Category: Books (Page 81 of 82)

NYC Teen Author Festival 2011

April 6, 2011 / Katie L. Carroll

A few weekends ago, my twin-not-twin sister and I took a trip to the publishing capital of the world for the NYC Teen Author Festival. There was a week’s worth of workshops and readings, but we were only able to go for the massive book signing that featured more than 45 authors at Books of Wonder.

My sister is an avid YA reader, so she was super-excited to meet some of her favorite authors. I was excited as not only a reader but also as a YA writer because the kidlit world is full of such generous people who are always willing to talk and offer encouragement.

Australian YA author (trust me when I say that there is some seriously awesome kidlit coming from down under) Melina Marchetta admitted that she was nervous that no one would know who she was, which was so surprising because she wrote the 2009 Michael L. Printz Award winner Jellicoe Road. I mean she has some serious U.S. fans, one of whom is my sister…I think the main reason she wanted to trek all the way into the city was to see Melina. I picked up a signed copy of her new book The Piper’s Son.

Two authors who “I know” from Verla Kay’s blueboards that I was looking forward to meeting were Maggie Stiefvater and Danette Vigilante. I have been dying to read the final installment of the Wolves of Mercy Falls Trilogy, which is called Forever. Unfortunately, it isn’t out until July 12th (which just happens to be my b-day), so I had to settle for having two books I’ve already read signed: Shiver and Lament. Maggie wanted to know which one I liked better and I copped out on my answer by citing reasons why I like both…Shiver because of the fantastic love story and Lament because of all the fantastical elements.

(There’s my sister, Maggie, and me…picture courtesy of the person standing behind us in line!)

Danette signed The Trouble with Half a Moon for me. She commiserated with me over the fact that I’m on the agent hunt. Surprisingly, Maggie told me that she actually like the process of subbing to agents. I don’t know that I’ve ever heard another author say this (maybe she’ll switch places with me for a little while…that way I can try my hat on as a best-selling author and she can wait on pins and needles to get e-mails–mostly rejections–from agents).

(Here’s Danette and me…this one my sister took.)

I also had a really nice chat with Sarah Beth Durst, who I didn’t really know that much about, except that she wrote a retelling of East of the Sun and West of the Moon called Ice. She signed my copy as my “future reader.

Finally, I met the tired-looking and prolific David Levithan (he organized the Festival) and had him sign Will Grayson, Will Grayson (now I just have to track down his co-author John Green and get him to sign it too) and Emily Lockhart, who signed The Boyfriend List (I didn’t remember to bring my copy of The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, so I’ll have to catch up with her another time).

Events like this always make me dream about the day I get to do a book signing in NYC…it’ll happen someday…or at least I keep telling myself that! And don’t forget to check out my tsunami post and comment to help raise money for Japan.

Are You Jealous?

March 6, 2011 / Katie L. Carroll

Time to make you’ll jealous again. The hubby and I are off to Tahiti! This will technically be a working vacation for me because I plan on doing some research for my mermaid story, which happens to take place in French Polynesia.

I hoping to step out of my comfort zone and talk with some of the residents of Moorea about life on the island. I’m also hoping to be able to visit a black pearl farm because one of the main characters (not the mermaid!) is a pearl farmer. And I downloaded Real Mermaids Don’t Wear Toe Rings by Helene Boudreau and The Mermaid’s Mirror by L.K. Madigan onto my Nook.

Okay, I do plan on spending a ton of time relaxing on the beach and snorkeling and basically doing nothing at all. See everyone in two weeks!

BSC All Grown Up

February 10, 2011 / Katie L. Carroll

My older sisters started reading the Baby-sitter’s Club back in the ’80s, and because I wanted to do everything my older sisters did, I was in second or third grade when I picked up book #1 Kristy’s Great Idea.

At the beginning of every book, there was a portrait of each character. Now I would usually skip over this part, but there was one bit of information you had to stop and read: What outfit was artsy Claudia Kishi wearing? For example in BSC #2 Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls, Claudia (each book is told from the title-character’s POV) describes her philosophy on fashion:”I think clothes make a statement about about the person inside of them. Also, since you have to get dressed every day, why not at least make it fun? Traditional clothes look boring and are boring to put on. So I never wear them. I like bright clothes and big patterns and funny touches, such as earrings made from feathers. Maybe this is because I’m an artist. I don’t know. Today, for instance, I’m wearing purple pants that stop just below my knees and are held up with suspenders, white tights with clocks on them, a purple-plaid shirt with a matching hat, my high-top sneakers, and lobster earrings. Clothes like these are my trademarks.”

