Archive for March 2008
Interview: Jennifer E. Smith
Posted on: March 28, 2008
I’m very happy to say that I have an interview with Jennifer E. Smith, who wrote The Comeback Season, which was recently released. I absolutely adored it and if you haven’t already, you should check out my review. Enjoy!
So what does it feel like to be a published Young Adult author?
It’s very exciting. I’ve wanted this for as long as I can remember, so it’s a lot of fun now that it’s finally happened. I actually work in publishing, so I see people go through this process all the time, and to many authors – particularly the ones who have written a lot of books – this whole process becomes sort of routine. I can understand that, of course, but from where I’m sitting now, I can’t imagine ever not wanting to jump for joy when you see a finished copy of your own book!
When did you first know you wanted to be an author? When did you first begin writing?
I won a short story contest in fourth grade, and I feel like that’s when the idea was first put into my head. In seventh and eighth grade, I wrote my first “book” – a 200 page story about a girl and a racehorse that I’m sure I thought was brilliant at the time. In high school, I had a couple of very encouraging teachers, and I continued writing through college, but even though I always secretly hoped to be a published author, I don’t think I ever really believed it would actually happen. It seemed to me a lot like winning the lottery. (It still does, in fact!)
What was your road to publication like?
It was easy in some ways, and very difficult in others. I wrote lots of stuff before this that will probably never see the light of day, and I experienced my fair share of rejection, which I actually think is a very important part of the process. So overall, I wouldn’t say it’s been completely smooth sailing. But with this book, something just clicked. My editor bought it after reading the first sixty pages, and the whole thing only took about six months to write. It sounds corny, but I really believe that if you just keep at it, things work themselves out in the end.
How did you come up with the idea for The Comeback Season?
It really came to me in pieces. I guess I got the initial inspiration one night while watching the Cubs lose for what felt like the millionth time. I was flipping back and forth between the game and the movie “Fever Pitch”, which was on another channel, and I got to thinking about how Cubs fans have an equally interesting (albeit depressing) history, and how they deserve to have their story told too, and then the image of Ryan sitting on the train on her way down to the ballpark just sort of popped into my head. I didn’t know what would happen at the game, or that she’d meet Nick, or anything else that followed. But I somehow knew her whole history, and so I just sort of went along for the ride with her, and figured out the rest from there.
How is the published copy different from the first draft you wrote?
It actually didn’t change as much as I thought it would. There are entire scenes that are hardly different from when I first sat down to write them. The biggest difference is the ending – I won’t say too much, because I don’t want to give it away, but I flip-flopped a lot on how Nick’s story would come out in the end, and I wrote three different endings before deciding on this one.
Who is your favorite character in The Comeback Season? Which one are you most like?
I think the answer to both those questions would be Ryan. We’re not completely alike – she’s had a much more difficult time of things than I ever did – but her personality is a lot like mine was at that age. She’s a little bit shy, somewhat hesitant, and very introspective. She’s probably too impatient for her own good, especially with her family, and she’s not the least bit interested in facts, but she’s got a lot of heart and is basically a good egg. I had a lot of fun writing her.
For those of us who know nothing about the Cubs (me included), is everything included in your book about how they never won the World Series and the goat story, along with the other stuff, true?
Yes, all true! It’s hard to believe, I know. This year will be the 100th season since they last won a World Series. And though some people would argue that the curse doesn’t actually exist, the goat most certainly did, and I sort of feel like he’s been mocking us ever since!
What are some of your favorite authors?
I actually don’t read as many YA books as I’d like to, mostly because I spend a lot of time reading and editing other types of books for work. I do love John Green and Meg Rosoff, and also some of the more classic books by authors like Katherine Patterson and Wilson Rawlings. And I absolutely adore J.K. Rowling. I mean, who doesn’t?
What can your fans look forward to from you in the future?
I’m working on another YA book called You Are Here, about a boy and a girl who come from different backgrounds and seem like complete opposites, but who get thrown together on a sort of haphazard road trip, and find out they’re a lot more similar than they thought. It’ll be out in Summer 2009.
Do you have any advice for your teen fans?
Read a lot. Then write a lot. Then read some more. It might sound really obvious, but you’d be amazed how much you can learn about writing by reading books you admire. And then the only way to figure out whether you can write one yourself is by sitting down and actually attempting to do it!
Thanks so much!
