fullcirclelit

Writing tips from the National Latino Writers Conference!

2009-07-13T21:39:00.000-07:00

Held each May at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, this is one of my all-time favorite writing conferences known for top-notch writing workshops, supportive camaraderie and lots of great food and music. The conference limits participants to 50, which is a big plus for attendees who want to really connect with editors and agents. This year, Josefina López, Malin Alegria, René Colato Laínez, Reyna Grande, Lydia Gil, Demetria Martinez, Felipe de Ortego y Gasca, Frank Zuñiga, and many others presented invaluable writing tips from their various fields.

Adriana Dominguez’s VOCES blog has posted wonderful picture book writing tips from René Colato Laínez’s conference workshop---just one of a series of interviews from the conference Adriana is sharing with readers.

http://adrianadominguez.blogspot.com/

So keep an eye on VOCES and also look for René’s newest release RENE HAS TWO LAST NAMES coming this fall! For more information about the National Latino Writers Conference, visit http://www.nhccnm.org/

Book Promotion Lesson #209209: Run, Bike, and YouTube Your Way to Success?

2009-06-26T12:50:00.001-07:00

Lately I've been finding some great examples of author promotion to share with our readers. Just when you think you've seen it all, an author comes up with something completely new (and possibly crazy) to do.

Dawn Dais is the author of two books. Her first book, The NonRunner's Marathon Guide for Women: Get Off Your Butt and On With Your Training, was published a few years ago and continues to garner tons of praise, word-of-mouth, and achy quads. The book took you from couch potato to marathoner, taking you along Dawn's own journey away from Cheetos and to the finish line. The book was written in a sarcastic tone, and you can bet that found its way into the way she promoted!

Here is a quick (and pretty darn funny) video compilation of the promotion she did to make that book a success. And a success it is: it continues to sell strongly term after term. In a day and age when publishers don't have the resources to promote books fully, the onus is on authors to do so. Dais took up this challenge, and in my opinion, she set the bar for an author dedicated to promoting her book. Her hilarious videos kept people coming back for more.

And now, with her follow-up book The NonCyclist's Guide to the Century and Other Road Races: Get On Your Butt and Into Gear, Dawn is taking her promotion to a new level. For her cycling book audience, Dawn has actually set up Tour de Sacramento. Yup, you read that right! Tour de Sacramento will take place at the same time that Tour de France overtakes Europe. The event will involve three weeks of cycling, with 6 rides, safety seminars, and hey, a t-shirt! The event will be a fundraiser for Cycles4Hopewhile Big Brothers Big Sisters will have four used bike drives throughout the three weeks.

We always say that authors should go to where their readers will be. And Dais is taking it a step further, creating an event that her readers will want to go to.

Now THAT's What I Call Creative Self-Promotion!

2009-06-19T10:40:00.000-07:00

I recently met author Lara Zielin, editor of the University of Michigan Alumni Magazine, when she came out to California to interview me and our author Jon Yang (Exclusively Chloe) for the next issue. Jon and I met because we're Michigan Alumni, and now, well the rest is history!

What I didn't know until we met was that Lara is a debut YA novelist herself! Her book Donut Days is out in August from Penguin. What I quickly learned is that while Lara is a first-time author, she is no stranger to promotion, and has been laying the groundwork for her novel to be a smashing success. If the novel is HALF as funny as she is, well then, we're in for a treat!

Check out this little YouTube gem. Personally, I laughed so hard I cried.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3PGzjanWf0&feature=channel_page

Takeaways:
*promotion should be creative
*promotion should be targeted to your reading audience (her teen readers are all over YouTube and would certainly appreciate a Fergie spoof)
*it's possible to have FUN promoting your book!

-Lilly

(ps. we'll keep you posted when the U of M article is up!)

René Colato Laínez spreads bookjoy!

2009-05-21T13:08:00.000-07:00

Author René Colato Laínez celebrated celebrated El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children's Day/Book Day) visiting Cesar Chavez Elementary in Pharr, Texas and Fernangeles Elementary in Los Angeles, California. Rene shared read-alouds, lots of laughs and gave a sneak preview of his new book coming this October from Pinata Books, René Has Two Last Names/ René tiene dos apellidos. Visit Rene on labloga.blogspot.com or on his website www.renecolatolainez.com.

A few words from Rene about DIA and spreading bookjoy:
Every time I open a book, I discover new friends, great adventures, and incredible places. I run as fast as a cheetah, fly like a big airplane and reach for the stars. Books are amazing and they are there waiting for you to live new adventures.

I spread bookjoy by sharing books with my students and friends, by writing amazing stories that you can read and enjoy and by visiting classrooms around the country.

I am the teacher full of stories. Stories where you can dance, dream, fly and hope for a great future. And in my books you can live the adventures in two languages, because my books are bilingual!

Los libros son maravillosos, yes books are wonderful!

Monica Brown Spreads Bookjoy!

2009-05-21T13:00:00.000-07:00

Author Monica Brown celebrated El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children's Day/Book Day) visiting three libraries in Riverside County including the Temecula Public Library which was decorated with amazing monarch butterflies in honor of her picture book Butterflies on Carmen Street/Mariposas en la Calle Carmen

She also celebrated with Arizona students at Galveston Elementary in Chandler, Arizona. Monica and the children, read, sang, danced and celebrated books! Each classroom door was decorated with a different book cover and parents and children joined together in the fun. They school truly celebrated children and the joy of reading!

Read these recent interviews with Monica Brown to learn more about her latest books, including Pelé, King of Soccer/ Pelé, El rey de fútbol:

http://www.criticasmagazine.com/article/CA6622083.html
http://marcelalandres.com/E-zine.html

Author Self-Promotion Hall of Fame!

2009-05-18T18:46:00.000-07:00

Often, authors ask me how they can best promote their books. They're thinking of world tours and elaborate websites (which, mind you, are fine and dandy!) But what authors sometimes forget is the the best source of promotion is those who already know and love you, and who are invested in seeing your work do well. To that end, I thought I'd share with you the shameless self-promotion piece that arrived in my inbox recently from author Jon Yang ("Exclusively Chloe" and "The Rough Guide to Blogging"). As an agent, when I read this, I wanted to stand and applaud!!!

I thought rather than list tips, I'd just show you how it's done! So, courtesy of Jon, I reproduce his email below.

On that note, please check out "Exclusively Chloe", in stores now!

-Lilly

Dear Friends, Family, and Foe,

As many of you know, I've been working on book two for quite awhile now. I started the process two years ago and it's finally ready to hit shelves soon. As in two weeks soon. On Thursday, May 14th, 2009, my newest book, "Exclusively Chloe," will be released by Penguin/Puffin. This will mark my debut as a fiction author and I'm terribly excited for all this to be happening.

What's the book about? Well, remember all those times you've thought to yourself, "Omg, Jon's such a girl!" Well, it's true. And now she has a name: Chloe-Grace. Here's the book's synopsis:

"Chloe-Grace can't help it -- she's spectacular. How could she not be with celebrity parents who have been the queen and king of Hollywood for years? And Chloe is a celebrity all unto herself as well -- she's the first celebrity-adopted kid in Hollywood. But now Chloe's sixteen, and she is tired of every undesired moment of the world's attention. She wonders what it would be like to be a 'normal' kid in a regular school. To really understand it, though, she would need to go undercover. So after getting a make-under at the hands of her mother's fabulous stylist, she enters the 'real' world. But she soon finds out that there is just as much drama there as there is in Hollywood..."

