Foto Friday ~ Don't give up

Writing tip...

“Write. Start writing today. Start writing right now. Don’t write it right, just write it –and then make it right later. Give yourself the mental freedom to enjoy the process, because the process of writing is a long one. Be wary of “writing rules” and advice. Do it your way.” ― Tara Moss

ALA announces the 2014 winners

** John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature:

“Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures,” written by Kate DiCamillo, is the 2014 Newbery Medal winner.

Four Newbery Honor Books also were named:
“Doll Bones,” written by Holly Black
“The Year of Billy Miller,” written by Kevin Henkes
“One Came Home,” written by Amy Timberlake
“Paperboy,” written by Vince Vawter

** Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children:

“Locomotive,” illustrated by Brian Floca, is the 2014 Caldecott Medal winner. The book was written by Brian Floca and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.

“Journey,” written and illustrated by Aaron Becker
“Flora and the Flamingo,” written and illustrated by Molly Idle
“Mr. Wuffles!” written and illustrated by David Wiesner

** Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award recognizing an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults:

“P.S. Be Eleven,” written by Rita Williams-Garcia, is the King Author Book winner. The book is published by Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Three King Author Honor Books were selected:
“March: Book One,” written by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, illustrated by Nate Powell
“Darius & Twig,” written by Walter Dean Myers
“Words with Wings,” written by Nikki Grimes

** Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award:

“Knock Knock: My Dad’s Dream for Me,” illustrated by Bryan Collier, is the King Illustrator Book winner. The book was written by Daniel Beaty and published by Little, Brown and Company, Hachette Book Group.

One King Illustrator Honor Book was selected:
“Nelson Mandela,” illustrated and written by Kadir Nelson

** Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award:

“When the Beat Was Born: DJ Kool Herc and the Creation of Hip Hop,” illustrated by Theodore Taylor III, is the Steptoe winner. The book is published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership.

** Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement:

** Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults:

“Midwinterblood,” written by Marcus Sedgwick, is the 2014 Printz Award winner.

Four Printz Honor Books also were named:
“Eleanor & Park,” written by Rainbow Rowell
“Kingdom of Little Wounds,” written by Susann Cokal
“Maggot Moon,” written by Sally Gardner, illustrated by Julian Crouch
“Navigating Early,” written by Clare Vanderpool

** Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience:

“A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin,” written by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Melissa Sweet
“Handbook for Dragon Slayers,” written by Merrie Haskell

The teen (ages 13-18) award winner is “Rose under Fire,” written by Elizabeth Wein and published by Hyperion, an imprint of Disney Book Group.

** Alex Awards for the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences:

 “Brewster,” written by Mark Slouka

“The Death of Bees,” written by Lisa O’Donnell

“Golden Boy: A Novel,” written by Abigail Tarttelin

“Help for the Haunted,” written by John Searles

“Lexicon: A Novel,” written by Max Barry

“Lives of Tao,” written by Wesley Chu

“Mother, Mother: A Novel,” written by Koren Zailckas

“Relish,” written by Lucy Knisley

“The Sea of Tranquility: A Novel,” written by Katja Millay

“The Universe Versus Alex Woods,” written by Gavin Extence

** Andrew Carnegie Medal for excellence in children's video:
Paul R. Gagne and Melissa Reilly Ellard of Weston Woods Studios, Inc., producers of “Bink & Gollie: Two for One,” are the Carnegie Medal winners.

** Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults:
Markus Zusak is the 2014 Edwards Award winner. His books include: “The Book Thief” and “I Am the Messenger,” published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, and “Getting the Girl” and “Fighting Ruben Wolfe,” published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Scholastic.


** William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens:
“Charm & Strange,” written by Stephanie Kuehn, is the 2014 Morris Award winner.

Four other books were finalists for the award:
 “Sex & Violence,” written by Carrie Mesrobian
“Dr. Bird’s Advice for Sad Poets,” written by Evan Roskos
“Belle Epoque,” written by Elizabeth Ross
“In the Shadow of Blackbirds,” written by Cat Winters

** YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults:
“The Nazi Hunters: How a Team of Spies and Survivors Captured the World’s Most Notorious Nazi,” written by Neal Bascomb, is the 2014 Excellence winner. The book is published by Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.

Four other books were finalists for the award:
“Go: A Kidd’s Guide to Graphic Design,” written by Chip Kidd
“Imprisoned: The Betrayal of Japanese Americans During World War II,” written by Martin W. Sandler
“Courage Has No Color: The True Story of the Triple Nickles, America’s First Black Paratroopers,” written by Tanya Lee Stone
“The President Has Been Shot! The Assassination of John F. Kennedy,” written by James L. Swanson

The Junction of Sunshine and Lucky by Holly Schindler BLOG TOUR and GIVEAWAY!

