Suzanne Young

SCBWI Annual Winter Conference 2012: Ken Wright

2012-01-19T06:50:00.000-08:00

In a Team Blog pre-conference exclusive, I'm here with awesome agent Ken Wright of Writers House! Ken will be speaking at this year’s SCBWI Winter Conference in NYC, and we will for sure be crowding his session. Let’s ask some questions!

1.) What topics will you cover in your workshop?

Well, the title of the workshop is “Non-fiction,” which may or may not tell you much! But it’s one of my areas of expertise, so I am guessing that most of the people who attend will want to know a bit about the state of the market for kids non-fiction, what publishers might be looking for these days, and, as an agent, what kinds of things jump out at me to make me take notice---those kinds of topics. I like the give and take of a session made up mostly of questions and answers, as it keeps things lively and lets me actually provide the kind of information people want to have, so I think that’s pretty much the way I will handle it.

2.) What would be your dream conference scenario when it comes to meeting writers?

Gee, I just always like the time I get to spend with writers, talking about the state of the business, what’s working in the marketplace and what’s not, where publishing is heading, and hoping to read something that completely makes me crazy it’s so good---the anticipation of maybe finding something really wonderful is what keeps most of us coming to these great events. But more than anything, I just like being around smart people who have interests similar to mine. It’s a pretty selfish reason, I know, but if I can be helpful to a few people at the same time, then it’s a win-win, right?

3.) What can a published author gain from attending a conference like this?

I know many published and successful authors (including a bunch of mine) who attend a lot of conferences like this. Some of them do so to “give back,” so to speak. And that can be very rewarding in and of itself. They so well remember what it was like BEFORE they were published, and they have valuable advice to offer. It’s also a great opportunity for them to meet new editors and art directors and other publishing professionals, as a way of continuing the networking that is so important these days for writers and illustrators. And I also think there are always new things for seasoned writers to learn in this business, and some of the workshops and sessions can provide that opportunity.

4.) Are you currently accepting submissions?

Absolutely. Each and every day. I have a pretty full and “mature” client list now, ranging from picture book people to middle grade and YA, fiction and nonfiction, but like all of us on this side of the desk, I am always on the lookout for something new that will really grab me. And I just really hate the idea that I might miss the next best thing!

You can catch more with Ken Wright and lots of other agents, editors and authors next weekend at the conference. Check out interviews and up-to-the-minute action on the official SCBWI conference blog! And look for hashtag #NY12SCBWI on Twitter.

See you in New York!

Suz

A WANT SO WICKED

2012-01-03T14:28:00.000-08:00

I shared this earlier on Facebook, but I thought I'd put the jacket for A WANT SO WICKED up on the blog too. Not sure what will be on the back cover yet, but I have an excerpt in mind...

And here's the A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL jacket which I loved nearly as much!

Happy Holidays: A Need so Beautiful style

2011-12-19T08:53:00.000-08:00

Over at The Novel Novice, Sara shared some super cute artwork made for A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL. Aww... Thanks!!!

Hop on over to the blog and see what other novels were immortalized by snowmen. :-)

Happy Holidays!

Win- A WANT SO WICKED!

2011-11-10T15:13:00.000-08:00

Sara at Novel Novice is running an awesomely cool contest to win the FIRST advance copies of A WANT SO WICKED!! Plus some other prizes! Wanna win?? Go HERE and see how!

In the meantime, Sara interviewed me about A WANT SO WICKED to find out more about the story. You can preorder your copy of AWSW HERE.

Interview:

I know when you originally finished A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL, you felt very happy with the ending — but ultimately, your editor wanted more. Tell us about the process of rethinking the story to write the sequel, A WANT SO WICKED.

I made the decision to write the sequel the day we sold A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL. But I had NO IDEA how I would accomplish that. Originally, I intended to write Onika’s story—but after thinking about the end of ANSB, I realized there was still so much to learn about the main characters. A WANT SO WICKED picks up about nine months after ANSB ends, and I think it helps deepen the story of the original, while creating a universe of its own.

How does Onika’s story fit into WANT?

We only got a taste of what Onika was about in A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL. Now we learn the HOW and WHY of becoming a Shadow. How far would someone go to be remembered? What are the consequences of that decision? The answer is a dark one, and seeing Onika go through it helps to understand her and see how her existence fits into the universe.

NEED was very much about the light, but you’ve said WANT is much more about darkness and the Shadows. Tell us how this figures into the story!

The mythology of the Forgotten is the main aspect of book one, but now we explore the other side. Although the choice to stay or go was never easy, now we find out exactly what happens when a Forgotten turns away from the light—we find out what the opposite of hope is. And we find out where true evil starts.

And Harlin’s back! Did you have a favorite Harlin moment?

In this book? Oh, man. Harlin has changed a bit from A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL—having survived a serious trauma and now having a new purpose. But I think his maturity is for the better, and let me just say this—there is an amazingly sexy haircut scene. I’ve said too much.

Anything else you want people to know about WANT?

I think AWSW is the natural progression of the story from A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL. If you questioned anything about why or how from the first book, you’ll get your explanations here. And you’ll also get to see two people fall in love—the kind that can transcend lifetimes—which was really fun to write.

Don't forget to enter the contest at Novelnovice.com!!

A WANT SO WICKED

2011-11-08T12:09:00.000-08:00

Well.... it's that time. Since the Summer 2012 catalog is out, A WANT SO WICKED is now on display along with its synopsis. But my friend Sara at NovelNovice will have more info about the book, including a story-related interview soon. Want to know which characters from A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL will be returning for book 2? Stay tuned.

For now, here is the official cover for A WANT SO WICKED, along with the synopsis. Can't wait to show the full jacket. I think it's breathtaking. I'm very happy with Balzer & Bray/HarperCollins for the amazing work they did on this book. Hooray!

A WANT SO WICKED-June 26th, 2012 (PREORDER HERE)

Elise is a normal seventeen-year-old girl until the day she wakes up in a desert park, with no idea who she is.

After that episode, her life takes a bizarre turn. She’s experiencing unexpected flashes of insight into people’s lives—people she’s never met before. Strangers frighten her with warnings about the approaching Shadows. And although Elise has never had a boyfriend, she suddenly finds herself torn between two handsome but very different young men: Abe, the charming bad boy whose affect on her both seduces and frightens her, and the mysterious Harlin, who’s new to town but with whom Elise feels an urgent, elemental connection—almost as if they are soul mates.

Now Elise begins to question everything about her life. Why do these guys both want her so desperately? What are the Shadows? Why does the name Charlotte inspire a terrifying familiarity? And who is Elise, really?

Vegas, baby!

2011-11-06T18:36:00.000-08:00

The Vegas Valley Book Festival ROCKED this weekend! Here is a quick wrap-up!

Spent some quality time with Lisa Schroeder and Liz Gallagher outside our hotel.

Author dessert trip with Emily Wing Smith, Lindsey Leavitt, Brodi Ashton, Bree Despain, Daisy Whitney, Lisa Schroeder, Becca Fitzpatrick, ME, Heather Davis, Jay Asher and Liz Gallagher.

Heather Davis, me and Liz.

Lisa, me and Lindsey were enjoying the crisp weather... or maybe it was the promise of ice cream.

Met the BLUE MAN GROUP!

Pre-panel hang out with Cat Patrick.

(Thanks, Nieves Maria Silva and Crystal Perkins for a few of the pictures)

The entire crew!! Daisy Whitney, Lindsey Leavitt, Emily Wing Smith, James Dashner, Rachel Hawkins, Becca Fitzpatrick, Suzanne Young, Bree Despain, Brodi Ashton, Jay Asher, Cat Patrick, Veronica Wolff, Rachel Caine, Crystal Perkins, Sophie Jordan, Liz Gallagher, Heather Davis and Tera Lynn Childs.

The Paranormal Ball!! Authors in costumes? Too fun. Lisa and I nearly slayed James Dashner. But we resolved our issues.

Super awesome blogger of Kate's Book Club took a second to tear up the dance floor with me.

Me and Lady Rachel Hawkins.

Miss everyone already!

And check out this AWESOME videoblog for fun interviews with the authors, and don't forget to go on youtube and enter Kate's contest!!

In Vegas?

2011-11-04T06:31:00.001-07:00

Nothing to do this weekend? How about a trip to Las Vegas? The Vegas Valley Book Festival is ON and I hope you can stop by and visit! I'll be talking about A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL during a panel on Blending Fantasy and Contemporary, and attending a Paranormal Ball (open to the public). If you can't make it, I'll have lots of pictures to post after. With the Blue Man Group!

Check out this amazing LINEUP!

Time to Catch Up!

2011-10-20T09:52:00.000-07:00

I haven't been blogging much over the past few weeks, but I figured I'd FINALLY upload some of my photos. And then after going through them, I realized that my phone takes TERRIBLE pictures. Oh, well. Here they are anyway!

First up is me and my sassy author friend Lisa Schroeder. (Sorry, Lisa. I just loved this picture too much not to share!) Her second middle grade novel SPRINKLES AND SECRETS just came out. Pick it up!

Then here we are with blogger Vy at the Smart Chicks Tour

This may be a scene in the upcoming A WANT SO WICKED...

Sara Gundell (Novel Novice) and I were at Kidlit Con a few weeks ago, speaking about how bloggers and authors can work together for promotion. It was a blast! Here we are with Scott Westerfeld.

And here we are with the harbinger of death.

Sara even created some fan art for A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL

Just before we picked up some conference essentials

Coming up soon after was WORDSTOCK. Amazing, time. And I got to fulfill a life long dream of singing karaoke with John Corey Whaley (WHERE THINGS COME BACK)--who happens to be the coolest man alive. YEAH, HE IS!

Partied the weekend away with Vania of VLC Productions and Sara

Also hung out with Kim Derting, Lindsey Leavitt, Lauren Oliver, Patrick Carman--plus got to panel with Maggie Stiefvater and Isaac Marion.

Took some photos for the imagined setting of a new YA novel I'm working on--THE CONSTANT. Pretty, right?

Went to PNBA and met up with the super duper dope Kendare Blake (ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD).

And then this week I went to Laini Taylor's DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE event at my favorite book store Powell's. Laini read possibly the best excerpt EVER. Check out the book, for real.

That's it! I mean, there are more pictures, but this took me about an hour to put together. So maybe I'll update again next month. What have you been up to? :-)

New Photos!

2011-10-05T10:42:00.001-07:00

One of the first things my friends say to me when picking up a finished copy of A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL is--"Is that you?"

My author photo, taken by the incredibly talented photographer Dawn Goei, was a totally different direction for me. I, get this, wasn't smiling. I looked serious. No, not just serious serious, but I-might-kick-your-ass serious. I loved it!!

But over time, I got sick of people not recognizing me from my author photo. After all, I smile constantly. Annoyingly often. So I asked Dawn to retake my pictures--this time trying to capture more of me.

The result:

So I'm pretty happy, although as most people can tell you I seek out and mention each flaw. I won't do that here. Hooray for not having to put on that much makeup again any time soon!

In other news, I believe I might be able to show my amazing cover for A WANT SO WICKED soon. Seriously, I love it so much. It's just... perfect. Will keep you posted!!!

In the meantime, here's this....

Let's Talk Wordstock!

2011-09-22T13:03:00.000-07:00

On October 8th and 9th there is an amazing event at the Portland Convention Center. Wordstock is the largest literature and literacy festival in the Northwest. You can learn more about it at www.wordstockfestival.com. I'm excited to be a part of it this year, and if you're in the area, you should definitely come by!

Where to find me:

12pm on Sunday, October 9th

Paranormal lit panel-Vampires are SO last season: Trends in paranormal fiction are always shifting. Panelists explore what trends are hot right now, and what will likely be the next big thing. Fellow panelists are Isaac Marion and Maggie Stiefvater.

1pm on Sunday, October 9th

Solo presentation focusing on A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL, followed by a signing. Paired with Kim Derting for the hour.

Other than that, I'll be hanging around to watch all the other amazing authors!! Good times! I'll see some of you there!

A WANT SO WICKED songs

2011-09-12T16:39:00.000-07:00

A WANT SO WICKED is less than a year away (which still feels like a million years away), and I'm finalizing lots of cool things. In the meantime I thought I'd share some of my AWSW inspirations. This time, it's music! So here are just a few songs that helped to inspire the vibe of the book.

Sinister Kid- The Black Keys
Barton Hollow- The Civil Wars

Closer- Kings of Leon
Killing Moon- Nouvelle Vague

Can't wait to share more about it!

My Creepy Photo Inspiration

2011-08-28T16:18:00.000-07:00

Since writing THE PROGRAM (Simon Pulse/Spring 2013) I've thought and thought about cover possibilities. Would I want something mysterious? Something heartbreaking? I sketched out one image of a girl in lemon yellow hospital scrubs staring down a long, stark-white hallway.

A few weeks later when the family and I were on vacation in Lake Shasta, I decided to drag them on a tour of the Shasta Dam (because I'm a dork and LOVE guided tours). But while I was on that tour, I found the perfect hallway! So I had my daughter star as the cover model (minus the teenager and yellow scrubs part) and snapped this photo.

This is my creepy photo inspiration for when I work on THE PROGRAM. :-)

A Want so Wicked

2011-08-25T15:05:00.000-07:00

Wait... is it still summer? I'm not quite sure because instead of going outside, I've been typing my little fingers bloody working on revisions. One of those revisions is A WANT SO WICKED, the sequel to A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL. I've gotten a few emails from readers asking for AWSW's summary, but unfortunately, I can't share it yet. Sorry!!

But since I'm here.... I thought I might post a quick little excerpt and not even try to explain it. Enjoy!

At the sound, my heart kicks up its pace and I slowly lift my eyes. The guy--the hot one from the motorcycle--is looking down at me, apologetic. The frazzled feeling I just had immediately evaporates as I stare at him, struck by how incredibly handsome he is up close. His eyes are an amazing shade of hazel, more green than brown. His dark hair is long, curling under his unshaven chin, evening out the prettiness of his features. He's certainly rough around the edges, but I like it. He looks kind of dangerous.

Gosh. I wonder who THAT could be. Anyway, A WANT SO WICKED isn't up for pre-sale yet, but you can add it to your goodreads shelf HERE. More info soon!!!

Preview: THE PROGRAM

2011-08-11T15:28:00.000-07:00

I'm wrapping up my revisions on A WANT SO WICKED, the sequel to A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL, this week. I can't wait to show you the cover! It's AMAZING!!

In the meantime, I can't give any spoilers for the book--not even the official summary yet! But I can tell you a little about my new series coming Spring of 2013. Book 1 is THE PROGRAM, and I did a quick interview about it over at Presenting Lenore!

Click to Check it out!!!!

Conferencing....

2011-08-08T11:29:00.001-07:00

SCBWI LA is coming to a close (although not quite yet...) and I think it's time to put up some pictures! To find out more about the conference, the sessions, and interviews--check out the official TEAM BLOG!!!

The first night:

Me and amazing author GARY PAULSEN!

The pajama party!

The book signing at Once Upon A Time Book store with Nova Ren Suma, Cindy Pon and Holly Goldberg Sloan

And, of course, through it all... I was revising.... :-)

Girlfriend's Cyber Circuit: Starring Jennifer Echols

2011-07-28T09:44:00.000-07:00

I'm thrilled to bring you author Jennifer Echols are part of the Girlfriend's Cyber Circuit. Her newest book LOVE STORY (awesome title!) is out now!!! Let's hear more about it!

From Jennifer Echols, the award-winning author of Going Too Far and Forget You, comes LOVE STORY(Gallery Books; July 19, 2011; $11.00), a provocative and powerful story of teen romance, set against the bustling world of a New York City university.

For Erin Blackwell, majoring in creative writing at the New York City college of her dreams is more than a chance to fulfill her ambitions – it’s her ticket away from the tragic memories that shadow her family’s racehorse farm in Kentucky. But when she refuses to major in business and take over the farm herself someday, her grandmother gives Erin’s college tuition and promised inheritance to their maddeningly handsome stable boy, Hunter Allen. Now Erin has to win an internship and work late nights at a local coffee shop to make her own dreams a reality. She should despise Hunter… so why does he sneak into her thoughts as the hero of her latest writing assignment?

Then, on the day she’s sharing that assignment with her class, Hunter walks in. He’s joining her class. And after he reads about himself in her story, her private fantasies about him must be painfully clear. She only hopes to persuade him not to reveal her secret to everyone else. But Hunter devises his own creative revenge, writing sexy stories that drive the whole class wild with curiosity and fill Erin’s heart with longing. Now she’s not just imagining what might have been. She’s writing a whole new ending for her romance with Hunter… except this story could come true.

