In the News This Week

What's new? How about some news!

Starting today, I'm reviving my In the News This Week feature--so on Fridays on the SCBWI blog, I'll share snippets of and links to some of the publishing/media-related news I've read during the last week that I found interesting, helpful, and/or fun. Click titles to get to the full articles.

This week's tidbits include the controversial Wall Street Journal piece on YA fiction and some reactions to it. Plus iPad algebra (which sounds so much better than Miss Dugle's class), more Borders closing news, advice for Twitter addicts, a Glee star-truned-YA-novelist, some Kindle news, and a fond farewell to the creator of Mad Libs.


Darkness Too Visible (WSJ)
Amy Freeman, a 46-year-old mother of three, stood recently in the young-adult section of her local Barnes & Noble, in Bethesda, Md., feeling thwarted and disheartened. She had popped into the bookstore to pick up a welcome-home gift for her 13-year-old, who had been away. Hundreds of lurid and dramatic covers stood on the racks before her, and there was, she felt, "nothing, not a thing, that I could imagine giving my daughter. It was all vampires and suicide and self-mutilation, this dark, dark stuff." She left the store empty-handed.

Young Adult Fiction Is Not All Doom and Gloom (ShelfTalker)
This weekend the Internet, specifically Twitter and Facebook, have been seriously abuzz about an article in the Wall Street Journal Saturday written by Meghan Cox Gurdon. In the article "Darkness Too Visible," the writer has focused on a few admittedly dark novels and classified the whole genre as bleak and fairly unredemptive. As a bookseller, I was struck immediately by the first two paragraphs:

Are Teen Novels Dark and Depraved—or Saving Lives? (PW)
It’s been an interesting week in the teen-lit world. On Saturday, the Wall Street Journal published a story that said modern YA novels were "rife with depravity" and "so dark that kidnapping and pederasty and incest and brutal beatings are now just part of the run of things." The piece immediately set off an Internet frenzy. That night, 13 Little Blue Envelopes author Maureen Johnson started the #YAsaves hashtag with this tweet: "Did YA help you? Let the world know how! Tell your story with a #YAsaves tag. And copy the @wsj for good measure." Within hours, #YAsaves got 15,000 responses from regular readers and from such big-name writers as Judy Blume and Neil Gaiman. Bloggers—but also writers at major news outlets such as National Public Radio and New York magazine—weighed in. 

Leonard B. Stern, Creator of Mad Libs, Dies at 88 (NYT)
Leonard B. Stern, an Emmy-winning writer, producer and director for television whose frantic search for an adjective one day led him and a colleague to create Mad Libs, the game that asks players to fill in blanks with designated parts of speech to yield comically ________[adj.] stories, died on Tuesday at his home in Beverly Hills, Calif. He was 88.
 
Suzanne Collins Becomes First Children’s Author To Sell 1 Million Kindle eBooks (GalleyCat)
Novelists Lee Child and Suzanne Collins joined the "Kindle Million Club" today, the fifth and sixth authors to sell more than one million eBooks through Amazon.

Citi Analyst: Kindle Will Be 10 Percent Of Amazon Sales In 2012 (TechCrunch)
As books goes digital, Amazon is managing the transition nicely with the Kindle. Amazon now sells more Kindle books than print books, and offers nearly a million ebook titles. In a research note that just went out this morning, citi analyst Mark Mahaney estimates that sales of Kindle devices and digital books will account for 10 percent of Amazon’s revenues in 2012.

New Jersey district plans iPad-only algebra course (eSchoolNews)
New Jersey’s Edison Township School District will be the first in the state to implement an entirely iPad-based Algebra 1 curriculum. The program will pilot the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) Fuse: Algebra 1 application with 60 students this fall, said Richard O’Malley, Edison Township School District’s superintendent.

