Members’ News

Members’ News – February 2013

Book Deals/Audio Rights

CJ Lyons’s BLACK SHEEP sold to Hannah Green at Sphere, by Heather Baror-Shapiro at Baror International in association with Irene Goodman Agency

New York Times bestselling author Lisa McMann’s books 4-7 in the UNWANTEDS series sold again to Liesa Abrams at Aladdin, by Michael Bourret at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management (World).

Audio rights to Amy Nathan’s THE GLASS WIVES sold to Brilliance Audio.

Claudia Gray’s CAN’T GET NEXT TO YOU, the first book in the Firebird trilogy, about a girl who must pursue a killer through alternate realities where she sees all the radically different lives she might have led, and realizes her target may be far more than the cold-hearted murderer she’d believed him to be, sold to Sarah Landis at Harper Teen, in a three-book deal, by Diana Fox at Fox Literary (World).

Alison Weiss at Egmont has acquired world English rights to Kristen Lippert-Martin’s debut novel TABULA RASA. In this contemporary YA thriller, a 16-year-old girl held in an isolated research hospital undergoes a forced experimental treatment to erase all recollection of her past. But when the procedure goes awry, she must face off against mercenaries sent to eliminate her once and for all. The projected pub date is fall 2014; Molly Jaffa at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management brokered the deal.

Awards, Honors

Marie Lu’s newly released young adult dystopian novel PROPHECY hit #9 on the young adult New York Times list.

Melanie Benjamin’s THE AVIATOR’S WIFE debuted at #19 of the New York Times list.

This month, Naseem Rakha begins a month alone on the rim of the Grand Canyon as their Artist in Residence.

The Reading Cafe named Maureen McGowan’s DEVIANTS one of their best young adult reads of 2012.

Priscille Sibley’s THE PROMISE OF STARDUST is Target’s February Book Club Pick.

THREE Backspace members’s new releases made the February Indie Next Pick list!
THE PROMISE OF STARDUST by Priscille Sibley
CALLING ME HOME by Julie Kibler
THE AVIATOR’S WIVE by Melanie Benjamin

The Michigan Council for the Humanities has declared Karen Dionne a Humanities Scholar for professional expertise in the humanities field as a writer, author, and co-founder of Backspace. Karen will be listed in the Michigan Council for the Humanities directory as a Humanities Professional.

Agent Signings

Karen Dionne signed last month with Lane Shefter Bishop, Hollywood producer and CEO of Vast Entertainment, after talking to Lane about her project at the November Backspace Agent-Author Seminar. Lane will be looking to put together a possible feature film deal for Karen’s not-yet published young adult novel. Lane’s other clients include Sandra Brown, Robyn Carr, Robert K. Tanenbaum, Heather Graham, Anne Perry and many more.

Articles, Essays

Karen Dionne’s guest essay “Faith and a Box Full of Clock Parts” appears on Backspace member Jennifer Haupt’s “One True Thing” column on Psychology Today.

Short Stories

Karen Dionne’s short story “Calling the Shots,” which originally appeared in the anthology FIRST THRILLS: High-Octane Stories by the Hottest Thriller Authors edited by Lee Child was featured in Rogue Reader’s weekly newsletter.

Zarina Zabrisky recently performed a live reading of her short story, Halloween at the Gym,” originally published by Red Fez Magazine.

Reviews

Zarina Zabrisky’s collection of short stories, IRON, received a terrific review from Al-Khemia Poetica: “Zabrisky has hit the ground running with a strong literary debut that furthers the great tradition of Russian literature into the 21st century.”

Appearances

Sara J. Henry would like to extend an open invitation to the launch party for her second novel, A COLD AND LONELY PLACE. It will be 7 pm, Feb. 5, at Barnes and Noble, Cool Springs (just south of Nashville), with a party afterward. Anyone who could make it – it would be great to see you. Will have a few extra beds for people who are traveling and need to stay over.

Members’ News – January 2013

Book Deals

Heather Webb’s debut historical BECOMING JOSEPHINE, following the transformation of Rose de Beauharnais from Creole socialite to the neglected Parisian wife who survived prison during the French Revolution and emerged at the pinnacle of French power as Empress Josephine Bonaparte, sold to Denise Roy at Plume, by Michelle Brower at Folio Literary Management (NA). Heather met her agent last year at the 2012 Backspace Writers Conference.

Clea Simon’s untitled books #7 and #8 in the Dulcie Schwartz feline mystery series, which features a literature grad student and the ghost of her late, great cat, sold to Rachel Simpson at Severn House, in a nice deal, for publication in October 2013 and April 2014, by Colleen Mohyde at the Doe Coover Agency.