“A tremendously talented writer with a real gift for developing relationships.”
– Romantic Times Magazine

And here's more about Jennifer!

JENNIFER ECHOLS is the author of teen romantic dramas for MTV Books and teen romantic comedies for Simon Pulse. She lives in Birmingham, Alabama, with her family. Please visit her online at www.jennifer-echols.com.

WOW!!! I'm totally stoked for this one! Everyone, pick up your copy of LOVE STORY today!

Girlfriend's Cyber Circuit: Starring Melissa Walker

2011-07-24T02:17:00.000-07:00

Today I'm so excited to feature friend and author Melissa Walker! Her new book, SMALL TOWN SINNERS, is available now. Check out this awesome cover!

“A devilishly good read.” —Lauren Myracle, NY Times bestselling author of Shine

SMALL TOWN SINNERS
A NOVEL OF FAITH, FRIENDSHIP AND FAMILY

New York (Winter 2011)— Inspired by an article on Hell Houses (haunted houses of sin) she wrote for ELLEgirl magazine, journalist Melissa Walker set out to delve deeper into the culture of this phenomenon, as well as the community that creates them. The result: Small Town Sinners (July), a universal story of first love and finding your voice set against the backdrop of extreme religion. This thought-provoking, touching story of faith in family, friends and self will have readers endlessly talking about and sharing this break-out novel.

“I was so intrigued by the small town I traveled to and the warmth of all the teenagers I met, plus their obvious passion for this production, that I had to revisit that world,” said Walker.

Hell Houses are often run by fundamentalist Christian churches and emphasize the belief that anyone who does not accept Christ as their personal savior is condemned to Hell. The way they often work is that a script is written covering a variety of sins each of which is performed within its own vignette in its own room in the house. A guide leads the visitors through each room acting as narrator. The performances have a controversial tone focusing on issues such as abortion, suicide, drinking and drug use, premarital sex, and homosexuality. Hell Houses usually take place in the fall.

Small Town Sinners is the story of Lacey Anne, daughter of the pastor and perennial good girl, who is eligible for a lead role in the season’s Hell House production—a role she’s been coveting for years. But when Ty moves to town as casting begins, a new perspective is added to Lacey Anne’s world and she starts to see her tight-knit, Evangelical community in a different light. With the help of her two best friends Starla Joy and Dean, and her potential first love Ty, Lacey Anne begins exploring her own thoughts and feelings about her religion, her community, and her place within both. While this novel deals with provocative issues like religion, teen pregnancy and underage drinking, it is not an “issue” book; the topics are masterfully interwoven into this story of friendship and family.

Early readers agree:

“Small Town Sinners shines a light on the fascinating world of the teenage Hell House. Sit back and let Melissa Walker be your guide. She writes without a shred of judgment and plenty of heart.” —Dana Reinhardt, author of A Brief Chapter of My Impossible Life

“Walker is sympathetic and respectful of her characters’ faith, while putting on display the shocking extremist scare tactics that make Hell Houses, well, hellish.” —Donna Freitas, author of This Gorgeous Game and The Possibilities of Sainthood.

“A non-judgmental, nuanced, fascinating look at the teenage religious right… Walker writes an outstanding contemporary novel with a cast of characters who, far from being portrayed as hateful zealots, are relatable for readers of all faiths. The extremism of Hell House is tempered by the perfectly understandable attitudes and intentions of Lacey Anne, who struggles with what it means to grow up, to question and to think for herself.” –Romantic Times

“Both tender and provocative… Walker creates an astutely balanced portrait of a conservative congregation’s in-your-face response to perennial issues of domestic abuse, teen pregnancy, and suicide, as well as of those who struggle to fit the prescribed Christian mold.” –Publishers Weekly

“This secular story about religious people could easily devolve into camp mockery, but because Walker takes her character’s crisis of faith seriously and sensitively, readers will, too.” –Kirkus Reviews

And also in the NYTimes Book Review

MELISSA WALKER: Melissa has worked as ELLEgirl Features Editor and Seventeen Prom Editor. She is the author of the Violet on the Runway series as well as Lovestruck Summer. Melissa manages I Heart Daily, an e-newsletter and blogs for ReaderGirlz, an online community for teens. www.melissacwalker.com

You can check out The Apple Challenge HERE for your chance to win!

SMALL TOWN SINNERS is available now! Pick up your copy today!!

Summer 2011 SCBWI Pre-Conference Interview: Julie Strauss-Gabel

2011-07-18T10:16:00.000-07:00

In another SCBWI Team Blog exclusive, I'm here with the incredible Julie Strauss-Gabel. I had the opportunity to chat with her in a pre-conference interview for the Annual Summer Conference in LA!

Let's learn more:

Julie Strauss-Gabel is the Vice President and Publisher of Dutton Children’s Books, a small middle grade and young adult fiction list (Please note that Dutton no longer acquires picture books.) A graduate of Amherst College and Harvard University, Julie worked at Hyperion Books for Children and Clarion Books before joining Dutton in 1992. Her authors include: Ally Condie (Matched), Gayle Forman (If I Stay, Where She Went), Adam Gidwitz (A Tale Dark & Grimm), John Green (Looking for Alaska, Paper Towns), Nina LaCour (Hold Still), Lauren Myracle (the Winnie Years series), Stephanie Perkins (Anna and the French Kiss), and Nova Ren Suma (Imaginary Girls). (From SCBWI website)

I got a chance to interview Julie Strauss-Gabel about the upcoming conference:

What advice can you offer first time attendees on how to select the right workshops for them?

Pick the opportunities that are both for the writer you are and the author/professional you hope to become, being realistic about what you really need now or in the near future. I think it’s important to mix in some attention to craft, not just focus on selling. All that said, this is a special opportunity that doesn’t come along often, so make time for someone you’ve always wanted to hear speak, or take a chance on a new topic.

What topics will you touch on in your talk?

I’m looking forward to talking with a lot of people about the talented authors I’m working with and the list I’m building at Dutton. It’s been an exciting few months as Dutton moves into a small, fiction only list, and it’s nice to have the opportunity to be back with so many friends at the LA SCBWI Summer Conference to talk about it.

The LA SCBWI Summer Conference has a great mix of writers. What do you think newly published authors can gain from attending a conference?

Especially at a conference this big, I think writers at every level can find information and inspiration. Not only is it a great opportunity to take your craft to the next level (everyone is always learning and getting better . . . that never stops), but also to pick up some knowledge about marketing and the business overall. And the personal connections you will make with other writers is so, so important; it’s probably the best thing about the conference.

There you have it! Yet another reason to attend!! Thank you so much to Julie Strauss-Gabel and I hope to see all of you at the conference!

Summer 2011 SCBWI Pre-Conference Interview: Steven Malk

2011-07-14T12:13:00.000-07:00

As part of my pre-conference coverage for SCBWI's Summer Conference, I got a chance to interview fantastic agent Steven Malk of Writers House. Here's more about him:

Steven Malk is the third generation of his family to be involved in children’s books, as both his mother and grandmother owned children’s bookstores. He opened a West Coast office for Writers House in 1998, and represents a wide range of authors and illustrators, including Jon Scieszka, Lane Smith, Marla Frazee, Kadir Nelson, Sara Pennypacker, Jennifer Donnelly, Brett Helquist, Sonya Sones, Adam Rex, Deborah Wiles, and Cynthia Rylant, among others. (from SCBWI's website)

I was lucky enough to interview Steven about the upcoming conference:

Are you doing any manuscript critiques this year? If so, what can an author expect in terms of feedback?

I will be doing critiques this year. I do my best to provide constructive feedback to the author about his or her work, both from a strictly editorial perspective and also in terms of how the work fits into the market from an agent's perspective. I really believe that the best editorial conversations are a dialogue, so I always hope for some back and forth in the critique session and try to ask questions that hopefully get the author to think of his or her work in new ways. My goal is for the author to take my comments, think about them carefully, and use them as a springboard to really dig in and build on my feedback in a way that will result in the best revision possible.

The SCBWI Summer Conference is a great way to meet perspective agents. Have you ever met a client through a conference or after-conference submission?

I've been fortunate to have met lots of talented people at the conference over the years, and a few of them have ended up becoming clients. At one of my very first conferences, I met Sonya Sones after one of my talks. She introduced herself and then sent me her manuscript, STOP PRETENDING, right after the conference. I'll never forget reading the whole thing in one sitting and being completely blown away. At that same conference, I met Bruce Hale, who submitted the first book in his CHET GECKO series to me following the conference. And, finally, I critiqued Stephanie Hemphill at the conference. She submitted the poems that eventually formed the foundation for her first book, THINGS LEFT UNSAID. Stephanie's gone on to write several well-loved books and she won a Printz Honor for YOUR OWN, SYLVIA.

What advice can you give first-time attendees in terms of making the most of their conference experience?

I think the key to making the most of the conference experience is to go in with an enthusiastic but relaxed attitude and not to put too much pressure on yourself. Sometimes, I think people go in with very specific goals to the point that they feel the conference will be a failure if they don't talk to a certain person or get a request from an agent or editor. And that's not the case at all. The more important thing is to just soak up as much as you can and relish the chance to be around so many people who love children's/middle-grade/YA books as much as you do. The most important and useful piece of information you pick up at the conference might come from a speech you hear or a critique you get or even just from an informal conversation in the lobby with a fellow writer or illustrator. If you can go into the conference just expecting to have fun and learn as much as you can, you won't be disappointed and you'll keep coming back year after year.

Wow, amazing right?? Thank you so much, Steven! And everyone, I'll see you in just a few weeks!!

-Suz

About last night...

2011-07-13T12:42:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures from last night's A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL signing. You can see more on Facebook. Thanks to EVERYONE who came out! I'm incredibly grateful for your support. It was so much fun, and I'm really sorry to the couple who witnessed the spit-takes (yes, plural) at the afterparty...

Next stop is Washington on 7/31! More details on my events page. Thanks!!!

Book Signing: Powell's Books Cedar Hills TONIGHT!

2011-07-12T11:42:00.000-07:00

My first A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL book signing is tonight! And I'm not at all nervous. I also haven't been able to sleep, or eat, or write, or read.... WAIT! I am nervous!!!!

Anyway, I hope to see you there! Here's the information about the event:

Tuesday, July 12, 2011 07:00 PM

Powell's Books at Cedar Hills Crossing
3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd.
Beaverton, OR 97005

Suzanne Young's new novel for teens, A Need So Beautiful (Balzer & Bray), is a completely original take on angel mythology. Charlotte's best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she's cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what's really wrong. She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth who feels the Need — a powerful urge to help someone, usually a stranger. But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. As the Need grows stronger, however, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte.

And if you can't make it, you can still order a signed copy and Powell's will ship it to you. Cool, right?? Follow THIS LINK to order.

Now I'll go back to not being nervous....

A LOVE THAT OVERCOMES-Writing challenge

2011-07-10T19:18:00.000-07:00

Over at inkpop.com I'll be the guest judge for a superfun writing contest! Here's more about it:

(from inkpop.com)

Charlotte’s boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him, but what's really wrong is that Charlotte has a constant need. As a Forgotten—a kind of angel on earth—Charlotte is constantly drawn to help virtual strangers. This is the conflict that propels the story of A Need So Beautiful.

Now it's your turn. Write a short story, poem or person essay about love that overcomes all obstacles.

Two writing winners will be selected by author and guest judge Suzanne Young to receive a free copy of A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL as well as three books of their choice from HarperTeen. Two comment winners will be selected at random to win a free copy of A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL as well as three books from the HarperTeen library.

PRIZES FOR 4 WINNERS!
Two writing winners and two commenters will be also be selected to win a copy of LARK as well as three additional books of their choice from the HarperTeen catalog. Winners will be announced here on inkpop Forums.

A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL WRITING CHALLENGE DETAILS
Format Selection: Any
Genre: Short Story, Poem, Personal Essay
Launch Date: July 7th, 2011
Deadline: July 14th, 2011 (12 p.m. EST)

And HERE is where you can enter. Good luck!!

Cool News!

2011-07-01T17:45:00.000-07:00

I was super excited today to see on Amazon.com that A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL was one of the Editors' Picks for Best Book of the Month in Young Adult. HOORAY!!! This is what they had on the main page of the selections:

A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young

Charlotte wants to resist The Need, which as a Forgotten means she is drawn to helping a stranger. As it becomes stronger she must accept or fight her destiny in A Need So Beautiful, a stunning and emotional new novel by Suzanne Young.

What a great honor! You can check out the other three selections and the list HERE. You can even read inside A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL!

And now... I'm going on vacation!! Enjoy the holiday!

Summer 2011 SCBWI Pre-Conference Interview: Alessandra Balzer

2011-07-01T08:36:00.000-07:00

The SCBWI Summer Conference in LA is just around the corner, and to give you more behind the scenes action, Team Blog is conducting pre-conference interviews. Today I'm here with Alessandra Balzer:

Alessandra Balzer is the Vice President, Co-Publisher of Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Children’s Books. She edits everything from picture books to novels for teens. Among the authors and illustrators she is fortunate enough to work with are Candace Bushnell, Doreen Cronin, Stephanie Hemphill, Gordon Korman, Patty McCormick, Bob Shea, and Mo Willems. Recent projects include the #1 New York Times bestseller Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion, the National Indie bestseller The Trouble with Chickens: A JJ Tully Mystery, and the New York Times bestselling Carrie Diaries series. (From SCBWI's website)

I got a chance to interview Alessandra Balzer about what you can expect from this summer's conference:

1.) What do you think authors can learn from editors when attending a SCBWI conference?

I think they can get terrific, straightforward feedback about the publishing and the editorial process. I also love hearing people’s stories about their experiences or their career paths—it can be so inspiring. Authors should come prepared with lots of questions. They’ll also learn about editors’ tastes and what they are looking for.

2.) What will be the focus of your workshop, and do you think it’s best suited for published or aspiring authors?

My workshop will reveal the key secret to publishing that has been protected by editors for centuries...kidding! Sadly there is no one secret. I’m going to debunk some myths that authors have probably heard about the publishing process and be very honest about the process that editors go through in-house for acquisition, and what my particular imprint (Balzer + Bray) is looking for. I’ll also leave lots of time for questions--that’s often the most useful part for writers. It’s probably best suited for aspiring writers and published writers who are just starting out.

3.) Is there any advice you can give writers on how to reach out to editors or agents they’ve met through SCBWI?

Most editors work in publishing houses that do not accept unsolicited manuscripts. But usually the presenters will be willing to accept submissions from attendees for a short period of time. They will normally detail that in their presentation and if they do not, authors should ask. I’m sure Lin, Sara, or Kim will have a good idea if you can’t find it out through your session.

So there you have it! Yet another reason to attend this year's conference!! You can check out more interviews and insights at the conference home page. Hope to see you this summer!!!

-Suzanne

THE DAY BEFORE by Lisa Schroeder

2011-06-28T05:00:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited that my friend Lisa Schroeder is publishing her new YA novel THE DAY BEFORE today!! And even my dog, Murdock, was so excited that he decided to recreate her cover.

Congrats, Lisa!! And everyone, pick up your copy today!

Amazon B&N Borders IndieBound

You can be the face of HarperTeen!

2011-06-27T09:49:00.000-07:00

Over on HarperTeen's facebook page they are having an awesome contest in honor of A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL.

Check out the GORGEOUS gold cover of A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL! What else is “beautiful gold”? Post a photo to our wall that means “beautiful gold” to you, and we’ll choose one to be the HarperTeen profile pic on July 2!

They have over 77,000 fans which means you could be REALLY POPULAR! :-) All you have to do is find something gold that you think is beautiful, or you can even paint yourself gold in honor of the book! For example, here's a great photo that VLC Productions took during the making of the book trailer:

What else is beautiful to you??? Post and comment HERE for your chance to win!!!!

-Suz

A Dramatic Reading- A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL

2011-06-24T09:47:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to have my friend and author Josh Berk feature A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL in his hilarious MasterBerk Theatre.

Enjoy!

Where to get your copy:

Amazon B&N Borders Indiebound

Free Stuff and A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL!

2011-06-23T09:31:00.000-07:00

You know what I love? Stuff! I also love A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL stuff! My newest book came out this week, and if you're looking for it, you can find it in stores or you can order in-store for free delivery or you can order online! There are options! :-)

Borders Barnes and Noble Amazon Powell's IndieBound

SO... If you’ve bought, or plan to buy a copy, I want to give you STUFF!!! I mean… it’s just sitting here….