Promoting Your Book on My Blog
Posted on: March 26, 2008
As a teen book reviewer, I feel that it’s my job to come up with ways to promote the books I read, especially for the ones I recieve directly from the authors. From now on, I will be posting each review I write on Amazon, my myspace page, and Barnes and Nobles. I will also be starting a newsletter that will be sent out monthly where I will write about books (and authors) that I feel need to be talked about. Along with these, I’ve come up with others ways to promote your book. If you’re interested in any of these, please shoot me an email or a message and I’ll give you the information you need.
Reviews
If you’d like me to review your book and post it on my blog, along with the other places discussed, I’d be happy to send you my address. Please note that I read TEEN books ONLY. (Though if it’s an adult book that will appeal to teens, I’m willing to try it.) I can’t give you a date as to when I’ll have the book reviewed, as I’ll probably have other books too, but I do try to read and review it within a month.
Interview
If I’ve read you’re book, I’m always willing to do an interview. Interviews are posted on my blog and myspace and mentioned in other places as well. I’ve found that readers (definitely me) are more likely to buy a book after they’ve read an interview with the author and learned more about them.
Chat on my Forum
I have a forum for teen reviewers to get together and hang out. I want to start hosting monthly chats with authors. This not only gets reviewers even more excited about the book, it helps us get to know the authors better, which might even make us want to recommend the book even more than normal.
Book Giveaway
EVERYONE loves to win stuff, and books are no exception to that. Quite a few people enter book giveways (probably more than you imagine) and they’re a great way to promote. If you’d like to give away a copy (or two or five) of your book, please let me know. I’ll take care of the contest and pick the winner. Then, I’ll give you the address of the winner and you can send the book out.
Author of the Month
This is by far the most popular feature on my blog. Each month, a different author is featured on my blog. Since so many authors love this idea, I try to make the AOM one whose book is coming out that month. If you’d like to be AOM when one of your books comes out, please let me know. I already have a few months booked, so it’s best to reserve your spot ASAP. When you’re AOM, we’ll discuss doing a bunch of different things, but an interview, review, and giveaway are the most common.
Any of this sound good? If you’re interested in any of it, whether you’re a published YA/MG author or a soon-to-be published author, feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, or suggestions.
Can’t wait to hear from you,
Harmony
Resolutions Book Challenge
Posted on: March 24, 2008
I have a habit of making New Year’s Resolutions and breaking them at this time of year. This year I’m going try to keep as many of them as possible. Since I’ve been participating in a bunch of book challenges this year and I’m actually keeping up with most of them, I’ve decided that the best way to keep my New Year’s Resolutions was to start a book challenge.
So here’s the deal: Pick one, two, three, or how every many New Year’s Resolutions you want and read at LEAST ONE book on each of them and it between March 24 and December 31st 2008. For example, the resolutions I made were to expand my music knowledge and taste, keep up with scrapbooking and cardmaking, and to care about my looks and keep my body healthy. So I could read a biography on a band, a book on scrapbooking ideas, and a book with tips and recipes for natural hair products, etc.
It doesn’t matter what your resolution is as long as you can read a book – fiction or nonfiction – to help keep the resolution, feel free to join me. All you have to do is leave a comment on the Challenge Page to let me know you’re joining me and try to leave a comment whenever you post a review for a book that you’re using as part of this challenge.
Any questions? Let me know
When Ryan Walsh skips school on the day of the opening Cubs game, she’s not worried about her lack of friends, her horrible math grade, or that it’s been five years since she was last happy. All she can think about is that she’s finally returning to the place where she and her father spent so many afternoons cheering for their favorite team and that it’s the fifth anniversay of his death.
Good luck is hard to come by at Wrigley Field but it’s on there that she first meets Nick, whom she’s seen around school but never really had the chance to talk to. It seems that Nick loves the Cubs almost as much as she does and they instantly connect, though Ryan has a hard time believing it. But everything isn’t perfect for them. When Nick disappears for the summer, Ryan finds out that he’s been keeping a secret and she begins to wonder if they can ever really be together.
The Comeback Season is a gripping, raw, and heartbreaking novel about first love, baseball, and friendship. Ryan is a character that I believe most girls can relate to and Nick is the boy all girls want to meet. Even though I know absolutely nothing about baseball and don’t really care about, I found The Comeback Season hard to put down once I began reading it. Though there’s a bunch of baseball references in it, The Comeback Season is more of a story about first love, loss, and friendship and I would recommend it to anyone, whether they’re a baseball fan or not. Just as the blurb on the back says, The Comeback Season will make you cry, laugh, and cry again.
First love is the greatest thing in the world. Until it ends. When it does, you wonder if you’ll ever make it. Or maybe you decide that guys are jerks and you pretend that it doesn’t bother you. The truth is that breaking up sucks, especially the first time. No one likes to grow through it, but everyone loves reading about it.
