Posts filed under 'Gratitude'
September 30th, 2009
This week, I’m delighted to feature a terrific young blogger who is also participating in the Teen Author Challenge. (Not only that, but she also designed the winning logo for the TAC!) Please help me welcome the fabulous…
Kelsey
(aka Reading Keeps You Sane)
Welcome, Kelsey!
Booklover Basics
Name: Kelsey
Blog Name: Reading Keeps You Sane
Blog URL: readingkeepsyousane.blogspot.com
Country: USA
Teen or Adult? Teen
Short Bio:
Hi, I’m Kelsey! I’m a blogger, reviewer, reader, writer, among other things. I overall just love to create and imagine. 
Questions About You 2.0
The You 2.0 blog is about becoming everything you’re meant to be. It’s about pursuing your dreams, changing your world, showing gratitude, and paying it forward. Here’s a chance for our Booklovers to share what You 2.0 means to them.
1. PURSUING YOUR DREAMS: Everyone has the ability to be extraordinary, they just have to embrace what makes them unique and special and pursue their dreams with passion and confidence! Tell us a little about a dream you’ve achieved or are pursuing right now. If you’ve achieved it already, how does it feel to know you’ve made your dream a reality?
I have about three dreams that I am pursuing now. One: To get into a good college and work toward a career in the publishing industry. I have a few more years before I would go to college though. Two: Write a novel. And maybe even publish it. And for three: Buy a Volkswagen Beetle in a sky blue color and a convertible one. It’s my dream car since I was playing with Barbies. 
2. CHANGING YOUR WORLD: Changing the world doesn’t have to mean finding a cure for cancer or creating lasting world peace (though it definitely can!). It just means finding a way that you can make the world a little better off for having lived here, whether it’s making a difference to one person or a million, to the earth, to animals… whatever is important to you. What is one way you would personally like to make the world a better place?
Well, I thought about it and I think something I would really like to do is write a novel that will be about something that means a lot to me and hope that if I ever write it, and publish it, it’ll make a difference for the people who read it.
3. GRATITUDE: Gratitude is a huge part of the You 2.0 life. Taking a moment to count our blessings is the best way to remember what’s truly important (especially when life is hectic and crazy!). What are you grateful for?
I’m grateful for a tonnnnn of stuff. My dog, who I can always count on. My family, who is there for me and loves me. The authors of the books I read, who allow me to open my imagination and for inspiration. And to a tonnnnn of other stuff that I could keep on naming.
4. PAYING IT FORWARD: If everyone took a moment to pay it forward, even just once, the world would be changed in ways we can’t even imagine. What is one thing you’ve done (or plan to do) to “pay it forward” in some way?
I don’t think you really need to think about it when you pay it forward. I think it’s a spontaneous thing. Sometimes I don’t know what I will do until I just know I need to do it!
Questions About You, The Book Blogger
5. Why did you decide to start blogging about books?
It was a completely spontaneous move and I had no idea what I had gotten myself into. But I’ve kept strong for almost a year and a half now and I hope to continue doing so.
6. What do you love most (and least) about being a YA book blogger?
I love learning new books to read and being able to read them, all the blogger buddies I’ve met. I don’t really like how time consuming and totally addicting blogging is. haha
7. What do you love most about the YA and middle grades genres right now?
Well, I don’t read any MG books, so I have no say on that, but as for YA books, well, i don’t know if I can really say. All the YA books are different, but I do love that there are soooo many YA books out there. And I love how most YA authors are available online and blog and tweet, etc. It’s really nice to know authors in that way.
8. What makes you fall in love with a book?
The writing, the characters all have to be good. Poetic prose, strong female characters. Romance with a good guy is always a favorite of mine. Some sort of paranormal activity. Originality. It has to wow me and make me think about it for hours after I finish it.
9. Which books have inspired you most?
All books have inspired me. I can’t pick just a few! Truthfully, whenever I read a book (which is a lot!) I always stop and think about how the authors have gotten the book to where it is now (me reading the book). Really, it’s not the books that inspire me, it’s the authors who finished a complete novel, got an agent, sold it, and went through the entire process to have it published. The authors are my inspiration.
10. Are you also a writer yourself? If so, what do you like to write?
I don’t really know if I consider myself a writer. I like to write, even though I don’t usually get past 30 pages. But I like to write contemporary coming-of-age romance novels, I suppose. Maybe with a little paranormal in it?
11. What advice would you give to other avid readers who want to launch their own book blog?
Whatever you do, don’t do it to get free books, do it for the fact that you want to share your opinions on the books you read. I didn’t even know ARCs existed when I started my blog!
Will the Real You 2.0 Please Stand Up?
12. I love the game Three Truths and a Lie because there are so many unexpected and interesting things about people that we never get a chance to learn about them. What are three truths and a lie that our blog readers can guess about you?
–When I lived in Germany I was in a huge car pile-up that was started when a guy tried to jump off an overpass. **UPDATE: Here’s the lie!**
–When I was younger I once hid somewhere for no apparent reason while my mom’s friend babysat me long enough that eventually the police were called to help find me.
–When I lived in Germany a guy in the apartment building across from mine held his family hostage but ended up only killing himself.
–I broke someone’s arm once before.
(Readers: Your guess gets you an entry into the You 2.0 monthly contest for an ARC of The Cinderella Society or a prize dive in the awesome You 2.0 Prize Basket. Guess correctly and you get a bonus entry! I’ll update the post tomorrow to spill the big lie, so get guessing and have fun!)
Thanks to Kelsey for a fabulous interview!
September 23rd, 2009
This week, I’m delighted to be hosting another industry pro feature in the Booklover of the Week series. And I’m happy that today belongs to the fabulous/smart/funny literary genius who also happens to be my agent. If you follow me on Twitter, you’ll recognize her as the oft-mentioned Agent Extraordinaire. (She also reps my fellow Tenner buds Rachel Hawkins and Chelsea Campbell among other stellar authors.) Please help me welcome the uber-fabulous…
Holly Root
Waxman Literary Agency
Thanks so much for being here, Holly!
Booklover Basics
Name: Holly Root
Title: Literary agent
Publisher: Waxman Literary Agency
Short Bio:
Holly Root began her publishing career as an editor in Nashville, TN before coming to New York and joining the William Morris Agency’s agent trainee program. She then moved to Trident Media Group, where she sold audio rights for the agency’s clients, before joining The Waxman Literary Agency in 2007 to represent her own list of authors.
Questions About You 2.0
The You 2.0 blog is about becoming everything you’re meant to be. It’s about pursuing your dreams, changing your world, showing gratitude, and paying it forward. Here’s a chance for our Booklovers to share what You 2.0 means to them.
1. PURSUING YOUR DREAMS: Everyone has the ability to be extraordinary, they just have to embrace what makes them unique and special and pursue their dreams with passion and confidence! Tell us a little about a dream you’ve achieved or are pursuing right now. If you’ve achieved it already, how does it feel to know you’ve made your dream a reality?
My husband and I moved to New York with a truckload of dreams and not much else. We were straight from Tennessee and running completely on moxie and caffeine. He’s an actor and I was just starting out in publishing, though not totally sure that I wanted to continue editing, so we knew NY was the place and decided we’d just figure the rest out. I am happy to say we did!
2. CHANGING YOUR WORLD: Changing the world doesn’t have to mean finding a cure for cancer or creating lasting world peace (though it definitely can!). It just means finding a way that you can make the world a little better off for having lived here, whether it’s making a difference to one person or a million, to the earth, to animals… whatever is important to you. What is one way you would personally like to make the world a better place?
To me, my job is changing worlds. For authors, it’s helping make that dream come true. And when I think about the books that have made me who I am—like most people I was deeply shaped by the books I read as a kid—it’s overwhelming to imagine that a project I had a hand in could be, will be, that book for someone. On a personal note, animal welfare causes are important at the Root house—both our cats are rescues.
