YA Authors Launch ‘The Contemps’
Last week, 21 YA authors debuted “The Contemps,” a Web site dedicated to promoting realistic teen fiction to readers, librarians, and booksellers. “As much as we love other genres, the marketplace can feel dominated by paranormal, fantasy and dystopian novels,” said Contemps cofounder Lisa Schroeder in a statement. “We want to celebrate the unique way that contemporary stories help teens feel they’re not alone in this real world.” The site will feature posts by the participating authors (each of whom has a book being published within the coming year), contests, and other activities.
Making the Rounds with ‘The Mockingbirds’
First-time author Daisy Whitney recently finished a three-city pre-pub tour for her forthcoming novel, The Mockingbirds (Little, Brown, Nov.), meeting with booksellers and librarians in Boston, Chicago, and Seattle. Whitney is a producer and journalist covering the Internet and new media, and she hosts the “New Media Minute” webcast for TVWeek.com. The Mockingbirds tells the story of a girl at an elite academy who enlists the help of the eponymous secret society after she is date-raped. Here, Whitney (second from l.) is seen with (l. to r.) librarian Nancy Pearl, Karen Allman of Elliott Bay Booksellers, and Kari Yadro of Barnes & Noble.
Old Faithful Meets New ‘Faithful’
Author Janet Fox recently traveled to Yellowstone National Park to sign copies of her debut novel, Faithful (Penguin/Speak, May), which is set in 1904, when the park was only a few decades old. In Faithful, 16-year-old Maggie moves—reluctantly—from Newport, R.I., to Yellowstone with her widowed father. Fox signed copies of her novel at the Old Faithful General Store, and (seen here) visited the geyser itself. A sequel, Forgiven, will be published in spring 2011. Photo: Jeff Fox.
