Encouraging young writers… or leading them astray? What one fan letter revealed about the pressures teens face to choose more “realistic” careers.

I received the most heartwarming fan letter recently via email from a 14-year-old Swedish girl. It always makes my day to learn that my book is finding love out there in the world, that it is being read and enjoyed. In this case, however, my book had done more than that. It had inspired a teenager to pursue her dream of writing, a dream that had been squashed by what she described as the pressure to pursue a more “realistic” career. Before I comment further, here’s the letter, reprinted with her permission:

Hi, Sharon.

I don't really know why I started to type this email, I somehow felt the need to.

I am a fourteen year old Swedish girl. Despite my young age, almost everyone around me is stressing me out about my future, telling me what I shouldn't do, what I should do and which jobs I shouldn't pick. In Sweden, you have to apply to 'high schools' when you're sixteen, and if you get bad grades you won't get in to a good high school and choose the major that you want to study, maybe you won't even get in at all. All of this stressing has made me forget what I love the most and what I truly want to do; write. My family and friends tell me that I should choose something more realistic, a goal I can reach. It made me confused about what I wanted to do. It made me stop caring about planning for my future and start feeling down every time someone said the word 'future'. It made me forget my love for books and made me cringe every time I saw them, knowing my future wouldn't consist of making them. Made me feel stupid when saying the sentence:

I want to be a writer.

But when I stumbled across your book, I immediately fell in love with it. I loved everything about it, and I could see so much of me in Ivy, and not to talk about how much Reesa reminded me of my best friend.

Your book reminded me of what I love the most about books, and why I wanted to be a writer in the first place. I finished your book in two days, and when I got to the last page, I cried because I couldn't read your book for the first time again. It might seem silly, but thank you, really. 

The day after I read your book, I picked up my my laptop and started writing on a novel I started last year, my fingers were literally running across the keyboard! That hasn't happened to me in months! I'm writing this email to thank you, thank you for writing my new favourite book. 

– Alexandra N.

The letter came on a day when I was struggling to write a new, final chapter for my upcoming novel, HOW TO DISAPPEAR. A deadline loomed, and I was not sure I could pull it off. Alexandra’s letter inspired ME. I replied to tell her so, and encouraged her to keep writing. I let her know that I hoped she would never again feel stupid saying, “I want to be a writer.” In fact, I told her to say, “I AM a writer,” instead! She is writing, after all. She’s a writer!

Alexandra replied, even more excited and sure of her decision to pursue her writing. 

And then, I started to worry. Who was I to contradict the advice of her parents, family and friends? I know nothing of the education system in Sweden, or what might assure a bright future for her in that country. Was I leading Alexandra astray? As the mother of a 16-year-old son, I know firsthand the worry parents experience when contemplating their children’s future and ability to make a living. We lose sleep over how best to guide them in the right direction or let them find their own way. I also know that earning a livable wage as an author is, well, nearly impossible. Most of us have other jobs, or other sources of income. A small percentage earn enough to quit their day job.

But I didn’t want to discourage a 14-year-old from pursuing her dream of becoming a writer! I hate that kids must narrow their focus to a specific career path at such an early age. Why can't there be more flexibility and exploration in education? More “sure!” and “why not?” instead of only “should” and “should not.” 

In my email exchange with Alexandra, I noted that a career as an author is difficult. I told her that, no matter what field of study she ultimately pursues, she can ALWAYS write. (How many of us started our first novels while working as lawyers, doctors, teachers, librarians… and continue to work those jobs while writing 2nd, 3rd and 4th novels?) I encouraged her to keep writing, to persevere. Because age 14 is way too soon to give up on your dreams. 

Any age is too soon to give up on your dreams!

I am so honored that Alexandra read and enjoyed Between the Notes, that it reminded her of why she loves books, and inspired her to start writing again. Receiving Alexandra's letter was a wonderful reminder to me that a book's success cannot be measured in sales alone. While I'd love to reach more readers, knowing I reached Alexandra is enough to keep me writing. I very much hope that she keeps writing, too!

Indie Bookstore Day at Aaron's Books, Lititz, PA!

I'll be joining the fun at Aaron's Bookstore on Saturday! Come hang out... there will be lots of fun all day, with games and giveaways.

Fill Your Easter Baskets With Books!

