Melinda Collins
The winner of SHATTER ME by Tahereh Mafi is:
And for this week's giveaway, we have a copy of:
YOU AGAINST ME by Jenny Downham
If someone hurts your sister and you're any kind of man, you seek revenge, right? If your brother's been accused of a terrible crime and you're the main witness, then you banish all doubt and defend him. Isn't that what families do? When Mikey's sister claims a boy assaulted her at a party, his world of work and girls begins to fall apart. When Ellie's brother is charged with the crime, but says he didn't do it, her world of revision, exams and fitting in at a new school begins to unravel. When Mikey and Ellie meet, two worlds collide. Brave and unflinching, this is a novel of extraordinary skillfulness and almost unbearable tension. It's a book about loyalty and the choices that come with it. But above all it's a book about love - for one's family and for another
Enter by completing the form at the bottom of this post. Please enter by 11/24, U.S. and Canadian entries only.
Stephanie Bubnis

If someone hurts your sister and you're any kind of man, you seek revenge, right? If your brother's been accused of a terrible crime and you're the main witness, then you banish all doubt and defend him. Isn't that what families do? When Mikey's sister claims a boy assaulted her at a party, his world of work and girls begins to fall apart. When Ellie's brother is charged with the crime, but says he didn't do it, her world of revision, exams and fitting in at a new school begins to unravel. When Mikey and Ellie meet, two worlds collide. Brave and unflinching, this is a novel of extraordinary skillfulness and almost unbearable tension. It's a book about loyalty and the choices that come with it. But above all it's a book about love - for one's family and for another
Enter by completing the form at the bottom of this post. Please enter by 11/24, U.S. and Canadian entries only.
Clara's Favorites
- What @jammer0501 wishes he could tell his younger self. LOVE THIS.
James Killick's Blog: What you have to (un)learn to be a writer - Victoria Mixon on story climax & premise. Brilliant.
Story Climax: The Whole Point — Guest: Victoria Mixon | Jami Gold, Paranormal Author - Writing lessons from Jennifer Brown's HATE LIST (1 of Clara's YA faves)
Julie Musil: Writing lessons learned from HATE LIST - The 5 Ds of the Dark Moment. Excellent check-list.
Left and Write Brained: Writing the beginning of the end - Writer's block? Try the list of twenty.
Facing the Blinking Cursor - Hope you're free for the next few hours. You'll need at least that long to get through all of @elizabethscraig's links!
Twitterific | Mystery Writing is Murder - 5 stars to CATCHING JORDAN by @MirandaKenneally
Reading, Writing and Waiting: Catching Jordan by Miranda Keneally - Er, maybe I should take this advice...
The Secret Archives of the Alliterati: I'm just gonna leave this here... - 10 things @thestorysiren (& maybe everyone else) dislikes about your blog.
Ten Things I Dislike About Your Blog | The Story Siren - @iggyandgabi have done it again! Why they love dark YA (& as a writer of dark YA, why I do too).
YA Cafe: Why I Love Dark YA « Iggi & Gabi
Martina's Favorites
- Get your DIY MFA in Children's Writing. Great stuff!
http://childrenspublishing.blogspot.com/2011/11/diy-mfa-guest-post-and-brilliant.html - How to love where you are on your writing journey.
WOW Wednesday: Johanna Harness on Writing Happiness - Layer some number magic into your WIP.
Harry Potter for Writers: 11/11/11 - There's Magic in Numbers - Why we love imperfect, struggling characters.
Writability: Character Beauty in Imperfection - Ready to write up some great summer weather?
The Bookshelf Muse: Weather Thesaurus Entry: Summer - Can you write yor core idea in 25 words or less?
nanowrimo-the-kernel-idea-the-alpha-omega-of-your-book from wordpress.com - StumbleUpon - Reach a wider audience without leaving your computer.
Boost Your Book Sales with a Virtual Book Tour! - Virtual Book Tour Magic - What is and isn't in a good book.
.W.I.P. It: What makes a good book? - Does your idea support the weight of your book?
