Heads up, everybody. The First Great Haul of China winner was announced at http://www.cynthealiu.com. One lucky contestant gets to take home a genuine Terra Cotta warrior souvenir straight from Xi’an, an autographed copy of THE GREAT CALL of China … AND… a gift certificate to Amazon.com. ARE YOU NEXT?! If you have not entered, you have until tomorrow, March 1st, 11:59PM CST. http://www.cynthealiu.com.  P.S. EVERYONE TAKES HOME A SWEET PARTY FAVOR.

Hey everyone,

So sorry about the series article hiatus. I was swept up in a publicity frenzy over the weekend, and I’m pushing some serious deadlines to get some stuff done for the release!

Stay tuned to learn more about the parties happening TOMORROW for writers, friends and Snoop fans! (DID I HEAR FREE-TIQUES?!)

We’ll pick up where we left off  on the article series when things die down a little.

Yours,

Cynthea (and Snoop!)

Hi everyone,

In the mood to win something? Stop by kidlitcentral for a chance to win some great prizes. The contest is so easy, it’s embarrassing, and Snoop is giving away a copy of his book WRITING FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS: A CRASH COURSE. Hope everyone had a great Halloween!

Cynthea

Lori Calabrese who has an awesome writer’s resource of her own has just honored WRITING FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS with the Brillante Weblog Premio award. I can only assume by the name of this award that it comes from somewhere in Italy–I feel very chic! As part of the goodness that the Brillante award is, I’d like to pass it on to … Snoop, envelope, please ….

IN WRITING NEWS:

In case you haven’t heard yet, my illustrious critique partner Beberly is co-pres of the Class of 2k9! (whoot-whoot!). And in case you also haven’t heard, my other illustrious critique partner Tamarak was featured in this issue’s SCBWI bulletin! (OMG!)

I am cool by association!

Congrats, gals!

IN OTHER NEWS:
I thought this was such a kewl idea, I had to blog about it (EVEN THOUGH MY REVISION IS DUE TOMORROW. Yes, I’m working, I swear!) If you like Jarrett Krosoczka’s PUNK FARM books, you’ll LOVE THIS–your chance to win an original PUNK FARM character painting! Enter the raffle now.
BUT now that I told you about this, YOU CANNOT ENTER FOR THE PIG. THE PIG IS MINE. SO LAY OFF THE OINKER, alright?

This is a virtual shout out to my beloved critique partner and friend, Beverly Patt (or beberly). She just sold an extremely unique and creative book to Marshall Cavendish and acquired a highly-estemeed literary agent. Doubly-good news! Congrats, Bev!

If you’ve got TIVO or whatever, be sure to record the season premiere of Deal or No Deal on NBC tonight and get ready to put the thing on Pause or Slow-Mo. Chances are you might catch a glimpse of the three lovely ladies who are making it big in Hollywood (as audience members). 🙂 Enjoy!

An article in the SCBWI-IL Prairie Wind, written by charlottesmom, features our very own Beverly Patt, Anna Lewis, and Snoop!

Snoop has picked a name out of the hat, and it is….

Angela Cerrito
Congrats, Angela!

In writing news:
Harold Underdown, author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Publishing Children’s Books, Second Edition just featured one of my articles on his website The Purple Crayon! If you’ve never been there before, do check it out for a plethora of free children’s articles and tips. And don’t forget to stop by my own site for new articles on How to Interview an Agent and How to Avoid Children’s Book Scams.

Snoop says:

Woohoo!

IN OTHER NEWS:

I rarely do any leisure reading these days, but when I do, I am amazed by what I find.

In this month’s COSTCO CONNECTION (the mag that goes out to devoted members like me), I read an old adage I had never heard of before. Here it is.
“Tough times don’t last, but tough people do.”

Wow, Costco is so deep, man.

SNOOP SAYS:

“The grass is always yummier on the other side.”

IN WRITING NEWS:

All this conference talk has made me feeling a bit left out. So I promptly registered for the SCBWI-LA conference this summer. Look out, folks, I’m joining the party!

SNOOP SAYS:

What about me?!

K, tiny technical difficulty here. Snoop and Cynthea’s email boxes are both down. I have no idea when they’ll be back up. If you are competing in RLGL, please go ahead and send your next page. Just send it on by 9PM CST.  If my email is up, I will announce both rounds’ results somewhere after 9PM CST.  If I can do Round 3 sooner, I will.
If you need to communicate with me now, you can try leaving a public comment on this post.

