I'M IN ST. LOUIS AT THE YALSA SYMPOSIUM

I'm currently in St. Louis at the YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) Symposium. I'm meeting amazing librarians and conducting a panel with four fabulous New Mexico authors at 1:30 on Saturday! See the details below:

 

YALSA Author Panel

St. Louis, Missouri - November 3, 2012

 

A Matter of Facts and Fiction:

Giving Teens a Research Edge through YA Author Panels

Program Description: Five New Mexico authors will present a pilot program that brings teens and authors together to explore research strategies for writing fiction and nonfiction in a digital world.  The authors will discuss collaboration among libraries, bookstores, educators, and local authors to create dynamic interactive school events designed to excite teens about becoming research detectives, and inspire teachers to link YA fiction with curriculum goals and objectives.

To find out more about the authors on the panel and to explore the handouts for this presentation, go to the tab on this blog under YALSA Author Research Panel

SCHOOL VISITS AND YALSA PANEL PREPARATIONS

Lucky me! I got to spend the day with four delightful authors at two high schools. From right to left: Vaunda Micheaux Nelson (recent winner of the Horn Book Award for No Crystal Stair, Kersten Hamilton (author of the Tyger, Tyger series), Besty James (author/illustrator and mastermind behind The Seeker Chronicles), Carolyn Meyer, (author of the Young Royals Series/expert on dysfunctional royal families), and me, Carolee Dean.

We held an author panel at Rio Rancho High School in the morning and Cleveland High School in the afternoon. The topic was "How Authors and Students Conduct Research" and we discussed everything from using Facebook to "research" prospective prom dates to learning how to build a computer by watching YouTube. There was also mention of the difference between .com, .org, and .edu sights as well as how to effectively use Wikipedia as a starting place for more in depth research. We all shared stories about interesting people we have interviewed and places we have visited.

The five of us are in the process of preparing for our YALSA panel in St. Louis in three weeks. If you are going to be attending YALSA, please stop by our session, or if you know any librarians making the trek to St. Louis, tell them to stop by and say hello.

Here is the information:

Saturday, November 3, 2012 - 1:30 - YALSA Symposium - St. Louis 

A Matter of Facts and Fiction: Giving Teens a Research Edge through YA Author Panels

Five New Mexico authors will present a pilot program that brings teens and authors together to explore research strategies for writing fiction and nonfiction in a digital world.  The authors will discuss collaborations among libraries, bookstores, educators, and local authors to create dynamic interactive school events designed to excite teens about becoming research detectives, and inspire teachers to link YA fiction with curriculum goals and objectives. Presenters:Carolee Dean, Kersten Hamilton, Betsy James, Carolyn Meyer, and Vaunda Micheaux Nelson

See You There!!

Carolyn Meyer and THE WILD QUEEN

Carolyn Meyer appeared at Alamosa Books last Saturday to talk about her latest installment in the Royals Series - The Wild Queen: The Days and Nights of Mary Queen of Scots. Carolyn told how young Mary left Scotland at the age of 5 to be raised in the French court, as she was betrothed to the future king. After being widowed as a teenager, she returned to Scotland to rule a wild and unwieldy country. Here are some excerpts from the School Library Journal Review.   "The scheming and rivalries of Scotland are covered in such a way that the novel makes complicated history accessible and intriguing... Vivid descriptions of her education and socialization at the French royal court display the author’s extensive research."

Carolyn's discussion of her research was fascinating. She knows her subjects well, and tries to visit the countries she writes about whenever possible. She weaves in so much detail, it's hard to believe she wasn't actually present as the historic intrigues unfolded. I'm currently writing a novel containing many historical elements, so I know how time-consuming such research can be.Not only is Carolyn a master at recreating history, she does it in such a way that she makes history extremely accessible to teen readers. The intense accounts of love, betrayal, jealousy and revenge rival the drama of a Jersey Shores episode, but with style and class... and proper English.

To give an example of how accessible her books are for young readers, I'll share a personal example. I was recently sitting in my living room reading The Bad Queen: Rules and Instructions for Marie Antoinette, when my teenage daughter walked in and said, "I recognize that book. I read it. It's really good." What is noteworthy is that my daughter hates reading, and she hates history. I can't count the number of books I've given her, praying to instill a love of literature, hoping she would find among the pages characters who spoke to her. If done well, historical fiction can do that. Carolyn does it well!

Carolyn gave me an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Wild Queen when we were in Chicago at the International Reading Association, but that didn't stop me from buying books. I went a little book crazy and purchased:

Doomed Queen Anne

Duchessina

Beware, Princess Elizabeth

Mary, Bloody Mary

When I got home, I hid them away. I'm giving them to my daughter for her birthday. Oops! Hope she's not reading this post.