We all need a sense of humor

I've had a hyper busy week, but I needed a laugh and I think this is so hilarious, I had to share. I posted it in June but I could watch it a million times. Sorry for the repeat, but not too sorry :)

"You may actually inspire all the agents in New York to come hunt you down with pitchforks and burn you at the stake."

I think I heard on the news that this really happened :)

-Angie

Self-Publishing—Going it alone

I was kicking around the blog-o-sphere and came across A.J. Mullarky’s blog Magpie and Pen. She is so nice, so I asked her about her decision to self publish. It's such an interesting question. Why do some authors self-publish? Why do some insist on the traditional route?

Today I’m posting her insightful response. Take it away Alex :)

Going it alone

Or, why self-publishing is for me but may not be for you, and certainly isn’t for everybody.

I keep finding myself being asked why I’ve self-published the books I’ve written so far. The answer is easy really: my goal has not always been to make my living as a published author (obligation takes the fun out of everything for me) but to see my books in print. Since I was about ten years old I saw this as an unattainable dream, or one that was near impossible to fulfil. But that isn’t the case.

I understand the stigma about self-publishing. There’s no guarantee of quality, none at all, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t hidden gems out there. I work hard on my books, not only on the content – that’s a given – but also on getting them to a standard I’m proud of when they’re distributed. I think the key is seeing how an author conducts themselves. Pamela Lyn is an example of one self-published author who acts like a professional. Her blog (http://publishedinayear.blogspot.com/) is very enlightening and her website (http://www.pamelalyn.com) is the evidence. She obviously puts a lot of effort into conducting herself professionally.

I’m also a control freak. I’d be at a disadvantage with a traditional publisher in some ways. I love creating cover art, working with photographers based on my own ideas and then creating the finished product myself. It’s one of my favourite parts. Of course, you’re getting more professional quality with a traditional publisher. You’re guaranteed to get something fantastic. The Twilight cover art is beautiful, but a look at Stephenie Meyer’s website can show you she had very different ideas. I fully understand that having a dedicated team behind you must be an incredible privilege. I hope one day I will see art created by others, inspired by my writing. But I love creating the art myself. I just love it.

There are huge pitfalls to self-publishing. Formatting is the bane of my existence. Changing page sizes, margin sizes, font styles and indents and block paragraphs and copyright pages and headers and footers and numbering – it’s enough to make your head explode. It takes hours, and it isn’t fun. I can’t pretend I wouldn’t love to have someone else do this for me. Once the hard slog is over, though, you can’t help but feel proud. You do feel like you’ve worked to create a good product.

The main thing, I think, is validation. Having your book accepted by an agent and a publisher proves to the world that you deserve to be read, because professionals in the field have given you their stamp of approval. It’s as simple as that. There can be many reasons why your book isn’t accepted by them, and sometimes they sound like excuses, but that doesn’t make it true. Book publishing is an incredibly competitive market and agents and editors don’t want to take the plunge unless they’re really, truly passionate about a book. You don’t necessarily need to keep trying to find someone as passionate about your book as you are. It’s a tremendous boost if you do, but it is possible to be the driving force behind your book. You just need to have faith in your abilities.

I would love to be traditionally published. There’s no point pretending otherwise. It’s a huge honour to have your book selected from the thousands and thousands that are hopefully sent out every day. But I can’t see the harm in putting in the groundwork myself. People have praised unsigned musicians who found an audience through Youtube and the indie filmmakers who created Napoleon Dynamite (love it). From now on, I’m calling it ‘going indie’. There’s no harm in going it alone. In fact, it’s a lot of fun.

Thanks so much Alex! It’s so interesting to get a peek into others authors minds.

-Angie

Chaos Theory

I’m the oldest of seven kids. Yep, that’s right—seven kids! So, I'm no stranger to chaos. I also have three beautiful kids who are not peaceful by any stretch of the imagination. But this week has been chaos on steroids.

My kids are 12, 10, and 6. Then I have two sisters visiting with kids that are 8, 5, 4, 10 months old and 4 month old TWINS! If you are mathematically challenged like me that is 9 kids—9 KIDS!

My house is a tornado of: string cheese wrappers, diaper wipes, wii remotes, and lost shoes. Today I wanted to sit in the middle of my floor and collapse under the shear chaos of it all.