Here’s what I’ve got! (Thank you Novel Novice and Jessica Torres for the designs)

*Signed bookmarks

*Pins

*Stickers

If you’re interested in some free swag, email me at aneedsobeautiful@yahoo.com with your mailing address!

I just love STUFF! I hope you do too!

And stay tuned for an awesome week coming up on Harperteen’s facebook page!! Check it out!

THANK YOU

2011-06-21T06:15:00.000-07:00

I'm writing this mid-sob. I woke up to a wonderful surprise today. A few bloggers and authors--ones who I respect and admire--got together to put on something... too kind for words.

Celebrating A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL: Random Acts of Kindness. In these posts they tell a story of sacrifice or kindness that meant something to them in honor of my book release. In addition, they are offering a HUGE giveaway.

What can I say to this? I'm so.... touched. Humbled. Blessed. I've never felt so moved in my whole life. Heck, Lisa Schroeder even said that my Gram would be proud of me. And she would. And I thank you, Lisa, for mentioning her.

Kari at A Good Addiction sums it in her post HERE. Thank you, Kari for putting this together. This was a tremendous gift and it far outweighs Reese's Pieces and Candy Corn. You are awesome beyond words.

I hope you check out the posts. But thank you to EVERYONE--from my agent Jim McCarthy to my editor Donna Bray. To the fabulous people at Balzer & Bray and HarperCollins. To the fantastic bloggers who've supported this book and to the authors who've truly inspired me, to my friends who I'm so lucky to have... and to my family.

THANK YOU ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.

Now I have to go wipe my tear-stained cheeks and get ready to do a news interview. Which you can watch at www.kptv.com at 9am PT/12pm ET

A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL IS OUT!!!

2011-06-21T00:01:00.000-07:00

So there's this book... you might have heard of it. Anyway, that book is out today, out in the wild, available for purchase. Ready for YOU to bring it to its forever home.

That book is A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL. And it's out today. You can buy it. I think you'll like it!

Where can you buy it? Well, you can get it at your local store, maybe even get a copy for your friends. You can order it online pretty much anywhere. You can even download it to your Kindle or reader.

Here's the trailer:

Here are some of the reviews, and you can see even more on Goodreads:

"A clever and well-written fantasy. Whether Charlotte is an angel or a being less freighted by religious tradition is left up to the reader, but the dilemma of how we can make a lasting impression is a very human concern. Young offers an elegant solution that is well worth consideration."
— BOOKLIST (STARRED REVIEW)

“A gripping supernatural romance… An imaginative twist on the timeless battle between dark and light.”
— Kirkus Review

I hope you get a copy of A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL. It would mean a lot to me. This book means a lot to me.

-Suz

Oh, no. Not the sound of my own voice...

2011-06-19T10:55:00.000-07:00

I had a super fun time doing a podcast with the Girls in the Stacks! Listen HERE where we talk A Need so Beautiful and A Want so Wicked. Plus a look into my next series The Program. And of course, some True Blood love. :-)

Girlfriend's Cyber Circuit: Starring Elana Johnson

2011-06-17T09:53:00.000-07:00

I'm excited!!! Today I'm featuring the awesome Elana Johnson and her CRAZY COOL book POSSESSION as part of the Girlfriend's Cyber Circuit. Let's hear more about this hot title!

About the book:

Vi knows the Rule: Girls don’t walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn…and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi’s future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.

But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they’re set on convincing Vi to become one of them….starting by brainwashed Zenn. Vi can’t leave Zenn in the Thinkers’ hands, but she’s wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous: everything Zenn’s not. Vi can’t quite trust Jag and can’t quite resist him, but she also can’t give up on Zenn.

This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.

What People Are Saying:

"Possession held me completely captivated from beginning to end. And what an end! I fell in love with the characters and had countless moments of 'Wow.'"
--James Dashner, bestselling author of The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials

"Who Should Read This: Anyone who wants a challenge: This plot is so twisty, I had to read the last chapter twice before I could believe what happened. There's also a very nice balance between badass action and romantic tension for readers who like a good mix of the two."
--MTV.com

“Most [readers] will be drawn in by the love triangle, revelations about Vi and her family, and a dark twist ending that maintains the faintest glimmer of hope.”
--Publisher's Weekly

"This debut dystopian succeeds at suspense and tension.... Revelations come hard and fast." --Kirkus

“Emotion pumps through every scene of this thriller. Given all the urgency and action, the novel’s ending may surprise readers as the heroic adventure turns into a tragic love story.” –School Library Journal

“An intriguing dystopia…A good choice for fans of Pam Bachorz and Ally Condie.” --Booklist

To read the first two chapters, go to the official POSSESSION website.

Elana was even cool enough to answer some questions:

1. Okay, first question. If this were high school, which senior superlative in the yearbook would you score?

Wait. This isn’t high school? Ha! I suppose I would totally score “most likely to have a cat named Frodo.”

2. What is one thing you wish you would have done when you were younger? For me, it’s that I never studied abroad. How about you?

Oh, traveling for sure. I married much too young. I want to travel the world. Sell my house and live in hotels, wherever I happen to be when I decide to stop. I would’ve loved to have done that before I got married and went to college. I needed a year off, and I didn’t take it!

3. Now here’s the self-promotion part: Can you please tell us all about your book? We have some book shopping to do!

POSSESSION is about a teenage girl who’s angry she’s been brainwashed her whole life. She wears what they tell her to wear. She eats what they want her to eat. She’ll even marry who they match her with. So when she stops plugging in and starts breaking rules, chaos ensues. Oh, and there’s a bad boy and kissing and cool tech gadgets too.

4. So, say your book just got picked up for a movie (congratulations!) Who’s playing your MC?

I have no idea! I envision all my stories as cartoons. So in my head, Violet is like this anime character with spiky black hair. Maybe lame…but true.

5. If you could take one literary character to prom, who would it be, and why?

I’d take Wolverine. He’s a literary character right? Comic books count. And I don’t really think this needs an explanation as to why, but seriously. He has knives in his hands. And his hair…yum. And his muscles…yummier.

6. And finally, since all of the other questions were so serious… What do you hope teens take away from your book?

I honestly just hope they enjoy it and think the time they spent reading it was worth it. I wrote a book I’d like to read, plain and simple.

Thank you so much for stopping by, Elana! And if you haven't already, pick up your copy of POSSESSION today!

Girlfriend's Cyber Circuit: Starring Amanda Ashby

2011-06-13T11:47:00.000-07:00

I'm very excited to feature my friend Amanda Ashby's new book FAIRY BAD DAY as part of the Girlfriend's Cyber Circuit! Let's hear more about this awesome story!

It’s going to be a fairy bad day.

First, my rightful designation of dragon slayer is STOLEN right out from under me by Curtis Green. Sure, he’s really cute, but that doesn’t give him an excuse.

On top of that, I am assigned to slay fairies. I know what you’re thinking—how hard could it be, right? Wrong! These menacing beasts with their tiny hipster clothes and mocking sarcasm love taunting me. And they won’t STOP!

But the thing that tops my list of stuff to ruin my day? That would be the GIANT KILLER FAIRY that I have to hunt down and slay because I am the only one who can see it. There is someone who can help me. Unfortunately…it’s Curtis.

What people are saying:

"Teens with a taste for the paranormal school story and a tolerance for raucous humor will be involved with and amused by this romantic fantasy. The exciting plot, humor throughout—often provided by the little fairies—and relatively innocent romance between characters will grab readers and keep them involved. " Kirkus Reviews

"In a fun mashup of the modern and the magical, Ashby (Zombie Queen of Newbury High) creates nicely developed characters and supports them with strong plotting and zippy writing. Laced with humor, danger, and romance, this book will have readers smiling all the way to the last page." Publisher's Weekly

“Great fairy fun from page one! If Buffy and Harry Potter got together and threw a magical slayer party, it would be the world Amanda Ashby created in Fairy Bad Day. With plenty of laugh-out-loud humor, emotional depth, and cute boy romance, reading this book will guarantee your day is fairy awesome.” Tera Lynn Childs, award-winning author of Oh. My. Gods. and Forgive My Fins

"Fairy Bad Day is fairy awesome supernatural slaying fun." Stacey Jay author of You are So Undead to Me and Undead Much

"I really liked that no matter how mad Emma wanted to be at Curtis, she just couldn't stay mad—not with those beautiful brown eyes and that lopsided grin. I loved the cover design, it really drew me in. This was a very good book and I would highly recommend it."— School Library Journal Vanessa, age 12

Bio:

Amanda Ashby was born in Australia, and has spent the last fifteen years dividing her time between England and New Zealand before finally deciding that to move home. When she's not moving country, she likes to write books (okay, she also likes to eat chocolate, watch television and sit around doing not much, but let's just keep that amongst ourselves, shall we?)

She has a degree in English and Journalism from the University of Queensland and is married with two children. As well as writing, she works part-time at the children/teen desk of her local library, which basically means that someone pays her to talk about books. Her debut book, You Had Me at Halo was nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice award, and her first young adult book Zombie Queen of Newbury High was listed by the New York Public Library's Stuff for the Teen Age 2010.

http://www.amandaashby.com
http://www.amandaashby.blogspot.com/
https://twitter.com/#!/amandaashby/

FAIRY BAD DAY is available now, so you should totally pick up a copy!!!

-Suz

Girlfriend's Cyber Circuit: Starring Jessica Brody

2011-06-09T08:59:00.000-07:00

I'm excited to feature GCC member and bestselling author Jessica Brody today on the blog. Her new teen novel MY LIFE UNDECIDED came out this week! Here's more about it:

Book Summary:

PLEASE READ THIS! MY LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!

Okay, maybe that was a bit melodramatic, but I’m sorry, I’m feeling a bit melodramatic at the moment.

Here’s the deal. My name is Brooklyn Pierce, I’m fifteen years old, and I am decisionally challenged. Seriously, I can’t remember the last good decision I made. I can remember plenty of crappy ones though. Including that party I threw when my parents were out of town that accidentally burned down a model home. Yeah, not my finest moment, for sure.

But see, that’s why I started a blog. To enlist readers to make my decisions for me. That’s right. I’m gave up. Threw in the towel. I let someone else be the one to decide which book I read for English. Or whether or not I accepted an invitation to join the debate team from that cute-in-a-dorky-sort-of-way guy who gave me the Heimlich Maneuver in the cafeteria. (Note to self: Chew the melon before swallowing it.) I even let them decide who I dated!

Well, it turns out there are some things in life you simply can’t choose or have chosen for you—like who you fall in love with. And now everything’s more screwed up than ever.

But don’t take my word for it, read the book and decide for yourself. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll scream in frustration. Or maybe that’s just me. After all, it’s my life.

Reviews:

"Brooklyn is a sympathetic protagonist with whom teens will identify. Her journey is fun to read, and decision-challenged readers will learn an important lesson about self-acceptance along the way."
--School Library Journal

"Brody taps into a universal human desire...An amusing coming-of-age story with many funny moments...[Brooklyn's] flustered, off-the-cuff narration should keep readers as invested in her actions as her blog followers are."
--Publisher's Weekly

About the Author:

A few fun facts about Jessica Brody’s own life undecided:

• Jessica was born in Los Angeles, moved to Colorado when she was twelve, moved back to California after college and now indecisively splits her time between both states.
• Jessica graduated from Smith College in Massachusetts with majors in Economics and French because she was convinced she wanted to be an “important business woman.” After a brief stint as a strategic analyst for MGM Studios, she abandoned her business background to become a full-time writer. Now she uses her mad spreadsheet skills to build complicated outlines for her books.
• Appropriately, when writing this book, Jessica couldn’t decide on a title. So she polled 50 of her closest friends to finally come up with My Life Undecided.

Visit her online at: www.JessicaBrody.com

And coming soon: www.MyLifeUndecided.com, where you can post your own undecided questions, poll the community, and get some answers.

Check out the trailer!!

Jessica was even cool enough to provide stills from her trailer shoot!

MY LIFE UNDECIDED is out now, so pick up your copy today!!

-Suz

A Need so Beautiful Tours!

2011-06-01T09:07:00.000-07:00

I'm so grateful for the blogger support I've gotten on A Need so Beautiful. They've been kind enough to share their reviews with me, and even talk it up to their friends. For the month of June (and part of July), I'll be making my way through the blogs doing interviews, guest posts and other random writing bits. You can also find reviews of the book!

Starting today, The Novel Novice is kicking off the Official A Need so Beautiful Blog Tour!

First, you can see this AMAZING, tear-inducing review! And also a quick Q & A with me. Here's a link to the landing page, so you can see all the stops on this bloggy tour!

Starting on Monday June 6th, Kari at A Good Addiction is hosting a month long tour over at The Teen Book Scene! Here's the landing page so you can keep up to date on these exciting posts, including some deleted scenes, and character interviews!

A Need so Beautiful is out in just 20 days!!! Order your copy today!

Sad news

2011-05-26T08:55:00.000-07:00

I lost another friend this week.

Bridget Zinn was one of the sweetest, kindest, bravest people I’ve ever known. She was the embodiment of hope—fighting cancer, beating so many odds. Any of my problems seemed trivial when I talked with her because she never dwelled on the negative. She talked about the future. About life. And she loved life.

I’m heartbroken that the world didn’t get more of Bridget—33 is far too young to be taken. I’m heartbroken for her wonderful husband and family and friends. But I know that Bridget is watching over us now, and that even here, she is still that embodiment of hope to me. A beautiful soul. I’ll miss you, Bridget.

(Bridget and her husband, Barrett)

(Our rockstar lunch, Cyndi, me and Bridget)

Also, Bridget's agent Michael Stearns has a great post with a video of Bridget that really does capture her beautiful spirit HERE.

Girlfriend's Cyber Circuit: Starring Elizabeth Scott

2011-05-23T15:50:00.000-07:00

So excited to feature author Elizabeth Scott and her new book BETWEEN HERE AND FOREVER on the blog today! I'm a huge fan! Let's hear more about it!

(From Amazon) BETWEEN HERE AND FOREVER-A romantic but dark coming-of-age teen novel by the author of Perfect You and Living Dead Girl.

And a quick interview!

1. Okay, first question. If this were high school, which senior
superlative in the yearbook would you score?

I was actually voted most musical in high school (I know!!)

2. What is one thing you wish you would have done when you were younger?

I wish I'd been able to spend at least one semester studying overseas
when I was in college.

3. Now here’s the self-promotion part: Can you please tell us all
about Between Here and Forever? We have some book shopping to do!

Abby accepted that she can't measure up to her beautiful, magnetic
sister Tess a long time ago, and knows exactly what she is: Second
best. Invisible.

Until the accident.

Now Tess is in a coma, and Abby's life is on hold. It may have been
hard living with Tess, but it's nothing compared to living without
her.

She's got a plan to bring Tess back though, involving the gorgeous and
mysterious Eli, but then Abby learns something about Tess, something
that was always there, but that she'd never seen.

Abby is about to find out that truth isn't always what you think it
is, and that life holds more than she ever thought it could...

4. So, say your book just got picked up for a movie (congratulations!)
Who’s playing your MC?

If that happened, I'd be so thrilled, I honestly wouldn't care!

5. If you could take one literary character to prom, who would it be, and why?

I'd rather take a real person, and I'd take my husband, who never went
to any of his proms!

6. And finally, since all of the other questions were so serious… What
do you hope teens take away from your book?

I hope they enjoy reading it!

Thanks, Elizabeth! Pick up your copy of BETWEEN HERE AND FOREVER, today!

I wonder...

2011-05-19T09:02:00.000-07:00

I've seen the inside pages of A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL--totally exciting. I've seen the cover. I've looked through the Advanced Reader Copy--even read a few pages. The final jacket was gorgeous as I tried it on my other books to daydream about what my real live book would someday look like. I've wondered....

Until now. YAY!! A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL is ALIVE!! Not really, but I got a finished author copy and she is so pretty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love her.

It's small moments like this, holding your finished book--that make it real. All the rest is just blog posts and guesses. So I'm going to take a moment to cuddle my book, and in 32 days A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL will be on a shelf near you.

A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL is also part of Teenreads.com Beach Bag Contest and here you can read a three-chapter excerpt from the novel. If you want...

Some Coolish Updates

2011-05-16T16:53:00.000-07:00

A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL comes out in just a little over a month. I honestly can't believe it. It seems like a million years ago (last January) that I announced the deal and did a little dance. But now... it's almost here! Yay! Have you preordered it yet? It might be kinda cool if you did....