Structure Part 4–Testing Your Idea–Is it Strong Enough to Make an Interesting Novel? - ePublishers rated in four areas plus overall.
ePublishing Houses Ratings List | ePublishing a Book - Make your characters words do more than convey information.
10 Tips For Writing Dialogue Better | Bryan Thomas Schmidt - Congrats to Carson Morton for the Kirkus and Library Journal Best Book of 2011 nods!
Stealing Mona Lisa: A Mystery by Carson Morton - Powell's Books - Congrats to all on the YALSA Best Fiction Nominations List!
Best Fiction for Young Adults Nominations | Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) - Lovely new review site from the Library Journal.
Library Journal Reviews — Previews, Reviews, and Collection Development - Nice breakdown of rules you can break if you have a good reason.
9 Pieces of Bad Writing Advice it’s Best to Ignore--Anne R. Allen | Mystery Writing is Murder - Amazing writing quotes and the best books on craft.
54 Tips For Writers, From Writers - Rereading is much more than a way to learn writing craft.
The Millions : The Pleasures and Perils of Rereading - Can mixed media bring kids back to reading?
Read Beyond the Lines: Transmedia has changed the very notion of books and reading — The Digital Shift - Starting late on the writing journey? Own the storyline.
Festival Of Late Bloomers, Day 11: Myth-Busting About Uncertainty — Later Bloomer - How to use character choices to energize your plot.
Guest Post: Victoria Mixon on Fueling Plot Momentum
After the Sale
- How to keep your book sales up long after the release date.
Author, Jody Hedlund: How To Prolong Your Book’s Exposure
Book Reviews
- 5 stars to CATCHING JORDAN by @MirandaKenneally
Reading, Writing and Waiting: Catching Jordan by Miranda Keneally
Congrats!
- Congrats to Carson Morton for the Kirkus and Library Journal Best Book of 2011 nods!
Stealing Mona Lisa: A Mystery by Carson Morton - Powell's Books - Congrats to all on the YALSA Best Fiction Nominations List!
Best Fiction for Young Adults Nominations | Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)
Contests
- YA contest! Submit title & 1st 250 words. Winner can submit full ms to agent Regina Brooks & gets a 10 week writing course!
NouveauWriter: Young Adult Novel Discovery Competition! - Do you love Ally Condie's MATCHED? Tell @NovelNovice why & you could win a signed copy of CROSSED!
Contest: Win Crossed by Ally Condie & Other Goodies
Craft of Writing
- Little helpful tidbits from @artzicarol about all sorts of writerly things.
Artzicarol Ramblings: 17 Writer Things I've Learned - Quick tips on avoiding dead dialogue.
.W.I.P. It: Quick tips for Writing Dialogue - Victoria Mixon on story climax & premise. Brilliant.
Story Climax: The Whole Point — Guest: Victoria Mixon | Jami Gold, Paranormal Author - Writing lessons from Jennifer Brown's HATE LIST (1 of Clara's YA faves)
Julie Musil: Writing lessons learned from HATE LIST - Harry Potter in 1st person? Never! How to know if 1st or 3rd person is right for your ms.
Falling Leaflets: A Reminder To Writers Using First Person Narratives - The 5 Ds of the Dark Moment. Excellent check-list.
Left and Write Brained: Writing the beginning of the end - Writer's block? Try the list of twenty.
Facing the Blinking Cursor - Good books have all 8 of these elements. Does yours?
.W.I.P. It: What makes a good book? - What do Elizabeth Bennet, Laura Ingalls Wilder, & Han Solo have in common?
The Bookshelf Muse: Character Trait Entry: Independent - La, la, la... What can fiction writers learn from song writers?
From the Write Angle: Crossing the Bridge: Song Structure and Plot - Facing a stalled story? 4 things to get that story going again.
The Other Side of the Story: Need a Jump? Four Ways to Fix a Stalled Story - Using the power of language to elevate your worldbuilding
Harry Potter for Writers - Five questions about your ending. Did you nail it?
Three Parts to Every Story: Endings | Fuel Your Writing - How to use character choices to energize your plot.
Guest Post: Victoria Mixon on Fueling Plot Momentum
Self-Editing
- Editing your ms during the first draft can be catastrophic.