Awards, Honors

Karen Dionne will be the keynote speaker this April at the 26th annual A Rally of Writers conference in Lansing, Michigan. Karen will be speaking on the topic: “Writers Helping Writers: Finding Your Place in the Writing Community.”

A.S. King’s ASK THE PASSENGERS was selected by Kirkus Reviews for their best of 2012 list.

Ally Carter’s OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF TIME made the list for Barnes & Noble’s Best Teen Books of 2012.

THE KRONOS INTERFERENCE, the debut time-travel thriller from authors Edward Miller and J.B.Manas, was recently named to Kirkus Reviews Best of 2012 as among the top indie books of the year. The book also received a starred review in Kirkus, which called the book “impressively original” and a “tour de force.”

Articles

Melanie Benjamin’s forthcoming novel THE AVIATOR’S WIFE (Delacorte, Jan. 15, 2013) is featured in the January issue of Good Housekeeping Magazine.

Karen Dionne’s article “Weaving a Seamless Backstory” appears in the January “Write That Novel!” issue of Writer’s Digest Magazine.

Short Stories

Jose Bogran had a piece accepted for an upcoming anthology by the UK publisher The Fine Line Editorial with the theme: “words that inspire.”

Jeffe Aronson’s  non-fiction short story “Andre’s Red Knickers” was published in Canyon Voices.

Reviews

Sara J. Henry’s forthcoming novel A COLD AND LONELY PLACE was favorably reviewed by Publisher’s Weekly. The review begins “At the start of Henry’s haunting follow-up to her Agatha-winning debut” and ends: “Adding considerably to the compulsively readable mystery that unfolds … is Henry’s bone-deep sense of this terribly beautiful place.”

J.E. Taylor’s SAVING FACE received a 5-star review fromParanormal Romance Guild. The Guild also selected the book as a Nominee for Best Reviewer Read of 2012 in the Action Adventure category.

Terri Molina’s HOUSE OF CARDS received a “5 cups” rating from Coffee Time Romance.

Priscille Sibley’s forthcoming debut novel THE PROMISE OF STARDUST is racking up rave reviews:Booklist: “Sibley does a wonderful job of exploring a complex and controversial moral issue, skillfully giving both sides of the story…. This is a gripping, thoughtful, heart-wrenching, and well-written debut that would be a great discussion vehicle for certain book groups.”

Library Journal: “There’s nothing like devastating moral quandary to spark reading, and this trade paperback original would be a great book club choice…”

Kirkus Reviews: “A literate and incandescent Nicholas Sparks-like love story complicated by intense moral and ethical questions.”

Members’ News – December 2012

Book Deals

Natalia Sylvester’s WHERE WE ONCE BELONGED, sold to Amazon Publishing and will be out in Spring 2014.

Katie Alender’s MARIE ANTOINETTE, SERIAL KILLER, about an American teenager, who travels to France and stumbles upon a series of murders, all possibly committed by the angry ghost of the ex-queen, who may have her sights on her as well, soldvto Aimee Friedman at Scholastic, for publication in Fall 2013, by Matthew Elblonk at DeFiore and Company (World).

RITA award-winning Caridad Ferrer’s two novellas, sold to Maria Ribas at Kimani TRU, by Adrienne Rosado at Nancy Yost Literary Agency (World).

Awards, Honors

Tasha Alexander’s DEATH IN THE FLOATING CITY hitting the New York Times bestseller list!

Zarina Zabrisky’s short story “Heroin Wings” has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize by Red Fez. Another short story, “The Cross of David,” was nominated for a Pushcart by Epic Rites Press, Zarina’s Canadian publishing house, and is one of the stories of her first book, IRON.

A.S. King’s ASK THE PASSENGERS received its 6th starred review from The Horn Book in their January issue.School Library Journal named ASK THE PASSENGERS to its Best Books 2012 list in the YA Lit for Adults category.

Phil Neisser’s book YOU’RE NOT AS CRAZY AS I THOUGHT (But You’re Still Wrong) was featured on National Public Radio’s This American Life in an episode called Red State Blue State.

Articles

Karen Dionne’s article “Weaving a Seamless Backstory” appears in the January “Write That Novel!” issue of Writer’s Digest Magazine.

Lisa Romeo contributed a chapter, “Working With a Ghostwriter” to the book Big Bold Business: Advice from NJ Women Business Owners; published a Q&A, “Coffee with D.T. Max, author of Acclaimed David Foster Wallace Biography” at Baristanet; and an essay, “Hunkering Down for Hurricane Sandy Minus Our Go-To Weather Geek,” at BaristaKids.

Short Stories

Zarina Zabrisky read her short story, “Heroin Wings,” in Albuquerque in November 2012 at the Zyfez Festival. Zarina read another short, “Pig Legs” at Literary Death Match, episode 49. The story was a finalist and got rave reviews from the judges.

