Tracey Neithercott's Current Query

Tracey is awesome. She's one of my co-authors at YA Confidential, and she's great with graphics like at The Kindness Project.

Here is her query:

Dear Agent TK,

[TK personalized introduction]

Seventeen-year-old Syna Karras knows there’s no such thing as murder. It’s 2055, and thanks to the software embedded in everybody’s minds, criminals are arrested before they commit a crime. Which is why Syna should believe her father died of natural causes.

But she doesn’t.

Not when the autopsy reveals his healthy heart abruptly stopped beating. Not when her father raised her on stories of serial killers of the past, slipping gruesome details into dinnertime conversation. And not when he left behind top-secret government files with blacked-out phrases and a warning of danger.

When a family friend dies in the same mysterious way as her father, Syna’s convinced murder is as real as the slice of a knife across soft flesh. She’ll do whatever’s necessary to take down the man who stole the most important person from her life—even team up with arrogant ex-best friend Linden Pearce to gain access to files his father, the Secretary of Defense, might have hidden. They have to work fast, because more people are dying, people who have a connection to her dad. And with the killer aware of her investigation, Syna could be next.

Complete at 79,000 words, ABERRATION is science fiction without the dystopia, set in a Minority Report–like world. It will appeal to fans of sci-fi mysteries such as Across the Universe by Beth Revis, All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill, and The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson. I’m a journalist with ten years of writing under my belt. My work has appeared in magazines such as Prevention, AARP, Capitol File, Philadelphia Style, and Diabetes Forecast.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

That's it!

Please thank Tracey in the comments, and save your feedback for tomorrow.

G.I.R.L. at YA Confidential

I'm over at YA Confidential today, doing a tandem interview/review with my friend Sara Ahiers of Steve Brezenoff's new book: GUY IN REAL LIFE. Stop by and check it out!

Book Birthday for PUSH GIRL

Head over to YA Confidential to read about this new release from my friend and blog co-author Jessica Love and her novel co-author Chelsie Hill.

Review of Eleanor & Park at YA Confidential

I know, I never blog anymore. Sorry about that, but I've been writing.

Anyway, I'm over at YA Confidential today, "un-reviewing" ELEANOR & PARK by Rainbow Rowell, and I'd love it if you'd stop by and have a read.

The Chocolate War Reviewed at YA Confidential

I'm over at YA Confidential once again today, reviewing my first YA classic gap book read of the year, The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier.

Fault Line, by Christa Desir

Lately it seems like this blog is just an announcement board, where I make mention of the fact that I'm blogging somewhere else. Oh well, I guess I'm okay with that.

Today I'm at YA Confidential, recommending a deeply important book: Fault Line, by Christa Desir. Please stop by and have a look.

Double Post Day!

I know, I never blog any more. So today, I blogged twice!

I'll try to get through this as quickly as possible, because I'm slammed at work. Anyway, if you have time, you can find me:

Talking about my favorite Roald Dahl books at Project Middle Grade Mayhem, or:

Unreviewing Reality Boy, by A.S. King, at YA Confidential.

That's it! Thanks.

YA Confidential Unreview of Where Things Come Back, by John Corey Whaley

I hate writing these tiny little posts just to send you all somewhere else, but I'm over at YA Confidential today, recommending Where Things Come Back, by John Corey Whaley. I'd appreciate it if you'd all drop by.

FML, by Shaun David Hutchinson, a review at YA Confidential

The post title says it all. Please just head over to YA Confidential, for the review, and a giveaway!

A Review at YA Confidential

Man, this is going to be one of those weeks. The day job is out of control, A to Z starts next week, and of course my family made plans to go out of town for Spring Break.

Yes, I'm nuts.

Anyway, for now, I've got a book review up over at YA Confidential. So please stop by!

Empty, by K.M. Walton at YA Confidential

I saw two great movies this weekend, which was a real treat, because one of them was in the theater, and I never usually get to make it to the cinema. I'll try to review them tomorrow, but for now, please visit my post at YA Confidential, and read about a powerful book I read recently.

