Shari Mauer

Writer Wednesday: Janet Fox

Currently reading: SEA by Heidi R. Kling (fellow Tenner)

In honor of my family’s trip to Yellowstone National Park, today’s post features my Class of 2K10 mate Janet Fox. Janet has written a beautiful book called Faithful.

(okay, who wants that gorgeous dress?!!)

Here’s the description:

In 1904 Margaret Bennet has it all – money, position, and an elegant family home in Newport, Rhode Island. But just as she is to enter society, her mother ruins everything, first with public displays, and finally by disappearing. Maggie’s confusion and loss are compounded when her father drags her to Yellowstone National Park, where he informs her that they will remain. At first Maggie’s only desire is to return to Newport. But the mystical beauty of the Yellowstone landscape, and the presence of young Tom Rowland, a boy unlike the others she has known, conspire to change Maggie from a spoiled girl willing to be constrained by society to a free-thinking and brave young woman living in a romantic landscape at the threshold of a new century.

About Janet:

Janet Fox lives in Montana, where the family has a cabin in the mountains not far from Yellowstone. Her work has appeared in Highlights for Children and Spider magazines; her non-fiction middle grade book, Get Organized Without Losing It (Free Spirit Publishing, 2006), continues to be a top seller. She recently received an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and is an ARA for BV-SCBWI. She is working on a sequel to Faithful, in addition to several other projects. You can find her on the web here.

1. Faithful is set in Yellowstone in 1904. How did you decide when and where to set your story?

I decided where first – because we live not far from Yellowstone, I knew the area well. I find it mystical, magical. What a place to set a story – like a fantasy, but it’s all real. I had many ideas about setting a story there until Maggie’s story spoke to me. And then I chose 1904 because that’s the year that the Old Faithful Inn was built. I knew Maggie’s story had to be historical; she came to me as a girl from that era.

2.I understand you have a Master’s Degree in Geology. How was this helpful in writing the book.

First of all, I knew how to discipline myself! No kidding – writing a novel is like writing a thesis: the commitment and energy required are about the same. But my geology degree also helped me in describing the area, including using the correct rock names and processes (even though they weren’t in the novel – they influence the novel.) And I love the out-of-doors, and I think that love of setting comes through in my writing.

3. Maggie’s mother’s disappearance and their relationship is a big part of book. Tell us about your own mother and her influence on your writing. I hope it’s okay to ask this–you spoke so beautifully about it in New York.

Actually, thank you for asking. My mother died young and suddenly, and I felt that loss deeply. I discovered that she was writing for children after she died. It was as if she was speaking to me – “write!” so I did. And I wanted to write about the relationship between Maggie and her mother, and Maggie’s loss, and how we must all come to terms with loss of someone dear at some point. Maggie’s search for her mother was my own, and what Maggie discovers is what I discovered: that we all carry the best things about those who influence us inside us, forever. So those we lose are never really far away.

4. What’s the nicest thing someone has said about the book?

I’ve had more than one person write me that he/she stayed up until the wee hours because they couldn’t put it down. And when one blogger compared it to Hattie Big Sky (Kirby Larson) that made my day!

5. Have you gotten any letters or reader reactions that surprised you?

Faithful has been nominated by one library club as a “Mock Newbery” nominee which pleased and surprised me no end. And it’s also been nominated by the ALA for YALSA’s Best Fiction for Young Adults. Yay!

6. Where did you grow up? When you were 15, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I grew up in the Midwest and then the northeast. When I was 15, I thought I wanted to be an actress. I was quite melodramatic.

7. Where did you go to college? What was your favorite course there?

I went to Barnard in New York. My favorite course was a deep analysis of Shakespeare – it was a small discussion group and we read went after his plays hammer and tongs. It helped me understand dialogue.

8. Besides writing, what do you do to fill your days?

I love to garden. Of course, now that I have books out I need to be active in promotion, too, so I blog and so on. But my family comes before everything else.

9. If I told you tonight’s dinner was your last meal ever, what would you request? (appetizer, main course, dessert).

A salad with fruit; a vegetarian lasagne; the deepest darkest chocolate-iest flourless cake ever, with real whipped cream (since it’s the last.)

