Character Bucket List: L.B. Schulman and Zoe from LEAGUE OF STRAYS

by Martina Boone

I’m Zoe. In high school, most people ran the other way when they saw me coming. It wasn’t that I was so awesomely scary, bwah ha ha and all that, it’s just that I didn’t care what people thought of me. I was epically sick of high school politics. Then I joined the LEAGUE OF STRAYS. Why? Because I was invited. That’s it. Because someone wanted me, Zoe Carpenter, on his team.

No one had ever invited me to join anything before, and I was curious. Problem was, the group leader, Kade Harlin, manipulated each of us in order to achieve his own mega-sick goal. Somehow, he just knew what we each needed, and he played us. For Nora, it was permission to be herself and stop the goody two shoes act. For me, he could tell that I needed a break from babysitting my drunk mom. For Charlotte, it was a hot fling with a guy who found her attractive. Except no one knows if he ever really did like Charlotte, or if he was just trying to keep the League’s “weakest link” close by. In the end, after that horrible thing happened, Kade finally got arrested, but because of stupid legal laws and the clog up in the justice system, he was released early. It made me so angry! Didn’t anyone know he’d be right back to manipulating people in his own psychopathic way?

One thing I’ve shared with a few of the League members is that I want to join the police force as soon as I’m old enough. I’ve always been drawn to the military, to the pursuit of justice. Justice was not served with Kade. He’s a charismatic, confident jerk (read: arrogant) who can talk a snake into walking upright. One day soon, when I’m a police officer, I’m going to run into Mr. Harlin. He’ll think it’s coincidence, and he’ll try to talk me out of taking him in, but it won’t work. I’m going to bide my time until I see him do something that will stick for good, and then I’ll bring the club of justice right down on that creep. What do I want to do before I die? I intend to do everything in my power to make sure that the last person Kade Harlin hurts is himself.

Enough about that psycho creeper, I’ve got other bucket list dreams, too. It’s kinda embarrassing, so you better not laugh, or I’ll have to take you in, too. Okay, so I’m going to get real singing lessons, not just Youtube karaoke. The thing is, I love jazz, and I know I can warble with the best of them. When I’m a cop, I’m going to have loads of money, and then I’m going to sing Billie Holiday for the rest of my life.

I also want to be a foster mother. I know what you’re thinking: me, a mom? But really, I’d make an awesome one. I don’t want kids myself. I mean, for one thing, this planet doesn’t need any more people weighing it down. What about the kids that already exist with lousy moms and dads and no one to care for them? They didn’t ask for a crappy life. I don’t want to adopt anyone, just help out those kiddies until they can find themselves real parents, with real love to give. That’s what we all deserve.

After all that, I’m hoping God will forgive me for the stupid stuff I did this year, and maybe, just maybe, he’ll give me reserved seating in Heaven.

GIVEAWAY

Want to know more about Zoe? Pick up LEAGUE OF STRAYS by L.B. Schulman or fill out the form below and leave a comment on this post by 6:00 PM 11/14/12 for a chance to win a signed copy of the book. Be sure to include a way to contact you either via email or through your blogger profile. We’ll notify winners on 11/15.

This suspenseful debut follows a group of teenage misfits in their delicious quest for revenge on those who have wronged them at their high school. When a mysterious note appears in Charlotte’s mailbox inviting her to join the League of Strays, she’s hopeful it will lead to making friends. What she discovers is a motley crew of loners and an alluring, manipulative ringleader named Kade. Kade convinces the group that they need one another both for friendship and to get back at the classmates and teachers who have betrayed them. But Kade has a bigger agenda. In addition to vandalizing their school and causing fights between other students, Kade’s real intention is a dangerous plot that will threaten lives and force Charlotte to choose between her loyalty to the League and her own conscience.

Praise for League of Strays

“A group of misfits is drawn together by a charismatic, sinister boy for friendship and revenge.”

—Kirkus Reviews
Buy LEAGUE OF STRAYS Now on Amazon

About the Author:

L.B. Schulman writes middle-grade and young adult books. LEAGUE OF STRAYS is her debut YA novel, published by Abrams/Amulet. She lives in California with her husband, two daughters, and a pair of magnificent mutts.

Her website: lbschulman.com
Facebook/LBSchulman
Twitter: @lbschulman

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Martina Boone

Martina Boone is the award-winning author of the romantic southern gothic Heirs of Watson Island series, starting with COMPULSION from Simon & Schuster, Simon Pulse and the Celtic Legends Collection of novels set in Scotland, Cornwall, and Ireland beginning with LAKE OF DESTINY. She’s passionate about improving lives through literacy and the love of books, and she runs the Compulsion For Reading program to distribute books to underserved schools and libraries.

