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June 3, 2013

Summer 2013 Update (June Report)

Filed under: Writing — Tags: , , , , , , , , — paulayoo @ 6:00 am
I am in the Writing Batcave!

I am in the Writing Batcave!

Hi! Just a quick update about my summer…

It’s going to be a fun but busy summer! Lots of traveling, finishing up a new novel (while another is out on submission now, fingers crossed!), and TV summer development meetings. :) Because I recently was an honoree of the 2012 Annual WGA Feature Access Project (http://www.wga.org/fap.html), I’m also working on a new feature spec screenplay as well. In addition, I’m looking forward to the sketches for my fourth book – a children’s picture book biography with LEE & LOW BOOKS (publication date TBA).

And as always, there’s more music! I’m in the process of starting up my own tribute band to famous jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli and guitarist Django Rheinhardt. Here’s an example of the music I’m learning for my new music project: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYh7oJmT1h4).

So as you can tell, it’s a super busy summer for me. Instead of blogging on a regular basis, I’ll be writing, going out on meetings, practicing my violin, or playing with my three cats Oreo, Beethoven, and Charlotte. (For more on my cats, you can follow them on Twitter @oreothecatyoo or check out my youtube videos here: http://youtube.com/paulayoo). You can also enjoy this wonderful Youtube eHowPets Channel “Warm & Fuzzy” documentary on me & my cats here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHpvlG-9PAg&feature=youtu.be

Finally, you can always check out my FAQs here for all your writing questions:

http://paulayoo.com/blog/?page_id=950

Until my next blog, please follow me on Twitter @paulayoo. I will alert everyone via Twitter if I post any more news-breaking blogs this summer.

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Until the next blog… as always, remember… HAPPY WRITING! WRITE LIKE YOU MEAN IT! :) HAVE A GREAT SUMMER! :)

March 11, 2013

March Update: JANM Panel, Nikki Grimes, and more!

Filed under: Asian American issues,Writing For Young People — Tags: , , , , , , , , — paulayoo @ 1:40 pm

I attended a poetry class by esteemed poet Nikki Grimes at the SCBWI March 2013 Writers Day conference! Read my blog for more details!

Hello from the writing batcave! I recently left the confines of my writing batcave to attend a wonderful class on “Novels in Verse” by esteemed poet NIKKI GRIMES for the March 9-10, 2013 SCBWI Writers Day conference. I also will be sneaking out of the batcave on Saturday March 23rd to be a panel speaker at the “BEYOND THE BAD & UGLY: STEREOTYPES AND ASIAN AMERICAN POP CULTURE – A SUMMIT” at the Japanese American National Museum. Keep reading below for more details…

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November 1, 2012

Fall 2012 Update!

Filed under: Writing — Tags: , , , , , , — paulayoo @ 12:33 pm

Proof that I’ve been very busy writing in my batcave (as evidenced by the elaborate Halloween 2012 costumes on my cats Oreo, Beethoven & Charlotte)! LOL!

Greetings! It’s been awhile since my last blog. But I have a good excuse. I’VE BEEN WRITING. Yup. That’s right. Been hiding out in the Writing Batcave working on a bunch of different book and script projects. And when I’m not writing, I’m having too much fun with my cats, as evidenced in the above photo. :) (Confession: I went a little nuts on Halloween this year. Video proof here: http://www.youtube.com/paulayoo & pics here: http://twitpic.com/photos/oreothecatyoo)

I plan to participate in this year’s NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) which inspired my own NaPiBoWriWee (National Picture Book Writing Week). You can join me – my NaNo name is VIOLINGIRL. For more info, go here: http://www.nanowrimo.org

I will try to blog a few more times this fall and winter. It will be sporadic, though. Best way to keep in touch with me is through my @paulayoo Twitter feed here: http://twitter.com/paulayoo (Oh and heck, you can follow my cats @oreothecatyoo here: http://twitter.com/oreothecatyoo LOL!)

Until the next blog, remember… HAPPY WRITING! WRITE LIKE YOU MEAN IT! :)

 

June 23, 2012

My Brother David Yoo’s New Book “The Choke Artist: Confessions of a Chronic Underachiever” Debuts This Month!

Filed under: Books — Tags: , , , , , — paulayoo @ 1:59 pm

"The Choke Artist: Confessions of a Chronic Overachiever" by David Yoo (Grand Central Publishing 2012)

I’m proud to announce the latest book debut of my brother DAVID YOO! My brother is an acclaimed YA and middle grade novelist. His books include GIRLS FOR BREAKFAST (Delacorte ’05), an NYPL Books For the Teen Age selection and a Reading Rants Top Ten Books for Teens choice; STOP ME IF YOU’VE HEARD THIS ONE BEFORE (Hyperion ’09), a Chicago Best of the Best selection; and THE DETENTION CLUB (re-released in paperback this June 26, 2012 from Balzer & Bray!)

And now he’s debuting his first adult book! It’s a collection of hilarious yet poignant coming of age essays called THE CHOKE ARTIST: CONFESSIONS OF A CHRONIC UNDERACHIEVER (Grand Central Publishing 2012). The book debuted this month.

