New York Recap of Awesome

Last week I went to New York on writerly business.  Seeing editors and publicists and meeting other authors.  You know.

Work.

(Yeah.  Right.)

My companion-in-arms was the fabulous Joanne Levy, author of SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE, one of the funniest middle grade books I've read in a long time (and definitely one of the best titles I've ever heard).

On Monday, I met with the amazing Aimee Friedman, my editor at Scholastic for MANOR OF SECRETS, and we discussed history, Downton Abbey, travel and good books.

That night, with Joanne, Betsy Bird (GIANT DANCE PARTY), Ame Dyckman (BOY + BOT, TEA PARTY RULES), Lynda Mullaly Hunt (ONE FOR THE MURPHYS), Elisa Ludwig (PRETTY CROOKED, PRETTY SLY) and Sarvenaz Tash (THE MAPMAKER AND THE GHOST), we told the Children's Media Association (and their compatriots) about our Journey to Publishing--all the inside scoop on getting an agent, publishing a book and the surprises and adventures that happen along the way.  We also had a Giant Dance Party.


On Tuesday, I visited the Penguin offices where I finally got to meet my publicist, some of the fantastic marketing and publicity team, and one of my literary idols, Ken Wright, who is now head of Viking by way of being a kick-ass agent.  I also fangirled all over the incredible Leila Sales, author of PAST PERFECT and THIS SONG WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE (and also, from what I've heard, a damn fine editor).  But the highlight was getting the chance to have a good, long chat with my own awesome editor, Kendra Levin, about what happens next.

I managed to squeeze in all kinds of touristy things--the double-decker tourist bus, the Empire State Building, a Broadway show, Times Square at night--I even rode the subway.  But for me, the tourist highlight was visiting the New York Public Library to see the ABC of It exhibition on children's literature and traveling through Good Night Moon, Charlotte's Web, Where the Wild Things Are and one of my favorite books of all time, The Phantom Tollbooth.

This is Milo's car. Judy Blume sat here. Awesome.

I can honestly say now that I love New York.  It's busy and crazy and overwhelming and magical.  Special thanks to the bus driver who got me to the airport on time, the friendly postal worker, the smooth-talking stranger at the street corner pizza place, the chef at Home whose secret ingredient was "a clean heart" and the countless New York City drivers who managed not to run me over as I stared up through the canyon of buildings to try to catch a glimpse of the sky.

Friday Five -- Joanne Levy

Joanne Levy is the author of SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE (quite possibly the best title of the year for a middle grade novel) and a Class of 2k12 sibling.  I have the great pleasure of being able to hear her wisdom and humor almost daily through 2k12 e-mails and I'm delighted to be able to share her here.

THE FIVE:

1.  What is your guiltiest pleasure? 

I have two – one reading and one food. Let’s start with the reading: J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood books. They are SUCH a guilty pleasure because they’re kind of cheesy (hello, laughable character names, gratuitous product placements and really bad urban-speak) but they are very, very addictive. Seriously. They are like Crahck (if you’ve read them, you get that spelling joke) and I’ve read them more times than I care to admit. But they are my go-to comfort reads when I’m tired and worn out and just want to go to a happy place.  And now, my food guilty pleasure. Um, it is SO GROSS, that I am embarrassed to tell you, but I will, because I really like you and you deserve an honest answer. Okay, here goes: when my mom (a bona fide Jewish Grandmother, who is an AMAZING cook) makes soup, she always throws in some soup bones to make for a richer broth. When we were kids, our favorite thing was to get the bones from the cooked soup and scoop out the bone marrow and spread it onto bread like butter. OMG, it’s so good, but truly one of those disgusting things that you’re kind of ashamed of as a grown-up. But would still do, given the opportunity *calling Mom right now to beg her to make soup*.

2.  Who would play you in the film of your life?

Amy Adams - I think we even have the same nose and the red hair is a no brainer. And how cute is she, right?

3.  If you could edit your past, what would you change?

Probably nothing—every experience, even the stupid mistakes I’ve made or the times when it seemed like the universe was pooping on me, have made me who I am today, and I’m pretty okay with that.

4.  What one word do you think describes you best?

Funny. I hope. Oh, man, now I’m not sure. Can I change my answer? If so, please change it to ‘self-assured’. Thanks!

5.  What is your favorite writing motto/mantra?

Just Do It. Get your butt in the chair and start writing, because you can’t edit a blank page.

ABOUT SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE:

From Goodreads: 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 overopinionated 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.

You can pre-order SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE here.

ABOUT JOANNE:

You can find Joanne at her website.
On Twitter.
On Facebook.
And on Goodreads.