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The Downside of Being Charlie Book Launch

May 19, 2012 | | 12 Comments

Last Thursday I went to the book launch of THE DOWNSIDE OF BEING CHARLIE by Jenny Torres Sanchez. It was held at Barnes and Noble over by University of Central Florida and the place was packed.

Here’s the blurb from Amazon:

Charlie is handed a crappy senior year. Despite losing thirty pounds over the summer, he still gets called “Chunks” Grisner. What’s worse, he has to share a locker with the biggest Lord of the Rings freak his school has ever seen. He also can’t figure out whether Charlotte VanderKleaton, the beautiful strawberry lip-glossed new girl, likes him the way he likes her. Oh, and then there’s his mom. She’s disappeared—again—and his dad won’t talk about it.

Somewhere between the madness, Charlie can at least find comfort in his one and only talent that just might get him out of this life-sucking place. But will he be able to hold his head above water in the meantime?

When I arrived, my writing buddies, Jess and Larissa, also drove up and the three of us joined the long line to get our autograph copy of THE DOWNSIDE OF BEING CHARLIE.

Unfortantly we arrived five minutes late so we missed Jenny’s little speech on what inspired her to write the book. But we did get our autographed copies (they were going fast!) and we snuck in a picture with her.

We hung out at the store for a while and got to chat with some other writers from the area and talked about… writing. Of course.

I’m so excited about this book that I’m giving away an autographed copy, a bookmark, and pin. Just fill out this rafflecopter form before May 27th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Link Love!

May 15, 2012 | | 7 Comments

Congratulations to the Bookshelf Muse on their release of the Emotion Thesaurus. They are doing a fun launch celebration by allowing others to show Random Act Of Kindness. I love how creative and inspirational they are.

(And a side note, thank you Larissa for those kind words! Right back at you!)

Are you stuck in the endless waiting cycle? Check out my post on Hurry Up and Wait over at the MiGs.

All last week Beth Revis interviewed some talented authors over on her blog. Check it out!

Check out Jennifer Laughran from the Andrea Brown Agency’s post on Everything About Author Events. She has a wealth of knowledge you don’t want to miss out on.

Debbie Ridpath Ohi has made a blog that will share the process involved in creating her two picture books for Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Here’s the blurb she wrote about it:

One is from an illustrator’s perspective:
The I’M BORED Scrapbook documents the creation of I’M BORED, a new picture book by Michael Ian Black and illustrated by yours truly, coming out from Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers in Sept/2012. This blog includes photos, sketches, process notes, comics as well as quotes from the author, editor (Justin Chanda) and art director (Laurent Linn).

The other is from a writer/illustrator’s perspective:
I’ll also be posting in Inkygirl about the very first picture book that I’ll be writing AND illustrating (just recently got the contract from Simon & Schuster, yay!). I’ll be posting about the process, what I’m learning, what happens at various steps and what they mean, the people I interact with at S&S and what they do. I’ll be sharing some of the templates I create for myself to help with workflow, plus give you a peek of what goes on inside Simon & Schuster BFYR later on in the process, after I’ve handed in my finals.

And do you have the widget for Jessica Souders RENEGADE? If not, Safari Poet created an awesome one that you can get here.

Summer Fun

May 12, 2012 | , , , , | 12 Comments

I have 18 more school days left. 18!!!! And I can’t deny that I’m just a teeny, tiny bit excited. Because I can’t wait for summer to begin.

I’m kicking off my summer by attending the Florida SCBWI Orlando Conference on June 16th at Disney.

Here’s the line up: 

Holiday House Associate Editor Sylvie Frank, Scholastics Trade Vice President and Executive Editor Andrea Davis Pinkney, Tracey and Josh Adams of the Adams Literary Agency, Henry Holt Editor Noa Wheeler, Simon and Schuster Art Director Laurent Linn, Artist Agent Christina Tugeau, Tammi Sauer (Chicken Dance, Bawk and Roll), Florida SCBWI Illustrator Coordinator Linda Shute, Donna Gephart (How To Survive Middle School), Nancy Werlin (Impossible), Tracy Barrett (Dark of the Moon), Nancy Rosenthal Stewart (One Pelican at a Time), Deb Noyes Wayshak, editor-at-large at Candlewick Press, and Gaby Triana (Backstage Pass, Cubanita).

