Month: July 2015

Yinz Gonna Read a Book N’at? (Pittsburghese. Translation below)

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*translation “Are you going to read a book?”

** Yinz is the Pittsburgh version of  “Y’all”

*** no one really knows what “N’at” means.

I’d always dreamed of living in a city. As a kid, of course, I usually dreamed about NYC, or Chicago or even London.
I felt at home among skyscrapers, happy in the midst of crowds, alive when all the lights and noise surrounded me. However, I ended up in Pittsburgh, PA, and I couldn’t be happier.

Pittsburgh

 

I’ve got my skyscrapers and my city living full of coffeeshops and live music, but I also get a small town friendliness and community I’ve come to love.  In fact, one of the best things  about Pittsburgh is the vibrant writing community. We have excellent MFA programs at Chatham and Seton Hill, a lovely library system thanks to Andrew Carnegie (just remember in these parts, it’s pronounced “car-NEGGH-gee” rather than New York’s fancy “Carn-e-gee”) and even a really cool program for exiled writers, The City of Asylum.

We have an Andy Warhol museum, a great Children’s museum, incredible theater shows, and amazing parks. Oh, yeah and sports. We have those too. We put french fries in our sandwiches and everyone eats pierogies (we even make vegan ones).

We’ve got films set or partially set here, (Dark Knight!) , video games, (The Last of Us), and plenty of books. The most memorable, for many people is Perks of Being a Wallflower,

Perks Scene

That’s a beautiful shot of a very real part of my city. Likewise, the hit Me, and Earl and the Dying Girl, captures real-life Pittsburghese.

In addition to these Pittsburgh authors, there’s also Joshua David Bellin (aka the YA Guy) author of Survival Colony Nine,Jonathan Auxier , author of The Night Gardener, Laura Lee Anderson, author of Song of Summer, and many others.

Plus we have really cool events. This fall, Rainbow Rowell will be speaking at the library, and this coming weekend, Ellen Kushner and Delia Sherman will be speaking at Carnegie Mellon University for FREE! Details below.

So, that’s why I love my odd little big city that thinks it’s a small town. Why do you love your hometown?

 

Details for the event.

Lecture Speakers: Ellen Kushner and Delia Sherman
Date: Saturday, August 1, 2015
Time: 2:00 – 3:00 pm
Location: Doherty Hall, Room 2315, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. The book signing will follow the lecture in the same room.
Registration/Fee: There is no charge to attend the lecture and registration is not required for this portion of the program.

If you’re from Pittsburgh, let me know!

SONG OF SUMMER: Book Review

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This week, I’ll be discussing the YA contemporary novel, SONG OF SUMMER, by Laura Lee Anderson. (Purchase on amazon here.)

It’s a really sweet novel, told in alternating POV of the couple, Robin and Carter. In doing so, the author is able to let the reader into the minds of both parts of a developing summer romance. We feel their instant attraction, their hesitation at trusting each other, and the moments when they’re totally heads over heels.

In other words, it’s adorable. The book is also a fascinating look into how people communicate with each other. Teens, especially, are full of secret beliefs and carefully constructed lies that they refuse to tell anyone, even someone they’re dating. Song of Summer’s main couple, in fact, risks their relationship with the number of things left unsaid.

Robin is a small town musician and a waitress during the summer. Music flows in her veins. It’s everything to her. Carter is a big city cool kid (with a motorcycle!) on vacation at the fancy Chautauqua Institute, a mile away from Robin’s home. He’s also deaf.

Despite their differences, they find something that they’re sure is true love. However, like all summer romances, there are things that may tear them apart. I flew through the second half of the book, wondering how it ended.

So, that’s the plot in a nutshell. But I also wanted to discuss another aspect of the book that I LOVED.

THE COVER!

The cover was done by Jenny Zemanek.

It’s adorable, and so perfectly on-point for a beach read. The font is quirky,and it’s a fun, unique color set , too. As much as I love pink, it’s really nice seeing YA contemporary get covers that don’t look like Hallmark Valentines Day cards.

And here’s the cutest thing about the cover. As I mentioned, the book features a love story between Carter, a deaf teen, and Robin, a musical one.

Look at the bird at the top of the book. bird

He’s inside the headphones. He’s not singing. In fact, one might say, he can’t hear.

And the other bird?

bird 2She’s facing him, outside of the headphones, and singing! Isn’t that the cutest thing you’ve ever seen? I’m really hoping this trend of illustrated covers continues, because they’re beyond adorable.