What can I say? Some books just look really good in an Easter basket, with those glossy white covers and spring colors. (I may be biased.) 

Between the Notes with the gorgeous A Thousand Pieces of You
by Claudia Gray and Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon.

Hope the Easter Bunny brings you some yummy books (and chocolate and jelly beans) this year! 

In which I channel Kwame Alexander for a YA retelling of Jane Eyre at #NYCTAF

I've attended the fabulous New York City Teen Author Festival twice before, but this year was the first time I was invited to participate on one of the author panels. I was just a teensy bit excited (understatement of the century), until I heard which panel I was on. Then I was terrified.

The topic of my panel was The Secret YA Lives of Adult Characters. Our assignment from organizer and author extraordinaire David Levithan? "Show a pivotal moment of a character from adult lit through the lens of a YA novel."

I wouldn't simply be answering questions on a panel. I was going to have to write something. And read it aloud. And it would have to be funny.

AAAHHHHhahhahahahahah. Hold me.

I read as David Levithan looks on. He isn't 

grimacing! Photo by author Ami Allen-Vath.

Then I got an idea. And it was insane. So I emailed David and said, "Is this insane?" And he said, "Yes, that's insane. Try it." 

So I did. I took my all-time favorite novel JANE EYRE and crossed it with THE CROSSOVER by Kwame Alexander (the Newbery award-winning verse novel of basketball and growing up and family and vocabulary! and so much more. Go read it.) 

I stood in front of the crowd gathered in the Celeste Auditorium of the New York Public Library (the one with the big lions out front) and I read it. And they laughed. OUT LOUD. (Phew!)

Here it is. A YA retelling of JANE EYRE from the perspective of Mr. Rochester, with apologies to Kwame Alexander and Josh Bell (aka Filthy McNasty):

CROSSOVER ROCHESTER

Jane Eyre
is her name.
But Homely McSmarty is her claim to fame.
Folks call her dull
'cause her countenance is plain,
so downright gloomy, every day she looks the same.
Her hair is drab, her height is small.
See, she’s a governess from Lowood,
LeBoring in a shawl.

Remember when we met
on the road to Thornfield Hall?
I rode with Pilot, and that witch
she made me fall.
Had to hobble, leaning on her,
limping grimly to my horse.  
She spoke of Mr. Rochester
knowing not that I am he, of course.
(I’m kind of a jerk,
so I didn’t say anything.
Not at first.)

Mrs. Fairfax tells her 
“the master’s old school.
Put on a brooch or you’ll look like a fool.”
Jane comes when I beckon,
serves me my tea. Only speaks when I’ve spoken,
a polite detainee.
Her mind, it is sweet, though,
a salve for my soul.
Until I ask, “Am I handsome?”
and she answers, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO sir."

One night in her chamber,
Jane hears a strange sound.
At the moan of a demon, she’s up, looks around.
Finds me engulfed in a madwoman’s flame,
But hasn’t a clue who’s really to blame.
My wife she is cray, living up in the attic.
Tried to burn me alive,
but Jane wouldn’t have it.
She picked up a basin and put out the fire.
See, she stopped me from burning,
but not my desire.

I knew when I met her
she’d do me some good.
The pale little thing 
in her cloak and her hood.
Her wit, it delights me,
her eyes, they inspire.
If Jane’s love’s for sale
then I am the buyer.

_____

Thanks to everyone who came out to the event, and to David Leviathan for including me! 

A Post-Valentine's Look at Love in Between the Notes + Goodreads Giveaway!

Yesterday was Valentine's Day, and I completely missed it because oops  but love is worth celebrating all year 'round, right? So I scoured my novel for the mushiest love quotes and realized I forgot to write any the best examples of love and affection are not always of the romantic variety. Of course, being a romance at its core, Between the Notes has plenty of awkward swoony and mortifying tingly moments. But it also has tense tender exchanges between friends and family. Plus, Ivy's terrifying stage fright passion for her music is a love story in itself. 

So, without embarrassing myself further ado, I present some of my favorite bits of love in Between the Notes... from the swoony to the friendly, and everything in between. And you better don't forget to ENTER THE GOODREADS GIVEAWAY or else.

The Swoony

"…he put one hand on the doorknob 

and the other on the small of my back. 

It was a simple gesture, but it melted me. 

He looked into my eyes, opened the door, 

and poured me into the room."

