Go! Arts Festival in Albuquerque

I'll be at the Go! Arts Festival in downtown Albuquerque all day TOMORROW!

There's a children's booth with 5 terrific local writers reading and autographing our books! WAY FUN!!!

The Festival is located on Gold Street and our booth is between 3rd and 4th streets on the south side in the Children's Activity Area

Who will be there?

Me!
Kersten Hamilton
Neecy Twinem
Kris Litchman
Edith Tarbescue

Please come say hello! Enjoy the gorgeous fall weather! Buy an exciting book! Eat a Snickers!

Books Read Over the Summer

Children’s/YA Fiction:
Sweethearts by Sara Zarr *
Breathe My Name by R. A. Nelson *
Peeled by Joan Bauer
The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry *
Total Constant Order by Crissa-Jean Chappel
Love me Tender by Audrey Couloumbis
Waiting for Normal by Leslie Connor
Climbing the Stairs by Padma Venkatraman
Undercover by Beth Kephart *
How Not to Be Popular by Jennifer Ziegler
The Underneath by Kathi Appelt
Remembering Raquel by Vivan Vande Velde *
Seer of Shadows by Avi *
The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson *

Adult Novels:
The Twelfth Transforming by Pauline Gedge *
Lady of the Reeds by Pauline Gedge *
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella *

Non-Fiction:
The Secret by Rhonda Byrne *
Lessons from a Lifetime of Writing: A novelist looks at his craft by David Morrell *

* My favorites of the Current List

I'm Signing at the New Mexico State Fair!

I'll be at the Children's Pavilion at the New Mexico State Fair TODAY at 2:30 p.m. and MONDAY, September 15th at 2:30 p.m.

I'll be doing a reading from THE LAST SNAKE RUNNER and then autographing books! I will also have copies of BREAKAWAY and ENCHANTED RUNNER, which won the Southwest Book Award.

Please come on down! I'd love to meet ya!

I have candy.

We have a winner!

The winner of THE LAST SNAKE RUNNER is . . . .

Ruby(mouth)!!!

Please email me your name and address at kglittle(at)msn(dot)com and I'll send that to you right away!

Thank you for playing, everyone, and and enjoy a good book today!

If you don't know this site yet, you need to!

WWW.CYNTHIALEITICHSMITH.COM

It's my good friend Cynthia's 10-year anniversary of her web site - packed with everything you ever wanted to know about Children's Books and Authors and the publishing world. It's for readers, writers, librarians, parents, booksellers, anybody interested in the Children's/YA market.

Bookmark it.
Enjoy it.
Learn from it.

Most of all, have fun!

P. S. Enter my book giveaway contest below. Now. That's an order, people!

Book Giveaways!

Don't forget to enter my book giveaway in the post below for THE LAST SNAKE RUNNER!

And here's another one at http://angiefrazier.blogspot.com/2008/09/contest.html

Enter both!!!

In Celebration of my Agent Signing!

Hi gang,

I'm still running around playing catch up after a wild August and I need to go spend a few hours up in Albuquerque this afternoon taking care of *business* so my post on "How I Came to Sign with The Adams Literary Agency" will appear on Monday. (Because weekends are tough for blogging). And I need to write a bio for the agency website and take a photo to send to Tracey, which is going to take some time. I have a first draft written, Tracey - in case you're reading this! Gulp.

But I gotta keep the partying goin'!!!

I've never done this before and it's high time I did so . . . to celebrate my agent signing, I'm going to do a giveaway of my YA, THE LAST SNAKE RUNNER pictured here.

The book in hardcover is shiny and has gorgeous cover art by the internationally famous artist, Joel Nakamura. The story is time travel and exciting and dangerous and there's a love story. And it's based on actual events from 1599, too!

All you have to do is post a comment and tell us something you love about your agent - and if you're not agented tell us something you're hoping for in your agent-to-be!

Feel free to link to my journal and spread the word. Announcements on your journals/blogs will automatically enter your name twice!

A *second* copy of THE LAST SNAKE RUNNER will be given away on my mirror blog as well! Whoo hoo!!! http://kimberleylittle.livejournal.com

Deadline: Tuesday, September 9th at midnight!!!

Have a happy weekend!

It's Awesome News Day!!!!!!

Yep, I think I left you all hanging long enough. I'm sorry! I was dying to tell, but I had so many things going on and I've been physically fried for awhile.

