Si, Se Puede--Yes, you can!

Literary agent and author Regina Brooks tells you everything you need to know about writing and publishing the next big YA best-seller in her new edition of WRITING GREAT BOOKS FOR YOUNG ADULTS  which covers everything from choosing a topic to finding the right agent.   To celebrate WRITING GREAT BOOKS FOR YOUNG ADULT’s October release, Sourcebooks is sharing a spotlight excerpt from the book: “Five Rules for Engaging Readers of Young Adult Fiction,” and giving away a copy of WRITING GREAT BOOKS FOR YOUNG ADULTS  (US and Canada only) any day in October. Just comment here and RT on FB and Twitter for a chance of winning a copy! Writing Great Books for Young Adults October 7, 2014 By Regina L. Brooks ISBN: 9781402293528 ● Trade Paperback/$14.99 Five Rules for Engaging Readers of Young Adult Fiction Before you even start putting pen to paper (or finger to keyboard), there are some issues that need to be addressed. A lot of writers ou...

1. Had so much fun at #kidlitcon!  If you didn't read my last post, I had a blast and it was so fun to finally meet bloggers, publishers(Chronicle books you rock), and the Cybils head people in person! Love this photo with me and Sheila Ruth, who is over the Cybils YA Speculative panel. And do check out blogger Blanca Welsh and her blog sitehttp://twinjabookreviews.blogspot.com Blanca and her sister Libertad were so energetic and enthusiast.  Loved so much! 2. LOVED the iced tea Chai and mochas at Temple Coffee House in downtown Sacramento: 3. And the foyer of the Citizen's Hotel on J street had me picturing Stephanie's next haunting: **Got to hear #Weneeddiversebooks panel and received on of their pins which is on my handbag! 4. Yes, I did read too! Picked this galley up at Kidlitcon.  Stayed up till 3am reading this tale of a boy that goes to hell and then 'takes' this one...

Today is the last day to nominate books for the Cybils! Here's some more books that have slipped under the radar: Love Metcalf's writing and this one is no exception! I usually don't nominate sequel books but this one is a must read: Bewitching tale of Ink and Joy!  Loved! 2. REBEL BELLE is totally fun! YA Books Central: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yafiction/16784-rebel-belle Teaser:  A great new series from Rachel Hawkins sure to appeal to Buffy fans. Humorous with a bit of Southern charm this story will worm it's way into your heart. Great romance and coming of age story with a touch of magic. I want more!!!! 3. THE FALL YABC review:  http://www.yabookscentral.com/yafiction/17226-the-fall Teaser:  Fast-paced action had me turning the pages, not wanting to stop until I found out the fate of Madeline and her twin. There's hints of other grisly things that go on inside the Usher house. Madness is shown through...

1.First off, it was kind of surreal to be back at my old work place, some thirty years later! I used to work at Weinstocks in 1984 on K street. My YA paranormal CROSSED OUT takes place in Sacramento too! It felt so surreal to be back 'home'. Everything has changed with the city tearing up Downtown Plaza to make room for the King's stadium. Almost everyone, including the very friendly Super Shuttle dude, told me they worry about what impact the stadium will bring with parking and just driving. Some things didn't change: The amazing trees! 2. Found this awesome Temple coffee house right around the corner from Citizen's Hotel: Loved their iced tea Chai and iced mocha drinks! 3. Yes, here's my blog saying! I took it from Cesar Chavez's famous quote. Chavez has special meaning to me as my bisabuela's--great-grandmother's-- family were migrant workers. 4. I met tons ...

I'm loving the list of books being nominated for the Cybils. There's some great finds but I also noticed a few books are missing from the list. So I thought I'd add my own list of some amazing YA Speculative books that have been missed so far! 1. THESE BROKEN STARS : I listened to the audio version and totally LOVED this Sci-fi novel. It's creepy and amazing! 2. ALIENATED You all know I'm a huge fan of Roswell The TV series. For those who also love a great alien love story, this is the one! 3. UNINVITED I'm surprised this one hasn't made the list yet. My YA Books Central review: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yafiction/15644-uninvited-uninvited-1 Teaser: Chilling and haunting, this story had me reflecting on recent shootings gripping our nation. I actually was able to go to a prison during one of my social work grad classes and witnessed first hand some so-called sociopaths and was able to read their background stories. Specialists wer...

