Can you believe it’s been almost a year since I became an author? And even longer since I sold my first book and got an agent. Here’s a little walk down memory lane. Humor me–I’m nostalgic today. So in no particular order because that would add a layer of organization I’m not capable of, here’s just a few of my most fabulous moments between finding my agent and birthing a paperback…
Standing outside the Simon & Schuster offices.
Apocalypsies at the LA SCBWI Conference!!!
Meeting my agent (Michelle Wolfson) and editor (Anica Rissi) for the first time. <3
Kimmiepoppins met Mary Poppins!!!! I met Julie Andrews!!!!
Signing my contract!!!!!! I AM GOING TO BE AN AUTHOR!!!
My book was at Bologna. Takes my breath away.
Wow!
My Yanni dance girls wearing TOUCHING THE SURFACE T-shirts. <3
Signing books at my book launch.
Good friends drove in from far away despite all the trouble with Hurricane Sandy.
Just an amazing experience.
Unable to thank my friends and family enough for their love and support on that special day.
More book launch at Oblong Books. I LOVE that bookstore and everyone in it. <3
Dad–there–even when he couldn’t be. The dedication.
On bookshelves in bookstores.
Kimmiepoppins finally gets a book launch in NYC after Hurricane Sandy delayed it. Mean Hurricane–awesome party.
Woo hoo!!! I got to speak at the NY Public Library.
I’m a fangirl–it’s A.S. King people!!!!!
I’m a fangirl–it’s Sharon Creech people!!!!
My first SCBWI faculty gig at the Eastern NY SCBWI Conference–where I got paid to talk with my hands about things I love.
Connecting with teen readers and making hedgehogs. *grin*
Loving on my writer mama, K.L. Going. <3 Wouldn’t be here without her.
And because you made it to the end of my reminiscing…you shall be rewarded with a chance to win a signed copy of the brand spanking new TOUCHING THE SURFACE paperback!!!!
There was lots of thoughtful conversation going on at the Eastern NY SCBWI Conference last weekend. Agents, editors, authors and librarians were giving great advice. I was dispensing what I hoped was good and solid information and lots of interesting question were raised by the excited and interested attendees. A combination like that always gets me thinking. What have I been pondering you ask?
DO OVERS!
First of all, let me explain the concept of a do over, because there is a range of do-overness and you should probably know the zone we are working in…
On one end there is the HARMLESS DO OVER: Kim opens a box of mixed candies that do not have a little chocolate chart like the Whitman Sampler. I pick up a square covered in chocolate, bite in and get a mouth full of jelly. I then peel all the chocolate off the gelatinous cube and eat it before humming the jelly in the can. I then grab another square of chocolate and find a delicious caramel. Do over successful with no major foul attached. Just don’t look too closely at the calorie count.
Then on the other hand there is the THE EXTREME DO OVER: Kim does something so devastatingly stupid the only way she can make herself feel better is crawl back into the womb and get born again and start over fresh. Yes, these events do happen and no I will not tell you what they are. I want you to like me.
But, neither of these do overs are the kind I’m talking about. I’m referring to the MIDDLE OF THE ROAD DO OVERS. These are the kind that have a little bit of scale-tipping power in your life, but aren’t going to break you as a human being. They fall somewhere between I can’t believe I forgot to remind the Tooth Fairy to come!!!!! AND After pulling the car up into my mom’s yard to accommodate a sleeping baby, I wish I hadn’t assumed my car was the ONLY car parked in the YARD!!!! (In my defense it was dark, my brother’s car was hunter green, he wasn’t there when I pulled in and he did not have a sleeping baby.)
The MIDDLE OF THE ROAD DO OVER is what we are talking about today. And we are going to limit it to all things author-ly. So if the “today me” got to give the “past me” good advice, this is what I would tell her to do…
* Start the next book immediately and w0rk on it with gusto while you are trying to get an agent, while you are on submission and during the debut year.
* Blog consistently from the beginning, but blog conservatively. When I first started blogging, I only did it when the mood hit me. DO NOT DO THIS. The people who follow you will show up regularly if you provide a steady product. If they have to work too hard to read your blog, they are going to read someone else’s instead. But, when I first started to finally do regular posts, I was doing posts on M-W-F. This was fine when I wasn’t a debut author, running around pulling my hair out, but when my marketing needs and author obligations became bigger, the 3 day a week schedule became too much for me to handle. If your blog posts are taking away from your writing time, you are doing too many posts. My advice would be to blog fewer times a month, but on a regular schedule. You can always add more days if you find it works for you.
