Amazing author (and former readergirlz Author in Residence) Beth Kephart Rocks the Drop!
Showing posts with label the heart is not a size. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the heart is not a size. Show all posts
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Cover Stories: The Heart is Not a Size by Beth Kephart
Beth Kephart is a master storyteller. Her words are poetic. I've said this 1000 times, and it's true in each book. She was the readergirlz Author in Residence over the fall, and her challenges were inspiring!
Here she is with the Cover Story for her latest work of art, The Heart is Not a SIze:
"Because my fourth young adult novel, The Heart is Not a Size, was inspired by a trip that I took to a squatters' village in Juarez, I had a strong visual sense of the country and the people I hoped the book's cover might portray. Georgia, my narrator, is, like me, a photographer. She has her new digital camera perpetually hanging from her neck. It was my hope, originally, to have one of Georgia's photographs grace the cover of the book--a portrait of the gorgeous children Georgia meets perhaps, or a study of shadows and contrast during a raging dust storm.
"But such absolute realism, Marketing worried, could suggest--to a bookstore browser--that Heart was a work of nonfiction, and so a different route was pursued.
"Initial designs for the cover featured a Caucasian girl in a cute, short T-shirt; the photo was cropped tightly, revealing the model's mid-section and nothing more. It was a bright cover--eye-catching and commercially appealing--and I knew that Harper had given the look much care and concerted effort. But I worried that Juarez wasn't there, nor Georgia (who is hardly fashion forward). Harper graciously took another look and produced the cover that was ultimately selected....
Read the rest of Beth's Cover Story at melissacwalker.com. Watch her read from this book alongside photos she herself took in Juarez, below:
Here she is with the Cover Story for her latest work of art, The Heart is Not a SIze:
"Because my fourth young adult novel, The Heart is Not a Size, was inspired by a trip that I took to a squatters' village in Juarez, I had a strong visual sense of the country and the people I hoped the book's cover might portray. Georgia, my narrator, is, like me, a photographer. She has her new digital camera perpetually hanging from her neck. It was my hope, originally, to have one of Georgia's photographs grace the cover of the book--a portrait of the gorgeous children Georgia meets perhaps, or a study of shadows and contrast during a raging dust storm.
"But such absolute realism, Marketing worried, could suggest--to a bookstore browser--that Heart was a work of nonfiction, and so a different route was pursued.
"Initial designs for the cover featured a Caucasian girl in a cute, short T-shirt; the photo was cropped tightly, revealing the model's mid-section and nothing more. It was a bright cover--eye-catching and commercially appealing--and I knew that Harper had given the look much care and concerted effort. But I worried that Juarez wasn't there, nor Georgia (who is hardly fashion forward). Harper graciously took another look and produced the cover that was ultimately selected....
Read the rest of Beth's Cover Story at melissacwalker.com. Watch her read from this book alongside photos she herself took in Juarez, below:
Rgz Street Team: Priya reviews The Heart is Not a Size by Beth Kephart
The rgz Street Team is a group of teens who bring YA reviews to our blog, led by Postergirl Miss Erin. Find out more.Today, Priya reviews The Heart is Not a Size by our former Author in Residence Beth Kephart!
"The Heart is Not a Size is, by far, Beth Kephart's best YA novel yet. It's an incredibly lovely story about finding out who you really are. The plot was terrific and moved at a good pace, and the writing was stellar -- beautiful and poetic, yet simple and heartfelt.
"One wonderful thing about this book was that it was mostly set in Juarez, Mexico. Reading about life in places like Juarez really opened my eyes to poverty and living conditions around the world. I had no idea that there were communities like Anapra, where there were no bathrooms and just sand stretching on and on. That aspect of the story made it quite interesting and educational as well, and it was really touching to read about how hopeful the children there were, despite their surroundings.
"What I most enjoyed about this book was the recurring theme of friendship... "
Read the rest of this review (where she shares her favorite part!) on Priya's blog.
(This one's out today. Run to the bookstore!)
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Author in Residence Beth Kephart: The Writing From Life Challenge
Our very first Author in Residence, Beth Kephart, is a critically acclaimed, gracious writer who will be on the rgz team through December. Check out her mini-issue at the rgz website. Welcome this author of HOUSE OF DANCE, UNDERCOVER, NOTHING BUT GHOSTS and THE HEART IS NOT A SIZE!
Last month's winning entry has been published on Beth's blog, so go read the lovely words of Kiera's Present, Past and Reflection work.
Here is the fourth and final of Beth’s monthly entries about writing, Writing From Life:
"Today I post the final readergirlz writing contest—a challenge that asks you to look at something familiar and transform it into the unexpected. Check out the video:
"Send your best work to kephartblogATcomcastDOTnet by December 30, 2009. The winner will receive an advanced reading copy of The Heart is Not a Size (which is due out in March from HarperTeen). The winning work will be posted on this site.
"I would say, Give it your all, but I know I don't have to."
Thanks, Beth, and good luck, readergirlz!
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