Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party’s Promise to the People was named a Walter Award Honor Book in the Teen category for 2022. Congrats to the Teen category winner, The Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley, and fellow honoree Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo. In the Children’s category, the award… Read more »
Kekla
Revolution in Our Time is a National Book Award Finalist!
Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party’s Promise to the People has been named a National Book Award Finalist in the category of Young People’s Literature, along with: Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo The Legend of Auntie Po by Shing Yin Khor Me (Moth) by Amber McBride Too Bright to… Read more »
REVOLUTION IN OUR TIME!
We’re approaching launch day for REVOLUTION IN OUR TIME, my non-fiction book about the Black Panther Party! I’m so excited that this book will finally be in the world, after working on it for nearly a decade. The Panthers’ story is incredibly powerful, but has often been misunderstood or deliberately misrepresented. Digging for the truth has… Read more »
Congrats to the National Book Award Finalists!
It was a pleasure to serve as a judge for the 2017 National Book Awards, along with Suzanna Hermans, Brendan Kiely, Meg Medina, and Alex Sanchez. We read hundreds of books to arrive at our long list and finalists. The celebration tonight will be joyful!
New Book!
Robyn Hoodlum Adventures Book #3 is out today! When twelve-year-old Robyn Loxley set out to save her parents, she never could’ve predicted that she would become Robyn Hoodlum, leader of the rebellion against the harsh government led by Ignomus Crown. But Robyn’s attempt to free her parents has failed, and on top of that, her… Read more »
Headed to Hedgebrook
This fall, I’ll be doing a brief residency at Hedgebrook, a women’s writing and retreat center in Washington State. Applications for the 2015 Hedgebrook residencies are up online and the deadline is September 3, 2014. Basically, I’ll be living in a cabin in the woods and writing, writing! Sound good? Yeah. I’m very excited about… Read more »
FAQ Soundbite #3: Agents
Q: I have been querying agents, but I also just received an offer from COOL PUBLISHING HOUSE, from an editor I met at a conference. I want to get an agent before I agree to the deal. What should I do? A: Email the agents with whom you have open queries, and let them know… Read more »
FAQ Soundbite #2: Revising for an Editor
Q: My editor made some suggestions that I don’t agree with. But my book is under contract, and I feel like I have to do what she says. She feels really strongly. A: Are we talking about small-scale line edits? You don’t have to make these, but if your editor feels strongly, it’s worth considering… Read more »
Marco Polo, “On Giving Feedback”
Here is a really great article on giving critiques, from Burlington Writers Workshop. “On Giving Feedback” by Peter Biello: CLICK HERE. I find one of the things I spend the most time talking with fellow writers about is the balance between trusting your own instincts on your work and trusting the feedback you get from… Read more »
FAQ Soundbite #1: Contracts
Q: I recently sold my book to COOL PUBLISHING HOUSE! I have accepted their offer based on a deal memo, but haven’t seen a contract yet. The book is practically ready for copy editing….Still, no contract. It’s been months, and I’m getting nervous. A: Congratulations! Keep revising. Your contract is coming. Q: But it’s been… Read more »