Cover Reveal & ARC Giveaway for Marissa Burt's A LEGEND OF STARFIRE!!

The first time I noticed former Project Mayhem contributor Marissa Burt was on the Absolute Write message boards. I noticed her because her avatar was the cover for STORYBOUND, her (then) soon-to-be-released debut MG novel.  Marissa had won the debut author lottery with her amazing cover by Brandon Dorman, though, to give credit where credit is due, the artist had an incredibly rich world to work with in Marissa’s debut fantasy duology, set in a boarding school for fairy-tale characters.

 

STORYBOUND's follow up, STORY'S END continued the awesome cover luck with a contrasting cover that carried through the same sense of wonder and excitement.

When the first book of her second duology came out in October, it was clear Marissa had some serious MG cover mojo. The gorgeous cover of A SLIVER OF STARDUST, a Mother Goose-inspired fantasy, was done by Jakob Eirich, and it immediately drew the interest of my household’s resident 10-year-old.

So how to follow that up? Because A LEGEND OF STARFIRE is due out in October. Could Marissa’s amazing cover-streak hold?

In fact, it did! A LEGEND OF STARFIRE’s cover is as intriguing and evocative as all her others. Before the cover reveal (and ARC giveaway!), here’s a description of the book.

Apprentice Fiddler Wren Matthews thought she wanted nothing more than to resume her alchemy lessons at the Crooked House. But an urgent appeal from a friend sends her to the steampunk otherworld of Nod where stardust is mysteriously disappearing and horrific nightmares threaten everything the colony of Fiddler Magicians has built. Aided by her friends, Wren braves danger from the power-hungry leaders within the city walls and battles the half-animal, half-machine experiments-gone-wrong without in an effort to solve the mystery before the magic of Nod is lost forever.

So are you ready for the cover of this fantastical steampunk MG?

Here it is….

So if you’d like to win a signed ARC of A LEGEND OF STARFIRE, just leave a comment and tell us about some of your favorite middle grade covers!   

2014 Middle Grade Novels That Deal With Bullying + A Giveaway by Caroline Starr Rose

According to the Indicators of School Crime and Safety report from 2013, "about 28 percent of students ages 12–18 reported being bullied at school during the school year." Bullying can affect school attendance, physical well-being, and emotional health.

As a mother, a former teacher, and a children's author, I am so grateful for the writers who choose to take this difficult topic head on. Here are four books published in the last year that touch on bullying in some way. These aren't the simple "problem novels" of my childhood. Each contains layers of real complexity, allowing readers to experience the story alongside characters who are true to life and reside in a recognizable world.

ALWAYS, ABIGAIL -- Nancy Cavanaugh

Abigail and her two best friends are poised for a life of pom-poms and popularity. But not only does Abigail end up in a different homeroom, she doesn’t make the squad. Then everyone’s least favorite teacher pairs Abigail up with the school’s biggest outcast for a yearlong “Friendly Letter Assignment.” Abigail can hardly believe her bad luck. As her so-called best friends and potential for popularity seem to be slipping away, Abigail has to choose between the little bit of fame she has left or being a true friend.

ALWAYS, ABIGAIL is an epistolary novel whose entire story is told through a series of lists. What I found fascinating about it was how familiar these sixth graders interactions felt. There isn't one bully in this story. Several kids get that title, at times including Abigail herself.

Sourcebooks has developed a curriculum guide that talks about popularity, outcasts, friendship, and bullying.

JUST A DROP OF WATER -- Kerry O'Malley Cerra

Ever since he was little, Jake Green has longed to be a soldier and a hero like his grandpa, who died serving his country. Right now, though, he just wants to outsmart—and outrun—the rival cross country team, Palmetto Ridge. But then the tragedy of September 11 happens. It’s quickly discovered that one of the hijackers lived nearby, making Jake’s Florida town an FBI hot spot. Two days later, the tragedy becomes even more personal when Jake’s best friend, Sam Madina, is pummeled for being an Arab Muslim by their bully classmate, Bobby.

Kerry O'Malley Cerra has managed to capture the confusion and fear that surrounded the early days of September 11, 2001 as well as actions of both kindness and biogtry. Kerry's website includes excellent resources, including the story behind the inspiration for the book as well as teacher resources.

EL DEAFO -- CeCe Bell

Going to school and making new friends can be tough. But going to school and making new friends while wearing a bulky hearing aid strapped to your chest? That requires superpowers! In this funny, poignant graphic novel memoir, author/illustrator Cece Bell chronicles her hearing loss at a young age and her subsequent experiences with the Phonic Ear, a very powerful—and very awkward—hearing aid.

