The Longevity of Fiction

The National Book Awards have been an annual event for 59 years. And during those 59 years...fiction is the only category that has had an award recipient each and every year.

It's just one of the many little "proofs" out there in the book world that fiction not only has a place, but it has irrefutable, historical strength.

If you'd like to be part of the making of "fictional history" this is definitely your year. This year (from September 21 to October 21) you'll get the chance to help select the best of the National Book Awards in the fiction category. By placing a vote you'll also be eligible to win 2 tickets to the awards ceremony for 2009. You can get more info or place your vote at the National Book Awards website.

After the public votes on the best of the best of the National Book Awards winners of past years...the final winner will be announced on November 18th, 2009 in New York City at the 60th National Book Awards ceremony.

So do your part in making fictional history and look into the National Book Awards' "Best of the National Book Awards Fiction" contest. We'll be placing our votes!

Honest Reviews in Exchange for Free Books

Ever wished that you could be a book reviewer? Even if you only wished it because you figured it would mean TONS and TONS of great, FREE books? There's nothing wrong with that. Here are two online spots you can join that offer the benefit of free books in exchange for reviews on the site:

GoodReads.com
LibraryThing.com

Both offer the opportunity to share your library, post ratings of books you've read, hook up with friends to talk about books you like, don't like, hate and might want to read. And they both offer the chance to request books (usually pre-release). The number of books available are, of course, far smaller than the number of readers requesting them so it's kind of like a lottery, but it's worth it. The process to request is quick and painless and every now and then you'll get a free book out of it! Good luck.

LJW Publishing Titles at 2009 BEA

LJW Publishing's first venture into Young Adult fiction, Meeting Lizzy, was featured in the Atlas Books booth at BEA this past week. It was the busiest show in Atlas Books history.

The booth played host to several musical legends: Tom Paxton, Peter Yarrow, Judy Collins and DJ great "Cousin Brucie" Morrow. The singing sessions for visiting booksellers was a great success; the Atlas Books crew had just as much fun as the many visitors drawn to the booth.

LJW Titles at BEA: Book Expo America 2009

Book Expo America is almost upon us. 2009's event is being held from May 28-31 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in NYC. It's the largest publishing industry event of the year. If you happen to be lucky enough to be attending make sure to check out LJW titles through Atlas Books. If you won't be able to make it check out the official BEA podcast. Or watch video of features authors online: BEA Authors. Or you can always watch for up to date news on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. BEA news will be updated frequently!

This year's BEA has an amazing list of events available for attendees! Check out details on the BEA homepage.

Summer Reading Lists

Summer 's no longer around the corner. It's banging down your front door. And no matter how old you are, where you are or what you're doing this summer you should ALWAYS have a summer reading list. It's the perfect time to get in some reading with a natural deadline that doesn't limit you (it's a few months, after all) but will definitely give you something to work towards. If you find yourself at a loss (and you've already read the available LJW titles, of course) here are a few staff favorites that cover a wide spectrum of tastes and styles...pick one (AT LEAST) and make a goal to complete it by summer's end.

1. The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman.

Staff Review: This book is absolutely amazing! No matter who you are you'll find this book helpful in the extreme. It never occurred to me (selfish being that I am) that I wasn't effectively communicating with the people that mean the most to me, but after reading this book I finally get it. Now I just need to get my husband to read it so he can "get it," too. That would be perfect. I've heard many people say that the very best thing a couple can do is to read it together.

2. The Emperor Series by Conn Iggulden

Staff Review: If these books were movies they'd be action packed, blockbuster hits. I haven't found another writer who does as excellent a job of depicting battle scenes, politics of war, intrigue of government (albeit ancient government) and I have to say...he deserves some major props.

3. The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare

Staff Review: If you're into young adult fiction or just fantasy adventure in general these books are a fabulous choice. The third in the series was released in March 2009 so if you haven't yet started the series you're in for a treat because the series is complete. The characters are very dynamic and the story never loses its hold on the reader even for a second. You'll find yourself immediately involved in the detailed setting of the story and will enjoy the twists and turns as well as the introduction of a wide variety of well known mythical creates and bits of legends.