Borders May Close Up to 51 More Stores to Avoid Defaulting On Latest Loans (Lunch)
As potential bidders emerge for more than 200 of Borders' superstores in a deal the company hopes will close in the next two to four weeks, the retailer may need to close an additional 51 stores and liquidate assets to avoid defaulting on their debtor-in-possession loan in the meantime. According to a motion filed in court Thursday morning, the move may result in worse terms for creditors, since the closed stores would not be available for sale to a bidder--and at least some of them are stores that "buyers have indicated that they also wish to purchase." Though Borders hasn't underscored the human cost of their business failure in the past, now that it serves their ends they also declare the additional closings would result in "a significant loss of jobs."

Are You Addicted To Twitter? Here’s How To Fight It (AllTwitter) 
Shea wrote a fantastic piece about the five stages of "getting" Twitter last week, which included denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and finally, acceptance. But for some of us, there's another stage that hits us after we've accepted and finally "got" Twitter–obsession. 

Chris Colfer of 'Glee' gets a book deal. Fans get your jazz hands ready. (Shelf Life)
Gleeks, rejoice! Glee star Chris Colfer has just signed a two-book deal with Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. The first will be an adventure novel that draws elements from the very, very in-vogue world of classic fairy tales.

Hooray for Mockingjay Parties!

I haven't read any of Suzanne Collins' books yet (never cracked open a HARRY POTTER or a TWILIGHT book either), but seeing the excitement these Big Series generate, reading all the coverage on the web about the release parties for MOCKINGJAY at bookstores and libraries alike, and seeing editors, agents, and other writers tweeting with joy about the book's release made me so happy for the world of print books.

With so much talk of e-books and e-readers taking over (and their sales are rising--click here, here, here, and here if you dig statistics), I love seeing reports of brick and mortar bookstores ordering 3600 printed copies of MOCKINGJAY.

Not that I'm against e-books. Go e-books! Knock yourself out. Sell, sell, sell. As long as consumers are happily reading, I (as publishers) don't care how they are doing it. (In fact, a recent survey suggests that consumers with e-readers do more reading since they got their devices.)

But how do you throw a party for an e-book release? Does everyone show up at a coffee shop with their Kindles and simultaneously download? And, what--no line numbers, no autographs? No fun!

So I guess when, someday, printed books go the way of the album {shudder} someone will have to come up with a new way to throw a party. In the meantime, enjoy this coverage of MOCKINGJAY events:

• Powell's Books
• Publishers Weekly
• MTV
• GalleyCat

And Party on, readers!

Wednesday Tweet Roundup

Welcome to the mostly-MOCKINGJAY edition of my Wednesday Tweet Roundup. Suzanne Collins' latest book was a trending topic--lots of writers, editors and agents were terribly stoked about the release of the latest in the HUNGER GAMES series.

I've also included, among other things, news of an original e-book for young readers, some query tips from agents, and one writer's video please for publication.

My favorite tweet of the week on the Emmy win for the Old Spice Man You Man Can Smell Like commercial my seems apropos of nothing--but that ad is a great example of something catching on and totally going viral via YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. Isn't that what we'd all love for your books? Quick--someone hire Isaiah Mustafa for a book trailer!

Click on the Twitter handles (@name) to find each tweeter's page should you wish to follow them or read more of what they're saying. Follow the included links to read the articles or blog posts these tweeters recommend.

Remember--whether you're signed up with Twitter or not, you can read tweets and click links to find helpful blog posts, useful articles, and timely news bits (like the ones below).

MOCKINGJAY TWEETS

@Ginger_Clark Popping head in from vacation to ask if something major happened today in my industry? Huh?

@jamieharrington @Ginger_Clark naah, everybody's too busy reading Mockingjay :)

@PWKidsBookshelf Suzanne Collins answers five questions; @Scholastic has the video http://bit.ly/aEUufk

@Scholastic MOCKINGJAY is trending on Twitter (USA!) Here's the proof. It's legit! http://twitpic.com/2htodo

@ElanaRoth Okay, guys. I'm going in. #mockingjay

@EgmontGal I am reading. THE BOOK. Shhhh. No more from me till it's done.

