This is my last week as an editorial intern at the Arthur A. Levine Books imprint at Scholastic! So I thought now was as good a time as ever to talk a little bit about this and my other past internships, especially since I've never really done that before. I'll try to make this short and sweet (so that it won't read like a boring resume!), but feel free to comment or email me if you have any specific questions.
Lee & Low Books
This was my first ever internship in publishing. I was in my second semester of college, and all that I knew was that I wanted to do something with books (especially children's books) and to learn about the industry. Fortunately, Lee & Low Books gave me all that and more. Working in the publicity/marketing department, I got to be the person reaching out to bloggers instead of the other way around, and in editorial, I learned all about "reader reports," which are basically a compilation of all my thoughts on a submission to help the editor make a more informed decision about requesting the full manuscript. Learning to write reader reports was definitely my biggest takeaway from this internship—it's a huge part of any editorial internship and the editorial process in general!
Macmillan Children's Publishing Group
In preparing for the summer after my first year in college, I applied to tons of publishing internships because I wanted more than anything to learn more about publishing (okay, spending time in NYC was a goal, too). But nothing was happening until I got in contact with a Macmillan publicist I'd met once—she helped get my resume and cover letter to the right people, I interviewed, and then I got the internship! As a marketing intern, I did a lot of mailing (to bloggers, librarians, booksellers, industry people, etc.), but I also got create material for the teen website, which was a lot of fun. I think one of my favorite parts about this internship was that every week, Macmillan would host lunches for all of the company's interns; the week after BEA, after having mentioned that I had attended, some of the other interns thought that Macmillan had paid for me to go! I admit I felt a bit like a celebrity.
Fox Literary
I fell into this internship sort of by accident. I had just turned down another internship due to scheduling conflicts but really wanted to do some work, publishing-wise. A friend referred me, and things just sort of took off from there. As an editorial intern at a literary agency, I learned a lot about reading and writing—so, what makes a good story, what makes a good revision or rejection letter, and the like. It was really interesting to see the agency side of things; for once, I was helping prepare manuscripts to send to publishing houses instead of being on the receiving end of those manuscripts. I had an amazing experience at this internship, because I learned so much, but it also helped me realize that I want to be working in editorial at a publishing house instead of an agency. Which leads me to my next internship...
Scholastic
I turned down another internship to be an editorial intern at Arthur A. Levine Books, because Scholastic has always been one of my favorite children's publishers and because I knew that working with Cheryl Klein would be an amazing opportunity. And I have to say that I was completely right! I've learned so much at this internship, both in terms of just practicing reading and writing, but also because I've gotten to work a little bit with acquisitions—so basically, all the hurdles and approvals before an editor and buy and publish a book. Aside from all that, one of my favorite and most memorable tasks here was to read the manuscript of a sequel to a book that, at that time, had not yet been released; even though I had to read it over the weekend instead of in the office, I can't say that I complained, considering I really wanted to read this manuscript—it definitely didn't feel like work at all!
Well, having just looked at these huge paragraphs, I guess this post didn't turn out to be too short after all. But I hope it's been interesting and informative! As I said above, feel free to to comment or email about any specific questions—I am always happy to chat about my internships or publishing internships in general!
Thoughts on my publishing internships
Born of Illusion by Teri Brown is Munch-Worthy
Anna Van Housen is thirteen the first time she breaks her mother out of jail. By sixteen she’s street smart and savvy, assisting her mother, the renowned medium Marguerite Van Housen, in her stage show and séances, and easily navigating the underground world of magicians, mediums and mentalists in 1920’s New York City. Handcuffs and sleight of hand illusions have never been much of a challenge for Anna. The real trick is keeping her true gifts secret from her opportunistic mother, who will stop at nothing to gain her ambition of becoming the most famous medium who ever lived. But when a strange, serious young man moves into the flat downstairs, introducing her to a secret society that studies people with gifts like hers, he threatens to reveal the secrets Anna has fought so hard to keep, forcing her to face the truth about her past. Could the stories her mother has told her really be true? Could she really be the illegitimate daughter of the greatest magician of all?