Blogging ... at YA Confindential

So ... after Sunday's games, both the incredible, and the abominable, I don't have a lot for you guys. Moreover, I've got the day off, so I can only direct you to my post at YA Confidental, a rather depressing piece on the state of bloggging in general.

Hopefully you guys get it.

Cheers, Captain Cavanaugh!

Today is the beginning of Mark "Aloha" Koopmans' Cheers Cavanaugh Blogfest. You can find the details, here.

So, we're supposed to answer some questions about Alex. Here they are:

In +/- 20 words, what does Alex look like?

I believe that Alex looks a lot like Geddy Lee, the lead singer of Rush.

In +/- 20 words, who could play Alex in a documentary? (Living or dead.)

Well, as far as I know, documentaries are non-fiction, so I think Alex should play himself, but if he wasn't available, I suppose Daniel Day-Lewis could probably earn an Oscar for his portrayal.

In +/- 20 words, who does Alex remind you of?

Due to his kindness, and how prolific he is in the blogosphere, Alex reminds me of ... me! LOL.

In +/- 40 words, leave a comment for Mrs. Cavanaugh - thanking her for sharing.

Dear Mrs. Cavanaugh, thank you so much for sharing your husband with all us writers! He's the best, most supportive friend any of us could hope for, and we really appreciate you sharing him with us.

We were also supposed to write a piece of flash fiction, which normally I would jump on, but I don't have time today, because of all this:

Also today, my post at YA Confidential is up: (RE: The College Educator Interview) The Answers.

Also, Natalie Aguirre is interviewing one of my favorite author's, Susan Quinn, son today at Literary Rambles.

Also, today is the release date for The Best of Vine Leaves Literary Journal 2012, which I am honored to have a vignette in.

YA Confidential

I'm over at YAC today, writing about a book I just finished. I'll leave comments open here, in case anyone has problems with disqus, but really, you should just head over.

Cover Reveal: Taking Back Forever, by Karen Hooper (designed by Alexandra Shostak)

I'm super excited and incredibly honored today to be one of the hosts for this reveal. Karen and Alexandra are two of my best internet writing friends who I've never met. Together, we're also three tenths of the authors at YA Confidential, being a part of which has been an amazing experience for me, so I'm very thankful to be a part of everything we do over there.

Anyway, all gushing aside, today is the big reveal for Karen's next book in the Kindrily series: Taking Back Forever. Is this not the swirliest, stompingest, most gorgeous cover ever?

I know. When I do covers, I go big. I can't help it. I love this cover just as much as I loved the first one (or maybe even a little more, since I think that might be Alexandra in the photo, rocking those killer stompers).

I've read both of Karen's previous books (the unrelated Tangled Tides, and the first in the Kindrily series, Grasping at Eternity). I recommend them both.

And now, some more about the book, and the lovely ladies who created its cover:

Forever is worth the fight.

Maryah erased all memory of her past lives, but she couldn’t erase her soul mate Nathan, or his undying love. Now, Maryah and Nathan have a second chance at a future together, but first Maryah must remember the person she used to be and embrace her supernatural gifts—more than one kindrily member’s life depends on it.

Maryah’s power is Harmony’s best hope of finding her kidnapped soul mate, Gregory. But Harmony isn’t big on asking anyone for help, and she’s tired of waiting, so she’s taking matters into her own hands. Heaven help anyone who stands in her way.

To celebrate, Karen and Alexandra are giving away signed paperbacks of Grasping at Eternity. (Signed by Karen AND Alexandra!)

Contest is open internationally!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Karen was born and bred in Baltimore, frolicked and froze in Colorado for a couple of years, and is currently sunning and splashing around Florida with her two beloved dogs. She's addicted to coffee, chocolate, and complicated happily-ever-afters. Due to her strong Disney upbringing, she still believes in fairytales and will forever sprinkle magic throughout all of her novels.

www.KarenAmandaHooper.com
Twitter: @karen_hooper

Alexandra Shostak is a writer of dark and fantastical things, mostly meant for teenagers. She is a freelance cover designer, and is available to do covers and interior artwork directly for authors. She is also a former Irish dancer, a guitar player, and the person who can get you through the zombie apocalypse without getting bitten.

