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Thursday, May 28, 2015

ANNOUNCING THE TITLE AND RELEASE DATE FOR MY NEXT YA!

I'm thrilled to announce the title and release date for my next YA!



Posted by Holly Schindler at 7:00 AM 2 comments:
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Labels: HarperCollins, Spark, YA News

Thursday, May 21, 2015

YA HISTORICAL FICTION: COURTNEY MCKINNEY-WHITAKER'S THE LAST SISTER




I absolutely adored Courtney McKinney-Whitaker's THE LAST SISTER.  So much so, I asked her to stop by to discuss historical fiction and working with a university press--two rarities in YA fiction:

Are you an avid reader of historical fiction? What were you reading as a teenager?

Of course! I'm an avid reader of most genres, but historical fiction has always been among my favorites. 

I was a teenager in the late '90s, shortly before the YA boom, so I read mostly adult books, including A LOT of classics. I would say I was in a real AP English phase: Dickens, Hardy, Austen, Alcott, Eliot. At one point, Tess of the D'Urbervilles was my favorite book. Today's YA has nothing on Hardy for melodrama. That was my era of "If it's old, I'll read it." It gave me     excellent background knowledge on the development of the novel.

I love that this book is your answer to a “challenge,” as you say in the Author’s Note. This story DOES have so many elements of popular YA fiction—love, violence; you make it clear in the first chapter you’ve also got a strong female protagonist. Why do you think young readers are drawn to futuristic (in recent years, dystopic) literature, rather than historical fiction? Why is past reality less interesting than purely imaginative works set in the future? 

I think a few factors play into this. First, historical fiction is immediately suspect because adults (teachers and parents) often want it to be "educational" (Whatever that means. I've learned something from every book I've ever read), so historical fiction ends up with a reputation as the vegetables of literature, and most people prefer dessert. There's that immediate resistance to whatever's being (even slightly) forced upon you. Second, our pop culture view of history is wrong. There's this idea that history is very straight-laced, that nobody cursed or had premarital sex or stepped out of line ever before 1960. The idea of squeaky clean history is laughable, but it has a very strong hold on the popular imagination. Finally, young readers are interested in the future—their own, in particular, and the past doesn't seem like the place to find it. For me, though, history is very much about people reaching for the future, and those are the stories I want to tell.

I’m a lifelong Ozarkian. Though I’ve based some of my works outside of my native area, I do find myself getting drawn back to writing about my own region repeatedly. Did your own native geography play into writing THE LAST SISTER at all? 

Oh, absolutely! I grew up in Catie's world, and I was outside almost every day of my childhood. The scene where Catie encounters the cougar is based on a creek bed where I used to play with my brother and our neighborhood friends.

I’m also a bit of a genealogy nut. (I was shocked to find I do have some Native American ancestry.) Did genealogical research factor into your drafting process?

Not at all. My family has lived in upstate South Carolina since before the American Revolution, so I do have some ancestors who would definitely recognize the setting, but aside from the general fact of the Scots-Irish migrations into the Carolina backcountry in the mid-eighteenth century, none of the characters or other elements are based on my own genealogy.

Your descriptions are so vivid. I can imagine that your research set your imagination spinning…For some, research is merely a bunch of dry dates; for others, historical texts play out in their minds like a movie. I imagine you’re the latter. Do you hit a point, though, where research can become a hindrance? How do you blend fact with imagination?

Yes, research always does get my imagination going, but to tell you the truth, some research texts do that more than others. Nonfiction is an art as much as fiction is. Research can become an excuse for not writing, which is one reason I tend to do the two simultaneously. I research to get a good feel for the setting, and then I write a first draft. I always let the story take the lead and figure out what kind of specific research I need to do to create the details that make the world feel like a real place. Sometime around the fourth or fifth draft, I do a "research draft" where my only goal is to go through and answer specific research questions. For example, with THE LAST SISTER, my initial research consisted of a lot of   general reading about the Anglo-Cherokee War and backcountry communities, and then after several drafts, I was looking at the contents of highland soldiers' haversacks and the quartermaster's logs from Fort Loudoun.

How long did it take to write THE LAST SISTER? What was your drafting process like? How is drafting historical fiction different than drafting contemporary work? What are the pitfalls drafting historical fiction? What’s your best piece of writing advice for anyone about to write the opening lines of their historical novel?

Wow, that's a lot of questions! I'll try to answer them one at a time.