The book is targeted toward the young adult market but makes a delightful summer read for anyone. Plus, I'm writing in the voice of a teen girl so you probably might want to see what that's all about. I read stuff like US Magazine and gossip blogs for research. It was grueling and I didn't enjoy a single minute of it. I heart celebrities who do things "just like us." Like ride bicycles and tie shoelaces.

I'm delighted to share all this news with you but am also looking for your love and support.

What can you do?
1) Um, buy the book. It's available widely and costs an astonishing $7.99. Pre-orders are being taken now. Heck buy two and give one to a twelve year old near you. It's available online at a variety of websites and will also will be available at mainstream and indie bookstores near you. If they don't carry it, ask for a copy, or tell me and I'll tell them to carry it. PR Scripts are available for those who want to act out "Act I, Scene I: Where is the greatest book on Earth, Exclusively Chloe?" It's a two person five-minute play intended for an audience of bookstore staff. No previous acting experience required. You can also improvise your own dialogue without a script if you like.
http://www.amazon.com/Exclusively-Chloe-J-Yang/dp/0142412260

2) Just as important as getting a copy, it would be wonderful if you could leave reviews (on Amazon if nothing else). Research has shown that online reviews are extremely important for a book's success. My personal goal is to get at least twenty five honest reviews on Amazon in the first two weeks. FYI: Amazon doesn't take reviews until after the book has been released.

3) Check out: http://www.exclusivelychloe.com
Join Exclusively Chloe's Facebook Fan Club (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Exclusively-Chloe/81840608065), my her MySpace, twit her Twitter, and RSS the blog for news/updates in Chloe-Grace's voice. I'm generally blogging over at www.jonyang.org so you can keep up with the further adventures of your favorite author in training there. All my personal social networking stuff is linked from there.

As always, I'm available for television appearances, library talks, (bad) relationship advice, general counseling, and hanging out on your couch for days at a time. In addition, if you can think of any ways or connections to get the word out about EC, I would be more than grateful.

Random facts:
- The book will be listed under "J.A. Yang," in the grand tradition of obscuring gender information (ala S.E. Hinton). Maybe for my protection.
- Some of you may have inspired characters, descriptions, fashion items, sayings, situations, and all around general wonderfulness.
- My mom is very happy.
- George is also pretty excited.
- I'm currently working on my next book, also a young adult novel for Penguin.
- If you're in the Bay Area this summer, come hang out with me and I'll sign your book. Or your arm/credit card bill, whatever.
- Shelley is my official fan club president. She's waited two long years for a fan base to begin and she's been generally slothing around in the meantime. Let's make her busy shall we?
- All this would not have been possible without my amazing agents, Lilly and Stefanie of Full Circle Literary (www.fullcircleliterary.com).

Thank you all!

Jon

ps - I'm so sorry if you receive this multiple times.

People are Laughing... about "Boobs"

2009-05-14T21:33:00.000-07:00

Author moms Shannon Seip & Adrienne Hedger are giving moms more reasons to laugh than ever with their book IF THESE BOOBS COULD TALK: A Little Humor to Pump Up the Breastfeeding Mom!

People.com's Celebrity Baby Blog shared some of their own hilarious breastfeeding stories and a bit about the book on their blog this week, and also named the book a Celebrity Baby Blog "Fave"!

http://celebrity-babies.com/category/cbb-faves/

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-09T16:17:00.001-07:00

Happy Mother’s Day!

Hooray today to moms everywhere and all of the wonderful things that ONLY MOMS CAN do!

Two of the funniest moms that we know, authors Shannon Seip and Adrienne Hedger, are celebrating this special day with their new book MOMNESIA: A Humorous Guide to Surviving Post-Baby Brain. You can take a peek at Mother’s Day tables at Barnes & Noble stores, visit their website www.momnesiathebook.com, or catch them in the Orange County Register and WKOWTV in Madison Wisconsin this week!

Celebrate Children’s Day/Book Day on April 30! ¡Celebra El dia de los ninos/El dia de los libros el 30 de abril!

2009-04-26T22:50:00.000-07:00

Viva Fiesta and howdy from Stefanie in Texas! From Fiesta San Antonio to the Texas Library Association Conference, I’ve had the pleasure of cracking open lots of books and cascarones this month----and the celebration continues with Children’s Book Day coming soon!

What a celebration of books--TLA is one of my absolute favorite conferences, Texas librarians really know how to give reading a boost! A few favorites from the exhibit floor: Chronicle’s LITTLE OINK, an adorable followup to LITTLE HOOT; BOYOLOGY by Sarah Burningham is one that I wish would’ve been around for me and my girlfriends; Little Brown’s stunning book written and illustrated by Peter Brown THE CURIOUS GARDEN; the Gaudi picture book biography coming from Holt, the Mexican folk art opposites book, OPUESTOS, from Cinco Puntos Press made me want to visit Oaxaca; and LATINOS AND THE NATION’S FUTURE by Henry Cisneros just out from Arte Publico Press.

There was lots of buzz about El dia de los ninos/El dia de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day) the annual celebration of family literacy coming up on April 30. Pat Mora’s new release BOOK FIESTA! illustrated by the amazing Rafael Lopez, celebrates families reading everywhere ---on trains, hot air balloons and of course, in libraries! Children’s books authors Pat Mora, Monica Brown, Carmen Tafolla, and Gwen Zepeda shared inspirations and activities to engage young readers in the lively TLA panel “Little Latinos/Big Dreams”. Group readings, storytelling, paleta parties, butterfly gardens, each of the authors shared ideas to connect reading and young readers (visit the authors’ websites for more information, bookjoy ideas, and event schedules)! In Pat Mora’s words… “there’s a Mother’s Day and a Father’s Day….why shouldn’t there be a Children’s Day?!”

On April 30, how will you celebrate reading with the special little readers in your life?

www.monicabrown.net

www.carmentafolla.com

www.patmora.com

www.gwendolynzepeda.com

Happy Earth Day!

2009-04-21T22:06:00.001-07:00

It's Earth Day! How will you and your loved ones show appreciation today? How about by starting your day outdoors? Here's an idea to get you started:

Enjoy your coffee or breakfast outside. Do it solo, with a loved with, or with a clan of kids.
Move your morning breakfast ritual anywhere that allows access to the sights, sounds and everything sensory the earth offers, be it a balcony, deck, patio or yard. The weather may vary, but it matters not. Perhaps the sun will warm you, a cool breeze will invigorate you, or moisture in the form or rain or snow may refresh you on this day. The important thing is to simply be out in nature and slow down your pace and thoughts so you may savor the environment - even if it's just for ten minutes consuming coffee, cocoa, or crunchy cereal.
Enjoy the earth. Its offerings are bountiful and everywhere around you.

Happy Earth Day!
-Jennifer Ward, author of I LOVE DIRT! 52 Activities to Help You & Your Kids Discover the Wonders of Nature

From Stefanie:
We're excited about Jennifer's followup to I Love Dirt!, a new selection of outdoor games, projects, and adventures specifically for families with children ages 8–12.

Parents have shared so many of their own nature stories (and photos) inspired by I LOVE DIRT! ---it's one of those books that you can open day after day with little ones. Yesterday, we took an old wool sock along on our neighborhood walk (with 1.5, 3, and 4-year-olds + their moms) and soon we had a clinging garden of nature to explore! As children get older, it can be even harder to get them outdoors, and once again Jennifer Ward offers so many new inspirations in her newest book coming to bookstores and libraries on July 14. Let’s Go Outside! Outdoor Activities and Projects to Get You and Your Kids Closer to Nature offers a menu of activities specifically for preteens that encourages them to go outside and experience adventure in the great outdoors.

