Monday 15 June 2015

Queer YA Auction and Blogathon is Over!

Thank you so much to everyone who participated in the Blogathon, Scrabble and Auction! Winners will be contacted via the method they specified and must pay for their perks via Indigogo within 48 hours or the item will pass to the next bidder!

I hope everyone enjoyed the event and learned about a lot of new #LGBTQ books for teens! Do visit the Master Post List and check out all the great books you should start reading right away.

Final Donor Spotlight: Peter J. Knapp at Park Literary Agency



Just over ONE HOUR left until the end of the auction!


Over the weekend, we'll be posting up a few agent/editor profiles to help writers get to know the amazing publishing professionals who have donated their time to the auction.

If you missed last weekend's Queer YA Scrabble and Author Blogathon, please remember to check out all the blog posts on the Post Master List! The bloggers responsible for the terrific blogathon have generated interviews, reviews, and posted excerpts for all the books participating in the event.

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Based on hit numbers, this evening is the busiest the blog has been -- including at the peek of the giveaway! So, for all the lurker readers and writers out there, bid on the boxes! They're great! 

Last, but by no means least, I'd like to introduce Peter Knapp from Park Literary Agency. Peter has donated a 10pg Critique, and his perk is featuring in the Clan Hydra auction box!




Peter represents middle grade and young adult fiction, and select adult projects. Previously, he worked as a story editor at Floren Shieh Productions, consulting on book-to-film adaptations for Los Angeles-based movie and TV entitles. His clients clients include Melanie Conklin (Counting Thyme, Putnam/Penguin, Soman Chainani (author of NYT bestselling The School for Good and Evil series), Lucy Keating (Dreamology, Harperteen), Brenda Drake (Library Jumpers, Entangled Teen) and many more! He graduated from NYU summa cum laude and lives in Brooklyn. 

Recently, Peter has expressed a desire to see more horror via his #MSWL! 


Donor Spotlight: Ms. Laura Zats from Red Sofa Literary

MASTER LIST OF AUCTION BOXES TO BENEFIT STONEWALL


Just over 2 hours left until the end of the auction!


Over the weekend, we'll be posting up a few agent/editor profiles to help writers get to know the amazing publishing professionals who have donated their time to the auction.

If you missed last weekend's Queer YA Scrabble and Author Blogathon, please remember to check out all the blog posts on the Post Master List! The bloggers responsible for the terrific blogathon have generated interviews, reviews, and posted excerpts for all the books participating in the event.

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Introducing Ms. Laura Zats from Red Sofa Literary! About to embark on #Sffpit or #Pitmad? Looking to get the edge before the contest starts? Laura has generously donated a critique of your 140 character pitches. Her perk can be found in the Clan Unicorn auction box!



While completing her studies at Grinnell College, Laura Zats wrote her thesis on identity formation in Young Adult Literature. She's worked as an editor for several years and has had many positions both in the US and UK. 

She joined Red Soda Literary in 2013 as an associate agent. She enjoys crafts, swing dance, baking and binge Netflix Marathons. 

Her wish list for every genre: feminism, diversity (in all forms) unconventional storytelling techniques and voice-driven narratives. 


Laura Zats’s Representative Categories (from Red Sofa Literary Website)
• Young Adult — Fiction, especially contemporary. I love funny and gritty, especially when the two go together. Interested in geekery, retellings, innovative storytelling, and authentic voices. Please no paranormal romance, contemporary romance, dystopia, Chosen One plotlines, or didacticism.
• Middle Grade — Fiction, especially contemporary. Prefers smart, literary writing disguised as adventures. Looking for books that are heavy with STEM and will appeal to girls and boys.
• Science Fiction/Fantasy — Must pass either the Mako Mori or Bechdel tests. Love non-traditional settings, fast-paced storytelling, anthropological elements, and smart humor. Please no high fantasy.
• Romance/Erotica — Especially contemporary. Must be feminist, have verbal consent throughout, and feature an independent, smart heroine. Please no vampires, werewolves, angels, demons, or mermaids.
• New Adult — I want the same things as I want in YA, but will also consider contemporary romance.

Donor Spotlight: Patricia Nelson from Marsal Lyon Agency


MASTER LIST OF AUCTION BOXES TO BENEFIT STONEWALL


Just over 3 hours left until the end of the auction!

Over the weekend, we'll be posting up a few agent/editor profiles to help writers get to know the amazing publishing professionals who have donated their time to the auction.

If you missed last weekend's Queer YA Scrabble and Author Blogathon, please remember to check out all the blog posts on the Post Master List! The bloggers responsible for the terrific blogathon have generated interviews, reviews, and posted excerpts for all the books participating in the event.

