Giveaways
Erin L. Schneider
Goodreads Giveaway: SUMMER OF SLOANE
Goodreads Giveaway: SUMMER OF SLOANE

YA Buccaneers

YA Buccaneers: Spring Writing Bootcamp Check-In

Since the beginning of April, we've been busy over at the YA Buccaneers, hosting our 2nd annual Spring Writing Bootcamp!

Which has been perfect timing, because I've been crazy busy with revisions for my editor, since February -- and with my looming deadline of 4/17, I knew I'd need a little motivation to make that final push to finish.

And finish I did!

I'm beyond ecstatic to get through this first round of heavy edits. A lot was discussed up front on how to make WTWF the best it could be and I love the direction we settled on. In the end, I cut a lot of the muck and am really happy with where my MS is at now. Granted, there's still a lot of work ahead, but that first initial sweep is done, done, and DONE!

Next steps: I expect to have round 2 of editorial notes somewhere around next Friday, 5/1 and then it'll be back to the revision cave.

I also found out my expected publishing date (if everything stays on track) will be:

May 3, 2016!!!

May is such a good month for me, from my birthday, to when I sold my book last year -- so I couldn't be happier with a 5/3/16 pub date!

I've also heard that cover options should be ready to see sometime soon...and I can't wait!!! Whenever that happens, I'll announce the cover reveal information as soon as I can.

Until then, I'm busy reading an ARC of fellow Mouse-House author, Marci Lyn Curtis, THE ONE THING!

Guys, this book is so much fun and Marci's snark is AWESOME! I can't wait for this to come out on September 8th!

What else am I busy with? Well, some of you may know I'm expecting...and Baby Boy is due the first week of August! My husband and I are BEYOND excited and I can't wait to meet the Lil' Putter!

I've been working on the nursery and now that I'm sans edits for a couple of weeks, I'll be able to get a lot of it done! Our theme is Monkeys / Jungle and I'll be busy this week getting the walls done.

So with that, week 3 of our Spring Writing Bootcamp is complete and I successfully scratched off a big goal! 

Spring Writing Bootcamp Goals:

  1. Finish first round of edits for Disney-Hyperion -- Due date: Friday, April 17th.
  2. Finish second round of edits for DH -- Due date: TBD.
  3. Read ARC of THE ONE THING by Marci Lyn Curtis
  4. Read / critique new MS for fellow CP (still waiting for the updated version to start)
  5. Work on new WIP (Read / revise current chapters): NOTG
  6. Plot new WIP: WITNESS
  7. Non-writerly stuff: Work on nursery!

If you're joining us this year for Bootcamp, I hope you've been making great progress in your writing goals -- and I'd love to hear all about them!

2014 Rewind: My Top 10 YA Reads

Because a picture is worth a thousand words...my top 10 YA reads for 2014:

10. #SCANDAL by Sarah Ockler

9. HORDE by Ann Aguirre

8. FAR FROM YOU by Tess Sharpe

7. THE BITTER KINGDOM by Rae Carson

6. DREAMS OF GODS & MONSTERS by Laini Taylor 

5. ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS by Scott O'Dell

4. HEIR OF FIRE by Sarah J. Maas

3. RUIN AND RISING by Leigh Bardugo

And my TWO #1 picks:

1. WE WERE LIARS by E. Lockhart

1. I'LL GIVE YOU THE SUN by Jandy Nelson

Yes, I cheated and picked two #1 books this year...but they were both so good -- here's what I shared about them both over at the YA Buccaneers:

I'LL GIVE YOU THE SUN:

Jandy Nelson could write one of those uncomfortable brochures you find in your OB/GYN's office and I'd still read it. Seriously. I love Jandy for so many reasons and I'LL GIVE YOU THE SUN is one of them. Here's what I wrote about Jandy and her books in our Thanksgiving Giving Thanks post:

I'm thankful for YA author, Jandy Nelson. I loved her latest release, I'LL GIVE YOU THE SUN, but THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE -- that one is at the top of my all-time favorites and reminds me every single day what great writing is all about. When I went out on sub earlier this year, I was honored to use SKY as one of my comp titles -- and in September when I got to meet Jandy, I let her know. Her response: she squealed, jumped up and hugged me, then gave me a huge kiss on my cheek. It resulted in the best personalization ever. 