The Phonic Ear gives Cece the ability to hear—sometimes things she shouldn’t—but also isolates her from her classmates. She really just wants to fit in and find a true friend, someone who appreciates her as she is. After some trouble, she is finally able to harness the power of the Phonic Ear and become “El Deafo, Listener for All.” And more importantly, declare a place for herself in the world and find the friend she’s longed for.

I loved this review of EL DEAFO by teacher Gary Anderson, specifically this observation: "EL DEAFO also includes a bully who is mean to Cece in a way that has nothing to do with her deafness." This story moves beyond what might be expected in a way that is both rich and satisfying.

Abrams has created this teacher's guide.

THE PAPER COWBOY -- Kristin Levine

Though he thinks of himself as a cowboy, Tommy is really a bully.  He’s always playing cruel jokes on classmates or stealing from the store. But Tommy has a reason: life at home is tough. His abusive mother isn’t well; in fact, she may be mentally ill, and his sister, Mary Lou, is in the hospital badly burned from doing a chore it was really Tommy’s turn to do. To make amends, Tommy takes over Mary Lou’s paper route. But the paper route also becomes the perfect way for Tommy to investigate his neighbors after stumbling across a copy of The Daily Worker, a communist newspaper.

Tommy is shocked to learn that one of his neighbors could be a communist, and soon fear of a communist in this tight-knit community takes hold of everyone when Tommy uses the paper to frame a storeowner, Mr. McKenzie. As Mr. McKenzie’s business slowly falls apart and Mary Lou doesn’t seem to get any better, Tommy’s mother’s abuse gets worse causing Tommy’s bullying to spiral out of control.

THE PAPER COWBOY, which debuts this month, has so far earned three starred reviews. Kirkus calls it "winningly authentic; Publishers Weekly says its "a thoughtful story about understanding and compassion, distinguished by complex characters"; and Booklist describes it as "sophisticated [and] powerful."

Editor Stacey Barney talks about her love for THE PAPER COWBOY here.

Do you have any other books that might fit on our list? Please add to the conversation!

I'm giving away an advance reader copy of THE PAPER COWBOY. To enter, simply leave a comment below. US residents only, please. The winner will be announced Friday, November 21.

Winner of Dianne Salerni's The Eighth Day (ARC)

I could not stop reading THE EIGHTH DAY yesterday, so the kids were very nearly late for school. It is a heart-stopper/page-turner and I really don't want to give up my copy. But a promise is a promise, and Random.org agrees. So, randomly, our winner is...

Suzanne Warr

I'll be contacting you soon, Suzanne, for your snail mail address. Thanks to all who entered--have a great weekend (watching my favorite team win the Superbowl.)

FROSTING AND FRIENDSHIP by Lisa Schroeder: Review and Giveaway via Michael G-G

(From the back cover): On a scale of disaster to delicious, twelve-year-old Lily Hubbard is definitely a disaster when it comes to baking. And when Lily is invited to be a part of a mother-daughter book club called The Baking Bookworms, she is both excited and terrified. None of her friends know that she can't actually bake. What Lily can do is make music--she's the lead singer for an all-girl band. The band's goal? To audition for a coveted spot in their school's annual Spring Fling.
But Lily's plans are suddenly thrown off course when she is asked to plan a Sweet Thirteen bash for her friend Sophie. Lily's big task? To make a showstopping, mouth-watering dessert for the party. Uh-oh.
Soon, Lily is buried in sugar and sheet music as she tries to juggle her commitments to her band and one of her best friends. In this yummy confection of a story from Lisa Schroeder, Lily learns that sometimes the best things in life can't be measured.

 (As I typed out the description of this sweet little book, it came to me that this would be an epic query letter text. The first line about a "scale of disaster to delicious" shows voice and would definitely catch an agent's eye. So, if you're a writer struggling with a query letter, study the above. It fits Matt MacNish's "Three Cs" of Character, Choice, and Consequences too.)

Review: I, and probably every other male on the planet, am not the market for this book. From the purple and pinks of the cover to the story itself, this is a book for girl readers. It therefore goes to show what a strong market this is: girls love these books. Who knew there was a "Baking Genre" in middle grade? (I've just visited another blog featuring this title, and the teenage reviewer described how she screamed with excitement when she received an ARC and a letter from the author.)

