Something to holler about!

HOLLER LOUDLY has been named a selection for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library! 

Congrats and YEE-HAA!

Writers and Dinosaurs: Brian Yansky

Apatosaurus with author Brian Yansky (shadow, left) a the Hill Country Pasta House.

Brian Yansky is the acclaimed author of WONDERS OF THE WORLD, MY ROAD TRIP TO THE PRETTY GIRL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, and ALIEN INVASION AND OTHER INCONVENIENCES.   His newest novel, FIGHTING ALIEN NATION, a sequel to ALIEN INVASION, is forthcoming from Candlewick Press.

Born in Iowa, Brian now lives in Austin with his wife, author-illustrator Frances Hill-Yansky.

Writers and Dinosaurs: Heather Hepler

Heather Hepler and pachycephalosaur, American Museum of Natural History

Heather Hepler is the author of several books for teens and tweens including, most recently, THE CUPCAKE QUEEN, a Fall 2009 Indie Pick.

Her other books, co-written with Brad Barkley, include SCRAMBLED EGGS AT MIDNIGHT, DREAM FACTORY, and JAR OF AIR.

Born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, she went to high school in Texas and college in Alaska. She now lives in Tyler, Texas.

Big giant news! And turtles!

Down by Padre Island, Galveston, and on the Gulf Coast, in general, we have just begun the nesting season of the Kemp's ridley sea turtle.

Below is a picture of Archelon, a Cretaceous turtle that hung around the Western Interior Seaway back in the day (It's substantially larger than Kemps ridley).

Archelon, from the Yale Peabody Museum

And congratulations to Austinites Nikki Loftin and Brian Yansky on sales of new books!


Per Publishers Lunch:

Nikki Loftin’s debut novel THE SINISTER SWEETNESS OF SPLENDID ACADEMY, pitched as Coraline meets Hansel and Gretel, about a young girl whose seemingly delightful new school hides frightening secrets, to Laura Arnold at Razorbill, in a two-book deal, for publication in Summer 2012, by Suzie Townsend at Fineprint Literary Management (World).

Brian Yansky's FIGHTING ALIEN NATION, the sequel to ALIEN INVASION AND OTHER INCONVENIENCES, which continues the story of the survivors of an alien invasion, again to Candlewick, with Kaylan Adair to edit, by Sara Crowe at Harvey Klinger (world English).

And, no, neither has anything to do with turtles.  That I know of...

Writers and Dinosaurs: Tim Crow

Tim Crow with "Giggy," a Giganotosaurus skull, at the Highlights Foundation Headquarters, Philadelphia. On the bookcase behind him are a brachiosaur and a diplodicid model.

Tim Crow is the former regional adviser of the Austin Chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. He is the current recipient of the Houston SCBWI chapter's Joan Lowery Nixon Memorial Award, chosen at this year's Houston annual conference!

Per the Houston SCBWI web site:

The Joan Lowery Nixon Memorial Award was established to honor the writer who so generously shared her time and talents with our members. Joan volunteered to mentor a writer whose manuscript submitted for the SCBWI-Houston conference was deemed nearest publication. Following Joan’s death in 2003, Kathi Appelt, Newbery honor winner for “The Underneath,” graciously took over the role of mentor. Each speaker will choose one manuscript that they think is closest to publication. Kathi Appelt will select one of the seven manuscripts and mentor the writer for a year.

Congratulations, Tim!

More Cynsational news!

Big news! BLESSED, by Cynthia Leitich Smith, is an ALA Teens' Top Ten nominee! From the LA website: Teens' Top Ten is a "teen choice" list, where teens nominate and choose their favorite books of the previous year! Nominations are posted on Support Teen Literature Day during National Library Week, and teens across the country vote on their favorite titles each year. Readers ages twelve to eighteen will vote online between Aug. 22 and Sept. 16; the winners will be announced during Teen Read Week.

More big news! Cynthia Leitich Smith signs three-book deal with Candlewick! From yesterday's Publishers' Marketplace: "New York Times bestselling author of Tantalize, Eternal, Blessed Cynthia Leitich Smith's YA novel Smolder, to Deborah Wayshak at Candlewick Press, in a three-book deal, for publication in 2013, by Ginger Knowlton at Curtis Brown Ltd. (world English)."

NOODLE AND LOU

NOODLE AND LOU, by Liz Garton Scanlon, ill. by Arthur Howard (Beach Lane Books 2011). Noodle the worm wakes up one morning feeling out of sorts. He doesn't have eyes or feet or even a beak...Can his best friend Lou cheer him up?

Scanlon's rhyming text is fun and whimsical, and Howard's illustrations are a perfect match: colorful and exuberant and full of verve. This is a book for anyone who's ever had a friend to cheer them up.

Writers and Dinosaurs: James Howe

Author James Howe and "Brontosaurus."

At last week's TLA Conference, I caught up with James Howe, signing Brontorina, the story of a big, bulky dinosaur who dreams of being a ballerina, illustrated by Randy Cecil! Click here for some notes from James on the book (warning: PDF file).

James Howe is, of course, the author of the Bunnicula series (although I didn't see any vampire rabbits in Austin last week)! Lots of crows, though. And grackles.

BLOODLINE RISING

BLOODLINE RISING, by Katy Moran (Candlewick 2011)(ages 10+). This companion to BLOODLINE features the story of Cai, a young thief in 7th century Constantinople. Kidnapped by a rival, he is taken on a slave ship to Britain, his parents' homeland.

There, he is bought by a clan chief, who knew his father, and is put to work spying on rival factions. But those around him know more about his past than they're saying...When it comes time to choose, where will his loyalties lie?

A compelling and richly-drawn historical fantasy, BLOODLINE RISING offers plenty of action and adventure in the exotic realms of the 7th century. Cai is believable, likeable, and occasionally ruthless as he pursues his place in the world.

Tantalizing news!

We recently received ARCs of the graphic novel, TANTALIZE: KIEREN'S STORY, by Cynthia Leitich Smith, illustrated by Ming Doyle, cover by Sam Weber. Available in August 2011, it tells the story of TANTALIZE from Kieren's POV, with new scenes and more intrigue...