Dear Kalina Kay: March Release Dates

Thank you for all who participated in the "Dear Kalina Kay" contest. There were lots of great questions posted and emailed to me. Using random.org I selected a winner and it is:

Susana Whitfield

You have one week to email me your mailing address to receive your $15 gift card. If I haven't heard from you in one week, I will select a new winner. Thanks again for all those who participated, your questions are saved and being researched as we speak!

Without further ado, here is the question of the week:

Dear Kalina Kay,
What YA paranormal novels are coming out in March?
Thanks,
Susana Whitfield

Dear Susana,

I LOVE this question because it's something we all want to know. What is hot RIGHT NOW?

While I could make a list of new releases in March, I think it would be more helpful to post some sites that have new releases constantly updated. That way, you can keep current for the rest of the year!

Here are the sites that I found most helpful:

Teen Reads: Coming Soon

Good Reads: Waiting to be Released (Paranormal and Fantasy Lovers)

Good Reads: YA Novels of 2011

Amazon: Epic List of Upcoming Books

YA Reads: March 2011 New Releases (This one is for you, Susana!)

YA Lit: Upcoming

Personally, I am looking forward to three specific books that come out this month.

The First is:

Because I have a teensy soft spot for murder mysteries. :)

The second is:

Because the summaries I've read on this book are pretty vague which leaves me super intrigued.

Plus, the cover is absolutely gorgeous!

And, the third book is:

Because the premise of the book is really twisted and totally creative.

I can't wait to see what happens!

Definitely keep your eyes out for a review from me on these books.

Are there any books you guys are looking forward to that are being released soon?

Until next time-

xoxo,

Kalina Kay

The Sweet Innocence and Imagination of a Child

I once heard that J. M. Barrie got the idea for Peter Pan by watching children play. Their imagination far exceeded his own and so he took their creative adventures and crafted a masterpiece from the minds of the young.


Perhaps I write fantasy because I have spent my life caring for, nannying, playing with children, and now raising two of my own. Although I have no tales as distinctly wonderful as the great J. M. Barrie's, I can only hope to capture some of the creativity a child, so effortlessly, has.

I'm going to share a little bit of my personal life with you, I hope you don't mind. :)

Before I started school, my family was living in a large house in Iowa. I remember that it had a gigantic basement and it was for the soul purpose of my brother and sisters to play in. Jealousy consumed me because my siblings could write and I could not. Pulling out a piece of paper and pencil, I sat down and tried to write a "magical potion" with letters and words that only I would understand. Who cares if I didn't know their way to read and write? A few hours later, I went back to my paper and became so upset that I couldn't remember what I had wrote! It crushed me that I couldn't read or write! Quite some time down the road, my family was sitting in a restaurant that had paper place mats that we use to turn over and write on the back. It was there that I wrote my very first word: Kalina. I was so proud! (Is it normal that I remember all this?)

By the second grade we lived in Illinois and I was fully literate. What a blessing education is! However, I was behind on my reading and was pulled out of class to practice reading with a teacher one-on-one. It was then that I began finding the joy in books.

When I was in fourth grade I lived in California. My friends and I sat down during countless recesses and wrote a play to perform to the Kindergarten class. Much to my teacher's dismay (this had nothing to do with her lesson plan!) the Kindergarten teacher accepted our offer to perform to her students during school. So we did. Our play was much like the tale of Cinderella and I remember acting out a cruel part. Perhaps I was an evil step-sister or the step-mother. The part that was most memorable to me was the writing of the script.

By the sixth grade my family was living in Missouri. My English teacher gave us a creative writing assignment and I decided to write a screenplay of my very own. It was about a teenager who was babysitting and took the child to the park one day. While she was there, she started talking to her friends and the child was kidnapped! She called the parents and cried to the police about how sorry she was. The kidnapper asked for ransom and in the end the child was returned safely and the babysitter was forgiven. What an imagination I had at such an early age!

In Eighth grade my family was now living in Arizona. I was very involved in the youth group at my church. For one of our activities, we had to perform something for our parents. What a coincidence! It just so happened that I had written a play a few years ago that we could act out. With just a little bit of script tweaking, we performed it in front of a large audience and we received rave reviews.

I never thought that I would be a writer. It's not what I wanted to be when I grew up. Instead my head was filled with visions of becoming an actress, a teacher, a professional shopper, or perhaps a CIA Agent. My imagination was so far ahead of me there was no way I could keep up. Looking back, there is no surprise to me that I became a writer. I had become one the first day I tried to write that "magical potion" with words that only I could understand.