But while I was picking my way around bouncy chairs and crushed blueberry muffins (taking a roll of toilet paper to a stranded child :) I thought this is just what trying to get published feels like.

You think you’re ready and then you hear—You need a rockstar query, Make sure you have no clichés in your MS, Shine your MS until you can use it as a mirror, NO, NO, NO backstory in the first few chapters, DO NOT TELL!!!, You need a one page synopsis...no wait you also need a 3-5 page one, Find a great critique group…etc…etc…etc!

Sometimes I want to sit down and collapse under the chaos of trying to get published, but I tackle it the same way I do that unauthorized science experiment stewing in my kitchen. ONE THING AT A TIME!

I don’t think about it. I just plug along. What about you, how do you handle the chaos?

-Angie

Just for fun here is a little baby candy. Even considering the chaos they really are delicious :)

Gotcha where I want ya

My mini-van has become one of my greatest tools. It's like the ace up my sleeve. When all other plans fall through, I know I always have my black mini-van.

No matter how crazy a day I have, or how many tasks I've left unchecked on my 'To Do' lists, I know I can always find refuge and clarity in my mini-van. Allow me to explain.

As I've mentioned before I have four children and I often struggle to find one on one time with them. The day slips through my fingers and I am tucking them into bed before I know it. The other day I loaded all of my kids in the van, but once everyone was buckled, I realized that we had left a half an hour earlier than planned. Rather than unload the entire family, I decided that we'd just sit. Just sit in the mini-van for the entire thirty minutes.

It was fantastic. For thirty minutes, my children were my captive audience. My two-year-old wasn't getting into the fingernail polish, my toddler was holding still (by a safety belt, but still ...), and I actually had a few minutes to visit with my two oldest girls. I learned so much and we actually had a great 'family' moment. Since that fortuitous day, I have held many family counsels and visits in the 'mini-van'.

I'm now working through plot lines and characters for my second book. It's all still very much in the cosmos at the moment, and I've struggled with pinning it all down and getting my ducks in a row. In short, I knew I needed a 'mini-van' moment. And so I did it.

I imagined my four main characters, stuck in my mini-van with me for thirty minutes. I asked them the same questions I asked my kids.

-What's their favorite song?

-What do they struggle with right now?

-What are they afraid of?

-What was the best thing that happened to them today?

-Who's their favorite teacher (or mentor)?

-Who's their hero?

-What do they want to be when they grow up?

-When all their jobs are done, what's their favorite thing to do?

-What details or tidbits about them get lost in the shuffle? What things do I miss because I'm too busy?

-What's something they learned today?

It's amazing how my characters fleshed out all on their own. This little mental exercise really helped me slow things down and allowed me some much needed 'one-on-one' time with my characters. Knowing more about them: their motivations, needs, fears, etc. gave my story structure and set some key points in place. I still have a long ways to go, but this definitely got the ball rolling for me.

Do any of you have a 'mini-van' tool? What do you do to pull your story out of the vague cosmos and get it down on paper? Where do you begin? How do you establish structure? I'm all ears!!

--Sara Bulla

7 Links to Random-Brain-Wanderings

I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you all talking back to me from the internet void. I feel so lucky that people tune in everyday to read my random brain wanderings :)

Last week Tara Tyler and Brinda Berry both gave me the 7x7 link award. And just to show them that I am listening back here are my answers :)

I’m required to link 7 posts on my blog. If you link to one and read it, leave me a comment. I will still get comments even thought the posts are old. I would love to hear from you!

Most Beautiful—Poetry Schmoetry Blogfest: This is a short poem I entered in Shelly Brown’s blogfest. I wrote this as an introduction to my 2^nd WIP. I love the idea of this poem—I think it is beautiful, but maybe I’m biased.

Most Popular—How Writing is like Interior Design: This is by far my most popular post. I think that has something to do with the fact that Janice Hardy linked it on her blog :) Color me shocked.

Most Helpful—Can I pick two? Heck yes, I’m writing this post so I can do whatever I want :) Did you say something?: My critique partner Amy Dahlke wrote this post on how to punctuate dialogue correctly. Maybe I wasn’t listening in English class but I learned a lot from her. Little Black Book: My other critique partner Sara Bulla gave me a lot to think about with this post.

