Plastic Polly Halloween Giveaway!

Posted on October 8, 2012 by Jenny Lundquist

So, recently I received some pretty exciting stuff in the mail…

Plastic Polly by Jenny Lundquist

That’s right, I now have ARC’s (Advance Reviewer Copies) and book marks for Plastic Polly! And, because Halloween is Polly’s favorite holiday, I’ve decided to giveaway an ARC and some book marks to celebrate!

There are several passages I love in this book, but this is probably one of my favorites:

Halloween is my favorite holiday. Not because of the candy, or because I like spiders and blood and guts and stuff. (Gross!) Nope, I like Halloween because it’s the one night in the year when I can pretend to be anyone I want and no one can call me fake.

Last year I dressed up as a butterfly. I had shiny, sparkly wings and a glittery face mask. Everyone liked my costume, except for Brooklyn Jones, who said it was “pretty, but kind of immature.” So this year I wanted to pick out a costume that said, Now here’s a girl who’s mature and sophisticated. Here’s a girl who’s in control and worth talking to. So I decided to be…(pg 157)

D Is for Drama

To enter the giveaway: Leave a comment below with your best guess at Polly’s Halloween costume. In the event that no one guesses correctly, I’ll select a winner via a Random Number Generator. If more than one person picks the correct costume, I’ll select one of them via a Random Number Generator (sorry, ARC’s are limited).

But wait folks, there’s more! The winner will also receive a copy of D is For Drama by Jo Whittemore, my pub sister.

So to recap: Leave a comment below with your best guess at Polly’s Halloween costume this year. The contest runs from today and ends on Friday, October 19 at midnight. I’ll announce the winner on Saturday, October 20.

Got that? Okay… On your mark, get set…GO!

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Resources for Young Writers

Posted on September 29, 2012 by Jenny Lundquist

In the last week I’ve spoken at my local library and did a class visit with a group of 4th, 5th and 6th graders. I love sharing about my books and answering any questions they have about the publishing process. Usually at some point a student will  begin telling me about a story idea they have or are actively working on, and I’m always amazed at how incredibly creative students are.

But inevitably there will come a point when I realize that at least some of the students believe (as I did when I was younger) that writing, and especially publishing, is something for adults only. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are so many organizations devoted to helping young writers or are actively searching for pieces from young writers that I wanted to list a few of them here. If these resources had existed when I was younger, or had I known about them, it’s possible I wouldn’t have waited 20 years to start writing seriously.

Here are four of my favorite resources:

NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program
I love NaNoWriMo. In November, writers get together and pledge to write an entire 50,000 word novel by the end of the month. I’m so excited that they have a program especially for young writers. (Note: The Young Writer’s Program lets students set their own word counts)

New Moon Girls Magazine
This magazine is run “by girls and for girls” and is always looking to print student’s work

Stone Soup Magazine
This magazine publishes “stories, poems, and art by children 8 to 13”

The Claremont Review
This magazine publishes not only stories, poems and artwork but short plays and photography as well from writers age 13-19

Like I said, these are just a few of my favorites and represents only a small sample of all the resources that are out there. Googling “Resources for Young Writers” or “Publishing Opportunities for Young Writers” will yield a ton more.

Do you have any favorite sites to help young writers along on their path to publication? List them below in the comments!

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The Writer’s Life and Reality

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Jenny Lundquist

Hey everyone! It’s been a while since I blogged, mostly because I’ve spent the majority of the summer running around trying to keep up with my kids and it got me to thinking about the writer’s life and what I thought it would be vs. what it actually is.

Just before I started writing regularly, when I was first feeling those literary flickers, I imagined that the writing life was a romantic one. I pictured myself draped in colorful scarfs sipping coffee in a trendy coffee shop, rain falling gently in the background, while I cuddled up with my journal and leisurely wrote literary masterpieces. I imagined lengthy mornings brainstorming one brilliant idea after another. I imagined long afternoons spent developing my characters. I imagined, really, a lifestyle that doesn’t really exist, not for me, or for any other working writer I know.

