Tag: 2009 Debs

100 books!

This is worth another around the web this week post.

Little, Brown, the publisher of Twenty Boy Summer, has donated another 62 books to the Debs Speak Loudly giveaway, for a total of 100 books! Visit the 2009 Debutantes website to enter. All it takes is a comment. And with 100 books, your chances are very good.

In other news, Nathan Bransford talks about why so many dead/absent parents in children’s literature. Lazy writing? Or is there something more nefarious going on? Or, are there other, legitimate, reasons for this? Go have a read.

Thinking about dating a writer? Enamored by the meme going around tumblr about just how great that would be? You may want to rethink that. Look here for a point by point deconstruction. My favorite (although there are so many to choose from):

Writers are surrounded by interesting people. Every last one of whom is imaginary.

And … remember, I’ll be at the Minnesota Educational Media Organization (MEMO) fall conference on Friday, October 1st. If you happen to be there too, stop by and say hi!

Debs Speak Loudly

Bringing you around the web this week, a day early.

From the 2009 Debutantes website:

Banned Books Week has special significance for the Debs this year. Our own Sarah Ockler and her debut novel, TWENTY BOY SUMMER, are under challenge right now in Republic, MO, along with Kurt Vonnegut’s SLAUGHTERHOUSE 5 and Laurie Halse Anderson’s SPEAK.

In response to this, the 2009 Debs are giving away thirty-eight (38!) copies of Twenty Boy Summer. Visit the Debs site for more details, but the contest is open between now October 2, 2010.  Entries open to everyone worldwide. We’ll ship anywhere!

For more information on what’s going on, visit Sarah Ockler’s site and read her blog. Additionally, check out Laurie Halse Anderson’s blog as well. You can also read Sarah’s wonderful response to the challenge here.

Unfortunately, Mr. Vonnegut is no longer with us and cannot respond to the challenge, but one can imagine what he might have to say.

I’ve seen a few suggestions around the web that the authors in question and their supporters not speak loudly about this–that only gives the challenger in question too much attention, a national platform.

Just ignore him and he’ll go away.

Except sometimes, people like that won’t.  Sometimes, they convince other, reasonable people that there is a threat contained between two covers of a book.

The thing is, children may learn facts from history, but they learn empathy and truth from fiction. How and where do we want our young adults learning about the harsh realities of the world? From the safe confines of a book–where they have the time and opportunity to think about the situations presented and the moral and ethical implications.

Or should we simply shove them out the door unprepared? Let them learn it on the street, from peers who may be as ill-equipped as they are. All under the guise of keeping them safe.

How do we expect our children to make good ethical decisions when we’ve shielded them from ethical dilemmas? Why do we decry the “me-me-me generation” and then take away the very thing that teaches empathy? We complain that children don’t read, then snatch away the very books that engage them.

So sometimes you have to speak loudly to be heard above the din. Like Sarah Ockler. And Laurie Halse Anderson.

Speak loudly, because some would prefer you not speak at all.

Huge prize pack for a very good cause

The 2009 Debs have banded together with The Leaky Cauldron Fansite to Help Haiti Heal. This weekend, donations will be taken for the cause, with prizes given away to random, lucky donors.

More information at the Leaky Cauldron’s announcement page.

And the Helping Haiti Heal Website here.

If you’re on Twitter, please mention the event and url:

Help Haiti Heal – win fantastic prizes! Sat. from 2pm to 6pm EST! http://bit.ly/5603s6 #hhh

Without further ado, here’s the Contents of the Debs Massive Prize Package:

R.J. Anderson — FAERY REBELS: SPELL HUNTER (signed hardcover)

Pam Bachorz — CANDOR (signed hardcover)

Lauren Bjorkman — MY INVENTED LIFE (signed hardcover)

Leigh Brescia — ONE WISH (signed hardcover)

Jennifer Brown — HATE LIST (signed hardcover)

Megan Crewe — GIVE UP THE GHOST (signed hardcover)

Kirstin Cronn-Mills — THE SKY ALWAYS HEARS ME AND THE HILLS DON’T MIND (signed paperback)

Erin Dionne — MODELS DON’T EAT CHOCOLATE COOKIES and THE TOTAL TRAGEDY OF A GIRL NAMED HAMLET (signed hardcovers)

Deva Fagan — FORTUNE’S FOLLY (signed hardcover)

Megan Frazer — SECRETS OF TRUTH & BEAUTY (signed hardcover)

Cheryl Renee Herbsman — BREATHING (signed hardcover)

Jennifer R. Hubbard — THE SECRET YEAR (signed hardcover)

Jennifer Jabaley — LIPSTICK APOLOGY (signed paperback)

Danielle Joseph — SHRINKING VIOLET (signed paperback)

