Beberly's Babblings

YA Lit Panel at The Book Stall, Winnetka, IL

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 23:49:19 GMT

For anyone living in the Chicagoland area, you may want to check this out!

Young Adult Lit Panel Discussion

Saturday, January 16th, 2010 at 3 p.m.

The Book Stall

811 Elm Street

Winnetka, IL 60093

The Book Stall at Chestnut Court is pleased to present three authors of young adult fiction reading from and discussing their work. The presenters are Julie Halpern, author of Into the Wild Nerd Yonder, Beverly Patt, author of Haven, and Kristina Springer, author of The Espressologist.

Julie Halpern is the author a previous novel, Get Well Soon, as well as the picture book Toby and the Snowflakes. A Chicago-area native, she works as a school librarian and lives with her husband, author and illustrator Matthew Cordell, and their daughter. The School Library Journal say that Into The Wild Nerd Yonder ”…is particularly strong in showing how teen friendships evolve and sometimes die away, and how adolescents redefine themselves.”

Beverly Patt has been a teacher, a teen advice columnist, and a freelance writer. Haven is her first novel. She serves as the co-president of “The Class of 2K9,” a group of young adult and children’s fiction writers who all had a debut novel published in 2009. A picture book, called Best Friends Forever: A World War II Scrapbook, illustrated by Shula Klinger, is scheduled to come out in the Spring of 2010.

Kristina Springer worked for many years as a technical writer before turning to fiction. Her debut novel is The Espressologist. BookPage says, “Anyone who’s worked in a service-industry job will nod in recognition while reading passages about snarky customers and cranky coworkers—and anyone who’s been a teenager will relate to the romantic tension that builds as Jane makes matches for her friends but doesn’t realize she’s overlooking her own perfect romantic partner.” Her second book, My Fake Boyfriend is Better Than Yours, is due out in the fall of 2010.

This event is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact: Robert McDonald

The Bookstall at Chestnut Court

847-446-8880

robmc1002@yahoo.com

The Bookstall is steps away from the Union Pacific Metra line

and stops on the 423 and 213 Pace bus routes.

Pals forever

Sun, 20 Dec 2009 13:20:28 GMT

Best story from my father's surprises 80th bday party last night: Dad and his friend have exchanged an old matchbook cover for over 50 years to keep track of whose turn it is to buy lunch. It's been re-plasticized twice. The deal is, whoever lives longer promises to put it in the casket of the other.

GET GREAT BOOKS - FREEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:12:54 GMT

For a chance to win one of several debut mg/ya novels,
all you have to do is reply here:

http://community.livejournal.com/classof2k10/2270.html

Thanks Class of 2k10!
You rock!

So, how cute is THIS?

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:33:23 GMT

Free Cards to Soldiers

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:20:50 GMT

Xerox is making it easy to send a Thankful card to our troops this year.
They are all drawn by children and very sweet.
You can pick your own design and saying but not who it goes to.
Takes about 10 seconds.
Pass it on!

www.LetsSayThanks.com

The Librarian Who Changed a life - by allowing stealing!

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:46:10 GMT

Ok, this is just the coolest story ever:

http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/essay-of-week.html

Hard-guy ditching class, hiding out in the library discovers a book that intrigues him.
Hard guy realizes he can't be seen checking out a book - it would ruin his image!
So he puts it under his shirt and walks out.
He reads it at home, loves it and brings it back, again under his shirt.
When he goes to put it back, he sees another book by the same author, Yerby.
So he steals that one.
This happens several times.
The kicker is the librarian saw him put the book under his shirt the first time!
But being a good people reader, she didn't say anything.
What did she do instead?
Drove 50 miles to find another book by the same author!
The hard guy ends up going to law school instead of the clinker.
Hats off to the librarian!

Look What Came Today!

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:49:53 GMT

The loooooooong wait is over!
For me, anyway.
Let's hope the people who ordered it get it asap:)

Free Copy of HAVEN, promoted by main characters;)

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:02:03 GMT

Hi all!

Rudy, Latonya and Stark, the characters in HAVEN, want you to win
a copy of this book about them!

Leave a comment here:

http://community.livejournal.com/classof2k9/42030.html

Good luck to ALL!

Bev

Chat with me at 7 tonight!

