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Yup, it's my annual what-I-did-this-year skiting post. I write these mostly for myself so I can easily keep track. Hence the
last day of the year category. Thus you are absolutely free to skip it. ((I would if I were you.))
This year was exceptional. I'm still pinching myself. My first Bloomsbury USA book, How To Ditch Your Fairy, was published and seems to be doing well. I was sent on my first book tour, which was fabulous. It's insane how much fun I had and how many fabulous schools, book shops and libraries I visited in California, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas. Thank you to everyone who came to see me while I was on the ...
Posted by Justine at 0:20, December 31st, 2008 under Book tour, First Kiss, How To Ditch Your Fairy, Last Day of the Year, Love is Hell, New York City/USA, Next novel, Sport, State of the World, Sydney/Australia, Vainglory, Writing goals & milestones, Writing life, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 5:19, December 26th, 2008 under Fans & readers, How To Ditch Your Fairy, Magic or Madness trilogy, Mangosteens, Praising, Reading, Sport, Young Adult literature |
Initial disclaimer: I realise that just by announcing that I'm not that fussed I'll be seen as protesting too much. To which I respond: Whatever.
In the course of reading
Diana Peterfreund and
Carrie Ryan's lovely posts about all the ways in which YA is dismissed by people who know nothing about it and have read at most two YA novels, and the
New Yorker blog post that set Carrie off, I realised that I, in fact, wasn't particularly annoyed or outraged by it. There are a few reasons for that:
The post in question, while declaring that it is the exception that proves that YA is not worth reading, raves about a novel by a truly wonderful writer: ...
Posted by Justine at 0:02, December 23rd, 2008 under Sport, Travelling, Unicorns, Young Adult literature, Zombies |
Diana Peterfreund and
Carrie Ryan saved me from writing a post I'd been sort of planning for awhile---on the various lame ways people dismiss YA---but which I kind of couldn't be arsed actually writing. So bless them both!
I've come across this example all too often:
“XYZ is pretty good, for a book for children, but I doubt the author will be allowed to take it to the next level, because children’s books rarely do that.” (The “that” in question, by the way, is a rebellion against the powers-that-be by the teen main characters, which is so common in YA fantasy and SF books that it’s practically a cliche.)
Succinctly put, Diana!
Though mostly what I get from adult writers and ...
Posted by Justine at 4:49, December 20th, 2008 under Bloggery, Praising, Sydney/Australia, Young Adult literature, Zombies |
Posted by Justine at 0:06, December 18th, 2008 under Bloggery, Book tour, Publishing business, Writing life, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 2:52, December 17th, 2008 under How To Ditch Your Fairy, Liar Book, Words & Language, Writing process, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 20:03, December 14th, 2008 under Reading, Unicorns, Young Adult literature, Zombies |
Quite a few people lately have been asking me for book recommendations. They want to know what new YA they should be buying for the holidays. Sadly, I am in less of a position to help than usual.
For most of this year I have been solely reading books about (or published during) the 1930s. The only non-1930s books I've read have been manuscripts I've critiqued for friends. This means I have not read Hunger Games yet. Or the second Octavian Nothing or the National Book Award winner, Judy Blundell's What I Saw and How I Lied or Coe Booth's Kendra which I hear is every bit as good as the wonderful Tyrell. Or anything, really. Nor will I be ...
Posted by Justine at 19:13, December 5th, 2008 under Next novel, Research, Writing goals & milestones, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 0:00, December 3rd, 2008 under Cons & Other Gatherings, Scott's books, State of the World, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 0:00, December 2nd, 2008 under Magic or Madness trilogy, Publishing business, State of the World, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 13:20, November 21st, 2008 under Book tour, Cons & Other Gatherings, Fans & readers, How To Ditch Your Fairy, Liar Book, New York City/USA, Next novel, Scott's books, Writing process, Young Adult literature |
Yes, there will be a zombie-un***rn story. I hope you're happy. Because personally I think that's a bit gross.
No, I can't tell you the names of any of the contributors. But trust me, they are all fabulously excellent writers.
Yes, it is a YA anthology. It will be edited by the marvellous Karen Wojtyla. That's right, me and Holly, who are editing the Zombie versus Uni***ns anthology, will in turn be edited. It's, like, a whole editing chain.
Sorry, the anthology is closed.
Yes, there will be lots of different kinds of zombies. Not just your regular Romero types.
I have no idea about the uni***n side of things. I doubt there's more than one kind. And if there is, who cares? Hmmm, ...