3. GRATITUDE: Gratitude is a huge part of the You 2.0 life. Taking a moment to count our blessings is the best way to remember what’s truly important (especially when life is hectic and crazy!). What are you grateful for?
My husband and our cats. My family, a wacky-brainy-kind crew if ever there was one. My terrific inlaws (my husband’s family is absolutely a gift from above) and adorable niece & nephews, all of whom love books (yay!). My brilliant coworkers and delightful clients. Authors who inspire me, whether I work with them or not.
4. PAYING IT FORWARD: If everyone took a moment to pay it forward, even just once, the world would be changed in ways we can’t even imagine. What is one thing you’ve done (or plan to do) to “pay it forward” in some way?
I recently had the chance to go back to my university and speak about publishing. As a college student your concept of what you can do with your life is limited somewhat by the jobs you are familiar with, or at least have heard of—and growing up in the South, going to school in the South, there are entire industries you just aren’t familiar with, at least in any detail. Author I knew, but literary agent? I’d never even heard of it in college. So going back and saying, hey, I sat where you sat, and I found a career I love that I never knew existed—that was a fun day. Maybe none of those students will go into publishing, but I hope they came away knowing there is a lot of world out there.
Questions About You, The Industry Pro
5. Why did you choose a book-related career?
Voracious child reader. Got to college and became an English & pre-med double major so I could—get this—pull a Robin Cook and be a doctor who wrote. Somewhere around Organic Chemistry the flaws in this plan became apparent and I wised up & cut out the middleman.
6. Tell us a little bit about what you do in your job.
As an agent, I help authors with every step of the publishing path. For brand-new authors, that starts with reading their query letter and requesting the manuscript. Then if I think it’s right for my client list, I’ll sign the author and submit the book to publishers. From there, I’ll handle the business stuff—contracts, money, payout, deadlines. Then I’m the author’s resource for all the little questions that come up along the way from page to shelf, like “what if my cover stinks” or “what should I work on next” or “how do I ask for X from my publicist.” In a nutshell, I am a Sherpa on publishing’s Everest.
7. What do you love most (and least) about your job?
I love most the excitement of reading something and feeling the zing! of this is amazing, then seeing that manuscript become a gorgeous book.
I love least the harsh reality that I will never be fully caught up on reading submissions.
8. What do you think would surprise people about your job?
First, that I don’t read in the office unless a client’s hair is on fire; second, that I pass on perfectly saleable projects all the time. Shaping a list, for an agent, is not unlike shaping a client’s career—lots of great opportunities may arise but you can’t and shouldn’t say yes to them all unless they’re right for where you want to end up.
9. What do you love most about the YA and middle grades genres?
I mentioned it earlier, but I really think these are the books that shape who we become as adults.
10. What books inspired you as a teen/tween?
Oh, there are so many that I will only pick the top three, right now. The Dragonriders of Pern books by Anne McCaffrey. The Little House series, which is probably The Defining Series of my childhood (I loved the books so passionately that I never watched a single episode of the show; to small-me it was a horrible affront that they changed anything, let alone so much). And if you had to boil me down into one novel it is without question A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle, though I loved the rest of the Murray books too, special props to A Swiftly Tilting Planet. I still have my childhood copies of all these books. I don’t think any of them have intact covers but I can’t bring myself to replace these beloved friends.
11. What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Read. Read some more. Write. Write some more. Tell the stories that beg to be told, as well as you can tell them.
Will the Real You 2.0 Please Stand Up?
12. I love the game Three Truths and a Lie because there are so many unexpected and interesting things about people that we never get a chance to learn about them. What are three truths and a lie that our blog readers can guess about you?
– In college I traveled around the country in a 15 passenger van as part of a drama troupe.
– In high school I ran a fanfic zine devoted to Anne McCaffrey’s Pern.
– I’ve been on three TV game shows but never won. **UPDATE: Here’s the lie!**
– I hate getting pedicures because my pinkie toenails are nonexistent and the manicurists judge me.
(BONUS: To celebrate Holly’s feature, your comment today gets you a double entry into the You 2.0 monthly contest for an ARC of The Cinderella Society or a prize dive in the awesome You 2.0 Prize Basket. Guess correctly and you get a bonus entry (that makes three entries in all)! I’ll update the post tomorrow to spill the big lie, so get guessing and have fun!)
Thanks to Holly for a fabulous interview!
September 16th, 2009
I absolutely LOVE Booklover of the Week features. I have such a blast with them, especially when I get to know people like today’s guest even better. This week, I’m delighted to welcome the fabulous…
Sophie!
(aka So Many Books, So Little Time)
Welcome, Sophie!
Booklover Basics
Name: Sophie
Blog Name: So Many Books, So Little Time
Blog URL: solittletimeforbooks.blogspot.com
Country: United Kingdom
Teen or Adult? Teen
Short Bio:
I’m a seventeen-year-old girl doing her A-levels at Sixth Form college. I love to read and write, but I’m also a bit of a science nerd!
Questions About You 2.0
The You 2.0 blog is about becoming everything you’re meant to be. It’s about pursuing your dreams, changing your world, showing gratitude, and paying it forward. Here’s a chance for our Booklovers to share what You 2.0 means to them.
1. PURSUING YOUR DREAMS: Everyone has the ability to be extraordinary, they just have to embrace what makes them unique and special and pursue their dreams with passion and confidence! Tell us a little about a dream you’ve achieved or are pursuing right now. If you’ve achieved it already, how does it feel to know you’ve made your dream a reality?
Right now I’m trying to get the grades to do an English Literature degree at university. It’s hard and takes a lot out of my reading time but I do it because I know it’ll be worth it in the end. And my mum will kill me if I don’t! I’d also like to write a novel some day, but I’m waiting for inspiration to strike!
2. CHANGING YOUR WORLD: Changing the world doesn’t have to mean finding a cure for cancer or creating lasting world peace (though it definitely can!). It just means finding a way that you can make the world a little better off for having lived here, whether it’s making a difference to one person or a million, to the earth, to animals… whatever is important to you. What is one way you would personally like to make the world a better place?
It’s really simple and kind of cheesy, but I try to smile at everyone whom I make eye contact with. You could make someone’s day or at least make them feel a little better. It always makes me happy when a random stranger smiles at me so I try to pass it on.
3. GRATITUDE: Gratitude is a huge part of the You 2.0 life. Taking a moment to count our blessings is the best way to remember what’s truly important (especially when life is hectic and crazy!). What are you grateful for?
I’m grateful for having a home and a loving family to come home to after a horrible day at college. Friends to moan to and a room full of books also helps!
4. PAYING IT FORWARD: If everyone took a moment to pay it forward, even just once, the world would be changed in ways we can’t even imagine. What is one thing you’ve done (or plan to do) to “pay it forward” in some way?
My mum and my best friend’s mum have had cancer in the last couple of years so together we’ve taken part in fundraising activities to help raise money to care for the patients and raise awareness of the effects and symptoms of the illness.
Questions About You, The Book Blogger
5. Why did you decide to start blogging about books?
I’d been reading book blogs for a long time, always wanting to start my own but never quite getting around to it. One day during college I finished reading my book and really wanted to talk about it so I decided to finally set up a blog. I did it as soon as I got home and the rest is history!
6. What do you love most (and least) about being a YA book blogger?
My favourite thing about being a YA book blogger is the friends I’ve made. I can talk about books and bookish things until I’m blue in the face with like minded people and they don’t get bored. Much.
Blogging takes up a lot of time. Writing reviews, reading others’ reviews and commenting takes a lot longer than I originally thought it would! But saying that, I enjoy it anyway!
7. What do you love most about the YA and middle grades genres right now?
There is no limit to imagination. Whether something could happen in reality isn’t often taken into consideration and you can lose yourself in a completely new world which is a lot harder to find in adult fiction. I also relate to characters that are nearer my own age a lot easier than I do adults.
