All posts by joannelevy

KidLit Cares

Auction #7 – KidLit Cares: Picture Book Critique and Signed Book From Author and Former Editor Susan Hood

Welcome to KidLit Cares, an online talent auction to benefit the Red Cross relief effort to help communities recover from Superstorm Sandy. KidLit Cares was started by the very awesome Kate Messner, but I’m taking over Round 2. Agents, editors, authors, illustrators and other generous people have donated various services to be auctioned off to the highest bidder, with donations being made directly to the Red Cross disaster relief fund. You can read more about KidLit Cares here.

Now, on to the auction!

Susan is the author of three brand-new picture books out this fall. Before launching a full-time writing career, Susan was the Children’s Content Director of Nick Jr. Magazine, where she edited original stories by the winners of the Caldecott Medal, the Coretta Scott King Book Award and the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award. Before that, Susan was a children’s book editor at Sesame Workshop, and a children’s magazine editor at Scholastic and Instructor Magazine for early childhood educators. See more information at http://www.susanhoodbooks.com

Susan will provide a written critique of a 32 page picture book and a free signed copy of one of her new picture books out this fall.

Opening Bid: $30

*Note: Due to Thanksgiving, we have added an extra day to this auction. This auction closes at 10pm Eastern Standard Time on November 23. Any bids placed after that time will be void.

If you’d like to bid on this auction, check the current high bid and place a higher bid by leaving your name and bid amount in the comments, along with some way to contact you (email, FB or Twitter…I’m not fussy.) Winners will be notified when the auction ends and should be prepared to make an online donation to the Red Cross Disaster Relief fund in the amount of the high bid at that time.  After you’ve made your donation, you’ll forward your receipt to me, and I’ll put you in touch with the person who donated the service you won so that the two of you can work out the details about how and when.   All services will be provided at the convenience of both the person making the donation and the auction winner, but this should happen within three months of the auction’s end unless something else is agreed upon by both parties.

Good luck and thanks for your help!

Tip: if you’re bidding, you may want to subscribe to the follow-up comments, so you can get notice of future bids. Subscribe via RSS on the right. —>

KidLit Cares

Auction #6 – KidLit Cares: 5 page Manuscript Critique and Phone Call from Agent Michelle Wolfson

Welcome to KidLit Cares, an online talent auction to benefit the Red Cross relief effort to help communities recover from Superstorm Sandy. KidLit Cares was started by the very awesome Kate Messner, but I’m taking over Round 2. Agents, editors, authors, illustrators and other generous people have donated various services to be auctioned off to the highest bidder, with donations being made directly to the Red Cross disaster relief fund. You can read more about KidLit Cares here.

Now, on to the auction!

Michelle Wolfson formed Wolfson Literary Agency in 2007 and is actively seeking authors of commercial fiction and non-fiction. She is drawn to well written material with strong interesting characters. For more information, please visit her website at www.wolfsonliterary.com

The winner of this auction will receive 5 page manuscript critique and a follow up 20 minute phone call.

Opening Bid: $30

*Note: Due to Thanksgiving, we have added an extra day to this auction. This auction closes at 10pm Eastern Standard Time on November 23. Any bids placed after that time will be void.

If you’d like to bid on this auction, check the current high bid and place a higher bid by leaving your name and bid amount in the comments, along with some way to contact you (email, FB or Twitter…I’m not fussy.) Winners will be notified when the auction ends and should be prepared to make an online donation to the Red Cross Disaster Relief fund in the amount of the high bid at that time.  After you’ve made your donation, you’ll forward your receipt to me, and I’ll put you in touch with the person who donated the service you won so that the two of you can work out the details about how and when.   All services will be provided at the convenience of both the person making the donation and the auction winner, but this should happen within three months of the auction’s end unless something else is agreed upon by both parties.

Good luck and thanks for your help!