Anyway, the reviews are just starting to come in, and I'm super excited to say that BOOKLIST gave it a STARRED REVIEW!!! *dies. *revives

Here's a quick peek:

"A clever and well-written fantasy. Whether Charlotte is an angel or a being less freighted by religious tradition is left up to the reader, but the dilemma of how we can make a lasting impression is a very human concern. Young offers an elegant solution that is well worth consideration."
— BOOKLIST (STARRED REVIEW)

Kirkus had some kind things to say as well:

"A gripping supernatural romance… An imaginative twist on the timeless battle between dark and light. " --Kirkus

And then today, I ventured out into the day in search of a magazine--Girls' Life (GL) Magazine to be exact. The June/July issue is finally out and A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL is included on their Beach Blanket Book Club!! (Hope you don't mind sand in your tears).

So it has been a pretty cool last couple of weeks. I also sold a new book series (details on my books page) and FINALLY caught up on the laundry.

Feel free to grab the A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL countdown widget from the sidebar or embed the awesome book trailer that VLC Productions put together on your own blog!

Have a fantastic week!!!

Suz

Trailer: A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL

2011-05-13T09:43:00.000-07:00

A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL
Balzer&Bray/HarperCollins-June 21st, 2011

We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be Forgotten...

Charlotte’s best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what’s really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth, who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.

But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become--her mark on this earth, her very existence--is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.

Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny--no matter how dark the consequences?

Watch the trailer:

"A clever and well-written fantasy. Whether Charlotte is an angel or a being less freighted by religious tradition is left up to the reader, but the dilemma of how we can make a lasting impression is a very human concern. Young offers an elegant solution that is well worth consideration."
— BOOKLIST (STARRED REVIEW)

And for a super awesome contest to win a signed, finished copy of A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL, visit the Novel Novice HERE.

Get Your Sunscreen! Time to register for SCBWI's Annual Summer Conference in LA!

2011-04-15T13:33:00.000-07:00

New unicorn messenger bag? Check. Professional-looking cardigans? Check. Fancy dresses that make me look taller? Check. PJ's? Uh...

It's time to register for the SCBWI Annual Summer Conference in LA!!!!! Registration opened today and you can sign up HERE!! Yes, right HERE! (click the link)

This year's format has changed to add maximum potential for all the fabulous attendees! I'll be there. Alice Pope, Lee Wind, Jaime Temairik, Jolie Stekly and Martha Brockenbrough (TEAM BLOG) will be there. WILL YOU????

The amazing line-up is heart-stopping, and really, isn't it just fun to think about having a PJ party by the pool?? (For real. There's a PJ party).

So register online today!! See you there!

I'm so excited.... about Wordstock!

2011-04-14T17:23:00.000-07:00

I'm one of those writers who gets fixated on things. Whether it's obessing about a cover or a book trailer, there is always something (or several somethings) that I WANT. Like WANT WANT. And so today was an awesome day!!

I've wanted to be a speaker at Wordstock--an awesome literary festival here in Portland--since I attended it two years ago. For me it was one of those, "I wish I wish I wish" things. Today, I was INVITED TO SPEAK THERE!!

Omg, yay, right??? I'm so unspeakably excited about this. Of course, right after I said yes, I thought, WAIT!? What am I going to talk about for 45 minutes????

Well, I'll have some time to think about it since the festival is October 8-9th. But I'll keep you posted on my increasing anxiety and social disorder leading up to the event!

Check out more about Wordstock HERE!!

A sneak peek at the A Need so Beautiful trailer!

2011-04-11T17:25:00.000-07:00

The fantastic VLC Productions is doing the book trailer for A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL as I type! Well, sort of. It's in post production--but Vania was kind enough to send me some stills from the photo shoot yesterday

And since we all know I'm a patient, mature and classy lady, I will just say that they were lovely. Thank you.

NOW HERE'S KISSING!!!!! Oh My Harlin! And it's Charlotte!!!!

Look for the full trailer in a few weeks!

And check out A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL coming June 21st!!

A Need so Beautiful final

2011-03-25T10:30:00.001-07:00

Okay, I'm coming back from my very short vacation because I got to see the finished jacket for A Need so Beautiful and I want to share because I love it!!!!! I'm so excited!!!! Less than three months....

Winner- Awesome Contest of Awesomeness

2011-03-14T14:31:00.000-07:00

And the winner of a ton of cool stuff from me and author Hannah Moskowitz is....

NIKKI MEIGGS! Congratulations, Nikki!

But since there were so many entries, let's name a few runners up!

Brandon Crews, you've won a copy of Invincible Summer by Hannah Moskowitz!

Jenn (BooksatMidnight),you've won a copy of A Need so Beautiful by Suzanne Young

Winners, I'll be contacting you soon! Thanks for all the entries!! You all are.... well.... awesome.

Suz

Book Signing: Starring Kimberly Derting

2011-03-08T20:45:00.000-08:00

Very excited that fabulous author Kimberly Derting (The Body Finder series) was in town talking about her newest book Desires of the Dead at Powell's. I was happy to catch up with her and a couple of blogger friends!

Kimberly taking questions from the audience:

Violet, Candace and me:

Ariel, me and Sarah:

And me and Sara from The Novel Novice:

Sara, Kimberly, me and Inara Scott (Delcroix Academy):

Good times. Good times. Go buy Desires of the Dead today!!

The Liar Society Week

2011-02-25T00:01:00.000-08:00

This is a special week here on the blog. A week that will include mystery, romance, and pink hair. Our friends Lisa and Laura Roecker will soon release their YA novel THE LIAR SOCIETY--and we're going to celebrate it!

On this final day we have author Kimberly Derting (The Body Finder series) and her awesome video. Take it away, Kim!

And everyone, order your copy of THE LIAR SOCIETY today!!!!

About the book (from Goodreads):

Kate Lowry didn't think dead best friends could send e-mails. But when she gets an e-mail from Grace, she’s not so sure.

To: KateLowry@pemberlybrown.edu
Sent: Sun 9/14 11:59 PM
From: GraceLee@pemberlybrown.edu
Subject: (no subject)

Kate,
I'm here…
sort of.
Find Cameron.
He knows.
I shouldn't be writing.
Don't tell.
They'll hurt you.

Now Kate has no choice but to prove once and for all that Grace’s death was more than just a tragic accident. But secrets haunt the halls of her elite private school. Secrets people will do anything to protect. Even if it means getting rid of the girl trying to solve a murder...

Obsession: The Liar Society Week

2011-02-24T00:01:00.000-08:00

This is a special week here on the blog. A week that will include mystery, romance, and pink hair. Our friends Lisa and Laura Roecker will soon release their YA novel THE LIAR SOCIETY--and we're going to celebrate it!

Today's video is from Suzanne Young (me!). THE LIAR SOCIETY made me obsessively call the fabulous Kimberly Derting....

And then there were a few outtakes....

Order your copy of THE LIAR SOCIETY today!!!

The Liar Society Week

2011-02-23T00:01:00.000-08:00

This is a special week here on the blog. A week that will include mystery, romance, and pink hair. Our friends Lisa and Laura Roecker will soon release their YA novel THE LIAR SOCIETY--and we're going to celebrate it!

Day three's video is from NY Times best seller Beth Revis (Across the Universe)!!! Take it away, Beth!

More about the book (from Goodreads):

Kate Lowry didn't think dead best friends could send e-mails. But when she gets an e-mail from Grace, she’s not so sure.

To: KateLowry@pemberlybrown.edu
Sent: Sun 9/14 11:59 PM
From: GraceLee@pemberlybrown.edu
Subject: (no subject)

Kate,
I'm here…
sort of.
Find Cameron.
He knows.
I shouldn't be writing.
Don't tell.
They'll hurt you.

Now Kate has no choice but to prove once and for all that Grace’s death was more than just a tragic accident. But secrets haunt the halls of her elite private school. Secrets people will do anything to protect. Even if it means getting rid of the girl trying to solve a murder...

The Liar Society Week

2011-02-22T03:00:00.000-08:00

This is a special week here on the blog. A week that will include mystery, romance, and pink hair. Friends Lisa and Laura Roecker will soon release their YA novel THE LIAR SOCIETY--and we're going to celebrate it!

Day Two's video comes from the amazing Shannon Messenger!!! Check her out!

And check out THE LIAR SOCIETY today!

The Liar Society Week

2011-02-21T09:38:00.000-08:00

This is a special week here on the blog. A week that will include mystery, romance, and pink hair. Friends Lisa and Laura Roecker will soon release their YA novel THE LIAR SOCIETY--and we're going to celebrate it!

First up is author Elana Johnson (Possession). Later this week, I'll feature other writers who love The Liar Society! (I'm on Thursday!) So check back. And check out THE LIAR SOCIETY!

More about the book (from Goodreads):

THE LIAR SOCIETY

Kate Lowry didn't think dead best friends could send e-mails. But when she gets an e-mail from Grace, she’s not so sure.

To: KateLowry@pemberlybrown.edu
Sent: Sun 9/14 11:59 PM
From: GraceLee@pemberlybrown.edu
Subject: (no subject)

Kate,
I'm here…
sort of.
Find Cameron.
He knows.
I shouldn't be writing.
Don't tell.
They'll hurt you.

Now Kate has no choice but to prove once and for all that Grace’s death was more than just a tragic accident. But secrets haunt the halls of her elite private school. Secrets people will do anything to protect. Even if it means getting rid of the girl trying to solve a murder...

Awesome Contest of Awesomeness!

2011-02-17T16:13:00.001-08:00

It's finally here!! The most important contest of our lives...

Author Hannah Moskowitz (Invincible Summer, Break) and I have joined forces to bring you...

THE AWESOME CONTEST OF AWESOMENESS

You can win advanced copies of our books Invincible Summer and A Need so Beautiful plus other awesome things! All you have to do to enter is the fill out the entry form by clicking THIS!

And if you'd be so awesome, you can add our books to your shelf on goodreads HERE and HERE and please tell all of your awesome friends about the contest via twitter or your blog.

Want to know what you're trying for??? Here is an informational video:

So again, ENTER HERE and spread the word!! The Awesome Contest of Awesomeness ends on Monday, February 28th. GOOD LUCK!!!

-Suz

Get Ready for Awesome!!

2011-02-11T16:33:00.000-08:00

In preparation for the most important contest of our lives, author Hannah Moskowitz (Invincible Summer, Break) has stopped by for a little precontest excitement!

The point? Next week this blog and Hannah's blog will be home to the Awesome Contest of Awesomeness!! Details to come!

And for my promo video, check out Hannah's blog HERE!

A contest and an interview: A Need so Beautiful

2011-02-07T10:21:00.000-08:00

Author Jill Hathaway is giving away an ARC of A Need so Beautiful on her blog this week! She also interviewed me, and I hope I sound mostly normal. Mostly.

Check it out and enter HERE!

A Conference in Pictures: SCBWI NY 2011

2011-02-01T15:11:00.000-08:00

Another excellent SCBWI conference has finished, but if you missed any of the action, hop on over to the TEAM BLOG official conference blog to catch up on EVERYTHING!! It was a great time, it was crazy weather, and there were even some shenanigans. Here are my pics from behind the scenes!

First night fun with my pals from Washington-Joni Sensel, Laurie Thompson, Kim Baker and Jaime Temairik. Then an after-hour meet up with Alice Pope, Lee Wind and Ellen Hopkins.

Taking a quick break with my agent Jim McCarthy, Amanda Morgan and agent Mary Kole. Oh, and also the most ginormous bowl in the universe.

I did venture out to see my fabulous editor one beautiful afternoon.

But first I stopped in the toy store :-)

A panel of favorite people for the LGBTQ Meet and Greet: Lee Wind, Ari Lewin, Jim McCarthy and Aaron Hartzler

My agent with his adoring clients- Me, Jessica and Robin.

A minute to laugh with Amanda, Jeff and Steve

Back home at the Hyatt lobby bar. Me and Jim McCarthy, agent Michael Bourret and the ever-awesome Ellen Hopkins. Also, agent Mary Kole with Lee Wind.

After the VIP party I caught up with Bryan, Chris, Jeff and Steve. Then I got the hiccups for two hours.

Me and Amanda taking the time to document our permanent residence in the hotel bar.

It was a fun time (as SCBWI conferences tend to be). Hope to see you all this summer in LA!!

It's Time!

2011-01-29T06:53:00.000-08:00

Live blogging for the SCBWI Annual Winter Conference is happening now!!! Visit HERE. And follow on Twitter with the tag #ny11scbwi

Almost time! SCBWI NYC

2011-01-17T18:29:00.001-08:00

Be sure to check out Alice Pope's fantastic post today on conference critiques. She's interviewed editors and agents and gotten their advice on how to handle the process.

And for those of you attending the conference, I'll see you soon!!

And the winner is...

2011-01-17T10:48:00.000-08:00

Thank you for all the entries! I wish I had enough for everyone!

But the winner of this signed ARC of A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL is.....

Sara McClung !!!!

Congrats, Sara. I'll email you shortly for mailing details.

Again, thanks everyone! I'll have another giveaway soon if I can get my hands on more advanced copies. And there are still a few days to enter the Goodreads giveaway HERE.

Have a great day!

Suz

Win A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL!!

2011-01-09T16:48:00.000-08:00

Gosh, I don't think I've given anything away in forever! So... why not?! Over 1000 readers have added A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL to their Goodreads shelves, so let's give out free stuff!!

Contest open internationally. All you have to do is comment with a way for me to contact you. Tell your friends!! Contest ends at midnight on Wednesday January 12th. The winner will be picked at random because I could never take on the responsibility of choosing between you. I love you all equally.

More about the book? Here's the description:

We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be Forgotten.

Charlotte’s best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what’s really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth, who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.

There have been others before who’ve felt the Need, but they’re gone—erased from the memories of everyone whose lives they had touched. It's as though they never existed. This is the fate that awaits Charlotte. But the last thing Charlotte wants to do is disappear, to be Forgotten. She wants to stay with her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend’s arms forever. She wishes she could just ignore the Need, but she can’t. And as everyone important in her life begins to slowly forget her, she has to decide if she’ll fight the Need in order to remain herself—no matter how dark the consequences.

My favorite line? "There is no such thing as me."

GOOD LUCK!!!

Girlfriend's Cyber Circuit: Starring Eileen Cook

2011-01-05T09:15:00.000-08:00

I'm very happy to spotlight author Eileen Cook today and her new release THE EDUCATION OF HAILEY KENDRICK. Let's hear more about the book!

Hailey Kendrick always does exactly what's expected of her. She has the right friends, dates the perfect boy, gets good grades, and follows all the rules. But one night, Hailey risks everything by breaking a very big rule in a very public way...and with a very unexpected partner in crime. Hailey gets caught, but her accomplice does not, and Hailey takes the fall for both of them.

Suddenly, Hailey's perfect life--and her reputation--are blowing up in her face. Her friends are all avoiding her. Her teachers don't trust her. Her boyfriend won't even speak to her for long enough to tell her that she's been dumped.

They say honesty is the best policy--but some secrets are worth keeping, no matter the cost. Or are they?

Reviews:

"Hailey may be an A student headed to the Ivy League, but when it comes to taking a chance on life, she’s clueless. She’s also enormously appealing and great company throughout this breezy read. Yes, it’s chick lit, but of the highest quality—like a gourmet truffle. Cook has whipped up a real treat.” --Kirkus starred review

"Cook effectively builds both Hailey's (justified) feelings of rebellion and the social dynamics of her ostracism, especially in her growing friendship with a challenging townie, Drew, who supervises her punishment working with the janitorial staff....Cook coaxes considerable empathy for the otherwise privileged Hailey as she abandons the achievement treadmill to explore her independence." --Publishers Weekly

About the Author:

Eileen Cook is a multi-published author with her novels appearing in six different languages. She spent most of her teen years wishing she were someone else or somewhere else, which is great training for a writer.
You can read more about Eileen, her books, and the things that strike her as funny at www.eileencook.com. Eileen lives in Vancouver with her husband and two dogs and no longer wishes to be anyone or anywhere else.

I even got a chance to interview, Eileen!

1. Okay, first question. If this were high school, which senior superlative in the yearbook would you score?

Most likely to start snorting when she laughs.

2. What is one thing you wish you would have done when you were younger? For me, it’s that I never studied abroad. How about you?

I wish I would have worried less. I worried a lot as a teen. I worried about what other people thought of me. I worried that it bothered me that I cared what other people thought. I worried about friends and guys and school and my parents. Then sometimes I worried about the fact I worried too much. Think of everything that I could have accomplished.

