Author Archives: typecraft

Virtual YA Book Club Discussion: Pure by Julianna Baggott

For our recent book club, we read Pure by Julianna Baggot. To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect other than I knew it would be a post-apocalyptic YA novel. When I started it, it was pretty scary to me, so much so that I tried not to read it before I went to sleep, but then I got so hooked that I couldn’t stop reading. The only day that I put the book down was the tragic day of the Boston bombings. To me, it was too surreal to read about a world with Detonations when there were actual bombs going off at a marathon. It was too eerily similar.

While Pure was a tough read for me because of the dark places that it goes, I was drawn to the beautiful writing and the intense drama. I just had to know what happened to each character.

Virtual YA Book Club Schedule

In the back of my copy, there are some group discussion questions so I thought it would be fun to use some of them since it has a reading group guide. My copy also had an excerpt for Fuse, which was equally gripping and scary as well.

Here’s our discussion questions:

1) At first, I was scared by the doll’s head on Pressia’s arm, mainly because I’m scared of dolls with blinky eyes (cue the nightmares). But my perception of the doll’s face in her arm changed because of how, at first, she seemed ashamed of it by hiding it with her sleeve and when she admits that she tried to cut it off. In the end, the doll’s face was her ally. What did you think of Pressia’s relationship to her doll’s head? What about Bradwell’s birds? What do you think Baggott was trying to say by creating characters that were fused to animals, objects, and even the earth?

2) In the intro to the reading group guide in the book, Baggott writes, “Pure is dedicated to my daughter. She’s the age of the main character. I read her a very early snippet. She told me that it was the best thing I’d ever written and pushed me to write this novel. I don’t know what struck her exactly. But it resonated. Maybe it’s the idea that everyday life sometimes is polished up to look perfect—Dome-like—but, in truth, it can feel like an ashen wasteland. We all struggle at different times in our lives. Sometimes a post-apocalyptic novel simply feels like the honest emotional truth.” Do you agree?

3) How does Pressia change throughout the book? Compare and contrast Pressia at the beginning versus Pressia at the end.

4) Discuss the relationship between El Capitan and Helmud. Why is El Capitan proud of Helmud when he realizes that Helmud was plotting to kill him?

5) Through various female characters, we get glimpses of the gender roles imposed by this society—the Mothers and their hatred of men, the Dome’s refusal to let boys take art classes because they aren’t “useful,” and Ingership’s wife’s participation in the Feminine Feminists. What do you think of this society’s ideal version of a woman? How does it compare to our world?

6) I was really struck by the relationships in this novel. Lyda and Partridge, Bradwell and Pressia, and eventually Pressia and Partridge. Each relationship sacrificed for the other. To me, it wasn’t the typical teen romance because the world was so atypical, but there was still the same feelings of hope, want, and the desire to care for the other person, even if they weren’t physically close. Which relationship was your favorite?

7) There are so many different worlds happening within Pure from the Dome to where the “wretches” live. I was fascinated by the perception of the past (3-D movies, Mickey Mouse, and a dog in a party hat), playing the I Remember game, and when Pressia goes to Ingership’s house and she tastes oysters for the first time. How does memory play a  role in this world?

Our next YA book is Just One Day by Gayle Forman. Please read it by June 25. Until next time!

Virtual YA Book Club: Fingerprints of You by Kristen-Paige Madonia

We had a wonderful Twitter chat last night with YA author Kristen-Paige Madonia about her book Fingerprints of You. For highlights from the chat, check out my Storify.com collection of tweets from the chat. Special thanks to Kristen-Paige for taking the time to discuss her debut book with us!

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Now, on to our discussion!

I first heard an excerpt of the book at Wordstock, an amazing book festival in Portland, OR and was really intrigued by the first 10 pages. Upon reading the whole book, I was really moved by the story of Lemon and her mother Stella, perhaps because I am the daughter of a single mother. I loved how honest the mother-daughter experience was, but also how all of the characters felt very real to me.

Here are my questions. Feel free to add your own!

1) In our Twitter chat, we talked about the cover of the book, even learning that Amanda painted her nails to match the tattoo-inspired cover. What do you think is the significance of the bird on the chain flying away?

2) There are a lot of parallels in this book. Emmy’s dad being absent, but in an entirely different way than Lemon’s dad who was gone for most of her life. Stella had Lemon when she was young and Lemon becomes pregnant at a young age. Ryan’s love of reading and Lemon’s love of reading. Even the settings—East coast versus West Coast—are somewhat parallel. Why do you think there are those connections throughout the book?

3) My friend Sutton brought up an interesting point. Why did Lemon and Stella never discuss terminating the pregnancy early on? Why do you think the conversation never happened?

4) As Lemon was moving forward in her pregnancy, I worried for her, especially when she fainted several times and her poor diet. So I wasn’t too surprised by the ending of the book, yet I was still really sad for Lemon.