Jenny Lundquist - Seeing Cinderella - book and journal

Over the last couple months, this is what my writing life has actually looked like:

I wake up early and make a feeble attempt to get in a little writing time, but the light in my office wakes up one or both of my boys, who want to be cuddled, or want breakfast, or simply want to hang out with me. After the morning routine is over, I sneak away to do a little more work on my manuscript, but I quickly have to put it aside to mediate a fight between the boys, who have decided to launch WWIII in our living room. Once everyone is happy and not crying, I sneak back to my manuscript. I read the words I typed last, squint at them and scratch my head, as they seem to lack certain things that are necessary in novels, coherency being one of them. Then I shrug and promise myself I’ll fix it in the next draft, and move on.

I get a little more writing done and then it’s time to move on to our afternoon activities. After we return, wet, dirty, dripping or sunburned from wherever we’ve gone, I make another stab at getting in my word count, wishing the whole time I could take a nap, until I’m pulled away to mediate another fight. When I finally return to my computer, this time I don’t even bother looking at the last words I wrote, even though I left off in the middle of a sentence, and I try to pound out as many words as I can.

Soon it’s time to start on the dinner/dishes/ nighttime activities/showers/stories routine. After my kids go to bed, I look around at my peaceful yet completely dirty house and realize that now would be the perfect time to write (or clean), if I wasn’t already completely exhausted. Then I fall into bed with a novel, telling myself that by reading and studying someone else’s writing, I’m actually “honing my craft.” Then I promise myself I’ll do better the next day.

That is what a real writing life looks like, and as crazy and tiring as it can be, I wouldn’t exchange it for anything. I had intended on finishing my current WIP by September 1st, but what can I say, my real life got in the way of my writing life. And I’m okay with that.

Now that the summer is over and my kids have gone back to school, I’m planning all the ways to finally finish my WIP and enjoy the fall.

For those of you who had summer projects (writing or otherwise), were you able to finish them?

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Signing books on our family road trip to Seattle

Posted on July 2, 2012 by Jenny Lundquist

Words of Wonder book tour Last week my family went on a 1,734 mile trek to Seattle, and we had quite the adventure. Originally I had planned to fly up to Seattle for a few book signings, but my husband suggested we turn the trip into a tax deductible business trip/family vacation. That sounded like a great idea to me so we packed up our two boys and hit the road. We made stops in Bend, Portland, Seattle and Crater Lake.

It was so good to meet up with fellow Words of Wonder authors Marissa Burt, J. Anderson Coats and Anne Nesbet. Thank you to The Seattle Public Library (with University Book Store), Third Place Books & The Elliott Bay Book Company for hosting the signings.

Here are a few pictures from our road trip.

Slappy Cakes - Seattle Trip 2012 Jenny Lundquist Author

We found a place called Slappy Cakes in Portland that was incredibly fun. You can make your own pancakes right on a griddle on your table. My boys loved the experience so much that we went twice. This was a pancake shout out to my Mom.

Gum Wall at Pike Place Market - Seattle Trip 2012 - Jenny Lundquist Author

One of my favorite parts of the trip was going to Pike Place Market in Seattle. There is so much to do and see. I loved the flying fish, free samples and eclectic stores. This is a picture of the gum wall in an alley behind the market. I’d never seen such a huge gum wall. Neither had my children, and they enjoyed chewing up their gum and chucking it at the wall. (Note to self: Bring hand sanitizer next time.)

Gas Works Park - Seattle Trip 2012 - Jenny Lundquist Author

We did all the touristy things like visit the Space Needle and ride the Duck Tour, but one of the best things about Seattle was the parks. We visited 5 different parks, but Gas Works Park was definitely one of our favorites. These are my husband’s feet as we both sat and enjoyed a panoramic view of the city. By the way, you can see the Sleepless in Seattle (my favorite movie!) house from this park. (We actually watched Sleepless in Seattle IN Seattle, which was awesome).