The imagination and innocence of a child is something no one can duplicate but I believe if I can even get a little tiny piece of that creativity written down, I may have a chance at writing something magical.

Do you believe children can inspire your writing? I'm curious, how many writing moms are out there? Or if you aren't a parent and weren't around a lot of children growing up, what inspired you to write? Was it a surprise that you became a writer or was it what you always wanted to be?
 
xoxo,
Kalina Kay

Introducing Capitol City Young Writers

There is a really awesome organization for young writers that I have been a part of for a little over a year, and I just wanted to take a moment and introduce it to you. There are SO MANY opportunities that they have for young writers. It is free to sign up and is nationwide.

Here is a blurb from their website:

Education and Inspiration for Aspiring Young Writers

Capitol City Young Writers (CCYW) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the education and inspiration of young writers. CCYW’s goal is to educate members on the art and craft of writing and to provide opportunities for young writers to pursue their writing and literary dreams.

CCYW provides career exploration, writing workshops, scholarships, internships and leadership opportunities. Members discover the skills necessary to enter literary related careers such as editing, journalism or broadcast radio. From fiction and non-fiction, to poetry, screenwriting, songwriting and broadcast radio, students are supported through workshops bringing professionals and mentors together in local communities through online tutorials, annual conferences, a youth run literary journal, writing and audio competitions, and mentoring.

I also want to point out that right now, they are accepting calls for submission for their youth run literary journal.

Here is all the info you will need:
UNDISCOVERED: EXPLORATIONS OF MY WORLD

Capitol City Young Writers is now accepting submissions for the first annual Capitol City Young Writers Literary Journal. The Journal’s youth editorial team will review select and publish pieces of fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry, journalism, book review, and songwriting. As with all of its programs, CCYW hopes the Journal will inspire teens to explore their writing as well as the multitude of opportunities in the publishing world.

Theme:
CCYW is looking for undiscovered writers writing about the undiscovered. Are you eager to explore the unknown, push your own personal boundaries, reveal hidden dreams or imagine yourself differently? Then tell us about it! We want to hear your story and you have a variety of ways to express yourself. See below for the different genres and what the editors are specifically looking for.

Fiction:
We want you to be creative! Your complete pieces or excerpts of longer works may be up to 5000 words in length and should include the title on the top of each page. Flash fiction is also welcome, which can be as short as a paragraph. Each author may submit up to 3 pieces to the fiction section of the journal.

Creative Non-Fiction:
Writers are encouraged to submit memoirs, biographies, travelogues, essays, or any other non-fiction piece. Please limit each creative non-fiction submission to 1,500 words or four-and-a-half double spaced pages.

Poetry:
We are looking for poems that display originality, personal voice, and adherence to theme. Send us your best work. You may submit up to 3 poems, totaling no more than 5 pages. Please keep your poems on separate pages (two poems cannot be on the same page) in 10 point minimum font. Please title each of your poems; if a poem is more than one page, include the title at the top of each page.

Journalism:
Writers can submit an article from the News, Feature, Sports, Editorial, or Opinion sections of a newspaper. Photojournalism submissions are encouraged as well. Articles should be between 300-1,500 words, fact checked and include the name and contact information for each source.

Book Review:
Reviews should be submitted in two parts: an original 100 (or less) word summary, and an opinionated review of the book that is between 500-1,000 words in length and includes an explanation of why the book is relevant to the journal’s theme. Realistic Fiction, Sci-fi/Fantasy, Mystery, Romance, Paranormal, Creative Nonfiction, Memoir, Poetry Collection and Short Story Collection are the genres from which a review may be submitted.

Songwriting:
Submitted songs will be scored by originality, musicality, flow, length and title. The subject matter, style and rhythm of the lyrics should be unique and not exceed 500 words.

Cover Art:
We are looking for cover art for the literary journal. Cover art can include any medium of art. We require high-quality photographs of the artwork since this is a submission for a book cover. Artwork can include photography, pottery, paintings, sculpture, sketching, etc., but must fit within the scope and theme of the journal. Artwork must have been created by a student who fits the submission guidelines. Cover art must be printed and mailed to the PO Box listed under submission guidelines.

Submission Guidelines:

Entries are to be emailed to submissions@capitolcityyoungwriters.org no later than March 15, 2011. (Cover art image must be printed and mailed to CCYW, PO Box 5379, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762)

Please include your name, age, grade, school name, home address, email address and phone number with each submission. Please include parent’s names also.

Original submissions only. Plagiarism will result in disqualification.

Multiple submissions are allowed. Maximum of three submissions per category.

Please send submission as a word document, 12 pt font, New Times Roman.