Magic in the Jazz Age? Why, yes please! It's no secret that I'm a big fan of the flapper era, with all its danger and decadence, but what I love even more than straight historical is a historical story with a twist. With its focus on stage magicians, Born of Illusion promises just that.
The cover is...interesting, to say the least, but I have to say that if I were browsing shelves, I think I'd be intrigued more by the title. First of all, the lettering is quite lovely, fancy enough without being illegible. But, more importantly, the book is called Born of Illusion. Just the sound of those three words makes me want to read this book!
Releases June 11, 2013 from Balzer + Bray.
Interview with Katie Kacvinsky
The First Comes Love paperback has a new cover! How do you feel about its new packaging and design?
I love the new cover. It reminds me of Stargirl, and that’s one of my favorite covers of all time. I like it when covers avoid using characters, so that readers can imagine them for themselves. I also love the cactus heart; it’s very fitting for the male character (Gray).
What were you trying to accomplish when you started writing First Comes Love? What do you feel you’ve accomplished with the finished product?
I was trying to vent. One of my best friends had recently lost her brother, and watching her go through the grieving process was so heavy, and I felt so helpless to comfort her, that I started writing First Comes Love as a way to expel all of these emotions cramming my head. I also wanted to write a realistic relationship story. Falling in love is easy, but staying in love and making it last is work and commitment.
Which of your characters in this book can you relate to most, and why?
Both. I am 50% Gray and 50% Dylan. Even my editor told me that the reason this story works is because Gray and Dylan are me. I suppose this is true. I have two extreme sides to my personality, one upbeat and adventurous and the other closed off and cynical.
Your two series, Awaken and First Comes Love, have very different settings, but both focus on relationships. What is it that draws you to this topic?
I love relationship stories. I think it’s so strange and mysterious to see who we are attracted to and who we connect with. The people that we invest our time in say so much about who we are.
What is the most interesting thing you learned while writing First Comes Love? (This can be about yourself, about writing, or anything at all).
I learned that I don’t believe in love at first sight. I learned that relationships build over time and experiences. I also learned that it’s more important to love people on their worst days than on their best.
What is the most rewarding part about being a young adult author?
There are so many “firsts” when you are young. First love. First heartbreak. First road trip. First job. In my experience, “firsts” are very overwhelming. I think that’s why I love writing YA books. There is endless drama.
If there was one thing you could change about First Comes Love, what would it be?
The design on the hardcover. I know it’s “steamy” but I personally don’t like steamy covers.
What are you working on next?
Well, I wrote a sequel to First Comes Love, titled Second Chance. The Gray and Dylan saga continues…and there will be a third and final book to wrap up their story. At the moment I’m concentrating on finishing the last book in the Awaken series.
Congratulations to...
who won a few mystery Harlequin TEEN books,
Sarah/appifanie
&
holdenj
who won The Infernal Devices trilogy by Cassandra Clare
A weekend of wonderful book events
Last weekend, I split my time between more scholarly duties and, you guessed it, a couple of awesome book signings!
On Saturday, I headed down to Books of Wonder for a great event with authors Lauren Appelhans, Kate Ellison, Adele Griffin, Lauren Morrill, Lauren Oliver, Jess Rothenberg, and Rachel Shukert.
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| the authors above, in alphabetical order! |
The event space was pretty crowded by the time I got there (late, as per usual!), so I stood in the back to listen in. The authors all chatted a little bit about their writing and most recent books, and then they took questions from the audience.
I had a great time hanging out with some of my favorite book people, including bookish friends Adam, Jennifer, and Jen; blogger Melody from Hollywood The Write Way; and authors Lenore Appelhans and Adele Griffin.
Then the next day, I went to McNally Jackson Books, a wonderful bookstore in SoHo that I've been to many times but never for an event! Thus, I was very excited to go there for a YA panel moderated by David Levithan and featuring authors Jennifer E. Smith, Elizabeth Eulberg, Caela Carter, Barry Lyga, Lindsay Ribar, and Jessica Verdi.