8. What makes you fall in love with a book?
Honestly, a brilliant guy! I’m not entirely kidding. That mixed with a good storyline that I can get my teeth into and a protagonist that I like and sympathise with makes me a happy reader. I’m not hard to please!
9. Which books have inspired you most?
Roald Dahl’s books made me fall in love with reading. I suddenly found myself watching these characters inside my head and I could identify with them and feel for them too. It was a complete revelation that turned me into a voracious reader and I haven’t looked back since.
10. What advice would you give to other avid readers who want to launch their own book blog?
Go for it! It’s hard work but you get so much back that it’s completely worth it. Read what you want to read and write what you want to write and have fun!
Will the Real You 2.0 Please Stand Up?
11. I love the game Three Truths and a Lie because there are so many unexpected and interesting things about people that we never get a chance to learn about them. What are three truths and a lie that our blog readers can guess about you?
- I have five brothers and two sisters.
- I had an operation on my eye.
- I’m 5′11″. **UPDATE: Here’s the lie!**
- I could eat ravioli by the bucketful.
(Readers: Your guess gets you an entry into the You 2.0 monthly contest for an ARC of The Cinderella Society or a prize dive in the awesome You 2.0 Prize Basket. Guess correctly and you get a bonus entry! I’ll update the post tomorrow to spill the big lie, so get guessing and have fun!)
Thanks to Sophie for a fabulous interview!
September 9th, 2009
This week, I’m delighted to be hosting my first agent guest in the Booklover of the Week series. My guest today has edited or agented (she’s worked on both sides of the table) two of my favorite middle grades novels: The Wedding Planner’s Daughter by Coleen Murtagh Paratore (Simon & Schuster, 5/2006) and My Life in Pink & Green by Lisa Greenwald (Amulet, 3/2009). Please help me welcome the lovely…
Alyssa Eisner Henkin
Literary Agent, Trident Media Group
Thanks so much for being here, Alyssa!
Booklover Basics
Name: Alyssa Eisner Henkin
Title: Literary Agent
Publisher: Trident Media Group
Short Bio:
Alyssa Eisner Henkin is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and The Radcliffe Publishing Course. She worked as an editor for over seven years at Simon & Schuster’s Books for Young Readers imprint. In December of 2006 she joined Trident Media as an agent specializing in children’s books. Her focus there is on middle grade and young adult novels, and she is actively building her client list.
Questions About You 2.0
The You 2.0 blog is about becoming everything you’re meant to be. It’s about pursuing your dreams, changing your world, showing gratitude, and paying it forward. Here’s a chance for our Booklovers to share what You 2.0 means to them.
1. PURSUING YOUR DREAMS: Everyone has the ability to be extraordinary, they just have to embrace what makes them unique and special and pursue their dreams with passion and confidence! Tell us a little about a dream you’ve achieved or are pursuing right now. If you’ve achieved it already, how does it feel to know you’ve made your dream a reality?
When I was a tween I was the kind of kid who gravitated towards books about headstrong protagonists who loved to write and dream, and who always managed to have some romance, too. First as an editor and now as an agent I feel like I’ve played a conceptual and creative hand in some modern counterparts to my own childhood favorites, Anne of Green Gables and Betsy-Tacy. From The Mother Daughter Book Club and The Wedding Planner’s Daughter to My Life in Pink & Green and The Amaranth Enchantment, I’m helping to create books that I would have read over and over again when I was ten and eleven. It’s very fun.
2. CHANGING YOUR WORLD: Changing the world doesn’t have to mean finding a cure for cancer or creating lasting world peace (though it definitely can!). It just means finding a way that you can make the world a little better off for having lived here, whether it’s making a difference to one person or a million, to the earth, to animals… whatever is important to you. What is one way you would personally like to make the world a better place?
I would like to continue to work on books and perhaps one day on dolls/toys and online content that keep children young, happy, and connected to their parents for just a little bit longer. It’s quite common to see a seven year-old dressed like a seventeen year-old these days. And while I don’t think there’s any point in over-sheltering kids from sophisticated influences, I would love to follow in the footsteps of entrepreneurs like Pleasant T. Rowland of The American Girl Doll company and Maxine Clark of Build-a-Bear who have built multi-million dollar companies that celebrate rather than accelerate childhood.
3. GRATITUDE: Gratitude is a huge part of the You 2.0 life. Taking a moment to count our blessings is the best way to remember what’s truly important (especially when life is hectic and crazy!). What are you grateful for?
I am so grateful for my incredible husband and family whose support enabled me to pursue a creative career in the first place, a brilliant, accomplished group of friends that keeps me well-versed on the world beyond kids’ books, and finally a handful of publishing colleagues who mentor and champion me throughout every chapter of my career.
4. PAYING IT FORWARD: If everyone took a moment to pay it forward, even just once, the world would be changed in ways we can’t even imagine. What is one thing you’ve done (or plan to do) to “pay it forward” in some way?
I try to pay it forward every day by making lemonade out of lemons and sharing that sentiment with everyone I know. It’s not exactly saving the world in a hands-on Mother Teresa type way. But I believe that when you can help someone uncover his inner talents or abandon his inner fears through positive thinking that you are making the world stronger and richer.
Questions About You, The Industry Pro
5. Why did you choose a book-related career?
Publishing seemed to be a good way to combine my lifelong interest in creativity, stories, and ideas with my desire to learn more about the business world and what makes consumers tick.
6. Tell us a little bit about what you do in your job.
I seek out new talent, sometimes help authors shape their ideas to best suit the market, edit manuscripts, send out those manuscripts to editors who might buy them, negotiate those sales, and then help the client through the process from that point to publication including marketing, publicity and launch. I also work with colleagues at Trident in audio, foreign and film rights to find homes for the subsidiary rights for these books.
7. What do you love most (and least) about your job?
I love the thrill that each day brings—new manuscripts, great revisions, good news from booksellers and reviewers. I never get tired of hearing the happiness and belief in an editor’s voice right before an offer is made! I’m most troubled by the fact that several genres get too saturated too quickly, and then there’s suddenly a recoiling of consumer appetite that doesn’t always bode well for the books that are sold and published later on in the trend cycle. I think we need to either find a way to get these types of books to market sooner or otherwise not to over-publish within certain disciplines to the extent that we do.
8. What do you think would surprise people about your job?
That I feel terrible every time I reject a manuscript. Even if it’s not singing to me and I wouldn’t be the right advocate for it, I imagine what it would be like if the tables were turned and I was the one getting polite albeit form rejection letters for something I wrote myself! It takes much more fortitude to be an author in that respect than it does to be an agent.
9. What do you love most about the YA and middle grades genres?
I think I love the hopefulness that often pervades both genres, even in books that might be characterized as dark.
10. What books inspired you as a teen/tween?
I’ve already talked about Betsy-Tacy and Anne of Green Gables; I’ll also say books by Sydney Taylor, Lois Lowry, Elaine Konigsburg, Johanna Hurwitz, Charlotte Bronte, Jane Austen, Maxine Hong Kingston, Herman Wouk, and Maeve Binchy.
11. What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Pay particular attention to making your voice stand out and making your plot sizzle. Keep up to date on what the trends are—not to follow necessarily, but just to know what editors and agents might be looking for at any given time—it’s often changing.
Will the Real You 2.0 Please Stand Up?
12. I love the game Three Truths and a Lie because there are so many unexpected and interesting things about people that we never get a chance to learn about them. What are three truths and a lie that our blog readers can guess about you?
– I loved to act out Gone with the Wind when I was eight, and I was always Scarlet.
– Figure skating is my favorite winter sport.
**UPDATE: Here’s the lie!**
– July 4th is my favorite holiday.
– I’ve never been to Prince Edward Island.
Special Giveaway!
My new bookmarks for The Cinderella Society (complete with the official cover!) just arrived on Friday! To celebrate, I’ll be giving away signed bookmarks to one commenter on today’s post.