The Awkward

"He took a step back and looked at his feet, 

like maybe he was trying to give me a moment 

to collect myself. But I was pretty much uncollectible 

at this point, so I just stood there staring at him, 

all sweaty and panting like a dog."

The Brotherly

"He gave me one of his signature kisses—

a press of wet lips to my cheek, 

followed by a smacking sound. 

He hadn’t quite coordinated the two yet.

 I kissed him back, extra hard."

The Motherly

"She gathered me in her arms. 

Everything hurt when she touched me, 

but I didn’t want her to let go. 

I just wanted to cry on my mother’s shoulder

 and let her take care of me. 

And she did."

The Musical

"I took pride in being able to find music 

in nearly every sound. The rustle of leaves, a squeaky swing 

swaying in the breeze, the slamming of lockers… 

laughter, footsteps, sighs, even sneezes. 

Finding my own voice was sometimes hard, 

but I could always hear the music around me."

The BFFs

"I used to sit at my window, surrounded by soft pillows, 

talking to Reesa on my cell phone. She’d walk over to my house 

with her phone to her ear and I’d wave to her as she crossed the yard. 

We’d keep talking until she as in the house and up the stairs 

and sitting next to me and we’d say bye and hi without skipping a beat."

Do you realize how long it took me See how much fun I had making the colors of those quotes match the cover of my book? I did that for you so you better go enter my giveaway now because I love you. Seriously... please enter the giveaway! I will cry if you don't I can't wait to sign and personalize a hardcover copy of Between the Notes for the winner! OPEN INTERNATIONALLY.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Between the Notes

by Sharon Huss Roat

Giveaway ends March 15, 2016.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

My 2015 Top Ten List (of moments to remember every time my book doesn't make a top ten list)

'Tis the season for "top ten" and "best of" lists of books for 2015, and I'm sincerely happy for all of my debut YA author friends whose books are getting a well-deserved shout-out. The ones appearing on ALL the lists? The ARE all that. It's true. I've read them and loved them. But there are also some books I've hugged to my chest and ached over, or laughed out loud at and shared with every teen reader I know, or otherwise fangirled over... that are NOT on the lists.  

And my book, too... it has not made it onto the radar screen of the top ten list-makers, either. 

Every time a list comes out, the part of my brain that's eternally optimistic (and completely delusional) says, "OH, goodie! A list! Let's see if Between the Notes is on it!" And I hopefully scan the beautiful books, oohing and ahhing over ones I haven't read yet that look sooo good. But, nope. My book isn't there.

And that's OKAY. Seriously. Because have you noticed how many amazing books came out in 2015? It's a huge honor to even be sitting in the same room. I've been part of the most incredible class of debut authors imaginable, and no one will never convince me that there has ever been or will ever again be a more impressive year. (I may be biased, but I don't think so. It was an awesome freaking year for YA.)

That said, it is still just a *teensy* bit hard to read list after list that doesn't include my book without feeling just a tad dejected. So, I made my book's very own top ten list. Here it is:

A TOP TEN LIST OF MY MOST AWESOME BOOK MOMENTS OF 2015

1) A few weeks before my publication date, a box arrived from Harper Collins—full of MY BOOK! Real books! That I wrote! Published! There they were. In a box! My son and I stacked them into towers and pyramids. I took photos. I clapped and squealed. (My teenage son is way cooler than I am, so he did not squeal. But I could tell he was pretty happy and proud of his mom.) 

2) A reader/book blogger from the Philippines tweeted me that she had read and loved Between the Notes. My portrayal of Ivy's disabled little brother, Brady, reminded her of her own disabled brother and their relationship. We exchanged private messages. She wrote at first that she couldn't put it into words. "Just thank you." To hear from a reader who identified so strongly with the disability experience I had written meant so much to me. I wrote to her, "You're making me cry!" And she responded, "You made me cry first!" As we exchanged messages, she revealed how Brady was similar to her brother. "Being a creature of habit, having his own logic, the repetitive gestures, therapy..." She also related to Ivy's sometimes less-than-stellar behavior. "I knew how she felt. The constant worrying and doing everything not to upset him and the what-ifs and all that." What a special feeling to connect with a reader so far away, about this very special character.