4. Man in Black by Johnny Cash

Staff Review: As a Johnny Cash fan I wasn't surprised that I loved this book. But if you are a reader fond of biographies/autobiographies this is a great book to pick up this summer. The life of Johnny Cash in itself makes a great story, but this particular telling hits home because it's actually written by Johnny Cash. It makes it seem more personal, detailed and moving.

5. The Gregor the Overlander Series by Suzanne Collins

Staff Review: These books are especially great because they are actually written for the pre-teen age group, yet they are a really, really great read. So they are perfect for the parent looking for something to read along with their child. I'd feel comfortable reading the Gregor the Overlander books with a child as young as 6 or 7. And kids as old as 13 or 14 will still find them interesting enough to pick up on their own over the summer. It's a fantasy adventure story that takes one boy (and his family) in and out of a secret world that has been underneath the city for years and years unknown to the "overlanders" above.

6. She... by Kobi Yamada, Jenica Wilkie and Steve Potter

Staff Review: This is an inspirational gift book that I find SO inspirational that I've probably given out at least 20 of them as gifts. And I'm not talking about the kind of gift that you give out when you don't know what else to give to someone. This book is absolutely amazing...mostly because it makes you feel like you're an awesome person after you've read through it. And it only takes a few minutes to read. So I try to read it everyday!

7. The Red Tent: A Novel by Anita Diamant

Staff Review: This is one of those fictional accounts based on biblical characters that leave you pondering a variety of issues. It gives you a greater understanding of things that are so foreign in today's society. For instance, the title refers to the tent in which the women spent their time during their menstrual cycle; bonding and passing down traditions woman to woman. The book is filled with a fantastic weaving of recognizable references to the bible stories and the fictional details Diamant added. She does it beautifully and adds a fantastic perspective and ability to offer the chance to understand something better that many would have said they already knew.

Other books that need no personal recommendation, but that LJW Publishing staffers suggested as good additions to any summer reading list include such classics as: Pride and Prejudice, Lord of the Flies, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Bless Me, Ultima, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Moby Dick, The Invisible Man, The Time Machine, Wuthering Heights, Beowulf, and Frankenstein.

Now...there are several books recommended by staff members here at LJW Publishing so you can't use the old, tired excuse of, "I just don't know what to read" when it comes to summer reading. And if none of those do it for you pick up one of the LJW titles: Meeting Lizzy by SarahBeth Carter, Larryisms or Think Rich to Get Rich by Larry John or 21st Century Advertising for New Home Builders by Preston John.

Whatever book you choose...get out there and get started. Summer's already here so you should already be digging in to your fantastic summer reading list!

Download Your Free Bookmark Here

Meeting Lizzy now has a new and revised bookmark. Librarian requests for the document led us to a design update and it turned out so fun and feisty that we decided to make it easy and provide online access to the design. Ta da! Feel free to access it to print for your own use, for use as handouts at your next teen library event, for use in the classroom, etc. At the very least...check out the updated design. You'll love it!

Click HERE to get a full size version of the reduced bookmark below:

ALA Midwinter Gathering, January 2009

The ALA Midwinter Gathering has come and gone...this year coming and going through Denver, Colorado. LJW Publishing was represented by its very own award winning YA novel, Meeting Lizzy, by SarahBeth Carter. The novel won the Moonbeam Children's Book Awards Bronze recognizing outstanding children's books. The official awards ceremony took place during the ALA Midwinter Gathering and the Meeting Lizzy was on display throughout the proceedings.

LJW Publishing is very excited to have their first undertaking in the YA or teen book world recognized by the awards program and would like to thank the Jenkins Group for their dedication to the love of reading that led them to create the program and recognize exemplary authors for children and young adults.

For more information on the Moonbeam Children's Book Awards (they are now accepting entries for 2009) visit their site.

