A forum user asked: What's next, after your debut novel?

Part One of Four


G. Neri Yummy and Chess Rumble, from Lee and Low Books 2007

Already delivered my second book, Chess Rumble, which will come out shortly after my debut project. And I just turned in my third book, which is my first legitimate YA novel called Surf Mules. I hope that makes sense. Now there will be massive rewriting to do, I'm sure. But I am already starting a few new ideas and we'll see where they take me.

www.gneri.com


Carrie Jones, TIPS ON HAVING A GAY (ex) BOYFRIEND (Llewellyn/Flux, Spring 2007) PREGGERS (Flux, March 2008)

My second book is currently called PREGGERS. Flux purchased that book recently. It should hit shelves in March 2008. Flux also purchased another book called either TRUE GRIT or THE JOHN WAYNE LETTERS due after that. I actually wrote that book first. Go figure.

I'm working on three other YAs right now (NEED, WHY I DRINK, and HERE) and a bunch of middle grade books.

All are in various stages of development.

It's actually really fun writing for different age groups and in different styles and  I'm finding that some styles are so much harder and take so much longer for me to finish and revise.

Still, it's all an amazing adventure and I feel really lucky that I get to write things. Really, really lucky.

One of my Vermont College advisors, Kathi Appelt, always said, "Write like your fingers are on fire."

So, I'm trying to do that.

 www.carriejonesbooks.com


Melissa Marr WICKED LOVELY, HarperCollins US & UK 2007 INK EXCHANGE, HarperCollins US & UK 2008

Next is INK EXCHANGE.  It'll actually be through revisions and to copyedit before WICKED LOVELY is available for sale. I find this part rather odd, in truth.  I've spent 2006 hopping back and forth between drafting INK & tasks for the release of WL. 

Harper bought my third book too, but all that's set there is that it's another YA text.  I have one idea that I've been toying with--and hope to develop as that third contracted work--but there are a couple other ideas that are swimming around my mind too. My editors are being very awesome in letting me not commit to anything just yet.

So 2007 will see the release of Wicked Lovely,  revision of Ink Exchange, & drafting of the third text--as well as promo for Wicked Lovely.  I think I'm looking to nap a bit in 2008 to catch my breath . . . well, along with revision of Three and promo for Ink.

www.melissa-marr.com


Paula Chase, SO NOT THE DRAMA

Don't Get It Twisted, a sequel to So Not The Drama will hit shelves December '07.  Meanwhile, there's the prospect of more Del Rio Bay Clique novels, but no numbers are set in stone regarding how many will be in the series. 

I'm re-writing my upper YA and am thoroughly enjoying it.  I love my DRB Clique characters, but it's so much fun writing other characters, especially since the characters are older and live in a completely different environment.

My hope is that I keep selling DRB Clique novels and establish a foot in the door of upper YA - making for a nice balance of my own personalities - the sweet and the sassy.

www.paulachasehyman.com

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