Team Blog's Suzanne Young Hits The New York Times Best-Seller List!

Suzanne's YA novel The Treatment is #10 on the New York Times Young Adult Bestseller List for May 18, 2014!

Congratulations, Suzanne!

We're cheering you on.

Team Blog Misses Suzanne Young!

Suzanne has been a member of Team Blog for several years. We're missing her this year, but her career has been picking up steam.

Here's the cover of the just-released UK edition of JUST LIKE FATE, a book she co-wrote with Cat Patrick.

Go, Suzanne, go! 

...And That's A Wrap!

On behalf of all of us on Team Blog, we hope you've enjoyed our reporting on the 2013 SCBWI Summer Conference.  Check out the more than 70 conference posts below to get a taste of the craft, business, inspiration, opportunity and community the Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators is all about!

'Bye For Now (right to left: Lee, Suzanne, Martha, Jolie and Jaime)

Start planning now to join us at the next International SCBWI Conference, our 15th Annual Winter Conference, February 21-23, 2014, in New York City.

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee Wind, Suzanne Young, Martha Brockenbrough, Jolie Stekly and Jaime Temairik

Author Brodi Ashton - The Pre-#LA13SCBWI Conference Interview

Check out this very funny interview with Brodi Ashton by Team Blog's Suzanne Young.

They talk about Brodi's EVERNEATH series, what her world building workshop won't be about (I told you it was funny!) and what a new writer could gain from attending a SCBWI conference. 

If you want to hear Brodi in person, and be part of all the craft, business, opportunity, inspiration and community that the SCBWI Summer Conference offers, you'll have to join us in Los Angeles August 2-5, 2013.

There's only a few spaces left - go here for all the details and to register.

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee

Editor Donna Bray - The Pre-#LA13SCBWI Conference Interviews

Team Blogger Suzanne Young interviews Publisher and Editor Donna Bray about what authors can look from editors when attending a SCBWI conference, and we find out about Donna's two workshops, “Inside Balzer + Bray: 5th Anniversary Edition" and “The Top Ten* Things Editors Are Looking for in Authors and their Work (*or More!).”

Join us at the 2013 SCBWI Summer Conference in Los Angeles, August 2-5, 2013, and avail yourself of all the craft, business, inspiration, opportunity and community the SCBWI Summer Conference offers!

There are only a few spaces left - details and registration are here.

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee

Until the next time... In Los Angeles! (August 2-5, 2013)

Team Blog, hard at work.

From left to right:  Martha Brockenbrough, Jolie Stekly, Lee Wind, Jaime Temairik and Suzanne Young.  Err...   Suzanne (not pictured) is doing research on her new book dealing with invisibility, and although she's not visible in the photo, she's blogging away!

Suzanne, visible

We had a great time blogging the 14th Annual SCBWI Winter Conference!  We invite you to read the posts from the sessions you were fortunate enough to attend, get a glimpse of the ones you missed, and think about the moments and insights that are still resonating for you.  Share your take in comments.

And we hope to see YOU in Los Angeles for the 42nd Annual SCBWI Summer Conference, August 2nd-August 5th, 2013.

Illustrate and Write On,

Lee, Jaime, Jolie, Martha and Suzanne
SCBWI Team Blog


ps - thanks to Emily Jiang for the top photo!

pps - illustrator students - there's a scholarship you can apply for to attend the summer conference.  Find out more here.

ppps - for published authors and/or illustrators who are interested in switching children's book genres, you can apply for a Martha Weston Grant to receive an all-expenses paid trip to the Summer Conference.

Pre-#LA12SCBWI Conference Interview: Executive Editor Arianne Lewin

Check out Suzanne Young's interview with Arianne Lewin, Executive Editor at G. P. Putnam’s Sons, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group.

Ari is doing three talks at the the upcoming 2012 SCBWI Summer Conference in Los Angeles - one on how and what she acquires, another on writing fantasy, and a Monday intensive on improving your first pages.

To hear her yourself, and have a chance to learn from and be inspired by Ari and the rest of the publishers, editors, agents, art directors, illustrators and authors who are part of the amazing conference faculty, you can still register here!


Illustrate and Write On,
Lee
 

#NY12SCBWI Pre-Conference Interview with Ken Wright

SCBWI Team Blog member Suzanne Young interviews Writers House Agent Ken Wright on his upcoming conference sessions on non-fiction, what agents and published writers can gain from attending conferences like the Lucky 13th Annual SCBWI Winter Conference, and much more.

The conference is sold out, so if you didn't get a chance to attend, make sure to follow along with the live blogging here at the Official SCBWI Conference Blog, and the stream of tweets on twitter with the hashtag #NY12SCBWI.

And if you are fortunate enough to be attending the Lucky 13th Annual SCBWI Winter Conference, we look forward to seeing you in New York!

