Media N Stuff

A nice shout out to BRUISED, courtesy of the Lawrence Public Library in Kansas:

A cool review of HIGH & DRY, courtesy of Rosianna Halse Rojas:

Upcoming Summer Events

I'll be signing at two fun YA events this summer with lots of local authors. Hope to see you there!

Summer of YA - Saturday, July 27th, 2 to 4pm 
Barnes & Noble, at the Glendale Americana, Glendale, CA 
From Paranormal Romance to Action Adventure join us for a "speed dating" styled event where you can sit down and meet 11 up and coming YA authors. We will be hosting Jessica Brody (Unremembered), Stacey Jay (Of Beast and Beauty), Kathy McCullough (Who Needs Magic?), Gretchen McNeil (Ten), Lissa Price (Starters), Elizabeth Ross (Belle Epoque), Sarah Skilton (Bruised), Andrew Smith (Winger), Ann Stampler (Where It Began), Carol Tanzman (Circle of Silence) and Allen Zadoff (Boy Nobody). Don't miss this chance to chat with these talented individuals and have them sign your books! All of the authors' books will be available for purchase.

RSVP and GET YOUR TICKETS HERE (FREE) 

Local Author Night in Valencia, CA - Friday, August 23, 4 to 7 PM 
Please join us in welcoming authors Jessica Brody, Jane Gates, Dionna Hancock-Johnson, Derek Kent, Joanna Mastopietro, Sarah Maizes, Gretchen McNeil, Dennis Nehamen, Laurisa Reyes, Leighton Reynolds, Sarah Skilton, Andrew Smith and Thomas Thorpe!

BRUISED Trivia

Have you read BRUISED?

Wanna test your knowledge of the book's content?

Some kind soul wrote BRUISED trivia questions over at Goodreads. See how you stack up!

(Embarrassing confession: I wasn't 100% positive about the answer to one of the questions, though my guess turned out to be correct.

I swear I wrote this book, though.)

The Brenda Novak Auction: Win a Critique, New Reviews, Giveaways, Interviews, and More

Brenda Novak Auction

Two days left to bid on a critique of 20 pages of a Young Adult novel, offered by me (BRUISED, HIGH AND DRY) and Miranda Kenneally (CATCHING JORDAN, STEALING PARKER, THINGS I CAN'T FORGET, RACING SAVANNAH). All funds benefit diabetes research.

New Reviews of BRUISED

"Poignant and emotionally raw at times and humorous at others, this debut novel adeptly portrays a shattered life...and the road back to normalcy. Fans of realistic fiction will appreciate the multilayered story, Tae Kwon Do action and philosophy, and resilient protagonist." ~ School Library Journal

"Debut author Skilton understands and respects martial arts, and she does a beautiful job presenting the philosophy that drives serious martial artists... Here is a writer to watch who handles complex issues with sensitivity in the vein of Deb Caletti and Sarah Dessen." ~ Booklist Online 

"Have you ever seen one of those movies where the unarmed hero valiantly faces off with the trigger-happy shooter, gets help from the police just in the nick of time, and emerges from the entire ordeal a bit shaken but otherwise unharmed? Welcome to real life." ~ Sharon (L.A. County Library Teen Book Review Board)

Giveaways

Win one of two signed hardcopies of BRUISED at Katie McGarry's (PUSHING THE LIMITS, CROSSING THE LINE, DARE YOU TO) blog!

Win a huge prize pack of Lucky 13s debut novels by donating to Red Cross to help Oklahoma


Interviews & Guest Posts

Healing Hamlet - In which we discuss screenwriting and YA novels, motherhood, and mental health

"Girls in Sports" Week at A Backwards Story - Martial arts, baby!

Four Places to Win a Free Copy of BRUISED

1. The Nocturnal Library (six more days to win!)

2. Books, Bones & Buffy (two more days to win!)

3. A Thousand Wrongs (one more day to win!)

4. And coming tomorrow... a chance from YA Fresh

Thanks to Maja, Tammy, Laurisa, and Tina for hosting these giveaways.