And, as always, your comment today also gets you an entry into the You 2.0 monthly contest for an ARC of The Cinderella Society or a prize dive in the awesome You 2.0 Prize Basket. Guess correctly and you get a bonus entry! I’ll update the post tomorrow to spill the big lie, so get guessing and have fun!
Thanks to Alyssa for a fabulous interview!
September 3rd, 2009
It’s time for another Booklover feature! WordPress thwarted me at every turn yesterday, as some of you saw me tweet, so this week we’re doing the Booklover series on Thursday instead of Wednesday. Ah, technology.
My Booklover of the Week guest this week is incredibly sweet, charming, and full of life. Please join me in welcoming the wonderful…
Kim Pickett
(aka The Book Butterfly)
Glad to have you aboard, Kim!
Booklover Basics
Name: Kim Pickett
Blog Name: The Book Butterfly
Blog URL: butterflybookreviews.blogspot.com
Country: USA
Teen or Adult? Adult
Short Bio:
Hello everyone! My name is Kim and I’m a business professional who also happens to love escaping into the world of young adult books! I’m married to the love of my life and we happily reside in Florida with our two mischievous dogs, Henry and Charlie. I’m a New England girl at heart though, and I miss my hometown in New Hampshire with the changing seasons and green mountains. As a passionate reader, my blog is a much needed outlet for my book addiction and I enjoy running it not only for my own entertainment, but for the entertainment of others as well. When not blogging, I enjoy spending time with my family, taking in Broadway shows and operas, running in charity marathons, nature hiking with my dogs, and of course- reading!
Questions About You 2.0
The You 2.0 blog is about becoming everything you’re meant to be. It’s about pursuing your dreams, changing your world, showing gratitude, and paying it forward. Here’s a chance for our Booklovers to share what You 2.0 means to them.
1. PURSUING YOUR DREAMS: Everyone has the ability to be extraordinary, they just have to embrace what makes them unique and special and pursue their dreams with passion and confidence! Tell us a little about a dream you’ve achieved or are pursuing right now. If you’ve achieved it already, how does it feel to know you’ve made your dream a reality?
Running is very important in my life and I’ve recently set the goal of completing a 10K for myself within the next year. I have participated in a few 5K races, but never a 10K. Charity races are such great events to get involved with. You can help support worthwhile causes, get great exercise and also mingle with some really positive, fun individuals. Running doesn’t come easy for me though, (and sometimes feels like torture) but seeing that finish line at the end of a race is such a great feeling!
2. CHANGING YOUR WORLD: Changing the world doesn’t have to mean finding a cure for cancer or creating lasting world peace (though it definitely can!). It just means finding a way that you can make the world a little better off for having lived here, whether it’s making a difference to one person or a million, to the earth, to animals… whatever is important to you. What is one way you would personally like to make the world a better place?
As a strict vegetarian, I’m naturally very concerned with animal rights and welfare causes. I do what I can by supporting events for local animal shelters and making donations for items in need like towels, food, cat litter, etc. I refuse to buy my pets from breeders and more importantly, from pet stores—which often acquire animals from inhumane “mills” where they are neglected and abused. Both of my dogs were rescued from animal control, and I try to educate people about the importance of adopting as opposed to buying. Why buy when you can save a life instead?
3. GRATITUDE: Gratitude is a huge part of the You 2.0 life. Taking a moment to count our blessings is the best way to remember what’s truly important (especially when life is hectic and crazy!). What are you grateful for?
I’m grateful for my husband. He supports every new adventure I undertake and keeps me motivated with his enthusiasm and positive attitude. My book blog takes up a great deal of time but he never complains – in fact, he is my biggest fan and will keep up with my feeds even though he doesn’t normally read the types of books I enjoy! I’m also grateful to all the bloggers out there who follow my blog and have been so helpful and encouraging with their comments and emails. When I first started, I worried that no one would even read my blog!
4. PAYING IT FORWARD: If everyone took a moment to pay it forward, even just once, the world would be changed in ways we can’t even imagine. What is one thing you’ve done (or plan to do) to “pay it forward” in some way?
I am a recycling fiend! I have bins all over the house for paper, plastic, cans, foam trays, egg cartons, newspaper, etc and I’m a bit of a control freak about it. I’ll even take my empty bottles home from restaurants or sporting events just to make sure they will really be recycled! It’s amazing how much material accumulates by the end of the week when you pay attention to it. I love knowing I am doing my part to stop needlessly filling up already overflowing landfills with materials that could’ve easily been recycled. In my own small way, I feel like I’m doing my part to “pay it forward” to our environment!
Questions About You, The Book Blogger
5. Why did you decide to start blogging about books?
Before I became a blogger, I didn’t really have a forum where I could talk to other people who felt as fervent about books as I did. So starting a book blog was such a great outlet for me! I never realized either how MANY great people out there are truly impassioned about books and are just as eager to converse about them as you are.
6. What do you love most (and least) about being a YA book blogger?
I love seeing what new books are on the horizon and often times they are ones I probably wouldn’t have known about if it weren’t for other bloggers. I also enjoy reading reviews for books I plan to read and writing reviews for my own site.
What I love the least about blogging is the limited time I have to devote to it due to my “real” job. If I could somehow translate my love of reading and reviewing books into a career within the book industry, I would be the happiest person in the world! (I’m sure many bloggers feel this way too!)
7. What do you love most about the YA and middle grades genres right now?
To me, the YA genre exists in a space where magical elements from children’s fiction can successfully intertwine with the more serious, thought provoking issues of adult novels. I love how characters in YA novels are often on the edge of a discovery, or are about to make decisions that will shape the type of lives they will end up leading. In addition, I find it refreshing how YA novels often tend to be more character based and less reliant on sexuality than books in some adult genres.
8. What makes you fall in love with a book?
Lately I’ve really been drawn to YA novels with paranormal elements. My newest addiction is the House of Night series by PC and Kristin Cast. I devoured all of them within one week. Anything with a good love triangle in it will usually draw me in as well. I love getting hooked at the beginning of a book and being so intrigued, that I can’t stop thinking about it, or reading it. One time my alarm clock actually went off while I was still sitting up in bed reading!
9. Which books have inspired you most?
Jane Austen’s works are my all time favorite novels. She saw through people’s polite facades and into what their true motivations were. The way she managed to call out her characters on their inconsistencies without ever having to really come out and say so was so brilliant to me. It made her writing twice as witty and exceedingly humorous to boot!
10. Are you also a writer yourself? If so, what do you like to write?
I wish, but sadly no I’m not!
11. What advice would you give to other avid readers who want to launch their own book blog?
There are many bloggers out there who have great posts on the nuts and bolts of getting started. I’d urge anyone interested in starting a blog to research these posts prior to doing so. Two posts in particular were crucial to me—check out Presenting Lenore and the Story Siren for great entries with a wide variety of topics covered.
Will the Real You 2.0 Please Stand Up?
12. I love the game Three Truths and a Lie because there are so many unexpected and interesting things about people that we never get a chance to learn about them. What are three truths and a lie that our blog readers can guess about you?
– I’m something of a speed reader who can tear through 100 pages or more an hour!
– I once auditioned for American Idol in Orlando, Florida but didn’t make the cut.
**UPDATE: Here’s the lie! (The formatting looks funny here, but it’s the above tidbit about American Idol.)**
– I have extreme Insectophobia—I can’t stand anything creepy crawly buzzing around my face or on my clothing/skin. Needless to say, my husband is the pest exterminator in our home!
– I’ve been known to stay up all evening after rushing out to get whatever Harry Potter book was released at midnight!
(Readers: Your guess gets you an entry into the You 2.0 monthly contest for an ARC of The Cinderella Society or a prize dive in the awesome You 2.0 Prize Basket. Guess correctly and you get a bonus entry! I’ll update the post tomorrow to spill the big lie, so get guessing and have fun!)
Thanks to Kim for a fabulous interview!
