STATUS: Lately I’ve been mulling quite a few blog topics and I must say I’m itching to do a series of entries on something. What I haven’t determined quite yet.
What’s playing on the iPod right now? SULTANS OF SWING by Dire Straits
And I’m going to recommend that you add a few more because the 2008 National Book Award nominees were announced this past week.
In Young People’s Literature:
Laurie Halse Anderson for Chains (S&S)
Kathi Appelt for The Underneath (Atheneum)
Judy Blundell for What I Saw and How I Lied (Scholastic)
E. Lockhart for The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks (Hyperion)
Tim Tharp for The Spectacular Now (Knopf)
In Fiction:
Aleksandar Hemon, The Lazarus Project (Riverhead)
Rachel Kushner, Telex from Cuba (Scribner)
Peter Matthiessen, Shadow Country (Modern Library)
Marilynne Robinson, Home (Farrar, Straus & Giroux)
Salvatore Scibona, The End (Graywolf Press)
Thanks for the link. In the YA category there were like 274 (?) books eligible. I wonder what the process is for the judges — who are all YA writers — and how much time it takes? I can’t imagine a working, published YA writer having time to read 274 books while still, presumably, being able to work on their own.
I’m always for anything that boosts YA readership, so I’m excited for all these nominees, BUT, sometimes I question even well-known and established awards like this — if they really are an indicator of a “best book?”
Hi Kristin,
Love your blog. Here’s my suggestion for a series: Editing/Revising a writer should do before sending out a manuscript.
I’m sure whatever topic you pick will be presented in your usual thorough manner. Looking forward to the series!
Hey Kristen,
Your blog topics are always interesting. I’d love to hear your take on women’s fiction these days. Seems various agents have differing opinions on this topic. Many think it isn’t selling well; others say they long for the next Jodi Picoult who obviously is selling well! Thx!
*Sigh*…one day I hope to see my book on that list.
cute and witty blog
What?! Are you taking suggestions for your series?!
How about “Cover to Cover: What Goes Into Getting Your Book Published.”
It could start with basics like the things you want to see in plot, characterization, setting etc., move onto writer editing—how perfect does your book need to be before you send out your queries/pitch at a conference, to ways to figure out which agents you should query, to agent contracts, to the selling process.
You could get as in-depth as you like on each topic.
Wait. I think I’m becoming my mother-in-law. Except instead of (oh so subtly) suggesting how to run your life, I’m just trying to control your blog!
Can’t wait to see what you come up with!
Hi Kristen,
I know you don’t always answer these comments to your blog, but I have a question.
What are the relative benefits and drawbacks of small publishers versus large houses?
Maybe you’ve covered this before but I can’t find it.
Thanks,
Paul
I read CITY OF EMBER after reading about it here and enjoyed it and will be reviewing it on my Young Adult Science Fiction blog.
Do any of these even remotely fall into the YA SciFi category? I’m always on the look-out these days.
😉