5) San Francisco plays a major role in Lemon’s transformation, even in Stella, when she appears again. How does Madonia use these two environments—West Virginia and California—to emphasis transformation?

6) Art, music, and literature play a big role in this book—Stella’s art classes, Ryan’s love of music, Stella’s inscriptions inside the books she leaves Ryan, and Lemon always reading. (You can even find Lemon’s playlist here.) What do the arts signify in the book?

7) While I liked Aiden as a character, I wondered if their romance was a little too easy and beautiful. He seemed to always and do the right thing. What did you think of Lemon and Aiden’s romance? How did their relationship change Lemon?

Twitter Chat with Kristen-Paige Madonia

I’m happy to announce that the author of Fingerprints of You Kristen-Paige Madonia will be joining us for a Twitter chat on Monday, February 25 at 5:30pm -6pm PT. Never done a Twitter chat before? It’s simple!

1. Sign in with your Twitter username and password at Tweetchat.com.

2. Use the hashtag #YABookClub. When you enter the hashtag into Tweetchat, it automatically adds the hashtag to your tweets so you don’t need to repeat it.

3. I’ll ask some questions to start out, but it’s totally open to all of you to ask Kristen-Paige questions.

If you have any questions, let me know in the comments.

See you then!

YA Book Club Schedule 2013

Thanks for voting, everyone! I put together the schedule for 2013, considering what you requested and what was voted on. I scheduled books every 2 months so that gives everyone time to get the book and read it without pressure (also it’s more manageable for me to organize).

Please review the VIRTUAL YA BOOK CLUB schedule and note the “read by” dates.

Join at any time—there’s no need to sign up!

LET’S DO THIS!

Virtual YA Book Club 2013

 

Hi, everyone! Thanks for your patience with the changing schedule of the Virtual YA Book Club. Long story short, I got really sick at the end of the year, travel, and an unexpected move made December and January a blur for me.

But I’d love to get back on track for reading great, new, interesting YA books. I know we’re all so busy so I was thinking of reading 6 books and giving each book 2 months so you have time to find and read the book.

Our next book is Fingerprints of You by Kristen-Paige Madonia. Please read it by Sunday, February 24. I met Kristen-Paige at Wordstock 2012 in Portland, OR and she’d love to do a Twitter chat with us to discuss the book and her journey as a YA author.

So to kick off this year of great reading, please answer a few questions and I’ll put together a schedule and hopefully a Twitter chat with Kristen-Paige.

Virtual YA Book Club: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Before I get started with the discussion on The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, I wanted to announce two things:

1) I’m canceling our December book club. The holidays are a nutso time and I need a little break to catch up on life.

2) I’m happy to announce our January 2013 book club selection is Fingerprints of You by Kristen-Paige Madonia. I met Kristen-Paige at the Wordstock Book Festival in Portland, OR and she read a few pages from her debut YA novel. Seriously amazing, guys. ALSO, Kristen-Paige is interested in joining us for a Twitter chat to discuss the book, so we can have a live discussion of the book! Please read FOY by January 15.

Now back to our regularly scheduled discussion!

Premise (from John Green’s website)

The Fault in Our Stars is the story of Hazel Lancaster and Augustus Waters, two Indianapolis teenagers who meet at a Cancer Kid Support Group.

But this book is about so much more. From page one, I was completely hooked. I loved that this was the typical coming-of-age love story BUT in a very different world than the average girl-meets-boy book. Once I reached the last few chapters, I just had to know how what would happen with Hazel and Augustus.

I was also really happy to see that Oprah magazine picked TFIOS as one of its top YA books in 2012. Well-deserved.

Here are my questions. Feel free to add your own!

1) What did you learn about young adults dealing with cancer and parents who are raising children with cancer?

2) Augustus is obsessed with playing violent video games and Issac plays blind video games when he loses his sight. Teenage boys love video games, but how is the meaning different here?

3) What do you think of this quote that the title is derived from, “”The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,/ But in ourselves.”?

4) What are some of your favorite moments in TFIOS?

5) What did you think of Peter Van Houten? Did you hate him?

6) Speaking of Peter Van Houten, what did you think of the novel within the novel? Why was Hazel so desperate to know what happened to Anna’s mother?

7) After finishing TFIOS, what do you think John Green is saying about love?

My Top 10 Vegan Eats in Paris

When I told people that my husband and I were traveling to Paris for vacation, their reaction after smiling was, “How are you going to eat vegan in Paris?” Everyone is under the assumption that Paris, the fromage capital, is not veg-friendly. Lucky for me, we were working on a travel feature on Paris at VegNews (you can find it in the September+October 2012 issue, along with our six amazing vegan cheese recipes!) and it was the perfect travel guide. And while you can’t just pop into any cafe and order a vegan dish, there are tons of great eats for a week’s worth of decadent delights. Here are my top 10 favorite vegan eats in Paris that were très bon!

