New Look!

My website and social media have all been redesigned by Icey Designs! Isn't the layout gorgeous? Hafsah was great to work with, and gave me exactly what I wanted. I'm SO in love with it!

I also have a new author photo to go with it, yay!


Lots of things are happening behind the scenes here. For one thing, I'm writing New Adult now, along with Young Adult. More info to come soon!
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Pitch Wars - The New Team Briggs!


Today is the Pitch Wars agent round, and I'm so proud of how hard my team has worked, and so happy I got to mentor such amazing authors! I'm super excited to post my three picks' pitches and first pages below for you to check out. If you're an agent or editor and want to see more, let me know, or click on their title and leave a comment in the official Pitch Wars entry. Go Team Briggs!
NAME: Audrey Coulthurst
TITLE: HEART OF SPARKS
GENRE: YA Fantasy
WORD COUNT: 90,000

PITCH: When Princess Denna falls in love with the defiant, horse-training sister of the prince she’s supposed to marry, she’ll have to sacrifice her crown and use her forbidden magical gift if she wants to stop a war and save the girl she loves.

EXCERPT:

My life since the age of six had been a rehearsal for this moment.

The door of my carriage clicked open, and a gust of hot summer air beckoned me to meet my future husband. I took as deep a breath as the bodice of my dress would allow and stepped down onto pale flagstones leading up to the gatehouse of a castle. My maid and entourage had split off back at the first entrance to unload my things, and now I faced my future alone. My heart beat in nervous double time against my ribs. The alliance between my kingdom and Mynaria rested on my ability to prove myself the perfect consort, and our two kingdoms needed one another for resources and protection. But close to my heart I held another hope beyond the alliance—I secretly wished to fall in love.

Colorful banners hung from the battlements, alternating the plum of my homeland with the deep blue of Mynaria. The castle loomed behind the gatehouse, a massive structure crowned with square towers that jutted up into the sky. It looked naked without the twisting spires that had crowned the castle where I grew up.

A line of horses in full barding awaited me at the entryway, their polished armor glinting in the afternoon sun. Embroidered silk fluttered from their reins. One horse tossed its head and swung its hindquarters over, sending a ripple of pinned ears and fidgeting hooves through the line.

“Quit,” someone muttered.
NAME: Heather Kaczynski
TITLE: LIMITLESS
GENRE: YA Science Fiction
WORD COUNT: 89,000

PITCH: Seventeen-year-old NASA intern Cassie Dhatri dreams of space, but in order to win a spot on a top-secret experimental mission, she'll have to outsmart a battery of psychological tests... and sixty-three cutthroat teen geniuses.

EXCERPT:

A moderately intelligent robot could do my job. Obviously, letting a sixteen-year-old intern anywhere near actual rockets would be irresponsible, but still – NASA was vastly underutilizing my skills.

Not that I was complaining. Because, come on – NASA. I'd mop the floors as long as they let me stay. I mean, this was where they built the rockets that took men to the moon. Not that you could tell by looking, not anymore, but maybe one day there'd be funding and real history being made again.

I'd worked hard to get here. But "here" ended up being a cubicle in the legal department of Marshall Space Flight Center, doing mindless data entry for zero dollars an hour. Sure, I'd made it inside the building, but it was boring. And I hated being bored. I could have been doing so much more.

To keep my brain from melting, I listened to Beethoven in one ear, memorizing his piano sonatas so I'd be prepared to kick ass at youth orchestra auditions come fall.

"Hey, kid!" My coworker Andre's voice snapped me out of my music-trance, and I looked up to see him marching towards me. His features were all contorted, like he smelled something rotten. Andre didn't exactly like me, not since that little incident where I'd corrected his math in front of the whole department.

He jabbed his thumb vaguely over his shoulder. "Big boss wants to see you. And you'd better take that thing out of your ear."

Hesitant, I slipped out of my chair, suspicious that maybe this was Andre's idea of a prank.



NAME: Erin Funk
TITLE: ENVISION
CATEGORY/GENRE: YA Science Fiction
WORD COUNT: 100,000

PITCH: When eighteen-year-old Naia's father is murdered, she must uncover if his death was revenge for inventing implants that turn human brains into computers, or part of a larger plot to infiltrate billions of minds.

EXCERPT: 

The best occasions in my life always turn out to be the worst letdowns. I was stupid to expect anything different today.

