Each year we celebrate our members' good fortunes - deals, signings, publishing and more. Here's the look back at the past twelve months of fantastic news from all of the talented members at YALITCHAT.ORG.

January 2012

Meredith Kaffel of the Charlotte Sheedy Literary Agency has joined the Submissions Mailbox Panel (formerly Agent Mailbox). She represents both children's and adult books, fiction and non-fiction, as well as various illustrators (including indie darlings Amy Martin and Lisa Hanawalt) who work across genres. On the adult side, Meredith seeks literary fiction, upmarket and smart/edgy women's fiction, narrative non-fiction (especially in the vein of popular science, food, aesthetics, music, popular business, love, feminism, architecture, film and place), history, cultural studies, pop culture/humor, and the occasional memoir. 

Her children's list ranges from quirky and especially illustrator-driven picture books to boy and girl middle grade to YA and edgier teen. Her children's list includes Nina Malkin (SWOON; SWEAR (Simon Pulse)), Lisa Ann Sandell (SONG OF THE SPARROW (Scholastic); A MAP OF THE KNOWN WORLD (Scholastic)) Anastasia Hopcus (SHADOW HILLS (Egmont)), Crickett Rumley (NEVER SIT DOWN IN A HOOPSKIRT (Egmont)), Cathleen Daly (FLIRT CLUB (Roaring Brook); PRUDENCE WANTS A PET (Roaring Brook)), Adam J.B. Lane (STOP THIEF! (Roaring Brook 2012), and more.

Meredith is a graduate of Yale University, where she received a B.A. in Renaissance Studies. She is a member of the AAR.

Twitter: @mere215
Further information: Writer's Digest: Agent Advice, Writer's Digest: Successful Queries: Meredith Kaffel and SHADOW HILLS,  Publisher's Weekly spotlight: FLIRT CLUB.

Rachel Harris's  YA Magical Realism/Romance, MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY, pitched as MTV's My Sweet Sixteen meets Ever After, about a teen who's reluctant in having her sweet sixteen broadcasted live from coast to coast in some extravagant bash and with a little gypsy magic winds up traveling back in time to Renaissance Italy to Stacy Cantor Abrams at Entangled in a two book deal by Lauren Hammond at ADA Management Group.

Lori M. Lee is now represented by Suzie Townsend of Nancy Coffey Literary & Media Representation.

Lea Nolan's first sale, THE HOODOO APPRENTICE in a three book deal to Entangled Publishing. This will be Entangled's first MG/YA crossover, with 18th century pirates, a wicked flesh eating curse, soul-snatching and Gullah Hoodoo magic.

Patty Blount in a two book deal with Sourcebooks Inc. The debut YA SEND comes out September 2012 with a second book following in 2013.

Michelle Schusterman's I HEART BAND, a new chapter-book series about a French-horn-playing girl and her middle-school friends as they experience all the fun and roller-coaster adventures, dramas and crushes of life as band geeks, to Sarah Fabiny and Jordan Hamessley at Grosset & Dunlap, in a four-book deal, for publication in Summer 2014, by Sarah Davies at the Greenhouse Literary Agency (World).

Hilary Smith's debut MIDNIGHT AT THE RADIO TEMPLE, about a teenage musician who uncovers a startling family secret that propels her into a summer of love, chaos, music, and madness, to Molly O'Neill at Katherine Tegen Books, in a good deal, in a pre-empt, in a two-book deal, by Laura Rennert at Andrea Brown Literary Agency (North America).

Turkish rights to Helen Douglas's EDEN, to Ozlar Tutem at Dogan Egmont, by Allison Hellegers at Rights People on behalf of Julia Churchill at Greenhouse Literary Agency.

Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner's WRECKED, pitched as Titanic in outer space, in which a wealthy teen socialite and a young war hero crash land on an uncharted planet after their flagship spaceliner goes down mid-voyage, forcing them to confront harsh conditions, otherworldly incidents, and their own mutual attraction, to Abby Ranger at Disney-Hyperion, in a significant deal, at auction, in a three-book deal, for publication in Summer 2013, by Josh Adams and Tracey Adams at Adams Literary ( World English).

Jamie Blair's debut LEAP OF FAITH, in which a 16-year-old girl flees home with her newborn sister, becoming a fugitive in order to escape an abusive parent and start a new life, to Alexandra Cooper at Simon & Schuster Children's, by Emmanuelle Morgen at Judith Ehrlich Literary Management (NA).

Kelly Hashway's TOUCH OF DEATH, about a teenage girl born under the thirteenth sign of the zodiac with a kiss that kills and a touch that can bring the dead back to life, pitched as Shatter Me meets The Walking Dead, to Kate Kaynak at Spencer Hill Press, in a nice deal, in a two-book deal, for publication in January 2013, by Lauren Hammond at ADA Management Group.

Lori Ann Duffy writing as Shannon Duffy's SPECTRAL, pitched as Witness meets The Secret Circle, about a teenage witch who doesn't know she's a witch and is in the witness protection, thinking she's on the run from the mob when actually she's on the run from much, much more, her existence, to Nicole Langan at Tribute Books, for publication in April 2012, by Lauren Hammond at ADA Management Group. 

February 2012

February saw three new members join the the Submissions Mailbox Panel (formerly Agent Mailbox)!

Welcome to Nicole Langan of Tribute Books. Nicole graduated from Marywood University and time spent as an associate editor for a local magazine before setting up a publishing company - in of all places - Archbald, Pennsylvania - where she was born and raised. She loves the behind-the-scenes process of creating your book cover, formulating an attractive layout for your pages, coordinating blog tours to announce your book launch - that's what gives her a thrill. 

Nicole says the best part of her job is "when you see your book for the first time on Amazon.com or when you read your first positive review. I love to see people realize a dream they thought to be impossible."

Tribute Books celebrates its 8th year in 2012 as an independent publisher for independent writers. It provides e-publication and book promotion for writers with an entrepreneurial spirit. Tribute Books is currently accepting young adult manuscripts for ebook publication in 2012. Submission requirements are available on their website.

Welcome to Heather Howland of Entangled Publishing. Award-winning young adult author Heather Howland began editing in the legal, industrial, and technical sectors eight years ago while working as a Production Manager. She has since honed her fiction editing skills as a freelancer and as the former acquisitions editor of a small romance publisher. Heather regularly hosts craft chats and teaches editing workshops for various organizations. She holds a BS in creative writing and psychology, which she channels into her love of dark, romantic fiction. Find her on Twitter at @HeatherHowland.

Heather loves all subgenres of YA, especially darker, twisting plots with a literary voice, and contemporary YA reminiscent of Stephanie Perkins and Jennifer Echols. In adult romance, she enjoys Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Lora Leigh-style contemporary, accessible sci-fi, quirky fantasy, and unique paranormal series that present fresh takes on familiar tropes such as best friends to lovers, love triangles, heroes falling for their best friend's forbidden little sister, and tight-knit groups (Navy SEAL teams, fire departments, roommates, brothers, etc.). While she'll look at anything with a fantastic voice, Heather generally avoids cozies, urban fantasy, historical, hard sci-fi, high fantasy, shifters, zombies, and Plain Jane heroines.

Finally, welcome Jill Corcoran of the Herman Agency. With an English degree from Stanford University and an MBA in Finance and Marketing from The University of Chicago, Jill has marketed everything from sneakers to cereal at Leo Burnett Advertising, LA Gear, Mattel, and at her own consulting company, LAUNCH! New Product Marketing. Jill is also a children's book author and poet.

