Book Blast: EKHO by Marie D Jones

Welcome to a rare Saturday post. We're sneaking in on your weekend as part of the EKHO blog tour. Here's the blast about Marie D Jones's cool-sounding MG novel.

EKHO by Marie D. Jones

Ten-year-old Elvis Jones is tired of being picked on, taunted, and teased by the bullies at his elementary school, so he does what any smart, technologically brilliant kid his age would do: he creates EKHO, the Evil Kid Hunting Organization, a sophisticated network of kid spies and secret agents that utilize a variety of cool gadgets to stay one step ahead of the enemy – the bullies. They hire kids, make them swear allegiance to the organization, and train them as Commandos, Privates, and Elite Spies. As kids rise through the ranks, the missions, posted on an encrypted EKHO website, require more smarts and skill, especially when the bullies form their own counterspy group called DEKE (Destroy EKHO Kids Everywhere).

It’s all in good fun, until the kids of EKHO must put their pretend skills to use for far more serious, and dangerous, missions. As field agents come across evidence of more sinister forces, they now have to deal with the strange, weird, and the unknown as they look for the truth about the bizarre and creepy threats to their school, their families, and their own lives. They experience betrayal, intrigue, infiltration and counter-espionage as well as teachers and adults who act more mysterious with each passing day, which leaves Elvis and his EKHO team wondering: who can you trust when the person standing next to you might not be entirely human?

Coming February 4, 2014

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * The Book Depository

Tour Schedule

Author Marie D. Jones

Marie D. Jones is a best-selling author with an extensive background in unknown mysteries, metaphysics, science, and the paranormal. She has been featured multiple times on the History Channel in Ancient Aliens and Nostradamus Effect. Marie also served as a special UFO/abduction consultant for the 2009 Universal Pictures movie, The Fourth Kind. She is a staff writer for FATE Magazine and Intrepid Magazine and a regular contributor to Paranoia Magazine and New Dawn Magazine. Marie has been interviewed on hundreds of radio talk shows all over the world, including Coast to Coast AM, and has been featured in dozens of newspapers, magazines, and online publications, internationally. She has lectured widely at major paranormal, new science, and self-empowerment events, and is the screenwriter and co-producer of 19 Hz, a paranormal thriller in development with Bruce Lucas Films.

Website * Facebook * Twitter

BookBlast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 2/28/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Three Two One Pitch Contest Official Entry Post

This contest is now over. Thanks to everyone who entered. We will announce the winner as soon as our judging editor has made her decision.

So you think you can pitch? Well, it's time! The Three-Two-One pitch contest takes place today and tomorrow (Wednesday and Thursday), November 20th and 21st. Are you ready? Great!

But before you begin posting, take one last look at the rules and regulations:

The Three-Two-One pitch contest goes like this:

THREE - Pitch your story in only three sentences.

TWO - Two days to enter: November 20th and 21st.

ONE - One awesome editor—Courtney Koschel of Month9Books—will judge and pick a winner.

This contest is open to completed and polished manuscripts in the genres of speculative YA and MG.

To be eligible, you must:

• Follow this blog - go ahead and click "Join this Site" or the Bloglovin' button on the right if you haven't already
• Follow Dorothy on Twitter
• Follow Elizabeth on Twitter
• Follow Sandra on Twitter
• Spread the word! Tweet, Blog, or mention on Facebook about the contest linking back to this post

To enter, leave a comment in the comments section in the following format:

• Name and Email
• Title of Manuscript
• Genre
• Wordcount
• Three-sentence Pitch

Remember, no run-on sentences! Each person is allowed two entries. I will turn off comments on Thursday night at midnight.

Good luck, everyone! Can't wait to read your pitches! Ready, set, go!

Heads up for November's Three Two One Pitch Contest

So you think you can pitch? It's time again for us to give aspiring writers everywhere a chance to pitch their manuscript. But this time it's not to a literary agent; it's to an editor at a publishing company! What an exciting opportunity, right? The next Three-Two-One pitch contest takes place November 20th and 21st. This gives you all about three weeks to get your manuscripts and pitches ready. Just a reminder to those who haven't participated before, a Three-Two-One pitch contest goes like this:

• THREE - Pitch your story in only three sentences.
• TWO - Two days to enter: November 20th and 21st.
• ONE - One editor will judge and pick a winner.

Doesn't that sound great? Well then, get those pitches ready!

Do not enter your pitch on this post. We will make an official contest entry post on November 20th and entrants will post their three-sentence pitches (no run on sentences!) in the comments section of that post. At midnight on November 21st, We will turn off comments and no other entries will be accepted. 