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee

Book Signing at Once Upon a Time Bookstore

Yesterday a few SCBWI members got together for a book signing at Once Upon a Time bookstore in Montrose for a YA Rising Stars event. Other SCBWI attendees made the trip out, and it was all a blur of books, laughs and cake pops! It's great to take the opportunity to visit local independent booksellers when you travel for other events.

Note that Nova Ren Suma is on the conference faculty and Suzanne Young is a member of TEAM BLOG.

Nova Ren Suma, author of IMAGINARY GIRLS (Dutton)

Suzanne Young, author of A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL (Balzer & Bray)

Cindy Pon, author of FURY OF THE PHOENIX (Greenwillow)

Holly Goldberg, author of I'LL BE THERE (Little, Brown)

The author with an bookstore staffer

A bouquet of cake pops decorated the YA author event

SCBWI TEAM BLOG Pre-Conference Interview: Agent Jim McCarthy

Author and blogger Suzanne Young bring us the latest in our series of SCBWI TEAM BLOG interviews with Annual Winter Conference Faculty. Suzanne talked with agent Jim McCarthy. (We hope our interviews get you excited for the event!)

Here's a bit from Suzanne's interview with Jim.

In a Team Blog pre-conference exclusive, I'm chatting with fabulous agent (who also happens to be my agent) Jim McCarthy. Jim is vice president at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management and he will be speaking at the SCBWI Annual Winter Conference in NYC being held January 28^th-30^th. Check out the lineup HERE.

Jim, thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions. To start, I was wondering if you could tell us what your talk at the conference will focus on?

This one’s easy! I’m doing the same break-out session three times, and it’s What Makes Your Work Publishable: Today’s Market in Children’s Books. I was asked to present on what our agency accepts, what my taste is, what makes something stand out as something I want to represent, how I perceive the marketplace now, and where I see it going.

Click here to read the full interview with Jim McCarthy.

And click here for Annual Winter Conference registration where you can attend insightful What Makes Your Work Publishable sessions with Jim, other agents, editors, and art directors!

Jill Alexander and Michael Bourret: Your Manuscript is Ready, But are You?

I jumped at the chance to come to this breakout! First, I'm a huge fan of Jill Alexander who I met just this weekend. She is LOVELY.

But she's not a chicken. This is the cover of her fabulous book, The Sweetheart of Prosper County.

Then, to make the workshop even better, her agent, Michael Bourret is speaking too. He's okay, I guess.

Kidding! Michael is fantastic with three exclamation points!!!


Before they started, Aaron Hartzler spoke about how Jill and Michael met each other at a conference. The room was laughing and immediately drawn in to listen to these two charismatic speakers.

Jill's tips to prepare for publication:
*Have a web presence.
*Think about your office hours and how much time to dedicate to writing, whether you have an agent or not.
*Get a calendar system because you might need it for school visits, conferences, etc...

Michael says that writers have a lot of work to do even once the book is sold--and it isn't just to write. For example, think about the types of interview questions people will ask.

Jill shared a great story about a speaking engagement. She felt overwhelmed by the jumbotron, the microphone, and the sheer size of the crowd. Jill is so funny! The crowd is just cracking up!

They spoke about edits and how they'll be more than you might expect. You should prepare by studying up on copyediting symbols and get familiar with the process. Expect to read your manuscript ANOTHER 6 to 10 times.

Jill knew that Michael had repped Sara Zarr, so she knew she'd love to work with him. She says to find an agent whose client list is something you're interested in.

There was a great question from the audience, "What happens when it's time for the second book?"

Jill said that with her background as a creative writing major, she's always writing. Plus if she stopped now, her husband and son would throw pencils at her and make her get back to work. Michael said that it's different for every writer. "And for some, like the person in here blogging this, they already have 800 things ready to go." :-)

This was an amazing workshop!! Perfect mix of information and humor!

-Suzanne

Arianne Lewin: Take a Tour of a Publishing House from Acquistion to Publication

Arianne Lewin is a Senior Editor at Disney Hyperion. She edits an eclectic list, that emphasizes YA novels and fantasy. She’s currently looking for new voices in all genres.

In acquisitions, she sends the pitch to all the departments. They will rarely take on a book that sales is not behind.

Part of the offer is based on sales projections and possible marketing plans. Sometimes Hyperion will buy books that they feel can win awards because it helps the overall list and also attracts other authors.

Placement is everything in sales. So when a book is to be acquired, they must envision where it will live on the shelf. Arianne also let us in on some secrets about the books that are face-out or on endcaps and tables in the bookstore.

Stephanie Owens Lurie: A View from the Top

Stephanie Owens Lurie is Editorial Director of Disney Hyperion.