10. And the important question: Favorite Chocolate–Dark, Milk or White?

Dark. Even bitter. Nothing else will do.

Anything else you want to add? Upcoming appearances, new books, etc? Let me know.

I’m working on the revisions for Forgiven (Speak/Penguin, May, 2011); I should have the final cover soon! I’ll be speaking at NCTE in Orlando in November, and doing a number of signings throughout the fall. They are listed on my website.

Thanks for joining me today, Janet!

Writer Wednesday: Jennifer R. Hubbard

Currently reading: NICE AND MEAN by Jessica Leader (fellow Tenner!)

Hi, everyone. Time for another Writer Wednesday. Today I get to host my Class of 2K10 mate and fellow Tenner, Jennifer R. Hubbard, author of a book I loved, The Secret Year.

The synopsis:

Take Romeo and Juliet. Add The Outsiders. Mix thoroughly.

Colt and Julia were secretly together for an entire year, and no one—not even Julia’s boyfriend— knew. They had nothing in common, with Julia in her country club world on Black Mountain and Colt from down on the flats, but it never mattered. Until Julia dies in a car accident, and Colt learns the price of secrecy. He can’t mourn Julia openly, and he’s tormented that he might have played a part in her death. When Julia’s journal ends up in his hands, Colt relives their year together at the same time that he’s desperately trying to forget her. But how do you get over someone who was never yours in the first place?

About Jenn:

Jennifer Hubbard lives and writes in the Philadelphia area.  Her short fiction for adults has appeared in Willow Review, North American Review, and other literary journals.  Her non-fiction has appeared in AMC Outdoors.

She is a night person who believes that mornings were meant to be slept through, a chocolate lover, and a hiker. She walks every day, and hikes on weekends whenever she can.  She blogs at http://writerjenn.livejournal.com

The interview:

1. Your first line is “Julia was killed on Labor Day on her way home from a party” which is a pretty direct way to start. Was this always the first line or something that came in a later draft?

Pretty much. The earliest version I have begins this way: “Julia was killed on Labor Day.  Her friend Pam’s car skidded on a mountain road slick with rain and leaves.” I always knew where this story started; it was the ending that gave me fits.

2. I felt so close to Colt while I was reading. I was curious–which came first for you, the characters or the plot?

They came almost together–the plot first, Colt’s voice very quickly after. I couldn’t start the story until I had his voice in my head.

3. What’s the nicest thing someone has said about the book?

Every compliment I’ve received has been special to me, but these stand out: a woman tearing up when she talked about the book. A girl telling me how the Thanksgiving scene related to her own life. Boys who have told me Colt seemed real to them.

4. Have you gotten any letters or reader reactions that surprised you?

I’m surprised that people seem to find a male narrator so unusual. I didn’t think I was being cutting-edge in that respect when I wrote it, but many people have remarked upon it.

6. Where did you grow up? When you were 15, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I grew up in New England. I debated whether to become a scientist or a writer–as it turns out, I became both.

7. Where did you go to college? What was your favorite course there?

I got my Bachelor’s degree from The University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. My courses were interesting, but they were extremely difficult. It wasn’t until I went to graduate school that I rediscovered a joy in studying, although graduate school was very hard also.

8. Besides writing, what do you do to fill your days?

Day job, promotion, networking, exercise, family, and friends!

9. If I told you tonight’s dinner was your last meal ever, what would you request? (appetizer, main course, dessert).

Seafood chowder followed by Dungeness crab, field-greens salad, asparagus and broccoli. Assorted dark chocolates for dessert, followed by fresh cherries and Brie.

10. And the important question: Favorite Chocolate–Dark, Milk or White?

Dark!

Anything else you want to add about upcoming appearances, new books, etc?

The paperback of The Secret Year will be out this winter, and it will have a different cover from the hardback–more info on that soon. My appearances are listed here:
http://writerjenn.livejournal.com/153159.html
and my book-ordering information is here:
http://writerjenn.livejournal.com/112201.html

Thanks for stopping by, Jenn!