THE LAST SISTER has a funny textual history. It was originally a dystopian novel that I converted into historical fiction after learning that the market was flooded with dystopian novels, which in retrospect, maybe I should have known in 2010-2011, but I was a beginner in the industry and just trying to find my voice. However, that practice novel was my route to THE LAST SISTER, which I never would have written without knowing that basic story, so I'd say it was worth it. Writing the first novel took me about a year, and writing THE LAST SISTER took another year beyond that.
I learned my drafting process over the course of working on those two novels. I started writing seriously in November 2010, for NaNoWriMo. I still start with a quick first draft, which at 2000 words a day, usually takes about a month. Then I start over with a clean document and draft it again. After that, I work with what I have, drafting many more times until I can't do anything else. I think I ended up with about 10-12 drafts of THE LAST SISTER. All this time, I'm outlining and re-outlining, and researching and reresearching.

I've never written contemporary fiction, so I don't really know how it's different from writing historical fiction. I can say that historical fiction has that world-building element in common with fantasy and science fiction, but I think that every good novel is a world unto itself. I admire writers of contemporary fiction. Given the amount of time it takes to write and publish a novel, I would be so afraid my work would be out of date. I feel like historical fiction gives me a little more freedom in terms of the publication timeline, though of course it needs to remain relevant to the time in which it's published.

One of the pitfalls of writing historical fiction may be that the research can last as long as you want, so it's always a good excuse not to write. I think you really have to be careful to let the story itself take the lead and not bog your reader down in historical detail that's irrelevant to the story and the characters. It's hard, because you uncover cool stuff and you want to tell everyone about it. I mean, the number of times I have LOL'ed at diary entries...because people are just funny, at any time.

To go along with that, my best advice is to focus on your story, not the HISTORY with a capital "H." Your story comes first, before the details, and definitely before any lessons readers are supposed to learn from it. I think some writers see historical fiction as a good way to get a message across, another potential pitfall. Don't try to teach, and definitely don't preach. If you have a message, write a billboard, not a novel. Story first, always.

I’m intrigued by the fact that this book was published by a university press. What was the process of working with a university press like? 

It's been great! The University of South Carolina Press is one of the first university presses to publish children's and young adult books. I ended up publishing THE LAST SISTER with the USC Press after receiving feedback that the book was too "regional" to sell to a national market. (Pet Peeve: Why are books so often tagged "regional" if they have strong settings outside major metropolitan areas? Two separate groups of students have asked me why books set in rural SC are "regional" but books set in New York City aren't. Good question. Young readers do notice these things.) I had published an academic work with the USC Press in 2006, and I contacted my former editor to ask if he could recommend any regional publishers. He told me about the Young Palmetto imprint, which I don't think was even publicly accepting submissions at the time.

First, the book was reviewed and recommended for publication by the Young Palmetto Books series editorial board. This was an awesome experience because the members of that board were mostly people I knew by reputation in the field of children's and young adult literary scholarship and earning their approval meant a lot to me. Next, the book went through the process (typical to scholarly publication) of being reviewed by two anonymous peer reviewers who provided feedback and recommended for publication. After that, it went to the USC Press Committee for final approval. This whole process, from initial contact to book contract, took from February to July of 2013, and then the book was given an October 2014 release date. It was a MUCH faster process than most commercial publishing. 

I've had such a great experience, so I always recommend authors seeking publication think beyond the commercial giants.

I can see this book having a long life in a high school history class; have you heard of any classrooms using your book? If so, what was that experience like?    

In January, I received a Facebook message from a history professor at Converse College in Spartanburg, SC who was teaching the book in her class on the American Revolution in the Southern Backcountry. We emailed back and forth, and I ended up speaking to two groups of students at Converse in April. They were interested in writing, history, and books for young readers, so we had wonderful conversations.

What can we expect next? Another historical read? A new genre? Any sneak peeks you can share?


After I completed THE LAST SISTER, I wanted to try something different, so I wrote a sort-of fantasy, fairy tale-ish book (still rather deeply steeped in history). It's finished, but I haven't found a publisher or representation for it yet.

Meanwhile, I've recovered from writing THE LAST SISTER and am working on a companion. It's set in South Carolina at the tail end of the American Revolution (1780-81) and features Catie's daughter, Bess, as the main character. While it will feature some of the same characters, it's intended to work as a standalone read, as well.

Catie’s such a compelling heroine. Who, for you, are the Caties of today?

It is so important to me that Catie doesn't save the whole world, that she doesn't entirely understand the geopolitical situation she's caught up in. I think that's the case for most people, in any time. I would be lying if I told you I had a complete understanding of the crises we're facing today, and really lying if I said I had the answers. So many things are comprehended only in retrospect. One aspect of popular literature I wanted to avoid was the "chosen one" character: that's not an attainable, or I would argue, a desirable goal for most young people. I think we're too quick to divide history into heroes, victims, and villains. Most people have a little of all three in them. Catie voices my own philosophy, developed over years of working with history: most people in any time are doing the best they can with the cards they've been dealt. Catie wrests good things from terrible situations. She decides what she wants and how high a price she's willing to pay for it. She doesn't save the world, but she builds a life she can live with. She saves a precious few people who are dear to her. She does the best she can. And if lots of people do the best they can, then we end up with a better world. That's how we reach for the future. 
 
