THE WHITE ASSASSIN WICKED AWESOME BLOG TOUR! (a winner & a drawing)

If you love reading or writing mid grade novels and you don't know Hilary Wagner you are missing out on something special!  Hilary writes epicly beautiful stories about rats.  How could a story about rats be epic?  Hilary is a master writer.  Her words are beautiful.  She wraps you up in the story and the characters lives.  She causes you to love or hate with your whole heart.  (I'm really seeing a movie in her future...)

 In book one, Nightshade City I fell in love with Vincent, Victor and Clover.  I even fell in love with Billycan one of the evil doers.  Once you open the first page of this book you won't want to put it down.  You'll be fully immersed in Nightshade City and entranced by all the characters.  But then the book ends...And you'll be sad...because you want more.

Thankfully, Hilary is willing to give us more!  The White Assassin leaves off right where Nightshade City ends....but be ready to not put this book down until you are finished reading it.  There are twists and turns and new (creature) characters introduced and some old ones creep out of the catacombs.....This is a book you will not be able to put down.  I know The White Assassin has just been released, but I'm desperate for the next book already!  (hint hint hint Holiday House Publishers)

Christmas is just around the corner...if you have any 8-12 year olds on your shopping list Nightshade City and The White Assassin would be awesome gifts for them.  Kids who read do better in school.  Hilary is cranking out more books as we speak...So the lucky kids who get hooked on Hilary will have many books to read in the future.  (Still thinking there's going to be a movie...hint hint hint MZ)

Here's the official information...

The White Assassin
Book II of the Nightshade Chronicles
by Hilary Wagner

Publisher: Holiday House

Pub Date: October 2^nd, 2011
ISBN: 9780823423330

Ages: 9 up

Official Website: www.nightshadecity.com

Blog: www.hilarywagner.blogspot.com

About the THE WHITE ASSASSIN:

Book II in the Nightshade Chronicles begins three years after Juniper and his rebel band of rats liberate the Catacombs and defeat their oppressors.

A sense of peace has settled over Nightshade City, but it is a false one. Billycan, the white assassin, has been found. Deep in the southern swamps, he now rules a primitive horde of savage swamp rats eager to overrun Nightshade City and claim it for their king. With the help of an ancient colony of bats and an uneasy alliance with the swamp snakes, Juniper and his Council set out to thwart Billycan’s plans. When an old secret is revealed—one so shocking it shakes both Billycan and Juniper to the core—the fate of Nightshade City and the life of Juniper’s only son depend on Juniper’s decision: should he help his mortal enemy? The past resurfaces with devastating impact in this exciting sequel toNightshade City, a dark tale of intrigue, deception, and betrayal.

Nightshade City, Book I of the Nightshade Chronicles is a CBC Best Book of 2011 and a Crystal Kite finalist.

I'll be giving away two The White Assassin bookmarks to two lucky readers...All you have to do is be a follower and a follower of Hilary's blog and leave a comment here. (I'll announce the winners on November 1st.)

Drum roll.....

The winner of Tess Hilmo's book With A Name Like Love is:

SA Larsen

The following readers won With A Name Like Love Bookmarks:

Shelby

Stina Lindenblatt

Ms Hatch

Jemi Fraser

Melissa Sugar

Mary Mary

Please email me at sharon k mayhew at gmail dot com with your address.

Have a wonderful week and be sure to pick up a copy of The White Assassin and With A Name Like Love...You won't regret spending the money for them.   

OMGoodness!  I just won a copy of Open Minds from the Awesome Susan Kaye Quinn.  FYI: Friday she is going to post the first chapter to this awesome sounding book...

Do you collect bookmarks? or do you use them?  I love bookmarks!  I buy the as souvenirs...

The ABC's of A Good Friend... "M" and a SCBWI Crystal Kite Award Reminder

(There are only a few times in life that I will lose my manners.  Being chased by hornets will cause a whole different side of me to emerge...It's not pretty either.)

It's day 13 of Arlee Bird's A-Z Challenge! Since I write for younger children and we're doing the ABC's, I thought I'd do The ABC's of A Good Friend (and throw in a few random pictures, because I have a bit of a camera habit).

~M~

Call me old fashioned, but I want a friend that has manners.  If you are going to be late, you call and say I'm running late.  If you're invited to a function, you RSVP whether it's on the invitation or not.  I'm not perfect by any means, but I try to behave like a "good" grown up when I'm around other people's kids and I hope for that same respect around my kiddo.  I like friends who say please and thank you...and don't sag.  It doesn't bother me when I see your bra strap, but when I can see your underwear it really bothers me, especially if you aren't bent over trying to fix my sink.  I like friends who wait until 3/4 of the table is served when we go out to dinner.  Call me old school and when a lady gets up from the table, I think it's lovely when the men get up too.   I really like to see people everywhere displaying good manners.  Holding doors for people in shops, offering to help someone if they can't reach an item on a shelf or just having polite chit chat with someone who is serving you at a restaurant or checking you out at Target are all ways to show you have good manners.  I think how you interact with people, all people, shows what type of friend you might be.

What good manners do you like to see people display?  Do you have any other "M" words for me?

Today, Friday, April  15th is the final day to cast your vote in Round 2 of the 2011 SCBWI Crystal Kite.  If you are an SCBWI member and haven't voted please hop over and vote.  (Hilary Wagner's book Nightshade City is up for the award in one region!)

CRITIQUE CONTEST ANNOUNCEMENT...With Awesome Prizes! (And Show Me the Voice Contest Entry)

It's been a long time since I've hosted a critique session here at Random Thoughts, so I thought it was time to do one again.  This time we have a special prize.  Judith Engracia, Literary Assistant at Liza Dawson Associates Literary Agency is going to judge your entries and choose at least two winners.  The two winners will receive a ten page critique from Judith!  How awesome is that!!! 