Writer Wednesday: Swati Avasthi

Currently reading: TELL ME A SECRET by Holly Cupala

Welcome to a new feature I’m going to call “Writer Wednesday” (suggestions on catchier names would be greatly appreciated!). When I was lamenting to my editor about my lack of blog topics, she suggested I start to interview some other authors. I thought this was a fabulous idea and figured I’d start with my friends at the Class of 2K10 and The Tenners.

If you are a writer and would like to be interviewed, please let me know–I’d love to have you on the blog.

As my first writer, I’m featuring Swati Avasthi, one of my Class of 2k10 mates. Her book, Split, blew me away when I read it.

Here’s the description:

16 year-old Jace Witherspoon arrives at the doorstep of his estranged brother, Christian, with a re-landscaped face (courtesy of his father’s fist), $3.84, and a secret.

He tries to move on, going for new friends, a new school, and a new job, but all his changes can’t make him forget what he left behind—his mother, who is still trapped with his dad, and his ex-girlfriend who is keeping his secret. At least so far.

Split is about what happens after.  After you’ve said enough, after you’ve run, after you’ve made the split.  How do you begin to live again?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Swati Avasthi completed Split at the University of Minnesota, where she is studying for her MFA and teaching creative writing.  Her short fiction has been nominated for inclusion in Best American New Voices and a Pushcart Prize.

Prior to writing Split, Avasthi coordinated a domestic violence legal clinic, where she interviewed thousands of women who were seeking orders of protection.

Ms. Avasthi lives with her husband and their two children in Minneapolis, MN.

So on to the questions:

1. Tell us about your background and what let you to write Split.

I coordinated a domestic violence legal clinic for three years and, in that time, interviewed thousands of victims of violence.  The experiences that our clients relayed were both painful and inspiring.  Painful in that the abuse suffered was sometimes horrific and inspiring in that the people I was working with were taking their first step on the road from victim to survivor.

I was moved by the bravery while I was working there.  I put the horrific aspect on hold most of the time so that I had enough professional distance to go in the next day.  But that horrific aspects stayed with me.  And, after a while, became a story.  While none of the clients’ stories were the basis of the book, their experiences inspired me to write it.

2. You do an amazing job of getting inside a high school boy’s head. Did you do anything to prepare or research that?

Thanks!  This is a funny answer because I don’t really have any idea how I did that.  I didn’t have brothers growing up and wasn’t really close to any boys until I had boyfriends.  I think the only answer I can give is that I read a lot of YA books from boys’ perspectives, especially the works of Pete Hautman and John Green.  I also checked with my husband to make sure I was channeling the right tone.  I love writing from a boy’s perspective.

3. What’s the nicest thing someone has said about Split?

There have been two responses that have really moved me: One was from a DV victim whose mother stayed with the abuser, thus subjecting her to continued abuse.  When she read Split, she understood better why her mother stayed and that she’d never realized the “devil you don’t know” was more terrifying to her mother than the devil she did.  I love the idea that Split has helped someone heal.  Another was from a member of Class of 2K10 actually, Leah Cypess, who compared Split to Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson.  Speak was a very important book for me; it was the book that made me want to write YA.  I was so excited Leah’s comment that that I tweeted it.

4. Have you gotten any letters or reader reactions that surprised you?

I think what has surprised me most about reactions is how different interpretations can be.  You’d think that since I’ve taught I would have anticipated this, but all the same, the varying interpretations has surprised me.  Where one reader focuses on why she stays, another will focus on the relationship between the brothers.  Where one reader suggests that the ending is perfect, like landing a plane, another reader will want a sequel to “know how things turn out.”  It reminds me that books are not really finished until they are in a reader’s hands.

5. Where did you grow up? When you were 15, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which is where Split is set.  When I was 15, I still wanted to be a writer and was writing very bad poetry and short stories.

6. What was your best High School memory?

Graduating.

Seriously,  I was a volleyball player and riding home on the bus with the two managers of the volleyball team and my best friend (who was on the team as well) was one of the absolute highlights.  They just knew how to make me laugh, blush, and have cheese whiz fights.  (Someday that’s going to have to go in a book, now that you’ve reminded me.)