1. Chocolate Croissant at Gentle Gourmet Cafe

A fantastic #vegan breakfast at @Gentle_Gourmet. Their pain de chocolat rocks. Crêpe was amazing too!

If heaven is a pastry, it’s the chocolate croissant at the all-vegan Gentle Gourmet. Go for breakfast when the flaky treat is warm and the chocolate inside is slightly melted. I highly recommend eating at The Gentle Gourmet Cafe. Excellent service, delicious dishes, and traditional French cooking with a vegan spin. If you want to drool over more Gentle Gourmet dishes, just look below.

2. The Vegan Burger & Yucca Fries at MOB

Amazing last day of #vegan eating in Paris at @mob_usa and @Gentle_Gourmet! Best eats of the trip. Deep-fried Vegusto cheese! Burger & fries! Mille-feuille (French dessert)! #paris

I’ve eaten a lot of veggie burgers and MOB’s special sauce-covered patty is one of my all-time favorite that I’ve ever eaten. Seriously. Now, the photo above is my meals at MOB and Gentle Gourmet just so you can see how amazing both of them are—and in one photo it makes you realize that you can eat vegan in Paris.

MOB is a tiny little eatery, but big on flavor. The cafe has a sister restaurant in Brooklyn, NY that is much larger, but really don’t miss this when you’re in Paris!

3. Vegusto cheese at Un Monde du Vegan

Our #vegan haul from Un Monde du Vegan: salami, two Vegusto hard cheeses, cheese slices, biscuits with chocolate, and Nutella!

On one of your first few days in Paris, head straight to Un Monde du Vegan and buy blocks of Vegusto, a European vegan cheese brand. They are hard and melty versions and they all taste like heaven. Other vegan goodies to stock up on: Italian  salami, chocolate-filled cookies, cheese slices, and vegan Nutella!

4. Baguettes!

I love bread. I am a card-carrying carb lover. Parisians buy baguettes often and eat them while walking through the streets. Brendan and I joined the Parisians and picked up fresh loafs every day from a boulangerie, which are on nearly every street corner. You won’t find this kind of quality crust and soft interior anywhere else.

5.  Chestnut Crème Brûlée at Le Potager du Marais

Très bien! #vegan cheshnut crème brûlée. I love Paris!

I think this photo pretty much says it all. Le Potager du Marais is entirely vegan and while small, it’s a great place to cozy up with this dessert and a hot chocolate.

6. The Fried Cheese Salad at Gentle Gourmet Cafe

In the photo for #2, you’ll see a little green salad surrounded by crisp, deep-fried Vegusto cheese balls. Yes, you read that right. I don’t even have the right words to express the joy of eating these warm, crunchy pieces of heaven. I’d rather save my breath for eating more of them.

7. Vegan cupcakes at Vegan Folies

A great day of cupcakes at Vegan Folies, crispy seitan with mushroom gravy, and the Effiel Tower. #paris

This tiny little bake shop, Vegan Folies, specializes in decadent, beautiful cupcakes with outrageous names like Austin Flower (Apricot and Lavendar) and Johnny Nutsville (chocolate and hazelnut). If there’s any cheesecake left, do yourself a favor and grab a slice.

8. Crispy Seitan with Mushroom Gravy at Saveurs Veget’halles

The formula menu (aka prix fixe menu) at Saveurs Veget’halles is worth every penny. While this won’t be the fanciest meal you ever eat, it will be solidly scrumptious. I loved the crispness of the seitan (pictured above). Brendan ordered the mushroom loaf covered in a blackberry and ginger sauce that was really good. It’s not entirely vegan, but plenty of vegan options.

9. Falafel at any Lebanese stand

You’ll find a lot of Lebanese stands open late, which offer up freshly made falafel and charred aubergine (eggplant). Nothing beats warm pita bread and falafel!

10. Vegan Burger & Fries at Eastside Burgers

This all-vegetarian burger joint just opened in October and it’s super cute. You’ll have to eat your burger sans formage but the friendly service and perfect fries make up for your cheeseless patty.

Believe it or not, there are even more vegan eats that we just didn’t get to go to during our week in Paris. (For more, pick up the September+October 2012 VegNews!)

5 non-food-related tips:

  • Pick up a museum pass. You can buy a 2-day, 4-day, or 6-day pass and you can literally go to a new museum every day. Sometimes we crammed in two! Plus, you can avoid long lines to buy tickets.
  • Rent an apartment with a kitchenette. We saved money by cooking for ourselves and eating a few meals at home. We used A Part of Paris to rent and they have great service and great prices.
  • Buy a 10-ticket Metro pass for getting around the city.
  • Learn some basic French phrases.
  • Take the train to and from the airport. The RER connects to the Metro and it’s much cheaper than a cab ride.

