1. I've now written almost 44,000 words since November the first. I have 6k to go in order to be a "winner" of NaNoWriMo, but probably another 10-15k in order to complete the novel. I think I can do it!

2. My very cool agent, Michelle Humphrey, set up a group for her YA authors, so we could virtually meet, exchange ideas, talk trash about her, etc. hee hee. Anyway, it's a very fun group, full of life and expletives. We did a little icebreaker to get to know one another, and I thought I'd share the little bit with all of you that I shared with them about my current NaNo work in progress.

Title or working title of your WIP? Perfect Aim
What is your main character’s name? Lex Chambers
What is he/she wearing right now? A pair of overalls from her new farmgirl friend Mallory.
What is his/her favourite movie? The Matrix
Describe his/her favourite shoes. Black Pumas

That's all I'm telling for now...

3. I've also been feverishly working at my second round of revisions forLOSING FAITH, and I'm happy to report that they are going swimmingly! I think I've made the majority of the changes and am just now doing a read-through to see how everything flows.

4. My good friend, Jerrica Santos, is releasing her first album this week. Jerrica and I have danced together in our professional Polynesian dance troupe for many years. I remember taking her on tour to Japan when she was 12, watching her place in the top 32 of Canadian Idol when she was 16, and stacking up numerous achievements and awards along the way. She's talented, driven, yet levelheaded (she's studying to be a doctor in case this music thing doesn't fly) and a real inspiration. Now at 21 she's putting out her first album, and the songs I've heard so far are awesome. Congrats, Jerrica!

5. I know, I know, I'm an under-writer and I'm only supposed to have four items on my friday four. But it must be the NaNo influence that's making me finger-happy. One more thing I HAVE TO mention. I just heard back from two VERY COOL authors who have agreed to appear on Teen Author Tuesday. One of them may be on there as early as THIS COMING TUESDAY if I can manage it. You'll have to check back to see who it is, but suffice to say, my husband can't wait till I stop squeeling about it.

People have been asking me what the difference is between The Class of 2k10 and The Tenners, since I am a member of both. The Class of 2k10 is a group of debut authors (about 22 of us, I think) who are all working together to get our names out there to teachers, booksellers, and librarians. We will be promoting ourselves via a website, blog, and outreaches. The Tenners is a larger group of around ninety, whose main goals are support, community, and just generally being a cool group of people.

Class of 2k10 will officially launch on December the first with a small tribute to Class of 2k9. Keep an eye on our Blog and Website for details.

Even though we haven't officially launched, I wanted to give y'all a little early taste of what we are about. Here's the new book trailer for the Class of 2k10. Let me know what you think!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0H79WFPYpc

1. My life has been, in a word, NUTS. This week my household drama included the chaos of my child turning six, painting my half-renovated bathroom, and catching up on things like filling obligations from LAST Christmas.

2. Writing drama has included somewhere in the neighborhood of 28k of new words on my NaNoWriMo work in progress. My poor overworked brain has also come up with some vision for my LOSING FAITH edits. Finally. But the vision feels good, right, and I think my editor and I will both be happy.

3. Speaking of which, I should really give a shout out to my awesome critique partner, Shana Silver, who told me again and again, "Denise, just step away from the edits," until I finally listened. Sometimes it's hard to practice what you preach. Even though I've always advocated taking some time to let criticism and suggestions settle before implementing them, this set of revisions came around during such a busy stressful time, and thought I NEEDED to start them right away. Good thing Shana was around to knock some sense into me. Now that I've had a break and have a much clearer head, I'm feeling much better about...everything.

4. Oh yes, can't forget this...Awesome editor A+ has given me permission to share my projected release date. This could still change, but as of right now it looks like Losing Faith will hit the shelves September 7, 2010! YAY!!!

 I thought I'd do this as a Friday Four this week, so I would actually do it! Here are a few of the great things I learned at the recent Surrey International Writers' Conference. (I'm just offering a few highlights - it wouldn't be fair to share all the hard work of the presenters, but I do want to show how amazing they were!)

1. You Think That's Funny? Using Humor in Writing with Eileen Cook. (http://www.eileencook.com/)
Oh my gosh, I had a great time in this workshop! Eileen used examples from movie clips to explain how and why comedy works. She introduced us to the ingredients of comedy (some of which are exaggeration, surprise, and irony), showed us some great benefits of using comedy (pacing and exploring a character's worldview), and gave us several brilliant humor tips, such as...don't go for the joke.

