HOLLY SCHINDLER MERCHANDISE

I'm getting ready to jump headfirst into drafting my next YA...before I get started, though, I've opened a merch store. I'm planning on listing products featuring reader-favorite quotes (and some fresh artwork). To get started, I've listed a few products for fans of THE JUNCTION. Readers and teachers have connected strongly with Auggie's search to find her "shine," or the thing that makes her special or unique...so of course I started with a few original "shine" products.

 Check out the initial assortment of products by clicking the image below:

Got a quote you'd like to see featured on a product? Feel free to get in touch: hollyschindlerbooks (at) gmail (dot) com, or leave a comment!

GOOD NEWS: THE JUNCTION & MARK TWAIN AWARD + COME DECEMBER AMAZON BESTSELLER

Some truly exciting things happened this past week:

First, I received word that THE JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY is now a finalist for the Mark Twain Readers Award. (I loved casting my vote for the Mark Twain Award when I was in school. It's really cool to know that my book is now in the pool of works for students to vote on in the 2016-2017 school year.)

Also, my short story "Come December" hit the #1 bestselling slots in two separate Amazon categories: single author short stories, and thirty-minute literature.

It's gearing up to be a great holiday, indeed...

THE RUMPUS LETTERS FOR KIDS

Does anything in this world feel quite as special or personal as an actual physical letter arriving in the mail?  I'm a big fan of the handwritten, of stationery and funky pens.  Of Christmas cards and thank-you notes that require a stamp instead of an "@" to arrive at the intended destination.

So of course I love this program.  THE RUMPUS / Letters for Kids allows your young reader (or your entire classroom of young readers, if you've got one of those) to get letters straight from MG / YA authors.  Sometimes the letters are illustrated or handwritten; often, they come with a return address so you can reply to the author.  (Becoming pen pals with an author!  How cool is that?)

This week, those in the program will get a letter from yours truly.  Auggie in THE JUNCTION collects old stuff from her grandpa's rash hauls and reinvents them; I love old stuff, too.  My office is brimming with cool thrift store / auction finds and collections: an old enamel bookstore sign, Enid Collins box bags, art...One of my favorite pieces is a '30s-era King Kong movie tie-in figurine.  Those who receive my letter will get photos of some of my crazy collections.

Be sure to get your own kids involved with THE RUMPUS / Letters for Kids program...and let me know about your own collections.  Have you been collecting since you were a kid?  Do you have an office overflowing with cool finds?

BOOK REC: WHEELS OF CHANGE BY DARLENE BECK JACOBSON

I was delighted to get my hands on an advance copy of Darlene Beck Jacobson's WHEELS OF CHANGE.

For those of you who haven't yet heard of this MG, the jacket copy:

"Racial intolerance, social change, and sweeping progress make 1908 Washington, D.C., a turbulent place to grow up in for 12-year-old Emily Soper. For Emily, life in Papa’s carriage barn is magic, and she's more at home hearing the symphony of the blacksmith’s hammer than trying to conform to the proper expectations of young ladies. When Papa’s livelihood is threatened by racist neighbors and horsepower of a different sort, Emily faces changes she'd never imagined. Finding courage and resolve she didn't know she had, Emily strives to save Papa’s business, even if it means going all the way to the White House."

I love a good historical read, and this one hauled me in from the very beginning.  I especially relished the sensory details in the opening pages.  I also really enjoyed the family dynamics, and the smaller moments really sparkled in the pages (in one of my favorite scenes, Emily's mother helps her hang a horseshoe for luck).  Jacobson smartly juxtaposes the changes in young Emily's personal life (she's slowly leaving behind childhood and making steps toward becoming a young woman) with larger changes in the outside world (racial and gender upheaval as well as technological advancements).  Emily can't keep the demands of turn-of-the-twentieth century womanhood at bay, nor can she keep the world from driving automobiles and abandoning her father's glorious carriages.  But the reader will absolutely be glad that Jacobson takes us back to revisit this moment in time.  A lovely tribute to Jacobson's family (text at the end indicates that the book is partly based on family history).  Highly recommended.