She lives with her husband, children, Shetland Sheepdog Phinney, and Zoey the lopsided cat, and she enjoys writing contemporary romantic fiction with a hint of magic set in small towns and beautiful places. When she isn’t writing, she’s addicted to travel, horses, skiing, chocolate flavored tea, and anything with Nutella on it.

Post © Martina Boone and/or Adventures in YA Publishing. All rights reserved.

Posted: Nov 8, 2012

Category: Imported from AYAP

Tags: Character Bucket List

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The first slide is an animation of a science/magic room in a castle. A cartoon character of a mad-scientist looking man in in the foreground says: “Hello! Dr. Frankenstein here to say, Well Done on kid lit zombie week! I’m an expert at reviving the dead, and let me assure you, with a little spark, you can bring dead projects to life. Especially if you dig up parts from other dead things. I’ll even let you have a sneak peek at my laboratory’s store room to consider potential parts for your dead project. If you see something with a yellow glow, that means you should click it. Have fun!”

He points to the right side of the screen and a new scene slides in of a castle science/magic storage room. There are various cartoon Frankenstein body parts scattered around. Some of them have a yellow glow. If you click on them, the images below appear (I’ve added alt text to them, so I hope it works).

The Heart of your story is the main character. The protagonist is the beating core that truly brings your story to life. If your MC doesn't make kids (and their grown-ups) care within the first few pages, your story will flatline. </p>
<p>Your main character needs to be:<br />
• Relatable enough for kids to see themselves<br />
• Unique enough to stand out in the slush pile<br />
• Active enough to drive the story<br />
• Memorable enough to survive multiple readings at bedtime</p>
<p>Where do you find this amazing donor heart? It might be the very thing you loved so much about the manuscript you want to revive. It might be the younger sister from your shelved YA novel. Or maybe it’s the hilarious kid you blogged about meeting at a school visit. Find a character beating with potential and place it in the center of your story.<br />

The Brain of your story is the theme or central message. The theme is the big idea that controls everything else. Picture books are more than stories - they're tiny life lessons disguised with humor and heart.</p>
<p>But your theme needs to be:<br />
• Subtle enough not to trigger the dreaded "didactic" rejection<br />
• Clear enough for a four-year-old to grasp<br />
• Universal enough to speak to both kids and adults<br />
• Fresh enough to prevent agents and editors from responding with "Not another sharing/bedtime/first-day story!"</p>
<p>Check your other dead manuscripts to see if there is a recurring theme, something that really seems to be speaking to you. Find the bit of poetry you scribbled on the back of a receipt to see what theme inspired it. Reread the pep talk you texted your critique partner at 1am. Pick the theme that will drive your story, giving it purpose, direction, and deeper meaning.<br />

The Legs of your story is the plot. Not to be confused with a grave plot.🤪 The plot is what keeps everything upright and moving, as well as providing support for all the other elements. You have very few words to use in a picture book, so you need to do a lot with each plot point.</p>
<p>In general, your plot should:<br />
• Hook readers fast<br />
• Build tension that a child can follow<br />
• Create page turns that feel natural<br />
• Wrap up in a way that satisfies</p>
<p>You can borrow a plot twist (a leg) from one manuscript and the opening (the other leg) from a different manuscript. Consider if the subplot of the middle grade novel you trunked would work better as a picture book. Or maybe your Facebook post about a disastrous camping trip could become a story for kids. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other until you have your storyline.

The Arms of your story are the side characters.

The Torso of your story is the setting. Setting helps a story breathe and connects all the elements of the story. It isn't just where your story lives, it's what makes your story ALIVE. It's the difference between "this happened in a park" and "this happened in that park, the one with the twisty slide that burns your legs and the creaky swing that sounds like a baby crying.”</p>
<p>Your setting should:<br />
• Make your character's world feel real<br />
• Contain your story in a way that makes sense to young readers<br />
• Connect different scenes and moments organically<br />
• Give your illustrator enough room to add visual subplots</p>
<p>Half-finished manuscripts are a great place to dig up settings, since you worked out the place details before the plot petered out. Or maybe you had to cut a second fantastic location from your chapter book. You can also revisit the detailed caption from your Instagram carousel documenting your tour of that delish candy shop. Disinter a robust setting that can house all of your story's vital organs.

After you press the Click When Done circle button, the lights flash with the sound of electricity buzzing. Then the screen goes black and lightning zaps across the screen with the sound of thunder.

The screen then lights up to show the storage room, and all the Frankenstein pieces have been assembled into the whole monster. An upbeat song plays in the background. Then a speech bubble pops up with the words, “I’m alive! I’M ALIVE!” Then the screen goes to black.

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