Jill accepts e-mail queries only, no snail mail, for Chapter Books, Middle Grade and Young Adult books. Please email your query plus the first 10 pages of your manuscript to QueryJillCorcoran@gmail.com.

To see what Jill is currently looking for please see her blog here: http://www.jillcorcoran.blogspot.com/p/jills-publishers-marketplace-page-i.html

Congratulations to John Corey Whaley, the 2012 winner of Booklist's Michael L. Printz award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature for WHERE THINGS COME BACK. 

Congratulations to Maggie Stiefvater, whose book THE SCORPIO RACES was a 2012 Michael L. Printz Honor Book.

Catherine Stine will be co-teaching a writing workshop in June on the sunny island of Seriphos this summer. Find out more on her blog at: http://catherinestine.blogspot.com/2012/01/dreamy-writing-workshop-on-island-of.html

Stephanie Winkelhake is now represented by Marie Lamba of The Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency. 

Helene Dunbar is now represented by Melissa Jeglinski of The Knight Agency. Her novel, GHOST LIGHT, landed her the agent, but another of her novels, IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, will also be represented. Both works came through the First Pages group on YALITCHAT.ORG.

Darby Karchut's FINN FINNEGAN, (MG), in which a modern teenage boy apprentices with a legendary Celtic warrior to battle the hobgoblins infesting their suburban neighborhood, to Kate Kaynak at Spencer Hill Press, for publication in 2013.

Jolene Perry's KNEE DEEP, about a teenage girl who is torn in between two guys; the guy she's promised her life to, whose sudden random outbursts are starting to leave bruises mentally and physically; and the guy who she can be herself with, watch girlie movies with, and confide in, her best friend, again to Nicole Langan at Tribute Books, for publication in May 2012, by Lauren Hammond at ADA Management Group.

Jolene Perry's NIGHT SKY, featuring a teenage boy who feels like his whole world is crumbling around him when his father leaves his mother for another woman and his girlfriend leaves him for another guy; and he thinks he's found a distraction in a fling with a teenage Native American girl and soon realizes that she's anything but a distraction, to Nicole Langan at Tribute Books, for publication in March, 2012, by Lauren Hammond at ADA Management Group.

Marion Jensen's ALMOST SUPER, pitched as SAVVY meets THE INCREDIBLES, about two brothers in a family of superheroes who must team up with the girl they thought was their enemy to defeat the real super villains in town, despite having new powers that are total duds, to Andrew Harwell at Harper Children's, in a two-book deal, in a pre-empt, in a very nice deal, by Sara Crowe at Harvey Klinger (World English).

Congressman Luis Gutierrez's STILL DREAMING: My Puerto-Rican Journey from the Streets of Chicago to the Halls of Congress, covering his rise to become the nation's foremost Latino elected official and champion of immigrants, to Alane Mason at Norton, by Ayesha Pande at Ayesha Pande Literary.

Kristin Miller's VAMP APPEAL, the third book in the VAMPIRES OF CRIMSON BAY series, to Esi Sogah at Avon Impulse, by Nalini Akolekar at Spencerhill Associates.

Kerry Schafer's BETWEEN and WAKEWORLD, about a woman who must venture into that dangerous place between dreaming and waking where dreams are real, in order to fight a sorceress bent on altering reality, to Susan Allison at Ace, in Penguin's first acquisition from their Book Country site, in a nice deal, by Deidre Knight at The Knight Agency.

Printz Honor author A.S. King's REALITY BOY, in which an infamous reality TV child star, now a damaged teenage boy, meets a girl who forces him out of his angry shell before they run away and send their dysfunctional families a list of demands that must be met in order for them to come back, to Andrea Spooner at Little, Brown Children's, for publication in Fall 2013, by Michael Bourret at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management (World English).

Lauren Conrad's collaborator on the #1 NYT bestselling L.A. CANDY trilogy Nancy Ohlin's THORN ABBEY, pitched as a modern paranormal retelling of Daphne Du Maurier's REBECCA set at an exclusive boarding school, in which a shy new student falls in love with a mysterious boy whose dead, perfect ex-girlfriend may not be so dead (or perfect) after all, to Annette Pollert at Simon Pulse, in a two-book deal, by Lydia Wills and Nora Spiegel at Lydia Wills (world).

French rights to Erin Bow's PLAIN KATE, to Scholastic, by Celeste Fine at Folio Literary Management, on behalf of Emily van Beek, in association with the Michelle Lapautre Agency.

World French rights to Erin Bow's PLAIN KATE, to Alice Editions, by Celeste Fine at Folio Literary Management, on behalf of Emily van Beek, in association with the Michelle Lapautre Agency. 

March 2012

In March we added two new panel members to the Submissions Mailbox Panel (formerly Agent Mailbox)!

Welcome to Lisa Rutherford of Coliloquy. Lisa is Coliloquy's co-founder and CEO. She is delighted to be bringing her years of startup experience "home" to her roots in writing. Previously, Lisa founded Elodie Partners and served as the President of virtual economy pioneer, Twofish (acquired by Live Gamer), and as a venture capitalist with In-Q-Tel, Vista Ventures, and Palo Alto Venture Partners. She ran her own freelance writing and marketing agency and worked in M&A at Broadview. Outside of Coliloquy, Lisa serves as an advisor to BulletTime Ventures, Boulder Digital Works, and several startups, as well as a mentor for the TechStars program. She was named an AlwaysON Top 25 Women to Watch in Tech and is one of 65 women across technology, arts, media, and philanthropy chosen for the Institute for the Future's new Women Think Big consortium. Lisa has an MBA from Stanford University, an MA from the University of Chicago, and a BA from the Penn State University Scholars Program.

COLILOQUY is a digital publisher of active fiction, specializing in reader engagement and serial storytelling. We leverage advances in technology to create groundbreaking new forms of digital fiction.

ACQUISITION INTERESTS. We are looking for well-written, engrossing stories that would be better told in a non-traditional publishing format. We also read manuscripts simply looking for talented writers who could make something magical with our technology platform, so that we can develop a new series with them.

OTHER INTERESTS. Reading (of course)! Yoga. NYT Saturday crossword puzzles. Anything with fur. Sleep. Sunshine.

 Welcome to Curiosity Quills Press! While not strictly a YA publisher, Curiosity Quills welcomes YA titles. Their catalogue currently includes:

Damien Walters Grintalis' debut INK, in which a man gets far more than he bargained for when he visits an elusive tattoo artist, to Don D'Auria at Samhain, for publication in 2012, by Mark McVeigh at The McVeigh Agency (World English).

Virginia Zimmerman has signed with George Nicholson at Sterling Lord Literistic.

Cheryl Rainfield's STAINED, will be published by Harcourt in 2013, an edgy YA novel about Sarah, a teen with a port wine stain and body image issues, who is abducted and must find a way to rescue herself.  

Melissa Hill's GIFT FROM TIFFANY'S, in which two very different men shop for their girlfriends at Tiffany's on Christmas Eve - and find out what happens when fate decides to do things its own way, to Jennifer Weis at St. Martin's, by Lisa Bankoff at ICM on behalf of Sheila Crowley at Curtis Brown UK.

MY VERY UN-FAIRY TALE LIFE author Anna Staniszewski's DOGOSAURUS REX, about a boy who comes home from the pound with a most exceptional new dog, to Sally Doherty at Holt, by Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency (World). 

