Wait, wait: Doesn't SCBWI mean we hear about new books?

But of course! I'm the self-proclaimed all-pro shopper in my household, so you know I can't go to a conference without writing down a few titles that I have to grab and read as soon as possible. So, (drumroll please), allow me to present some of the titles I heard about at SCBWI's lucky 13th Winter Conference:
Cassandra Clare featured several titles in her presentation on love triangles and creating tension in YA literature, particularly romance. I don't even write romances and I thought her presentation was very informative and entertaining. All of these sound like I might hate myself after I read them, but you know, I can't resist. I need to give 'em a try.

The Ghost and the Goth

The Ghost and the Goth--An unpopular goth boy falls for a cheerleader who would normally be out of his league, but after she gets hit by a bus, thanks to goth boy's powers as a medium, he's the only boy at his high school who can date her.

teach me

Teach Me--A teacher and student romance. Oh my.

Forbidden

Forbidden--Romance between, um, a brother and sister. Yeah, I know. It's barf inducing, but after I heard about it and heard that it was oddly compelling, I have to get my hands on it. For what it's worth, you might be grossed-out now, but this topic has been explored before. When I took a course in Romantic literature (not romances, but romantic as in the Romantic movement) we studied Rene which also touches in this topic. Also, pardon my bad memory on this, but I believe the good doctor in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein also has the hots for a close relative. Wow, that was a lot more about incest in fiction than I set out to discuss in this post. Okay, moving on.

Boy Toy

Boy Toy--Um, well, you know.

Chris Crutcher was amazing. I'd say more about his keynote address, but I wouldn't do it justice. He treated us to excerpts from his latest contribution to Young Adult literature, Deadline and his "ill-advised autobiography

Deadline

The publishing community also seems to be extremely excited about John Green's latest book.

The Fault in Our Stars

I'm sure I'll think of something I forgot to mention here around 3 a.m. when I wake up with that nagging feeling that I forgot something really important.

Keep reading. Keep writing. Enjoy life. Peace, out.

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