I'm really excited to be able to host YA author Ally Condie on her ATLANTIA Blog tour! Short Q&A from Ally Condie: 1) What influenced you to write about a world under the sea? Even though ATLANTIA isn’t a book about mermaids (it’s about humans living in a city they built underwater in order to avoid pollution), I got the initial idea from re-reading Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid. (The original story is VERY different from the Disney version—much darker.) In that story, the separation between the land and the ocean is so stark and unreachable, and yet the little mermaid longs to live somewhere other than where she is. I found that yearning so poignant, and I used that as the basis for Rio. She was born in Atlantia, underwater, and yet she knows and feels that she needs to be somewhere else. 2) Love the idea of the world above and the world below. If you had a choice, what would you choose and why? I’d pick the Above, even though in the story it’s been ...

1. Been getting ready for my part of #kidlitcon next WEEK. Holy cow, next week!!!!! 2. Part of my presentation is on finding books with diversity and how to get them into the hands of bloggers. Finding some great sources out there. Do any of you know of sites that do giveaways with YAs that have diversity like latin@, African-American, GLTB, Asian, and others? Please share!!!! 3. Also excited to be a part of Ally Condie's upcoming ATLANTIA blog tour! Check back on Tuesday for Ally's Q&A part of her tour! Oh, I'm team Above! Read the first couple chapters and really enjoying this twist on a dystopian world. 4. You all know how much I heart Audrey Hepburn. Well, I finally finished BEING AUDREY HEPBURN: This humorous tale is filled with a protagonist who, after wearing the very dress Audrey Hepburn worn in Breakfast at Tiffanys, is caught up in her own version of Charades by taking on the Holly Golightly persona while mingling with celebs and the rich...

I'm excited to be a part of the Fire in the Woods Blog Tour: Here's a little bit about the book: ABOUT FIRE IN THE WOODS: Title: Fire in the Woods Publication date: September 2014 Publisher: Month9Books, LLC. Author: Jennifer M. Eaton When a plane crashes in the woods near Jess’s home, the boy of her dreams falls out of the sky—literally. But David’s not here to find a girlfriend. He’s from another planet, and if Jess can’t help him get back to his ship, he’ll be stuck on Earth with nothing to look forward to but the pointy end of a dissection scalpel. But her father runs their house like an army barracks, and with an alien on the loose, Major Dad isn’t too keen on the idea of Jess going anywhere. Ever. So how the heck is she supposed to help the sweetest, strangest, and cutest guy she’s ever met? Hiding him in her room probably isn’t the best idea. Especially since her Dad is in charge of the squadron searching for David. That doesn’t mean she won’t do it. ...

1. My big news this week is I'm going to be a part of the Cybils this year!!!!  I'm on the first panel of the YA fantasy/Sci-Fi category.  My FAVORITE genre!!!!! Sheila Ruth Wands and Worlds @sheilaruth Karen Jensen Teen Librarian’s Toolbox @tlt16 Kim Baccellia Kim Baccellia @ixtumea Allie Jones In Bed With Books @wearedevilcow Kathy Burnette The Brain Lair @thebrainlair Maureen Kearney Confessions of a Bibliovore @mosylu Kimberly Francisco Stacked Books @kimberlymarief So excited!!!!! 2. Weather's been brutally hot this whole week.  Ugh.  100+ temps.  Then a freak storm blew in: It didn't hit us but blew right over.  Other places in Riverside and the desert weren't so lucky. **I'm afraid it's going to be one of those winters this year. 3. Watched the first episode of FOX's new TV series RED BAND SOCIETY.  One thing really stood out to me: the stereotypical mean cheerleade...