Most Controversial—Book Covers: No Judgment…Well maybe a little: This post was pure opinion, and I was sure I would offend someone. Sorry, if I did.

Most Surprisingly Successful—Tag you’re it: This is my second most read post…and I have no idea why. I’m stumped.

Most Underrated—Metaphorically Speaking: I love metaphors, but I got little feedback on this post. Hmm—maybe I’m crazy :)

Most Pride Worthy—Spelling Bee drop out: I’m not above showing my weaknesses to the world. I like this post because I out myself. It was liberating.

There you have it. Probably more than you wanted to know about my blog. I’m not going to pick five people to pass this on to. I’m just going to say that if you want to do it, you’ve just been picked by me :)

-Angie

P.S. Emily King interview me today on her blog: Get Busy Writing. Come on over and visit :)

“Beware of cookies bearing fortunes”

Can I just say how disappointed I am by the lame fortune cookies out on the market.

Wouldn’t you love to crack open a cookie and get a crazy fortune?

As writers of the world I think we should band together to write some creative fortunes. I will start us off :)

You were right to be paranoid. There is a conspiracy.

Congratulations! You are pregnant.

Fold up this paper and back away slowly. They are watching you.

I hope you didn’t eat the sweet and sour. The chef lost his band-aid in the sauce.

I that your car being towed?

Sell all your stock! A crash is coming.

If you are looking for advice from a cookie, I fear for your sanity.

That wasn’t chicken.

Sorry to break it to you, but you are past your prime.

I will admit I saw a great one online recently: “Help! I’m being held prisoner at a Chinese bakery!” LOL!

Okay—give me your best fortune :)

-Angie

2nd Campaigner Challenge

Since the Imago came…

From the porch swing I can see miasma painting the sky grey as the sun falls. I know I should hate the color like I do every other gray thing in this world since the Imago came, but the way it swirls is nothing less than beautiful.

Tomorrow’s the day. Tomorrow Jax will leave to fight the Imago. Tomorrow I may never see him again.

Our minds share strong synchronicity. He knows I’m thinking about him, because he steps from the house and onto the porch.

He gives me a hesitant smile, and I mirror it back. He doesn’t speak as he sits next to me. He takes my hand and I sigh. I love the way his hand fits into mine.

“It’s going to work. We’re going to beat them,” Jax’s husky voice holds me tight.

“You don’t know for sure. What if you don’t come back?” I whisper.

Jax answers me with a kiss. He skips the sweet soft beginning and jumps right to the hot hungry middle. His kisses fill me to my lacuna, until there isn’t one part that doesn’t belong to him. I oscitate and try to catch my breath.

“I’ll be back,” he promises.

This is my 200 word entry for Rachel Harrie’s 2^nd Campaigner Challenge. I got in early *cheers*, I'm number 14!

The Challenge is:

Write a blog post in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, whether flash fiction, non-fiction, humorous blog musings, poem, etc. The blog post should:

· include the word "imago" in the title (DONE)

· include the following 4 random words: "miasma," "lacuna," "oscitate," "synchronicity," (DONE)

If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional and included in the word count), make reference to a mirror in your post. (DONE)

For those who want an even greater challenge (optional), make your post 200 words EXACTLY! (DONE)

And can I just say…Holy Cow those words were hard!

-Angie

A Survey on E-Readers

I hope my two fantastic critique partners don't mind me using our blog for this but I need your opinion on something. You see, I'm working on a critical analysis essay in my English 102 class on E-Readers--how they've changed reading and our culture, specifically. So, whether you own an E-Reader or not I would love you forever if you would take five minutes to answer some questions below! Feel free to post anonymously. Thanks, for your help!

