Six Interviews on a Friday

Here are the final six WBBT interviews. If you haven’t had a chance to read them, please be sure to make some time. There is a wealth of information you can learn on writing craft.

• Marilyn Singer at Writing and Ruminating
• Jennifer Donnelly at Shelf Elf
• Ted Chiang at Shaken & Stirred
• Sofia Quintero at A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy
• Maria Snyder at Finding Wonderland
• Julie Kagawa at HipWriterMama

Go here for highlights and shiny links for more Winter Blog Blast Tour interviews.Enjoy!

WBBT Interview: Chemistry, Persistence and Julie Kagawa

Julie Kagawa

I’ve posted Julie Kagawa’s WBBT interview over at my new HipWriterMama blog. It seems so selfish not to share it with all of you, so here’s the introduction to Julie’s interview. For more info about Julie’s writing tips and process, go here.

———-

When I heard the buzz about Julie Kagawa’s debut YA novel, THE IRON KING, I had to check it out. Not only did fans rave about how much they enjoyed the book, they were also quite vocal about the two love interests — Team Puck vs. Team Ash. In the spirit of research, I decided to read this series to find out whether the story, and of course the chemistry of the characters, worked. How could I resist?

The good news…yes,these books certainly hold up to the buzz. The bad news? THE IRON QUEEN isn’t out until February 2011 and then there will be a wait for THE IRON KNIGHT, from Ash’s POV…

Julie creates a fascinating world with riveting characters. Talk about a page turner. And Puck and Ash? *sigh* Ash is sizzling hot; Puck is a total keeper. There. I’ve said it.

Are you ready to find out more about the woman behind this fey world? You know the drill. It’s time to go over to my new HipWriterMama blog — www.hipwritermama.com — for the rest of Julie Kagawa’s WBBT interview. You’ll be glad you did. See you there!

WBBT Interview: Finding Time to be Good Enough with Paula Yoo

I’ve posted Paula Yoo’s WBBT interview over at my new HipWriterMama blog. It seems so selfish not to share it with all of you, so here’s the introduction to Paula’s interview. For more info about Paula’s writing tips and process, go here.

----------

I first heard about Paula Yoo when her book, GOOD ENOUGH, was the featured title for readergirlz in September 2008. I've read a handful of YA books that resonate completely with me, in terms of my own teenage experiences. GOOD ENOUGH is one of them.

Paula is MULTI-TALENTED and keeps herself busy. Not only is she a children's book writer, Paula is also a tv writer (currently Co-Producer for the Eureka series on The SyFy Channel and may I also add, has writing credits to NBC’s The West Wing!!!) and a professional classical and alternative rock violinist. And may I repeat, Paula writes books!

How does she find the time to write books? Well my pretties, read further and you'll discover Paula's secrets. Kick back and hold on. This is good stuff.

You know the drill. It’s time to go over to my new HipWriterMama blog — www.hipwritermama.com — for the rest of Paula Yoo’s WBBT interview. You’ll be glad you did. See you there!

2010 WBBT: Writing, Humor, and the Emotional Truth with Allen Zadoff

Allen Zadoff

I’ve posted Allen Zadoff’s WBBT interview over at my new HipWriterMama blog. It seems so selfish not to share it with all of you, so here’s the introduction to Allen’s interview. For more info about Allen’s writing tips and process, go here. Thank you!

------------

I am so pleased to welcome Allen Zadoff to my blog. Allen is the author of FOOD, GIRLS, and OTHER THINGS I CAN'T HAVE, one of my favorite reads this year. This book has special powers--it made me laugh out loud, cry, and then start laughing again. Allen is a master of getting to the core of an emotion and twisting every drop of it to bring out humor. It should be no surprise FOOD, GIRLS, and OTHER THINGS I CAN'T HAVE received the honorable distinction of winning the 2010 SCBWI Sid Fleischman Humor Award.

Of course once Allen agreed to an interview, I had to read his bio on his website. It should be no coincidence this was meant to be... Allen was born in Boston; I live near Boston. He lived in upstate New York; I grew up there. We both graduated from the same college. See what I mean? I know, I know. It's a stretch, but maybe some of Allen's humor will rub off on my writing...

Wait until you read what Allen has to say. He is simply a wonderful soul. You're going to want to grab your favorite beverage and hang out for awhile.

Oh, wait! It's time to go over to my new HipWriterMama blog — www.hipwritermama.com — for the rest of Allen Zadoff’s WBBT interview. You’ll be glad you did. See you there!

WBBT Interview: Opening up Worlds with R.J. Anderson

I've posted R.J. Anderson's WBBT interview over at my new HipWriterMama blog. It seems so selfish not to share it with all of you, so here's a portion of Rebecca's interview. For more info about Rebecca's writing tips and process, go here. Thank you!

