Also, as all of you are aware, I am heading to New York on Monday and since my hotel has free high-speed internet, I will blog about my journey every night with lots of pictures and commentary! It will be a fun week!
On the business end, if you live near Salt Lake City, Utah (and I know some of you do *grin*) the lovely, talented, and fabulous Shannon Hale is organizing a "Write for Charity" workshop supporting an organization that provide wheelchairs to handicapped people who can't afford them. This workshop focuses solely on children's, middle grade, and young adult writing and has a lot of awesome authors attending, including myself. (My first workshop! I'm so excited!) If this interests you, here is the official press release!
" Writing for Charity
This summer have unfettered access to professional children’s authors, all in the name of charity! Saturday, July 19 several local authors will host a Writing for Charity event in Salt Lake City, with all profits going to The Wheelchair Project. Come hear writers talk about their process, how to write for a young audience, storytelling tips, and the ins and outs of the publishing business. In addition, have your picture book text or first page of your novel (the most important page!) workshopped by professionals.
When:
Saturday, July 19, 9 am to 1 pm
Where:
Salt Lake Main Library
200 East 400 South
Salt Lake City, Utah
Cost:
$45 (should be tax deductible!)
Event breakdown:
9:00 am -- Registration
9:15 - 10:15 am -- Panel discussion in the auditorium
10:30 - 11:15 -- Break out discussions in topic groups
11:30 - 1:00 -- Small group workshops
Authors include Brandon Mull, Shannon Hale, Mette Ivie Harrison, Ann Cannon, Kristyn Crow, Becky Hickox, Kimberley Heuston, Anne Bowen, Aprilynne Pike, Ann Dee Ellis, Mike Knudson, and Wendy Toliver.
Space is limited, first come first serve. To reserve your spot, mail in the $45 registration fee.
Mailing address:
1176 E 2620th N
Provo, UT 84604-4132
Make checks to:
“LDS Philanthropies” (the organization that runs The Wheelchair Project) and write “Wheelchair” in the memo line.
Also include:
Your name, age, phone number, and area of interest--picture book writing, fantasy novel, or realistic fiction novel.
On the day of the event, bring 15 copies of the first page of your novel or picture book text (maximum word count: 300 words) for some hands-on workshopping.
100% of the proceeds (after the nominal location fee) go to The Wheelchair Project, a wonderful charity that donates new wheelchairs to people in third world countries, many of whom have never had one. A wheelchair can completely change the life of a disabled person, offering mobility, increased independence, and a chance to go to school or find employment. Because this charity is administered by volunteers with LDS Philanthropy, there is no overhead and every penny donated goes directly to purchasing wheelchairs. This is not a religious charity--the wheelchairs go to the needy regardless of their faith. Thank you for supporting this extraordinary cause!"
Okay, and now on to our next book giveaway!
I am so excited to give this book away because I really , *really* adored it. The day after I finished it (stayed up till 2:00 AM finishing it!) I told everyone I knew about it and went to the bookstore and turned it face out.;) (Just a note, it must be selling well because when I went to the bookstore this morning, they had turned the whole stack face out on their own.:)) So without further ado, I give you the beautiful cover from A Curse Dark as Gold.
Now I have always thought the story of Rumpelstiltskin was really lame. It just seemed corny to me. So I was skeptical about this book. But Elizabeth if a lovely friendly person and a lot of the authors over at the Blue Boards recommended it so highly that I went ahead and picked it up. And I am so glad I did!! It is a dark, riveting story set just before the Industrial Revolution about a girl who inherits a mill when her father dies and the dark deals she has to make to keep it alive. And just when you think you know what is going to happen, Elizabeth throws something new but completely perfect at you. You will not actually find the name Rumpelstiltskin in this book, nor is Charlotte a simpering maid who happily trades her firstborn child for a crown. No, this story is deeper, darker, scarier, and much, much more reasonable than Grimm's tale every dreamed of being. A fabulous, fabulous book. And even if you don't manage to win it here, go find it. Buy it, steal it, check it out from the library, whatever you need to do. Okay, don't actually steal it, but read this book. It is amazing!
So here are the rules. You must enter via the comments section by Wednesday, June 18th, at 11:59 PM Mountain Standard Time. But I am going to require just a little bit more from you this time.;) I am putting together content for my Website and I need some FAQs! So post a comment with a question you would like to see on my website and you are entered into the contest! And like last time, you may enter at either my Blogger blog, or my LiveJournal. If you want to double your chances, you may enter at both sites, but you must ask two different questions for it to count. Clear as mud?? If you have any questions about the rules please feel free to email me. My address is up in my profile.