2. Then I went to a fabulous Mystery writing workshop with Hallie Ephron. (http://www.hallieephron.com/)
Among her THIRTY tips on writing mysterys, here are a few that were really insightful for me: Make the crime matter to your sleuth, Give your sleuth a dark past to raise the stakes, she told us why "The Butler did it" doesn't work anymore.

3. Back to Eileen Cook for her Psych 101 For Fiction workshop.
It was obvious, right from the start that Eileen has a strong background in psychology. I LOVED the way she applied this to characters, and this may have been my favorite workshop of the weekend.  Here's just a few tidbits to consider about your characters:
How emotionally self-aware are they? Do they know what they are feeling (many times anger might actually be sadness or fear). What do your characters see as their strengths and weeknesses? Would others also consider these their strengths and weaknesses? What's fun for your characters? Would others describe them as happy?

That's only the tip of a very large iceberg of notes I have from the conference. I have to run for today, but I'll leave you with a completely different number 4 (because I can't actually concentrate on anything else)...

4. NaNo word count total so far: 11,016.

Teen Author Tuesday will be back! I promise I have some AMAZING authors lined up, but with the hecticness of starting NaNo, I had to put it on hold for a couple of weeks.

The truth is, I've always fit NaNoWriMo into my schedule with a bit of fudging, but really not dropping the ball in any area. This year, however, hit me like an out of control elephant on roller skates (sorry, my decent metaphor quota has already been used up for the day.)

Three days before D-day (November first), my edits arrived from my editor, my bathroom was torn apart in renovations and I was seriously PMS-SY. To be perfectly honest, even on Sunday morning, I had doubts of whether I really would start NaNo (because I'm one of those people that if I start something I HAVE TO finish it). For the first time in the three years I've done NaNo, I was actually dreading it.

Thankfully, I decided to go to church that day, because that's where my revelation hit (don't worry, it's not heavy-laden in religion). But here's the revelation if you're interested: First drafts are for fun.

Sounds simple, doesn't it? Well, it is. I was feeling incredibly stressed about the idea of starting another book, putting All That Work into it and then having it perhaps not be publishable. And I wasn't sure if I was in the place emotionally and time-wise to write a publishable book. But here's the thing...Outlines and revisions are the main ingredients for a publishable book. First drafts are simply for fun.

I did spend a long time working on an outline for this NaNo project and I will no doubt spend a lot of time working on revisions. But once I realized this next month could really be fairly stress-free (aside from the LOSING FAITH revisions and that darn torn-apart bathroom) I could get to work.

So I have started, and I WILL FINISH!

4707 words and counting...

Am I the only one who JUST realized November is only two days away?!?

So who's with me? Who's going to do this ridiculous task of trying to write a novel in a month?
We have to do this as a team, people, or it Just Won't Work! Let me know if you're going to attempt NaNoWriMo and if you have the time, go add me to your buddy list. My handle over there is denisej.

I'm not much of a pep-talker (just ask my poor critique partners) but if you sign up at http://www.nanowrimo.org/, I promise you several amazing pep-talks will be delivered to your inbox.

In keeping with the SIWC highlights I plan to post (but can never seem to find time to do!) I thought I'd quickly list a few of the things (and people) I'm thankful for from the conference.

1. I'm thankful that I could attend and stay with two good writer friends. It gave us a chance to catch up, share new story ideas, and oh yeah, drink some wine.
2. Which brings me to number two...the great party we had on Saturday night (602 at 6:02!) with our new Vancouver and Alberta writer friends. A great time was had by all.
3. I wasn't sure if an author I met at last year's conference (and have been chatting with on Facebook) would recognize me. Not only did the ultru cool James McCann recognize me, he had already told his author friends about me! And here's why...I must admit, my success with LOSING FAITH is due in part to James's encouragement. When I met him for a Blue Pencil appointment at last Surrey's conference, he insisted that my manuscript was ready to send out, while I made all sorts of excuses of why it may not be. Turns out James was right, as shortly after the conference I got an agent and sold my book to Simon Pulse! Not to mention, James and Lee Edward Fodi have been so helpful with advice for a new author. Thanks, guys!
4. Another person to whom I feel I owe a shout out to is Lisa Rector. Her workshops and Blue Pencil appointments have been instrumental in making me a better writer. She's an expert on fixing things like sagging middles and slow beginnings. She runs her own independent editing company, but I was super-blessed to benefit from her expertise during the last several conferences. If you have a polished manuscript that you just can't seem to sell, I highly recommend her editing skills.
5. I LOVED meeting some great people from Simon Pulse. My editor was unable to attend, but I did get a chance to hang a little with super-friendly Annette Pollert and hilarious Pulse-author-sister, Eileen Cook. I hope (crosses fingers) to host Eileen for a Teen Author Tuesday in the next few months when her latest book, GETTING REVENGE ON LAUREN WOOD is released.