Questions for E-Reader owners:
(you can have more than one answer)
1.What type of E-Reader do you own?
      A. Kindle
      B. Nook
      C. Kobo
      D. Other (explain)

2. What sort of material do you read on it?
      A. Novels
      B. Nonfiction
      C. Newspapers/Magazines
      D. Textbooks
      E. Children's picture books
      F. Other (explain)

3. Where do you use it?
      A. At home
      B. While traveling
      C. Waiting rooms
      D. Other (explain)

4. What do you like about it the most?
      A. Easy to use
      B. Convenient/Travel sized
      C. Cost effective
      D. Modern
      E. Other (explain)

5. What don't you like about it?
      A. Hard to use
      B. Not enough material you are interested in
      C. Not worth the money
      E. Other (explain)

6. Any other thoughts?

Questions for Non-E-Reader Owners:
(you can have more than one answer)

1. Do you want an E-Reader? Which one?

2. Why don't you have one?
       A. Too expensive
       B. Don't read
       C. Not enough material you are interested in
       D. Changing  the book industry as we know it
       E. Everything doesn't have to be electronic
       F. Other (explain)

3. What do you think of e-readers?
       A. They are pretty cool
       B. They are changing the book industry
       C. They are just another unnecessary computer screen
       D. Other (explain)

4. Any other thoughts?

Thank you so much for your help!

-Amy

What I learned about Romance from my Husband :)

Before I start, my friend Emily at Get Busy Writing is soooo close to 200 followers. If you don't all ready--pop over and follow her. She is well worth your time :) Now back to the show!

I’m not sure how my hubby will feel about me exploiting his cuteness for my own nefarious blogging purposes, but since we don’t run in the same blogging circles I doubt he will know—if you don’t tell him.

I’m working through a difficult part in my 2^nd WIP where two of my characters must overcome impossible odds to be together—and when I say impossible I really mean IMPOSSIBLE. I’m not quite sure how I’m going to navigate them through the situation I’ve written them into.

As I’m working through the problem, I start to think about what I’ve learned about love and romance from my husband.

Love is challenging: My biggest pet peeve in stories is when people fall into sacrifice-my-life-for-you love without any kind of obstacle. I’ve learned from my husband that love is challenging, but the good news is—the more you overcome together the more you love each other. Overcoming challenges and love are in direct proportion to each other.

Smart is Sexy: We all know stories with big brawny guys that swoop in and skewer the bad guys with a sword. Now, I’m not saying that I don’t like that, but there is also something so amazing about an extremely smart guy who can out think and out maneuver everyone. If you were wondering—yes, my husband is VERY smart (smart alecky that is :)

Humor can cover a multitude of sins: My husband prides himself on the fact that he makes me laugh everyday and it’s true—he does! He uses humor to defuse my stress, get me to forgive him, make me happy, and get me to do what he wants :) I believe characters can use humor in the same ways. I would love to see a truly humorous leading man!

Sometimes talking is overrated: I know I’m not the only person who has had this experience: You are having an argument with your spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend and you think if you can just keep talking…and talking…and talking…you can solve the problem, but you just talk in circles and don’t resolve anything. I read a lot of books where they don’t talk and it causes problems or books where when they do talk everything is resolved. But I think it could bring on a fresh wave of despair to characters (and readers) if they talk and it just make things worse.

Sacrifice IS love: I feel like we live in a world where sacrifice is a dirty word. People who give up something for someone else are represented as weak and giving up their dreams. I hate that idea, because I believe sacrifice is REAL love. If you have ever had someone sacrifice for you—you KNOW without a doubt they love you. When I think of all the things my husband has sacrificed for me, I get choked up.

I’ve learned a lot of other things from my husband, but they are too personal to share :) What about you? What have you learned about romance from your significant other?

-Angie

P.S. I hesitated adding this because I didn't want to make anyone who is follically-challenged feel bad, but it is too funny not to share. Girls LOVE hair :) My husband was once bumped from coach to first class because the girl working the counter loved his hair. Then on a different flight the male flight attendent kept bringing him free food from first class because he had a hair-crush on him. LOL!

Story Problem

Sometimes I feel like I'm in the middle of a story problem. You know the one where you have a snake, a cheeseburger and a baby. You can't leave any of them alone, and you must take them all across a river without any of them getting wet (or eaten!), or something like that. There's no bridge and no rope. How are you going to make it across safely?

This morning I raced to get two of my kids to the doctor, fed them breakfast in the car, prayed that my two year old at home wouldn't go 'play' in my office where I'd left an unsaved document open on the computer, and jotted down a great idea for my antagonist on my i-phone while I waited for our appointment. Oh, and somewhere in the middle of all that, I took a breath or two.

I'm trying to fit in writing a query and a summary, and finish my final edits in between appointments, nap times, episodes of Backyardagains and all the general demands of life. I'm not willing to put any of these down while I traverse the river.