* Although you do not have to come to children’s literature with a built in platform, you will be expected to build one. Think ahead about how you might like to handle some of your social media. When I was first starting out, I just wanted to connect with people in any way I could. I didn’t think of the details. If your expectation is to be a public figure aka a published author, use YOUR name or your anticipated pen name on your social media. Here is an example why.
If my name on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest etc…is Kimmiepoppins and I end up having one or more meaningful online interactions with someone one and they want to go and buy my book, kinda of spur of the moment, I could run into a BIG problem. If that person is wandering around a bookstore searching for something written by Kimmiepoppins–they aren’t going to find it. I’ve just lost a sale. My book is not associated with my nickname, unless I write a picture book–then my pen name is TOTALLY going to be Kimmiepoppins.
Keep in mind, you won’t be able to anticipate everything about social media, it changes too quickly, but do your best to plan ahead for who you want to be, not who you are at this point in your career.
* Understand that if you’re not failing, you’re not dreaming BIG ENOUGH. Failing is part of the process in becoming a success. Seriously. I’m not lying. But I should also warn you, I do believe there is a difference between taking calculated risks and being a dumb ass. If you think you can knock off a quick first draft of something, get and agent and sell that puppy, the odds are not in your favor. You’re not progressive, your delusional. But if you put the time and effort into learning your craft and you write your 82,000 draft and then you think a book about a girl who’s best friend is a dust bunny, but she falls in love with a vacuum is going to be the next BIG THING. Who am I tell you it isn’t so. I say go for it. You can’t truly lose because you’ll either hit the jack pot or fall forward into a bigger success down the road.
* Read a zillion books inside your genre. Read a steady stream of books on craft. But also read outside of both of these areas. Read good adult books. Now listen, I’m the first one to tell you YA gets a bum wrap. Ever heard someone get asked why they don’t write real books? Yeah, idiots abound. Here’s the truth. There is crap in every genre. There are AMAZING books in every genre. Read really good adult books. It will stretch you as a writer, as a thinker and as a person.
* Know when to end a list and feed your kids so you’re not rushing to jujitsu and then having to come home and do homework when everyone is tired and stinky and grouchy and it cuts into the fun time of reading books together early enough so that you can sit down quietly with a bowl of ice cream on hump day and still get to bed in a timely manner that won’t turn you into a zombie the next day when you have to be up at 5:50 to start your day all over again. That is my best advice.
Turn around is fair play. In your experience, what DO OVERS would you give as advice to writers trying to figure it out as they go along?
Just this past weekend (September 21-22) I got the chance to sail into inspiration at the Eastern NY SCBWI Regional Conference. It was a fabulous event for multiple reasons…
*This is my local conference and I love supporting my local SCBWI in anyway I can. This was the very first SCBWI conference I ever attended (back in June of 2007) and it was a life changer for me. I am here to tell you I would not be a published author if it were not for the SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators)
*Because this was a local conference, I had the good fortune of have more of my Eastern NY buddies able to attend than I do at most conferences. I seriously love this group of writers and I never get to spend as much time with them as I would like. This was a treat.
*The Faculty was INCREDIBLE! And no, I’m not just saying that because this was my first time as conference faculty. LOL! Although, it was an awesome experience. I’m saying that because it was an incredible line up with speakers who have or who need to grace the SCBWI international stage. But just so you know, this is absolutely an area where I’d like to see some personal growth on my part. I have proposals developed for future SCBWI events so keep your fingers crossed that I get selected.
So, let’s get to the conference recap…
After registration and a warm welcome from the ship’s captain (RA Nancy Castaldo) We had the honor of listening to a Children’s Literature legend–Jerry Pinkney. Seriously, I could stare at his art and listen to his thoughtful stories all day.
Here are some of Jerry’s best thoughts during his Keynote Speech about ENVIRONMENT, TOOLS AND PROCESS
*His mom read him Hans Christian Anderson and it informed his work.
*His parents supported his artistry–in fact he drew on his bedroom walls and when they became full, his dad would repaint them white.
*He uses poetry to interpret our history and to help bring to light the roll people of color played in our past.
*Jerry Pinkney is dyslexic and to compensate, he is very organized with his art. *fist pump* A big HUG going out to another awesome dyslexic!!!! Yes, you know I hugged him–I do that.
Here are some of the best take aways from this session…
*When you write a good query/pitch, it will get used in the publishing process.
*In most cases, titles change.
*When submitting a PB manuscript, use illustrator notes sparingly (to explain a visual joke that can not be understood through the text)
*It’s okay to break the querying rules if and only if your manuscript is so fantastic I’m obsessed with it. If it’s that good I’ll read it scribbled on a cocktail napkin. (But yours is not that good.) LOL! Jennifer Laughran
I’m a huge fan of Harold to start with. I’ve seen him speak before and he’s written The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Children’s Book Publishing. He’s a fabulous source of information on a broad swath of children’s literature topics and you can’t get better than picking his brain. Here are some great take-aways from his Saturday session…
*Platform: in children’s writing it is not a necessity to come with one–it will develop over time.
