Hey there, writers! Summer may be winding down as we enter mid-August, but your Sunday Morning YA News is going strong!

Enjoy this week’s links:

Writing for Publication—Queries and Submissions:

• Query Critique 7/11/17: Make sure your query is fully baked via Nathan Bransford: A YA contemporary query and Nathan’s critique.
• QUITE THE QUERY: K. Kazul Wolf and SUMMER THUNDER via Amy Trueblood: Example of a successful upper YA fantasy query.

Writing for Publication—Book Marketing and Social Media:

• Social Media for Children’s and Adult Books: Who Posts Where? via Publishing Trends: Where authors are posting, and finding the right social media platform.
• What Belongs on an Author Website Homepage? 4 Key Elements via Jane Friedman: Tips on what to include on your author website.
• 10 Reasons to Start an Author Blog: And Why It’s Easier than You Think via Anne R. Allen: Establishing your platform with an author blog.

Author Interviews:

• Author Of The Week: Chat with Lana Popovic (Wicked Like a Wildfire), Plus Giveaway! via YA Books Central: Interview with Lana Popovic, author of Wicked Like a Wildfire.
• One of Us Is Lying Author Karen McManus on the Song (and Weird Commute) That Inspired the Book via The B&N Teen Blog: Karen McManus discusses the flash of dark inspiration that turned into her first novel.
• Author Chat with Chandler Baker (This is Not the End), Plus Giveaway! via YA Books Central: Interview with Chandler Baker, author of This is Not the End.

Adventures in YA Publishing Author Interviews:

• Moïra Fowley-Doyle, author of SPELLBOOK OF THE LOST AND FOUND, on the first draft being in rags and tatters
• Colleen Houck, author of REUNITED, on letting go of characters you love
• Betsy Aldredge and Carrie DuBois-Shaw, authors of SASQUATCH, LOVE, AND OTHER IMAGINARY THINGS, on online writing contests
• Mary Taranta, author of SHIMMER AND BURN, on cringing over the first chapter
• Chandler Baker, author of THIS IS NOT THE END, on writing while on maternity leave

Literary Agent News and Interviews:

• Agent Jim McCarthy – Dystel & Goderich Literary Management via Kathy Temean: Spotlight on Jim McCarthy.
• August Featured Agent – Larrisa Helena – Pippin Properties – Part 1 Interview via Kathy Temean: The first installment in a series of interviews with Larrisa Helena.

Writing Craft:

• Why Point of View is So Important for Novel Writers via Writer’s Digest: A description of the three most common POV’s, plus the advantages and disadvantages of each.
• Improving Your Writing Without Raising Your Word Count via Fiction University: How to improve weak writing while keeping your word count in check.
• Real Life Diagnostics: Is This YA Fantasy Scene too Confusing? via Fiction University: A look at a YA fantasy work in progress and a diagnosis of its strong and weak points.
• Writing Tips: 5 Mistakes To Avoid When Injuring Your Fictional Characters via The Creative Penn: How much can we injure our characters and still write in the realm of reality?

Writing Inspiration:

• Some thoughts about pitchwars via ML Keller: Your value as a writer isn’t determined by winning contests.

YA Book to Screen Adaptation News:

• “13 Reasons Why” Is Adding A Bunch Of New Characters For Season 2 via BuzzFeed Books: News on Season 2 of 13 Reasons Why.
• Universal optioned rights to a Cruel Prince movie via YA Interrobang: The first book in Holly Black’s new YA fantasy series hasn’t released yet, but the film rights have been optioned.
• Jenny Han Shares Her Set Diary From To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before via EW.com: Go behind the scenes of the best-selling novel’s big-screen adaptation.
• Starz Is Developing the Divergent Television Series Ascendant via Vulture: Starz is reportedly picking up where the Divergent films left off.
• Regina Hall Joins YA Adaptation ‘The Hate U Give’ (Exclusive) via Hollywood Reporter: Starr’s mother has been cast.

Publishing News & Trends:

• The Toxic Drama on YA Twitter via Vulture: One journalist’s look at YA Twitter and its effects on authors.
• Now in hi res, the cover of my new book Turtles All The Way… via John Green: Cover reveal for John Green’s upcoming YA novel, Turtles All the Way Down.

New YA E-Book Deals:

• Epic Reads Book Deals
• Amazon Teen & Young Adult Book Deals
• Fierce Reads Book Deals
• Book Riot Deals of the Day

New YA Book Giveaways:

• Adventures in YA Publishing Giveaways
• Epic Reads Giveaways
• Goodreads Giveaways
• RivetedLit Giveaways
• YA Books Central Giveaways

YA Book Awards and Congratulations:

• THE GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO VICE AND VIRTUE won a NEIBA Award. via YA Interrobang: Congratulations to author Mackenzi Lee!

YA New Book Deals and Releases:

• New Releases this week 08/07-08/13 plus 2 Giveaways via Adventures in YA Publishing: Our weekly highlighted new releases and giveaways!
• What’s New In YA ~ August 8th, 2017 via YA Books Central: More books released this week.
• What new YA books release this week? (August 8) via YA Interrobang: Books released this week in the U.S. and abroad.

Just for Fun:

• The Best Book Covers from Now Until 2018 via Book Riot: Judge a book by its cover by scrolling through these upcoming releases.