This thankful list only covers a few people and doesn't even touch on the abundance of things I learned during workshops. I hope to have more of that by next week sometime.

I'd like to welcome the first of my classmates from Class of 2k10, Bonnie Doerr. Her debut novel, ISLAND STING (Leap Books) hits the shelves on January 6, 2010. It's a contemporary YA/tween novel for ages 10-14.



Welcome Bonnie! Can you tell me about your book in seven words or less.
Relocation, friendship, endangered species, green teens, mystery, Florida Keys

Other than your main character, who's your favorite character in your debut novel and why?
 I am very fond of the illiterate, but wise character, Fisher, who lives on a houseboat. He has an interesting background story and is a uniquely theatrical old fellow who makes a tough living sponge fishing and recycling found objects. His habits and lifestyle are either endearing or annoying to people, much like the endangered species that live on the island he frequents.

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
 I love being outdoors, growing flowers and vegetables, communing with animals, and cozying up in my fairy-tale log cabin with a great read. I need creative people in my life to feed my soul. When I’m not enjoying the woods or mountains, I dream of being in my old stomping ground— the fabulous Florida Keys—where quirky, creative people and exotic animals abound.

I love the Florida Keys too - so restful! What's been the most surprising thing about your path to publication so far?
 It was a big surprise that the hardest work came after the contract and after the final edit. That’s when pre-publication marketing, a steep learning curve for me, took over my life.

What's one piece of writing advice you would give to aspiring authors?

You will hear over and over, “Write what you love,” but be sure to nurture many loves other than writing, otherwise writing can be a long, lonely journey.

Are you swept up with promotion for your debut book right now or can you give us a sentence or two about something new you're working on?
 I’m polishing Turtle Dog (scheduled for release in 2011). It is another eco-mystery, this one concerning sea-turtles, and features many of the same characters as Island Sting. I’m also trying to complete an unrelated YA that follows a runaway teen in search of her once-presumed dead father. Operative word here is trying… Trying mostly involves thinking about it at this time.

What did you write when you were a teen? Did you journal? Write poetry? Write overly literary or emotional stories? Or did you, like me, avoid writing altogether?
I wrote feature stories for my high school newspaper and poetry. Good articles. Very, very poor poetry.

What's the last book you read that you really loved?
Unfair question!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Too many. Here are a few.


Adult: Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortensen, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, by Barbara Kingsolver, all books I’ve read by Randy Wayne White or Carl Hiaassen or Pat Conroy


Children’s: Dovey Coe and Chicken Boy by Frances O’Roark Dowell, Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher, Wild Things, by Clay Carmichael, Road to Tater Hill, by Edie Hemingway


Aren’t you sorry you asked?

No, never! Lots of great suggestions there. If readers want to find out more about you and your writing, where should they look?

My website: http://www.blogger.com/www.BonnieDoerrBooks.com
My Facebook: http://profile.to/bonniedoerr/
My Twitter: http://twitter.com/bonniedoerr
My Blogger: http://profile.to/bonniedoerr/

Thanks so much, Bonnie, and all the very best with your release!

I had a fab time at the Surrey International Writers' Conference this past weekend. I haven't had a chance to really collect my thoughts or summarize my notes yet, but I thought I'd start by sharing a highlight from my weekend each chance I get.

Let's see...where to start.

Okay, I know...

The Surrey conference has a really helpful structure in that registrants can duck out of workshops to have a private session with authors, agents and editors. In fact, last year that's how I met my editor. This year I wasn't there to pitch, as I already am blessed with an amazing agent and editor, but I did schedule myself for a couple of "Blue Pencil" appointments with some YA authors.

Normally the Blue Pencil time is used to have an author look over a few of your pages and offer advice. When I sat down with Meg Tilly, I explained my situation (being a bumbling debut author idiot) and asked her if we could just chat a little instead.



Well...she did not stop talking, sharing amazing tips and information, at a million miles an hour for the entire ten minutes! Actually she did stop once, when she asked me to read my first page aloud as I would in a library or school visit - oh and did I mention that Meg Tilly is a former Golden Globe winning actress? But no pressure or anything!

But I did it. It wasn't great, but it was so, so helpful. She pointed out how I sped up when I was nervous, gave me some hints on how to calm myself down and think of my audience as friends.