*Picture Book writers are going to have a hard time finding an agent. Kids commercial fiction needs an agent.
*Kids have different developmental needs and have diverse tastes. This is a wonderful thing but it makes writing for them challenging.
*Picture Books are not just ONE thing.
*Study what’s on the shelves now, not what is on your shelves–Books are always evolving.
*Study the books on award lists.
*On formatting a manuscript–ALWYAS FOLLOW THE RULES.
Lunch was YUMMY! I have no pictures, I was too busy inhaling it. There was soup and salad with chicken or beef. The rolls were warm and toasty and the cookies were scrumptious. In fact, they were so good, I wasn’t even focused on the DEBUT AUTHOR PANEL right after lunch!!!!!
Ummmm I have no notes for you LOL! I was doing double duty being moderator and panelist along with Lizzie Foley (REMARKABLE) and Lisa Amowitz (BREAKING GLASS) But I do have pictures (Thank you to everyone who shared them with me!!!!!)
All three agents gave a ton of insight into how they operate, what they’re looking for and the general ins and outs of working with an agent. Here are some of the highlights…
*Your query should leave out the “it’s a fast paced …” part of the cover flap. (AB)
*Don’t hand any paper (synopsis) to an agent at a conference. It will burn their hand. LOL! Follow submission guidelines and reference the conference. (JL)
*On contracts: Every little word id there because it happened to somebody. (AB)
*Good questions to ask an agent in an interview: What books do you like that you don’t represent? What books do you dislike? (JL)
*PB Writers or Author/Illustrators should query one MS but have 3 or 4 fleshed out MS’s in the wings.
Next there was a book signing!!!!!! I LOVE getting a chance to share TOUCHING THE SURFACE with new people and talking about their projects and aspirations. I made so many new friends this weekend.
Let me just tell you, I was blown away by Betsy’s Keynote and the dessert selection was the bonus!!! YUM!!! But I would have adored her talk even without a HUGE side of chocolate yumminess. But since it was there…BONUS!!!! I apologize because I didn’t take a lot of notes or tweet–I was simply a captive listener. But if you’d like a taste of what Betsy has to offer, I highly encourage you to check out her blog–Fuse #8. It’s amazing!
On a side note–Betsy incorporated Lois’ fabulous book Ick! Yuck! Eew!: Our Gross American History into her presentation and raved about it, not remembering that Lois would be in the audience. How cool is that??? All my teacher buds, be sure to check this one out because it’s got librarians cheering.
After such a fabulous day, I went home completely pumped, totally exhausted and full of too much chocolate. But I needed to get over it quickly because I still had the SUNDAY INTENSIVES!!!!!
There were three choices for the Sunday event…
*Harold Underdown: MANAGING YOUR CAREER IN A CHANGING MARKET
*Semadar Megged (Art Director, Philomel) PORTFOLIO EXAMINATION AND DISCUSSION
They all sound great, don’t they? I picked the session with Harold. It was a small intimate group and I learned a metric ton of stuff. I didn’t tweet or take pics because I was interactively engaged and that is a great thing. After two hours of intensive we finished off the conference with an amazing presentation from Steve Sheinkin, author of BOMB. Steve is a former text book writer with a passion for history and a drive to turn our past into really honest and interesting stories so that kids can remember and enjoy them. I was also very impressed with the idea that most of out history lives in gray area. The text book writers and those who influence them have created a world of black and white. Steve pointed out that no one wants to hear there is good and bad in everyone, particularly their heroes.But maybe that narrow way of thinking is in the past–because with the accolades that Steve is getting for his writing and research, I think history books are changing for the better.
Let’s face it, no matter how long an SCBWI conference is, it ends too soon. So, before I go, some candids proving how much everyone was enjoying it…
Kim and Linda–your neighborhood Shop Talk Coordinators!!
Jeannie and I met because she almost knows my brother LOL!
Some of our Shop Talkers doing a pile on. <3
I love being a mentor for talented young writers. Kim and Danielle. ((((hugs))))
Kim and Linda hugging on our awesome RA!!!! Thanks for everything, Nancy. <3
And that’s a wrap. Any questions about the conference? Want to know more about our Hudson Valley Shop Talk? We want YOU!!!! Anyone take notes for the debut author panel. I’d love it if you threw a highlight or two from the presentation in the comments. What conference are you planning on doing next? Want more info on the SCBWI??? Just let me know what you need to know. And plan on coming to #EastNYSCBWI next time. <3
I am so excited to share REMOVED (The Nogiku Series #1) by my wonderful friend S.J. Pajonas!!!!!