Beverly Stowe McClure's YA contemporary novel, LIFE ON HOLD, is scheduled for a March release. She has also signed a contract with MuseItUp Publishing for MG/Tween paranormal, A PIRATE, A BLOCKADE RUNNER, AND A CAT, due out January 2013.

Ruth Reid's HEAVEN SENT HUSBANDS series, in which angels intervene with the Amish in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, to Natalie Hanemann at Thomas Nelson, in a very nice deal, in a three-book deal, by Mary Sue Seymour at The Seymour Agency.

Lynne Matson has signed with Jennifer Unter for her novel, NIL. 

April 2012

This March we added one new panel member to the Submissions Mailbox Panel: Laurie McLean from Larsen Pomada. 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. 

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).

MAY 2012 

YALITCHAT.ORG awarded a $350 Conference-Palooza grant to member Lynn Dickson who used it to attend SCNWI this summer. Interested in our grants? See below or visit the website.

Pitch Slam 2 is coming! We've lined up agents Tamar Rydzinski of the Laura Dail Agency and Elana Roth of Red Tree Literary, and plan to add more in the coming weeks. Get those pitches ready for YALITCHAT's Pitch Slam 2, coming May 28, 2012.

Lisa Colicutt announced in the Submissions Mailbox group she has signed a publication deal with Erika Galpin of Noble YA, pursuant to Erika's request for her MS through the mailbox.

Indonesian rights to Kiera Cass's THE SELECTION, to Bentang Pustaka, in a two-book deal, by Thananchai Pandey of Tuttle-Mori in association with Kathleen Ortiz of Nancy Coffey Literary on behalf of Elana Roth at Red Tree Literary.

Alison Kent's THE KITCHEN AT SECOND AND CHANCES, a contemporary romance about a woman who returns to the small Texas town where she lived as a foster child to buy the old Victorian she called home and turn it into a cafe with the help of a carpenter who mentors ex-cons, to Lindsay Guzzardo at Montlake Romance, in a nice deal, in a three-book deal, by Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency.

 

Robyn Grady's THE GODDESS, the first in a series of contemporary romances set in exotic locations involving couples who are thrown together by circumstance then influenced by the mysteries surrounding a collection of rare artifacts, to Liz Pelletier at Entangled, in a three-book deal, by Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency.

 

Romily Bernard's debut FIND ME, launching a new series about hacker and crime-solver Wick Tate, pitched as a Lisbeth Salander for teens, who is sent a journal written by a dead friend, apparently asking for her help and putting her on the trail of a dangerous predator who's after her little sister, to Phoebe Yeh at Harper Children's, in a significant deal, in a pre-empt, for publication in Fall 2013, plus two sequels, by Sarah Davies at the Greenhouse Literary Agency (NA).

 

Lisa Schroeder's FROSTING AND FRIENDSHIP, a new companion novel to IT'S RAINING CUPCAKES and SPRINKLES AND SECRETS, again to Alyson Heller at Aladdin, for publication in fall 2013, by Sara Crowe at Harvey Klinger (world).

 

THE DAY BEFORE author Lisa Schroeder's FALLING FOR YOU, about a teen girl who relives her love for a dangerous boy and unravels the secrets that haunt her family, as she hovers between life and death, again to Annette Pollert at Simon Pulse, for publication in Spring 2013, by Sara Crowe at Harvey Klinger (world).

 

Lauren Dane's LAND'S END, about a lawman who patrols a dangerous landscape run rife with brigands and thieves and the woman who fights to break free of the sheltered life she leads after a deadly siege brings them together, for an upcoming untitled duology, to Leis Pederson at Berkley Heat, in a nice deal, by Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency.

 

Megan Hart's BY THE SEA OF SAND, about a soldier returned from battle with a forgotten past who discovers the woman tending his wounded body and mind is more familiar than she should be, for an upcoming untitled duology, to Leis Pederson at Berkley Heat, in a nice deal, by Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency.

JUNE 2012 

 

Sally Rigby's WILL THE REAL ABI SAUNDERS STAND UP, focusing on how an introverted seventeen-year-old kickboxing champion's life, after agreeing to be the stunt double for a wayward movie star, changes irrevocably, to Liz Pelletier at Entangled Teen, by Amy Tipton at Signature Literary Agency (world).

 

Myra McEntire's INFINITY GLASS, the third book in the Hourglass series of timeslip romances, about a group of teens with unique time-travel abilities, again to Regina Griffin at Egmont, for publication in Summer 2013, by Holly Root at Waxman Literary Agency (NA).

 

Gayle Krause, Kip Wilson, Jennifer Carson, J.R. Sparlin, Kristine Carlson Asselin, Ansha Kotyk, D.E. Atwood, and Magda Knight's TIMELESS, to Joyce Shor Johnson at Pugalicious Press, in a nice deal, for publication in June 2012 (US).

 

Sharon Jones's YA debut DEAD JEALOUS, set in the Lake District, featuring a 16-year old sleuth, to Rebecca Frazer at Orchard Books, in a two-book deal, for publication in Summer 2013, by Jenny Savill at Andrew Nurnberg Associates International.

 

Kristal Shaff's debut THE EMISSARY, in which a seventeen-year-old must defeat an ageless king and his powerful army in order to save their land from a cloud of darkness that threatens to destroy him, and those like him, who possess one of six deadly powers, to Courtney Koschel at Month9Books, in a two-book deal, for publication in December 2013 (World).

Author of TOUCH OF DEATH, Kelly Hashway's first title in her debut chapter book series, CURSE OF THE GRANVILLE FORTUNE, in which a nine-year-old and friends must face their greatest fears, a dark forest, and terrifying creatures in order to find clues to the missing Granville Fortune, which he has been accused of stealing, to Georgia McBride at Month9Books, in a nice deal, in a four-book deal, for publication in January 2014, by Lauren Hammond of ADA Management Group (World). 

 

Brenda Drake's debut LIBRARY JUMPERS, in which a sixteen-year-old finds that a simple flip of the page can transport her to the library of her choosing, thus thrusting her into a Mystik world hidden amongst the pages of library books, where evil abounds, secrets unfold, and mortals are running out of time, to Georgia McBride at Month9Books, in a nice deal, at auction, in a three-book deal, for publication in February 2014, by Lauren Hammond of ADA Management Group (World).

 

JULY 2012

 

Welcome to Katie Wright who has taken over as moderator of the Submissions Panel. Katie is a soon-to-be college graduate who enjoys a multitude of hobbies. When she isn't reading or writing, you can most likely find her sketching away in art book or outside playing sports.

 

Colleen Boyd's SWAMP ANGEL, in which a teenage boy is saved from death by a swamp angel, and their blossoming friendship teaches him the true meanings of courage and sacrifice, to Kate Kaynak at Spencer Hill Press, in a nice deal, for publication in December 2012, by Leticia Gomez at Savvy Literary Services(World). 

James Rolling, Jr.'s SWARM INTELLIGENCE: The Best Way to Shape Tomorrow's Creative Leaders, what caused the creativity crisis and what can be done about it, to Emily Carleton at Palgrave, for publication in 2013, by Ayesha Pande at Ayesha Pande Literary (World English).   

 

French rights to Shawn Stout's PENELOPE CRUMB, to Editions ADA, in a two-book deal, by Allison Hellegers at Rights People on behalf of Sarah Davies at Greenhouse Literary Agency.

