Some Book News from Kristina...

I'm excited to share some great news! I sold a new middle grade novel!

From Publisher's Weekly:

Brett Duquette at Sterling Children's Books has acquired Cici Reno Knows it All, first in the middle-grade Yoga Girls series by Kristina Springer. It follows a pre-teen yoga enthusiast who helps her best friend get a crush's attention by impersonating her on Twitter, but a friendly favor turns into a social media love triangle. Publication is slated for spring 2016; Andrea Somberg at Harvey Klinger negotiated the deal for world rights.

Kristina

Best Book Club EVER

It's been such a long time since I've posted but last we've talked I mentioned I had moved. That was like a year ago. And my kids go to this really great school and they get to do a lot of cool things and have amazing experiences. Like author visits. They've probably had half a dozen+ authors come to talk to them and each time it's a big deal with everyone wanting signed books and they all read them voraciously so it's a good thing.

I've never been the kind of author mom to push my books on them. But at one event we were at when the kids were going on and on about the authors, "Did you hear how he gets ideas?" "Isn't that amazing how she thought up that title?" I looked at them and said, "You guys do realize I write books for a living, right?"

Fast forward a couple of months and a few more author visits. I was leaving to do an author event in Chicago and something clicked with the kids. "Omg! You write books! Can we read them?!"

Thus started the Springer Family Book Club. The kids all demanded their own signed books. How do you sign a book to your own kid? I wrote smooshy love notes to each and signed it Mommy, aka Kristina Springer. And each night we gather in one bedroom (all 4 kids plus us parents), books in hand, and we take turns reading aloud a chapter from My Fake Boyfriend is Better Than Yours. And it's pretty darn cute I must say. Especially since my kindergartner can only read the fast words he knows (like, for, and, the, you, where etc.) and the girls have to fill in the rest. And the kids laugh at all my jokes. And talk about what could possibly happen next. It's awesome. 

Tonight we're reading the last chapter of the book and they're all dying to know what happens. I keep pretending like I don't know which makes them giggle. They asked if we can start one of my other books tomorrow but I'm hesitant-- I think the YA is a little too mature. I did just finish a new middle grade recently so I'm contemplating printing out a copy of that for us to read.

I've been asked in interviews for years, what do your kids think of your books? And I'd always answered, oh they're too young. Now I have a new answer-- they're the best book club ever. :-)

Kristina, Miss Author in Action

Never Heard of Ya (or Love for the Little Guys)

Tip of the Day: Sick of the presidential debates? Good news for you: They are done! Don't forget to vote in less than two weeks!

After reading Megg's post on how to be a bestseller last week, I thought about all those amazing books that are not bestsellers, probably never will be, but are fabulouso nonetheless and should have a fair shot at fandom.

Since when I do publish my novels, I most likely will not fall into the "1%" of bestsellers, I thought I'd highlight five "lesser knowns" here that I loved, in no particular order:

NOTES FROM AN ACCIDENTAL BAND GEEK by Erin Dionne. Freshman Elsie Wyatt wants to be a Boston Symphony Orchestra French Hornist like her father, but when she misses auditions for a junior orchestra and instead must join the marching band in order to fulfill an ensemble band credit for a prestigious music school, Elsie is out of her league...or has she found a new love? This lower YA took me back to my marching band days in all of its pain and glory. I loved Elsie and watching her overcome her challenges and learn new things. This funny novel is a nice light realistic read with heart. (Puffin, 2011)

FLYING THE DRAGON by Natalie Dias Lorenzi. Hiroshi, his parents, and his kite-making grandfather move from Japan to Virginia when Grandfather gets sick; Hiroshi's cousin Skye lives there and she takes to Grandfather, whom she just met, and his kites as well; but Grandfather gets sicker and the cousins must work together to keep his kites flying. This sweet, beautiful MG novel grew on me more and more with each chapter I read. It is a lovely tale of families and cultures coming together, and how we are all more similar than different. (Charlesbridge, 2012)

