Today is the official release day my client Sarah Tregay's debut novel-in-verse, LOVE & LEFTOVERS (Katherine Tegen Books).I didn't experience manuscript love at first sight until I read an early draft of LOVE & LEFTOVERS. When it came in on submission, I stayed up all night reading it, elbowing my husband awake and reading him passages that I loved. I had to stop myself from calling Sarah in the middle of the night to offer her representation.It's truly a special book, and Sarah is a truly special writer, and we are incredibly grateful to the team at Katherine Tegen Books, who have given this novel the love and attention it deserves. School Library Journal gave LOVE & LEFTOVERS a starred review. Booklist said: "Tregay adds depth with her ability, in just a few words, to palpably express both the emotions of love and physical longings that go along with it. This first novel may make teenage readers' hearts beat a bit faster."Lauren Myracle, bestselling author of SHINE, gushed of LOVE & LEFTOVERS: "Amazing. The most delicious love story I've read in ages."Here's a bit about the book:

My wish is to fall cranium over Converse in dizzy daydream-worthy love.

(If only it were that easy.)

Marcie has been dragged away from home for the summer—from Idaho to a family summerhouse in New Hampshire. She’s left behind her friends, a group of freaks and geeks called the Leftovers, including her emo-rocker boyfriend, and her father.

By the time Labor Day rolls around, Marcie suspects this “summer vacation” has become permanent. She has to start at a new school, and there she leaves behind her Leftover status when a cute boy brings her breakfast and a new romance heats up. But understanding love, especially when you’ve watched your parents’ affections end, is elusive. What does it feel like, really? Can you even know it until you’ve lost it?

Love & Leftovers is a beautifully written story of one girl’s journey navigating family, friends, and love, and a compelling and sexy read that teens will gobble up whole.

Congratulations, Sarah!

I'm incredibly excited to celebrate the publication of Helen Landalf's wonderful debut young adult novel FLYAWAY, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, in stores today! If you've attended a conference with me over the past few years, you probably heard me speak about a special novel involving a headstrong girl named Stevie and a mother making the wrong choices. It was a long road from Helen's initial submission and today's release, but I'm happy to say it's been worth the wait to see this heartfelt story finally out and available to the public.From the publisher: "Stevie Calhoun knows how to take care of herself. It’s not like her mom hasn’t disappeared before. So why is Aunt Mindy making such a big deal of it now? It’s not like Mom’s really doing meth. Stevie makes sure of that. Whatever. She’ll go home with Aunt Mindy if it will keep her from calling Child Protective Services—but it doesn’t mean she’ll stay. Mom will come back. Mom always comes back. And Stevie will be there when she does. But when Stevie meets Alan—frustrating and fascinating and so-different-from-everyone-she-knows Alan—and she starts helping out at the bird rehab center, things begin to look different. Even the tutoring and the ridiculous outfits Aunt Mindy’s forcing her into might not be so bad. Not that Stevie would say it out loud. She can’t. Because how can anything be good if it doesn’t include Mom?" School Library Journal predicted that "Readers will like [Stevie, who] offers hope for the other victims that addiction creations." The Journal Newspapers called the story "Heartbreaking and authentic," and Booklist said, "This first novel of tough love and fighting for one's way in the world...will appeal to many teens." When first reading the story myself, I was particularly drawn to the realistic characters and the authenticity of the world Helen created. FLYAWAY is unlike anything else I represent, but in the best way possible. But don't take our word for it; go buy yourself a copy! It's available now at Amazon and Barnes & Noble, or check for it at your favorite local independent bookstore. For more information about Helen, head to: http://helenlandalf.com/

I read a lot of queries this week--about one hundred. I sent a lot of rejections this week--about ninety-something (I requested four manuscripts).Getting rejections is never easy (remember: I get them, too!). Sending rejections isn't easy, either. But when I pass on your project and tell you to keep writing, I mean it. The passage below explains why. So even if you think I'm a jerk with no taste for passing on your project, you should listen to Ira Glass, because he's a really smart guy.Keep writing.

