This week I had lunch in New York City with the fabulous Aladdin MIX authors Julia DeVillers, PG Kain and Taylor Morris. We were all on our best behavior, and nobody spilled any soup. Including me.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Aladdin MIX Authors at Lunch
This week I had lunch in New York City with the fabulous Aladdin MIX authors Julia DeVillers, PG Kain and Taylor Morris. We were all on our best behavior, and nobody spilled any soup. Including me.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
My Author Video
Today I shot an author video, my first ever! My publisher (Simon & Schuster) has its own studio, so I just went to their offices and answered a bunch of fun questions under some seriously hot lights.
I'm a big-ish ham, so I wish I could say that the video was as easy for me as visiting a classroom. It wasn't. When you do an author visit in front of a bunch of kids, you're really just having a conversation with them. Sure, you've prepared certain things you want to say, but mostly you're responding to the energy in the room.
But when you're in front of a camera in a small studio, there's no audience. It's just you, the camera person and the interviewer. (Thank goodness my fabulous editor was also there!) I kept hearing my voice as I was speaking and thinking: "Is that how I sound? Really? And I wonder how I'll finish this sentence...."
The whole thing took about ten minutes. (Including three retakes of an answer I just couldn't get out of my mouth. It was weird.) Anyway, I'll be curious to see the final edited version of the video. And I'm hoping my publisher will spring for 3-D glasses.
I'm a big-ish ham, so I wish I could say that the video was as easy for me as visiting a classroom. It wasn't. When you do an author visit in front of a bunch of kids, you're really just having a conversation with them. Sure, you've prepared certain things you want to say, but mostly you're responding to the energy in the room.
But when you're in front of a camera in a small studio, there's no audience. It's just you, the camera person and the interviewer. (Thank goodness my fabulous editor was also there!) I kept hearing my voice as I was speaking and thinking: "Is that how I sound? Really? And I wonder how I'll finish this sentence...."
The whole thing took about ten minutes. (Including three retakes of an answer I just couldn't get out of my mouth. It was weird.) Anyway, I'll be curious to see the final edited version of the video. And I'm hoping my publisher will spring for 3-D glasses.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Coffee with Laura Dower
Today I had coffee with a wonderful new friend—Laura Dower, incredibly prolific author of the Madison Finn and Monster Squad series, and a million other books. We laughed and talked about our writing, our families, all the people we work with. We had so much to say to each other that we scheduled Coffee Date Part II.
Sometimes when I’m working productively I forget how much fun it is to just hang out. It’s one of the dangers of writing, I think: you can get way too focused on what’s in your own head. Talking today with Laura felt incredibly energizing.
And is there anything better than making a new friend? Don’t think so.
Sometimes when I’m working productively I forget how much fun it is to just hang out. It’s one of the dangers of writing, I think: you can get way too focused on what’s in your own head. Talking today with Laura felt incredibly energizing.
And is there anything better than making a new friend? Don’t think so.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Latest News
Want to hear something AMAZING?
You know Scholastic Book Club, right? In their February Arrow catalog, they name SOLVING ZOE an Editor’s Pick. Their only other Editor’s Pick is WHEN YOU REACH ME by Rebecca Stead—which just won the Newbery Award!
So: whoa. I mean, seriously.
Right now I’m in the process of putting together goody bags. Don’t ask why, because I can’t reveal any details…yet. But keep checking back here for news about THIS IS ME FROM NOW ON. Also a fun upcoming contest….
You know Scholastic Book Club, right? In their February Arrow catalog, they name SOLVING ZOE an Editor’s Pick. Their only other Editor’s Pick is WHEN YOU REACH ME by Rebecca Stead—which just won the Newbery Award!
So: whoa. I mean, seriously.
Right now I’m in the process of putting together goody bags. Don’t ask why, because I can’t reveal any details…yet. But keep checking back here for news about THIS IS ME FROM NOW ON. Also a fun upcoming contest….
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Read Chapter One of THIS IS ME FROM NOW ON
Chapter One of THIS IS ME FROM NOW ON is now up on my new, improved website, www.Barbaradeebooks.com!!!
Have a sneak peak before it’s sold in stores and online April 27, 2010.
And check back here next week for the announcement of an exciting contest! Winner will get a signed copy of THIS IS ME FROM NOW ON—plus some fabulous goodies!!!
