Monday, May 7th Chat Session with Bev Katz Rosenbaum
10:00-10:55 am (11:00-11:55 am EST)
**THIS CHAT SESSION HAS ENDED**
Floe Ryan was frozen—well, ‘vitrified’—when she was sixteen. She’s just been thawed, and guess what, it’s ten years in the future and she’s still a teenager. And her parents are still, shall we say, chilling out. Floe’s little sister is now her older sister (and guardian!), and payback’s a beyotch. On top of that, Floe has to get used to a new school, new technology, and a zillion other new things that happened while she was napping in the freezer. Luckily, she has Taz Taber–the hottie sk8er boy who used to make her melt before she was frozen—to reintegrate with. But now they’re trying to close the Venice Beach Cryonics Center—with Floe’s parents still in it! Now that’s cold. It’s up to Floe to save the clinic and her parents—so she can finally have a chance at a somewhat normal life…
* * * * * *
Floe Ryan was frozen (well, vitrified) for ten years because of a rare disease. Now she’s been thawed back to her normal self, but absolutely everything else has changed. Just when she starts warming up to this new scene, everything falls apart…. Her boyfriend is giving her the cold shoulder, and there are all these cliques she can’t fit into–high school can be a cold place. Worse yet, Dr. Dixon at the Cryonics Center tells her that those who were frozen are more susceptible to illnesses and the one doctor who can cure this immune system weakness has gone AWOL. Now it’s up to Floe and her brainy friend Sophie to find him. But they’re not the only ones looking for him–and this time, Floe could be iced for good…
I Was A Teenage Popsicle available now. Beyond Cool coming out August ’07.
About Bev Katz Rosenbaum
Bev Katz Rosenbaum, a former fiction and magazine editor, is the author of the young adult novel I Was a Teenage Popsicle and its upcoming (August) sequel, Beyond Cool. She hopes to channel her inner sixteen-year-old for many years to come! Check out Bev’s website at www.bevkatzrosenbaum.com and her blogs at www.myspace.com/bevkatzrosenbaum or www.teenfictioncafe.blogspot.com .
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Hi everyone
Hope you’ll give a big warm welcome to Bev Katz Rosenbaum.
Your moderator will be your teacher Ms. Allan and she’ll be making sure the chat goes smoothly. To make that happen we have some rules for you to follow. Thank you for your cooperation and enjoy!
I’ll be hanging out here if you need me.
Rules:
- If you have a question to ask the guest, please type a ? and you will be put into queue to ask your question. When your name is up, please have your question ready.
-Please refrain from obscenities, personal questions, or any other unprofessional behavior.
-The moderator has the right to delete or remove any questions or answers deemed inappropriate.
-Please do not chat among yourselves. Try to keep on topic and keep questions and answers between the guest and the class member. Remember the chat is only 30 minutes long.
-Anyone that violates the rules will be asked to leave the forum.
Remember to click the refresh button on your browser to regularly update the comments. If you have questions, ask the moderator.
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Hi Bev!
Good to have you again:)
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question
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Do you have a thing for ice or anything frigid? Words relating to “coldness” or “low temp” seems to be a recurring thing. Is that your “penchant?”
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Can you see this comment?
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Sorry, I think there was a glitch in the system.
Beverly are you here?
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Yes.
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The comment is visible
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Mrs. Allan’s class can see the comments.
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Patrizia and I want to thank everyone who came to particiapte in these discussions sponsored by YACWW.
We would like to invite you to continue visiting us @ http://www.yacreativewriting.blogspot.com
Come and find out the latest news for authors, editors, publishers, books and other media.
This week we have a post about an essay contest from NY Life Insurance for all expense paid trip to India to learn about wildlife conservation.
Check out other interviews with authors and some new imprints that are searching for writers.
Bringing together a community of thinkers, readers and writers.
http://www.creativewriting.blogspot.com
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Hi Sasha. Are we waiting for Bev?
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Christa, I will email Bev.
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In the meantime. If you would like and I know this is impromptu. The kids can ask me questions on books, writing, publishing, etc. For anything they wanted to know. i have 5 yrs in the industry and crazy amounts of junk stored in my mind:)
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?questione?
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What’s the best first sentence you’ve ever read in a book?
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Did you ever get frustrated when you see another author’s work and you thought “I could write that.” ??? Do you ever felt like you were a victim of unintentional plagiarism? Is there only so much a writer can write about before it becomes “plagiarism?”
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Pa, where you going with that ax?
from Charlotte’s Web.
It always gave me chills.
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Is it hard to come up with a story line?
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Tung – Oh my gosh! So many times.
But unfortunately ideas are not copyrighted. And the truth is that in the writing world old ideas are constantly being re-invented to be fresh and new.
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Do you have your ideas jumbled and try to form a story to tie them together? ~H@RRI$ON
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what genre has the most chance for publication:shock:wink:
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Annalynn – Hard? Sometimes yes and no.
