Blog Tour Stop - LACRIMOSA by Christine Fonseca!!

I am thrilled to be able to host a blog tour stop for my dear friend Christine Fonseca and her debut novel LACRIMOSA. Christine has a fun and exciting tour going on, so if you've missed any stops so far, be sure to click the links below to catch all of it. Christine has been reading excerpts of the opening chapters of her book and each blog tour stop contains a clue for a super awesome giveaway at the end of the tour AND for our leg of the tour, one lucky entry (you must fill out the form below) will be winning an awesome prize pack filled with Nesy's favorite things!

I am so excited to be with Michelle McLean on the Operation Awesome blog celebrating the release of my debut novel, LACRIMOSA. Before we get started with the tour post, here is a little blurb about the story:

It’s been three thousand years since the fall of Azzaziel and the rebirth of evil; three thousand years since the Sentinal Order, an elite group of warrior angels, returned to Celestium. Their job—rid Earth of the dark creatures, the UnHoly. And with luck, end Azza’s rule. 
As if casting out demons isn’t hard enough, five-hundred-year-old Nesy has to masquerade as a teenage girl to do it. Nesy is the best of the Sentinals. She never makes mistakes, never hesitates, never gets emotionally involved. Until she meets Aydan. 
He is evil incarnate; a fallen angel that feeds off the souls of others. Everything Nesy is supposed to hate. But she can’t, because he’s also the love of her former life as a human girl—a life that ended too soon, tying her to emotions she was never supposed to feel. 
Now Nesy must choose between doing her duty—damning Aydan to the fiery depths of hell—or saving him, and condemning herself. And her choice may cost her, and Celestium, far more than anyone realizes.

Today I am finishing up Nesy's chapter with the final part of my reading. Be sure to check out next week's tour to see chapter 2.





Miss parts 1 or 2 of the reading? Check out Rebecca Enzor's blog from Monday, or Angela Brown's blog on Tuesday.

And don't miss tomorrow's vlog on ArtistaDonna Nata's blog  - my blooper real from trying to get through this reading. Trust me - it took a LOT of takes to get this right! And be certain to check out the entire schedule for the tour here - there are special giveaways throughout the tour...

including the EPIC Nesy Prize pack filled with her favorite things:

Just complete the form below.





You can enter up to twice daily (through the tour and my blog).

And there's more - collect the daily clues to enter the EPIC grand prize giveaway that includes books, swag and a special surprise.

Today's clue - ZANE

Availability:


Publisher: COMPASS PRESS
ISBN: 0984786368 (ISBN 13: 9780984786367)
Hardback and Digital formats from Amazon, Barnes and Noble and fine retailers.
Kindle buy link
Nook buy link

Additional Titles in the series include DIES IRAE (a Requiem Novella), LIBERA ME (Oct 2012) and REQUIEM (March 2013).

And check out the book trailer!!

Awesome Book Reviews: PIECES OF US by Margie Gelbwasser

Two families. Four teens. 
A summer full of secrets. 

Every summer, hidden away in a lakeside community in upstate New York, four teens leave behind their old identities…and escape from their everyday lives. 

Yet back in Philadelphia during the school year, Alex cannot suppress his anger at his father (who killed himself), his mother (whom he blames for it), and the girls who give it up too easily. His younger brother, Kyle, is angry too—at his abusive brother, and at their mother who doesn’t seem to care. Meanwhile, in suburban New Jersey, Katie plays the role of Miss Perfect while trying to forget the nightmare that changed her life. But Julie, her younger sister, sees Katie only as everything she’s not. And their mother will never let Julie forget it. 

Up at the lake, they can be anything, anyone. Free. But then Katie’s secret gets out, forcing each of them to face reality—before it tears them to pieces.

