Legendary

Yesterday I got to meet one of my idols—fantasy author Tamora Pierce. She was appearing on a panel at the wonderful store Books of Wonder along with six other talented authors (including Rae Carson whose The Girl of Fire and Thorns is excellent and perfect for Tamora fans). I cannot begin to explain how honored I was to finally meet Tamora. I might have gotten a bit fangirl on her—but I’ve been waiting since I was ten to meet her! Alanna: The First Adventure introduced me to fantasy when it was part of the sixth grade curriculum. When my peers read the first for weeks in class I rushed to the library and read the entire series at home. I was hooked. And ever since then my writing has been informed by Tamora’s works. Her novels are still the closest comparative titles to my work in progress. So, to say the least, she—and her books—are pretty important to me. Meeting her in person did not disappoint, either, as is so often the case when you meet an idol. She spoke so wisely on the genre and on writing. And despite the fact that the line to get books signed by her was ridiculously long and meant she had to stay long past when the event was due to end, she kindly signed each and every book fans brought and had a brief conversation. It was wonderful. And the way she signed my copy of Mastiff, her latest book? “Be legendary.” I’m working on it, Tamora, I’m working on it!

NYC Teen Author Festival

This past week was Teen Author Festival here in NYC and there were TONS of great events to go to. I (ahem) made it to one event- free theater tickets, my job, and errands unfortunately got in the way- but the one event was definitely a great one!  It included music-themed readings from top YA authors, plus performances by Tiger Beat, a YA author band comprised of Libba Bray (vocals, piano), Dan Ehrenhalf (guitar), Natalie Standiford (bass, vocal backup) and Barney Miller (drums, vocals). Even with two fractured elbows Libba was energetic and working the crowd! Check out a past recording of Tiger Beat playing their original hilarious (and somewhat inappropriate) tune “YA Song”. You'll be sure to smile!

Daily Changes

Having a job in publishing is AWESOME. Approaching three months in I love it just as much as I did on my first day, and as I learn more and more, it becomes even more exciting.  There are some changes in my life that come with having a job in publishing- the expected sort of things that I’ve already mentioned: getting an apartment, waking up early, reading until your eyeballs fall out.  There have been some changes in the past three months that I hadn’t anticipated. These aren’t bad changes at all, but they’re interesting to reflect on.

1.    SUPPORT FOR INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORES. 

Before: I’ve always been an Amazon.com girl when it comes to buying books, or if I wanted to take in the glorious smell of books, a chain bookstore girl.  This was a cost issue, mostly.  And the fact that the part of CT where I grew up never managed to support an independent bookstore, so my only options within a reasonable drive were Barnes and Noble or Borders.

Now: I’ve come to realize that independent bookstores are places that publishing houses rely on to hand sell our books. The booksellers that work at indies know our books, know their customers and know what would be a good match between novel and reader.  And independents rely on that community and host events- like the wonderful Books of Wonder which hosted the first stop on the Breathless Reads Tour* which I attended last week- that foster a love of reading. Books might be more expensive at indies, but you’re buying far more than a book- you’re supporting a community of book lovers.

(*Side note: if you can catch the Breathless Reads Tour, do so.  It’s a tour for five Penguin authors: Beth Revis (Across the Universe), Ally Condie (Matched), Andrea Cremer (Nightshade), Brenna Yovanoff (The Replacement), and Kirsten Miller (The Eternal Ones).  I was very pleased with the event/really want to read Nightshade (I’ve already read The Replacement)!)

2.    OPPOSE ILLEGAL DOWNLOADS

Before: I was blissfully ignorant where my music came from.  I didn’t download any; I just relied on my sister and never questioned where it came from.  And when a friend-who-shall-remain-nameless told me she downloaded Mockingjay shortly after it came out, I was in awe that that was possible- I had no idea.

Now: I get emails regularly from authors wanting HC to take down illegal book download links. There was a blog post floating around a while ago by an author illustrating (whether truly or not) how illegal downloads have been detrimental to her writing career and financial well being. Although I never had illegally downloaded a book, I know I never will now- and I’m much more aware of where my music and movies come from. I want to support the artists behind the media I love!

3.    WEAR DIFFERENT CLOTHES

Before: I was a dresses girl, especially in the summer. If I could wear a dress, I would.  I had overly strict ‘rules’ that I followed about what I could wear (sweatshirts in public? Only if I was sick/sleep deprived!), which often resulted in me being a little dressier than the others I was spending time with.