7. Where did you go to college? What was your favorite course there?

University of Chicago (again, it is Split).  There were a lot of courses I loved when I was there, but I’d guess that Stewart Sherman’s Drama was my favorite.  We read 3 plays a week and wrote a paper one of them.  A lot of work, but he made every class worth it.

8. If I told you tonight’s dinner was your last meal ever, what would you request? (appetizer, main course, dessert).

Pizza, pizza, and pizza.  Well, maybe I’d substitute cheesecake for pizza no. 3.

9. And the important question: Favorite Chocolate–Dark, Milk or White?

Oh no!  I’m going to fail this question because I don’t like chocolate very much.   Still, I hate dark and dislike white, so by process of elimination, it becomes milk.

Thanks for having me!

Thanks for joining me, Swati!

Going Home (What role can setting play in your novel?)

Currently reading: WHISPER by Phoebe Kitanidis (From the Tenner ARC tour)

Thanks so much to everyone who entered my contest. It was fun to read about everyone’s summer plans and thrilling to see how many of you were organ donors. Congrats to our winner: Amy S!

Speaking of organ donors, I was recently contacted by the dad of a 13 year old hockey player, Marshall Taylor who needs a kidney transplant.

Marshall Taylor

Marshall’s family is also working hard to spread the word about organ donation. And they just got some very good news: Marshall was approved to have the transplant done this summer with a donation from his aunt. Marshall is lucky–he was able to find a kidney donor, but not everyone is able to do that. So, again, I’m urging everyone to register to be an organ donor.You can read more about Marshall’s story and even donate money to help him and his family with the enormous expenses that they are incurring to help save Marshall’s life, at his website.

Big news in NY: You will soon be able register to be an organ donor on-line, with an electronic signature!

So now to the “Going Home” part of my post title. Last week my boys and a few of their friends went down to Duke University to attend basketball camp. Being a Duke grad and eager to visit campus, I happily volunteered to drive them down. I was very excited to be back, but I don’t think I realized how truly emotional and sentimental I’d feel as I drove the streets of Durham, NC and wandered the Duke campus.

Durham seems to really embrace their Duke grads. Here is Change of Heart on the “Local Author” table at the Durham B&N.

And I was able to sign stock. Here’s a pic from The Regulator, a wonderful Indie on 9th Street in Durham.

I found two amazing places to write. One was these little cabana/picnic table things. It was 90+ degrees outside, but I just loved them. They are on the Bryan Center Walkway at Duke and positioned next to grates that shoot cool mist out of them on hot days. This is a pic of the boys who attended basketball camp, enjoying their last lunch on one of these things.

And my other favorite place was at Perkins Library. There is now a coffee shop with floor to ceiling windows that was stunning.

What an inspiring place to write!

They were even welcoming in Chapel Hill when Bonnie Doerr and I had a signing at Flyleaf Books. And anyone who knows anything about Duke and UNC knows that it’s usually not a companionable relationship. It probably helped that both Paul and Liz from Flyleaf were transplanted New Yorkers!

Bonnie Doerr and me

Change of Heart at Flyleaf Books

So back to my point about coming home, I walked around the entire week feeling like I had. And wanting to write about it and set a book there. Which is what happened at the end of last summer when my daughter got home from sleepaway camp. She was so obsessed and in love with it and I remembered how much my camp, Camp Eisner, meant to me (I met my husband there, which is probably part of the charm) that I decided to set my current WIP at a camp.

I think there’s something about using a setting you adore as a basis for a book. Have you read books where the setting feels like a character? Can you sometimes feel the love of the place where a book is set? Have you ever written something and started with setting before even thinking of plot or characters?

I’d love your thoughts…

Thanks!

“You Gotta Have HEART” blog tour and a contest

Currently reading: SHADE by Jeri Smith-Ready (Class of 2K10 mate)

Now that Change of Heart is officially on bookshelves (yay!), I’m off and touring around the blogosphere. But first, two live appearances are coming up in the next few weeks.