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AHH! The end is almost nigh! BUT not before the end of our donor spotlights!

I'm so pleased to introduce Ms. Patricia Nelson from the Marsal Lyon Agency. Patricia has generously agreed to critique the first 10pgs of the winner's manuscript! Her perk can be found in Clan Phoenix's auction box. 



Patricia Nelson joined Marsal Lyon Literary Agency in 2014. She represents adult, young adult, and middle grade fiction, and is actively looking to build her list

In general, Patricia looks for compelling, well-written stories featuring complex characters that jump off the page. On the adult side, she is seeking women’s fiction, historical fiction, and accessible literary fiction, as well as contemporary and historical romance. For YA and MG, she is open to a wide range of genres, with particular interest in contemporary/realistic, magical realism, mystery, horror, and fantasy. She is interested in seeing diverse stories and characters in all genres. A few of Patricia’s recent sales include WISHES TO NOWHERE by Susan Bishop Crispell (Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin’s Press) and THE CIRCUS THIEF by Kate Bateman (Loveswept).
Patricia received her bachelor’s degree from the College of William and Mary in 2008, and also holds a master’s degree in English Literature from the University of Southern California and a master’s degree in Gender Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. Previously, she interned at The Angela Rinaldi Literary Agency and in the children’s division at Running Press, and before joining the world of publishing, she spent four years as a university-level instructor of literature and writing. 

Donor Spotlight: Stephen Morgan from Entangled Publishing

MASTER LIST OF AUCTION BOXES TO BENEFIT STONEWALL

4 hours until the end of the auction! Over the weekend, we'll be posting up a few agent/editor profiles to help writers get to know the amazing publishing professionals who have donated their time to the auction.

If you missed last weekend's Queer YA Scrabble and Author Blogathon, please remember to check out all the blog posts on the Post Master List! The bloggers responsible for the terrific blogathon have generated interviews, reviews, and posted excerpts for all the books participating in the event.

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Introducing our editor donor, Stephen Morgan from Entangled Publishing! Stephen has donated two perks -- 5pg prose critique and a query critique! His perks feature in the boxes for Clan Unicorn and Clan Phoenix!








Stephen is looking for fun and snarky contemporary romances driven by strong romance tropes. Bring on the alpha hero hiding a heart of gold, and please pit that alpha hero against the one woman willing to call him on his BS. Mild to high heat level preferred, with love scenes fully realized on the page. Favorite tropes include Enemies to Lovers, Fake Engagement, Marriage of Convenience, Mistaken Identity, Older Brother’s Best Friend/Best Friend’s Little Sister (or some variation), Ugly Duckling, and Intimate Strangers. For YA/NA, he’d love to see more gritty across-the-tracks romances, tortured heroes/heroines on the path to redemption, and high-concept genre pieces (biopunk, steampunk, thrillers, even fantasy or paranormal if it’s just a splash of supernatural grounded in the real world).

If your story doesn’t match any of that, don’t worry! Bottom line, if it’s fast-paced and has a strong romantic conflict, send it his way. Find a way to write your story with commercial elements and a literary voice and you’ll immediately have his attention. LGBT characters more than welcome.

Before joining Entangled, Stephen worked in various facets of the publishing, magazine, and communications industries as a writer, editor, and interview coordinator. His Master’s thesis, BOOK DNA, involved a content analysis of what elements contribute to commercially and critically successful genre fiction. You can reach him at Stephen (at) entangledpublishing.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Stephen_Edits, where he occasionally posts pictures of his three tiny brown dogs.

DONOR SPOTLIGHT: Marietta Zacker from the Nancy Gallt Agency


MASTER LIST OF AUCTION BOXES TO BENEFIT STONEWALL

6 hours until the end of the auction! Over the weekend, we'll be posting up a few agent/editor profiles to help writers get to know the amazing publishing professionals who have donated their time to the auction.

If you missed last weekend's Queer YA Scrabble and Author Blogathon, please remember to check out all the blog posts on the Post Master List! The bloggers responsible for the terrific blogathon have generated interviews, reviews, and posted excerpts for all the books participating in the event.

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It's almost the end of the auction -- but not before we introduce the rest of our amazing publishing professional donors! 

I'd like to introduce Marietta Zacker from the Nancy Gallt Literary Agency. Marietta has kindly donated two "jump the query queue passes" ... her perks feature in the boxes for Clan Griffin and Clan Dragon. 