So. The new Amazon publishing program.Lots of folks are taking about this article in the New York Times.I can see why it's a very exciting prospect for new writers, or for writers with a lot of talent who have had trouble getting their work noticed under the more traditional model. Heck, it's obviously exciting for the established--and bestselling--authors who are now publishing with Amazon.I can't see why this would make the need for an agent any less important. But obviously I'm quite biased in favor of agents.I want to write more about it, but in the meantime, I'd like to hear from you.Writers, both published and unpublished: How do you feel about the new publishing venture from Amazon? Does it change your view of what it means to "get published"? Is it more alluring than the "traditional model" to you, in terms of getting your work out there? Does it make you feel like you need an agent any less than you would with a more traditional publisher? Discuss!

Do you love oysters? Do you love cooking? Then you'll love the fantastic new memoir from Upstart Crow client Erin Byers Murray!SHUCKED: LIFE ON A NEW ENGLAND OYSTER FARM (St. Martin's Press) is now available from your favorite book retailers. Murray chronicles her experience with the crew at Island Creek Oysters, where she learned the ins and outs of farming, and follows her food in an unforgettable journey from sea to table.Praise for SHUCKED:"Murray’s own love of food and food writing informs the narrative, and she skillfully dramatizes the scenes of summertime sowing and depicts her many colorful co-workers. Murray eschews poetic waxing on her subject and focuses closely on the action and the hard, hard work of ..." --Publishers Weekly"Part of the book’s charm is following Murray through the process of becoming aware of her surroundings in working directly with an edible product. An entertaining and informative firsthand experience of the locavore movement." --Library Journal“While most books about oysters tell people what they want to hear, Shucked tells it like it is: the frigid winter days on the water with hands like popsicles, the backbreaking work, the anxiety of nurturing thousands of dollars’ worth of oyster seed, the hard-partying nights. Erin Byers Murray captures the seasonal rhythms of the New England coast and the romance of one exceptional company’s efforts to coax great food from the sea. You’ll never take an oyster for granted again.” --Rowan Jacobsen, bestselling author of The Geography of OystersPick up your copy today!

I often field questions about how to handle writing and pitching a series. Do you write all the books at once? (No) Should you pitch the entire series to an agent or editor? (Probably not) Should things in book fourteen be set in stone? (Absolutely not)If you're looking for a great example of how to plot a successful series, be sure to check out Matt Myklusch's Jack Blank Adventures; Book I, The Accidental Hero, came out in paperback this April, and Book II, The Secret War, is in stores now.Book II begins one year after the conclusion of The Accidental Hero. After helping save the Imagine Nation and proving himself a hero, Jack is sidekicking with big league super heroes and getting a taste of what it takes to be a hero in the real world. Even though Jack is being hailed as a superstar, he's still hiding dark secrets from his best friends...secrets that could prove disastrous to both The Imagine Nation and the world at large. And Jack's old enemy Jonas Smart will do whatever it takes to uncover Jack's secrets and prove him a villain once and for all. Jack will need to learn to trust his friends, balance his growing powers, and find a way to head off an invasion if he wants to win The Secret War.Congratulations, Matt! And readers, be sure to look for the exciting conclusion in next year's The End of Infinity!

Look no further.July brought the debut of Laura Goode’s SISTER MISCHIEF, a provocative look at coming-of-age, first love, religion, and music.

Listen up: You’re about to get rocked by the fiercest, baddest all-girl hip-hop crew in the Twin Cities - or at least in the wealthy, white, Bible-thumping suburb of Holyhill, Minnesota. Our heroine, Esme Rockett (aka MC Ferocious) is a Jewish lesbian lyricist. In her crew, Esme’s got her BFFs Marcy (aka DJ SheStorm, the butchest straight girl in town) and Tess (aka The ConTessa, the pretty, popular powerhouse of a vocalist). But Esme’s feelings for her co-MC, Rowie (MC Rohini), a beautiful, brilliant, beguiling desi chick, are bound to get complicated. And before they know it, the queer hip-hop revolution Esme and her girls have exploded in Holyhill is on the line. Exciting new talent Laura Goode lays down a snappy, provocative, and heartfelt novel about discovering the rhythm of your own truth.SISTER MISCHIEF may be outrageous, but it's absolutely full of heart, and Laura has one of the freshest voices on the shelves today. The book has been garnering some lavish praise, including a starred review from Booklist which said, “This debut is full of big ideas, big heart, and big poetry, with a positive, activist message.”So what are you waiting for—go get your copy!