Launch party at Hockessin Book Shelf

3) My local indie bookstore, Hockessin Book Shelf, threw a kickass launch party for me. I signed books for two hours straight. There was wine and cheese and cupcakes. Friends and family and people I hadn't seen in years came. The store sold out of their copies of Between the Notes and we had to crack open my personal supply of books. A woman who'd read about it in the paper was excited that I'd written about the teenage experience. She had no idea YA even existed, and my book was her introduction! It was all very exciting. I may have levitated.

Look, Mom! Your book!

4) My kids and I made a special trip to Barnes & Noble the week after my book came out, to see it on the shelf. I was so nervous it wouldn't be there. But it was! Two stacks facing out! I nervously went to the info desk and asked if they wanted me to sign them. THEY DID! 

5) A friend texted me from a restaurant in Pennsylvania. "A young girl is reading your book at the table next to us." A few minutes later a photo came through. It was the first moment I had concrete proof that complete strangers were reading my book. I love that girl. I love all girls who bring books with them to restaurants. 

Representing Delaware at the National Book Festival!

6) The Delaware Division of Libraries/Center for the Book chose Between the Notes to represent Delaware in the States Pavillion at the National Book Festival. I wasn't a featured speaker or anything, but I did get to listen to Libba Bray and Jenny Han speak, and briefly meet up with fellow Fifteener Sabaa Tahir. I got to bask in the awesome of a massive convention center filled with book lovers. It was SO. MUCH. FUN. My book was sold in the store there, and was featured on a map activity for kids, and I got to appear at the Delaware booth and sign bookmarks. I brought 500 bookmarks with me and ran out a few hours before the day ended. Kids who came to the booth to get their map stamped were excited to meet an author... me! They got these great, excited looks of surprise and delight on their face when they found out I was "the author." 

Jon Sciezcka is holding my book!

7) Oh, and at the National Book Festival, I also ran into Jon Sciezcka (the first ever Ambassador of Young People's Literature and author of The Stinky Cheese Man and Squids will be Squids and so many other books my kids and I have adored). When I say I "ran into" Jon Sciezcka, I really mean that I recognized him walking through the pavilion and catapulted myself across the aisle to introduce myself and thank him for his awesome books and remind him that we'd met in Delaware when he appeared there a few years ago and tell him I was now published. Instead of treating me like a weird stalker or crazy fangirl, he said, "Let me see your book!" and "Welcome to the club!" We took a photo together. HE HELD MY BOOK. And then he followed me on Twitter. I died. 

8) OMG, fan Letters! A 12-year-old from Indiana wrote, "I know I am but a young girl who knows nothing compared to the world, but I do know I want to experience a love like that someday; beautiful, confusing, frustrating, dizzying, refreshing, amazing, exhilarating." A 14-year-old girl from Canada sent me a photo of herself hugging a library copy of my book. She listed all her favorite moments in the story, and I gobbled it up. Fans are lovely.

9) A friend who lives down the road, who generally does not read YA, stopped by with her teenage daughter to tell me how much they'd both loved my book. They were downright giddy. The daughter had finished reading at 5 a.m. that morning, and had wanted to call me in the wee hours of the morning to squee over it. I was particularly pleased that she liked it, because this girl also happened to be in my driveway the day I got the first proof of my book cover art. I hadn't shown it to anyone yet, and was excited and worried and ALL THE FEELS. She said, "You should show it to some teens and see what they think." I dragged her out of the car and showed it to her. And she liked it. I'm so glad she liked what was inside, too!

10) I was Facebooking with author Stacey Lee (Under a Painted Sky) the other day, and she wrote, "BTW Sharon, my neighbor's daughter LOVED Between the Notes. I gave it to her for her birthday. She said it was her favorite book of the year. :-) You should feel very proud." And I was. Because Stacey Lee, who wrote one of my favorite books of 2015, gave MY book to a reader on the other side of the country, and she loved it. In that moment, I felt like I'd just made the most important "Top Ten" list of the year. I made Stacey Lee's neighbor's daughter's top ten list. Then Stacey added, "She can't wait for your next one."

And that's when I decided to make my own top ten list, because the year has been full of special moments like these. I wouldn't trade them for an appearance on any "best of" list in the world.

THANK YOU ALL for a wonderful year!

My 2015 Reading Journal!