Tip: if you’re bidding, you may want to subscribe to the follow-up comments, so you can get notice of future bids. Subscribe via RSS on the right. —>

KidLit Cares

Auction #5 – KidLit Cares: Skype Visit, Signed Books, Named Character from Barry Lyga

Welcome to KidLit Cares, an online talent auction to benefit the Red Cross relief effort to help communities recover from Superstorm Sandy. KidLit Cares was started by the very awesome Kate Messner, but I’m taking over Round 2. Agents, editors, authors, illustrators and other generous people have donated various services to be auctioned off to the highest bidder, with donations being made directly to the Red Cross disaster relief fund. You can read more about KidLit Cares here.

Now, on to the auction!

Barry Lyga is the author of many critically acclaimed novels for young adults and middle-grade readers, including his debut, The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy & Goth Girl. His latest series is I Hunt Killers. Visit him online at http://barrylyga.com.

You are bidding on a package containing three segments: First of all, you’ll win an hour-long Skype visit for your school/classroom, library, local bookstore, or other organization of your choice. Second, you’ll get a box of at least five signed books (signed to whomever you choose, in case you want to give them away to people). Third, you will get to have either a victim or a cop (your option) named after you in the third book in the I HUNT KILLERS series!

Opening Bid: $30

*Note: Due to Thanksgiving, we have added an extra day to this auction. This auction closes at 10pm Eastern Standard Time on November 23. Any bids placed after that time will be void.

If you’d like to bid on this auction, check the current high bid and place a higher bid by leaving your name and bid amount in the comments, along with some way to contact you (email, FB or Twitter…I’m not fussy.) Winners will be notified when the auction ends and should be prepared to make an online donation to the Red Cross Disaster Relief fund in the amount of the high bid at that time.  After you’ve made your donation, you’ll forward your receipt to me, and I’ll put you in touch with the person who donated the service you won so that the two of you can work out the details about how and when.   All services will be provided at the convenience of both the person making the donation and the auction winner, but this should happen within three months of the auction’s end unless something else is agreed upon by both parties.

Good luck and thanks for your help!

Tip: if you’re bidding, you may want to subscribe to the follow-up comments, so you can get notice of future bids. Subscribe via RSS on the right. —>

KidLit Cares

Auction #4 – KidLit Cares: Manuscript Critique & Call with Publishing Director Wendy Lamb

Welcome to KidLit Cares, an online talent auction to benefit the Red Cross relief effort to help communities recover from Superstorm Sandy. KidLit Cares was started by the very awesome Kate Messner, but I’m taking over Round 2. Agents, editors, authors, illustrators and other generous people have donated various services to be auctioned off to the highest bidder, with donations being made directly to the Red Cross disaster relief fund. You can read more about KidLit Cares here.

Now, on to the auction!

Wendy Lamb is the publishing director of Wendy Lamb Books at Random House, and publishes middle grade and YA novels. She edited the Newbery Medal books BUD, NOT BUDDY by Christopher Paul Curtis and WHEN YOU REACH ME by Rebecca Stead, as well as the Printz Award winner, HOW I LIVE NOW by Meg Rosoff.

Wendy will read 3 chapters and a synopsis of a middle grade or YA novel, provide 2-3 pages of editorial comments, and a 15-minute follow-up call to discuss comments. Winning bidder to send chapters and synopsis after December 15 and Wendy will respond in early January.

Opening Bid: $30

*Note: Due to Thanksgiving, we have added an extra day to this auction. This auction closes at 10pm Eastern Standard Time on November 23. Any bids placed after that time will be void.

If you’d like to bid on this auction, check the current high bid and place a higher bid by leaving your name and bid amount in the comments, along with some way to contact you (email, FB or Twitter…I’m not fussy.) Winners will be notified when the auction ends and should be prepared to make an online donation to the Red Cross Disaster Relief fund in the amount of the high bid at that time.  After you’ve made your donation, you’ll forward your receipt to me, and I’ll put you in touch with the person who donated the service you won so that the two of you can work out the details about how and when.   All services will be provided at the convenience of both the person making the donation and the auction winner, but this should happen within three months of the auction’s end unless something else is agreed upon by both parties.

