Congratulations to YALITCHAT.org RITA Award nominees for 2012! We have quite a few members who are up for the Romance Writers of America award and we're keeping our fingers crossed for them when the winners are announced at the RWA Annual Conference on July 25 - 28.

RITA Award Nominees

Angel Academy by Cecily White 

The Suspicions of Cairo Jones by Mary Danielson

Hourglass by Myra McEntire 

Georgia McBride (as publisher and executive editor of Month9Books), has joined the panel of agents and editors! 

Consequently, she will no longer be critiquing and vetting the mailbox submissions. 

Beginning this month, submissions should first be posted for member feedback in Query Kick Around, First Pages, and Synopsis Repair, and then posted in sub mailbox by the third Sunday of each month. Submissions will then be vetted by a group of five YALITCHAT members (Katie Wright, PK Hrezo, Connie Ann Michael, Nicole Zoltack, and Helene Dunbar), and the selected submissions will be sent to the panel.

Writing World Events

In addition to our fabulous YALitChat events, April is full of awesome conferences and events in the writing world! A few highlights are listed below. For more details on these events and many others, please check out the Events Tab on YALitChat.org

Craft, Pitch, or Industry Workshops:
Las Vegas Writers' Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada
Missouri Writers' Guild Conference in St. Louis, Missouri
North Carolina Writers Network Conference in Greensboro, North Carolina
Romantic Times Convention in Chicago, Illinois
Write to Publish- Step into Genre in Portland, Oregon
Writers' Institute in Madison, Wisconsin

Festivals with literary events plus writing workshops:
Blue Metropolis Montreal International Literary Festival in Montreal, Quebec
Southern Kentucky Book Fest in Bowling Green, Kentucky

Other Literary Events:
Bethesda Literary Festival in Bethesda, Maryland
L.A. Times Festival of Books in Los Angeles, California
Teen Book Con in Houston, Texas
Texas Library Association Convention in Houston, Texas

We're scouring the Internet to find events that our members might be interested in, but the Internet's a big place! If you know of a conference, festival, or other literary event that is of interest to YA writers and isn't on our calendar, please email: membership@yalitchat.org attention Jessica Capelle. Check the Events Tab often to see if a great event is headed your way!

This March we've added one new panel member to the Submissions Mailbox Panel!

Welcome to Laurie McLean from Larsen Pomada. Laurie will be reading both March and April, and future submissions. At Larsen Pomada Literary Agents in San Francisco, Laurie represents adult genre fiction (romance, fantasy, science fiction, horror, nouveau westerns, mysteries, suspense, thrillers) as well as middle-grade and young-adult children's books. She looks for great writing, first and foremost, followed by memorable characters, a searing storyline and solid world building.

Laurie is also the dean of the new San Francisco Writers University at www.SFWritersU.com and on the management team of the San Francisco Writers Conference. In 2012 Laurie started two ePublishing companies: Joyride Books (for out of print vintage romance novels) and Ambush Books (for out of print tween and teen children's books).

Check out her blog, www.agentsavant.com, and the agency site, www.larsenpomada.com, for valuable publishing information and links, as well as her submission guidelines. Find her eBook publishing companies at www.joyridebooks.com and www.ambushbooks.com.

SUBMISSIONS: For the YA market Laurie says she is searching high and low for YA romance, steampunk, paranormal, science fiction, dark fantasy (no sweet fairy tales), dark reality (dealing with contemporary issues) and anything that hasn't been done to death already. YA is super hot right now and she loves the teen voice! Plus middle grade is getting as hot as YA, so she is looking for boy-based and/or group adventure stories, grounded girl stories, magical realism, dark thrillers, smart/high concept books, fantasy/paranormal and overall excellent writing.

Member Releases

SHATTERED SOULS author Mary Lindsey's untitled companion novel, following the dark and dangerous adventures of a new Protector as he embarks down the dark path of ghostly intervention and is paired with a wild new Speaker who just may be his undoing, again to Jill Santopolo at Philomel, by Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency (world).

Paul Sungenis writing as Pab Sungenis's SIDEKICK: The Misadventures of the New Scarlet Knight, in which a boy is drafted to take on a fallen hero's mantle and secret identity, but Scarlet Knight never had to deal with being a hero while in 11th grade, to Georgia McBride at Month9Books, in a two-book deal, for publication in March 2013 (World).