We will announce our spectacular judging editor sometime prior to the contest, so keep an eye out!

This contest is open to completed and polished manuscripts in the genres of:

Speculative* Middle Grade
Speculative* Young Adult

To be eligible, you must:

• Follow this blog - go ahead and click "Join this Site" or click the Bloglovin' button on the right if you haven't already
• Follow Dorothy on Twitter
• Follow Elizabeth on Twitter
• Follow Sandra on Twitter
• Spread the word! Tweet, Blog, or mention on Facebook about the contest and link back to this post or the official entry post.

So, don't forget: three sentences, two days to enter, one editor will judge. Good luck, everyone. We can't wait to read all of your pitches. See you back here on the 20th of November! :)

* From Wikipedia: Speculative fiction is an umbrella term encompassing the more fantastical fiction genres, specifically science fiction, fantasy, horror, weird fiction, supernatural fiction, superhero fiction, utopian and dystopian fiction, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, and alternate history in literature as well as related static, motion, and virtual arts.

Three Two One Pitch Contest Official Entry Post

This contest is now closed to additional entries. We will announce the winner as soon as the judging agent informs us of her choice. Thanks to everyone who participated.

So you think you can pitch? Well, it's time! The Three-Two-One pitch contest takes place today and tomorrow (Thursday and Friday), July 25th and 26th. Are you ready? Great!

But before you begin posting, take one last look at the rules and regulations:

The Three-Two-One pitch contest goes like this:

THREE - Pitch your story in only three sentences.

TWO - Two days to enter: July 25th and 26th.

ONE - One awesome agent—Lindsay Ribar of Sanford J. Greenburger Associates—will judge and pick a winner.


This contest is open to unagented, completed and polished manuscripts in the genres of YA and MG.

To be eligible, you must:

• Follow this blog - go ahead and click "Join this Site" on the right if you haven't already
• Follow Dorothy on Twitter
• Follow Elizabeth on Twitter
• Spread the word! Tweet, Blog, or mention on Facebook about the contest linking back to this post

To enter, leave a comment in the comments section in the following format:

• Name and Email
• Title of Manuscript
• Genre
• Wordcount
• Three-sentence Pitch

Remember, no run-on sentences! Each person is allowed two entries. I will turn off comments on Friday at midnight.

Good luck, everyone! Can't wait to read your pitches! Ready, set, go!

Three, Two, One, Pitch Contest: Guest Judge!

Howdy! I am so excited. In only one week, We-Do-Write will host another Three, Two, One Pitch Contest! And to top it off, the fabulous judge of this contest is none other than MY super-agent, Lindsay Ribar of Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. (Check out this interview we did a few months ago.)

Associate agent Lindsay Ribar began her career at Greenburger Associates in 2007, working primarily with science fiction and fantasy authors.  In addition to representing her own clients, she co-reps a select number of authors with senior agent Matt Bialer.

Lindsay grew up in New Jersey, where the only logical thing to do after high school was to move to New York. She majored in drama and English literature at NYU, and now works in book publishing, where she reads other people’s novels by day and writes her own by night. She owns approximately twelve bazillion CD’s, attends far too many concerts, and mainlines nerdy television shows like it’s going out of style. She is fond of wine, Ireland, musicals, long walks around Manhattan, and the color blue.

Lindsay is looking for:

- Young Adult: Paranormal, horror, thriller, and contemporary realistic (no secondary-world fantasy or "issue" books, please)

- Middle Grade: Contemporary realistic, literary stand-alones, paranormal, mystery

- No adult of any genre, please; no chapter- or picture-books

So, if you want the opportunity to pitch to Lindsay Ribar in three sentences, follow the directions here, perfect that pitch, and come back on July 25th. See you soon!

Heads Up! Countdown to the Three Two One Pitch Contest

So you think you can pitch? It's time again for us to give aspiring writers everywhere a chance to pitch to a literary agent. The next Three-Two-One pitch contest takes place July 25th and 26th. This gives you all about three weeks to get your manuscripts and pitches ready. Just a reminder to those who haven't participated before, a Three-Two-One pitch contest goes like this:

THREE - Pitch your story in only three sentences.

TWO - Two days to enter: July 25th and 26th.

ONE - One agent will judge and pick a winner.

Doesn't that sound great? Well then, get those pitches ready!