I wonder what statement Claudia was trying to make with white tights with clocks on them and lobster earrings, but it sure was fun to read about her clothes.

(Yup, I’ve got a whole shelf of BSC books!)

My favorite BSC member was probably Dawn Schafer (who didn’t join the BSC until book #5). I’m not sure why. She was a laid-back, tofu-eating vegetarian from California who wasn’t particularly athletic and was often described as an “individual.” Growing up, I was a picky eater who would never dream of eating tofu, I loved to play sports, and I had a pretty fierce competitive edge. The only thing we really had in common was our blond hair and blue eyes. Maybe our lack of commonality was what I liked about her.

Needless to say I was tickled pink to read this article about where the BSC members would be now. I was not surprised at all to read that Kristy is a lesbian, that Stacey doesn’t talk to any of the BSC members anymore, or that Dawn went off the deep end. I found it interesting that Mary Anne attended my alma mater Sacred Heart University and that Mallory and Jessi wrote a children’s book. I was quite disappointed to learn of Logan’s crime-ridden fate. He was the only boy BSC member…what is that supposed to say for boys who baby-sit?

Okay, now I totally have to go read one of the BSC books this weekend. I think I’ll go for one of the Super Specials (which are told in multiple POVs), so I can get a glimpse into more than one of the BSC members’ minds.

Wintry Reading Update

January 12, 2011 / Katie L. Carroll

As New England got buried in snow once again (seriously, when am I ever going to benefit from global warming) and I got the rare snow day off from work, I was happy to have plenty of indoor activities to keep me busy, i.e. writing and reading. I have a big ol’ stack of books in my to-be-read pile (some of which have been lent out even before I’ve read them) and an order of books on its way to my house, but really, one can never have too many books.

One of the books that is on its way is the YA dystopian XVI by Julia Karr. Julia and I roomed together at the SCBWI Summer Conference in L.A. last summer and had a blast. Aside from her talents as a writer, Julia is a kick-ass dancer! I am so excited for her debut novel.

Another debut I’m looking forward to is in the middle grade category: Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide To Not Reading by Tommy Greenwald, who is an esteemed member of my critique group.

A couple of books that are part of a series have also made my most-anticipated-books list. There’s The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan, Fury of the Phoenix by Cindy Pon, and Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore. With these books, there will be lots of fantastic things: magical powers, zombies, handsome fellows, and strong females.

What are you looking forward to reading?

The Pages I’ve Read in 2010

January 6, 2011 / Katie L. Carroll

As we turn the page on 2010 to a new one on 2011 (yeah, yeah, pretty corny!), I’ve been thinking about the pages and pages I’ve read this year, which just happens to be enough fill 65 books (not to mention all the magazines, newspapers, blogs, and cereal boxes I’ve read). Interestingly that was the same exact number of book I read in 2009. I had hoped to read more books in 2010, but I put reading somewhat aside in the second half of the year in order to give myself more writing time, or as was often the case, more revising time.

Throughout the year, I featured the book trailers of some of my favorite books, including my absolute most favoritest book of the year: The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson (which my twin-not-twin sister gave to me for my b-day). I also picked up a bunch of signed books (some of which are still on my to-read list): Al Capone Shines My Shoes by Gennifer Choldenko (which came highly recommended by my 11-year-old nephew), Dead Girl Walking by Linda Joy Singleton, and Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock to name a few.

In honor of Banned Books Week, I draped myself in only banned/challenged books. After reading that post, a certain book buddy of mine gave me The Giver by Lois Lowry when she found out I didn’t have my own copy.

As for 2011 in addition to print books, I’ve now had my Nook for over a year and hope to add to my Nook book collection. At Girls’ Christmas a new book bag was started. Basically, a group of us girls pass around the bag of books and when it’s out turn to have the bag, we can read none/any/all of the books in it and write in the enclosed journal if we choose to. Then you take out any books you had previously put in and add more books if you want to.

Up next, I’ve got some 2011 releases I’m really, really looking forward to reading! Enter a great contest on Anna Staniszewski’s blog to maybe win some of those books. What were your favorite books of the year?