I barely have time to slip into line before we start filing, one by one, into the auditorium. Beneath her perfect updo, the girl in front of me gives me the once-over and wrinkles her nose. I don’t need a reminder of my freak status. I’m well aware that my purple hair and glittered face don’t match our formal grad gowns. She turns away, and I’m left staring at the Port on her neck, a cruel reminder of why I’m alone today. Why I’m alone almost every day.

Our class is large, but it isn’t long until they call my name.

Ushered in by polite applause, I step through the curtains and onto the stage. Metallic blue and silver birds decorate the auditorium’s ceiling, and a holographic banner shimmers in the air. It reads, “Soaring into the Future: Class of 2043.” Below it, a transparent screen lights up with an image of me and a caption that states I’ve won the photography award.

The principal shakes my hand, and a representative from the company Dad works for says into the microphone, “On behalf of EnvisiTech, I’d like to present Naia Imrie, daughter of our very own Dr. Hadrian Imrie, with the photography award and this gift card for any store that sells EnvisiTech products. Excellent work, Naia.”

The audience claps again, louder this time now that they realize my dad is that Imrie, the world famous neurotechnologist who invented the implants studding their necks.


Good luck Team Briggs!
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Class of 2013 YA Superlatives: Best In Show


Today is the last day of the YA Superlatives blogfest! I hope you've discovered some new books to add to your TBR list - I know I have.

Favorite Cover
Taken by Erin Bowman
Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano
I haven't read either of these books yet, but I love their covers SO much. The colors, the details, the fonts... gorgeous.


Cutest Couple
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Other people seem to agree, since I think this book has spawned more fan art this year than anything else. This picture by IzziBelle on DeviantArt is my favorite because it perfectly captures the characters in a turning point in the book. Also, comics!


Most Likely to Succeed 
(Or, pick a Printz Winner)

With the lovely prose, the amazing characters, and the issues this book tackles, I could easily see it winning.
Most Likely to Make You Miss Your Bedtime 
(The book you just couldn't put down!)
Altered by Jennifer Rush

There were a lot of books that fit this category, but I wanted to mention Altered because I haven't mentioned it enough so far. I read this book in one sitting and couldn't stop, it was so good!
Best Repeat Performance 
(Your favorite sequel or follow-up)
The Pirate's Wish by Cassandra Rose Clarke

Another book that I wish I had mentioned more! This is the sequel to The Assassin's Curse, and if you like fantasy novels with pirates and/or Middle Eastern settings you should check this series out. Plus, the author is doing more books set in this world, with other characters!


Favorite Finale or End of Series Novel

This was my favorite book of the series, and it wrapped everything up so well. I bow to Beth Revis for writing a trilogy where each book is better than the last.


Romance Most Worthy of an Ice Bath

I picked Trish's first book Something Like Normal for this category last year, and her second book might be even more steamy. Trish seriously knows how to do the sexy.


Breakout Novel 
(Your favorite book by a debut author)
These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
I'm not sure if These Broken Stars counts because only one of the authors was a debut author, but since it was my favorite book of the year, I'm picking it anyway! READ IT. 
Best Old-Timer 
(Your favorite read of the year, published BEFORE 2013)
Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John

I don't know why I waited so long to read this one. A deaf main character managing a rock band - LOVED IT!


Most Likely To Make a Grown Man Cry

Where The Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller

I tend to stay away from sad books because I like adventure and romance and happy endings, but this book will definitely make you tear up at least once.


Most Pleasant Surprise 
(The book you didn't think you'd like, but totally did)

I wouldn't have bought this book on my own because the back cover just didn't sound like something I'd like. But when Jessica said it was one of her favorite romances of 2013 I knew I had to pick it up, and I'm so glad I did!


Most Creative Use of a Love Triangle

Marina is in love with James, but her future self is in love with Finn, James's best friend. And unlike a lot of love triangles, it's not annoying or out of place here - it completely works.


Sleeper Hit 
(Book you found so awesome you wish it had been hyped more)

I can't believe this one isn't being talked about by everyone. It's one of the best YA mysteries I've ever read, and it definitely deserves more hype!


Favorite Outlier 
(Your favorite MG or adult 2013 book)
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

Thank you to the wonderful people working the booths at BEA for introducing me to this book, which I never would have picked up otherwise. It's funny, it's romantic, and it even made me tear up a little at times (don't tell anyone). If you like brilliant socially-inept characters like Sheldon or Sherlock, and want to see one fall in love, you should check this book out.