In an entertaining talk, Stephanie mentioned that she got her start in publishing when she was very young--ten years-old. After the formative years with Harriet the Spy, Stephanie wrote her own book at the age of ten about worms and love. :-)

When she got a bit older, she thought a job helping people with their ideas sounded like a dream. After interning, Stephanie has worked with many fabulous houses, and currently is the Editorial Director of Disney Hyperion.

There are two imprints at Disney--Disney Press: tie ins with Disney movies, TV and characters. And then Disney Hyperion: non-Disney related content from Preschool to YA. At Hyperion they are very author focused. Melissa De la Cruz, Ally Carter, Rick Riordan and Mo Willems are among their writers and illustrators.

Publishing about 100 books a year, at least 75 % are original content and 25% are reprints. 80% is commercial.

What would you say to a martian about the climate of the children book market? Big books are bigger than ever.Harry Potter and Twilight have opened doors. So many levels of books are doing really well, especially in YA. She has theories as to what shrunk the picture book market. But she thinks that the digital book could possibly mean the rebirth of the picture book.

-Suzanne

Ginger Clark- Bring your questions: An agent answers them all

Ginger Clark is an agent with Curtis Brown LTD. She reps science fiction, fantasy, paranormal romance, literary horror and young adult and MG fiction. She also reps the British rights for the agency and attends the Bologna and Frankfurt Book fairs.

Ginger Clark said that of the queries she receives; only about 30% are usable for her. In the queries she prefers business format with one paragraph for plot. Mention any publishing credits you may have, address her by name, and include all of your contact information.

Industry recognizes the need to be as visible as possible on the internet. When asked about how many clients an agent takes on in a year, she said that so far this year she’s taken on about 3 clients out of thousands of queries.

Rachel Vail-Standing room only!

Amazing author Rachel Vail is having a fantastic workshop on Seeing Your Characters: Creating Adolescent Characters from the Inside Out. And when I walked up, I couldn't believe the crowd! All the seats were taken and people even spilled out into the hall. I was so glad I got there early! What an amazing session! Make sure if you get a chance to hear Rachel speak, you take it!

She offered some great techniques on how to "get into character" and how to develop a strong unique voice. She even offered tips that she learned in theater training. (I've totally used them before!)

Here are some of Rachel's books and she'll be signing here on Monday!

Literary Agents view of the Market Place: Lisa Grubka

Lisa Grubka is an agent at Foundry Literary and Media. When talking about what she was looking for in the current market, I was really interested when Lisa said that she had a strong interest in international stories for teens. She also said she liked grounded contemporary with a character she could identify with. Lisa also mentioned that there is a strong push to find MG books for boys.

Beyond the Breakout

There are so many great opportunities when you attend a SCBWI conference. One of the most helpful of those being the professional one-on-one critiques. Every year countless stories float around the floor of an author being "discovered" during a critique. Have one coming up? Author Cynthea Liu has a great post on how to make the most of your conference critique HERE.

Suz

Josh Adams: Submission Stategies

Peeking in at Josh Adams who runs Adams Literary--I was lucky enough to hear his descriptions of Preempts and Auctions. It was fascinating to see the differences, when one is the better path. He also told us how anytime he goes on vacation or goes for a drive, the offers seem to come in :-)


Suz

Eddie Gamarra and Michael Reisman: Good Books… but are they good for Hollywood?

Michael Reisman is the author of the middle grade Simon Bloom series. He’s been working for over 11 years as a story analyst for various movie and TV companies.

Eddie Gamarra is a literary manager/producer for The Gotham Group.

I'm so happy that I was able to attend this breakout! It was like my own insider look at the movie industry. And that means I can't really share some of the secrets. But at the next conference, this is a session you don't want to miss!

They provided an awesome handout that described the elusive term "High Concept" as an easily-described an easily-grasped concept. Then the paper went into Suggested fate of a book/script/treatment in coverage, Movie deal scenarios and the definitions of various terms that deal with the industry.

It also had a ranking of book adaptations with their studio and lifetime gross.
And to pull it all together Michael and Eddie were like a comedy duo up there. They had the room in hysterics. Can I go again tomorrow?

Suz

Francesco Sedita-Writing Mass Market Fiction

I'm so excited to sit through publisher and writer Francesco Sedita's breakout session on writing mass market fiction. His resume is truly impressive!! Including Saturday Night Live!!!!!!! He's currently works at Grosset & Dunlap and Price Stern Sloan, two imprints at the Penguin Young Readers Group. Oh, and he's awesome.



Francesco mentions that he feels like the words "mass market" aren't very fair. Just because it's mass market does not mean it's lower quality. Some great examples of their series are:

Frankly Frannie


George Brown Class Clown

Bedeviled



In mass market, think about what will interest the modern child. How can you appeal to them, whether it's through unauthorized biographies of pop figures or movie tie in books. There are so many different directions an author of mass market fiction can go. And Francesco's imprint is always looking for new writers to keep the voices fresh.

Check out the books above! I personally loved Bedeviled!!

Suz