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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I can see you. 10 minutes. Can you take
Being an editor, is it hard to decide what stays and what goes in a story?
by keri May 7th, 2007 at 8:32 am
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What is the biggest piece of advice you would give to a high school student interested in writing?
by Lizzie May 7th, 2007 at 8:32 am
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We lurve you Bev!
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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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Re: what’s hot, editors seem to be tired of paranormal stuff now. Even though it’s still showing up on shelves (the stuff that’s out now was bought by publishers one or two years ago), it’s not what editors are looking for. Which is why you should always write the book of your heart. By the time you jump on a trend bandwagon, it’s usually too late! I just wrote a proposal that’s very personal to me, as opposed to trying to think of another high concept story and my agent loves it, so keep your fingers crossed!
Bev
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Aw, thanks for the lurve
Re: editing, what’s strange is that when my editor suggests taking something out or changing something, it’s almost always something I’ve thought about taking out or chaning myself! (Lesson: listen to your instincts!) When I edit books, the same thing happens–the author almost always tells me, “I’d thought about taking that out!”
My advice to a high school aged writer would be, study the novels you like, read them analytically. Figure out how many plot and subplot lines there are, how the theme, characters and plot line(s) work together as a whole. Then plot out your own story (one page, in point form is fine–you don’t want to get tired of your book before you begin!), and know your characters in your head before you start writing. Have a good mix of plot and dialogue.
Re: what’s the most difficult part, definitely the middle! You’re all excited at the beginning, and the wrapup is always fun. Everyone hates her book in the middle!
I’d love to be Lizzie Bennett, from P & P, of course!
Bev
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time is up! thanks for the chat
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Don’t know why my answers are showing up twice! Any more questions?
Bev
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Bev and Sasha–The bell just rang….and they’re off to lunch. Thanks so much for your time.
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Did the glitch come back?
Thanky ou for stopping by and remember to visit is http://www.yacreativewriting.blogspot.com
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Bev—as one with a YA WIP on life support, I may be contacting you soon about an edit!
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Sasha and Christa, my apologies once again. Should I go back and answer any questions I’ve missed?
Bev
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Bev – Glad you could make it. The time difference always messes me up too.
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Oops, I meant have a good mix of narrative and dialogue earlier!
Bev
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Please do. I am sure the kids would love to hear what you have to say.
BTW, is the second popsicle book coming out htis summer?
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Christa, that’s great! My rate/info sheet is posted on my website. I’ll give you a discount because I feel so terrible about messing up this time! (Figures. After all that rescheduling, I failed to write this one down in my calendar.) I feel horrible that I let the students down.
Bev
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Should I post more here, or email you? Sasha, I don’t think I have your e-mail addy, only Patrizia’s.
Bev
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You can email Patrizia. She’ll send you the transcript and you can put your answers there, then she’ll send it to Christa.
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?
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Will do. So sorry again.
Bev
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No need to be sorry. Always happy to have you with us:)