Check me out over here at my new website:
Hello...HELLO...
Yes, it's quite dusty around here.
Fear not.
I've just been busy with finishing up edits for THE MESMERIST and doing several events.
Very soon, I will relaunch this website with a new exciting look so stay tuned.
I'll be in Orlando in a few weeks for ALA (American Library Association Annual Conference) and am really looking forward to it.
Margaret Atwood is going to be there.
MARGARET ATWOOD, PEOPLE.
I'll be back.
Fear not.
I've just been busy with finishing up edits for THE MESMERIST and doing several events.
Very soon, I will relaunch this website with a new exciting look so stay tuned.
I'll be in Orlando in a few weeks for ALA (American Library Association Annual Conference) and am really looking forward to it.
Margaret Atwood is going to be there.
MARGARET ATWOOD, PEOPLE.
I'll be back.
Hoodoo on the Book Club for Kids Podcast
Over the summer, Kitty Felde interviewed me for her Book Club for Kids Podcast.
It was a lot of fun, and now here is the episode. It was especially inspiring to hear from the kids who read the book. I am very inspired!
You can listen to the podcast here:
It was a lot of fun, and now here is the episode. It was especially inspiring to hear from the kids who read the book. I am very inspired!
You can listen to the podcast here:
THE MESMERIST IS HERE!
Check out the cover for my next book:
Here's the story:
Thirteen-year-old Jessamine Grace and her mother make a living as sham spiritualists—until they discover that Jess is a mesmerist and that she really can talk to the dead.
Soon she is plunged into the dark world of Victorian London’s supernatural underbelly and learns that the city is under attack by ghouls, monsters, and spirit summoners.
Can Jess fight these powerful forces? And will the group of strange children with mysterious powers she befriends be able to help?
As shy, proper Jess transforms into a brave warrior, she uncovers terrifying truths about the hidden battle between good and evil, about her family, and about herself.
Dickens meets Stephen King meets Ransom Riggs in this chillingly suspenseful middle grade Victorian Gothic horror novel from the award-winning author of Hoodoo.
Sounds pretty frightful, eh? The artist is Lisa K. Weber and I think she really nailed the atmosphere and spookiness of the book. I love it.
Would you like to win an advance reader's copy?
Go here
Here's the story:
Thirteen-year-old Jessamine Grace and her mother make a living as sham spiritualists—until they discover that Jess is a mesmerist and that she really can talk to the dead.
Soon she is plunged into the dark world of Victorian London’s supernatural underbelly and learns that the city is under attack by ghouls, monsters, and spirit summoners.
Can Jess fight these powerful forces? And will the group of strange children with mysterious powers she befriends be able to help?
As shy, proper Jess transforms into a brave warrior, she uncovers terrifying truths about the hidden battle between good and evil, about her family, and about herself.
Dickens meets Stephen King meets Ransom Riggs in this chillingly suspenseful middle grade Victorian Gothic horror novel from the award-winning author of Hoodoo.
Sounds pretty frightful, eh? The artist is Lisa K. Weber and I think she really nailed the atmosphere and spookiness of the book. I love it.
Would you like to win an advance reader's copy?
Go here
Hoodoo Wins Major Award
I got a phone call yesterday morning from Boston. I didn't answer it. Who do I know in Boston?
Uh, no one.
But when they called a third time I picked it up. I'm glad I did.
The call was from the folks at the American Library Association's Mid-Winter Conference.
Why the early-morning call?
Hoodoo won a major award!
I am honored to have received the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award!
This was really exciting news. I knew they gathered every year for this, but I forgot when it took place. This convention awards the big prizes including The Newbery, Caldecott, Printz, Coretta Scott King Awards and several others.
You can see the webcast here and scroll down to see all the recipients.
Suffice to say I didn't get a lot of work done yesterday!
HAPPY 2016!
Uh, no one.
But when they called a third time I picked it up. I'm glad I did.
The call was from the folks at the American Library Association's Mid-Winter Conference.
Why the early-morning call?
Hoodoo won a major award!
I am honored to have received the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award!
This was really exciting news. I knew they gathered every year for this, but I forgot when it took place. This convention awards the big prizes including The Newbery, Caldecott, Printz, Coretta Scott King Awards and several others.
You can see the webcast here and scroll down to see all the recipients.
Suffice to say I didn't get a lot of work done yesterday!
HAPPY 2016!
Hear Ye Hear Ye
Would you like to hear the dulcet tones of yours truly reading an excerpt from Hoodoo?