Do not enter your pitch on this post. We will make an official contest entry post on July 25th and entrants will post their three-sentence pitches (no run on sentences!) in the comments section of that post. At midnight on July 26th, We will turn off comments and no other entries will be accepted. The winner will get a full manuscript request!

We will announce our spectacular judging agent sometime prior to the contest, so keep an eye out!

This contest is open to unagented, completed and polished manuscripts in the genres of:

• Middle Grade
• Young Adult

To be eligible, you must:

1) Follow this blog - go ahead and click "Join this Site" on the right if you haven't already
2) Follow Dorothy on Twitter
3) Follow Elizabeth on Twitter
4) Spread the word! Tweet, Blog, or mention on Facebook about the contest and link back to this post or the official entry post.

So, don't forget: three sentences, two days to enter, one agent will judge. Good luck, everyone. We can't wait to read all of your pitches. See you back here on the 25th of July! :)

Happy Release Day! Parched, by Melanie Crowder

Happy Release Day to Melanie Crowder, author of Middle Grade novel, Parched!

A mesmerizing debut about a girl, a boy, and a dog struggling to survive in a parched and barren land.

Sarel is a girl with secrets. She knows which tree roots reach down deep to pools of precious water. But now she must learn how to keep herself and her dogs alive. Nandi is the leader of those dogs. She knows they can’t last long without water—and she knows, too, that a boy is coming; a boy with the water song inside him.

Musa is that boy. His talent for finding water got him kidnapped by brutal men, yet he's escaped, running away across the thirsty land that nearly claims his life. And so Sarel, Musa, and the dogs come together in what might be their last hope of survival.

Sounds fantastic! I've added it to my TBR pile! Congratulations, Melanie!

Writing Suspenseful Middle Grade

Today, Kai Strand has kindly agreed to give us a little insight into writing suspense for the Middle Grade audience. Thanks so much for joining us, Kai!

Hi, my name is Kai Strand and I’m the author of the newly released middle grade fantasy, Beware of the White. Dorothy was gracious enough to ask me to talk to you today about writing suspenseful middle grade.

I believe there are two key elements needed when writing suspenseful middle grade. First you have to find what matters most to your target audience. And then take it away from the main character. It can be everyday things, such as Xbox, computer time or phone privileges. Or you can concentrate on bigger things like freedom to visit their friends, their allowance or their life.

Yes, I just said take their life away from them – or threaten to. Which brings me to my second key element. Drama. If you want your middle grade audience absorbed in your story, you have to exaggerate the heck out of everything. To them it isn’t an exaggeration. If having a phone to text on 24/7 is important, then taking it away from a main character by having an alligator snap it out of her hand and swallow it – leaving the m.c. with no means of telling her bestie that an alligator just ate her phone…well, that is huge in their world. Plus you used your two elements, taking away something important and doing it in a spectacular fashion.

Speaking of fashion, here is another example. Let’s say your m.c. is a fashionista, at the movie theater with her girlfriends. What would happen if the worker accidentally spilled a large soda down the front of your fashionista’s pale yellow shirt and snow-white shorts? To us adults it would be an inconvenience. We’d be sticky and wet. The stain may not come out. The clothes may need to be replaced. But for your main character (and your middle grade reader who fancies themselves a fashionista too) standing in a stained and dripping frock in the middle of a busy movie theater it is devastating to their carefully crafted reputation.

As adults, we tend to forget that kids don’t come with a fully developed set of life experiences to draw on. They don’t know that what they find horrifying today will simple be a funny memory in the future. The first time they live it – it is HUGE! As a writer, you should play on that. Take away what matters most and do it in a spectacular fashion, your middle grade readers will eat it up and clamor for more.

Oh and speaking of threatening your main character’s life:

About Beware of the White:

As is tradition, Terra learns on the Saturday past her twelfth birthday that she is a Natures Spirit. It is her legacy to serve in the peaceful underground city of Concord. Learning she is named in a prophecy and being threatened by the leader of the death tribe…that part breaks tradition.

The Trepidus are the death janitors of the Underworld, responsible for delivering fatalities with a smile and cleaning up after themselves until Blanco, recent leader of the Trepidus, decides the day of reckoning for his species is coming. He begins organizing the creatures and leads them toward an uprising. The prophecy says there is one person who can stop him. Terra.

With Spirit of Security, Frank, protecting her, Terra attempts to complete her training and discover her Spirit talents. Together, they go on a rogue investigation to learn how to defeat Blanco. In the end, it comes down to a battle of the minds. The future of Concord is at stake. Will Blanco, the older, more experienced being win? Or will Terra, the young, new Spirit earn back the peace of the city?