Posted by Justine at 8:54, November 18th, 2008 under Unicorns, Young Adult literature, Zombies |
Posted by Justine at 16:00, November 17th, 2008 under Unicorns, Young Adult literature, Zombies |
Posted by Justine at 0:00, November 11th, 2008 under How To Ditch Your Fairy, New York City/USA, Unicorns, Young Adult literature, Zombies |
Posted by Justine at 0:00, October 24th, 2008 under Fans & readers, How To Ditch Your Fairy, New York City/USA, Travelling, Vainglory, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 0:00, October 16th, 2008 under New York City/USA, Publishing business, Ranting, Reading, Sydney/Australia, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 12:54, October 15th, 2008 under Next novel, Praising, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 13:32, October 4th, 2008 under Praising, Viewing, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 0:00, September 30th, 2008 under Bloggery, Book challenges, Cons & Other Gatherings, New York City/USA, Praising, Reading, Science, State of the World, Travelling, Young Adult literature, Zombies |
Posted by Justine at 0:00, September 29th, 2008 under Book tour, Cons & Other Gatherings, How To Ditch Your Fairy, New York City/USA, Travelling, What's your fairy?, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 0:05, September 24th, 2008 under How To Ditch Your Fairy, What's your fairy?, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 12:40, September 23rd, 2008 under Basketball, Cons & Other Gatherings, How To Ditch Your Fairy, Liar Book, New York City/USA, Praising, Sport, Writing goals & milestones, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 15:39, September 21st, 2008 under Cons & Other Gatherings, Fans & readers, How To Ditch Your Fairy, Reading, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 0:00, September 6th, 2008 under State of the World, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 3:11, September 3rd, 2008 under State of the World, Viewing, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 0:47, August 30th, 2008 under Fans & readers, Sport, Writing life, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 4:52, August 21st, 2008 under New York City/USA, Reading, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 19:23, August 12th, 2008 under Liar Book, Words & Language, Writing goals & milestones, Writing life, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 0:56, August 6th, 2008 under Fans & readers, Reading, Viewing, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 1:21, August 3rd, 2008 under Fans & readers, Liar Book, Reading, Writing life, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 16:45, July 31st, 2008 under Fans & readers, How To Ditch Your Fairy, Praising, Reading, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 8:39, July 19th, 2008 under Writing life, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 7:13, July 2nd, 2008 under Bloggery, Praising, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 11:01, June 3rd, 2008 under Publishing business, State of the World, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 12:18, June 2nd, 2008 under Liar Book, New York City/USA, Praising, Publishing business, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 11:48, June 1st, 2008 under Cons & Other Gatherings, Writing life, Young Adult literature |
I have been noticing much skiting on the internets of late. "Oh look," says a blogger, "look what amazing Advanced Readers Copy I has been sent! Is mine, not yours. Hahahahahah!"
Well, now it's my turn. I has an ARC of
Margo Lanagan's first novel in years and years, Tender Morsels. I hugs it to my chest and will share with no one! Well, okay, I'll share what I thinks of it with you but not the actual ARC cause that's mine!
But before I get to actually, you know, read the delicious bookie which is calling to me---seriously, everything about it screams, READ ME!, from the gorgeous cover to the jacket copy to the fact that Margo Lanagan wrote it---I ...
Posted by Justine at 12:10, May 30th, 2008 under Liar Book, Praising, Ranting, Reading, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 0:01, May 16th, 2008 under Ranting, Reading, Whingeing, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 12:56, May 6th, 2008 under Bloggery, Ideas, Young Adult literature |
A commenter on Scott's blog,
Liset, asked:
now that i'm in college i get a little disapointed with the YA selection,
it seems to be filled with IT girls, and all that other non-sense.
I want a book where the main character is just stepping into being an adult, not 15 or 16 but 18-21.
I think I'm in an age that is highly ignored,
I can vote and join the military but I can’t drink, go to a club (on most nights) and I can't find a book that talks about the first years of college!
It's insane too, because college is seriously the most interesting thing.
Anyone got any suggestions for Liset?
I immediately thought of Diana Peterfreund's Secret Society Girl. I can think of ...
Posted by Justine at 8:26, May 4th, 2008 under Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 12:14, May 2nd, 2008 under Bloggery, Publishing business, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 13:39, April 15th, 2008 under Publishing business, Scott's books, Sydney/Australia, Travelling, Writing life, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 22:39, March 15th, 2008 under Praising, Sydney/Australia, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 11:24, March 10th, 2008 under Publishing business, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 12:44, March 6th, 2008 under Bloggery, Cons & Other Gatherings, Fans & readers, Words & Language, Writing life, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 12:18, March 3rd, 2008 under Ranting, Words & Language, Young Adult literature |
Another review of
First Kiss (Then Tell) edited by Cylin Busby and here's my story's mention:
Hands down favorite for sheer grossness (it was so gross it was funny!) was Justine Larbalestier's "Pashin'", a tale of her friend's first kiss.
I am the grossest of them all.
Posted by Justine at 11:41, March 1st, 2008 under First Kiss, Vainglory, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 10:28, February 15th, 2008 under Research, Young Adult literature, Zombies |
So, the whole Maureen Johnson stick a zombie into a novel thing has just gotten heaps bigger. Like heaps. You need to
go over there to check out the extent of the bigness. I heard a rumour that there are more than a gazillion entries already! A bazillion gazillion trabillion! So many that's she's extended the competition.
And gotten some judges in. Stellar judges such as Meg Cabot, John Green, E. Lockhart, and, um, me.
I'm excited and delighted and slightly nervous. How long does it take to read a bazillion gazillion trabillion entries? Also---Oh. My. God.---I'm a judge with Meg Cabot. I think I'm going to faint.
To forestall the fainting fit here is my little take on the whole thing:
I ...
Posted by Justine at 0:00, February 12th, 2008 under Frippery, Young Adult literature, Zombies |
Over at insideadog Maureen Johnson is staging
the best contest in the history of contests with the most excellent prize of an advance copy of Maureen's wonderful new book, Suite Scarlett. All you have to do is rewrite a paragraph or two of your favourite book by adding a zombie. Maureen demonstrates how it is done by
adding one to a scene from Pride and Prejudice. To wit:
“What think you of books?” said he, smiling.
“Books? Oh! No, I am sure we never read the same, or not with the same feelings.”
“I am sorry you think so; but if that be the case, there can at least be no want of subject. We may compare our different opinions.”
“No. I ...
Posted by Justine at 13:02, February 10th, 2008 under Young Adult literature, Zombies |