 

Congratulations to Jennifer Iacopelli who signed with agent Michelle Wolfson of Wolfson Literary. Michelle originally requested Jennifer's full manuscript through the Submissions Mailbox in April.  

 

Shelby Reed's GAMES PEOPLE PLAY, in which a male escort is secretly hired to seduce a woman and test her fidelity to her Machiavellian wheelchair-bound lover, and instead finds himself embroiled in a wicked game of lies, passion and twisted intent, to Leis Pederson at Berkley Heat, in a nice deal, in a two-book deal, for publication in 2013, by Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency.

 

Anne Calhoun's UNFORGIVEN, in which a former Marine who can't forgive himself for the devastating mistakes he's made in his reckless past returns home and reconnects with the woman who always tempted him in all the wrong ways, to Leis Pederson at Berkley Sensation, in a nice deal, in a two-book deal, for publication in beginning mid 2013, by Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency.

 

Alison Kent's UNTOUCHABLE, the third title in the author's upcoming Dalton Gang series, to Wendy McCurdy at Berkley Heat, in a nice deal, by Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency (World).

 

Stephanie Faris's 30 DAYS OF NO GOSSIP, in which, after spilling a big secret, a middle-school gossip queen is challenged to change her ways - or lose her BFF for good, to Alyson Heller at Aladdin, for publication in Spring 2014, by Natalie Lakosil at Bradford Literary Agency (World).

 

Trisha Wolfe's FIREBLOOD, set in a futuristic utopian society based on Camelot in which a girl, a prince, and his knights must forge a path to the truth before the deadly lies that power their world separate and destroy them, pitched as The Hunger Games meets Game of Thrones, to Kate Kaynak at Spencer Hill Press, in a nice deal, in a two-book deal, for publication in October 2013, by Lauren Hammond at ADA Management Group.

 

Martha Brockenbrough's YA debut DEVINE INTERVENTION, in which a guardian angel in a rehabilitation program for wayward souls accidentally kills the girl he's supposed to watch over, fails to get her into heaven, and may or may not cause lasting psychological damage to a squirrel, optioned to Jerry Zucker and Janet Zucker at Zucker Productions (Airplane, Naked Gun, Ghost) with screenwriter Randi Singer (Mrs. Doubtfire) adapting, by Josie Freedman at ICM on behalf ofJill Corcoran at The Herman Agency.

 

Rights to L.A. Campbell's CARTBOY AND THE TIME CAPSULE, to Gallimard in France, by Noemie Rollet at Eliane Benisti Agency, to Ten Points in Taiwan, at auction, by Whitney Hsu at Andrew Nurnberg Associates Taiwan, and to Allen & Unwin in Australia, by Chris Scheina at Macmillan on behalf of Tamar Rydzinski at the Laura Dail Literary Agency.

Congratulations to Cory Putman Oakes who has signed with agent Sarah LaPolla of Curtis Brown.

Screenwriter and MG Author Lynn Dickinson recently launched the first short episode of her new family-friendly, comedy web series SHOW OF HANDS (http://youtu.be/NND5gCiNKgo).

Bob Bobopko lives with his wife Betty and their young son Buddy in the Uncanny Valley, but Bob has a secret dream. He wants to get famous and move to Hollywood. When Betty leaves the house, she assumes Bob is watching Buddy, but as soon as she's gone, Crazy Cousin Eddie comes over to help Bob get famous by making their web series. Buddy is left to his own devices and sometimes winds up in a jam. 

Oh... and the characters are all played by, well... hands.

Saranna DeWylde's FURYOUS INK, about a Fury tattoo artist and a Lycanos cop who must solve the mystery of four murdered Amazons before the deaths bring war to their city, to Kelli Collins at Ellora's Cave, in a nice deal, by Deidre Knight of The Knight Agency (World).

Pamela Britton's A COWBOY'S PRIDE and A COWBOY'S CHRISTMAS, to Johanna Raisanen at Harlequin, in a nice deal, by Deidre Knight of The Knight Agency(World).

Turkish rights to Jennifer Rush's debut ALTERED, to Pegasus, by Bengu Ayfer at Akcali Copyright Agency, in association with Kathleen Ortiz at New Leaf Literary & Media on behalf of Joanna Volpe.

Spanish rights to Leigh Bardugo's SHADOW AND BONE, to Hidra, in a three-book deal, by Jennifer Hoge at International Editors', in association with Kathleen Ortiz of New Leaf Literary & Media on behalf of Joanna Volpe.

 

Jessica Arnold's debut, THE LOOKING GLASS in which fifteen-year-old Alice becomes trapped in a 19th century version of the hotel her family is vacationing in, and must figure out a way to break the curse that killed a rumored witch in that same hotel, before she becomes its next victim, to Georgia McBride at Month9Books, in a two-book deal, in a nice deal by Carrie Pestritto of Prospect Agency, for publication in January 2014 (World English). 

 

AUGUST 2012 

 

Darby Karchut's GIDEON'S SPEAR, the sequel to FINN FINNEGAN continues the story of a modern teenage boy apprenticed to a legendary Celtic warrior, to Vikki Ciaffone and Trisha Wooldridge at Spencer Hill Press, for publication in February 2014 (World).

 

Elle Darling's ESCAPE TO GRETNA GREEN, first of three fairytale-inspired Regency romances, in which a spirited bookstore owner delights in helping star-crossed couples reach happily ever after, but must compromise her principles when the a beastly Marquis demands she produce a replacement for the fiance she helped escape, TRAPPED IN LONDON, and RETURN TO FLEETWOOD, to Lauren Plude at Grand Central Forever, for publication in Spring 2014, by Rachael Dugas at Talcott Notch Literary Services.

 

Six-time Golden Heart Finalist author Shelley Coriell's THE BROKEN, featuring The Apostles, an elite team of FBI agents and their hunt for a serial killer, to Lauren Plude at Grand Central Forever, by Jessica Faust at BookEnds.

 

Varian Johnson's JACKSON GREENE STEALS THE ELECTION, pitched as an Ocean's Eleven for middle-schoolers, in which an eighth-grade reformed con artist has to get his old crew back together to stop the school bully from winning the all-powerful SGA Presidential election, all while trying to win back his ex-best friend and first crush, to Cheryl Klein at Arthur A. Levine Books, in a pre-empt, by Sara Crowe at Harvey Klinger (world).

 

VCFA grad Amy Rose Capetta's debut ENTANGLED, pitched as Firefly as a YA novel, in which a girl who thought she was alone in the universe with just her guitar, finds out that she is one of two humans to be experimentally connected on the particle level, and has to launch herself across space to save the boy she is quantum entangled with, with the help of a smuggler and her rag tag crew aboard a living spaceship, to Kate O'Sullivan at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's, at auction, in a very nice deal, in a two-book deal, by Sara Crowe at Harvey Klinger (world English).

 

Crissa Jean Chappell's FLIP THE SWITCH, about a teen boy whose dad is Miccosukee and whose mom is English -- making him "one hundred percent nothing" -- who is determined to figure out where he belongs and who he belongs with, to Brian Farrey-Latz at Flux, by Tina Wexler at ICM (World English).

 

Harriet Goodwin's sequel to THE HEX FACTOR, the story of a girl who - hexed by the letter X - must embrace her witch heritage if she is to come into her powers, enabling her to reverse hexes and turn bad into good, to Jane Harris at Stripes, for publication in Fall 2013, by Sarah Davies at the Greenhouse Literary Agency (World English).