Buy It:

MuseItUp

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Or look for it on iTunes

  

About the author

Kai Strand writes fiction for kids and teens. Her debut novel, The Weaver, was a finalist in the 2012 EPIC eBook Awards. She is a (very lucky) wife and the mother of four amazing kids. The most common sound in her household is laughter. The second most common is, "Do your dishes!" She and her family hike, geocache, and canoe in beautiful Central Oregon, where they call home.

To find out more about Kai’s books, download companion documents, find links to her published short stories and discover all the places to find Kai both virtually and in person, visit her website: www.kaistrand.com. She loves to hear from readers, so feel free to send her an email or visit her facebook page, Kai Strand, Author. a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Shift of Focus

In February 2010, Dorothy started We Do Write as a way to highlight writers (including yours truly) on their paths to publication. Over the years, some of those up-and-coming writers have become up-and-done-it authors (me again! Eep!) and We Do Write has morphed to showcase those authors and their new books.

This is good! We love this! 

However, after much discussion, Dorothy and I have decided to slightly shift the focus of the blog.

As I'm sure you are aware, we are both YA writers with novels soon available to the reading masses (Dorothy's MY SISTER'S REAPER is due out in June! My novel, CALL ME GRIM, is set for release Fall 2014). Moving forward, we expect (hope, wish, and pray for) an increase of young adult and middle grade aged readers to our blog. With that in mind, we have decided to limit the authors and books we showcase to YA and MG ONLY.

However, we are huge suckers for writer's success stories. So, if you have already been featured on this blog in the past, and you have achieved some level of success (obtained that illusive agent or publishing contract, or your debut is about to be released), please feel free to contact us and we will see if it's possible to make an exception. 

Happy writing!

Happy Book Birthday: The Glitter Trap by Barbara Brauner, James Iver Mattson, and Abigail Halpin

Today marks the release of MG novel THE GLITTER TRAP, written by Barbara Brauner and James Iver Mattson, illustrated by Abigail Halpin.

Middle school is far from a fairytale for adorkable misfit Lacey Unger-Ware. When Lacey ends up with popular girl Paige Harrington's smart-mouthed fairy godmother, Katarina, trapped in her hair, life gets more magical--just not in a 'prince charming' kind of way.

Katarina's wings are too damaged to continue her fairy duties, and Lacey must take over as Paige's fairy godmother. Distracted by her new responsibilities, Lacey's in danger of losing her best friend, Sunny. Can Lacey get the hang of magic, make Paige's dreams come true, and survive middle school?

Barbara Brauner and James Iver Mattson's debut novel is full of heart and charm. Get ready for the Oh My Godmother series to cast a spell on tween girls!

Amazon
Barnes and Noble

Pitch Contest Winners!

Yes, that's right! Winners with an 's' at the end! Here's the message Tricia sent me:

The winners! I would like to see the first 50 pages of each and have them email me with a full query in the email and the first 50 pages as a .doc attachment.

Thank you to all who participated. Great pitching. I am so impressed!

Best,
Tricia L.


1. Sarah G Marsh
AthenaDreaming [at] gmail [dot] com
NO SUCH THING
YA Southern Gothic
60,000 Words

Dare Cleaster doesn’t believe in ghosts any more than she believes in the Tooth Fairy. But on a sweaty summer night, the seventeen-year-old unintentionally wakes a sinister spirit that’s been dormant in the crumbling Waters residence for years, and it refuses to be ignored. Now Dare must figure out how to lay the ghost of Atheleen Waters to rest before she can add to the body count she began over a hundred and fifty years ago.

2. Jennifer Moore
jennycmoore@hotmail.com
AGENT SPARROW AND THE GREAT ROMAN ESCAPADE
MG
18,000 words

An imported stash of nappy pins and surplus baked beans might seem harmless enough, but in the wrong hands and the wrong millennium they can do a surprising amount of damage. With only a photo-booth time machine, a handful of Roman coins and a pocket history guide at their disposal, 10-year old Oliver Sparrow and the bungling Agent Wolf are sent back to Roman Britain to stop the world’s premier evil genius changing the course of British history forever. What starts as a normal school day soon becomes a whirlwind of exciting captures and desperate escapes, of underwear calamities, disgusting Roman food and a very close encounter with a hungry lion.