D IS FOR DRAMA by Jo Whittemore. Eighth-grader Sunny is sure she'll be cast in a lead of her Arts Academy's musical production of Mary Pops In, but when she's passed over again -- this time because "an Asian Mary Poppins isn't believable" -- Sunny decides to star in a production of her own that soon includes the other overlooked actors, singers, and dancers in her school. Sunny is quippy and funny and I love how she finds solutions to her problems with the help of her friends and family. An adorable tween novel. (Aladdin Mix, 2012)

GUY LANGMAN, CRIME SCENE PROCRASTINATOR by Josh Berk. Convinced by his best friend to join the Forensics Club at school, Guy realizes the real-life applications he learns there may help him learn the truth about his deceased father's past, who broke into his house, and who killed a kid on a fake crime scene scavenger hunt. Guy is hilarious, and JB really nails the voice of a 16yo teen boy. I skimmed over some of the extended banter/jokes between the characters, but overall I laughed out loud and enjoyed the outcome of this pseudo-mystery. (Knopf, 2012)

SOMETHING LIKE NORMAL by Trish Doller. Nineteen-year-old Travis is home on leave after his first year as a Marine in Afghanistan and he feels like he no longer fits in with his nightmares about his best friend who was killed in action and other terrors, but when he runs into a girl he knew in middle school, he wants to fight his demons and find a new normal. The banter between the guy characters was realistic and funny, and the voice reminded me of Jennifer Hubbard's novels which I love. I would've liked to see a bit more of the relationships between Travis and his bro and father, but overall this is a nice upper YA about PTSD with a side of romance and family. (Bloomsbury, 2012)

What under the radar books should I add to my TBR list?

Deena, Miss Subbing for Pubbing

Oh the Horror! (or MG Books Not For Halloween Weenies)

Tip of the Day: Anyone have a tip for me? I'm wondering when the SCBWI 2013 NYC Conference details will be posted?

The Children's Librarian at my library is updating her list of Middle-Grade Scary Stories -- since the last version featured "brand new titles in the Goosebumps series!"

Since it is often harder to find newer titles in this genre (creepy but not too scary for littler ones), I thought I'd highlight some of my favories for this Halloween season.

1. THE KNEEBONE BOY and THE HUMMING ROOM by Ellen Potter. The former is a story of three siblings on their own in London, a mysterious aunt, and a monster boy in the woods. The latter is a story heavily based on THE SECRET GARDEN by Frances Hodgson Burnett with great atmosphere.

2. THE AVIARY by Kathleen O'Dell. Clara discovers that the birds in the old mansion she shares with Mrs. Glendoveer may be more than they first appear.

3. BREATHING ROOM by Marsha Hayles. While this is not a typical scary story, it takes place in a 1940s tuberculosis sanatorium where Evvy hopes to overcome a horrific illness that seems to claim the lives of almost every one who comes in contact with it.

4. SUMMER OF THE GYPSY MOTHS by Sara Pennypacker. Despite the sunny setting, there is a dead body that may or may not be buried in a garden.

5. THE TANGLEWOOD TERROR by Kurtis Scaletta. Green glowing mushrooms begin to overtake Eric's town and may spell its ultimate doom unless he can stop them.

What are some of your favorite recent scary MG novels?

Stay tuned next week for som YAs!

Deena, Miss Subbing for Pubbing

Marcia, Marcia, Marcia! (or Love Being in the Middle (Grade))

Tip of the Day, Libarian Edition: If you are an adult and think the teen library employees are "cute," keep it to yourself. Better yet, keep it and your eyes to yourself, Mr. Creepy McCreepers.

Marcia Brady was the beautiful older sister, the one with silky blond hair, groovy boyfriends, and wisdom over her younger sisters. The one who made Jan envious.

And sometimes, when I'm working on my MG novel, I think how my YA WIP is the "cooler" older sister to my MG; how if I sold a YA over an MG, I'd belong in the club.