August 26th, 2009
This week, I’m delighted to be hosting another industry pro in the Booklover of the Week series. I was fortunate to meet this charming and super savvy editor at the RWA national conference the year I was a Golden Heart winner. My chat with her was one of the highlights of my conference. Please help me welcome the wonderful…
Natashya Wilson
Senior Editor, Harlequin Teen
Thanks so much for being here, Natashya!
Booklover Basics
Name: Natashya “Tashya” Wilson
Title: Senior Editor
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Short Bio:
I’m a California girl who moved east for grad school and then landed an editorial assistant position with Harlequin in 1996. I’ve been a voracious reader all my life, having discovered romance at age 9 with Love’s Tender Fury by Jennifer Wilde. Becoming an editor seemed natural after completing an animal science major in college (huh?!). When I realized I wasn’t interested in a science-related job, I completed an M.A. in magazine journalism. Harlequin then opened their doors to me and my lifelong reader’s knowledge of their books, and it’s been love ever since. Currently I live in New Jersey with my husband, daughter, and one on the way.
Questions About You 2.0
The You 2.0 blog is about becoming everything you’re meant to be. It’s about pursuing your dreams, changing your world, showing gratitude, and paying it forward. Here’s a chance for our Booklovers to share what You 2.0 means to them.
1. PURSUING YOUR DREAMS: Everyone has the ability to be extraordinary, they just have to embrace what makes them unique and special and pursue their dreams with passion and confidence! Tell us a little about a dream you’ve achieved or are pursuing right now. If you’ve achieved it already, how does it feel to know you’ve made your dream a reality?
Becoming an editor is the dream I never knew I had until I was in grad school for magazine journalism and happened to read two editor profiles in Romantic Times Magazine. I thought, wow, I don’t really like the writing aspect of working in magazines; I’m much better at editing other people’s work—I wonder if I could be a book editor? The possibility made my heart race with yearning. I’d never thought of it before, I don’t know why.
I wrote letters to the two Harlequin editors featured in the issue, telling them how their stories inspired me and asking if they could spare the time to let me know how they became editors for Harlequin. One of them called me—then, after listening to me ramble on about how much I love series romance and how many of their books I read each month, she told me I should submit a resume, as they had a newly opened assistant’s position. I did, and landed the job. It was like a fairy tale! I still can’t believe I get paid to read and edit. I probably take it too much for granted most of the time, but, every once in a while I look around my office and think, I am the luckiest person ever. I really do. Taking a chance and reaching out to someone for advice helped my dream come true.
2. CHANGING YOUR WORLD: Changing the world doesn’t have to mean finding a cure for cancer or creating lasting world peace (though it definitely can!). It just means finding a way that you can make the world a little better off for having lived here, whether it’s making a difference to one person or a million, to the earth, to animals… whatever is important to you. What is one way you would personally like to make the world a better place?
Here are some of the little things I do all the time to do my part: When I’m out walking or hiking, I often pick up some garbage and throw it away. Imagine if every single person picked up and disposed of one piece of garbage a day? I recycle. I donate my old clothes. I pay attention when children talk to me. I’ve donated to the Carter Foundation, the ASPCA, the North Shore Animal League, and my college. I take the high road when another driver tailgates me, honks at me, or cuts me off—it just isn’t worth the energy to get mad. Maybe if I calm down and don’t overreact, someone else in the world will be a little less angry and we can all calm down.
What would I like to do? That’s a hard one—because, if I really want to do something, why am I not doing it? Helping to create world peace and tolerance for everyone would be one of my ultimate goals. Finding loving homes for every orphaned and foster child and abandoned animal would be another. I did adopt all four of my house pets from pet rescue operations, for a start, rather than buying kittens and puppies. And they are all—okay, three of them are fabulous! The other one is on notice for peeing on the couch…! And I would like to do more to stop the pollution of the planet.
3. GRATITUDE: Gratitude is a huge part of the You 2.0 life. Taking a moment to count our blessings is the best way to remember what’s truly important (especially when life is hectic and crazy!). What are you grateful for?
Wow, I could go on and on about this one with all the personal stuff—family, friends, job, pets, health…but let me think outside of me. On the large scale, I’m grateful for the oceans, the mountains, the redwoods and all of the beauties of nature. I hope we’ll always have them, and that we’ll work to make them cleaner than they are now.
4. PAYING IT FORWARD: If everyone took a moment to pay it forward, even just once, the world would be changed in ways we can’t even imagine. What is one thing you’ve done (or plan to do) to “pay it forward” in some way?
I’ll tell you one thing someone did for me that I would like to pay forward. One night in college, I went out for dinner with a boyfriend. The restaurant was crowded, and a single diner indicated that we could share his table. My boyfriend and I looked over the menu and, realizing that together we didn’t have a lot of money, made some choices about what to have and share and what to bypass. Our neighbor soon left, smiling on his way out. We enjoyed the dinner thoroughly—and when we were ready to go, the waiter told us that the man who’d dined next to us had added our bill to his! That was so nice, and if I ever have the opportunity, I will sure do it for someone else. I’m just waiting to overhear the right conversation. I’ll never forget that feeling of being moved by someone else’s simple kindness.
Things I have had the opportunity to do are: give someone the extra change they need to make a purchase/buy a train ticket if they’re a little short. Let someone desperate or with a child go ahead of me in the bathroom line (and that is a sacrifice for me—I have a very small bladder! Sorry, TMI, TMI…) Do informational interviews with people looking for jobs or knowledge of the publishing industry, and try to connect them with people who might help them. Edit books/resumes/Web sites and other things for family and friends.
Questions About You, The Industry Pro
5. Why did you choose a book-related career?
Probably for the same reason as most other people in our biz—I love to read!
6. Tell us a little bit about what you do in your job.
I’m the senior editor for the new Harlequin Teen imprint. That means I oversee the publishing schedule, work with the editorial team to acquire books, assist marketing and art with whatever they need to create book packages and promotion plans, and read a ton of submissions. For the imprint launch, we put together signings for our launch authors, Rachel Vincent and Gena Showalter, for BEA, got our ARCs out to as many reviewers as we could (and still can), and we’re in the midst of organizing a blog tour to get the word out to teens and all readers who love YA fiction.
7. What do you love most (and least) about your job?
My favorite thing is finding a new author and making the call to say I want to buy his or her book. My least favorite is falling in love with a project only to lose it to another publishing house. Grrr.
8. What do you think would surprise people about your job?
I really don’t know. It all seems so normal and natural to me that I’m sure whatever surprises others would surprise me!
9. What do you love most about the YA and middle grades genres?
The sense of discovery, the feeling that everything is new again. There’s an earnestness, an honesty in many of these titles that makes me feel young again, reminds me of the basics of what we all go through in life. Not that I’m oh, so ancient, but, you know what I mean!
10. What books inspired you as a teen/tween?
Black Beauty, the Nancy Drew books, the Silver Brumby books, Copper’s Chance, A Wrinkle in Time, The Outsiders, Judy Blume’s books, the Anne of Green Gables stories, Love’s Tender Fury, Johanna Lindsey’s books, Harlequin’s first 200 Superromances, Shel Silverstein, The Little Prince, Ballet Shoes, Where the Red Fern Grows, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and so, so many more.
11. What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
If you truly love and want to write, do it.
On the professional side, learn the craft and write in your own style as only you can; don’t try to emulate someone else. Listen to the way your story sounds in your head. Find your voice.
Will the Real You 2.0 Please Stand Up?
12. I love the game Three Truths and a Lie because there are so many unexpected and interesting things about people that we never get a chance to learn about them. What are three truths and a lie that our blog readers can guess about you?
– I have a black belt.
– I play piano.
– I own a horse.
– I’ve completed a YA novel. **UPDATE: Here’s the lie!**
Special Giveaway!!!
Natashya has graciously offered to give away not one but TWO books from Harlequin Teen’s awesome Fall 2009 launch list! Be sure to comment for your chance to win either My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent or Intertwined by Gena Showalter plus a matching t-shirt for the book!