3. Joan He
joanart6 (at) gmail (dot) com
YA light scifi: INGENICIDE
65k

In the year 2089, education has been reinvented; prodigies run rampant in every imaginable work field. Before the Normals started the "Genocide", a violent movement designed to topple the meritocracy, 16 year old Sibyl Kenschild only wanted to be a Space Manipulator and to design rooms that evoked the deepest stirrings of human emotion. But when the the bullets go off at the post-graduation dance, she realizes that it'll take not a Space Manipulator, nor a prodigy, but a traitor to survive.

Woohoo, congrats to the winners! And great pitching, everyone!

Winners, please email me at dorothyanndreyer [at] gmail [dot] com for details on how to send your materials to Tricia. And for everyone else, get those manuscripts polished, because our next pitch contest takes place in July!

Official Three Two One Pitch Contest Entry Post

This contest is now closed. Thanks to everyone who entered. We will announce the winner as soon as Tricia makes her decision. Good luck, everyone!

So you think you can pitch? Well, it's time! The Three-Two-One pitch contest takes place today and tomorrow (Thursday and Friday), April 25th and 26th. Are you ready? Great!

But before you begin posting, take one last look at the rules and regulations:

The Three-Two-One pitch contest goes like this:

THREE - Pitch your story in only three sentences.

TWO - Two days to enter: April 25th and 26th.

ONE - One awesome agent—Tricia Lawrence of the Erin Murphy Literary Agency—will judge and pick a winner.


This contest is open to unagented, completed and polished manuscripts in the genres of YA and MG.

To be eligible, you must:

• Follow this blog - go ahead and click "Join this Site" on the right if you haven't already
• Follow Dorothy on Twitter
• Follow Elizabeth on Twitter
• Spread the word! Tweet, Blog, or mention on Facebook about the contest linking back to this post

To enter, leave a comment in the comments section in the following format:

• Name and Email
• Title of Manuscript
• Genre
• Wordcount
• Three-sentence Pitch

Remember, no run-on sentences! Each person is allowed two entries. I will turn off comments on Friday at midnight.

Good luck, everyone! Can't wait to read your pitches!

Official Entry Post for the Three Two One Pitch Contest

This contest is now closed. Thank you for all your entries. I will announce the winner as soon as literary agent Marie Lamba makes her decision. Stay tuned!

So you think you can pitch? It's time for aspiring writers everywhere to pitch to awesome literary agent Marie Lamba of the Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency. The contest starts today, November 15th, and closes at midnight on the 16th. Just a reminder to those who haven't participated before, a Three-Two-One pitch contest goes like this:

THREE - Pitch your story in only three sentences. No run-ons!

TWO - Two days to enter: November 15th and 16th.

ONE - One agent, Marie Lamba, will judge and pick a winner.

This contest is open to unagented, completed and polished manuscripts in the genres of:

• YA
• MG
• Contemporary Fiction
• Women's Fiction
• Some memoir

Books that are moving and/or hilarious are especially welcome. NO picture books, science fiction, or high fantasy (though paranormal elements are acceptable), category romance (though romantic elements are welcome), non-fiction, or books that feature graphic violence.

Each contestant is allowed two entries.

To be eligible, you must:

• Follow this blog - go ahead and click "Join this Site" on the right if you haven't already
• Follow me on Twitter
• Spread the word! Tweet, Blog, or mention on Facebook about the contest linking back to this post

Not necessary, but in the spirit of paying it forward:

• Friend me on Goodreads
• Like my Facebook Author Page

Entries should be formulated in the following manner, right here in the comments section:

• Your name
• Your email
• Title of your manuscript
• Genre
• Word count
• Three-sentence pitch

So, don't forget: Three sentences, two days to enter, one agent will judge. Good luck, everyone. Can't wait to read all your pitches. On your mark, get set, GO!

Introducing the Judging Agent for November's Three Two One Pitch Contest

Our Three-Two-One Pitch contest will be taking place next week, and I bet you're all dying to know who the judging agent is. Well, I'm pleased to announce that I've lined up an awesome one for you, one I'm sure you'll be excited about.

Our judging agent is:
Marie Lamba of the Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency!

Marie Lamba joined JDLA as an Associate Agent in 2011. She is the author of the young adult novel WHAT I MEANT . . . (Random House), and her work appears in the short story anthology LIAR LIAR (Mendacity Press) and the anthology CALL ME OKAASAN: ADVENTURES IN MULTICULTURAL MOTHERING (Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing). Marie's articles appear in more than 100 publications, including national magazines such as Writer's Digest, Garden Design, and RWR. She has worked as an editor, an award-winning public relations writer, and a book publicist, has taught classes on novel writing and author promotion, and is a member of Romance Writers of America and The Liars Club.

