Given the trendiness of Throwback Thursday, I’m re-branding my beloved series of guest author posts called “Self-Deprecating Sunday.” Self-Deprecating Sunday started because I’d written a YA novel about a girl in R.O.T.C. in high school. I was looking for photos of myself in my uniform–had to get the description of the uniform just right. I foundContinue reading “Throwback Thursday with Shannon Lee Alexander”
Tag Archives: YA author
Where Donna Galanti Interviews Me
Yesterday I did an interview over at Donna Galanti’s blog. We connected during the time I was writing my first YA manuscript, in which a high school girl joins the Navy. One of key pieces in my research was a slim book called, Letters From Boot Camp. It is filled with letters she wrote asContinue reading “Where Donna Galanti Interviews Me”
Book Review: Girlfriend Material
I liked this book. I picked it up mostly because it was published by Disney-Hyperion and I’ll be attending an upcoming conference with one of their editors. I always feel better if I’ve come with at least one of their books read. Possibly I’ve read more, but nothing comes to mind. Anyway, I started anotherContinue reading “Book Review: Girlfriend Material”
My Life As a Book Cover (4)
I think this would be a rad book cover. I’m totally this guy right now: A dopey-grinned, coffee-drunk, cartoon penguin. Mmmmmmmm. I have finally finished the…let’s call it…the Landing Zone draft. The one where you know the story is finally in place. For me this one took three false starts. I’d get 45,000 words orContinue reading “My Life As a Book Cover (4)”
Book Review: Gender Blender
I was really slow getting on the Blake Nelson train. I just read Paranoid Park last year. Didn’t even know it had been a movie. Still haven’t seen that, but I was in love his writing from the start. When I think of edgy YA fiction, I think of Paranoid Park. That book was dark,Continue reading “Book Review: Gender Blender”
The Hunger Games series: Why It Worked (For Me)
I’ve been trying to write a blog post about this series for over a week now. The problem is a) my YA author friends have all read this and are probably exhausted from so many posts concerning this series and really what could I possibly have to say that hasn’t been said, while b) myContinue reading “The Hunger Games series: Why It Worked (For Me)”
Book Review: Virgin Territory
This is the first book I’ve read by James Lecesne. Now that I know his first one, Absolute Brightness, was a Morris Award nominee, I’ll be hoping to read that, as well. Virgin Territory is rich with metaphors and layered with imagery I enjoyed. That probably makes it seems purply-prosey, but make no mistake, theContinue reading “Book Review: Virgin Territory”
A Visitor Among Residents
I feel thoughtful and a little reactionary, which probably means this post will come off as self-indulgent and uninteresting. I blame HR. Just kidding, Tracy. Sort of. When I hired in, there was no HR department. The company I work for is growing rapidly; we recently hired eight more people for the department in whichContinue reading “A Visitor Among Residents”
Writing Young Adult Books: Q and A (1)
On occasion, I receive emails with questions about writing young adult books. It makes me feel a little bit like an expert in my field, which is sort of flattering. And while I don’t have so much as an inkling about the world of publishing, I do know a little bit about the craft ofContinue reading “Writing Young Adult Books: Q and A (1)”
Jody Sparks Mugele 