What is the elevator pitch of your newest book?

“Beasts of the Southern Wild” meets Because of Winn Dixie in this inspiring story of a young girl who finds her “shine,” one recycled sculpture at a time.

The longer synopsis:

August “Auggie” Jones lives with her Grandpa Gus, a trash hauler, in a poor part of town. So when her wealthy classmate’s father starts the House Beautification Committee, it’s homes like Auggie’s that are deemed “in violation.” Auggie is determined to prove that she is not as run-down as the outside of her house might suggest. Using the kind of items Gus usually hauls to the scrap heap, a broken toaster becomes a flower; church windows turn into a rainbow walkway; and an old car gets new life as spinning whirligigs. What starts out as a home renovation project becomes much more as Auggie and her grandpa discover a talent they never knew they had—and redefine a whole town’s perception of beauty, one recycled sculpture at a time. Auggie’s talent for creating found art will remind readers that one girl’s trash really is another girl’s treasure.

Do you eat or listen to music while writing?

I’m never without coffee as I write.  I ALWAYS have a cup nearby—on my desk or reheating in the microwave. 

If I’m running through a final draft or doing something nitpicky like copyediting, I do much better with relative silence—I like to get in my office, away from any distracting noises.  But if I’m drafting, I like to sit on the couch in the midst of household comings and goings, or even in front of the TV.  (Favorite shows to write to are the news, a movie (I’m a serious old movie buff), or even classic TV shows I loved as a girl.  Something about chatter can fuel me as I draft.

Music’s tougher.  I’m getting better about listening to music while I work.  I’m a music junkie, though—I can often get so wrapped up in what I’m listening to, it can be a real distraction.  Sometimes, if I’m not careful, I can even start typing lyrics!

What is your favorite food?

Donuts.  Love me some jellies.  And Mexican food.

Do you have pets?

I’ve always had pets.  Growing up, I had two cats and a Maltese I loved desperately.  Right now, I’ve got a completely spoiled Pekingese, Jake.  He’s also always nearby when I’m writing—either at my feet while I’m in my office or next to me on the couch, snoring while I type away.

What’s your favorite season?

I used to really love summer.  But the past few years, our summers here in Missouri have been full of 110-degree days.  That’s just too much!  I’d have to say that I’m a spring girl…tulips are my favorite flower, and I’ve always loved hats—bring on the Easter bonnets!  (If only we wore fascinators in the States…)

What was the book that turned you into a reader?

THE PAIN AND THE GREAT ONE by Judy Blume.  I’m a child of the ‘80s, so I grew up on Blume’s books—I started out with picture books like THE PAIN and graduated to chapter books, then teen novels.  THE PAIN just seemed so perfect when I first read it—I have a brother who’s a year younger than me, and it was the first time in my life when I absolutely identified with a book; the first time I felt as though a book was telling my story.  Once you have that feeling—like somebody else gets it—you’re hooked for the rest of your life…

Are you a night owl or early bird?

I don’t really like to work at night.  I prefer to get up and get to it.  I like to give full attention to my writing.  If I wait until late in the day, I’m not as fresh, and I’m usually thinking about things that happened earlier that day.  Those thoughts kind of compete with my words…

What do you never leave home without?

My dog.  My Kindle.  Something to write bursts of ideas on. 

What piece of advice would you give aspiring writers?

NEVER GIVE UP.  Never, never, never, never.  Not on your first deal, not on a book.  I’ve never had a book that was published quickly or easily.  Though I published short fiction, poetry, and literary critique early on, it took seven and half years of full-time effort to land my first book deal.  THE JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY actually started out as a picture book back in ’05.  But editors all thought the concept of folk art was too advanced for picture book readers.  So I reinvented it as a middle grade novel.  There’s never a dead-end with a project.  I honestly believe that.

What are your writing goals for 2014?

I’ve got a ton of work to get done.  I have seven books (that are either outlined or drafted) to whip into shape.  I’ll also be making some announcements regarding my next YA, FERAL, which will release with HarperCollins soon!  Keep up with the latest by following along at my author blog: hollyschindler.blogspot.com.  You can also find the latest at my author site: hollyschindler.com.  

Reviews:

"...a heartwarming and uplifting story...[that] shines...with vibrant themes of community, self-empowerment and artistic vision delivered with a satisfying verve." – Kirkus Reviews

"Axioms like 'One man's trash is another man's treasure' and 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder' come gracefully to life in Schindler's tale about the value of hard work and the power of community…Auggie's enthusiasm and unbridled creativity are infectious, and likeminded readers will envy her creative partnership with [her grandfather] Gus." – Publishers Weekly

Links:

Twitter: @holly_schindler

Facebook: facebook.com/HollySchindlerAuthor

Site for young readers: Holly Schindler’s Middles - hollyschindlermiddles.weebly.com. 
I’m especially excited about this site.  I adored getting to interact with the YA readership online—usually through Twitter or FB.  But I had to create a site where I could interact with the MG readership.  I’m devoting a page on the site to reviews from young readers themselves!  Be sure to send your young reader’s review through the Contact Me page.