Here's what Marie says she's open to for the contest:

Young adult and middle-grade fiction, along with general and women's fiction and some memoir.  Books that are moving and/or hilarious are especially welcome.  I am NOT interested in picture books, science fiction, or high fantasy (though I am open to paranormal elements), category romance (though romantic elements are welcome), non-fiction, or in books that feature graphic violence.


The contest will take place November 15th and 16th. I will make an official entry post, and contestants will leave their three-sentence pitch in the comments section of that post. For more details, click here.

I'm very happy to have Marie judge this round. Be sure to follow the blog, and get those pitches ready, folks!

Details for November's Three Two One Pitch Contest

So you think you can pitch? Once again we'll be giving aspiring writers everywhere a chance to pitch to a literary agent. The next Three-Two-One pitch contest takes place November 15th and 16th. This gives you all about one month to get your manuscripts and pitches ready. Just a reminder to those who haven't participated before, a Three-Two-One pitch contest goes like this:

THREE - Pitch your story in only three sentences.

TWO - Two days to enter: November 15th and 16th.

ONE - One agent will judge and pick a winner.

Doesn't that sound great? Well then get those pitches ready!

Do not enter your pitch on this post. I will make an official contest entry post on November 15th, and entrants will post their three-sentence pitches (no run on sentences!) in the comments section of that post. At midnight on November 16th, I will turn off comments and no other entries will be accepted. The winner will get a full manuscript request!

I will announce our spectacular judging agent sometime prior to the contest, so keep an eye out!

This contest is open to unagented, completed and polished manuscripts in the genres of:

• YA
• MG
• Contemporary Fiction
• Women's Fiction
• Some memoir

Books that are moving and/or hilarious are especially welcome. NO picture books, science fiction, or high fantasy (though paranormal elements are acceptable), category romance (though romantic elements are welcome), non-fiction, or books that feature graphic violence.

To be eligible, you must:

• Follow this blog - go ahead and click "Join this Site" on the right if you haven't already
• Follow me on Twitter
• Spread the word! Tweet, Blog, or mention on Facebook about the contest linking back to this post

Not necessary, but in the spirit of paying it forward:

• Friend me on Goodreads
• Like my Facebook Author Page

So, don't forget: Three sentences, two days to enter, one agent will judge. Good luck, everyone. Can't wait to read all your pitches. See you back here on the 15th of November! :)

Guest Post: Christina G Gaudet - The Lure of Magic in MG and YA Books

The Lure of Magic in MG and YA Books

by Christina G Gaudet

When I was asked to write a post about the lure of magic in middle grade and young adult novels, I thought “Great! Easy! I’ve been drawn to books with magic in them my whole life, so I can just talk about personal experience.” But as I started to write, I realised I had no idea what drew me to those stories.

There are two types of books with magic in them that are particularly popular right now. First, there are the stories of adventure with a clear bad guy to hate and a good guy to love. The main character develops their skills with magic, or makes friends with someone with magic in order to save the day. This type of story is what I consider the more traditional style of fantasy. In MG and YA, the genre is still led by J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter.

What’s really attractive about this type of story is that readers know exactly who to cheer for. They can place themselves in the position of the hero and can live vicariously through them throughout the adventures of the story. Through the hero, readers can use the magic all of us have wanted to posses at some point in our lives. Magic helps to intensify everything that occurs in the story, from the good to the bad, making the story more exciting than possible in “real life.”

Second, readers are looking for magical characters to fall in love with. These types of stories are less about an outward struggle against an evil being, but instead about an impossible romance where the magic keeps the two swoon-worthy lovers apart. This type of story is known as paranormal romance and Twilight, by Stephanie Meyer dominated this genre for a long time.

In these types of stories, there’s a sense that the events are happening in the real world. If we as readers could only get to the right place at the right time, we too could experience the supernatural events. The magic is created to seem so realistic that part of us hopes the hot supernatural guy/girl in the story will leap from the page and sweep us off our feet. 

There are many other types of stories out there that include magic, but those two seem to be the most attractive to both readers and writers right now. Magic in stories has been around for a lot longer than these two examples and can be traced back to stories by Tamora Pierce and Lloyd Alexander who I personally read while growing up, all the way to Greek and Roman mythology. Magic has always been an exciting way to explain the unexplainable. 

It’s hard to put my finger on what exactly draws me to magic. Perhaps it has something to do with the way it can punch up the excitement of a story, create impossible and wonderful characters, and explain the unexplainable. But, I think what really draws me to magic is that it allows me to believe there’s more to the world then I can ever know, and only my imagination is the limit to what’s possible.