Michelle Hodkin's THE RETRIBUTION OF MARA DYER, the twist-filled conclusion to the Mara Dyer trilogy, to Alexandra Cooper at Simon & Schuster Children's, in a good deal, for publication in Fall 2013, by Barry Goldblatt at Barry Goldblatt Literary (World).

 

Sarah Fine's FACTORY GHOST, about a 17-year-old girl who moves in with her father, the resident doctor for the town's slaughterhouse, and discovers the myth of the factory ghost may not be a myth at all, to Ruta Rimas at Margaret K. McElderry Books, in a very nice deal, at auction, in a two-book deal, for publication in Winter 2014, by Kathleen Ortiz of New Leaf Literary & Media (NA). 

Congratulations to Aja Hannah who signed a contract with Curiosity Quills for her debut novel, ZARCONIAN ISLAND, after going through the Submission Mailbox, and YALITCHAT.ORG groups First Five, and Query.

 

Lithuanian rights to Jill Hathaway's SLIDE, to Alma Littera, by Alexandra Devlin at Rights People on behalf of Sarah Davies at Greenhouse Literary Agency. 

 

SEPTEMBER 2012 

 

Congratulations to Emily Kristen Morse who has recently signed with Christina Hogrebe at the Jane Rotrosen Agency.

 

Kelly Hashway's THE MONSTER WITHIN, in which a teenage girl is magically brought back to life by the boy who loves her, but she comes back "wrong" and has to face the evil now growing within her, to Trisha Wooldridge at Spencer Hill Press, in a nice deal, in a two-book deal, for publication in April 2014, by Lauren Hammond at ADA Management Group (World English).  

 

Gary Urey's debut SUPER SCHNOZ AND THE GATES OF SMELL, when a corporation pollutes his school, a boy with a massive nose transforms into Super Schnoz, a nostril-flaring, booger-blasting, crime-fighting superhero and works with his friends to defeat evil, and save their summer vacation, to Kristin Ostby at Albert Whitman, by Jill Corcoran at The Herman Agency (World).

 

SLIDE and IMPOSTOR author Jill Hathaway's next two novels, to Donna Bray at Balzer & Bray, in a good deal, for publication in Spring 2014 and Spring 2015, by Sarah Davies at the Greenhouse Literary Agency (NA).

 

Michelle Hodkin's THE RETRIBUTION OF MARA DYER, the twist-filled conclusion to the Mara Dyer trilogy, to Alexandra Cooper at Simon & Schuster Children's, in a good deal, for publication in Fall 2013, by Barry Goldblatt at Barry Goldblatt Literary (World).

 

Sarah Fine's FACTORY GHOST, about a 17-year-old girl who moves in with her father, the resident doctor for the town's slaughterhouse, and discovers the myth of the factory ghost may not be a myth at all, to Ruta Rimas at Margaret K. McElderry Books, in a very nice deal, at auction, in a two-book deal, for publication in Winter 2014, by Kathleen Ortiz of New Leaf Literary & Media (NA).

 

THE BEGINNING OF AFTER and YOU LOOK DIFFERENT IN REAL LIFE author Jennifer Castle's next two untitled YA novels, again to Rosemary Brosnan at Harper Children's, by Jamie Weiss Chilton at Andrea Brown Literary Agency.

 

The Liar's Club's LIAR, LIAR, an anthology, including writings by NYT bestselling authors Jonathan Maberry and William Lashner, screenwriter Stephen Susco (The Grudge), Keith R.A. DeCandido, Gregory Frost, Merry Jones, Solomon Jones, Don Lafferty, Marie Lamba, Jon McGoran, Ed Pettit, Kelly Simmons, Keith Strunk, Dennis Tafoya, and Chuck Wendig, to Lysa Williams at Blackstone Audio, by Sara Crowe at Harvey Klinger.

 

Lithuanian rights to Jill Hathaway's SLIDE, to Alma Littera, by Alexandra Devlin at Rights People on behalf of Sarah Davies at Greenhouse Literary Agency.

 

Author of WICKED BURN and BECAUSE YOU ARE MINE Beth Kery's next three erotic romances, again to Leis Pederson at Berkley Heat, in a very nice deal, in a three-book deal, for publication in Beginning late 2013, by Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency (world).

 

Soraya Lane's next four romances, to Carly Byrne at Harlequin, in a four-book deal, for publication beginning in Fall 2013, by Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency.

Sarah Mlynowski's WHATEVER AFTER series, to Jota in the Czech Republic, by Andrew Nurnberg Associates Prague, and Mora in Hungary, by Andrew Nurnberg Associates Budapest, joining sales to Record in Brazil, AdA for French Canadian, Heyne in Germany, and De Agostini in Italy, by Tamar Rydzinski at the Laura Dail Literary Agency.

 

Complex Chinese rights to Mika Shino's SMART BITES FOR BABY: 300 Easy-to-Make, Easy to Love Meals that Boost Your Baby and Toddler's Brain, to Sharp Point, by Whitney Hsu at Andrew Nurnberg Associates Taipei on behalf of Tamar Rydzinski at the Laura Dail Literary Agency.

 

German rights to Leigh Bardugo's short story, THE WITCH OF DUVA: A Ravkan Folk Tale, to Carlsen, by Friederike Biesel of Thomas Schlueck Agency in association with Kathleen Ortiz of New Leaf Literary & Media, on behalf of Joanna Volpe.

 

Jenny Martin's debut TRACKED, pitched as Star Wars meets Speed Racer, in which a daring, street-racing girl transforms from rebel to revolutionary after a taking a no-win deal to race the corporate rally circuit, where she's catapulted between the boy who's been running alongside her all her life and the intense, castoff rogue who prepares her all too well for the road, to Heather Alexander at Dial, in a very nice deal, in a pre-empt, in a two-book deal, by Sara Crowe at Harvey Klinger (world).

 

USA Today bestselling author Cari Quinn's NO ROMANCE REQUIRED, in which an uptight CEO faced with losing his place atop a family-oriented corporation enters into a fake relationship with the one woman capable of driving him crazy, to Heather Howland at Brazen, in a two-book deal, for publication in winter 2012 (world).

 

Samanthe Beck's PRIVATE PRACTICE, in which a small town's resident bad boy gives a straight-laced doctor the sex education she thinks she needs to seduce another man in exchange for her help shoring up his public image by keeping the gunshot wound she treated secret; SURPRISE SANTA, in which a hotel executive has her way with the wrong Santa at her company's holiday party, only to find out the sexy CEO playboy in the suit has designs on the Hawaiian resort she manages - and wants her to be his personal tour guide during the acquisition; and SUBSTITUTE STRIPPER, in which a good-girl yoga instructor faced with eviction reluctantly swaps places with her injured twin sister to pay the bills, only to land in the middle of a murder investigation when one of her sister's patrons turns up dead - and now the sexy detective she's falling for is onto her ruse, to Heather Howland at Brazen, for publication in spring 2013 (world).

 

USA Today bestselling author Katee Robert's next two books in the Come Undone series, to Heather Howland at Brazen, in a two-book deal, for publication in fall 2012 (world).

 

The Whole Story of Half a Girl author Veera Hiranandani's chapter book, PHOEBE THE FOODIE, about a spunky second-grader who is inspired by a new French classmate to move beyond standard cafeteria fare despite teasing, in a four-book deal, to Eve Adler at Grosset & Dunlap, by Sara Crowe at Harvey Klinger (world).

