somewhere in the middle

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: The Genius Files: Mission Unstoppable

2012-02-06T05:53:00.000-08:00

BUT first the winners of the MG Mash up Giveaway:

The Cabinet of Earths goes to:

Barbara Watson

The Invisible Tower goes to:

Charlotte

cheers ladies.

I found my MMGM pick on my last book binge. I needed to get Dan Gutman's chapter book series My Weird School and found The Genius Files. While I read it this week, my girls were constantly asking about the characters and wanted to know what was happening. I wouldn't answer directly because I want them to read it. Lore is loving The Invisible Tower but she wants to read this book next before

. I can understand why, the cover is intriguing and the book doesn't disappoint.

The Genius Files: Mission Unstoppable by Dan Gutman

Published in 2011

Other books in this series:

Never Say Genius (#2) releases Jan 24 2012 (I must have just missed it during my binge)

Other books by this author:

My Weird School series (chapter books)

The Million Dollar series

A Baseball Card Adventure series

The Homework Machine

The Kid Who Ran for President

The Hook: Just before summer break, mysterious men attempt to kill the twins, Coke and Pepsi. Why? That's what Pep and Coke want to know. As their family travels across country the twins narrowly escape many attempts on their life and discover they are recruits for a top secret government agency TGF: The Genius Files.

Why I loved it: Adventure and characters. When the main characters are named Coke and Pepsi McDonald, do I really need to say anymore? Still, Gutman delievers relatable, lovable characters. My daughters could not get over the names, they thought it was so funny and would want me to tell them more about the kids. Plus the story is a rolling adventure and completely entertaining. Gutman also throws in lots of random facts about different places and things in America--educationally entertaining. I would recommend this to boys, girls and, more importantly, reluctant readers. The action and pacing will keep kids reading. And the best part is the second book in the series just released, so I guess I'll have to go by the bookstore this week.

Want More? Visit Dan Gutman's webpage. It has a fun Genius Files book trailer on the homepage.

Other Fabulous MMGMers:

So here's a deep thought for you (since the kids are genius smart and my husband and I just watched Limitless on Netflix this weekend): if you could use 100% of your brain, essentially becoming a super genius, but would be crippled by some sort of physical deformity (think Stephen Hawking), would you still do it?

Do you like my term "super genius," clearly I fit into that category (wink). I'm not going to lie, ultimate brain power and knowledge is on my wish list, I think I would take it with the deformity. My husband thinks I'm crazy. But a little crazy is a good thing, right?

Middle Grade Mash Up + Giveaway

2012-02-01T08:03:00.000-08:00

What is the Middle Grade Mash Up? I'll pick two books published in 2012 in a similar genre and then review and pick a winner at the end of the month.

I'm pitting The Cabinet of Earths vs The Invisible Tower in this month's mash up: magical realism. Then at the end of the month I'll review them both with my daughter and we'll pick a winner. If you want to read along, please do.

Which would you want to read first?

I picked Cabinet of Earths. Lore picked The Invisible Tower.

To make the mash up interesting, I'm giving away a copy of each book. So leave a comment (with your email if I can't get it from your profile) to enter to win. I'll draw two winners super randomly. Good luck. I'll pick the winners on Saturday Feb 4.

My Fluffy Book Club Needs Your Help

2012-01-31T19:54:00.000-08:00

So besides reading middle grade, I'm in two book clubs (a regular read-it-all and a fluffy). My Fluffy book club reads books that fit in the thriller/YA/Mystery/ChickLit categories. You know, the books you read and love but there's no discussion except: Did you read? Can you believe? That was awesome.

So we're putting together a list of books to vote which ones to read. This is where I need your help, I need to know what fluffy books you are drooling over. I've been out of it and offline. I'm trying to unplug from the Internet more this year and complete the stories that tug at me each night. HELP ME PLEEEEAAASSE. please.

What YA/Thriller/Mystery/ChickLit books would you want on the fluffy book list?

She's Crafty: Pacing

2012-01-26T00:53:00.000-08:00

Yeah, it's almost 2 in the morning, I've been writing my brains out. Then I powered up with a burrito and thought I would break for second to talk about pacing.

What is pacing? It's the flow of your story (that's my late night opinion). What does it mean for my writing? Specifically, it means my story starts too slow. My story definitely picks up in the middle but I need to drive the first fifty pages with higher stakes and more action to keep my reader invested.

In order to up the stakes, I've slashed chapters, cut character backstory and woven character decisions into the action (that hopefully develop my characters more than the slashed backstory). I'm not going to lie, it was messy. I didn't like myself in the morning sometimes, but it had to be done.

So how do I decide if my pacing is okay? It's all about the stakes and whether I feel genuine concern for my characters. My story is an adventure, so I want to feel peril, anxiety, stress, or adrenaline on every page. It should read like a roller coaster, saving the biggest drop/loop till the end. If I don't feel it on the page, I evaluate what is lacking.

Why is pacing so important? Because kids will stop reading.

I was talking to my sister today and we were talking about what page number we stop at if the story doesn't hold our interest. I used to give a book 100 pages before I put it down, now it's twenty. Yup, Girl with the Dragon Tatoo is a drink coaster at my house. Seriously, what is up with its crazy boring beginning? Props to those of you who hung on for the whole thing. My sister stops reading at 80 pages, she's kinder than me.

My daughters: Lore (9) stops at page 30 but she drags her feet if it doesn't pick up. She put down Mockingbird at page 10. Who wants to read about a dead brother, Mom?

Bryn (almost 8) stops at page 5 if it doesn't amuse her or make her laugh. And she's still in the reluctant stage where she won't finish the book if a chapter gets mildly boring. It's frightening how quickly she can become uninvested.

When do you stop reading?

And how do you keep your pace strong and stakes high in the beginning and/or middle of your story?

I binged on middle grade

2012-01-24T13:29:00.000-08:00

And I just realized I forgot to do MMGM yesterday. These weeks are flying. Anyway, I had to go to the bookstore for something small and came home with a stack.

What I bought:

The Swiss Family Robinson by Wyss (Classic)
My Weirder School #1: Miss Child Has Gone Wild! by Gutman (the destination book)
The Invisible Tower by Johnson-Shelton
The Cabinet of Earths by Nesbet
The Genius Files: Mission Unstoppable by Gutman
Snow in Summer by Yolen
Tuesdays at the Castle by George
Winterling by Prineas (I heart the cover)
The Last Musketeer by Gibbs
Hallowed by Hand (my YA splurge)

Ten books: that's not too bad, right?

Which would you want to read first?

I'm kinda leaning toward The Last Musketeer. I'm a sucker for Dumas-inspired stories.

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: The Shadows (The Book of Elsewhere #1)

2012-01-09T06:44:00.000-08:00

I bought this book because I heart the cover. Seriously, heart it. So I thought I would start the year with cover love and title love and story love too.

My MMGM pick:

The Book of Elsewhere (#1): The Shadows

by Jacqueline West

published 2010

Other Books by this author:

Spellbound (The Books of Elsewhere #2) 2011

The Hook: When 11 year old Olive moves into an old mansion she discovers the house is hiding secrets and that she can enter the paintings that are stuck to its walls. She uncovers a power that wants to destroy her and the house, and it is up to her to stop the dark shadows.

Why I loved it: Characters and imagination. The story is very clever and I love the fantastical element of the paintings, Elsewhere, and the plot. The story can be a bit scary at times but it is a fabulous adventure. I haven't got to book 2 yet but want to--it is definitely on my to-buy list. This is a great book for both boys and girls. I would also recommend this to reluctant readers; the story moves quickly and should hold their attention.

Other Fabulous MMGMers:

So I'm trying to decide what books to pick for this month's middle grade mash up, what new middle grade new releases are you most excited to read?

Happy New Year and the Ebook Surprise

2012-01-06T12:47:00.000-08:00

Yes, I took an extended blog vacation from Thanksgiving till now. What can I say? I love to party...and write. I wrote a ton over the break. I read a ton over the break too.

But now I'm back and full of thoughts and book recommendations. Plus I'm a goals girl, so I have a new idea for the new year.

A Monthly Middle Grade Mash Up

I will pick two new release MG books at the beginning of each month. Then I will read said books during the month and determine a winner. Then if you choose to read along with me, you can comment on my judging skills. (So now I've said it out loud, I've got to do it.)

Now for the Ebook surprise...

This Christmas, most of my (9 yr old) daughter's friends got Ereaders for Christmas. What, What?!?! 9 year olds. So I take back what I asked a few months ago about whether middle graders had e-readers, because now my daughter is one of the few without. From a marketing perspective (yes, I was a marketer before a stay-at-home mom), that means e-readers are no longer in early adoption but early majority.

And with Kindle's library enabled readers and possible rent-a-book system that works like Netflix, what does that mean for middle grade authors?

Should we continue to seek traditional publishing? I still think yes to this because it comes with a marketing team but only from the big houses.

What does this mean for small publishers? I know a girl that just got dropped from her small press and is now shopping her polished manuscript to other publishers.

As a hopeful debut author, the temptation to self publish is growing. I still want to get an agent and a house just to say I did it the hard way.

I don't know, what do you think?

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Treasure Island

2011-11-14T05:29:00.000-08:00

I hunger for adventure, maybe that's why I love middle grade fiction so much. For middle graders anything is possible. One of my favorite adventures as a child was Treasure Island and I just handed it to my daughter this week. She's an adventure girl as well. She's excited to start and that makes me smile. My once reluctant reader is reading Treasure Island.

Treasure Island by Robert L Stevenson

First published in 1881

The Hook: Jim Hawkins, a young teenager, finds himself on a ship overrun by mutinous pirates who go in search of treasure.

Why I love it: Characters and Adventure. This is the classic pirate story and who doesn't love Jim or Long John Silver? This peg-legged man haunted my dreams as a kid. While this story is great for boys it is not for reluctant readers. It takes a while before the ship sets sea and mutiny ensues.

What classic story did you love as a kid?

Other Fabulous MMGMers:

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Books I'm Drooling Over

2011-11-07T05:24:00.000-08:00

Right now I'm salivating to get

my hands on a bunch of middle grade new releases. So today I thought I would do something a bit different for MMGM, instead of doing a review, I thought I would fuel the hype around the 3 books on my wish list right now:

Diary of a Wimpy Kid #6: Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney

Why I geek out over Wimpy Kid: Voice and Humor. Kinney is one of the best examples of middle grade voice (to me). If I need help channelling my 11 yr old boy, I read Wimpy Kid. Plus the books are always hilarious and seem to capture all the magic and awkwardness of being in middle school. My husband loves them for the sibling rivalry. He was the oldest of 4 boys. He completely relates to Roderick. This series is perfect for boys and reluctant readers, but I also recommend them to parents. They crack me up and I can't get enough of them.

Heroes of Olympus #2: The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

Why this is the best series Riordan has put out: Style and twisting what wasn't broken. Percy Jackson was a great series but the story ended. The Red Pyramid did not fill my Riordan-read-lust...while it was entertaining, I just couldn't get into the Egyptian confusion and I hated Sadie. I only read the first 80 pages of the ...second book in the series (I can't remember the name and don't care to look it up) because I have no love for it. But then he redeemed himself with the Heroes of Olympus series by merging it with the Percy Jackson cast. Love the twist, love the characters, and finally love the style. (Riordan's writing style bothered me in Percy but I forgave him because he writes tight action and plot.) Heroes has great style and action. And I love that Percy is back in the story. I need this book.

An Accidental Adventure #2: We Dine With Cannibals by C. Alexander London

Why my daughter is freaking out about this book: Adventure and age-appropriate. The Accidental Adventure has great characters and tons of non-stop action. Lauren ripped through the first book and has asked me every week since when the second would be coming out. Hurray, it is finally coming out. Now do I get it now or put it in her stocking?

Exciting times we live in. What middle grade book(s) are on your want list right now?

Other Fabulous MMGMers:

My Fave Middle Grade Historical Fiction: Sounder

2011-11-03T18:31:00.000-07:00

When Micheal asked what is my favorite middle grade historical fiction, it was an easy answer: Sounder by William H. Armstrong. The first book to make me cry (actual tears) as a kid. It won the Newberry Medal in 1970. I read the book in 5th grade and the story still affects me.

The Hook: The story follows a poor African American boy growing up in the South. His father is a sharecropper and struggling to provide for his family. The father and his dog, Sounder, go hunting every night but come home empty-handed until one morning the family wakes to the smell of ham. Unfortunately the father is arrested, convicted, and taken away from his family. The boy and a wounded Sounder try to find the father.

Why I loved it as a child: Growing up in California, I didn't really comprehend racism or the struggles of African Americans in the South. This book really opened my eyes to their hardships, inequalities, and illiteracy. Also I loved a bit with a dog. I cried when Sounder was shot, I cried when the dad and dog died.

Love this book. Not so much for reluctant readers but a book I think middle graders should all read.

Do you have a favorite MG historical fiction from your childhood?

Where have I been?

2011-10-25T22:25:00.000-07:00

on vacation (Mt Rushmore--it's a right of passage for people who live in Colorado)...fall break. The kids are starting to wear on my last nerve and Denver just got snow. I guess it's a sled day tomorrow.

Plus, all kinds of exciting is happening in the blog world and I'm having trouble catching up.

On the upside, I'm 25 K into my first draft of my new story and I had a stroke of brilliance on a new story idea. I'm gathering my characters for that story now.

So the question is: do I write my draft that's zooming, start a new story, polish an old or just read the blogs and go to bed?

How's your week?

She's Crafty: First Lines

2011-10-11T08:13:00.000-07:00

I do not hinge my interest in a story based on the first line, but I do notice when it is done well. A great book should hook the reader from the first line, first paragraph, and first page (and really till the end of chapter one) pulling the reader deeper into the characters and the plot.

I've even read somewhere that a debut author should treat each chapter like a chapter one.

This makes sense for middle grade, when readers can be reluctant and will easily put the book down if it doesn't hold their interest.

So I decided to do an experiment. I took the top five middle grade books in my To-Read pile and picked my next book based only on the first line.

Here are the first lines, which would you pick?

"Take good care of this girl," Miss Beatty told the coachman. --The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall
Ms. McMartin was definitely dead. --The Books of Elsewhere: The Shadows
The house was a mansion, the lake was a pool, Kitty was a dog, and Juniper Berry was an eleven-year-old girl. --Juniper Berry.
I was fairly sure I would not leave the meeting alive. --The 39 Clues: The Black Book of Buried Secrets #1
The hat in question was owned by Mrs. Constance Lovestock. --The Emerald Atlas

It actually took me awhile to decide. The Ghost of C Hall didn't cut it, neither did The Emerald Atlas which is funny because I've heard amazing things about both books and The Emerald Atlas was at the top of my pile. (The only reason I haven't read it is because Lauren and her friends have been passing it around--swearing that it is their new favorite book.)

So that leaves the other three, and all three first-lines are good for different reasons. The Shadows tells me it is a spooky mystery (plot reveal), Juniper Berry is a rich and quirky girl (character reveal), and The 39 Clues is a dangerous adventure (plot reveal).

In the end, I chose The Shadows because it's October and I wanted a spooky mystery but normally I would lean adventure. Juniper Berry (which is actually a spooky story) got cut.

Which leads to my next question: in middle grade, should your first line be a character reveal or plot reveal?

I know, it depends on the story.

My current MG story that I'm querying is a fantasy adventure which means I should lead with a plot reveal because the first 18 pages are character building till I get to the inciting incident. I realize now, my readers need to know where the story is going before they invest the time in my characters.

Of course I queried with a character reveal, only to wait months to hear it wasn't a strong enough hook. In my revision, I've decided to change my first page and lead with a plot reveal. I hope it's stronger. (We'll find out next week when I send out more queries.)

Need help crafting your first line?

It's a Start: The First Line @ The Other Side of the Story.

First Lines, Part 1 @ Kidlit.

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: A Tale Dark and Grimm

2011-10-10T19:02:00.000-07:00

I found my MMGM pick A Tale Dark and Grimm from the 2010 Cybil's Middle Grade Fantasy list. I love The Grimm Fairytales so I was intrigued by the story. I also loved the first line of the story: Once upon a time, fairytales were awesome. I couldn't agree more.

A Tale Dark an Grimm by Adam Gidwitz

Published 2010

The Hook: When Hansel and Gretzel's father cuts off their heads, they are healed by magic but decide to run away to find parents who won't hurt them. The children weave through several Grimm fairytales and find under-standing.

Why I loved it: A new story woven through classic fairytales and an incredible moral. Seriously, I can't say enough about how much I loved this story and the woven Grimm. And the moral of under-standing isn't preachy but essential to the fairytale. The writing is also amazing, the balance between the story and the narrator insight (to diffuse scary parts) is well done. This is a great story for tweens who love scary stories BUT let me emphasize that this story is very scary. There is tons of blood, guts, and a staggering body count. This is NOT for younger middle graders and I wouldn't recommend it to children under the age of 12.