Oh, and if you are interested in my website, it's here . . . or at least the barebones version.;)
ETA: Elizabeth has offered to throw in a signed bookplate for whoever wins the book!! Thanks Elizabeth!!
Good Luck!!
Ciao!
Posts
23 comments:
How many rejections did you get before Wings was finally accepted by a literary agent?
The conference sounds like a great idea and that book sounds really interesting! Fingers crossed that I win! ;)
My FAQ for your website is: "When trying to get an agent for WINGS, you wrote that you did market research to help you find a new book idea that would be more appealing to agents since it seemed like the story of WINGS wasn't working. What was involved in that research and how were you able to find out what kinds of stories agents and/or publishers were looking for?"
Can't wait to read your book!
this book sounds aweseome! Ok, my question is: What is the best part about your first book deal? (I mean, the whole idea of getting published, working with your editor to better your story, ARCs, or anything else...)
Emily Rose
Here's a question I've been wondering a lot about lately. You said you had beta readers, I have also heard you talk about AW, so here's the question. Did you ever post and get comments that were toally conflicting: some loved it and some didn't. If so, how did you go about sorting them out?
You mentioned that you were a little nervous to first meet some of the big kahunas on your publishing team. I know I would be! How did you handle that? Did you do any sort of preparation?
-Diana Murray
pretty website. =) my question would be your writing process. when you get a good idea or inspiration, do you go with it? do you outline? or do you only write?
this book is on my wishlist, too!
Do you have 'crit' partners and if so, how did you find them?
(I need some)
Also, how do you deal with "writer's block"?
- Diana Murray
I love the banners on your website, with the different flowers. Great touch, particularly the periwinkle which matches your author photo :) And they're all beautiful photos too.
My questions are quite lame, so I hope I'm allowed more than one ...
- When do you find time to write with all those kids to look after? (not including your hubby in that category, of course!)
- You mention church occasonally in your blog. How (if at all) does your faith affect what you write?
- Hey, you're a writer! Can I send you my manuscript / novel / poem / screenplay to look over?
What's your writing schedule (or hoped for schedule) now that you'll be writing full-time for the summer? And where do you write?
I'm soo excited for your book! The new website is looking great:)
Hey, Aprilynne,
Here's my question for your FAQ: What fostered your love of writing?
The book sounds great. I'll toss a questions out for ya. Hmmm...
OK, got one!
When you look back on this incredible journey from unpublished author to four-book deal with HarperTeen, what would you say has been your favorite part and why?
Okay, I know I already posted a question and it's past the dealine, but I thought of one more that those of us who are also writing might be curious about: How rough is your first "rough" draft of any manuscript?
Aprilynne meant next Wednesday... I fixed it for her.
Don't enter me in the contest, love. But I think a great question for your FAQ would be, "How can we say that God is truly just when he makes philosophers both sexier and smarter than regular people?"
What are some of your favorite books? Which authors have influenced you?
Describe your writing process. Do you plot/outline? How many drafts do you usually go through before you have something ready to submit to your agent/editor? How long does it usually take you to write a book?
When did you start writing?
Ok, I don't have a question for the FAQ (altho' I wish I were feeling that clever!), but I just wanted to give everyone a wave and wish them luck winning a copy of CURSE!
Aprilynne, thanks so much for doing this! It's so exciting!
Good luck, everyone!
~ecb
(And, wow--wish I was going to be in your area for your event--it sounds FAB!)
Kenneth - you forgot to add, "... and more modest" :)
FAQ - Is your husband ready to be the homemaker?! You are so lucky to have someone so supportive! Do you ever get asked for your autograph in real life, or been recognized on the street, yet?
What do you think is more important to a story: the beginning or the ending? Also, which one is harder to construct writing-wise?
Here is my question... Do you do a lot of research when writing your books or do you just let the ideas flow and connect from your imagination?
FAQ suggestion:
What and how much did you research in order to write Wings?
Thanks for hosting the giveaway!
My question is, "How did you get beyond the slush pile and get Jodi Reamer's attention?"
Please put me in aprilynne. I know you were just raving about that book. The cover is beautiful also.
Here is my question. How much of writing success is gift, and how much is sweat. I would like explanations and percentages of each. Trina
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