Introducing . . . ClaireLee A.D. (After Dislocation)

ClaireLee gazed at shiny buttons all the way up the wool pea jacket, to the scarred face of a tall girl. Her voice boomed like a sports coach in the hall outside of class. “Are ya in fourth, fifth, or sixth grade?” ClaireLee should have looked away. The girl tapped a finger on her chin, cocking a brow. “Lemme guess, ya must be in fourth.”

The girl’s scar fascinated ClaireLee, pushing her good manners out of the nest. Tall girl’s droopy eyelid sagged further. “Whatcha gawkin’ at, squirt?”

ClaireLee’s face warmed. She’d been caught.

Saved by the moving line, ClaireLee walked through the opened door with the other students. Kids settled behind their desks. She found an empty one and slid on in. The teacher, Mrs. Reed, began roll call. ClaireLee’s stomach nose-dived. Please voice; don’t squeak when I say here.

Teacher got to the M’s and said, “ClaireLee Monteiro?”

Her throat froze. She couldn’t even speak, and kids giggled. Mrs. Reed smiled. “ClaireLee is our new sixth grader. Welcome to Gallagher Springs Elementary. I’m assigning Belinda Cruz to show you around.” She pointed toward the back. “Belinda, stand please.”

ClaireLee glanced at the row of desks.

The tall girl stood, staring at ClaireLee. “We already met.”

Mrs. Reed linked her fingers. “How nice. ClaireLee, stick with Belinda until you’re comfortable with the new surroundings.” The teacher clapped. “Okay class, let’s begin with math.” She handed a new book to ClaireLee. “For sixth grade, we left off on page twenty.”

ClaireLee didn’t understand numbers, but that was the least of her problems. She flipped through the pages, feeling Belinda’s stare. ClaireLee planned on learning the layout of the school in record-breaking time.

Okay, this is a bold move on my part. I've pasted my novel's first scene, which earned Letter of Merit in SCBWI's Grant Competition during the years 2004 and 2009.

Now, I'll go hide.

Until next time . . .

Middle Grade Or Young Adult

I recently read a post about the difference between middle grade and young adult books. You may read the blog post here.

I was especially interested in the topic of MG versus YA. My novel in the making has been a YA. I had to make changes to fit this in MG category, but after years of flip flopping and unsure, ClaireLee A.D. (After Dislocation) is an upper middle grade novel.

My character has been eleven, twelve, and now she's thirteen. Yes, my story has undergone much transformation over the eleven years. And yes, again, I have written and published articles and short stories, and started many, many works-in-progress during this time. My recent work, Granny and the Road Trip, is my first contemporary story. It is not a heavy topic like CLAD, and I laughed with pleasure as I wrote the first draft. This time, the age group is easy to figure, it is for upper middle grade, again.

I think that's my audience for now. Since I'm not book published, I'll write where I'm most comfortable. As to whether or not an editor would decide differently and categorize CLAD or Road Trip as YA, is up to them. I'm not the expert on this decision, as I write from the heart and show determination as I plant myself in the chair and work.

Until next time . . .

The Writer's Life: What I Am Doing

Now that summer is over and fall is winding down, I've squeezed in more time to write and to take care of the business side of writing. I've begun to send out another round of queries for my story, ClaireLee A.D. (After Dislocation).

The declines have been kind with a few of them personal notes. The agents are thoughtful and their professional courtesy makes me wish they would take me and my project on. Agents have to be extra careful when acquiring a new client, because selling books to publishers is harder in this publishing climate. Although I read last week on Publishers Weekly that young adult sales will increase, where as the adult book buying market is expected to decline.

Since ClaireLee A.D. won a Letter of Merit, I know my story has a chance. But, I must work harder, continuing to sharpen my craft. Giving my writing the editorial eye is an absolute must. As I go through the manuscript once again, I pretend I am the editor that has my first twenty pages. She's going to be critical as she reads. I, too, must be critical, as I read the rest of the manuscript.

I've found myself slashing out more lines that don't move the story. Words and sentences I've hung onto for a decade. This is hard, but I ask: Do I want to amuse myself or get my story out for children to read? I must remember my audience is more than me, myself, and I.

Until next time . . .

Average Books Can Teach

I've read many, many award winning books and just plain wonderful reads. I've read a few average written books, also.

Like the award winning and just plain great books, I take the average written book reading experience and use it for my learning curve. Because when I sit down to work on my manuscripts, my poorly written sentences and paragraphs leap out at me.

That doesn't mean I don't grit my teeth, and want to sling some books through the air. I actually threw a self-published book across the room once, grumbling as it soared. I was outraged that a publisher took the money and embarrassed the author with all the GLARING errors on the pages. It was truly sad. I finished it with respect to the author.

Now don't take me wrong. I have a friend, Cathe Olson, who has written and self-published her healthy eating books (check out her blog!). She had them professionally edited and it shows. She's a smart business woman with a talent for words, and that produces books that sell.

That's my take on award winning, great, and average books. Now if I come across a book that is WAY too boring? I won't read past the third page.

Back to my manuscript with my own wordy phrases and long narratives, and snip, snip, snip I go, with hope on my trail!

Until next time . . .

ClaireLee A.D. (After Dislocation) Placed LETTER OF MERIT

I'm pleased to announce that my upper middle grade novel, ClaireLee A.D. (After Dislocation) placed Letter of Merit in the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators Work-in-Progress Grant.

Here is the letter I received from SCBWI.

Dear Jean

Though you were not a recipient of one of this year's Work-in-Progress Grants we are pleased to be able to present you with this LETTER OF MERIT as one of the finalists in the 2009 competition. Your work was one of just thirteen entries out of the more than four hundred received to gain Letter of Merit honors.

Congratulations and best wishes for the eventual publication of your book.

What is nice is this same concept of a story, before it was edited by a freelancer, placed Letter of Merit five years ago. This story idea still has a chance. And now, I'll make a copy of this letter and send it along with my partial to the publisher that is waiting for my completed changes of ClaireLee A.D.

Following, is a list of the winners and runners-up:

Nearly 400 entries were received from this year's Work-In-Progress Grants.

Previously unpublished is winner Tracy Clark, of Gardnerville, Nevada. Runner-up went to Jeff Hirsch of Astoria, New York.

General Work-in-Progress Grant winner was Brad Strickland of Oakwood, Georgia. Runner-up grant goes to Rebecca Hogue Wojahn of Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

The SCBWI Anna Cross Giblin Nonfiction Research Grant, funded by James Cross Giblin is awarded this year to Laura Anne Woollett of Waltham, Massachusetts. Runner-up grant has been presented to Betsy Rosenthal of Pacific Palisades, California.

The 2009 SCBWI Contemporary Novel Grant goes to Angelina Corallo Hansen of Maple Falls, Washington. Tina Tocco of Pleasantville, New York is recipient of the Runner-up grant.

On their Website, SCBWI posted this news under What's New?, so take a look at their winning titles. You'll also find the names of those who placed Letter of Merit. I am in good company. Cynthia Bates and Charlie Perryess also placed Letter of Merit. The fun part is we were in the same writers group several years back, and before I moved to Oregon.

I say good writers groups can and do work.

My present Internet writing group has also helped to stretch me to dig deeper to what I mean to say. And they won't let me give up on ClaireLee A.D. (After Dislocation). Thank you writing buddies! I love you bunches!

Until next time . . .