Beth Fehlbaum

I'm celebrating (!!!) because my agent, Gina Panettieri, is beginning the process of shopping (looking for a buyer for) THE PATIENCE TRILOGY: Courage (1), Hope (2), and Truth (3).

I am seeking YOUR HELP in spreading the word that THE PATIENCE TRILOGY IS AVAILABLE FOR ACQUISITION--and I'm not above bribery to secure your participation.  So, I'm holding a contest:   "Peace, Love, & Patience: A Valentine's Day contest for YOU!"

Here's the deal: I placed an ad on Publisher's Marketplace about THE PATIENCE TRILOGY BEING AVAILABLE FOR ACQUISITION (!).

The ad ran Weds. 2/8 & Thurs. 2/9. I've had great traffic so far and I want to keep the momentum going, because I want every single YA fiction editor to be aware that THE PATIENCE TRILOGY IS AVAILABLE FOR ACQUISITION! (...Are you seeing a pattern here? 'Cause I sure am!)

 I'm giving away the grand prize on--you guessed it-- VALENTINE'S DAY!

The contest runs from Wednesday, February 8 through Tuesday, February 14 at 11:59 p.m. Contest open to U.S. residents only. 

The prize package includes: a $25 Amazon gift card; a $15 i-Tunes gift card; a signed copy of COURAGE IN PATIENCE (2008 Edition, Book 1);  a signed copy of HOPE IN PATIENCE (2010 Edition, Book 2); and a big ole heart-shaped box of chocolates (OF COURSE). (See pic below.)

You may enter multiple times, and you may tweet and post multiple times a day for multiple entries. Each action below gets your name entered once:

1. Follow me, @BethFehlbaum, on Twitter.

2. Simply tweet the following: YA Editors: check this out! http://tinyurl.com/7uhpucj #thepatiencetrilogy  

(Be sure to include the hashtag! Entries without the hashtag will NOT be counted!)

3. Post the link ( http://tinyurl.com/7uhpucj ) to my Publisher's Marketplace page on your Facebook page. 

4. Post the link ( http://tinyurl.com/7uhpucj ) to my Publisher's Marketplace page on your website, along with a note about the contest. 

5. Sign up as a member on my website (See the comment box? Click  "Sign In". It will take you to a page where you can sign up if you're not a member yet. Choose "Register", then I'll approve your membership). 

Comment below & give me an idea of what you're doing so I can take a look! Thank you! Happy Valentine's Day, and good luck! 

Woo-hoo! Thanks to the awesome Selene Castrovilla, I am going to be at the YALSA Conference in St. Louis in November with Selene, Shannon Delaney, Ellen Hopkins, Jo Knowles, and Deborah Heiligman!

The topic of our panel is: "A Fickle Future: YA Authors Discuss Trend-spotting and Timeless Keys to Literary Success when Facing the Disconnect of the Digital Age": With so much at their fingertips, how can we grab and connect with teen readers? What’s more important: content or flair – or should we blend both? Can the next big thing be predicted – or carefully created? Authors Selene Castrovilla, Shannon Delaney, Ellen Hopkins, Jo Knowles, Deborah Heiligman, and Beth Fehlbaum discuss past teen literature trends, their personal experiences, and debate what the future holds. What does the future hold for the story and the personal connection we all strive to make with readers in a digital age, and how can we make reading more appealing and accessible to all young adult readers?"

THANK YOU, SELENE!!!!

I've posted the first 3 chapters of COURAGE IN PATIENCE, Book 1 in The Patience Trilogy, on Authonomy.com, which belongs to Harper Collins Publishers. http://www.authonomy.com/books/41265/courage-in-patience-bk-1-in-the-patience-trilogy-/

I've uploaded THE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS of TRUTH IN PATIENCE to a site called AUTHONOMY, which belongs to HARPER-COLLINS.

PLEASE GO CHECK OUT THE CHAPTERS. If you like what you see, please REGISTER with the site so you can rate/recommend TRUTH IN PATIENCE. Ratings are what get the books advanced to the "Editor's Desk". [I have an agent that can do this too but I thought this would be fun.]

Here's the link to the 3 chapter excerpt of TRUTH IN  PATIENCE:

http://www.authonomy.com/books/41158/truth-in-patience-/read-book/?chapterid=388900#chapter

COMMENTS on the 1st 3 chapters of TRUTH IN PATIENCE on Authonomy.com:

• "This was a very intense and emotional book to read. You handled a difficult theme with finesse."...
• "We have both stories related to abuse and violence and secrecy. So many stories here are just therapy for the writers: not literature, if you know what i mean; THIS IS. What a voice you have. There is a rhythm, a melody singing through your chapter, something that makes it unique. Highly rated and watchlisted. A pleasure to read."...
• "I thought I would take a quick look at your book, "Truth in Patience".Instead, I found myself pulled in, and, before I realised, I read every word of your first chapter. Now I am cross because I have to stop for lack of time. I am definitely coming back for more. Will probably read the rest tomorrow. This is a compelling read, gripping, harrowing yet told with a straight, clear voice. A brave, interesting and insightful tale that should be on everyone's list. And not a single typo or grammar check, either. I'm seriously impressed! "

"We focus on the negatives, losing ourselves in the ‘problem.’ We point to our unhappy circumstances to rationalize our negative feelings. This is the easy way out. It takes, after all, very little effort to feel victimized."---- Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

From Higher Awareness: Nothing and no one can make us a victim. We do it to ourselves when we allow external circumstances to hold power over us. Although we have no control over what happens to us, we ALWAYS have a choice in how we respond. We hold our power when we accept complete responsibility for our thoughts, feelings and actions.

I am THRILLED to announce that my 4th book has come together enough that I can tell you its name: "Icing". It's about a 17 year old girl with Binge Eating Disorder whose life is changed forever when she bullies a gay classmate nearly to death. It is NOT a Patience book.

*NOTE: the "thrilled" part is NOT that it's NOT a Patience book (I'm an English teacher; am I allowed to use a double negative?)-- the exciting part is that the plot has come together the way it has.

I'm offering signed bookplates to readers of my books with U.S. addresses ONLY. 

I'm offering the bookplates because I want to thank my readers for their support of the PATIENCE TRILOGY.

PLEASE do not post this offer to "Free Stuff" websites without my permission.

Thanks for your support, and here's to a new home for The Patience Books in 2012!