WE WERE LIARS:

Captain E. Hook, aka Erin L. Schneider: "My favorite read for 2014 was WE WERE LIARS by E. Lockhart. Full of characters with deep flaws, twists and turns throughout, and an ending that was not at all what I was expecting, this read has it all!" 

Make sure to stop by the YA Buccaneers and check out the rest of the crew's top favorite YA reads for 2014. Plus, we've got copies of I'LL GIVE YOU THE SUN and our very own Caroline Richmond's THE ONLY THING TO FEAR up for grabs for our December Reading Muting Challenge!

What was your favorite read from this year?

YA Buccaneers Summer Reading Challenge: Check-in #5

I managed to polish off two more reads for my YA Buccaneers Summer Reading Challenge this past week:

  • Read a biography or memoir

  • Read a non YA Book: GRAPEVINE WOODS by Bridgid Gallagher - MG CP Read

  • Read a classic (YA or otherwise) 

  • Read a book by a debut author: MORE THAN MUSIC by Elizabeth Briggs

  • Read a book with Summer in the title

  • Read a book published the year you were born

  • Read a book with a male protagonist 

  • Read a book of your choice: RUIN AND RISING by Leigh Bardugo and #SCANDAL by Sarah Ockler

  • Re-read a book you disliked as a kid

  • Re-read an old favorite: ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS by Scott O'Dell

  • Read a book that's been on your TBR a long time

  • Read a Printz Award winner: Currently Reading: GOING BOVINE by Libba Bray

  • Read a book set at the beach

  • Read a book with LGBT themes or main characters: FAR FROM YOU by Tess Sharpe

  • Read a book of poetry or novel in verse

     

    Any recos on a good read set at the beach (I'm re-reading TWENTY BOY SUMMER for my book with Summer in the title, so I need something else that takes place at the beach!)? Or how about a good biography or memoir? 

    • YA Buccaneers Summer Reading Challenge: Check-in #4

    I'm finally making progress on my Summer Reading Challenge! 

    As of today, I've checked three books off the list and am working on my fourth:

    1. Read a biography or memoir

    2. Read a non YA Book: GRAPEVINE WOODS by Bridgid Gallagher - MG CP Read

    3. Read a classic (YA or otherwise)

    4. Read a book by a debut author

    5. Read a book with Summer in the title

    6. Read a book published the year you were born

    7. Read a book with a male protagonist 

    8. Read a book of your choice: RUIN AND RISING by Leigh Bardugo

    9. Re-read a book you disliked as a kid

    10. Re-read an old favorite

    11. Read a book that's been on your TBR a long time

    12. Read a Printz Award winner

    13. Read a book set at the beach

    14. Read a book with LGBT themes or main characters: FAR FROM YOU by Tess Sharpe

    15. Read a book of poetry or novel in verse


           

    I've already got my picks for both my debut author and male protag spots, but am still looking for a great book of poetry or novel in verse -- any recos out there?

    YA Buccaneers Summer Reading Challenge: Check-in #3

    Yipes! I've missed the first two check-in's for our Summer Reading Challenge -- but not because I haven't been reading, I swear!

    I've been busy cranking and critiquing through a MS for a fabulous friend of mine, which definitely took priority. But now I've finished with her awesome book, sent off my comments, and started back in on all those great summer reads I have piled up!

    So far I've checked ONE book off from the list and am working on my second...you could say I have some work to do this summer!

    1. Read a biography or memoir

    2. Read a non YA Book

    3. Read a classic (YA or otherwise)

    4. Read a book by a debut author

    5. Read a book with Summer in the title

    6. Read a book published the year you were born

    7. Read a book with a male protagonist 

    8. Read a book of your choice: Pending - RUIN AND RISING by Leigh Bardugo

    9. Re-read a book you disliked as a kid

    10. Re-read an old favorite

    11. Read a book that's been on your TBR a long time

    12. Read a Printz Award winner

    13. Read a book set at the beach

    14. Read a book with LGBT themes or main characters: FAR FROM YOU by Tess Sharpe

    15. Read a book of poetry or novel in verse

    What great books have you read this summer? I'll take any recos that help check off my list! And Happy 4th of July, everyone!