Preggatinis Hits the Road

2009-04-15T17:11:00.000-07:00

"Welcome to one of the biggest decisions of your life . . . to give up cocktails for nine months!"

Thus begins Preggatinis(tm), Natalie Bovis-Nelsen's book of delicious virgin drinks to ease today's mother-to-be through the changes that come with pregnancy and parenthood. If you're looking for a gift for that baby shower but dreading buying her a breast pump, pick up a copy of this humor-filled tribute to the modern woman's pregnancy for the Sex and the City set.

Natalie is the renown Liquid Muse, writing and blogging on the latest trends in mixology for the masses. Last week her booksignings brought her through San Diego to our own Warwick's of La Jolla. Attendees watched as she mixed up her "Preggie Provence", as well as Sparking Citrus and Sparkling Pomegranate. The drinks got rave reviews. Say bye bye to the tacky virgin pina colada- these drinks are sophisticated and delicious. Preggatinis(tm) includes "De-virginize for Dad" options for partners or friends who might want a bit more kick in their drink.

Preggatinis(tm) are here to stay. Just today Natalie could be seen quoted in the Washington Post article about virgin mixology.

So what are you waiting for? Drink up!

For more information about Natalie's book and her signings, please visit the Preggatinis blog.

AWARD SEASON HITS FULL CIRCLE!

2009-01-28T16:47:00.000-08:00

(photo: author Carmen Tafolla at Museu Alameda)

--

Cheers to the new year!

With lots of glitzy photos and news from Golden Globe, SAG, and the Academy Awards this time of year, our own publishing equivalent of the Oscars was announced this week! The American Library Association announced their annual awards on Jan 26 and among them was a Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor to Amy Córdova for What Can You Do With a Rebozo? written by Carmen Tafolla and published by Tricycle Press. The Pura Belpré Awards honor Latino authors and illustrators whose work best portrays, affirms and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in children’s books. The awards were announced during the American Library Association (ALA) Midwinter Meeting taking place in Denver, Jan. 23 - 28.

Three cheers to Amy and Carmen and to all rebozos---Carmen shown here with dancers from the Museo Alameda. Look for Carmen’s follow-up book What Can You Do with a Paleta? illustrated by Magaly Morales coming from Tricycle Press in April 2009 along with the bilingual edition of What Can You Do with a Rebozo?

http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6632003.html?nid=2286&source=link&rid=203511815

More cheers to share:

Monica Brown’s Pele, King Of Soccer/Pele, El Rey Del Futbol illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez received a *STARRED* review in the December 15th issue of Criticas! A feature interview with author Monica Brown was also featured in the issue.

Read the full Q&A at: http://www.criticasmagazine.com/article/CA6622083.html

If These Boobs Could Talk: A Little Humor To Pump Up The Breastfeeding Mom by Shannon Payette Seip & Adrienne Hedger, published by Andrews McMeel Publishing received a Mom’s Choice Awards® 2009 Gold Award (Pregnancy & Childbirth category). The Mom’s Choice Awards® (MCA) is known for establishing the benchmark of excellence in family-friendly media, products and services.

Preggatinis: Mixology for the Mom-to-Be by Natalie Bovis-Nelson – received a great 5 star rating and review on About.com

http://cocktails.about.com/od/bookreviews/gr/preggatini_rvw.htm

And the nominees are…

What Can You Do With a Rebozo? written by Carmen Tafolla, illustrated by
Amy Córdova has been nominated for the Texas 2x2 reading list sponsored by the Texas Library Association. www.carmentafolla.com

There Was a Coyote Who Swallowed a Flea by Jennifer Ward, illustrated by Steve Gray has been nominated for the 2009 Grand Canyon Reader Award by the state of Arizona and the 2009 Texas Mockingbird Award. (Look for There Was an Old Monkey Who Swallowed a Frog by Jennifer Ward, illustrated by Steve Gray coming from Marshall Cavendish in 2010!) www.jenniferwardbooks.com

Triumph of the Readers!!!

2009-01-17T11:37:00.000-08:00

This morning I opened the Wall Street Journal, and let me tell you what a relief it was to finally get optimistic about where publishing is heading. For those of you out there writing, and wondering if anyone will ever *Read* your work, Ann Patchett (whose Bel Canto is a must read, by the way), has this delectable thought for you:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123214794600191819.html

Enjoy!

-Lilly

Lilly's: Interview with Author's Den

2008-08-04T15:36:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy few months for us! I enjoyed talking with Dr. Charlotte Thompson of PIVTR, and doing "The Author's Den" with her. She had some great questions including red flags when you're talking with an agent and red flags for agents about potential clients!

It seems like no matter how many times I interview, there's more information to dole out to authors, and more secret tips. I hope you enjoy!

http://lsc.audioacrobat.com/download/38770ca3-d84e-93e7-dc07-09b909b1e2a8.mp3

-Lilly

Chuck Interviews Lilly

2008-07-25T16:31:00.000-07:00

Chuck Sambuchino, editor of the GUIDE TO LITERARY AGENTS, interviewed me for their blog. Read the interview here:

http://www.guidetoliteraryagents.com/blog/Agent+Advice+Lilly+Ghahremani+Of+Full+Circle+Literary.aspx

In relevant news, I schooled Chuck at pool at the Writers League of Texas Conference in Austin last month. Funny thing, he "edited" that out of the interview!

-Lilly

What Book Editors Really Want

2008-07-24T17:12:00.001-07:00

Mediabistro featured Jeff Rivera's article "What Do Book Editors Really Want?", which interviews a wide range of industry professionals about this pressing question, including our own Stefanie!

What Do Book Editors Really Want?
Put a stop to rejections with these pointers from the pros

By Jeff Rivera – July 21, 2008

Book editors receive thousands of submissions each week, yet just a small percentage of them make the cut. If you've been on the sending end of submissions, then you've probably experienced the heartbreak and disappointment caused by an editor's rejection of your book proposal. What did I do wrong? I spent years writing and rewriting this manuscript. What more do they want from me?
Before having my first novel published by Grand Central Publishing, I wondered the same things. I wished that someone could have created a telepathic device I could install in editors' brains to download exactly what it was that they were looking for in a book proposal.
What are editors currently acquiring? What is consistently selling? And what do they wish writers would stop sending them?
I spoke with 20 editors, publishers and agents who know what today's marketplace looks like. They represent just about every major publishing house in the United States and because they work in the field, they were willing to share exactly what they're looking for and what they wish aspiring authors would send them.
Despite popular belief, editors do not want to reject your manuscript. Each day they hope is the day they will acquire a great project that they can champion through the publishing process. "They are not conspiring against writers in general," Michael Mejias of Writers House Literary Agency says. "They want it to be fantastic. Not good. Not great -- fantastic."