For more information on where to get Meeting Lizzy visit Atlas Books (our one and only favorite, alright...exclusive...distributor)! Or if you're a consumer that stumbled upon the site and want to check out a fabulous, award winning YA book...get it here!

Visit again soon for updates!

A New Review of Meeting Lizzy at Gruntlings

Gruntlings, a popular review site that featured anything baby or child related has seen fit to post a great review of LJW Publishing's recent YA release: Meeting Lizzy.

The review reads:

Price Tag: $9.95
Age Range: Young teen and up
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

We were originally going to feature this book in our gift guide, but it deserved much more attention than the gift guide would have allowed for.

Meeting Lizzy by SarahBeth Carter is a book that addresses the difficult topic of abusive teenage relationships. This book is narrated in part by a teenage boy named Cy who stumbles across the abuse of his neighbor Eliza and who tries hard to help but who is unable to help because Eliza swears him to secrecy. Her abuser is her boyfriend, a popular high school jock. The chapters by Cy alternate with chapters by Eliza which detail her confusion and fear. She doesn’t know how this happened, or why it has become the new normal. She tries to leave her relationship but is bullied back into it by her abuser...This book goes into a great amount of detail that shows that the abuse isn’t only physical. It’s isolation and control. Her boyfriend controls what she wears, who her friends are, who she talks to, and as many other aspects of her life as he is able...This book is a great way to open a discussion with your daughter about dating and violence, and to make sure she knows what to do if she finds herself in a bad situation. It’s an eye-opener for parents to read, as well.

This is just an excerpt...for the full review click here!

It's Gift Giving Time!

No matter what industry you're in...this is the time recognized far and wide as the time people are buying gifts. And one of the easiest, most universal (and affordable) gifts is a good book!

Meeting Lizzy has been featured in a number of gift guides as a great gift for teens! Check out two of the most recent holiday gift guide listings here:

A Parent in Silver Springs

All American Mommy

And if you haven't purchased a gift for the teen in your life...you've got yourself covered now. Just click here or visit your local bookstore and ask for
Meeting Lizzy!

Another Award for LJW Publishing's Meeting Lizzy

Meeting Lizzy has recently been the recipient of another award: The All American Mommy Award.

Moms everywhere can appreciate the opportunity to bring up tough topics with their teens and YA literature has presented a unique opportunity to do just that! For instance, Meeting Lizzy presents parents with the chance to broach the topic of teen dating violence with their kids in a safe environment before they're ever faced with the issue in their personal life or the lives of those they're close to during their teen years.

Check it out today: Meeting Lizzy at Barnes & Noble.com!

A Few Basic Answers to a Few (Often Asked) Questions

We often receive comments and requests from writers for general information on getting published. So the easiest way to provide the info needed was to gather it all into one short post and offer up to the masses.

Looking to write a novel, but need a bit of a push?
Check out the classes at your local community college? Does your public library system offer any creative writing workshops? Have you thought about joining a creative writing group in your area? Check out all the fantastic forums available online. The Yahoo groups are our favorite...and make sure to join one specific to your likes/the genre you will be writing about.

Have a novel or book and want to approach the right agent/publisher?
This is more difficult than many imagine. Our suggestion is to get your hands on the current Writer's Market book. Take advantage of their online tools. Keep track of your progress as you work way through the book choosing publishers and/or agents that work with books similar to the one in your hands.

How do you approach an agent/publisher?
Follow their RULES. There are no rules that blanket every agent or every publisher in the industry. The most magical and most frustrating thing about the book publishing world is that the "norm" isn't always acceptable at every publishing house. When you decide who you will be approaching read their listing in Writer's Market carefully and then double check it and get some more information online. Get a feel for their online presence and you'll have a pretty good of what their current philosophy and direction might be. Some houses/presses also suggest that you read some of their current titles prior to submitting any new work.

What are the basic requirements for manuscript submission?
As we mentioned previously there are exceptions to every rule, but most of the time you start your contact with a query letter. There are suggestions on just how to propose your idea in the first contact all over the Internet, but here's one option if you're looking for detailed guidance: Guide To Getting Published.