 

Nyrae Dawn and Mia Josephs's MISPLACED, pitched as Gayle Foreman's WHERE SHE WENT meets Miranda Kenneally's CATCHING JORDAN, in which a self-absorbed eighteen-year-old rock star is sent to Alaska to get himself together after a drug overdose, but the cute hockey player and her grandfather who live next door challenge him to think beyond the baggie of pills he's still sneaking, to Heather Howland at Entangled Teen, for publication in fall 2013, by Lauren Hammond of ADA Management Group (world).

 

Leslye Walton's debut YA novel, THE STRANGE AND BEAUTIFUL SORROWS OF AVA LAVENDER, about a sixteen-year-old girl with useless wings who traces her lineage to understand why she was born this way, and the man who tragically mistakes her for an angel, to Mary Lee Donovan at Candlewick, for publication in spring 2014 (joined by Walker UK and Walker Australia), by Bernadette Baker-Baughman at Victoria Sanders & Associates (world English).

 

Swedish rights to Laura Marx Fitzgerald's UNDER THE EGG, to Raben & Sjorgren, by Philip Sane at Lennart Sane Agency, on behalf of Sara Crowe at Harvey Klinger.

 

World Spanish rights to Erin Bowman's TAKEN, to Mondadori, by Philip Sane at Lennart Sane Agency, on behalf of Sara Crowe at Harvey Klinger.

 

MONSTROUS BEAUTY author Elizabeth Fama's alternate-history thriller PLUS ONE, in which Day and Night populations are forced to lead separate---but not equal---lives, and in which a desperate Night girl falls for a seemingly privileged Day boy and places them both in danger as she gets caught up in the beginnings of a resistance movement, again to Simon Boughton at Farrar, Straus Children's, in a very nice deal, by Sara Crowe at Harvey Klinger (NA).

 

Leigh Evans' next title in her upcoming MYSTWALKER series, again to Holly Blanck at St. Martin's, in a very nice deal, by Deidre Knight at The Knight Agency (world).

 

Michelle Pickett's MILAYNA, in which a 17-year-old demi-angel gets visions when people need her protection from danger and demons, and is hunted by a Hell's Angel who wants her power and will end her life to get it, to Kate Kaynak at Spencer Hill Press, in a nice deal, for publication in March 2014, by Rebecca Mancini at RightsMix (World English). 

Sheri Larsen, moderator for YALITCHAT's MG Lair, announced that she has signed with Paula Munier of Talcott Notch Literary, after receiving multiple offers for publication on her YA novel, MARKED BEAUTY. 

A. Lynden Rolland's OF BREAKABLE THINGS, in which a seventeen-year-old, who after her death joins a seemingly benign and secret spirit community, is hunted by dark forces that believe her to be the incarnation of a notorious prophet who helped destroy them ages ago, to Georgia McBride of Month9Books, in a nice deal, for publication in 2014, by Rachael Dugas of Talcott Notch Literary Services (World English).

Georgia McBride at Month9Books has bought The Night House by 20-year-old Rachel Tafoya, daughter of crime writer Dennis Tafoya. The novel, first in a planned trilogy plus e-novellas, tells the story of a girl who gets paid to allow vampires to bite her. Publication is scheduled for 2014; Sara Crowe at Harvey Klinger, Inc. did the deal for world rights.

 

October 2012

 

Jennifer Iacopelli's GAME SET MATCH, the first in a young adult series following the friendships, romances, and rivalries at the Outer Banks Tennis Academy, where champions are made, dreams are shattered, and love is truly a four-letter word, to Lisa Rutherford at Coliloquy, in a three-book deal, for publication in spring 2013, by Michelle Wolfson at Wolfson Literary Agency. Both Lisa and Michelle first requested the full of GAME SET MATCH from the Submissions Mailbox in April.

 

Maris Wicks's THE HUMAN BODY THEATRE, which explores the wonderful complexity that is the human body, from bones to blood to brains, to Calista Brill at First Second, by Bernadette Baker-Baughman at Victoria Sanders & Associates.

 

Lauren Hawkeye writing as Lauren Jameson's THE DARKER SIDE OF TEMPTATION, about a young woman entering into a BDSM relationship with the CEO of a massive corporation and must find a way to deal with his sexual appetite and need for control that plagues him, to Kerry Donovan at NAL, releasing in six serial installments, in a nice deal, by Deidre Knight of The Knight Agency. 

 

Vella Munn's DEATH CHANT, about a lonely archeologist's vow to learn the truth about her mentor's murder and the Native American forest ranger determined to keep his people's ancient secrets from her, to Liz Pelletier at Entangled Dead Sexy. 

 

Amy Andrews's 'TIS THE SEASON TO BE MERRY, a novella in which a jaded woman's snowy New Year's Eve in Vermont takes a spicy turn after an unexpected visit from her best friend's younger brother, part of the four-book, multi-author series BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE, to Heather Howland at Entangled, for publication in November 2012.

 

Heidi Rice's 'TIS THE SEASON TO GO SHOPPING, in which a Christmas Day blizzard turns steamy in this novella when a work-obsessed young woman gets snowed in with her boss's very off-limits playboy son, who proves that you can't judge a package by its wrapping, part of the four-book, multi-author series BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE, to Liz Pelletier at Entangled, for publication in November 2012.

 

Kate Hardy's 'TIS THE SEASON TO KISS SANTA, a novella in which a young British woman finds herself snowed in on Christmas Eve with an Ebenezer-turned-Santa hottie, part of the four book, multi-author series BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE, to Liz Pelletier at Entangled, for publication in November 2012. 

 

Debut author Scott Craven's DEAD JED: ADVENTURES OF A JUNIOR HIGH ZOMBIE, pitched as Shaun of the Dead meets Diary of a Wimpy Kid, in which the cardiovascularly-challenged Jed becomes the target of the supreme school bully, and his pack of moronic minions, and Jed's revenge proves it's awesome what you can do when you're already dead, to Courtney Koschel of Month9Books, in a nice deal, in a three-book deal, for publication in fall 2013 (world English). 

 

Author of the Blood Coven Vampire Series, Mari Mancusi's trilogy starting with DRAGONBOUND, pitched as Terminator meets Daenerys' Dragons from Game of Thrones and centers on a teen girl whom twin brothers claim is the owner of the last dragon egg, and the only one who can stop a future apocalypse wrought by a fiery dragon war, to Leah Hultenschmidt at Sourcebooks Fire, in a very nice deal, by Kristin Nelson of Nelson Literary Agency (NA).

 

Author of POSSESS, TEN and the upcoming 3:59, Gretchen McNeil's new Don't Get Mad series, GET EVEN and GET DIRTY, pitched as Revenge meets The Breakfast Club, about four girls who form a secret revenge society for bullied classmates which goes well until one of their targets turns up dead, to Kristin Daly Rens at Balzer & Bray, in a very nice deal, in a two-book deal, by Ginger Clark at Curtis Brown (NA).

 

D.R. Rosensteel's THE PSI FIGHTER, in which a quirky protagonist uses 'mental arts' and technology to battle an evil secret society, kidnappers and the occasional bully, to Liz Pelletier at Entangled, in a nice deal, in a three-book deal, for publication in spring 2013, by Nicole Resciniti at The Seymour Agency.