Have a sneak peak before it’s sold in stores and online April 27, 2010.
And check back here next week for the announcement of an exciting contest! Winner will get a signed copy of THIS IS ME FROM NOW ON—plus some fabulous goodies!!!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Writers Versus Authors
Lately I’ve been thinking about the differences between Writers and Authors. I guess it’s on my mind because I’m crazy-busy preparing for the launch of my third book—instead of working on my novel-in-progress.
In other words, these days I’m being an Author, not a Writer.
What’s the difference? Is it just that authors are writers who are lucky enough to be published?
Actually, I think it’s more than that.
--Writers are sensitive souls. Authors can’t be.
Writers need to be tuned in every time a character’s eye tears or smile flickers. They need to be aware of every nuance of emotion—both other people’s and their own. Authors, on the other hand, need what my mom calls “thick skin,” because as soon as their work is published, it’s fair game for criticism. And they’ll get plenty.
--Writers slave over every word. Authors don’t have time.
Writers can erase, write, delete, rewrite, delete, revise a single sentence until it’s absolutely perfect. Authors agonize over their own manuscripts, of course. But once their books are in production, they need to be able to tweet, blog, comment, answer reader email—FAST. It’s hard for some authors (me, for example) to produce words that go out in public without having been slaved over first—but I know I need to get over that type of perfectionism if I want any kind of presence online.
--Writers tend to be introverts. Authors need to be extroverts. Or to fake it.
Writers can be happy all day with just a cat and a computer. Authors need to public-speak, stand in front of classrooms, sit down for interviews, chat with strangers, vlog. Sometimes it seems as if all this performing-in-public stuff has nothing to do with writing a novel, but it does. It’s what you have to do to get your book in the hands of readers.
--Writers dress down. Authors dress up.
Okay, maybe that’s an overstatement. But authors can’t go to events in fuzzy slippers. I know this for sure, because I’ve tried.
In other words, these days I’m being an Author, not a Writer.
What’s the difference? Is it just that authors are writers who are lucky enough to be published?
Actually, I think it’s more than that.
--Writers are sensitive souls. Authors can’t be.
Writers need to be tuned in every time a character’s eye tears or smile flickers. They need to be aware of every nuance of emotion—both other people’s and their own. Authors, on the other hand, need what my mom calls “thick skin,” because as soon as their work is published, it’s fair game for criticism. And they’ll get plenty.
--Writers slave over every word. Authors don’t have time.
Writers can erase, write, delete, rewrite, delete, revise a single sentence until it’s absolutely perfect. Authors agonize over their own manuscripts, of course. But once their books are in production, they need to be able to tweet, blog, comment, answer reader email—FAST. It’s hard for some authors (me, for example) to produce words that go out in public without having been slaved over first—but I know I need to get over that type of perfectionism if I want any kind of presence online.
--Writers tend to be introverts. Authors need to be extroverts. Or to fake it.
Writers can be happy all day with just a cat and a computer. Authors need to public-speak, stand in front of classrooms, sit down for interviews, chat with strangers, vlog. Sometimes it seems as if all this performing-in-public stuff has nothing to do with writing a novel, but it does. It’s what you have to do to get your book in the hands of readers.
--Writers dress down. Authors dress up.
Okay, maybe that’s an overstatement. But authors can’t go to events in fuzzy slippers. I know this for sure, because I’ve tried.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Sneak Preview of THIS IS ME FROM NOW ON
Big news!
I am *this close* to posting the first chapter of THIS IS ME FROM NOW ON on my website!
Been waiting for the nice folks at my publisher to say okay...and just today they've made an excerpt available for a sneak preview!
So I zipped the excerpt over to my website designers, who are right now doing the magical stuff they do (whatever that is! don't ask me!) to get it up on the website.
They're telling me it'll be up any day now. And as soon as it is, you'll be the first to know!
Stay tuned!
I am *this close* to posting the first chapter of THIS IS ME FROM NOW ON on my website!
Been waiting for the nice folks at my publisher to say okay...and just today they've made an excerpt available for a sneak preview!
So I zipped the excerpt over to my website designers, who are right now doing the magical stuff they do (whatever that is! don't ask me!) to get it up on the website.
They're telling me it'll be up any day now. And as soon as it is, you'll be the first to know!
Stay tuned!
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