What am I reading?
It's Monday and the topic for today is "what am I reading".
I'll start with the backstory. At the Princeton conference I registered for a one-on-one with the super sweet agent, Emily van Beek from Pippin Properties. She read the first fifteen pages of my WIP about a reincarnated teen. She liked my idea. We discussed a problem with the pacing. I knew it went too fast -- in my first draft I tend to write like a race horse approaching the finish line.
She was fascinated by a little nugget of information I had found regarding two victims of the holocaust. She surprised me by suggesting I write a novel on that subject and save the reincarnation bit for another book.
I couldn't stop thinking about this new idea. The characters immediately started talking to me -- I had to really try to quell their voices and keep my attention on the workshops.
Now, I am in research reading mode. This weekend I read two memoirs of people who had survived the Auschwitz camp. The first book was called Roman's Journey by Roman Halter. The second -- Because of Romek by David Faber. Both told of shocking events, but what really got to me were the photographs included in the books. Looking into the eyes of the people before the war, happy, not knowing the horrors that awaited them and their families. I wished I could have gone back in time and warned them.
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New resolution…
Okay, I know it's not New Year's Day but, with the help of a little nudge by Jill Corcoran, I am determined to blog regularly.
My schedule:
Monday: What am I reading?
Tuesday: Writing Challenges
Wednesday: Anything Day
Thursday: Industry news
Friday: Useful Information
Looks like today is "Useful Information Day"
Recently, I attended the NJ SCBWI Conference. We were given a sheet of paper with the names of the agents and editors in attendance and the genres that peek their interests. I'll share:
Editors:
Eve Adler-PB, Rhyming books, Easy Readers/Chapter Books, Middle Grade, YA, Nonfiction, Historical fiction, Fantasy, Edgy!
Michelle Burke-PB, Easy Readers/Chapter Books, Middle Grade, YA, Non Fiction, Graphic Novels (MG only), Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Edgy
Nancy Consecu-PB, Rhyming books, Board Books, Easy Reader/Chapter Books, Middle Grade, YA, Non fiction (very selective), Historical fiction, Fantasy, Edgy
Margery Cuyler-PB, Rhyming books, Board Books, Easy Reader/Chapter Books, Middle Grade, YA, Non Fiction, Graphic Novels, Historical fiction, Fantasy, Edgy
Kristin Daly-PB, Rhyming books, Board, Books, Easy Reader/Chapter Books (selectively), Middle Grade, YA, Non Fiction, Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Edgy
T.S. Ferguson-Middle Grade, YA, Graphic Novels (selectively), Fantasy, Edgy
Regina Griffin-Middle Grade, YA, Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction,Fantasy, Edgy
Lauri Hornik-PB, Rhyming Books, Easy Reader/Chapter Books, Middle Grade, YA, Non Fiction, Historical fiction, Edgy
Emily Lawrence-PB, Easy Reader/Chapter Books, Middle Grade, Graphic Novels, Historical fiction, Fantasy
Steve Meltzer-PB, Middle Grade, YA, Non Fiction (only PB), Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Edgy
Catherine Onder-PB, Rhyming Books, Easy Reader/Chapter Books, Middle Grade, YA, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Edgy
Michelle Poploff-Middle Grade, YA, Graphic Novels, Historical fiction, Fantasy, Edgy
Tamara Tuller-PB, Middle Grade, YA, Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction, Edgy
Caroline Yoder-PB, Middle Grade, YA, Non Fiction, Historical Fiction
Lisa Yoskowitz-PB, Rhyming Books (selectively), Middle Grade, YA, Non Fiction (selectively), Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Edgy
Agents:
Jill Corcoran-Easy Reader/Chapter Books, Middle Grade, YA, Non Fiction, Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction (very selectively), Fantasy, Edgy
Jenni Ferrari-Adler-Middle Grade, YA, Non Fiction, Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Edgy
Rachel Orr-PB (selectively), Rhyming Books, (Selectively), Board Books (selectively), Easy Reader/Chapter Books (selectively, Middle Grade, YA, Non Fiction, Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction (selectively), Fantasy, Edgy
Scott Treimel-PB, Rhyming Books, Board Books, Easy Reader/Chapter Books, Middle grade, YA, Non Fiction, Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Edgy
Emily van Beek-PB, Rhyming Books, Board Books (Rarely), Easy Reader/Chapter Books (very selectively), Middle Grade, YA, Non Fiction, Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Edgy
Marietta Zacker-PB, Rhyming Books, Board Books, Easy reader/Chapter Books, Middle Grade, YA, Non Fiction, Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Edgy
Hope the info is helpful!
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It’s May!
April is over. A bittersweet month. My birthday is in April--good. The slight from a friend ( or who I thought was a friend) in a past April, still makes me sad. But, the month is over so bring on May and all that it may have in store.Recently, a picture book I had written years ago, resurfaced in the form of an editor asking to review a dummy of the book. I took a break from my WIP to construct it.WIP going well. I'm meeting with a wonderful agent in June to review my first fifteen pages with her, I'd like to have the rough manuscript done by that time. I must resist the urge to send it out to early.Are you good at waiting or do you rush forward prematurely? I hope I've learned my lesson.
Interesting info…
Found this site today http://www.writersdigest.com/bea It's a list of agents and what they are hoping to find. coll
Jenn Hubbard’s wonderful idea
My friend, Jenn Hubbard, had a fantastic seed of an idea that grew and grew and grew... Wanting to give back to the libraries that have enriched our lives, Jen organized a blog donation rally. Some gave a set amount of money per comment within a certain time frame and others gave a flat donation. What a wonderful idea. I dropped off my donation today and it felt really good. Thanks Jenn. Coll