 

TOUCH OF DEATH author Kelly Hashway's INTO THE FIRE, in which a sixteen-year-old descendant from the mythical phoenix bird is nearing her rebirth where she will forget everything, including the love of her life and she attempts to embrace her last days with him even if it means drawing deadly phoenix hunters to her doorstep, to Georgia McBride at Month9Books, in a three-book deal, in a pre-empt, for publication in spring 2014, by Lauren Hammond of ADA Management Group (world).

 

NYT bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater's THE RAVEN BOYS, to New Line Cinema, with Akiva Goldsman at Weed Road under new partnership with Joby Harold and Tory Tunnell, at Safehouse Pictures, set to produce, by Alicia Gordon and Ashley Fox at William Morris Endeavor, on behalf of Laura Rennert at Andrea Brown Literary Agency.

 

Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway's MERCHANTS OF DOUBT: How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues from Tobacco Smoke to Global Warming, to Participant Media and Rob Kenner, director of Food Inc, by Ayesha Pande Literary in association with Hotchkiss & Associates.

 

Peggy Shinner's INTIMATE POSSESSIONS, a collection of essays about the body in which the author turns a searching eye on her own body, female and Jewish; her parents, the bodies she came from; and the collective body, with all its personal, social, and political implications, to Susan Bielstein at University of Chicago Press, for publication in 2013, by Ayesha Pande (world English).

 

Kate Kaynak, founder and Lead Editor of Spencer Hill Press was featured in a recent Publisher's Weekly article on the growth and success of the press. Darby Karchut, whose FINN FINNEGAN will be the press' first MG release was also mentioned.

 

November 2012

 

MG Lair member Suzanne Linn Kamata wanted to say thanks! She was awarded a YALITCHAT Marketing Grant, which she used to purchase and mail giveaway copies of her forthcoming YA novel GADGET GIRL.

 

Another MG Lair member, Travis Strout (pen name: Heimdall Thunderhammer), recently completed a successful Kickstarter campaign to raise the needed funds to publish his novel MAGEFABLE, a fully-illustrated MG fantasy adventure now available in book form on Amazon and soon in digital form on Smashwords.

 

Author of the forthcoming THE WATER CASTLE, Megan Frazer Blakemore's untitled new novel, about an aspiring Nancy Drew who becomes convinced that the gravedigger employed by her family's cemetery is actually a Soviet spy, and decides to expose him with the help of the new boy in town, a genius with a secret, again to Mary Kate Castellani at Walker Children's, by Sara Crowe at Harvey Klinger (world English).

 

Author of VARIANT, Robison Wells's next two books, including a sequel to his forthcoming YA thriller BLACKOUT about superpowered teenagers helping the US military fight off terrorist attacks and full-scale invasion, again to Erica Sussman at Harper Teen, in a good deal, by Sara Crowe at Harvey Klinger (world). 

 

Alison Kent's historical romance novella set in 1870's Crow Hill, Texas the setting for the author's contemporary Dalton Gang series, for an upcoming anthology, to Wendy McCurdy at Berkley, in a nice deal, by Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency.

 

Courtney Stevens's FAKING NORMAL, following a 16-year-old girl and the relationship she develops with her awkward neighbor, a teenage boy, as she struggles to forget the traumatic events of the summer before, to Rosemary Brosnan at Harper Children's, in a major deal, in a pre-empt, in a two-book deal, by Kelly Sonnack at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency (World English).

 

Liz Czukas's ASK AGAIN LATER, pitched as Sliding Doors meets Sixteen Candles, in which a high school junior relies on the flip of a coin to choose between two unwanted prom invitations, causing reality to split in two resulting in disasters of humorous proportions as she experiences each potential "version" of prom night, to Erica Sussman at Harper Teen, in a very nice deal, in a two-book deal, for publication in Winter 2014, by Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency(NA).

 

Sara Hantz's IN THE BLOOD, about the son of a pedophile who has to battle his inner demons to discover, that in his case, the apple did fall far from the tree, to Liz Pelletier at Entangled Teen, by Amy Tipton at Signature Literary Agency (world). 

 

Karri Thompson's THE VAN WINKLE PROJECT, about a teen girl who wakes up in a hospital over 1,000 years into the future and finds there's a sinister reason some people seem familiar -- and that they want something only she can give, to Liz Pelletier at Entangled Teen, in a three-book deal, by Kathleen Rushall at the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. 

 

Kallie George's THE MAGICAL ANIMAL ADOPTION AGENCY, in book #1: CLOVER'S LUCK, in which Clover accepts a volunteer position at a pet adoption agency unlike any other and soon finds herself in a world of fairy horses, dragons with temperamental snouts, wizards, princesses, and, unfortunately, witches, for publication in summer 2014, with book #2: THE ENCHANTED EGG, for publication in summer 2015 and book #3: THE MAGIC MALADY, for publication in summer 2016, to Abby Ranger at Disney-Hyperion, in a very good deal, in a three-book deal, by Emily van Beek at Folio Literary Management (world English).

 

German rights to Bonnie Hearn Hill's GHOST ISLAND, to Cora, by Thomas Schlueck Agency on behalf of Tamar Rydzinski at the Laura Dail Literary Agency.

 

Catherine Linka's A GIRL CALLED FEARLESS, set in a present-day USA where, after the deaths of millions of women, teen girls have become a priceless, guarded commodity, leading to one girl's perilous escape from an arranged marriage, uncovering a hidden world of political corruption and underground rebellion as she flees to the safety of the Canadian border, to Mollie Traver at St. Martin's, in a two-book deal, for publication in Spring 2014, by Sarah Davies at the Greenhouse Literary Agency (World English).

 

German rights to JV Kade's middle grade debut BOT WARS, to Ravensburger, by Friederike Biesel of Thomas Schlueck Agency, in association with Kathleen Ortiz at New Leaf Literary & Media on behalf of Joanna Volpe.

 

Erin Richards's VIGILANTE NIGHTS, a gritty YA debut reminiscent of The Outsiders, about a 17-year-old boy who turns vigilante to get revenge on the street gang who killed his twin sister, until he falls in love and risks losing everything again, to Jacquelyn Mitchard at Merit Press Books, for publication in Summer (July) 2013, by Natalie Lakosil at Bradford Literary Agency (World English).   

  

December 2012   

Laura Diamond's ZODIAC COLLECTOR, on the eve of the opening day of the local Renaissance Faire, a 14-year old conjures up a spell that will make their birthday party a whirlwind event -- little does she know that it's a literal request, invoking the power of the Gemini Twins, Castor and Pollux, and catching the attention of an evil sorceress, to Jennifer Carson at Pugalicious Press, in a nice deal, for publication in Winter 2013 (world English).

 

Dawn Klehr's THE CUTTING ROOM FLOOR, about a girl questioning her sexual orientation while she tries to solve her beloved high school teacher's murder, and her best friend who, when not directing the high school film, attempts to direct the lives of the girl and everyone else around him -- until he goes too far, to Brian Farrey at Flux, in a two-book deal, for publication in Fall 2013, by Jessica Sinsheimer at the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency (World English).

New Releases

RENEGADE

by J.A. Souders

Publisher: Tor Teen

Publication Date: November 13, 2012

Since the age of three, sixteen-year-old Evelyn Winters has trained to be Daughter of the People in the underwater utopia known as Elysium. Selected from hundreds of children for her ideal genes, all her life she's believed that everything is perfect. Her world. Her people. The Law. But when Gavin Hunter, a Surface Dweller, accidentally stumbles into Elysium's secluded little world, Evelyn comes to a startling realization: Everything she knows is a lie.