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:44:54 GMT

Great news!
My debut novel, HAVEN is about to hit the shelves and we're hosting
an online chat about it. Get those burning questions answered! Or merely
stop in to say hello. I'd love to 'see' you there:)

Tuesday, October 27th
7 pm Central Standard Time
at
http://www.chatzy.com/566963947607

Click on the link above after 7pm and say hello!
BYOB

;)

Bev

Don't forget your readers!

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:58:30 GMT

Think of someone you know who can tell a great story or joke. When they start to tell what happened to them at the bank, you listen, knowing “this is going to be good,” right? They have great delivery, perfect timing, wonderful word choice. Now think of someone whose stories never seem to have a point but meander hither and yon with no ending in sight. You fight to stifle a yawn and your eyes sweep the room for someone to rescue you from certain death-by-boredom.
Now look at the story you're currently working on. Would your reader be hanging on your every word? Or just...hanging, noose and all?

The story behind the story!

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:14:46 GMT

Read the heartbreaking story that inspired my book here!

http://community.livejournal.com/classof2k9/

Get Smart(er)!

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:28:51 GMT

Remember the opening of the TV show (or movie, for you youngsters) GET SMART?
Max goes down an elevator, stairs, through a series of hallways, with gates and doors zipping and clanging and crashing closed behind him. Then he arrives at the phone booth, which then drops down into HQ, with Chief and 99 waiting for him.
Well, I was thinking that writing and rewriting and rewriting (insert as many as you need here) a novel is similar to Max's commute. There is no back door off the alley where he can just sneak through. There's no 'contact' (read: agent, editor, friend-whose-old-college-roommate-works-as-an-editor's-assistant's-assistant) that waves him in. Max HAS to go through each door, walk down each hallway, press each button, just as we must write that sh**y first draft, go off course, throw half out, start over, switch from third person to first, then switch from first back to third, plow through to the end, then go back and examine our first thoughts and dreams of this book and revise yet again...We must do ALL of this, to finally arrive at HQ, the book we set out to write oh so many months/years before.
Each phase of the revision process teaches us something new - even if it's merely what we DON'T want the book to become - and adds to the final product.
As I begin yet another revision of my WIP, I picture myself, laptop in hand, striding down one of many hallways, the GET SMART theme music playing in the background. I WILL get through each door way, go down each elevator, push each button until I arrive at my destination.
I only wish I had one of those shoes that double as a phone.
Sorry, Chief.

Freeing the Spirits

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:33:10 GMT

I tend to write contemporary, real world stuff, sometimes with a hint of something magical
or otherworldly going on.
The book I am currently revising has spirits in it.
But I just realized, revising the last chapters, that I've kept those spirits at bay.
I haven't unleashed them fully. I've toyed with them, trotted them out here and there,
allowing them little spurts of freedom but always reeling them back in before things get messy.
Well.
The hard-nosed revisor in me is shaking her head.
She says it's time to open their cages, stand back and see what happens.
Oh boy.

So, you may want to lock your doors.
I'm just sayin'...

SAVE SHRINKING VIOLET!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:34:48 GMT

Debut YA novel SHRINKING VIOLET, by Class of 2k9 member Danielle Joseph, is about to go on back order and in order for more copies to be printed, more people have to place orders.

So here's how you can help:
Please tell anyone that you think might be interested to place an order now before it's too late. Guys, girls, grandmas. grandpas, you're never too old to read humorous teen fiction!

http://www.facebook.com/l/76bcf;www.amazon.com/gp/product/141659 6968

http://www.facebook.com/l/76bcf;www.indiebound.org/book/97814165 96967

She's also running a contest for those that want to have some fun! There will be four winners, each receiving a $25 gift certificate to iTunes or the bookstore of their choice.

So how can you win?
1. Post a review of Shrinking Violet on http://www.facebook.com/l/76bcf;Amazon.com or B & N.com 2 points

2 Blog, Tweet or Facebook about the Save Shrinking Violet Campaign 1 point for each mention

3. Take a picture of yourself wearing a sweater and mimicking the book's cover (you must have the book in the photo too). 2 points

Contest begins at 11pm on Thursday, September 24, 2009 and ends at 11pm on Thurday, October 15, 2009.
After you enter, you can either email me at danielle@daniellejoseph.com or leave me a comment here or on my blog at http://www.facebook.com/l/76bcf;daniellejoseph.livejournal.com/.