Review: Holy bananas. Pieces of Us can be described using those two words. Why? First off, it's the kind of book that makes you want to write better. Gelbwasser gives us four narrators--three who speak in first person POV, and one who speaks in second person POV. Thankfully, each voice is distinctive (my personal favorite was the second person POV; it heightens how detached the narrator feels to what happens around them). Gelbwasser did a flawless job at crafting characters that both complement and conflict with each other. Her novel is practically a crash course in voice, and how it can push the plot forward. Although it was difficult for me to enjoy all her narrators, Gelbwasser never let me forget how important it is to add depth and resonance to an unlikeable character. If you remove even one of her narrators, Pieces of Us just wouldn't be as powerful to me. 

Another reason why this novel works for me is because of the actual plot. Some things are hard to stomach, to be honest. Others are so, so beautiful and sweet and wow. But all of it is written in such a way that you have to keep reading (that is, if you're comfortable reading novels with topics on the heavy side). There's this unshakeable sense of dread, that something MAJOR and MESSED UP will happen at any second (especially when it comes to Katie's secret, which the book blurb alludes to). It takes a skilled writer to make me flip the pages when all I want to do is cry. And, oh boy, did I cry. Very few novels have made me bawl my eyes out, but Pieces of Us achieved it, folks. With clear, straightforward prose that's filled with magic. 

No, it's not a novel for everyone. But if you're a fan of contemporary YA, particularly of Courtney Summers and/or Nina LaCour, this is your book. 

Make sure to get your copy of Pieces of Us, which is on sale now!

March Mystery Agent REVEALED + Winner(s)!!

Folks, I am super pleased to reveal our March Mystery Agent. Give a warm welcome to...

Sarah LaPolla from Curtis Brown, LTD!!

And now for Sarah's picks! The winner of a FULL manuscript request is...

Chelsey's VOICE

YA magical realism

Pitch: Rendered mute thanks to a crippling anxiety disorder, seventeen-year-old Kyra Anderson lets her art speak for her, but a painting won't fix the riff between her and her stepsister so she accepts a deal from a stranger on a messageboard: she'll be able to speak for herself, if she trades away her artistic talent.

CONGRATS, Chelsey!!! Please send your winning entry to Sarah with your query pasted in the body of the email, and your full manuscript attached as a Word .doc to sl (at) cbltd (dot) com!!

Now for the runners-up! The winners of a partial request (first THREE chapters) are...

ilima's A SINGLE FEATHER

Gina's LAST YEAR'S MISTAKE

Stephanie's EXTRACTION

Congrats, ladies!!! Please email your first three chapters to Sarah at sl (at) cbltd (dot) com!!

And, of course, we couldn't let Sarah go without an interview! Check out her awesome below:

1) It says on the Curtis Brown website that you "love complex characters, coming-of-age stories, and strong narrators". Which published novels have you read recently that fit this description?

To me, The Outsiders fits that description completely. It has all three criteria, and I still want to reach into the page and hug Ponyboy. I guess that doesn’t answer the question “what I’ve read recently” because I’ve read that several times over the last 15 years. The most recent title I’ve read with this description is the new Francesca Lia Block title, Pink Smog. I had only recently discovered Weetzie Bat and now I understand why so many people in my generation loved it so much. Pink Smog is the prequel that has the same engaging character, but is almost like her origin story. It’s the definition of a coming-of-age story, but because it’s Weetzie, there’s a magical twist.

2) It's no secret that you're a Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan (being one myself, it's impossible to blame you!). What do you think writers can learn from the show? Are there any other shows you think writers can learn a lot from?

Not to get too self-promotional, but I actually wrote a blog post about what writers can learn from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, specifically in terms of character development: http://bigglasscases.blogspot.com/2011/02/fire-bad-tree-pretty.html. The show is not without flaws, but the writing quality in terms of a series arc is just impeccable. Other shows can be just as educational. For pacing, I recommend watching The Vampire Diaries, which puts more plot twists into one episode than most other shows have all season. For dialogue, it’s hard to top The West Wing. Even if your characters aren’t as educated or high profile, but in terms of delivery and timing, it’s a good writing lesson. I also think you can learn a lot from Lost. The plot of Lost was irrelevant from the beginning, so in that sense it could be a lesson on what not to do in terms of leaving plot holes and dragging stories out too long. But I think writers can learn a lot from it on how to world build, create strong characters, and keep your readers intrigued.