___

Get your own: THE LAST SISTER.
Posted by Holly Schindler at 7:00 AM 2 comments:
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Tuesday, May 12, 2015

CELEBRATING YA REVISION WITH A SALE!

The life of an author is so often a juggling act...I recently had to put my WIP, PLAY IT AGAIN (the PLAYING HURT sequel), aside momentarily to attack two global revisions: my next YA for HarperCollins (due out in '16), and my next MG (on sub now).

To celebrate completing my YA revision (and officially being one step closer to getting back to my passion project, PLAY IT AGAIN), I'm holding a sale!

  FIFTH AVENUE FIDOS (comedic women's fiction) is now $2.99.


Available exclusively at Amazon.
Posted by Holly Schindler at 7:00 AM No comments:
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Labels: Fifth Avenue Fidos

Monday, May 11, 2015

BOOK HIGHLIGHT: OMEGA CITY - DIANA PETERFREUND




I'm a HUGE fan of Diana Peterfreund; I'm especially excited for her latest MG, which released in April. I'm anxious to get through my current rewrite so I can dive in:

Omega City

Gillian Seagret doesn’t listen to people who say her father’s a crackpot. His conspiracy theories about the lost technology of Cold War-era rocket scientist Dr. Aloysius Underberg may have cost him his job and forced the family to move to a cottage in the sticks, but Gillian knows he’s right, and plans to prove it.
When she discovers a missing page from Dr. Unerberg’s diary in her father’s mess of an office, she thinks she’s found a big piece of the puzzle–a space-themed riddle promising to lead to Dr. Underberg’s greatest invention. Enlisting the help of her skeptical younger brother, Eric, her best friend, Savannah, and Howard, their NASA-obsessed schoolmate, Gillian sets off into the ruins of a vast doomsday bunker, deep within the earth.
But they aren’t alone inside its dark and flooded halls. Now Gillian and her friends must race to explore OMEGA CITY and find the answers they need. For while Gillian wants to save her dad’s reputation by bringing Dr. Underberg’s secrets to light, there are others who will stop at nothing to make sure they stay buried…forever. 

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    WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

  • “With seamless writing, a thrilling plot, lots of engaging science puzzles, and remarkable characterization, Peterfreund's exciting tale keeps the adventure solidly in the foreground. Young readers looking for a page turning quest should get into this planned series on the ground floor." — Booklist *Starred* Review 

    "Peterfreund's focus on character development is complemented by the equal attention she gives to the vast underground city itself. Gillian’s instincts to protect her friends and clear her historian father’s tarnished name are admirable, but Peterfreund gives every character the opportunity to grow, revealing themselves for who they really are."— Publishers Weekly

    “With nonstop action, sly humor, and nothing short of the end of the world at stake, Omega City is the alpha book in a new series that mashes up mystery, scifi, and action/adventure into a thrilling novel you’ll want to devour in one sitting. I did, and I can’t wait to read what comes next!” — Peter Lerangis, New York Times Bestselling author of the Seven Wonders series

    “Peterfreund’s boundless imagination takes on a new and exciting adventure!” – Jessica Day George, New York Times Bestselling author of Tuesdays at the Castle”

    “Diana Peterfreund takes us to an underground city that’s utterly mind-blowing, yet disturbingly possible. A knockout of a story that will have readers cheering straight through to the final, shocking, twist.” — #1 New York Times bestselling author Gordon Korman












Diana Peterfreund has published ten novels for adults, teens, and kids, including the four-book Secret Society Girl series (Bantam Dell), the “killer unicorn novels” Rampantand Ascendant (Harper Teen), For Darkness Shows the Stars (a post-apocalyptic retelling of Jane Austen’sPersuasion), and Across a Star-Swept Sea (inspired by the classic series The Scarlet Pimpernel). Her newest novel, OMEGA CITY, is a contemporary adventure novel for younger readers set in a secret bunker city somewhere under modern Maryland.
Her works have been named to the New York Public Library’s Books for the Teen Age list, the Capitol Choices (metro DC-area) reading list, and the Texas Lonestar List, as well as having been named to Amazon’s Best Books of the Year. In addition, she’s written several critically acclaimed short stories and a variety of non-fiction essays about  popular children’s literature.  Diana lives outside Washington D.C., with her family.
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About Me

