News: Stephenie Meyer's New Novel, The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella

I was excited to see the surprise post Stephenie Meyer just publicized on her blog announcing the release of her new book, The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella. This is another book in the Twilight series, this time from the perspective of one of the newborn vampires.

Meyer has been hush about any works in progress, and I can only guess it is because of the 2008 leak of her Midnight Sun manuscript. However, all this time I've been waiting, hoping, and wondering if she was working on a new project. I had a feeling she was, because I've read in many interviews that she always has a story in her head.

Sure enough, the project was top secret. In a picture on Meyer's website, Jodelle Ferland, the actress playing Bree Tanner who used the manuscript for character motivation, is seen sitting next to a bucket of ashes that were once the manuscript pages of the Bree book. This time Meyer was not taking any chances. (Thumbs up!)

However, always giving back to her fans, Meyer is letting the book be available online from June 7th until July 5th to read for free. Stephenie said, "You all have bought a ton of my books, and I wanted to give you this story as a gift."

I am counting down the days.

Literary Agents Not Requiring Authors/Illustrators Only Picture Book Submissions

It seems that more and more agents are representing author/illustrators only, but, after careful research, I've complied a list of agents accepting picture book manuscripts from writers without them having to be an illustrator. However since publishing is a very fluid business, be sure to double check their submission guidelines and requirements on their websites. This section will be updated in my side bar occasionally so be sure to check back.

• Brenda Bowen
• Adams Literary
• Kendra Marcus
• Ethan Ellenberg
• Pippin Properties
• Jennifer De Chiara
• Jennifer Weltz
• Barry Goldblatt
• Paul Rodeen
• Mark McVeigh
• Jodi Reamer
• Andrea Brown Literary Agency *
• Edward Necarsulmer IV
• Ginger Knowlton
• S©ott Treimel
• Teresa Kietlinski
• Jennie Dunham

*Note: Andrea Brown Literary Agency lists these agents accepting manuscripts:

1. Laura Rennert
   
2. Caryn Wiseman
   
3. Jennifer Rofé
4. Kelly Sonnack
5. Jamie Weiss Chilton

Plot Musings: Twilight = Phantom of the Opera

Literary agent Brenda Bowen of Sanford J. Greenburger Associates had a fun post on her blog comparing TWILIGHT and the musical, PHANTOM OF THE OPERA.

Bowen says, "Edward Cullen is to 2008 what The Phantom was to...1988."

She then compares the similar lay out and color scheme of the movie and musical's posters and how Edward and the Phantom are alike.

Hmm. Edward does play the piano, and he did compose Bella a lullaby. Very interesting.

I think I hear Andrew Lloyd Webber's cell phone ringing.

Leftover Facts and What to do With Them

Novelist and comics writer Arthur Slade wrote a really interesting article over at the Globe and Mail. He gives some great advice for what to do with all those facts that you couldn't integrate in your novel after researching.

The current YA I am writing, SCARLATE HUNTER, takes place in France, during the mid 18th century, at the time of the illusive Beast of Gévaudan attacks. I've already done a lot of research, but as Arthur put it: "It's extremely frustrating because suddenly I, the author, know things that are of no use to the story but are still amazingly interesting."

So instead of walking around and asking people, "Hey did you know that...," Arthur had a fab idea:

"Social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, MySpace) have those fancy “status” updates – you know, those places where people write such things as “I had scrambled eggs for breakfast,” or “I licked my deodorant.” Well, I post my Odd Victorian Factoids (as I call them) in the status line of my accounts and collect the factoids on my website."

Great idea and better yet: blog it. So I will follow suit and place those factoids accordingly.