First, if you saw the password protected page, that’s your signal that I’m working on the results. Do not ask me for a password. You won’t need it. Just wait until I publish the page, my dears.

Second, if you don’t advance to the next round, you should not feel upset or rejected, even though your mind and body might try to tell you you should. You’re looking for a match. And if Snoop isn’t it, c’est la vie. He’s a fickle bunny.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Slatta shared this with me this morning and I just had to blog about it. Snoop could be related to “Buns” in this video. What do you think? Enjoy!

IN OTHER NEWS:

A fellow tiquee asked Snoop for help on a manuscript title based on a query letter synopsis. As Tamarak and Snoop’s agent know, Snoop really really stinks at titling. So without further ado, can anyone help this writer with a title?

Melanie Ratsnester never, in a million years, imagined she would be teased about anything other than her name. But then her single mom since forever decides to completely ruin her life by marrying a Mortician.

Soooo, did ya hear? Put your paws together for Cynthia Lord. A Newbery Honor for RULES. A Schneider Family Book Award. Double whoopee!
I can only hope I have more in common with this talented woman than just my initials. Cindy, donate some of your talent to me–puh-lease?!!!
Woohoo!

SNOOP SAYS:

Do I get to wear Cindy’s Newbery sticker? Across the chest, like a badge–that would be turr-iffic!

You won’t believe this but Snoop got his first piece of mail today.

SNOOP SAYS:

For me? It’s for me?! Wow!!!!
Hey, do I have to wait until Christmas to eat it? Huh, huh?!

Maybe I could just start with the envelope…

YUMMY!!!!!
IN OTHER NEWS:

If you haven’t voted for Snoop’s best carols 2006, get on it. Enjoy what your fellow writers have shared with all of us this holiday season.

Due to recent events, all free-tiques will not be completed until after November 18th.  I deeply apologize for the delay. Snoop says he misses you all.  Thank you.

Cynthea

hey everyone, I’m stepping out of hiding for one brief announcement. I know I’m a bit late with this but…

Debbi Michiko Florence, congrats on your book sale!

SNOOP SAYS:

Whoot! Whoot!

P.S. For those waiting, be on the lookout for a free-tique round soon.

Who deserves a shout-out today? My other treasurable crit buddy Tammi Sauer! She will be participating in Encyclo-Media. This event is huge.

Now hop on over to Tammi’s blog and wish her good luck (or if you’re lazy just leave it here). 🙂

Have a great one, everybody!

SNOOP SAYS:

Bunny hugs for Tam. Four big furry paws coming her way.

You know her as Beb. Bubba. B.

I know her as the woman who just landed a Blooming Tree Press contract for her novel OF ATVS AND ANGELS!

Bev will be coming to an LJ near you. But until that time, feel free to leave your Whoot-Whoots! here.

Bev, as some of you may know, is also my treasured crit partner. (Yes, that’s right. She gets Free-tiques whenever she wants. Everyone, be jealous.)

And get this, I had the honor of taking Bev out to celebrate.

This is why I love Snoop doubly much. Guess what I’m feeding him?

Snoop, you ready?

Get set! Go!

Now how can you beat that? (Click a photo to see a larger version.)

SNOOP SAYS:

BURRRRPPP! Now I must clean up.
P.S. I’m not full yet. Watch for a Traffic Cop Free-tique round today.

DOORS ARE CLOSED!!!! 

1) Tell me if you are a re-tiquee or a new tiquee. See http://www.cynthealiu.com/freetiques if you don't know what you are.

2) In that email, ATTACH, ATTACH, ATTACH your FIRST three chapters OR your full PB/ER to cynthealiu AT gmail DOT com. <note the new address>

3) I will check my email during a 24 break (I'm watching the show on DVD right now) and I will declare winners by email.

Well, well, well. Snoop does the Tiquee count. How many W.I.N.ners does Snoop personally know as tiquees? Can you guess?

Six! No, Seven? Or Eight?

Of course Snoop has not personally tasted all the winning tiquee works. BUT he will say TWO of the authors were also recent RLGL winners!

Can anyone out the tiquees for Snoop? Speak up so Snoop can post their names in all their glory!

One person has been outed.

In case you were wondering, I'm back!

Here's what happened to my precious seven days:

• Day 1: Ah. I am free of email, tiques, etc., Time to work on my own stuff. That I did. And I checked Verla's and LJ 80 million times.
• Day 2. Ah yes! I am free of email, tiques, etc., I shall work on my own stuff. That I did. Put a few chapters under my belt. Checked Verla's and LJ 160 million times.
• Day 3. Oh my, I am missing the emails and the tiques.
  