----------
When I first read FAERY REBELS: SPELL HUNTER by Canadian writer R.J. Anderson, I was expecting the typical faery story. Instead, I found a whole new world to explore. What a joy!

R.J. Anderson, known to her friends and family as Rebecca, wrote a wonderful, imaginative series which will engage MG readers. Rebecca takes age-old myths of powerful faeries and makes them work to find their strengths, while the weak are capable of far more than we ever would give them credit for in real life. Doesn't this sound like a story you'd like to read?

Oddly enough, we need to wait for Rebecca's faery books. R.J. Anderson is a bestselling fantasy author in the UK. Rebecca's debut book, KNIFE ( aka FAERY REBELS: SPELL HUNTER in the US), was a nominee for the 2010 Carnegie Medal of Literature. It hardly seems fair we need to wait for these books to make their way to the United States. Currently, FAERY REBELS: SPELL HUNTER (Book 1) and WAYFARER (Book 2) are available in the US. Book 3, ARROW, will be released in the UK January 2011, with no set US release date. Sigh.

Lest you think all Rebecca writes is about faeries, just wait. ULTRAVIOLET, her YA paranormal thriller, will be out next year (Orchard Books UK, Carolrhoda Lab US, Summer/Fall of 2011). This is a far cry from the faery world...



Curious about the author behind these worlds? Time to go over to my HipWriterMama blog — www.hipwritermama.com-- for the rest of R.J. Anderson's WBBT interview. You’ll be glad you did. See you there!

WBBT 2010 Interview Schedule

• Elizabeth Hand at Chasing Ray
• Maya Gold at Bildungsroman
• L.K. Madigan at Writing & Ruminating
• Paolo Bacigalupi at A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy
• R.J. Anderson at HipWriterMama

Tuesday

• B.A. Binns at The Happy Nappy Bookseller
• Daisy Whitney at Bildungsroman
• Adam Gidwitz at Fuse Number 8
• Salley Mavor at Seven Impossible Things
• Josh Berk at Finding Wonderland

Wednesday

• Andrea Seigel at Shaken & Stirred
• Adele Griffin at Bildungsroman
• Susan Campbell Bartoletti at Chasing Ray
• Charles Benoit at A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy
• Sarah MacLean at Writing & Ruminating
• Allen Zadoff at HipWriterMama

Thursday

• Kathi Appelt at Shelf Elf
• Heidi Ayarbe at The Happy Nappy Bookseller
• Julia DeVillers & Jennifer Roy at Bildungsroman
• LeUyen Pham at Finding Wonderland
• Paula Yoo at Hip Writer Mama

Friday

• Marilyn Singer at Writing and Ruminating
• Jennifer Donnelly at Shelf Elf
• Ted Chiang at Shaken & Stirred
• Sofia Quintero at A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy
• Maria Snyder at Finding Wonderland
• Julie Kagawa at HipWriterMama

Go here for highlights and shiny links for more Winter Blog Blast Tour interviews. If you haven’t had a chance to read them, please be sure to make some time. There’s a wealth of information you can learn on writing craft. Enjoy!

A NOVEL GIFT: First Book and readergirlz

BREAKING NEWS! readergirlz and First Book are partnering to give away more than 125,000 brand-new books to low-income teen readers.

They’re great books, too, donated by generous publishers. Among the three dozen choices are P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast’s HOUSE OF NIGHT series and Alyson Noël’s SHADOWLAND.

We need your help getting the word out about the A Novel Gift campaign. Right now! Right now! As in, now!

Let's get organizations serving these teens registered with First Book so they can be matched with inventory during the holidays.

Here’s what we need you to do: Post to Facebook and tweet your beak off about these books using the hashtag #novelgift.

Here’s a tinyurl link to their registration page: http://tinyurl.com/2a5mwpj.

Or you can link to this readergirlz blog post: http://readergirlz.blogspot.com/2010/11/novel-gift-over-125000-free-books-to.html

Then, get in touch with every group you can think of that works with young adults–schools, after-school programs, church youth groups, community centers, etc.—and let them know that these books are available now.

The five-minute online registration these groups can use is here:
http://booksforkids.firstbook.org/register/.

First Book is also eager to answer questions, either by email to help@firstbook.org, or by phone at 866-READ-NOW or 866-732-3669.

If you participate, please drop us a note at readergirlz@gmail.com to be included in our blog roll of thanks to run December 31.

Be a part of A Novel Gift! OK, go!
Thank you,
from First Book and the readergirlz teams.