Sunday, June 27th: ALA Summer Meeting – Washington, DC. I’ll be signing at WestSide Books’ booth at 2pm. Come by, say hi, get a signed book and some other fun stuff.

Monday, July 5th: Flyleaf Bookstore, Chapel Hill, NC 7pm. Book signing. I’m hanging in NC when my boys go to Duke Basketball Camp, so I’m thrilled to be able to go to the Flyleaf and do a signing.

Tuesday, August 10th: The Book Revue, Huntington, NY 7pm. Book signing.

Here’s a listing of where you can find me for the “You Gotta Have HEART” blog tour:

May 22: Blog Talk Radio with Barry Eva

June 7: Starry Night blog with Nadine-Stella

June 11: Chick Lit Teens: Chick Chat

June 11: Post Mortem with Jackie Morse Kessler (Death interviews Emmi)

June 11: Through the Wardrobe Blog with Janet Fox

June 11: A Tennerview with The Elevensies with Bettina Restrepo

June 16: Breakup Story on Sydney Salter’s Big Nose Blog

June 19: The Book Vixen–Interview and Giveaway

June 22: Ellz Reads Interview

June 22: Forever Young: A YA Lit blog–Guest post “YA: Not Just For Teens Anymore”

June 24: He Followed Me Home Blog

June 25: Tales from the Rushmore Kid: Book Blips

June 27-July 3: Written Word Review

June 29: Denise Jaden’s blog–Teen Author Tuesday

June 29th: Class of 2K10 blog: My Worst Trip Ever

June 29th: Writing is a Blessing: Author Interview

June 30: Mindi Scott’s Magic 8: Author Interview

July 1-30: Author of the Month on Heather McCorkle’s Blog

July 2: So Many Books So Little Time blog: Guest post on Organ Donation Registration:

July 6-10: Ticket To Anywhere/YA Roundup

July 7: Medeia Sharif’s blog: Interview

July 9: Chick Loves Lit Blog: Fun Five

July 17: Word for Teens

July 19: Katie’s Book Blog

July 23: Donna McDine’s Blog

July 26: Shari Green’s Blog

July 27: Ramblings of a Teenage Bookworm Blog

July 29: Booking Mama Blog: Guest Post on Book Clubs

August 2: Want My YA Blog

August 7: Bloggers [Heart] Books Blog

August 8: The Books Backlot Blog

August 12: Sit There and Read Blog

August 12: Readergirlz Blog with Holly Cupala

September 20: Cynthia Leitich Smith’s blog

And several more appearances. I will update these as new dates become available. I’m still looking for more stops, so let me know if you’d like to have me come by your blog!

AND NOW FOR THE CONTEST….

To celebrate the end of school here in NY, the “You Gotta Have HEART” blog tour and the sheer joy of seeing my books on the shelf and hearing people telling me how much they love the book, I’m going to have my first ever contest. In order to enter, leave a comment and tell me what your summer plans are (besides reading Change of Heart, of course!).

The winner will receive a signed copy of Change of Heart:

A Class of 2K10 BEA Tour t-shirt

And some Change of Heart signed bookmarks and a squeezy soccer ball.

Now for the bonus: 10 extra entries to anyone who tells me that they or someone in their family has registered to become an organ donor. You can register at the Donate Life website. Now, this will be on the honor system, so you’re not going to lie about it, right?!! If you or your family have already registered, you can still get the points. Signing your license is good, but doesn’t count for this–you must be in the computer database for your state.

Two last things: Happy Book Birthdays to my friends Shannon Delany for 13 to Life and Holly Cupola for Tell Me a Secret. Both are very high on my TBR pile. Congrats on two wonderful books!

Thanks, everyone. Hope you are enjoying your summer!

My Book Launch Party (and what I would have said if I had made a speech)

Currently (still) reading: SOMEONE KNOWS MY NAME by Lawrence Hill (adult book club selection that’s excellent, but seems to be taking me a long time to read)

Elaine Berg and Julia Rivera (New York Organ Donor Network), Arlene Sandner (New City Library), me, Evelyn Fazio and Jennifer Burger (WestSide Books)

My book party was amazing. In the middle of it all, as I was signing books and gazing at the full room and the long line of people waiting to get their copies of Change of Heart signed, my son Eric leaned over to me and whispered, “Is it everything you hoped for?” It was!