You can find out more about my brother at his website here: http://www.daveyoo.com/author/

(For more info, please keep reading after the jump!)

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June 1, 2012

Camp NaNoWriMo! (Day One – 6/1/12)

Filed under: Writing — Tags: , , , , , , , — paulayoo @ 6:00 am

Join me for CampNaNoWriMo this June 1-30, 2012!

Hi! I’m participating in this year’s CAMPNANOWRIMO! For the entire month of June, I’m going to attempt writing a brand new novel! I impulsively signed up for this at the last minute because I’ve been researching a new idea for another middle grade novel. I figured, why not join this event as a way to kickstart the first draft?

For those of you who are not familiar with “NANOWRIMO,” it stands for National Novel Writing Month. The website is here: http://www.nanowrimo.org/ Every November, the NANOWRIMO organization challenges everyone to try and write a 50,000 word minimum novel in one month.

Now they’re hosting a fun summer time event called “Camp NaNoWriMo”! So for the entire month of JUNE, they’re inviting us to try writing a 50,000 word minimum novel.

If you want to sign up for CAMPNANOWRIMO, go here:

http://campnanowrimo.org/sign_in

If you want to check out my progress, go here to my “cabin”…

http://campnanowrimo.org/campers/violingirl

I will try to post occasional blogs for the month of June about my progress. I’m eager to hear your stories as well.

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In other news, an episode of EUREKA I wrote with the awesome Ed Fowler will air later this month on SyFy (air date Monday June 18, 2012 at 9 PM/8C). For more info, go here:

http://www.syfy.com/eureka

I’ll be sure to post a blog on it later this month, so stay tuned! Until then, you can follow me on Twitter @paulayoo.

Until the next blog, I’ll be in the Camp NaNoWriMo Batcave! Remember … HAPPY WRITING! WRITE LIKE YOU MEAN IT! :)

May 10, 2012

“Fact to Fiction: API Authors Panel” (2 PM) Saturday May 12, 2012

Filed under: Asian American issues — Tags: , , , , , , — paulayoo @ 4:57 pm

GOOD ENOUGH by Paula Yoo (HarperTeen paperback edition May 8, 2012)

Hi! Just a quick blog to remind everyone that I’m speaking on an author panel entitled, “Fact to Fiction,” this Saturday May 12th at 2 PM at the Japanese American National Museum’s author panel for their annual Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebration!

MAY is the annual ASIAN-PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH. This month features nation-wide festivals and events celebrating the contributions of Asian-Pacific Americans to our country. (For more info on that, go here: http://asianpacificheritage.gov/) I will be one of the panel speakers at the Japanese American National Museum‘s family festival, “Target Free Family Saturday: Celebrate Asian Pacific Heritage” on Saturday May 12, 2012. The festival is all day from 11 AM to 4 PM.

The panel I’m speaking on is called, “Fact to Fiction: API Authors Panel.” It will be held at 2 PM.

The panel description: “Join a remarkable panel of novelists featuring New York Times bestselling author Jamie Ford (Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet), Kristina McMorris (Bridge of Scarlet Leaves), Margaret Dilloway (How to Be an American Housewife), and Paula Yoo (Good Enough). Topics will include the influence of Asian American history on today’s literature, weaving true and personal accounts into fiction, and cultural education through storytelling.”

To find out more about the other awesome authors on our panel, please visit their websites here:

JAMIE FORD (Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet): http://www.jamieford.com/

KRISTINA MCMORRIS (Bridge of Scarlet Leaves): http://www.kristinamcmorris.com/

MARGARET DILLOWAY (How to Be An American Housewife): http://margaretdilloway.com/

For more info on the event, please visit the Japanese American National Museum website here: http://www.janm.org/

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Hope to see you there! :) The rest of my May will be busy with the usual writing deadlines. I’ll be back to more regular blogging this summer, starting in June. You can always check out the YOO INK section of my main homepage to see the latest headlines/news updates. You can also follow me on Twitter: @paulayoo

Until the next blog, remember… HAPPY WRITING! WRITE LIKE YOU MEAN IT! :)

May 8, 2012

My YA Novel GOOD ENOUGH debuts in Paperback Today! May 8, 2012!

Filed under: Good Enough — Tags: , , , , , , , — paulayoo @ 10:29 am

GOOD ENOUGH by Paula Yoo (HarperTeen paperback edition May 8, 2012)

I am proud to announce that my YA novel GOOD ENOUGH (HarperCollins 2008) has just been released in paperback by HarperTeen. The paperback release date is TODAY! (May 8, 2012)

GOOD ENOUGH was also chosen as one of the books for the New York Public Libraries SUMMER READING 2012 list! For more info on this program, go here: http://www.summerreading.org/index.html

The entire summer reading list for 2012 is here (just click on the Teens link): http://www.summerreading.org/content.html

(Keep reading after the break to find out more about the GOOD ENOUGH paperback release, as well as other updates and breaking news…)

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March 28, 2012

WRITER WEDNESDAY: Winner of the David Lampson Signed YA Novel Contest Announced!