Maybe it's because I'm a YA librarian. Or maybe it's because I read many more YA novels than MG. Or maybe it's because my author friends are known for their YAs.

Perhaps it's because the first manuscript I wrote was a YA and I can't let go of the dream that I am a YA novelist.

Then again, the two times I've signed with agents, we connected over my MG novels, so I must be doing something right for that age group. And I do adore some MG novels to no end (RULES by Cynthia Lord is an all-time fav, and recently FLYING THE DRAGON by Natalie Dias Lorenzi and LIAR & SPY by Rebecca Stead). Plus writing more "innocent" characters who believe anything is possible is fun and refreshing for me.

I've also heard for the past couple of years that MG is highly sought after by editors and publishing houses, so I should embrace what the pros are asking for. Besides, working in the Children's Center at the library is more fun than in the adult reference area.

I need to embrace my Jan Brady manuscript, polish it to a shine, and get that baby out there. Because the middle children are loved and needed too.

Deena, Miss Subbing for Pubbing (a middle child)

Middle Grade Goodies (or The Best Parts Are In the Middle)

Tip of the Day: Please don't send creepy letters to your public librarian. They are being nice to you because they like their jobs, enjoy looking up info for you, and like working with the public; not because they are in love you.

A few weeks ago, Kristina posted about middle grade novels she was loving lately as she works on an MG manuscript. I am also heavy into revision mode on a historical MG, and really enjoyed these recent novels:

BREATHING ROOM by Marsha Hayles
In 1940, Evvy suffers from pulminary tuberculosis so her family sends her to Loon Lake Sanatorium where she makes friends, experiences loss, and learns about herself as she fights to recover. This honest MG of sparse text is interspersed with photos from TB memorabilia/propaganda and would be a great addition to school reading assignments dealing with the period. It would also be well-paired with the Jim Murphy non-fiction book on TB that just came out (THE INVISIBLE KILLER). Evvy is a brave character to follow. (Christy Ottaviano, 2012)

LIAR & SPY by Rebecca Stead
With his mother working doubles at the hospital and his father looking for work, seventh grader George spends his days avoiding the bullies at school, eating take-out with his dad, and hanging out with his apartment building neighbor who claims a dangerous Mr. X lives in the floor above him. This MG is full of great lines, tight writing, and great characters. I love the relationship between George and his father, and the conclusion of this novel that is also accessible to reluctant readers. (Wendy Lamb, 2012)

SUMMER OF THE GYPSY MOTHS by Sara Pennypacker
Stella lives with her Great-aunt Louise and another foster girl while her mother "gets her life together," but when something happens to Louise, the girls work together to tend to her garden and the Cape Cod cottages so they won't end back up in new foster homes. A big premise of this novel was hard for me to swallow, but I enjoyed the narrative and Stella's point of view so much that I finished the novel and did like the ending. A sweet MG. (Balzer & Bray, 2012)

WONDER by R. J. Palacio
August has undergone a number of surgeries because of a facial birth defect so he was homeschooled for his whole life, but his parents decide to send him to school for fifth grade, which makes Auggie scared but happy and many other emotions over the course of the year. This book is told from multiple povs, which makes this novel so much more than it appears. Auggie's voice is fantastic, and the end is heartwarming. A beautiful MG nove. (Knopf, 2012)

THE STORM MAKERS by Jennifer E. Smith
When Ruby's twin Simon finds out that he can create weather as the youngers Storm Maker ever, she tries to help him refine his ability and save the country from an evil Storm Maker's vegeance. I liked the characters of the twins, and their helpers along the way. A cute MG novel. (Little, Brown, 2012)

What MGs have you read and loved lately?

Deena, Miss Subbing for Pubbing

Middle Grade Mania

Tip of the Day: Check out the Unread Reader's My Book Boyfriend giveaway!