Good luck and thanks for your help!

Tip: if you’re bidding, you may want to subscribe to the follow-up comments, so you can get notice of future bids. Subscribe via RSS on the right. —>

KidLit Cares

Auction #3 – KidLit Cares: Book Club Pack/Skype Visit with Lisa Schroeder

Welcome to KidLit Cares, an online talent auction to benefit the Red Cross relief effort to help communities recover from Superstorm Sandy. KidLit Cares was started by the very awesome Kate Messner, but I’m taking over Round 2. Agents, editors, authors, illustrators and other generous people have donated various services to be auctioned off to the highest bidder, with donations being made directly to the Red Cross disaster relief fund. You can read more about KidLit Cares here.

Now, on to the auction!

Lisa Schroederis the author of multiple books for kids and teens. Her most recent middle grade novel is SPRINKLES AND SECRETS, and her most recent YA novel is THE DAY BEFORE, a YALSA quick pick for reluctant teen readers.

From VOYA: “Schroeder has done a wonderful job of creating teenage characters from a variety of backgrounds and using those backstories to influence their actions.  This novel is ripe for use in a classroom or a book club; discussion points include: healthy relationships, poetry as expression, relationship boundaries, and more.  Readers looking for a realistic teen read saturated in emotion will love Falling For You.”

Lisa is offering a 30 minute Q&A Skype visit for a school, library or book club and ten *signed* copies of her upcoming young adult novel, FALLING FOR YOU (coming 1/1/2013) to share with your students or book club members. FALLING FOR YOU is appropriate for teens ages 13+ (8th grade and up). Because the book is not released until January, copies will not be shipped until then and the Skype session will be scheduled for late winter or early spring.

Opening Bid: $30

*Note: Due to Thanksgiving, we have added an extra day to this auction. This auction closes at 10pm Eastern Standard Time on November 23. Any bids placed after that time will be void.

If you’d like to bid on this auction, check the current high bid and place a higher bid by leaving your name and bid amount in the comments, along with some way to contact you (email, FB or Twitter…I’m not fussy.) Winners will be notified when the auction ends and should be prepared to make an online donation to the Red Cross Disaster Relief fund in the amount of the high bid at that time.  After you’ve made your donation, you’ll forward your receipt to me, and I’ll put you in touch with the person who donated the service you won so that the two of you can work out the details about how and when.   All services will be provided at the convenience of both the person making the donation and the auction winner, but this should happen within three months of the auction’s end unless something else is agreed upon by both parties.

Good luck and thanks for your help!

Tip: if you’re bidding, you may want to subscribe to the follow-up comments, so you can get notice of future bids. Subscribe via RSS on the right. —>

KidLit Cares

Auction #2 – KidLit Cares: Manuscript Critique Package from Hannah Barnaby and Kate O’Sullivan

Welcome to KidLit Cares, an online talent auction to benefit the Red Cross relief effort to help communities recover from Superstorm Sandy. KidLit Cares was started by the very awesome Kate Messner, but I’m taking over Round 2. Agents, editors, authors, illustrators and other generous people have donated various services to be auctioned off to the highest bidder, with donations being made directly to the Red Cross disaster relief fund. You can read more about KidLit Cares here.

Now, on to the auction!

Hannah Barnaby is the author of WONDER SHOW, a young adult novel that was published by Houghton Mifflin earlier this year. A former children’s book editor and writing instructor, she holds an MA in Children’s Literature from Simmons College as well as an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College. Kate O’Sullivan is an executive editor at Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. As the editor of WONDER SHOW, THE QUIET BOOK, and GRAVE MERCY (among others), her tastes range from voice-driven YA to emotive picture books with a variety of styles and approaches.