Coming up with an idea for a story can hit you square in the face. You could be walking along the street and overhear a conversation or read an article int he newspaper and start making up stories of how this event unfolded or what happened afterward.
It is getting the idea out and onto paper in a coherent and realist way. I write fantasy, romantic suspense and paranormals. So coming up with strange and twisted angles off of real life situations can get really complicated. But it is sooo much fun:)
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Harriston – The mind of a writer is a crazy and choatic place. It is sort ogf like trying to put a 1000 piece puzzle together.
I tried a million techiniques. Some work some don’t.
here are a few:
Storyboard or story mapping – where you try to draw out or branchout the next step in the scene.
Plotting/outline (I use this method) Pretty much I talk about what I want in a scene and just outline the major events I see unfolding.
Panster – fly by writing. just sit down and start typing — let the characters and moment move you. A real trip! ( I love this free write feel— really captures my voice ) but can be difficult to weild in your characters and you might go off track.
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What gave you the idea of starting the YA blog?
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We had a journal prompt that said your career should be what you like to do as a child. So the question is: What did you like to do as a child, and did it affect your career decision?
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Ben – I would never just write a story b/c the market is hot. This could be detrimental if you are not 100% sure of that genre.
Like right now there is a big drive to get more multicultural books (African-American, Latino, Asian- American, etc) I could write it but would I capture the flavor correctly? Would the story be true or realistic of everyday life?
Also, fantasy is hot, a bit on the wane but still valuable — Limmeny Snicket and Harry Potter series are coming to an end and publishers are clamoring for the next big thing in children’s literature.
Mysteries are always in season. Right now agents that I know want boy mystery series — sort of Hardy boys but with a fresh new angle and some more tight plots that will get boys to the bookshelves.
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Being an editor, is it hard to decide what stays and what goes in a story?
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What is the biggest piece of advice you would give to a high school student interested in writing?
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Sam – the YA blog came about when I had my daughter and I realized there was a big gap in children’s education as far as realistic writing. Kids are pushed in school to read and write but other than a grade what is the reason to write?
A librarian I knew asked me if I could help her boost her YA section. The neighborhood I lived in was borderline ghetto. The funds for the library were nil and I thought it was such a shame to watch these kids, mostly hispanic and African-American lose out during the summer. So, I put together workshops w/ a few friends, author and editor to show the kids that there is more to books than just pages. There is a world behind it and a lucrative one if you know the right people.
Granted I don’t tell everyone that they will be the next Christopher Poalini (Eragon) but publishers are seeking real teen lit from teens.
So thats how it cmae about.
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Omigosh, I’m so sorry I’m late everyone! I’ll try to get to some of your questions/comments now! The ‘ice’ references were all repeated and deliberate simply due to the subject of the book. As for which genres are most popular, I have to say, I don’t think anyone should write according to trends. Just write what floats your boat! If you’re passionate or excited about an idea, it will show in the writing!
Bev
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what’s the best advice ever given to you on writing?
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Hi, I have two questions.
What part of a book is the most difficult to write, the beggining, middle or end?
If you could be any character from a book who or what would you be?
~MeHeK~
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When I was a child I wanted to be an Opera Singer. I was told I would never be good enough. YEah, well, i am no Soprano. I”m a self-taught mezzo soprano and can go to a contralto (mid-range deep voice). I still know the operetta for the fairy queen in Mozart’s Magic Flute.
Then I wanted to be an actress. Took two years of acting. Got to play a few lead roles for my summer camp and local theatre.
In the end I wanted to be a producer. But that never happened. I went to business school and became a manger in 5 star restaurants and hotels in NYC. I met famous people but wasn’t famous myself. Still no regrets. I loved every minute
I went back to writing to express myself and now am published!
I say dream all the time. You’ll be amazed at what you can do. Somehow I feel like I am producing good work and good karma.
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Best first sentence–the one from Pride and Prejudice that everyone quotes. I can’t do it exactly, but it’s something about it being common knowledge that a rich man must be in want of a wife!
I came up with the idea for Popsicle when the Ted Williams story became big news. He was a baseball player who put in his will that he wanted to be cryonically preserved. When he died a few years ago, his kids fought over whether to honor his wishes or not. I think all YA literature should address the issue of outsider-ness. Floe, my cryonically preserved heroine, is the ultimate outsider.
I loved to read and write as a kid. I didn’t think I could ever be a real, published writer, so I went into the publishing business on the editing side. Then I realized authors were human, just like the rest of us!
Bev
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Hi Bev! Glad you came.
Discussion is yours.
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Sasha, don’t know if you can see my comments–can the rest of you?
The best advice I got was to write what I feel excited/passionate about!
Bev
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Good–glad you can see me! Again, so sorry, everyone. Is there any time left in this class session?
Bev
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Good–glad you can see me! Again, so sorry, everyone. Is there any time left in this class session?
Bev
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Hi Bev. christa allan here….so sorry for the two chats that didn’t happen. Class ends at 11:00. If we run out of time, could you just email answers to sasha. My students are excited to have this opportunity to talk to a “real” writer………..thanks—