Novelty is key
Although tastes differ from editor to editor, whether you are writing fiction or nonfiction, there are certain points on which most editors agree. They may seem like common sense, but time and time again, editors say they're not seeing them from writers.
"A vividly written page-turner with characters who are interesting, dynamic individuals -- not clichés," is sought by Selina McLemore, editor at Grand Central Publishing. "Something fresh," adds Sam Rodriguez, an associate publisher at Thomas Nelson. She seeks, "new material that will engage the reader in a way that will captivate not only their minds but also the heart." "There are what, maybe 67 plots that are being recycled over and over again?" says literary agent Paul Cirone from the Friedrich Literary Agency. "If you can find a fresh and original way of saying something, that is what everybody is looking for."
Any time someone says their story has never been done before, they should think about that statement. Chances are, with the thousands of manuscripts and proposals that editors read every year, that yes, they have seen it before.
In fact, editors want to have seen it before. That is how they compare titles when presenting your book at their weekly meetings. And that is how they help determine how large of an advance you will be offered.
But what are you doing to tell your story, whether fiction or non-fiction that turns the subject upside down and makes it fresh and original? "You only get one shot to impress an editor, [so] make that shot count," says Adriana Dominguez, former executive editor at HarperCollins Children's. "An original idea, something that shows an awareness of the market always stands out."

Play up your platform
In my discussions with editors and agents, the term platform kept popping up, especially regarding non-fiction work. It is as much of a request as a great fresh concept. As the economy changes and financial belts tighten, publishers are interested in instant hits and all but guaranteed blockbusters. An author with a strong platform or established fan base is one way editors can ensure sales and success.
But what does the word platform actually mean in the minds of those who acquire books? "A constant platform is necessary," says Celebra publisher Raymond Garcia. "One that the author can communicate to potential book buyers and more specifically his book buyers. I do not want to call them fans at this point, but his community."
This doesn't mean you need to be a celebrity in order to sell a book, though it doesn't hurt. But being a leader or an authority in your field is extremely important. According to Garcia, a platform can be defined as a blog with a built-in audience, a regular TV or radio show, a speaking circuit, or any other type of fan base that has been created with significant numbers.
In your proposal, show an editor that you have a guaranteed audience likely to buy the book. This doesn't just mean finding statistics of potential buyers, but showing proof of a significant fan base.

Send proposals complete with marketing hooks
While quality of work and writing talent is vital, the second-most important element editors want from aspiring authors is proof of a book's saleability. In other words: provide marketing hooks.
Before I sold my first novel, the publishers told my agent they wanted to buy my book, but they asked, "How do we sell this?" My agent and I then put together a marketing plan and sent it to the publisher, helping to seal the deal.
A book has, "to have its marketing and publicity hooks. It's got to be timely. It's got to be or magical in a way," says Rene Alegria, publisher at Rayo, HarperCollins' Spanish imprint.
"Nowadays, writers are funding their own tours and promotional plans," says former executive editor Adriana Dominguez. "That is very attractive to an editor. Think to yourself, 'How can I make the editor's life easier?'"
Touchstone/Fireside editor Sulay Hernandez adds, "I love when authors give comparison titles, because we have to do that in order to sell the book at editorial, sales and marketing meetings. We have to know within the company how to market and sell the book. I love when someone shows that they have done their homework."

Which genres are selling?
This is the magic question. Although what is hot today may not be hot tomorrow, there are a few genres that consistently pique editors' interests.
Nonfiction, celebrity-driven books and anything to do with women's fiction sell constantly, according to multiple agents and editors.
"The danger in that is that writers start to believe that if they just write anything in genre X they'll automatically be able to sell their work, and that's not the case," warns Grand Central Publishing's Selina McLemore. "At the end of the day everything comes back to the strength of the writing."
"Nonfiction is outselling fiction these days, and the reason is that nonfiction is easier to market than novels," says Cirone. You have more of a hook for TV or print articles, more ways to publicize the book since it's about something tangible. It's much harder to go on [The Daily Show] and talk about the plot of a novel."
Jeanette Perez of HarperPerennial leans towards innovative fiction. "Some of the types of books I'm looking for, such as literature from other cultures, stems from the fact that they are underrepresented [in the U.S.]. For the HarperPerennial paperback imprint, we've had some good success with offbeat nonfiction, such as a collection of six-word memoirs. Another editor here found that idea online and ran with it. It ended up being a New York Times bestseller. I think we'd like to find more nonfiction books that would appeal to a similar audience."
Perez points out her interest in acquiring material that entices female readers. "I also adore working on literary fiction and upmarket women's fiction since I enjoy reading them, but also it seems that reading group participation continues to grow and their members tend to love these types of books."
Dominguez sees promise in the booming Latino book market. "Newly arrived immigrant parents tend to like them because they enable them to read books to their children in Spanish, the language they generally feel most comfortable in, while allowing their children to read them in English if they so choose, and to use them as a learning tool to pick up the new language. US-born Latinos tend to like them for usually the opposite reason; they want to recapture their family's tongue and want their children to do so as well. These parents are often able to jump from one language to another easily, and want their children to be able to do as well. Non-Latinos represent a growing market for these titles, as many of them want to raise bilingual children to add to their skill set in an increasingly competitive market and the new global economy. These readers tend to purchase titles with little text that they can use as fun, language-learning tools for their children."
"I'm always on the look-out for nonfiction areas like parenting and how-to if you have a special expertise," says Stefanie Von Borstel from Full Circle Literary. "We've had success with journalists or academics that work in a particular field who are able to identify a need in the market and bring their expertise to trade books."

Journalists need apply
A recurring theme from talking with editors and even agents in the industry is how being a journalist can be an asset in landing a deal. Journalists are well-received, and in some cases, sought-after by editors. The discipline it takes to be a journalist, the credibility, and the potential platform they bring are all elements that make journalists attractive to an acquisition executive.
"I'm definitely interested in acquiring books by journalists," says Vanessa Mobley, senior editor at Penguin. "I am interested in learning something new in a book. What always grabs me is when someone says to me, 'Here is this writer, here is a journalist who spent three, five, seven years reporting this story, and he or she has a new way to look at this subject.'"
"Journalists tend to be really tuned into the zeitgeist and what readers are looking for," says HarperPerennial's Perez. "Once they have a good idea, I feel like they can really run with it. Also, they tend to be very active in the media community, which really helps when it comes to publicizing their books. With the competitive book market, I'm always extremely grateful when an author can bring a lot of new contacts to the table and actively promote themselves along with our traditional marketing outreach."
Cirone finds that journalists "tend to have a true instinct for getting to the heart of a story. They also tend to have more access than your average layperson."
"I believe journalists in many instances have some of the most interesting materials simply because they have 'lived the stories'," says Rodriguez.

What not to send
With all those rejections each year, what is it exactly that is turning editors off?
Sulay Hernandez had formatting no-no's. "No colored paper and single-spaced manuscripts, no 'Dear Editor' cover letters. They must be personalized. I hate when someone submits something and they say, "No one has ever thought of this idea, because there is no such thing as that."
Adriana Dominguez says she abhors stereotypical representations of Latinos. "Just adding a Latino name to a character, a sombrero, or tortillas, does not make your manuscript more appealing to the Latino market. Those types of manuscripts immediately go into the rejection pile."
David Patterson from Holt Publishing acknowledges being, "skeptical about an overuse of certain huge titles as comparison titles. Like Malcolm Gladwell or Freakonomics. Do not use those buzz words carelessly, otherwise it hurts your credibility."
Agent Caren Johnson from Johnson Literary advises against forced familiarity and overshooting. "The first thing that will turn me off is if a writer is trying to be too chummy or if they promise, 'If you take me on, I will be your New York Times bestseller.'"
Genre-wise, anthologies prove tough to sell. "Even when I have the best, biggest name writers, to me [anthologies] are even harder to sell than short stories."
Brief, succinct queries entice agent Stefanie Von Borstel from Full Circle Literary. "I prefer short queries that focus on the pitch of the book and author highlights that will help me position your book. I have to admit I'm a bit turned off by lengthy queries and cover letters that include the history of your writing inspiration and pet names -- I suggest just two to three paragraphs that will spark my attention, and then let the writing speak for itself! Agents receive hundreds of submissions a month, and we need to be able to spot the value of the project immediately. The writer is the best person to make their project spark from the start!"

