I think YA is well represented in the blogosphere. Lots of YA authors blog, and YA releases generally get a lot of online buzz . Picture books and middle-grade don’t seem to have as strong of an online presence (in my opinion, anyway). Why is that?Do you agree?
I like to post about general kid lit stuff and random things that interest me, but I’m going to try and have more of a focus on middle-grade fiction as well.
How, you ask?
Weekly author interviews and giveaways, I say!
I’ve asked a few of my favorite middle-grade authors with recent or upcoming releases to consent to be interviewed- and they’ve obliged! So, stay tuned for the first installment next week.
Meanwhile…
CuppaJolie has a contest for bravery on her blog.
Are you in Seattle? Consider a preview screening of Where the Wild Things Are with a Q&A with Dave Eggers to benefit 826 Seattle.
Mitali Perkins wrote an insightful note to young immigrants here.
Darcy Pattison has declared Random Acts of Publicity week starting on September 7. Promote some books!
Intriguing illustrator alert! Marie Desbons has illustrated French picture books, but we need some of that loveliness over here, no? Thanks to Decor8 for the link.
Have a great holiday weekend!
5 comments
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September 4, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Chris Eboch
I have wondered about this myself — is it because teens read more blogs then middle graders do? Or because YA authors are quicker to hop onto technology trends? Who knows? But I’m starting blogging myself, and I’m happy to participate with others’ blog interviews, giveaways, etc. Lets give middle grade a bigger presence online!
Chris Eboch
Haunted: The Ghost on the Stairs and The Phantom Pilot
See the You Tube video! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfcdY7tNH1k
http://www.chriseboch.com
September 4, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Linda
Kim, I like the attention you’re paying to MG! When I was promoting an MG series, I struggled with reaching readers online. I actually stopped my old writing blog at that time, because I didn’t think a 9 year old would be that interested in writers’ block, stress, bills, work, traffic, and such. Whereas if you write for a YA audience, it makes more sense to just talk about your life, what you’re reading, what you’re eating, thoughts on body image, what you’re doing for the weekend (e.g. Meg Cabot’s fabulous blog). So many writers’ blogs are aimed at other writers, and that clubby blogosphere serves the bloggers and their cohorts well … but maybe not the readers. I dunno. I look forward to talking more about this!
September 4, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Jolie
I think you’re right about bloggers and the blogosphere regarding MG. I do think we see a lot of great reviews of mg books and pb, but not just a mg bloggish focus (I love it when I make up words…you know what I mean). Glad you’re going there! Woo-hoo for you.
Oh, and why haven’t I seen your bravery comment over at Cuppa? I’m CERTAIN that you have stories of bravery I have yet to hear (even if you’ve already CF)!
September 4, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Robin
Kim, I’ve been having this exact same conversation with a couple of different people, my publicist and my critique partner. I think there are a couple of reasons.
One is that the actual readers of YA are very active online, while the readers of MG are below that age cut off point of 13 that allows them to sign up for various social media sites. And they aren’t overly interested in reading blogs on a regular basis. I did have some success when I ran the Theodosia blog and *she* was the one blogging, but even that was limited.
The other thing is that I think there are more adult readers who read YA for pleasure than adult readers who read MG for pleasure. That’s not to say there aren’t lots of adults who love MG, but as best I can tell, not as many as those who love YA.
Either way, I think it’s a most excellent idea to focus on MG. You’ve got my attention, anyway! I’ll be curious to see how it goes.
R. L. LaFevers
aka one of the Shrinking Violets
September 5, 2009 at 4:39 am
Sue Ford
I’m a middle grade writer who blogs. Though I also write early YA. Of course, none of the latter are published, YET! But you’re right, the big names in blogging seem to be YA. In the midwest we also have KidLit Central where a variety of bloggers blog in a shared project.