Real Life Fury

A vigil was recently held to commemorate a “beautiful, witty, funny” – and bullied – 15-year-old girl named Audrie Pott who committed suicide last year. This happened in a high school near where I live, and when I read about the vigil, I felt unnerved and angered, a real sickness in my stomach, by the details of the tragedy. 

In my new novel, I have a scene that’s eerily similar to what happened to Audrie: A girl with a history of being bullied, a party without adult supervision, alcohol that had been laced, rape, photos taken of the horrendous event and then sent viral.

For my character Meg, the only real difference is that she willingly chooses to have sex with a longtime crush the night of her fateful party. With a brave, trusting heart, she acts out of love and normal teenage desire. But the bullies are there with their weapons – humiliation, threats, taunts and cameras.

In Furious, this is a turning point for Meg (spoiler alert here). It is the final slap that unleashes years of misery at the hands of bullies, a lifetime of not being seen and not being heard by adults, of having to navigate alone through an often-vicious high school landscape.

Meg’s inner Fury – the goddess of revenge who takes care of business when we humans are too blind and too self-centered to stand up for the innocent and vulnerable – literally comes out. Her tormentors get the full brunt of her uncorked rage.

Unfortunately, Audrie’s Fury didn’t have that same chance to emerge. Hers was a more familiar pattern in real life, especially for young women. The cruelty of others twists itself into a chaos of emotions –humiliation, anxiety, depression, fear, sadness and hopelessness.

I know these feelings. I was bullied in middle school, imitated mercilessly, taunted, locked into my own locker, and I lived in a constant state of dread, anxiety and shame. I remember the notes and ugly drawings of me being passed around my 7^th grade classroom. I remember the headaches and the loneliness. I didn’t even recognize it as bullying back then, just considered it to be some kind of lack in myself, figured that I was somehow “asking for it.” I can’t imagine how much worse it is now with the texts and photos on the Internet.

What I hope is that our entire society is finally having enough of this. I’m not talking about  harsh sentences for the culprits of individual incidents. That’s just a bandage, a way of saying that we solved the problem, that it’s just these few isolated cases.

My Fury wants us all to stop turning a blind eye to what so many kids are living with, to stop chalking up bullying behavior to  “kids being kids” and expecting the victims to develop a tougher skin or fend for themselves.

My Fury wants all of us – adults and kids – to understand just how insidious and prevalent it is. It’s not just the high-profile cases, like that of Audrie Pott. It’s the everyday, ongoing, relentless misery lived by kids who are seen as being different.

My Fury wants your Fury to speak out and say: Enough! No more! We are going to do something about it.

Here are some resources:

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorsAgainstBullying

http://www.antibullying.net/

http://www.stopbullying.gov/

How to Help

On April 16, Furious finally goes out into the world. So many people have been generous with their help. I've received great editing, marketing advice, graphic design tips, cheerleading and hand-holding. I appreciate all of it!

Now, maybe some of  you are sitting there thinking, "Gee Jill, what more can I do to support this book?" Um, feel free to quickly move on if that thought never crossed your mind!

For those of you still here, thanks so much. The reality of the publishing world is that authors have to throw themselves into self-promotion, so – deep breath – I'm suggesting 5 ways you can help.

1.  If you are able, buy a copy of Furious – and buy it sooner than later. Strong early sales are very important in the publishing world; it's how they measure success and delegate marketing dollars. Buy a copy (or two) to save as gifts for birthdays and holidays. Donate a copy to your public library or nearby school.

Who would enjoy it? Furious is marketed as Young Adult (ages 12 and up), but 55 percent of YA books are bought by adults. The story will appeal to readers with an interest in mythology  and contemporary high school drama. It grapples in a fun way with heavy themes, such as justice, bullying, loss of family and the power of friendship. It will appeal to young people who care about social justice, who love "Buffy," and anyone who has ever fantasized about getting revenge. It's even got romance, surfing and advice on dealing with frizzy hair. 

A starred review in Booklist says: "the combination of poignant coming-of-age with creative satire equals a fun treatment on a big topic." 

If you live near me, I am happy to sign your copy. Or, send me an email and I'll quickly mail you a signed bookmark and Furious button to wear.

You can buy books through any online seller, but I encourage purchases via your local (and probably struggling) independent bookstore. If they don't have the book in stock, it's easy to order.