(Readers: Your comment today gets you an entry into today’s special giveaway PLUS an entry into the You 2.0 monthly contest for an ARC of The Cinderella Society or a prize dive in the awesome You 2.0 Prize Basket. Guess correctly and you get a bonus entry! I’ll update the post tomorrow to spill the big lie, so get guessing and have fun!)
Thanks, Natashya, for a fabulous interview and generous giveaway offer!
August 19th, 2009
It’s Wednesday which means it’s time for another Booklover of the Week feature! This week’s guest is one of the most fun, enthusiastic bloggers I know. She’s passionate about books and about discovering new authors. I’m delighted to welcome the fabulous…
Khy!
(aka Frenetic Reader)
Welcome, Khy!
Booklover Basics
Name: Khy
Blog Name: Frenetic Reader
Blog URL: freneticreader.blogspot.com
Country: USA
Teen or Adult? Teen
Short Bio:
I am a teen who likes books (obviously), writing (even though I can never find the time to), and musicals (even though I can’t sing).
Questions About You 2.0
The You 2.0 blog is about becoming everything you’re meant to be. It’s about pursuing your dreams, changing your world, showing gratitude, and paying it forward. Here’s a chance for our Booklovers to share what You 2.0 means to them.
1. PURSUING YOUR DREAMS: Everyone has the ability to be extraordinary, they just have to embrace what makes them unique and special and pursue their dreams with passion and confidence! Tell us a little about a dream you’ve achieved or are pursuing right now. If you’ve achieved it already, how does it feel to know you’ve made your dream a reality?
Hmm. I’m not sure. My dreams change all the time. I mean, when I was little I really wanted to be a dolphin trainer, but then I stopped wanting to. Then I wanted to be a chef. (I was a bit addicted to the Food Network at this time.) But then I didn’t want to. Then I wanted to be an author, and still do, but I can never find the time to practice writing. So now I want to work at a publishing house and live in NYC one day, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that changed. When I can find a dream I can stick to, I’ll let you know.
2. CHANGING YOUR WORLD: Changing the world doesn’t have to mean finding a cure for cancer or creating lasting world peace (though it definitely can!). It just means finding a way that you can make the world a little better off for having lived here, whether it’s making a difference to one person or a million, to the earth, to animals… whatever is important to you. What is one way you would personally like to make the world a better place?
Making people more motivated to do stuff for others. That includes myself, because I can be very, very lazy. I think once people feel like helping and are motivated to do so, they will.
3. GRATITUDE: Gratitude is a huge part of the You 2.0 life. Taking a moment to count our blessings is the best way to remember what’s truly important (especially when life is hectic and crazy!). What are you grateful for?
My family and friends, obviously. They can be crazy, but I love them. For all the stuff I have; food, shelter, and all the standard answers that go along with that. And for books, because whenever I need an escape, I can read one and feel better.
4. PAYING IT FORWARD: If everyone took a moment to pay it forward, even just once, the world would be changed in ways we can’t even imagine. What is one thing you’ve done (or plan to do) to “pay it forward” in some way?
I’m planning on joining one of the volunteer clubs at school (when school starts again, that is.)
Questions About You, The Book Blogger
5. Why did you decide to start blogging about books?
Because I was bored one day. Really, that’s it. xD My friend had just made a personal blog, and I wanted a blog, but didn’t want a personal one. And because I had two other YA review blogs, I started my own one night when I had nothing else to do.
6. What do you love most (and least) about being a YA book blogger?
I love the community the most. The friends I’ve made through blogging are awesome. =D The thing I like least is finding all these books that sound great and knowing I will never get to read them all.
7. What do you love most about the YA and middle grades genres right now?
That there is so much out there! It’s never boring; something new and exciting is always coming out.
8. What makes you fall in love with a book?
A combination of a great plot and great characterization. I can’t be bored or feel like the characters aren’t real, or else I won’t like the book much.
Also, if a book is written by David Levithan, I will fall in love with it easily.
9. Which books have inspired you most?
I’m not sure. I’ll just say The Outsiders because after I read it, I kind of fell back into reading and read a lot more.
10. Are you also a writer yourself? If so, what do you like to write?
Yeah, but I never manage to find the time to write anymore. School gets in the way, blech. I like to write “realistic” YA. No writing about other worlds or zombies for me.
11. What advice would you give to other avid readers who want to launch their own book blog?
Be patient- you’re not going to be super popular or get a million books right away. It takes time. Make sure you work hard on your content to make it the best you can.
Will the Real You 2.0 Please Stand Up?
12. I love the game Three Truths and a Lie because there are so many unexpected and interesting things about people that we never get a chance to learn about them. What are three truths and a lie that our blog readers can guess about you?
– I have swum with dolphins.
– The only concert I’ve been to is the American Idol concert.
– I can surf. **UPDATE: Here’s the lie!**
– I’ve driven a fire boat under a bridge.
(Readers: Your guess gets you an entry into the You 2.0 monthly contest for an ARC of The Cinderella Society or a prize dive in the awesome You 2.0 Prize Basket. Guess correctly and you get a bonus entry! I’ll update the post tomorrow to spill the big lie, so get guessing and have fun!)
Thanks to Khy for a fabulous interview!
August 17th, 2009
I’m very excited to announce (though many of you already saw my tweets about this late last week) that I have an official cover for The Cinderella Society! I absolutely ADORE it and could not be more thrilled. A huge thank you to Elizabeth, Mary, Nico, Alison and all of Team Egmont for giving me a debut cover that makes me do a happy dance every time I see it. You ROCK! You can check out the cover and all the book details on the Cinderella Society page.
Second, I’m happy to divert your attention to the right hand side of your screen so you can see my lovely cover in… drum roll, please…
The official Cinderella Society countdown widget!
I LOVE countdown widgets. The fact that I have my very own now–complete with my name on the cover and everything–is seriously giddy-making. (New word. Feel free to use at will.) 
And now for contest news! The winner of the Lady Macbeth’s Daughter ARC giveaway to celebrate the launch of the fun new Author Cave series is…
Mik!
(I Am Nonfiction)
Congratulations, Mik! Please contact me here with your mailing address to receive your prize.
And finally, more gratitude to launch your week with good karma! The fabulous Jennifer Brown (yep, THE Jennifer Brown who wrote Hate List that you’re so psyched about) has a kickin’ gratitude feature on her blog called Time to Love. It’s a total blast, so be sure to check it out. Here’s last week’s entry:
http://www.jenniferbrownya.com/apps/blog/show/1546810-time-to-love-list-tuesday-again-
Stay tuned for another plotting technique tomorrow in the Teen Author Challenge and for the delightful Khy’s Booklover of the Week feature on Wednesday!
August 12th, 2009
This week, I’m delighted to welcome one of my favorite teen bloggers. Her Booklover of the Week feature was one of the first I received, and I was so impressed by her mature and positive outlook on the world. She’s one of the most articulate and professional young bloggers I’ve had the pleasure of chatting with. Please help me welcome the awesome…
Tirzah
(aka The Compulsive Reader)
Welcome to You 2.0, Tirzah!
Booklover Basics
Name: Tirzah
Blog Name: The Compulsive Reader
Blog URL: thecompulsivereader.blogspot.com
Country: USA
Teen or Adult? Teen
Short Bio:
I’m a high school senior (this fall) from Michigan, and I’ve been blogging for over two years. I love to read, write, and ride my horse. I hope to go to college in New York and eventually work as an editor for YA books.
Questions About You 2.0
The You 2.0 blog is about becoming everything you’re meant to be. It’s about pursuing your dreams, changing your world, showing gratitude, and paying it forward. Here’s a chance for our Booklovers to share what You 2.0 means to them.
1. PURSUING YOUR DREAMS: Everyone has the ability to be extraordinary, they just have to embrace what makes them unique and special and pursue their dreams with passion and confidence! Tell us a little about a dream you’ve achieved or are pursuing right now. If you’ve achieved it already, how does it feel to know you’ve made your dream a reality?