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Holly Schindler
I think the first thing I ever did in life was grab a pen and a cup of coffee...I love my caffeine, but I'm addicted to literature—reading and writing it. I'm the author of both critically acclaimed traditionally published and Amazon bestselling independently published works for readers of all ages. I'm owned by a Pekingese named Jake, and can be found writing my next book in my hometown of Springfield, Missouri. The full list of my awards and published books can be found at HollySchindler.com
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THE JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY (MG Contemporary)

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FERAL (YA Psychological Thriller)

FERAL (YA Psychological Thriller)

RESPONSE TO FERAL:

"Opening with back-to-back scenes of exquisitely imagined yet very real horror, Schindler's third YA novel hearkens to the uncompromising demands of her debut, A Blue So Dark...This time, the focus is on women's voices and the consequences they suffer for speaking...This is a story about reclaiming and healing, a process that is scary, imperfect, and carries no guarantees." - PUBLISHERS WEEKLY STARRED REVIEW

"In the town of Peculiar, the cats aren't the only ones keeping secrets...A dark and creepy psychological who-done-it that will keep you guessing until the very end." - Jody Casella, author of THIN SPACE

"Wow! This book starts off with a bang - two of them, actually - and then it sinks its claws into you and never lets go." - April Henry, New York Times-bestselling author

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PRAISE FOR THE JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY

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

"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…Auggie's enthusiasm and unbridled creativity are infectious, and likeminded readers will envy her creative partnership with [her grandfather] Gus." – Publishers Weekly

“Determined to save her home, Auggie [uses] pottery shards, vivid glass, and metal sculptures [to] 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.” – The Bulletin for the Center of Children’s Book Studies

“The protagonist perches in the reader’s heart as she goes about trying to “‘discover her shine.’” - NY Journal of Books

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LOVE FOR PLAYING HURT

Schindler's "excellent" second novel "explore[s] the sometimes painful, sometimes passionate road to healing."—Brian Katcher, author of ALMOST PERFECT

“The summer romance between Chelsea and Clint is so steamy that PLAYING HURT could easily become this decade’s version of DIRTY DANCING.”—Kim Tomsic at Bookshelf Detective

“A delicious, tantalizing love story that will captivate you until the final, satisfying sigh.”—Kristin Walker, author of A MATCH MADE IN HIGH SCHOOL

PLAYING HURT REVIEWS

“Both heartbreaking and thrilling…the book speaks to personal struggles and triumphs and the ability of the human spirit to heal. PLAYING HURT is a good read.”—VOYA

“The closing staccato chapters play out like the final minutes of a close game…Supporting characters, especially Chelsea's bass-playing younger brother, are all well drawn. With its rural setting and flirty competitive training scenes, this sexy summer romance will appeal to fans of Catherine Gilbert Murdock’s ‘Dairy Queen’ series.”
—School Library Journal

“With no slick, happily-ever-after ending, this novel will capture teens with the characters’ guilt, anger, and, especially, the intensity of the young people’s connection.”
—Booklist

MY DEBUT, A BLUE SO DARK

MY DEBUT, A BLUE SO DARK

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A BLUE SO DARK AWARDS

* One of Booklist's Top 10 First Novels for Youth

* Silver Medal, ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year

* Gold Medal IPPY Award Winner


REVIEWS FOR MY DEBUT, A BLUE SO DARK


"Breathtakingly, gut-wrenchingly authentic...A haunting, realistic view of the melding of art, creativity, and mental illness and their collective impact on a young person’s life."—Booklist, starred review

"Any story about mental illness will not be an easy read, but a very good one will reward those who stick with it. A BLUE SO DARK definitely falls in that category, so powerful is the empathy the author has built for her main character.—School Library Journal

"An excellent first novel—a definite must-read. Schindler's debut novel is a lyrical tapestry...a work of poetry."—VOYA

ADDITIONAL PRAISE FOR A BLUE SO DARK

"A truly real, emotional, and honest read."—Catherine Ryan Hyde, author of PAY IT FORWARD

"A BLUE SO DARK is a raw, compelling and eloquent portrayal of art and madness, and the freeing, healing gift of creativity. Schindler's voice is brilliant and true."—Carrie Jones, New York Times bestselling author of NEED and CAPTIVATE

"Schindler's lyrical debut explores the nightmare of mental illness in a voice that is sharp and funny and all her own. This is as real as teen fiction gets. A must-read."—Crissa-Jean Chappell, author of TOTAL CONSTANT ORDER
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...Wondering when she'll finally push herself away from the desk so we can go for our walk...

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A LANDSCAPE FIT FOR A QUEEN

A LANDSCAPE FIT FOR A QUEEN
The Ozarks really are beautiful...built for royalty (like this Queen Anne's Lace)...

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TOOLS OF THE TRADE

TOOLS OF THE TRADE
Let’s face it. I’m about as low-tech as it gets. I still think a spiral-bound notebook is the world’s most perfect laptop…