Parent Heads Up: A particular chapter in the story where Gretel meets a warlock is particularly disturbing. The warlock is a charming young man who happens to be a serial killer and Gretel watches him rip the soul out of a young girl and then he chops the dead girl to eat her. See Exhibit C to read the most disturbing passage from the book.

I'm just say'n, the book is great but you've been warned.

Want More? Go to Adam Gidwitz's website.

Have you read a middle grade book you felt was too mature for its audience?

Time to Nominate for your Fave 2011 Middle Grade Book

2011-10-01T10:06:00.000-07:00

The Cybils are asking for nominations. You have till Oct 15 to nominate your favorite children's books from 2011.

I'm excited. I love the books they pick. So I'll have to put in my 2 cents.

What 2011 middle grade books would you nominate?

eBooks for middle graders: are they really reading them?

2011-09-30T05:34:00.000-07:00

I know, three posts in a week, what's up? Apparently I have an opinion this week.

I was just reading a funny cartoon over at Smack Dab in the Middle about the differences and similarities between ebooks and regular books, and then...

I was over at Anita Miller's blog where her book is in the top 100 for kid mystery eBooks (congrats by the way), and then ...

I just blogged about ebooks over at The Writing Bug because Kindles can now check out ebooks from the library (super sweet) and the near future may include a Netflix-type system for getting ebooks (which means will anyone ever buy a new ebook?), and then ...

My neighbor, who just recently got a reader, tells me about all the pirated ebooks she's downloaded and I believe she will never buy a book again, so then...

I have all these thoughts and it's a swirl of ebook info and what I really wonder is:

Are middle graders even reading ebooks? (Because if they aren't, then I don't care about ebooks.)

The children's Kindle list is dominated by YA and bestselling MG by Riordan. So that just seems like adults who don't want to be caught reading YA or MG or just want it cheap on a reader and not actually for their kids.

What do you think? Are kids reading ebooks?

My husband has an iPad and my kids just play games...they're pretty good at Angry Birds. No one reads on it. But if I downloaded a book and gave it to Lore, she would probably read it.

So does that mean Early Adopter Parents are actually buying ebooks for their kids? And when they upgrade their readers, will they give their old readers to their MGers?

Does that mean in five years (according growth trends), it will be harder to sell your book because your ebook will be competing with loads of self-published? Or do you even need a publisher and jump in the self-published fray?

I know, too many thoughts. If you have an opinion on the matter, I would love to hear it.

Let's Talk Writing MG: When is it too dark?

2011-09-29T06:20:00.000-07:00

There's been a bunch of media coverage on whether YA has become too dark for its audience. Is Middle Grade following this trend? I don't think so, but after a couple of middle grade books I've read recently, I find my inner-11-year-old at odds with the-mother-of-four-girls.

So what is too dark for middle grade? Is there a line? Should there be a line?

We live in a time where old Sesame Street episodes are considered bad for our children because they show children riding a bike without a helmet. This cracks me up but it is a commentary on how we raise our kids now.

Still, it surprises me that the middle grade genre, that doesn't want you to use the word butt nugget, is okay with large body counts, murder (did you say murder?), dark magic, and the likes.

Exhibit A

For example, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, which won the Newberry Medal, opens with the murder of Nobody's family and Nobody only escapes the mass killing by waddling into a graveyard.

The inner 11 yr old: thinks sweet.

The mother of 4: thinks WHAT? I don't want my 9-year-old reading this yet. Even though the story isn't really scary, the themes are really mature.

Exhibit B

In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, when Voldemort is brought back to life, that's some dark voodoo. (Not to mention the dead bodies that stack up in this and the following books.)

The inner 11 year old: thinks hells yes that's scary but sweet. Must read more.

The mother of 4: thinks hells no my daughters aren't reading this book till they are at least 12.

Yet scores of 7, 8, 9 year-olds have read this book. Lauren read the first 2 Harry Potter books when she was eight but stopped because the second was too scary for her. I figure she'll pick up the others when she's ready, and I'm glad because I'd prefer her to be older when she gets to book 4 and beyond.

Exhibit C

My last example comes from the book A Tale Dark & Grimm by Adam Gidwitz. For the record, I first have to say that I LOVE this book. LOVE. It's my MMGM for next week. Seriously, LOVE. But I feel it needs to come with a warning to parents because I feel parents should know what's in the book before they hand it to their kids.

The book has lots of blood, guts, gore, and a staggering body count--it's a fabulous retelling/reimagining of the Grimm fairytales. I have the complete works of Grimm in my library: good and dark. So I expected this from the book. And for the most part, actually the whole part but one chapter is done well for all middle grade kids (8-12). But it's that one chapter, or really just one page that inspired this whole blog post.

So here it is, read and then respond. Is this too dark for middle grade?

"He threw the girl on the oaken table, and from a nearby cupboard produced a filthy iron cage. Then he reached his hand into the girl's mouth until his arm was buried deep in her throat. Slowly, painfully, and with great struggle from the girl, he pulled forth a beautiful white dove. The dove fought the young man as he shoved it in the filthy cage and slammed the door shut.

The girl's body was still.

Now you might want to close your eyes.

He lifted an ax that hung on the wall, and Gretel, peering through a gap between a filthy pot and a filthier pan, watched her handsome, wonderful, funny friend hack the girl's body into bits and toss each piece into the boiling cauldron. His blunt butcher's knife rose and fell, rose and fell. He licked the blood from his hands and sent piece after piece sailing into the pot." (A Tale Dark and Grimm, page 102.)

What the butt nugget? This is middle grade? I can't let my girls read this. The dove was the girl's soul and when Gretel defeats the warlock, hundreds of doves (girls that he killed) become girls again. Horray, see no one was really chopped and eaten...Oh but wait they were.

The inner 11 year old: thinks um that's messed up but what happen's next? Still I'm sleeping with my light on.

The mother of 4: thinks we're done, my girls aren't reading this for a while.

Of course, I finished the book because I'm an adult and the book is well done. So then I struggle, because like the author points out in the beginning of the book, this is a big kid book about Grimm fairytales that are bloody and disturbing BUT AWESOME.

The first line of the book is: "Once upon a time, fairy tales were awesome."

Which is true. Everything now seems to be bubble gum and safety helmets.

I'm actually okay with my 9-year-old reading all of the book but that page. Which frustrates me because I love the book... but I still want her to be at least 12 before she reads it. Serial killers is not something I need my daughter to think about right now in her life. BUT THE BOOK IS AMAZING. Love the story, love the Grimm woven in, love the moral.

Do you feel the conflict within me? I'm like Luke Skywalker trying to pick a side.

My compromise: I'll be doing a heads up to parents about said page in my MMGM on Monday and only recommending it to older MGers.

What do you think?

[Random sidebar: I'm making those bookmarks with my kids this weekend. Love.]

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: The Familiars: Secrets of the Crown + Interview

2011-09-26T00:26:00.000-07:00

As you know, I've been slurping down books. And my latest find that I can't stop talking about is The Familiars. Seriously, if you lament the end of Harry Potter, you need to check out this series. I hooked my daughter Lauren on them and we continue to debate which is our favorite familiar. I, of course, am Team Aldwyn, but Lauren is Team Gilbert. I also contacted the authors Adam Epstein and Andrew Jacobson and they were gracious to do an interview.

The Familiars: Secrets of the Crown by Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson

Published 2011

Other books in the series:

The Familiars

The Familiars: Circle of Heroes (releases Sept 2012)

The Hook: When the ruthless Paksahara curses Vastia and all human magic disappears, Aldwyn, the telekinetic cat, Skylar, the illusionist blue jay, and Gilbert the divining tree frog must find the Crown of the Snow Leopard before Paksahara raises an army of zombie animals to destroy Vastia.

Why I love this book and the series: Action and humor. Both books are a roller coaster of excitement and danger. The familiars weave in and out of trouble from the first to last page. These books are a great pick for reluctant readers because of their creativity and non-stop action. Plus, the animals are funny and I found myself laughing out loud in both books. Epstein and Jacobson use humor in tense scenes which relieves the tension and makes them fabulous for middle graders of all ages. The series is great for boys but girls will love it too. Seriously, if you need a great series after your child finishes Harry Potter, this is it.

Secrets of the Crown stands alone but I would recommend reading the first book just because you'll have a better understanding of the familiars, their origins, and their loyals. Secrets of the Crown takes off from the first page and doesn't stop, I whipped through it in a day and it only took Lauren three (apparently, she has to go to school).

Lauren's opinion: I really like the familiars. I love the adventures they go on and I think it would be really cool to have a familiar. [Mom, can I be a witch for halloween and can we get a tree frog familiar for me?] Gilbert is my favorite because he's really funny. I like Skylar because she's a girl and really smart but I just like Gilbert better. I can't wait for the third book.

My Interview with Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson

Writing the wizarding world from the Familiars perspective is a fresh twist, which came to you first: the plot or the characters?

We initially came up with the idea of telling a fantasy story from the perspective of the animals. We had never seen a story with the wizards' animal companions as the heroes. Then we came up with the characters. First was Aldwyn, who was inspired by a stray alley cat with a bite taken out of his ear who wandered Adam's backyard. The actual plotting came last.

[Lore's question] Of all the familiar animals you created, why did you choose a telekinetic cat, an illusionist blue jay, and a divining tree frog as your main characters? And why those specific powers?

We picked a cat because it was such an iconic familiar, and telekinesis seemed like a fun talent for him to pretend he possessed. That way Skylar and Gilbert could be fooled into thinking he was magical. We chose a blue jay because owls have been such an important familiar in fantasy (Hedwig, Archimedes) but didn't want to have an actual owl. We gave her the ability to cast illusions because we wanted a power that was interesting but not too powerful. If she could have breathed fire, every obstacle they faced could have been solved too easily. And we chose a tree frog because we wanted a character as comedic relief and no animal looked as funny to us as a tree frog. We gave him the talent of seeing the future because of certain plot points.

You weave humor throughout the book, whose idea was it to cast the cute fluffy bunny as the cut-throat villain? (So monty python, I loved it.) Do you think it is easy or hard to write humor? And as co-authors, how do you decide which jokes/humor stay in the story?

We wanted the reveal of the villain to be a surprise and hoped that no one would predict that the queen's bunny would turn out to be evil. Another big part of it was the "gray hair/gray hare" mix-up for Gilbert's puddle viewing. As far as the humor, we know as writing partners that if a joke makes both of us laugh, then there's a good chance it's funny enough to stay in. We started writing comedic movies and sketches for MTV, so humor has always been a part of our writing.

Both books are non-stop action and peril, what's your best tip for creating tension and action in a middle grade story?

It's important to have high stakes, a sense of urgency, and an emotional investment for your main characters in the outcome of the peril. You have to find new and inventive ways to put your characters in and get them out of trouble. Obstacles that can add emotional conflict for your characters bring extra tension (ie the Bridge of Betrayal).

The Secrets of the Crown ends on a cliffhanger, when is the next book coming out and how many books will be in the series?

The Familiars: Circle of Heroes has just been completed but will not be available in bookstores until September of 2012. We are set for book number four, and will likely be writing a fifth and sixth in the series, as well.

What's the best part of writing a series? What's the hardest?

The best part is getting to stay with the characters you love year after year. And maybe the worst part is having to wait year after year for the next adventure to come out.

Lore's eyes almost popped out of her head in excitement when I told her they were making the first book into a movie. According to IMDB, you're writing the screenplay for the animated film of The Familiars. Is writing the screenplay easier or more difficult than writing the novel? When will it come out?

It isn't so much a matter of easier or more difficult. Both have different challenges. Writing a screenplay takes less time -- it's only 90 pages for an animated movie -- but you rewrite it over and over again. A book is long. You have to write a lot of words. But unlike the collaborative process of a movie, where you work with producers, a director, studio executives, and more, for a book it's really just you, the authors, and your editor. The movie, because of the extemely lengthy process of 3D animation, will not be out until 2014.

Thank you for doing this, Lauren and I are excited for the next book and good luck with the series.

Want More? A Giveaway for The Familiars: Secrets to the Crown. Or go to their cool website: The Familiars.

Other Fabulous MMGMers:

If you could be a familiar, what would you be and what would you want as your power?

I think I'd be a hamster and my power would be the ability to stuff anything into my mouth...kinda like Mary Poppins' bag. I need a bag like that in my life. Plus hamsters sleep a lot, and I need more sleep.

I binged again...on books

2011-09-16T05:52:00.000-07:00

So this week, I had to go to Barnes & Noble...mostly for the smell and I needed to get a book for my daughter. Seven books later, I walked out of the store.

And I have to say I'm a bit disappointed with my local B&N because they eliminated their new release section for middle grade. I loved that section and I feel disconnected now that it's gone.

My purchases:

(Middle Grade)

It's Raining Cupcakes
The Familiars
The Book of Elsewhere: The Shadows (I love this title)

(Young Adult)

Enclave
Wildfire
The Maze Runner (I know I'm late to this party.)

(Picture)

Scaredy-cat Splat!

I'm half way through The Familiars and loving it. Seriously, the cat is funny. So of course I was delighted to find out about this: A Giveaway for Book 2 of The Familiars.

What have you picked up lately that you're loving?

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Plain Kate

2011-08-29T06:30:00.000-07:00

And I'm back. The summer is over, school is in session (I've got three in school this year), and I'm ready write, blog and tweet. Although I did take a break, I was reading and writing. At one point I was reading 3 different books at the same time. Today, I picked Plain Kate by Erin Bow. I won Plain Kate this summer and started reading it the first day I got it (I had to put down The Graveyard Book till I finished). This is a great story and, can I just say, I love this cover.

Plain Kate by Erin Bow

Published in September 2010

Other books by this author:

Sorrow's Knot (coming in Fall 2012)

The Hook: When young Kate loses her woodcarving father to a disease that spreads through her village, she must survive on her own. To surive, she trades her shadow to a stranger for supplies to escape her town but soon discovers not having a shadow could be more dangerous.

Why I liked this book: Great adventure and characters. The story moves fairly quickly and you find yourself caring about Kate and what happens to her. The talking cat, Taggle, is also quite a character. There are some dark moments in the story that might be too scary for younger middle graders and the death of Kate's dad may be troubling to younger middle graders. This is a girl book but boys who enjoy a bit of magic and adventure may like it (although the beginning may be a bit slow for them).

Want More? Erin Bow has an excellent website.

Other Fabulous MMGMers:

What MG books did you read this summer? Or more importantly, did you eat your weight in cheese?

The Summer of George

2011-07-19T08:59:00.000-07:00

I know. I've been inconsistent my sweet little blog but I seem to be enjoying The Summer of George and I can't lay off the cheese. It is stinky and delicious. So all of you who maintain a consistent blog update: well done. We've got 3 weeks till school starts, I'll try to be better but I need to be writing more than blogging and this sucks at my time.

Those of you who keep it consistent, how do you manage blog posting/reading so that it doesn't suck away your writing time?

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Happy Birthday Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle

2011-07-11T07:59:00.000-07:00

My amazing mother-in-law gave my girls some of the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books for their birthdays. These were books she used to read to her kids. I had never heard of them. The series of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books came out in 40's and 50's by Betty MacDonald. Happy Birthday, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is written by Betty MacDonald's daughter. My girls dove in and loved them and then I felt jipped as a child because I missed out on such fabulous books. So my pick today is:

Happy Birthday Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle by Betty MacDonald, Anne MacDonald Canham

Published in 2007

Other Books in the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle Series:

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's Magic

Hello, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's Farm

The Hook: Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is back with a brand-new bundle of wonderfully magical cures for any bad habit--from watching too much TV to picky eating to fear of trying new things.

Why My 9-year-old loved it (by Lauren): I think these are my new favorite books. [More than Roald Dahl?] Yes, I like the fun magic cures and how she has all these fun magical things like invisible paint and powder that makes you finish one thing before you can start something else. She has these great pets...let me go get my book: Lester the pig, Wag the dog, Lightfoot the cat, Penelope the parrot and Spotty the pony. They are all trained to do things like have good table manners or brush their teeth. It's fun because she'll send the pets over to help the kids learn how to be better. These books are great for both boys and girls and I would recommend them for younger middle graders.

Other Great MMGMers:

What middle grade books you are just discovering now that are considered classics?

Ausfahrt

2011-06-27T06:12:00.000-07:00

I'm ausfahrting. I won't be blogging this week or next. Instead I will climbing the hills of Austria with my husband while my fabulous mother-in-law wrangles my kids at home. I'm taking my laptop (12 hr flight) and I will be writing but I don't know our Internet situation over there, so I'm going dark.

Ja ich spreche Deutsche. But it's been awhile. Hopefully I can get us around.

I'll eat a schnitzel for you, see you in two weeks.

[yeah, I'm going there --> Hallstatt.]

Best of the Middle Grade Blogs: June 24

2011-06-24T05:53:00.000-07:00

Woo hoo. Friday. We made it. This week has been craziness. No time for thoughts, too much going on. We'll talk soon. (Don't hold me to it.)

