Bookanistas: GETTING PSYCHED FOR 2012

For my last Bookanista post for 2011 (can you believe it?), I present to you half a dozen titles that have me psyched for the new year to begin. These are books I HAVEN'T READ YET. Not included on this list are 2012 releases that I've already read as arcs, that I've already reviewed and/or that I'll be reviewing here on upcoming Thursdays. So, with no further ado, some covers, some titles, some reasons...

UNDER THE NEVER SKY by Veronica Rossi
With international pubs and movie options galore, this is gonna make January great. Plus Veronica is absolutely delightful, and a serious dog person!

TEAM HUMAN by Justine Larbalestier & Sarah Rees Brennan
Justine is just an amazing wordsmith (if you don't believe me, go read her book LIAR) and I'm pretty much up for anything she feels like writing.

THIS IS NOT A TEST by Courtney Summers
Loved SOME GIRLS ARE and FALL FOR ANYTHING. Here's an angsty pre-apocalyptic tale. I'm in!

MAY B Caroline Starr Rose
Like Caroline, I grew up loving the novels of Laura Ingalls Wilder so I'm beyond excited for a verse novel about a young girl and the struggles of prairie life.

THE OBSIDIAN BLADE by Pete Hautman
I wrote a reading guide for Pete's GODLESS years ago and it became one of my favorite YA novels. This looks like the start to an amazing trilogy.

GILT by Katherine Longshore
My agent-buddy Katie's debut novel pubs this spring. She's an Anglophile extraordinaire and a gorgeous writer. I just can't wait to get my hands on what's certain to be the start to a great historical fiction trilogy. (Confession: I've heard an arc may be coming my way soon. Hurrah!)

Here's some more almost-New-Year's-Eve Bookanista goodness:

Elana Johnson is entranced by UNTRACEABLE
Shannon Messenger shouts about twelve 2012 releases she can't wait for--and a pre-order giveaway!
Megan Miranda marvels at UNDER THE NEVER SKY
Corinne Jackson gushes over THE MATCHMAKER AND THE GHOST

Have a safe and happy December 31.  I'll catch you on the flip side :)

Back-to-Business: BOOKSTORE SIGNINGS PART II - Some Statistics

In 2011, after almost two decades working in educational marketing for trade publishers, I moved to the "other side" as a debut author.  I also launched a group book tour project called Stages on Pages. While I benefitted from my experience supporting other authors' books, the learning curve was still steep. I want to share what I've learned in hopes that this helps other authors, as well as librarians and educators interested in working with authors.  Here's the first post if you want to catch up.  Today, I'm sharing some data from my informal survey on bookstore events (it's still open, so if you want to contribute (as a reader or writer) I'd BE THRILLED--just go here).

Preliminary Bookstore Event Survey Data

RESPONDENTS WERE: 75% YA authors; 25% MG an/dor picture book authors and,
OF THESE, 75% were debut authors and 25% multi-title and/or multi-genre authors (different breakdown)

NUMBER OF BOOKSTORE EVENTS RESPONDENTS ATTENDED THIS YEAR: 50% attended 4-6; 37.5 % attended 2-3; 12.5 % attended 7 or more.


Approximately 90% of respondents cited their launch or similar (e.g., hometown publishing celebration, etc.) as their most successful signing event, generally with turnouts around the 50 mark (1 author had over 100).

The most successful events respondents attended as audience members, were signings by Ellen Hopkins, Rick Riordan, Brandon Mull, and other authors with established careers and multiple titles on the shelves.

In terms of authors' opinion of what qualifies as "GOOD ATTENDANCE" for an event, the numbers divided evenly between 15-25 and 25-50. One anonymous respondent (not incorporated in stats) felt 5 people was a good showing for a newbie author. Sadly, over 60% of respondents have been to 2-3  bookstore events with fewer than 3 attendees.

