Wish I’d Written by Emery Lord

by Adventures in YA Publishing

So we’re taking on a wee bit of a different take with Wish I’d Written Today. We have Emery Lord on, the author of the upcoming OPEN ROAD SUMMER, on eof my favourite books of the year so far. Emery is going to be talking about which books she can’t wait to come out in April this month, as well as wishing she had written them 🙂 It’s a great way to find out some amazing new books that are releasing this month!

Hi! Emery Lord here. I’ve had the opportunity to read a few April contemporary YA releases from fellow debut authors, and these ones have just blown me away. They’re all different, and all books I can’t wait to own finished copies of! Happy spring and happy reading!

Breakfast Served Anytime by Sarah Combs 4/8/2014
Breakfast Served Anytime hits on some of my favorite topics to read about: coping with grief, a summer away at camp, and (duh) swoony boys.
The writing in this book is just beautiful. Sarah Combs has a really lovely way of drawing allusions that just connected with me so completely as a reader—that moment where a description makes you think, “That IS what that’s like.” Perfect porch swing summer book!

The Vigilante Poets of Selwyn Academy by Kate Hattemer 4/8/2014
I’ve never said the following phrase, but I’m going to say it (AND MEAN IT) now: This book is a perfect read for fans of John Green. It’s cerebral and pulls in academics (specifically modern poetry) in such an interesting way…but I also laughed out loud multiple times. There’s a great friend group, hilarious siblings, and a genuine, fresh voice in protagonist Ethan. I’m going to reread it, which is high praise around here!

Far From You by Tess Sharpe 4/8/2014
This book features a narrator with a pill addiction, but it’s not about Pill Addiction. This book features a narrator with a physical disability, but it’s not about Physical Disability. This book features a same sex relationship, but it’s not about A Same Sex Relationship.

What I mean is: Tess Sharpe writes a narrator so fully realized that none of Sophie’s individual traits overpower her as a character. The murder-mystery kept me guessing and turning the pages as fast as possible. Can’t wait for more from Tess Sharpe!

The Chance You Won’t Return by Annie Cardi 4/22/2014
Annie Cardi is my agent-sister, so I’ve been hearing amazing things about this book since before it even sold! It totally lived up. As if totally failing at driver’s ed isn’t enough, Alex Winchester is dealing with her mom’s mental health episode—she thinks she’s Amelia Earhart. This story hits on the particular self-consciousness of high school, layered with complicated family dynamics and a very cute boy named Jim Wiley.

May Mention: These Gentle Wounds by Helene Dunbar (out 5/8/2014)
Sad, hopeful, resonant and utterly beautiful. Loved this one.

About The Author

Emery Lord is a 20-something Midwestern girl who writes stories about high school and best friends and weird families and the crushes that make you feel combustibly alive and also more awkward than you thought was possible. If you’re not sure how to pronounce Emery, try slurring the name “Emily,” and that will get you really close.

She lives in Cincinnati in a 100 year-old pink row house with her BFF/husband, a closet full of dresses, and lots of books. If karaoke-ing in grocery store aisles or guzzling coffee while impulse shopping were illegal, Emery would be writing her overemotional YA books from jail. Also, she makes up words sometimes. Like combustibly.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

About The Book

After breaking up with her bad-news boyfriend, Reagan O’Neill is ready to leave her rebellious ways behind. . . and her best friend, country superstar Lilah Montgomery, is nursing a broken heart of her own. Fortunately, Lilah’s 24-city tour is about to kick off, offering a perfect opportunity for a girls-only summer of break-up ballads and healing hearts. But when Matt Finch joins the tour as its opening act, his boy-next-door charm proves difficult for Reagan to resist, despite her vow to live a drama-free existence. This summer, Reagan and Lilah will navigate the ups and downs of fame and friendship as they come to see that giving your heart to the right person is always a risk worth taking. A fresh new voice in contemporary romance, Emery Lord’s gorgeous writing hits all the right notes.

Amazon | IndieBound | Goodreads

Adventures in YA Publishing

This is the user name for posts from Adventures in YA Publishing that did not have a specific author.

Post © Adventures in YA Publishing. All rights reserved.

Posted: Apr 5, 2014

Category: Imported from AYAP

Tags: What I Wish I Had Written

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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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