My Fave Middle Grade Blog Post this Week

Industry and Agents

Anatomy of a Book Deal @ Adventures in Children's Publishing.
In Which Your Agent Wears Dueling Hats @ Mandy Hubbard.
The Lasting Effect of Literature @ Dystel & Goderich Literary Management.
Riding the Cultural Zeitgeist? @ Pub Rants.
Deidre Knight of the Knight Agency @ Guide to Literary Agents.
Agent Spotlight: Mandy Hubbard @ Literary Rambles.
What an Agent Wants to See: Tina Wexler, ICM @ The Write Path.
Ask the Expert Series: Interview with Two 8th Graders @ Literary Rambles.
Exciting New Changes to Smack Dab @ Smack Dab in the Middle.
The Work in Networking @ Shannon Whitney Messenger.
The Nonfiction vs Fiction Environment @ Smack Dab in the Middle.

Crafting

Forty Questions for a Stronger Manuscript @ Adventures in Children's Publishing.
Your Ideal Space @ PK Hrezo.
How to Appeal to Children and Adults When Writing Children's Books @ Mindy Alyse Weiss.
W is for Words: Choosing Right for Writing Middle Grade @ That's Another Story.
Y is for YA, Or is it MG? Where Does Your Novel Fit? @ That's Another Story.

Interviews

The Absolute Value of Kathy Erskine @ From the Mixed Up Files...
Rebecca Upjohn @ Just Deb.

Reviews

MMGM: Jacob Wonderbar and the Cosmic Space Kapow @ Literary Rambles.
MMGM: The Merchant of Death (Pendragon Series) & The Time Travelers @ Shannon Whitney Messenger.
MMGM: It's Raining Cupcakes & The Guardians of the Hidden Scepter @ Book Dreaming.
MMGM: The Mysterious Howling & No Passengers Beyond This Point @ Middle Grade Mafioso.
MMGM: Second Fiddle & Chronicles of Ancient Darkness @ My Brain on Books.
MMGM: Tango & The Mostly True Story of Jack @ Novel and Nouveau.
MMGM: Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone & Ida B. @ Night Writer.
MMGM: Mick Harte Was Here @ Just Deb.
MMGM: The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z @ So I'm Fifty.
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland @ The OWL.
Astronaut Academy: Zero Gravity @ Charlotte's Library.
The Throne of Fire @ The Write Path.
Beyonders by Brandon Mull @ The Write Path.
Books for Happy Campers @ From the Mixed Up Files...
A Series of Unfortunate Events @ Dutch Hill News.
Giveaway Time @ Book Dreaming.

Other Round Ups

Sunday's MG SF & F @ Charlotte's Library.

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Goddess Girls Series + Interview with Suzanne Williams & Joan Holub

2011-06-20T05:38:00.000-07:00

I picked up this series for my daughters from a Scholastic Book Order. I thought my oldest would take a couple of weeks to get through them. Nope. She flew through them in less than a week and she is constantly asking when the next books will be coming out. So of course she freaked out when she learned I interviewed the lovely Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams for MMGM today. Seriously, freaked out. I'm #1 mom right now.

Series Hook: Join the class at Mount Olympus Academy with Goddess Girls, a series that puts a modern spin on classic Greek myths!

Goddess Girls: Athena the Brain by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams

Published in October 2010

Other Books in the Series:

Persephone the Phony

Aphrodite the Beauty

Artemis the Brave

Athena the Wise

Aphrodite the Diva (Aug. 2011)

Artemis the Loyal (Dec. 2011)

Medusa the Mean (Apr. 2012)

Aladdin paperbacks

Ages 8-12

“…a clever take on Greek deities…” ~ Booklist

“…an enchanting mythological world with middle-school woes compounded by life as a

deity…” ~ School Library Journal

The Hook: Twelve-year-old Athena finds out she is a goddess and daughter of Zeus. She is summoned to Mount Olympus Academy, and as the new kid must learn to catch up, fit in and avoid Medusa.

Why I loved it: Fresh spin on Greek mythology and it's clever. Athena the Brain is the first in the Goddess Girls series. I loved that the main character was a goddess instead of a hero (like Percy Jackson). When Athena gets to the Academy she has to learn what it means to be a goddess by taking classes like Hero-ology, Spell-ology, and Revenge-ology. The story weaves the classic Greek myths and history into a relatable modern setting. I loved when the kids are in Hero-ology and they have to take a hero, create a quest and help them succeed. By the end of the chapter, the Trojan War is being played like checkers. Unique perspective--very clever, very fun. These books are great for girls (not much of a boy book) who aren't quite ready for Percy Jackson and definitely great for reluctant readers. Lauren ripped through the series in less than a week. She toted them every where we went.

My 9 yr old, Lauren's thoughts: I love Goddess Girls because they are fun adventure and I liked learning about the Greek gods and goddesses. I really liked all the books but Artemis the Brave was my favorite. I learned about the books from my teacher, she has all the books in our classroom. All the girls in my class really like these books but they're not really for boys...well, one boy in my class likes reading them. (She laughs.)

Want More? Here's my interview with Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams.

You and Joan write the series together and this fascinates me as a writer. Do you collaborate on each book or do you pick which books you'll write individually?

Joan: We had no idea how we were going to make our collaboration work when we started out, but this is the process that has evolved and is working great for us: We divide up the books so that we’re each responsible for every other first draft. We discuss the myths and main ideas we’ll use, then one of us writes a long synopsis which the other critiques. After the first draft is done, we trade a manuscript both back and forth and rewrite each other’s lines mercilessly using Word Tracking. We trust each other’s writing enough to accept most revisions and build on them. If there are major sticking points, we talk them out by phone.

Suzanne: We think the books benefit from our two sets of eyes, and we often laugh aloud while reading a funny line the other has added. And because we both work hard on each book, the series sounds like one author wrote it.

My daughter wants to know how (or what) you research for each story? She wants to know how you learned all about Greek mythology.

Suzanne: Hi Lauren. We’re so glad you like Goddess Girls! Joan has always been a mythology fanatic, but though I learned about Greek mythology in school, I had to refresh my memory and learn new myths while writing this series. We have books about Greek mythology (a favorite is Edith Hamilton’s Mythology) that we use as source material. We also do internet research to learn details about myths, beasts, gods, and mortals.

Joan: For each book, we choose a well-known myth (or two) associated with the main character(s), then weave our plots around those myths, modifying them as needed to create a satisfying story with an updated twist. Lauren (*waving*) If you’re interested in learning more about Greek mythology you might try reading D’Aulaire’s Book of Greek Myths. It’s a classic!

You've both written many stories, where do you get your inspiration? And what inspired The Goddess Girls series?

Joan: I often start a book or series with only a catchy title, and think …what could that be about? What if this happened or that happened? That’s how Goddess Girls was born.

Suzanne: Since our goddesses and readers are ‘tweens, we mix some age-appropriate friendship drama into the myths, and ground them in a school setting—Mount Olympus Academy. We imagine the personalities and predicaments of our young goddessgirls and godboys based on their mythical adult counterparts.

Each book in the series is written about a different goddess, which goddess do you

enjoy writing the most and why is she your favorite? (and yes I know there are 2 books about Athena.)

Suzanne: Actually, there will soon be two books each about Aphrodite and Artemis too. Book 6: Aphrodite the Diva pubs Aug. 9, and Book 7: Artemis the Loyal will be out Dec. 6. I honestly can’t pick a favorite among our four main goddessgirls when it comes to writing a book. Each character is a fun challenge to write.

Joan: That’s so true. In fact, we “traded” on the first drafts so that if I did a first draft for the first book narrated by a particular character, Suzanne got to do the first draft of the second book about that character, and vice versa.

What is the best part of publishing a successful series?

Joan: The opportunity to write more books about them! We’ve branched out from our original four main goddessgirls—Athena, Persephone, Aphrodite, and Artemis--to include other girl characters as narrators, including one well-known mean, green mortal. Book 8: Medusa the Mean pubs in April 2012. It was great fun to write our version of how Medusa got to be so mean. Sometimes, as with Aphrodite the Diva, we also bring in characters—like the Egyptian goddess Isis—from other pantheons.

Suzanne: We love it when teachers tell us that our series has gotten young readers interested in Greek mythology or when moms say it has gotten their kids interested in reading period. And we enjoy the letters and email we get from fans, and the comments they leave on our Goddess Girls Facebook page. We try to respond to those comments and questions daily, btw!

Your books have a great middle grade voice, do you have any tips on how to write for middle graders?

Suzanne: Thank you! Part of what makes middle grade fun to write is that you can develop more complex plots than you can for picture books and shorter chapter books. And because book lengths are longer there’s also more room for exploring characters and the situations you put them in.

Joan: I like books with fast-paced plots, action, and unstilted dialogue, and I think 8-12 age readers do too. Write about emotions and situations kids experience, but give things an interesting hook or twist. Humor is a huge plus. MG readers “get” more sophisticated humor while still appreciating puns and slapstick. And adding girl-boy friendship or light romance won’t make them gag (well, not the girls, anyway!)

If you could be a Greek goddess, which one would you be and why?

Joan: Part of me wants to be Athena and part of me wants to be Aphrodite—brains and beauty!

Suzanne: Brains and beauty sound good to me, too! But in practice, I’ m more like an Athena/Persephone combo—studious and a big-time reader, with mostly light, but occasional dark moods. Growing up, I was never into sports like Artemis. But now I go to the gym most mornings to do step classes or yoga. It’ s important since I sit so much each day to write!

Thanks for having us here today, Brooke. And good luck with your own writing!

-- Joan and Suzanne

You can read more about Joan and Suzanne over at Smack Dab in the Middle. I loved seeing where they write.

cheers.

Other MMGMers (go, they always have great picks):

I loved reading Greek mythology as a kid. I wanted to be Aphrodite. Now, I'd rather hunt with Artemis. How about you? Do you love Greek Mythology? What god or goddess did you want to be as a kid or wish you could be now?

blast

2011-06-19T22:29:00.000-07:00

So I had a round up that never posted. I was away this weekend and now I know. I guess knowing is half the battle. I loved G I Joe as a kid. I wanted to be Scarlett. She is the ultimate tough girl...I like to think she and Han Solo would make a great couple.

Look for a supercharged roundup next Friday.

Were you into GI Joe as a kid? Didn't you love the cartoon...that and Thundercats. I wanted my own Battlecat. Snarf.

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Zombiekins

2011-06-13T05:39:00.000-07:00

I picked this book up from a Scholastic book order and had no idea how popular it would be with my kids. Even my younger daughters were drawn to the cover, the great illustrations, and the mysterious Zombiekins. When I started reading this, my 5 and 3 yr olds cuddled up close and asked me to read it out loud. Within a couple of pages I had all my daughters around me and I read till my mouth went dry. My MMGM pick:

Zombiekins by Kevin Bolger

published in June 2010

Other books by the author:

Sir Fartsalot Hunts the Booger

Zombiekins 2 (coming out sometime this year)

The Hook: When 4th grader Stanley buys an odd stuffed animal from the widow Imavitch's yard sale, he has no idea it will come alive and turn the kids at school into zombies.

Why I love this book: humor and age-appropriate zombies. Any zombie stuffy who rips Winnie the Pooh, Elmo and Barney to shreds on his first night is my kind of zombie. When Zombiekins (half bunny/half rabid teddy bear) starts biting kids at school and turning them into ridiculous zombies, my kids and I were laughing on every page. Zombies are crazy slow and stupid and Bolger plays this up. It reminds me of the zombie satire movie Sean of the Dead: clever and hilarious. This book is for younger middle graders and it's definitely a boy book but girls will love it too. (I have four zombiekins super fans as proof.) Seriously, I heart Zombiekins, I'm excited for book 2.

Want More? Go to his fabulous Zombiekins website for book trailers, excerpts, news...seriously, kids will love it. Great example of an author site for younger MG. Not convinced? The Book Aunt has another great review.

Other MMGMers (go, they always have great picks):

I'm not a big zombie reader, I prefer zombie satire. I don't get the scary element of brain-dead, snail-paced, dull-teethed monsters. How about you? Do you read Zombies?

Best of the Middle Grade Blogs: June 10

2011-06-10T05:18:00.000-07:00

School is almost out for my chicklets and we have been dashing around all week for their dance recital. I'm a little over-glittered right now. But I've been loving everyone else's blogs this week, even if I have been a stalker. cheers.

My Fave Middle Grade Blog Post This Week

Industry

The New Buzz Word: Speculative @ Pub Rants.
Agent Spotlight: Stephen Barr @ Literary Rambles.
On Boredom @ Jennifer Represents.
SCBWI Team Blog Pre Conference Interviews @ Alice Pope's.

Crafting

The All Important Beginning @ Kidlit.
V is for Voice: It Might Sell Your MG Novel @ That's Another Story.
Writing Advice from E. Lockhart/Emily Jenkins @ The Write Path.
Kiera Cass on Drive and Effort in Writing Success @ Adventures in Children's Publishing.
Beginnings are Hard to Master @ Mindy Alyse Weiss.
How to Create Time and Space for Your Writing Life @ Smack Dab in the Middle.
Before You Hit Send @ Write About Now.
Step 3: Bare Bones of Dialog @ Writers' Ally.

Reviews

MMGM: Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading @ Shannon Whitney Messenger.
MMGM: Eleven @ Book Dreaming.
MMGM: Grounded @ Middle Grade Mafioso.
MMGM: The Remarkable & Very True Story of Lucy & Snowcap @ Novel & Nouveau.
MMGM: Entering the HIVE @ Write About Now.
MMGM: The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook @ Night Writer.
MMGM: How They Croaked: The Awful Endsd of the Awfully Famous @ Kid Lit Frenzy.
MMGM: Gossip from the Girl's Room @ Just Deb.
A Year Without Autumn @ Reading, Writing, and Ribaldry.
Takeshita Demons @ Project Mayhem.
Tween Tuesday: Tween Books on My Summer Reading List @ The OWL.
By Any Other Name @ From the Mixed Up Files...
The Boy At the End of the World @ Charlotte's Library.

Other Round Ups

This Sunday's MG F and SF @ Charlotte's Library.

Still want more writing blog posts, check out my other round up over at The Writing Bug.

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: The Book Thief

2011-06-06T06:12:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday. My MMGM pick:

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Published in 2006

Other books by Zusak:

I Am the Messenger (currently in my wanna get pile)

Getting the Girl

Underdogs

The Bridge of Clay (releasing this year)

The Hook: Death surrounds Liesel, a young girl living in Nazi Germany, but she escapes Death's grasp by stealing books and helping others.

Why I love this book: Style and a fresh perspective on Nazi Germany. This book is beautifully written and I loved Death's narration. Clever from the first page to the last. I thought this was a refreshing perspective of Nazi Germany because it is about a German girl's struggle to adapt to her new situation as a foster child. It is not about the war or the extermination of the Jews. The war is just the background of the story and you get to see and understand what it meant to be a German child living during World War 2. Liesel is actually very naive about the extermination camp near her village. She believes it is a work camp. So when her foster family hides a Jewish man in their basement, she doesn't fully understand why.

This could be one of my favorite middle grade books but it is more literary and less adventurous. The subject matter would probably go over the heads of younger middle graders.

This book is great for both boys and girls but I wouldn't recommend it to reluctant readers. The style is very unique and might be difficult or annoying to some middle graders.

Want More? Go to his website or his wikipedia page.

Other MMGMers (go, they always have great picks):

I remember reading Anne Frank in the 5th grade. It was my first exposer to learning about World War 2 and what really happened. I think The Book Thief would be a great companion to Anne Frank. I also love The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom (although not MG).

What books about World War 2 left an impression on you as a MGer or as an adult?

Best of the Middle Grade Blogs: June 3

2011-06-03T06:42:00.000-07:00

It has been three weeks and still no word on my queries from the fantastic agents. I have no idea how to read this other than I passed the intern test...maybe. At this point I feel like it's time to send out a new batch of queries. And KT Literary just opened for submissions. I've been blog stalking them for over a year and waiting patiently. What agencies are on your hot list?

On more important news for me and not for you: I'm picking my laptop up from the shop tomorrow. I've missed my 5th baby.

My Fave Middle Grade Bloggers This Week:

Industry

A BEA First: A Middle-Grade Buzz Panel @ Publishers Weekly.

Publishing News @ Write About Now.

Writing Middle Grade vs. Other Genres @ Writers' Ally.

E-Loans: Getting an E-Book from your Library @ Ink Spells.

Literary Agent: Eric Myers @ Literary Rambles.

Who to Query First @ Jennifer Represents.

Crafting

Physical Cliches @ Kidlit.

U is for Unlikeable Characters: Can They Hook MG Readers? @ That's Another Story.

How to Make Your Characters Sparkle @ The Write Path.

Breathing Life @ Time Guardian Blog.

Kat Zhang on Revising @ Adventures in Children's Publishing.

The Secret to Publishing Success @ Shannon Whitney Messenger.

Tip Tuesday #90 @ Literary Rambles.

Interviews

Uma Krishnaswami @ The OWL.

Kurt Chambers @ Dutch Hill News.

Helen Stringer @ Kid Lit Frenzy.

Reviews

MMGM: The Bartimaeus Trilogy @ My Brain on Books.

MMGM: The Luck of the Buttons @ Novel and Nouveau.