3. Now here’s the self-promotion part: Can you please tell us all about your book? We have some book shopping to do!

Hailey is the “it” girl at her exclusive boarding school. She’s the top of the popularity heap, has a great best friend and the perfect boyfriend. When a prank goes horribly wrong and she loses it all she has to decide just how much she’s willing to risk to get it all back- and if she even wants it back at all.

4. So, say your book just got picked up for a movie (congratulations!) Who’s playing your MC?

I’m terrible at this-which is why I will never be a director. I might go with an unknown actress so I could pick someone who exactly matches the image in my head. I would also cast Nathan Fillion (the guy who plays Castle on TV) not because there is a part that is right for him, but because I think he’s dreamy.

5. If you could take one literary character to prom, who would it be, and why?

I can think of so many favorite books and characters! I think to be fair I should take my own characters to prom and buy them dinner so I can make up for all the horrible things I did to them during the book. I seemed to go out of my way to make their lives miserable.

6. And finally, since all of the other questions were so serious… What do you hope teens take away from your book?

Most of all I hope they have fun reading the book, if they take a message away I would want it to be that the most important thing is to be yourself and not define yourself by what other people think.

Thanks so much, Eileen!! And everyone, pick up your copy of THE EDUCATION OF HAILEY KENDRICK today!!

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-22T00:01:00.000-08:00

Guest Post: Best YA Romances of 2010

2010-12-17T09:58:00.000-08:00

Today I have Kari from A Good Addiction talking about her favorite YA romances of 2010. I didn't weigh in on this one, but if I did I'd probably have gone with Anna and the French Kiss. But with so many awesome books, it would have been really hard to decide. So I let Kari do it. Enjoy.

Romance. It’s one of the biggest things most YA readers look for. Yes, we want the rest of the story, but we crave that romance. The intense, burning desire. Feelings so strong they can't be ignored. It’s one of the best reasons to read and write in this genre- the firsts, whether it's first heartbreak, first love, or first person to put your heart back together. So of the books I’ve read in 2010, what are some of the most outstanding, memorable, take-your-breath-away romances for me?

10. Connor and Natalie (Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian): He’s a jock, but he’s pretty darn sweet. She’s an overachiever with her chastity belt very firmly in place. Padlocked, even. But Connor pursues her. And pushes a little harder. And might be a good kisser. And there is something refreshingly real about these two, their push and pull and his unflinching affection. Maybe its unconventional, but its there and it’s so memorable and fantastic.

9. Derek and Chloe (The Darkest Powers trilogy by Kelley Armstrong):

Awkward, brash and misunderstood boy meets quiet and unsure girl. Other boy likes girl. Girl still likes awkward boy. Confusing enough? Maybe. But when Derek and Chloe FINALLY give in to their feelings, it’s one of those amazing, pump your fist in the air, tell the presses kind of moments. There is such a lurking connection and possessiveness between these two, showing up at the right moments before fading again, almost like that pesky little mouse that you just can't quite catch but is oh so satisfying when you do.

8. Patrick and Delilah (Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler): Charming and funny boy reconnects with childhood best friend, now a broken, guarded girl. Said boy fixes the girl in the simplest, most beautiful ways. Does he get hurt? Yes. Does he take all of her crap? No. But is the fight worth it? Oh yes. This is an absolutely realistic relationship, filled with the bad and the good, making you grin like a schoolgirl on crack good in the end.

7. Oscar and Camille (Everlasting by Angie Frazier):

She’s engaged to another man. He’s an Irish Sailor. What do they have in common? A lot, including the way they feel for each other. Oscar might want to punch Camille’s fiancé in the face, but he is absolutely tender and sweet and a perfect gentleman with her. It is such a charming mix, and the way Camille can be the strong girl she is while still relying on Oscar is handled so beautifully. This is a fantastic romance for both the book’s time period, and the modern world.

6. Will and Jacinda (Firelight by Sophie Jordan): He sets her on fire. Almost literally. A simple touch does something to both of these characters that only Sophie Jordan can describe, and man does she do it well. You want intense and engaging budding romance? Read this one. Add in the dragons and paranormal aspect, and it’s an all over hit but man… This romance. And the way it’s written. Uh huh. Get the book.

5. Seth and Rosetta (Freefall by Mindi Scott):

Seth is a mess, trying to get through school and figure things out. Then he meets Rosetta, who makes him want to be a better person. What can make a romance more notable than that? It isn’t to just impress her, but because he wants it. Whether he gets her or not, he likes the person he thinks he could be. And then he gets there, and woo! It is just the best mix of real and sweet and maybe a little painful. Don't let the cover flap of this one fool you, it’s a romance, and a darn near perfect one at that.

4. Adam and Mia (If I Stay/Where She Went by Gayle Forman): This is one of those couples that love each other so much, but maybe it’s not enough. They have their good moments, but they have their bad moments too. Still, there is such a connection and intensity, such a deep burning love between the two, seen in both books no matter their outcomes, that the relationship just can't be ignored.

3. Wesley and Bianca (The DUFF by Kody Keplinger):

Manwhore and I-don't-take-your-crap chick. What better couple than this? Wesley can smooth talk his way… right to Bianca’s back as she walks away. Yet things change, and when they do… wow. They are passionate and intense, not to mention one of the single best lines ever uttered in YA comes from this book.

2. Aiden and Tessa (The Naughty List by Suzanne Young): Peppy cheerleader and basketball star. Cliché? Maybe. But interesting and lovable? Completely. These two have such an interesting chemistry that flies off the pages. It’s hot without going overboard, and Aiden is about as swoonworthy and amazing as they come. He can paint my toenails any time he wants.

1. Alex and Brittany (Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles):

Hot and sexy. That’s the best way to describe this one. It’s a passionate romance filled with fiery emotions and some seriously tough crap thrown in, and comes out so tremendously. Even for the people who aren’t big on romance, this one is still so incredibly worth the read. A dramatic romance if there ever was one, I could reread this one any time and fall for it all over again.

-Kari

SCBWI Annual Winter Conference 2011- Jim McCarthy

2010-12-10T08:56:00.000-08:00

In a Team Blog pre-conference exclusive, I'm chatting with fabulous agent (who also happens to be my agent) Jim McCarthy. Jim is vice president at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management and he will be speaking at the SCBWI Annual Winter Conference in NYC being held January 28^th-30^th. Check out the lineup HERE.

Jim, thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions. To start, I was wondering if you could tell us what your talk at the conference will focus on?

--This one’s easy! I’m doing the same break-out session three times, and it’s What Makes Your Work Publishable: Today’s Market in Children’s Books. I was asked to present on what our agency accepts, what my taste is, what makes something stand out as something I want to represent, how I perceive the marketplace now, and where I see it going. The lovely folks at SCBWI made it very easy on me—they told me I don’t need to prepare a speech because it’s really about what I do all day and what I think is coming. That’s going to leave tons and tons of room open for questions on this very broad topic (and means I won’t bore myself by giving the same presentation three times in a row!).

Are you currently looking for submissions?

--Always. ALWAYS. I have a really healthy client list right now that I’m thrilled with, but I will never close down to submissions because the idea of missing something brilliant because I wasn’t looking makes me physically uncomfortable.

What do you think authors can learn from hearing an agent speak during a conference as opposed to looking them up online?

--Well, you just get a sense of who that person is. Publishing is a business built on personal relationships, and the agent-client one is (in my totally unbiased opinion) the most important. I think it’s a great chance to scope someone out and see if they’re the sort of person you’d have any interest in working with long term. You get to see them as they are, not as they present themselves in writing. It’s kind of like online dating! But most importantly, you get a chance to ask questions and get clarity on some of the murkier issues in publishing which I think can be invaluable.

There’s always so much talk about what to wear to the conference—layer up, comfortable shoes, etc…. Any suggestions?

--Is there really? I never knew! I go to five or six a year and rarely think about what I wear (this is also true when I’m not at conferences). But…it’s New York in winter, so do wear layers. You can probably get away with spending the entire conference in the hotel traveling from event to event, but it would be a shame not to get out into the city at least for a little while, even if it is bitter cold.

Thank you again, Jim! And we all look forward to seeing you next month!!

Ice Cream and Cake...

2010-12-07T19:27:00.001-08:00

Today is Jesse's birthday and I hit up Baskin Robbins for his cake! Now we've all been dancing to this all night... Enjoy!

Happy Birthday...

2010-12-05T11:42:00.001-08:00

To me! Thank you all for the birthday wishes! I'm going to celebrate the old fashioned way--cleaning my house and then enjoying it while the kids are at a play date. :-)

xoxo
Suz

Portland, Oregon

2010-12-03T13:41:00.000-08:00

I have to admit that when you have a song about Oregon and pitchers to go, I'm already a fan. But then you throw in some Jack White, and I'm in love.

Kiss the Cook

2010-11-29T12:59:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving was wonderful around here. My sometimes questionable cooking skills were put to the test and I rocked it. I'm extremely proud of the food I made (fist pump!) and I'm also happy that my house was clean for four full days. I sliced my finger on the last day and bled all over the kitchen, but eventually it stopped and all is well--other than a certain scar and my temporary nine finger typing.

I also discovered True Blood. Oh, yes. I'm hooked. I spent the last few weeks reading the Sookie Stackhouse series and I'm so in love. haha Then of course, I needed to start watching the show. I got the entire first season (Black Friday FTW!) and now I'm watching obsessively (Oh, the Viking...)

(And I had to pick this poster because it actually says "It hurts so good". hahahahah Hilarious!)

Have you discovered any new book series or shows lately? I need more!

Team Getsome Week-The Bad Boys

2010-11-24T03:04:00.000-08:00

So bad for you.... and yet so irresistible. Especially when they have some demon blood. In our pursuit of the most exciting romances in YA, Novel Novice and I have been putting together a list based on our (and a few expert's) opinions. Today's focus.... THE BAD BOY.

I'm going to start with the sexiest bad boy. It was a TOUGH call (I accidentally wrote touch call, haha). It was a dead heat between Nick from THE DEMON'S LEXICON series by Sarah Rees Brennan and Jace from THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS series by Cassandra Clare. And after thinking it over, I can't choose! It's a tie of hotness.

Nick is dark and brooding. Jace is blond (swoon!) and witty. Both guys are fighters and good with weapons. And seriously, if you haven't read either of these series YOU HAVE TO! They are excellent!

And I couldn't get out of this bad boy post without mentioning Alex from PERFECT CHEMISTRY by Simone Elkeles. His danger is contemporary, so he won't be fighting monsters... But hot damn, he is dangerous. The book is steamy off the charts and it's Alex's fierceness and loyalty--and okay, maybe the motorcycle, too--that gets him on this list.

Any bad boys you'd like to highlight? Be sure to check out Novel Novice's picks for today!

Team Getsome Week-Boyfriends and New Guys

2010-11-23T03:49:00.000-08:00

Even though I like reading about the cute best friend, or the steamy bad boy, I have a certain type of love interest that is my personal favorite—The Awesome Boyfriend. He wasn’t always the boyfriend, but awesomeness just comes naturally.

Today’s Awesome Boyfriend is Seth from WICKED LOVELY by Melissa Marr.

WL is one of my favorite series and Aislinn is a terrific main character with some tough choices! Fortunately she has a great guy to help her deal with some serious drama—Seth. First… he lives in a refurbished train car. I mean, really? How cool is that? Second, he’s got piercings and tattoos. And third, he’s so dang sweet and understanding! If anyone can give The Summer King (who is blond….) a run for his money, it’s Seth.

Now for every awesome boyfriend there is the intriguing New Guy. And I knew who I’d pick the first second this category was mentioned. Although he’s not new in town, he’s new to her. It’s Etienne St. Claire from ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS by Stephanie Perkins.

He cute, has an accent, and is really great at playing tour guide. He also has a girlfriend…. .wait! Girlfriend? That doesn’t sound hot! But just you wait! This love interest is swoon-worthy with a great sense of humor and crackling sexual tension. More importantly, Anna is one of my favorite main characters. Realistic, sexy and oh, man-you’ve-got-to-read-it-to-understand, St. Claire is at the top of my hot New Guy list.

Check out Novel Novice’s picks for Awesome Boyfriend and Hot New Guy.

Team Getsome Week-The Best Friend

2010-11-22T07:45:00.000-08:00

There’s always a team, even T-shirts declaring your loyalty to one love interest over the other when reading a book. But brooding looks and quiet pining aren’t always enough! We like some romance! So Novel Novice and I created Team Getsome Week (Sorry, don’t be offended by the name).

This is your quick guide to the hottest romances in YA according to us, and a few teens we stood in line with recently at a book signing. You know, experts! Be sure to check Novel Novice’s picks HERE.

Today’s focus is….. THE BEST FRIEND.

Oh… the best friend. They always creep up on you, all studly and quiet. And then suddenly, BAM! You notice. Or at least, that’s how it works in my first selection, Kimberly Derting’s THE BODY FINDER. Jay is funny, sweet, a bit protective (but not overbearingly so) and when he and Violet finally admit how they feel—it’s just straight-up hotness. If I were to guess what Jay looks like, I would say he might be a little something like this:

And with the combination of scary and sexy, THE BODY FINDER is a big bowl of win, and definitely part of Team Getsome.

The other best friend romance is with…. Simon from Cassandra Clare’s THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS series. Sure, he doesn’t have hot tattoos or a weapon under his coat, but his sense of humor and dogged devotion definitely make him a keeper! And there’s nothing hotter than when a best-friend-but-maybe-more steps up and makes a move. If I were to imagine Simon, I’d guess he looks a little something like this:

Now, Cassandra Clare’s books will also make this list later on in the week, so don’t fret, Jace fans. We have room on our team for bad boys too.

Any other BEST FRIEND romances you can think of?

The Napkin Draft

2010-11-18T10:32:00.000-08:00

My friends know that I constantly write, both as a job and for fun. When I'm not writing I get cranky and anxious. But when I am writing I become anti-social and weird. Not really a win-win.

Anyway, last night I went out to dinner--which, believe me, is much safer than eating anything I cook--and while I was there I had a sudden burst of inspiration for the new book I'm working on. (Adult this time!) I grabbed my kid's crayon and wrote it down on the restaurant napkin, spewing everything that came to mind. When I ran out of space, I took my son's napkin and added. This all went down AS WE WERE EATING. I didn't end up finishing my dinner.

This may sound like odd behavior, but it happens all the time. Maybe that's why I like to go out to eat so much. Maybe I purposely cook awful food so that I have an excuse to go to the Spaghetti Factory and brainstorm. Maybe.

So as I sat around today, transcribing my napkin draft onto the computer, I thought about it. Pretty much every book I write is partly written on napkins. In fact, I took a picture of a recent one--and this is not a book you know about--that ended up turning into an 85k-word draft. All from a napkin. Actually, I think there were three or four napkins, a back of an envelope and a place mat.

Here's a picture with spoilers cut out:

Am I alone in this? Do you have napkin drafts too?

Cataloged

2010-11-11T15:05:00.001-08:00

Something about catalogs thrills me--especially The Pottery Barn! And when I saw that A Need so Beautiful made it in the Summer 2011 HarperCollins catalog, I got REALLY EXCITED. I mean, I knew it'd be in there, but I had this fear that somehow they forgot to tell me they'd changed their minds :-)

But no, it's in there! It even has a quick synopsis, although I'm not sure what will read on the actual book yet. Either way, it's totally real. Check it out! And while you're there, look at some of the other amazing books coming out next summer!!!

Click the cover to go to the Summer 2011 catalog listing:

Check This Out!

2010-11-05T06:53:00.000-07:00

Friend and author Lisa Schroeder revealed the cover today for her summer release THE DAY BEFORE (June 2011) Check this out:

Isn't it gorgeous!? I love it. You can read the description (which is amazing!) on Elle Strauss' blog, or go to Lisa's website to learn about her other books!

Girlfriend's Cyber Circuit: Starring Daisy Whitney!

2010-11-03T16:42:00.000-07:00

I am THRILLED to bring you today's girlfriend--the amazing Daisy Whitney. Her debut novel THE MOCKINGBIRDS is out in the wild!!! Let's hear more about it:

Some schools have honor codes.
Others have handbooks.
Themis Academy has the Mockingbirds.

Themis Academy is a quiet boarding school with an exceptional student body that the administration trusts to always behave the honorable way--the Themis Way. So when Alex is date raped during her junior year, she has two options: stay silent and hope someone helps her, or enlist the Mockingbirds--a secret society of students dedicated to righting the wrongs of their fellow peers.

In this honest, page-turning account of a teen girl's struggle to stand up for herself, debut author Daisy Whitney reminds readers that if you love something or someone--especially yourself--you fight for it.