Marietta has professionally experienced every aspect of children's books for over 15 years, working with authors, illustrators, publishers, educators and readers. As an agent, she is passionate about bringing those worlds together. She represents authors whose words make her pause, shiver or laugh out loud and illustrators who add a completely different dimension to the story being told. 

Marietta approaches her work with the knowledge that there are remarkable books of all genres, targeted to all ages, just waiting to be discovered! 

Marietta is also a judge for the #WeNeedDiverseBooks campaign upcoming Walter Grant Award. 

Sunday 14 June 2015

DONOR SPOTLIGHT: Brent Taylor from Triada US


24 hours until the end of the auction! Over the weekend, we'll be posting up a few agent/editor profiles to help writers get to know the amazing publishing professionals who have donated their time to the auction.

If you missed last weekend's Queer YA Scrabble and Author Blogathon, please remember to check out all the blog posts on the Post Master List! The bloggers responsible for the terrific blogathon have generated interviews, reviews, and posted excerpts for all the books participating in the event.

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With EXACTLY 24 hours left in the auction, it's time to present another of our agent donors! Introducing Mr. Brent Taylor from Triada US! Brent has generously donated two query critiques. His critiques feature in the Clan Hydra and Clan Phoenix auction boxes! 




Brent is seeking diverse works across many genres. His tastes are eclectic, but all his favourite novels are similar in that they have big commercial hooks and fantastic writing. 

He is looking for smart, fun and exciting books in the following categories: Middle Grade, Young Adult, Mystery, Crime and Women's Fiction. 

Some recent diversity positive #MSWL items: 








DONOR SPOTLIGHT: Ms. Maria Vicente from P.S. Literary


24 hours until the end of the auction! Over the weekend, we'll be posting up a few agent/editor profiles to help writers get to know the amazing publishing professionals who have donated their time to the auction.

If you missed last weekend's Queer YA Scrabble and Author Blogathon, please remember to check out all the blog posts on the Post Master List! The bloggers responsible for the terrific blogathon have generated interviews, reviews, and posted excerpts for all the books participating in the event.

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It's a pleasure to have Ms. Maria Vicente from P.S. Literary Agency, as our fourth donating agent! Maria has very generously donated two query critiques. Her critiques can be found in the auction boxes for Clan Griffin and and Clan Unicorn! 




Maria Vicente is an associate literary agent at P.S. Literary, providing support to her clients through all stages of the publication process. She is dedicated to managing authors' literary brands for the duration of their careers. 

Her reading preferences vary across categories and genres, which is reflected in her client list. She is actively looking for literary fiction, young adult, middle grade, illustrated picture books and nonfiction projects in the pop culture, design and lifestyle categories. She has affinities for literary prose, strong character development, original storytelling formats and anything geeky. 

Maria has a full, and detailed list of everything she's looking for on her website, but here are some of the things she'd LOVE to see within YA: 

    *Psychological Horror - The creepier the better. 
    *Science fiction with fringe science elements. 
    * Contemporary friendship breakup story filled with drama and honest emotion. 
    * Contemporary with DIVERSE characters (this includes LGBTQ). Not an 'issue' book. Particularly books that go against the gender norms. 
     * A story from the villain's point of view. 
     * Graphic novels. 




DONOR SPOTLIGHT: RACHEL BROOKS FROM THE L. PERKINS AGENCY


24 hours until the end of the auction! Over the weekend, we'll be posting up a few agent/editor profiles to help writers get to know the amazing publishing professionals who have donated their time to the auction.

If you missed last weekend's Queer YA Scrabble and Author Blogathon, please remember to check out all the blog posts on the Post Master List! The bloggers responsible for the terrific blogathon have generated interviews, reviews, and posted excerpts for all the books participating in the event.

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I'm so pleased to introduce Ms. Rachel Brooks from the L. Perkins agency as our third professional donor for the Queer YA Auction! 

Rachel has kindly donated a Query Critique! So, if you're a writer about to go on submission -- this could be an invaluable resources for you. Her perk features in the Clan Griffin Auction Box!




Before joining the L. Perkins Agency, Rachel worked ash agent apprentice to Louise Fury (at the Bent Agency). In addition to her industry training, Rachel has a business degree and also graduated summa cum laude with a BA in English from Texas A&M University-CC. 

She is actively building her client list. 

Rachel is excited about representing young adult fiction, as well as adult romance. In YA, she's looking for authentic voices and memorable characters. In romance, whether contemporary or historical, sweet or spicy, she loves swoon-worthy heroes and determined heroines. 

She loves both print and ebook formats, and has a soft spot for marketing-savvy writers!

