The Next Big Thing

April 18th, 2013

Today I’m participating in THE NEXT BIG THING. It’s a blog hop that began in Australia and went international. The purpose is to get the word out on middle grade and YA writers and their current or upcoming books. Each of us answers the same set of questions, and we “tag” two other authors who will do the same thing the following week. My friend and writing buddy, Denise Vega, tagged me, so here goes.

What is the working title of your next book?

My next book is for the adult market.  I think teens who like romance and have read Pride & Prejudice will like it! It’s called The Pursuit of Mary Bennet, coming in November 2013. I’m going to talk about Kissing Shakespeare today, though, since it’s definitely a YA!

Where did the idea come from for the book?

I’d been wanting to write something that combined historical and contemporary. When I read about Shakespeare possibly having been a schoolmaster as a teen, I immediately started thinking about the possibilities. It was too intriguing to pass up!

What genre does your book come under?

I refer to it as a time travel fantasy, but of course it’s also historical and has a huge romantic element.

What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?

Wow! What a fun question.

Miranda: Shailene Woodley (she was actually suggested by someone on Twitter.  I agree she’s a good choice! She played George Clooney’s daughter in The Descendants.)

Stephen:  Kit Harington (Jon Snow in Game of Thrones)

Shakespeare: Nicholas Hoult (Jack the Giant Slayer)

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

High school senior Miranda travels back to sixteenth century England with her intriguing guide, Stephen, in order to help prevent Shakespeare from taking a very different path in life than the one he was meant for.

Who published your book?

Delacorte Press

How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?

I began in 2007 and the book sold in 2010. It was very heavy on research: the religious, political, cultural history of the Elizabethan period, Shakespeare, Edmund Campion, the workings of time travel, and more. I love the research, but it definitely slows down the process.

What other books would you compare this story to in your genre?

Gary Blackwood’s books, about a Yorkshire boy who comes to London to work for Shakespeare’s acting company (The Shakespeare Stealer and others); Carolyn Meyer’s books, especially Loving Will Shakespeare, and Eve Edwards’s The Lacey Chronicles. Also, Philippa Gregory’s The Other Boleyn Girl. These books are all set in the Tudor era. Kissing Shakespeare has the time travel element, whereas the others I mentioned are straight historicals.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

The initial inspiration came from reading about Shakespeare’s life and what he might have done before he married, and prior to going to London. But it was my husband who encouraged me to stick with it when I was discouraged. Writing a book with Shakespeare as one of the main characters is intimidating, and I was afraid I couldn’t pull it off!

What else about the book might pique the reader’s interest?

Imagine yourself suddenly transported back to Shakespeare’s time. No modern plumbing, strange and unpalatable foods (like mutton!), odd customs (such as drinking ale at every meal), barely comprehensible English, no electricity or modern technology, and very weird clothing worn in layers to keep warm! These were all things Miranda had to contend with.

So that’s it for Kissing Shakespeare. Next week look for Chris Myers’s and Lindsay Eland’s questions and answers. Chris is the author of Date with the Dead and Lindsay wrote Scones and Sensibility. They’re both writing about new books.

 

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Kissing Shakespeare FAQs

March 9th, 2013

When Tania Navarro, age 19, wrote to me about KISSING SHAKESPEARE, she asked several questions. Afterward, I asked her if she would mind if I used them on this blog, since many other people have asked me the same questions. She was kind enough to give her consent. Tania is nineteen and lives in eastern Iowa. Below are her questions (in bold) followed by my answers:

I know that KISSING SHAKESPEARE is the first novel you’ve written, but are you planning to write a sequel? When Stephen and Miranda meet again?

I’d love to write a sequel to KISSING SHAKESPEARE, but it’s too soon for my publisher to commit to one. So many readers have written to me to ask if Miranda and Stephen will ever see each other again. Obviously, there is much more of their story to tell, and I’ve spent many hours thinking about it. A reviewer on Goodreads also said she wanted a prequel—the story of Stephen and his beloved Mary Swindon! I’ve never thought of that, but you never know!