"In The Mockingbirds, Daisy Whitney has written an unflinchingly honest story about the importance of taking a stand and speaking out. An emotionally powerful debut that will leave readers breathless." (Courtney Summers, author of Cracked Up to Be)

"First-time author Whitney boldly addresses date rape, vigilantism, and academic politics in an intense and timely novel... Besides showing skill in executing suspense and drama, Whitney masterfully evokes the complexity of her protagonist's emotions, particularly her intense longing to feel 'normal' again." (Publishers Weekly (Starred review) )

"[Whitney] writes with smooth assurance and a propulsive rhythm as she follows Alex through the Mockingbird's trial process and its accompanying emotional storm of confusion, shame, fear, and finally, empowerment. Authentic and illuminating, this strong debut explores vital teen topics of sex and violence; crime and punishment; ineffectual authority; and the immeasurable, healing influence of friendship and love." (Booklist )

THE MOCKINGBIRDS was picked as one of best of the year in YA by Romantic Times, and also one of ABC's 2010 New Voices list of outstanding debut books by authors for middle-grade and young-adult readers. Way to go, Daisy!!

Web sites:

http://www.amazon.com/Mockingbirds-Daisy-Whitney/dp/0316090530
http://www.Facebook.com/MockingbirdsBook
http://www.DaisyWhitneyBooks.com

Interview:

1. Okay, first question. If this were high school, which senior superlative in the yearbook would you score?

Most likely to be found eating alfala sprout sandwiches in the library during lunch.

2. What is one thing you wish you would have done when you were younger? For me, it’s that I never studied abroad. How about you?

I wish I had learned an instrument! I would love to play the piano.

3. Now here’s the self-promotion part: Can you please tell us all about your book? We have some book shopping to do!

THE MOCKINGBIRDS is the story of an underground student-run justice system at a prestigious boarding school and the date rape case they try.

4. So, say your book just got picked up for a movie (congratulations!) Who’s playing your MC?

Emma Stone. I freaking love her.

5. If you could take one literary character to prom, who would it be, and why?

Etienne St Clair from ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS obviously! He’s perfect! And I hear he’s a great kisser.

6. And finally, since all of the other questions were so serious… What do you hope teens take away from your book?

I hope they realize that taking a stand for someone including yourself is cool!

You're awesome, Daisy! Thank you! And everyone, pick up your copy of THE MOCKINGBIRDS today!

Halloween 2010

2010-10-31T19:39:00.000-07:00

A seven-year-old zombie bride and her desert commando brother.... And a lot of strange looks from doorways as we trick-or-treated.... :-)

Happy Halloween!!!!!

A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL- The Cover!!!!!!!!

2010-10-29T07:54:00.000-07:00

I thought about writing a long post about covers because honestly, I never get tired of telling the story about The Naughty List (my mom thought it was porn). But instead, I just want to say that I'm SO HAPPY WITH MY NEW COVER!!!

I have obsessed and fretted about what the cover for A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL (Summer 2011) would look like. The book is about a girl who is compelled to help people, even though each time she does, her friends and family start to forget who she is--her very existence fading into a glowing light. So... what kind of cover could express that????

Well, I'm so excited to show you!! I just think.... it's so pretty. :-)

Girlfriend's Cyber Circuit: Starring Denise Jaden

2010-10-28T08:35:00.000-07:00

Today I'm talking about Denise Jaden's debut novel LOSING FAITH-out now from Simon Pulse. Here's a little more about the book:

A terrible secret. A terrible fate.

When Brie's sister, Faith, dies suddenly, Brie's world falls apart. As she goes through the bizarre and devastating process of mourning the sister she never understood and barely even liked, everything in her life seems to spiral farther and farther off course. Her parents are a mess, her friends don’t know how to treat her, and her perfect boyfriend suddenly seems anything but.

As Brie settles into her new normal, she encounters more questions than closure: Certain facts about the way Faith died just don't line up. Brie soon uncovers a dark and twisted secret about Faith’s final night...a secret that puts her own life in danger.

And I love this trailer!!! Check it out--

Pick up your copy of LOSING FAITH today!!

What are you working on?

2010-10-18T20:34:00.000-07:00

I've been writing non-stop lately and I don't think my schedule is going to let up anytime soon. I've finished and handed in a draft of the sequel to A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL (6/21/11). I think I'm okay to release the title now... (hope so) but the sequel is called A WANT SO WICKED (Summer 2012)

Beyond that I finished a new book that I'm crazy excited about. It's my longest novel, but I adore it because Pink Floyd is part of the inspiration there. (You ate a puzzle??) I also started a creepy YA horror series that I'm not going to try to explain because I'm not even sure where to start. Plus it might be offensive.

So I'm getting lots of writing done and soon I'll be preparing for the SCBWI's winter conference in NYC in January. You're going too, right?

I'm just wondering, what are you working on??

Books, Books, Books!

2010-10-13T08:50:00.001-07:00

I swear, I can never get caught up with all of the awesome books coming out. And really, it's so hard for me to recommend books when I know authors, but I'm going to try. Lately, three have caught my eye and even though I'm friends with the authors, I'm recommending these books based solely on how good they are.

AVAILABLE NOW:

THE UNIDENTIFIED by Rae Mariz

I remember seeing a query for this book a loooong time ago. And now, I have it in my hands. At first I was nervous because I'm not tech savvy and I was afraid this would go over my head. Instead, I was totally immersed in this cool world. With an intriguing mystery, and yay! a sweet romance, this was my type of book! I thought it was SMART. The writing was clever and honestly funny.

Description from Amazon:

Fifteen-year-old Katey (aka Kid) goes to school in the Game—a mall converted into a “school” run by corporate sponsors. As the students play their way through the levels, they are also creating products and being used for market research by the sponsors, who are watching them 24/7 on video cameras.

Kid has a vague sense of unease but doesn’t question this existence until one day she witnesses a shocking anticorporate prank. She follows the clues to uncover the identities of the people behind it and discovers an anonymous group that calls itself the Unidentified. Intrigued by their counterculture ideas and enigmatic leader, Kid is drawn into the group. But when the Unidentified’s pranks and even Kid’s own identity are co-opted by the sponsors, Kid decides to do something bigger—something that could change the Game forever.

This funny, sharp, and thought-provoking novel heralds the arrival of a stunning new voice in teen fiction.

Favorite lines: "Meat Hammer sounds gross. Couldn't they think of a better team name? Was One-Eyed Flesh Spear taken?"

COMING (very) SOON:

THE MOCKINGBIRDS by Daisy Whitney (November 2nd, 2010)

Contemporary!!! I adore realistic contemporary that doesn't just read as wish fulfillment. Daisy has a way of writing honest words that capture raw emotion. She's one of my favorite writers with a style all her own. Just check out the reviews on this one!

Description from Amazon:

Some schools have honor codes.
Others have handbooks.
Themis Academy has the Mockingbirds.

Themis Academy is a quiet boarding school with an exceptional student body that the administration trusts to always behave the honorable way--the Themis Way. So when Alex is date raped during her junior year, she has two options: stay silent and hope someone helps her, or enlist the Mockingbirds--a secret society of students dedicated to righting the wrongs of their fellow peers.

In this honest, page-turning account of a teen girl's struggle to stand up for herself, debut author Daisy Whitney reminds readers that if you love something or someone--especially yourself--you fight for it.

Favorite line from review: "A new SPEAK for teens"

PREORDER NOW:

ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS by Stephanie Perkins (December 2, 2010)

Ahh! I love this book and I'm sorry to torture you now since there are still weeks until it's available. But it is so incredibly romantic and witty... it's a must have.

Description from Amazon:

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris until she meets Etienne St. Claire: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.

As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near-misses end with the French kiss Anna and readers have long awaited?

My favorite part: The romance with St. Claire.... sigh

Girlfriend's Cyber Circuit: Starring Linda Gerber

2010-10-12T08:50:00.000-07:00

I'm very excited to talk with another girlfriend today--Linda Gerber!! Linda is AWESOME and she has a new book out this week: TRANCE. Let's hear more about it!

From the author of the popular Death By series
TRANCE
By Linda Gerber

Almost everyone has wished that they could take a glimpse into the future—but what if such visions came unbidden, and they only foretold danger? Linda Gerber weaves this idea into a chilling and satisfying young adult novel with TRANCE (Speak; 9780142414156; October 14, 2010; Ages 12 up; $7.99). Perfect for fans of Wake, Gerber’s latest paranormal thriller is a dark but addictive tale of one girl’s curse to unwillingly foresee future tragedies, and the debilitating toll that it takes on her present life—until she realizes that her unwanted power may be more of a gift than a curse.

(more)
Ashlyn Greenfield has always known when bad things are going to happen. Each time that familiar tingling at the back of her neck begins, she knows what’s to come—a trance. She’s pulled in, blindsided, an unwilling witness to a horrible upcoming event. But she’s never been able to stop the event from actually occurring—not even when the vision was of her mother’s fatal car accident. When soulful Jake enters Ashlyn’s life, she begins having trances about another car accident. And as her trances escalate, one thing becomes clear: it’s up to her to save Jake from a near-certain death.

Combining romance and suspense, Linda Gerber delivers a paranormal thriller that is unique in its ability to appeal to sci-fi and chick lit fans alike.

About the Author

Linda Gerber (www.lindagerber.com) is the author of the popular Death by Bikini, Death by Latte, and Death by Denim as well as two books in the S.A.S.S. series. She lives with her family in Dublin, Ohio.

Be sure to check out her fun blog at www.lindagerber.blogspot.com ! She read my numbers last weekend and it was so cool!

I got a chance to ask Linda a few questions:

1. Okay, first question. If this were high school, which senior superlative in the yearbook would you score?

Most disorganized.

2. What is one thing you wish you would have done when you were younger? For me, it’s that I never studied abroad. How about you?

I quit piano when I was in middle school. My mom said I would regret not sticking with it, but I didn’t believe her. * sigh * You were right, Mom.

3. Now here’s the self-promotion part: Can you please tell us all about your book? We have some book shopping to do!

Trance is the story of two sisters who share premonitions through trances. Each sister only sees part of the vision, so they have to piece the warnings together like a puzzle to know what it means - which doesn't always work. Enter Jake, the hunky motorcycle-riding musician. When Ashlyn senses he's in danger, she has to learn to control the trances before it's too late.

4. So, say your book just got picked up for a movie (congratulations!) Who’s playing your MC?

I like Nickelodeon’s Victoria Justice.

5. If you could take one literary character to prom, who would it be, and why?

Oooh. I really like Owen from Sarah Dessen’s Just Listen…. Although he’d probably loathe the kind of music they play at proms, so… Wait! I know! Jesse, the hot Spanish ghost from Meg Cabot’s Mediator series.

6. And finally, since all of the other questions were so serious… What do you hope teens take away from your book?

Most anything broken can be fixed. And...

Never give up.

Thanks again for stopping by, Linda! And everyone, pick up your copy of TRANCE today!!

Girlfriend's Cyber Circuit: Starring Lauren Strasnick

2010-10-09T12:32:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to have fellow girlfriend Lauren Strasnick here today with her fabulous new book: HER AND ME AND YOU! Let's hear more about it!

Her and Me and You
Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster, October 2010

First love, broken friendships, and heartache all play a part in this evocative, voice-driven novel about Alex, a girl whose world is ripped apart when her father’s affair splits her family in two.

Alex moves with her mess of a mother to a new town, where she is befriended by hot, enigmatic Fred–and alternately flirted with and cold-shouldered by Fred’s twin sister, Adina. Others warn Alex to steer clear of the twins, whose sibling relationship is considered abnormal at best, but there’s just something about Fred–and something about Adina–that draws Alex to them and makes her want to be part of their crazy world, no matter the consequences.

What reviewers are saying:

“Strasnick’s slim second offering packs a lot into its short chapters: divorce, broken friendships, crushes, the lines between love and sex and more. Characterization, scenes, dialogue and setting are seamlessly distilled into so few sharp, image-rich phrases that the novel reads almost as if it were written in verse. Less is definitely more here, and readers are plunged into Alex’s physical and emotional world within three to four words. Although the plot moves swiftly, the author’s ability to capture Alex’s inner world in so few words give the novel depth and balance. Complex and thought-provoking.” –Kirkus

The author:

Lauren's website & blog: www.laurenstrasnick.com

I was even lucky enough to interview Lauren:

1. Okay, first question. If this were high school, which senior superlative in the yearbook would you score?

Weirdest Wardrobe. I wore some insane stuff to school. Velvet hot pants. Fishnets. plaid kilts and doc martins and burgundy bell bottoms and alice bands and blackberry lipstick.

2. What is one thing you wish you would have done when you were younger? For me, it’s that I never studied abroad. How about you?

Ha, I don’t think I can answer this question honestly without exposing too much of myself. I have regrets! I plead the fifth!

3. Now here’s the self-promotion part: Can you please tell us all about your book? We have some book shopping to do!

H&M&Y is about Alex, a girl whose parents have just split up. Alex moves with her heartbroken mother to her dead grandmother’s place in Connecticut. There she meets Fred and Adina Bishop. They’re twins. They’re weirdos. The three of them hang out constantly. It all gets very messy.

4. So, say your book just got picked up for a movie (congratulations!) Who’s playing your MC?

Kat Dennings! Who I think is adorable.

5. If you could take one literary character to prom, who would it be, and why?

Marcus Flutie from Megan McCafferty’s SLOPPY FIRSTS. He’s just so smart and crushable! And I think he’d be fun to slow dance with.

6. And finally, since all of the other questions were so serious… What do you hope teens take away from your book?

Oh gosh, I’m not sure. I suppose I hope teens will read H&M&Y and be engaged, entertained, moved, and challenged.

Thank you so much, Lauren. Everyone, pick up your copy of HER AND ME AND YOU today!!!!

Start making plans... SCBWI Annual Winter Conference

2010-10-05T14:39:00.000-07:00

The SCBWI Annual Winter Conference in NYC is just around the corner! It's time to start making some PLANS!! *packs scarf and high-heeled boots

The Official Team Blog led by the amazing Alice Pope, will be back again to bring you up to the minute action. Including behind the scenes pictures, interviews and top secret information. The conference is happening January 28-30, 2011, at the Hyatt Grand Central. This year's amazing line up will include (hold on for leaked, top-secret information):

Mo Willems, RL Stine, Sara Zarr, Jules Feiffer and Lois Lowry among many others! How can you miss this??? Registration begins tomorrow at 10am!!! Click HERE to join us!!!

See you there!!

Book Signing: Starring LK Madigan, April Henry and Lauren Kate

2010-10-02T16:03:00.000-07:00

Super fun time today! I took a break from my psychotic writing schedule to head out to a book signing. Amazing lineup with the always awesome LK Madigan (Flash Burnout, The Mermaid's Mirror), Bestselling author April Henry (Girl, Stolen) and Bestseller Lauren Kate (Fallen, Torment).

Amazing author Tara Kelly (Harmonic Feedback) came with and we met up with Lisa Schroeder (I Heart You, You Haunt Me, Chasing Brooklyn) and Amy Baskin. It was a full crowd at our local Powell's!

Each read from their books (which was great!) and LK tossed chocalotes and passed out one of her early novels about mermaids (was it from 4th grade?) So fun.

The highlight of the event was during question time when an audience member asked Lauren if the author of Twilight helped her write Torment. That Stephanie Meyer--she's just everywhere.

Anyway, Portland once again rules the universe turning out for an awesome event! More coming up soon!!!

The Novel Graveyard

2010-09-27T11:34:00.000-07:00

Novel Graveyard time, which sounds completely appropriate because it's from my long forgotten zombie book THE RULES FOR DATING A TEENAGE ZOMBIE. This is a finished book that never made it off my desktop, but each chapter was a new rule and included such gems as:

Rule 1: Don’t cross paths with a zombie. Especially if it’s two weeks before prom. That's just tacky.

Rule 3: When finding the zombie slut who bit your boyfriend, DO NOT attempt to slap her. Zombies are freakishly strong.

Rule 4: A zombie boyfriend can still get jealous. Even if he’s the one that started the whole mess by going to his stupid ex-girlfriend’s funeral in the first place.

Rule 6: When your boyfriend is a zombie, becoming allies with a zombie hunter is a bad idea. Especially if he has a crush on you.

And it goes on from there. As you can see it's very tongue in cheek. Here is a quick excerpt from the second chapter. Hopefully it's not too out of context. Please keep in mind that this is my original work and it is unedited. Hope it doesn't scare you away from my blog. haha

RULES FOR DATING A TEENAGE ZOMBIE

In the middle of the night, Sawyer got up twice to throw up. He was being brave, pretending that his dropping body temperature was normal. Like he had the flu or something. He wouldn’t let me call anyone, saying that they wouldn’t understand. Well, neither did I. When Sawyer came back in my room, he crawled in next to me. I shivered when he touched my skin.