Malinda Lo — ASH (signed hardcover)

Sarah Maclean — THE SEASON (signed hardcover)

L.K. Madigan — FLASH BURNOUT (2010 Morris Award winner) (signed hardcover)

Lisa Mantchev — EYES LIKE STARS (signed hardcover) and PERCHANCE TO DREAM (advance review copy)

Neesha Meminger — SHINE, COCONUT MOON (hardcover)

Kate Messner — THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z (signed hardcover)

Saundra Mitchell — SHADOWED SUMMER (2010 Edgar®-Nominated) (signed hardcover)

Jenny Moss — WINNIE’S WAR (signed hardcover)

Sarah Ockler — TWENTY BOY SUMMER (signed hardcover)

Jackson Pearce — AS YOU WISH (signed hardcover)

Shani Petroff — BEDEVILED: DADDY’S LITTLE ANGEL and BEDEVILED: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY DRESS (signed paperbacks)

Aprilynne Pike — WINGS (signed hardcover)

Cindy Pon — SILVER PHOENIX (signed hardcover)

Carrie Ryan –THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH (signed hardcover)

Sydney Salter — MY BIG NOSE AND OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS (signed paperback) and JUNGLE CROSSING (signed hardcover) and SWOON AT YOUR OWN RISK (advance review copy)

Kristina Springer — THE ESPRESSOLOGIST (signed hardcover)

Rhonda Stapleton — STUPID CUPID (signed paperback)

Charity Tahmaseb/Darcy Vance — THE GEEK GIRL’S GUIDE TO CHEERLEADING (signed paperback)

Lara Zielin — DONUT DAYS (signed hardcover)

Michelle Zink — PROPHECY OF THE SISTERS (signed hardcover)

Where all my words are going

Where are they going? Clearly, not in this blog. But! I’m up 5,800 words this past week and 4,300 the week before that (these would be revised, new, and “blended” words).

And even though I know this won’t be my only trip through the manuscript (Oh, revision, you have just begun), I’m pleased with my progress and process of finding time to work every single day.

Of course, yesterday I thought to log on to RWA National to see if I had any Rita books coming my way for judging. It turns out that somewhere out there, a box with seven books has my name on it. Seven books I must read/judge by February 28. And I don’t have them yet.

Oy.

But thanks to the magic of Kindle, I’ve started reading. (And yeah, I’m thinking these seven anonymous authors all have a Kindle sale in their future. It’s worth paying for the convenience.)  

Last, but not least, the 2010 American Library Association award winners are in!

Huge congrats and serious squees to 2009 Deb L.K. Madigan for winning the Morris Award for her debut novel Flash Burnout.

I also want to congratulate my friend Nora Raleigh Baskin for winning the Schneider Family Book Award for her middle grade novel Anything But Typical (which I just finished and knew it was going to win).

I also want to mention the Michael L. Printz Award, which goes to Libba Bray this year for Going Bovine—which was one of my favorite books last year.

What do you think of the finalists/winners this year?

Debs do good!

Every year the technical writers sponsor a silent/not-so-silent auction to support Second Harvest Heartland. One year, I put together a booklover’s gift basket. This year, I put together a basket featuring Debs books:

You can’t see all the books (although I love the way the eyes peek out from over the edge and from behind the pillow), but included in the basket are:

  • Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell
  • My Big Nose & Other Natural Disasters by Sydney Salter
  • TMI by Sarah Quigley
  • Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon
  • The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading by Charity Tahmaseb and Darcy Vance
  • My Invented Life by Lauren Bjorkman
  • Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

The basket created a lot of interest. Even though I made a printout of all the books w/descriptions, every time I walked by, the basket was in disarray from people picking up the books, looking at the books, not returning the books neatly to their spot, and so on.

High bid was $150.00! When the auctioneer announced that all the books were signed, there was an audible gasp from the crowd. Of course, no donation could touch the four Taylor Swift tickets our CEO donated. In all, we made about $7,500, all of it going to Second Harvest Heartland.

Debs = made of awesome.

How many more shopping days?

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The Debs are everywhere this holiday season!

As you can see, Darcy is working overtime on December 5th in Chicago. I guess I will be too, since I’ll be signing–and volunteering–at the fundraising book fair for Andrew’s Jr. High. You know what that means, don’t you (other than the fact I have ample opportunity to embarrass my offspring)?

Not only will I sign your copy of The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading, but I will wrap it for you. (Because I’m also scheduled to work the gift wrapping table, if you haven’t already guessed.)

Hope to see you there!

And for more information on Debs signings this holiday season, check out the link below.