Judging Guidelines:
Submissions will be evaluated based upon originality, style and voice. Judges are looking for quality, polished work with minimal spelling and grammatical errors.

Eligibility:
Open to writers ages 10-18. We will accept submissions worldwide. English language only. Not open to work that has been accepted in a national publication.

Finalists:
Finalists will be notified via email and/or telephone. The finalist list will be posted to the website by June 1, 2011. Due to the number of submissions, only finalists will be notified. Finalists may be requested to edit their stories before final acceptance. Publication date of the journal is July 2011. Each finalist will receive a complimentary copy of the literary journal and retain copyright to their stories.

Disclaimer:
This publication is intended for a youth audience (pre-teen and teen) and submissions must be age appropriate. Submissions that might be considered offensive (language or content) will not be considered for publication.


Sooooo, I really hope some of you can participate in this! It's fairly new and Verna Dreisbach is a literary agent and the founder of CCYW, and her dedication to CCYW is awesome. She really cares about the youth and wants to help them achieve their goals.

For more info on Capitol City Young Writers, please check out their website HERE

xoxo,
Kalina Kay

Hip Tips and Tid Bits: The Writers' Conference

What induces more anxiety and fear than the dreaded synopsis? What has you sick to your stomach with nerves and keeps you awake at night with a reoccurring nightmare? What can possibly be worse than a query letter? That's right... you guessed it... going to a writers' conference and actually talking to a real, live agent!

Sounds fun, doesn't it?

There are tons of writers conferences every year and since this is the beginning of a new year I figured what a great resolution to FIND A CONFERENCE near you and face your fears!

For those of you who have never been to a conference, let me tell you a little about what you should expect. (This is solely based off my own personal experiences but I think most conferences run very similarly.)

1.) Get ready to learn! Writers' conferences have lots of classes (you normally get to pick and attend which ones appeal to you) on a plethora of subjects. Based on which conference you attend will make a difference on classes. For example, if you attend a romance writers conference, they may or may not have a class on police procedural. Some writers conferences cover everything: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, screenwriting, etc.

2.) Teachers include agents, authors, and editors. Intimate settings allow for more one on one time. Class sizes are small and therefore you get more time with the instructor. Many classes help you make your query letter better, learn how to pitch, perfecting your synopsis, or making your first pages stand out. These classes are great for a writer who has a finished project and wants to take the next step.
3.) Networking Galore! If you yearn for a writing partner that shares the same love of imaginary characters and make-believe worlds, this is a perfect place to find them. If you attend a conference, make sure to make some business cards with your name, email, phone number, blog or website, and maybe even a picture. Hand them out when you mingle. This is a great way not just to make friends but also connections in the writing world.

4.) Pitching to Agents isn't as bad as you'd think. After all, they are people, too. (Even though they are sometimes seen as scary, rejecting, coffee-drinking, desk-hovering, mean and vile people- don't let that deter you!) If you have a finished project that just can't get past the slush-pile, pitching to an agent is the best way to get your foot through the door. You only get several minutes to pitch your idea so you have to make it great! There are lots of blogs and agent advice on how to make your pitchs worthwhile.

5.) Feedback is key. A lot of times, there will be classes that you can submit some of your own work that will be critiqued from people who know what they are talking about. This is priceless!

If you have ever considered going to a writers' conference but never actually made it, let me be the one to push you. In my opinion, it is the best thing you can do for your writing career. The first time I went to one, I was so overly-prepared and utterly scared. The drive there was vomit-inducing and the check in made me want to pass out all in anticipation of what was to come. If you aren't ready to pitch to an agent or editor, I think the whole thing would be a lot less stressful. It's actually funny because you stress about pitching and then in five minutes your interview is over and you think, 'Wow... that wasn't bad at all!'.
And when it's all said and done, it is just an overall great experience.

For those of you who have attended a conference, do you have similar stories? Were you as nervous as I was? Any conferences you'd like to recommend?

The Writers Toolbox: What Would Your Character Do?

For all our writers out there in the blogging universe, The Writers Toolbox is a monthly feature that spotlights awesome writing tools and resources to help you become a better writer!

This month, I chose one of my favorites: What Would Your Character Do? By Eric Maisel, PH. D.

Why is this book so awesome? Because not only does it give you 250 pages of 30 interactive quizzes to help you get to know your characters, but it ALSO helps you make fantastic three-dimensional characters. It draws out the psychological reasons why your characters do what they do as well as help you form traits and characteristics that make your characters seem like your best friend, (or worst enemy).

Easy to read chapters, lots of bullet points, and divided sections, make it possible for you to pick and choose which questions may pertain to your character and it even gives you some multiple choice answers in case you get stuck!