Blog Tour: The Mis Adventures of Philip Isaac Penn @ Book Dreaming.

Settling Esther B @ Novel and Nouveau.

New MG Book: The Darke @ Time Guardian Blog.

Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading @ Project Mayhem.

Three Lives to Live @ Charlotte's Library.

Oliver Nocturne #6 The Triad of Finity (+giveaway) @ The Write Path.

Cool MG Summer Reads @ Readatouille.

June New Releases @ From The Mixed Up Files....

New Releases F & SF for Kids (June) @ Charalotte's Library.

Ten Fantastical Favorites @ Smack Dab in the Middle.

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: The Ogre of Oglefort

2011-05-30T06:08:00.000-07:00

For those of you that are working today and not cleaning their garage (like me), here is my pick for MMGM:

The Ogre of Oglefort by Eva Ibbotson
Release date: August 2011 ( I won the ARC from Shannon Whitney Messenger--love that girl.)

Other books by this author:
Secret of Platform 13
Island of the Aunts
Which Witch?
Journey to the River Sea
The Dragonfly Pool
The Great Ghost Rescue
Dial-a-Ghost

The Hook: When a princess has gone missing and an ogre is to blame, it's up to a hag, a troll, a wizard and an orphan to save her.

Why I really enjoyed this book: Flipping stereotypes and a bit with a dog. The story almost immediately flips when there's a princess who would rather collect bugs and be turned into a bird instead of marrying a prince. There's also a hospitable hag, a helpful ogre, a poor prince, and a wizard chef. I kept asking myself what's going to happen next because everything I predicted was completely off and I was pleasantly surprised with each chapter. This book is definitely for younger middle graders (I dropped it on my 9-yr-old's TBR pile but even my 7-yr-old could read this). Kids who love Roald Dahl will love this story. Great for both boys and girls.

Want More: Eva Ibbotson died last October at the age of 85. Read her son's interview about her legacy or read her interview at Indiebound.

Other MMGMers:

Shannon Whitney Messenger

Kid Lit Frenzy

My Brain on Books

My Comfy Chair

Night Writer

Book Dreaming

Write About Now

Just Deb

Novel & Nouveau

Anita Laydon Miller's MG Blog

Literary Rambles

I'm in a scary book phase, although this wasn't even sorta scary. Do you read in genre clumps? If so, what genre are you addicted to right now?

Best of the Middle Grade Blogs: May 27

2011-05-27T06:30:00.000-07:00

I wish I could say I was at BEA this week, but I wasn't. I've been MIA because my laptop went in for a checkup (something came loose inside, never good). So I'm rounding up from my kids' PC computer. After being on a Mac for so long, this is an act of love that I'm even spending time on this computer. If I hit the ALT button one more time, I just might lose it.

Are you a MAC or a PC?

Enjoy the Memorial Day weekend.

My Fave Middle Grade Blog Posts this Week

Industry & Inspiration

Karen Mahoney on Saying Yes to Every Opportunity @ Adventures in Children's Publishing. (I needed this today. I'm still waiting to hear back from agents.)

Agent Spotlight: Terrie Wolf @ Literary Rambles.

Joe Monti: Agent, Barry Goldblatt Literary @ The Write Path. (I met him last year, super nice, super helpful.)

7 Questions for Literary Agent Holly Root @ MG Ninja.

Crafting

Good Boymanship Awards @ Project Mayhem.

T is for Transitions: Avoid Confusing MG Readers @ That's Another Story.

Tip Tuesday #89 (fast drafting) @ Literary Rambles.

The YA View: No Perfect Characters Please! @ Write4Kids.

Complicated Characters @ Novel and Nouveau.

Writing Your ABCs @ PK Hrezo.

My Shelf of Forgotten Books (A Tale of Woe) @ Smack Dab in the Middle.

Playing with Perspective @ Project Mayhem.

Examining Rewriting Step 2 @ Writer's Ally.

Trust What You Know @ Write About Now.

Interviews

Ruth McNally Barshaw + Giveaway @ From the Mixed Up Files...

Matthew J. Kirby @ From the Mixed Up Files...

10 Questions with Andy Mulligan @ The Book Nut.

Uma Krishnaswami on The Grand Plan to Fix Everything @ Through the Toll Booth.

Julie Crabtree @ The OWL.

Yolanda Ridge + Giveaway @ Just Deb.

Reviews

MMGM: The 13 Reality Series @ Shannon Whitney Messenger.

MMGM: The Friendship Doll @ My Brain on Books.

MMGM: Diary of a Wimp Kid: Do It Yourself Book @ Book Dreaming.

MMGM: Nowhere to Call Home @ Novel and Nouveau.

MMGM: The Girl Who Could Fly @ Anita Laydon Miller's MG Blog.

MMGM: Jacob Wonderbar and the Cosmic Space Kapow @ Night Writer.

MMGM: Anything But Typical @ Middle Grade Mafioso.

MMGM: Loch & Reef of Death @ Just Deb.

The Crepe Maker's Bond @ The OWL.

Artemis Fowl @ Write About Now.

Max Quick: The Pocket and The Pendant @ The Write Path.

The Visconti House @ Charlotte's Library.

Day of the Assassins @ Charlotte's Library.

Other Round Ups:

F & SF for kids @ Charlotte's Library.

Best of the Middle Grade Blogs: May 20

2011-05-20T07:12:00.000-07:00

I hate waiting. I'm not good at hurry up and wait. Thankfully, I have your blogs to distract me. What I wish I was listening to kick start Friday:

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin

What I'm actually listening to. Don't judge me. You know it's a sweet Friday song. Don't fight it.

What song gets you in the mood for Friday?

My Fave Middle Grade Blog Posts for This Week

Industry, Inspiration, and Market

The Epic Post on Trends (YA & MG) @ Author/Agent Mandy Hubbard.
New Releases of F & SF for Teens and Kids (May) @ Charlotte's Library.
Ask the Expert Series: Interview with an 8th Grader @ Literary Rambles.
How Can We Reach Them? @ MG Mafioso.
It's All About the Audience @ Write4Kids!
YA Exhaustion @ Dystel & Goderich Literary Management.
Sherrie Petersen on the Magic Rejection Number @ Adventures in Children's Publishing.
Blogger Friends: Please Be Sharers! @ Ink Spells.
Nathan Bransford's Blog Directory (woo hoo) @ Nathan Bransford.

Crafting

Wordcount Dracula @ Jennifer Represents.
Putting on Airs @ Kidlit.
How Well Do You Know Your Character? @ Project Mayhem.
S is for Sterotypes: Are Your Characters Really Unique? @ That's Another Story.
Interiority vs Telling @ Kidlit.
Revision--Shannon Style @ Shannon Whitney Messenger.
Examining Rewriting: step 1 @ Writer's Ally.
Editing, Rewriting, and Gutting Fish--Not Much Difference @ Whimsy, Writing, & Reading.

Interviews

Classroom Connections: Carole Estby Dagg @ Caroline by line.
Erin E. Moulton @ From the Mixed Up Files...
7 Questions for Barbara Dee @ Middle Grade Ninja.

Reviews

MMGM: The Goose Girl @ Shannon Whitney Messenger.
MMGM: Riff Remember @ Book Dreaming.
MMGM: The Invisible Order @ Just Deb.
MMGM: Grey Griffins Giveaway @ My Brain on Books.
MMGM: Belle Prater's Boy @ Novel and Nouveau.
MMGM: The Secret of Platform 13 @ Night Writer.
MMGM: I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You @ Anita Laydon Miller's MG Blog.
MMGM: Words in the Dust @ MG Mafioso.
MMGM: Juniper Berry @ Kid Lit Frenzy.
MMGM: ARC Giveaway @ Write About Now ( I want Ashes, Ashes)
It's Raining Cupcakes...Yum @ Christine Fonseca.
Gossip from the Girls' Room @ Picture This.
The Midnight Gate by Helen Stringer @ Charlotte's Library.
Troubletwisters by Garth Nix and Sean Williams @ The Write Path.

Other Round Ups

Sunday's MG S & SF Round Up @ Charlotte's Library.

Still want more writing links? Go read my other white meat round up at The Writing Bug.

She's Crafty: Creating Tension

2011-05-18T06:53:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I'm a little tense. My query is out there, waiting in an inbox. Has it been noticed? It is a brutal question I cannot answer. So to distract my mind and let my manuscript grow cold, I thought of a new idea for a book. I confess I don't have a plot. For a plot girl, that's saying a lot.

I just have an idea and a scene full of tension, now I need to find the before and after.

So what are the 5 T's of Tension: The Stakes, The Pace, The Dialogue, The Setting, The Stakes.

My Top 10 Fave Blog Posts on Creating Tension

Supertaunt Tension and Sizzling Stakes @ Kidlit.
Setting Up the Tension @ The Other Side of the Story.
The Scene Conflict Worksheet: Developing Tension in Your Novel @ Adventures in Children's Publishing.
Whoa, That's Tense. Raising the Tension in Your Scenes @ The Other Side of the Story.
On Conflict @ Nathan Bransford.
GMCT: Goal, Motivation, Conflict, Tension @ Adventures in Children's Publishing.
It's Not the Cougar @ Writer Unboxed.
Tips for Writing Effective Dialogue @ The Blood Red Pencil.
Telegraphing (and Other Pace Killers) @ Writer Unboxed.
Setting the Pace @ Nathan Bransford.
Bonus: Writing for Effect @ Flogging the Quill.
Bonus: 7 Things I've Learned So Far, by Stephen Jones @ Guide to Literary Agents.
Bonus: Writing a Hot Plot @ Kidlit.

Do you have any tips for creating tension in a story?

How do you tame your TBR pile?

2011-05-17T11:57:00.000-07:00

I have a sickness, book bulimia, and the only cure is more cowbell or more books. I love the smell, the feel, and just getting lost in a story. Luckily my husband has his own sickness: music. So we have a general understanding when we can't control our book/music buying. To control my sickness, I have one rule: I can't buy more books until my TBR pile is down to three but then I binge--buying 6 to 8 books at a time. Then I purge through them so I can binge again.

MMGM has been bad for my sickness, every Monday I crave more books (so you need to stop picking good ones). And last weekend, I broke my rule and binged.

My TBR pile currently towers at 17 books and only because I knocked two off the list this weekend. Divergent by Roth and Beastly by Finn. Seriously, go read Joanne's review of Divergent (there is no way you'll be able to resist her review) and then go buy the book, read it tonight, and then we need to chat. Tomorrow. If you have time.

What's on my pile:

Middle Grade

The Ogre of Oglefort by Ibbotson (currently reading)
The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall by Hahn
The Graveyard Book by Gaiman
Wimpy Kid #4 by Kinney (my daughter is reading this one)
The Black Book of Buried Secrets (39 Clues) by Riordan
Princess for Hire by Leavitt
The Emerald Atlas by Stephens

Young Adult

Wither by Destefano
Real Live Boyfriends by Lockhart
Invincible Summer by Moskowitz

Fiction

The Devil in the White City by Larson
Heresy by Parris
Little Bee by Cleave
The Glass Castle by Walls
Cutting for Stone by Verghese
Devil's Brood by Penman (I uber loved Here be Dragons)
Game of Thrones by... (yeah, my husband has this book right now, and I'm too lazy to look it up. Sorry.)

How do you tame your TBR pile and what's at the top of your pile?

I need help people.

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Milo: Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze

2011-05-16T06:12:00.000-07:00

And we're back.

I picked this book because it won the 2011 SID Fleischman Humor Award Winner. After reading it, I packaged it up and I'm sending to my friend's children. A few months ago, my friend's husband, who has been battling cancer for 11 years, died suddenly of a blood infection. Their children are 9 and 8. The oldest, one of my daughter's best friends, has been struggling with the death of her father. I feel this book will bring her and her brother comfort.

Milo: Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze by Alan Silberberg

Published in Sept 2010

Other books in the series:

Milo and the Restart Button (releasing sometime in 2011)

The Hook: A couple years after the death of his mother, Milo and his family still struggle to deal with their loss. When Milo's dad gets rid of all the memories of her, Milo must find a way to revive his memory of her.

Why I love this book: Voice and humorous way of dealing with a tough issue. The voice and style are very Wimpy Kid, and Milo is a lovable awkward character. For being about how to cope with death of a parent, the book is very light hearted and clever. Milo is just trying to fit in and get the cute girl to notice him. When Milo's neighbor wakes him up to holding on to the memories of his mother, Milo decides to search garage sales for things that would remind him of her. This is when I started bawling in the book and I could see my friend's children in their struggle with their dad's death. My friend said the one thing they wish they had more of was video of her husband. My heart aches for these children and any child that must cope with the loss of a parent. I would recommend this book to anyone who has lost a parent or someone close to them. This is definitely a boy book but I think girls in a similar situation will appreciate it.

Want More? Read the author interview on Alice Pope's blog.

Other MMGMers (go, they always have great picks):

Do you know of any other MG books that help kids deal with loss?

I am a passenger on the spaceship Earth

2011-05-11T06:10:00.000-07:00

So today was supposed to be She's Crafty but I got caught up reading Demon Glass (Hex Hall 2) and Milo: Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze (look for it as my next MMGM). That means no more time for writing or blogging. Must sleep. So I thought I would leave you with my favorite line from the middle grade book: A View From Saturday by E L Konigsburg:

I am a passenger on the spaceship Earth.

I love it because it illustrates a character changing a bullied remark into something whimsical. If only more kids could share this perspective. And you've got to admit, Earth is one heck of a ride.

Do you have a favorite line from a MG novel and why?

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

2011-05-09T05:44:00.000-07:00

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

Published 2009

Other books by this author:

Year of the Dog

Year of the Rat

The Hook: When Minli, the daughter of poor farmers, buys a talking fish from a street vendor, she decides to find the Old Man in the Moon and change her family's fortune.

Why I loved this story: style and adventure. The writing is beautiful and it is a fabulous blend of Chinese folklore and adventure. It feels like a Chinese Wizard of Oz. Minli encounters many different characters along the way that lead her closer to the Old Man in the Moon and the treasure she wants to bring home to her family. The story has a great moral and reenforces the importance of family. This is a great book for girls. I tucked it into my daughter's TBR pile and passed it to a couple of friends. While there is a great adventure, boys probably won't identify with Minli.

Want More? Go to Grace Lin's website to see book trailers, interviews, and an audio excerpt.

Other MMGMers (go, they always have great picks):

Shannon Whitney Messenger

Anita Laydon Miller's MG Blog

Literary Rambles

I love reading about Chinese culture. I'm a huge fan of Amy Tan and I just read Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. All fascinating reads. What culture do you love reading about?

Best of the Middle Grade Blogs: May 6

2011-05-06T07:10:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's Friday already. This week whipped by. I plan on getting a long back scratch this weekend by a bunch of little hands.

What are your Mother's Day plans?

My Fave Middle Grade Blog Post This Week

Industry

May: New Book Releases @ From the Mixed-Up Files...
New Releases of F & S/F for kids & Teens (first half of May) @ Charlotte's Library.
Children's Book Awards 2011 @ My Comfy Chair.
2011 Crystal Kite Award Winners Announced @ Alice Pope's
Agent Spotlight: Kristin Nelson @ Literary Rambles.
Agent Sarah Davies @ The Write Path.
Reject Me -- I Love It! @ Book Dreaming.
Contest Winner & The Indiana SCBWI Conference @ Middle Grade Ninja.

Crafting

The One Right Way to Write a Query @ Kidlit.
Writing Advice Courtesy of RPatz (sorta) @ Shannon Whitney Messenger.
Q is for Questions: Keep MG Readers Hooked @ That's Another Story.
Overcoming Writer's Block: Making the Word Count @ Project Mayhem.
Need Some Bling for Your Title? Try a PRISM! @ Adventures in Children's Publishing.
Adding Sparkle: Writing Lessons from Little Kids @ Readatouille.
The First Novel @ Novel and Nouveau.
Plotting vs. Pantsing @ Ink Spells.
Irene Latham: Top 5 Character Traits for Heroes @ Smack Dab in the Middle.

Reviews

MMGM: Ballet Shoes @ Book Dreaming.
MMGM: The Graveyard Book @ Anita Laydon Miller's MG Blog.
MMGM: Ida B @ Novel and Nouveau.
MMGM: Heart of a Samurai @ Night Writer.
MMGM: Boo @ Just Deb!
MMGM: The Penderwicks at Point Mouette @ My Brain on Books.
A Book Review and a Book Festival @ Write About Now.
New MG Book Alert: The Warlock @ Time Guardian Blog.
Waiting on Wednesday: Caddy's World @ Charlotte's Library.
Plot Busters: Kat Incorrigible @ Laura Pauling.
Tween Tues: The I So Don't Do Series @ The O.W.L.

Interviews

MMGM: Janice Hardy Interview @ Literary Rambles.
Author Spotlight on: Medeia Sharif @ Write About Now.
A mixed-up Interview Not About the Royal Wedding @ From the Mixed-Up Files...

Other Round Ups

This Sunday's MG F & SF Round-up @ Charlotte's Library.