Much love and thanks for your support,
Bev (and Danielle)

Favorite side kicks

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 01:45:18 GMT

Upstart Crow had an interesting blog post today about Bruce Coville's JENNIFER MURDLEY'S TOAD
and called the toad Jennifer's "sidekick" and how he provides a lot of comic relief to Jennifer's rather sad story.
Read about it here:

http://upstartcrowliterary.com/blog

I got to thinking about sidekicks and their purposes - how they can be goofy or stupid or crazy and endearing while the main character goes about saving the day. Like Ron Weasley to the serious Harry Potter.
So who are your favorite literary side kicks?

Top Ten Reasons for a non-writer to learn to write?

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 00:47:02 GMT

1. If you send Grandma Kettle a really nice thank you letter for the $5.00 birthday check,
she may be so impressed, next year she'll send you $6.00!

2. Learning to write a good essay could get you into college over all those brainiacs with the 36 ACT.

3. People will think you're smarter than you are.

4. ummm.....here's where you come in....

I'm taking any and all suggestions for an upcoming school visit...
and feel free to borrow the list as well!

First pages pod cast - Upstart Crow!

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:22:05 GMT

Had to share Upstart Crow Literary's wonderful podcast on First Pages - and how both of their
choices break the rules!
http://upstartcrowliterary.com/blog

And for anyone as dorky as me, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ADJUST YOUR DIAL, er, COMPUTER.
I finally figured out that there is nothing to watch in a podcast.
;)

Amazing 5th grade chorus

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 02:08:38 GMT

Ok, check out this fabio group of kids in PS22, NY!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0FPZolbYns

These kids have more talent than most the people on IDOL...

New England Soup Factory Cookbook

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 19:57:23 GMT

To whom do I owe my unending gratitude for introducing me to this gem?
I was so inspired by all the great soups I made from it, I decided to have a
Soup Party last fall, and invite all my good pals.
It was such a hit, I'm going to do it again!
Hot soup and warm conversation.
A great combination.
So ladies, whoever you are, please come forward and take a bow!

Audience, please hold your applause until they come forward.
thank you.

Mom burnout?

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:35:18 GMT

Has anyone experienced this phenomenon?
When my kids were younger, I was so much more involved than I am now.
My poor fourth child is on his own, unmonitered by me, so much more than his
older siblings. (Don't call DCFS, he's a 6th grader).
But still.
All I want to do is write!!
Please tell me I'm okay and save me a trip to the psychiatrist.

Caldecott, anyone?

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 13:16:42 GMT

Met Beth Krommes at the ALA Newbery/Caldecott dinner and when she found out I was a debut author, she promptly took her medal from her box, placed it in my hand and said, "Well then, you have to hold this."
Was that sweet or what?
We are now BFFs.
Well, she will be, in my heart anywho;)

10 ways raising a kid is like writing a novel...

Thu, 21 May 2009 23:37:59 GMT

With my eldest child heading off to college in the fall, I’ve been reflecting on (okay, getting sentimental about,) the past 18 years of being her mom. Then I realized I am sending not one, but two of my babies out into the cold, hard world this September! Because that’s when my novel, Haven, will be released. The more I thought about it, the more I saw similarities between raising a child and raising a novel. I’ve jotted them down here for your reading pleasure…

http://community.livejournal.com/classof2k9

REal life "Make Way for Ducklings" video!

Wed, 20 May 2009 16:22:07 GMT

If you haven't seen this, you must.
I cried.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prRmQ-OldyE

Ok, I'm getting a little sentimental about my oldest daughter
graduating high school. But still. It's sweet.

3 editors speak about their journey and jobs

Tue, 12 May 2009 20:12:34 GMT

Click over to the Class of 2k9 blog to read these women's stories!
(And stay tuned - more editor interviews to come!)

http://community.livejournal.com/classof2k9/

Agent interviews will be soon as well:)

Bev

I'm on Cynsations!!!!!!!

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 16:48:03 GMT

Thanks to Tamarak, who told me this interview just posted.
ACK!

http://cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com/

Can somebody tell me why I'm sweating?