- Once Was Lost is featured at Duke Divinity’s Faith & Leadership site. Every author should be so lucky to get a thoughtful review like this one. Reviewer Laura Good writes, “Steering clear of both Afterschool Special clichés and trumped-up grittiness, Zarr handles drunken episodes, infidelity and the question of God’s distance with a delicacy that rivals that of any novelist. Its beauty is in its true, full-bodied reflections on human life and relationships. As such it’s exactly the kind of fiction that should be purchased and promoted by the much-maligned and mothballed church library, read as a part of a devotional study in a church youth group or even discussed in an adult Sunday School class.”
- While I was away, the finalists for the ALA Morris Awards (YA debuts) were announced. I was proud to see that 2/5 of the list is made up of books I blurbed: Flash Burnout by LK Madigan, and Hold Still by Nina LaCour. Congrats to all the finalists—no matter who wins, you ALL GET A SHINY STICKER! And as we know, there is nothing in life more important than a shiny sticker.
- In fact, the other books I blurbed in 2009 have done well critically, too: The Chosen One (Carol Lynch Williams) and Marcelo in the Real World (Francisco X. Stork). And, coming soon is Jandy Nelson’s The Sky Is Everywhere, which I loved. Loved! Loved! It’s already getting such great buzz; I can’t wait for you to read it. In conclusion, either I have pretty good taste, or have drunk the same Kool-Aid as list-makers.
- I hope you are reading Andrew Smith’s blog, if you are a blog-reader and YA-y person. He is not playing the game, and for that I love him. (He is also a damn good writer.)
- Another writer (of both adult and YA fiction) to be watching—Matthew Quick. We met at NCTE (scroll down for pictures, including two in which Sarah Ockler and I appear to be twins conjoined at the shoulder) and I’ve since become a fan, and not just because he shares a last name with everyone’s favorite brooding YA boy. (Okay, my favorite brooding boy.) His YA debut, Sorta Like a Rock Star, comes out later this year.
- Are you interested in coming to the Salt Lake Valley this summer for a weeklong conference and workshop on writing for young readers? Taking a class with me? Meeting other crazy people like yourself? Hobnobbing with top agents and editors? If so, block off the week of June 14. More info to come, but this I promise* you: it’s gonna be bananas.
(*Not an actual guarantee that would hold up in a court of law.)
7 comments for this post
Oh wow, that *is* a wonderful review of Once Was Lost. Love the “mothballed” line. And thanks for all the book/author recommendations. And yay, I get to be at the Salt Lake Valley conference with you. :)
Sara Reply:
January 6th, 2010 at 5:12 pm
@Wendy Toliver, Yay!
Oh, that guarantee will SO hold up in a court of law. I’ll make it my business to see that the guarantee holds up in a court of law.
I keep waiting for a shiny sticker for the Utah Book Award. Oh, to have a shiny sticker!
What a nice smattering of things for you! And if that workshop is what I THINK it is, then I might be there! I’ve been wanting to go the last few years, but this year I’m planning to A: have the money and B: actually have a project worth bringing. :)
(BTW I’m fairly new to your blog, but I got “Sweethearts” and “Once Was Lost” for Christmas and already read “Sweethearts” which was just lovely. So, um, hi!)
Sara Reply:
January 7th, 2010 at 9:52 am
@Debbie, Hi! Hope to see you this summer!
Updates on workshop? I think I know which one you’re referring to, but the website seems to be having some issues. I was hoping I would be able to attend. When you get more info, please post!
Sara Reply:
January 19th, 2010 at 9:28 am
@Kate, Yes – it’s the Writing & Illustrating for Young Readers workshop. I’ll post when registration is open and all of that, promise!