I'm back to working on my middle grade so that means I'm looking around for middle grade books to read when I'm not writing. And since it seems like middle grade books don't get nearly the same amount of book love YA books do (online anyway. I know plenty of young teens who love their middle grade books!) I'm going to occasionally spotlight ones that look especially good to me. Starting with:

Sarah Mlynowski's Whatever After, Fairest of All. First of all, I adore Sarah Mlynowski's books. She had me with her Bras & Broomsticks series. So of course I was drawn to her newest. Here's a summary from Amazon:

"A fresh, modern spin on a classic fairy tale--from bestselling author Sarah Mlynowski!

Mirror, mirror, on the basement wall . . .

Once upon a time my brother and I were normal kids. The next minute? The mirror in our basement slurped us up and magically transported us inside Snow White's fairy tale.

I know it sounds crazy, but it's true.

But hey -- we're heroes! We stopped Snow White from eating the poisoned apple. Hooray! Or not. If Snow White doesn't die, she won't get to meet her prince. And then she won't get her happy ending. Oops.

Now it's up to us to:
- Avoid getting poisoned
- Sneak into a castle
- Fix Snow White's story

And then, fingers crossed, find our way home."

I'm also especially drawn to S.R. Johannes' On the Bright Side. The cover grabbed me right away (background on how her cover was designed here) and then when I read the summary I was hooked. This one is waiting for me on my iPad right now. I started it last night and so far, so cute. Here's a summary from Amazon:

"On the Bright Side is a hilarious road to guardian angeldom paved with so much drama and due-paying that it makes middle school look painless.

As if the devil’s food cake at her wake and the white fat pants she’s stuck wearing for eternity weren’t bad enough, fourteen year-old Gabby is quick to discover that Cirrus, the main rung of Heaven, is a far cry from the Pearly Gates. Here, Skyphones and InnerNets are all the rage. Until Gabby finds out she has to protect Angela, her school nemesis, in order to move up through the training levels of heaven. Problem is, Angela is now hitting on Gabby's should-have-been boyfriend. (awkward!)

Instead of protecting Angela, Gabby pranks her (like tripping is a sin?) at the hopes of cooling off the new couple. At first, they seem harmless until the school dance sabotage gets completely out of control. Then, her Celestial Sky Agent, who happens to have anger management issues of his own, puts Gabby on probation, threatening her eternal future. 

Determined to right her wrongs, Gabby steals an ancient artifact that allows her to return to Earth for just one day. Without knowing, she kicks off a series of events and learns what can happen when you hate someone to death."

The Land of Stories, The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer is the last book that grabbed my attention. And not because it's written by Kurt from Glee. Or because of the cover because while it is interesting, it isn't the type of cover that usually stops me in my tracks. And not because of the summary on Amazon (but I'll share it anyway) because really it's pretty meh:

"Alex and Conner Bailey's world is about to change, in this fast-paced adventure that uniquely combines our modern day world with the enchanting realm of classic fairy tales.

The Land of Stories tells the tale of twins Alex and Conner. Through the mysterious powers of a cherished book of stories, they leave their world behind and find themselves in a foreign land full of wonder and magic where they come face-to-face with the fairy tale characters they grew up reading about. 

But after a series of encounters with witches, wolves, goblins, and trolls alike, getting back home is going to be harder than they thought."

This book grabbed my attention because I heard Chris talking about it when he appeared on Windy City Live and he made it sound so interesting. He talked about how he got the idea and how after he read fairy tales as a kid he was always left with so many questions. Like, how was Cinderella's wedding? What happened in the years following? Why are there a couple of princesses (Snow White and Cinderella I believe) married to "Prince Charming"? And are they brothers? He said his book addresses things like this and that made it sound really cool.

I hope you guys check out these books and I'll keep my eye out for more great middle grade to share with you!

Kristina, Miss Author in Action

What's Old is New Again (or Rewritten and Revised and Resubbed?)