Duty knows no family. Love has no price. Secrets can cost you everything.
Twenty-year-old Sanaa Griffin, a sweet and smart half-Japanese girl, is about to get more than she bargained for when she wishes for love and excitement on New Year’s Eve 3103. Mark Sakai, who knows more about her than any stranger should, thinks Sanaa is the perfect person to spy on the heads of the three biggest Japanese clan leaders in Nishikyō. He wants her to gather enough evidence to keep them from going to war when they land on Earth’s colonization planet, Yūsei. Nishikyō, built by the Japanese 300 years ago to house the rest of mankind, is failing and everyone is preparing to leave.
Sakai has known Sanaa’s family all her life but she knows nothing of him! And despite all the time they spend together, he keeps his distance from her. Then one day, he brings her to Jiro, his nephew, to learn sword fighting, and it changes her life irrevocably. Between falling in love with Jiro and the information she is gathering on the clans, Sanaa realizes Sakai is holding back secrets about her family and her deceased parents, secrets as to why she was chosen for this job, and learning the truth puts her and all of Nishikyō in danger.
Kimberly’s Review of REMOVED:
Both in life and in my reading material, I haven’t done a lot of delving into the Japanese culture. I recently got my first literary taste of Japan in Daisy Whitney’s WHEN YOU WERE HERE, a YA novel that spends part of it’s time in Tokyo. If WHEN YOU WERE HERE was the appetizer for discovering another culture, the New Adult novel REMOVED is the meal and I loved what I was tasting. Both authors won me over with their cultural passion and Pajonas’ captivation with Japan is skillfully woven into her unique vision of the future. REMOVED takes place in 3103, after an environmental decline has forced the remaining 6 million people (most of them of a Japanese heritage) to live under domes in North America. In a unique twinning of the past and the future, Pajonas’ insertion of the Japanese culture is effortless.
This novel has been correctly set up for a series, with a satisfying plot arc and enjoyable cliff hanger for the first book, all the while maintaining plenty of room for the larger plot lines that umbrella over multiple books. When poorly executed, this is a bit of a pet-peeve of mine and has been responsible for me leaving a series unfinished. In my opinion, Pajonas’ plotting skills are reminiscent of Marissa Meyer’s creativity and organization with the LUNAR CHRONICLES.
While REMOVED is an action-packed novel with a kick-ass heroine, it also has many sections that contain quiet, thoughtful moments. Additionally, there is a steamy, but swoony romance that doesn’t have frustrating love triangle. The sci-fi part of REMOVED is believable without being weighted down and has plenty of twists in it’s plot to keep me wanting to turn the pages. All of this combined makes REMOVED a book that will capture the interest of readers in a variety of different genres. Think of it like a hybrid of some of your favorite books.
Lastly, I simply love the character of Sanaa. She is complex and that is my favorite kind of person.
About S.J. Pajonas
S. J. Pajonas loves all things Asian but has especially been in love with Japan for as long as she can remember. Writing about Asia and Japan came naturally after studying the culture and language for over 15 years. She studied film and screenwriting first at Michigan State University and eventually segued into fiction once she was no longer working a full-time job as a website programmer for HBO.com
REMOVED is S. J. Pajonas’s debut work, book one of four in the Nogiku Series. She also writes Women’s Fiction and her upcoming Love in the Digital Age series will be published in 2014.
Stephanie lives with her husband and two children just outside of New York City. She loves reading, writing, film, J- and K-dramas, knitting, and astrology. Her favorite author is Haruki Murakami and favorite book is The Wind-up Bird Chronicles.
Also Be sure to visit S.J. Pajonas’ blog at http://www.spajonas.com for giveaways and posts on the Japanese cultures and traditions that inspired REMOVED and the entire Nogiku Series.
Looking for more Bookanistas Reviews this week? You know I’ve got them…
I had a different topic planned for today, but I can’t stop thinking about bigger things, like the asinine reaction to our new Miss America, Syria, or the state of our educational system. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not the most educated or eloquent when speaking about these important issues, but that doesn’t stop me from being passionate about them.
So, I thought I’d take this opportunity to passive-aggressively vent educate about these topics using some informational and entertaining resources.
The floor is open for discussion. There is just too much going on here to get specific. I know most of these issues are complicated and not easily fixed, but for the record, the Miss America “scandal” in neither complicated or hard to fix. Just stop being an uneducated racist and it won’t bother you at all.