Saturday 13 June 2015

DONOR SPOTLIGHT: Ms. Rebecca Podos at Rees Literary Agency


Three days until the end of the auction! Over the weekend, we'll be posting up a few agent/editor profiles to help writers get to know the amazing publishing professionals who have donated their time to the auction.

If you missed last weekend's Queer YA Scrabble and Author Blogathon, please remember to check out all the blog posts on the Post Master List! The bloggers responsible for the terrific blogathon have generated interviews, reviews, and posted excerpts for all the books participating in the event.

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In the second Donor Spotlight, we're focusing on Ms. Rebecca Podos - an agent at Rees Literary Agency! 



Rebecca is actively looking for diverse YA projects and believes that "representing the LGBTQIA experience across all genres of YA fiction is inexpressibly important, and should be our hope, our goal, and our responsibility." 

She is both an author in her own right, as well as a terrific agent representing projects like Rin Chupeco's THE GIRL FROM THE WELL (Sourcebooks), Ryan Bradford's HORROR BUSINESS (Month9Books), Sarah Nicolas DRAGONS ARE PEOPLE TOO (ENTANGLED), THIS MONSTROUS THING (Katherine Tegen Books, Fall 2015), THE SLOW THAW (Harpercollins 2016) and many others. 

She is a graduate of the MFA Writing, Literature and Publishing program at Emerson College, whose debut YA novel, THE MYSTERY OF HOLLOW PLACES is forthcoming from Balzer+Bray. 

Rebecca has donated a 10PG CRITIQUE. This is such a fantastic opportunity to get your opening pages critiqued by an agent before you send them out on submission! Rebecca's perk features in the CLAN DRAGON Auction Box.

DONOR SPOTLIGHT: MS. SABA SULAIMAN AT TALCOTT NOTCH


Three days until the end of the auction! Over the weekend, we'll be posting up a few agent/editor profiles to help writers get to know the amazing publishing professionals who have donated their time to the auction.

If you missed last weekend's Queer YA Scrabble and Author Blogathon, please remember to check out all the blog posts on the Post Master List! The bloggers responsible for the terrific blogathon have generated interviews, reviews, and posted excerpts for all the books participating in the event.

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It seemed appropriate that the first agent profile should go to the agent who was the quickest to respond! We are eternally grateful to Ms. Saba Sulaiman for being the first, and generously donating five  'Skip the Query Line' passes. Her perk features in ALL THE CLAN BOXES. Bid, win, and when you query Ms. Sulaiman -- your letter will jump to the top of her inbox!


Saba's Bio (supplied by the agent):

Saba Sulaiman is the newest agent at Talcott Notch Literary Services, a boutique agency located in Milford, CT. Born and raised in Sri Lanka, she grew up all over South Asia before emigrating to the United States to further her education. She holds a BA from Wellesley College and an MA from the University of Chicago, where she studied modern Persian literature. After working for various magazines and publications in Seattle, Moscow, and Karachi, she entered the trade publishing world through an editorial internship at Sourcebooks. Being a first generation immigrant who is in the process of negotiating her own identity and sense of belonging, she is personally committed to highlighting diverse voices with compelling stories to tell; stories that demonstrate the true range of perspectives that exist in this world, and address urgent and often under-explored issues in children’s fiction with veracity and heart. Follow her on Twitter @agentsaba.

Saba is a champion for Diverse Books! And currently a judge for the #WeNeedDiverseBooks Walter Grant. She would love to see more LGBTQ submissions both in her inbox and submitted to the grant committee. 

So? What is she looking for? 

All the agents and editors approached for this event are actively looking for diverse YA projects. Saba also represents Adult literary fiction, romance, psychological thrillers, MG and humorous non-fiction works. 

Please note that within YA submissions, Saba does not represent paranormal or Sci-Fi. 

Some of her recent #MSWL items include: 






Wednesday 10 June 2015

AUCTION ITEMS / HOW TO ENTER



Bidding Will Close at 12:00AM on June 16th 

In order to avoid additional charges and fees, we've decided to run this auction under the model used by Authors for Japan / Authors for The Philippines. Bidding will take place in the comments below each item in the corresponding post.

At the end of the auction, a 'perk' will be created for the winner on our Indiegogo page. The winner must purchase their perk within 24 hours, or the next bidder will be contacted. Please leave your email address (or a twitter handle, a way to contact you) with the comment. Indiegogo does not charge us fees to use the service or take a commission, so this is the most effective way to get maximum proceeds to Stonewall. Unfortunately, they don't have an auction function and prices must be set.