I can't leave my writing alone...it's like my life blood. But I also have four kids, four and under, who are my life and I love their guts. They need me and I need them. So, how do I divide my time and give my attention where I need to, when I need to, in order to make it across the river?

Will we arrive on the other side of the river unscathed and alive? Some days I wonder. :)

But here's how I've solved my story problem:

1. I schedule time to write. It is sacred and untouchable. I write for at least an hour during my children's nap time, and again after they go to sleep. This gives me about two to three hours at night. Then I go to bed early (unless I'm on a roll and in the middle of a deluxe scene). I'm a morning person but instead of my usual 6:00 am routine, however, I now get up at 4:00. Not all days...but most. All in all, I get at least five hours of 'kid-free' and hopefully distraction-free writing every day.

2. I also schedule untouchable time for my kids. I do not even crack the lap top open during these times (though I've been known to scribble on the palm of my hand so I don't forget something amazing). Most, if not all of my frustration with my story problem, happens when I blur my lines and try to write and be a mom of young children at the same time.

3. There is one moment where my two worlds collide and I love it. Story time. We have a LONG story time each night where we read a few books and then tell a few of our own. I cannot tell you how many plot holes I've solved, or how many characters I've fleshed out while putting my MC in the place of the handsome prince in the story that I tell for my daughters. It's awesome and this is the moment where my life comes full circle and the tricky merge of author and mom totally works. It's like peanut butter and jelly, or chocolate and peanut butter (I love peanut butter, can you tell?)

My story problem solution isn't perfect. Occasionally we might get a bit wet or in a water fight of sorts. But I can say that at the end of the day, I make it across with out any snake bites and usually a cheeseburger to rejuvenate me. That's not to say that I don't want to change and improve how I juggle the demands of my life. And so I'm putting this out there for my blog partners, Angie and Amy, as well as all of you - how do you solve your story problems? Any tricks to the trade? Any secrets to success? Does it get more doable as the kids get older? PLEASE share! :)

--Sara Bulla

100 YA Books

I found this list on Robin Weeks blog. It's a super easy blog chain. Look through this list of 100 YA Books and tell everyone which one’s you’ve read. I love this list because it gives me great ideas about what to read next.

If you want to join in leave a comment with your link so we can all check it out :) So which ones have you read?

-Angie

P.S. Ignore the blue highlighting. I'm not sure why it is there and I can't seem to fix it :) Also I'm not sure what is up with the weird spacing--Sorry.

Bold = I've Read It

Italics = I Own It

Underline = Started, didn't finish

In my “to be read” pile

1. Alex Finn – Beastly
2. Alice Sebold – The Lovely Bones
3. Ally Carter – Gallagher Girls (1, 2, 3, 4)
4. Ally Condie – Matched
5. Alyson Noel – The Immortals (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
6. Anastasia Hopcus – Shadow Hills
7. Angie Sage – Septimus Heap (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
8. Ann Brashares – The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (1, 2, 3, 4)
9. Anna Godbersen – Luxe (1, 2, 3, 4)
10. Anthony Horowitz – Alex Rider (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
11. Aprilynne Pike – Wings (1, 2, 3)
12. Becca Fitzpatrick – Hush, Hush (1, 2)
13. Brandon Mull – Fablehaven (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
14. Brian Selznick – The Invention of Hugo Cabret
15. Cassandra Clare – The Mortal Instruments (1, 2, 3, 4)

16. Carrie Jones – Need (1, 2, 3)
17. Carrie Ryan – The Forest of Hands and Teeth (1, 2, 3)

18. Christopher Paolini - Inheritance (1, 2, 3, 4)
19. Cinda Williams Chima – The Heir Chronicles (1, 2, 3)
20. Colleen Houck – Tigers Saga (1, 2)
21. Cornelia Funke – Inkheart (1, 2, 3)
22. Ellen Hopkins – Impulse
23. Eoin Colfer – Artemis Fowl (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
24. Faraaz Kazi – Truly, Madly, Deeply
25. Frank Beddor – The Looking Glass Wars (1, 2, 3)
26. Gabrielle Zevin – Elsewhere
27. Gail Carson Levine – Fairest
28. Holly Black – Tithe (1, 2, 3)
29. J.K. Rowling – Harry Potter (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
30. James Dashner – The Maze Runner (1, 2)