2. Spread the word
Talk up Furious. Tell teachers, librarians, tweens and teens about the book. If you are a teacher, consider using it as a read-aloud or order it for the school library. Use it as text for classroom discussion. It’s great for studying mythology and literature, the justice system, problems of bullying, gender issues and more.

3. Spread the word, part 2.

Social media me. Go on Amazon, Goodreads and other book sites and give it a rating or write a short review. On Facebook or other social networking sites, mention the book. Share my updates.

I’ll be doing a blog tour (April 6-April 23). Go to the sites; post a comment or tweet. You can find the full schedule here on my blog.

4. See me in person.
Come to one of my scheduled events.  

Check out this blog and my Facebook page for updates on where I'll be reading. I'm always nervous about speaking in public and your encouraging smile will be so helpful.

If you are a teacher or librarian, invite me to speak to your students. Recommend me as a speaker to your local bookstore events coordinator, book group, writing group or community organization. I can talk about the book itself and also offer practical advice about writing and publishing.

5.  Well-wishes, hugs and glasses of wine. Bring them my way. These are appreciated most of all.

Love,

Jill

Let me read to you

Here's where I'll be reading and holding workshops in the San Francisco Bay Area. More to follow as events are confirmed. I really hope to see your smiling (or furious) face at one of these events. There will be FURIOUS bookmarks and buttons. You know you want them! Mark your calendar. 

Thurs., April 18, 7 pm.  Not Your Mother's Book Club Gets EVEN – a night of delicious revenge (with author Elizabeth Eulberg)  Books Inc. Opera Plaza

Fri., April 26, 6:30 pm —Hicklebee’s, San Jose. Teen Lit Book Swap

Wed., May 1 , 7pm. A Great Good Place for Books, Oakland. Teen Read.  


Fri., May 3, 5-6pm reading; 6-7 writing workshop —University of California Santa Cruz  


Tues. May 7, 7:30pm —Bookshop Santa Cruz. My hometown reading. It's not on the store schedule yet, but it's happening. 

July 15-19 CSU Summer Arts Program: Writing  Fantasy for Children and Teens. 


Hope to see you.

~~Jill

Blog Tour Mania

I have some great stops on my blog tour -- with interviews, reviews and guest posts about all things Furious. On April 8, I'm also announcing a music contest for prizes (books and bling), so check it out.

Fri, April 6: Winterhaven Books Win an ARC.

Mon., April 8: Two Chicks on Books Hear the Playlist for FURIOUS.

Tues., April 9: I'd So Rather Be Reading

Fri., April 12: The Best Books Ever
and Adventures in YA Publishing

Mon., April 15: Birth of a New Witch

Tues., April 16:  Books With Bite PUBLICATION DAY!

Wed. April 17: MacTeens

Thurs. April 18: SciFiChick

Fri. April 19: IB Book Blogging

Mon., April 22: Ruby Reads

Tues., April 23: The Writing Life

Stop by, leave a comment and enjoy!

~~ Jill

Good review just came in.

4 Stars: Final verdict? This is definitely a really fun YA mythological retelling story, and definitely one to check out.

This one by Birth of a New Witch is smart and thoughtful.

Here's the full Kirkus review. Whew!


Review Issue Date: March 1, 2013
Online Publish Date: February 6, 2013
Publisher:Henry Holt
Pages: 352
Price ( Hardcover ): $17.99
Publication Date: April 16, 2013
ISBN ( Hardcover ): 978-0-8050-8283-8
Category: Fiction

When a charismatic classmate unites three disenfranchised teens, they learn that their anger is an immense and terrifying power in this dark tale that gracefully weaves Greek myth with modern high school culture.

Meg, Stephanie and Alix feel both powerless and incensed by the injustices they see around them. Seeing this, Ambrosia, immortal goddess– cum-classmate, grooms the three girls for her own vengeful purpose. Ambrosia stokes their rage and directs them to their natural calling as the Furies, deities of vengeance. At first, the Furies are gentle and fair with their justice, punishing wrongdoers by burdening them with a sense of shame. But the girls become ever harsher, drunk on the corrosive power, and inflict mental anguish upon their victims before they, too, must face their personal demons. Meg’s candid narration is occasionally suspended by Ambrosia’s diary entries into The Book of Furious. Here, Ambrosia, in Greek theatrical tradition, expands on her long-standing hatred and the mythology from which the current drama has sprung. Fans of Wolfson’s heartfelt realistic novels will relish her fleet prose and these new characters as she examines the theme of justice versus revenge.