The long wait is finally over, because today's the day you can get your hands on Jacqueline West's SPELLBOUND, the sequel to the critically acclaimed, New York Times Bestselling novel THE SHADOWS. SPELLBOUND continues Olive's adventures into Elsewhere, where she'll meet new friends, face familiar foes, and be sucked deeper into the mystery of her house's previous owners.

Here's a terrific video featuring fun facts about the house that inspired the series, some details about SPELLBOUND, and the always-lovely Jacqueline West speaking about her story.

If you missed out on the first book of the series, don't fret! THE SHADOWS was released in paperback just last month! It's not too late to read the book Publisher's Weekly praised for it's "wicked sense of humor," Time For Kids rated 9.5 out of 10, and The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books called "A delightful concoction of quirky humor blended with a rumbling ominous undertone."

The long wait is finally over, because today's the day you can get your hands on Jacqueline West's SPELLBOUND, the sequel to the critically acclaimed, New York Times Bestselling novel THE SHADOWS. SPELLBOUND continues Olive's adventures into Elsewhere, where she'll meet new friends, face familiar foes, and be sucked deeper into the mystery of her house's previous owners.

Here's a terrific video featuring fun facts about the house that inspired the series, some details about SPELLBOUND, and the always-lovely Jacqueline West speaking about her story.

If you missed out on the first book of the series, don't fret! THE SHADOWS was released in paperback just last month! It's not too late to read the book Publisher's Weekly praised for it's "wicked sense of humor," Time For Kids rated 9.5 out of 10, and The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books called "A delightful concoction of quirky humor blended with a rumbling ominous undertone."

Despite the immense loss everyone still feels here at Upstart Crow about Bridget Zinn, we would nonetheless like to take a moment to shine a bit of sweet light on the wonderful crows who've brightened readers' month of June with their new releases. It has been a busy, busy month!

The first of June brought us The Eternal Sea from Angie Frazier, the sequel to her rollicking, romantic debut, Everlasting.The Eternal Sea follows star-crossed lovers Oscar and Camille through a dangerous and paranormal adventure to find true love and happiness. It is thrilling, passionate, and incredibly well done. Fans of historical novels, romances, and simply “darn good” books should pick it up!And if you haven’t read Everlasting… what are you waiting for?

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Josh Berk’s critically acclaimed (and super funny) The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin may have a fresh new look in paperback—but the jokes and suspense are deadly funny just the same.Will Halpin may be deaf and overweight, but what's a couple of handicaps matter when there's a murder to be solved?Read the book that Kirkus and SLJ gave starred reviews to, and Amazon.com, Kirkus, and VOYA named one of their “Best Books” for 2010.

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And the middle of June welcomed Olive—the protagonist of Jacqueline West’sNew York Times bestselling debut, The Shadows—into paperback.This award-winner is the recipient of multiple starred reviews and nominations. If you missed Olive in hardcover, get caught up on this heartwarming, spooky, and very funny series … with luck, you’ll be done with it just in time for Spellbound, the second entry, which hits shelves in July.

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Another book with a hot new look for summer is Matt Myklusch’s THE ACCIDENTAL HERO.Formerly known as Jack Blank and The Imagine Nation, this riveting middle grade adventure is perfect for Percy Jackson fans, but stands on its own as the start of a great new series. The San Francisco Book Review called Jack "a mythical hero." And look out for the sequel, The Secret War, in August.

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And finally, June 24th saw the release of Danette Haworth's third book for middle grade readers, Me and Jack.From the writer of Violet Raines Almost Got Struck By Lightning and The Summer of Moonlight Secrets comes a soon-to-be classic about a boy and his beloved dog, set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War. Me and Jack is a perfect summer read. Danette is a lyrical and charming writer, and you will fall in love with her characters.Happy Summer reading, everyone!