Category Archives: Young Adult

Getting a Grip on Gripping Characters: YA Mystery Writing

Posted on March 16, 2014 by

You know that expression, “When the student is ready, the teacher appears?” I’ve been told it’s from Zen buddhism, but it’s also very much current. I’ve found another side to it as a writer: When I’m ready to learn something, … Continue reading →

Posted in Beth Kanell, SinCNE, Writing, Young Adult | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Common Core Standards and YA Mystery Writing (and Reading!)

Posted on February 23, 2014 by

Yes, you read the title correctly — this post is about that monster of today’s headlines, the Common Core State Standards being implemented in schools across the country. Or rather, it’s not about the standards … but about the wild … Continue reading →

Posted in Beth Kanell, Craft, SinCNE, Young Adult | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Social Media for YA Writers & Readers: The Numbers

Posted on December 22, 2013 by

I have one more post to add in this series, and it will be on using Pinterest — but I want to hold it until after the holiday season. So, here’s some information to think about in the meantime (you … Continue reading →

Posted in Beth Kanell, Book promotion, SinCNE, Young Adult | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Social Media for YA Mystery Authors and Readers — GoodReads

Posted on December 15, 2013 by

Some of my favorite readers reach me through GoodReads, including teacher Tim Averill, who makes great suggestions of new young adult (YA) books to read — he’s in the midst of teen readers daily at work and he sees what’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Beth Kanell, Book promotion, SinCNE, Young Adult | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Social Media for YA Mystery Authors — Blogging

Posted on December 8, 2013 by

Talking about author blogs can go from the website to the blog, or from the Facebook/Twitter side to the blog. Let’s look at each. If you have, or are planning, an author website, you’re crafting an online drop-in location that’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Beth Kanell, SinCNE, Social Media, Young Adult | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Social Media for YA Authors — Facebook, “Like a Pro”

Posted on December 3, 2013 by

I dearly love my personal Facebook page. Although I’m more private than many, it’s the place where I share photos from morning walks, tuck in scraps of research or poems, dream of characters, and most of all, connect with friends, … Continue reading →

Posted in Beth Kanell, Marketing, Social Media, Young Adult | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Social Media for YA Mystery Authors — Twitter!

Posted on November 24, 2013 by

Yes, absolutely, if you’re not writing or reading young adult (YA) mysteries, stick with this post anyway for some quick intro information and tips on the simplest of the social media, Twitter. I hear two big reasons for people not … Continue reading →

Posted in Beth Kanell, SinCNE, Social Media, Young Adult | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Takeaways from YA panel at Crime Bake

Posted on November 20, 2013 by

During the New England Crime Bake conference a couple of weeks ago, I sat in on the panel titled “High School Murder: Writing the Young Adult Mystery.” Our own Julie Hennrikus moderated the panel that consisted of: Peter Abrahams (aka … Continue reading →

Posted in Beth Kanell, Book promotion, Conferences, Craft, Crime Bake, Event Recap, Lisa Haselton, Opinion, SinCNE, Writers, Young Adult | 1 Comment

Social Media for YA Mystery Authors — and Others!

Posted on November 17, 2013 by

I think it’s important, at least for my own sanity, to spend more time writing than promoting. Honestly, I’d rather just write. But today, every author has at least some responsibility for getting a book to its readers beyond the … Continue reading →

Posted in Beth Kanell, Marketing, SinCNE, Uncategorized, Young Adult | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

“Understand the whole crime”: at the YA Mystery Master Class!

Posted on November 8, 2013 by

At Crime Bake today, Master Class, “Writing the YA Mystery”: Peter Abrahams skipped deftly past trying to precisely define “young adult” (YA) versus “middle grades,” and dug into the heart of good mystery writing: Even if you don’t outline your … Continue reading →

Posted in Beth Kanell, Crime Bake, SinCNE, Uncategorized, Young Adult | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment