Here we are for the second day of the blog tour for Jeanne DuPrau’s, The Diamond of Darkhold.

I’ve been all over the blogosphere today looking at posts on this book. I’ve listed a couple of my favorite blog tour posts at the KidzBookBuzz blog.

Today I thought it would be fun to look at what others–not on the blog tour–were saying about the book. It’s a nice way to branch out, I think, and be a part of the bigger world out there. So…

I enjoyed this interview with the actors who play Doon Harrow and Lina Mayfleet, in the upcoming Ember movie. And here is a clip of the movie that I’ve never seen before–oh man, I can’t wait. I love movies almost as much as books. I love fiction–stories–in any form, I think. And finally, this is one of my favorite reviews of The Diamond of Darkhold.

Today begins the Kidz Book Buzz blog tour for the Diamond of Darkhold, by Jeanne DuPrau. 

Diamond is the fourth book in the Ember series, and while The City of Ember remains my favorite in the series, Diamond runs a close second. Doon and Lina are back together for a grand adventure in The Diamond of Darkhold, and I so enjoy keeping company with them.

I’ll give you a review of the book in a couple of days. Today I want to offer a free copy of an ARC (advanced reader copy).  Well, it’s not going to be totally free–you have to work for it. Here’s what you’ll need to do. Sometime between now and Wednesday, visit three of the participating blogs on the tour (their links are at the bottom of this post) and leave comments. Then on Thursday come back here and leave a comment telling me which sites you visited and commented on.  I’ll draw a winner from the entries, if more than one of you enters. You might not want to do this contest. Because the publisher was pretty generous and several of the bloggers on the tour have ARCs to give away. So skip around–you may find a contest you like better than this one. 

Becky, at Becky’s Book Reviews, has done a wonderful job of discussing the first three books in the Ember seies. (The City of Ember, The People of Sparks, and The Prophet of Yonwood) Go and read this post for her thoughts. 

I have to agree with her. I’ve wanted more of Ember since the first time I read it. It was one of those wonderful stories I didn’t want to end and one that made me particularly sad because I knew I wouldn’t get any sequels in the city. I wished, and wished that DuPrau would have given us three books in the city, ending with the exodus instead of beginning with it. I wonder if there is a way she can go back and do that? Her city was so well developed–the people, the customs, the lifestyle. It was real. It was exciting. It was fresh. 

So…it’s no wonder that the movie is coming out in two weeks. I wasn’t the only one who loved Ember. Yeehaw! The kids and I can’t wait! The trailers look great. If you’ve not read the book, I urge you to read it now, before the movie. It may ruin the movie for you–reading the book usually does. But it is such a rich experience, I’d hate for you to miss it. 

And I think that’s one reason I loved The Diamond of Darkhold so much. We got Lina and Doon, and we got one more peek at Ember. 

Be sure to visit other blog tour participants:

01 Charger, the 160acrewoods, A Childhood of Dreams, A Christian Worldview of Fiction, All About Children’s Books, And Another Book Read, Becky’s Book Reviews, Book Review Maniac, Cafe of Dreams, Comox Valley Kids, Dolce Bellezza, Fireside Musings, Homeschool Buzz, Hyperbole, Looking Glass Reviews, Never Jam Today

Since the SCBWI grant and what it might mean to me is still on my mind…

I want to go on record as saying that none of the editors I’ve ever met at conferences have treated me like a cold virus. They actually have all been very kind and warm and helpful. And I would encourage all writers trying to get published to go to as many conferences as they can afford.

It’s just that I’ve been around for several years now and I’ve done a lot of watching and thinking. And I, being able to do basic math, can see that there are a lot more writers than there are open spaces on the bookstore shelves.

And I’ve also seen a lot of people who aren’t very good writers, hounding editors, trying to convince them that they are good writers.

I suspect that to the editors, the sea of unknown faces, all look like hound faces. I think they might assume you can’t write, and then wait for you to prove you can. The opposite of the “innocent until proven guilty” deal. Because, let’s face it, most writers at conferences think more highly of their writing than they ought. It’s an occupational hazard. You have to have a certain amount of confidence to put your bloodied manuscript out there for people to snicker over.