“Mm,” he said, wrapping his arms and legs around me. “You’re so warm.”

I snuggled in closer and began to rub at his arms. “Sawyer,” I whispered. “I don’t know what’s wrong with you, but I’m pretty sure this is abnormal.” He needed a doctor.

He cleared his throat and began to play with my hair. Uh, oh. That was his guilty tick. He did that whenever he was trying to distract me.

I paused. “Do you know what’s wrong with you?” My heart raced. His heart…didn’t. In fact, as my face pressed into his chest, I didn’t hear one damn thing. Not a peep. I hitched in a breath.

“Victoria did mention something--”

I sat up. “You talked to her?” I balled my hands into fists. Exactly what else had he left out? I couldn’t believe Victoria was still alive. What sort of person faked her own death for a guy? She was truly desperate.

Sawyer cracked his neck. “It wasn’t like that, Emmie. After she bit me I--”

“So now you’re spending time alone with her, letting her nuzzle your neck and then you have a conversation with her? Did you take her out to dinner, too?” I had every reason to be angry. He was right. He shouldn’t have gone to the funeral.

“Baby, I was her dinner. She was trying to eat me, remember?”

“I’m sure she was.”

Sawyer took my hand and pulled me back down to him. “Just let me talk for a minute.”

“Why should--”

He put his cold hand over my mouth and held me until I stopped wiggling. Fine. He wanted to give a little speech? I wasn’t above listening. I might not understand why he kept indulging Victoria’s craziness, but…

“Can I finish?” he asked. I nodded my head. He withdrew his hand and began to play with my hair again.

I closed my eyes, trying to hear his heartbeat and yet, there was still nothing. Maybe I was suffering from the delusion, too. I missed the steady sound of him.

Sawyer adjusted himself in the pillows. “Right after Victoria bit me, I fell back and I was holding my neck. My skin burned, like really freaking hurt. Then, she sat up in the coffin and looked right at me. Her eyes were reflecting the light or something because I couldn’t look away.”

I groaned. This was not the type of conversation I wanted to sit though. I didn’t want to know how beautiful his ex-girlfriend looked at her funeral. Sawyer touched my chin and turned my face to his. “Just listen,” he whispered.

I rolled my eyes, but lay back down on his chest.

He continued. “She was climbing out of the casket, pointing her finger at me, talking about joining her for lunch--”

“She asked you out?” I sat up again and glared at him. “At her funeral, she asked you on a date? She is so tacky.”

Sawyer pursed his lips. “That’s not the worst part,” he said. “She gets out of the coffin, right? And she smiles at me and says, ‘And Emelia will be our dessert.’”

“Ew. She mentioned me?”

“Baby, she wants to eat you.”

“As if I’d let that bitch within ten feet of me. She is truly pathetic. She couldn’t get you in life, so she attacks you when she’s supposed to be dead. Pa-the-tic. I hate her.”

“Emmie. She’s dead.”

“Good.”

“No. I mean she’s undead.”

I stared at him. He looked completely serious. “That’s not possible,” I said.

He closed his eyes. “Then how do you explain me?”

That made my stomach twist in knots. “You’re…sick. You’ve got some weird virus or something. We’ll--”

“I’m dead, Emmie.” He stared at me, his eyes burning with green light. I shook my head.

“Don’t say that,” I whispered.

He looked away. “I’m sorry. But she did something to me. Whatever is wrong with her, I assure you, she’s dead. But not really. I don’t know. She’s like a freaking zombie or something.”

My breath was coming out in jagged gasps. This was like a bad dream. This couldn’t be real. “Zombie?” I asked, my voice squeaking. “So what does that mean? Does she have to eat people’s brains?” No way.

“I think so. But I don’t know. She bit me.”

She had bitten him. That bitch. That sneaky, undead, brain-eating bitch! “Just wait until I see her,” I said, adrenaline overtaking my body. “She had no right to put her mouth on you.”

“Hey.” Sawyer ran his fingers down the length of my bare arm. It sent tingles over my body and I met his glowing gaze, letting it draw me in again. “We’re going to stay away from her,” he said. “She wants to kill you.”

But I was over this. Okay, yes. Something really flipping unusual was going on, but it didn’t mean I didn’t fight for what was mine. And Sawyer was mine. “Well if she wants you,” I said. “It’ll be over my dead body anyway, so she can have at it.”

“And what are we going to do about me?” he asked, sounding self-conscious.

I leaned in, pressing my lips softly to his. It didn’t matter what happened. I adored him. His health status made no difference. My father was gone and I still loved him. I wouldn’t abandon Sawyer. I never would.

“I don’t care if you are dead,” I whispered. “But if you talk to that bitch again, I will sever your head.”

He chuckled. “I won’t.” His hand slid onto my leg. “Come here,” he breathed. Well not really. He mouthed it mostly.

“We’ll need to find out how to fix this,” I said, closing my eyes, enjoying his cool touch.

“I know.” He kissed at my ear.

“And now that you’re dead, things might not…work like they used to.” Hooking up might have to get more creative.

“Oh, things are working,” he mumbled into my hair. “I sure as hell don’t feel dead right now.”

I smiled. As long as he was with me, we’d be okay. We’d figure out the rules for dating a teenage zombie.

The shape of love...

2010-09-20T09:13:00.000-07:00

I'm very happy to have my regular guest poster Kari from A Good Addiction stop by. And today, she's bringing the laughs about one of my favorite subjects:

THE LOVE TRIANGLE.

Take it away Kari....

We all get into them when they happen in books. We choose sides, and argue to the death for our pick. They are a great plot device, and quite possibly far more fun than they should be. That’s right. The dreaded (but much adored) love triangle. My definition, however, isn’t just two people liking the same person. If that mutually liked person only has feelings for one, it isn’t much of a triangle, is it? So for the purposes of this post, I’m going with ones where the mutually liked person really has a choice to make.

5. Derek/Chloe/Simon (Darkest Powers Trilogy by Kelley Armstrong):

Derek has crappy people skills. He’s intimidating, imposing and brash. He isn’t the best on the looks scale, but hey, he’s loyal like a dog (bad pun intended). Simon is attractive, nice, and has a smooth way with words. And honestly? There really isn’t that much against him. But there is something about the slightly wild nature in Derek that makes him more appealing. So even if Chloe has to struggle between liking the boys in the midst of everything else going on, I sided early with Derek.

4. Graves/Dru/Christophe (Strange Angels by Lili St Crow):

Graves is emo, shy, quiet and has pretty much no game. Christophe is suave, sexy, surprisingly reliable, and smells like apple pie. Dru is kickass and headstrong, but she has her moments of weakness. So when she really needs someone to rely on, which boy can save the day? I don’t know that one yet, but I am rooting for Graves. Who wants to make out with apple pie, anyhow?

3. Abe/Emmi/Sam (Change of Heart by Shari Maurer):

Abe has been through the heart transplant thing. He is funny, sweet and understanding. Sam is there when Emmi is dealing with needing a new heart. He fills her afternoons, distracts her, and cares for her. But he is far from perfect and makes some pretty big mistakes. And Emmi is dealing with being a teenager. Dealing with a heart transplant. Dealing with liking two boys, for different reasons. But if I were her, I’d totally pick Abe.

2. Jem/Tessa/Will (Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare):

Jem is nice, a great fighter, and sensitive. Will is a better fighter, a bigger jerk, and in the negatives on the sensitivity scale. But let’s add in the fact that they’re best friends because that pretty much kicks the love triangle drama up a few notches. Then comes Tessa. Thrown into a new world, still holding views of how a man should treat a woman, and torn between the two. My pick? Jem.

1. Adrian/Rose/Dimitri (Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead):

Adrian is sweet and nice and a total playboy. Dimitri is a badass, intense, and controlled to the point of hot damn sexy. And stuck in the middle between both worthy boys’ affection is Rose. Badass, sarcastic, and devoted. She has a fiery chemistry with both boys, and one heck of a decision to make. I, however, am Team Adrian. Sardonic playboy for the win.

Thanks, Kari! Another fantastic post. And I'm with you on the #1 choice.

Today on Life After Writing....

2010-09-19T11:35:00.000-07:00

This week I was enjoying my non-writing status (although I was still secretly writing) by hanging out with friends and going to the movies. Last night me and my friend Dawn went to see EASY A. I mean, it screams young adult novel so I had to see it.

I was happy when Judy Blume, Twilight and John Hughes' movies were mentioned, my inner writing geek smiling. And when I got home, I totally put Sixteen Candles, Say Anything and The Breakfast Club on my Netflix lineup.

Before the movie, Dawn and I stopped off for some refreshments:

Then we hit the theater. I laughed a few times and Dawn almost got sick off a package of red vines (sorry Dawn). But in the end, I took away one thing from EASY A...

I never thought Penn Badgley was cute until I saw him shirtless and painted blue. Just sayin'.

Did you see EASY A? What did you think??

A Reason to Smile!

2010-09-16T12:13:00.000-07:00

!!! I'm so so so happy to say that my dear friend Trish Doller just sold her AMAZING new book THE NEW NORMAL! Here's the announcement from Publisher's Marketplace:

Trish Doller's THE NEW NORMAL, about a young Marine home from Afghanistan, dealing with PTSD and trying to find his place in a life that no longer fits, to Michelle Nagler at Bloomsbury, at auction, in a nice deal, by Kate Schafer Testerman at kt literary (World English).

I've been reading TNN since Trish started and I've been kicking her ass to finish because I loved the main character, Travis, so much. I wanted everyone to meet him! The writing is fantastic (of course) and the heartbreak is real, and I can't wait until it gets made into a movie so I can go on set and drool over the male lead. :-) It's okay. She said I could.

CONGRATS, TRISH!!! You deserve this like crazy!

If you get a chance, stop by Trish's site HERE and say congratulations too!! You're going to love THE NEW NORMAL!!

Girlfriend's Cyber Circuit: Starring Lucienne Diver

2010-09-13T06:10:00.000-07:00

It's time to celebrate another book release!!! Author Lucienne Diver has just come out with her new book REVAMPED, a sequel to her popular VAMPED novel. Let's hear more about it!

About the book:

In VAMPED, Gina and her minions defeated a vampire vixen, a psycho-psychic and the vampire council of Mozulla, Ohio. Gina was all ready to expose vampires to the world in all their fanged fabulosity…until the Feds arrived to sweep everything under the rug and make them an offer they couldn’t refuse.

In REVAMPED, Gina and her boyfriend Bobby are sent undercover to infiltrate a New York high school where some seriously weird stuff is going down. Worse than that, Gina’s new super-secret identity is as goth-girl Geneva Belfry. No color palette to speak of. More chains than a bike rack. And don't even get her started on the shoes. At least she won’t be too worried about blood spatter when kicking the butt of her newest nemesis, who’s decided that the high school makes a perfect playground.

What people are saying:

“This is a witty vampire romance/adventure with plenty of heart and action. Diver has written a supernatural sequel to Vamped (Flux, 2009/VOYA August 2009) that will attract even reluctant readers. It is filled with wry twists, such as the difficulties of trying to apply mascara when, as vampire, you don’t have any reflection in the mirror, as well as the typical agonies of being young and trying to fit in.” —VOYA

“Gina, the 17-year-old fashionista of the undead, is back and as sassy as ever (Vamped, 2009). Thoroughly enjoyable, this sequel is a light, fizzy read… listening in on Gina’s thoughts and quick-witted dialogue is what makes this such a treat.” —Kirkus Reviews

About the author:

Lucienne is a writer by night and a literary agent by day.

Lucienne even stopped by to answer a few questions!

1. Okay, first question. If this were high school, which senior superlative in the yearbook would you score?

Most likely to walk into traffic while reading a book.

2. What is one thing you wish you would have done when you were younger? For me, it’s that I never studied abroad. How about you?

Very similar…I wished I’d had the courage to backpack through Europe. I’ve always wanted to. I’ve made up for lost time traveling as much as possible. So far I’ve seen Mexico, France, Germany, Switzerland, England, Scotland and, um, Canada. Next year the plan is to go to Greece.

3. Now here’s the self-promotion part: Can you please tell us all about your book? We have some book shopping to do!

Absolutely! ReVamped is the second in the Vamped series. My heroine…wait, she wants to tell it. Darn cheeky characters!

Gina here. Okay, here’s the 411:
When we last left our heroine, which would be me, she and her minions—screw it, me and my minions—had just defeated a vampy vixen, a psycho-psychic and the vampire council of Mozulla, Ohio. Go, us! There were network news vans and the whole nine yards. Unfortunately, we don’t show up on film in all our fanged fabulosity, so the Feds were able to come in, sweep it all under the rug and put us to work for them. Whether we liked it or not. Let me tell you, that just bites.

So now, having survived super spy club training, me and my minions are going undercover on our very first assignment. My secret identity…goth girl, Geneva Belfry.

4. So, say your book just got picked up for a movie (congratulations!) Who’s playing your MC?

I actually spent a wonderful evening with two young friends/fans going through teen magazines trying to answer this very same question for myself! Selena Gomez would make a perfect Gina, and Logan Lerman would be a shoe-in for Bobby (though I had Zac Efron in mind when I wrote him).

5. If you could take one literary character to prom, who would it be, and why?

That’s tough! Just one? Hmm, maybe the Scarlet Pimpernel, because I love an idea of a man who’s not afraid to appear foolish, but who has real substance underneath, one who’s swashbuckling and modest. Wait, he’d probably stand me up stopping some super secret plot or another. Guess I’d go with Nat from The Witch of Blackbird Pond…or Peeta from The Hunger Games. Now those are men who are there when you need them! I do love a hero.

6. And finally, since all of the other questions were so serious… What do you hope teens take away from your book?

A good time and a thirst for more. Honestly, these aren’t message books. There may be one or two messages hidden in there somewhere (and if anyone finds one, I hope they’ll tell me)! Primarily, though, I’m just having a blast writing Gina and friends, and I hope the fun is contagious.

***

What great answers! Thank you, Lucienne! This series is AWESOME! Everyone, pick up your copy of REVAMPED today!

How Lois Duncan made me cry...

2010-09-10T08:34:00.000-07:00

Before becoming a writer, I used to teach 7th and 8th grade language arts and literature. It was the highlight of my time in Arizona because I adored my students. ADORED. It was difficult at first because their reading levels posed a challenge, but one thing changed the course of the year--Lois Duncan's books. I'm not sure if you've read Summer of Fear, Down a Dark Hall, I Know What you Did Last Summer, but Duncan's books are pure fun. Mysterious. Awesome.

When I ordered a class set for my 8th graders, we started reading, students taking turns. A lot of them never considered reading for fun (this was before Twilight days). By the end of the week, they were riveted, asking me to read to them, actually stealing the books so they could finish it at home because they didn't want to wait to find out what happened. The minute we finished, they wanted the next book. Then the next. It was amazing to watch.

So when a few months ago an editor asked if any authors would like to contribute a blurb for the re-release of Lois Duncan's books, I jumped at it. I didn't ACTUALLY expect to make it in there, I mean... she's Lois Freaking Duncan!

And then yesterday I received a package and inside were the three titles, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Killing Mr. Griffin, and Don't Look Behind You, with their shiny new covers. I thought it was insanely sweet that the editors at Little,Brown would send them since the books don't come out until next month. That was enough to make my day.

I looked inside at the blurbs on the inside page and saw greats like: Walter Dean Myers, R. L. Stine, JUDY BLUME!, Jenny Han, Chris Crutcher, and more... and then.... I saw ME! Let me be overly dramatic for a second...

I gasped, tears springing to my eyes. "Oh my God!" I grabbed the next book and looked inside, ME AGAIN! I laughed like a crazy person. Checked the third one-Yes!! Tears rolled down my cheeks, not just because my name was there... but because my name was in LOIS DUNCAN'S book, and that meant so much to me. It was like my life had come full circle!!

My blurb?

"Haunting and suspenseful--Duncan's writing captures everything fun about reading!" -Suzanne Young, author of The Naughty List series and A Need so Beautiful

And that is why Lois Duncan made me cry....

Lois Duncan's books will be re-released October 5th, 2010.

Back to School

2010-09-07T08:21:00.001-07:00

The day has finally arrived for my kids to go back to school. I have a luxurious day planned--coffee, Lifetime movie, reading... So I woke up earlier than usual, a spring in my step. I got my kids dressed in their cutest outfits, fixed their hair, all that jazz.