3) Not only do you feature short stories submitted by writers on your blog, Glass Cases, but you're a writer yourself. What's the hardest part about your writing process? The most fun?

The hardest part is definitely finding the time to write. I tend to let everything else come before my own writing, but I’ve been getting better at reserving a small chunk of time for myself each week. I used to write nonfiction, but I’m determined to finish a YA novel this year. Making the shift to fiction was difficult. When I first started my current WIP, it was closely autobiographical. Now my characters have taken on lives of their own and a plot has formed, and it seems surreal that I actually wrote it. I also don’t write linearly, so now that I’m piecing everything together and seeing the larger picture it feels real. That’s been the fun part.

4) Any tips for writers struggling with their one-line pitches?

One-line pitches are tough. I think the best way to do it is to take your query and remove any unnecessary character descriptions and back-story. Ask yourself what your story is about. Not thematically or existentially. We don’t need to hear that it’s about your character learning to find herself or dealing with some larger issue. We need to know what it is that makes your character go through that.  

5) Do you have any exciting client/agency news to share?

I’m super excited for two new YA titles coming out from Simon Pulse in 2013. KM Walton’s follow-up to CRACKED will be published in the spring. It’s called EMPTY and will also deal with bullying and teenage depression. The main character is named Adele and she’s just so funny and heartbreaking. I love her. The other title is a debut from Christa Desir called TRAINWRECK. It’s told from a teen boy’s perspective of what happens when the girl he loves is raped and how badly he wants to make it all better. It’s such a powerful boo, and it’ll be published in the fall. I can’t wait!

Thanks SO MUCH to Sarah for being our March Mystery Agent!! If you'd like to find out more about her,  check out these sites:

Twitter

QueryTracker

Publishers Marketplace

Literary Rambles

Interview at Mother. Write. Repeat.

Interview at YA Highway

Make sure you tune in next month for yet another contest!! Have a great Thursday! :)

YA News

Just thought I'd share with you a post on Angry Robot's new YA imprint, Strange Chemistry. They have an awesome post on March YA releases. Check it out here.

And while you're there, Check out the news on the Open Door Submission. If you've completed a YA manuscript, that is F/SF, then you have a shot at being a part of their new imprint. Last year, during the Angry Robot open door submission, 3 authors were chosen (so far). 

And lastly, my super cool friend, Cole Gibsen, has a book coming out this week. Matter of fact, there have been sightings already in some books stores.

BUY IT HERE

Rileigh Martin would love to believe that adrenaline had given her the uncanny courage and strength to fend off three muggers. But it doesn't explain her dreams of 15th-century Japan, the incredible fighting skills she suddenly possesses, or the strange voice giving her battle tips and danger warnings. 

While worrying that she's going crazy (always a reputation ruiner), Rileigh gets a visit from Kim, a handsome martial arts instructor, who tells Rileigh she's harboring the spirit of a five-hundred-year-old samurai warrior. 

Relentlessly attacked by ninjas, Rileigh has no choice but to master the katana--a deadly Japanese sword that's also the key to her past. As the spirit grows stronger and her feelings for Kim intensify, Rileigh is torn between continuing as the girl she's always been and embracing the warrior inside her

Cover Reveal: PRETTY AMY

I'm thrilled to be part of the cover reveal for Lisa Burstein's PRETTY AMY! I've been an online friend of Lisa's throughout her agent search and submission, and now at last, her funny YA contemporary is being released by Entangled Teen May 15, 2012. WOOHOO!

This is what PRETTY AMY is about:

Amy is fine living in the shadows of beautiful Lila and uber-cool Cassie, because at least she's somewhat beautiful and uber-cool by association. But when their dates stand them up for prom, and the girls take matters into their own hands, earning them a night in jail outfitted in satin, stilettos, and Spanx. Amy discovers even a prom spent in handcuffs might be better than the humiliating rehabilitation techniques now filling up her summer. Worse, with Lila and Cassie parentally banned, Amy feels like she has nothing -- like she is nothing.