What’s more, I’ve seen writers, over and over, jump on the first agent or editor who gave them an offer, and later regret it. They’ve rushed. Been published too early. Not sold well.

When I started out I had a desperate mindset. I thought, “I’ve written a novel, it’s better than a lot of other junk that is selling, it’s ready, someone sign me up.” I went to conferences to be discovered.

The last few conferences I’ve had a whole different attitude. I am not desperate anymore. I love my work. So much that I don’t care if it’s ever discovered, really. It can’t hurt me to hold it close to home, because it’s not written for publication–it’s written because I’m enjoying it.

I hope someday to find an editor who will love it, get it, and help me make it way better. I’d love some day to share it with thousands of readers. But I don’t feel a desperate need to make these things happen.

So, when I got the call from SCBWI I couldn’t even remember which grant I’d applied for or which manuscript I’d entered. I’m that relaxed about the whole journey these days. (For one thing, my husband died last year and after your husband dies, everything else falls into perspective. Publication is cool but not the be all and end all of existence.)

I’m different now than I was four years ago when I took my first completed book to a conference hoping to find a buyer. More confident and more humble at the same time, if that makes sense. I’m a better writer now. I’m happier with my stories. I like them and I don’t really care who rejects them. So I’m more confident than I was back then. But I also can look back at how good I thought I was–how ready I thought I was–and see how wrong I was. I had a lot to learn–about writing and about publishing. That humbles me. I’m aware that I still have a long way to go and will have room to grow until the day I die.

The great thing about being more relaxed about the whole process, is that you feel a lot better, and you can kick back and enjoy the journey. There’s also, ironically, a great side benefit. It makes you more attractive to editors, too. Someone–I wish I could remember who–said at a conference recently, “Nobody wants to date the desperate girl.”

  I love that line.

Marie is the winner of the Water Keep ARC. :yeah:  My daughter picked her entry from the hat. Marie, I will send your address to Mr. Savage and ask him to get a signed copy out to you ASAP.

And while we’re on the subject of winners…I didn’t win, but I got a runner-up slot in the SCBWI WIP grants for 2008. I placed in the unpublished division. That is very cool.
What’s that? You’re not sure what the work in progress grant is? Oh, no problem. Let me give you a little info about it.

No, no, no, I insist.
This is some of what Sue Burgess says on the tip sheet on how to apply:

Just as important as the money is the prestige of having a project deemed “worthy of publication.” Every year there are editors watching for the Bulletin announcement so they can contact Grant recipients.

Yes, I’m happy to get the money, but I’m happier at the thought of editors wanting to contact Grant recipients.

I like the thought of reaching a tipping point.

For years and years and years, I’ve been going to conferences and watching, and thinking about how a wannabe can stand out from the thousands upon thousands of hungry writers who go to conferences each year. To the editors, we’re just a sea of faces. Unknown and unproven.

As you go along, you get better at the pitching and the writing and the understanding of what editors want and what ideas electrify them. As you submit and are rejected, you grow. Editors may still reject you, but after a while you move out of the unknown sea into a smaller pond–those who bear watching. Those who are almost there.

And some writers, if they are patient and if they work hard, will hit the tipping point, and instead of pursuing the editors, they will sit back while the editors pursue them. I’ve seen it happen.

Of course, I’m not there. I may never be there. But I have to admit, it’s kind of fun, after years of feeling a little like a virus the editors are trying to avoid at all costs, to have someone say, “Now some editors are going to take note of your name and some may even contact you.”  heh heh The very thought makes me giddy.

But even though the editors probably aren’t going to be beating down my door, it’s very cool to have industry professionals deem my project “worthy of publication.” Nothing against my mom, or anything, but when someone thinks every bit of writing you scribble out is brilliant, it’s just a little hard to believe that she is a fair judge of the matter.
So, anyway, let’s celebrate!

{Where is the champagne-drinking smiley when you want him?}

J. Scott Savage has promised a signed ARC of Farworld: Water Keep to one happy reader.

So, here’s the contest. Go to the Farworld website and tell me where and when the Farworld launch party is going to be. Put that info in an email please. Send it to me at Sally at kidzbookbuzz dot com.

All entries must be received by midnight EST, Wednesday, September 17th. I’ll pick a winner on the 18th.