And if you strike out this time, check back here in April for at least two more chances!

Happy reading.

Happy Book Birthday, Nonuplet Style!

Here's what people are saying about BRUISED, my contemporary YA novel, out today:

"Offering psychological drama and an introduction to martial-arts code of behavior, the book has a meaningful message about power, control, and the internal bruises carried by victims." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Her story is compelling, and readers will stick with her as new insights bring about a believable shift in her behavior…This distinctive debut will be appreciated by fans of contemporary fiction." —Kirkus Reviews 

"This layered first novel explores the aftereffects of the trauma, convincingly depicting why Imogen blames herself for a situation over which she had no control. Skilton also sensitively depicts the bond and tentative romance that develops between Imogen and Ricky. The main story line about Imogen’s struggle to come to terms with what she did (and did not do) is nuanced and honest." —Horn Book

"This is a useful exploration of the difference between fantasy-style omnipotence and the complexity of real-life human strength." —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Here are 8 more Young Adult and Middle Grade books in early March I'm celebrating...

1. Miranda Kenneally's THINGS I CAN'T FORGET
2. Mindee Arnett's THE NIGHTMARE AFFAIR
3. Evan Roskos' DR. BIRD’S ADVICE FOR SAD POETS
4. Tamera Wissinger's GONE FISHING
5. Steven dos Santos' THE CULLING 
6. Chad Morris' CRAIGBRIDGE HALL BOOK 1: THE INVENTOR’S SECRET
7. Bridget Zinn's POISON
8. Jessica Brody's UNREMEMBERED

Happiest of Book Birthdays to all!

"What the...?!" Wednesday #3: What Goes Into Planning a Launch Party?

I should probably explain what a launch party is first.

A launch party is a way for an author to celebrate the release of his or her book and get the word out to the community that a local writer has made good [aka lives among them and can't be trusted not to eavesdrop]. The party takes place at a book store so the author can sign copies for friends, family, and (gasp) strangers.

Some authors like to include a reading or Q&A session before the signing. Some authors provide raffles, trivia games, or other entertainment. Some authors offer champagne, wine, and snacks. Some authors -- wait. I think nightly readings of The Mommy Book by Todd Parr have bled over into my syntax. Anyway, you get the idea.

So!

Planning a launch party requires advance prep work. I live in the suburbs, and I really wanted to celebrate the launch of BRUISED at my local bookstore. The Valencia Barnes & Noble is a warm, inviting place I go to almost every week. I also attend monthly SCBWI shmoozes there, so I knew I'd feel comfortable throwing the party there, and that memories of the event would make me smile in the future while browsing the stacks or hitting up Saturday story time with my son.

Even though my book doesn't come out until March 5, I contacted the community relations manager, Joelle, last November to introduce myself and my book, and ask if the store might host me.

Because the holidays are crazy in retail, we agreed to discuss the details after the new year. In the meantime, Joelle graciously booked me for Saturday, March 16th, so I could begin spreading the word.

Once January rolled around, Joelle and I got together in person to go over some basics. I brought her a copy of BRUISED for her and her staff to read (they're apparently big YA fans, yay!), a review I'd recently gotten from Publishers Weekly, and some postcards.

Barnes & Noble would be putting up posters in the window to advertise, and I offered to print fresh bookmarks for customers to take home in the month leading up to the launch.

There were also a few smaller items that needed discussing, like decorations, table cloths, gift bags, chair locations, book displays, etc. Joelle gave me a list of people worth contacting, which was an enormous help. She knows all the local librarians and book club organizers, and she even got me in touch with the host of a radio show about the arts in Santa Clarita.

I've been gathering fun items to raffle off, including signed swag and even a few ARCs from fellow 2013 debut authors Amy Spalding, Kristen Kittscher, Cat Winters, Elisabeth Dahl, Rachele Alpine, Nicole McInnes, Polly Holyoke, and more. I'm really looking forward to the celebration!

If you live in or near Los Angeles, consider this your invite. My launch party takes place on Saturday, March 16th from 1 to 3 pm at the Valencia, CA Barnes & Noble.

Hope to see you there!