Third Place Books - Seattle Trip 2012 Jenny Lundquist - Author

Here we are at Third Place Books sharing about our books and connecting with the crowd. It was so nice to be able to get some time with author friends. I also met a reader who had done a book report on Seeing Cinderella. I love moments like that. Novels, News & Notes did a write-up and shot several videos of the signing.

Third Place Books - Seattle Trip 2012 - Jenny Lundquist Author

One of the best parts of my book signings was when my 6 year old decided he wanted to buy a copy of Seeing Cinderella with his own money. It melted my mother’s heart.

Elliot Bay Book Company - Seattle Trip 2012 - Jenny Lundquist Author

Here we are at Elliot Bay Book Company.

Crater Lake - Seattle Trip 2012 - Jenny Lundquist Author

Our last stop was at Crater Lake. It was absolutely beautiful, and surprising to see snow on our summer vacation. Honestly, by this time of the trip I was so tired and ready to be home. We originally scheduled 10 days of road time, but cut back the trip to 9 days as the trip went on. You can only be packed in a car traveling for so long.

Any trips or fun plans for you this summer?

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Plastic Polly Cover Reveal!

Posted on June 6, 2012 by Jenny Lundquist

Last year when Seeing Cinderella was safely off to copyedits, I immediately began journaling through several ideas, in search of just the right one for a second book. It wasn’t an easy process (I’ll post more about that later), and if I’m really honest, a part of me wondered if I’d just “gotten lucky” with Seeing Cinderella and that maybe my writing career was over before it had ever really begun.

But then last summer, I hit upon an idea I fell in love with. An idea that came together so quickly I could almost “see” the entire book unfold in my imagination, before I’d written even a single word. So, I can’t tell you how great it is to reveal the cover today for my second novel PLASTIC POLLY:

Plastic Polly Cover

The minute I saw the cover, I thought the illustrator did a fantastic job conveying the story! Here’s a description of the book from Goodreads:

Can Plastic Polly prove she’s not fake?

Polly Pierce likes being the second most popular girl at Winston Academy, right after her best friend, Kelsey. Being popular means special privileges, including a coveted spot on the planning committee for Groove-it-Up!, the annual talent show competition between Winston Academy and their rival school, American River Middle School.

Though things look rosy, life at the top isn’t as perfect as it appears to be. Polly misses her ex best friend Alyssa, her workaholic mom thinks Polly lacks motivation, and kids at school call her “Plastic Polly” behind her back—since all she ever does is agree with whatever Kelsey says.

But when Kelsey has a freak accident, Polly is suddenly thrown into the top spot as PlanMaster on the Groove-it-Up Committee. She isn’t prepared for her new status–and neither is anyone else. Backstabbing frenemies, diva-interference from Kelsey, and a crush who knows more about Polly than he lets on all threaten to derail Polly’s plans. In the midst of the chaos, Polly finds an unlikely ally as she finally has a chance to prove to everyone-and herself–that she’s more than just “Plastic Polly.”

If this sounds like something you want to read, you can:

Add Plastic Polly to your shelves on Goodreads,

Or preorder it at Amazon.

In the months to come I’ll post more about the inspiration behind this story and the process I went through to write it, but for now, I’m just going to sit back and stare at my beautiful cover.

What do you think of the cover? Let me know in the comments!

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Breaking Down Editorial Letters

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Jenny Lundquist

Lately I’ve gotten a couple of questions about editorial letters–those pesky little (and sometimes, not so little) letters writers receive from their editor requesting revisions to their book after the publisher has purchased it. (Or, if the book sold as a proposal, after the writer has delivered a first draft.) So, I thought I would try to break down what an editorial letter looks like.

But first, a disclaimer: I’ve only written two published/soon-to-be published books, and have therefore only received two letters from my editor (whom I’m nominating as the Best Editor in the Universe). In no way do I consider myself an expert on this topic, or on any other topic in the writing world. This is just my experience, although I will say it does seem to resonate with what I’ve heard other writers say about their editorial letters.