75% of authors said BOOKSTORE EVENT ATTENDEES were primarily local friends and family.  Two respondents added that some blog and twitter followers also came. ONE author cited bookstore outreach & publicity as the main way attendees were drawn to an event (more on this later).

FACEBOOK INVITATIONS were the #1 vehicle for publicizing bookstore events, though some authors also used Twitter and/or personal emails/newsletters. Most authors expressed uncertainty as to a truly effective method for spreading the word.

Many authors commented that, to a greater or lesser degree, they felt a responsibility for bringing in attendees for their events...

...an author has different marketing outlets than a bookstore. The author needs to do everything she can to promote the event. It's a lot of work, but is often the difference between 5 people showing up and 50. -- Beth Revis (ACROSS THE UNIVERSE and the upcoming A MILLION SUNS)

I think that bookstore signings CAN be successful, but I also think that you've got to put work into them if you want that to happen. The bodies aren't just going to show up (unless you're Ellen Freaking Hopkins). If I'm going to sign up for a bookstore event, I'm also committing to help get the word out. Good bookstores will do their part, but it's my event and (hopefully) my royalties, so it only makes sense for me to put some work in too. -- Carrie Harris (BAD TASTE IN BOYS and the upcoming BAD HAIR DAY)

So, do you agree with the statistics? Have something to add or another question to ask?  Next week, I'll post on some ways I think this data can be interpreted or used--and I'm happy to incorporate suggestions you leave in the comments, too.  Let's get thinking about this!

The Best Present...

This has been a funny year for Santa Claus-ing.  My two oldest sons, 17 and 15, are at the point where the things they really want (to score a winning touchdown, get the lead in the school play, kiss girls (arrrrgggghhh)) can't be found in stores.  The five-year-old will find his much-wished for Hot Wheels and Legos under the tree.  But, our eleven-year-old is at that tricky in-between spot: no longer a "believer" but still kind of wishing for that Christmas magic. Some years, as a parent, you get to deliver.

See, every Sunday, my 11-year-old listens to a Canadian radio show called The Vinyl Cafe hosted by the great storyteller Stuart McLean. He loves it.  He wants to BE Stuart McLean. Yep, my son's life's dream is to be a public radio storyteller.  About a year ago, he submitted a poem to Mr. McLean who kindly wrote an encouraging email reply (which I saved--this is important!).

At holiday time, Stuart tours Canada with a stage show just like the radio show: A bit of music but mostly a guy standing at a mic telling stories about family, pets, and small-town life.  It's poignant and wonderful and HE ONLY MAKES ONE U.S. STOP: Seattle. My husband bought three tickets.  When my son heard the ad on the radio, he immediately asked how many pairs of shoes he'd need to shine (that's how he earns his keep at our house!) to go to the show, he told him he was already going. His eyes lit up bright as a Christmas star.



Vinyl Cafe hat logo
Note that my son
is also a hat collector!

 December 13 was the big night.  We took our son our to the show. The theater was packed. My son laughed and sighed and clapped his palms red. But the best was yet to come. The week before, I'd dug through my emails and found the one from Stuart McLean. I wrote him, asking if he might meet my kid and he put us on the backstage list. After the show, a mystified son followed us not toward the exit but down to the stage, past two black-clad, important-looking security guys, up three flights of stairs to the dressing room.  Mr. McLean kindly remembered my son, greeting him with "here's my young poet friend." I've never seem my son's eyes so huge--he was barely able to speak.

It was the kind of night you can never repeat. The kind of magic for which you can only be grateful.  Yesterday, my son said to me, "I kind of don't need Christmas this year. For me, Christmas has already happened."

Enough said.

Corrine Jackson cover reveal!

The talented and delightful Corrine Jackson has an early Christmas present for YA-dom today: She's revealing the cover for her upcoming debut novel, IF I LIE. 

Here it is:

Go over to Corrine's website to read the flap copy and get to know her (she's also a rockin' YA Rebel, a beautiful Bookanista and, heck, just a lot of fun!).