Hannah and Kate are offering a manuscript critique package for a picture book or three chapters of a novel. Hannah will read and critique your manuscript and provide detailed feedback; she will then read a revision of the material before passing it along to Kate at Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. Kate will review your manuscript and send a personal response. This could be your chance to get your name on the agenda of an editorial meeting at one of the best-respected publishers in the business!

Opening Bid: $30

*Note: Due to Thanksgiving, we have added an extra day to this auction. This auction closes at 10pm Eastern Standard Time on November 23. Any bids placed after that time will be void.

If you’d like to bid on this auction, check the current high bid and place a higher bid by leaving your name and bid amount in the comments, along with some way to contact you (email, FB or Twitter…I’m not fussy.) Winners will be notified when the auction ends and should be prepared to make an online donation to the Red Cross Disaster Relief fund in the amount of the high bid at that time.  After you’ve made your donation, you’ll forward your receipt to me, and I’ll put you in touch with the person who donated the service you won so that the two of you can work out the details about how and when.   All services will be provided at the convenience of both the person making the donation and the auction winner, but this should happen within three months of the auction’s end unless something else is agreed upon by both parties.

Good luck and thanks for your help!

Tip: if you’re bidding, you may want to subscribe to the follow-up comments, so you can get notice of future bids. Subscribe via RSS on the right. —>

KidLit Cares

Auction #1 – KidLit Cares: Book Club Pack/Skype Visit with Joanne Levy

Welcome to KidLit Cares, an online talent auction to benefit the Red Cross relief effort to help communities recover from Superstorm Sandy. KidLit Cares was started by the very awesome Kate Messner, but I’m taking over Round 2. Agents, editors, authors, illustrators and other generous people have donated various services to be auctioned off to the highest bidder, with donations being made directly to the Red Cross disaster relief fund. You can read more about KidLit Cares here.

Now, on to the auction!

For the first auction of Round 2, Joanne Levy (that’s me!) is offering up a SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE book club pack! This pack includes 10 copies of SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE, secret-holding silicone bracelets, signed bookmarks and discussion guides for all. Also included is a 30 minute Skype visit to chat and discuss the book.

Opening Bid: $30

*Note: Due to Thanksgiving, we have added an extra day to this auction. This auction closes at 10pm Eastern Standard Time on November 23. Any bids placed after that time will be void.

If you’d like to bid on this auction, check the current high bid and place a higher bid by leaving your name and bid amount in the comments, along with some way to contact you (email, FB or Twitter…I’m not fussy.) Winners will be notified when the auction ends and should be prepared to make an online donation to the Red Cross Disaster Relief fund in the amount of the high bid at that time.  After you’ve made your donation, you’ll forward your receipt to me, and I’ll put you in touch with the person who donated the service you won so that the two of you can work out the details about how and when.   All services will be provided at the convenience of both the person making the donation and the auction winner, but this should happen within three months of the auction’s end unless something else is agreed upon by both parties.

Good luck and thanks for your help!

Tip: if you’re bidding, you may want to subscribe to the follow-up comments, so you can get notice of future bids. Subscribe via RSS on the right. —>

KidLit Cares

KidLit Cares: Superstorm Sandy Relief Effort

32 Comments

People who write children’s books and work in this industry have a wide range of interests and talents. As authors, illustrators, agents, and editors, we do different jobs, and we love and create different kinds of books. But one thing we all tend to agree on is using your powers for good in the world.

Many of us watched with sadness as Sandy ravaged the East Coast on October 29th.  Damage estimates are in the tens of billions, and the heartbreak is impossible to measure. We’d like to do what we can to help, and that’s what KidLit Cares is all about.

What is KidLit Cares?

It’s an online talent auction to benefit the Red Cross relief effort for Sandy. Agents, editors, authors, and illustrators have donated various services to be auctioned off to the highest bidder, with donations being made directly to the Red Cross disaster relief fund.

What kinds of things are included?