So I'm home from my trip, said goodbye to my darling son at college, ran a million errands, helped him solve a few problems, drove long days in the car, survived a Mount Timpanogos hike, awed over the beauty of Arches National Park and all the while I was TINGLING with excitement because . . .

I had just signed with Tracey Adams of Adams Literary Agency!!!! Yes, the one and only Tracey Adams, agent extraordinaire!!!

She wants me! She loves my novels! She *gets* my stories! She's going to start calling editors about my novels and get me great deals!

YES, YES, YES!!!!!!

I AM THRILLED TO PIECES.

Tracey was always my #1 choice - and I got her!

More of the backstory tomorrow . . .

A little news

We're taking off at the crack of dawn to take my son back up to BYU, and I'm madly packing and falling over with exhaustion from a wild week AND I have good news, but I'm going to spill next week when I have more than 10 seconds to write a blog. So stay tuned - and have a great Labor Day weekend!

Okay, here's a nugget:

Good stuff on the movie front: I have a new idea for a murder thriller film based on a true story from 1967 that happened right here in my own little town on Route 66 - and the movie producer is very excited about it and cannot wait to see it! I've been researching, figuring out characters, and trying to finish up a short treatment to send to him when I return from the wilds of Utah. It's going to be a cross between No Country for Old Men and Chinatown! How about that?!

I can't keep a secret

I was going to wait until things were more official, but . . . I got an offer of representation from an agent last week and we're having a phone interview next week!!!!!!!!!

After 18 months of querying, stopping to revise, querying, revising (on my own that is) it's finally happened!

So I contacted all the other agents who had fulls and partials and they are all madly reading (and some asked for more - since I just finished my In a Paris Minute novel two weeks ago!) . . . I'm excited and nervous and sort of dazed.

Please pray for me that I won't sound like an idiot on the telephone. ;-D

Movie Update!

I've been traveling the past couple of weeks and now I'm getting ready for some family to drop in on us for a week. I thought I'd better write a blog before I forget how!

WHAT A CRAZY SUMMER THIS HAS BEEN! Seems like everyone I talk to has had the same kind of nuttiness in their lives.

So about the movie and the producer . . . I heard back from him very quickly, unlike the book publishing business where your manuscripts get sucked into a black hole without a map.

The good news: He *loved* the story and my writing and my characters!!!

The bad news: He has a very small budget and doesn't produce historicals because they are way too expensive and mine is time-travel and involves snakes and horses and 16th century armor and guns and cannons.

The good news: He emailed again to assure me that he wants to see more treatments from me and would love to work with me - meaning he wants to buy a movie from me. Just send him a contemporary Southwestern story.

Uncertain news: I gotta come up with a new idea and write it!!! No problemo. Think, brain, think.

Good news redux: My *movie* friend has more potential producers to send the completed treatment of The Last Snake Runner to - yay! And we're brainstorming new ideas tomorrow.

More good news: I did three more revision rounds on my YA novel, IN A PARIS MINUTE - and an editor at Candlewick wants me to send it to her so she can read it during her vacation next week! Now *that's* something that doesn't happen very often!

Gooder news: The manuscript was sent today at 2:51p.m. via email attachment.

I'm trying to catch up on blogs now . . . and I'm sinking fast . . . hope you're all good though!

An Historic Writing Day

This morning I emailed off a 20 page screenplay treatment and resume to a REAL, LIVE MOVIE PRODUCER who WANTS TO READ IT!!!

My treatment (which is another word for a very long developed synopsis with character development and all the plot twists and turns and climax and resolution written in present tense) was subbed to this producer with a recommendation from a writer this producer knows well. Which is even better.

It all started about a month ago . . .

Well, maybe 6 years ago when I thought, hmm, my book, The Last Snake Runner, is certainly a visual, exciting war story and love story. Maybe I'll try my hand at a screenplay just for kicks. I read a few screenplay books, then sat down and wrote it in about two weeks. Very fun experience, but what do I do with it? Screenplay gets shelved in my files. After all, I don't know a soul in the movie business and neither did my agent at the time.

Zip Fast Forward: A few months ago I met a screenplay writer who newly moved here and has sent the last 15 years writing his own or developing ideas or fixing screenplays for various producers. I mentioned I'd written one based on my novel and he said he'd like to read it. He thought it was terrific and the writing was wonderful.