If you have someone show interest in your query, give them EXACTLY what they ask for immediately upon receiving the request! If they're looking for something like the manuscript you submitted they're most likely looking for it NOW and won't mess around if they're told to wait or aren't told anything at all.

How soon can I check in on the status of my submission?

This depends on the publishing house. Many will say they respond within a certain number of months and they really would probably rather not field phone calls about the status of a submission until after this date. Others are very open about suggesting that authors are welcome to call and discuss the status of their submission. Again...just know the standards of the house you're approaching so you don't leave a negative impression that could hurt your manuscript's chances of getting accepted!

Enjoy and good luck!

Moonbeam Children's Book Awards Results: Meeting Lizzy Recognized as a Young Adult Fiction Winner

2nd Annual Moonbeam Award Winners are Dedicated and Diverse

Traverse City, Michigan – What do a graphic novel about the Boston Tea Party, a
picture book about a hyperactive monkey, and an instructive book about children’s
vision impairments have in common? They’re all medalists in the 2008 Moonbeam
Children’s Book Awards, honoring the year's best children’s books, authors and
illustrators.

Judges chose 138 gold, silver and bronze medalists in 31 categories. The aforementioned Ropes of Revolution, by J. Gunderson; illustrated by Brent Schoonover(Stone Arch Books) was the Comic/Graphic Novel gold medalist, Monkey with a Tool Belt, written and illustrated by Chris Monroe (Carolrhoda/Lerner) won a silver medal in the 4-8 Year Old Picture Book category, and All Children Have Different Eyes, by Edie A. Glaser and Maria Burgio, Ph.D; illustrated by Doina Paraschiv (Vidi Press)was a bronze medalist in the Health Issues category.

The Moonbeam Awards are intended to bring increased recognition to exemplary
children’s books and their creators, and to support childhood literacy and life-long
reading. A wide range of children’s publishing categories from alphabet books to
young adult novels and including specialties like Children’s Poetry and Environmental
Issues were judged by expert panels of youth educators, librarians, booksellers, and
book reviewers. Award recipients receive gold, silver and bronze medals and stickers
depicting a mother and child reading and silhouetted by a full moon.

The Peacemaker Award for the best book promoting world peace and human tolerance went
to Extraordinary Women from the Muslim World, by Natalie Maydell and Sep Riahi; illustrated by Heba Amin (Global Content Publishing). That award is given in honor of Mattie J.T. Stepanek (1990-2004) whose message of hope and peace has inspired millions of people around the world, and was an impetus in the creation of these awards.

This year’s award-winning books present a diverse range of subjects and formats, and
the winning publishers are widely dispersed geographically. Moonbeam medals were
awarded to authors and publishers from 30 U.S. states, four Canadian provinces, and
four countries overseas. The cause of promoting childhood literacy knows no
boundaries, and the award winners illustrate that point well, coming not only from
long-established publishers and university presses, but from small presses,
foundations, museums, and self-published entrepreneurs.

“We congratulate this year’s award winners and applaud the role these books play in
enriching children’s lives,” says Moonbeam Awards founder Jerrold Jenkins, father of
four children ranging in ages 6 to 16. “Today’s world is a confusing place to grow
up, and children’s book authors and publishers have risen to the occasion, creating
books that not only celebrate the joys of childhood, but also help families deal with
its challenges. We created Moonbeam to reward the best of these books and bring them
to the attention of parents, booksellers, librarians – and to the kids themselves.”
Jenkins Group has been involved in book packaging, marketing and distribution since
1988, and many of its employees now have children and grandchildren who strongly
influence the company culture with their youthful exuberance and love of books.
Read a Moonbeam Award-winning book to your child today!

Complete contest results available on the Moonbeam site!