~

Side note: Jacobson includes some mouth-watering recipes at the end of the novel.  Mama's Peach Pie sounds especially delightful, if you happen to be a baker.  Every time I try my own hand at baking, I wind up opening the oven door, cocking my head to the side, and saying, "Huh.  Wonder why that happened."  These recipes look good enough for me to give baking another whirl, and that's saying something, too...

FIRST READER REVIEW FOR THE JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY

I'm ecstatic!  I just got my first reader review (from 7-yr.-old Sophie Katcher) for THE JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY:

Be sure to read the entirety of sharp Sophie's review here.  Your own young readers can send their reviews here.

BREAKING NEWS - THE JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY'S BOOK BIRTHDAY

Happy Book Birthday to Auggie and the rest of the characters in THE JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY!  Click to order.  And be sure to read my interview with Lindsay Andrews, cover designer for THE JUNCTION, in the post below.  

INTERVIEW WITH LINDSEY ANDREWS, COVER DESIGNER FOR THE JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY

On the book birthday of THE JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY, Lindsey Andrews has stopped by the blog.  THE JUNCTION is about art, and Lindsey is the designer behind the cover of THE JUNCTION; what better way to celebrate the release than to dish on the cover art?

1.      What’s your background—how did you come to a career as an artist?
  
I was always really into my art classes growing up and then learned about Graphic Design my senior year of high school. I immediately knew this was the field I wanted to go into and study in college. I was always that weird organized art kid. From there I went to James Madison University in Virginia and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts concentrating in Graphic Design.

2.      How did you become a cover illustrator specifically? 

I have always loved reading, especially Young Adult books. But, I never really thought about the publishing companies that actually made books happen until my best friend in college pointed out that maybe I could design book covers for them. So I started doing my research and I eventually got called for an internship at Hachette Book Group in their adult cover art department. I loved the publishing world so much that I came back to intern for a second summer after I graduated and I was lucky enough to get a full-time position there after my internship! 

3.      How did you come to this assignment? 

I came onto this project very soon after making the move to Penguins' childrens department. I came in towards the end of the project. There was actually a first cover that everyone was starting to second guess and my team decided they wanted to try a different approach. So, from there I got to take on the project and immediately wanted to try the idea of actually making a sign out of junk, as if the characters in the book had made it themselves. 

4.      What is the process for generating ideas for a cover?

We usually start off by having a conversation with the editor about the book. They also fill out an art form for us which has all of the basic information that we need to start working. From that, I usually begin to brainstorm by sketching and making lists. Then I usually go online for a bit to find some visuals to work from or possibly use on the cover. Then I'll read the book and take notes and do the process again from the key words I generate.

5.      I love so many details on THE JUNCTION—the patchy grass in the yard, the wrought-iron gate, the corrugated metal used for the sign.  How familiar were you with the book when you designed the cover?  Can you ever know too much about a book—does it keep you from focusing on a single idea? 

This project came up so suddenly and had to be finished so fast that I actually did not get a chance to read the entire manuscript before working on the cover. But, your very detailed notes about the story were very helpful and that's where I immediately got attached to the idea of making the sign.  

In general, it is helpful to read a manuscript before designing the cover because you do want to make sure you get the details right. But, it can also be a hindrance because all of the sudden you want to put TOO many details on the cover, when it really should be a more boiled-down, simplified idea. So, I usually try to do an initial brainstorming session when I only know a summary of the book. I'll see how far I get with that and then read the full story to get more ideas and a better sense of the overall feeling of the book.

6.      What are the tools of your trade: paints, pens, computer? 

I definitely work mostly on the computer. Lots of InDesign and Photoshop! But, it's nice to try to get back to pen and paper every once and awhile, so when a project calls for it I try to create some things by hand and scan them onto the computer.