Now:  I’m still a dresses girl, but when you have eight work-appropriate dresses and have to wear them five days a week, you get pretty bored with your wardrobe.  And tights get pretty darn uncomfortable, too.  So on weekends, it’s jeans jeans jeans.  Maybe even a sweatshirt, or sneakers (but let’s not push it yet).

So there you have it…three ways in which having a job in publishing has changed my daily habits, just a little bit, but a change nonetheless. This weekend I think I might head out in comfy jeans to my local bookstore and buy a book or two!

Author Talks: Part 2

Hey everyone, you know my thoughts on author talks, but do you know how to find which authors will be talking in your area?  This new website I discovered recently will show you just that.  Normally I would have to check event listings at all the major bookstores (namely B&N, Borders, Books of Wonder and The Strand in NYC plus Symphony Space, a cultural/performance arts center) at least once a month, but now it’s all done for me! It even finds readings at places I never would have thought of.  (It's never a bad idea, though, to keep on checking your local bookstore listings, especially for children's book related events.) Pretty cool, huh?

Happy listening to those awesome authors! 

CT Children's Book Fair

Today I attended the Connecticut Children’s Book Fair hosted at UConn. It was a day full of books, books and more books, plus catching up with my sister (who’s a student there)- what more could I ask for?

The highlight of the day was a panel with David Levithan, Eliot Shrefer, Samantha Schutz and Natalie Standiford called “Giving Teens A Voice: Writing and Editing Teen Fiction.”  As someone who is interested in both writing AND editing YA, it couldn’t have been more perfect.  And writer-editor David Levithan is an exemplary model of how to balance both (read more about him here). 

I also got to hear picture book/MG/YA author Leslie Connor talk.  I had just read her novel Waiting For Normal, which is excellent, so it was fun to meet her.  She was lovely.  Jarrett Krosoczka, who also crosses from picture book to MG graphic novels was a hilarious presenter and I highly recommend both the picture book he read, Punk Farm, and the Lunch Lady series. More picture book talks were offered by Caldecott winner artist Ed Young (Moon Bear, his latest book is wonderful).  He also taught us Chinese- twenty characters in just a few moments based on another one of his creative books!  Illustrator Andrea Wisnewski also educated audience members about papercutting, a beautiful illustration technique similar to woodcutting.  

Add visits by Clifford, Biscuit and Maisy, a loud puppet show, and buying more books than my budget allows (Crunch by Leslie Connor, The School For Dangerous Girls by Eliot Schrefer, Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan, Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and Levithan and Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and Levithan), it was a great day.

 

Looking forward to next year’s!

Author Talks

I think I got spoiled when I was at Hamilton.  Okay, I know I was spoiled…but I’m just talking about one specific part of my Hamilton experience here: author talks.   As a creative writing major I was required to attend a certain amount of author talks every year, but now more than ever I’m realizing how lucky I was to hear Jayne Anne Phillips, Kelly Cherry and Margaret Atwood speak (and that was just during my senior year!).  And not only did these wonderful women read from whatever book they were promoting, but they took the time to talk about their craft, how they got where they are, and answer questions from us budding writers.  Each night was special and enlightening…not to mention Margaret Atwood was a hoot!

Nearly every author talk I’ve gone to outside of Hamilton has been less than special and enlightening, because all the author does is read from his/her book.  Yes, it was interesting to hear Suzanne Collins read Mockingjay in an Appalachian twang…but I can read those words for myself.  Or go out and buy the audio book.  What I can’t recreate on my own is a moment when the author gives insightful or practical advice and lets their readers really get to know them.  This seems to only happen in magazines or PR interviews…why not during author talks as well, when the author has the opportunity to talk directly to his/her readers?

I don’t want to completely knock authors talks.  Not one bit.  I am so lucky to be in New York City where I’ve been able to hear the likes of David Sedaris and Kate DiCamillo (And for the record, Kate DiCamillo is the exception to the rule.  Her talk promoting Bink and Gollie was the best I’ve heard in a very long time.  She was hilarious and managed to answer every question in a way that appealed to both the kids and the adults in the audience.  Go Kate! More author talks should be like hers.).  Most people don’t have that opportunity.  Yet, I want to make the most of those opportunities….so, authors, please add a little more of a personal touch to your talks and I’ll be right in the front row, a happy camper.