While its popularity might rise and fall over time, magic will be featured in stories as long as novels exist.

Christina G Gaudet is a young adult author. When not writing, Christina can be found working on comics, illustrations and designs. She grew up and continues to live in Prince Edward Island, Canada where having red hair instantly makes you famous.

Blurb from THE BOX by Christina G Gaudet

Some gifts should be left unopened.

When her gran passes away, the only item left to Lou is a small wooden box. Although it’s not the car that her sister, Cindy, receives, Lou knows it could have been worse. She could have gotten Gran’s collection of toenails. When Lou opens the box and a guy the size of a stick of gum falls out; she changes her mind – the nail clippings would have been better.

Not a day goes by that Lou doesn’t wish she could shove that guy back in the box and pretend she’d never laid eyes on him. Because of him, she discovered Gran was a sorceress and Cindy is a witch and all these years they have been keeping Lou’s magic locked away “for her own safety.” Without the magic she’s vulnerable to whoever, or whatever, is after her. With it, she’s a target for a fate worth than death.


Excerpt

I think I make a squeaking sound, though it might be a full out scream. Either way, the thing hears me and turns its heads—because one head isn’t bad enough—and looks directly at me. All of those lessons kick in and I react without thinking, pirouetting on my right foot and bolting as fast as I can into the darkness of the trees.

“Bad bad bad,” I say as I run.

“What?” Al’s voice is tight with fright. “What is it? What’s happening?”

“Creature.” I gasp. “Bad.”

It’s gaining on me. I can practically feel the heat of its breath. A glance over my shoulder and I see it’s not breath I feel. The bloody thing is shooting fire. From one of its mouths. I am so dead.

As I’m turning to face forward again so I can pick up speed, I realize at the last second the creature’s muscles are tensing as it prepares to leap. I stop and spin around to the side, my arms guiding the huge beast past me as I’ve done a hundred times for normal human attacks in practice. Most people don’t have teeth and claws to rip at your skin as they pass. With the creature facing the wrong way, I run back in the direction of the car. The size of the thing, I should have a decent head start before it can turn all the way around. Plus, I should be helping Cindy. I guess.

I’m wrong. It’s fast. Faster than anything its size should be able to move. This time when I turn to meet the attack, I do a spinning kick my master would be proud of. My foot lands hard on one of the heads, knocking it back for a second. The problem is the kick only seems to surprise the creature rather than hurt it. When I kick again, it easily dodges out of the way and sweeps its snake tail around to whip the back of my legs.

I fall to the ground and attempt to scramble away, but it’s no good. Holding the lipstick container hard against my chest, I wait for the inevitable pain and death.

“Sorry Al,” is the last thing I say.

Links

Website - www.ChristinaGGaudet.com
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christina-G-Gaudet/150492618347433
Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4985004.Christina_Gaudet
Twitter - https://twitter.com/CGGaudet
Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Christina-G-Gaudet/e/B007DKZ1ZO
Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/christinaggaudet

Pitch Contest Reminder

You didn't forget, did you? I hope not, because the Three-Two-One Pitch contest is afoot. It all takes place August 20th (my birthday) and 21st. To remind you all what the contest entails, it goes something like this:

THREE - Pitch your story in only three sentences. 

TWO - Two days to enter: August  20th and 21st.

ONE - One agent will judge and pick a winner.

Doesn't that sound great? Well then get those pitches ready!


Do not enter your pitch on this post. I will make an official contest entry post on August 20th, and entrants will post their three-sentence pitches (no run-on sentences!) in the comments section of that post. At midnight on August 21st, I will turn off comments and no other entries will be accepted. Do your best, because the winner will get a full manuscript request from our judging agent!

I will announce our spectacular judging agent sometime this week, so keep an eye out!

This contest is open to unagented, completed and polished manuscripts in the genres of:

• MG
• YA (no paranormal, urban fantasy, romance [ unless there is a superb dark, psychotic element ], or magical realism)
• New Adult
• Graphic Novels

To be eligible, you must:

• Follow this blog - go ahead and click "Join this Site" on the right if you haven't already
• Follow me on Twitter
• Spread the word! Tweet, Blog, or mention on Facebook about the contest linking back to this post

Not necessary, but in the spirit of paying it forward:

• Friend me on Goodreads
• Like my Facebook Author Page
• Check out my upcoming debut (and maybe mark it as to-read) on Goodreads

So, don't forget: Three sentences, two days to enter, one agent will judge. Good luck, everyone. Can't wait to read all your pitches. See you back here soon!