Sure you would.
Check it out here.
Sure you would.
Check it out here.
Putting the "Boo" in children's books
Proud to have HOODOO included in the Baltimore Sun's spooky line-up of scary new books!
Read it here.
Read it here.
YA Panel in Arlington
I had a great time hanging out with these awesome YA authors at the Alexandria Public Library's Teens Read And Write Panel.
Pictured: Caroline T. Richmond, Jessica Spotswood, Hannah Barnaby and some tall black dude.
Pictured: Caroline T. Richmond, Jessica Spotswood, Hannah Barnaby and some tall black dude.
Reading at Barnes & Noble
Really enjoyed my reading and signing at my local Barnes & Noble. It was kind of weird, since this is the place I go to every morning to write. It's like my office!
The author.
The author.
Great Interview
I really enjoyed talking to the folks at Kirkus about Hoodoo.
It was a really fun interview. Read about it here.
It was a really fun interview. Read about it here.
HOODOO IS OUT IN THE WILD TODAY
Today is the release day of Hoodoo!
Feels weird.
I'm just kind of numb.
But it is very cool when I really stop and think about it.
If you'd like to get a copy, check out some of the links on the BOOKS page or see your friendly neighborhood book seller.
THANKS!
Feels weird.
I'm just kind of numb.
But it is very cool when I really stop and think about it.
If you'd like to get a copy, check out some of the links on the BOOKS page or see your friendly neighborhood book seller.
THANKS!
Creating a book cover
I was lucky enough to have an awesome illustrator do the cover for Hoodoo.
His name is Sebastian Skrobol and he lives in Poland.
The designer was Lisa Vega at Clarion HMH Books.
Check out this post on how the Hoodoo cover came to be:
His name is Sebastian Skrobol and he lives in Poland.
The designer was Lisa Vega at Clarion HMH Books.
Check out this post on how the Hoodoo cover came to be:
Booklist review
Another great review for Hoodoo from Booklist. I'm really excited by this one, but I'll have to edit it for spoilers!
Smith’s debut novel introduces readers to Hoodoo, a 12-year-old African American boy living in Alabama in the 1930s. Hoodoo got his name because of the heart-shaped birthmark under his eye, believed to be a mark of his family’s talent at folk magic. Unfortunately, Hoodoo is incapable of casting a spell. But that doesn’t stop him from being drawn into the supernatural world of talking crows, traveling souls, and the Stranger, who comes into town looking for him specifically.
SPOILER!!! RUN AWAY!!! RUN AWAY!!!
Hoodoo’s first-person narrative, which flows beautifully, has an appealing natural cadence.
Through his protagonist, Smith demonstrates an eye for detail and a knack for evocative imagery as well as for telling a riveting story with a dollop of southern gothic appeal.
Smith’s debut novel introduces readers to Hoodoo, a 12-year-old African American boy living in Alabama in the 1930s. Hoodoo got his name because of the heart-shaped birthmark under his eye, believed to be a mark of his family’s talent at folk magic. Unfortunately, Hoodoo is incapable of casting a spell. But that doesn’t stop him from being drawn into the supernatural world of talking crows, traveling souls, and the Stranger, who comes into town looking for him specifically.
SPOILER!!! RUN AWAY!!! RUN AWAY!!!
Hoodoo’s first-person narrative, which flows beautifully, has an appealing natural cadence.
Through his protagonist, Smith demonstrates an eye for detail and a knack for evocative imagery as well as for telling a riveting story with a dollop of southern gothic appeal.
Kirkus Review
The esteemed editors at Kirkus Reviews gave Hoodoo a positive review!
Kirkus is one of the oldest and most well-regarded book review publications. Read the whole review here.
Hoodoo a Junior Library Guild Selection
My editor emailed to let me know that the Junior Library Guild, an
organization that picks books for schools and libraries, has chosen
Hoodoo as one of their 2015 selections!
Pretty cool, and quite an honor, as over 3,000 books are submitted each year but only a handful are chosen. Find more on them here.
Pretty cool, and quite an honor, as over 3,000 books are submitted each year but only a handful are chosen. Find more on them here.
Shutting the door
So I'll be closing this one down.
It's funny to look at how long this blog has been up. Since 2007. Wow.
I want to keep this blog so I can come back and look at my old posts sometime. It may also provide some inspiration to someone in the trenches trying to get an agent and a book deal.
If anybody stops by, thanks for being a part of my writing journey.
You can now find me here:
So onward!
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