For more information on Awards or medalists contact:
Jim Barnes, Awards Director
www.independentpublisher.com / www.moonbeamawards.com
Ph: 1.231.933.4954 x1011

Official Bronze Winner for New YA Fiction

Meeting Lizzy by SarahBeth Carter is the recipient of the Bronze for new YA fiction from the Moonbeam Children's Book Awards. The program's award ceremony will take place during the ALA's Midwinter Gathering this January 2009 in Denver, Colorado. The gathering will be host to the Moonbeam Children's Book Awards as well as the Newbery and Caldecott Awards for the year.

SarahBeth Carter's "Readers Who Write" Author Event

LJW Publishing author, SarahBeth Carter, is currently offering a fabulous teen author event she calls, "Readers Who Write!" The event encourages teens to accept their natural ability to tell a story by looking at the world around them and their own daily activites for writing inspiration. Teens get ALL this within the typical 1-2 hour time period and in a manner that ensures that all attendees are having a good time!

One popular portion of the event is the 25 Words or Less Game in which each teen summarizes their favorite book in 25 words or less without noting the title or author. All the cards are then returned to the author or the host of the event and as a group we attempt to determine which books are being described. The game is finished off by each teen drawing a random card with book description, title and author (added after guessing) so they can broaden their reading horizons by reading the title suggested. You never know when you'll happen upon a writing style that will inspire you to reach for a higher level in your own writing.



The event is peppered with giveaways that could include any of the following: books (of course), DVDs, treats of gummy bears and/or gum, Panda Express gift cards and more. (All the prizes are directly related to SarahBeth's new YA release, Meeting Lizzy, which makes it all the more fun!)

To schedule your own "Readers Who Write" Author Event get in touch with LJW Publishing today!

Meeting Lizzy Chosen as Moonbeam Children's Book Awards Semi-Finalist!

SarahBeth Carter's new YA book release, Meeting Lizzy, is a Semi-Finalist in the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards. Award recipients will not be final until Friday, October 24th of 2008 with one gold and one silver award for each category. The remaining semi-finalists will be reipients of the bronze!

The official announcement Moonbeam Children's Book Awards winners will occur in January 2009 at the same time as the Newbery and Caldecott Medal announcement. The announcements will be made at the ALA (American Library Association) Mid-Winter Gathering in Denver, Colorado with the award winning books on display throughout the conference from January 23-26, 2009.

Meeting Lizzy was published by LJW Publishing on September 19, 2008. The author's name is SarahBeth Carter and the book is distributed through Atlas Books/BookMasters. The ISBN for Meeting Lizzy is 978-0-9761986-6-6. The book is paperback with perfect binding and 232 pages and retails for $9.95. The book falls into the Fiction/Young Adult, Contemporary categories.

This recent YA release offers teens the chance to approach a dangerous and difficult situation from a safe position; an opportunity typical to many YA novels. 1 in 5 female high school students report being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner according to The Journal of AMA. Yet according to surveys conducted by the Family Violence Prevention Fund and Advocates for Youth, 81% of parents believe that teen dating violence isn’t an issue. The upcoming release, Meeting Lizzy, deals with teen dating violence in a way that teens can digest; while offering them characters and a story that will keep them reading.

Annotation: Meeting Lizzy

Lizzy slams into Cy’s life with the menacing shadow of “Beef Man” right behind her and Cy’s priorities fall apart to make room for a secret so big and so wrong that he can’t think of anything else.

The Author: SarahBeth Carter

SarahBeth graduated from ASU with an English Literature degree (preceded by a slew of majors that she thoroughly enjoyed experimenting with). When asked why she wrote a book based upon teen dating violence she said, “It wasn’t really premeditated. The characters seemed to pop up and then the story followed naturally. But it’s something that teens are affected by more than most of us realize. YA Lit gives them the chance to become aware of a dangerous issue prior to dealing with it on a personal level.”

For More Information:

For more information on the book, the author, or the publishing company contact Sarah Carter at sarah@larryjohnwright.com or visit LJW online at www.larryjohnwrightpublishing.com.

LJW Authors: Upcoming Events

SarahBeth Carter, our YA fiction author, is scheduled to pop up at a few libraries in AZ during Teen Read Week. We're still finalizing plans as well as the final schedule, but the first library to approach SarahBeth Carter, Buckeye Public Library, has everything set and will be hosting an event with SarahBeth on October 18th, 2oo8 from 10 am to 12 pm. Drop by if you're in the area!