Navigating unlikely alliances with her new coworker, two very different boys, and possibly even her parents, Amy struggles to decide if it's worth being a best friend when it makes you a public enemy. Bringing readers along on an often hilarious and heartwarming journey, Amy finds that maybe getting a life only happens once you think your life is over.

Isn't the cover lovely? Looks like poor Amy doesn't know what's in store for her.

PRETTY AMY by Lisa Burstein will be out May 15 in paperback and e-book from Entangled Teen.

Add it on Goodreads

Pre-order at Amazon

Pre-order at Barnes and Noble

Opening the Vault

Creak! *blows off dust*


I just cracked open the file for a novel I have thought about a lot but barely looked at since the last major revision last March.

It's DEADWOOD, the MG contemporary fantasy that will be published by Pugalicious Press, and I'm working through my editorial letter. I followed the usual advice not to revise while submitting, but now it's been a long time. What plot holes and clunky phrases were inserted over the past year? I'm a little frightened.

I'm not a patient person, so I don't usually let manuscripts rest like this. I write, then revise right away, and revise again. But I do love revising, so I have a couple manuscripts that aren't quite there yet that might make their way out of the vault to be revised after DEADWOOD.

Some of my writing friends, including my brilliant Operation Awesome blogmates, have had tremendous success writing and rewriting favorite old manuscripts, or even picking on the bones of old ones to come up with a new one. A lot of advice I've seen goes against revisiting or focusing too much on old manuscripts in favor of new ones, but different things work for different writers.

What's the longest you've ever let a manuscript rest between revisions? Do you have anything in your trunk that you plan to revive someday, or do you move on right away?

March Mystery Agent CONTEST!!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED!! Thanks to all who participated!! :)

Here we go again, folks! Today is our March Mystery Agent Contest! Make sure you read our Mystery Agent's preferred genres post, which also includes the genres our MA isn't interested in. 

Now. Let's get this party started, shall we??

Here are ze official rules for the contest:

1) Entries must be left in the comments section of this post (please don't email/Tweet entries to us. You won't be entered into the contest if you do).

2) Your manuscript must be completed and ready to send upon request. 

3) You can only pitch once today (only one project). If you participated in previous MA contests, you may enter this one as well.

4) Please include TITLE and GENRE along with your pitch.

5) Your pitch must be one sentence long. The exact word count is up to you, but remember: stick to the point!

6) The contest will close once we receive 50 entries. 

7) The winner will receive a FULL manuscript request! Our Mystery Agent may or may not choose runners-up as well, but it's totally up to them.

Okay. That's enough of me for today. Go forth and pitch, my blogging buddies!! Best of luck to all who enter!! 

February Mystery Agent REVEALED + Winners!!!

I am uber thrilled to finally reveal our supermegaawesome February Mystery Agent!!

Brianne Johnson of Writers House!!

Not only did Brianne pick a winner, she picked A LOT of runners up! And folks, when I say a lot, I mean it. Here. Let me show you.

The winner of a FULL REQUEST is...

Francesca Zappia's ALEXYTHIMIA!

Pitch: Alexandra Ridgemont is a paranoid schizophrenic whose biggest concern is worrying about than what’s real and what’s not—until the rumored-to-be-possessed scoreboard in her high school gymnasium starts talking, and not just to her.

And here's what Brianne had to say: LOVE the idea of such an unreliable protagonist!  I also find it relatively rare to feature a formally diagnosed mentally-ill character.

Here are Brianne's 5 runners-up, who each won a FIRST 50 PAGES REQUEST!! And read on to see what Brianne had to say about each one!

1. Linda Jackson

Title: A PLACE TO CALL HOME

Genre: Middle Grade

Pitch: Twelve-year-old Stacey Graham is not happy when she finds out that the only person willing to take her and her younger siblings in after the deaths of their mother and beloved “Granny” is their uncle Percy, who lives in the back of his funeral home.