Defying the Diva by D. Anne Love
Posted on: March 22, 2008
Fourteen year old Haley Patterson uses her freshman year as an opportunity to make a name for herself on the school newspaper and spend time with her friends. But when she accidentally gets Camilla Quinn, the popular girl and Queen Bee of the school, in trouble by leaking a little bit too much information on Camilla’s latest party in her gossip column, Haley finds herself friendless and the target of Camilla’s bullying.
Her only escape comes when she is forced to spend the summer with her Aunt Bitsy and work at an exclusive resort. Though she faces problems at first, Haley soon finds herself making new friends and dating the super-hot lifeguard that all the girls have a crush on. But, of course, good things don’t last and Haley soon finds herself heart-broken and humiliated. Then, just as she’s starting to see the light, Camilla shows up and Haley has to decide whether or not to let Camilla continue to destroy her happiness.
Defying the Diva is a fast-paced, heartbreaking, and truthful novel about what happens to the targets of bullying. Each of the characters, from Harrison, the quiet song writer, to Frankie, the overweight but cheerful girl, is well developed and easy to relate to. While I’ve never gone through anything quiet as horrible, Haley’s story definitely hit home with me and I could not put it down once I started it. Whether you’ve been the target for teasing, had your best friend turn on you, or been cheated on by a guy, I highly recommend buying Defying the Diva the minute you see it.
Easter Book Giveaway
Posted on: March 20, 2008
Easter’s in like three days, I’ve got a pile of books I don’t want, and I’m feeling generous. What does that mean? My first official book giveaway! I’ve got an assortment of books to giveaway, ranging from middle grade to young adult, along with some Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul books and non-fiction horse books. When I pick the winners, I will send them the official list of the books I have and they will each be able to choose one book.
How do you enter? Simply send an email to harmonybookreviews@yahoo.com and include your name AND the recommendations of some books and/or music. It doesn’t matter how many recommendations you include, though I would appreciate some long ones. You may only send me one email. HOWEVER, if you post a link to this on your blog or myspace and leave the link to it in a comment here, you will get two additional entries in the contest. On April 1st, I will choose 5-10 winners (depending on how many enter). So be sure to email me your suggestions and spread the word!
Six Things
Posted on: March 18, 2008
I’ve been tagged by Jocelyn
The Rules For The Meme:
1. You link back to the person who tagged you.
2. Post these rules on your blog.
3. Share six unimportant things about yourself.
4. Tag six random people at the end of your entry.
5. Let the tagged people know by leaving a comment on their blogs.
My six unimportant facts:
1. I’m addicted to Harry Potter. I was bitten by the “Potter Bug” when the fifth book was released but I was still young. Then, this summer I was bitten again and it was crazy. I went to get the book at midnight and pulled off a 30+ hour day because my mom made me help her the next day.
2. My two best friends and I are called “The Trio” because we’re ALWAYS together and most teachers and our parents know we love Harry Potter.
3. I think boys are absolutely stupid. I still love them, of course but they just are. But I also think they’re terrified of girls (or atleast when they’re my age) and I’ve had a few certain older boys tell me so.
4. I love Disney Channel. I know it’s “uncool” and all that but come on, High School Musical rocks. And they’ve got that Camp Rock movie or whatever coming out this summer… Plus, Hannah Montanna and The Suite Life and stuff are my guilty pleasures. I love most of the “Disney Singers” too.
5. One Tree Hill is the ONLY show I watch regularly. Actually, I have to skip some weeks because my dad has this thing about me not watching T.V. after 9:30 but when he’s not home/sleeping mom let’s me stay up. Lucas and Peyton SO have to get back together. They HAVE to!
6. I love talking and I NEVER shut up. I will argue and debate until my face turns red. I love talking about boys (there’s this senior at my school that has a fan club and omg! he’s SO freaking nice!) and I will go on for hours about my favorite things (horses, Harry Potter, books, writing, MUSIC, etc).
I have no clue who to tag because it seems like everyone else has done it. So if you haven’t feel free to say I tagged you or something. Actually, I’m gonna list a 7th thing instead 😛
7. I’m a music freak. I play French horn and percussion but I listen to music CONSTANTLY. I will reports on bands and defend them and everything. I love Top 40 but I love, love, love more unknown-ish stuff. My newest obsessions are We the Kings, The Spill Canvas, and Vampire Weekend. I love Carrie Underwood and Linkin Park and RJA and Papa Roach and loads more too. It’s my 2nd fave thing ever after books!
Harmony Book Reviews 