Some bragging all around

Have you downloaded The Scourge yet? What are you waiting for?!

In author A.G. Henley's own words: "The Scourge has been 'out there' on Amazon and Barnes and Noble since 1/31/12. . . . [It] was hovering around 20 to 40K [in rankings] in the paid Kindle store for awhile, but in April it has done really, really well, and now it's ranked around 3,000 overall. It is currently ranked #73 in Children's E-books for Action and Adventure, #74 in Children's Books overall for Action and Adventure, and #98 in Children's Books for Fantasy and Magic. I'm really excited about the progress it's made--and especially proud that of 32 reviews on Amazon, 31 are 5-stars (one is 4-stars)."

Congratulations indeed, Aimee! What a self-publishing success story!

Now for my bragging (on behalf of Stephanie as well):  Aimee says, "Several people have mentioned the excellent, 'almost flawless' editing, so again, I have you to thank!" Aw, shucks. And I of course was so flattered to hear that "I've used a quote from your blog as marketing on Amazon and I know it has sold some books!"

: )

Exclamation-pointedly,
L'Editrice  

All earned, nothing stolen

The latest issue of Kirkus Reviews features this amazing review:

STEALING PARKER
Author: Kenneally, Miranda
Review Issue Date: May 15, 2012
Online Publish Date: April 25, 2012
Publisher:Sourcebooks Fire
Pages: 304
Price ( Paperback ): $8.99
Publication Date: October 4, 2012
ISBN ( Paperback ): 978-1-4022-7187-8
Category: Fiction

Readers of this teen novel will appreciate its realistic and witty dialogue as they navigate its tightly packed plot.

High-school valedictorian Parker's life has been a crush of sad confusion since her mother left the family to move in with her girlfriend. Ostracized by many of her friends and her church, Parker has quit the softball team and taken to making out with random guys in a heartbreaking effort to prove to her tormentors she's not a lesbian like her mom. When she meets a hot 23-year-old assistant coach at her school, he seems to be a kindred spirit. As things progress and they become physical, however, he seems more interested in trying to convince her to have sex than in talking. Bits of Parker’s journal-style writing featured throughout very effectively serve to bring readers into her corner. In a sweetly described romantic turn, she also begins to fall for a longtime acquaintance, but her best friend Drew finally comes out to her and drunkenly confesses a secret crush on him. All of this, plus the poignant details of her home life with a depressed father and drug-abusing brother, eventually drives her to contact her mom and face herself.

With characters this nuanced, many teens won't mind all the issues flying fast and furious.(Fiction. 14 & up)


Congratulations, Miranda! Rekha and I can't wait till Stealing Parker is on bookshelves (and in our hot little hands).

- L'Editrice

Authorial awesomeness

At the end of last month I did critiques at SCBWI-Houston's annual conference. It was so great to be back in a writers' community, especially since day to day I'm pretty isolated from everyone. I met many inspiring writers there, but these kind words I received from an author shortly afterward especially touched me . . .


I cannot thank you enough for the nomination [for an award that gives the winner a mentorship with writer Kathi Appelt] you gave me yesterday. I do not exaggerate when I say that this will change my life. I've been waiting for that tipping point of encouragement that would allow me to take the risk of leaving my day job and finally focusing full time on my writing. Even after all my critiques, although I was very encouraged that my novel was heading in the right direction, I wasn't ready to make that leap yesterday. With this nomination, the mindshare my novel among the attendees, and the value it will bring to my submissions, I finally feel confident enough to take this huge step.

But there is something else I wanted to thank you for as well – your actual words. What you wrote about my work was so beautiful, I could barely hold back my tears. And it caught the attention of every single person in that room! I have lost count of the number of people who came up to me afterwards and talked to me about the novel, and what you had said about it.

Whether or not I get the opportunity to work with Kathi Appelt, the value of your nomination (and your words in that nomination!) will always loom large in my writing career.


Readers, be on the lookout for Maya Kanwal's work--she's a rising star! And thanks to Maya for making my job so worth it.

- L'Editrice

Mad, Wicked Good News

Here is some inspiration for all you historical novelists out there. . . .

Sharon Biggs Waller is the author of a beautiful YA (which has major crossover potential) set in the Edwardian era in London, filled with romance, suspense, and suffragettes. I first began working with her about two years ago, and received this email from her last week:

"Just wanted to drop you a line to let you know that I have an agent!  John Cusick from Scott Treimel Literary Agency.  I had a full out to four agents and one editor and I've been in that holding pattern for weeks and months, but then I read on Twitter that John was looking for YA historicals that were set in the same era as Downton Abbey.  I filled out the online form on Friday, and Monday he asked for a full in the morning.  He tweeted later in the day that he had a manuscript that he couldn't put down and would probably finish in one sitting.  Well, that manuscript was mine!  Yesterday he called and offered me representation.  He said the swift turnaround was a first for the agency.  He also said that my manuscript was the cleanest he'd ever seen and just mentioned some minor things.  As soon as I get that to him he's going to send it around to several publishers.  He's very excited about it and he totally got my book and my characters.  In fact, I think he understood them better than I did!  He's my dream editor and I'm walking on clouds right now.  I had to send rejection letters to those other agents.  What a surreal experience!"

Congratulations, Sharon! Can't wait to see A Mad, Wicked Folly in print.

- L'Editrice