One of the highlights of my year as a debut author has been reading advance copies (or purchased ones) of books by other 2015 debut authors. Every few weeks (or several times in a single week), ARCs would arrive in the mail. Somehow, I found time to read them. And I didn't realize how MANY I had read until I made this list. FORTY-FIVE! 

I'm pretty sure this is the most books I've ever read in a single year. And they were ALL SO GOOD! Seriously. I'm not just saying that because I've become friends with so many of these authors, cheering each other on through this crazy year. There are so many amazing books on this list. I've pictured just a few of my faves.

A WORK OF ART by Melody Maysonet

AN EMBER IN THE ASHES by Sabaa Tahir

BLACKBIRD FLY by Erin Entrada Kelly

BLOOD AND SALT by Kim Liggett

CITY OF SAVAGES by Lee Kelly

THE COST OF ALL THINGS by Maggie Lehman

DATING DOWN by Stefanie Lyons

DEAD TO ME by Mary McCoy

DENTON LITTLE’S DEATHDATE by Lance Rubin

THE DISTANCE BETWEEN LOST AND FOUND by Katherine Holmes

EVERYTHING THAT MAKES YOU by Moriah McStay

EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING by Nicola Yoon

THE FIX by Natasha Sinel

FOR THE RECORD by Charlotte Huang

HONOR GIRL by Maggie Thrash

I AM HER REVENGE by Meredith Moore

IN A WORLD JUST RIGHT by Jen Brooks

JILLIAN CADE: (FAKE) PARANORMAL INVESTIGATOR by Jen Klein

LARK RISING by Sandra Waugh

LOCK & MORI by Heather Petty

MADE YOU UP by Francesca Zappia

MONSTROUS by MarcyKate Connolly
MORE HAPPY THAN NOT by Adam Silvera

MY HEART AND OTHER BLACK HOLES by Jasmine Warga

THE NIGHT WE SAID YES by Lauren Gibaldi

NONE OF THE ABOVE by I.W. Gregorio

NOT AFTER EVERYTHING by Michelle Levy

THE ONE THING by Marci Lyn Curtis

PLAYLIST FOR THE DEAD by Michelle Falloff

THE SACRED LIES OF MINNOW BLY by Stephanie Oakes

SIMON VS. THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA by Becky Albertalli

SKYSCRAPING by Cordelia Jensen

TINY PRETTY THINGS by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton

TRUEST by Jackie Lea Sommers

TUNNEL VISION by Susan Adrian

UNDER A PAINTED SKY by Stacey Lee

UNDERNEATH EVERYTHING by Marcy Beller Paul

THE WEIGHT OF FEATHERS by Anna-Marie McLemore

WE ALL LOOKED UP by Tommy Wallach

THE WITCH HUNTER by Virginia Boecker

WHEN REASON BREAKS by Cindy Rodriguez

I also read (by non-2015-debut authors):

THE WALLS AROUND US by Nova Ren Suma
HYPERBOLE AND A HALF by Allie Brosh
EL DEAFO by Cece Bell
WILL GRAYSON, WILL GRAYSON by John Green & David Leviathan

Books that haven't yet made their way to my mailbox on Fearless Fifteener ARC tours (but will soon), that I can't wait to read, include:

CONVICTION by Kelly Loy Gilbert
THE GIRL AT MIDNIGHT by Melissa Grey
THE CONSPIRACY OF US by Maggie Hall
WRITTEN IN THE STARS by Aisha Saeed
FANS OF THE IMPOSSIBLE LIFE by Kate Scelsa
AN INFINITE NUMBER OF PARALLEL UNIVERSES by Randy Ribay
THIS MONSTROUS THING by Mackenzi Lee

And, finally, books currently in my possession that I hope to read over the holiday:

THE CROSSOVER by Kwame Alexander (I've been saving it to savor on a quiet, cold day... but I did flip through it and fail to resist reading the poem "Ode to my hair" because that title! So good.)

MOSQUITOLAND by David Arnold
ALL AMERICAN BOYS by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely 
FROM WHERE I WATCH YOU by Sheila Grogan
ALICE IN WONDERLAND HIGH by Rachel Shane
RED QUEEN by Victoria Aveyard

5 TO 1 by Holly Bodger

Which of these books did you love in 2015, or which are you hoping to receive as a gift this holiday season? Share your favorites or wish list in the comments below!