The Librarian Writer

At the beginning of the year (oh, shiny New Year!) I wrote a post about my goals for 2011 . Now it's time to be held accountable. My first goal was to finish the 2011 Debut Author Challenge. GOOOOOAAAAAL! I read and reviewed 12 debut YA novels. I actually read a total of 322 books this year, the vast majority of which were picture books. But there were three non-debut novels and two adult non-fiction books as well. My second goal was to finish my WIP. This goal wasn't met, but I am up to Draft #7. It's taken me awhile, but I've finally realized that I started in the wrong place. So I've chucked the first forty pages. I know what the problem is and how to fix it. I've just got to do it. Which means my third goal to query agents didn't happen. But I've continued to add to my list of researched agents. I also had some mini-goals. One was to start a YA critique group. That didn't happen either. My regular crit group, which is YA and MG, is in...

I happen to be sitting in a bar in Maui right now. I can see the waves heading lazily to shore and soft breezes drift through the open lanai windows. It seems as un-Christmaslike as possible. But I want to wish all of you a very merry Christmas. And my gift to you is a cute cat video. How to Wrap a Cat for Christmas : Mele Kalikimaka! Merry Christmas!

Title : How Lamar's Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy Author : Crystal Allen Publisher : Blazer + Bray Publication Date : February 22, 2011 ISBN-10 : 0061992720 288 pp. Reading copy via local library I started reading Lamar's Bad Prank during the summer but got distracted by, you know, life. But I'm glad I picked up Lamar's story again because it's a flat-out great read. --> Lamar is a 13-year-old bowling fanatic living in a working class neighborhood in Indiana. His older brother Xavier is a basketball phenom and in his basketball crazy town, Lamar doesn't get any respect for being the King of Striker's, the local bowling alley. But Bubba Sanders, Lamar's bowling hero, is coming to Striker's on the Fourth of July and Lamar is planning on having the best summer ever. Of course it all goes horribly wrong. Lamar's history with pulling pranks hinders his wooing of a local girl. Lamar begins hanging out with Billy Jenks...

As promised, here's my list of books that I'm picking for the 2012 Debut Author Challenge . This list is not binding. As the year progresses, I will switch out titles based on availability and mood.  My completely unscientific criteria for picking a title is simple: Early buzz Availability from Netgalley Intriguing title I met the author at the SCBWI conference this summer January : Cinder by Marissa Meyer (Early buzz! Available from Netgalley!) February : Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen (Available from Netgalley!) March : Pretty Crooked by Elisa Ludwig (I met the author at the SCBWI conference this summer! Available from Netgalley!) April : A Breath of Eyre by Eve Marie Mont (Intriguing title! Available from Netgalley!) After April, I don't know yet what's available from Netgalley, so I'm going with title alone. May : What She Left Behind by Tracy Bilen (sounds like it might be a ghost story) June : Something Like Normal by Trish Doller (soun...

Wow, the year's almost over and the 2011 Debut Author Challenge will soon be completed. It's been a great year of reading and next week I'll share my completely unscientific choices for the 2012 Debut Author Challenge . (Of course I'm doing it again. I'm hooked.) Last month I read and reviewed The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin. In other reading news, I also managed to finish Unfamiliar Fishes by Sarah Vowell and I'm almost done reading Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Montgomery. I'll admit it ... I never read Anne of Green Gables before, although I adore the miniseries starring Megan Follows. The book is just as charming as I thought it'd be. Bonus Video : Anne of Green Gables trailer What classic novel haven't you read (yet) ? What debut book did you read this year that you think will become a classic? (I'm putting my money on Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys.)