Besides that, she gave me lots of advice and encouragement about getting into the schools and libraries, really connecting with my readers, and not taking criticism personally or too seriously.

Meg is so full of life and such an asset to the writing community! If you ever get a chance to meet her, or see her do a presentation, I highly recommend it!

Real quick, because I have to pack...

1. I'm terribly excited for the Surrey International Writers Conference this weekend. Meeting up with lots of writer friends, editors, agents and Simon & Schuster writer sisters. Can't wait!

2. It was a long time in coming, but I finally received my contract for LOSING FAITH this week. I guess it's official now: I have a book deal.

3. And FYI, I can now have a LOSING FAITH theme park if I want one. My contract says so.

4. The second chunk of my second edits have arrived! I'm busily working away at them every second I can find. They are more difficult than the first lot, but will definitely make the book stronger. I look forward to really digging into them next week after the conference.

Have a great weekend, everyone! Hopefully I'll be back early next week with some notes from the conference.

Teen Author Tuesday is a weekly feature introducing up and coming authors who write for teens. This week features a wonderful author who not only shares the same publisher with me, but also the same editor. I was fortunate enough to meet Lauren Strasnick on my recent trip to L.A. and she's just a wonderful addition to the YA writing community. She's also a member of Class of 2k9, which is a great lead-in to feature some of my Class of 2k10 mates in coming weeks.

Lauren's debut novel, NOTHING LIKE YOU, hits the stores today. It's Contemporary young adult for ages 14 and up, from Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster.




Welcome, Lauren and thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule during your debut week. Can you tell me about your book in seven words or less?

Any Canadian authors out there who know anything about CANSCAIP? I'm interested in opinions.

1. Oh, the waiting. It really never ends. First you wait for critique partners to read your work. Then you wait while queries are out with agents. After that you wait while your book is on submission to editors. Then for first edits. Now I'm waiting for second edits. Actually for the second half of my second edits (I've already received and completed the first 10 chapters). I honestly don't know why I haven't gotten better at this waiting thing by now. Besides, the minute I finish second edits, I'll be waiting for copyedits...

2. Something else I'm anxious for: my cover art. And not just because I'm freakishly impatient. I've got these lame business cards, and I've promised myself I won't spend money on new ones until I have a book cover to go on them. So if you meet me in Surrey next week and I pass you a card...don't expect much. I'd also love to re-do my website using the theme of my cover art, as well as make up some bookmarks and such. I don't expect to have even an idea of what the cover art will be like until at least December, though, so I better just calm the heck down about this.

3. I'm really anxious about the Surrey conference next week, and I don't even know why! In past years I've been pitching to agents and editors, but this year I'm really just there to learn. I'm even anxious about my clothing. What will I wear? Does it matter if I wear some of the same outfits I wore at the SCBWI conference in LA? It's so unlike me to worry about stuff like this!

4. Do you think my anxiety level has anything to do with the fact that I've upped my green tea intake lately?  Maybe I should try a green tea fast. Ugh, even the thought makes me tired. Maybe after the conference.

Anyone have any calming thoughts to get me through the weekend?

It is Thursday, right?

1. I'm thankful that the week has flown by so quickly I had to re-check my days.
2. With the new Arctic breeze that's blown in to town, I'm exceedingly thankful for my new slippers and remote starter on my car.
3. I'm thankful to have received (and completed) the first chunk of my edits on LOSING FAITH. And they were actually easy!
4. I'm thankful for a son who still naps at nearly six years old.
5. I'm thankful for the wonderful support of YA writers I've found myself in the company of.

Just to name a few.

My awesome agent, Michelle Humphrey from Sterling Lord Literistic, gives some great advice in an interview over at Guide To Literary Agents Blog.

I'm starting a new series on my blog called Teen Author Tuesday. Each Tuesday I plan to feature a different author who writes for teens. Even though I wasn't quite prepared to start this week, today is the official release of Becca Fitzpatrick's HUSH HUSH, so I just couldn't help myself.



I've been wanting to read this book for quite a while. Becca is a fellow Tenner, so I've been privvy to a bit of her personal journey with this book. I've also heard that the love interest in HUSH HUSH, Patch, is supposed to be something else. I can't wait to see what all the excitement is about with this guy!

Here's a little blurb (from Becca's website) about HUSH HUSH:
Falling in love was never so easy . . . or so deadly.

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.


Check out the trailer:


Read the first two chapters of HUSH HUSH at Simonandschuster.com.