So you see, it’s going to be awesome.

Then I’m jumping in a plane with my boys and spending a week in Germany and then another week in Austria. The main request from my boys is to see lots and lots of castles. It’s going to be such an inspirational trip and I hope full of adventures.

Then come July, I’ll be attending the Quill Track at Ascendio 2012 at Universal Studios. And guess who’s going to be there? Beth Revis! I can’t wait!

Here’s the line up for the Quill Track:

  • Lev Grossman (author)
  • Beth Revis (author)
  • Veronica Roth (author)
  • Aimee Carter (author)
  • Michelle Hodkin (author)
  • Molly O’Neill (editor)
  • Ben Schrank (publisher)
  • Joanna Volpe (agent)
  • Lindsay Ribar (agent & author)
  • Carlie Webber (agent)
  • Mark Oshiro (MarkReads, author)
  • Cecilia Tan (publisher & author)

    • Don’t worry. I promise to take heaps of pictures and do some awesome worthy post conference contests with signed books.

    Oh and in the middle of all that, I plan on writing another book. Should be fun.

    Asian Literature- The Royal Bee

    May 8, 2012 | , , | 6 Comments

    Today’s highlighted book on Asian literature is THE ROYAL BEE by Frances Park and Ginger Park. This is an elegant picture book about a boy named Song-ho from Korea who desperately wanted to go to school. But he wasn’t from the wealthy families, the yangban, but instead a poor sangmin boy. So he wasn’t allowed to attend.

    Yet this didn’t stop him. He sat outside of the school in the freezing cold, his ear pressed against the rice paper door just to listen to the master. This determination changed his life forever.

    The illustrations by Christopher Zhong-Yuan Zhang cast a portrait of a beautiful age in Korea. It’s an excellent way to see the dress, culture and landscape of Korea.

    What I love about this book: How this story showed the courage of Song-ho to stand up for who he was as well as his determination to never give up despite the obstacles faced before him.

    What makes this book unique: I especially love how this is written by two sisters and it’s based on their own grandfather’s experience. How inspiring!

    Why should you read it? It’s a story set in Korea. (Okay so I’m a little bias there). The values and morals makes this not only an excellent read aloud but inspirational as well.

    Favorite lines: “shadow of the master”, “The Sodang School, surrounded by golden rain trees”, “when the moon shines into the Great Hall”

    The MiGs Interview Their Agents

    Apr 23, 2012 | | 3 Comments

    Next week is a big week over at the MiG Writer’s blog. All week long we are interviewing our fabulous agents. Don’t miss out!

    Here’s the line-up for next week:


    Mon. April 30: Mini-bios about each agent.

    Tues. May 1st: Susan’s agent: Andrea Cascardi of the Transatlantic Literary Agency.

    Wed. May 2nd: Debbie’s agent: Ginger Knowlton of Curtis Brown Ltd.

    Thu. May 3rd: Carmella’s agent: Marie Lamba of the Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency.

    Fri. May 4th: Christina’s agent: Jeff Ourvan of the Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency, LLC. Get the MiG Writers widget and many other great free widgets at Widgetbox! Not seeing a widget? (More info)

    Winners and Lucky 7

    Apr 16, 2012 | , | 4 Comments

    I am so excited to announce my two winners for the author interview and book contests I’ve held.

    The winner for KISS OF THE MORNING STAR is Viven!

    The winner for TROUBLE WITH A HALF A MOON is Carmella Condon Van Vleet!

    I will be emailing you asking for your addresses.

    And now for Lucky 7. I was tagged Kim Kasch and by Jessica Khoury. Ironically, Jessica worked at the bookstore my mother-in-law managed and we both attended Toccoa Falls College. Small world!