And then we left the house and I talked to them about how to meet people, about being adorable and funny. I left them at the door of the school because they wanted to walk in by themselves (which was good because I'm wearing sweatpants and a Powell's T-shirt). And the minute I pulled away, I expected to exhale and smile.

I'm notoriously unsentimental. It's how I move around so much. How I can give away all of my belonging and never have keepsakes. But today on the way home from school.... I sobbed. I got home and my house was quiet and clean, and I cried some more. I'm haven't complained or yelled once today. I'm absolutely, horribly lonely. I want my kids back!

When did I become such a sap? :-(

xoxo-Suz

Girlfriend's Cyber Circuit: Starring Kristina Springer

2010-09-02T11:56:00.000-07:00

So excited to feature Kristina Springer on my blog today!!! Her newest book MY FAKE BOYFRIEND IS BETTER THAN YOURS is fantastically fun, and for serious, check out the cover. I love it! Let's hear more:

About MY FAKE BOYFRIEND IS BETTER THAN YOURS:

Seventh grade was supposed to be fun, but Tori is having major drama with her BFF, Sienna. Sienna changed a lot over the summer—on the first day of school she’s tan, confident, and full of stories about her new dreamy boyfriend. Tori knows that she’s totally making this guy up. So Tori invents her own fake boyfriend, who is better than Sienna’s in every way. Things are going great—unless you count the whole lying-to-your-best-friend thing—until everyone insists Tori and Sienna bring their boyfriends to the back-to-school dance.

About Kristina:

Kristina Springer is the author of THE ESPRESSOLOGIST, MY FAKE BOYFRIEND IS BETTER THAN YOURS and the forthcoming PUMPKIN PRINCESS (fall 2011). She has a Masters in Writing from DePaul University and she resides outside of Chicago with her husband and children. Visit her at www.KristinaSpringer.com.

Online
Web-site: www.KristinaSpringer.com
Blogs: KristinaSpringer.blogspot.com, author2author.blogspot.com
Other: @TinaSpringer on twitter, facebook.com/KristinaSpringer

What People Are Saying About MY FAKE BOYFRIEND IS BETTER THAN YOURS:

“The sheer exhaustion of a fake-boyfriend arms race, with the need to create fake email accounts and to come up with competing romantic gestures on the fly, is cleverly depicted.” –Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“The themes will resonate with any girl who’s ever gone through the hardships of middle school: friendship, boys, popularity, and, most importantly, choosing to do the right, but often more difficult, thing. A fun read.” –School Library Journal

“The dialogue is realistic, and Springer brings refreshing personalities to standard character types; Tori’s parents are divorced, but both parents are active in her life, for instance, and the popular girls aren’t mean.” –Kirkus Reviews

Kristina took the time to answer a few super important questions!

1. Okay, first question. If this were high school, which senior superlative in the yearbook would you score?

Silliest

2. What is one thing you wish you would have done when you were younger? For me, it’s that I never studied abroad. How about you?

Oh my gosh, same thing! I was so close to doing a summer abroad in college and then my lame-o boyfriend at the time said he’d miss me too much. Pbbbt! It was such a Lauren Conrad move, I should have gone abroad!

3. Now here’s the self-promotion part: Can you please tell us all about your book? We have some book shopping to do!

My Fake Boyfriend is Better Than Yours is about two 7th grade BFFs who get in a crazy and funny competition of the fake boyfriends. When Tori’s BFF Sienna comes back from a summer away and is suddenly glamorous, confident, gorgeous, AND bragging about her Mr. Wonderful new boyfriend Antonio, Tori is sure it’s all talk and figures, hey, two can play at this game and creates her own conveniently long-distance boyfriend who just so happens to be better than Sienna’s in every way. It’s fun, fun, fun!

4. So, say your book just got picked up for a movie (congratulations!) Who’s playing your MC?

Bella Thorne from ABC's "Dirty, Sexy Money" and NBC's "My Own Worst Enemy" would make a cute Tori Barnes!

5. If you could take one literary character to prom, who would it be, and why?

Hmm, well I wouldn’t want him to be a werewolf, vampire, zombie, or killer unicorn so this is a toughie. I think I’d take Owen from Sara Dessen’s Just Listen. Owen is completely swoon-worthy—he’s endearing because he’s the sweet, outcast, loner guy obsessed with music and not the typical Mr. Gorgeous all the girls are dying to date.

6. And finally, since all of the other questions were so serious… What do you hope teens take away from your book?

Smiles. My books are fun!

Thanks for stopping by, Kristina!! And everyone, pick up your copy today!

Novel Graveyard

2010-08-29T12:40:00.000-07:00

Another installment of NEVADA FALLS--an unedited, unpublished manuscript from my graveyard. Catch up on the story HERE, or you can read all of the other graveyards.

I sometimes skip chapters to keep the length short for posts, and there is swearing, so you've been warned. :-)

NEVADA FALLS

“What’s the damage?” Marisol asked as I sat down at our lunch table. Trevor had fifth period lunch, so the table consisted of Marisol and me. Oh, and occasionally Dante Walker. But he didn’t count. He was a freshman.

“Detention all next week,” I said in between bites of my salami sandwich. “With Becker.”

“Shit,” she said. “You didn’t get suspended? Girl, you are lucky.”

I nodded. “If they knew about the firecrackers, I could have been arrested. Nice job, by the way. Totally believable.”

“Why, thank you,” Marisol said, bowing her head.

“Maybe you should try out for the school play.”

“I’d rather stab myself in the eye with this spork, but thanks for the suggestion.”

“Snob.”

Just then, I caught sight of Becker, making his way from the lunch line. He’d changed. Damn. I really wanted to capture a picture of him in pink with my camera phone. I had forgotten to take one earlier.

“Ugh,” Marisol said. “Looks like Mr. Fantastic got his mommy to bring him more clothes.”

“Looks like it.”

I ran my eyes over him. His shirt was new. Preppy. I hated it on him. Becker looked natural in a uniform or T-shirt. Not these sweaters or button-up crap.

Then I wondered who he was dressing for these days.

As if to answer my question, he sat at a table full of cheerleaders. I looked down and picked up my sandwich.

“Trevor got called into the office,” Marisol said.

I paused mid-bite. “For what?”

“Your uncle called him in to talk about getting punched by Becker.”

“Is Becker going to get suspended?”

“Nope,” she said, sipping loudly from her milk. “Trevor covered for him.”

“What?” He was such a coward.

“He didn’t want to get punched again. You can’t really blame him, Nevada.”

“I can. And I will. I got detention for sticking up for him when he won’t even stick up for himself.”

Marisol scowled.

Something bumped me hard from behind. I knocked into the table and spilled my orange juice. “Ow,” I yelled, spinning around in my seat.

“Sorry,” Olivia Shepard said, as she tossed her bleached hair over her shoulder. “You should watch where you’re going, Pierce.”

“What? I’m sitting down, you twit.”

She stopped in her flip-flops. “Excuse me?”

Stupid cheerleaders. They thought people feared them because they could do a high kick. Yeah, well, I wore boots. I’d say we were about even.

“Look, Shepard.” (As in the dog) “I was sitting here, minding my own business. You’re the fool who can’t walk straight. Now go find someone else to worship you.”

“Everybody hates you,” she hissed. “And although the little stunt you pulled on Becker may have cracked everyone else up, I think you’re a bitch.”

I sucked at my teeth and titled my head. “And I think you’re a skank.” I yawned. “Wow, Liv. This is super fun and all, but unless we’re going to go at it, I’d like to finish my lunch.”

“But you should probably skip yours,” Marisol called out to her. “Because your ass looks really fat in that cheerleading skirt.”

And Olivia’s mouth fell open with a combination of anger and self-consciousness. The popular were so easy to mindfuck.

***

There was something about an unfinished home. It was full of possibilities. I stepped in through the wooden doorframe onto the concrete slab. It wasn’t dark outside and I looked up through the slats that would some day become a ceiling and saw the stars.

Then I took a breath and began wandering around. I’d been to this neighborhood before. Track homes. Built in about six months. I visited at least once a week, watching as the foundation was poured, the framing began, the siding went up. It was fascinating. The best part was at the end, after they drywalled. You could walk through a home.

I sometimes wondered what types of families were moving in. If they had kids. If they had pets. If they had dads.

Crossing over to the next house, I was excited. It was my personal favorite. They’d just finished the outside stucco and the front door was hung on its hinges. Sometimes when they got this close to completion the builders locked the doors. I tried it and smiled when it opened easily.

It smelled like plaster. I moved through the huge living room, the kitchen, the family room. The house had to have at least five bedrooms. It was the nicest on the block. Or would be when it was done.

I ran my hand over the banister as I climbed the steps. Last time I was here, they were still nailing down the stairs and I couldn’t reach the second floor. I was excited to see what was up there.

Not one. Not two. But three bathrooms were being built. What sort of family needed three bathrooms on one floor? When this house was done, I was going to come back and pretend to sell Girl Scout cookies or something, just to see what sort of people lived here.

Other than the master, the bedrooms were small. There was still one more on the other side of the hallway. I walked toward it. The door was closed. I turned the handle.

“What the hell?” a female voice yelled.

I jumped back, frightened. Then I froze as I looked in the room. There was Olivia Shepard, on the floor, on top of a blanket, half dressed.
With Becker.

My stomach turned. At least this time he had his shirt on.

“Get out!” Olivia screamed. “What are you some sort of perv?”

I turned my back to them, but I was so stunned. She was my nemesis. And he was my ex-boyfriend. Oh my God. They were about to screw in my favorite house! What were the chances?

“Nevada?” Becker was out of breath. Practically whispered my name.

But then something else hit me. My face hot with embarrassment, I slammed the door and rushed toward the stairs. Wow. I couldn’t believe what just happened. I couldn’t believe that I had to see it.

No wonder that wench had shoulder-bumped me at lunch. She was doing Becker. Ugh. She was so gross. And he was so freaking predictable. I was glad I silly-stringed his ass.

I practically ran out the front door and made for my house. I was halfway there when I realized something. I’d forgotten my backpack. At the sex house.

Shit.

Later that night, as I stared at the ceiling from my bed, all I could think about was Olivia’s high-pitched squeal. Her leopard print bra. The way her lip stick was smeared across her cheek.

But then, I thought about Becker. The way he whispered my name. And how, in some sick and twisted way, I wanted him to do it again. The way he used to.

Mockingjay Release

2010-08-24T09:19:00.000-07:00

Last night was the midnight release of Suzanne Collin's final book in the Hunger Games trilogy MOCKINGJAY. And I was there! It was super fun and the first thing I did when I got my book was open to the last three pages and read. Yep. That's how I roll.

But no spoilers here. Instead, PICTURES with my friends Lisa Schroeder (dressed as Katniss) and Sara Gundell!

The scene outside Powell's City of Books. The line wrapped around the building, but when 12 hit, it moved super fast. Big thumbs up to Powell's!

Catching up on CATCHING FIRE in line. Luckily me and Sara are both Peeta fans (BE QUIET!) so we reread his makeout scene.

Things got a little tense in line...

But we worked it out.

And finally we got inside:

And all was right with the world....

Enjoy the book!!!!!

So... what are you doing tonight?

2010-08-22T21:19:00.000-07:00

Dorky? Maybe. But, yes. I'm going to the midnight release of MOCKINGJAY Monday night. Now.... who's coming with me???????

Novel Graveyard

2010-08-17T12:36:00.000-07:00

Continuing the Novel Graveyard from yesterday, here is more of Nevada Falls. It is my unedited, unfinished book. Catch up on the story HERE or view all the other Novel Graveyards HERE

NEVADA FALLS-by Suzanne Young
The office secretary stared at us. Becker and I sat shoulder to shoulder (not by choice) on the waiting area couch. Becker was still half-naked. And his blond hair was stained pink, even though he had picked most of the string out of it. We matched.

“Mr. Martinez will be out in a minute,” the secretary called, even though we hadn’t asked.

“Great,” Becker mumbled.

“Hey,” I said to him. “That means you get to show off your pecks a little longer, tough guy.”

“What is your problem, Pierce?” He turned suddenly, startling me. Maybe now wasn’t the best time to continue harassing him. Becker was heaving in breaths and…oh my God. Was he going to cry?

“Are you going to cry?”

“Shut up, Nevada,” he said. I paused. I hadn’t seen him cry since the day he’d come to the hospital. The day of the accident.

My eyes met his and I was surprised by how incredibly sad he looked. There was a tug at my heart. I turned away and stared down at my gloves.

“You’re such a…” He stopped and then crossed his arms and slid away from me.

“Such a what?” I asked. I didn’t know what he thought of me anymore. I hadn’t talked to him in eight months. I hardly even looked at him.

“Nevada? Becker?” Principal Martinez interrupted from his doorway. He wasn’t too bad as far as principals went. At least he didn’t look at me like my teachers did. It probably helped that he was my uncle. My father’s half-brother. Wait. Did that make him my half-uncle?

I stood up, grabbing my pack from the floor near my boots. I could feel Becker behind me. He must have been really uncomfortable. With the whole shirtless thing still going on.

“Rita,” Mr. Martinez said to the secretary as we walked past her. “Can you get a extra shirt from the nurse’s office?”

Becker’s mouth opened. “You had shirts this whole time?”

Mr. Martinez nodded and motioned for us to sit down. Becker scoffed and took the uncomfortable chair on the left. He then scooted it as far away from the other chair as possible. He was being a bit overdramatic if you asked me.

“Baby,” I mumbled as I sat down.

“Bitch.”

I shot him a look just as my uncle sat at his desk. “Now,” he said, folding his hands in front of him. “Who’d like to start?”

Neither Becker nor I moved. There was a quick knock at the door as the secretary entered. Holding a pink t-shirt.
“Sorry,” she said, looking at Becker. “I only had a large in the female.”

I cracked up.

“I’m not wearing this,” Becker said as he took the shirt from her hands.

“Yes, you are,” Mr. Martinez said. “The district has rules about proper attire. And no attire at all is a violation. Just put it on.”

Becker waited and for a second and I didn’t think he was going to listen. Then, begrudgingly, he slid the pink fabric over his head and straightened it on his chest. He was a Panther. In Pink. I freaking loved it.

“Cute,” I said.

“We’ll talk later, Pierce,” he replied.

“Enough,” Mr. Martinez interrupted. “Nevada, where is his shirt?”

“Gross, I didn’t take it.”

“She superglued me to my chair,” Becker said. “I had to take it off to get up.”

I swear, there was a brief smile on my uncle’s lips. “Wow,” he said, but I was pretty sure he was stalling so that he didn’t bust out laughing.

“And she sprayed me with silly string. The whole can.”

Mr. Martinez took his folded palms and put them against his mouth as he nodded.

“He can’t prove any of that,” I announced. Well he couldn’t. There weren’t any witnesses.

Becker turned to me, his mouth hanging open. “You’re seriously going to deny it?”

“I plead the fifth.” I looked down to pick at my fingers and then paused. The index finger of my black glove was bright pink from spraying the can.

“Hah!” Becker called, pointing at me. “See.”

My uncle glanced at my hand and then dropped his eyes. I wasn’t sure if he was thinking about my pink finger or my gloves. Or the scars underneath them.

“Nevada,” he asked. “Why on Earth would do something like this?”

He sounded disappointed. It flooded me with painful memories. He sounded like my father.

I met his eyes. “He punched Trevor in the hall the other day, and when we reported it, the security guard and your secretary didn’t believe us. I didn’t think it was fair for Roid Rage over here to go around punching people.”

“I don’t take steroids,” Becker said.

“You sure?” I asked. “Have you checked your package lately? I hear it shrinks your testicles.”

“Nevada!” Mr. Martinez snapped.

“I saw it on Discovery Health,” I mumbled.

My uncle held up his hand. “That’s enough. Both of you, after school, all next week. You’re lucky I’m not suspending you.”

“So lucky,” I said.

Mr. Martinez shot me a look then motioned toward the door. “Back to class.”

I got up, thrilled that stupid Becker would have to spend the day in a pink Panthers t-shirt, but my uncle ruined the fun.

“And Becker, you can call your parents to bring you down another shirt if you want.”

“Oh, great. Thanks,” Becker said with more sarcasm than necessary. Mr. Martinez huffed.

As we parted ways in the waiting room, I glanced at Becker. “Good luck, loser.” “I’ll be seeing you after school, Nevada.”

He wasn’t looking at me, but the way he said my name gave me chills. Not because I was scared of him. Please.

But because my name in his mouth… it reminded me of all the times he stood on the sidelines, watching me during practice. It reminded me that I used to love him.