Just a reminder that, as part of my first
readergirlz videoblog, there's a
free book contest going on--and if you want to enter, there's still
time.
Also! Anything you'd all like me to talk about next month? Best suggestion gets a copy of Lauren Kate's New York Times Bestseller Fallen (and did you see the all ads for it on the CW last week during The Vampire Diaries??? Wow!)
(Edited to add: and now, not only will you get a copy of Fallen, but you'll also get to pick two published YA novels you want--and get them too!)
Anyway, for your chance to win the copy of Fallen, just leave your suggestion for what my next redergirlz blog should be by--well, since this is Thursday, let's say you've got until midnight EST on Sunday, January 31st, and the suggestion I like most gets the book. (And yes, the contest is open to everyone, even non-US residents)
I know I've already said this, but I do want to thank all of you once more for all your support about the whole piracy thing. I really appreciate it, and yes, I meant every word I said! (Especially about how you are all the BEST!) Oh, and again, for those of you overseas who can't find my books--I highly suggest you check out
The Book Depository (
http://www.bookdepository.com/) -- not only are their prices great, they have free shipping everywhere, which makes it an amazing deal and a great way to get books you can't find elsewhere. (I'm currently waiting for two UK YAs: Sarra Manning's latest, Nobody's Girl, and Saci Lloyd's The Carbon Diaries 2017, to come)
And now we move on to the links:
The first is a repost of one I put up on Monday, but forgot to actually include the link (thanks, Ben, for the heads up!)--a guest blog over at Nathan Bransford's about
trying to get published (again)--and yes, it is depressing, but I think very much worth reading.
I found this absolutely fascinating: An interview with someone who not only downloads books illegally, but who also scans in and uploads books for other people to steal--check out
Confessions of A Book PirateAuthor Lilith Saintcrow points out that
editors aren't your enemies--
"I see a lot of new writers (and a lot of unpublished writers) operating under the unconscious assumption that the editor is an enemy at worst, a suspect ally at best, and someone to be on guard against. I’ve had one or two nasty revenge-editors, but those are the exceptions. The overwhelming rule is that editors are your friend. They believe in your book. They fight for it in acquisition meetings, they twist arms to get marketing money, they work and agonize over polishing it until it’s as good as it can be. The editor wants what you want: a successful book that earns money. Their energies are concentrated to that end. You are a fool if you don’t realize that and make it as easy as possible for them to be your advocate."
Jessica Faust has a great post on
agent response timeOver at the Amazon book blog, Omnivoracious, there's a
list of their top eight YA authors of the last decade. (Make sure to check out author number 2, and see who is listed under "paved the way for"---talk about an honor!!)
Maybe writer's block isn't such a bad thing...Pimp My Novel on
PSA, or Per Store Average--yet another great look into an very seldom discussed aspect of publishing. Also, there's a
good--but scary--post about the future of BordersAgent and soon-to-be-author Nathan Bransford wants to know
how you got the idea for what you're working on now --There's loads of comments, of course, and interesting stuff about inspiration and how it works, not just for Nathan, but for others too.
Finally, I'm so glad to see that this so-rarely addressed subject has gotten some more attention: Agent Rachelle Gardner writes about
what you need to do if you want to work in publishing She also has a
post about becoming an agent as well.
Don't forget get to visit
readergirlz for your chance to win a free book, and don't forget to let me know what you'd like my next blog for them to be about--that copy of Fallen could be yours....