My eyes are blurry. Did I miss anyone?

Where Do You Get Your Ideas?

2011-05-05T07:15:00.000-07:00

My story ideas come from the crazy that spews out of my kids on a daily basis.

One idea came out of a story I made up with my girls and then afterward realized, hey, that plot isn't half bad.
Another idea sparked out of my daughter's mouth on a walk.
Another came while watching my daughter make a blanket fort to keep monsters out.

Yesterday two of my daughters busily watercolored while I cleaned my kitchen. When they were done, my 4-yr-old brought me a crayon to write her story on the picture:

The people hid because of the monster damned. (I don't even know where she came up with damn...it could a beaver dam but I didn't want to call attention to it.)

But it was silly because the monsters were nice and wanted to be their friends.

(The picture looked like a freudian ink blot. )

Just thought I would throw this out as a writer prompt in case anyone needed it.

Where do you get your ideas for writing middle grade?

She's Crafty: Querying

2011-05-04T05:45:00.000-07:00

That's right, I'm finally ready with my manuscript. Cheers to heaven. I have a few beta readers ripping my partials one last time, but it is time. So this week I'm revamping my query.

Thankfully the blogosphere is there for me. There is a ton of info out there on querying, and Nathan Bransford helps you sift through contradictory advice. So keep in mind this is not gospel, just guidelines.

My Top 10 Fave Blog Posts on Querying

Avoid the Obvious in a Query @ Kidlit.
The Submission Process @ The Other Side of the Story.
Query Don'ts @ BookEnds.
Two Quick Tips on Writing a Query @ Pub Rants.
The Difference Between Pitch and Query @ Janet Reid.
Hints for a Great Cover Letter @ The Steve Laube Agency.
Ultimate Blog Series on Novel Queries @ There Are No Rules.
7 Things Agents Want to See in a Query, & 9 Things They Don't @ Guide to Literary Agents.
Loglines @ Random Notes from Holly Bodger.
How to Write a Query Letter in Five Easy Steps @ Writer Unboxed.
Plus: BookEnds does a Query Workshop every Wednesday.
Plus: Query Shark...must follow.
Plus: SlushPile Hell is a great resource for a laugh and what not to do.

When I finished my first draft of my first MG novel, I queried it to about 25 agents. Burned loads of rookie bucks. Hey, I thought I knew. I had read a few blogs, researched queries, found my agents on querytracker. So innocent then, so naive. I actually started my query with a rhetorical question. Oh yeah, I read on some blog it was a great thing to do. Suckers.

Have you committed a query crime? Don't know them? See Tahereh's fab list of 50 query tricks. [wink. don't do them.]

Let's Talk Writing MG: Who Comes to the Rescue?

2011-05-03T06:06:00.000-07:00

Let's talk. In everything I've learned about writing for middle grade, a core characteristic is empowering the protagonist to save themselves and others. They are the hero. Not parents, automatons, teachers, older siblings, or monks. And sure, there are exceptions to the rule, I get that. But when I read it in middle grade fiction, it bothers me. I want the kids to figure it out, to save the day.

In We Are Not Eaten By Yaks by C. Alexander London, London does a great job of having the kids do most of the rescuing, but sometimes parents, monks, spirits, yaks swoop in to save the kids. He'd proven the kids could do it, empowered them and then had their mom show up and save them princess-in-a-tower style. I was frustrated, the kids were smart enough to do it themselves.

In The Clockwork Three by Matthew Kirby, the kids are empowered the whole book until in the very end, the automaton swoops in and saves Giuseppe. Giuseppe! I was mad. I'm verclipped.

In Harry Potter, Harry and friends always saved the day. No matter how frustrated you were with Harry that he didn't run to Dumbledore for help (seriously you would have thought he learned something at Hogwarts), Harry was left to figure it out even if it meant wandering way way way too long in the last book. But this is how it should be in the world of Middle Grade. (I guess if I think about it, even Harry had a bunch of adult team help. Is it impossible to empower the kids completely?)

When I pitched a MG story last year to an agent, my story had a magical element to it. The agent stopped me and said, "You have a great character why are you letting the magic save the day instead of him." At first I thought, well because the whole story is based on this magical realism. But the more I thought about it, I saw his point. I changed my story from magical realism to contemporary and I think it's loads stronger because the protagonist can't rely on what he believes will save him but must work to save himself.

These are my thoughts. Who do you think should save the day in a middle grade novel? And is it okay to have other people or things do some of the saving? What about working together with adults/things?

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: We Are Not Eaten By Yaks (An Accidental Adventure)

2011-05-02T05:58:00.000-07:00

[weekend sidebar] I did it. Half marathon. Am I hurting still? Well let's just say that stairs are not my friend. I flew to Utah to run the race with my sister. It snowed the first three miles. No more springtime races in the mountain states. The weather is too unpredictable. Will I do it again? In September. In Colorado.

I found my pick for MMGM while browsing B&N the other day and it was in the new release section. Why I grabbed it? Three words: adventure, tiger, Tibetan monk with a gun (that might be more than three words, don't judge me). My inner tough girl craves these things.

We Are Not Eaten by Yaks: An Accidental Adventure by C. Alexander London

Published in February 2011

Other books in this series:

We Dine With Cannibals (releasing sometime this year)

The Hook: The children of famous explorers, Oliver and Celia Navel want nothing to do with it. They'd rather watch TV and they watch a lot of it. When a clue to the whereabouts of their lost mother surfaces, their father drags them on wild Tibetan adventure.

Why I enjoyed this book: Adventure and wit. The children find themselves, very quickly, on a rip roaring adventure that would dizzy Indian Jones. This is the first book in the series and London sets it up well. It has a bit of everything and introduces bigger vocabulary similar to Lemony Snickets. After I finished, I threw it on my 8-yr-old's TBR pile. Oh and my kids couldn't get enough of the cover. Sucked them right in. They wanted to know what was happening based on the cover (and the fabulous illustrations inside). This is a great book for younger middle graders and, while it is a boy book, the twins will appeal to both boys and girls. Great adventure, fast read.

I did have one ticky complaint (as an aspiring MG writer) I could not get over. But I thought it would be a great MG topic for discussion. It'll post tomorrow.

Want More? See a great author video/book trailer or visit C. Alexander London's website or read his blog on where he got his idea for the book.

Other MMGMers (go, they always have great picks):

Shannon Whitney Messenger

Anita Laydon Miller's MG Blog

Literary Rambles (Natalie spotlights Janice Hardy--love her)

Best of the Middle Grade Blogs: April 29

2011-04-29T05:55:00.000-07:00

Sherrie's post on how babies are made according to an 8 yr old has been cracking me up all week. (Yes I stole her pix. Way funny.) When my kids unroll toilet paper like crazed kittens, I think of this story. When my throat tickles in a definitely-catching-a-cold-two-days-before-my-half-marathon, I think of this story. As I help kids with fractions, book reviews, spelling tests, phonics, and other school ridiculousness, I think of this story. Go. Read. Enjoy the weekend.

My Fave Middle Grade Blog Posts This Week:

Industry

5 Articles on the Differences Between MG and YA @ Guide to Literary Agents.
P is for Parents: Dead or MIA @ That's Another Story.
New E-Book Pricing Model (Wymer Model) @ Tracy Edward Wymer.
How I Got My Agent: Allan Woodrow @ Guide to Literary Agents.
What Do Agents Do? @ From the Mixed Up Files...
6 1/2 Thoughts on Marketing & Promotion @ Shrinking Violet Promotions.

Crafting

Time Period Settings @ Kidlit.
Scholastic Order Forms @ Anita Laydon Miller's MG Blog.
Field Work for Fiction @ Smack Dab in the Middle.
Dear Writer, Where Do You Get Your Ideas? @ Write4Kids!
Why Critiques Are Important @ Readatouille.
V is for Voice @ PK Hrezo.

Interviews

Jacqueline Houtman, The Reinvention of Edison Thomas @ Ink Spells.
Jennifer Cervantes, Tortilla Sun @ From the Mixed Up Files...
Hillary Homzie, The Hot List @ Project Mayhem.
Barbara Dee, Trauma Queen @ The O.W.L.
Roland Smith @ Write About Now.

Reviews

MMGM: Tiger @ Shannon Whitney Messenger.
MMGM: The Lemonade Crime @ My Brain on Books.
MMGM: Earthling Hero @ My Comfy Chair.
MMGM: My Father's Dragon @ Anita Laydon Miller's MG Blog.
MMGM: The Hound of Rowan @ Book Dreaming.
MMGM: The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg @ Novel & Nouveau.
MMGM: Horton Halfpott @ Kid Lit Frenzy.
MMGM: Ella Enchanted @ Night Writer.
MMGM: Second Fiddle @ Just Deb!
The Rotten Adventures of Zachary Ruthless @ Middle Grade Ninja.
Choose Your Own Adventure ( Scumble Giveaway) @ Another Gray Day.

Other Round Ups

This Sunday's Round Up of MG F & S/F @ Charlotte's Library.

Still want more writing blog links? Okay, I'll give them to you. My writing world round up at The Writing Bug.

The A to Z challenge is almost over. What do you think? Take it or leave it?

I only had to write 4 letters and for some reason it was a killer. Not that I did that much. Points for the bloggers that went A to Z on their own.

She's Crafty: The Dreaded Synopsis

2011-04-27T06:05:00.000-07:00

One of the agents who requested a partial, also wants to see a synopsis--one for my story and one for the series. I knew this day would eventually come. So why do I hate the idea of writing it. I think it's because it's like writing a query but with a lot more detail. How much do you say? What do you include? How long should it really be? Inquiring minds like me want to know.

Do you have any great tips for writing a synopsis?

My Top 10 Fave Blog Posts on Writing a Synopsis

How to Write a Synopsis by Nathan Bransford @ STET!
The Sum of the Parts: Writing a Synopsis @ The Other Side of the Story.
The Synopsis @ BookEnds.
How to Write a Synopsis When You Have Lots of Characters @ Guide to Literary Agents.
Synopsis Example: House of Games @ Guide to Literary Agents.
Synopsis Hell @ Dystel & Goderich Literary Management.
Writing the Synopsis @ Writer Unboxed.
Synopsis Writing @ Babbles from Scott Eagan.
Writing a Synopsis Doesn't Have to Kill You @ The Blood-Red Pencil.
The Art of The Synop? @ Pub Rants.

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Loser

2011-04-25T06:00:00.000-07:00

My MMGM pick this week:

Loser by Jerry Spinelli

Published in 2003

Some other books by Spinelli:

Stargirl

Maniac Magee

Milkweed

Wringer

Smiles to Go

Fourth Grade Rats

Space Station Seventh Grade

The Hook: The book follows the childhood of Donald Zinkoff, a misfist of sorts. When a girl goes missing in a snowstorm, Zinkoff is determined to find her before it's too late.

Why I love this book: Style and characters. This book is textbook on middle grade voice and style. You can really feel the emotions and perspective of the character Donald Zinkoff. Zinkoff is one of my favorite characters in Middle Grade fiction. Why? In my church, I volunteer to help the sunday school classes of kids age 3-11. In my service I've seen many kids (both boys and girls) that match this character. This book feels like a perspective into their world and my heart aches for them.

I would encourage kids 10+ to read this book so they can get a glimpse into the world of kids like Zinkoff and gain perspective, sensitivity, and compassion toward the kids they know. They just need a friend and want to be included.

My oldest is eight and I have this book in her TBR pile but not for a little bit. She still believes in magic and the book demystifies certain holidays. I would recommend this to upper middle graders and I think it is a great book for boys. Girls will like this book too but it will be harder to hold their interest. Stargirl would be a better but similar recommendation for girls.

Were you a Zinkoff/Stargirl as a kid?

Jr High was definitely an adjustment for me. In a time when it was cool to wear two pairs of matching socks with every outfit, I was made fun of because my white socks weren't doubled or matchers. Oh the silly things we remember.

Other MMGMers:

Shannon Whitney Messenger

Anita Laydon Miller's MG Blog

Best of the Middle Grade Blogs: April 22

2011-04-22T05:48:00.000-07:00

I had high blogging hopes this week but fell short. I'm one of those people who throws lots of balls in the air and tries to catch them all at the same time. I'm a terrible multi-tasker and I get distracted easy by new projects, ideas, shiny objects, etc.

How do you multi-task? I need tips people.

I'm almost finished with my manuscript so I can send it to the agents that requested partials and yet my other WIP keeps calling to me, consuming my thoughts. GET OUT, get out, GET OUT! Plus I'm training for my first half marathon. The race is next Saturday. Am I nervous? Yup.

On an unrelated but important note: Happy Easter Everybody [bawk, bawk].

Industry

Book Bloggers: Why Authors Need Them @ Write4Kids!
Successful School Visits: What an Author Can Do to Prepare @ From the Mixed-Up Files...
Why Families Should Buy E-Readers @ Anita Laydon Miller's MG Blog.
Wherein Writer Cat Gets Published! @ Project Mayhem.
The Answers: Publication, My Agent, and Dreams vs Reality @ Caroline by Line.
Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Giveaway Hop @ Kid Lit Frenzy.
Discovering the World @ Smack Dab in the Middle.

Crafting

Five Things I've Learned...@ Shannon Whitney Messenger.
Tip Tuesday #85: Punctuation in Dialog @ Literary Rambles.
Story Planning for 1st Graders @ Adventures in Children's Publishing.
Emotional Structure @ Ink Spells.
O is for Observation: Don't Write Without It @ That's Another Story.
What I Learned from Veronica Mars Part 2 & Why Sequels Are Hard @ Elle Strauss.
Q is for Query @ PK Hrezo.
Why Write? @ Novel and Nouveau.

Interviews

Anita Laydon Miller + Giveaway @ Literary Rambles.
7 Questions for Stephanie Barden @ Middle Grade Ninja.

Reviews

Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie @ Book Nut.
Super Spring Giveaway @ From the Mixed-Up Files...
The Fourth Stall by Chris Rylander @ Tracy Edward Wymer.
The Rendering by Joel Naftali @ Charlotte's Library.
MMGM: A Tale of Two Castles @ My Brain on Books.
The Fairy-Tale Detectives (Sisters Grimm #1) @ The O.W.L.
MMGM: It's a Mystery! @ Just Deb!
MMGM: Pearl vs. The World @ Book Dreaming

Other MG Round-ups

This Sunday's Round Up of MG F/SF @ Charlotte's Library.

Need more writing links, visit my writing round up at The Writing Bug.

Who inspired you this week? Have you found other MGers? I want to know.

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events #1)

2011-04-18T05:52:00.000-07:00

I just watched this movie with my girls last night and thought it would be a good choice for MMGM. It is a classic and addictive series. The movie I think is just as well done as the books (which isn't always the case).

The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events #1) by Lemony Snicket

Published in 2000

Other books in the series:

The Reptile Room #2

The Wide Window #3

The Miserable Mill #4

The Austere Academy #5

The Ersatz Elevator #6

The Vile Village #7

The Hostile Hospital #8

The Carnivorous Carnival #9

The Slippery Slope #10

The Grim Grotto #11

The Penultimate Peril #12

The End #13

The Beatrice Letters

The Hook: After losing their parents and home in a fire, three children must go live with their Uncle Olaf who wants to steal their fortune. The children must expose their uncle before he kills them.

Why I love this series: Characters and cleverness. The three children are all very unique characters and, despite their misery, they support and protect each other. Olaf is one of the best villains I've read. The whole series is very clever. The well crafted mystery, the children's problem solving and Olaf's characters are very entertaining. The book is a fast read and great for reluctant readers because of its size and style.

The series also introduces bigger vocabulary to kids in a fun way.

Other MMGMers:

Shannon Whitney Messenger

Best of the Middle Grade Blogs: April 15

2011-04-15T06:17:00.000-07:00

As I convert my story from 3rd to 1st, it's predominately in a boy perspective but about 4 chapters swap to his younger sister. I didn't want to swap but it has to be done. An unfortunate part of switching to 1st. When I get to the sister chapters, I skip over them because I haven't quite found her voice. I understand her character but I'm not entirely there yet. Her voice has to be undeniably her when you read the first sentence and that's a challenge. I'm saving her for the end.

Any tips for creating distinction between two POVs?

Industry

SCBWI Summer Conference Registration Opens (today) @ Alice Pope's SCBWI Children's Market Blog.
Live Query Event with Natalie Fischer @ WriteOnCon.
Books with Boy Heroes @ From the Mixed-Up Files...
Interview with Lit Agent Judith Engracia @ Literary Rambles.
7 ?'s for Lit Agent Adriann Ranta @ Middle Grade Ninja.
Brand X @ Write About Now.
12 Tips for Twitterphobes @ Shrinking Violet Promotions.
Retreat! Retreat! @ Dystel & Goderich Literary Management.

Craft

Showing Emotion: Boys vs. Girls @ Ink Spells.
When We're Talking Series @ Project Mayhem.
N is for Names @ That's Another Story.
Show and Tell @ Lenny's World.
Don't Ignore Logic When Writing Fiction for Children @ Write4Kids!
The Outline: A Weapon in the War on Writer's Block @ Adventures in Children's Publishing.
Proof in the Pessimist's Pudding @ Tracy Edward Wymer.
You Need a Complete Manuscript @ Kidlit.