    So the Lucky 7 goes like this:
    1. Go to the seventh or 77th page of the WIP or latest book
    2. Count down seven lines.
    3. Copy the 7 sentences that follow and post them.
    4. Tag 7 other authors.

    So here are my 7 lines from page 77 of GILDED (my YA mythological based paranormal):

    “Haemosu’s power is greatest in the day,” she says and then grunts to whip out a roundhouse. I’m ready and side step around her, quick and light. “That is the time he will attack.”


    She turns to face me again. I see the attack and land a front kick, planting it directly at her chin. She stumbles backwards slightly, her eyes widening. “Not bad,” she admits. “The best I have seen in a long time.”

    But then she does a move I’ve never seen. It’s like watching a movie. And I’m definitely not the star. She leaps up, spins and double kicks, one foot after the other knocking at my shoulder and nose. Pain shoots through my face and blood spurts through the air.

    So none of that probably makes sense to you, but there you go. As far as tagging, I’m going to let you tag yourself if you would like to participate!

    Exotic Destinations- France with Love

    Apr 13, 2012 | , | 11 Comments

    In honor of starting work on a middle grade set in France, I thought I would mention my favorite places I visited in France. My sister and I did a trip together and it was simply amazing. I love France. The whole country smells like flowers and fresh baked bread. Is there anything better?

    Well, chocolate I suppose. But have you ever had their chocolate croissants? *Faint* We found a little bakery that would open its doors and sell steaming chocolate croissants. We’d grab one with a cafe ole and off we’d go sightseeing!

    My Highlights:
    Paris

    1. Eiffel Tower– You really need to hike this. Don’t wait for the elevator because the line is atrocious. And go early so you don’t have to fight the line. The view is amazing and it’s a great way to start your visit in Paris because you can see the whole city spanning out before you.

    Loire Valley

    The Loire valley was adorably quaint. We stayed in Tours at a restored bed and breakfast. The food was fabulous in Old Town.

    2. The Chateaus– We went on a castle tour (highly recommend this!) and both came away with a favorite- Château de Chenonceau. It’s completely magical with its Gothic and Renaissance architecture. The gardens are lovely as well. I could wander through them all day. 

    It was seized by Henry II and offered it to his mistress, Diane de Poitiers. Over the years, it’s had many owners, but in 1914, the Menier family (they own the Menier Chocolate Factory) bought it and still own it today.

    Make sure you come early because it’s the most visited castle other than Versailles (and much better than Versailles if you ask me). As you can see from the pictures, it’s definitely a place that brings inspiration.

    Normandy’s Coast

    3. Mont Saint Michel– I could totally imagine this place back in the middle ages, monks toiling away the hours transcribing scriptures or valued passages. It has a sense of wonder and sacredness to the hallways. Legend says the archangel, Michael, appeared to the Bishop in 708 and told him to create a monument to Saint Michael and build a church on the site. Personally, I doubt angels care anything for monuments, but I do love legends.

    I think that deep within the foundations of the monastery still lives an ancient dragon whose spirit draws the tides in and out each day to protect the island that the monastery rests upon.

    Of course, there is so much more than this in France. I just highlighted a few destinations. Have you ever been to France? What were your favorite places? If not, where would you want to go?

    Congratulations to My Agent!

    Apr 11, 2012 | , | 6 Comments

    One of the things I love about my agent, Jeff Ourvan, is he not only rocks at his job as my agent by placing my book into the right editor’s hands, communicating quickly, and calming my worries, but he understands me as a writer. I think a lot of this stems from him being a writer himself.

    So a big congratulations to Jeff for the release of his book, HOW TO COACH YOUTH BASEBALL SO EVERY KID WINS, published by Skyhorse Publishing.

    It opens with a very cool foreword by Baseball Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda and includes 100 color photos featuring a few kids from his past Little Leagues.

    You can link to the Amazon or B&N listings right from his newly launched website: www.everykidwins.com.  Or just access it here on Amazon’s or B&N’s websites.  The book can also be found at your local bookstore May 1st.