If you’d like to win your own copy of this book, along with an awesome LUSH bash bomb, check out my giveaway! 

Brooding YA Hero’s Tips to Become a Main Character

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This is a guest post by  Broody McHottiepants, aka @broodingYAhero on twitter.

So. Summer’s half over, right? And you’re stressing because you’re not sure if you’re a main character? Don’t worry. I’m here for you. (Literately. I’m always around when you need me. Except in Chapter 23. I had to skip that one.)

Anyways, here’s a list of the top seven ways you can achieve main character status before school starts up again. Not in school because your dystopian society has forced to you duel love interests to the death instead? Or maybe you’re an immortal assassin who’s too busy uncovering conspiracies about love interests to go to school? That’s okay, these tips still can help.

Broody, himself

BROODY’S 7 TIPS TO BECOME A MAIN CHARACTER BY THE END OF SUMMER

1.  Move. To England. Or a remote small town in America.  Or Canada. Or New York City. Or out of your room. Preferably somewhere you won’t have to waste time learning a new language. That gives you more time to reinvent yourself.

2. Get a hobby. The quirkier the better. Goat racing! Plastic bag knitting! Celery painting! This unique skill will certainly lead you towards other quirky characters, and a plot will form around you.

3. Get a destiny/curse/prophecy. These are a little harder to find nowadays, but a good destiny bestowed upon you by a well-meaning magical old lady (or a ominous prophecy from a vengeful Greek god) will grant you main character status every time.

4. Find a place to volunteer. This will let you learn an important lesson about that one character flaw you seem to have, and you’ll emerge at the end of the summer a better person. Also has a high chance of granting you a love interest, should you desire one.

5. Find a magical portal. Check in decrepit buildings, all mirrors, behind ornately carved bookshelves. Inspect all old jewelry, from stuff acquired at a garage sale all the way up to family heirlooms. Maybe do some dusting in the process. You’ll stumble into a gateway to a magical land before long.

6. Roadtrip! Need I say more?

7. Fall in love. This is a risky one. Summer romances don’t always grant you permanent main character status. Better to cross paths with a mysterious stranger, who will just happen to be enrolling in your school that fall. Proceed with caution, least you stumble into a Grease remake.

Alright then. You’ve got the advice. Now, excuse me, I have an old car I have to go work on, while blasting classic rock, and brooding about how no one will ever understand me. Very time consuming. Best of luck. You’ll find me in the halls of school this fall, ignoring you and skipping class.

Want more Brooding YA Hero? He’s on Twitter here and Tumblr here, and all his appearances on other sites are kept here.

Want to interview him or feature him on your site? Contact him at broodingyahero@gmail.com

GIVEAWAY! Book & a Bomb! SONG OF SUMMER.

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Welcome to the inaugural post of my monthly giveaway series.

A Book & a Bomb

No, not the exploding type of bomb. A Lush bath bomb that does amazing, magical things to your bathtub. Don’t have a tub? Do what I do, and use half in a big bucket for a lovely foot soak.

Bath bomb in action

These bombs are magical, I’m telling you. Lush is anti-animal testing, all-natural, and full of good products for your skin. Even if you don’t like scented body things, bath bombs, when tucked into a drawer of sheets, will make all your linens smell nice. They’re a simple way to add beauty and good smells to your life.

And what goes better with a relaxing soak than an enjoyable read?

Luxurious baths (or foot soaks) are perfect when paired with a lovely read. That’s why my giveaway will feature a copy of a book I love, and a bath bomb inspired by the book!

For this first giveaway, I’ll be pairing the Lush bath bomb “Blue Skies” with Laura Lee Anderson’s debut YA Contemporary Novel, SONG OF SUMMER.

Keep reading for your chance to win!

SONG OF SUMMER: The thirteen qualities of Robin’s Perfect Man range from the mildly important “Handsome” to the all-important “Great taste in music.” After all, Westfield’s best high school folk musician can’t go out with some shmuck who only listens to top 40 crap. When hot Carter Paulson walks in the door of Robin’s diner, it looks like the list may have come to life. It’s not until the end of the meal that she realizes he’s profoundly deaf.

Carter isn’t looking for a girlfriend. Especially not a hearing one. Not that he has anything against hearing girls, they just don’t speak the same language. But when the cute waitress at Grape Country Dairy makes an effort to talk with him, he takes her out on his yellow Ducati motorcycle.

Music, language, and culture sing back-up as love takes the melody, but just how long can a summer song last?4

 

 

Amazon info click here. 

