Lynn E. Hazen's Imaginary Blog & Amazon Connects

Hello Real and Imaginary Readers,

If all goes well, this brief test post from the Imaginary Blog will show up on my books' pages on Amazon via Amazon Connects.

So here is some news:

• Kirkus praised my new young adult novel, SHIFTY, as "a realistic story that resonates.” SHIFTY was also chosen for VOYA’s Top Shelf Fiction, as a CCBC Choice, and as a Smithsonian Notable.

• I was interviewed recently on Cynsations by Cynthia Leitich Smith.

• I'm co-teaching a two-day class on Writing the YA Novel at U.C. Berkeley Extension (in San Francisco) in May 2009.

and....

My new young chapter book, THE AMAZING TRAIL OF SEYMOUR SNAIL, illustrated by the wildly talented Doug Cushman is being published this May with Holt.

Seymour's first review from BOOKLIST says in part:

"Seymour Snail hopes to be a great artist someday, but he feels shy about showing his work. He is thrilled to get a job in an art gallery, but he is bullied by his new boss, Mr. Stink Bug. At last, though, Seymour’s slimy glitter art is recognized by Mr. Stink Bug's client, Lady CocoLaRoche, and the snail becomes a star...
young grade-schoolers will enjoy all the talk about slime and goo, as well as the puns about a friendly spider, who is working on something big––the World Wide Web. Children will also cheer for the small creature, who oozes along at a snail’s pace but triumphs in the end."
--Hazel Rochman

Find more news on my websites:
www.LynnHazen.com
www.ShiftyTheBook.com
and blog at www.LynnHazenImaginaryBlog.blogspot.com

Lynn Hazen Teaches Berkeley and Stanford Classes in Writing For Children & Young Adults

Registration is now open for a two-day U.C. Berkeley Extension class (held in San Francisco) May 30-31st, 2009 on Writing the YA Novel. Elissa Haden Guest and I taught this last summer and it was great fun. We're looking forward to teaching it again. Register here before it fills up.

Speaking of filling up...

I was also going to announce that we'll being teaching Writing for the Youngest Audience at Stanford Continuing Studies (a two-day class on May 2nd & May 9th, 2009 co-taught with Elissa Haden Guest). But the class is already full! The good news? There is a way to join the waitlist. Just click right here for more info about the class and the waitlist. Who knows? If enough people join the waitlist, maybe they'll ask us to teach another section.

Here is the description of: Writing the Young Adult Novel: A Two-Day Intensive Workshop
What exactly is a Young Adult novel? How does it compare with middle-grade children's literature or adult literature? How do you get started, keep going, and once you've written it, find the right publisher? In this two-day intensive workshop, students are introduced to various Young Adult genres, including traditional, edgy, verse, and graphic novels. We look at successful examples of the Young Adult novel, focusing on specific writing techniques. Participants explore voice, character development, and plot-point ideas through in-class writing exercises.

And here is the description of the Stanford Class: Writing for the Youngest Audience
In this workshop we will explore how successful picture books, early readers, and young chapter books engage a young audience (birth through age nine). Aspiring as well as experienced writers will explore exemplary titles for children in this age range. We will investigate and practice writing techniques focusing on developing character, story structure, and vivid language, and we will consider when to leave room for the illustrator and more. Students will participate in engaging, in-class writing exercises. Practical tips about the world of children’s book publishing will also be addressed with plenty of time for Q&A. Participants are welcome to bring and focus on their own typed first three pages of a picture book or early reader manuscript.