Editing–Are Butchering Your Creativity? - Tips for Using a Storyboard in Revision
Guest Author Joan Swan | Plot Monkeys
Inspiration
- Writing is joyful again:@mistyprovencher on what she loves about being self-pubbed.
Nothing Cannot Happen Today: I've Gotten A Little Schooled Since Last We Talked - What @jammer0501 wishes he could tell his younger self. LOVE THIS.
James Killick's Blog: What you have to (un)learn to be a writer - Writer's block? Try the list of twenty.
Facing the Blinking Cursor - Decide to have a happy, productive writing day.
Choose to Be Positive | Jan Malloch - Does the appearance of success attract success?
Faking It – acting like you know what you’re doing - Rereading is much more than a way to learn writing craft.
The Millions : The Pleasures and Perils of Rereading - Starting late on the writing journey? Own the storyline.
Festival Of Late Bloomers, Day 11: Myth-Busting About Uncertainty — Later Bloomer
Social Media
- Building a platform before you have a book is like putting the cart before the horse.
Kidlit.com · Do Fiction Writers Need Platform? - Writing is joyful again:@mistyprovencher on what she loves about being self-pubbed.
Nothing Cannot Happen Today: I've Gotten A Little Schooled Since Last We Talked - Little helpful tidbits from @artzicarol about all sorts of writerly things.
Artzicarol Ramblings: 17 Writer Things I've Learned - 10 things @thestorysiren(& maybe everyone else) dislikes about your blog.
Ten Things I Dislike About Your Blog | The Story Siren - Author platform is about meeting the needs of your audience.
Your Author Platform: It’s Not About You! — The Book Designer
Just for Smiles
- Er, maybe I should take this advice...
The Secret Archives of the Alliterati: I'm just gonna leave this here...
To Market
- Little helpful tidbits from @artzicarol about all sorts of writerly things.
Artzicarol Ramblings: 17 Writer Things I've Learned - @greyhausagency predicts what editors will be buying in 2012. A must-read.
Babbles from Scott Eagan: The New Trend for 2012 - 7 things your query letter should include.
What writers should include in a query letter to publishers or agents - Time to Write - Get to know Katie Shea, new agent at DMLA.
Writer Unboxed » New Agent Q&A: Katie Shea
Issues
- @iggyandgabi have done it again! Why they love dark YA (& as a writer of dark YA, why I do too).
YA Cafe: Why I Love Dark YA « Iggi & Gabi - Can mixed media bring kids back to reading?
Read Beyond the Lines: Transmedia has changed the very notion of books and reading — The Digital Shift
Other Weekly Round-Ups:
- Elizabeth Craig posts a weekly list of all her helpful Twitter posts.
- Debbie Ohi always hits the kidlit/ya high spots with a great list of links.
- And don't forget to check Nathan Bransford's blog for his weekly recap of publishing news and information.
- DuoLit does a weekly list of links with some emphasis on self-publishing and marketing.
- YA Highway's Friday Road Trip hits the high points of the publishing industry, writing craft, submissions process, and other fun stuff.
- Cynthia Leitich Smith at Cynsations does a Cynsational author and book news review.
Happy reading and joyous writing,
Clara, Martina and Marissa
Thanks for the awesome links AND the mention! I'm tempted to sit here clicking away, but I need to write. SO...write first, then I'll come back. Have a great weekend, ladies!
ReplyDeleteLove Fridays here! Thanks again for the great links. Someday I hope to be a great link :)
ReplyDeleteSo many great links! Thanks so much for including me! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat round up as usual! Thanks for all your hard work in putting this together.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to see that the normal format for the round-up is back in session.
ReplyDeleteDo you mind if I use this round-up for my own miniature one? Just the posts that catch my attention the most?
Thanks once again for the linky round-up--and including my recent post too! Have a great weekend, all of you ladies. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the excellent post! Love all the links.
ReplyDeleteWow. Quite the list of links you have there. Looks fabulous.
ReplyDeleteAppreciate you including Victoria Mixon's post on Fueling Momentum there. Thank you!
Great links as usual. Thanks so much.
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