senior campers. As she struggles to stop the mean girls from tormenting her, Amy becomes more confident. Then a cousin reveals dark secrets about Amy’s mother’s past, which sets in motion a tragic event that changes Amy and her family forever.
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1. What got you started into writing?

I always loved to write, even as a child. When I grew up, I became a “closet writer.” I never shared my work, and I still have a “bits and pieces” file of story ideas, first sentences, and poems. And when I worked as the English language arts director for a public school district, I found lots of excuses to send memos to the staff––just so I could write! My husband encouraged me to enroll in a writers’ workshop at our library. Then came a Saturday morning short story class at a local university, followed by a series of summer workshops and writing conferences in New York City. And that did it! All I wanted was more time to write. So my husband, again, told me to go for it––this time by encouraging me to take an early retirement from the school district and to enroll in a novel writing class at The New School in New York. As I focused on the novel that became DANNY’S MOM (Arcade Publishing, November 2012), I joined other writers’ workshop programs, as well as a critique group. I’m so blessed to have such a supportive husband, whose favorite activity now is telling everyone about CAMP. And I can’t stop smiling!
2. Tell us a little about your journey in pursuing publication of CAMP.

I’ll tell you the truth: the road to publication was long and hard. Six years ago when I signed with my agent, she said she loved CAMP and was eager to get it out on submission. But shortly after signing me on, my agent went out on her own, and CAMP submissions were delayed. However, I hung in there because I knew my agent loved the manuscript, and I believed that she would find the right home for CAMP.

Once submissions started, several editors said that they, too, loved the manuscript but didn’t feel that bullying was a big enough story. So I put CAMP on hold and moved on to other writing projects.

In 2011, five years after I signed with my agent (see, I told you the road was long!), I asked her to please try once more because bullying was now front and center in the news. My agent put CAMP out there again. And this time, CAMP sold quickly. And then DANNY’S MOM (also with a strong bullying theme) sold to Arcade Publishing, another Skyhorse imprint.

Now I’m known as “the anti-bullying novelist.” And I’m thrilled that I’ll have two novels published this year! I hope you’ll check out my website (authorelainewolf.com) for information about both books, as well as for anti-bullying resources.

3. As a teacher and mom myself, I’ve really seen how bullying is such an issue with kids, not just here in the States, but world-wide. I love how you tackled this issue in such a unique way through the setting and the characters. What inspired this?

Thanks! I’m glad you love how I “tackled this issue in such a unique way through the setting and characters.” But, truth be told, I didn’t set out to write a bullying novel; I just wanted to write a compelling story. So I started with a character, 14-year-old Amy Becker, who’s being shipped off to sleep-away camp for the first time. And, of course, I gave her lots of problems––because a happy, sing-around-the-campfire story isn’t very gripping.

I believed that sleep-away camp would be a good backdrop for a coming-of-age story, and it’s a setting I know well. I was a camper and camp counselor for many summers. And, like Amy Becker, my uncle owned a camp in Maine. But that’s where the similarity ends. My uncle ran a terrific camp, where the bullying that happens in CAMP would have been stopped before it got out of control.  

The bullying in CAMP grew organically after a mean-girl character, Rory, stormed through my mind while I was writing the scene about Amy on the bus heading to the fictional Camp Takawanda for Girls. Rory’s voice was really loud in my head, so I just tried to get out of my own way and let the characters dictate the story. Once I had a timid first-time camper, Amy, and an alpha girl “queen of mean,” Rory, it was impossible not to write about bullying.

Now CAMP is finding its way into schools for the fall, where the novel will be a springboard to conversations about bullying. And I sincerely hope that CAMP and DANNY’S MOM will lead to discussions that will make our camps and schools safer for all kids.

4.  What has been the most difficult part for you in writing in general and how have you met that challenge?

The most difficult challenge of this whole process was the “getting published part.” I was so happy while working on CAMP and DANNY’S MOM. But, I must admit, the “getting published part” left me frustrated and anxious. Yet I never gave up because the feedback from editors was overwhelmingly positive. I learned that getting published is not only about talent and perseverance; it’s also about timing. As they say, timing is everything.

And here are some quickies:

1. Favorite type of chocolate: dark, darker, and darkest! (Chocolate is absolutely my favorite food.)

2. #1 place you’d like to visit: Greece (And I’d love to go back to Florence, Italy, where I had the best gelato I’ve ever tasted. Ice cream is my second favorite food.)

3. Favorite mode of transportation: walking (I often park my car far from where I’m heading just to walk a bit­­––which is a good thing because I eat way too much chocolate and ice cream!)

4. Preferred mode of writing (i.e. pencil, pen, computer): computer (I start every chapter with pen and paper, though––and go to the computer only when I have a first paragraph that makes me tingle.)

Check out Elaine on Twitter or her website.

I will be giving away a copy of Elaine’s book, CAMP. Comment below to win a copy and tweet about this contest for an extra entry!

I’m Back to Announce the Winners!

Jul 23, 2012 | | 5 Comments

I’m back from a writer’s conference and from our trip to Germany and Austria. These past few weeks were awesome.

Here are some pictures of my trip with my three boys:

Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany

Innsbrook, Austria
The lake behind Neuschwanstein Castle

But I’ve got lots of fun things planned for you guys in the next few weeks including another author interview with Elaine Wolf tomorrow and two big contests as well.