Lisa Basso's A SHIMMER OF ANGELS, a teen girl's attempt to stay out of the mental institution she's called home for the past three years, to Georgia McBride at Month9Books, in a three-book deal, for publication in November 2012 (World).

Dorothy Dreyer's debut MY SISTER'S REAPER, in which a seventeen-year-old somehow brings her sister back to life, and by doing so, inadvertently angers her sister's reaper, now intent on claiming both girls, to Georgia McBride of Month9Books, in a two-book deal, for publication in May 2013 (World).

Heather Reid's debut PRETTY DARK NOTHING, in which a seventeen-year-old tries desperately to stay awake, rather than be forced into a consuming, fatal darkness that only an amnesiac can save her from, to Georgia McBride of Month9Books, in a two-book deal, for publication in April 2013 (World).

Author of SPECTRAL, Shannon Duffy's GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITYOF VALTA, in which twelve-year-old Gabriel Stone, still reeling from the disappearance of his mother, discovers a magical crystal that unlocks a portal into a parallel world, and a secret that will change his life forever, by Lauren Hammond of ADA Management Group, to Georgia McBride at Month9Books, in a two-book deal for publication in January 2013.

Turkish language rights to Wayne Simmons's FLU, to Ilker Balkan at Altin Bilek Yayinlari, in a nice deal, by Gina Panettieri at Talcott Notch Literary Services.

Marianne Harden's MALICIOUS MISCHIEF, in which a woman must solve the mystery of a murder in order to clear her boss's name and save her ancestral home, all while juggling the attention of two handsome detectives and meeting the madcap demands of pie-eating senior citizens, to Liz Pelletier and Libby Murphy at Entangled, in a nice deal, in a two-book deal, for publication in May 2013, by Nicole Resciniti at The Seymour Agency (world English).

Georgia McBride and Michelle Zink, eds.'s TWO AND TWENTY DARK TALES: Dark Retellings of Mother Goose Rhymes, a charity anthology in which authors including: Nina Berry, Sarwat Chadda, Leah Cypess, Shannon Delany with Max Scialdone, Leigh Fallon, Angie Frazier, Jessie Harrell, Nancy Holder, Heidi R. Kling, Suzanne Lazear, Karen Mahoney, Lisa Mantchev, Georgia McBride, C. Lee McKenzie, Gretchen McNeil, Pamela van Hylckama Vlieg, K.M. Walton, Suzanne Young, Michelle Zink, and one previously unpublished writer, Sayantani Das Gupta, explore the dark, hidden meanings behind some of our most beloved Mother Goose rhymes through short-story retellings, with a foreword by Francisco X. Stork, to Georgia McBride of Month9Books, for publication in October 2012 (World).

Robert Lipsyte's untitled sequel to The Twinning Project, in which twins share a "road trip" between planets and risk everything to save their father from the alien scientists, to Dinah Stevenson at Clarion, by Jay Mandel at William Morris Endeavor.

Debut author Jess Verdi's ON THE PLUS SIDE, in which an aspiring theatre star finds out she's HIV-positive and learns how to deal with this abrupt change in the script, to Leah Hultenschmidt at Sourcebooks Fire, in a two-book deal, by Kate McKean at the Howard Morhaim Literary Agency (NA).

Laura Nowlin's IF HE HAD BEEN WITH ME, the romantic history of a teen girl and her childhood best friend leading up to his tragic car accident in which the passenger seat was occupied by another girl, to Leah Hultenschmidt at Sourcebooks, for publication Spring 2013, by Ali McDonald at The Rights Factory (World English).

Author of The DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) Kody Keplinger's GOLDFISH, about a teen dealing with the fallout from her failed suicide attempt and her romance with a boy with secrets of his own, again to Kate Sullivan at Poppy, for publication Fall 2013, by Joanna Volpe at Nancy Coffey Literary & Media Representation (World).

A.E. Rought's BROKEN, pitched as a modern spin on Mary Shelley's FRANKENSTEIN, where a young couple's undying love and the grief of a father pushed beyond sanity could spell the destruction of them all, to Amanda Rutter at Strange Chemistry, in a nice deal, In a two-book deal, for publication in January 2013, by Gina Panettieri at Talcott Notch Literary Services (World).