I adore Judith and am sure you will too...

Judith is a literary assistant at Liza Dawson Associates, handling audio rights and digital publishing. She graduated summa cum laude from Fordham University with a B.A. in English and History on a full presidential scholarship. Prior to joining Liza Dawson Associates in 2010, she interned at Random House and a number of literary agencies, including FinePrint Literary and Nancy Coffey Literary Management. She is currently building her client list and looking for all types of fiction, especially middle grade, young adult, urban fantasy, steampunk, and paranormal romance. When she's not reading, she is either training for her next martial arts test or causing mischief with her Siberian Husky, Grendel.

Here are the rules...

Your manuscript must be a complete mg, ya or fiction novel.  You must email me the first 100 words...more or less, don't end in the middle of a sentence.  I will take the first 50 entries and then close the contest.  You may submit one piece to be critiqued.  If you enter, I hope that you will take the time to critique at least 10 other people's submissions.  I'll post the entries on Monday. 

Email your submission to me at skmayh at q dot com in this format:

Title:
Genre:
First 100 words

Good luck everyone!
CONTEST SUBMISSIONS NOW CLOSED...

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In case you hadn't heard Hilary Wagner's wicked cool book, Nightshade City made it to the final round of the SCWBI Crystal Kite Awards.  If you are a member...Please hop over and give her your vote!  Nightshade City is an awesome book!

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YIKES!  I forgot that I had entered Brenda Drake's Show Me the Voice Contest!  Here's my entry...Any input will be appreciated.  :)

TITLE: BEG, BORROW, AND EARN

GENRE: CHAPTER BOOK

David jumped in front of the shopping cart.

Mom stopped abruptly.

“Can I get new sneakers?”

“You can wear the ones you have until the end of the summer. We’ll get you a new pair, right before school starts.”

David tossed a box of chocolate Pop Tarts in the cart. “But Mom, school doesn’t END until tomorrow! I hafta wait all summer to get them?” David squeaked.

Mom didn’t answer, which meant she DID expect him to wait all summer.

“Oh well at least I know what kind I want. I want a pair of black and white Ninja Heelys.”

Mom continued reading the label on a box of Cap’n Crunch. Then she looked over the top of her glasses. “I can’t see the point in spending sixty dollars on a pair of sneakers that turn into roller skates when you already have roller blades.”

“But, Mom, they’re wicked cool! I have to have them or everyone’ll think I’m a loser.”

“If you save your allowance and earn the rest of the money you can buy them yourself.”

“Awe, Mom, how can I earn sixty dollars plus tax this summer? I only get two bucks a week. Summer vacation is only ten weeks, so if I save everything I’ll…” David paused, “only have twenty bucks.”

“You’re right,” Mom said. “Ten weeks times two dollars is twenty dollars, but your birthday’s in July. Grandma Pat and Uncle Ken always send you money.”

“Oh yeah, they send me however old I am in dollars.

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Have a great weekend! Don't foget to vote for the Crystal Kite Award and to send my your first 100 words of your completed manuscript by Monday...

HAVE YOU VOTED? TUESDAY IS THE DEADLINE!!!

One of our bloggy friend's names showed up on the list of nominees for the SCBWI Crystal Kite Award!  If you are a SCBWI member please log in and check who is up for the award in your region.  You never know when one of your bloggy friends might show up on the list.  I was so excited when I saw our buddy Hilary Wagner was on the list!

So here's the scoop...
Tuesday, March 15th is the final day to cast your vote in Round 1 of the 2011 SCBWI Crystal Kite Member Choice Awards! Round 2 voting starts on Thursday, March 17th.


How to vote!
1. Log in at SCBWI.org.
2. Click on the "See what's going on in your region!" link on your Member Home Page.
3. Click on the tab that says "Crystal Kite."
4. Browse through the nominated books and authors from your Regional Division and vote for the book of your choice.

If you haven't voted and you are a SCBWI member, please hop over and vote!

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Did you meet your goals for this week?  I didn't, I got a bit distracted by Katherine's birthday.  Then my car got sick...very sick...it went into limp mode.  Thankfully it was easily quickly fixed.
What are your goals for next week? Next week is a new week and I have new goals, plus my revision goals from last week.




Have a safe and happy weekend and don't forget to vote!

SUPER COOL AWESOME MARKETING IDEA....

Hilary Wagner's first book NIGHTSHADE CITY is coming out this fall:

The rats of Trillium City are underground and have been so for years. Little do the weary humans of the steely city realize, an ancient throng of strangely intelligent rats exist right under their very feet, thriving in the intricate Catacombs excavated lifetimes ago.


Last week Hilary created an award, The One Good Rat Award....

This is brilliant!  Hilary is giving out a blog award that's related to her new book. 

Hilary said," As writers, our own work is near and dear to our hearts. My debut novel, Nightshade City, is about rats, but it's also very much about family and not letting a few decide the fate of many. It's about standing up for yourself and deciding you can make a difference, you can succeed even when the odds all point to failure.

Therefore, in the spirit of Nightshade City, I've created my own blog award, which I'm very excited about! The One Good Rat Award! I thought of the heroes of my book and what they had to accomplish and the monumental odds they were up against to do so. These writers I've named for this award are on the road to publishing or already there and just life loving writers who deserve to be blogged about! "

I really think this is brilliant.  Everytime I see this award on someone's blog I will connect it in my mind with NIGHTSHADE CITY.  I'd like to thank Hilary for presenting me with the award.  I'm honored, but I'm totally impressed with the whole idea of making an award related to your upcoming book. 

What marketing activities you plan on doing when your first book gets published?

I'm still looking for workshop suggestions for 2010.  If you could click on the link and post your suggests I'd appreciate it.