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| clockwise from top left: Jessica Verdi, Jennifer E. Smith, Barry Lyga, Elizabeth Eulberg, Lindsay Ribar, and Caela Carter |
Each author read a short segment from their newest book, and all the readings were wondering in very different ways. Then they answered some questions from David, and then took questions from the audience. The entire event was thoroughly entertaining, because the authors have such varied mix of personalities and books!
I hung around the event for longer than I intended to after, chatting with the lovely authors, especially Lindsay Ribar, as well as author Alison Cherry and blogger Khy from Frenetic Reader.
Needless to say, these events were a fun break from the craziness of the impending end of my college career!
I Rocked the Drop!
A couple weeks ago, on 4/18, was Teen Lit Day, and I celebrated by Rocking the Drop!
While last year, I was able to document each and every of my 8 drops (and then live tweet them, of course), this year didn't quite work out that well. I had to go into my internship, so I couldn't exactly leisurely stroll around looking for great new places to drop my books. Instead, I gathered up my 10 books this year, woke up early, took a morning walk through the upper part of Riverside Park, and dropped all my books within 20 blocks or so.
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| the awesome books I dropped—some signed, some unreleased ARCs |
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take another walk through the part later that day to see the results of my efforts (that people picked up my books!), but I have no doubt they have all found happy new homes. And this is why Teen Lit Day and Rock the Drop are one of my favorite days of the year!
Openly Straight by Bill Konigsberg is Munch-Worthy
A funny, honest novel about being out, being proud...and being ready for something else.
Rafe is a normal teenager from Boulder, Colorado. He plays soccer. He's won skiing prizes. He likes to write.
And, oh yeah, he's gay. He's been out since 8th grade, and he isn't teased, and he goes to other high schools and talks about tolerance and stuff. And while that's important, all Rafe really wants is to just be a regular guy. Not that GAY guy. To have it be a part of who he is, but not the headline, every single time.
So when he transfers to an all-boys' boarding school in New England, he decides to keep his sexuality a secret—not so much going back in the closet as starting over with a clean slate. But then he sees a classmate breaking down. He meets a teacher who challenges him to write his story. And most of all, he falls in love with Ben...who doesn't even know that love is possible.
This witty, smart, coming-out-again story will appeal to gay and straight kids alike as they watch Rafe navigate being different, fitting in, and what it means to be himself.
Sexuality is a very complex topic. It used to be, and sadly in some places still is, difficult just at admit to having a "not normal" sexuality. Now, many of us pride ourselves of being open and accepting of people who are different from us. I mean, every girl wants her gay best friend, right?
But, that's not quite right, is it? As I said above, sexuality is a little more complicated than that, and Openly Straight seems like it's going to bring those ideas to the forefront. I, for one, would love to read a story about a gay guy who doesn't want to be defined by only his sexuality. A "coming-out-again" story—you know, I think I'm going to really enjoy this one!
Releases June 1, 2013 from Arthur A. Levine Books.
That Time I Joined the Circus by J.J. Howard
That Time I Joined the Circus is a sweet and funny debut about family, friendship, love, and, of course, the sometimes hectic but somehow rewarding life at the circus. I found myself quite along for the ride (pun not intended) as Lexi navigated her transition from tough city girl to a girl running from her past to a circus performer, and I especially enjoyed how that narration switched between Lexi’s present story and the events that happened before Lexi left to find her mom. I felt like I really got to know Lexi’s character through seeing her background and her current hopes and anxieties, and that made reading her story all the more satisfying. That Time I Joined the Circus may not necessarily be particularly deep, but it does touch on a lot of important subjects, and I found the mix of humor and heart made this book a thoroughly worthwhile read.
That Time I Joined the Circus appeals to fans of Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson and The Beautiful Between by Alyssa Sheinmel.
Rating: 3.75
Review copy from publisher Scholastic
Win The Infernal Devices trilogy by Cassandra Clare
The City of Bones movie will be coming out in just a few months, so I'm teaming up with Appliances Online to have a little contest! Here's your chance to catch up on the prequel trilogy, The Infernal Devices, to prep yourself on all things Shadowhunters.