Tip of the Day: The YALSA Symposium is three months away! Who's going (besides me)?

I am rewriting the MG novel that got me my first agent in 2008. Two slightly different versions of that novel were subbed to -- and rejected by -- about eight editors over the course of 2008-2009.

This year I went back to that novel. I love that novel (unlike some drawer novels that I have no interest in working on again). I've been rewriting and revising it like crazy, with good feedback from my CPs, and think it is so much tighter and developed and the characters stand on their own.

The main plotline of the novel is the same, as is the setting, but the execution is just so much more on point because I am a much better writer now than I was in '08.

BUT, it is too late for an agent to look at that novel? Has the ship sailed? I know editors move around a lot from house to house, and some who read it are no longer at the same houses or even still in the pub business.

If this novel were polished and ready to go out four years after its first attempt, what do you suggest I do with it if I am unagented?

Deena, Miss Subbing for Pubbing

Writing Middle Grade Books

Tip of the Day: Midde Grade readers ARE using kindles etc. to read ebooks. I know this is something a lot of us authors wondered. We kind of thought that most ebook readers would be a little older, at least into YA. When I had a chance to hang out with a bunch of 4th and 5th graders the other day I took a poll and the majority of them said that they read ebooks on their parent's ereaders in addition to paperbacks. Want to hear more about my book club visit with the kids? Read my blog from Tuesday.

Last week Giora asked how we, as middle grade writers, get into the heads of middle grade characters and have the dialogue sound authentic. Since I'm working on a middle grade right now I thought I'd tackle these questions. I spend a lot of time thinking back to when I was that age and how I handled different situations. And while that was some time ago, things aren't THAT different. Sure we have more technology now so it's wise to pay attention to that kind of thing. You probably wouldn't three-way call your frenemy and hit mute while your best friend got her to say a bunch of stuff you weren't supposed to hear (which we did ALL of the time). But you'd have her forward you the e-mail she sent talking smack about you. And you wouldn't wear big hats and tease your hair ala Saved by the Bell:

http://badassdigest.com/2011/11/28/the-week-in-fake-movie-news-saved-by-the-bell/

So you should pay attention to fashion current trends. But the basic stuff that happened to us as kids at that age still goes on today. A middle grade girl is still hurt when her best friend starts hanging out more with a new friend. Or the boy she likes rejects her. Or she doesn't get the role in the school play that she wanted so desperately. So if you recall how you felt when things like that happened to you, it's easy to get into the heads of your middle grade characters.

When I wrote my first middle grade, My Fake Boyfriend is Better Than Yours, I was thinking about my own 7th grade fake boyfriend and the trouble I got into because of him and my BFF at the time. It was in thinking about this that I came up with the idea for the book. And the idea of fake boyfriends must be eternal because people are always telling me about the fake boyfriends they had (or still have!) when I meet them at book signings.

And to answer your question about realistic dialogue, just listen to how kids are talking now. Turn on Disney or Nickolodeon and take note. Listen to a group of kids at the library chat. Kids today really don't speak all that differently than we did at that age. I hear my 9 year saying "Dude!" to his friends all the time. And I said "Dude!" at that age too. Though I can pretty much guarantee that no one today still says, "Like, gag me with a spoon!" :-)

Kristina, Miss Author in Action

What I'm Looking For (or Show Me the Funny!*)

*with apologies to Jerry Maguire

Tip of the Day, Librarian Edition: The public library is not a social services office, but remember that sometimes it feels that way.

I'm not an agent or editor, but as a YA Librarian, I have a "wish list" of books I'd like to see on my shelves, too. While I can't sell or produce these types of books, I can buy them, talk about them to my colleagues, put them on library book lists for patrons, put them face-out on displays, and directly set them into the hands of readers. Here's my current YA wish list:



1. Realistic, contemporary books with boy main characters that are funny but grounded. (Examples: SETH BAUMGARTNER'S LOVE MANIFESTO by Eric Luper; FOOD, GIRLS, & OTHER THINGS I CAN'T HAVE by Allen Zadoff; NOTES FROM THE MIDNIGHT DRIVER by Jordan Sonnenblick) Girls will read these books, AND I can give them to boys who are looking for something humorous.