Kimberly Ann Miller's TRIANGLES, in which a seventeen-year-old girl on a cruise through the Bermuda Triangle wakes up in an alternate reality, or maybe she's just going insane, to Kate Kaynak at Spencer Hill Press, in a nice deal, for publication in June 2013 (World).

Nancy Holzner's HELLHOUND, in the Deadtown urban fantasy series, featuring Boston's only shape-shifting professional demon slayer, once again to Kat Sherbo at Ace, in a nice deal, by Gina Panettieri at Talcott Notch Literary Services (World English).

Cracked writer and contributor to the NYT bestselling YOU MIGHT BE A ZOMBIE AND OTHER BAD NEWS, Jacopo delle Quercia's debut THE GREAT ABRAHAM LINCOLN POCKET WATCH CONSPIRACY, which follows a globetrotting President William Howard Taft and Robert Todd Lincoln on an adventure to unravel a mystery stretching back to the American Civil War and the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, based on real life conspiracies and secret societies, to Michael Homler at St. Martin's, by Sara Crowe at Harvey Klinger (world).

Kristin Bailey's CLOCKWORK ACADEMY, the sequel to the forthcoming Clockwork Key, the author's first book in the Secret Order of Modern Amusmentists series, clockpunk romantic adventures set in Victorian England, to Anica Rissi at Simon Pulse, in a two-book deal, by Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency (World English). Translation: Taryn Fagerness Agency

MFA graduate Cori McCarthy's THE COLOR OF RAIN, about a girl who, desperate to get medical help for her dying brother on a distant planet, makes a dangerous trade with a space captain, only to find herself aboard a ship where girls are commodities and the vulnerable are trafficked into slavery, to Lisa Cheng at Running Press, for publication in Spring 2013, by Sarah Davies at the Greenhouse Literary Agency. UK: Julia Churchill at the Greenhouse Literary Agency

SHATTERED SOULS author Mary Lindsey's untitled companion novel, following the dark and dangerous adventures of a new Protector as he embarks down the dark path of ghostly intervention and is paired with a wild new Speaker who just may be his undoing, again to Jill Santopolo at Philomel, by Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency (world).

VCFA grad Rachel Wilson's debut DON'T TOUCH, about a girl who is afraid to touch another person's skin, until the boy playing Hamlet opposite her Ophelia gives her a reason to overcome her fears, to Rosemary Brosnan and Andrea Martin at Harper Children's, at auction, by Sara Crowe at Harvey Klinger (world English).

International plot consultant Martha Alderson's THE PLOT WHISPERER WORKBOOK, a companion to her THE PLOT WHISPERER, with exercises and tools including her innovative Plot Planner, Scene Tracker and Thematic Bubble Chart with which authors create a detailed plot for their novels, memoirs and screenplays, to Peter Archer at Adams Media, for publication in Fall 2012, by Jill Corcoran at The Herman Agency (World).

Maggie Stiefvater's THE RAVEN BOYS, about a rich boy at an academy, the three boys who are strangely tied to him, and the daughter of a psychic, who has been told that if she ever kisses her true love he will die, as they get caught up in a quest to find a vanished Welsh king that legend says will grant a wish to the first person to find him, to Rebecca Bullene at Scholastic Audio, in a pre-empt, for publication in Fall 2012, by Laura Rennert at Andrea Brown Literary Agency.

Turkish rights to J.A. Souders's RENEGADE, to Pegasus, by ONK Agency, on behalf of Taryn Fagerness Agency and Natalie Fischer Lakosil of Bradford Literary Agency.

Leila Rasheed's CINDERS & SAPPHIRES, set initially in 1910 England, the series beings when a prominent family returns to their ancestral estate amid a scandal; the household staff must prepare for a sudden wedding that will unite two of the most powerful families in England, to Emily Meehan at Disney, in a three-book deal, for publication in January 2013, by Sarah Davies at Greenhouse Literary Agency

Cassandra Clare's new fantasy series THE DARK ARTIFICES, her third Shadowhunters series, set in Los Angeles, continuing her tales of Shadowhunters, as Emma Carstairs and partner Julian Blackthorn must band together to investigate a demonic plot that stretches from the warlock-run nightclubs of the Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea that pounds the beaches of Santa Monica, again to Karen Wojtyla at Margaret K. McElderry Books, in a major deal, "worth in the high seven figures" according to the AP, for publication beginning in 2015, by Russell Galen at Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary Agency (NA).