For readers moving beyond Percy Jackson into the more complex realm of teen angst, this is an enthralling and chilling tale that uses Greek mythology to create a timely fable. (Fantasy. 12 & up)

First Review of Furious

Waiting on the first review of a new book always gives me a knot in my stomach. 
So, finally, here's an excerpt:
 "For readers moving beyond Percy Jackson into the more complex realm of teen angst, Furious is an enthralling and chilling tale that uses Greek mythology to create a timely fable." 
Thanks Kirkus Reviews!

Furious is showcased as part of a 100+ book give-away at Live to Read. Lots of great books. Check it out.

Fury Wings

In anticipation of the publication of my new book, Furious, my friend Carol knitted for me this gorgeous cape of Fury wings. (Modeled by my bedroom floor lamp). Love having a friend who reads and knits.

Road Sketches by 1000 Artists

My pal Jon Bailiff is taking the train from Calif. to DC for the Obama inauguration as part of the  Thousand Artists project - a public art-making event. He is sketching non-stop to document the journey. I am so jealous of this! These are some of my favorite pictures so far.

The Plot

And here's the description from the jacket cover:

We were only three angry high school girls, to begin with. Alix, the hot-tempered surfer chick; Stephanie, the tree-hugging activist; and me, Meg, the quiet foster kid, the one who never quite fit in. We hardly knew each other, but each of us nurtured a burning anger: at the jerks in our class, at our disappointing parents, at the whole flawed, unjust world.

We were only three angry girls, simmering uselessly in our ocean-side California town, until one day a mysterious, beautiful classmate named Ambrosia taught us what else we could be: Powerful. Deadly. Furious.

Yes, that’s us. The three Greek Furies, come to life, ready to take our revenge on everyone who deserves it. And who doesn’t deserve it, really? We’re done with chances. We are angry. The Furies have come to town.

Look what's here! Galleys for Furious. If you are a blogger or reviewer and want an ARC, let me know and I'll ask my publicist to send one your way.

Yippee. My newest YA novel, Furious, has a pub date. April 16, 2013. And a cover.  It's always exciting -- and a little unnerving -- to see what someone else's vision of what I wrote. Love it?

Awesome Book Trailer

The publisher of the new UK edition of Cold Hands, Warm Heart has created a great new cover, plus a fantastic book trailer. It's so amazing to see a character come to life -- and death. What do you think?

Radio show about the Beat Within

Robert Pollie, the host of the 7th Avenue Project on public radio, produced a fantastic hour-long radio show about The Beat Within. He asks great questions -- and did some amazingly profound interviews with some of the incarcerated kids at Santa Cruz juvenile hall. Listen to Daniel, Sami, Ronnie, Ulysses and others talk about their lives "inside" and their relationship to the written word.

You can hear the program by clicking here.

Publicity for the Beat Within Fundraiser

I'm thrilled at all the great press we're getting for the literary Beat Within fundraiser. Donate some cash to this fantastic and important art and writing program for incarcerated kids and you get an autographed book as a thank-you gift.

Read the article in The Santa Cruz Sentinel.
And in Metro Santa Cruz.

All the details for donating? Click here.

Donating to the Beat Within

Thanks so much to Amy Reed for posting on her blog about the fundraiser for The Beat Within. (And for her very generous donation of a book). One of the fun benefits of organizing this fundraiser is being introduced to the work of so many writers. I enjoyed checking out the interviews on her blog.

Non-Fiction in November

Blogger Nina Amir has declared: It's "Write Non-Fiction in November"month, her once-a-year challenge to complete a work of non-fiction in 30 days. She's posting a month's worth of pertinent info to help you along your way to publishing success. I'm her guest blogger today, in my guise as editor of Bay Area Parent.

Click here to read my post.

Donate a Book; Buy a Book

Almost every Friday night for the past 10 years or so, I've been a volunteer with a writing program called The Beat Within. Each week, I join staff and other volunteers at the juvenile hall in my home town to hold writing workshops with kids, ages 14-18. The hand-written pieces from the workshops are then published into a weekly magazine, The Beat Within, which circulates through juvenile halls and prisons around the country. Each entry is published along with an adult response. It's an amazing program.