Price Point Change on Meeting Lizzy, New YA Fiction Release

Here at LJW Publishing we're all about books and books just wouldn't mean much if no one was reading them. So we've decided to make it even easier for more people to read our upcoming YA fiction release, Meeting Lizzy by SarahBeth Carter, by lowering the price point on the book from $12.95 to $9.95 just in time for its official release date tomorrow, September 19, 2008. So get out there and request it at your favorite book store. It's available through all major book outlets and wholesalers. Happy book shopping!

The Official Release Date for Meeting Lizzy, September 19, 2008

Read an excerpt here!

LJW Publishing's Meeting Lizzy will be officially available for sale September 19, 2008. So in preparation we're providing you with everything you could ever wish to know about where to get the book, why to get the book, when to get the book, and what's already being said about the book!

Where to get Meeting Lizzy:
1. From the official distributor of LJW Publishing: Atlas Books
2. At major online retailers: Amazon or B&N.com
3. Your local bookstore! The book is available through the major wholesalers so if your bookstore doesn't have it...they can definitely get it! Just tell them you want it.

Why to purchase Meeting Lizzy:
1. Meeting Lizzy is the perfect opportunity to sit back and enjoy a good read.
2. Early Reader Review copies resulted in enthusiastic responses from YAs, librarians, and parents alike.
3. The enjoyment of reading is doubly satisfying due to the book's honest yet delicate treatment of teen dating violence, a topic discussed far less than its 1 in 4 statistics deserve.
4. The tantalizing story line combined with the addictive quality of Meeting Lizzy's characters will make you glad you read it.

When to get Meeting Lizzy:
1. Pre-order it right now at Amazon.com or B&N.com
2. Drop your request at your local bookstore today and ask to be able to pick up your copy of Meeting Lizzy on the 19th!
3. September 19, 2008...the book will be available to one and all. If your favorite bookstore doesn't have it; they can get it!

Click on the following links to read full reviews completed by Early Readers:
A great read! Gets you on the first page...
Great story that pulls you in...
Flamingnet Student Book Reviewer...
Not my style,but I couldn't put it down just the same...
Wow...loved this book...
Love to read? You'll love to read this...
I'm not a reader, but I really liked reading this...
A fabulous book...
A reviewer...


Read the press release here!

As mentioned in/on: Foreword Magazine, Like OMG Teens Read Newsletter (although this post accidentally lists the upcoming release under hardcover instead of paperback), Simply Books, Shelfari, LibraryThing.com, Goodreads.com, Flamingnet and more!

Find out more about the book and the author at SarahBeth's author blog: WritingNWords

Talking Books!

In USA Today's Fall Books Preview they described some books as "talkers" when they said, "Certain books are 'talkers.' They make you think, react and want to chat up your friends about what you've just read."

Here at LJW Publishing we love the description USA Today gave of the books that leave you discovering new things to think about and discuss. We thought you'd appreciate it, too!

Still Buying Books in Phoenix

LJW Publishing's hometown paper, the East Valley Tribune, recently published a piece stating that during a slumping economy (like the present), people "don't have to buy books." But according to their own local research, area residents were still buying. The paper stated that "small business owners seem[ed] to be faring better than the 'big box' stores. Personalized service that provides more value to cash-strapped customers, knowing community likes and dislikes and having the flexibility to make and execute decisions on the spot give the small shops big clout in an increasingly difficult economy."

Two stores noted in the article were: Changing Hands Bookstore out of Tempe, AZ and the Poison Pen out of Scottsdale, AZ. Gayle Shanks, co-owner of Changing Hands Bookstore, mentioned that their used books sales were better than ever and paperback and gift item sales continue to increase.

At The Poisoned Pen bookshop in Scottsdale Barbara Peters described it as the "best summer in years." She attributes the steady growth during the sluggish economy to personal touch.