If you’re especially worried about the zombie apocalypse, you can find her in one of these places:

www.alexandrashostak.com
www.coversbyalexandra.com
www.yaconfidential.com
or on Twitter as @a_shostak

Please Help Me!

I know, this is lame. And it's a Monday, too. But I do need your help. I put a post up on YA Confidential on Friday, and it didn't get nearly the response I'd hoped for. It probably didn't help that I didn't link to it here, but I don't know whether that was the whole cause.

Please visit the post, and come up with a question for a college educator! I know, most of you are adults like me, but surely some of you have high school aged kids, or at least know some. Either way, we could us their questions!

There's also a free book involved, for anyone whose question is used, but surely the important thing is posterity, no?

This is a Test

Not really. I just thought it would be really cheesy if I titled this post that way, because I'm writing about This is Not a Test, over at YA Confidential today. Please stop by and give it a read.

Other than that, I'm loving the Olympics. I'm pretty sentimental, so I always enjoy that kind of thing. That being said, the best thing on television is The Newsroom. If you missed last night's episode ... wow.

Debate: The Book Thief

I'm doing something (hopefully) interesting today. I'm posting both at Project Middle Grade Mayhem, and at Young Adult Confidential, arguing that The Book Thief is both a MG and a YA Novel.

Why, you ask? Because. Because it's a question that ran through my head while I was reading it, and because it's an important conversation to have about books. So please visit, read and comment.

And you'll notice I did some interesting things with the posts too. Like featuring two different covers of the book (three if you count this post). Anyway, go on, click those links and let us know what you think!

YA Confidential First Post

It's my first post at YA Confidential today, and I've written a tribute to one of my favorite artists. Please stop by, read, and comment. Thank you!

Christine Hardy's Current Query II

First - a few announcements. The A to Z Challenge banner has been removed. It's a little sad, because I'd gotten used to it, but the challenge is over, so it is what it is. The Challenge Reflection post badge is still up, so mark your calendars if you haven't already, and the navigation buttons will stay up for at least a month, because I'm still using them to try to make sure I visit every blog that signed up at least once.

In other news, I'm honored to have been invited to join the group blog YA Confidential, which is an exciting blog about YA Books, writing for young people, and everything in between. Please do visit, and make sure you're following us! Speaking of which, if you're new here, from the challenge, I also blog at Project Middle Grade Mayhem, which is another group blog, with a focus on Middle Grade books and readers, so please check and make sure you're following there as well!

Finally, I know a lot of people are taking some time off after the challenge, but I don't have that luxury. I've got several people waiting for query critiques, so I have to get right back to work. I will dearly miss those nice, easy, short posts, though.

So, here we have Christine Hardy's query, again. You may remember she had a query letter for this same project on the blog not long ago, but she asked me to critique her revision, so he we are. Visit the original post, to find links to Christine's blog.

Here we go:

Dear Agent,

Faldur is a captain in the king’s rangers of Belhanor. He battles rebels, hunts killer lions left over from the last war, and keeps an eye on Marenya, the now-grown daughter of his deceased mentor. When Marenya’s cousin becomes engaged to the crown prince, he is assigned to escort the ladies to the capital for the wedding. Rebels attack them on the road and Marenya allows herself to be captured in her cousin’s place in order to allow an injured Faldur and the bride to escape.

Faldur must leave Marenya behind in order to fulfill his duty, forcing him to realize his feelings for her aren’t as brotherly as he thought they were. By the time he is able to go back for her, she has been taken to a secret stronghold in the mountains by the leader of the rebel movement: the prince’s younger brother who is also Faldur’s long-lost friend.

Marenya believes her captor is under magical thrall to the king’s uncle, who is using him as a puppet to take over the throne. Faldur must decide whether to kill his former friend or help her try to free him, in order to save his country and the woman he loves.

THE GOLDEN GRYPHON is complete in 100,000 words. [insert standard language]

That's it.

Please save your feedback for tomorrow, and thank Christine for her courage in the comments. Happy May Day, everyone!