Despite having XY chromosomes, I did enjoy this story. It was an ultimately kind-hearted view of the messiness of friendships. There was a measure of competition, rivalry, and jealousy--but no full-bore meanness. Lily has a loving family and friends; her besetting problem is that she hasn't been true to herself and tried to pass herself off as someone she really isn't: she's a singer, not a baker, for "Sweet Uncle Pete's" sake.

There were enough complications to raise my anxiety level, especially on the day of the big party. Lisa Schroeder made me care for Lily, and therefore hope that she wouldn't go down in flames--or, to keep up with the baking metaphors--crumble in a mess of broken cake pops.

I'm sure older elementary girls and middle school girls would eat this up (sorry for all the food puns--I need to obviously go eat breakfast). For writers interested in capturing the psyches of young female characters, this would be a great series to study.

This is the third in Lisa Schroeder's middle grade series. The main characters of Sprinkles and Secrets and It's Raining Cupcakes!--Sophie and Isabel--are important secondary characters in Frosting and Friendship too.

About the author, from her website bio: Lisa Schroeder is the author of four teen verse novels including I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME and its companion, CHASING BROOKLYN, FAR FROM YOU, and the Oregon Book Award finalist, THE DAY BEFORE. Her latest book for teens is a combination of prose and poetry and is titled FALLING FOR YOU. She's also the author of the middle grade novels IT'S RAINING CUPCAKES and SPRINKLES AND SECRETS. Her books have been translated into several languages and have been selected for state reading lists. She lives in Oregon with her husband and two sons.

Find out more about Lisa and her books at LisaSchroederBooks.com or on Twitter at @Lisa_Schroeder.

I'm giving away my ARC of Frosting and Friendship. Just leave a comment, including a number between 1 and 212, and I will reply with a line from the book. The winner will be randomly selected on 8/1 and notified on this blog. Thanks for reading!

AUDITION AND SUBTRACTION Winner!

Heidi Grange, you're our lucky winner. Please shoot me an email with your mailing address, and the book will be on its way!

AUDITION AND SUBTRACTION -- Interview and Giveaway!

Welcome to Amy Fellner Dominy, author of AUDITION AND SUBTRACTION, a tween novel releasing September 4! 

What inspired you to write this story?

In a word: Desperation. 

About five years ago, I was really struggling as a writer. I got stuck halfway through a book and felt lost, hopeless and wondered if I’d ever write anything decent.  It was in this mindset that I came across an article suggesting I search my mind for an emotionally charged memory and use that as a jumping off point for a story.  So I did.  

What came to mind was the day my best friend showed up to lunch with a guy.  It may sound small, but when he sat with us my world tilted.  Forever, really.  I was losing my best friend to a guy and relationships were starting to shift in scary (and exciting) ways.  I wrote that as a scene and though it never made it into the book, Audition & Subtraction had been born. 

What was your publication process like, from initial idea to sale?

I wrote the first draft in 2007.  It was a mess! I rewrote it again but before I could put the finishing touches on the book, my computer hard drive crashed and I lost the files.  After OyMG sold, my editor wondered if I had any other books that were similar.  Talk about good incentive!  I retyped the whole book and finished the edits. The book went to my agent near the end of 2010.  She liked it but she wanted some pretty major rewrites. I worked hard for about two months and sent back a new version early 2011.  My editor loved the changes and I was thrilled to get a contract with a release date of fall 2012. 

So, I guess you could say it was 5 years from start to shelf.

What books have shaped you as a reader and writer, from childhood to the present?

Growing up, I loved contemporary stories about girls like me.  Of course Judy Blume was my hero and maybe that’s why I still love reading and writing contemporary.  I also found myself drawn to books with strong characters.  One of my favorite books of all time is Watership Down. The characters are all rabbits, but to me they’re as real as any people I know.  Even now, I like books with strong characters I can relate to.  I also have to admit I’m a romantic at heart. Add an angsty romance to the mix and I’m hooked.  Favorites include Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre. 

What is one thing people misunderstand about writing tween fiction?

Sometimes I’m surprised when adults ask why I don’t write real books—meaning adult books.  It’s as if writing for kids isn’t important, or less important in some way.  I completely disagree.  Even now, when I think back to the books that changed my life, they’re the books I read when I was young. To me, those were the important books because they helped shape me…helped me to shape who I am today.  I wish more adults would read young.  I think they’d find themselves quite surprised by the depth and quality of writing out there. 

Are you working on anything new?

I just finished a book I’m calling BAD KAT. Think high-school theater, an old romance that never died, challenging the roles we’re told to play…and a black spandex catsuit.  Keep your fingers crossed the book finds a home—I’m so excited about how it turned out. 