Jeff Rivera is the award-winning author of Forever My Lady (Warner/Grand Central).
Please see jeffrivera.com for more information about his work.

Isabel Does it Again: Food & Wine

2008-07-24T13:38:00.000-07:00

FOOD & WINE has just released its "BEST OF THE BEST" collection, Vol.11, and we're proud to announce that our own Isabel Cruz is among the elite chefs in that collection of best cookbooks from the past year!

Isabel joins Bobby Flay, Jamie Oliver, Giada and more in this enticing collection, which includes over 100 recipes chosen by the editors of FOOD & WINE. The book boasts easy-to-make recipes and inside tips from the nation's hottest chefs.

To learn more, please visit:

https://www.amexpubbooks.com/cfModules/ObjMgr.cfm?Obj=bookorderform&id=218&mode=foodAndWine

Isabel's Cantina is still in stores everywhere. http://www.isabelscantina.com/

-Lilly

To The Rescue of YA Writers!

2008-07-24T13:26:00.000-07:00

Hot off the press! "Wild Ink: How to Write Fiction for Young Adults" by author Victoria Hanley is now available.

Victoria and I met when we hosted a YA panel for the Pikes Peak Writers Conference last year, which resulted in the interview you'll find on pages 107-110. Included is my no-fail list of mistakes authors can avoid making on submission!

Our fabulous YA author Amy Koumis, whose page-turning high school novel SPYGLASS is being prepared for submission is interviewed on Page 120.

http://www.amazon.com/Wild-Ink-Write-Fiction-Adults/dp/1877673803/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1216931482&sr=8-1

You can never learn enough about writing the perfect novel, so I hope you'll check it out!

-Lilly

Guest Blogger: Penny Warner on Publication

2008-07-14T10:04:00.000-07:00

PUBLISHING EXPECTATIONS

by Penny Warner

I never planned to be a writer. I wanted to be a detective like Nancy Drew. But now that I’ve had over 50 books published—including THE OFFICIAL NANCY DREW HANDBOOK—I can’t imagine doing anything else.

If you’re a writer, you’re well aware there’s something festering inside you that must come out on paper—and it’s not just your grocery list, as well written as it might be. At least, that’s what it’s like for me. So after giving up a promising career in sleuthing to become a mother, I began to write.

My first works were non-fiction, based on topics of interest to me at the time. Since I’d just given birth to my first child, I was hungry for anything that had to do with babies—what to feed them, how to play with them, what to do with them all day long. After checking the bookshelves and finding little more than Dr. Spock’s tips on diapering and drooling, I realized there was a gap in the market that need filling. So with my background in Early Childhood Education and Special Ed, and my “vast” experience with my new baby, I realized I was practically an expert in this wide-open field of parenting.

With dreams of quickly typing up my first book, choosing a prestigious agent who would get me an advance large enough to pay for a summer home near Disneyland, and watching my publisher get me on Oprah (or at least Jerry Springer), I wrote a proposal. I figured, why write the whole book in case it doesn’t actually sell.

Without an agent, that first proposal for a book called HEALTHY SNACKS FOR KIDS saw every publisher from Acme to Zero. I rapidly collected enough rejection slips to paper my “summer home.” Just about the time I’d given up hope of selling the book, I got a phone call from a local publisher interested in buying it. After doing a joyous happy dance, accompanied by more visions of glamorous pub parties, multi-city book tours, and carpal tunnel from signing so many autographs, reality quickly set it. The advance would barely pay for the cost of my paper. My name would be in a size two font. And my request for a sizeable publicity budget would become the publishing house joke.

Still, I had my first book. Published. By a real publisher. With my name on it (in a size two font.) Meanwhile, I’d learned a lot about the publishing business in the process. I learned that I needed an agent to help me find the right publisher for the book. I needed an agent to get me the best possible contract (I was so grateful to be published, I would have paid the publisher!) Most of all, I needed an agent to help me plan and manage my career (otherwise I’d still be writing SON OF HEALTHY SNACKS FOR KIDS, BRIDE OF HEALTHY SNACKS FOR KIDS, and so on.).

So after 30 years in this business, I still love it. There’s nothing like the high you get when your agent says, “I sold your book!” Likewise, there’s nothing like seeing your “baby” in print for the first time. But I consider myself a working author. I still don’t have a summer home. Not even a yacht. But my advances and royalties, while not even close to Stephen King’s, have paid for my kids' orthodonture, their college education, and a new patio for my husband. (According to my agent, 80% of advances are under 20K. I’ve also heard that most writers make less than $4,000 a year!)

Since my first advance was so low, I’m grateful for whatever amount my agent can get me above that. And I know how the business works—it’s slower than watching ink dry—so I try not to call my agent every day “just to check in.” I spend that time working on my next book while waiting for that exciting phone call.

I also know I’m going to have to rewrite that proposal several times to make it perfect, find a “platform” (whatever that means), and create a realistic marketing plan that doesn’t use up my entire advance. And I know that when my book is published, my editor isn’t going to fly me to New York for lunch, rent billboard space announcing my latest title, or get me on The View, let alone Jerry Springer.

But like I said, I’d rather do this than anything else—solve crimes, host parties, play with kids. I can do all that and more—on paper. And with my last advance, I finally bought myself a roadster.

Penny Warner is the author of THE OFFICIAL NANCY DREW HANDBOOK (Quirk Books, November, 2007), and the upcoming ROCK-A-BYE BABY: 200 WAYS TO HELP BABY SLEEP BETTER (Chronicle Books, Sept 2008,) LADIES’ NIGHT: 75 FUN PARTIES FOR WOMEN (Adams Media, November 2008), PEEK-A-BOO BABY: 400 GAMES TO PLAY WITH YOUR BABY (Chronicle Books, 2009), and BABY’S FAVORITE RHYMES TO SIGN (Three Rivers/Random House, 2010)—all thanks to my incredible agents at Full Circle Literary.

Reach Penny at http://www.pennywarner.com.

Summer Begins at Full Circle

2008-06-24T12:13:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone!

Happy Summer. We just wrapped up the Writer's League of Texas Conference in beautiful Austin. We took pitch after pitch- it's always incredible how many fresh ideas are out there.

Despite it being summer, things are in full swing over here. The Book Expo came and went right after Memorial Day weekend and now with the conference under our belts we're attacking the submissions pile and looking forward to adding some new and exciting clients to our list for the fall.

Authors always ask me why we go to writers conferences, so I wanted to pipe in about that. It feels important to mention, since every time I have pitch sessions, inevitably there are a few authors shaking uncontrollably. Shaking to talk to little (literally) old (not literally) me? I realize it's nerve-wracking to talk to an agent, especially before you've broken the ice and realized we're people too. So I always calm authors down by reminding them that we're there- taking pitches and listening in- in the hopes of connecting with new clients. Without our clients, we don't have a job! It's a pleasure to find that gem among pitches, that book you feel passionate about and think you can sell. Sure, it doesn't happen at every single conference, but there's a good chance. I have personally found many authors at conferences and made great connections.