The Three Two One Pitch Contest!

This contest is now closed. Good luck to everyone who entered. I will announce the winner as soon as Natalie makes her decision. Thanks to everyone who participated.


It's finally here! The official post for the Three Two One Pitch contest. Are your pitches ready? Great! Let's go over the rules one more time before you hit that "comment" button too quickly.

• THREE - Pitch your story in only three sentences. 
• TWO - Two days to enter: June 7th and 8th.
• ONE - One awesome agent—Natalie Lakosil of The Bradford Literary Agency— will judge and pick a winner.

How do you enter? Make sure you follow the directions correctly! In the comments section of this post, type in the following information:

• Name and email
• Title of your manuscript
• Genre of your manuscript
• Word count
• Three-sentence pitch. (No more than three sentences or you'll be disqualified.)

Leave a space between your word count and pitch to make it easier for Natalie. You have from now until midnight (EDT), June 8th, to enter. After that, I will turn off comments and no other entries will be accepted. The winner will be announced when the judging is done and will get a full manuscript request from Natalie!

This contest is open to unagented, completed and polished manuscripts in the genres of:

• MG
• YA
• Contemporary, Paranormal, or Historical Romance
• Upmarket Women's Fiction
• Sci-Fi and Fantasy
• Thrillers and Darker Contemporary Fiction

You may enter pitches for up to TWO different manuscripts, but they must be in separate comments.


To be eligible, you must:

• Follow this blog - go ahead and click "Join this Site" on the right if you haven't already
• Follow me on Twitter
• Spread the word! Tweet, Blog, or mention on Facebook about the contest linking back to this post

Not necessary, but in the spirit of paying it forward:

• Friend me on Goodreads
• Like my Facebook Author Page

Good luck, everyone. Can't wait to read all your pitches. On your mark, get set, pitch!

Three Two One Pitch Contest

Attention writers! Have you been working hard on the next great novel? Is your manuscript ready to pitch to an agent? Well, you're in luck, because I'm holding a pitch contest right here on the blog June 7th! What exactly does this contest entail? Well, it's a Three-Two-One pitch contest.

THREE - Pitch your story in only three sentences. 


TWO - Two days to enter: June 7th and 8th.


ONE - One agent will judge and pick a winner.

Doesn't that sound great? Well then get those pitches ready!


Do not enter your pitch on this post. I will make an official contest entry post on June 7th, and entrants will post their three-sentence pitches (no run on sentences - this agent is a stickler for grammar!) in the comments section of that post. At midnight on June 8th, I will turn off comments and no other entries will be accepted. The winner will get a full manuscript request!

I will announce our spectacular judging agent sometime prior to the contest, so keep an eye out!

This contest is open to unagented, completed and polished manuscripts in the genres of:

• MG
• YA
• Contemporary, Paranormal, or Historical Romance
• Upmarket Women's Fiction
• Sci-Fi and Fantasy
• Thrillers and Darker Contemporary Fiction

To be eligible, you must:

• Follow this blog - go ahead and click "Join this Site" on the right if you haven't already
• Follow me on Twitter
• Spread the word! Tweet, Blog, or mention on Facebook about the contest linking back to this post

Not necessary, but in the spirit of paying it forward:

• Friend me on Goodreads
• Like my Facebook Author Page

So, don't forget: Three sentences, two days to enter, one agent will judge. Good luck, everyone. Can't wait to read all your pitches. See you back here on the 7th of June!

Official Entry Post for the Perfect Pitch Contest

Here it is: The post you've all been waiting for! I hope your pitches are polished and perfected, because it's time to show literary agent Mandy Hubbard what you've got.


Let's go over the rules, shall we?
In order to be eligible for the contest, you must:

• Be an un-agented writer of YA or MG
• Pitch a completed manuscript
• Follow my blog
• Tweet, blog, or post a Facebook update about the contest with a link

It also wouldn't hurt to follow Mandy's blog. Or my Twitter.


And now for the entry details. Please post the following as a comment:

• Title
• Genre
• Word Count
• 140-character pitch
• Email address

The comments section will be open now until Friday, August 19th, at midnight. (Although you might get lucky and I'll forget to shut comments off until the next day, August 20th, which is my birthday. *wink*) D4EO agent Mandy Hubbard will then begin her search for the winning pitch.


That said, let the pitching begin. Good luck, everyone!