Anna Staniszewski » Random Fun

Adorable Overload

annastan — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:38:21 +0000

I’m in the midst of end-of-the-semester grading and don’t quite have the brain power to put together a coherent post. So instead, I’m going to bombard you with adorableness. Enjoy!

And a little something funny:

Happy 4th!

annastan — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 11:05:20 +0000

I’ll be back with more writing posts on Wednesday (including a WIP update), but since it’s a holiday here, I figured it was time for–what else?–a cute cat picture. I have a theory that at least half of the internet is comprised of pictures of cats. There’s one for every occasion.

Enjoy!

A Huge Thank You

annastan — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 12:41:04 +0000

Warning: Sentimental content ahead.

I’ve said before that people in the children’s literature world are some of the nicest people on earth, but I’ve been just overwhelmed by how amazing everyone has been now that I have a book coming out. I’ve had so many people cheering for me, asking how they can help, etc. I’m so lucky to be part of such a supportive community.

I can’t imagine how lonely being a debut author must have been before the magic of the internets. Without the Elevensies, the Blueboards, and fellow bloggers, I’d be totally lost right now. The process of writing, publishing, and promoting a novel is so stressful; it would be even more so if I felt all alone.

So I just have to thank all of you for being so supportive and enthusiastic and awesome. Writing isn’t easy–sometimes it feels pretty much impossible–but knowing that you’re all out there makes the process so much better.

Have you had enough cheesy goodness? No? Here’s the cutest, happiest cat in the world:

NYC Recap

annastan — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 13:32:45 +0000

Last week, my husband and I headed down to NYC for my college reunion. While we were there, I was able to meet up with my editor, Rebecca, and her assistant, Aubrey, for lunch. It was so great to meet both of them in person since I’d been in touch with them via email and phone so much in the past months.

We had lots to talk about in terms of marketing ideas, blurbs, etc. After we were done with lunch, they showed me the Sourcebooks office (the publisher is based in Chicago but they have a small office in Manhattan as well). And I got to see some of the fun new middle grade books that will be coming out. Here are a few highlights:

A girl with a skeleton dog who has to solve a mystery? Great stuff and very Coraline-esque.

This one looks so cute, about a chihuaha who wants to be a wolf. Isn’t he adorable?

And the second book in the Allegra Biscotti tween series about a girl who’s secretly a famous fashion designer (a la Hannah Montana).

Of course, I totally forgot to take pictures during lunch, so I don’t have any photographic proof that I actually met my editor, but I guess you’ll just have to take my word for it. I came home feeling very inspired, so hopefully I can milk that inspiration for the rest of the summer!

Friday Fun

annastan — Fri, 27 May 2011 12:21:19 +0000

I saw this book trailer for Super Sad True Love Story the other day, and I just had to share it with you guys. What I most like about the trailer is that it conveys the tone of the book without really telling us what the story is about. I heard an interview with Shteyngart on NPR recently, so I was already interested in the book, but now I’m even more intrigued. Enjoy!

If you’re having trouble seeing the video, go here.

Almost there…

annastan — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 14:19:38 +0000

It’s my last day in the revision cave! Once I send the manuscript back to my editor, I’ll be able to rejoin the land of the living. It’ll be nice to actually respond to your comments and visit your blogs again, though I must say that not spending as much time on the interwebs has made me more productive. I’m hoping I can find a better balance from now on.

I’ll be back on Wednesday to sum up what I learned during this revision. Until then, I leave you with a picture that made me laugh:

Monday Motivation

annastan — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 11:51:34 +0000

I’m still in the revision cave, but I think there’s a tiny light at the end of the tunnel. By golly, I think I might actually make it! And you know what’s been keeping me going? Having this series of incredible pictures to look at–because if goats can climb a dam then nothing is impossible:

Happy Monday!

Monday Motivation

annastan — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 12:53:59 +0000

Well, it’s Monday morning, I’ve lost an hour of sleep due to Daylight Savings Time, and my To Do list is so long that it’s started its own To Do list. Anyone else feeling a little overwhelmed today? I think there’s only one way to fix that: a motivational montage!

Having doubts? Don’t worry…

Just keep climbing…

You’re almost there…

And even if things don’t work out this time, just keep trying…

You will get there!

And at the end, there will be this:

A Twitchy WIP Update and Some Writing Links

annastan — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 13:04:31 +0000

I guess it’s odd for me to be doing a WIP update since I’m not actively working on anything at the moment. I’m waiting on some feedback on a project, and I think my brain is still too much in it to switch over to anything else. But because I’ve been fairly consistent with writing recently, not writing is making my fingers feel a little twitchy.

Maybe distracting myself with some writing links will help:

-Agent Rachelle Gardner’s definitive post on How to Get Published

-Janice Hardy looks at What Your Query Says About Your Book

-Lisa Jahn-Clough talks about Storyboarding During Revision

-Lisa Gail Green’s tips for Creating Complete Characters

And since it’s Valentine’s Day and everything, I guess I need to include some sort of picture:

How are you all doing with your WIPs? Anyone have tricks for getting rid of those twitchy fingers?

Why I Write for Young Readers

annastan — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 14:09:27 +0000

The other day I was going through a box of books from my childhood and trying to find places for them on my bookshelves. As cheesy as it sounds, when I was taking the books out one by one, it was like I was seeing old friends again. The feelings I’d had when I’d read the books over and over as a child came rushing back to me.

That, I realized, is the main reason I write for young people: I want to create those kinds of books for other young readers. As an adult I treasure books, but I don’t inhabit them like I did when I was a child. If I can make even one young reader feel that way about one of my books, I’ll be happy.

So what were some of the books I revisited? Here are a few of the treasures:

Are there books that you think of as old friends? Do you have an answer to that tricky “Why do you write for young people?” question?