Agents also attend conferences because it's a great time to see colleagues. Events are organized for us separate from the author attendees- we'll have a big faculty dinner where we can catch up with each other in a more relaxed atmosphere than a bustling restaurant in a major city at lunchtime! In Texas, they rounded us up for some good Mexican food, which was followed by a good pool match between editor Brooke Warner (Seal Press), Chuck Sambuchino (F&W), Toni Plummer (St. Martin's) and myself. The match was a draw, for those of you who are wondering, but Chuck says he won. Let's let him have that glory, shall we? HI CHUCK!

Hope everyone's summer is off to a good start. As you bear the heat (rather than blast the a/c?!), please help us spread the word as we continue to build our green living list. Our author, green crafter Betz White has just wrapped up production of her Sew Green book, the highly-anticipated follow up to her book Warm Fuzzies, which will teach folks how to recycle who knows what to create beautiful items for self and home. And Jennifer Ward continues to "green" parenting with ongoing publicity for I LOVE DIRT. (Stay tuned- she'll be on NPR soon!) It's a list we're going to be building aggressively in the coming months, so keep an eye out.

Full Circle is in the process of going green itself (for example, we'll be accepting fewer and fewer hard-copy submissions, for example-stay tuned to our "submissions requirements" for more on that). We believe strongly in the environmental movement and are always looking for new and creative voices to bring inspiration and tips on that lifestyle to readers everywhere, so keep us in mind for those green books!

Happy summer!
Lilly

We Love Dirt!

2008-06-17T16:33:00.000-07:00

Just in time for summer, we're really excited about the new release I LOVE DIRT! by Jennifer Ward. Separated by seasons, it makes enjoying nature easy and fun. Right now I am sitting on our outdoor swing with my son as the leaves sway to the beat of the music and we count the birds in the yard. Aaah the simple pleasures of summer! How are you enjoying "dirt" this summer?

See Soule Mama's book review: http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/2008/06/i-love-dirt---r.html#comments

For more information on Jennifer Ward, check out: http://www.jenniferwardbooks.com/

-Stefanie

From the mailbag -- reader questions

2008-02-10T20:32:00.000-08:00

Two reader questions were posted to us that I'd like to answer.

#1- Do we help authors revise?

Ah, tricky question, because you and I both know that the wrong answer could encourage many authors to send in something that isn't quite perfect yet!

So on a general note, I will say no- we don't help authors revise. Here's why: A work needs to be in pitchable form for us to take it on. Agents are looking for projects that are market-ready -- ready to be taken out and shopped... and sold!

The situations where we are most likely to become involved with an author's revision are with a nonfiction book proposal. Let's say someone is a renown expert in their field and has a fantastic book idea-- they just don't have the quite right angle to their sample chapter. In that case, we might offer a few tips and help the author shape that up. But again, this only happens if we're overwhelmed by the potential for the project and can clearly see in our minds what needs to be done.

For fiction, it's much harder to revise, not to mention time-consuming. If there's a small polish that needs to be done before a book is sent out, sure, we'll address that with the author, but on the whole, if we think the book needs a good edit, we're more likely to pass, possibly with an offer to revise.

(note: these offers to revise are generally explicit. Authors often ask whether they can resubmit to the same agents they've pitched to- industry wide it's pretty standard that the agent will explicitly leave that door open for you. Short of that invitation, I would only requery them if you've completely overhauled the manuscript, for example with professional assistance.)

I wish I could tell you that agents know everything- what we pride ourselves on is knowing our limits. What we're best at is identifying what will fly in today's fickle marketplace. With the wealth of fantastic freelance editors out there, if a serious edit of your work is needed, there are better places to get that, with individuals who have dedicated their careers to helping you get your book agent-ready.

#2- What is the potential for turning blogs into manuscripts?

The Blog Phenomenon! It came out of nowhere, didn't it? All of a sudden there were blogs, and suddenly all of those bloggers had book deals.

Here's where a blog can be useful in nudging a book deal:

*if it's extremely popular
*if it supports what you're writing (for example, if you're writing a book about the environment and your blog is about green living and is, again, very popular
* if it has branded you
* if it has received media attention

Someone asked whether blog STORIES could be expanded into a full-length book. In the case of essays, I'd have to say unlikely, short of the blog being, again, extremely popular. If you've got tens of thousands of readers, it's entirely possible.

Blogs seem to do best for authors when they are topic-specific and very popular on a nonfiction topic (think crafting, parenting, etc.) Even if you're writing fiction this could be true. Consider: if you have a hugely popular blog about gymnastics and you write a fiction novel about the life of a gymnast, you've done some great marketing for yourself already! (remember to enable your readers to sign up for a feed, so they stay current on what you post and stay involved as readers) Monitor how your stats are doing. If you are growing your readership, it's entirely possible that a book could come of it (as it did for on of the first bloggers-gone-novelist, the Washingtonienne, Jessica Cutler).

As for short stories in blogs then becoming books, here's where it's tough: if you're trying to compile your short stories but the same material is available on the internet, where does that leave your investor (here: publisher)? If you post stories and have gotten a regular readership from it, perhaps there's a market for a *separate* collection from you, fresh stories. But you won't want to give the milk for free, so to speak.

Blogs are a very exciting new medium, and, for authors, it's a way to get that satisfaction of seeing your work in print and sharing it with others -- while building your audience for whatever masterpiece you're working on!

Thanks for the questions- feel free to keep 'em comin!

Sending Your "Baby" to School: Writers' Groups

2008-01-30T00:40:00.000-08:00

A Story's Upbringing

Stories have a variety of roles: they are entertainers, therapists, politicians, teachers, companions ... mirrors. However, before they can grow up to be any of these things, stories are, first and foremost, authors' "babies." As much as parents love, nurture and support their children, so do writers in the births and developments of their stories.

What does this mean for you, the aspiring author/proud literary parent? As a result of climbing mountains of manuscripts every week, I have one vital piece of advice: Join a writing workshop. No matter how good of a writer you are, I cannot stress how valuable a writing community is to your maturation as a writer and, more relevantly, to the maturation of your story before it enters the publishing world.

If you don’t know what a writing workshop is, think of a book club. It’s a group of people who share their feedback and experiences on selected stories, but in your case, the stories are yours and your writing group’s. It is structured this way because writing isn’t something you teach; it is something you do and someone else reads. Usually, “someone” can mean 10 to 20 people, so if you have 20 people in your workshop, then you have 20 different stories to read, 20 critiques to write, 20 times to verbalize your feedback (with the entire group) and 20 people who do the same with your story. For best results, try to keep it under 8-10 people, so people don’t lose interest (because they will if their work doesn’t get critiqued often enough!)

Structure varies depending on the group, but generally you would send a copy of the pre-selected pages you want your group to read (or, for example, short story, next chapter of your novel, etc.), and they will all do the same. This amounts to HOMEWORK people! But it’s worth it. Come to your groups prepared to contribute and to enjoy reaping the benefits of the work and thought your writing buddies have put into your tale.

Keep in mind that the type of people reading and dissecting your work will vary, from the people who will only say positive comments to the people who will only say the negative. It takes all sorts, right? What you need to do as a writer is determine what changes you need/want to apply to your story based on the common concerns and suggestions offered. This may all sound daunting – homework, judgment and public speaking – but, at the very least, do it for your story. Some days you’ll get better feedback than others. Just think of it as prepping yourself for the wave of fantastic and scathing book reviews every author is subject to ☺ You can't, and shouldn't, keep your baby in a bubble.