Gina Lamm's GEEK GIRLS DON'T WEAR PETTICOATS, following a geek girl from current day North Carolina to Regency London where she discovers, while endeavoring to learn the very proper ways of the regal past, true love, to Leah Hultenschmidt at Sourcebooks, in a nice deal, in a two-book deal, for publication spring 2013, by Frances Black and Jennifer Mishler of Literary Counsel.

Miranda Kenneally's debut CATCHING JORDAN, about a young woman who is captain and quarterback of her high school football team when a talented and very good looking rival quarterback comes to town, to Nick Wechsler, recently the producer of THE ROAD and THE HOST, by Steve Fisher of APA Talent & Literary Agency on behalf of Sara Megibow at Nelson Literary Agency and Leah Hultenschmidt of Sourcebooks Fire.

Polish rights to Maggie Stiefvater's THE RAVEN BOYS series (vol. 1-4), to Wilga, in a nice deal, by Agata Zabowska at ANAW Literary Agency on behalf on Scholastic.

Polish rights to Elana Johnson's SURRENDER and ABANDON, to Replika, in a nice deal, by Agata Zabowska at ANAW Literary Agency on behalf of Regal Literary.

Leah Miller's humorous debut THE SUMMER I BECAME A NERD, in which a cheerleader with a secret comic book obsession is whisked into a world of comic conventions, live-action role playing, and first-person-shooter video games when the adorkable boy behind the comic book store counter uncovers her secret, to Heather Howland at Entangled Teen, for publication in Summer 2013 (World).

Book Releases - Now Available

NIGHT SKY by Jolene Perry
Publisher: Tribute Books
After losing Sarah, the friend he's loved, to some other guy, Jameson meets Sky. Her Native American roots, fluid movements, and need for brutal honesty become addictive fast. This is good. Jameson needs distraction - his dad leaves for another woman, his mom's walking around like a zombie, and Sarah's new boyfriend can't keep his hands off of her.
As he spends time with Sky and learns about her village, her totems, and her friends with drums - she's way more than distraction. Jameson's falling for her fast.

But Sky's need for honesty somehow doesn't extend to her life story - and Jameson just may need more than his new girl to keep him distracted from the disaster of his senior year.

FORGOTTEN (Fade Series #3) by Kailin Gow
The truth about Celestra Caine comes back in the most shocking way. Everyone knew Celestra Caine was dangerous, but they didn't know she was THAT dangerous... As Celestra's memories begin returning to her after being faded, and her identity is revealed, she learns the fate of the world really is in her hands, and that she, the mysterious and sexy fader Jack, and her handsome ex-boyfriend Gray are more connected to each other than she ever imagined.

In this dystopian ya thriller, where nothing is what it seems, sometimes love can be strong enough to withstand time and space and never be forgotten.

April Releases
4/03--GRAVE MERCY by R.L. LaFevers

4/09--SPRING FROST (Frost Series #7) by Kailin Gow

4/10---CHOSEN ONES by Tiffany Truitt  4/16--SAVING YOU SAVING ME by Kailin Gow

Deal news reported by Publishers Weekly. Visit www.publishersweekly.com.

Are you making the most of your YALITCHAT.org membership? Whether you're looking to join the conversation or see what other people are talking about there are many active groups on the site providing great resources for the craft of writing and publishing. 

This month, we're spotlighting eBooks and Self Publishing where you can check in with others who produce their own eBooks or self-publish.

We've highlighted a few discussions below, but join in and we're sure you'll find something to talk about!

How to get your books in stores by KL Brady

How to Sell to Libraries

45 Blogs that post Indie Reviews

POD books from a publisher POV

Marketing that works by JA Korath 

Calling all teens, LitPick needs your opinion! 

LitPick, (formerly Flamingnet Teen Book Reviews), is an exciting book review community. If you are a student in grades four through college, you could review books for LitPick. Join the hundreds of LitPick student reviewers by completing an application at the website, www.LitPick.com.

Be one of the first people to read and comment on the stories before the books hit the shelves. Membership to LitPick is free; however, there is a small administrative fee for new student reviewers to help with costs associated with processing review books.

If you are an author or publisher of a soon-to-be released young adult book or one that was published within the last year, LitPick invites you to submit your recent title to be reviewed for free. As the trend in reading eBooks grows, LitPick is accepting eBooks in pdf format for review, but LitPick will accept print books too.