Manuscript critiques, Skype author visits, virtual writing workshops, school & library marketing consultations for authors… you name it.  Click here to see the full list of auction items from Round 1: great kidlit people including authors Laurie Halse Anderson, Julie Berry, and Jo Knowles, agent Erin Murphy, editor Caroline Abbey.

How do I bid on an auction?

Round 1 is now closed, but feel free to check out the listings – amazing stuff and lots of money raised!

For Round 2, see below for the full listing of offerings, but take note – they start closing on November 23. Click on the title of the entry for more information. There’s a blog post with details for each item, and bidding will happen in the comments.Round 2 is now live – auctions will be posted below on the day they go live. Each auction will be open for 10 days. Due to Thanksgiving, we have added an extra day to auctions 1-12, so they now end at 10pm Eastern Standard Time on November 23.

We also have a Facebook page, where the auctions will be posted, but if you’re bidding, you must do it on this site – bids will NOT be taken at Facebook.

If you’d like to bid on an auction, check the current high bid in the comments, and place a higher bid by leaving your name and bid amount in a new comment, along with some way to contact you (email, FB or Twitter…I’m not fussy. Just please make sure it’s correct so we can get in touch if you win an auction).

A note about bidding: this is not a super-technical auction blog, so I will close each item manually at 10 EST on the date listed on each item. The bid immediately preceding my close notice that is the highest bid will be the winner. Please be understanding that I am a human and my clock may not be exactly the same as yours, but we do have to draw the line, so this is the best way we can be fair.

What happens if I win?

Winners will be notified when the auction ends and should be prepared to make an online donation to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund in the amount of the high bid at that time.   After you’ve made your donation, you’ll forward your receipt to me, and I’ll put you in touch with the person who donated the item/service you won so that the two of you can work out the details about how and when it will be delivered.   All services will be provided at the convenience of both the person making the donation and the auction winner, but this should happen within three months of the auction’s end unless something else is agreed upon by both parties.

What happens if I don’t win?

We ask that you make a donation anyway – even a few dollars will go a long way towards helping out and that’s what we’re doing this for, right? AND consider donating blood, if you are able. Times like this mean a lot of blood is needed and many people are unable to donate. Help out if you can. Remember that just because something isn’t front page news, there’s still need for people affected by the devastation.

***

About the people behind KidLit Cares

Author Kate Messner  initially launched the KidLit Cares effort very quickly after seeing the devastation brought on by Sandy. She writes books for kids (one of them is about scary futuristic storms that feel a little too real these days), and she wanted to do something to help the people in Sandy’s path who are hurting.

And who’s Joanne Levy?

Joanne Levy is the author who took over Round 2 of the KidLit Cares online auction. She lives in Canada, but watched the devastation caused by Sandy and also wanted to help out how she could. Joanne is an executive assistant by day, so she’s (hopefully) well equipped to carry the baton Kate passed on. To learn more about Joanne and her book, SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE, check out her main site at joannelevy.com

Thank you!

Continue reading KidLit Cares: Superstorm Sandy Relief Effort →

Contest!, Cool Stuff

YAmazing Race with MGnificent Prizes – Take 3!

2 Comments

Welcome YAmazing Racers!

 

THE RACE IS NOW OFFICIALLY OVER – THANKS FOR RACING!

Thanks for stopping by. If you’ve made it here by accident, why don’t you play with us anyway? We’ve got lots of prizes and FUN to be had! See below for the full info and where you’ll find the starting line: http://apocalypsies.blogspot.com

Mark your calendars: starting Monday, October 22, 12:00pm Eastern, the Apocalypsies will be hosting the third annual (not really) YAmazing Race with MGnificent Prizes – a week-long blog race featuring over 50 debut authors! Go to THE APOCALYPSIES any time between October 22-29 at noon to join the race and learn more about the hottest new books debuting in 2012 – AND earn a chance to win one of several prize packs made up of signed ARCs and finished copies, gift certificates, bookmarks, jewelry, swag, and more!

