All the Things! Lots of Catch-Up!

Hello friends and bloggers!

You may have noticed that I did not get a Friday Links up (My "While Cynsations was Out of the Office" series) because I was flat in bed much of last week. I even had to cancel the home-school writing workshop I was scheduled for on Thursday as well as my Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday post. My flu/cold/thingie came out of left field and took me by surprise.

Also, last week I got the copy edits for my Summer 2014 Scholastic title, THE TIME OF THE FIREFLIES - which are due TODAY. Yep. Gulp. (Insert silent panicked scream here).

So blogging went out the window. Although I do - 99% of most days - manage to be on Facebook or Twitter at least once or twice so if you're not following me there you're missing out on ALL KINDS OF AWESOME! Ha, ha. So go HERE and HERE right now and come back instantly! 

 VERY COOL THINGS THIS MONTH!

My humorous, satirical piece on Friend for the Ride blog is at THIS LINK. Check out all the fun and a THREE-BOOK GIVEAWAY! You can Enter until August 25th.

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WRITE ON CON IS THIS TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY! And I'm doing a post called Revision 101 Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. 

Write on Con is a FREE Online Writer's Conference for two whole days at the link with posts and panels and vlogs by editors, authors, and agents! Amazing, super informative, and a few authors have been able to pitch their stories and get agented through this conference. Read the Success story at the link. Go to the links for the faculty and schedule so you don't miss anything.

The previous 3 years' conferences are all archived so go back and read and watch some very cool stuff.

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And last, but not least, my new book, WHEN THE BUTTERFLIES CAME (see my sidebar for gorgeous cover!) is the August Scholastic pick for their Mother-Daughter Book Club site! 

I'm thrilled to pieces! Check out the recipe and the Club Guide on the site, too.

Plus, here is *my* marvelous MDBC Guide that my sister (who is a teacher) put together. It's fantastic! And free for download right here at my website: http://www.kimberleygriffithslittle.com/2012/05/Butterflies-Book-Club-Guide-1.pdf

Enjoy!
xo,
Kimberley

The Gathering Authors in Taos New Mexico! Weekend Recap

The Gathering Authors First Annual Retreat by our organizer, Carolee Dean! 

(I'm on the left in the pink top in the back.) 

  (Kersten Hamilton, Carolee Dean, Kimberley Griffiths Little, Lauren Bjorkman, and Sheralyn Pratt)

I'm sharing this recap because Carolee hit all the high points of the weekend, of which there were many - actually the entire weekend was a total high. Not exaggerating here. It was beautiful in Taos, New Mexico, the company was fabulous and smart and funny, the writing time great, the brainstorming superb and enormously helpful, and both the deep publishing discussions and personal talk very rewarding, too.

We also got totally silly at the local indie bookstore, Moby Dickens, and created an upcoming video (being edited now . . . ) with props and hilarity that will be at #createyourownapocalyse - so find us there.

Please also find us at #TheGatheringAuthors on Twitter.

Take it away, Carolee!

I have just returned from the First Annual Gathering Authors Retreat in Taos, New Mexico and am already looking forward to next year's event. The Gathering is a LOOSELY organized group of traditionally published New Mexico children's authors who meet to offer each other encouragement, support, and industry tips. In the photo above we are about to enjoy lunch at Lambert's. If you aren't used to New Mexico chile, beware. Left side - front to back (Kersten Hamilton, Me-Carolee Dean, Kimberley Griffiths Little). Right side - back to front (Lauren Bjorkman and Sheralyn Pratt - joining us from Utah). Not pictured (Sheralyn's border collie, Sebi).

Our retreat, also LOOSELY organized, was held at the Sagebrush Inn. The only cost was travel and hotel expenses. We made a list of topics we wanted to cover and that was the extent of our planning.

 

Topics included: 

1. The Changing Face-Book of Social Media

2. Wacky Marketing Ideas

3. Effective Marketing Plans

4. Publishing Woes/Joys

5. How to Hit the NY Times Best Seller List

 

GO HERE TO READ THE REST AT CAROLEE DEAN'S BLOG - and "follow" her: Carolee Dean Books Blogspot 

xo,

Kimberley

Happy birthday, Elana Johnson, Blogger Extraordinaire and Very Special Friend!

It's your birthday, Elana Johnson!!! And I'm excited to be a part of the blogging world who is wishing you the very best birthday *ever*! 

If you don't know Elana, you simply must check out her blog which is chock full of advice and writerly help and experience and teaching. And she does it all with style and humor and wit - and bacon! 

Elana is one of the founders of Query Tracker, an online resource for querying literary agents as well as HOW to write those terrific query letters!

AND WriteOnCon - a free online, fantabulous writer's workshop every August!

She also has written a FREE E-book called From the Query to the Call, which I recommend to everyone! A **Must-Read** for any aspiring or experienced writers.  Get yours HERE.

And I am lucky and blessed to call her my friend. (I get to meet Elana every May at LDStorymakers workshop and dish about books and writing!) 

And it's YOUR (my blog readers!) lucky day, too! Guess what?!? 

Christine Fonseca, another online buddy and wonderful writer is giving away a set of ALL of Elana's YA novels to celebrate this wonderful day - plus a few other books and E-books and goodies! (Check out all of Christine's awesomely delicious YA novels, too! She is the brains behind the birthday logo and giveaway!)

Enter below! Easy Peasy! 

Have a blessed birthday, darling Elana! 
xo,
Kimberley

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WriteOnCon--The Bggest Online Writer's Conference ever!

Write On Con is coming in TWO WEEKS!!! August 14-15, 2013. About Page.

If you don't know about this terrific and amazing online writer's conference then go here ASAP to get the scoop! www.writeoncon.com 

Editors galore!
Agents galore!
Authors galore!
Live Chats!

And it's FREE!! (You can even go back to read through last year's conference at this link.)

This is WriteOnCon's third year put on by some amazing gals who sacrifice writing and family to organize and carry this out. Go here to see who they are PLUS the visiting Authors for this year's event.

(And I'm one of your Authors this year! So excited!)

Read all about the Faculty! 

Find out who the Editors and Agents are!

Amazing, isn't it! And a ton of fun. (Just don't laugh at my Plotting Video.)

Our Theme this year is: "Back to Basics"

 
See you there!!!

~Kimberley