I’ve noticed that a lot of revision letters can be broken down into the following four sections, the first of which is:

1. We Love You, and We Love Your Book!
This is usually a paragraph or two where your editor tells you all the reasons he/she loves you and your book. The purpose of this paragraph is to make you feel like a million bucks. This is necessary. Because, before reading the next section of the letter you’ll probably want to:

2. Gird Your Loins
This is the meat of the letter. Picture your editor sitting next to you and saying, “Now that we’ve bought your book about Zombie Unicorns–which we absolutely love so much–here’s everything we want you to change about it.”

Warning: Before reading this section you may want to bust out the chocolate and lock up the want ads. Because after reading this, you may feel like a big fat pile of incompetence and decide you should try pursuing another career, as you are obviously not cut out for the writing life.

In this section, you may read such comments as: “We love your zombie unicorn main character, but we’ve noticed several issues with the plot…” Or, “We love your zombie unicorn’s love interest, but have you thought about developing another character and making it a love triangle?” In short, the comments in this section may require you to perform major surgery on your manuscript. After reading these paragraphs in my own letters, I have been known to consume unhealthy amounts of chocolate and bury myself in mindless Netflix streaming.

After they’ve addressed the major issues in your manuscript, your editor may ask you to…

3. Pick Some Nits
This is the section where your editor catches all the small things you may have missed, such as…“On pg 156 your zombie unicorn is wielding an ax. But on pg 157 she’s carrying a fairy feather duster. Reconcile, please.” Or, “You used the word ‘but’ 333 times. You seem to have a slight fetish there. Revise to avoid repetition, please.” After reading all this, you may well feel like trying your hand as a professional in a less painful profession, say, maybe in the auto industry as a crash test dummy. Editors know this, which is why they usually end their letters with the final section:

4. But Don’t Forget! We Love You, and We Love Your Book!
This is the section where your editor reminds you of all the reasons why they love you and your book, because no matter how overwhelmed you may feel by the letter you’ve just read, the honest to goodness truth is this:

Your editor believes in you, and your work. That’s why they purchased your book in the first place. And because they want you to succeed, they’re willing to role up their sleeves and do everything they can to help you write the best book you possibly can.

So, that’s my take on editorial letters. My personal policy on those pesky suckers is: I read them, then I allow myself to get angry/overwhelmed/depressed–and then I walk away. After a day or so has passed, I read it again. Then I walk away again. Somewhere around day three or four (and after I’ve fortified myself with enough coffee and chocolate) I get to work. Usually, I find I’m excited to revise and bring the manuscript a little bit closer to becoming the book others will one day read.

Any tips on coping with editorial letters, or stress in general, that don’t involve caffeine or chocolate? Let me know in the comments!

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ANGEL EYES Winner!

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Jenny Lundquist

I had a great weekend spending time with family, so I’m a little late posting the winner of the ANGEL EYES ARC. But without further ado, the winner is….

Stephanie T!

Stephanie- I’ll email you shortly. To everyone else, thanks so much for entering!

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ANGEL EYES ARC Giveaway!

Posted on May 13, 2012 by Jenny Lundquist

So, one of the coolest things about being a writer is, I get to meet other writers. And sometimes if I beg hard enough, I get advance copies of their books. Shannon Dittemore is a fellow Apocalypsie and a good friend. She came along when I really needed a friend in the writing journey, which can be really lonely at times. So I was super excited when she gave me an ARC of ANGEL EYES to giveaway on my blog. ANGEL EYES is her YA novel which debuts on May 29th from Thomas Nelson.

From Goodreads:

Once you’ve seen, you can’t unsee. Everything changes when you’ve looked at the world through . . .

Angel Eyes by Shannon DittemoreANGEL EYES

Brielle’s a ballerina who went to the city to chase her dreams and found tragedy instead. She’s come home to shabby little Stratus, Oregon, to live with her grief and her guilt . . . and the incredible, numbing cold she can’t seem to shake.

Jake’s the new guy at school. The boy next door with burning hands and an unbelievable gift that targets him for corruption.

Something more than fate has brought them together. An evil bigger than both of them lurks in the shadows nearby, hiding in plain sight. Two angels stand guard, unsure what’s going to happen. And a beauty brighter than Jake or Brielle has ever seen is calling them to join the battle in a realm where all human choices start.