Brianne: I think this could be a really interesting opportunity to see kids confronted with death so frankly.  Everyone has a moment in their childhoods where they really comprehend what death is and I think this should be written a bit more about for kids.

2. staceylee

Title: GOLDEN BOYS

Genre: YA historical fiction

Pitch: When a 15-year-old Chinese girl kills a Missouri landowner in self-defense, she and a runaway slave disguise themselves as young men and seek their freedom in the frontier with a band of cowboys.

Brianne: This sounds like a good old-fashioned adventure story.  Love the idea of a Chinese protagonist in the Wild West—I feel like that was a really challenging time for new immigrants.  An intriguing set-up.

3. Rebecca

Title: Here Comes the Sun

Genre: YA Contemporary

Pitch: Amid the great castles and cathedrals of England, a high school senior loses her best friend to sluts, falls for a Beatles fanatic who's heart belongs to a tattooed-covered felon back in Chicago, and gets felt up by a Dungeons and Dragons freak.

Brianne: Sounds very voice-y, and I’m a sucker for a strong, weird, alterna-girl character.


4. andimjulie  *NOTE: Brianne's already considering this one

Title: THE SYMPTOMS OF OUR SHADOWS

Genre: YA Contemporary

Pitch: When sixteen-year-old former ballerina, Alice, learned she was terminally ill she made a list of things to do and people to ruin–– all her scores were settled, until she went into remission.

Brianne: This just sounds really different and refreshing to me.  Usually (and rightfully so) terminally-ill characters are set up as undisputed victims.  I like the sound of one with a bitchy streak and some scores to settle. 

5. Rebecca L Sutton

Title: The Savage Days and Nights of Orion Marx

Genre: MG Adventure

Pitch: 12-year-old Orion Marx has five days to journey from Brooklyn to San Francisco to save his uncle and reverse his growth accelerator invention, but he’ll need a lot more than the bug spray to fend off mosquitoes larger than pigeons if he has any chance of surviving in this deadly new world.

Brianne: I love a road-trip story…and kid inventors!

And now for Brianne's honorable mentions!!! Each one can send a QUERY LETTER and the FIRST FIVE PAGES!!

ilima

Title: A SINGLE FEATHER

Genre: YA fantasy

Pitch: Chief Mamo is tempted to abandon his island’s caste system to be with the carefree girl he loves, but when a power hungry foreigner threatens the livelihood of his people, Mamo must decide between duty and love.

Brianne: Great set-up for a story, but not a great pitch.  “Must decide between duty and love” sounds a bit clichéd.

Laura Barnes

Title: sWitch

Genre: MG contemporary fantasy

Pitch: When Mina's magic doesn't come in on her thirteenth birthday, she finds she's not a witch but was switched at birth, a discovery that leads her on a life-changing adventure to find the real witch.

Brianne: Seems like an original take on a popular theme.  Like that the kid finds out that she’s NOT magical.  Pitch could be more developed, but idea is interesting.

DMcWild

Title: PLANTED (I CAN WATER MYSELF)

Genre: YA Science Fiction

Pitch: A humanlike girl with a strange affinity to plants arrives on earth to save our garden from invasion, but her airborne immunization plan to protect us from alien infestation requires pollinating with a teenage human male within five days before she grows eighteen-days-old and her spore sack explodes.

Brianne: Love the title, and points for originality!  Kind of Douglas-Adamsy.  I almost don’t believe that this is a real story that’s been written—it seems like a parody to me.

Danielle B.

Title: STAYERS

Genre: YA Horror

Pitch: Thirteen year old Gabe, twelve year old Alexis, nine year old Kylar, and their two year old sister, Nahlani need to make their way from their house to their grandparents house forty miles away, but to survive they need to trek through the zombie ridden roads that await them.

Brianne: Great set-up for a story, but not a great pitch.

Lauri JB Corkum

Title: The Titanic Caper

Genre: MG Mystery

Pitch: When twelve-year-old Savannah James visits a traveling Titanic exhibit, she finds herself thrust into a web of intrigue after witnessing the theft of an antique pocket watch inscribed with a mysterious engraving.