Author Interviews

Interview with Hillary Homzie and Book Giveaway @ Literary Rambles.
Batter Up! Interview with Alan Gratz @ From the Mixed Up Files...
Q & A with Middle Grade Author Nathan Bransford @ Anita Laydon Miller's MG Blog.
7 Questions for Richard Adams @ Middle Grade Ninja.

Reviews

MMGM: Nerds (+ Giveaway) @ Shannon Whitney Messenger.
MMGM: The Fourth Stall @ Kid Lit Frenzy.
MMGM: Fashionista Edition @ My Comfy Chair.
MMGM: Beyonders by Brandon Mull @ Writer About Now.
MMGM: The Alychemyst, The Magician, and The Sorceress @ Night Writer.
MMGM: How Moving @ My Brain on Books.
MMGM: Invisible Inkling @ Book Dreaming.
MMGM: Jan Markley @ Just Deb!
Audio Review: The Shadows (The Books of Elsewhere #1) @ The O.W.L.
Bloodline Rising by Katy Moran (tween) @ Charlotte's Library.
Okay For Now by Gary D Schmidt @ Tracy Edward Wymer.

Other MG Roundups

This Sunday's round-up of MG F/SF @ Charlotte's Library.

Did I miss anyone? Who inspired you this week?

She's Crafty: Show, Don't Tell.

2011-04-13T06:51:00.000-07:00

Must write. Eyes burning, must blink. Getting closer, feel'n it. feel'n it. All good things.

My Top 10 Fave "Show, Don't Tell" Blog Posts

Seven "Show Don't Tell" Tips @ Kathy Temean.
What "Show, Don't Tell" Really Means @ Kidlit.
Did You Hear That? Showing Sound @ The Other Side of the Story.
Showing vs. Telling @ Nathan Bransford.
Don't Tell Me -- Show Me @ The Blood Red Pencil.
Tell, Don't Show @ Incidents and Accidents.
Free FtQ Chapter: Showing and Telling @ Flogging the Quill.
Telegraphing (and other pace killers) @ Writer Unboxed.
The Ten Mistakes (Show Don't Tell is #8) @ Holt Uncensored.
Show Don't Tell (in a query letter) @ Miss Snark.

What are your best tips for avoiding the tell OR recognizing it in your writing?

Tween Tuesday: My Unfair Godmother Releases Today

2011-04-12T13:15:00.000-07:00

I'm a champion for middle grade (both writing and reading) but I definitely read YA (mostly for pleasure). Every once in a while I come across a YA book that transcends its genre. Meaning, I love it as an adult and I would recommend it to upper middle graders (i.e. my niece). My latest read that I'm telling everyone to read:

My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison

While the cover isn't my favorite, I gobbled this book down in less than a day (I only neglected my kids a smidge). The story is a perfectly twisted fairytale. Action, tension, romance (clean romance), and a dragon to boot. While the protag is 16, I still feel it will appeal to upper middle graders, especially after reading The O.W.L.'s list of what her kids are actually reading. I immediately googled for a sequel, and I've been awaiting today's release of:

My Unfair Godmother

GoodReads description: Tansy Miller has always felt that her divorced father has never had enough time for her. But mistakenly getting caught on the wrong side of the law wasn't exactly how she wanted to get his attention. Enter Chrysanthemum "Chrissy" Everstar, Tansy's fairy in shining, er, high heels. Chrissy is only a fair godmother, of course, so Tansy's three wishes don't exactly go according to plan. And if bringing Robin Hood to the twenty-first century isn't bad enough for Tansy, being transported back to the Middle Ages to deal with Rumpelstiltskin certainly is. She'll need the help of her blended family, her wits, and especially the cute police chief 's son to stop the gold-spinning story from spinning wildly out of control. Janette Rallison pulls out all the stops in this fresh, fun-filled follow-up to the popular My Fair Godmother.

Janette is giving away a copy on her blog and Adventures in Children's Publishing is also doing a giveaway for this book. Go now. And if you don't win, buy it. You won't regret it.

Have you read anything by Janette Rallison?

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth

2011-04-11T06:42:00.000-07:00

It's Monday and time to get to MMGM. My pick this week:

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth by Jeff Kinney

published Nov 2010

Other books in the Series:

Diary of a Wimpy Kid #1

Roderick Rules #2

The Last Straw #3

Dog Days #4

The Hook: In a rush to grow up, Greg learns that growing up comes with more responsibilities, body changes and awkward conversations with adults.

Why I love this series: Voice and Humor. Jeff Kinney understands middle grade voice and he's an excellent example of 1st person. His style, wit and ability to capture the middle grade experience are spot on. These books are a fast read and the illustrations are hilarious. This book discusses some of the body changes that happen but nothing inappropriate. This series is great for boys and reluctant readers. Although girls will like the series too.

Other MMGMers:

Shannon Whitney Messenger

Best of the Middle Grade Blogs: April 8

2011-04-08T06:19:00.000-07:00

And I'm back. I'm not going to lie, it was a fabulous snowboarding trip. Three of my girls board and it's just too stink'n cute to see them rip down the mountain. Next year, we're teaching my baby and we'll all be on the hill. Ubes fun.

I've caught up on all my blogs, there were some fab posts this week. I wanted to win Joanne Fritz's Divergent giveaway something fierce. I like to think I just missed it. Cheers to the girl who made the YouTube video. I love dystopia. I can't wait for this book.

Has anyone read any great Middle Grade dystopia? Minus The Giver (love that book).

My Fave Middle Grade Bloggers This Week

Industry & Inspiration

7 Questions for Literary Agent Sara Crowe @ Middle Grade Ninja.
Q & A with MG Author Chris Rylander @ Anita Laydon Miller's MG Blog.
Author Chris Eboch on Turning to Self-Publishing @ Caroline by line.
Kirsten Hubbard On Why Writer Friends Are Crucial @ Adventures in Children's Publishing.
I Do Not Tweet, I Chirp @ Tracy Edward Wymer.

Crafting

What is off limits in Your MG? @ Project Mayhem.
Advice From Horror Writer Applies to Children's Authors @ Write4Kids!
How to Write: It's All in the Details @ Elle Strauss.
Description Issues @ Kidlit.
M is for Mannerisms @ That's Another Story.
C is for Conflict @ PK Hrezo.
Switching the Goal @ Write About Now.
Tip Tuesday #83 (Slang. This is YA but it applies to MG too.) @ Literary Rambles.
Whipping Out That WiP @ Ink Spells.
Writing Magical Realism @ Stet!

Reviews

MMGM: You'll Like It Here (Everybody Does) @ My Brain on Books.
MMGM: How to Save Your Tail @ Night Writer.
MMGM: Marsha Skrypuch @ Just Deb!
MMGM: Chicagoland Detective Agency & The Emerald Atlas + Giveaway @ Book Dreaming.
Freedom Stone by Jeffrey Kluger @ Charlotte's Library.
Violet in Bloom @ Book Nut.
Before You Kiss That Frog...@ Write About Now.
April New Releases @ From the Mixed-Up Files...
Adventure at Simba Hill by Susan Runholt @ Middle Grade Ninja.

Other MG Roundups

This Sunday's MG F/SF Round-up @ Charlotte's Library.

Need more writing links, check out my This Week in the Writing World Roundup over at The Writing Bug.

Who inspired you this week?

code: dark again

2011-04-05T23:13:00.000-07:00

code: new snow. new powder.

code: snowboarding with kids and hot guy I married.

code: sorry no mmgm.

code: back to normal tomorrow. code.

ya sidebar: just finished delirium by lauren oliver. Has anyone else read this? My thoughts are mixed...I need to discuss. Does anyone know if it is a series or just a stand alone story?

just discovered it is a trilogy. This makes way more sense. As I read this, I kept thinking "this is just going to end...it's romeo & juliet set in a dystopia." Book 2 should be better...not that I didn't like this one...more like how The Two Towers is better than The Fellowship of the Ring. Personally, delirium had too much set up and too little action but great love story.

A Twitter Pitch Contest and My Twitter Pitch

2011-04-02T09:01:00.000-07:00

Shelly Watters is doing an awesome twitter pitch contest on her blog. Susie Townsend from Fine Print Literary is the judge. Go.

Here's my Twitter Pitch:

Two siblings fall through a puddle and must race to find the next puddle, before it evaporates, or they’ll be lost forever in jungle swamp.

It feels like a suit to me. No personality. Any thoughts?

Best of the Middle Grade Blogs: April 1

2011-04-01T06:03:00.000-07:00

Happy April Fools Day. This is my one of my favorite holidays. I have a bunch of pranks planned for today. A classic, that my children look forward to even though they're being pranked, is lunch:

I scooped out all the jello from their snack cups and replaced it with red wine vinegar infused cyrstal light jello. Then I glued the seal back on.
Cheeto bags filled with carrot sticks. (They might cry about this one.)
A water bottle with baby abesol smear around the rim.
And a cupcake with a small burst of toothpaste in the middle.

Are you playing any pranks today?

My Fave Middle Grade Bloggers this Week:

Industry & Inspiration

2010 Sales Figures for Children's Books Announced @ Write4Kids!
B & N Exec: eBooks on Pace to Outsell Print @ Write4Kids!
7 Questions for Literary Agent Wendy Schmalz @ Middle Grade Ninja.
Interview with Literary Agent Chris Richman about Books for Kids @ Anita Laydon Miller's MG Blog.
Young Adult vs. Middle Grade @ Project Mayhem.
Why I Want a Literary Agent @ Time Guardian Blog.
Creative Confidence @ Kidlit.

Crafting

L is for Language @ That's Another Story.
If Your Character's Missing a Shoe, Try Finding Its Match @ Adventures in Children's Publishing.
Tip Tuesday #82: Making a Character Collage @ Literary Rambles.
Plotting (Part 2): Developing an Outline & Synopsis @ That's Another Story.
Revision is All About Taking Risks @ MiG Writers.
Ink Spells Takes On The Cloud @ Ink Spells.

Reviews

MMGM: ARC Giveaway Extravaganza @ Shannon Whitney Messenger. (There is still time to enter for the giveaway.)
Tween Tuesday: Moon Over Manifest @ The O.W.L.
Tween Tuesday: The Invisible Order: Rise of the Darklings @ GreenBean Teen Queen.
MMGM: Follow My Leader @ Book Dreaming.
MMGM: The Resisters @ My Brain On Books.
MMGM: Falling In @ Night Writer.
Review: If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period @ My Comfy Chair.
Hi-Lo Recs @ From the Mixed-Up Files...
MG Review & Giveaway: The Rotten Adventures of Zachary Ruthless @ Project Mayhem.
An Action-Packed Series @ Write About Now.
Luv Ya Bunches @ Book Nut.
MG Book Review: Slob by Ellen Potter @ Dutch Hill News.

Other MG Roundups

This Sunday's Middle Grade Fantasy & SciFi Roundup @ Charlotte's Library.

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: The Grey Griffins: The Brimstone Key

2011-03-28T05:43:00.000-07:00

Happy MMGM. It is my children's spring break this week, so my blogging will be sparse at best.

This week I picked The Brimstone Key (The Grey Griffins: The Clockwork Chronicles #1). I picked this because I had heard fab things about it and thought more MG steampunk: good. So I matched it up against The Clockwork Three for MGMTD.

The Brimstone Key (The Grey Griffins: The Clockwork Chronicles #1)

By Derek Benz & JS Lewis

Published in 2010.

Other books in The Grey Griffins series (and I recommend as prereq reading):

The Revenge of the Shadow King

The Rise of the Black Wolf

The Fall of the Templar

Other books in The Clockwork Chronicles:

The Relic Hunters (May 2011)

The Changelings (or The Immortals)

The Hook: Four friends with extraordinary powers/talents unknowingly release an old villian, The Clockwork King, from his prison and try to stop him from getting The Brimstone Key, a portal to the shadow world.

Why I liked this book: pacing and action. Chalk-full, maybe even too full but they can turn a page. Pretty much anything magical or of fantasy origin is in this book. From Templars to gnomes to EMPs to hologram training decks to faeries to ....(you think of something because I promise it is mentioned in the book). I do give them cred for using automatons well. Other steampunk just has them in there to count as steampunk but this book really uses them for evil...and good...and everything else. It was quick ride and is great for boys. While there are a couple of girl characters in the book, I would only recommend this to girls who love high fantasy and D&D card games.

Oh, and while this says #1 in this adventure, it is really book 4 for The Grey Griffins series. So read the others, before starting this one, for better context and investment in the characters.

For another review of this book, check out Ben Langhinrchs' post at My Comfy Chair.

And check out other great MMGMers:

Shannon Whitney Messenger

Best of the Middle Grade Blogs: March 25

2011-03-25T06:15:00.000-07:00

This week I picked up Diary of a Wimpy Kid and #5 The Ugly Truth. I haven't read this series yet (blame it on personal interests) but I wanted more examples of 1st person. I read the books in 4 hours. I couldn't put them down. Love the voice. I think they're completely relatable to middle graders. They are loosely plotted but I still enjoyed the random collection of middle grade experiences. I thought I would pick up #2 Roderick Rules today.

Are any of you going to see the movie Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Roderick Rules? It opens today.

Industry & Inspriation

Whatever Happened to Middle Grade Fiction? @ Dystel & Goderich Literary Management.
Middle Grade Trends/Ideas/Plots We'd Like to See @ From the Mixed-Up Files
A Who's Who in Children's Books @ Dystel & Goderich Literary Management.
When Your Agent Isn't Feeling the Love @ Jennifer Represents.
7 Questions for Literary Agent Joan Slattery @ Middle Grade Ninja.
7's Up: What are You Reading? @ The OWL. (I love seeing into what actual 7th graders are reading. Her class: mostly YA. So I have to ask MG writers, is your protag the right age?)
Worried About eBook Piracy? Consider This...@ Write4Kids!
Breaking News: Federal Judge Denies Google Books Settlement @ Alice Pop'es SCBWI blog.
Do, Read, Ask @ Book Dreaming.

Crafting

Mimetic Writing @ Kidlit.
Writing Racy @ Write About Now. (As in race, not sexy. Come on people, this is MG.)
K is for (yuck) Kissing @ That's Another Story.
Don't Dress Up Your Dogs @ Project Mayhem.
...Cool Characters @ Lenny's World.
Crafting the Villain and a Wii Bit of Fun @ PK Hrezo.
Secret Recipe for a Novel @ Adventures in Children's Publishing.
Querying Elana J's Way @ Writers' Ally aka sa larsen.

Reviews

Under the Green Hill by Laura L. Sullivan @ Middle Grade Ninja.
The Adventures of Daniel Boom AKA Loud Boy @ Night Writer.
Sparrow Road @ My Brain on Books.
Tween Tuesday: Audio Review The Red Pyramid @ The O.W.L.
A Tale Dark and Grimm @ Book Nut.
A Whole Nother Story @ Shannon Whitney Messenger.
Amy Hodgepodge: All Mixed Up! @ My Comfy Chair.
The Princess and the Goblin @ Book Dreaming.

Conference Recap: Childish Mistakes in Writing for Children

2011-03-24T06:02:00.000-07:00

You like meat? Because I'm about to give you the meat. My favorite class from NCW: Childish Mistakes in Writing for Children by Kelly Sonnack from Andrea Brown Literary Agency. Best class ever? Possibly.

The Andrea Brown Agency also participates in The Big Sur Children's Writing Workshop. Shannon Whitney Messenger just went to the March session. They have another in December and I'm seriously considering it. If you want to write for children/MG/YA, then this workshop is going to be nothing but meat and potatoes. I'm sure worth every penny.

Now to the recap.

What I learned about childish mistakes in writing for children:

1. Don't preach or speak down to children. Children are smart and they'll get bored or annoyed if you try to preach morals or talk to them as if they're babies. In Middle Grade, their moms aren't reading to them, so don't write like you're their parent. Now if you want to have a moral in your story, that's fine as long as you make it transparent and invisible to the child.

2. Don't be a copycat. Don't copy bestsellers or classics. Don't write to trends or for the bandwagon. It typically takes 18 months from signing with a publisher till its release. So if you're writing for a trend, it will possibly pass before your book comes out. Instead, figure out what classics do to transcend their lifetimes. Then put a modern or fresh interpretation on a classic style.

3. Don't write about your pet, grandkid, child, or yourself. Kids won't be interested. Make the experience bigger than yourself and your experience.

4. Is your protagonist the right age? In MG and YA, the protagonist should be the age of your intended reader or a bit older. The protagonist should never be an adult and adults should not be rescuing or solving the central conflict. Empower the child.

5. You might be "telling" if you ...

Use the words felt or was.
Say something to the effect of "His life changed when..."
Write: she raised an eyebrow to show how ridiculous it was. Don't tell what you've shown.
List character specs. Let the reader discover your characters for themselves.
Use a mirror to describe anything. Avoid the mirror.
Use full name to describe your character: John Paul Peterson.