Most importantly, the feedback that you give and receive will no doubt attune and polish your writing senses in the areas of diction, character/plot development, self-editing, pacing and dialogue. The technical stuff. Unfortunately, it is common for me to read a promising premise in a query letter and then a dull protagonist, unnatural dialogue and flat descriptions in the actual sample chapters. Writing workshops will help to illuminate such issues that you may not initially see in your story.

When you feel that your story is truly ready to take that first step in the real world of book publishing, don't hesitate to send it to agents, we’re all ready to be surrogate parents! Contrary to what you may fear about literary agents, they aren't all standing with their arms crossed and saying, "None shall pass." (although certainly some do!) Nor do they live to defeat you (although some will make you THINK they do!).

In truth, every day they live in anticipation of those stories that will satisfy their eclectic reading palates and leave them hungry for more.

Happy writing,

Krystle
(“Intern Fantastica”- Lilly)

Workshop Tips & Ideas to get you started:

If you want to get something done, you’ve sometimes gotta do it yourself!

1) Scouting talent on the net: You can rally your friends, classmates (former and present), or neighbors to form a writing group. What you’ll need is a group of people dedicated to improving their writing. You do not, however, need to all write in the same genre. It may just be that weirdo fantasy fiction guy in the corner who ends up giving you the real scoop on what would really make your chick lit sing! Don’t underestimate people! At the same time, keep in mind that by putting your work up in front of strangers (your test audience) you do yourself a favor. Your mom loves you, but she is not the buyer for Barnes and Noble. Separate business and pleasure. Give your book to friends to read when you need loving support, and when you really want to get professional, throw yourself to the wolves and join a writing group! (kidding)

For starters you might use something like craigslist.org or meetup.com as tools to invite new faces and local writers in your area to join you.

2) Professional Organizations: SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators): For you children’s book writers of all stripes, SCBWI is the nurturing network that you need. With over 19,000 members in 70 regions, the organization not only has workshops in your area, they also have an entire network of writers and illustrators from all over the globe. Visit scbwi.org for more information.

Locally, if you don't already, please get to know San Diego Writers Ink, the loving home for writers in our area: http://www.sandiegowriters.org/

3) Writers Conferences: Writers conferences are a breeding ground for fantastic writers groups! There are a series of writers conferences in cities big and small throughout the country. Try to find some that have a strength in your area of focus (ie. fiction, nonfiction, children's books, regional, ethnic, etc.) if that's important to you.

4) Everyone’s favorite place: the bookstore. Talk about target-marketing! Put the word out at your local library and bookstores, maybe even the hip little coffee shop on the corner. You’ll be surprised who turns up!

Writing can be a lonely life. Get out there!

If you have tips to share with other writers, please comment for them here!

2007: AND WHAT A YEAR IT WAS!

2008-01-22T14:53:00.000-08:00

2007 IN REVIEW: It was a year for the stars here at Full Circle! And when we say stars, we mean it literally- this year a few of our books garnered starred reviews or were otherwise commended. Some exciting news we'd like to share with you:

ISABEL'S CANTINA by Isabel Cruz (Clarkson Potter) was included in the New York Times list of 25 noteworthy cookbooks published in 2007! Her Latin-Asian fusion has made quite a splash in the culinary world. (Please visit isabelscantina.com for more reviews and great recipes you’ll love—our favorites are the croissant bread pudding and jalapeno shrimp!)

Monica Brown’s new bilingual picture books continue to bring in accolades! Read about some of Monica’s lastest news and a peek at her upcoming picture books on LABLOGA: http://labloga.blogspot.com/2007/09/interview-with-childrens-book-author.html

MY NAME IS GABITO/ME LLAMO GABITO (about Gabriel Garcia Marquez)

Pura Belpré Honor Book

CRITICAS “Best Children and YA Books of 2007”

“Dazzles readers…a perfect balance of art and language.” —Criticas (starred review)

MY NAME IS GABRIELA/ME LLAMO GABRIELA (about Gabriela Mistral)

“A beautiful bilingual biography.” —Criticas (starred review)

“A joy to read.” —School Library Journal (starred review)

BUTTERFLIES ON CARMEN STREET

“Well-written title is an ideal vehicle for exploring intergenerational relationships.” —Criticas

Hip crafter Betz White *betzwhite.com)had fun making her adorable felt lattes with Martha on the Martha Stewart show!

And the librarians at SLJ also cheered gave bOObs: A Guide to Your Girls by Elisabeth Squires, a book every woman should own, their starred mark of excellence:

“If a protagonist from a Sophie Kinsella novel wanted to learn about mammograms, she'd consult this book while getting her lowlights done. Squires, author of the Books on Boobs web site (www.booksonboobs.com), discusses the health, sexuality, life stages, and cultural significance of the female breast with a breezy, best-girlfriend approach that might inspire readers to stand tall and throw their shoulders back… Boobs is the sassy push-up that will get the attention of a younger audience who really needs this information. Recommended for all public library health and young adult collections…”
--Library Journal, 9/1/07 (starred review)

*CONFERENCES*
We attended a wide range of conferences across the country, including Pikes Peak Writers Conference, Sandra Cisneros’ Macondo, Writers League of Texas, PNWA, Willammette, SDSU Writers Conference, and many more! We had the opportunity to teach workshops, hear pitches, and meet hundreds of authors.

*RELEASES*
A new group of our books hit the shelves with warm reception, including:

CRAFT, INC. by Meg Mateo Ilasco, a guide to everything crafters need to know to make their startup business a thrilling success. Read Etsy’s review of it today:

Monica Brown’s MY NAME IS GABITO/ME LLAMO GABITO (which was perfectly timed with the release of the film LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA!) and BUTTERFLIES ON CARMEN STREET celebrates the migration of the amazing monarch butterflies

ISABEL’S CANTINA by Isabel Cruz, a delightful cookbook fusing Latin and Asian flavors in recipes that are easy to make and delicious to eat!

THE BILINGUAL EDGE by Kendall King and Alison Mackey, answers to every question about how to effectively raise talented bilingual (or multilingual children), whether or not you speak a foreign language yourself!

THE OFFICIAL NANCY DREW HANDBOOK by Penny Warner (Quirk Books), a compilation of entertaining lessons on how to be like Nancy. Just in case you ever wondered how to tap out an SOS with your high heels!

WARM FUZZIES by Betz White (NorthLight), beautiful felted gifts for everyone in your family, all made from recycled sweaters

SOFTIES by Terry Laskey, a compilation of “softies” patterns from the hottest DIY crafters. (Note: the companion kit, also with Chronicle Books, is forthcoming this Spring!)

THE NON-RUNNER”S MARATHON GUIDE FOR WOMEN by Dawn Dais, a guide from couch potato to marathoner, by a writer who will truly convince you that if she could do it, so can you!

bOObs: A GUIDE TO YOUR GIRLS by Elisabeth Squires

It was a record year of books sales for us, with deals happening right up through the holiday break! Our sales include titles such as (these are in alphabetical order, so don’t skip!):

*Celebrity mixologist and journalist Natalie Bovis-Nelsen's (TheLiquidMuse.com) debut PREGGATINIS™, a guide to tasty and nutritious non-alcoholic drinks for all the hip moms-to-be who want to keep having fun, to Skirt, in a pre-empt!