@curiousmartha I can't wait! RT @colleenaf Tonight's regularly scheduled writing group has been replaced with reading group. #blamemockingjay

@angie_frazier My local Indie has my copy of #Mockingjay waiting for me :-) I'll be picking it up tomorrow & hiding it from my husband...

@Janet_Reid I'm thinking of waylaying @sztownsend81 and @mer_barnes to see if I can steal their copies of #Mockingjay. #nonotreally
@MandyHubbard 2 teen grls were buying #mockingjay at borders. 1 team peeta, 1 teem Gale. Kinda wanted to go read it with them!

@MyraMcEntire Dear @scholastic,Pls pass along my a)offer of servitude b) deep and abiding adoration c) bucket of tears to S. Collins.

E-BOOK TWEET

@PWKidsBookshelf Random House Ch Bks publishes its 1st e-book orig: The Death of Joan of Arc: A Lost Story from the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel

RECOMMENDED BOOK TWEETS

@GalleyCat The list keeps growing as our Facebook readers recommend the best YA Books for Adults: http://mbist.ro/9Em3xx

@emhornerbooks Some Recommended Titles for LGBTQ Young Adults http://huff.to/cqGeX4 via @huffingtonpost

QUERIES TWEETS

@WeronikaJanczuk A Note About Reading Queries: http://bit.ly/a6upK1

@NathanBransford Everything you need to know about how to write a query letter: http://t.co/Jk4HIA3

BANNING BOOKS TWEETS

@AudryT Top 100 banned/challenged books in the last decade: http://is.gd/eshMW A lot of these authors are on Twitter!

@JoKnowles Great post on censorship by @lkmadigan "When Parents Panic" http://bit.ly/aYdwh5

IN DON'T THINK THIS IS GONNA WORK TWEET

@PublishingSpy publish: Calling Literary Agents And Publishers For My First Novel http://bit.ly/bbXNCb

FAV TWEET OF THE WEEK

@mashable “Old Spice Guy” Ad Wins an Emmy - http://mash.to/2uhC2

SCBWI TEAM BLOG Pre-conference Interview: Jennifer Rees

I'm particularly excited about interviewing Scholastic Press editor and Annual Summer Conference speaker Jennifer Rees because she got her start in children’s books working as a children’s bookseller at my favorite hometown bookstore, Joseph-Beth Booksellers.

At Scholastic, she acquires and edits fiction and nonfiction picture books, middle grade fiction, and YA novels. Some of the recent titles she worked on  include SWIM! SWIM! by Lerch; FINALLY by Wendy Mass; WISH I MIGHT by Coleen Murtagh Paratore; AFTER EVER AFTER by Jordan Sonnenblick; EVERLASTING by Angie Frazier; SELLOUT by Ebony Wilkins; LIFE, AFTER by Sarah Darer Littman; FEVER CRUMB by Philip Reeve; and MOCKINGJAY by Suzanne Collins. (You might have heard a little about that last one.)

At the Annual Summer Conference Jennifer will offer two sessions--YOUR VOICE IS YOUR VOICE: KEEPING IT REAL and WHAT'S HOT, WHAT'S NOT.

At the 2009 NYC SCBWI Annual Winter Conference you said that you're interested in risky writing. What do you mean by that?

I hear writers say a lot, "I have an idea for a story, but I don't think I could really do it justice" and I think what they mean is that they are afraid of charting new waters or exploring territory they are unsure of, so they think it's better to follow trends (which is why I have a zillion paranormal submissions right now) or some safe formula, rather than striking out on their own. I think they are afraid of their own ideas.

But I'm not looking to publish stories that have been written about in the same way a zillion times over; I'm looking for stories that delve into new terrain (emotional, psychological, genre, format, narratively, etc). So, by "risky," I guess I'm really talking about writing that is personally risky for a writer and which dares not to follow a trend. For one writer that might be taking on a subject that requires a lot of research, for another it might simply be writing about what they know (i.e., what they believe is boring, when of course it's probably fascinating to others).