Are you planning to write any other books?

I have a new book coming out from William Morrow/Harper Collins late in 2013. Cover and title to be revealed soon!

What inspired you to write KISSING SHAKESPEARE in the first place? Was it Hoghton Tower? Or something else? Or was it someone?

I’ve been to England many times, and setting does play a powerful inspirational role for me. I love British history and British writers. The idea for KISSING SHAKESPEARE struck me when I was reading a book called WILL IN THE WORLD, written by a Shakespeare scholar named Stephen Greenblatt. This was the first time I came across the idea that Shakespeare may have been a schoolmaster in northern England in his late teens, before he married Anne Hathaway. I thought that was a fascinating tidbit, and my mind immediately went to how I could build a story around it.

The “someone” would have to be Shakespeare!

Who are your favorite authors?

Shakespeare, of course. But Jane Austen is first in my heart! Among YA writers, I currently love Rachel Hartman (Seraphina), R.L. LaFevers (Grave Mercy), Laini Taylor (Days of Blood and Starlight), Kristin Cashore (Bitterblue). I’m a great mystery reader. I enjoyed GONE GIRL, by Gillian Flynn. I admire Jo Nesbo, a Norwegian mystery writer, and his novels about detective Harry Hole. Yep, I’m a fan of Stieg Larsson, too! And Peter Robinson, a British writer.

 Did you name any of the characters from your book after someone you know?

I didn’t name any of the characters after people I know. In fact, I usually avoid doing that, because it’s hard for me to separate a person’s name from their personality. When I’m writing, I need to focus on my character, not who their name reminds me of! In KISSING SHAKESPEARE, I knew I wanted the heroine to be named for a Shakespearean character. I chose Miranda, because it’s a name still popular today. Since her parents were Shakespearean actors, it’s logical that they would have named her after one of his heroines. Miranda is in The Tempest, in case you haven’t read that one yet. Her Elizabethan name, Olivia, is also that of a Shakespearean heroine, from Twelfth Night.

I believe there are some writers with dozens of books who, just for fun, name minor characters after relatives or friends. Maybe that’s something you think about doing after you’ve written so many books.

How long did it take you to write this novel?

I started doing research for KISSING SHAKESPEARE  in 2007 and my agent sold the book to Random House at the end of 2010. Without the historical aspect, it probably wouldn’t have taken as long.

Was it difficult to end your book?

It was difficult to finish KISSING SHAKESPEARE only because of its poignant ending. I wasn’t even thinking about a sequel at that point, BTW! The way it ended was the only logical outcome. Still, I sat with my box of tissues wiping away tears while I wrote!

Were you excited to bring Miranda’s adventure to a close and start something else?

While I was waiting for my editor’s revision comments for KISSING SHAKESPEARE, I wrote most of my upcoming book. After I completed the KS revision process, I finished the new book.

Thanks, Tania, for letting me share your questions! If anyone else would like to ask one, I’m happy to respond.

 

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Favorite Teen Novels of 2012

January 31st, 2013

GraveMercy_final_hres-198x300Here’s my list of favorite young adult novels from 2012. VACLAV AND LENA and THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS were officially marketed to adults, but in my opinion, not especially humble, they would be great for teens. The links are to my own GoodReads reviews, except for TRAITOR’S SON AND SON, which are linked to professional reviews.

If I had to choose…I couldn’t single out just one as my ultimate favorite. I adore books that have romance, intrigue, and powerful revelations about self. On that basis, here are the three I loved best: SERAPHINA, BITTERBLUE, AND GRAVE MERCY.