But before all of that I still have to announce the winners for my giveaway of Danette Haworth’s books.

AnonymousAkoss is the winner of SUMMER OF MOONLIGHT SECRETS.

Vijaya is the winner of A WHOLE LOT OF LUCKY

Winners, please email me with your email address at christinafarleyL at gmail dot com.

PROPHECY Has a Cover!

Jul 5, 2012 | , | 3 Comments

I am so excited about Ellen Oh’s YA fantasty PROPHECY! This is a book that I’ve been anxiously waiting to finally hold in my hands and put on my bookshelf. I can’t wait.

And now PROPHECY has a cover and it’s beyond amazing. Don’t you agree?

Last week Ellen Oh revealed her gorgeous cover for PROPHECY at YA Book Central. She also got two fantastic blurbs which she talks about on her blog as well as the cover process.

You can also follow her book’s progress on the Prophecy Series’ Facebook page.

And if you want to find out more about Ellen Oh, check out this interview I did with her when she first announced her book deal.

Interview with Larissa Hardesty

Jun 29, 2012 | , , | 3 Comments

I’m thrilled to share with you the interview I did we my local critique partner, Larissa Hardesty. We met a while back through Verla Kay’s Blueboards. When I moved back to the States, I hitched a ride with Jessica Souders and her down to the SCBWI conference in Miami. Ever since we’ve been swapping chapters with each other.

She attended the SCBWI conference here in Orlando, FL with me and I asked her about what she was hoping to get out of the conference as well as tips of what to bring to a conference.

Thanks Larissa!

I’m also giving away another book of Danette Haworth’s from the conference, SUMMER OF MOONLIGHT SECRETS. All you have to do is write a comment below. If you tweet, blog, or Facebook about this post, let me know in your comment for an extra point. Deadline in July 13th!

Writing Conferences- How to Know Which Ones to Attend?

Jun 27, 2012 | , , , | 1 Comment

Today I’m pleased to post my interview with Sarah Nicolas who attended the SCBWI Orlando, FL conference with me. She is a young adult writer who is famous for her youtube channel, YARebels.

In this interview she shares about her best conference experience. Sarah is also the acquisitions intern for Entangled and in this interview she shares common mistakes writers make.

Danette Haworth Shares Her Insights

Jun 25, 2012 | , , , | 10 Comments

At the SCBWI conference here in Orlando, FL, I was able to chat with the very talented Danette Haworth. She is the middle grade author of the VIOLET RAINES ALMOST GOT STRUCK BY LIGHTNING, THE SUMMER OF MOONLIGHT SECRETS, JACK AND ME, and her upcoming book that will be released in September, A WHOLE LOT OF LUCKY.

I’m a big fan of Danette’s books. The characters are so real and I’m instantly sucked into the worlds that Danette creates. I first read VIOLET RAINES when I was still living in Korea and the story brought me right back to Florida with the lightning storms, alligators, thick hot air and swamps. I was homesick! And who wouldn’t fall in love with the spunky Violet?

In the interview, Danette chats about her SCBWI success story, why pre-published and published authors should attend conferences, as well as a peek at her upcoming book, A WHOLE LOT OF LUCKY.

Thank you Danette for sharing with us!

You can find Danette on:
Her website: http://www.danettehaworth.com/
Her blog: http://summerfriend.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/danettehaworth

And as a special treat, I’m giving away an autographed ARC of A WHOLE LOT OF LUCKY that Danette shared with us! All you have to do is post a comment. (note, later in the week I’m giving away another of her books!) You get an extra point if you tweet, blog, Facebook or share this post with a friend.  Just let me know in your post! The deadline to enter is by July 11th.

SCBWI Florida- Picture Book Intensive

Jun 21, 2012 | , , , | 9 Comments

The SCBWI Florida workshop in Orlando, FL consists of two days. Friday is a day of intensives that focus on a writer’s craft in a particular genre.

This year I decided to break out of my usual YA mold and stretch myself. I took the picture book intensive with Sylvie Frank, associate editor at Holiday House, and Andrea Davis Pinkney, a New York Times best-selling and award-winning author and Vice President Executive Editor for Scholastic.

I was so impressed with the expertise and professionalism that both of these ladies had. After taking their workshop, I came away with new knowledge of how to use the economy of writing when creating a picture book as well as using a picture book dummy to determine if my pacing was on target. 

Excellent advice from Andrea: there is no such thing as writer’s block! I also loved how Andrea gave us a duel perspective on publishing. She showed us a book from the side of a writer and then turned the tables and showed us how an editor would think about that same project. I found that fascinating and it really gave me a new perspective on publishing.

Sylvie had us create a picture book from paper so we could better understand how the picture book is laid out. Once we made ours, we then looked at the pacing of the picture book and how to determine if our story’s plot was strong enough. 

If you’d like to try, here’s a great link to get you started.

SCBWI Florida Conference

Jun 20, 2012 | , | 3 Comments

This past weekend I attended the SCBWI conference at Disney World in Orlando, FL. I had an amazing time and got to learn under brilliant editors and talented authors.

Here’s a short video clip of what I’m planning to share with you about the conference:

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