GotYA premiere!

My first blog post for GotYA!
It's about childhood books. Please check it out.

2011 Debut Author Challenge

Maybe you've already heard about it: The Story Siren is hosting a Debut Author Challenge. If you sign up you agree to read at least 12 debut YA or children's books. The challenge runs from January 1st, 2011 to December 31st 2011.

Here are the books I'm dying to read in 2011:

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky

Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris

Clarity by Kim Harrington

Dearly, departed by Lia Habel

Die for Me by Amy Plum

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Enclave by Ann Aguirre

Falling Under by Gwen Hayes

Memento Nora by Angie Smibert

Possess by Gretchen McNeil

Possession by Elana Johnson

The Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts

The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Timeless by Alexandra Monir

Warped by Maurissa Guibord

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

XVI by Julia Karr

What are the books you are looking forward to?

Musing on Harry Potter

I'm a big fan of Harry Potter. The movies and the books. I've seen the movies so many times I've stopped counting. And the books – I just loooove them. I've read them in German and in English, and the first book even in French. That's all kinds of crazy, I guess.

Being normal is overrated anyway. :D

(The book that started my obsession. The German version of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's/Philosopher's Stone)

I think J.K. Rowling's success is almost every writer's dream and I don't mean that she's one of the richest women in Great Britain, I think even richer than the Queen (I've read that a few times, not sure if it's true, though). Of course the money aspect is nice too (okay more than nice...).

But the success I'm talking about is that her books have reached millions over millions of readers all over the world. She sold more than 400 million copies and her books were translated into 67 languages (?). She's created a world that's so compelling and well-crafted that even people who don't usually read children's or YA books, or who don't read at all, picked up the Harry Potter books and enjoyed them.

She created a phenomenon.

Did you know that a while back Avada Kedavra was trending topic on twitter for almost two days?

Or that some people on twitter or other social websites use the phrase Accio (the spell to summon things) to express that they want something badly. I've seen sentences like “Accio coffee” on twitter.

Did you know that Lord Voldemort is on Twitter and that more than 400,000 people follow him? Of course he doesn't follow anyone. Lord Voldemort just isn't the type. ;)

But his tweets are hilarious, so being his follower is worth it. And you don't even have to become a Death Eater or get the Dark Mark to enjoy his tweets!

Doesn't every writer wish that their book makes such an impression on their readers that phrases of it are used by fans in daily life? Or that their characters are so compelling that fans want to impersonate them on a social site and even manage to gather a solid number of followers? I mean how cool would that be?

And despite the success, J.K. Rowling still seems nice and normal and modest. Her interview with Oprah truly impressed me and in some ways it inspired me. Even she had moments when she just wanted to give up, but she didn't.

Blog recommendations!

I have two must-follow blogs for you:

GotYA - a group of agented and unagented writers who blog about everything YA! I'm a new contributor. So exciting!! :D

The Apocalypsies - a group of writers who'll debut in 2012. I'm a member, though I still can't believe it!

Btw, I saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on Wednesday. AMAZING! Can't wait for Part II! Did you see it yet? Did you love it?

Contest alert!

Check it out! My agency sister Jill Hathaway is hosting a contest. She's giving away a copy of Megan McCafferty's BUMPED (will be published April 26th 2011 by HarperCollins).

Here's the blurb from goodreads: When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents must pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society.

Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and had never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Until now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they search for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend, Zen, who is way too short for the job.

Harmony has spent her whole life in religious Goodside, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to convince Melody that pregging for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from.

When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.

Sounds cool, doesn't it?

Now go to Jill's blog, read her interview with the author of BUMPED and enter the contest!

Exciting

The Other Life announced in the Bookseller!
So exciting! :D