Snoop and I are taking a break. Snoop already went hiking but now he wants to wear mudboots and a fly-fishing vest. He's hung up the Gone Fishing sign and set out for a river somewhere. Meanwhile, I will be hunkering down to meet some deadlines.

This means I will not be accepting free-tique redemptions, Why, why, whys, or emails which require my immediate response. No free-tique round this week either.

I get a brand new one!  The screen is twice as big which means I'll be able to write twice as fast. 

Whoowee!

SNOOP SAYS:

Hey, what about me? My Apple IIe sucks.  

FIRST, I want everyone to know I have finished a manuscript and it's gone off to the agent for a look. There is real work going on over here. Seriously!

SECOND, in my second largest procrastination effort yet, I've compiled a monster list of children's book editor interviews, blogs, and more.

THIRD, the list will be updated as I go along (I'm only about a third-done). But IF YOU have something I can add, feel free to let me know.

Hi all, I finished the article on status updates. It's a tad reorganized. But I think it has three more sections now.

status updates: when and how to do it

SNOOP SAYS:

Hallelujah! It's lunch time! 

This is a rush job, so pardon the more than usual typos, etc.,

The topic today is STATUS UPDATES. When to bug editors and agents….

http://www.cynthealiu.com/2006/06/28/112/status-updates-when-and-how-to-do-it/

Now I must get cracking on some more work.   

SNOOP SAYS:

Excuse me. *tap, tap* EXCUSE ME!!!!!!! When are you going to _______?!  (you fill in the blank).  

I've just made a brilliant discovery. I drink Diet Dr. Pepper. I break out into hives. I drink coffee. More hives. I guzzle more DDP. MORE HIVES!!!

For the last week, I've been suffering from this problem. Now I've finally put it together. 

Have I developed a late-bloomer allergy to God's greatest gift to mankind?!

SAY IT ISN'T SO!!!!!

SNOOP SAYS:

Caffeine? Can't touch the stuff.

Hey-ro!  

A new article is up! Are you a serial "when/as/ing" killer? Do you know how to spot the five-million variants of an echo? Today's topic is mechanics! Whoopee!

revision 9-1-1: writing mechanics

SNOOP SAYS

Echo this: FEED ME!!!!!

Hey everyone,

A few things:

As promised, here's the new article on revision…

revision 9-1-1 for novels: plot

SNOOP SAYS:

Revise this: A bunny goes to his salad plate. It's empty. Should he eat the leather sofa? Or finish the destruction of the rug. Hmm…

This just in: I have a lot of writing to do this week. I'll try to post a new article on Friday. But I will have to delay a free-tique round to maintain my sanity.  Look for a Traffic Cop round early next week. 

Happy writing,

Cynthea

I must run but I just wanted everyone to know a new article is up. 

revision 9-1-1 for fiction picture books

MISCELLANEOUS:

Top ten highlights from my trip to a Spanish-speaking island in the Caribbean…

I'm closing shop for a week. I need a massive break from the Internet. But do hop around and enjoy the articles. Rest assured, I will return next week with more posts and more C LIU fun.

Hey everyone, here's my contribution to fellow mankind:

anatomy of a children’s book synopsis

I'm going to reward myself with a cup of coffee and jog around the kitchen to get my foot back into shape! ALSO, please leave me some nice words on my website if you read any article and enjoy it. I'm beginning to wonder if more than two people find the information useful.  If I don't see comments pouring in soon at http://www.cynthealiu.

IN OTHER NEWS:

No time! No time! I'm going to the doc today to be LIBERATED!!!!! Also, today on Coffee with Cynthea, I talk cover letters. Oooo…..

Here's the link: http://cynthealiu.com/2006/05/31/64/anatomy-of-a-cover-letter/

Be back soon!

SNOOP SAYS:

Maybe now I'll get to eat the cast.  

IN OTHER NEWS:

No, it's not time for a free-tique round. I just finished the ones from last week.  So if you didn't get yours for some reason, let me know. 

I have to go back to my writing now.

But the TV is calling my name….Oooooh!

SNOOP SAYS:

I'm up for it. 

IN OTHER NEWS:

In a massive effort to procrastinate, I finally started working on my website.  Please take a peek. Leave a comment and tell me how stinky or fab it is, and I'll promise only to post the FAB comments. 🙂   If you know of any beginning writers, I'd love to hear their feedback. This isn't a finished website by any means, but it's a start.

I did it, folks. I spent approximately 37.6 hours completing the five-minute installation of WordPress. How does it look?