My book club selling copies of Change of Heart

My only regret was that I didn’t speak publicly and address the crowd. Not that I thought they needed to hear any of what I had to say, but more because in my speech were a lot of thank yous. So, as my daughter suggested, I’m going to give my speech (or parts of it) here.

First of all, I want to thank everyone for coming tonight. I know it’s a weeknight in June, which gets pretty crazy, so I appreciate your taking the time to celebrate with me.

One thing I learned about writing is that while the actual act of writing can be very solitary, the act of publishing a book is not. Huge thanks go first, to my critique partners, Jill Arabas and Dawn Buthorn. They push me to make my writing better and my sessions with them always energize and inspire me.

My agent, Marlene Stringer, couldn’t be here today, but she’s been invaluable at guiding me through the crazy web of the publishing industry. She told me when she offered to represent me that she was tenacious and the fact that I’m standing here with a published book is proof of that.

I’m so excited that my editor, Evelyn Fazio and my assistant editor, Jennifer Burger are here celebrating with me. They took my little book and made it so much better. Thanks for believing in it.

It’s amazing to be celebrating here at the New City Library. I grew up at this library. From the time it was across the street from Burger King to when it moved here, I remember trolling the stacks, soaking in that book smell and reading as many books as I could get my hands on. And when I moved back here with my kids and my friend Linda and I wanted to have a Mother/Daughter book club for our girls, we went to librarian Arlene Sandner. Arlene took this idea and ran with it and this wonderful program has now been going strong for about 8 years. Arlene has also been a great resource to me, agreeing to read my books and giving me excellent feedback. Thanks, Arlene.

I’ve been very lucky to have a slew of readers who have put up with my endless requests to read and re-read my drafts. Thanks for that to Sula Bernstein, Andrea Singer, Ilene and Lauren Gerber, my nieces Brooke and Jaslyn Maurer, Zoe Temco, Lexi Studwell, Madi and Kit Collins, Rachel Greenberg and of course, my daughter Lissie. (okay, I hope I haven’t forgotten anyone).

One of the nicest surprises about the journey to publication is the writer friends I have met. By joining the Class of 2K10 and The Tenners, I have companions during my debut year. They know exactly what I’m going through and it’s great to have them around. And I have to give a shoutout to Verla Kay’s Blueboards. I’ve gleaned so much from the wisdom of my fellow writers there.

A big cheer for my book club–we’re celebrating 8 years and 96 books together this month. They’ve been so nice to step up and coordinate the book sales tonight. It was great not to have to worry about that. Thanks, too, to Julia Berger, my mom, Lorraine Berger and Linda Temco for the yummy cookies.

When you write, you often steal things from real life to put into your books. When I needed a really good dessert to get Emmi and her family off the roof (you’ll have to read the book!), I instantly thought of our friend Harry Falk’s Stars and Stripes cake. It’s a simple cake frosted with whipped cream and with strawberry stripes and blueberry stars, but we always enjoyed it. Unfortunately, shortly after I wrote that part, we lost Harry. How amazing is it that his cake is memorialized in the book?! Thanks to his step-daughter, my good friend Allison Jaynes, for making that cake tonight. It’s a perfect way to honor Harry and celebrate Change of Heart.

And of course, I have to thank my friends and family. Thanks for putting up with my endless worries and stories, thanks for all your cheerleading and support through all these years. Thanks for driving and feeding my kids when I wasn’t able to do it. And special thanks to Lissie, Josh and Eric for letting me steal some of their lives to give to Emmi and her brothers and for putting up with my sneaking off and writing.

And Mat, what can I say. Besides being my go-to guy on the medical front, you’ve been by my side whispering words of encouragement since we were 17 years old. Thanks.