Darcy:

December 5th, Holidaze with the Debs:

1-3 p.m.
Borders
161 N. Weber Road
Bolingbrook, IL
Including: Cynthea Liu, Saundra Mitchell, Aprilynne Pike, Kristina Springer, Darcy Vance, Lara Zielin

7-9 p.m.
The Book Cellar, Inc.
4736-38 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL
Including: Cynthea Liu, Saundra Mitchell, Aprilynne Pike, Kristina Springer, Darcy Vance, Lara Zielin

Charity:

December 5th, First annual Hopkins West Jr. High Book Fair:

10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and 4 – 6 p.m.
Barnes and Noble Ridgehaven Mall
13131 Ridgedale Drive
Minnetonka, MN 55305

Debs 09 Music giveaway

Jordyn over at Ten Cent Notes has put together two playlists based on 2009 debut novels.

A:

  1. Glamorous – Fergie (Exclusively Chloe, by J.A. Yang)
  2. Breathe – Taylor Swift (Breathing, by Cheryl Renee Herbsman)
  3. The Not-So Pretty Princess – Jude (My Big Nose, by Sydney Salter)
  4. The Reason – Hoobastank (The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading, by Charity Tahmaseb and Darcy Vance)
  5. Love Like This – Natasha Bedingfeild (Shrinking Violet, by Danielle Joseph)
  6. Anti-Pop – Matthew Good (Cracked Up to Be, by Courtney Summers)
  7. Just Like Heaven – The Cure (This Is What I Want to Tell You, by Heather Duffy-Stone)
  8. California Stars – Wilco (20 Boy Summer, by Sarah Ockler)

B:

  1. Anyone at All – Carole King (The Espressologist, by Kristina Springer)
  2. In-Between Days – The Cure (Flash Burnout, by L.K. Madigan)
  3. Little Boxes – The Shins (Candor, by Pam Bachorz)
  4. Love Story – Taylor Swift (Prada & Prejudice, by Mandy Hubbard)
  5. Over My Head – The Fray (Lipstick Apology, by Jennifer Jabaley)
  6. Make Your Own Kind of Music – Cass Elliot (The Secrets of Truth & Beauty, by Megan Frazer)
  7. Mario Kart Love Song – Sam Hart (The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading, by Charity Tahmaseb and Darcy Vance)
  8. Time Turned Fragile – Motion City Soundtrack (Break, by Hannah Moskovitz)

And between now and the 15th, you can win one of these playlists–all for a comment. So, hurry on over.

I’m pretty psyched Geek Girl is on both playlists. I think Mario Kart Love Song must be Darcy’s contribution (either that, or I was contributing in another dimension–cuz I don’t remember suggesting that song).

The Reason by Hoobastank is my contribution, and it’s the song I associated with Geek Girl’s Guide. Well, that and it’s fun to say Hoobastank. Go on. Try it.

Anyway, Geek Girl never had a full playlist. There’s a few songs that I when I hear them, I’ll think of Geek Girl, but The Reason is the song. Every time it came on the radio, I’d take that as a good omen: it meant: I should write/revise/query and so on.

So … enjoy. And be sure to enter Jordyn’s contest.

Help save Shrinking Violet

2009 Deb Danielle Joseph could use everyone’s help. Shrinking Violet is about an extremely shy high school senior trying to find her voice and reach her dream of becoming a DJ, despite the obstacles that stand in her way.

The book is about to go on back order and in order for more copies to be printed, more people have to place orders for the book.

Read more about Shrinking Violet:

High school senior Teresa Adams is so painfully shy that she dreads speaking to anyone in the hallways or getting called on in class. But in the privacy of her bedroom with her iPod in hand, she rocks out doing mock broadcasts for Miami’s hottest FM radio station, which happens to be owned by her stepfather. When a slot opens up at The SLAM, Tere surprises herself by blossoming behind the mike into confident, sexy Sweet T to everyone’s shock, she’s a hit! Even Gavin, the only guy in school who she dares to talk to, raves about the mysterious DJ’s awesome taste in music. But when The SLAM announces a songwriting contest, and a prom date with Sweet T is the grand prize, Sweet T’s dream could turn into Tere’s worst nightmare. . . .

Want to help? Here’s what you can do:

Please tell anyone that you think might be interested to place an order now before it’s too late. Guys, girls, grandmas. grandpas, you’re never too old to read humorous teen fiction!

Can’t afford to buy another book? You can still help. Check to see if your school and/or public library carries a copy of Shrinking Violet. If not, request it! (A lot of the time, you can even do this online). Write a review and post it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, GoodReads.

Danielle also running a contest for those that want to have some fun! There will be four winners, each receiving a $25 gift certificate to iTunes or the bookstore of their choice. For all the information on what to do, head on over to Danielle’s blog.