Group Author Blogs: YA Outside the Lines (yaoutsidethelines.blogspot.com) for YA authors and Smack Dab in the Middle (smack-dab-in-the-middle.blogspot.com) for MG authors.

THE JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY Trailer:

 Rafflecopter Giveaway: 

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ELEVATED by Elana Johnson COVER REVEAL and Giveaway!

I love the ELEVATED.

I love Elana.

I love Elegant people...

On the cover 

(I couldn't think of another "E" word)

About ELEVATED: The last person seventeen-year-old Eleanor Livingston wants to see on the elevator—let alone get stuck with—is her ex-boyfriend Travis, the guy she's been avoiding for five months.

Plagued with the belief that when she speaks the truth, bad things happen, Elly hasn’t told Trav anything. Not why she broke up with him and cut off all contact. Not what happened the day her father returned from his deployment to Afghanistan. And certainly not that she misses him and still thinks about him everyday.

But with nowhere to hide and Travis so close it hurts, Elly’s worried she won’t be able to contain her secrets for long. She’s terrified of finally revealing the truth, because she can’t bear to watch a tragedy befall the boy she still loves.

Buy Links:

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/elevated

iTunes:

On Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18947183-elevated

Praise for ELEVATED:

"ELEVATED will take you on an emotionally gripping journey through the highs and lows of first love."

~Carolee Dean, author of Take Me There and Forget Me Not

"Poignant, raw, and intense, ELEVATED is a novel that will grip your heart and linger in your mind long after you turn the last page."

~Stasia Ward Kehoe, author of Audition and The Sound of Letting Go

About Elana Johnson: Elana Johnson’s work, including Possession, Surrender, Abandon, and Regret, published by Simon Pulse (Simon & Schuster), is available now everywhere books are sold. Her popular ebook, From the Query to the Call, is also available for download, as well as a Possession short story, Resist. School teacher by day, Query Ninja by night, you can find her online at her personal blog or Twitter. She also co-founded the Query Tracker blog, and contributes to the League of Extraordinary Writers.

Social Media Links:

Website/blog: http://elanajohnson.blogspot.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ElanaJ

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/possessionthebook

Tumblr: http://elanajohnson.tumblr.com/

Wattpad: http://www.wattpad.com/user/elanajohnson

League of Extraordinary Writers: http://leaguewriters.blogspot.com/

WriteOnCon: http://writeoncon.com/

Elana on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4044383.Elana_Johnson

WIN $15 Paypal cash!

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Foto Friday ~ Wisdom

Losing Logan by Sherry D. Ficklin COVER REVEAL

About the Book:

What if the one thing you never meant to hold on to, is the one thing you can’t let go of?

Losing Logan by Sherry D. Ficklin
Publication Date: May 6th 2014
Genres: YA, Romance, Suspense, Paranormal

Synopsis:
Normally finding a hot guy in her bedroom wouldn’t irritate Zoe so badly, but finding her childhood friend Logan there is a big problem. Mostly because he’s dead.
As the only person he can make contact with, he convinces Zoe to help him put together the pieces surrounding his mysterious death so he can move on. Thrust into his world of ultra popular rich kids, Zoe is out of her element and caught in the cross-hairs of Logan’s suspicious ex-girlfriend and the friends he left behind, each of whom had a reason to want him dead. The deeper they dig to find the truth, the closer Zoe gets to a killer who would do anything to protect his secrets. And that’s just the start of her problems because Zoe is falling for a dead guy.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20493019-losing-logan

Find Losing Logan on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/LosingLogan

Sherry D Ficklin’s Official Website

http://www.sherryficklin.com



About the Author:

Sherry D. Ficklin is a full time writer from Colorado where she lives with her husband, four kids, two dogs, and a fluctuating number of chickens and house guests. A former military brat, she loves to travel and meet new people. She can often be found browsing her local bookstore with a large white hot chocolate in one hand and a towering stack of books in the other. That is, unless she’s on deadline at which time she, like the Loch Ness monster, is only seen in blurry photographs.
She is the author of The Gods of Fate Trilogy now available from Dragonfly Publishing. Her previously self-published novel After Burn: Military Brats has been acquired by Harlequin and will be released in 2015 with a second book in that series to follow. Her newest YA steampunk novel, EXTRACTED: The Lost Imperials book 1, co-written with Tyler H. Jolley is now available everywhere books are sold and her newest YA novel, Losing Logan, is due for release in 2014 from Clean Teen Publishing.