Agent Interview: Mary Kole, Andrea Brown Literary Agency

Mary Kole came to children's literature from a writer's perspective and started reading at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency to see what it was like "on the other side of the desk." She quickly found her passion working for the agency, and officially joined as an Associate Agent in August, 2009.

Mary has worked in editorial as well, with a stint at Chronicle Books. Her editorial background--along with her MFA in Creative Writing-- makes her a hands-on agent, working to develop each project she takes on to its full potential.

You'll find her sharing her knowledge and advice at a number of SCBWI and other events both in person and online (more on that below) as well as her terrific blog, Kidlit.com.

You started as an Agent with Andrea Brown Literary in August 2009. What drew you to agenting books for young readers?

I've always been drawn to children's books, and to kids. I have an inner age of about sixteen. With that in mind, I wanted to work on books that captured that spark, those possibilities, the electric, alive feeling of being a kid. Too many adults around me seem to have stopped seeing the magic of life. And kids' books not only foster the idea of magic in everyday life, but they also inspire other magical things: reading, creativity, imagination, strength, hope, laughter. Children's books really do have the power to change lives. They give kids friends, they make kids into lifelong readers, they empower kids to tell their own stories. If, at the end of the day, I have any hand in changing lives with books, I'm happy.

What's it like for an agent in the first year? What were your goals?

My goals in the first year, and my goals as I start my second year, are to find great talent and to become savvier about the marketplace. The first goal, finding talent, is always part effort, part kismet. I keep a blog--kidlit.com--and go to conferences. I do what I can to get my name out there and attract submissions. But most of my clients have come from serendipitous queries in the slush, great conference connections, or referrals. At the end of the day, I just need to be open to receiving my next great client, however they come to me. I can't do much more than that. It's frustrating, sure, because I want to find that amazing new project now now now, but it's also liberating, since there's so much chance involved and I'm just along for the ride.

My other goal--being savvy about the market--has kicked into high gear since I moved to Brooklyn in July. I'm meeting a lot of editors, studying publisher catalogs, and reading upcoming and previous releases. I've been reading like mad this summer, actually. The more I know, the more of an asset I am to my clients, so I've really been pounding the pavement and hitting the books. The big difference between my first year and my second year is that I am now being more selective in what I take on, since I have a great base of clients already. That's not to say that I wasn't selective initially, but I was really aggressively building my list. Now I know a lot more about agenting and the marketplace, and I feel like I'm making better, stronger choices. I'm still very much looking for talent, but I feel like I can take my time now and be really picky. I'd say I can sum up my goals in agenting and in life with, "Read and learn more and more every day."

You have a popular blog on which you offer generous servings of advice. As a newer agent, why did you choose to blog. Should writers blog?

I caused a flap on my blog recently by suggesting that not all aspiring writers blog. I stick by what I said. For some writers, blogging is a great source of community. For others, they would probably be better served by writing, not social networking. I love my blog--it was a great way for me to get my name out there and is now a great way for me to practice my passions for teaching and for the writing craft--but it's a lot of work. Blogging isn't for the faint of heart, and you really have to have great, valuable content in order to hook and keep your readers.

You answer questions from your blog readers. Are there a few that come up over and over?

People are obsessed with queries. Sure, they can be the only thing an agent sees before deciding your fate as a writer. But Andrea Brown asks for sample pages and I always look at the writing. The key to a strong story is simple: make me care. Tell me about your character and their story in a way that I want to read on. Lots of writers over think the query when they should be doing more revision on the actual project. Also, unpublished writers love to talk about numbers and royalties and ebooks. A lot of that is premature, since they don't have a publishing contract to worry about yet. I'm all about writers who are informed and know how publishing works, but I feel like most are best served, at least at the early stages, by focusing on writing.

There's a manuscript wish list on your blog. Does that change with any sort of frequency? And are you currently open to queries?

I'm very much open to queries. And the list changes occasionally. I am still looking for all those things on the Wish List, and they tend to reflect my favorite themes and subjects. But it's all about the execution. I've gotten a lot of ghost books since I put out a call for ghost books, and only one has really hit the spot, and it's just one spin on a ghost story. I'd love to find more. There are things I want to add to the list.

Overall, I find myself craving darker, edgier, older YA these days. Not "darker" in terms of "let's put a vampire in it." In fact, please don't. I just have a very sarcastic, edgy, dark, morbid, creepy side to myself, something my inner sixteen year old can really relate to, and I'd love to see something complex and sophisticated along those lines. If I had anything to say about most of the submissions I get, it's that they're not complex or sophisticated enough. Teens are such smart readers and their lives are super rich and full. I expect nothing less from teens in books. Too many stories seem like they just take me from point A to point B without any depth or meat.

Are you participating in any upcoming events where writers can hear you speak and meet you?

Yes! I have tons of events on my list. I'm doing a Writers Digest online webinar on September 23rd. Writers from all over the place will be able to call in and hear it. A week later, on the 30th, I'm teaching a Learning Annex class in Manhattan. October is a busy travel month for me. The 8th through 10th, I'll be in Ohio, and the 15th through 16th, I'll be in Wisconsin, both for the SCBWI. On the 21st, I'm heading to Florida for the weekend for the Florida Writers Association. In November, I'm in South Dakota the 5th to the 7th, also for the SCBWI. In January 2011, I'm doing a Writers Digest conference on the 21st to the 23rd, and then the SCBWI Annual Winter Conference in New York that's the weekend of January 28th.

I'm also thrilled to be doing the Big Sur Writers Workshop, hosted by my agency. It's a small group intensive workshop-based conference that takes place in beautiful Northern California. One weekend is December 3rd through 5th, the other weekend is March 4th through 6th, 2011.

You just participated in the online WriteOnCon. How was it?

It was great! My client Jamie Harrington was one of the organizers. My favorite bit about it was that I got to troll through people's queries and sample pages that they'd posted on the forums. It was like getting to pick and choose my pitch appointments (usually agents have no control over who pitches them at in-person conferences). I also loved how much of a turnout there was. I know that a lot of people don't have the ability to travel to conferences. While I think the SCBWI regions do such a great job of bringing great opportunities to writers, I know lots of writers who, for one reason or another, haven't been able to make a conference. This lets everyone participate. Finally, it was really fun to create content for the attendees. I ended up doing my very first vlog! It sounds like WriteOnCon might keep featuring content and chats throughout the year, and I'm excited to keep participating.