Part of this night is to celebrate the release of Change of Heart and part of this is to bring awareness to the dire need of donated organs. We are very lucky to be joined by Julia Rivera and Elaine Berg of the New York Organ Donor Network. They’ve been wonderfully supportive–printing bookmarks (designed by my sister-in-law Amy Berger) and spreading the word about Change of Heart. Also, big thanks to our friend Kelvin Smith, a heart recipient himself, who has been working with us to spread the word. Hopefully soon we’ll be able to read Kelvin’s book about his experiences.

I want to urge everyone in this room to register to become an organ donor. May you never need it, but if you do, it’s a wonderful thing to be able to give the gift of life to up to 8 other people. If you don’t register tonight, you can go to the Donate Life website to learn more and to register.

Thanks, again, to everyone for coming and for indulging me in this long list of thank yous. Have a great night!

Thanks, too, to the New City Patch who wrote a beautiful article about the event, complete with pictures and video.

For more pics, you can go to my Shari Maurer Facebook page. Thanks to my dad, Stan Berger and Robert Lieberman for capturing the event.

Have a great week!

So much to tell you…

Currently reading: SOMEONE KNOWS MY NAME by Lawrence Hill (adult book club selection)

There’s so much going on, I don’t even know where to start. Safe to say, this has probably been the most exciting two weeks of my professional life.

The week started with a fabulous article about my launch party and organ donation registration in the Rockland County Journal-News.

I think I’ll tell rest of the story in pictures:

First, I went to WestSide Books to pick up the copies of Change of Heart. What a kick to see stacks and stacks of them ready to be boxed and shipped. WestSide really pushed to make sure Change of Heart was available for all the signings and for that I am very grateful.

Look at all these copies of CHANGE OF HEART!!!

Class of 2K10 at Carmine's

BEA was amazing. My Class of 2K10 mates went from names on an e-mail to true friends. We had two fabulous signings at Books of Wonder in NYC and The Voracious Reader in Larchmont, met bloggers, had meals and wandered the convention and the city. They are interesting, diverse, generous and gracious when things don’t go well (okay, most things went well, but a few things I might have done differently…but I promised Shannon Delany no regrets!) Big thanks to everyone who came out and supported us at those events.

CHANGE OF HEART on the shelf at Books of Wonder

Denise Jaden and Jame Richards in front of the Class of 2K10 New Titles Shelf

Bonnie, Kitty, Alexandra, Denise, Judith, Shannon and me in front of the Imagine Mosaic in Central Park

The window at The Voracious Reader

I came home, unwound with a trip to see our good friends at the beach in Mattapoisset, Mass. Spent Memorial Day relaxing with our New City friends. The calm in between the two storms.

Was surfing the web a little and found that B&N.com, Amazon.com and much to my surprise, Borders.com all have Change of Heart available and waiting for purchase. Go buy it now! (please!) And if you couldn’t make it to Books of Wonder or The Voracious Reader, they had a few signed copies left.

Yesterday I was running around getting ready for today’s book launch party, when I got a text. My niece, Brooke, sent me this:

On the "New For Teens" shelf at the Manhasset, NY B&N

Tears filled my eyes as my grin grew wider. I couldn’t believe my baby was finally out there in the world.

Tonight, I get to celebrate at the New City Library with friends, family and hopefully lots of new readers. I’m nervous and excited. Come join me if you are in the area.

Stay tuned for more on the party…

Class of 2K10 BEA Tour T-shirts

Counting down the days to Book Expo America next week.

Here’s a glimpse at our Class of 2K10 BEA Tour T-shirts

Big shout out to Judith Graves, Swati Avasthi and Swati’s husband for creating the design. And a huge thank you to our friends the Mathios Family at Ace Drop Cloth for printing these beautiful shirts for us (and to my kids for graciously agreeing to pose for these pics!).

Stay tuned to the Class of 2K10 website... we’ll be giving some away after BEA.

Our BEA Schedule!

Currently reading: SHADOW HILLS by Anastasia Hopcus (Tenner ARC!)

With BEA about a week away, I realized I hadn’t posted the official Class of 2K10 and others schedule here on the blog.