Happy release day, Becca!

If you want to find out more about Becca Fitzpatrick or HUSH HUSH, check out her website or stop by Amazon to order your copy.

My life has been a whirlwind of activity this week! Let's see if I can keep it to four points...

1. Yesterday I received the first 10 chapters of my second revisions for LOSING FAITH from editor A+. She knows of my plans to write for NaNoWriMo this November and is being SO kind to work around me, even though I know she's crazy busy. I should have the rest of her revisions by early next week.

2. My revisions came with some really, really nice compliments on my writing. During those long waiting times between drafts, it's so easy to think maybe you're editor made a mistake. Maybe she's not loving your book as much as she did last time. But I'm feeling all warm and fuzzy again.

3. I have a tentative release date! I can't announce it yet, because it is still "set in marshmallow" editor A+ says. But I can tell you this: It's still fall 2010, and it's EARLY in fall 2010! Very excited about this!

4. Editor A+ also sent me a link and some info about uploading all my most personal sekrits to the Simon and Schuster website. I've been having fun with that and will let you know when there's something exciting over there to see about me. Oh, and I have to draw a picture of myself with my mouse using this funky program they have!

5. My agent is putting together a group of YA writers all represented by Sterling Lord for camaraderie/co-promotion efforts. I'm excited to find out more about this and will let you know when I do!

6. My son lost his first tooth this week! Do you know how much the tooth fairy is paying these days? I heard one kid say he gets five bucks a tooth. Five bucks! Paying for braces doesn't seem so expensive compared to that! How about two bucks? Does that sound fair?

7. Still really looking forward to the Surrey Writer's Conference in a couple weeks. If you're going, please drop me a note and let me know. I'd love to meet up!

Okay, I'll hold at seven on my Friday Four this week. How was your week?

1. I finished my outline for Nano this week! It's the most detailed outline EVER at over 33,000 words, but I'm really excited about it. I can't wait to start writing! I even have a little blurb for it that my agent loves, but I'm keeping it secret from everyone else for the moment (well except for one other *special* person - you know who you are). I like to keep my stories pretty close to my chest until I have at least a first draft.

2. I heard from Awesome Editor A+ this week, and am expecting second revisions on LOSING FAITH soon...maybe as early as mid-October. Will take a bit of balancing to get these done along with Nano, but I think I can do it.

3. Anyone else doing Nanowrimo? Is so, feel free to "buddy" me if you want to keep track of my progress. My username is denisej. Blogging will likely be pretty slow in November.

4. I've registered for the Surrey International Writers Conference, coming up in October. If you're going too, please drop me a note. It would be fun to meet up!

About to launch into awesome agent's edits on BELLY UP until my revision notes get here. If you're a writer, what are you working on?

I don't normally do book reviews. As I've said before, there are so many really insightful reviewers already out there. But after finishing Albert Borris's CRASH INTO ME last night, I just had to share a few of my thoughts.

CRASH INTO ME is the story of four troubled teens on a road trip. They've never met in person, and they plan to commit suicide together at the end of their trip.

Talk about a heavy subject! And to make it even more serious, the author has worked as a counselor with troubled teens for many years and the reality of the author's experience shines through the pages. The book feels sometimes so real it's painful. The author's love and understanding of young people is felt throughout, which truly inspires me as a writer.

But aside from the darker side, this book had many warm and fuzzy moments. It made me want to dance in the rain in Seattle, cram into the backseat of a car with junkfood and close friends, share my darkest secrets, and take spontaneous detours. But most of all it made me want to really live. Mr. Borris's four main characters, so thoroughly drawn, become experts at taking risks. It was exhilirating and sometimes heartbreaking to ride along on their journey.

My absolute favorite line from the book is the last line of IM on page 245 (not sure if I'm allowed to quote it here, but I figure it's more intriguing if I don't - you'll have to go buy the book to find out! But do the author the respect of reading the book from the start...unless you have suicidal tendencies, then feel free to start with page 245 and go back for the rest once you're on the road.)

If you want to find out more about Albert Borris or his debut novel, check out his website, or you can find CRASH INTO ME on Amazon.

Is your debut book coming out in 2010? The Tenners are accepting new members up until the end of September (that's Wednesday, folks!). Drop by and join us if you are a 2010 debut author, or feel free to watch our community if you just want to know what's on the horizon for some great up and coming authors.

Lisa Schroeder is holding a fun contest that will allow you to read her latest novel, CHASING BROOKLYN, before it even hits the shelves. You can go to her blog to find out all the details.