(1) lucky winner will receive Clockwork Angel, Clockwork Prince, and Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
courtesy of Appliances Online
Other details:
- US/Canadian/UK mailing addresses only.
- Contest ends 5/01/13, at 9 p.m. EST.
Tale of a book signing with Jen Calonita, Elizabeth Eulberg, & Jennifer E. Smith
Last Tuesday, I made my way down to Books of Wonder for a fantastic event titled "Girls Get Real." The panel featured authors Jen Calonita, Elizabeth Eulberg, and Jennifer E. Smith and was moderated by Sarah Mlynowski. I've been fortunate to see all of these authors before, so I knew that I was in for a treat (and I was right, of course!).
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| panelists Jennifer E. Smith, Elizabeth Eulberg, and Jen Calonita & moderator Sarah Mlynowski |
To start off the event, each author introduced herself and her most recent book, and then Sarah got down to asking questions. The discussion was fantastic and included everything from why they write realistic fiction to their inspiration and research to, of course, how they write realistic boys. Then they took questions from the audience, including an interesting one about sexual content and why they do or do not include it in their books.
In all, the event was fascinating, informative, and most of all very fun! I had a wonderful time hanging out with my fellow publishing intern Eunice and getting to chat with the featured authors, particularly Elizabeth Eulberg and Jennifer E. Smith. And since last Tuesday was also one of my good friend's birthdays, I got a copy of Jennifer E. Smith's The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight signed for her, too.
Congratulations to...
Home Sweet Rome Blog Tour
A very warm welcome to Marissa Moss! Her novel Home Sweet Rome, the second installment in her Mira's Diary series, came out earlier this month!
How was your experience of writing Home Sweet Rome different than writing its prequel, Lost in Paris?
The experience was as different as being in Paris compared to Rome. I know both cities well, having lived in each for a year, but they have very distinctive personalities and I hope those characteristics found their way into the books.
The Mira's Diary books are formatted as a sort of sketchbook. Could you tell us a little bit about the process of creating an illustrated novel?
For me, it's easier than straight writing because the illustrations can get across a lot of information, freeing me from the burden of too much heavy-handed descriptions. Whenever art will get the point across as well as words can, I prefer to use a picture. Plus I love to draw, so that part of the book is pure fun.
What made you decide to write about time travel?
I love history and I thought time travel could be a way of making particular times and places come alive for readers. I wanted to tell historical stories in a way that would seem relevant to people today. At least, that's what I hope I'm doing with these books!
What sort of research did you have to do for Home Sweet Rome?
A huge amount! I read a lot of books on subjects ranging to 17th Century daily life in Rome to the philosophy of Giordano Bruno. Plus I watched an Italian documentary on Bruno (complete with re-enactment of his death) and I explored the archive of secret documents housed in the Vatican at a special exhibit in Rome. Some of my research was simply walking the streets, sketching things that would make interesting Touchstones.
What is the most interesting thing you learned while writing Home Sweet Rome? (This can be about yourself, about writing, or anything at all).
I'd have to say the more I read about Giordano Bruno, the more fascinated by him I became. He was such an unusual thinker, really a lot like a modern-day physicist, except in the 17th century that kind of work was considered philosophy. It was striking that at that time, there weren't the same kind of separations as we have now between science and religion, art and philosophy. They all had to do with a search for the truth, for better understanding the world around us.
What is the most rewarding part about being a middle grade author?
The biggest compliment I get is when kids write to me that I've inspired them to write themselves—or encouraged them to read when before they thought books were boring. That kind of response is deeply rewarding!
If there was one thing you could change about Home Sweet Rome, what would it be?
I wanted to have more sketches of Rome. The city is so rich visually, I ended up with far more drawings than fit into the book. I wished they could have all gone in!
What are you working on next?
Mira goes to London next, during WWI, where she meets some interesting authors as well as suffragettes. It's another period full of juicy stories that I want to somehow fit in to the book.