 

Blue Skies (& Fluffy White Clouds)  bath bomb description.

A deep blue bath of bubbles and scents to induce deep relaxation
Calm your body and mind and slip into a peaceful trance in a tubful of bubbles with our largest bubble bar slice. Exotic frankincense oil has a woody, grounding aroma that blends well with earthy patchouli to relax and restore your state of mind. Lay back and feel yourself float through swirly blue skies and fluffy white clouds of bubbles and into a serene garden of a Far Eastern temple, leaving stress and worries far behind you. For an even greater peace of mind, break your bubble bar in half for two relaxing escapes from the every day. Vegan friendly.

From Lush’s website.

 

To win, enter the Rafflecopter below! This one is open internationally!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Go Home, Self-Promo, You’re Drunk

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We’ve all seen that meme of something obviously wrong, and the caption, “Go home, BLANK, you’re drunk,” right? (If not, scroll to the end and witness some lovely examples.)

Well, I’ve got some bad news. Your self-promotional strategy may be drunk too. Pull up a chair, pour a drink of your choice, and listen a metaphor story. Or, scroll past to get to the handy tip sheet on Twitter self-promo without a storytime.

***

Jill is throwing a party. She’s invited friends, including Author Friend Amy, and Bookstore Owner Brandon. Amy has recently released a book. The party starts. As the guests arrive, Amy greets each one with a handshake, and the exact. same. message. “Hiya! Thanks for coming. Buy my book!”

No one listens to Amy. After all, they’ve just met her.

The party kicks off. Someone asks, “Hey, does anyone know anything about ballet? My daughter was–”
“THERE’S BALLET IN MY BOOK!” Amy shouts, sprinting across the room. She’s got the sharp hearing only a desperate, post-launch author could have. “ON PAGE 17! BUY IT!”

No one listens to Amy. The conversation was about ballet shoes. Not books.

Jill, trying one last time to help her author friend out, sets the table so that Amy sits next to Brandon. He’s enjoying his pasta, and hoping his sales clerk isn’t putting copies of Fifty Shades of Grey in the Children’s Coloring Book section again. In other words, Brandon has had a rough day.

“Hey Brandon!” Amy shouts. “HERE! Have ten copies of my book! Autographed! You can give them to anyone!” Amy drops the books onto Brandon’s plate, splattering pasta everywhere. Even if he had liked Amy’s book, he will now always remember it as the book that ruined the one peaceful meal he’s had this week. He had been planning to reach out to Amy, but not until after his dinner.

Brandon the bookseller does not listen to Amy.

The party melts into drinking and dancing. A lovely time is had by all. Except Amy. She’s shouting at no one, standing in the corner. “BUY MY BOOK!” “LIKE ROMANCE? SO DO I! BUY MY BOOK!” “AMAZON loves my book! Here’s a link!”

No one listens to Amy. She is babbling to thin air, about a book no one’s even had a chance to ask her about.

***

This situation may sound extreme, but it’s a mirror of a tactic many author use on Twitter. The insta-DMs as soon as someone follows them, the inserting a mention of their book into every conversation mildly related to them, and the never-ending promotional tweets. This won’t sell any more books than Amy’s attempt will. No one likes to be constantly pitched at, shouted at, or bulldozed over.

Plus, even when I do read a tweet of a book that sounds cool, I view the author’s Twitter page to learn more about her. If her whole page is all promo tweets, I’m less likely to connect to her, and far less likely to buy the book. Selling is about a personal connection. Volume of exposure can’t beat quality of engagement.

Here’s a handy guide to sober up your self-promo

  • NEVER auto direct message new followers.
  • Have at least five normal tweets or replies before sending out another promotional tweet.
  • Don’t jump in unrelated conversations or hashtags to pitch your book.
  • If someone reviews your book and you want to signal boost it, do so once, then keep it on a list of reviews links on your blog.

Promoting yourself on Twitter is a dance, not a boxing match.

If you ever feel like no one listening to your promotion, don’t be like Amy at the party and shout louder. Instead, work on making real, honest connections with other writers, booksellers and readers. Just think of how much more effective that party would have been if she waited until Brandon the Bookseller asked her how she was doing. Then, she could have said, “I’m doing great. I just released a book.” And Brandon, having consumed a yummy dinner, and not having heard thirty shouts about her book already, could say, “Excellent. Would you like to host a workshop and book signing at my store?”

Bam. Success. Well done, sober Amy.

And now, for those drunk memes as promised. (That’s the only reason you kept reading, right?)

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