Okay, so you’re in? Right. So we need to start with some info about my book, so here it is:

After she’s hit by lightning at a wedding, twelve-year-old Lilah Bloom develops a new talent: she can hear dead people. Among them, there’s her over-opinionated Bubby Dora; a prissy fashion designer; and an approval-seeking clown who livens up a séance. With Bubby Dora leading the way, these and other sweetly imperfect ghosts haunt Lilah through seventh grade, and help her face her one big fear: talking to—and possibly going to the seventh-grade dance with—her crush, Andrew Finkel.

Okay, got what you need from me? Then head over to see Diana Renn:

http://dianarenn.blogspot.com

BUT WAIT! BEFORE YOU GO – THERE’S MORE!

If you go over to my Facebook Page and give it a like and tell me that you came from the YAmazing Race with MGnificent Prizes, I will throw your name into a hat and at the end of the race, I’ll draw for a copy of my book. If I get over 50 new likes, I’ll also draw for a copy of Gina Damico’s hilarious book CROAK, so make sure you tell your friends! And if you’re already a liker of my page, don’t worry – just let me know on the page that you are participating in the YAmazing race and you’ll be entered!

What are you waiting for? GO!!!

Contest!, Cool Stuff, SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE, Street Team Check In

October Street Team Check In.

Welcome (or welcome back!) to the monthly Street Team check in.

CONGRATULATIONS to Carina, winner of the October STREET TEAM prize pack!

I’m going to be suspending the Street Team prize check-ins for now, because something WAY COOL is coming – stay tuned! But don’t feel like you can’t still spread the word about SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE! I still appreciate your efforts!

 

CONGRATULATIONS to Disincentive, winner of the September STREET TEAM prize pack!

Okay, so that important business is out of the way, so let’s kick off the October Street Team EXTRAVAGANZA. You remember the deal, right? You get to be a member of my street team by telling the world about my book, SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE.

It’s really easy – and there are prizes! WHAT PRIZES? You ask?

Tricks the sock monkey

and a paperback copy of HOW THEY CROAKED – a really entertaining, if macabre book about how famous people…er…croaked.

So, if you haven’t joined up yet, here’s how:

To be a member of the SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE Street Team, all you need to do is spread the word about, well, SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE. How? you ask? EASY: You can tweet about it, do a Facebook note about it, like my page on Facebook, write about it on your blog, make a video about it, review it on Goodreads, send an e-mail to your friends telling them to check out the book, ask your library or local bookstore to carry the book, whatever! I just need you to be my people on the street, getting the word out.

Sound easy? Yeah, it is. Every month, I’ll do a draw for cool stuff: things like signed books (mine and by other cool people), Street Team SWAG, gift certificates etc. So to enter, all you need to do is spread the word and then come back and add a comment telling me what you did (and a link if it’s a video or post) and you’ll be entered in this month’s draw.

If you send an e-mail to your friends, telling them about SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE, you can count an extra entry for each one of your friends that you tell-just make sure you copy me on the message: [email protected]. 

Each thing you do will get you one entry (other than the tell-a-friend thing above), but please try to put everything in one comment, to save me having to scroll through what I’m sure will be thousands of comments. Also, don’t forget to include your e-mail address, in case you win! Be creative (and legal, of course) and have fun! Ready? GO!

As always, if you’re super-lazy like me, you can just grab this:

Ready made Tweet/FB Status, just copy and paste: SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE, cute MG by @joannelevy is a perfect funny Halloween read for tweens. http://amzn.to/OM250d #SMALstreetteam

or this: I loved reading @joannelevy’s SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE and you will, too! Check it out: http://bit.ly/vVAKJo  #SMALstreetteam

or how about: I’m tweeting about @joannelevy’s SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE to win Tricks the sock monkey – you can, too: http://bit.ly/K58ig2 #SMALstreetteam