Three Novel Teen Authors Publish with Zonderkidz

Click on the cover to preorder on Amazon.com.

Three of our Novel Teen authors have new books coming out from Zonderkidz–three months in a row! Congrats, ladies!

First, releasing in November of 2011, is Melanie Dickerson’s second fairy tale romance, The Merchant’s Daughter. Loosely based on Beauty and the Beast, Annabel Chapman is forced to work as an indentured servant at the manor house of Lord Ranulf. The new lord is said to be beastly in appearance and temperament, but Annabel’s greater fear is Bailiff Tom, a perverse man who has made unwelcome advances upon her in the past. As she works closely with Ranulf, she begins to feel safe and protected, but will she realize the calling of her heart before it’s too late?

Then in December, just in time for Christmas, is Jill Williamson’s Replication: The Jason Experiment will release. In this book, Abby Goyer is forced to move to rural Alaska when her father unexpectedly takes a job in a remote laboratory called Jason Farms. Suspicious of her father’s decisions, she investigates and finds more than what she was looking for when a strange boy shows up at her door. Martyr, one of hundreds of identical clones, escaped from the underground lab at the farm with one wish: to see the sky before he fulfills his purpose and “expires” on his eighteenth birthday. Abby helps Martyr see God has a purpose for his life, one that may be different than what the scientists originally planned for him.

And to start off the new year with a bang, in January of 2012, the first of Heather Burch’s Halflings trilogy will release. Here is a bit about Halflings, book one: In the first book of the Halfling Trilogy, Nikki Youngblood discovers she’s the central force of a madman’s plan, and turns to three half-angel boys for protection. With the Halflings, she’s completely safe. Everything except her heart. And Mace’s soul. Falling for him could ensure his eternal ruin.

Novel Teen News in the World of Young Adult Books

It’s an exciting time to be an author of teen books. The world of publishing is changing, the world of teen literature is changing, and let’s face it. We are having to change too. What do I mean?

I believe teen books have expanded to become such a HUGE market many authors are scrambling to keep up on many levels. First, we are learning more and more about E-publishing both where book sales are concerned but also purchasing things like Kindles, Nooks, IPads … all so we can keep up with the times.

And the change doesn’t end there. Because the market is growing at, what I would call an amazing rate, books with teenagers as main characters are becoming ever increasingly complex. (Which I LOVE, by the way!) Have you noticed Hollywood’s blockbuster movies coming out recently?

HAVE YOU NOTICED HOW OFTEN THEY ARE BASED ON YOUNG ADULT NOVELS?

When the sale of my Halfling Series was announced in Publisher’s Marketplace, my agent was contacted by multiple film scouts who were interested in reading book one to see how it would be as a movie. No longer does a book have to hit NYT bestseller status for Hollywood to take an interest! That tells me the YA lit market is growing, growing, growing and also powerful, powerful, powerful.

I’ve been hearing talk of a new YA subgenre … New Adult (at least I think it may be called this) would target older teens and early twentys. Kewl! I like this idea!

At the beginning of the year I did a post about writers as trailblazers. Two of our own Novelteen authors are blazing trails right now! Jill Williamson who just released the final book in the Blood of Kings Trilogy won the Christy Award for book one and Melanie Dickerson is a finalist in the National Readers Choice Awards in TWO categories. The Healer’s Apprentice was nominated in both INSPY and Best First Book.

Trailblazers! Finally, I really believe this explosion is going to open a door for lots of great authors. Another exciting trend is the number of TEENAGE authors who are getting publishing contracts! As I said, its an exciting time to be a teen book writer.

Let me know your comments and thoughts about all of this, and keep reading … and writing! Your day might be right around the corner!

Heather Burch

Author of Halflings available from Zondervan February 2012

Publishing House Invaded by Half-Angel Beings

This is it, Novelteeners!

The official announcement that Zondervan Publishing is being invaded by my Halflings.  You heard it here first! The Harper Collins publishing house became concerned when a group of half-human, half-angel beings landed on the desk of one of the editors.

What to do? It was decided that their story must be told. Their struggle must be brought forth. Their fate must be examined. Let’s face it, it’s an unfair world for Halflings. So many rules…sooooo much time!

How much trouble can they get into, you ask?

They’re half-angel. They’re teenagers. What trouble can’t they get into?

I mean, seriously. Look at these guys!

I snagged these pics of the “all too difficult to catch” angels. If you see them on the street, pleeeeease don’t tell them I took the pics! They try–I mean really try–to maintain a degree of obscurity. And honestly,

I DON’T WANT THEM TICKED AT ME FOR GIVING AWAY THEIR IDENTITIES!!!

Let’s face it. As soon as Book One in the Halfling Series hits the shelves next spring (only ONE year from now) the Halflings are going to have a hard time keeping their assignments under cover.

So, I know you want to know the details. As they come available to me, I’ll keep you posted! As of right now…

Book One-tentatively titled PURE will be in stores next February

Book Two-tentatively titled DARK will hit a few months later

Book Three-tentatively titled RISEN will hit a few months after that

Now, here’s the deal. I think the Halflings are ultra cool beings to write about. Their work is AMAZING and they never even get a pat on the back for what they do. However…

I’M NOT SURE HOW THEY WILL FEEL ABOUT THEIR LIVES BEING PLASTERED IN THE PAGES OF A NOVEL…OR THREE…OR TEN!