Here they are, in no particular order:

Matched, by Ally Condie

Bitterblue, by Kristin Cashore

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Rock On, by Denise Vega

Vaclav and Lena, by Haley Tanner

Why We Broke Up, by Daniel Handler and Maira Kalman

It’s Our Prom (So Deal With It), by Julie Anne Peters

The Fault In Our Stars, by John Green

Grave Mercy, by Robin LaFevers

Lies Beneath, by Anne Greenwood Brown

Seraphina, by Rachel Hartman

The Light Between Oceans, by M.L. Stedman

Traitor’s Son (The Raven Duet, Book 2), by Hilari Bell

Son, by Lois Lowry

Bitterblue Dial for blogger

What are  your favorites from 2012?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Looking Back at 2012

January 1st, 2013

 

For many years I made it a habit to list my writing accomplishments as each year drew to a close. I first got the idea from Cynthia Morris. She suggested it as a way of focusing on achievements rather than on setbacks. I haven’t done it lately, because my critique group has been doing “writing resolutions” each year. At our January meeting, we review last year’s resolutions, and how we measured up, and submit our resolutions for the coming year. And as a final, liberating gesture, we record our writing demons on flash paper and set them on fire. It’s become a real ritual for us. (If you take a look at the above link, you’ll see examples of what we resolved to do that year, as well as the ritual burning!)

However you choose to do it, I think it’s a useful exercise. List every accomplishment, no matter how minor it seems: attended a workshop, joined a critique group, wrote 1,000 words a day, week, month. Pretty soon it will evolve into: Won/placed in a contest, finished a first draft of a manuscript, received a critique from an agent or editor, queried five agents, and so on.

I looked back at one year in my journal (which I kept faithfully for several years when I was first writing) and here are some of the things I recorded at the end of one year: Read and critiqued six manuscripts; as Facilities Coordinator for RMC-SCBWI, helped find a new meeting venue; attended Pikes Peak Writers Conference; attended the week-long Highlights Foundation Writer’s Workshop; as a direct result of that, completed a final revision of Pandemic; submitted Pandemic to three editors.

If you didn’t have such a great year, you’ll be forced to ask yourself some uncomfortable questions: what prevented me from accomplishing more? What do I need to do to be more productive? How can I eke out more writing time? Because, let’s face it, writing is the thing. Without producing work, nothing else really matters if your goal is publication, traditional or indie.

I couldn’t have asked for a better year professionally. My debut novel, Kissing Shakespeare, released on August 14. My agent, Steven Chudney, sold a second book of mine to William Morrow/Harper Collins. It’s a sequel to Pride and Prejudice, about Mary Bennet, the socially awkward middle sister. No title yet! I jumped into book promotion, which, of course, is an ongoing project.

But still, looking back on 2012, I see many areas I need to work on. Dividing writing time with book promotion is one. I’m referring mainly to time spent on social media. Now active on Twitter (@PamMingle), Facebook, and  GoodReads, as well as blogging here and on TheWildWriters blog, I’m having a tough time finding a workable balance. Answering e-mails from readers is a huge priority. Reaching out to teachers, librarians, bloggers, book clubs, and appearing at library and other events, are all important ways to promote your book. But each of these activities must be weighed against the time away from writing.

As with anything else, it helps to adhere to a schedule. Morning is my chief writing time, so I try to fit everything else into afternoons or evenings. But the temptation to get on the internet is always present, and it sometimes seems as though a little devil is sitting on my shoulder telling me to tweet something, or check my Amazon reviews, or my e-mail. One of my resolutions this year will definitely be to rein in those impulses and tell that devil to take a hike.

Julie Anne Peters, over at TheWildWriters.com, has some great suggestions for creating specific, goal-oriented resolutions, and I strongly encourage you to see what she has to say!

If you have any secrets that have worked for you, either in goal setting, or keeping a sane balance between writing and…other activities, please share!

 

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Engage the Senses in your Writing

November 25th, 2012

Over and over again, writers are told that in order to enrich their writing, they should strive to engage as many of the senses as possible in a descriptive passage.

The easiest, of course, is visual. We tend to stick with that one, because it’s the most obvious and most overwhelmingly present. Readers always want to know how something looks. But how much more vivid would our descriptions be if we used several of the senses, all at once?

While reading Kristin Cashore’s Bitterblue, I came across a paragraph that absolutely embodied this:
“Giddon yanked the papers from her hands and threw them across the room. Jumping at the unexpectedness of this, Bitterblue saw him clearly as she hadn’t before, saw him towering over her, mouth hard, eyes flashing, and realized he was furious. Her vision came into focus and the room filled itself in around her. She heard the fire crackling, the silence of Bann and Helda, at the table, watching, tense, unhappy. The room smelled like wood fires. She pulled a blanket around herself. She was not alone.”