7.      What was the most challenging part of creating this cover? 

The most challenging part of making this cover was trying to figure out how to actually put the pieces together in Photoshop and make it look as real as possible (yet, still illustrated). I had our two of our interns help find photos and figure out how to form the letters. It was definitely difficult to make sure the title was readable. And luckily, we were even able to use pieces from the first version of the cover (the tree and the other junkyard sculptures seen on the rest of the jacket).

8.      As a writer, I find the first draft to be the most painful, but I love revision.  What’s your favorite part of creating covers—brainstorming, finishing touches, etc.? 

I'm actually very similar to you! Just starting a project can be really difficult. Specifically, I usually enjoy the initial brainstorming, but the moment I sit down and try to make those ideas into actual covers I start to doubt myself. Suddenly some of those ideas are very hard to make tangible. But, once I can get passed that initial round of ideas it's like getting passed the first bump and being able to ride more smoothly.

9.      Who is your own favorite cover designer or illustrator? 

I really admire Jennifer Heuer's (http://www.jenniferheuer.com/) process of designing. I was able to work with her on a project while working at Little, Brown, and she's very creative. I really admire her ability to think out of the box and create as many things by hand as possible.

10.  What is your favorite illustration technique or “trick”?

I think my best illustration technique is in fact my ability to pick the right illustrator to work with and develop my skills of art directing along the way. Working in children's books allows us to work with a wide range of amazingly talented illustrators, photographers, and designers. It's all in knowing how to match someone's strengths to the right project and help to guide them along the way. These partnerships really make our jobs more fun and the projects more rewarding.

11.  Can we see some images of your workspace? 

I tend to work amongst organized chaos. I'm a very organized person but as a designer working on many different projects at a time it all has to go somewhere! So I tend to have little piles all over my work space. Other than that, I collect more books than I'll ever have time to read and I like to cover my walls in photos and illustrations that inspire me.

12.  When you’re at work on non-assignment artwork, what does it look like?  Any images you can share?

I don't actually partake in my own artwork anymore. I was always perhaps a little too practical for a typical art student and really only liked to spend time working on something if there was an assignment or useful purpose for it. And now that I work all day designing I often come home and just like to relax by reading and catching up on my favorite TV shows. But, back in school I was always into photo realism. I really enjoyed studying an object or person and drawing them as accurately as possible. I've included an example from college where I had to draw a person's face using only dots and different kinds of lines.

Thanks so much for dropping by, Lindsey!  (You can see more of Lindsey's work at Lindsey Andrews Book Design.)

BREAKING NEWS - THE JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY

Click to pre-order.

BREAKING NEWS - THE JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY

Click to pre-order.

BREAKING NEWS - THE JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY

Click to pre-order.

BREAKING NEWS - THE JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY

Click to pre-order.

BREAKING NEWS - THE JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY

Click to pre-order.

BREAKING NEWS - THE JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY

Click to pre-order.

THE JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY - WHAT I FOUND

I'm having a blast on the online tour for THE JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY!  Some fabulous, really intelligent, thoughtful blog reviews have also gone live.  Check out the Tour Page for links to all the live stops and the reviews.

Some of the most fun I've had is putting together vlogs...Last week, Susan at TheArtofNotGettingPublished observed that Auggie and Gus make art from found objects, and asks what I "found" while writing my books.  Here's my answer:



Be sure to check back in on the Tour Page next week, for links to the latest stops!

GREAT REVIEW FOR THE JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY FROM BCCB

Woo-hoo!  This just came from my editor at Penguin.  Couldn't wait to share this review from THE BULLETIN FOR THE CENTER OF CHILDREN'S BOOK STUDIES:

Auggie Jones desperately wants to discover her shine, because it seems like everybody she knows has a talent: her best friend, Lexie, creates striking hairstyles, neighbor Irma Jean alters rags into stylish clothing, and classmate Weird Harold has a remarkable aptitude for facts and figures. Starting at Dickerson Elementary after her old school closes gives Auggie—named for the grandfather who takes care of her—the perfect chance to discover her own hidden talents. Soon, though, Lexie falls under the spell of resident mean girl Victoria, who makes no attempt to disguise her disdain for Auggie’s masculine name, her grandfather Gus’ work (trash hauling), or Serendipity Place, the neighborhood Auggie has called home all her life. When Victoria and her father, the head of the town’s newly formed House Beautification Committee, target Serendipity Place, residents scurry to meet their requirements as best they can. Determined to save her home, Auggie finds inspiration in the trash hauled by Grampa Gus and in items donated by neighbors, and soon pottery shards, vivid glass, and metal sculptures transform the house’s exterior into a vibrant expression of the love within its walls. In Auggie, Schindler creates a spunky, sympathetic character young readers will engage with and enjoy. Though the voice and even elements of the plot are derivative of DiCamillo’s Because of Winn Dixie, the lively narration is enjoyable, and the diverse cast of characters (Auggie herself is African American, though many in her neighborhood are white) brings meaningful messages of community and self-respect to the fore. Some readers may wish Schindler had provided more detailed descriptions of the sculptures, but aspiring artists and anyone else looking for their shine will appreciate this satisfying portrait of a young girl and her close-knit community. 

THE JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY 1ST BLOG REVIEW + TOUR + SIGNED SWAG

This is it, folks!  The blog tour for THE JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY starts tomorrow, over at Inkygirl.  

Also, the very first blog review went live over the weekend, at TheArtofNotGettingPublished.  (I'm so often so impressed with the intelligence and thoughtfulness of blog reviews; this one is fantastic.  If you're a fan of well-written reviews, be sure to follow Susan at her blog.)
 

Speaking of lovely reviews, on Goodreads, Darlene Beck-Jacobson (who is part of the blog tour) had this to say:

“Auggie's voice is as original as the sculptures she and Gus create, shining and radiating with love for the people and things in her world. Fresh prose sparkles and lights up each page. This book makes me want to stand up for injustice, embrace creativity and make something new from something old. This book should be on every middle-grade child's reading list.”

I love that Darlene mentioned Auggie's voice.  To hear more of that voice yourself, check out the following video:

Don't forget to pre-order the book!  Anyone who pre-orders will automatically be entered to win a signed bookplate.  Email writehollyschindler (at) yahoo (dot) com to tell me you've ordered. 

IN MY MAILBOX: THE JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY!

Guess what arrived in my mailbox last week (just in time for my birthday, no less)?  A finalized copy of THE JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY!

For more on THE JUNCTION, watch the trailer:



To pre-order, click here.

REVAMPED HOLLY SCHINDLER'S MIDDLES

I've revamped my site for young readers, Holly Schindler's Middles.  The idea for Holly Schindler's Middles came from the fact that I loved being able to interact directly with my YA readers (usually via Facebook, Twitter, or the book blogging community).  Being able to interact with readers, actually, was my favorite part of becoming a published author.  But I didn't really have a place online where I could interact with MG readers...so I had to create one! 

Click to visit Holly Schindler's Middles

Parents, grandparents, teachers and librarians: Get your young readers ready!  I'm most excited about the page I'll be devoting to reader reviews...I can't wait to hear what they all have to say...

THE JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY - KIRKUS REVIEWS

The notoriously tough folks at Kirkus had this to say about THE JUNCTION:

"...a heartwarming and uplifting story...[that] shines...with vibrant themes of community, self-empowerment and artistic vision delivered with a satisfying verve."

How's that for an early Christmas present?

GRATITUDE: THE JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY IN PW

On this Thanksgivukah Eve, I'm feeling grateful that THE JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY has been featured in this week's issue of PUBLISHERS WEEKLY.

This is my first-ever appearance in PW; the review insists: "Axioms like 'One man's trash is another man's treasure' and 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder' come gracefully to life in Schindler's tale about the value of hard work and the power of community."

I was also thrilled that the reviewer fell in love with my girl Auggie, stating, "Auggie's enthusiasm and unbridled creativity are infections, and likeminded readers will envy her creative partnership with [her grandfather] Gus."