Interviews/Excerpts

Yvonne Oots interviewed E.J. Knapp on her blog, Olive’s Place.

Amy Nathan’s upcoming debut novel THE GLASS WIVES is available at Women’s Fiction Writers.

Members’ News – November 2012

Book Deals

Nicole Hayes’ debut young adult novel FULL FORWARD sold to Random House Australia and is currently scheduled for release in June 2013.

New York Times bestselling author of ROT & RUIN, Jonathan Maberry’s WATCH OVER ME and an unnamed sequel, the first two books in a new series about a teen bodyguard whose friends are being murdered, one by one, sold again to David Gale at Simon & Schuster Children’s, in a good deal, by Sara Crowe at Harvey Klinger.

Awards, Honors

Sara J. Henry’s LEARNING TO SWIM won the Anthony Award for best first novel Oct. 6 at Bouchercon in Cleveland, Ohio.

A.S. King’s ASK THE PASSENGERS was chosen by Publisher’s Weekly as one of their Best New Books for the Week of October 22, 2012.

Robert Mangeot’s manuscript won the 2012 Colorado Gold Writing Contest from Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers in the Action/Thriller category.

Articles

Loretta Giacoletto’s article “My Kind of Horror” appears at Free Book Dude.

The Washington Post reported on Jon Clinch’s unique publishing venture for his upcoming novel THE THIEF OF AUSCHWITZ.

Kirkus Reviews recently published Christiana Miller’s article on “Overcoming Blank Screen Panic.”

Allison Johnson’s ”The Wisdom of Age: You’re never too old to learn. But sometimes you need the elderly to teach you” will be published in the November issue of Orange Coast magazine.

Short Stories

Cat Connor has a short story in the anthology TALES OF THE NUN AND DRAGON which was released by UK publisher, Fox Spirit, in September.

Zarina Zabrisky’s short story from one of the Backspace contests, “Halloween in the Gym,” has been published by Red Fez.

Marketing and Promotion

Randy Susan Meyers and M. J. Rose have written a guide for launching a book and working with editors. ”What To Do Before Your Book Launch” covers everything from working with your publisher, to reading in public, to help for publicity and marketing, to using (and misusing) social media, to how to dress for your author photo . . . and far more, including cautionary tales, worksheets, timelines and etiquette tips.

Members’ News – October 2012

Book Deals

New York Times bestselling author of The Eighty Dollar Champion, Elizabeth Letts’s WHITE HORSE RESCUE: The Daring World War II Raid to Free a Hidden Equine Master Race, the story of how a small group of American and German soldiers fought to save some of the most valuable horses in the world, sold to Susanna Porter at Ballantine, by Jeff Kleinman at Folio Literary Management (world).

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author CJ Lyons’s BROKEN, where a critically ill teenage girl discovers that other teens are coming down with the same sickness, and the illness may not be what it seems sold to Leah Hultenschmidt at Sourcebooks by Barbara Poelle at Irene Goodman Agency.

Awards, Honors

Lisa McMann’s UNWANTEDS is at #9 New York Times Best Seller list.

Jamie Ford’s HOTEL ON THE CORNER OF BITTER AND SWEET is now a play.

A.S. King’s ASK THE PASSENGERS received starred reviews from School Library Journal, Bulletin for the Center for Children’s Books, Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and Booklist.

E.J. Knapp along with two others is now running Rebel ePublishers.

Zarina Zabrisky’s short story “Undies and Dough” was nominated for Pushcart Prize by Eleven Eleven Journal of Literature and Art.

In September, Jessica Keener’s debut novel, Night Swim, captured the  #9 spot on Amazon’s Paid Kindle Bestseller List (eight months post her January launch date).

Cathy DiCairno’s novel BEHIND THE TREES (Chapter One) won first place in the Thirty-Fourth Literary Competition for the Trumbull Arts Festival and is published in PenWorks 2012. Cathy’s short story “An Original Melody,” written for Backspace Contest #55 received the Honorable Mention in the Thirty-Fourth Literary Competition for the Trumbull Arts Festival and is published in Penworks 2012.

Allison Johnson’s short story, “South of the Gold Coast,” was selected to be read at a Beach=Culture program, “The Lazy Days of Summer, ” at the Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica on August 28, 2012.

Interviews

Keith Cronin was interviewed recently at Women’s Fiction Writers.

Lesley Livingston was interviewed in Canada’s National Post.

Reviews

Maureen McGowan’s young adult novel DEVIANTS got a great Kirkus review: “McGowan keeps the suspense throbbing throughout most of the novel, with new challenges constantly confronting the teens. In the opening scene, Glory hunts rats for food, bringing her bleak world clearly into focus.”