Him: Are you sure this is your first screenplay?
Me: Yeah. I promise!
Him: It's so well done. You've got all the special formatting down, great dialogue, good descriptions, action. I'm impressed. I think I may know somebody who would like to see this.
Me. You're kidding.
Him: Nope, let me help you do a treatment.
Me. Sure!!!

After an intense month of brainstorming, writing, revising, adding many more cinematic elements, a new beginning, a very dramatic, magical climax, it's done. Got resume put together, was introduced to said producer who WANTS to do a movie set in New Mexico with Native Americans. (He's German after all, and Germany LOVES Native American stories) and it's off across the Atlantic.

Best part is: Producer said he's got a two week window to read it and I'll know what he thinks very soon. Not in 8 months. Like some editors and agents I know. Not naming any names . . .

Second best part: He actually has some funding - one of the biggest hurdles to a movie actually getting produced.

Third best part: If it's a go, the movie will be produced and distributed in Europe AND the U.S.

Me: WOW. JUST WOW.

Now you know where I've been the past month of absentee blogging . . . and I'm almost done with final revisions on my novel, In a Paris Minute, too. Can't wait to mail it out! But I'm just a little tired . . .

Fun Video!

Please feel free to just erase/ignore my last post about beautiful cool mornings because this week it's SO hot and muggy! Muggy in dry, deserty New Mexico - sheesh! But it's true. About 100 degrees every day with about 85% humidity. I have to take cold showers at night just so I can sleep. We use swamp coolers - which are terrible in humidity, of course.

Moving right along . . . tell me I'm crazy because I'm sure it's true or else the heat has gotten to me and I'm not responsible for my actions . . . BUT I now have over 100 blogs I'm keeping up with via friends on Live Journal and all the blogs I've put into my bloglines for daily reading. I'm getting carried away - literally. I feel myself going down The Mighty River of Blog Land. Nary a rock or branch in sight to save myself.

So I mostly read other authors, agents, editors, but I also have some historical stuff and I peruse a few adult romance sites since I'm writing romance (of sorts) myself - except they're YA.

I came across this video today. All the authors who have been nominated for the RITA Award (which stands for something in the romance genre, but my brain is too woozy to remember exactly WHAT.) made this and it's hysterically funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2UXH_LWkic

Mornings by the Rio Grande

Mornings are so beautiful here. I got up early, opened all the windows and doors wide to the let cool air rush throughout the house and then laid down on my bed listening to birds chirping, the cats scratching around - or on top of me (I swear their favorite thing to do - or push their heads under the covers with me), and watched pale morning sunlight make shadows and drops of yellow on my bedspread.

I actually spent a few moments ENJOYING the beauty of the day.



I tend to get up quickly, check email, exercise, eat breakfast, shower, throw laundry in, do dishes, write out bills, make any necessary phone calls, catch up on everyone's blogs, do my scripture reading, run errands, etc. and then it's 95 degrees and I try to write.

I'm making a promise to myself that before the summer is over I'm going to lie in bed enjoying the morning with a book. I mean, I only have 25 in the stack waiting for me. I know because I counted yesterday!

All during the school year I'm up at 5 a.m. to teach and I need to indulge in a good *lie-in* with a book at least ONE summer day. All I need to go with my book is a box of chocolates.

Book Purses - you know you want one

I've always been a girl that would LUV to purchase more cute shoes and more cute purses, but when I go shopping I always feel so $$$ POOR and come home empty-handed or with something cheap and then I'm disappointed.

Then I found this!

Now I'm wondering if my brand new daughter-in-law would help me make one of these. Turns out she's quite the seamstress and very creative. Can you imagine a conference or ALA or BEA or Bologna where everyone (the girls at least) were carrying a purse in their favorite book?

(Full instructions with pictures and supplies needed at the link!)

How to Make a Book Purse

Here's a novel purse that is perfect for the bibliophile in your life!

Make this purse out of an old (preferably cheap and unloved) book. It's sure to be a conversation starter wherever you take it and you'll get to recycle a discarded book in the process.

Friday Five

It's 95 degrees and our swamp cooler is not hooked up yet. I sweat all night long. Or is it hormones?

2. I'm getting very frustrated about still not getting paid for a school gig in April and trying to run down the right people for my check!

3. The Sounds of Summer - birds singing outside my window. Along with other unknown chirping insects and the chugging sprinklers.

4. I can't wait for BEA to get done this weekend since I'm supposed to be hearing some *news* next week.

5. My stack of books got even higher. How did that happen? Oh yeah, I ordered these last week and also went to the library. Can I just read for the rest of my life?

