Book Blogger Convention Scholarship! Apply Now!

One of the ways I've decided to celebrate my book deal is to offer a book blogger scholarship to the 2011 Book Blogger Convention in New York City on May 27th.

Are you a book blogger who would love to go to BBC and BEA but you just can't afford it? Then this merit/need based scholarship for 1 free BBC/BEA admission (worth $120) + $500 towards expenses is for you!






Qualifications:
You must be 18 or older (per BEA rules)
You must be a book blogger with at least 20 posted book reviews as of March 30th, 2011
You must not have already registered for BEA and BBC (no refunds allowed)
You must attend BBC on May 27, 2011 to pick up your prize money
You must fill out this form by April 13, 2011 and explain why you should be chosen to attend


All qualified entrants will be reviewed by me and Michelle (co-organizer of BBC). We will choose 10 finalists and draw one name at random as the winner. The winner will be informed by April 20, 2011.

FAQ:

Why are you doing this?
I cannot stress enough how much book blogging helped me grow as a writer.  I studied Journalism in college and I’ve worked for over ten years as an advertising copywriter, but writing fiction is a whole different ballgame.  Over the past 3 years, I’ve read hundreds of YA novels and thousands of book blogger reviews. It has really given me a feel for what works and what doesn’t in terms of structure, pacing, characterization, dialogue and other craft issues. Also, the support from the community – from both authors and bloggers – has been invaluable in building my confidence and getting me to go for it. And I would love to give something back to the community!

I already registered for BEA (via free press registration) but at this time I can't afford to stay for BBC. Can I still apply for the scholarship?
Yes. Please mention this when filling out the form.

If I win the BBC scholarship, can I also attend BEA?
Yes. Your BBC registration also registers you for BEA.

Where can I find out more about the speakers and panels at BBC?
At the BBC website.

If I win, what can I use the prize money for?
If you win, you can use the prize money to pay for transportation, lodging and meals. Unless otherwise arranged with me, the winner will receive the $500 in prize money in cash on May 27th at the BBC.

Who is donating the prize money?
I am.

Is the scholarship open to international bloggers?
Of course.

Any other questions?  Ask them in the comments!

Return of Cat Tuesday (24)

More kitteh cuteness! (Lu and Kaia)

And even more! (Emmy and Lu)

Book Deal Announced!

Exciting news! And I'm finally allowed to share:

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers has acquired a YA novel called Level Two by Lenore Appelhans, in a joint acquisition with CBS Films. According to S&S, this is the first time the company has coordinated a deal so that an author received a simultaneous book and film offer. In Level Two, the liminal place between our world (Level One) and heaven, Felicia spends her days reliving her memories from the security of her pod—until she gets broken out by Julian, a boy she met on Earth. Appelhans writes the popular YA blog Presenting Lenore. Level Two will be published in either fall 2012 or spring 2013, with a 200,000-copy first printing.

(via Publisher's Weekly Children's Bookshelf)

Yay! (Understatement of the year!)

Book Review: Kindred by Tammar Stein

College Freshman Miriam gets a task from God to save a classmate. Her failure to take it seriously gives Miriam a crisis of conscious. But even worse, she discovers that her twin brother Mo may be working for the devil.


KINDRED is a deep and unflinching exploration of faith, freedom of choice and sibling relationships. Miriam is a believably complex protagonist at the cusp of adulthood wrestling not only with angelic visitation and the cosmic battle between good and evil but also a scary health condition and a would be mass murderer.

I was riveted by the personal, spiritual journey Miriam goes through – the lives she touches and those that touch hers. I loved how the “paranormal” aspects of this are grounded in the real world by such a real character.

(Also? If you are one of those readers that complain there aren’t enough bathroom breaks in fiction – this is your book!)

KINDRED is available in hardcover now. Find out more about it at the author’s website.

Return of Cat Tuesday (23)

These two just love each other so much!

Bears in Picture Books

Let's talk about bears! 

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr/Eric Carle (Henry Holt) 
Brown Bear might be the most famous picture book bear of all.  But he does have to share the this rhyming book with Yellow Duck, Blue Horse, Red Bird, Green Frog and others...

So if you want MORE BEARS...well you'll just have to check out More Bears by Kenn Nesbitt/Troy Cummings (Sourcebooks).  In this wacky picture book, an author sits down to write a book that has nothing to do with bears, but his audience keeps demanding MORE BEARS - until there are so many bears, the story collapses.

If you are looking for more serious bears, then dive into the non-fiction treat Bears! Bears! Bears! by Bob Barner (Chronicle) that introduces the major bears around the world (polar bear, sun bear, panda bear, sloth bear, and more) in lovely illustrations.  In the back, you get some bear facts and a world map of bears. Find out more at the author's website (Flash + sound).

Or maybe you prefer a sweet bedtime story with only polar bears? How about Polar Bear Night by Lauren Thompson/Stephen Savage (Scholastic)?  In it, a polar bear cub takes a moonlit walk and sees a sleeping walrus, sleeping seals and whales and finally a star shower. 

And then there's the realistically portrayed friendship between Bug and Bear by Ann Bonwill/Layn Marlow (Oxford UK, Marshall Cavendish US). Bear is tired and grumpy, annoyed that bug wants to play games.  Bear tries many ways to ditch bug, but finally they find an activity they can do together. Find out more at the author's website!

For more suggestions, see this list of bear picture books at Flashlight Worthy Books and this list of bear picture books at Squidoo.

What are your favorite picture books featuring bears?

Return of Cat Tuesday (22)

Ok, this is pretty much the cutest kitty pose I have ever seen.

I think I better retire while I'm on top, don't you?  ;)

Book Review and Giveaway: Lost & Found by Shaun Tan

It's no secret I am a fan of Shaun Tan's artwork in THE ARRIVAL and TALES FROM OUTER SUBURBIA, so when I found out that Scholastic was coming out with an omnibus editions of three of his early works, I knew I had to have it.

All three included works are wonderfully bizzare.  THE LOST THING, for which Shaun Tan just won an animation Oscar (I've met an Oscar winner!), was my favorite.  I liked the simple language of the narrator and his concern for the lost thing.  It's very touching!  I also really enjoyed the haunting quality of THE RED TREE and the social awareness of THE RABBITS.

Here's a spread:

Check out Shaun Tan's website.  Watch the trailer for THE LOST THING.

I have 2 copies of the book to give away today.  US only.  Fill out this form and good luck!

Book Review: Wake Unto Me by Lisa Cach

Caityln has always felt out of place in her Podunk American town so when she’s offered a place at a boarding school in France, she has no problem whatsoever leaving her life behind. Once there, Caitlyn falls in love with a ghost, Raphael, who was killed centuries ago. Oh and she also has to solve the mystery of who she really is…


Ok, so…there are many aspects of this novel that require a serious ability to suspend disbelief – but if you are able to do that, then you’ll have fun with the clever twists and turns of this sweet paranormal romance.

There’s quite a bit of historical intrigue woven in. In fact, it reminded me a bit of THE DA VINCI CODE in that they had to decipher clues that lead to more clues. Wash, rinse, repeat.

WAKE UNTO ME comes out March 31, 2011. Find out more about it at the author’s website. (NOTE: Lisa also writes Erotica, so some website content may not be something you want to access at work or in front of children).

Return of Cat Tuesday (21)

Looks like someone forgot to close the door of the washing machine...

Silly Emmy!