(1) lucky winner will receive Mira's Diary: Home Sweet Rome by Marissa Moss
Other details:
- US/Canadian mailing addresses only.
- Contest ends 4/26/13, at 9 p.m. EST.
Celebrating Harlequin TEEN
Since its launch only a few years ago, Harlequin TEEN has come to make up a valuable part of the YA market. They're worked with already established authors, like as Maria V. Snyder and Kady Cross, as well as talented new authors, such as Hannah Harrington. I've been a fan of their books for what seems like a long time, so I was really excited to be invited to "Unleash My Teen Spirit" (in their words, not mine!) with them last week.
In addition to chatting with some of my favorite book people Cialina from muggle-born and my friend Charlee, it was great being able to talk with so many different people working at Harlequin TEEN about their books and basically why they're passionate about what they do. I was fortunate to briefly chat with a couple of their amazing editors—it's always wonderful to meet other people who care as deeply about great YA books as I do. And I can tell you, the editorial team at Harlequin TEEN is committed to bringing the best of the best YA to you!
From debut Ink by Amanda Sun to a sure-to-be-amazing new contemporary novel from Elizabeth Scott to the next installments in The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa, Harlequin TEEN has lots of great-sounding books coming out in the next few months. Needless to say, I was pretty excited that I was able to snag a few of these, particularly Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott, at this event!
Since I really need to be realistic about the amount of books that I can read in the foreseeable future (in addition to the quantity of books that I'll have to schlep when I have to move), I'm going to give away a couple of Harlequin TEEN books here! The only catch is that I won't tell you what the books are!
(1) lucky winner will receive some mystery Harlequin TEEN titles
Other details:
- US mailing addresses only.
- Contest ends 4/25/13, at 9 p.m. EST.
Quick Snacks: Diviners by Libba Bray
Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City—and she is pos-i-toot-ly thrilled. New York is the city of speakeasies, shopping, and movie palaces! Soon enough, Evie is running with glamorous Ziegfield girls and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is Evie has to live with her Uncle Will, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult—also known as "The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies."
When a rash of occult-based murders comes to light, Evie and her uncle are right in the thick of the investigation. And through it all, Evie has a secret: a mysterious power that could help catch the killer—if he doesn't catch her first.
Magic, mystery, and the occult, oh my! And all in the Roaring 20s on top of that. Very few authors would be able to successfully pull off such a combination, and fortunately, Libba Bray is clearly among those few. Despite the large and varied cast of characters, and therefore many individual if loosely connected storylines to keep track of, I quite easily and quite quickly became thoroughly invested in this story. And I think other readers will feel the same way too—even given the sheer size and length of this book! In all, The Diviners is another winner from the illustrious Libba Bray.
Rating: 4.5
Review copy from ALA
Linked by Imogen Howson is Munch-Worthy
Elissa used to have it all: looks, popularity, and a bright future. But for the last three years, she’s been struggling with terrifying visions, phantom pains, and mysterious bruises that appear out of nowhere.
Finally, she’s promised a cure: minor surgery to burn out the overactive area of her brain. But on the eve of the procedure, she discovers the shocking truth behind her hallucinations: she’s been seeing the world through another girl’s eyes.
Elissa follows her visions, and finds a battered, broken girl on the run. A girl—Lin—who looks exactly like Elissa, down to the matching bruises. The twin sister she never knew existed.
Now, Elissa and Lin are on the run from a government who will stop at nothing to reclaim Lin and protect the dangerous secrets she could expose—secrets that would shake the very foundation of their world.
Riveting, thought-provoking and utterly compelling, Linked will make you question what it really means to be human.
I'll admit it—it was the cover that first drew me to this book. Isn't it eye-catching? I love they way that one simple image has been replicated and manipulated to become so striking. Now, that's what I call successful cover art!
Reading the summary only made me more interested in this book. I'm fascinated by doubles and the interesting links between them, and I'm curious to see where Howson will take the doubling between Elissa and Lin.
Releases June 11, 2013 from Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
