Young Adult Scavenger Hunt Kickoff Announcement & March Events

Dear Alison,

Last weekend, we had a lot of fun, didn't we? Friday night we entertained loads of children (adults too) at the Night of 1000 Reading Stars. You were a gazelle, I was an ox, and we read XO, OX: A Love Story by Adam Rex and Illustrated by Scott Campbell. I mean it's kind of our story...Two characters writing love letters to each other--could there be a book any more perfect? 

 

Saturday, we were faculty at the Think Like a Writer event sponsored by the Northeast Pennsylvania Reading Association and the Panuska College, University of Scranton. We sat on our first panel together and shared our own connections to story. Mine began with the chickenpox. Yours began with a child's desire to find a safe place--that safe place was the library where you could visit far off lands. 

After our panel, we broke away from each other to present our own workshops. Lindsay Barrett George and you discussed ways to bring picture book formats into the classroom and excite children. 

Linda Oatman High and I shared our techniques for developing interesting and intriguing characters from picture books to young adult novels. I broke down character development into an interview process--I'll share my interview techniques in a later post. Suffice it to say, I interviewed Linda and we got into character! Just take a look...

A mermaid bumps into a pirate and finds 3 more characters. Her best mermaid friend already disappeared for her next appearance.

Sadly, you left to attend our next event. You presented a Query Letter session for Harold Underdown's and Tracey Baptiste's Crash Course on Publishing at the Highlights Foundation. The audience loved listening to "Someone Who Knows." I was the teaching assistant for the remainder of the weekend. I started with Harold and Tracey, and ended with Kekla Magoon, Vicki Calkhoven, and Nicole Valentine at the Writing Off the Page Workshop. After Kekla's hands-on activities Monday morning, I gave my character development workshop and presentation a facelift... Let's just say there are more costumes, more markers, more paper, more movement...MORE CHARACTER! I can't wait to try out my enhanced Character Workshop on students, teachers, librarians, EVERYONE!! 

Speaking of character, I should break some news to our readers. Alison and I have decided not to officially participate in the #AtoZchallenge. April is shaping up to be a busy month--cover reveals, book release news, writer workshops and school visits, the EPA SCBWI Pocono Retreat, as well as, the New Adult Scavenger Hunt at the end of the month, and the Young Adult Scavenger Hunt next week. We can't do it all though we certainly try to but don't worry, we will keep you entertained! As for the Young Adult Scavenger Hunt (#YASHROCKS), I'm on #TeamPink and I'm offering a $10 Amazon Gift Card and a signed copy of Starr Fall to the winner of the giveaway.  I'm hosted by Kathryn Holmes, and she'll be sharing an excerpt from Starr Lost. I'll be hosting Eric Lindstrom, the author of A Tragic Kind of Wonderful. He's offering bonus content--so, don't miss it! Mark your calendars...Actually, add the event on your phone so you don't miss the 12 pm Pacific Standard kick off time on April 4th.

Now for the official announcement...

Announcing Spring 2017 YASH Teams! 

For all of you who love finding new reads, I have just the thing for you. The YA Scavenger Hunt is coming. If you’ve never heard of it, the hunt runs twice a year in the spring and in the fall. During the hunt we showcase new and upcoming YA releases, give out tons of prizes, and release special bonus material. Sound interesting?

This spring we will have one hundred authors split into five teams of twenty. Each team is assigned a color. The blog hop begins April 4th and runs through Sunday, April 9th. It’s easy to play. All you have to do is either start on Colleen Houck or head directly over to the YASH website. There you’ll find a list of all the authors participating as well as an answer sheet you can print off to gather the info you’re hunting for and to keep track of any bonus contests you may have entered.

Are you ready to see all the books featured this season? Here they are!

Which teams are you most excited about? I'm all about #TeamPink, obviously. Are you #TeamBlue? #TeamPurple? #TeamGold? #TeamRed? Let us know in the comments.

 Kick off is April 4, 12 pm Pacific Standard Time. Be there or be square. Actually, be there or miss out on some great books and other swag!!

Sharing the writing love one letter at a time,

#TeamPink Kim