Her memories have been altered. Her mind and body aren't under her own control. And the person she knows as Mother is a monster. 

Together with Gavin she plans her escape, only to learn that her own mind is a ticking time bomb...and Mother has one last secret that will destroy them all.

 

MEANT TO BE

by Lauren Morrill

Publisher: Delacorte

Publication Date: November 13, 2012

It's one thing to fall head over heels into a puddle of hazelnut coffee, and quite another to fall for the-gasp-wrong guy. Straight-A junior Julia may be accident prone, but she's queen of following rules and being prepared. That's why she keeps a pencil sharpener in her purse and a pocket Shakespeare in her, well, pocket. And that's also why she's chosen Mark Bixford, her childhood crush, as her MTB ("meant to be").

But this spring break, Julia's rules are about to get defenestrated (SAT word: to be thrown from a window) when she's partnered with her personal nemesis, class-clown Jason, on a school trip to London. After one wild party, Julia starts receiving romantic texts . . . from an unknown number! Jason promises to help discover the identity of her mysterious new suitor if she agrees to break a few rules along the way. And thus begins a wild goose chase through London, leading Julia closer and closer to the biggest surprise of all: true love. 

GRIFFIN'S STORM (book three in the award-winning series)
by Darby Karchut
Publication date: November 10, 2012
Publisher: Copper Square Studios
It's time for Griffin to angel up. Again. 

 

An old enemy returns. A new alliance is formed. And Griffin finds himself in the eye of the storm when an ancient racial hatred is set loose, jeopardizing the very existence of the Terrae Angeli. Once again, the teen guardian angel is forced to battle his worst nightmare. But this time, Griffin comes back swinging. With a vengeance.

After all, an eye for an eye...

December Releases

12/17--THE VINCENT BROTHERS by Abbi Glines

12/28--CANDOR by Pam Bachorz

12/31--SILENCE (HUSH HUSH #3) by Becca Fitzpatrick

 

Have a release coming out in January? We want to feature it, so let us know! Contact membership@yalitchat.org with the details.

 

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

Where did the idea for PASSION BLUE come from? 

The seed for Passion Blue was a comment from an editor who'd read one of my out of print novels, and mentioned that she'd love to read a YA historical novel about astrology. The idea intrigued me, so I began to research, focusing on Renaissance Italy because it's an incredibly rich setting that I've always wanted to write about. This also gave me the chance to explore the fascinating world of Renaissance art--something else I've long been wanting to do. 

Were there any rules you set while writing dialogue for PASSION BLUE to make it period-appropriate while still being approachable for a modern reader? 

It's delicate balance between giving dialogue a period feel and keeping it accessible for readers. It's more than just avoiding contemporary expressions and slang--the flow of speech needs to suggest the period. For instance, if you ask me how I am, I might say "I'm fine." But using "fine" this way is relatively modern. So my period character would say "I am well." Writing dialogue for historical characters is full of decisions like this. 

I love classical theater, especially from the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras, and I used that as inspiration--while not going overboard, since I didn't want my characters to sound as if they were in a bad fantasy novel. I kept the teen characters' speech informal, but for the adult characters I used more formal rhythms--longer sentences, fewer contractions--as well as more period-authentic idioms (English idioms, that is, which really is only sort of authentic, since my characters would have been speaking Italian). 

One of the risks of trying to get a period feel is that your dialogue can wind up sounding stilted. Whenever I'm in doubt, I read aloud. That usually helps me pinpoint what doesn't flow.

What preparation did you do to capture Giulia's voice? 

I've been reading historical and fantasy novels for as long as I can remember. As a reader, I'm totally comfortable getting inside the head of someone whose time or culture is very alien to my own. I think that makes me equally comfortable doing the same thing as a writer.

I'm a planner--I outline all my novels. Part of that is creating character sketches for the main characters. So I knew Giulia very well before I ever started writing her. When you know your characters from the inside out, you're able to think the way they do.

As with dialogue, keeping a historical character authentic yet relatable is a balancing act. Some writers try to do this by making their characters more like modern teens. For me, that doesn't work. There's a gap between the past and today; rather than ignoring it, you need to find a way to bridge it, so readers will identify with your character even if her view of the world is unfamiliar. Giulia's goals and beliefs at the start of Passion Blue may seem pretty alien to a modern reader, but she's also looking for things that everyone can identify with--true love, a place in the world--and coping with obstacles that everyone encounters--limited choices, not being in control over your own life. 

You have written both YA and adult fiction; what elements in each genre do you like exploring as a writer? 

For YA, I love the coming-of-age theme. Discovering yourself, searching for your place in the world, falling in love for the first time--for teens, those experiences are so urgent and immediate, and writing about them is just as intense. I also love the YA writing community. There's so much enthusiasm and excitement there--a refreshing change from other areas of the publishing world, where there's a lot of gloom and pessimism just now. 

My adult fiction is more elaborate stylistically than my YA fiction, which is more spare. My adult books are also a lot longer, which allows me to build more complicated themes and multi-stranded plots. Other than that, there's no difference at all in the way I plan and write my YA and adult books, or in the craft and involvement I bring to them.  

With the many paths to publishing available today, what do you think are some of the pitfalls for an author just getting started? 

All those new paths to publishing have spawned an explosion of schemes and scams aimed at small press- and self-published authors. From vanity presses posing as traditional publishers, to marketing and PR services that charge a premium for sending out spam, to paid review rackets, to high-entry fee contests that promise prestige and exposure but are really just a moneymaking scheme for their sponsors--the list is long and growing. 

Incompetence is also a major potential pitfall. Digital publishing is so cheap and easy that just about anyone can set themselves up as a publisher, whether or not they have any relevant skills. Too often, these well-intentioned but inexperienced publishers get into financial or logistical trouble, creating a nightmare for their authors. Less-than-competent freelance editors and designers are also a problem, especially for self-publishing authors who want a professional polish for their work.

The best defense is knowledge. It's incredibly important to spend some time learning about the publishing world before diving into it. Not only will this keep you safe from scammers and amateurs (since if you know what good business practice is, it's easier to recognize bad practice when you encounter it), it'll help you establish realistic goals and make informed choices--including whether to self-publish or pursue traditional publication. 

One last thing: beware of "experts." The Internet is stuffed with people dispensing (or selling) advice. Many do have expertise. But many more are pushing an agenda or an ideology, or don't know what they're talking about. Don't take the experts at face value; always check their backgrounds and their bona fides--especially if they want to sell you something. 

What's next for you in December and on into 2013?

I'm working on a sequel to Passion Blue, which should take me some way into 2013. After that, I have an idea for a YA gothic fantasy. I was a gothic novel addict when I was in my teens, and I've always wanted to write one.

Victoria Strauss is an author of YA and adult novels, a freelance writer, blogger, and the co-founder of publishing industry watchdog Writer Beware with Ann Crispin. Her novel,PASSION BLUE, is published by Amazon Children's Publishing and is available now.

December 5 -  Put Life Back in Your Novel. Feel like your novel has gone flat? How to put some life back into your work.

December 12 - International Chat - 3pm EST. No evening chat.

December 19 - Adding emotional nuance to flesh out your characters.

December 26 - Open Topic: No Host. Happy Holidays! 

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