Cruisin' for a Bruisin' (Sorry. Really.) BRUISED Links

Here's my latest book news:

1. BRUISED received a starred review from Publishers Weekly.

2. The book comes out in 1 month! You can pre-order it all sorts of ways.

3. I have one last ARC (advance readers copy) and I'm giving it away on GoodReads.

4. Read an exclusive excerpt from the book at Alice Marvel's site.

5. "Readers in Wonderland" blog reviewed BRUISED as part of their Debut Author Challenge series.

6. If you take a picture of BRUISED out in the wild (aka at a library or a bookstore) and send it to me, I'll mail you a limited edition signed bookmark. (Limited edition because I ran out of money.) (But they look really cool.)

To get a bookmark, just tweet me the photo, post it on my Facebook Page, or email it to me: bruisedbook [at] gmail [dot] com

Super Cheesy Post About Dreams, Etc.

Today, the Spring 2013 Abrams Kids' catalog went live.

Abrams is a publishing house known for its breathtaking artwork (their byline is "The Art of Books Since 1949"). Flip through the catalog and you'll see why.

When my agent Sara and I accepted the offer for BRUISED in 2011, my editor Maggie sent me a lovely welcome basket of books, as well as the latest Abrams Kids catalog. I immediately began dreaming of seeing my cover listed in those pages. I still have that first catalog, and a subsequent one I swiped while in New York two summers ago. They're on my bookshelf, and soon, they'll be joined by a third!

Thanks for letting me gush without irony today.

Upcoming Giveaways for BRUISED

My ARCs for BRUISED arrived on Monday!

[insert crickets]

What's an ARC, you ask? It stands for advance reader's copy. It's the almost-final-but-not-quite version of my book, printed like a paperback and sent to critics and reviewers in advance of the publishing date (which in my case is March 2013).

If you're a librarian, book seller, blogger, or reviewer, feel free to request a copy at my website. I'll forward the request to my publisher (no guarantees, but we'll do our best to accomodate you). For those who prefer to read online, BRUISED will be available on NetGalley in November.

If you don't fall into any of the above categories but you'd like a sneak peek at BRUISED, here are three opportunities to win one:

1) My first giveaway will be Monday, October 27th, at Iceybooks, alongside my Amulet sibling Cat Winters, who'll be giving away a copy of her debut IN THE SHADOW OF BLACKBIRDS.

2) My second giveaway will be the week of Thanksgiving, and will include copies of books by the wonderful authors who blurbed BRUISED, including (drumroll...) Miranda Kenneally, Trish Doller, Mariah Fredericks, and Ann Stampler!

3) In January, I'll be doing a signing at the Amulet booth for ALA Midwinter in Seattle, whee.

4) If you carjack me on the 405 you'll end up with a copy because I keep one in my work bag.

Cover Reveal: BRUISED

I'm proud and excited to reveal the cover for BRUISED, my contemporary YA novel coming March 2013 from Amulet Books!

Art design by Maria T. Middleton. Click to enlarge.

16-year-old Imogen Malley has spent most of her life in the shadow of her popular older brother, but there is one area in which she excels: martial arts.

As the youngest black belt at her dojang, Imogen loves assistant teaching more than anything in the world, and she plans to open her own martial arts studio one day. Per the Tae Kwon Do student creed, she's come to think of herself as a potential hero, a defender of the weak, and a champion of justice.

Her confidence disappears when she freezes up at an armed robbery that leaves someone dead. Guilt-stricken and numb, Imogen is left to wonder if martial arts failed her, or she failed it.

Estranged from her family and friends, who don't understand why she's still beating herself up for failing to act, she struggles to get by on her own, and decides to prove herself by teaching another student how to fight –- no holds barred, no protective gear, no rules.

When the image you have of yourself is shattered, how do you make it whole again?

#

Barnes and Noble
Amazon
Powell's
Indiebound 

More Links to Other Places! A Discussion About Choosing Narrators

The gracious Lisa Gail Green invited me to participate in a Q&A at her blog this past Monday.

I answered the question, "Who is the narrator of your story, and how did you decide?"