Pick your own superlative category: Best Opening Chapter
The Coldest Girl In Coldtown by Holly Black
Opening chapters are, in my opinion, the hardest to get right in a book - and I say that as someone who has read queries and first ten pages for the past 1.5 years as an intern. I always like to study the opening chapters that really grabbed me so I can see how the authors did it. In The Coldest Girl In Coldtown, Tana wakes up in a bathtub the morning after a party and steps outside to find that horrible things have happened while she was passed out. Talk about a hook!

Your turn  - what was your favorite opening chapter of a 2013 book? Let us know so we can go see what the author did right!

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Class of 2013 YA Superlatives: Elements of Fiction


Today is day 3 of the YA Superlative Blogfest, and I thank you for sticking around so long! Today we're talking about the elements of fiction in 2013 YA books.


Most Envy-Inducting Plot 
(Or, the plot you wish you'd thought of yourself.)

Titanic in space. Why didn't I think of that???


Most Formidable World 
(Or, the setting you most definitely would NOT want to travel to.)

This world is just brutal, and sometimes I had to put the book down and take a break because it was just so real and horrifying.


Wanderlust-Inducting 
(Or, the setting you'd happily travel to.)

This books is set in a small town with a large Greek community on the Florida coast called Tarpon Springs, and Trish does a great job of making you feel like you're actually there. I'd love to visit it someday!


Loveliest Prose

The writing in this book is just beautiful, and full of lovely lines that make for perfect Tumblr quotes.


Best First Line

"Tana woke lying in a bathtub." The first chapter of this book is SO good, and the first line is a perfect set up for it. Why is she lying in a bathtub???


Most Dynamic Main Character

Elisa is an amazing character, and I love the transformation she's undergone throughout the entire series. Hector is also an excellent character, and gets his own chapters in this book!


Most Jaw-Dropping Ending

The ending of this book is definitely jaw-dropping. I couldn't stop thinking about this book (and what the ending meant) for hours after I finished it.


Best Performance in a Supporting Role
Altered by Jennifer Rush
I don't know how this book hasn't been mentioned in my YA Superlatives already, because I really enjoyed it. My favorite character in this book was Nick, and Jen said that she's writing a book about him now. Yes!
Best Use of Theme
The Sea Of Tranquility by Katja Millay

I'm so bad at theme, you guys. I asked Jessica for help, and she pointed out how this book is all about second chances, and I was like "oh yeah." Thank you, awesome English teacher friend.


One more day to go!
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Class of 2013 YA Superlatives: Popularity Contest


It's day two of the YA Superlatives, and today we're talking about some of our favorite characters!

Class Clown
Kellie from Ink Is Thicker Than Water

Kellie writes a humor column for her school newspaper, and she's really funny!


Most Likely to Become a Rock Star

This book is about teen musicians trying to make it in Nashville, so the two main characters definitely fit this category.


Mostly Likely to Start a Riot

I think I picked these characters another year for this category too (for Legend) but they always seem to be starting riots!


Biggest Flirt

Drew first comes across as a big flirt and a player, bit you discover there's a lot more depth to him too. He's a great character.


Fashion King and/or Queen

JUST LOOK AT THAT DRESS ON THE COVER. Now imagine getting stranded on a savage world in it. Lilac makes it work!


Character You’d Most Want For Your BFF

Tana is an awesome character, and she will do anything to help her friend when he is bitter by a vampire. She'd be a very loyal and strong best friend.


Character You Wish You’d Dated in High School

Hot half-Korean boy who wears eyeliner, reads comic books, and listens to awesome music? Teen Liz would have gone crazy for him. Honorable mention goes to Tarver from These Broken Stars, who I also loved a ton. 


Most Likely to Become President

Elder is young but he's already a great leader. I could easily see him becoming president.


Quirkiest Character

I try not to use the same book twice in these lists, but I loved Eleanor and her quirky outfits and awesome taste in music so much I had to include her too.


Villain You Love to Hate

I don't want to spoil anything, but this is definitely a book where you feel conflicted about the villain, and understand where he's coming from, while still wanting him stopped.


Favorite Parental Figure

Reece is not a perfect mother by any stretch, but she really tries, and she's written so well she seems like a real person. I want to hang out with her.


Coolest Nerd

She writes fan fiction (and is internet famous for it) and cosplays as her favorite characters! We could totally go to nerdy conventions together.


What are your favorite characters from this year's books? Did I miss any?
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