The Review Revolution: Improving Culture through Kvetching

Waiting for the next "Hunger Games" novel? Check out "Graceling" by Kristin Cashore

Admit it. You have succumbed to the crack cocaine that is Suzanne Collins's Hunger Games series. (Here in Cincinnati, The Hunger Games is all the rage because it's the On the Same Page selection for this year with our public library system.) But I've already read it three times and am counting the days until Mockingjay, the final book in the trilogy, will be released. Just under four months to go! Can I get a witness?

So here's a wonderful way to fill the time: dive into Graceling by Kristin Cashore. I almost feel bad comparing the two, because I'm sure that Cashore hears that all the time and has wondered why The Hunger Games has achieved iconic status while Graceling has flown a wee bit under the radar, despite starred reviews in PW, LJ, SLJ, and Booklist. So I'm on a one-woman crusade to help spread the word about this excellent YA novel. It's like THG in that both feature unapologetically strong female heroines (one named Katniss, one named Katsa . . hmm), fascinating explorations of dystopian societies and the misuse of power, intriguing plot twists, and epic love stories. (Black box warning: Graceling does feature some sex, which is sensitively portrayed. The novel is aimed at older teen readers and adults.)

Graceling is set in a society in which a handful of individuals are "graced," or gifted with extraordinary abilities in one key area, whether it be animal husbandry, mind-reading, or setting fire to things. Katsa, our heroine, is graced with killing -- not the gift she would have chosen -- and is given work as a kind of mafia hit man for her uncle, a cruel and petty king. The novel traces Katsa's gradual discovery of her real Grace, which turns out not to be killing at all, and her growing openness to loving others and finding self-understanding. Unforgettable characters, exciting and well-paced plot, and imaginative setting. You will be cheering.

Help for New Writers: A Plug for My "Writer's Market Guide to Getting Published"

Does it count as shameless self-promotion if your name isn't on the front cover of the book you're trying to plug? I don't think so! So here goes.

Writer's Digest Books, which is part of F+W Media here in Cincinnati, recently hired me to revamp their old Writer's Market Companion and bring it completely up to date. This I gladly did, revising all the content, cutting some chapters out completely, and adding lots of brand-new material, including a chapter on self-publishing and a whole new multi-chapter section on marketing and publicity for authors. I had a great editor, Melissa Hill, who helped me craft the book according to the needs of WD's customers--mostly new writers who are wondering how the heck to get started in what often feels like a mysterious and even cruel business.

I'm proud of the results, and happy that the book covers a broad spectrum of what it means to make a living as a writer--books, magazine writing, screenwriting, the works. The book is available at a low price ($19.99 list, and about $14 with Amazon's hefty discount). Check it out!

Here's what WD says about Writer's Market Guide to Getting Published on its website:

"Everything you need to succeed in the business of writing! You have the ideas and the desire—but how do you get your writing published? Find out here! Writer's Market Guide to Getting Published gives you the inspiration and instruction you need to achieve long-term success in an ever-changing industry. This authoritative guide explores the ins and outs of the business of writing to provide you with:

• an exclusive look at the latest publishing industry trends
• guidelines for writing and selling fiction, nonfiction, and scripts
• techniques for conducting productive research
• innovative marketing and self-promotion strategies
• a comprehensive look at viable self-publishing options
• contract negotiation tips that really work
• a pricing guide so that you always know what your work is worth in the marketplace
• a glossary of publishing terms to give you a competitive edge

Plus, get insider tips from magazine and book editors and successful freelancer writers on what works—and what doesn't.

With Writer's Market Guide to Getting Published, you'll know exactly what it takes to get your work out into the marketplace, get it published, and get paid for it."