Show, don't tell. I know, we hear it everywhere but it is tough to do well. Showing includes emotion, action, and sensory detail. But avoid: rolling eyes, sighing, blushing, face draining, weather reports, tears or crying (a manuscript should not have more than one cry in the book), !!!!ONLY WHEN YELLING!!!!!!!

6. Dialogue should always move the story forward. Hey, how are you? Good. Good. Cut mundane dialogue or statements. Boring, no one wants to read it. And in MG, word count is precious. Don't use stereotypical dialogue--it trips the reader and makes your characters seem less smart. Examples: Gawd, like. If your character whines, don't drag out words. Mooooooooom, nooooo, sheeeeez. But mostly avoid whiny kids. Don't talk baby talk either. I go bye bye. Me go home now. Don't talk to the reader, don't be a chatty narrator. Don't you think that's unfair?

7. Don't start your story in a fight. No one wants to enter a room where people are fighting. It makes your character less likable. And your protag needs to be likable. So don't overdo teen/pre-teen angst.

8. The villain needs as much depth as the protag. No cliche villains or snide mustache twirling. The most intriguing villains have as much to offer as the hero. Especially when they don't see themselves as villains.

I told you. Meat. Do you have any tips or rules for writing for middle grade?

She's Crafty: Plot

2011-03-23T06:14:00.000-07:00

One thing I rarely lack is plot. Even though my three manuscripts are completely different adventures (contemporary, fantasy/magical realism, and historical fiction), they all have plenty of action. But is action enough for creating a fabulous plot? What are my character arcs? Are my characters changed by the end? What action changes them?

So while I flip my soon-to-be queried WIP from 3rd to 1st, I day dream about my historical fiction character and her plot. Because I'm a plotter, I like to have the whole story ironed out sooner than later.

My Top 10 Fave Blog Posts on Plot:

Plotting and Structure @ The Other Side of the Story.
Writing a Hot Plot @ Kidlit.
Do You Have a Plot? @ Nathan Bransford.
Free FtQ Chapter: Story as Garden @ Flogging the Quill.
The Writer's Toolkit: Breaking the Rules of the Narrative Arc @ Alan Rinzler.
How to Learn Story Structure in Two Minutes or Less @ Storyfix
The Meandering Plot or How to Figure Out What's Next @ STET!
Elizabeth Loupas on Spiking Your Novel with Conflict @ Writer Unboxed.
The Art of Chaptering @ The Blood-Red Pencil.
Free FtQ Chapter: Problems with Staging Action @ Flogging the Quill.
Bonus: How to Write Satisfying Endings @ Kidlit.

Do you have any great tips for plotting?

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: The Clockwork Three

2011-03-21T06:03:00.000-07:00

I found this book from a Publisher's Weekly article on Fall 2010 Flying Starts. I had just finished reading Cassandra Clare's The Clockwork Angel and I was ready for more steampunk. Middle Grade steampunk intrigued me and I added The Clockwork Three to my list.

The Clockwork Three by Matthew J. Kirby

Published in October 2010

Releasing this year:

Icefall (October 2011)

The Hook: Three chidren's lives come together and they must work as a team to find a treasure hidden somewhere in the city's grand hotel.

Why I loved it: Characters and style. Kirby knows how to create living characters. Even the secondary characters breathe intrigue. The three children: Giuseppe, an Italian busker, who discovers a green violin and a possible way to get back to Italy and his family. Hannah, a hotel maid, who works to support her family and ailing father discovers a clue to hidden treasure that if found will support her family and allow her to go back to school. And Frederick, rescued from an orphanage by the clockmaker, is determined to become the youngest member of the clockmaker's guild by creating an automaton man. Each story is intriguing and how it ends will surprise you. Beautifully written and an entertaining story. Great for both boys and girls.

What are your thoughts on steampunk? The term annoys my husband but so does Bollywood. I happen to like both.

Other MMGMers:

Shannon Whitney Messenger

Best of the Middle Grade Blogs: March 18

2011-03-18T06:34:00.000-07:00

Can she do it? The new Katniss. She wasn't my first pick, but I'm optimistic. She needs to look a lot hungrier.

My Fave MG Blog Posts from this Week:

Industry and Inspiration

What's so Great About Those Bookscan Numbers, Anyway? @ Shrinking Violet Promotions.

M is for March, M is for Multicultural @ From the Mixed Up Files.

Librarians and HarperCollins Battle Over E-book Loans @ Write4Kids!

2011 Kiddo Award Winners @ My Comfy Chair.

Pregnant Cannibal Teens from Outer Space @ Dystel & Goderich Literary.

I'd Need to Have a Brain Injury Before I Write for Children @ Writer Unboxed.

What's So Great About Middle Grade? @ Project Mayhem.

Cover Love 7th Grade Style: Sweet Venom @ The OWL. (interesting insight into MGers' minds)

Twelve Tips for Reluctant Readers @ Ink Spells.

Proof that You're a Writer @ Write About Now.

Crafting

High School Hierarchy in YA Fiction @ Kidlit.com

Is That You? Developing Voices for Different POVs @ The Other Side of the Story.

Avoiding Melodrama by Writing Deeper @ Adventures in Children's Publishing.

Second Sight: The New Must-own Book on Craft @ First Novels Club.

Waiting for the Perfect Time to Write @ Kate's Book Blog.

Wise Words from Cynthia Leitich Smith @ My Brain on Books.

J is for Journal or Diary Format @ That's Another Story.

Ten Reasons to Practice Freewriting @ Cheryl's Musings.

Reviews

New MG Book Alert: The Black @ Time Guardian Blog.

Inside the Writer's Studio with Michelle Knudsen @ Writer Friendly, Bookshelf Approved.

Review: It's Raining Cupcakes @ My Comfy Chair.

MMGM: The Ordinary Princess @ Night Writer.

MMGM: A World Without Heroes @ Shannon Whitney Messenger.

MMGM: The Great Hamster Massacre @ My Brain on Books.

MMGM: The Midnight Tunnel @ Kimberley's Wanderings.

Spiderwick Chronicles, by Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black @ Dutch Hill News.

Mega Giveaway

Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop @ Kid Lit Frenzy.

Hungry for more writing links? Check out my round-up at The Writing Bug.

Who inspired you this week?

Conference Recap: An Effective Writer's Platform

2011-03-17T05:51:00.000-07:00

If you're sitting on the fence about whether writing conferences are worth it, I have just two words to say: do it. Do it. (Can you reference that movie? Hint: Ben Stiller.) Even if you're not pitching, worth it. Classes great, people great, info great. You really come away smarter. So go, if you can.

One of the best classes from NCW Fort Collins was by Ebeling & Associates on Creating an Effective Platform. Some agents have trouble defining platform and what to do as a writer, but not Kristina Holmes and Michael Ebeling. They understand platform.

What I learned about Building an Effective Platform:

1. Platform is what you do to reach your audience and elevate yourself above the rest. Over 250K books are traditionally published every year. The market is saturated and your audience has a short attention span. So what are you doing to get noticed?

2. There are many ways to build your platform, focus on one or two and do it well. Typical ways to build a platform:

Speaking
Website/Blog
Social Media
Appearances in Media
Workshops/Seminars

To do this well, time and/or money need to be spent to make it happen.

3. Your goal should be to maximize your audience size AND your appeal. A strong platform is not just numbers but also your appeal. How is your audience receiving your content/identity? How are you communicating it? Sassy, frank, research-driven, extreme, etc. Creative humor can help. Find a way to differentiate and find a niche. What are others not doing that you can do? Where is your passion? Find it and be the researcher, then report. Become the expert. Have patience, success will come.

4. Know your audience. Who are they? What are their needs and desires? What are their dreams and struggles? What causes them pain? How can you help them? Your platform initiatives should allow your audience to speak to you and each other. Create an environment where the community can come together.

5. Find your unique hook and angle, then master your content. Be creative. Be authentic. Follow what others are doing and saying. Talk to other authors and experts. Pay attention to how you present yourself.

I had an ah-ha moment in this class when it came to audience. Right now, my platform is blogging and socializing with other writers and publishing people. While this is still important for networking and hopefully being published, it is not my audience for my stories.

My audience is: middle grade kids, their parents, and librarians.

Now I just need to understand their pain and find my niche for helping this audience. I have ideas. But for now, I need to sleep and channel the tiger blood energy Charlie Sheen has in massive supply. Plan Better.

She's Crafty: First Person Narration

2011-03-16T05:33:00.000-07:00

I had a break through at group people. I got a request for my manuscript. Winning, duh. But at the conference, during the first-page critique, they wanted to see my story written in first person narration instead of third. I don't like writing in 1st but I see their point and I'm willing to put in the work.

A tiny problem, I'm not comfortable writing in 1st. Awkward, cuz I'm doing it right now but this is blog blah not a complex adventure. So I'm currently surrounded by my favorite books written in 1st for help. The Hunger Games is on top. Help me Katniss, you're my only hope.

What style do you prefer writing in: 1st or 3rd? Do you have any great tips for writing well in 1st person?

My Top Ten Fave Blog Posts on Writing in 1st Person POV

Third Person-Style Narration in First Person @ Kidlit.com.
Point of View (POV) @ The Other Side of the Story.
A Few Thoughts on First Person @ Edittorrent.
What does choice of POV mean? How does it challenge a writer? @ TalkToYoUniverse.
Hypothetical Dialogue vs. Inner Monologue @ Plot to Punctuation.
Deep POV: Three Mistakes and How to Fix Them, Part 1 @ The Blood-Red Pencil.
First Person or Third Person? @ Nathan Bransford.
Me or You? Choosing Between First and Third POV @ The Other Side of the Story.
Changing Your Manuscript's Tense, Point of View @ Kidlit.com
Pitfalls of Introspection...How Much is Too Much? @ Dark Angel Fiction Writing.

Pirate sidebar: Ask and you will receive. My daughter went to a pirate party on Saturday. Now I have a patch for my twitchy eye. Do I look ridiculous? Yes, but it helps a ton.

MGMTD: The Bracket

2011-03-15T05:30:00.000-07:00

Here she is, it was tough to pick just 16 books from the 2010 middle grade fiction list. Honestly, I don't know how librarians do it. Now I stuck to fiction because that's what I write and it's my blog. And I placed them in categories and we'll go from there. I also picked books that I own or want to own. Yeah, I'm going to be doing a lot of reading.

Because I haven't read all of these, I am open to anyone who would like to guest blog, review, and pick a winner. If you're interested, leave a comment stating which match-up you would like to review.

Otherwise, I'll reveal the winners at random over the course of the month...and possibly next month or however long it takes to finish. This is for book-nerd fun. So really, if you want to review, I promise, you'll get the gig.

The Middle Grade Mega Throw Down (MGMTD) 2011 Bracket

(must be MG and released in 2010)

Opening Round Match Ups:

[Newbery vs Golden Kite]

Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

vs.

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm

[Fiction]

Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine

vs.

It's Raining Cupcakes by Lisa Schroeder

[Mermaids]

Forbidden Sea by Sheila Nielson

vs.

Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

[Princesses]

The Secret Lives of Princesses by Philippe Lechermeier

vs.

Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt

[Golden Kite Humor Vs Cybils MG Fiction]

MILO: Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze by Alan Silberberg

vs.

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger

[Bestsellers]

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

vs.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth by Jeff Kinney

[Science Fiction and Fantasy]

The Shadows: The Books of Elsewhere by Jacqueline West

vs.

Falling In by Frances O'Roark Dowell

[Steampunk]

The Clockwork Three by Matthew Kirby

vs.

The Brimstone Key (The Grey Griffins: The Clockwork Chronicles) by Michael Grant

Quarterfinals:

Category 1: Newbery/Kite vs Fiction

Category 2: Mermaids vs Princesses

Category 3: Humor/Cybils vs Bestsellers

Category 4: SF/F vs Steampunk

Semifinals:

Category 1 vs 2

Category 3 vs 4

Finals:

Last books standing

Rules: You get a point for ever correct winner you pick. So look over The Bracket, and email me your picks at brookefav [at] gmail [d0t] com.

The beauty of playing is that you don't have to read the books to pick a winner. So let me ask you, do you feel lucky?

The person with the most points will win a copy of the winning book OR a book of their choice from the bracket list.

I'll be reviewing the Steampunk category next Tuesday. Let the battle begin.

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: The Ruins of Gorlan (Ranger's Apprentice #1)

2011-03-14T05:21:00.000-07:00

I have a crazy week ahead of me. The NCW Conference was fabulous and until I run out of things to say, I'll be posting on Thursdays some conference recaps of the classes I attended. Oh and I finally made my MG Mega Throw Down Bracket. You can make your picks tomorrow.

Now, why we're really here, let's get to MMGM. My pick today:

The Ruins of Gorlan (Ranger's Apprentice #1)

by John Flanagan

Published in 2006

Other Books in the Series:

The Burning Bridge #2

The Icebound Land #3 (personal favorite)

The Battle for Skandia #4 (second favorite)

The Sorcerer in the North #5

The Siege of Macindaw #6

Erak's Ransom #7

The Kings of Clonmel #8

Halt's Peril #9

The Emperor of Nihon-Ja #10

If you love this series, he has a new series coming out this year:

The Outcasts (Brotherband Chronicles #1)

The release date hasn't been set yet, but I am excited.

The Hook: Chosen to be a Ranger's apprentice, 15-year-old Will is unsure about the mysterious occupation. He quickly learns they are the eyes, ears, and first defense against any threats to the kingdom. When strategic lords of the kingdom are assassinated, it is up to Will and his master to track the dangerous creatures responsible and determine the threat from the exiled Morgarath. (Shew. Yeah, don't ask me to pitch that in one sentence. I'm too tired to try.)

Why I uber love this series: Tension and style. Oh, and medieval spies. I'm a sucker for spies. The series is brilliant escapism. The story was a tiny bit of a slow start for me, but after page 20 I could not stop. So if you find yourself in the same boat, plug through, more than worth it. Great writing, fabulous storytelling and tension that rockets with each page.

My sister, who recommended the series, told me to buy more than just the first book. Definitely do this. As soon as I shut the book, I opened the second. Now I've only read through book 6, because I was waiting for 7-9 to release in paperback. My husband keeps nudging me to go get them. He blew through them faster than I did. And I probably read 1-6 in less than two weeks.

This series in 150% boy and perfect for reluctant readers. But not just for any boy. This is definitely upper middle grade/young adult. (Husbands love it too.) You'll find it in MG, but I wouldn't necessarily let my 8-yr-old read it. Why? The creatures they track (or are tracking them) are not for the faint of spirit and younger readers might get too scared. Girls who like adventure may enjoy the series but there really isn't a girl character till book 2.

I'm not a fan of high fantasy, but I licked these up faster than chocolate ice cream.

[Just talking about this series makes me want to start reading them again...right now.]

Other MMGMers:

Shannon Whitney Messenger

Me Likey: Breathless Reads Giveaway

2011-03-13T20:40:00.000-07:00

Thank you Myrna for linking to this. I want this...I think more than you. Click the pix below to enter:

Code: dark

2011-03-11T09:06:00.000-08:00

I'm going dark today. I'm on my way to The Northern Colorado Writers Conference. Wish me extra tiger blood.

So next week, I'll do a super charged round up of MG blogs...plus, I'm still working on my Mega Throw Down Bracket. I had no idea what I was getting into. Picking just 16 is tough. But it is coming...maybe on Tuesday.

She's Crafty: Developing Characters

2011-03-09T06:05:00.000-08:00

I have two manuscripts finished. With both stories, plot came to me first, then I had to develop the characters. I have a 3rd story in progress, but mostly just the characters. This time my MC came to me first. I haven't quite figured out the details of her plot.

When you find a story to write, what comes to you first: plot or character?

Top Ten Blog Posts on Developing Characters

Is Your MC Proactive or Reactive? @ Rachelle Gardner.
What Makes a Character? @ Kidlit.
Writing Advice From Some Old Guys At My Gym @ Nathan Bransford.
A Character-Based View of Plot @ Brooklyn Arden.
In the Flesh: Fleshing Out Flat Characters @ The Other Side of the Story.
Guest Blogger: Matilda McCloud: Avoiding On-the-nose Writing @ Rachelle Gardner.
Question about Character Motivation and Action @ Edittorrent.
5 Ways to Write Character Thoughts Worth More Than a Penny @ Wordplay.
Depth of Character @ Writer Unboxed.
What Motivates Your Character? @ The Blood-Red Pencil.

My favorite character right now is Katniss from The Hunger Games series. I'm so excited for the movie, and they don't even have a cast yet. Who's your favorite character from a book?

MG March Mega Throw Down

2011-03-08T04:46:00.000-08:00

So I just found out about The Morning News' Tournament of Books. They created a March Madness bracket for the best books of 2010, then starting today, they'll compete head to head. I'm rooting for Room, Super Sad True Love Story, and The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake. I love the whole idea of this. So I'll be creating my own Middle Grade March Madness Tournament.

If you read a MG book published in 2010 that you think is worthy of the Best MG Book of 2010 title, leave a comment.