Take a closer look. Obviously the visual is present and dominant. But in the background, Bitterblue hears the fire crackling, notices the silence of the others. She smells the wood fire. Pulling the blanket around herself is tactile. The only sense missing is taste. But something else is going on here as well. We learn how she’s feeling.

Not only does the use of the senses capture our attention, it serves to heighten the tension and drama of what is actually happening in this scene. Something elemental passes between Giddon and Bitterblue. The power of his anger proves how much he cares about her, as does the “tense, unhappy silence” of the others. The sensory details are what drives these emotions home to the reader, what makes the passage  so visceral. The ending of the paragraph is powerful: “She was not alone.”

Sensory detail doesn’t have to be perfect in the early drafts of your work. You can fill it in as you revise. But don’t leave it out, and don’t be satisfied with the visual only. Do remember that the senses connect to your characters’ emotions and feelings. It’s their perception, not yours.

If you haven’t yet had the pleasure of reading Cashore’s work, start with Graceling. Fire is her second book, and is a companion to Graceling and Bitterblue, which is her third book. (You can read my review of Bitterblue on GoodReads.)

Do you have a favorite writer who is particularly good at drawing us in by meticulous and judicious use of sensory detail? Any books or passages you’d like to share?

 

 

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Kissing Shakespeare Discussion Questions

October 18th, 2012

Here’s my first go at questions for Kissing Shakespeare. I wrote these with book clubs in mind, since several groups who are reading KS gently prodded me! They’re meant for a casual, if thoughtful, discussion, for teens or adults, NOT for classroom use. Sometime soon, I’ll do a set for teachers. Obviously, the emphasis would center more on Shakespeare, especially The Taming of the Shrew; and the culture, religion, and politics of the Elizabethan period.

Here they are:

1. On the first page of the book, we get a sense of Miranda’s personality. How would you describe her at the beginning of the story?  How would you describe her at the end?

 

2. By using time travel, the writer is attempting to connect modern readers, especially teens, to the time of Shakespeare. Did it work? Can you think of alternative approaches to telling the story?

 

3. How does the book work as a romance?  Would you have preferred Shakespeare as the love interest rather than Stephen?

 

4. What other kinds of seduction, besides the obvious one, take place in the book?

 

5. Which character did you find it easiest to relate to?  Why?  Were there any characters that you failed to connect with?

 

6. When she is in the past, Miranda suffers a fair amount of culture shock due to the suppression of women in the Elizabethan era. In fact, she becomes annoyed with Stephen for going along with the views of the time.  Discuss some of the differences in women’s roles then and now.

 

7. Talk about the way in which the time period was portrayed, through language, descriptions, actions, and events. Did the book give you a sense of what living in the Elizabethan era would have been like?

 

8. Did you learn anything new about Shakespeare’s time from reading Kissing Shakespeare? What surprised you? What were some things you already knew from TV, movies, and other books?

 

9. Very little—virtually nothing—is known about Shakespeare’s youth. Based on your knowledge of his work, was his portrayal in the book satisfying? If you had written Kissing Shakespeare, what other aspects of his character might you have explored? How would you have portrayed him differently?

 

10. What events of the story stand out to you as memorable?

 

11. Did the ending surprise you?  Disappoint you?  Can you think of alternative endings?

For other writers putting together their own questions, I found lots of help on the internet. Any suggestions for additional questions? Let me know!

 

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How To Have A Great Book Launch Party

October 2nd, 2012

I wanted my launch party for KISSING SHAKESPEARE to be perfect. So, I put someone else in charge! My husband insisted he wanted to make the arrangements, and after joint planning, he did. Lucky for me, a dear friend of many years, Mary Ellen Kelly, stepped in to offer her help with set-up and clean-up. As it turned out, she also welcomed people at the door and made sure the food trays stayed stocked. Her husband Mike sold copies of the book throughout the party. I asked another good friend, Peter Fordyce, to take photographs. He did a beautiful job, and relieved us of that burden.

