Good bye, thank you, and keep reading!

I started this blog two years ago because I love contemporary YA fiction and I was a little worried that it was going to fade off into the sunset, except for a few authors who  had already made names for themselves. Instead, I'm happy to report, it's going strong. Every month for the past year, the monthly release calendar I put together for this blog had anywhere from 15 to 30 new releases, and many of those were by debut authors. In addition, this past year, we've seen many contemporary titles selling extremely well. This makes my contemporary-loving heart SO happy!!

And so, because time is precious and authors are busy, busy people, it's this blog that is now going to fade off into the sunset.

Photo Credit: Lisa Schroeder

We'll keep the site up for the next year, in case people want to search the archives. And we'll still tweet from time to time, so if you're on twitter, do follow us: www.twitter.com/YAContemps 

Thank you to those of you who have followed along and thank you to those who have bought books and supported contemporary YA. The best thing we can do to keep contemporary YA going strong is to vote with our dollars. When editors see that YA contemporary novels are selling, they buy more!

I can't wait to see what the next year brings. In case you can't either, here's a sneak peek...

Happy reading!!

coming January 2013 from Simon Pulse

coming March 2013 from Bloomsbury

Spotlight: THOU SHALL NOT ROAD TRIP

I love discovering a new author. I bought Antony John's FIVE FLAVOR'S OF DUMB some time ago, but it's still waiting on my TBR pile. I moved that book up and added his next offering, THOU SHALL NOT ROAD TRIP, after listening to this podcast Antony did with Sara Zarr. If you are a writer or a reader (you're here, so you're at least one:)), I recommend checking out Sara's podcast series. Antony was wise and witty in his episode, and I'm sure his books are as well. Learn more about Antony at his website and read an excerpt from the book.

Also, I love this book description. Adding a book tour for a sixteen-year-old to the road trip trope? So brilliant.

When sixteen-year-old Luke's book, Hallelujah, becomes a national bestseller, his publishing house sends him on a cross-country book tour with his older brother, Matt, as chauffeur. But when irresponsible Matt offers to drive Luke's ex–soul mate, Fran, across the country too, things get a little crazy. On the trip, Luke must loosen up, discover what it truly means to have faith, and do what it takes to get the girl he loves.

Told with Antony John's signature wit and authenticity, and featuring smart, singular characters who jump off the page and into your heart, this story is a spiritual awakening and rockin' road trip in one

Reviews:

"A highly readable balance of humor, heart, self-discovery, and shenanigans."

(The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books )

from Brian Katcher, author of Almost Perfect

Spotlight Wednesday: Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt

What if the love of your life was literally right in front of you?

That thrown-together-by-the-alphabet thing happened from kindergarten through senior year of high school, so I bet most of you know exactly who was in front of and behind you -- both in line for the playground and walking to the stage on graduation day. Our social fates are alphabetically determined!

So when 15-year-old Payton Gritas gets instructions from her guidance counselor to pick a focus object -- something she can concentrate her emotions on -- she chooses the "object" directly in front of her in class: Sean Griswold's head.

From the flap copy:

The focus object is intended to help Payton deal with her father's newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis. And it's working. With the help of her boy-crazy best friend Jac, Payton starts stalking-er, focusing on-Sean Griswold . . . all of him! He's cute, he shares her Seinfeld obsession (nobody else gets it!) and he may have a secret or two of his own.

~*~

In Lindsey Leavitt's just-released novel, she manages to mix heart with hilarity, which is an utterly winning combination. I was cheering for Payton as she dealt with friend issues, her family crisis and her slow realization that Sean Griswold might be more than giant head blocking the board in class.

Check out the reviews:

“In a rather impressive feat, Leavitt manages to take a painful family crisis and make one girl’s reaction to it genuinely guffaw-worthy, even adding a bit of romance for kicks. With her self-deprecating wit and nearly OCD organizational skills, Payton is positively endearing. Leavitt capably handles the issues of chronic illness with sensitivity, making this an insightful, humorous, and ultimately uplifting family drama.” —BCCB

“Payton is likable and the writing brisk and amusing…Complex, significant issues are raised.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Leavitt tucks in lines like 'I don’t do spandex. The devil wears spandex. And I doubt the devil’s butt is as big as mine' while bringing her protagonist around to acceptance and repaired relationships... the formula is tried-and-true.” —Booklist

Do you need a single additional reason to check out this book? Okay, here's one: Lindsey Leavitt married her high school lab partner. Isn't that the greatest thing?

Sean Griswold's Head is out this week!

Too, too, TOO Real: Contemps Halloween contest

I don't even know how to start this post. Okay, yeah I do.

(I'm a mouse. Duh.)

Ahhh jeah. Halloween pics.

What better way to keep it real than to share our Halloween pics of the past? The cute ones, the funny ones, the ones that *seemed* like a good idea at the time, but now we're furthering the humiliation by posting it on the internet. Seriously, I spent the better part of the day posting than deleting mine. But, again, staying true to our creed. And, much like Melissa Walker's BEFORE YOU WERE HOT, we can see how far we've come. So very, very far.

And we're hosting a contest! Look through the pictures, figure out who is behind the disguise, and you can enter to win a prize pack. Deets down below.

For comments, I'd love to hear your (kind. Ish.) thoughts on these photos, or perhaps teen halloween stories of your own. And I challenge, challenge, any other YA author to join in our twisted game. Send me your halloween picture and I'll do another post of literary all-stars.

But for now, enjoy...

BATGIRL

If you're really nice, we might throw that sturdy rope into the prize pack.

CLEOPATRA

and...whoa. I got my husband to dress up one year for Halloween. He wore scrubs. So GO YOU for pulling off matching bras.

PUMPKIN

If you have a little kid who you're dressing as a pumpkin, look away. The cuteness in this picture can not be replicated, right down to the green tight stems.

ZOMBIE BARBIE

I didn't think you could make Barbie any scarier. I thank this author for proving me wrong.

COWGIRL

Or a Glamour Shot. Either way, this author clearly missed her calling as a model. How many girls on ANTM can twist her lapel whilst tipping her hat? HOW MANY?

BALLERINA

I love this pic because this author obviously faced the age-old Halloween question:

warmth, or costume on full display? Sensible gal.

SCARLETT O'HARA

Except instead of green and gold curtains, she used the red satin sheets my college roommate used to have on her bed.

If I said superMAN, this one would be a giveaway. So I'm saying superIT. Also, superma... superIT's Mickey sibling is freaking me out.

SASSY WAITRESS

I love her expression. It says,

"You want cawfee with that? Sugar? I can be your Sugar..."

ROBIN

Batgirl would not be complete without Robin and her yellow shower curtain! Who needs weapons when you can walk like an Egyptian right into your opponents face?

FEAR THE ROBIN.

KATNISS

This author gets bonus points for being literary. And she's Katniss. I'm not messing with her.

NINJA TURTLE

More specifically, Raphael. He's cool but rude (Gimme a Break). Then there's Michaelangelo. He's a party dude.

If you didn't get that, go watch some TMNT. Your life will be enriched.

This author couldn't remember what she was, so we'll go with PRINCESS.

I really want to know more about her date, though. I suspect he practiced that suave expression for months, and now, here he is. Immortalized forever.

CHIQUITA BANANA

That is one happy banana.

Below you'll find the list of participating authors (deadlines, broken scanners, and dignity kept some of us from participating). Match the author to the costume, then email your answers to contempscontests(at)gmail(dot)com. Sorry, contest open to US addresses only. Extra entry if you blog, tweet, or facebook this contest. Heck, you can even add this slideshow to your blog if you want to go all out. Just let us know how you spread the spook in your email.

AUTHORS:

April Henry, Michael Northrop, Sarah Ockler, Lisa Schroeder, Kirsten Hubbard, Denise Jaden, Lindsey Leavitt, Micol Ostow, Emily Wing Smith, Sarah Darer Littman, Hannah Harrington, Kody Keplinger, Mindy Scott, and Melissa Walker.

Prizes? What, seeing these pictures wasn't enough? Okay, fine. The prize pack...

1 contemporary mystery/thriller of your choice. YOUR CHOICE.

Two past Edgar winners/nominees

PAPER TOWNS (John Green)

SHADOWED SUMMER (Saundra Mitchell)

Assorted Contemp swag

and two mystery books. Mysterious because I don't know yet what they'll be. ARC's, new releases, you never know what you'll find in your package. Spooky, right?

Happy Halloween everyone! Be safe, and go easy on the snicker's bars. Don't let that "fun" label deceive you.