My dream job is to be an editor of YA fiction (besides published author!) for a major publishing house. I have fallen in love with the YA community—the authors, the books, the readers, and the multitudes of editors and publicists and others who put YA books on the shelves. Through blogging, I’ve made so many great contacts in the industry already, and I am looking forward to going to college in NYC with the hopes that I can gain some internship experience as well before I graduate.
2. CHANGING YOUR WORLD: Changing the world doesn’t have to mean finding a cure for cancer or creating lasting world peace (though it definitely can!). It just means finding a way that you can make the world a little better off for having lived here, whether it’s making a difference to one person or a million, to the earth, to animals… whatever is important to you. What is one way you would personally like to make the world a better place?
I mentioned that besides being an editor, I’d love to be a published author as well. I love to write almost as much as I love to read. To me, besides being an escape, books are a wonderful source of advice, but sometimes I grapple with issues that aren’t documented in YA fiction available right now, and I want to write those books that confront the issues I deal with in my every day life or I’ve had to deal with in the past. If by writing about those things that I’ve experienced, I could help one person, it would be totally worth it.
3. GRATITUDE: Gratitude is a huge part of the You 2.0 life. Taking a moment to count our blessings is the best way to remember what’s truly important (especially when life is hectic and crazy!). What are you grateful for?
My parents, who never once said, “You won’t be able to do that, you can’t possibly imagine we’d let you go to NYC, and it’s just too much,” and for raising me the way they did. My teachers for going above and beyond in order to help me succeed. The multitudes of authors, publicists, and even editors who were always happy to chat, lend some advice, and gave me the opportunity to make my blog the way it is.
4. PAYING IT FORWARD: If everyone took a moment to pay it forward, even just once, the world would be changed in ways we can’t even imagine. What is one thing you’ve done (or plan to do) to “pay it forward” in some way?
I’m excited this summer to be helping a group of 4th-6th graders with creative writing twice a week. Though I’m young, I do know that I’ve learned a lot about writing and I’m excited to share what I know with them because I think it is important to encourage and challenge the younger kids. It’ll make them better writers, and being a good writer is important in life—even if you never take a single English or Creative Writing class after you graduate from college. I wish that there had been a similar writing program when I was their age.
Questions About You, The Book Blogger
5. Why did you decide to start blogging about books?
It was more like the books demanded it of me. My freshman year of high school, I had a substitute teacher who was fantastic—he didn’t teach a single word of the lesson left for us, but instead talked to us about changing the world. It sounds so cheesy, but he was just so engaging, he had our entire class completely enthralled. He told us to start a blog if we wanted an effective way to get our thoughts out into the world, and was the one who introduced me to Blogger blogs. If there was one thing I knew better than anyone in my class, it was YA books, so that’s what I blogged about. The prospect of getting books for review honestly never crossed my mind until I got my first offer. The passion for books and reading was always there, but it was that substitute teacher who really motivated me to do something with my talents and passion. I wish I had thanked him before he passed away.
6. What do you love most (and least) about being a YA book blogger?
I love, love, love the readers and the discussions we have. Everyone has an opinion, and we’ve had some really great discussions and debates about everything from book cover trends to clichés to what makes a book “edgy”. I love the sharing of ideas that goes on.
However, I do get a little tired of the competition that sometimes occurs, and the way some bloggers are always vying for free books. Certainly getting review copies is a major perk, but I don’t think it’s the most important thing, nor should it be.
7. What do you love most about the YA and middle grades genres right now?
There’s always something new and exciting. Just when I think, “Oh, not another [insert book type]”, something new comes along that makes me really excited about the creativity and diversity of YA authors.
8. What makes you fall in love with a book?
I do like tons of different types of books, but I have to admit, I love humor. If a book has a lot of smart, quirky humor, I’m all over it. I recently finished The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (not a YA book, but I definitely recommend it to anyone), and I just adored the main character’s sense of humor and the irony in the book. I also love the ridiculousness and the quirkiness of Louise Rennison’s over-the-top heroine, Georgia Nicolson. Her titles may make some parents raise their eyebrows a little (her second book, On the Bright Side, I’m Now the Girlfriend of a Sex God, for example), but it is just pure, silly fun.
I also am a fan of a good fantasy novel. I grew up enamored with Tamora Pierce’s Song of the Lioness Quartet, so anything to do with magic, action, and clever plots will hook me.
9. Which books have inspired you most?
When I finished Willow by Julia Hoban, I was floored. I admire her so much for her ability to create such a realistic and moving novel about grief, addiction, and pain, and Willow just overwhelmed me. It gave me a peculiar, restless feeling that made me want to jump up and pace back and forth, and just revel in the plot, the writing. Those books that make me jump up and down and overwhelm me ultimately inspire me to just be better—in everything. I had that feeling after reading The Hunger Games and its sequel Catching Fire, Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer, A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly, and After by Amy Efaw.
10. Are you also a writer yourself? If so, what do you like to write?
Yes! I write nearly anything that comes to mind, really. I have written a few supernatural type books, but I really enjoy writing about things and situations that I observe in my every day life. Hopefully one day, one of those books will be published.
11. What advice would you give to other avid readers who want to launch their own book blog?
Be patient. Nothing happens overnight, or in a week, or even in a month.
Be persistent. If you post at least three-four times per week, you’ll show readers that you’re serious, and there’s a better chance that they’ll come back.
Be respectful. Not all authors or publicists appreciate being hounded for books, interviews, guest posts. Most are more than willing to help out, but you know the old adage, “You catch more flies with honey than vinegar”? It’s totally true. Be polite and professional, but know where the line is.
Be positive. This ties in with Be Respectful—you don’t have to like everything, but think of others’ feelings before you publicly proclaim your dislike for a book. Be constructive, and make sure you point out something that an author did right along with what they did wrong. You don’t want to burn all of your bridges. There are some people who feed off the constant snarky attitude and brutal critiques, but mostly, it’s just so tacky.
Be happy. Do this because blogging makes you happy, telling others about great books brings a smile to your face, not because you want free books. If you are passionate about what you are doing, it shows. But if you aren’t, that also shows. Blog because you know that the YA book community is a great one and because you want to be a part of making it better.
Will the Real You 2.0 Please Stand Up?
12. I love the game Three Truths and a Lie because there are so many unexpected and interesting things about people that we never get a chance to learn about them. What are three truths and a lie that our blog readers can guess about you?
– I am taking Calculus II and III this fall.
– I am also studying Ancient Greek.
– I’ve never been to a book signing.
– I once hung a sign in front of my high school on the first day that read “Warning: Zombies Ahead. Turn back now!” **UPDATE: Here’s the lie!**
(Readers: Your guess gets you an entry into the You 2.0 monthly contest for an ARC of The Cinderella Society or a prize dive in the awesome You 2.0 Prize Basket. Guess correctly and you get a bonus entry! I’ll update the post tomorrow to spill the big lie, so get guessing and have fun!)
Thanks to Tirzah for a fabulous interview!
August 5th, 2009
Back to bloggers we go, but this time with a twist! This week, I’m delighted to host our first ever dual YA book blogger/bookseller Booklover feature with the fantabulous…
Heather M. Riley
(aka Want My YA)
Welcome, Heather!
Booklover Basics
Name: Heather M. Riley
Blog Name: Want My YA
Blog URL: www.wantmyya.blogspot.com
Country: USA
Teen or Adult? Adult
Your Bookstore: Borders
Bookstore Location: Rockford, IL
Short Bio:
I’ve been a booklover for as long as I can remember. The first book I ever read was Little Bear and I haven’t stopped since. I’ve worked as a bookseller for over 6 years and in that time I’ve accumulated quite a library. My love for books extends beyond my work. I love talking about books so much that I got into reviewing online and eventually started my own blog to discuss my favorite YA titles.