Find out what I said about 16-year-old Imogen -- a girl skilled in martial arts who is the main character of BRUISED -- and how I knew she was the only possible narrator for this story...

Hello My Little Neglecterinos

Blogging's taken a backseat at the moment while I finish up edits for Bruised. And, you know, raise my kid and stuff. The good news is I've gotten a sneak peek at my book's design layout and cover ideas and they're amazing!

I also have a couple of guest posts and an ARC giveaway lined up for the fall.

Happy back-to-school to those who celebrate, and come back soon for a cover reveal!

P.S. Is anyone else reading Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn? (Obviously many people are reading it, as it's a bestseller, but I mean, is anyone who also reads my blog reading Gone Girl?) Without spoiling me, are you digging it? I'm fairly obsessed and never have enough time to read as much as I'd like of it.

Purposeful Errors

If you knew a book had purposeful errors, would you still read it?

No?

Well, guess what -- you already have. Hahaha!

That was kind of a mean trick question. You see, every single book has purposeful errors.

Let me explain. There comes a time in an author's life when he or she will face copyedits (copy edits?). For me, that time was this week. Copyeditors (or copy editors? I DON'T KNOW ANYMORE) are brilliant, detail-oriented people who not only spot and fix typos, grammar mistakes, and spelling errors, but also serve as continuity experts (comparable to script supervisors in TV and film, which means they notice if your character is wearing a green sweater at the beginning of the scene but a purple one by the end).

In short, they save authors from super embarrassing mistakes and also help prose shine before books get published. They're invaluable.

Sometimes, however, writers choose to keep a sentence or word that's incorrect because it suits their character's voice, either in actual dialogue or in narration.

For example, the main character of BRUISED, my YA novel, is a 16-year-old girl who loves martial arts more than anything. She struggles to make Cs in school, so it wouldn't make sense for her to speak with proper grammar all the time. This is not to say all teenagers spend their days spouting purposeful errors; a different teenager in a different book would speak with correct grammar but my girl Imogen's not one to say "whom."

So next time you read a book and think, "That's flat-out wrong! How did that slip by?" It didn't. It was noticed, possibly agonized over, and deliberately kept.

Recipe for Successful Line Edits

1. An editor who's smarter than you (Maggie is wicked smaht and insightful; together we're conspiring to make me look like less of an idiot).

2. A cooperative, sleepy baby who'll take naps so you can work.

Okay, so I'm not exactly working.

3. A sense of humor. My all-time favorite line edit concerns whether a character would be eating Pop-Tarts vs Toaster Strudels. (It's an issue of icing.) We've both done research and a winner will be crowned any day now.*

And in this corner...

4. The desire to tweak. Just call me Tweaker Sarah**! I love tweaking lines to get just the right phrase, mood, and style. Line edits give me the opportunity to do this to my heart's content.

Watch out for the Dough Boy. He'll cut ya.

I know you are dying to find out whether we went with Pop-Tarts or Toaster Strudels. You'll just have to buy, steal or borrow BRUISED next Spring.
*Unsurprisingly, Maggie was correct.
**Now I sound like a meth head

Line Edits!!!

My line edits arrived this week. I can haz feelings of being a real writer?

For those who don't know, line edits are the low-down nitty-gritty edits. I've already been through the broad, plot-based edits. Now my fabulous editor, Maggie Lehrman, is focusing her genius brain on phrasing, sentence structure, word use, character emotions, etc.

The last time I felt this excited, book-wise, was during my trip to New York City last summer to meet my agent and editor.

There are certain milestones in the life of a debut novelist that instill soul-numbing terror or heart palpitations of delight (and I have an irregular heartbeat to begin with). Line edits cause both.

On the one hand, I'm thrilled.  I'm in the game; I'm part of the great writing conversation. THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING.

On the other hand, THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING. This is officially the penultimate chance to fix, you know, every single word in my manuscript because PEOPLE ARE GOING TO READ IT NEXT YEAR.

Next come copyedits, and then THIS IS REALLY, REALLY HAPPENING.