2. Teen books with tween appeal. (Exampls: THE GALLAGHER GIRLS SERIES by Ally Carter; JUST ONE WISH by Janette Rallison; THE ESPRESSOLOGIST by our Kristina Springer) Fourth, fifth, and sixth grade girls particularly will come to me while I'm working reference in the children's room and ask for some "more good books from the teen area." *PLEASE NOTE: This is very different than the PARENTS who come to me in this scenario and say that their kids are "very advanced readers" who need teen books since they've outgrown the middle grade novels -- but the books can't involve romantic relationships or kissing or or or....* These girls just want to expand their library and book horizons with more "innocent" titles that feature slightly older scenarios and characters.

3. Contemporary fiction with non-white characters on the cover -- that aren't stories about the hood/drugs/race "issues". I want Sarah Dessen with an Indian girl on the cover. I want Jordan Sonnenblick with a Chinese boy on the cover. (*Edited to add: YES! A Jordan Sonnenblick novel DOES already exist with a Chinese boy on the cover and the story is funny and the cover is great -- ZEN AND THE ART OF FAKING IT -- and I'd love more like this to put face-out on my shelves.) This wish is more to the publishers than the authors, although count me amongst readers who want to see characters from all over the globe in my books so if you can write them, bring it on! I have so many non-white teens in my town who don't see themselves on the covers of YA books -- but they read a ton, and when I give them a book that features a teen who is Fill-in-the-Blank-American like they are, they are so happy.

I have to throw some middle-grade wish list titles too:



1. True science fiction with boy and girl characters. (Examples: a "younger" ENDER'S GAME by Orson Scott Card; CHRONAL ENGINE by Greg Leitich Smith) I get this question from a lot of student teachers, and it's a good extension for all the kids who ask for Star Wars books all the time and are looking to expand their base.

2. Ditto (3) above in the YA section, but for middle grade fiction (non-white kids on the covers of just good contemporary fiction).

All right, who's gonna write them? :)

Deena, Miss Subbing for Pubbing

Query Clinic is Open! (or Help Us Help You & Help Us)

Tip of the Day: You still have time to email your queries for our Query Clinic next week! Send them to author2author.blog AT gmail DOT com, and stay tuned this week and next to comment on other queries.

So I was going to post the query that landed me my last agent in 2009. It's for an MG manuscript that we subbed to editors and got good responses from -- including a revision request -- but alas, we did not receive any offers.

That said, I still love this book and think it is even stronger after the revision I did on spec, so in case I ever try to sub it on my own or epub it, I'd like to share a new version* of this query for feedback. Between all the MG readers at my library who ask for more books like IT'S RAINING CUPCAKES and CUPCAKE DIARIES, I think I would have an audience.


*The reason I say "a new version" is because OMG, the original one that I queried agents with is waaaaay too wordy! So here's a pared down version of the pitch for BAKE, SET, MATCH. Thanks in advance for any input/advice!

Twelve-year-old Dana Hawthorne's best friend moved away, but she's not letting it derail her summer. She's working at her parents' bakery, making friends with new girl Beth, and playing on the junior tennis team. Sure, some things aren't perfect, like the fact that Beth's dad is really sick, and that one of the twins she beat onto the tennis team is out to get her. But overall Dana can handle it because she can handle anything.

Until things get worse. The twins spread rumors that pit Beth and Dana against each other and can destroy the bakery's already slow business. Dana has to save the bakery before her family loses their house, but without Beth at her side, she's not sure she can come up with a good plan let alone execute it. Then Beth's dad gets sicker and Dana needs to decide what is important: being right, or being there for her friends and family.

Deena, Miss Subbing for Pubbing