The first step was finding a venue. I decided not to hold the event at a bookstore, because I wanted to invite LOTS of people, and wanted them to feel free to mix and mingle, eat, socialize, and enjoy themselves. After all, a debut novel only happens once. While I support and depend on my local bookstores, like the Tattered Cover and Barnes & Noble, I didn’t think the type of event I had in mind would work at their stores. We checked out a local art gallery, the Lakewood Cultural Center, vacant retail space in our neighborhood, but finally settled on the Lakewood Heritage Center, specifically, the Country Schoolhouse.  It was the right size, affordable, and had a nice ambiance, with its wood floors and tall casement windows. Also, it was only five minutes from home.

Next step: decide on a program and a schedule. A few months earlier, I’d attended Denise Vega’s launch party for ROCK ON, which came out in March of 2012. On her invitations, she listed exactly what was going to occur and at what time. I really appreciated that. I knew I wanted to get there in time to chat with friends, and I didn’t want to miss the reading or the performance of the teen band. So I timed things accordingly.

Before I made my schedule, however, I had to decide what I wanted on the program. A friend had suggested including a performance of a scene from The Taming of the Shrew, since that play is a big part of KISSING SHAKESPEARE. Another friend, Janet Smith, happens to be the mother of a son and daughter who are both experienced actors. Her son Noah had actually played Petruchio before. Nailing that down eased my mind, and the rest of it fell into place.

The schedule ended up looking something like this: 4:00, meet and greet; 4:30, welcome, thanks, and introduction of the players and the scene they’d be performing; 4:50, reading from KISSING SHAKESPEARE; 5:00, book signing. Many people arrived with books they’d already purchased, but several bought books at the party.

After the reading, guests continued to socialize, eat, and have their books signed. We’d put an ending time on the invitations, which was 5:45, and by then, most people had left. It was a Saturday, and people had places to go.

With eighty-five or so people attending, I knew there was no way I’d be able to spend time with everyone; in fact, there were a few people I didn’t get to speak to at all, and also a few who I thought weren’t there at all…but were. Between my husband and me, we managed to greet all the guests, even if it was just a quick hello. People were very understanding, and I think the program made up for any lack of personal attention.

One word of caution: don’t make your reading too long. I kept mine down to about five minutes, and that seemed just right. I chose a scene from the book that had some humor, and was pleased when the audience laughed at the right places. I cut some of it where possible to stay within the time limit I’d set for myself.

Those are my words of wisdom about launch parties. Have you had one you felt really good about? What made it unique or exciting? Please share!

 

 

 

 

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Quarreling Couples

September 2nd, 2012

 

Quarreling lovers. Or soon-to-be-lovers. Or once-upon-a-time were lovers. In any scenario, they’re definitely locking horns with each other in some way.

My husband and I got into an argument on this subject. Well…not exactly an argument; more of a disagreement. We were watching the new HBO drama Newsroom, I think episode four. I’ve really fallen for the show and admit, when I feel that way, I don’t tolerate criticism well. I lose my objectivity, unless the flaws are so outrageous they’re impossible to forgive.

So my husband was complaining about two of the relationships in the show. Why can’t these couples just acknowledge they’re in love? Why can’t they just get together, because we all know in the end, they will?

But where’s the fun in that? I answered. In this particular kind of story, the quarreling pair provides the conflict, or some of it, anyway. If two characters immediately declare their love for each other and find their happy-ever-after, there’s really no reason to keep watching. Or keep reading. Of course, the reader/viewer should love the journey. The ups and downs. The parting and the coming back together. They should especially enjoy the verbal parrying. Although I admit, sometimes it feels like we’re being jerked around if it goes on too long.