Giveaway

Bloomsbury has offered an advance reader copy (ARC) of AUDITION AND SUBTRACTION to one Project Mayhem reader. To enter, follow Project Mayhem and comment below, sharing one thing you'll take from this interview. Contest closes Thursday, September 6.

Connect with Amy here:

www.amydominy.com

www.facebook.com/amyfellnerdominyauthor.com

www.twitter.com/amydominy

Lessons from Animal Farm and Giveaway!

"No question now, what had happened to the faces of the pigs. The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which." - George Orwell, Animal Farm

As writers, we are encouraged to read pretty much anything we can get our hands on, especially new books in our chosen genre with fresh new voices and fresh new stories, thereby inspiring us to create the same. Reading is a weapon in any writer's arsenal. It's what makes the gears in our minds start turning and the ideas flowing. 

As important as it is to read new books, it's equally important to read the old ones. Books such as The Wind in the Willows, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of N.I.M.H, The Phantom Tollbooth, and scores of others come to mind--books that as children got those gears turning, and perhaps made us the people and writers we are today.

All that good stuff said, I recently picked up my old dog eared copy of Animal Farm by George Orwell, required reading when I was in middle-school. I know, many of us cringe when we hear "required reading", but in this case I'm glad it was required. 

Though written in 1946, Animal Farm transcends its publication date, being especially relevant not just for its many political aspects that seem to always suit the world somewhere, but for another reason. It's the perfect model of a classic children's novel. I know there's some controversy as to the age range of this book, but I feel it's particularly  applicable to today's middle-grade or tween reader. It does have violence, though not too much. It has excitement, battles, though not too bloody. Unique and interesting characters can be found in the beloved horse Boxer, and the intimidating pig turned farm owner, Napoleon ( "Napoleon is always right."), along with many others. It has a riveting beginning, middle, and end, all compactly stored in 100 brilliant pages--the perfect embodiment of a middle-grade novel. You can see by the many covers (and this is just a small sampling) the great impact this book has had.

"ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL, BUT SOME ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS"

I remember reading this as a child and to this day I recall the beginning of the book wherein Major, the white boar that started the animal revolution, is standing on his platform, convincing every farm animal that they deserved better. It's an image that has stuck with me all my life. 

In the spirit of this post, let us know what childhood books YOU can't get out of your head or maybe you have a son or daughter reading Animal Farm right now. What are their thoughts? If you're a teacher, what books do you think are important to your students and should be considered more than simply required reading? Do you think this appropriate for middle-graders? Did you love or hate Animal Farm or have you still not read it? Well, no fear if you have not, here's your chance!

ANIMAL FARM GIVEAWAY:
Because I love this book so much and think it's such a perfect example of what works in middle-grade writing, I'd love to give away a brand new copy to one lucky winner. To enter, follow Project Mayhem, and leave a comment. Tell us your thoughts on this book or required reading in general. :)

Winner will be announced on Tuesday of next week! 

Hilary

Giveaway - ARC of STORYBOUND

Hello Mayhemers!

I'd love to give away an ARC of my upcoming middle-grade fantasy STORYBOUND! Here's a little bit about the book:

In the land of Story, children go to school to learn to be characters: a perfect Hero, a trusty Sidekick, even the most dastardly Villain. They take classes on Outdoor Experiential Questing and Backstory, while adults search for full-time character work in stories written just for them.

In our world, twelve-year-old Una Fairchild has always felt invisible. But all that changes when she stumbles upon a mysterious book buried deep in the basement of her school library, opens the cover, and suddenly finds herself transported to the magical land of Story.

But Story is not a perfect fairy tale. Una’s new friend Peter warns her about the grave danger she could face if anyone discovers her true identity. The devious Tale Keeper watches her every move. And there are whispers of a deadly secret that seems to revolve around Una herself....

With the timeless appeal of books like A Wrinkle in Time and the breathtaking action of Inkheart, Storybound has all the makings of a new classic. Brimming with fantastical creatures, magical adventure, and heart-stopping twists, Storybound will leave readers wishing they too could jump through the pages into this enchanting fairy-tale world.

If you'd like to enter the giveaway, follow Project Mayhem if you don't already, leave a comment with a page number from 1-403, and I'll reply with a line from that page of STORYBOUND. (Thanks to Sarah Prineas for the page number inspiration!)

Comments will be open until midnight on 11/21, with the randomly-selected winner announced on 11/22. Thanks for playing!