It's the Imaginary Blog's One Year Blog-o-Versary!

Hello Imaginary Readers,

One year ago tonight I began to explore blogging right here on the Imaginary Blog.
Starting a blog had been one of my not-quite-accomplished goals for 2007. Deadlines usually work for me so naturally as the minutes ticked by and as midnight (and 2008) approached I made haste to make my goal happen before 2007 was up. Besides, I figured if I didn't like it I could just delete.

Well, I've had fun and I will continue.

See you in 2009 right here on the Imaginary Blog.

Happy New Year everyone!
Lynn


Forecast: More imaginary blog posts in 2009?
Perhaps an average of one a week?

SHIFTY on Cynsational Books of 2008!

Whoo hoo! Cynthia Leitich Smith on her Cynsations Blog today listed SHIFTY as one of her choices for Cynsational Books of 2008. She included it in her middle grade category. SHIFTY was nominated for The Cybils in both the middle grade and YA categories and the Cybils folks decided it was most appropriate for their YA nominations. This brings up an interesting question. Is SHIFTY middle grade or YA? Does it matter how it is categorized? Where should SHIFTY be shelved in bookstores and libraries?

The main character, Soli a.k.a Shifty, is 15 (and a half) years old. His seven-year-old foster sister, Sissy, plays both an antagonist and ally role in the story. The book flap states SHIFTY is for ages 12 and up, so I guess that covers both the traditional 8 to 12 years range of middle grade and the 12 to 18 years of YA.

What do I think? I'm only the author, but I'd say SHIFTY is older middle grade and/or younger YA, and of course I'd like everyone to read SHIFTY--adults, too.

Some of my favorite books include characters of varying age ranges and have crossover appeal for teens and adult readers. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, THE BOOK THIEF, and THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT have characters (and readers) of varying ages, just like families and real life.
When I was writing SHIFTY, was I thinking, "This is a middle grade novel. Or, is this a story for teens or adults?" No, I was just trying to capture the characters and their story on the page.

Imaginary Readers, would you consider SHIFTY middle grade or YA? Does it matter? What other good books (with various aged characters) can you recommend that might be enjoyed by middle grades, young adults, and crossover to adult readers as well?

Please comment and suggest good titles for us to read and reread in 2009.

Forecast: Good book recommendations. Thanks!

Bad Poetry Friday is Back!

It seems like a good time to revive Bad Poetry Friday so here it is...

The Rhymes, They Are A Changing
(sung to the tune of Bob Dylan’s Times They Are A Changing)

Come gather ‘round Bad Poets wherever you roam
And admit that the oddities in publishing have grown
No need to like blogging—you’ve found your new home
If your bad poem to you is worth saving…
We’d better start laughing, or we’ll feel all alone
For the rhymes, they are a changing…

Yes indeedy folks.
It's time once again for
Bad Poetry Friday right here on the Imaginary Blog.
Here’s how to play…

Just make up really bad rhymes poking good-natured fun at the craziness of the children’s book world. Then send in your bad rhyme (any day of the week) via the comments link on the Imaginary Blog.

Everyone’s invited--writers, editors, marketing folks, librarians, agents, reviewers, booksellers, and readers—cast your meter to the wind and send us your BAD POETRY please.

I’ll post the best (or the worst) every Friday.
Let me know if you want to be credited or anon.

8 short lines max
6 or 4 lines even better.
2 lines might be best of all.
We’re going for short here, folks--
Because if it’s gonna be bad, it better be brief!

Come creative people, please heed the call
Send us BAD POETRY, or no poetry at all…

Forecast: Bad Poems with a Chance of Laughter. Yep, I think we could all use a little laughter right about now.