Have more questions? Ask away! Bon voyage!

5 Simple Tips for Networking as a Writer

 

I’m a shy person by nature. There’s a reason why I write—I like to express myself through words/hide behind words. But here’s the thing, if you want to be a working writer, you have to come out of your shell. I’d go to readings, networking events, and conferences and basically psych myself out of talking to anyone. My husband, Brendan Hay, a TV writer, pitches often to a room of strangers, goes to conventions and chats it up with comic book editors, and is never shy about talking to anyone.

What Brendan has taught me is how to approach people, make connections, and never be afraid to tell someone that you like their work. In the beginning, when I would wuss out talking to an editor, let’s say, Brendan would always nudge me forward. And you know what? The more I chatted, the easier it became to do that dreaded thing that made my palms sweat—network. It’s so important as a writer, if you want to get your work out there, to be able to network. So as one reformed shy person, here are my tips for getting out there.

1. Read bios and acknowledgement pages. If you’re at a book festival, read the bio of the author or editor that you’d love to talk to and find something to discuss. If they mention that they went to XYZ college and you did too, talk about that. If I buy a book of an author that I might chat with, I always read their acknowledgements page. Often, we’ll have something in common. You just need talking points. You don’t need to know everyone they know.

2. When attending a networking event, aim to give out your business card and get business cards from people you want to follow up with. At a publishing conference for magazine industry folks, I target certain editors I want to talk to because I like their publication and want to write for them. Even just saying, “I love XYZ magazine and I’d be interested in pitching you.” Yes, I admit some times I’m a little nervous saying this, but it’s a direct way of saying I’d like to contact you.

3. Don’t share every detail of your life. I’ve been at events where inevitably there is one writer who is talking about every personal detail about themselves. And often, pushing everyone to read and buy their book. Don’t be this person. Don’t hold court. And don’t share intimate details with someone you just met.

4. Tell a writer that you admire their work. At the very least, they’ll smile and thank you (and really what a nice compliment). Some times, if you drum up a good conversation, you might even get your favorite writer’s email to contact them.

5. Network online. I follow writers, editors, literary agents, publishing houses, and magazines that I love on Twitter and I engage with them. I’ve even met editors after a good Twitter exchange. It’s so important as a writer that your social media persona is a good reflection of who you are. You’ll never know who you can connect with from an online “meeting.”

Virtual YA Book Club Discussion: Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan

Welcome YA Book Club to our second book discussion! I must admit that I didn’t like this book in the beginning and it took me about 20 pages before I really got hooked. I found lowercase Will Grayson a very negative and grating character. I think if Tiny Cooper didn’t exist, I might have stopped reading, which is funny because I think both Will Graysons needed Tiny Cooper too to exist.

It was refreshing to read about a friendship between two high school friends, one straight and the other gay. I also loved (SPOILER ALERT!) that we learned more about Will Grayson and Tiny’s friendship in the musical and how they supported each other.

Speaking of the musical, the ending of Tiny Dancer made me cry. I finished reading the book on a plane ride—my eyes welled up more and more with each new Will Grayson (and Wilma Grayson) that stood up in the audience. At one point, I looked down at my hands and realized that they were covered in the gold glitter eyeshadow that I was wearing. While I’m not a romantic comedy fan, I’m a sucker for grand gestures. I love that magical moment when one character does something absurdly crazy for another character.

In a sidenote: I just heard David Levithan read from his new book, Every Day, and he discussed his writing style. He mentioned that he secretly wants to be a songwriter and that if he could ever write a book as perfect as New Order’s song “Bizarre Love Triangle,” he would be happy. I thought it was an interesting anecdote after reading Will Grayson, Will Grayson. You can definitely see the musical influence!

Instead of direct questions this discussion, I’d love to know what you thought of both Will Graysons before they met, after they met, and how each WG evolves. What did you love? What did you hate? What confused you? What do you think of lowercase Will Grayson’s declaration, “this is why we call people exes, I guess — because the paths that cross in the middle end up separating at the end.”  

P.S. Our November book is The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. Please read it by Nov. 15!

Virtual YA Book Club: October Selection

WILL GRAYSON, WILL GRAYSON
BY JOHN GREEN & DAVID LEVITHAN
(READ BY: OCTOBER 15)

Hey YA Book Clubers!

Thanks so much for a great first book discussion. Now we’re on to book 2! And feel free to still chime in on Before I Fall (here). Happy reading!

Premise (from John Green’s website)

One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, two teens—both named Will Grayson—are about to cross paths. As their worlds collide and intertwine, the Will Graysons find their lives going in new and unexpected directions, building toward romantic turns-of-heart and the epic production of history’s most fabulous high school musical.