Happy Thanksgiving and the Books We’re Thankful For

by Jan Lewis

All of us here at Adventures in YA Publishing would like to with you a very happy Thanksgiving! We’d like to share with you the books we are most thankful for and would love to hear which books you’re thankful for in the comments!

Martina Boone
I have to say BEAUTIFUL CREATURES by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. That was the book that reminded me how much I love southern gothics, with all their quirky characters, luscious settings, spooky atmosphere, and haunting tragedies. I couldn’t stop thinking about the world of Beautiful Creatures, so I had to write my own southern gothic. That is the book that became BEHOLDEN, the first book in my HEIRS OF WATSON ISLAND trilogy that’s being published by Simon Pulse next year.

Alyssa Hamilton
I am most thankful for the PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS and THE HEROES OF OLYMPUS series by Rick Riordan. Riordan’s humour, sense of adventure and seamless ability to integrate Greek mythology with modern day situations is what makes this series so amazing to read. I loved watching Percy, Annabeth, and Grover grow up and later on Leo, Hazel, Frank, Jason and Piper go through these absolutely crazy adventures. My favourite part of this series is how funny it is. When I’m trying to sell it to a reluctant kid whose parents want to get them into reading, I talk about how absolutely hilarious Percy is, and what a blast each quest is in each book. I am so happy and thankful that Rick Riordan still has so much to go with these amazing characters!

Lisa Gail Green
I’m most thankful for THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH. Why? Because that’s the book that taught me there are no limits to imagination. Also, that other people have my sense of humor. I’m grateful that it’s a classic that continues to teach kids that there is value in the fantastic.

Clara Kensie
The ONE book I’m most thankful for? Just one? How am I supposed to pick only one? After much, much thought, I finally realized the answer, and it was so obvious that I should have known it immediately: ANNE OF GREEN GABLES by Lucy Maud Montgomery. I loved this book as a child, as a teen, and as an adult. It’s probably the book I’ve re-read the most number of times, I’ve had the same battered paperback since I was a kid, and it was the very first book I downloaded onto my very first e-reader. The book has such heart and such humor. When I was younger, I wanted to be Anne Shirley—or at least posses her same level of passion, fire, and imagination. Come to think of it, even as an adult, I wish I had her passion, fire, and imagination! I love how stern, no-nonsense Marilla slowly warmed up to Anne, and how shy Matthew immediately loved her. I love the friendship shared by Anne and Diana. And don’t even get me started on Gilbert! Finally, I’m most thankful for ANNE OF GREEN GABLES because it’s had a huge influence on my life: I named my daughter after Anne (well, Anne Shirley and Anne Frank). The book even plays a role throughout my RUN TO YOU series. And one day, I would love to live on Prince Edward Island. So, thank you, L.M. Montgomery, for influencing my life in such a nice way through ANNE OF GREEN GABLES.

Kate Foley
I am most thankful for the HARRY POTTER series by J.K. Rowling. I can’t imagine a world without Harry. Imagine if J.K. Rowling had written the entire Harry Potter series and never shared a word of it. Imagine if she’d taken Harry, Ron, Hermione and all of the other beloved characters to the grave. No Hogwarts, no movies based on the books, no Harry. J.K. Rowling has offered us writers so much inspiration. Imagine if that inspiration never existed. I’m sure lots of our stories would be immensely different. I know my stories would be different!

Jan Lewis
I am most thankful for THE GIVER by Lois Lowry. It was one of the first YA books I ever read, and it really made me fall in love with YA. In addition to being such a beautifully written book, it’s deep and thought-provoking in a very accessible way. It made me realize that YA books have the ability to change people’s lives, and it most definitely changed mine.

Jan Lewis

Jan Lewis writes YA fantasy of the contemporary and traditional varieties. She lives in Oklahoma with a husband, two kids, two cats, a dog, and a mother. Instead of unpublished, she prefers to call herself pre-published. While she enjoys drafting, her heart is truly in rewriting and editing. She loves ladybugs, fairies, blue roses, cats, musical theater, and pretty much all things geek.

Post © Jan Lewis and/or Adventures in YA Publishing. All rights reserved.

Posted: Nov 28, 2013

Category: Imported from AYAP

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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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