Here goes:

Tuesday, May 25th at 6pm: Books of Wonder signing with the Class of 2K10 18 West 18th Street, NYC

Featuring:

Wednesday, May 26th 10am: Meet the Authors: The Class of 2K10 at the New York Public Library Mulberry Street Branch, 10 Jersey Street, NYC.

Featuring: Swati Avasthi, Leah Cypess, Alexandra Diaz, Janet Fox, Irene Latham, Jame Richards

Wednesday, May 26th 4pm: The Class of 2K10 Book Signing at The Voracious Reader, 1997 Palmer Avenue, Larchmont, NY

Featuring: Alexandra Diaz, Bonnie Doerr, Irene Latham, Jame Richards, Janet Fox, Jeri Smith-Ready, Judith Graves, Kitty Keswick, Leah Cypess, Rhonda Hayter, Shannon Delany, Shari Maurer, Swati Avasthi

Thursday, May 27th 4pm: Meet the Authors: The Class of 2K10 at the New York Public Library, St. Agnes Branch.

Featuring: Shannon Delany, Bonnie Doerr, Judith Graves, Rhonda Hayter, Denise Jaden, Kitty Keswick, Shari Maurer

BLOGGERS!!!! We are having several meetup times throughout the three days of BEA. As of now, we will be meeting at the Javits Center on Level One in front of the cafe. If you are interested in coming to this, please contact me (shari dot maurer at alumni dot duke dot edu) or Shannon Delany so we can keep you posted. Also, check Twitter for updates. The time for the meetups are as follows:

Tuesday, May 25th from 10:30am-12:00pm

Wednesday, May 26th from 1pm-2pm

Thursday, May 27th from 10am-11:30am.

Our Class of 2K10 BEA Tour t-shirts are coming in any day now. Thanks so much to our friends at Ace Drop Cloth for making those shirts a reality for us. The logo is at the top of this post and we hope to have giveaways for those who attend our events.

Can’t wait to meet all of my fellow authors, the wonderful bloggers that have been so supportive and, hopefully, lots of future Change of Heart readers! See you next week!

Why I Love Rome…

Currently reading: THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE by Jandy Nelson

Piazza Navona--My favorite spot for people watching

Of course there are the obvious reasons to love Rome: the beautiful buildings, (older than you can imagine), the food (especially the gelato), the piazzas (great people watching). But after my short visit to Rome a few weeks ago, I found a new reason to love it: it gave me my focus back.

A typical writing day for me was horribly unproductive. I’d write a few lines, check Twitter, write a few more, try to plan my summer vacation, write a little more, do some promo for Change of Heart…you get the picture. It’s been about a year since I finished my last novel and I watched as my crit partners were churning out a prolific amount of pages and my FB friends and Tweet peeps (what do you call people you follow on Twitter?) were all boasting about the progress they were making as I was fumbling through several attempts at new novels.

By the time the Rome trip was planned, I was about 80 pages into a book I liked, but was still not very driven to write. Then it hit me: I needed a Writer’s Retreat. Which, when you’re the mom of 3 and wife of a busy doctor, is not a luxury you get. Unless the busy doctor has a conference in Rome! It was perfect, Mat would attend the conference all day and I would write in cafes and hotel bars, without the internet or my kids or the laundry to interrupt me.

It worked. With the help of my newly purchased netbook, I pushed through 25+ pages in the 4 days I was away. Which may not seem like a lot, but for me it was a huge accomplishment. I got home and kept the momentum going. Instead of sitting at my office computer, I kept writing on the netbook. I went to Starbucks and the New City Library–anywhere I wasn’t going to be distracted. And I turned out even more pages.

This week I allowed myself to work, instead, at my kitchen table. Still on the netbook, but without being able to do anything else. The dishes can wait, as can planning dinner and errands and all the other distractions. I am now pages away from the completion of the first draft. Now, it’s not a terrific first draft, but its the bones of what could be a good, solid story. I’m excited and hitting the obsessive part of the writing (the kind where your body is at your son’s baseball game, but your mind is at summer camp, where the new book is set).

I’m totally rejuvenated. And for that I thank Rome!

What are your tricks for staying focused?