Could you offer a piece of advice (or two) to writers looking for agents?

My biggest piece of advice is to really work on the craft. That happens when you read, write, read, write, read, write, lather, rise, repeat. Publication will still be there when you've polished a great manuscript. Agents will still be there when you're truly ready to query. But your writing and your premise really have to blow me away. So work on it. Really work on it. Don't just get out there and start querying because that's the next step in the process. The step before publication--the writing-a-publishable-book step--can be a long and frustrating but wonderful and fulfilling one. And, above all, it's a necessary step. Don't rush it.

FIND MARY KOLE ONLINE:

• Check out her blog: kidlit.com
• Follow her on Twitter: @Kid_Lit
• Agency website: andreabrownlit.com
• Like this: Andrea Brown Facebook page

In the New 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.

Below you'll find a report on fellow authors standing behind the dis-invited Ellen Hopkins, good news on the children's hardcover sales front, tips on Facebook privacy after the rollout of Places, an interview with boundary-breaking Tony DiTerlizzi, the release of this year's make-us-all-feel-old Beloit College mindset list, J.D. Salinger's toilet for sale, a dating site which aims to make lovers out of book lovers, and more.

Authors Withdraw from Teen Lit Festival (PWxy)
Blogs, Twitter, and Facebook have been abuzz in the last 24 hours with news that four YA authors have pulled out of the annual Teen Lit Fest in Humble, Tex., a Houston suburb. The authors withdrew in support of writer Ellen Hopkins, who announced in a blog post last week that she had been disinvited from the festival, which is organized by the Humble Independent School District, and is scheduled for January 2011. In the post, entitled “Censorship Bites,” Hopkins announced that her invitation had been revoked after a middle-school librarian and parents approached a superintendent and the school board about her participation.

Hardcover Children's/YA Sales Rose 19.6 Percent in June (GalleyCat)
The Association of American Publishers (AAP) reported today that hardcover sales for the Children's/YA category rose 19.6 percent compared to the same period last year--totaling $60.6 million in sales. However, year-to-date sales were still down 16.7 percent compared to 2009.

ABC and ABA to Present Merger Plan in September (PW)

It’s been over a year and a half since the Association of Booksellers for Children first began exploring the possibility of merging with the American Booksellers Association as one way of securing its future. Now that possibility is moving a step closer, with the release of a merger plan early next month, and a vote in October.
 

The Facebook Places Privacy Settings You Need To Know (All Facebook)
When Facebook launched their Places product yesterday they also released a new set of privacy settings. One feature that has attracted a fair amount of buzz is the ability for your friends to tag you in different places. That means you may not actually be somewhere, yet your friends will tag you as a joke and now you’re showing up at a random strip club. Granted, your friend will need to check in at the strip club as well to make that joke a reality, however I know we all have at least one of those friends! Read on to learn how to configure your settings properly.

E-books vs. Traditional Books [Infographic] (HuffPo)
Amazon recently announced that its June 2010 Kindle e-book sales nearly doubled its hardcover book sales (180% higher). Many of those e-books were self-published books priced under a dollar; however, data indicates e-books may become the dominant long-form format in not too many years.

The WondLaful Tony DiTerlizzi (SLJ)
Tony DiTerlizzi pushes the boundaries of bookmaking with his latest, The Search for WondLa (S & S), which combines a traditional novel with a graphic novel and the interactivity of a computer. SLJ spoke to the award-winning author and illustrator about the inspiration and creative process behind this augmented reality children's novel, what's in store for books two and three, and a Wondla movie already in the works with Paramount Pictures.

The Beloit College Mindset List for the Class of 2014 (Beloit College website)
Born when Ross Perot was warning about a giant sucking sound and Bill Clinton was apologizing for pain in his marriage, members of this fall’s entering college class of 2014 have emerged as a post-email generation for whom the digital world is routine and technology is just too slow. Each August since 1998, Beloit College has released the Beloit College Mindset List. It provides a look at the cultural touchstones that shape the lives of students entering college this fall.

Like Stieg Larrsson? Let's Date! Can Books REALLY Lead To Love? (HuffPo)
Chin Ma is 25 and looking for love. He paddles regularly in the dating pools online, paying fees to navigate millions of profiles based on lengthy checklists and compatibility formulas. So how'd he find his latest prospect? Through a book by Andy Warhol on Alikewise.com, a newcomer looking to connect people free of charge based on their favorite reads. It's a unique approach in a recession-hardy industry that has dozens of niche sites serving potheads to pet owners, millionaires to Mac lovers.

J.D. Salinger's Porcelain "Throne" For Sale (GalleyCat)
Step right up and place your bids for J.D. Salinger's used toilet.
The Vault of Forsyth Inc. (boasting 99.2% positive seller feedback) posted the item on eBay. The price tag is $1 million or your best offer. A million might seem like a lot to ask, but at least the shipping is free. This deal also comes with a letter from Joan Littlefield who, along with her husband, owns Salinger's former residence in Cornish, NH. As of 2:51pm on 08-18-2010, 18 bidders have thrown down. Bidding will end on September 4th 2010 17:06:30 PDT.

Participate in Random Acts of Publicity Week September 7-10

"In the publishing industry, it’s so easy to get into the 'Me' mentality," says author Darcy Pattison. "Read my book, read my blog, come to my book signing, etc. I found myself doing this last year and didn’t like myself."

So Darcy said took a step back to look around and consider all the fellow authors and illustrators she knew who had books that deserved great reviews. Thinking about the philosophy of Pay It Forward, she got the idea to initiate a week of Random Acts of Publicity during which she would encourage fellow book creators to help publicize one another's work. "The model is to do a kindness for others, not expecting anything in return," she says.

Read on to learn more about it RAoP which takes place September 7-10, visit Darcy's website for additional info, and click here to pledge your participation in the event via Facebook. 

It's the second year fro Random Acts of Publicity--how did it get started?

Borrowing the idea of Random Acts of Kindness, I wondered what a week of random acts of publicity would look like.

First, the timing. The Christmas season is a time when book sales soar right along with toy sales. The competition is fierce, though, so our marketing efforts need to be in stellar condition. For example, on Amazon, books tend to do better if they have more reviews. And that’s something I can help another author with. By putting the Random Acts of Publicity the week after Labor Day, we’ll have plenty of time to help others get ready for the holiday shopping season.

Second, what to do during the week? Last year, I posted suggestions, focusing each day on a different way of helping others promote their works.

How else are you spreading the word about RAoP other than via Facebook. Is Facebook the best place for info?

The Random Acts of Publicity event on Facebook is a great place for information. Click here.

The week of the event, I’ll be posting suggestions about things to do on my blog and adding links to those posts on the Facebook events page. Others are welcome to suggest ideas or talk about what they are doing, too. Last year, the schedule went like this:

• Tuesday: Word of Mouth 
• Wednesday: Reviews 
• Thursday: Links 
• Friday: Social Media 

This year, it will be similar.

What if a person wants to do something, but doesn't have a lot of spare time?

Even the smallest Random Act of Publicity is welcome! There are no small acts of kindness, no small places to do it. If your blog only has five readers, it still helps to post a review of a friend’s book. If you have time to only click Become a Fan on a friend’s Goodreads page, it’s enough. It’s a welcome kindness.

Wednesday Tweet Roundup

It's humpday which means it's time for me to share some of my favorite tweets of the last week from the many writers, illustrators, editors and agents who are out there sharing information and joining in the conversation on Twitter.

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).

Among this week's picks and links: censorship news (boo!), an agent requests a query via Twitter (yay!), reports on conferences (one live, one online), varying pieces on craft, social media news, and more.


CENSORSHIP TWEETS

@PublishersLunch: #plnws School Librarian Who Didn't Read Ellen Hopkins' Books Gets Her Disinvited from Teen Lit Fest; Other YA Auth... http://bit.ly/aMipup

@ceamer: YA author takes stand against insidious censorship: http://bit.ly/a5lro5

@GalleyCat: Two New Jersey libraries remove an anthology of short stories written by gay & lesbian youth: http://mbist.ro/9u3TCf

CRAFTY TWEETS

@4KidLit: WOW Wednesday: L.J. Boldyrev on Writing Short to Lengthen Your Resume http://bit.ly/ayMKhy

@CynLeitichSmith: How to Create a Dystopia by @parkerpeevy: http://bit.ly/9xOUNu

@Kid_Lit: Lack of voice/character in MG boy books and the boy problem, inspired by @hannahmosk: http://ow.ly/2rel9

@BookEditorLM: HOW to BLEND NOVEL GENRES + SUCCEED http://tinyurl.com/2gx2zvl

@halseanderson: Blog up: dealing with rejection and typing with your nose http://tinyurl.com/3x9w4xa

YAY YA TWEETS

@wendytoliver: Love contemporary YA novels? http://www.thecontemps.com/

@Georgia_McBride: On submission? #YALITCHAT has a new group for YA writers seeking advice, support and safe place to vent. http://bit.ly/dbNH7r

@libmaryann: Great review of #YAlit site, Bookurious, by @ErinWalk http://theothererin.wordpress.com/

WRITEONCON TWEETS

@gregpincus: WriteOnCon round-up Day 1: http://bit.ly/9nyhEA and Day 2: http://bit.ly/dx7iiF

@jessiedenlim: Good stuff RT @4kidlit Conference Round-Up: WriteOnCon Day 2 http://bit.ly/dx7iiF

@4KidLit: If you missed #WriteOnCon, come check out our cheat sheet! http://bit.ly/dx7iiF

SCBWI ANNUAL SUMMER CONFERENCE TWEETS

@DeborahFreedman: Relive the moment #LA10SCBWI - almost. The amazing Ashley Bryan recites "My People" http://bit.ly/9zLaP0

@wendydelsol: Too funny! Author M.T. Anderson singing at #la10scbwi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sn5hRfCA-mU I'm proud to be part of laugh track.

@scbwi: Check out great pictures from #LA10SCBWI by Rita Crayon Huang here: http://tinyurl.com/2dy4tqf.

@maybegenius: My take on the LA SCBWI 2010 Editor's Panel is up. What makes them choose your book? http://bt.io/FoOx

@ingridsundberg: On the Blog - Loren Long: Illustrating the Picture Book - http://tinyurl.com/26uc9p6

SOCIAL MEDIA TWEETS

@sialche: Social media for unagented/unpublished writers. Yay or nay? http://bit.ly9jw1rU (via @WeronikaJanczuk)

@ingridsundberg: Grand list of #kidlit peeps who tweet tweet tweet! Editors, Agents, and Authors to follow: http://tinyurl.com/28eqztp

@mashable: Our top story this evening: "Facebook Launches a Live Video Channel" - http://mash.to/2pqM4

SEE WHAT CAN HAPPEN ON TWITTER TWEETS

@MichaelBourret: I want a scary YA alien novel. Maybe CLOSE ENCOUNTERS but not so cheery. Anyone?

@marilynpeake: @MichaelBourret I just finished writing an alien novel! Getting great reviews, is unpublished, doesn't have agent. May I send it?

@MichaelBourret: @marilynpeake Please do send me a query.

READING LIST TWEETS

@PetaAndersen: Nice--but short--list of good #MG books for boys - http://ow.ly/2q8ww

@harperchildrens: In Search of the Elusive Funny Female Character via @sljournal http://bit.ly/bOgbJb

FAV TWEET OF THE WEEK

@sirayn: best book title ever for YA book deal just up on Publishers Marketplace: WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE

Hey Bloggers! KidLit Con 2010 Is Set for October

Attention all you bloggers out there... have you heard about Kidlit Con 2010?

Kidlit Con is a conference just for the community of children's and young adult book bloggers. The 2010 event will be held at Open Book in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 23 and is hosted by three kidlit editors--Andrew Karre (Carolrhoda), Ben Barnhart (Milkweed), and Brian Farrey (Flux). Blogger and New York Times Bestselling Author Maggie Stiefvater is the keynote speaker for the event, which will include a full day of innovative and informative sessions.

Says Carolrhoda Publisher Andrew Karre:

Blogging and social media are increasingly important to every facet of book promotion in trade and library markets. Everyone knows this. It’s more than promotion though. I think these tools will play a role in shaping the artistic future of the genre. The uniquely collegial and cooperative community of kidlit authors and reviewers does itself a big favor when it supports events like these. I hope our Kidlitosphere has something for everyone from bloggers to authors to librarians trying to facilitate teen reading groups. Most of all, I hope it provides a forum for lots of unexpected conversations.

Click here for a helpful post on who should attend and why.

For updates about the event as well as registration and hotel informaion, visit the Kidlit Con blog. You can also follow Kidlit Con 2010 on Twitter.

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.

Below you'll find a cool book deal by Carolrhoda Lab, top picture book agents, an essay defending grown-ups who read YA (whatev!), writers helping a financially strapped library in my home state, layoffs at Borders, Elizabeth Bluemle's updated list of star-reviewed titles (fall reading list, anyone?), speculation on THE HUNGER GAMES movie casting, an enhanced e-book from Knopf BFYR, query letter tips, and some Twitter news items worth tweeting about.

Lerner Lands Unconventional Book from Three YA Authors (PW)
YA readers will have an opportunity to learn how authors conceptualize and write fiction, from start to finish, when Lerner Publishing Group releases (in spring 2012) a collection of YA stories written by Maggie Stiefvater (Shiver and Linger), together with her colleagues Brenna Yovanoff (The Replacement, Razorbill, fall 2010) and Tessa Gratton (Blood Magic, Random House, summer 2011). The stories originally appeared on the three authors’ blog, Three Merry Sisters of Fate. The as-yet-untitled release, which will be published under the Carolrhoda Lab imprint, will also include private emails, tweets, and IMs among the three, discussing and critiquing each other’s work as they develop and revise their stories.

Top 20 Picture Book Agents in Publishers Marketplace (Suite101)
The world of children's literature is packed with promise and savvy literary agents, listed below are the top 20 dealmakers as of August 6, 2010.

Twitter Moves to Make it Easier to Tweet (WJS Digits)
Twitter borrowed a page from Facebook Thursday, announcing a plan to begin offering online publishers the chance to embed a “tweet” button on their sites. The goal is to make it easier for users of Twitter to share content–or tweet, in Twitter-speak. More than 30 large sites including CNN.com, HuffingtonPost.com, and YouTube, the video website, today will begin making the tweet button available to users, Twitter announced.

The Stars So Far 2010—Updated 8/12/10 (Shelf Talker)
It’s time for another update of the starred reviews from Booklist, The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, the Horn Book, Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, and VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates). Starred reviews are excellent guideposts, but they don’t tell the whole story, of course. There are amazing books out there that never receive a starred review but are popular and/or critical favorites nonetheless.

Writers Help Struggling Ohio Library (PW)
Newcomerstown Public Library in Newcomerstown, Ohio, has been struggling to remain open in its small community due to state budget cuts. The library formed a fundraising committee last fall and has been working hard to raise funds so that it may continue operating.

Borders Group lays off more employees at Ann Arbor headquarters (AnnArbor.com)
Borders Group Inc., which is battling a continuous revenue slide and massive industry changes, laid off more employees at its Ann Arbor headquarters this morning, a spokeswoman confirmed. The job cuts come as the book store chain is placing a heavy emphasis on its new electronic books strategy in the midst of major structural challenges to its core business model.

The Kids’ Books Are All Right (NY Times)
While au fait literary types around town await the buzzed-about new novels from Jonathan Franzen and Nicole Krauss, other former English majors have spent the summer trying to get hold of “Mockingjay,” the third book in Suzanne Collins’s dystopian trilogy, so intensely under wraps that not even reviewers have been allowed a glimpse before its airtight Aug. 24 release. What fate will befall our heroine, Katniss Everdeen? My fellow book club members and I are desperate to know. When will the Capitol fall? And how can Collins possibly top the first two installments, “The Hunger Games” and “Catching Fire”? Oh, did I mention? “Mockingjay” is for teenagers. I am well into my 30s.

FishbowlNY Talks To Marie Claire About Its Interactive September Issue (FishbowlNY)
It seems that many publications are touting the interactive features made possible with iPad or smartphone applications, but Marie Claire has found a way to make browsing through a print magazine a more interactive experience for its readers. We spoke with the magazine's publisher, Nancy Berger Cardone, about how Marie Claire's September issue, with a little help from image recognition technology expert Pongr, is helping readers shop instantly for items found among its pages.

3 Key Elements of a Great Query Letter (HuffPo)
Yes, the concept of writing a query letter can be an intimidating process. The fact that it should only be one page in length makes the need for potency even more relevant. It is the proposal for your proposal and it's just as important. You have to be able to convince agents why you and why your book.

RH Children's Does First Enhanced E-book (PW)
Knopf Books for Young Readers is publishing its first enhanced e-book, a tie-in edition of Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen. The publication marks the first foray any Random House imprint has made in publishing an enhanced e-book for the children's market. The e-book went on sale August 10 for $14.99, leading up to the August 27 release of the film, which is directed by Rob Reiner.

iStoryTime Launches Story App For Deaf Children (eBook Newser)
Digital publisher iStoryTime, a publisher of children's storybooks for the iPhone and iPad, has launched a new app for deaf children. Their first app designed for the hearing impaired, the app is a hear impaired version of Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy includes a sign-language interpretation.

Casting Future Movie Franchises: Who Will Star in The Hunger Games? (New York Magazine)
The next win-a-franchise battle—this one called the “Who gets to be Katniss Everdeen?” contest—is scheduled to begin on August 24, with the release of Mockingjay, the third installment in Suzanne Collins’s Hunger Games trilogy, a series of adult-loved YA books that will be adapted into movies, and that you will only be hearing more about.

Women in Publishing Twitter Directory (GalleyCat)
Today Dear Author co-founder Jane Litte created a big stir in the publishing Twitter-sphere, celebrating her favorite Women in Publishing. Her post generated a massive response from readers around the globe, all archived at the hashtag, #womeninpublishing.

Wednesday Tweet Roundup: Post-Conference All #LA10SCBWI Edition

Today I bring you a rather massive all-Annual-Summer-Conference Tweet Roundup featuring great quotes and soundbites, links to conference report posts offering info/take away/reactions from a baker's dozen  conference-goers, and some other fun tidbits.

The grand prize for most tweeted and retweeted line goes to S&S editor Justin Chanda:

"If everyone goes home and writes to the trends, then the vampires win!"; "We're looking for what's new."

And a little advice to all you Twitter users out there from my partner in crime Greg Pincus:

@gregpincus: Post #la10scbwi - don't forget to connect with all your new Twitter friends (many followed you - have you followed back?)

Click on the Twitter handles (@name) to each tweeter's page should you wish to follow them. Follow the links included below to read the articles or blog posts these tweeters point to.

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--or, in this case, to experience vicariously/relive the 2010 SCBWI Annual Summer Conference.


GREAT QUOTES TWEETS

@barrygoldblatt: Most common question I got at #LA10SCBWI: "Is @libbabray here?" #mywifeismorepopularthanme

@mbrockenbrough: Marion Dane Bauer: Most stories begin in neuroses: anger, fear, unfulfilled longing so deep it never leaves...even in your sleep.

@LPP_Media: "I just turned 37, and I can't purge this adolescent voice from my head!" Carolyn Mackler. Please don't, CM. You're fabulous!

@alicepope: Marion Dane Bauer: The best ideas for picture books are subversive (Where the Wild Things, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie)

 @_JessicaLove: "If you have writers block, it's because you don't know a character well enough or because you're avoiding a scene." Rachel Vail

@HeatherTrese: Susan C. Bartoletti "You can't research in the middle because that's where stereotypes live. You have to research to the edges."

@LPP_Media: Children's book author, Gail Carson Levine, humbly confesses - her most frequent note to self is, "I don't know what I'm doing."

@mbrockenbrough: A. Levine: "It tasted of pot and Dr. Pepper. That's a very specific kiss. The more specific it is, I feel like I just had it."

@storyconnection: Francesco Sedita, Penguin: If you're not making mistakes, you're not taking risks.

@HeatherTrese: Loren Long - When an illustrator picks up a book, he's saying he loves it enough to make it as much his as it is the writer's.

@_JessicaLove: "As artists, we need to fill ourselves to overflowing and give it all back." - E.B. Lewis

@alicepope: Agenting styles vary. Ginger Clark: I'm not your shrink. Lisa Grubka: I am.

@HeatherTrese: Gordon Korman: "Picture in your mind a bored, disaffected 11 year old saying, 'Do I care about this?'"

@kirstenhubbard: Press yourself to ask dangerous questions. Don't be afraid of your eccentricity -- embrace it. ~MT Anderson

@HeatherTrese: Loren Long: "Ask yourself - 'If they can do this, why can't I?' It's not who you know. I live in Cincinnati."

@SaraLewisHolmes: Linda Sue Park: MG novels = the world isn't fair---what are you going to do about it?

@_JessicaLove: "To make a character more like a teen have her stop thinking about something else, bring her back to thinking about herself" Amy Koss

@LiteraryAsylum: 3 most repeated words by agents, publishers, editors, and even the valet at #LA10SCBWI - NO MORE VAMPIRES.

@lishacauthen: "Find the one agent/editor who lights up when they read your work. That's the one for you." - Jill Alexander

@alicepope: Lin Oliver (setting Jon Scieszka straight): Princesses don't fart. They don't have intestines, just tiaras.

CONFERENCE NOTES TWEETS

@combsmaggie: Agent Panel Notes http://bit.ly/9oIdhK

@angelamatteson: My conference blog post day 1: http://bit.ly/cd7EgB

@jaimetem: At #LA10SCBWI I only blogged about celebrities, picture books, graphic novels, and big pants. http://tiny.cc/89wjf

@heatherkephart: Hazel Mitchell's SCBWI Summer Conference notes/doodles on Facebook are a must-see! #la10scbwi #kidlit http://is.gd/e7FvI

@Brodiashton: M.T. Anderson's Break Out Session, or Why My Head Exploded at SCBWI http://bit.ly/djVM2d

@kiwiandpear: My recap of the SCBWI Summer Conference http://bit.ly/dhWI0U

@DHeiligman: A few things I learned at #LA10SCBWI http://bit.ly/aq1mDN also cupcakes.

@amysundberg: My response to MT Anderson's fabulous keynote at #LA10SCBWI: http://bit.ly/caM1W5

@KatieAlender: On the blog » SCBWI Conference Wrap-up http://bit.ly/bpBYN0

@DanaElmendorf: An overview of what I took from #LA10SCBWI http://bit.ly/cgjR5w With follow up blogs to come in the next few weeks.

@GretchenMcNeil: Woo hoo! It's my #la10scbwi round-up post featuring too many awesome writers and agents to name in 140 characters!!! http://is.gd/e0weF

@leewind: Amazing! What I learned at the SCBWI Summer Conference http://bit.ly/atLHxe

@gregpincus: Publishing is Changing. Let's Deal. (my recap/opinion of Rubin Pfeffer's #la10scbwi keynote): http://bit.ly/dtVdLu

GREAT REASONS TO ATTEND TWEETS

@talewright: Hey Men! Want a reason to attend #LA10SCBWI other than the great people and fantastic workshops. M to F Ratio: 1-4 (don't tell my wife!)

@angelamatteson: I went to NY one but got even more from #la10scbwi Heard just what I needed to push myself to take my work to the next level.

@joypreble: So very ready for some character revision in the WIP after brilliant sessions from Rachel Vail and Carolyn Mackler.

@mbrockenbrough: When Arthur Levine points something out about your writing, you want to smack your forehead and say, "Of course!" He's so good.

@LiaKeyes: Such buzz & excitement this year! One friend signed with an agent, another got a full ms requested from an editor... happy!

@wendydelsol: @rachelvailbooks Kudos to someone who can make me laugh and cry at 8:30 on a Monday morning.

@crcook: #la10scbwi: danced barefoot, dined with poets, stealth-photographed a literary genius, had my mind blown, didn't sleep, did ponder and laugh

MOMENTS THAT CAN ONLY HAPPEN HERE TWEETS

@rondiolson: Best part of #LA10SCBWI ? Talking to other authors who are on the same journey. It can be long and frustrating!

@_JessicaLove: The best/craziest thing about #LA10SCBWI? You sit next to someone at the lobby bar, then the next day you realize he is a Caldecott winner.

@KKittscher: Lovely birthday present: long chat at lunch with sid fleischman winner allen zadoff. Inspiring.

YEAH, IT'S ALSO A PARTY TWEETS

@breedespain: Danced to "The Love Shack" with M.T. Anderson. Only at #LA10SCBWI #Eep

@elisanader: OH from hallway last night: Drunkie 1: "I can't remember my room number!" Drunkie 2: "Really? Because I have to throw up."

@rachelvailbooks: Kids have no idea how wild the seemingly mild-mannered writers of their books are.

 @yaHighway: YA Highway and @theGotYA just got kicked out of the Hyatt hot tub :(

@juliacollard: - was unaware that this conference was also a Karaoke bar.

@alicepope: Overheard at #LA10SCBWI: "How do you spell sobriety? I'm emailing my agent."

WISH THEY WERE THERE TWEETS  

@novaren: Can't stand it. Have to go to #LA10SCBWI next year. Is the LA conference the best one? Sounds like it: http://scbwiconference.blogspot.com

@happybluejess: Thanks to all for the tweets from #LA10SCBWI. Hope to be there next year, but feel like I'm there now via tweeps.

WELL, DUH TWEET

@HeatherTrese: Am definitely fan-girling over everyone.. Also? Children's book writers are SO much more fun than adult authors.

GOSH, THANKS FOR YOUR TWEET!

@gekkards: Official SCBWI Conference Blog rocks! Thanks TEAM BLOG.

Looking Ahead: October Regional Events

I've been talk talk talking about the just wrapped SCBWI Annual Summer Conference, dear readers, and, although it was the best-attended one ever, still only a fraction of SCBWI members were in there. If distance/time/cost/etc. keeps you from the Big Daddy of SCBWI events, remember that there are a ton of terrific regional conference that may be just a short road trip away.

Hopefully you're all aware of the Events calendar on the SCBWI website. In addition to info on the awesome international conferences held in August and January, the calender also offers an exhaustive list of local chapter goings-on including meetings, schmoozes, speaker events, retreats, and conferences. Regional events are, of course, smaller and more intimate than the LA and NYC conferences and a great way to meet agents and editors, have manuscript and portfolio critiques, and network with local writers and illustrators.

October is a beautiful time of year to get together and talk children's book with industry insiders and your peers. Below is a list of the October regional SCBWI conferences with information currently available. For more see the Regional Events calender on SCBWI.org. Remember, it's never to soon to plan ahead for conference travel, and early registration often means savings on tuition cost.

If you see something on the list that interests you, click the event names for more information.

October 7 - October 10
Oregon Annual Fall Retreat
Silver Falls Conference Center, near Salem, Oregon
INFO: Our Special Guests: Chris Eboch, Haunted series author; Claire Horowitz, writer; Elizabeth Rusch, author; Abigail Samoun, editor: Tricycle Press; Kelly Sonnack, agent: Andrea Brown Literary Agency

October 8 - October 10
Michigan Fall Conference
Yarrow Golf Resort, Augusta, Michigan
INFO: Workshops with Cinda Chima, NYT fantasy bestseller; Darcy Pattison, acclaimed author and writing instructor; Patrick Collins, Art Director (Henry Holt); Susan Chang, Senior Editor with Tor Books (fantasy publisher); Amy Lennex, Sleeping Bear Press editor;;Betty Raum, author; Crystal Bowman, picture book author.

October 9 
Ohio: Central and South 2nd Annual Scarlet & Gray Event
Upper Arlington Senior Center
INFO: Speakers include associate agent, Andrea Brown Literary Agency; Lisa Klein, author; Marcia James, author and expert on cyber promotion.

October 15 - October 17 
Sierra Nevada/Nevada South Conference on the Comstock
Virginia City, Nevada
INFO: Presenters include: editor Cheryl Klein, Arthur Levine Books; agent Tracy Adams, Adams Agency; editorial consultant, Emma Dryden; editorial consultant, Harold Underdown; illustrator Priscilla Burris; MG author Terri Farley; YA author Ellen Hopkins; PB author Verla Kay; MG author Susan Hart Lindquist; PB author/illustrator Terri Sloat; MG author Suzanne Morgan Williams.

October 15 - October 16 

Southern Breeze Writing & Illustrating for Kids '10

Spain Park High School, Birmingham, AL
INFO: Faculty lined includes Darcy Pattison, author and instructor, Keynote Speaker; Stacey Barney, editor, Penguin/G.P. Putnam's Sons; Kate Sullivan, assistant editor, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; Jamie Weiss Chilton, agent, Andrea Brown Literary Agency; Kerry Martin, senior designer,
Clarion Book.

October 15 - October 17 
Wisconsin Annual Fall Retreat
Siena Center, Racine, WI
INFO: Speakers include editor Greg Ferguson, Egmont USA; editor Lisa Yoskowitz, Dutton Children's Books; art director Loraine Joyner, Peachtree Publisher; author Bruce Hale (Chet Gecko Series); author Deborah Wiles (Each Little Bird That Sings, Freedom Summer); agent Mary Kole, The Andrea Brown Literary Agency.

October 15 - October 17 

New Mexico Fall Retreat
Hummingbird Music Camp near Jemez Springs
INFO: Critique group facilitators include Chris Eboch, Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, Lois Ruby, and Pari Noskin Taichert; Editor manuscript critiques with Pamela Kelly Glauber, associate editor, Holiday House.

October 23 
San Francisco East/North Bay Area Fall Conference--From Acorns to Oaks: Inspiration to Creation
Mills College, Oakland, CA
INFO: Presenters include Lisa Yoskowitz, assistant editor of Dutton Books; Kaylan Adair, editor, Candlewick Press; Caryn Wiseman, agent, Andrea Brown Literary Agency; Ammi-Joan Paquette, associate agent at Erin Murphy Literary Agency; Bruce Hale, author; Tim Myers, author; Ginger Wadsworth, non-fiction PB and MG author; Pamela Turner, nonfiction author; Joe Cepeda, illustrator.

October 30 

California: Ventura/Santa Barbara Writers' Day

California Lutheran University
INFO: Presenters include Rubin Pfeffer, agent, East West Literary Agency; Stacy Whitman, editorial director, Tu Books; Andrea Welch, editor, Beach Lane Books; Mary E. Pearson, author.

Getting Back in the Swing Post-Conference

After a whole week in Los Angeles which included four days of blogging, three parties, two presentations with Greg Pincus, a little too much wine, far too many french fries, my first board meeting, and very little sleep, I took last Thursday and Friday to nap, unpack, do laundry, nap, hang with my kid, nap, shake off the jet lag, catch up on my TV shows, nap, readjust to eastern standard time, and nap.

I also managed to squeeze in some time (between naps) to read the post-conference buzz (which is still buzzing) on Twitter, Facebook, blogs, and the media. Because, to be quite honest, it's hard when the conference is over. It zips by so quickly--then, all of a sudden, I'm home. And I miss the energy. I miss my old friends. I miss my new friends. I miss the Century Plaza and it's sultry-voiced elevator ("Lllobby"). And I miss TEAM BLOG.

Speaking of, if you haven't been there, I urge you to check out the AMAZING conference blog. There are a hundred-plus posts covering keynotes, breakouts, premium workshops, and social events as well a as a ton of photos and video. Kudos again to the terrific TEAM for their pre- and live conference coverage: Jaime Temairik, Jolie Stekly, Lee Wind, Martha Brokenbrough, Sara Stern and Suzanne Young.

If you haven't seen the Publishers Weekly coverage yet, click here for PW's conference overview and here for their piece on Rubin Pfeffer's keynote on content.

Wednesday I'll be offering an all-post-conference Tweet Roundup including favorite quotes, interesting observations, links to various conference reports, and more. If you can't wait two days to peek at the ever-growing conference conversation, search for #LA10SCBWI to check it out.

If, like me, you have a touch of pre-conference funk, read about it, relive it, scroll through your photos, go over your notes, e-mail new contacts, create an inner buzz--then get to work. Apply what you learned. Try something new. Revisit your WIP with fresh perspective. 

And remember...the SCBWI Annual Winter Conference is not that far off.

Wednesday Tweet Roundup: Pre-Conference All #LA10SCBWI Edition

I leave tomorrow for the SCBWI Annual Summer Conference so I've been busy planning outfits, looking over presentations, printing out boarding passes, making lists, filling in my calendar...

I'm. So. Excited!

Before I head off, I give you a mini tweet roundup featuring only tweets using the official Annual Summer Conference hashtag:

#LA10SCBWI

Visit Twitter and search under #LA10SCBWI to experience the buzz from conference goers as well as SCBWI TEAM BLOG (because when we're not blogging we'll be tweeting). If you can't attend, you'll feel almost like you're there and if you are attending you'll feel like you didn't miss a thing (because, really, there's so much happening and you simply can't go to everything).

TWEETUP TWEET

@leewind Add to your #LA10SCBWI plans: #SCBWI Summer Conference Tweet Up Sunday 5:30pm Hotel Lobby

YOU SHOULD HAVE SOME TOO TWEET

@combsmaggie New blog post about my goals for #LA10SCBWI http://bit.ly/9Jsq1E

PACKING IS HARD TWEETS

@alicepope Will someone come over and help me pick outfits for the #LA10SCBWI conference? I need help packing. And I need to go shopping.

@cuppajolie @jaimetem THANKS FOR REMINDING ME THAT I HAVE NO POOLSIDE OUTFIT PLANNED! #LA10SCBWI I need some hearts.

@DHeiligman What's the dress code for #LA10SCBWI writing is easier than packing.

@gracetopia why YOU need to bring your spatula to SCBWI: http://bit.ly/depy19 #LA10SCBWI/depy19 

GETTING EXCITED TWEETS

@amysundberg Excited for #LA10SCBWI - this will be my first LA conference, but the one in NYC was a blast!

@HeatherTrese @_JessicaLove Wootwoot! I really can't even describe my excitement. #bestweekever #LA10SCBWI

DON'T FORGET THE CONFERENCE BLOG TWEET

@inkyelbows Whether or not you're attending #LA10SCBWI, kidlit/YA authors will learn from @scbwi's pre-con blog: http://bit.ly/qY62g

Thanks for the reminder Debbie. Now to make a nice big link :  

     scbwiconference.blogspot.com  

For those of you who will be tweeting from the conference, here are the Twitter handles of all the SCBWI Annual Summer Conference faculty (the ones who have then and use them, in no particular order) courtesy of TEAM BLOGGer Jaime Temairik:

@gregpincus
@alicepope
@michaelbourret
@jillsalexander
@rachelvailbooks
@guysread (Jon Scieszka)
@carolynmackler
@lorenlong
@dheiligman
@christinaDG (Christina Gonzalez)
@susanuhlig (Sue Ford)
@tinancoury
@ginger_clark
@jen_cerv
@priscilla_design (Priscilla Burris)
@francescosedita
@michaelreisman
@epartridge
@mstewartscience
@alexisinca (Alexis O'Neill)
@ggmccall

Someone's Filling My Shoes: An Interview with the New CWIM Editor Chuck Sambuchino

As you are probably aware, before I started up this SCBWI blog, I spent a number of years working on Market Books for Writer's Digest, with my foremost responsibility (and greatest joy) being the editing of CHILDREN'S WRITER'S & ILLUSTRATOR'S MARKET. I worked on the book for 18 years. I raised it from a baby. And I let it go.

CWIM has now landed in the capable hands of Chuck Sambuchino, who's got a few years at WD under his belt, first working on WRITER'S DIGEST magazine, then going onto edit GUIDE TO LITERARY agents and maintaining a popular and terrific blog covering all things agent. Chuck is also a humor book writer, with his book, HOW TO SURVIVE A GARDEN GNOME ATTACK to be released in September 2010 from Ten Speed Press/Crown. His first book was writing-related: the third edition of FORMATTING & SUBMITTING YOUR MANUSCRIPT. He's a produced playwright and a writer for both national and regional magazines with more than 600 articles have in print. He's represented by Sorche Fairbank of Fairbank Literary Representation.

In addition, Chuck is a husband, cover band guitarist, chocolate chip cookie fiend, and owner of a flabby-yet-lovable dog named Graham. He's also a good pal of mine. (I wouldn't trust my baby with just anyone.) We recently chatted about CWIM.

The former editor of CWIM worked on the book for nearly two decades and I hear she was pretty awesome and everyone liked her. How do you plan to fill her stylish shoes?

She does have stylish shoes. Well, from working on my blog and book, I’ve met a lot of kids agents and authors, and I will have to dip into all my contacts to make sure I’ve got my finger on the pulse of kids writing. CWIM has always sold well because it’s a great resource, so I have no intentions of any radical overhauls. The plan is just to produce good articles and give people the best markets possible.

I know that you have been bitten by the writing for young readers bug, right?

My personal writing at this point has been a lot of nonfiction and some fiction scripts (stage plays, screenplays). But I would love, love, love to write kids stuff--MG and YA--as I go along. I’ve already conspired with some co-writers on projects, and it just becomes a matter of carving out time to write and polish work.

Any favorites books for young readers you've read recently?

I’m reading THE DUFF right now (like everyone else, it seems). Besides that, I’ve been reading a lot of adult narrative nonfiction. I kind of go in waves.

Are you open to queries for the 2012 CWIM?

I am open to queries for CWIM, but I warn you that I will not review them for 4-10 weeks, depending. But people are free to submit article ideas to me. Send them to chuck.sambuchino(at)fwmedia(dot)com with “Query” in the title. I urge people to query about helpful and unusual topics. I also accept pitches for my other book, GUIDE TO LITERARY AGENTS, though I buy fewer articles for that title. Besides that, if you’ve written a book and are looking for ways to promote your work, consider a guest column of any kind for my GLA blog: www.guidetoliteraryagents.com/blog.

Are you looking for debut authors?

I assume you mean the recurring “First Books” feature that runs in CWIM and I would say I currently have no plans to change/overhaul that feature--so that’s a yes. People should send me material about their debuts. I also feature debut writers for the “Breaking In” section of WRITER'S DIGEST, so there are multiple options--though be advised I get a LOT of publicists banging down my door to get their people in.

You've got a great blog for GLA. Why should children's writer's read your blog?

Simple--I interview kids agents all the time and also let people know when new kid agents pop up. I delve deeper into what agents want. If an agent wants “YA,” I try to find out what kind of YA they really want to receive (e.g., “no vampires, but more contemporary stuff”). Also, lots of published kids writers do guest columns for me and share their wisdom in the process.

Are the new 2011 market books out yet?

Almost! The 2011 GUIDE TO LITERARY AGENTS and the 2011 CHILDREN'S WRTIER'S & ILLUSTRATOR'S MARKET both land in the first 10 days of August. You can find them at any major bookstore, or online at our shop (which offers the same discounts as Amazon). The new GLA is packed with new agencies and is as awesome as awesome can be. I assume the 2011 CWIM rocks, too, but you can speak to that better than me. [Alice says: It does]

Will you be at any upcoming conferences where writers can meet and pitch you?

I just spoke the Northern Ohio SCBWI (maybe you were there and we met!). Other than that, I’ll be at the following in 2010: Clarksville Writers Conference in Clarksville, TN (July 30-31); Wrangling With Writing in Tucson, AZ (Sept. 24-26); Surrey International Writers Conference in Surrey, BC, Canada (Oct. 22-24); Vegas Valley Book Fair in Las Vegas, NV (Nov. 6); and San Francisco Writing for Change in San Francisco, CA (Nov. 12-13).

Featured Blog: Rose Cooper Talks About From the Mixed Up Files...of Middle Grade Authors

There seem to be a ton of blogs out there run by groups of young adult authors, but not much in the way of blogs which focus on the wonderful world of middle grade. In early June that all changed with the inception of FROM THE MIXED-UP FILES...OF MIDDLE-GRADE AUTHORS.

MIXED UP FILES "is the group blog of middle-grade authors celebrating books for middle-grade readers. For anyone with a passion for children’s literature--teachers, librarians, parents, kids, writers, industry professionals."

Debut author Rose Cooper is one of the 30 plus voices behind the blog. Here she talks about their philosophy, keeping things organized, what they post, why she signed on, and why she writes for the MG crowd. 

How did MIXED UP FILES come about? How did all these middle-grade authors get together? Why a blog focusing on MG?

Elissa Cruz is the brilliant brain behind MIXED UP FILES. She told me that, as a blogger and MG author, she felt alienated in a world of YA and she longed for a group of like-minded bloggers. It took her nearly a year of thinking about it before taking the plunge and hoping for the best.

Elissa put a call out on her blog and started a thread on Verla Kay's message boards asking for a few who might want to join her. Only expecting a few responses, she had more than 30 people wanting sign on in less than a week. Elissa is not one to shy away from a challenge so she took all offers and thought bigger. It was at that point she realized "something magical was happening."

What's the mission for the blog? What kind of audience are you hoping to reach?

Our mission is to come together as group blog of middle-grade authors celebrating books for middle-grade readers. We offer regularly updated book lists organized by unique categories, author interviews, market news, and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of a children's book from writing to publishing to promoting. Our audience is for anyone with a passion for children’s literature--teachers, librarians, parents, kids, writers, industry professionals.

How/why did you personally get involved?

A friend from my online critique group, Mindy Weiss, gave me a heads up on what Elissa was planning. She thought I would be a good fit for this new blog since I since I just recently had an MG book deal. I absolutely loved the idea once I heard about it and I wanted to get involved because I felt the same--that not everyone realizes what MG is all about and we need a larger online presence.

There are a lot of you participating in the blog. Is anyone "in charge?" How do you keep things organized?

While Elissa is the backbone, Wendy Martin is in charge of the technical aspects of the site. As far as content goes, it really is a group effort. Each member is in charge of a section of the site as well as their individual posts, so it always runs smoothly. To keep organized we have the forums which help with communication and a calendar that allows us to keep tabs on the rotating topics.

The blog has only been up-and-running for less than two month and you've had posts featuring interviews, new releases, giveaways, even defining the MG reader. What else is in store?

If check out our very first post you can see what our plans include. And it’s a pretty long list! We definitely have something for everyone and you can always count on more contests and giveaways! Currently we are working on a For Kids Page, where the website mascot will be hanging out. In the fall there’s a plan for a special MG giveaway to one lucky school or library. We are always thinking up something bigger, better, or more interesting to share with our readers. We love hearing what readers want to know, so we always take their comments into consideration.

What draws you to writing for the MG audience? Tell me about your upcoming books.

MG is the age I can really relate to, as I remember those in-between years and how difficult and awkward they can be. As you try finding your place in the world, it seems like there's always conflict, drama, and unavoidable situations and I like to draw humor from those. The voice just clicks for me and I’m drawn to it in a way that’s hard to explain.

My debut humor middle-grade series, GOSSIP FROM THE GIRLS' ROOM, A BLOGTASTIC! NOVEL  will be released January 11, 2011 and RUMORS FROM TEH BOYS ROOM, A BLOGTASTIC! NOVEL will be released spring 2012 by Random House. I am lucky enough to be both author and illustrator of these books. You can visit my website for more info on my books at www.Rose-Cooper.com.

Can you offer some advice for those writing for the MG audience working toward publication?

Remember who your readers are--you don’t want to sound like an adult writing for tweens. Tap into your inner child and remember what it's like to be in their shoes. The words shouldn't sounds forced or fake. It's also a good idea to spend time around that age group to get an idea of the latest trends and slang.

Lastly, don't give up. It can be a difficult and often frustrating road to publication, but the end is so rewarding. It took me six years of rejections, revisions and pity parties, but you need to remember to believe in yourself and your writing. Without that, you can't have success.