A great story doesn't have to be a blockbuster or explosive or involve some new creature or new world (though those things certainly have potential). I'm reading THE EVOLUTION OF CALPURNIA TATE right now and I'm fascinated by it. The writing is beautiful, the characters are amazing, and while the story is about everyday things in the life of one girl, the author [Jacqueline Kelly] makes it so very compelling and delectable (and funny!). If that manuscript had crossed my desk, I would have been jumping up and down with excitement!

What wows you in a manuscript? 

That is a very hard question to answer! I think it’s difficult to predict what will wow me. A story is such an enormous fusion of multiple elements. Voice is up there on my list--if I really connect with a writer's voice I will go anywhere they take me. An interesting plot, too. But mostly I'm wowed by stories I can't stop thinking about and ones that I find myself wanting to tell everyone about. I can't tell you the number of manuscripts I read that are fairly decent, but which I've already forgotten about by the very next day. Of course, stories are subjective and what might wow me might bore someone else! That's the tricky part, I guess. But a great story, a truly great story, stays with me forever. That's what I want to publish.

You accept agented material only, correct? 

Yes, and from SCBWI members, though they may get a form rejection letter, and I'm sorry about that, I am, but I'm afraid that otherwise they'd never hear from me ever, ever again. It's a nice letter, I promise.

 
Before you became an editor at Scholastic Press you worked as a bookseller. Does that experience affect your editorial work? 

Yes! After two years of hand-selling books to readers at the wonderful Joseph-Beth Booksellers, I still rely on that experience. From writing flap copy, to working with the designer to come up with the perfect book jacket, to what I acquire, to sales presentations, my experience as a bookseller informs the way I think about and respond to books, and the way I present those books to our own sales teams. I want to acquire and edit books I love, but I also want them to sell. That's the goal. Being on the floor of a bookstore day in and day out, you see what kids pick up and what people come in asking for. And you get to look at all the books from all the publishers. I visit bookstores a lot now. Once in a while (okay, all the time), I will hand-sell my books to unsuspecting customers. They walk away happy! I miss those days!

Why do you participate in SCBWI events? What do you get out of them? 

I truly enjoy speaking to writers! It's not always easy for me to sit behind a desk. l like hearing the buzz and seeing what people are reading and talking about. It's why I miss my bookselling days, I guess. I also love to hear about what people are working on, and I'm always inspired by everyone's commitment and enthusiasm for what we all do every day. I also really, really hope that I will run into a writer who will send me something terrific that I will publish to great acclaim!

One of your conference sessions is called WHAT'S HOT, WHAT'S NOT Can you give us a teaser?

Very sneaky of you. Well, I can't make any promises, but you're not going to want to miss it, let me tell you!

Any words of wisdom/advice you can offer to those working toward publication? 

Do your research on publishers, agents, and editors, and of course, read, read, read!

In the News This Week

Fridays on the SCBWI blog, I share snippets of and links to some of the publishing/media-related news I've read during the last week that I found interesting, helpful, and/or fun. Click titles to get to the full articles.

This week you'll find news on a Charlesbridge acquistion, a new imprint for teens by teens, a study that finds many young women check Facebook first thing in the morning (I'm beyond the demographic, but I do keep my iPhone next to my bed for a reason),  news on Suzanne Collins' print run, and a slideshow from ALA for those of us who missed it.

Also James Patterson proves that an author can sell eBooks into the millions (as long as that author is James Patterson), libraries are moving into malls (Richard Peck must be so conflicted), an essay on what the TWILIGHT phenomenon says about love and American girlhood, and another on why vampires don't really make good lovers (everyone knows werewolves are better).

Charlesbridge Buys Imagine Publishing (PW)
Charlesbridge Publishing has acquired Imagine Publishing, a publisher founded in 2009 by Charles and Jeremy Nurnberg to do children and adult titles. Charles Nurnberg, the former CEO of Sterling, will stay on as v-p and publisher of the Imagine imprint, while Jeremy will become v-p of sales for Charlesbridge, reporting to associate publisher Mary Ann Sabia. Charlesbridge is taking over distribution of Imagine titles effective immediately. The company had been one of the original clients of BookMasters Distribution Services for which Jeremy Nurnberg served as head of sales. 