    I’ve already ordered my copy of the book. I’ve got two sport fanatics at home who are ready to learn all they can on baseball.

    Danette Shares Her Inspiration

    Apr 9, 2012 | | 8 Comments

    Please welcome Danette Vigilante, author of The Trouble with Half a Moon, published by G.P. Putnam & Sons.

    From Amazon:

    Thirteen year old Dellie lives with the guilt that her little brother’s death was her fault. Her mother cries all the time and because she wants Dellie to stay safe, she keeps her inside as much as she can. It doesn’t matter that Dellie longs to go outside to be like other girls or that there’s a boy she likes and he likes her too. All that matters to her mother is that she’s safe at home. So, Dellie has no choice but to watch the world of her housing project through her second story window.

    Things start to change soon after new neighbors move in on the first floor. Trouble like this has never happened in Dellie’s building before. Now there are men fighting on the stoop, gunshots echoing through the night and Corey, a hungry and abused five year old boy knocking on her door looking for something to eat. Corey reminds Dellie of her brother and even though their friendship is dangerous, she wonders if this time, she’ll be able to do what needs to be done. Will she be able to save Corey? Show Mo

    I love the premise of The Trouble with Half a Moon because it takes a look at the ripple effect of what we do with the good and bad in our lives. What inspired you to write this book?

    I grew up in a housing project where a little boy would go from apartment to apartment asking for food. As you can imagine, it was heartbreaking. That little boy stayed with me and patiently waited until I was ready to give  him what every child should have: safety, love, food and friendship.

    Who in your life inspires you and why?

    I’m a greedy inspirational seeker so I find it everywhere from my two girls and my husband for not being afraid to step out of their comfort zones to everyday stories I read about people doing good for other’s.

    Which book character do you find inspirational and if he/she were to talk to you, what might they say?

    At the moment it would be, Deza, the main character in Christopher Paul Curtis’ newest book, The Mighty Miss Malone. If she were to talk to me she might actually giggle then ask, “You’re not going to let THAT get in your way, are you?” Then she’d adjust her family’s motto for me: “You’re on a journey to a place called Wonderful, so keep it moving!”

    What is it that you are hoping to inspire into your reader’s lives?

    That even the smallest good deed is powerful enough to change a life for the better. Maybe even your own.

    And here are some quickies:
    1. Favorite type of chocolate:



    Believe it or not, I’m a relatively new chocolate lover and pretty much like it all with the exception of dark chocolate. Can I just say that I’m currently addicted to chocolate covered raisins from Costco. They blow Raisinets away!

    2.  #1 country you’d like to visit:

    Without hesitation, that would be Italy. For its beauty of course, but I’m a serious pizza lover so …

    3. Favorite mode of transportation:

    My feet! I love to walk.

    4. Preferred writing method: (i.e.) computer, pen, pencil:

    Definitely computer. I couldn’t survive without cut and paste.

    Her website: http://danettevigilante.com/

    On Goodreads

    Thank you so much Danette! Fill in the Raffelcopter form to win a copy of The Trouble with Half a Moon.

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    Orlando Literati

    Apr 5, 2012 | | 4 Comments

    Last Friday night, I attended the first Orlando Literati event located at downtown Orlando. The venue was at Urban ReThink surrounded by great restaurants and within walking distance to Lake Eola.

    Sarah Fisk from YA Rebels organized the event and did a great job at gathering together nearly 100 writers from the area!

    They had raffle prizes offered, and even though I didn’t win anything, Larissa Hardesty won the 25 page critique from agent Lucienne Diver from the Knight Agency!

    Jessica Souders brought postcards and business card swag for the SWAG table and guess who was the lucky person to get Jessica’s first autograph EVER? Um, yeah, that would be ME. !!!!!!

    We are all looking forward to more great events like this one. I have a feeling that there will also be some group writers events such as signings and readings at the Urban ReThink in the future.

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