*La Bloga writer and Latino Book Award Winner Rene Colato Lainez's RENE HAS TWO LAST NAMES, a companion to I AM RENE, THE BOY, to Pinata Books/Arte Publico Press

*Therese Laskey (softiescentral.typepad.com) and Chika Mori's (chikagraphy.com) ZAKKA CRAFT, a book of projects for American DIYers about zakka-style crafting, the Japanese tradition of creating cute and sophisticated accessories for home and wardrobe, to Stewart, Tabori & Chang, in a two-book deal

*Raina Lee’s HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT: The Ultimate Guide to Karaoke Domination, to Chronicle Books

*Cisneros del Moral Award Winner Diana Lopez's debut middle grade novel about a young girl living between the Latino and American worlds of her south Texas coastal town to Little, Brown Children's

*Shannon Seip and Adrienne Hedger's IF THESE BOOBS COULD TALK, a celebration of breastfeeding that helps the 70% of new moms who do breastfeed laugh, de-stress, and learn about the process in some unique late-night reading material, to Andrews McMeel

*Joseph Sommerville’s RAINMAKING PRESENTATIONS IN A SAHARA MARKET, an expert guide to making engaging presentations that will win you business, to Palgrave MacMillan

*Workathomesuccess.com and About.com expert "The Pajama Mama" Leslie Truex's THE CAREER WOMAN'S WORK-AT-HOME SUCCESS BIBLE, a comprehensive guide to everything women want to and should know about how to make a great living from the comfort of their own home, to Adams Media

*Jennifer Ward’s I LOVE DIRT, a parent’s guide to making nature part of your child’s life, to Shambhala (with Susie Ghahremani of boygirlparty.com illustrating!)

*Jennifer Ward's THE BUSY TREE, an ecologically inspired picture book
about the living world of a tree, to Marshall Cavendish

*Parenting expert Penny Warner's ROCKABYE BABY, a resource for parents who are out of ideas of how to get baby to sleep, to Chronicle Books

*Penny Warner's GIRLS' NIGHT IN, a guide to every event women can (bachelorette parties, showers), will (birthdays), and should (breakups, quitting your job) celebrate together, complete with directions on how to execute a party your friends won't forget, to Adams Media

*Web M.D. expert Terri Warren, R.N.'s THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE BAD NEWS, a conversational guide to living with herpes, for growing population of 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. diagnosed with the disease, to New Harbinger

*Crafter and blogger Betz White's SEW GREEN, a collection of stylish and eco-conscious projects for home and family as well as a wealth of information and resources about and for green crafters everywhere, to Stewart, Tabori & Chang

*Voice expert and NSA board member Joni Wilson's comprehensive book for women on how to get a voice (literally) that will help them excel in their personal and professional lives, to AMACOM

*Jonathan Yang's (The Rough Guide to Blogging) untitled novel about the misadventures of a "celebutante" who decides to shake things up in her life, to Puffin (Penguin), in a two-book deal!

*NEW GOALS FOR 2008*
This year we'll be aggressively expanding our YA/Middle Grade list, as well as seeking additional craft books and “green living” (eco/environmentally friendly angles) to work with. Other updates about what we're looking for and what's happening on our side will be posted as they become available, so please check back.

We’re looking forward to a great 2008 and hope it will be *your* best year yet!

Best Wishes and Happy Writing,
Full Circle Literary

The Inside Scoop on Booksignings

2007-12-03T11:05:00.001-08:00

Dear Readers and Writers out there:

Many people daydream about being a published author on the road... and we're here to bring you the gritty truth!

Penny Warner, one of our beloved FCL authors, pens a column that I just had to share with you. In this edition she takes you behind the scenes with her hilarious (and incredibly true!) take on the book-signing circuit. Penny knows this circuit well- whether you've used her books to plan your parties, learn sign language, get better at parenting, or to relax by curling up with one of her successful mysteries, she has a strong presence on the book shelves!

Penny signed on with Full Circle after she and I had some fun sitting on a panel together years ago at the San Francisco Writers Conference (note: yes, we do find authors at conferences!). Since joining us we have inked 4 new deals going for this amazing (and clearly prolific!) author.

Her latest release, THE OFFICIAL NANCY DREW HANDBOOK (Quirk Books), just hit shelves last week. Ever wondered "How to Write SOS Backward with Lipstick" or "How to Choose Your Faithful Sidekicks"? It's all there.

PENNY WARNER: DANVILLE LIFE
Literary glitter isn't always gold
Contra Costa Times
Article Launched: 11/30/2007

AH, THE GLAMOROUS life of a writer. I'm "on tour" with my latest book, which means I'm signing at some bookstores, "chatting" on a few weblogs, speaking at a handful of writers' conferences, and spending all my advance money making cute little bookmarks as bribes for potential readers.

If you haven't done a book signing recently, here's how they typically go: You cold-call booksellers, ask if they'll host a signing for your upcoming "bestseller," and show up at the appointed time to sign autographs for your adoring fans. At least, that's the idea. Here's what really happens:

You e-mail the booksellers asking for a signing because there's not enough alcohol in Danville to provide the courage you need to actually speak to them, certain they will laugh in your face at this ludicrous idea. When a bookseller surprises you by asking when you'd like to come in for an event, you blurt out a date, which has already been booked by J.D. Salinger or J.K. Rowling.

He counters with the only date he has left this year and you gratefully accept, only later realizing that it's the same time as the Super Bowl, the last episode of Gray's Anatomy, or Christmas.

You send out handcrafted invitations to 200 of your closest friends, including the grocery clerk, the 5-year-old boy next door, and the new neighbors you haven't even met yet. You e-mail the rest of your fans, creating an eye-catching flyer that doesn't convert on anyone else's computer and reads: ^$&((%##&*&$^#*& ^($($*(!". You bribe your future readers to the event by promising them an all-you-can-eat dessert buffet and free bookmarks, then search the knock-off stores for a "literary outfit" that makes you look like Rowling. You realize after you purchase it that you look more like Lady Voldemort, so you change into a T-shirt featuring an ironed-on copy of your book cover, pull on a pair of black jeans to hide your less-than-literary fat, and skip the fake glasses.

When it's "book-signing time," you arrive at the bookstore to stage your themed display. You find yourself at the kiddy-sized table in the back, next to the Books That Never Sell section. You sit down and try to look busy by constantly rearranging your book stack, while shoppers give you a wide berth and never make eye contact. Finally someone approaches your table, smiles, and you get your Mont Blanc pen ready to sign a heartfelt passage, personalized to the reader. That's when she asks you where the restrooms are located and you point with your outrageously expensive pen. Suddenly you're flooded with table-visitors, all asking questions like, "Do you have any books on bird-watching?" "Have I ever heard of you?" and "What's Sue Grafton really like?"

Between "customers" you browse the bookstore shelves and end up buying more books than you sell. You wonder why you bother to write books that nobody reads, and ask the bookseller if he needs any part-time help, since it's time you got a "real job." Just as you're packing up, someone approaches and asks if your latest book is out. You smile proudly, point to the stack of unsold books on the table, and give her your well-practiced pitch: "It's a kind of 'Gone with the Wind' meets 'King Kong' set in Fresno, featuring a love story between a feisty former nun and a muscle-bound rodeo clown, who overcome a nuclear war, barely escape death by quicksand, and achieve happiness as telemarketers." She puts your book down, says she only reads chick-lit cookbooks, and heads for the free snacks.

Hey, don't feel sorry for me. I love every minute of it. In fact, you're welcome to join me at Rakestraw Books in Danville tonight at 7 p.m. I'll be hosting a launch party for THE OFFICIAL NANCY DREW HANDBOOK. And there will be free snacks ...

You can reach Penny Warner at http://www.pennywarner.com.

(Credit: Bay Area News Group)