The Meduim is the Medium (NYT)
Recently, book publishers got some good news. Researchers gave 852 disadvantaged students 12 books (of their own choosing) to take home at the end of the school year. They did this for three successive years. Then the researchers, led by Richard Allington of the University of Tennessee, looked at those students’ test scores. They found that the students who brought the books home had significantly higher reading scores than other students.

Libraries Moving Into Shopping Areas To Attract Patrons (psfk)It’s one of the main tenets of business that you bring your product where the demand is the highest and it’s most likely to get noticed. But what if your goal is to get today’s youth excited about reading? Logic says if you want to find the customer you’ve got to reach their favorite haunts, which in today’s society often includes the local mall.

The First Thing Young Women Do in the Morning: Check Facebook (Mashable)
Young women are becoming more and more dependent on social media and checking on their social networks, according to a new study released earlier today by Oxygen Media and Lightspeed Research. In fact, as many as one-third of women aged 18-34 check Facebook when they first wake up, even before they get to the bathroom.

Teenagers in Love (Slate)
With TWILIGHT: ECLIPSE (Summit Entertainment), the third installment of the teen-vampire film franchise based on the books by Stephenie Meyer, it's clear that the movie version of the series has become its own thing, a multipart organism that operates independently of the matrix that generated it. Like the Harry Potter movies, the TWILIGHT films cater--some might say pander--to fans of the books. But three films in, the source material has become vestigial to the viewer's enjoyment--it's possible to be interested in TWILIGHT based on the movies alone. After finishing the first book in the series, I wouldn't pick up another Meyer novel for anything less than a five-figure raise. But I wouldn't miss a TWILIGHT movie. Not because the films are good, exactly, but because they are terrifying, transfixing, and, yes, moving bulletins from the trenches of contemporary American girlhood.

James Patterson Sells More Than 1 Million eBooks (eBook Newser)
James Patterson has sold more than a million eBooks, 1.14 million to be exact. The Hachette Book Group claims that he is the first author to do so.

Children's Books at ALA: A PW Photo-Essay (PW)

Librarians, publishers, and authors braved the heat and crowds to attend ALA's annual conference, held late last month in Washington, D.C. Numerous authors and illustrators mingled with librarians and signed copies of their books. 

Scholastic Announces 'Mockingjay' Print Run, Tour Details (PW)

Teens, tweens, and adults alike are eagerly awaiting the arrival of MOCKINGJAY, the third and final book in Suzanne Collins’s dystopian Hunger Games trilogy. And come August 24, they shouldn’t have trouble getting their hands on a copy: Scholastic has increased the book’s initial print run to 1.2 million copies, up from 750,000 copies. Additionally, the trade paperback edition of THE HUNGER GAMES will go on sale in the U.S. and Canada on July 3, with a 500,000-copy first printing. 

Medallion to Publish YA Titles by YA Writers (PW)

Medallion Press is venturing into unfamiliar territory, in announcing the launch of its new Ya-Ya line of fiction and nonfiction for young adult readers ages 13-18. Not only is the Ya-Ya line intended for teen readers, but the titles in the imprint will actually be written by teen authors.

 
Curse of the Greedy Copyright Holder (WSJ)
"Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal," wrote T.S. Eliot. I am neither poet nor thief, so when I wanted poems at the start of each chapter in my recently published memoir, I sought permission. The poem that best describes my experience is "The Odyssey," navigating as I did between the Scylla of non-responsive copyright holders and the Charybdis of fee-seeking attorneys.

A Vampire Does Not Make a Good Lover (HuffPo)
I haven't jumped on the Twilight bandwagon yet. Chances are I'm not going to. I realize there are now many women out there that are gasping and would like to pull me through the computer screen, shake me violently, and ask me what in the world can possibly be wrong with me. I assure you, I am fine. Judging from my friends, it seems the most devoted fans are in the 20- and 30-something crowd and nearly all women. Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever seen a male post anything about being on Team Edward on Facebook.