I was forced to remind him of a few examples of relationships from classic stories in which the main characters begin by either hating, disliking, or being oblivious to each other. Sparring in some way. Katherine and Petruchio (The Taming of the Shrew), Beatrice and Benedick (Much Ado About Nothing), Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy (Pride and Prejudice), and Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester (Jane Eyre). For that matter, Scarlett and Rhett in Gone With The Wind. And tension between the two main characters is definitely a staple of romance novels. Think Georgette Heyer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

YA couples whose relationships are sometimes adversarial: Katniss and Peeta (Hunger Games), and Katsa and Po (Graceling), among others. Unfortunately for him, my husband isn’t familiar with them. So I smugly pointed out that my own book, Kissing Shakespeare, which debuted August 14, features such a couple. Miranda and Stephen get off to a really bad start when he kidnaps her and whisks her back to Shakespeare’s time. But it doesn’t end there…

What are your favorite books, movies, or TV shows that feature quarreling lovers?

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Publication Day for Kissing Shakespeare

August 14th, 2012

It’s finally arrived. My big day! The release of Kissing Shakespeare, published by Delacorte Press. I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating, thanks to all who helped shepherd this book to publication: my agent, Steven Chudney, my editor, Francoise Bui, as well as all the behind-the-scenes folks at Delacorte. Thanks also to my critique group, The Wild Folk, and my husband and daughter, who patiently read many versions of the manuscript. Their suggestions and comments made Kissing Shakespeare a stronger, more engaging book.

And thanks also to other family members and friends whose interest and support never flagged. Writing a book is a long process, and it helped so much to know you had my back!

In case you’re unfamiliar with the story of Kissing Shakespeare, here’s the official synopsis:

Miranda has Shakespeare in her blood: she hopes one day to become a Shakespearean actor like her famous parents. At least, she does until her disastrous performance in her school’s staging of The Taming of the Shrew. Humiliated, Miranda skips the opening-night party. All she wants to do is hide.

Fellow cast member, Stephen Langford, has other plans for Miranda. When he steps out of the backstage shadows and asks if she’d like to meet Shakespeare, Miranda thinks he’s a total nutcase. But before she can object, Stephen whisks her back to 16th century England–the world Stephen’s really from. He wants Miranda to use her acting talents and modern-day charms on the young Will Shakespeare. Without her help, Stephen claims, the world will lose its greatest playwright.

Miranda isn’t convinced she’s the girl for the job. Why would Shakespeare care about her? And just who is this infuriating time traveler, Stephen Langford? Reluctantly, she agrees to help, knowing that it’s her only chance of getting back to the present and her “real” life. What Miranda doesn’t bargain for is finding true love . . . with no acting required.

 Today, for me, life is good!

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Writing in the Digital Age

July 25th, 2012

Recently I attended a symposium on digital publishing organized by the Rocky Mountain Chapter of SCBWI. I learned about the proliferation of e-books, POD, and apps, as well as interactive books and transmedia (multiple media).

Lisa Rutherford from Coliloquy taught us about active fiction, and a new concept (at least to me) of “living books, not static files.” She also talked about new kinds of engagement with the reader: personalization, unlocking and changing content, tracking the number of times a book is read, or a scene within a book is read, serialization of books, and fan reaction.

Rubin Pfeffer, from East West Literary Agency, discussed the explosion of content, the trend toward screens for reading, and the positioning of e-books to surpass print books. The rise of indie e-books, some becoming best sellers. “Zombie books”—a new term to me, which refers to out-of-print books authors are putting out there in digital form. This was no surprise—I have writer friends who are doing this.

All this brings new opportunities. To quote Mr. Pfeffer, “New technology always creates new content.” Each writer has to decide what will work for the story she wants to tell. E-book? Enchanced e-book? Book app? He cautioned that “beautiful content doesn’t need bells and whistles.”

Lin Oliver, author and Executive Director of SCBWI, urged us to “accept and embrace new media and not resist it.” All the speakers emphasized that writers should focus on creating beautiful content, but perhaps Lin put it best: “How to tell a story matters. Is it relatable to your audience, in your voice? What we create remains true no matter the form of distribution.”

How do you feel about digital content? Ready to embrace it? Or are you taking a more cautious approach?

 

 

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