Questions About You 2.0
The You 2.0 blog is about becoming everything you’re meant to be. It’s about pursuing your dreams, changing your world, showing gratitude, and paying it forward. Here’s a chance for our Booklovers to share what You 2.0 means to them.
1. PURSUING YOUR DREAMS: Everyone has the ability to be extraordinary, they just have to embrace what makes them unique and special and pursue their dreams with passion and confidence! Tell us a little about a dream you’ve achieved or are pursuing right now. If you’ve achieved it already, how does it feel to know you’ve made your dream a reality?
I’m still in the pursuing phase right now. I would love to be a published author some day. I’ve only just begun pursuing that dream, I just need to get into the habit of treating writing like a job and doing it every day. My other big dream is to run my own independent bookstore. I’m still going to school in pursuit of that dream.
2. CHANGING YOUR WORLD: Changing the world doesn’t have to mean finding a cure for cancer or creating lasting world peace (though it definitely can!). It just means finding a way that you can make the world a little better off for having lived here, whether it’s making a difference to one person or a million, to the earth, to animals… whatever is important to you. What is one way you would personally like to make the world a better place?
Personally I like working with animals in any way I can. I’m a volunteer with my local PAWS Humane Society (http://www.pawshs.org). Once a week I volunteer at our cat adoption center feeding the cats and cleaning the cages; I also talk with anyone who stops by and is interested in adopting one of our cats. Aside from helping in the adoption center I assist with fund raisers when I’m able, like with our 1st Annual Fur Ball this past February.
3. GRATITUDE: Gratitude is a huge part of the You 2.0 life. Taking a moment to count our blessings is the best way to remember what’s truly important (especially when life is hectic and crazy!). What are you grateful for?
I’m grateful for my family, and that includes the four-legged members. I’m just so glad to have them and their support; especially my Mama. She gets so excited about every little accomplishment. It certainly makes a person feel good.
I’m also grateful for my job, despite its occasional frustrations. I love working with books and I love getting my favorite titles and authors into the hands of customers.
4. PAYING IT FORWARD: If everyone took a moment to pay it forward, even just once, the world would be changed in ways we can’t even imagine. What is one thing you’ve done (or plan to do) to “pay it forward” in some way?
I was on my way home today from my eye appointment and as I approached a rather busy intersection I noticed there were some policemen or firemen (or maybe both) out collecting money for “Jerry’s Kids”. It’s tempting to just keep on driving and pretend you don’t see them, but rather than ignore them I did help them out and make a donation (especially since me having cash on hand is such a rare occurrence anymore). Standing out in the sun in the middle of traffic can’t be fun. Better to make it worth their while and help out a good cause. Hopefully some of the other cars behind me saw that and decided to help out also.
Questions About You, The Bookseller & Blogger
5. Why did you choose to work in a bookstore?
I LOVE being around books, I love talking about books, and most of all I love finding a great new author and telling my customers all about him or her. Not to mention all of the bonuses like employee discount, the book loan program, and ARCs (advance readers copies). I’ve also discovered that being a bookseller carries a lot of weight with authors. It can instantly make you their favorite person. For someone like me, that is extremely exciting.
6. Tell us a little bit about what you do at the store.
A little of this, a little of that. It generally depends on what I’m scheduled to do, which can change by the hour. I might be ringing up customers at the registers one hour and helping them on the sales floor the next. I’m also the Romance Expert for the store, so I’m the go-to girl for all things Romance. My co-workers will typically send those customers needing recommendations in the Romance department to me. I maintain an endcap display of my current favorite Romance novels, and I also run the brand new Romance Book Club at our store. I still handle some special order related tasks, however most of that has been made obsolete by our new website.
7. What do you love most (and least) about your job as a bookseller?
I love being able to connect a customer with the perfect book. It doesn’t matter to me if it’s a title they knew they were looking for, or one they weren’t aware of until I made the connection. I just love knowing I’ve made someone’s day by helping them find that one special book.
What I like least? Pretty much the exact opposite of what I love. I can’t stand it when the book someone wants is just out of reach, either we’re out of stock or it’s just plain not available anymore. The most frustrating however is when a customer has zero information on a title, but still thinks I should be able to find it. I can work with some information, even if it’s very little, but I can’t do anything for you if you have nothing for me.
8. Why did you decide to start blogging about books?
Well, once upon a time I was a reviewer with Romance Junkies and I loved it. However, life kept getting in the way leaving me playing catch-up on a regular basis. So I chose to resign from the site. Then one of my close friends started a Romance blog and asked me to help her out. I had a ton of fun talking about my favorite Romances over at Crave More Romance. After a few months I approached her about starting a YA blog and she said “Go for it.” So I did. And thus Want My YA was born. It started as a companion to CMR, but WMY has really taken off and I’m very excited about that.
9. What do you love most (and least) about being a YA book blogger?
I love being able to tell everyone all about the fabulous new books I’m reading. I also love it when I find a new or new-to-me author to sing the praises of. Every Monday I post an interview with a different YA author, and coming soon I’ll have interviews with YA readers as well. And of course I would be lying (by omission) if I didn’t at least mention how much I love getting ARCs. Who doesn’t love free books? Plus there’s the bragging rights that I got to read it before the general public.
The only thing I don’t like about blogging is when real life gets in the way and I can’t get to my blog. I hate feeling behind or that I’m letting my readers and my authors down if I can’t get an interview, review, or feature posted on time.
10. What do you love most about the YA and middle grades genres right now?
I love the way YA titles are pushing the boundaries right now. By their very nature YA books are full of young characters who are still growing and learning. In some ways young people are more accepting of new situations (they’re not set in their ways the same way adults are) which gives YA authors a lot of room to roam and experiment.
11. What makes you fall in love with a book?
A book where I can connect with the characters is the best. If I finish reading a book and find that I miss the characters, the author has done his or her job. I need to care about the people I’m reading about; if I don’t care about the character then I don’t feel the need to keep on reading.
12. Which YA/middle grades books have inspired you most?
That’s a tough one. Hmm… I’d say the book that had the greatest effect on me recently was Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta. It’s not the kind of book that I would normally pick up on my own; I read it for the Yaedge online book club. Once I read it, I was so glad I did. It’s a difficult book to explain; you just have to read it for yourself.
13. Are you also a writer yourself? If so, what do you like to write?
I would like to be a writer, and I think that some day I will get there. Right now I think my WIP has about 2 or 3 pages. Lol I need to gain the discipline of a real writer. Once I learn to treat writing like the job it is, then I’ll be doing good.
As for what I write, well YA of course! Initially I thought I’d be a Romance author since Romances are my first love when it comes to books. However, once my character finally started talking to me, I realized she’s only 15 years old. There may be some minor romance in store for her, but it’s definitely going to be much tamer than the type of Romances I read.
14. What advice would you give to other avid readers who want to launch their own book blogs?
Write about what you love. And write often. If you can’t blog everyday then try for every other day. After you post a blog, tell the world about it. Mention it on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, or whichever social networking site you use. If you’re featuring a specific book or author make sure you tell the author about it. Authors like to know when people are talking about their work and many authors will announce it on their networking sites when they receive a good review.
Will the Real You 2.0 Please Stand Up?
15. I love the game Three Truths and a Lie because there are so many unexpected and interesting things about people that we never get a chance to learn about them. What are three truths and a lie that our blog readers can guess about you?
– I’m a vegetarian.
– I have a Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Jasper. **UPDATE: Here’s the lie!**
– I own the ARC for Twilight and I still haven’t read it yet.
– I watch Scooby-Doo obsessively and own nearly all of the movies that have been released.
(Readers: Your guess gets you an entry into the You 2.0 monthly contest for an ARC of The Cinderella Society or a prize dive in the awesome You 2.0 Prize Basket. Guess correctly and you get a bonus entry! I’ll update the post tomorrow to spill the big lie, so get guessing and have fun!)
Thanks to Heather for a fabulous interview!
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