A writer's breakfast gab fest

So where do poor writers meet up for breakfast? I-HOP, of course!



Such cute gals! We had some fun getting-to-know-you talk as well as writing talk and stimulating conversation about being a book publisher. Karlene actually had her own publishing company for several years! I was impressed.

From left to right: Candace Salima. She's even more gorgeous in person than her official blog photograph.

Yours truly.

sarah_create who flew in from Iceland for graduation stuff and family stuff and some writing events, too. She is now seriously jet-lagged.

And Karlene Browning, creator of many blogs and businesses, just take a peek at her profile!

Dream a little dream with me . . .: Thoughts on Being an American

Here's a link to a wonderfully inspiring post from a new writer friend. I got to meet Candace in Provo, Utah when we were picking up my son a couple of weeks ago from BYU. This is the kind of thought processes and patriotism that created our country and made us great!

Dream a little dream with me . . .: Thoughts on Being an American

(Tomorrow I'll post a pic of Candace and me and a couple of other writers when we met each other for the first time.)

French Pastries to die for

Here's a link to my French trip on my web site if you'd like to take a peek. There are too many to post here.

Near the bottom is an example of the fabulous French pastries we ate every day.

The awesome thing was, we walked so much for those two weeks I didn't gain a single pound even though I ate these every day.

http://kimberleygriffithslittle.com/content/blogcategory/18/17/

Au revoir and have a great weekend!

Moi funny?

I found out I could write humor last Friday night at our local SCBWI New Mexico Handsprings conference.

My favorite event at Handsprings is the Friday evening EDITOR PANEL (this year with editor Alisha Niehaus at Dutton and Rebecca Sherman, agent from Writers House, and Tim Gillner, Art Director from Highlights/Boyds Mills Press.)

Attendees get to send in a first page from their YA novel, MG novel, or picture book and have it read anonymously for the panel to make comments on. The visiting agents/editors give tips, pointers and helpful information about what makes a good first page. What happens when and editor or agent reads that first page? What are they thinking, feeling – and will they want to turn the page?

I sent in the First Page of my WIP, IN A PARIS MINUTE, which I am completely revamping at the moment; a total restructure of the time line and events.

I was biting my nails wondering if the panel was going to tell me to go get a new day job. I envisioned comments like, “This writers thinks she can write YA chick lit from a teenage girl’s POV? Ha, ha, ha! It’s obvious she hasn’t seen her teen years in about 3 decades.”

I was worried I’d be laughed out of the room.

But the room laughed at my story, my writing instead - at least 3 times - during just one page! They laughed at parts I didn’t realize were even funny. I was dumbfounded and thrilled. Perhaps it was the deadpan voice of the SCBWI woman who was reading, I dunno, but I’ll take it anyway.

Then Agent Rebecca Sherman said, “This first page does all the things right we’ve been talking about. Establishes, setting, character, voice, situation. It’s a GOOD first page. No, it’s a GREAT first page. I’d want to keep reading.”

Alisha Niehaus heartily concurred - and said she loves anything to do with Paris. Score a big one for me. My first page got the best comments of the whole evening. I'm so psyched to finish this book now!

Here it is, dear blog readers:

In a Paris Minute

by

Kimberley Griffiths Little

I have a confession to make: I’ve become a total idiot over French pastries.

They’re my new favorite food.

My new favorite souvenir.

My new favorite sin.

The Eiffel tower, the Louvre—all of them must-sees like the tour books claim—if you don’t mind heights that make you dizzy and enough paintings to saturate your brain for the rest of your life—but once I discovered La Patisserie the rest of Paris became mere backdrop for my indulgence.

Drizzled chocolate, sugar-dusted raspberries, flaky crusts with perfect crimped edges. I’ll have to run the New York City marathon when I get back just to burn off my new five pounds. French beignets are the worst temptation, like Prada handbags call to my mother from Fifth Avenue. Dunkin Donuts—so yesterday.

Kara and I even ate warm, oozing chocolate crepes for dinner one night while we analyzed French boys on top of the Arc d’Triomphe. If you’ve heard the expression, they’re to die for, well, I’m here to tell you, it’s true. Trust me. The crepes, I mean. Not necessarily French boys.

I've restrained myself from checking out Parisian males because I'm already taken--by Mathew Perotti, the hottest guy at Eleanor Roosevelt High via Lubbock, Texas.