So, for now… don’t tell them my address. I’d hate for Mace, Raven, and Vine to show up on my doorstep. Yikes! Or even worse, Viper, Steel, and Shadow. I’m not sure my heart is ready for the wrath. Although, the teenage girls in my neighborhood would probably LOVE the idea of a trio of tasty angel candy hanging around the front yard!

Back off, girls! They have a job to do!

Goodbye for now, Novelteeners. If I suddenly disappear off the face of the earth, look to the Halflings for the answer.

Hugs to all of you!

Heather Burch

ps-I don’t really expect to be abducted by Halflings…after all, they’re here to protect. But, ya never know.

What Story Would You Love to Write?

Hi Novelteeners. Heather here.

Do you dream of castles and dragons and heroic characters? Or maybe a Sci-Fi where the only answer to a vicious plague is the tears from friendly creatures on a far away planet who dwell just beyond the impenetrable dark ring. Is there a tale you’d love to write?

I think everyone has one. That story idea that rambles around in the back of the mind occasionally slipping to the front when least expected. I have one. It’s about a girl who grows up to overthrow her father who is an evil king. After much war and turmoil, she takes over the land and becomes the ruler the kingdom had always dreamed of having. It may not sound that exciting to you, but the character is vividly alive to me. I can see her. I can hear her. I can even feel her pain. But sadly, the story just hasn’t become alive enough for me to sit down and write it. It’s missing major elements that I seem to need before I start. I have to be able to drop myself into their world, and I juuuuust can’t quite do it yet.

I want to write it. I do. And some day, I will. At least I hope. Right now, I have Halfling teenagers that consume all of my creative time. And lemme tell ya, they won’t take a back seat to anyone. Not even a kingdom in turmoil with an evil king and a daughter with a plan.

Right now, the Halflings get all my time. And that’s good because after all, the world is on the line. Not to mention their hearts. It’s a lot for a teenager to deal with. And I LOVE telling their story!

It’s alive. It breathes. It beckons to me when I’m at Disney World or the grocery store. From the edge of my vision, something moves. Quickly. Too quickly to be human. I glance over, but nothing’s there. Was it a Halfling? Is someone in danger? Or are they just here to enjoy the Rockin’ Rollercoaster?

See how reality blurs for me? And if that wasn’t bad enough, sometimes members of my family will look at a tall muscular teenager and say, “Hey, he looks like a Halfling.”  I know, I’ve pulled them all into my fantasy world. But it’s a lovely world to live in. If you don’t mind the hell-hounds, the fighting, the clock ticking away precious time until the end of…

Sorry. Got carried away. So, what is it you’d love to write? Thriller, high fantasy, urban fantasy, suspense, a memoir, a romance? How about a comedy? Are you naturally funny and have a room full of people laughing whenever you tell a story? Why not jump in and give it a shot.

My older son Jake just finished writing his first novel this morning. I’m so proud of him. He’s twenty-three. He had a story to tell, so he sat down and told it. Huh. I guess that’s the best advice that can be given to an aspiring author. Find your story and sit down and tell it.

So, what’s your story? What’s keeping you from the page? Do it. Jump in! What do you have to lose?

I’ve been asked to speak at a college in my area to the creative writing students. Know what advice I’m going to give them?

That’s it. Find your story and sit down and tell it.

So, if this has encouraged you to dust off that idea, let me know. Start today and keep me posted about your progress. After all, every book has a beginning. And every author made a decision to write it. It doesn’t happen by accident. It’s intentional. So go. Jump in head first. You might just discover a world no one else has been to. Leave a comment if you’re starting today!

Meet Mace, Friend of the Humans

Hi. I’m Mace. Heather invited me to stop by. I guess you already met Nikki. I was sent by The Throne to protect her. Two other Halflings are with me. Raven and Vine. Raven is actually in charge—which really ticks me off because he can be such a jerk sometimes. But he’s the oldest and has been on the most journeys. Our missions are called journeys, and we don’t take them lightly. In fact, sometimes the whole of mankind is at risk.

Yeah, I know. A lot for a misunderstood teen angel to have to deal with. But, hey! It’s not like I picked it. If it were up to me, I’d be a normal guy. Normal and Halfling are two words rarely used in the same description.

So, now you know me. Half-human, half-angel, all mixed up. As if my heritage wasn’t enough of a source of frustration, I’m getting a little bit worried about what I feel for Nikki. (She won’t read this, right?)

I like her. I mean, I really like her. Something sank into my chest the moment I saw her running through the woods. Like an arrow with pinpoint accuracy, it stabbed my heart. Ugh. Got a little mushy there.

These are new feeling for me, and I’m not sure what to do with them. Besides, it doesn’t matter anyway. As soon as our journey is over, I’ll have to leave. Plus…there’s the whole warning about falling…It’s forbidden, ’nuff said.

Well, I have to get back to work. Saving the world and all.

Keep your eyes on the sky, you just might catch a glimpse of one of us.

Have I thoroughly confused you? Didn’t mean to. Heather pretty well summed up what we are when she said, “Born in rebellion, marked for eternity. Outcasts of heaven and earth. Welcome to the world of Halflings.”