31. James Patterson – Maximum Ride (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
32. Jay Asher – Thirteen Reasons Why
33. Jeanne DuPrau – Books of Ember (1, 2, 3, 4)
34. Jeff Kinney – Diary of a Wimpy Kid (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
35. John Boyne – The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
36. John Green – An Abundance of Katherines
37. John Green – Looking for Alaska
38. John Green – Paper Towns (I read an edited copy. The language was a bit intense for me.)
39. Jonathan Stroud – Bartimaeus (1, 2, 3, 4)
40. Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl – Caster Chronicles (1, 2)
41. Kelley Armstrong – Darkest Powers (1, 2, 3)
42. Kristin Cashore – The Seven Kingdoms (1, 2)
43. Lauren Kate – Fallen (1, 2, 3)
44. Lemony Snicket - Series of Unfortunate Events (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
45. Libba Bray – Gemma Doyle (1, 2, 3)
46. Lisa McMann – Dream Catcher (1, 2, 3)
47. Louise Rennison – Confessions of Georgia Nicolson (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
48. M.T. Anderson – Feed
49. Maggie Stiefvater – The Wolves of Mercy Falls (1, 2, 3)

50. Margaret Peterson Haddix – Shadow Children (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
51. Maria V. Snyder – Study (1, 2, 3)
52. Markus Zusak - The Book Thief
53. Markus Zusak – I am the Messenger
54. Mark Haddon – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
55. Mary Ting – Crossroads
56. Maureen Johnson – Little Blue Envelope (1, 2)
57. Meg Cabot – All-American Girl (1, 2)
58. Meg Cabot – The Mediator (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
59. Meg Cabot – The Princess Diaries (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
60. Meg Rosoff – How I live now
61. Megan McCafferty – Jessica Darling (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
62. Megan Whalen Turner – The Queen’s Thief (1, 2, 3, 4)
63. Melina Marchetta – On the Jellicoe Road
64. Melissa de la Cruz – Blue Bloods (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
65. Melissa Marr – Wicked Lovely (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

66. Michael Grant – Gone (1, 2, 3, 4)
67. Nancy Farmer – The House of the Scorpion
68. Neal Shusterman – Unwind
69. Neil Gaiman – Coraline
70. Neil Gaiman – Stardust
71. Neil Gaiman – The Graveyard Book
72. P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast – House of Night (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 )
73. Philip Pullman – His Dark Materials (1, 2, 3)
74. Rachel Caine – The Morganville Vampires (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
75. Rachel Cohn & David Levithan – Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist
76. Richelle Mead – Vampire Academy (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
77. Rick Riordan – Percy Jackson and the Olympians (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
78. Rom LcO’Feer – Somewhere carnal over 40 winks
79. S.L. Naeole – Grace (1, 2, 3, 4)
80. Sabrina Bryan & Julia DeVillers – Princess of Gossip
81. Sarah Dessen – Along for the Ride
82. Sarah Dessen – Lock and Key
83. Sarah Dessen – The Truth about Forever
84. Sara Shepard – Pretty Little Liars (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
85. Scott Westerfeld - Leviathan (1, 2)
86. Scott Westerfeld - Uglies (1, 2, 3)
87. Shannon Hale – Books of a Thousand Days
88. Shannon Hale – Princess Academy
89. Shannon Hale – The Books of Bayern (1, 2, 3, 4)
90. Sherman Alexie & Ellen Forney – The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
91. Simone Elkeles – Perfect Chemistry (1, 2, 3)
92. Stephanie Meyer – The Host [This, of course, is not YA—not sure why it’s on the list]
93. Stephanie Meyer – Twilight Saga (1, 2, 3, 4)
94. Sue Monk Kidd – The Secret Life of Bees
95. Susan Beth Pfeffer – Last Survivors (1, 2, 3)
96. Suzanne Collins – Hunger Games (1, 2, 3)
97. Suzanne Collins – Underland Chronicles (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
98. Terry Pratchett – Tiffany Aching (1, 2, 3, 4)
99. Tonya Hurley – Ghost Girl (1, 2, 3)
100. Wendelin Van Draanen – Flipped