A realm that only angels and demons—and Brielle—can perceive.

Shannon Dittemore AuthorA little bit about Shannon (taken from Goodreads):

Shannon Dittemore has an overactive imagination and a passion for truth. Her lifelong journey to combine the two is responsible for a stint at Portland Bible College, performances with local theater companies, and a focus on youth and young adult ministry. The daughter of one preacher and the wife of another, she spends her days imagining things unseen and chasing her two children around their home in Northern California. Angel Eyes is her first novel.

Full disclosure here: I don’t normally read paranormal/supernatural stories and ANGEL EYES is the first “angel” story I’ve ever read. But Shannon’s lyrical prose, action-packed scenes, and compelling (and sometimes creepy) characters have made me think I might change my reading tastes. After reading ANGEL EYES I found myself reflecting on how the supernatural/things unseen really can be at the heart of some of the evil things we encounter in this world, and how fear can really be as thick as  chains. (I can’t say more than that, lest I give away any spoilers.)

To Enter the Giveaway: So, if ANGEL EYES sounds like your cup of tea, leave a comment below and you’ll be entered into the giveaway. You can earn extra entries if you follow me on Twitter, Facebook, or subscribe to my blog. As always, I work on the honor system, so just let me know in the comments how many entries you have. The giveaway is open from now until noon on Friday, May 18th. The winner will be announced on Saturday, May 19th. Good luck!

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We Have a Winner!

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Jenny Lundquist

Thank you to everyone who participated in the YAmazing Race with MGnificent Prizes! I had a great time reading everyone’s comments and blog hopping.

Without further ado, the winner of the signed copy of Seeing Cinderella is…

Chelleyreads!!!!

Congratulations Chelley- I’ll be in touch with you soon! For everyone else, I’ll be holding another giveaway (of someone else’s book) next week, so be sure to check back!

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Round Two of the YAmazing Race with MGnificent Prizes!

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Jenny Lundquist

Welcome to my stop on the second round of the YAmazing Race with MGnificent prizes, a blog hop featuring over 50 debut authors, and prize packs that include ARCs, signed copies of our recent releases, gift certificates, swag, and more! If you haven’t yet been to the Apocalypsies website, please click here to start from the beginning and read the complete rules.  Please note that the race begins Wednesday, May 2nd at 12 pm EST and ends Tuesday, May 8th at 12 pm EST.

UPDATE: The Race has now ended. Winners will be announced on the Apocalypsies blog tomorrow. The winner of my signed copy of Seeing Cinderella will be announced here tomorrow.

Now on to the race!

SEEING CINDERELLA by Jenny Lundquist 

Seventh grade is not going well for Calliope Meadow Anderson. Callie’s hair is frizzy, her best friend, Ellen, is acting weird, and to top things off, she has to get glasses. And her new specs aren’t even cute, trendy glasses—more like hideously large and geeky.

But Callie soon discovers that her glasses have a special, magical perk: When she wears them, she can read people’s thoughts. For the first time ever she’s answering all the questions right in math class, and gets a glimpse of what goes through people’s minds all day, including what Ellen—and her longtime crush—really think of her.

Crazy glasses aside, Callie has more drama to face when she’s cast as the lead in the school play—and instead opts to be an understudy, giving the role of Cinderella to Ellen. Can Callie’s magic glasses help her see her way to leading lady, or is she destined to stay in the background forever, even with her super freaky magic glasses?

SEEING CINDERELLA is available NOW on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or IndieBound!

Got all that? Store it away in your brain for the quiz ahead!

But before you go – BONUS CONTEST!
Simply leave a comment below to be entered to win a signed copy of SEEING CINDERELLA! You can earn extra entries by following my blog, liking my facebook page, or following me on Twitter. We’re on the honor system here, so tell me in your comment how many entries you have. (If you already follow my blog/fb/Twitter account, count each as an entry as well). The winner will be announced Wednesday, May 9th!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Now click here to go to the next stop on the Giant Space Squid Track!

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