Here is a little teaser of questions they ask:
*Your character has a particularly vivid dream. How does she react to it?
*Your character is being stalked. What hidden aspects of your character's personality does this bring to the surface?
*Your character must give a speech before a large audience. What sort of public speaker is she?

Then, they break the question down into sections to help you better identify what your character would do. For example, let's say you picked this question: "Your character is invited to an elegant party. Is she excited? Nervous? What does she do to prepare for the event?"
Now, it breaks it down to smaller questions:
Will your character drink? What if she gets tipsy? Does she get in an argument with someone she doesn't like? Does she flirt? Is she a wallflower?
You get the picture...

After each question the book gives you several helpful things to consider to make realistic choices. It's a great book for any writer who wants to gain a better understanding of their characters, help beat writers block, or even think of new ideas!

Hope this helps someone as much as its helped me!
xoxo,

Kalina Kay

MATCHED Review

Matched by Ally Condie

Publisher: Dutton Books

Hardcover: 384 Pages

Reading Level: Young Adult

Summary :

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

Taken from the publisher's website:

http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780525423645,00.html

Review:

There is so much I want to tell you about this book but I don't want to ruin anything! The moment I put the book down (which was approx. 4am) I smiled, I sighed, and I wanted to pick up the phone and call my sister, and then my best friend, and then my other sister. But... since it was 4am, I had to wait until morning.

If anyone has ever read any of Ally Condie's previous books, you will know that she has a brilliant way of getting inside a teenager's head, (no easy task!). She pulls you into the book with the most incredible and beautiful descriptions. Her voice is poetic and she conquers words in a way that makes each sentence mean so much more than the simplicity of what is being said. There is no doubt this girl can write! I literally wanted to savor every page but at the same time, you want to know what happens so you want to read it fast. It's definitely a book to read again and again, one of those stories where you will notice something new each time you experience it.

The story itself was great because it was unique. MATCHED has been compared to 1984 and BRAVE NEW WORLD because they all take place within a dystopian society. The world Ms. Condie has created is so intricate and detailed that you can't help but read it and think, 'Where did she come up with this!?'. Its like falling in love for the first time but with a new spin on life and the choices you get to make. The content is totally appropriate for a younger audience but compelling enough for an older audience. There is a love-triangle but it is very different from any other triangle I've read about (and I've read a lot of them!).There isn't much blow-things-up-kick-butt action in this book, but the turmoil Cassia (the main character) is constantly suffering is more than enough to set a fast pace and make the reader crave more of her world. The ending is conveniently set up for her second novel in the trilogy which will be called CROSSED and will be released in Fall of 2011!

Ally Condie's creativity far exceeds many books that I've read making MATCHED  one of my favorite books. I want to go re-read it now.

Seriously, whatever it is you are reading, put it down and go get MATCHED. Right now.

Cover: 5/5

Plot: 5/5

Characters: 5/5

Writing: 6/5 (Can I do that? Well, I just did! It's that good!)

Ending: 5/5

My overall rating:

Have your read this book already? I'd love to hear your opinions on it. Do you agree or disagree with my review? Let's talk about it!

xoxo,

Kalina Kay

Hip Tips and Tid Bits: The Greatest Writing of All Time

There are a million and one discouraging factors when it comes to writing. There are rules and guidelines on everything, from plotting and characters to exclamation marks and antecedents. How can a writer ever get it all right? Let me try and be the one to encourage you:

One of my favorite writing quotes of all time is by Elmore Leonard, "I try to leave out the parts that people skip."
Another one is by Nathaniel Hawthorne, "Easy reading is damn hard writing."
Another still, "Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass." Anton Chekhov.

There are so many great quotes, books, sayings, and blogs out there on the subject of writing but when it comes down to it, it's just YOU and your book, (or short story, essay, memoir, etc.). Writing is a craft and a skill and anyone who writes probably knows that reading is the best form of learning how to perfect your craft.

Did you know:
*Dr. Seuss was rejected by 27 publishers before his first book was accepted.
*Harry Potter was rejected by dozens of publishers before its big debut.
*Madeleine L'Engle's A WRINKLE IN TIME was rejected by 26 publishers.
*Judy Bloom started out by seeing nothing but rejections for two years.
*GONE WITH THE WIND was rejected 38 times before it was published.

Some of the greatest writing in history was rejected over and over and over again. So here is my TidBit for tonight: If you are a writer, write without holding anything back. If you follow all the rules, you will be left with nothing original. Be great at being you because its your voice, your character, your personality and spirit that may be the next bestseller or perhaps, even, the greatest writing of all time.