In the meantime, please feel free to donate to the cause! If everyone who visited this page donated £5, we'd make tons of money for Stonewall! Don't be a bystander, participate in the causes you believe in.

All proceeds will be donated to Stonewall. 

Click on each item for details of AMAZING AGENT AND EDITOR PERKS INSIDE and the TERRIFIC SELECTION OF YOUNG ADULT BOOKS! 

Remember to check out the terrific Blog posts created during the Scrabble Event!


ITEMS AND CURRENT HIGH BIDS*

CLAN UNICORN BOX  - H.B - $105 / £78

CLAN PHOENIX - H.B - $100 / £75

CLAN GRIFFIN - H.B - $50 / £35

CLAN HYDRA - H.B - $85 / £60

CLAN DRAGON - H.B - $100 / £75



*The high bid will be updated three or four times daily. Because we have international bidders in different currency, I will post high bids as £ and their $ equivalent. All other currencies you must work it out for yourself. Sorry!

SCRABBLE GIVEAWAY RESULTS

CLAN UNICORN - Solution: Heteronormative

Carolyn H. of Arizona, USA  @akaTheReader



CLAN HYDRA - Solution: Diversity

Sarah Kettles of Ireland @sfkettles 



CLAN PHOENIX  Solution: genderfluid

Joanne Stapley of London, England @Jo_OUaB


CLAN DRAGON Solution: equality 

Heather of Virginia, USA @hdiangelis


CLAN GRIFFIN Solution: cisgender 

Erin Osborne Martin of Scotland @EKOsborneMartin

Monday 8 June 2015

AUCTION BOX #5 - CLAN DRAGON

In order to avoid additional charges and fees, we've decided to run this auction under the model used by Authors for Japan / Authors for The Philippines. Bidding will take place in the comments below each item in the corresponding post.

At the end of the auction, a 'perk' will be created for the winner on our Indiegogo page. The winner must purchase their perk within 24 hours, or the next bidder will be contacted. Please leave your email address (or a twitter handle, a way to contact you) with the comment. Indiegogo does not charge us fees to use the service or take a commission, so this is the most effective way to get maximum proceeds to Stonewall. Unfortunately, they don't have an auction function and prices must be set.

In the meantime, please feel free to donate to the cause! If everyone who visited this page donated £5, we'd make tons of money for Stonewall! Don't be a bystander, participate in the causes you believe in.


Stonewall's #NoBystanders Video

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Box Contents: 

Books: None of the Above (signed, hardcover), Pukawiss the Outcast (paperback), A Kiss in the Dark (signed, paperback), Boyfriends with Girlfriends (hardcover), The Beast of Callaire (signed, paperback), The Other Me (paperback).

  Wildcards:

 1 x 10pg Critique with Ms. Rebecca Podos at Rees Literary Agency

 1 x ‘Skip the Query Line’ Pass with Ms. Marietta Zacker at Nancy Gallt Literary

 1 x ‘Skip the Query Line’ Pass with Ms. Saba Sulaiman at Talcott Notch





AUCTION BOX #4 - CLAN HYDRA

In order to avoid additional charges and fees, we've decided to run this auction under the model used by Authors for Japan / Authors for The Philippines. Bidding will take place in the comments below each item in the corresponding post.

At the end of the auction, a 'perk' will be created for the winner on our Indiegogo page. The winner must purchase their perk within 24 hours, or the next bidder will be contacted. Please leave your email address (or a twitter handle, a way to contact you) with the comment. Indiegogo does not charge us fees to use the service or take a commission, so this is the most effective way to get maximum proceeds to Stonewall. Unfortunately, they don't have an auction function and prices must be set.

In the meantime, please feel free to donate to the cause! If everyone who visited this page donated £5, we'd make tons of money for Stonewall! Don't be a bystander, participate in the causes you believe in.


Stonewall's #NoBystanders Video

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Box Contents: 

Books: Shadowplay (signed, paperback), Far from You (signed, paperback), Beloved Pilgrim (paperback), Vivaldi in the Dark (paperback), Lies We Tell Ourselves (signed, paperback), I’ll Give You the Sun (paperback), All Devils Here (signed, paperback).

   Wildcards:

   1 x Query Critique with Mr. Brent Taylor at Triada US Literary Agency

   1 x 10pg Critique with Mr. Peter J. Knapp at Park Literary Agency

   1 x ‘Skip the Query Line’ Pass with Ms. Saba Sulaiman at Talcott Notch Literary Agency

   Additional:

   1 x Exclusive Short Story by Tess Sharpe, author of Far from You!