And now, I'm helping to raise funds to keep it going. We're asking authors to donate autographed copies of their books to give away as a thank-you gifts to donors. The drive is just getting started and already so many wonderful writers have stepped up, including from Newbery-award winner Paul Fleischman and Karen Joy Fowler, author of the bestseller The Jane Austen Book Club.

To read all the details about the fundraiser, click here.

We need your help if you are an author, or if you love books and kids!

For more info, contact me here or at Books4Beat@gmail.com.

And please, please feel free to pass along this message and post it on Facebook, your blog, etc.

Dear Diary -- With Jillian Cantor

I met Jillian Cantor when we were both on the same panel at the Tucson Book Festival. The joke was that, in order to be a YA author, you need thick dark hair, to be named Jill and to have grown up in Philadelphia.

Jillian is the author of the wonderful YA novels, THE SEPTEMBER SISTERS (Harperteen) and THE LIFE OF GLASS (Winter 2010/Harperteen). Her first novel for adults, THE TRANSFORMATION OF THINGS, will be released in Fall 2010 by Avon/HarperCollins.

I'm so glad that she didn't toss her high school journal.


Here's Jillian:

In my upcoming release, THE LIFE OF GLASS, my main character Melissa keeps a journal during her freshman year in high school. It is a continuation of one her father kept before he died, a journal filled with strange facts and unusual love stories, a journal Melissa adds to by writing in the love stories she knows and discovers throughout the year, just so they won’t be lost.

Like Melissa, I, too, kept a journal during my freshman year in high school. Near the beginning I wrote, I’m a Freshman! Can you believe it? This is going to be a year for believing in myself, setting my goals, and reaching for my dreams. However, what follows reads like a soap opera – the boys I liked (which changed almost weekly, I should add), the fights I had with my friends. I’m not sure why, but I even gave my journal a name -- “Capricious” or “Capri” for short. Seems fitting now, looking at how capricious and whimsical I actually was back then, but how I came up with that name, I can’t tell you. I began all the entries by writing “Dear Capri,” (because I guess Dear Diary must’ve felt too boring to me!). Oh, and in the back I have a list of names I like for my future children – at the top of the list is Capricious, which I note will be the name of my first born. (I can assure you, that is not actually his name, though!)

Here are some excerpts from some of the entries. All the names are totally changed because. . . well, because I’m actually Facebook friends with most of these guys now, and even all these years later I would be mortified if any of them read this and realized I was talking about them!

Thursday, November 12, 1992

Guess what? Last Friday A. asked me out, but when I said yes he said JUST KIDDING. How rude and immature! Well now I have spies trying to figure out who he likes. A lot of people know that I like him now, but I don’t even care. In fact now I’m even questioning how much I like him. I keep flirting with B. Just a reminder that “there are other fish.”

Wednesday, November 25, 1992

Sorry I haven’t written in awhile. . .as for A. I wish he would ask me out, so I could say NO! Yuck!! . . .B is so funny, he makes me laugh all the time. He’s just a really awesome person.

Sunday, February 17, 1993

Well, long time no see. B. is SO long gone. I thought that I liked C., but then on Friday we had a dance, and suddenly I found D. very attractive. . . Options for the Dinner Dance are still open. Who knows? Anything could happen between now and June 11.

Friday, March 19, 1993 (12:04 AM)

I really like D. I want to go to the Dinner Dance with him, but I’m scared to ask him. What if he says no? What if he says yes?

Then there is a whole saga involving the Dinner Dance, in which one guy (E.), who I only liked as a friend, asked me and I said yes. But then this other guy (F.) who I dated on and off in junior high confessed his love for me and asked me, so I backed out on my yes with E. and ended up going with F. instead. I still cringe just thinking about it now. The rest of the journal pretty much chronicles my relationship with F., which really wasn’t much more than a friendship. We never even kissed – a point I obsess over for pages and pages.

And then the journal ends on September 3, 1993, which was the first day of my sophomore year and also the day I met my first serious boyfriend (who is now my husband). And after that, I never kept a journal again. Although, part of me almost wishes I’d kept writing, because that’s something I’d love to read now, what I was thinking and feeling when I first started dating my husband, what I would’ve written about him. And then the other part of me is REALLY glad I didn’t!