Brianne: Need at least one telling detail about Savannah to know that she could carry the plot.  She would need to be a very strong and original protagonist.

Sharon Bayliss

Title: The Charge

Genre: YA Alternate History

Pitch: Warren never lets bullies mess with his little brother, no matter how big or bad, so when the King of the Texas Empire kidnaps his brother, he embarks into a still-wild West to save him.

Brianne: Love the idea of an alternative reality, but wish there were a few more interesting details here to pull the reader in.

Becca Puglisi

Title: Valley of Green and Gold

Genre: YA Historical Fiction

Pitch: Gold may sparkle and shine but it also has the power to destroy, as Nora learns when it’s discovered near her California home in 1848.

Brianne: Great setting idea, but vague. Need more about Nora and her conflict.

MAJOR CONGRATS to everyone!!! Please send your materials to bjohnson@writershouse.com!! 

Now, in case you haven't noticed how supermegaawesome Brianne is, here's our interview with her!

1) You mention in your Publisher's Marketplace profile that you'd live in Hogwarts if you could (so would I!). Which house would you like to be sorted into that isn't Gryffindor? 

 I’m definitely going to have to go with Ravenclaw, which honors creativity, individuality, and wisdom—what better qualities exist for stories?

2) You also mention that you're seeking "exciting, high-concept, gobble-down-in-one-sitting YA novels that keep me up way past my bedtime". Which published YA novels have you read recently that fit this description?

Well, my absolute favorite YA book of all time is Francesca Lia Block’s WEETZIE BAT collection, DANGEROUS ANGELS.  I loved that all of Block’s characters deal with the same universal issues as we all do, but in their own luminous, tinged-with-magical-realism way.  When I read DA I feel like it makes me view the world in a different and more beautiful light.  And, of course, the writing is so gorgeous you want to bask in it like a sunbeam.

The last book that made me cry was Sharon Creech’s WALK TWO MOONS, which is definitely a one-sitting kind of story.  It’s a very wise and lovely book and you should all read it immediately.

I wish I could say that I’ve been keeping up more with brand-new YA, but the truth is that I’ve been reading for work every chance I get.  I do think it’s important to keep up with the market, but also feel like it’s a bit dangerous to follow trends too closely.  It separates you a bit from the stories you truly want to tell, and I worry that people talk themselves out of their own weird and wonderful ideas because they think it “won’t be marketable enough.”  Whenever I see a book pitched to me as “Twilight meets Harry Potter”, or something along those lines, I get pretty suspicious.  I just doubt that something THAT “marketable” can truly come from a person’s heart.

3) Your slush pile wish list includes middle grade fiction and picture books. What makes these stories awesome to you? 

 I always say “get ‘em while they’re young!” J in a world filled with instant access to video games and YouTube clips, it’s more important than ever to get kids reading at a young age.  Reading helps children develop not only imagination, but their attention spans.  I want to find stories that will fully engage kids where they are in their lives and show them that reading is a wonderful way to spend their time.  I really love whimsicality in young books.  Kids are so imaginative, and I’m trying to find stories that speak to that.

4) Any tips for writers struggling with their one-line pitches?

 Read them out loud and make sure it flows!  I think people get caught up in wanting to relay too much about the story—the one-line pitch should indeed give you a taste of what the book is about, but more than anything else, it should intrigue the reader and activate their curiosity.  It should also give you a taste of the writing itself.  Make sure it’s not too cluttered.

5) Do you have any exciting client/agency news to share?

 Just that I’m incredibly proud of Writers House this year—our clients won the Newbery, and the Printz, the Caldecott Honor, and many other amazing awards this year.  I feel incredibly lucky to be surrounded by people who are helping to midwife such incredible books into the world.  It makes me more determined (and encouraged!) than ever to find a Newbery-worthy story some day.

Thanks so much to Brianne for being our February Mystery Agent!! And don't forget: tomorrow we have a brand new one!!

See you then :)