Otherwise the list will be of my own design (which means it will be really random and questionable). But it's my blog, so yeah, let's do this.

I'll post the bracket on Thursday. And then starting next week, the MG March Mega Throw Down will begin. I think there should be a giveaway for whoever can get the most points. Because it's always about points.

cheers.

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: The Lost Hero

2011-03-07T05:15:00.000-08:00

Happy MMGM. My pick this week:

The Lost Hero (Heros of Olympus Series #1) by Rick Riordan

published October 2010

Pre-req reading: The Percy Jackson Series

Upcoming sequeal: The Son of Neptune releases Oct 2011

The Hook: A new brat pack of heros, Jason, Piper and Leo are sent on a quest to save Hera and stop the awakening of a new bigger-(& older)-than-titans threat.

Why I loved it: Action and tension. Riordan is a master when it comes to page turning adventure. In true Riordan fashion, buckle up for a ride that starts in chapter one. He does rely on the reader knowing the half-blood lingo and all of Percy's friends. So you may want to read the whole Percy Jackson series before you start this one. Riordan's bi-polar Greek/Roman Gods twist is fun and a bit tricky to keep straight. But he sets up the new series nicely, and I'm sure we'll see Percy as a major character in the next book. Son of Neptune (wink). This is a great adventure for boys (and girls will love it too).

Want more? See a video interview of Riordan. Or read an interview and FAQ on his website.

Other MMGMers:

Shannon Whitney Messenger

Best of the Middle Grade Blogs: March 4

2011-03-04T05:19:00.000-08:00

Happy Dr. Seuss birthday week (or at least happened this week). I love that the schools celebrate this day. And I love the kids that dress in the full Cat in the Hat garb. While it isn't MG, my favorite Seuss is My Many Colored Days. So simple, so beautiful. I love the black day, I always scare my kids when I howl & growl at every cloud. Today is definitely a yellow day.

What's your favorite Seuss?

My Fave Middle Grade Blog Posts

Industry & Inspiration

What Booksellers Wish Publishers Knew: Get a Spine! @ My Brain on Books.
Check Out Our New Baby: eWriting4Kids.com @ Write4Kids.
Examining Trends vs. Style in Children's Books @ Guide for Literary Agents.
10 Trends in Children's Books from 2010 @ Chocolate for Inspiration.
WOW Wednesday: Cambria Dillon on Loving Your Writer's Butt @ Adventures in Children's Publishing.
Writers Who Review Books @ Ink Spells.

Crafting

Play by Play Narration @ Kidlit.
I is for Ideas @ That's Another Story.
Unstoppable Characters @ Writers' Ally.
Story Arcs @ Book Dreaming.
Managing Your Computer Time @ Shrinking Violet Promotions.

Reviews

MG Book Review: Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson @ Dutch Hill News.
All Aboard the Fantasy Train @ From the Mixed-up Files...
Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George @ Middle Grade Ninja.
Tween Tuesday: Team OWL Reviews The Emerald Atlas @ The O.W.L.
Reading Middle Grade: Two Great Examples @ That's Another Story.
MMGM plus Our First Giveaway @ My Comfy Chair.
Author Spotlight: Michael P Spradlin @ Write About Now. (the funk so brother...I can't help myself.)
MMGM: The Atomic Weight of Secrets @ Book Dreaming.

In a completely non-MG sidebar: is anyone else following Charlie Sheen on twitter? The man is crazy. A sincere train wreck. But I'm addicted. I don't really follow celebs but my husband hooked me on the tiger blood. Winning.

Writing Conference Dos and Don'ts

2011-03-03T05:49:00.000-08:00

The conference is coming and I'm really excited. Mainly because I just received my new business cards in the mail. They look good. I feel good...well except for my pitch. I might throw it out there for opinions sometime next week.

So here's my list of dos and don'ts at a conference. Probably nothing new, but it definitely applies to me.

When attending a writer's conference...

Before pitching, learn everything about and talk to the agent to make sure it is a good fit. See my sad but positive story about pitching last year.
Talk to people. Network is everything. And guess what? Most people want to talk. Of course do not stalk agents, especially in bathrooms or elevators. But they are fair game if they're sitting at the bar or mingling before dinner.
Bring business cards. It is a great way to easily exchange relevant info with other writers, agents, etc. No scraps of anything required.
Dress (at least) corporate casual but no prom dresses. I've seen the full spectrum. Keep it professional, even if it is a long day.
Pitch. Have a manuscript complete first, but definitely pitch. Great practice, great advice, great opportunity. Do it.
Bring a laptop if you got it. I scribbled on a regular-non-tech notepad last year. So yeah, I just barely dusted it off a few weeks ago. I had forgotten many of the great tips I had learned. This time, I may blog as I go. Much easier way to manage and categorize for later access.
Volunteer. If it is a small conference, they often need help. This year, I'm a session volunteer which means I assist the speaker for the session. Does that mean getting them a water or something? Probably. But it makes my face familiar and it's an easy way to talk without it feeling forced.
Bring mints and/or candy to keep it fresh and share with those around you. Fresh breath and a great ice breaker for meeting people. Who could resist my red vines or junior mints? Yeah, those might be a bit bulky...

I do do. (for all the 30 Rock luvas)

Don't (absolutely not. no thinky about doing.)

Ask agents about what boy potty talk slang words you can use in MG. Arrrgh. I know, I did it. It was wrong. A bitty backstory: my husband and I were at a stale mate on whether you could use the term butt nugget in a MG novel. (I know.) I didn't think you could but I decided to ask the agent just to get a ruling. Horrible, awful, no good choice. It was like asking an overweight person when their baby was due. The agent's mouth dropped a little and said, "absolutely not." Yeah. Don't do this. Very bad, no no.
Walk in late to a session. If it is a popular session, you may be out of luck because there will not be any seats. Plus, then there's no time to talk to others around you.
Miss out on mingling before dinner, lunch or the keynote. Prime time to meet with agents in a friendly, less pitchy way.
Hide out during session breaks. I saw a lot of writers doing this. I know it is hard to talk to people you don't know but you paid the money and there is nothing to lose.
Dominate a conversation. Your job is to get information and or build relationships--not pop off about yourself. Be a great listener. If you've read How to Win Friends and Influence People, then you know. This is a key characteristic. Sadly, I have to work on this. I don't dominate but I over-empathize...which means I constantly interrupt to make a connection. Interrupting is just rude.

And now you know. And knowing is half the battle.

Do you have any tips for attending a writer's conference?

She's Crafty: Pitching

2011-03-02T05:38:00.000-08:00

With only 9 days till the Northern Colorado Writers Conference, I'm feeling confident about my manuscript and I'm ready to pitch. Last year I pitched a different story to an agent and I felt confident about my pitch--only it was the wrong story for the agent. I thought he was a good fit based on his profile but didn't really understand what he was looking for until I went to his class on Boy Books and The Middle Grade Market. This was after I pitched, of course. Blurg. Knowing whom you're pitching to is just as important as the pitch.

One of the writers I met last year had a similar problem. The night before our pitching session, she had the opportunity to chat with the agent she was planning to pitch to. Based on his profile she felt he was "the one." But after talking with him for just a few minutes, she realized he was wrong for her manuscript and quickly changed her pitch session to a different agent. Smart move and she got a request because of it.

What I learned: network and talk to the agents on a personal non-pitchy level. (Preferably before you meet at the pitching session.) It speaks volumes. I plan to chat with my prospective agent at the cocktail hour before dinner (the night before). Keep in mind, I don't plan to even mention I'm a MG writer unless asked. I just want to learn more about her and what she's really looking for.

My Top 10 Fave Blogs on Pitching at a Writer's Conference

Pitchcraft @ Kidlit.
Loglines & Loglines, Part Deux @ Random Notes from Holly Bodger.
11 Questions for Crafting a Pitch @ Rachelle Gardner.
How to Maximize Pitch Sessions @ Nathan Bransford.
Conference Round-up: The Art of Pitching @ Adventures in Children's Publishing.
Agent Miriam Kriss On: The Perfect Pitch @ Guide to Literary Agents.
Mastering the Elevator Pitch @ BookEnds.
The Elevator Pitch: First Floor, Second Floor, Third Floor @ Rachelle Gardner.
The One Sentence, One Paragragh, and Two Paragraph Pitch @ Nathan Bransford.
The Difference Between Pitch and Query @ Janet Reid.
Bonus: Pitch Killers @ Pub Rants.

Have you ever pitched to an agent? If so, what was your experience? Do you have any tips?

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: The BFG

2011-02-28T05:25:00.000-08:00

My oldest daughter does not love to read. It is a chore, an assignment, something she must check off a list before doing what she really wants. She's eight. But as an English Major, rabid reader, and writer, this stomps on my heart. I've been reading to her since she was 2 months old. Where I have failed her? She tried Harry Potter...loved book one but snored through 2 then stopped. (I know!) She loved The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe, but never finished Prince Caspian and only read Dawn Treader so she could see the movie with her friends. I think I've established she's a tough nut to crack.

Gratefully, her 3rd grade teacher started reading Matilda by Roald Dahl to her class. My daughter immediately checked it out from the library and gobbled down the rest of the story in two days. Since Matilda, she's read every book he's written and now enjoys reading...don't get me wrong, it is still a chore but she likes it.

I've always loved Roald Dahl. James and the Giant Peach is still an all time favorite. But I had never read The BFG. So I pried it from my daughter's small fierce fingers.

The BFG by Roald Dahl

published in 1982

The Hook: After being kidnapped by a 24-ft giant, little Sophie befriends the gentle dream-catching giant and they team up to stop the human-bean-eating giants.

Why I loved it: Style and imagination. Roald Dahl is an amazing storyteller and his ability to make up believable jibberish is next level. You can open the story to any page and find no less than 5 crazy made up words that children love. Am I right or left? Exactly. Delumptious from the first to the last page. Great for both boys and girls. Who doesn't want to foil people-eating giants? Although, a girl as the protagonist may turn some boys off.

Other MMGMers:

Best of the Middle Grade Blogs: February 25

2011-02-25T05:11:00.000-08:00

This has been a crazy week. And on a random note, I just ordered business cards for The Northern Colorado Writers Conference. It seems like an awkward thing to do, creating a card that says Middle Grade Writer. But last year I didn't have them and regretted it. As I get ready for the conference, I plan on posting some do's and don'ts at conferences. But for now, enjoy my favorite MG bloggers this week.

Industry & Market

SCBWI Announces the 2011 Golden Kite Awards & Sid Fleischman Humor Award Winners @ Alice Pope's SCBWI Children's Market Blog.
Cybils 2010 Winners @ Cybils.
An Agent's View: Talking with Jennifer Laughran @ Shrinking Violets Promotions.
Self-publishing and ebooks @ Day By Day Writer.
Scarclaw Says (about Author Websites) @ Project Mayhem...I want to adopt that toughcat.

Crafting

How to Create Compelling Adult Characters @ Write4Kids!
H is for Hook @ That's Another Story.
The Fractal Geometry of Story @ The Scribblers Cove.
Writing Humor: Funny on Demand @ Ink Spells.
Sequels: Their Pleasures and Perils @ From the Mixed-Up Files...

Reviews

Book of the Week: The Giver by Lois Lowry @ Middle Grade Ninja.
Friday's for the Guys: I heart Duncan Version @ The O.W.L
MG Book Reivew: When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead @ Dutch Hill News.
MMGM: Zita The Spacegirl @ Kid Lit Frenzy.
Cover Me! MMGM @ My Brain on Books.
MMGM: The Strange Case of Origami Yoda (just won the 2010 Cybils) @ Night Writer.
MMGM: Swallows and Amazons @ My Comfy Chair.
MMGM: The Edge Chronicles @ Book Dreaming.

Laughs

Comic: Speaking Up @ Writer Unboxed.

Want more writing links, visit my This Week in the Writing World Roundup at The Writing Bug.

Who inspired you this week?

She's Crafty: Pesky Words & Overwriting

2011-02-24T06:05:00.000-08:00

As I finish up revision, I am hunting through my manuscript looking for pesky words that weaken it or flowery globbly guck called overwriting. How do I know what to look for? A little help from the blogosphere. So here's my list of links highlighting the worst of the worst offenders in writing.

Top Ten Blog Posts on Pesky Words and Overwriting

Breaking the Rules of Writing @ The Other Side of the Story.
Free FtQ Chapter: The Trouble with With @ Flogging the Quill.
Top 10 Easily Misused Word Cousins @ Grammar Divas.
Extraneous Words @ The Blood Red Pencil.
Shooting Glances @ Kidlit.
Are you Overusing Passive Verbs @ Wordplay.
Style Blunders in Fiction @ The Blood Red Pencil.
Subjective Point of View: Expressing Judgment with Adverbs and Verbs @ TalkToYoUniverse.
Words that Often Spell Trouble @ Janice Hardy
A Rose By Any Other Name is Still Too Flowery. And Purple. @ The Other Side of the Story.
Bonus: Free FtQ Chapter: Dealing with Overwriting @ Flogging the Quill.
Bonus: Phrase Frequency Counter for Writers @ GalleyCat.

What do you do to avoid overwriting and pesky words?

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: The View from Saturday

2011-02-21T06:19:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone is enjoying MMGM and President's Day Weekend. I should have probably reviewed something holiday appropriate like Lincoln: A Photobiography by Russell Freedman. But I didn't. Maybe Shannon Whitney Messenger did. This week my pick is:

The View from Saturday by E. L. Konigsburg

Published in 2003

Other books by E.L. Konigsburg include (but are not limited to):

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Silent to the Bone
A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver
The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place

The Hook: 4 6-graders are picked to do a quiz competition against other schools. The kids form a club and an unlikely friendship.

Why I loved it: It is sorta like slumdog millionaire but there aren't any slums, or millions, or dogs (just kidding, I forgot there are a couple of dogs). But the kids find the answers to the quiz competition base on their experience. Each chapter is told from the point of view of one of the kids and tells the story behind their answer. A great book for both boys and girls.

My favorite line from the book: I am a passenger on the spaceship earth.

Want more on E. L. Konigsburg? Check out her biography.

Did you review a book for MMGM? Leave a link in the comments and I'll add your link. Also if you're on Twitter, check out #MMGM for more.

Other fabulous MMGMers:

Joanne Fritz is throwing it up for Rodman Philbrick.
Ben Langhinrchs reviews Swallows and Amazons.
Myrna Foster raves about Origami Yoda.

Best of the Middle Grade Blogs: February 18

2011-02-18T06:02:00.000-08:00

Ahh, the end of a long week. I have twitches in my left eyelid...I think I need a pirate patch. Or maybe I should be blinking more. Need a break, enjoy some of my fave bloggers from this week:

MG Industry

2010 Cyblis Winners Announced @ Alice Pope's SCBWI Children's Market Blog.
Direct from the Front Lines of e-Publishing @ Write4Kids!
G is for Girls Who Read @ That's Another Story.
Why Focus on Books for Boys? @ Time Guardian Blog.

Agents & Queries

7 Questions for Literary Agent Marietta Zacker @ Middle Grade Ninja.
From Editor to Agent: A Chat with Alyssa Eisner Henkin @ From the Mixed-Up Files...
Assistant Attitude @ Kidlit.
Agent and Edior Panels @ Chocolate for Inspiration.

Crafting

Revision--Shannon Style (Part 3: Critiques) @ Shannon Whitney Messenger.
Pride & Prejudice Book Love --Learning about writing from favorite books @ Project Mayhem.
Crafting Character Likeability @ Adventures in Children's Publishing.
Chop chop choppy @ Gail Carson Levine.
What Success Looks Like @ MiG Writers.
Managing Information Overload @ Shrinking Violet Promotions.

Laughs

Revamped Valentine's Day Comic @ Debbie Ridpath Ohi.

Who inspired you this week?

She's Crafty: Dialogue

2011-02-16T06:35:00.000-08:00

This week I'm focused on dialogue. Is it smooth or choppy? Is it believable? Watch the tags. Are there enough beats to liven the story? Does it have tension? Does it push the story forward or just fill in space? Blah, blah, blah, blah blah blah.

Blah.

Top Ten Blog Posts on Dialogue:

John Green and Dynamic Character Relationships @ Nathan Bransford. (While this isn't specific to dialogue, I apply the theory every time my characters speak to each other.)
Dialogue Masterclass @ Kidlit.
Dialogue that Matters @ TalkToYoUniverse.
Free FtQ chapter: Dialogue Beats @ Flogging the Quill.
How Dialog Can Help Re-structure a "Needs Some Work" Draft @ The Other Side of the Story.
Seven Keys to Writing Good Dialogue @ Nathan Bransford.
Technical Tips for Writing Dialogue @ Iggi & Gabi.
Tag, You're It! How to Write Excellent Dialogue Tags @ Kidlit.
Speaking of Dialogue @ STET!
Don't Overuse Names in Dialogue @ Wordplay.
Bonus: Is Your Character Walking & Talking? @ Adventures in Children's Publishing.

I have to watch my tags and make sure I've added enough action and detail. What's the easiest or hardest part of writing dialogue for you?