Filed under: Writing For Young People — Tags: , , , , , , — paulayoo @ 8:00 am

This One Time With Julia by David Lampson (Razorbill 2012)

Welcome to WRITER WEDNESDAY! Today we announce the lucky winner of our most recent signed galley contest giveaway drawing with Young Adult debut author DAVID LAMPSON (“This One Time With Julia”/Razorbill 2012)!

We interviewed David earlier this month. You can read that original Q&A blog here: http://paulayoo.com/blog/?p=1276  And you can visit his website here: http://www.davidlampson.com/

Meet YA novelist and screenwriter David Lampson!

This month’s winner, picked at random, is… BONNIE!

Bonnie wins a personally autographed copy of David Lampson’s debut YA novel THIS ONE TIME WITH JULIA (Razorbill ’12). Congratulations, Bonnie! We’ll contact you shortly to make arrangements!

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Stay tuned for more Guest Author Q&A blogs and signed book contests at my website later this year. And don’t forget – the fourth annual NATIONAL PICTURE BOOK WRITING WEEK (aka “NaPiBoWriWee”) will happen this May 1-7, 2012 at my official NaPiBoWriWee blog (http://paulayoo.com/napi/). I’ll also make an announcement about our latest NaPiBoWriWee souvenir store items for 2012 featuring a sharp new design!

Until the next blog, remember… HAPPY WRITING! WRITE LIKE YOU MEAN IT! :)

March 7, 2012

WRITER WEDNESDAY: Q&A with YA author DAVID LAMPSON!

Filed under: Books,Novels — Tags: , , , , , , — paulayoo @ 8:00 am

This One Time With Julia by David Lampson (Razorbill 2012)

Welcome to WRITER WEDNESDAY! Our Writer of the Month for March 2012 is DAVID LAMPSON, whose debut Young Adult novel THIS ONE TIME WITH JULIA (Razorbill 2012) launched this month.

Publishers Weekly wrote a wonderful review of David’s book:

“Lampson’s debut is narrated by an 18-year-old with an Asperger’s-like condition and a tenuous understanding of the world. Following the death of their parents, Joe and his brothers raised themselves. Since his fraternal twin, Alvin, abandoned him for a girl named Julia, Joe has frittered away his inheritance on poker games while cutting his GED prep class, eating nothing but McDonald’s cheeseburgers, and avoiding his pompous older brother, Marcus. When Alvin returns, he arranges to take a sailing trip with Joe, but then vanishes. Beautiful, anxious Julia soon shows up, persuading Joe to join her on a trip to Tennessee, where Joe finds work as pool boy at Julia’s family’s hotel. As Joe acquires new life skills and falls for Julia, her family’s nefarious nature comes to light–as does the truth about Alvin’s disappearance. Refreshingly, Lampson avoids making Joe’s condition the story’s focus, instead highlighting the emotional isolation of multiple individuals and creating a cinematic effect through well-conceived dialogue, mature characterizations, and a noir-tinged atmosphere. A raw and darkly poignant novel about lost souls. Ages 12–up. (Feb.)”

In addition to our Q&A with David, we are also offering a free signed book from him. Please comment on this blog or email me at paula at paulayoo dot com to be included in our special book prize contest drawing. The winner will be announced in a special blog to be posted on Wednesday March 28th! For more info on David, check out his website here: http://www.davidlampson.com/

(Please keep reading after the jump for our Q&A with David!)

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February 29, 2012

WRITER WEDNESDAY: Winner of the “HARBINGER” Signed Galley Contest Announced!

Filed under: Books,Writing For Young People — Tags: , , , , — paulayoo @ 8:00 am

HARBINGER by Sara Wilson Etienne (Putnam 2012)

Welcome to WRITER WEDNESDAY! Today we announce the lucky winner of our most recent signed galley contest giveaway drawing with Young Adult debut author SARA WILSON ETIENNE (“Harbinger”/Putnam ’11)!

We interviewed Sara earlier this month. You can read that original Q&A blog here: http://paulayoo.com/blog/?p=1258

This month’s winner, picked at random, is… VAL MULLER!

Val wins a personally autographed galley copy of Sara Wilson Etienne’s debut YA novel HARBINGER (Putnam’11). Congratulations, Val! We’ll contact you shortly to make arrangements!

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But wait! There’s more! You STILL have a chance to win in a future contest!

Stay tuned for our March 2012 WRITER OF THE MONTH, DAVID LAMPSON (http://www.davidlampson.com/). His YA debut novel, THIS ONE TIME WITH JULIA (Razorbill 2012), just debuted this month. We’ll be doing a fun Q&A with David and featuring a signed book giveaway contest drawing with him as well. David Lampson’s WRITER WEDNESDAY Q&A blog will be posted on Wednesday March 7, 2012. As always, remember to post a comment on his Q&A blog or email me at paula at paulayoo dot com to be included in the drawing. The winner for the David Lampson signed book contest drawing will be announced on Wednesday March 28, 2012!

Until the next blog, remember… HAPPY WRITING! WRITE LIKE YOU MEAN IT! :)

Older Posts »
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Shining Star: The Anna May Wong Story
Good Enough
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Books by Paula Yoo