Visit the prelaunch website at www.LitPick.com, and enter your email address for a chance to win a free Kindle or visit after the launch in April to become part of this exciting new site that will make young adult literature a more social experience. Feel free to contact the staff at team@litpick.com with any questions or comments. Join the fun, and put your opinion or book out there for the world to read!

To win one first place award in any contest is a significant accomplishment. To win two first place awards sends a clear message: FAMILIAR ORIGINS is a great book!

The first installment in the DRACA WARDS SAGA by B. Pine, FAMILIAR ORIGINS won first place in the Science Fiction & Fantasy and Newbie Fiction categories of the Royal Dragonfly Book Awards. The coming-of-age tale follows five children growing up under the ominous scrutiny of a group of mythical dragons. With magic, shape shifting, dragons, warriors, epic battles, the book has a little bit of everything set in a world of unforgettable characters.

To celebrate her Royal Dragonfly Book Awards, Pine will give away five print copies of her book, signed and with the Royal Dragonfly Award seal on the cover. 

She is also offering two copies to YA or fantasy book review bloggers. The giveaway kicks off on April 1st on Pine's Writing Fantasy blog. 

You can subscribe or follow @B_Pine for details and updates.

FAMILIAR ORIGINS is available at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble, or ordered through local bookstores. It is also available as a digital book through Kindle, Nook, and iPad.  

April 4 - International Chat - 3pm EST. Please note the time change. No evening chat. The international YA book market. Lessons from Bologna.

April 11 - Creativity: How to Nurture Yours.

April 18 - Going from Unpubbed to Pubbed: What to Expect

April 25 - Open Chat: No host/guests  

EDUCATION GRANT

Available for Teachers and Librarians who are members of YALITCHAT.ORG. Educators join YALITCHAT.ORG's Tier 2 membership for $25/annually though it is NOT necessary to do so in order to qualify for the EDUCATION GRANT. 

Apply for a grant for use on classroom supplies, technology purchase, author visit, etc. Grants available in amounts of $50.00 per member. Five available per membership year. NB: Educators (regardless of membership level) qualify for FREE classroom supplies at beginning of each semester. Join our EDUCATORS group for more info. 

HARDSHIP GRANT*

Want to expand your horizons and connect with others in the industry but just don't have the funds? YALITCHAT offers TWO types of Hardship Grants and is available to individuals who desire to join YALITCHAT, SCBWI, RWA, RWAYA and other related organizations but need help doing so. 

YALITCHAT Membership Grant 

Covers the cost of a full year's membership in YALITCHAT.ORG or $30.00 per grantee.
There are 5 grants available for the 2011-2011 Membership year (July-July).
BALANCE AVAILABLE FOR 2011-2012 MEMBERSHIP YEAR: $150 (5 GRANTS).

YALITCHAT.ORG OTO Hardship Grant*

Covers the cost to JOIN any Other Trade Organization in disbursements of $25 per grantee.

There are 4 available for the 2011-2012 membership year (July-July). You MUST be a Tier II member of YALITCHAT.ORG in order to qualify for this grant. 

BALANCE AVAILABLE FOR 2011-2012 MEMBERSHIP YEAR: $100 (4 GRANTS).

MARKETING SUPPORT GRANT*

 Are you a newly published author in need of marketing support materials for a new release? How about an author about to head on tour in need of giveaways and promo items? Do you need to purchase more ARCs from your publisher to get exposure for your book? Need money to get that new website off the ground? We can help.

As of January 2012 we have given away $600 in grants towards supporting published members in promoting their books! 

The 2012/2013 grant season opens in July. There will be five grants available or $100 per person/grantee. Grants are available to Tier II members only.

BALANCE AVAILABLE FOR 2011-2012 MEMBERSHIP YEAR: $0 

QUICK LEARNING GRANT*

Up to $50 toward any learning initiative such as a webinar, online course, conference, etc. You must be already registered for said initiative and have already paid in full. Must be writing or publishing industry related.
$250.00 USD year available total and $50 per grantee.
BALANCE AVAILABLE FOR 2011-2012 MEMBERSHIP YEAR: $200 (4 GRANTS).

Want to learn more about grants or need an application? Please send an email to grants at yalitchat (dot) org.

*Available to Tier 2 Members ONLY!