This book marks the culmination of 2.5 years of difficult work on a story that I genuinely feared would never see the light of day. And now that it's about to go out into the world, it feels like a good time to celebrate! Please join us for the Sophie Quire Launch Party at Classic Lines Bookstore in Squirrel Hill. Sunday, April 3, from 3-5pm. Everyone's invited--please spread the word!
For more information, check out the Facebook Event Page.
Sophie Quire and the Last Storyguard doesn't hit stores until next month, but the book has brought in some nice STARRED reviews ...
From Kirkus: "This novel should be in the hands of every human young enough at heart to be enchanted by the written word."
From School Library Journal: "So intense readers may need to take a breath as they turn the pages."
From Booklist: "This affecting, compelling story stands on its own, embodying and highlighting the power and impact of tales well told—and why they endure."
And from the Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books: "With Auxier’s exceptional character development, even minor characters display vulnerability, interesting quirks, and depth.”
Four starred reviews, people! Now doesn't that make you want to run out and preorder the book?!
A while back, my wife and I contributed content to a textbook called Children's Books and the Developing Reader. I also drew illustrations for the chapters. While switching computers, I came across the files and thought they might be worth posting ...
A few years back, I helped write a short film for the very talented Ryan Kravitz, who had traded in a successful career as an art director to take up animation. It's finished and out in the world now (apparently having racked up a ton of accolades), so I thought I'd post the link here.
The Collector's Gift from Ryan Kravetz on Vimeo.
Only two more months until Sophie Quire is out in the world! Already, advanced readers copies (ARCs) are being given out at various conferences. If you're keen to get one for yourself--check out our Goodreads Giveaway.
In the meantime, here's the full wraparound art for the book, drawn by the brilliant Gilbert Ford! Click the image for a bigger view...
This week I finished the last of the illustrations for Sophie Quire -- 45 drawings in all! Here are a few of my favorites; light spoilers ahead ...
The Bookmender of Bustleburgh
Deeds of Derring-Don't
The Book of Who
The Mandrake
Trapped in the Menagerie
Into the Hinterlands
The Lighthouse at the End of the World
Everything But the Kitchen Sink
Just as note as we approach this holiday season: If you want a signed/personalized copy of one of my books, please call Classic Lines Bookshop. They are right down the road and keep my books in stock -- which makes it pretty easy for me to swing by and sign things. Just give them a ring and let them know you want a signed book shipped to your address. (If you want it personalized, make sure to let them what name you want in the book!)
Hello pilgrims! Just posting a note that I'll be at the American Association of School Librarians conference this weekend (Nov 6-7) with freshly printed arcs of Sophie Quire & the Last Storyguard! I'll be signing free books on Saturday at 11:30 (at the Authorpalooza event) and 5:30 (during the Meet & Greet). Supplies are limited, so if you want a book -- come early!
If you can't make the event, I'll also be at NCTE doing a "Nerdy Book Club" panel on Saturday Nov 21 and an ALAN "Whodunnit" panel on Monday, Nov 23!
I am delighted to announce that after more than 4,000 hours of writing, Sophie Quire & the Last Storyguard is finished!
This book has been without question the most difficult challenge of my career. Two years is a lot of time for most writers, but for me it was a sprint that very nearly broke me. More than a few times, I considered abandoning the book altogether. But every time I got to that point, I thought of Sophie -- mending books in a city that no longer read stories -- and I knew I had to finish.
Sophie Quire is technically a companion to my first novel, Peter Nimble & his Fantastic Eyes -- but it is also a standalone story with a different hero set in a different world. The combined books are in many ways an examination of what it means to live in a world that has lost its sense of enchantment. Peter Nimble and Sir Tode are a major part of the story ... but it is not their story. The tone is darker and the stakes are much higher. Also, it has way more monsters! The book will come out Spring 2016.
I cannot wait to share this story with the world.
Hello friends! The announcements came through the trades today--DISNEY JUST OPTIONED NIGHT GARDENER! From Variety:
Disney has bought the rights to Jonathan Auxier’s “The Night Gardener.”
It will be developed by Sean Bailey’s Disney live-action group with Auxier adapting the script. Jim Whitaker will produce.
The book is Auxier’s follow-up to his widely popular “Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes,” with this story following two orphan siblings who travel to work as servants at the creepy, crumbling Windsor estate, but neither the house nor its inhabitants are quite what they seem. Soon the children are confronted by a mysterious specter and an ancient curse that threatens their very lives.
Disney has had quite the success lately of remaking their animated classics such as “Cinderella,” which just passed the $500 million mark at the worldwide box office, and “Maleficent,” but this acquisition shows they are still interested in developing original IPs.
Obviously this is still very far from being an actual movie, but thrilling nonetheless!
Hello friends! It's been a while since my last update, and that's because I've been busily finishing my next book! It's a companion to my first novel, Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes. Here's the amazing cover, drawn by Gilbert Ford:
The book comes out Spring 2016. It is without question the most monster-filled story I have ever written. Here's the summary from the catalog:
Whenever I start a new book, I try to put together a soundtrack that makes me feel the way I want the story to make me feel. It's a valuable tool, because at some point I become sick of my own book, and the songs help remind me what I'm aiming for. Screenwriter John August puts it well: "A good playlist helps you get started. A great playlist helps you finish." I thought I'd share some of the songs that helped me finish The Night Gardener. According to iTunes, I listened to these and a few other tracks more than 300 times ...
As many of you know, last week was "Children's Book Week." Authors were asked to submit 1 min videos talking about books they love. I knew that wasn't enough time, so I instead made my video into a sort of flashcard challenge:
I got a number of emails from people wanting to know all the book titles, so here's the master list:
The Little Prince - Alice in Wonderland - The Golden Compass - A Little Princess - Darth Paper - Pinocchio - Rutabaga Stories - Mary Poppins - Bud, not Buddy - The Chocolate War - The White Mountains - The Witch of Blackbird Pond - The One and Only Ivan - Matilda - The High king - Holes - The Higher Power of Lucky - The Last of the Really Great Wangdoodles - Five Children and It - The Mysterious Journey of Edward Tulane - Book of the Dun Cow - Howl's Moving Castle - Peter and Wendy - The Twenty-One Balloons - Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle - A Wrinkle in Time - Little Women - The Princess Academy - The Graveyard Book - Charlotte's Web - Dominic - Diary of a Wimpy Kid - The Phantom Tollbooth - My Father's Dragon - The Neddiad - Anne of Green Gables - Redwall - The Man in the Ceiling - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz - Winnie the Pooh - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
After nine long years, The Night Gardener is finally out in the world. I am overjoyed with the support that this book has already found among both readers and reviewers.
If you are so inclined, here are some super easy things to do that will go a long way toward spreading the word:
Reviews are rolling in for The Night Gardener, and things are looking good! Permit me to cheer for Molly and Kip:
First the book was a Junior Library Guild selection!
Then it was named a Editor's Pick Best Book by Amazon!
Then it was named a Top-Ten Pick for the American Booksellers Association's Indie Next list!
And that's not all. Here are just a few reviews for the book so far:
"Lots of creepiness, memorable characters, a worthy message ... make this cautionary tale one readers will not soon forget." - Kirkus, STARRED REVIEW
"Auxier gives readers a spooky story with depth and dimension." - School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
"The eerie setting, the pacing of the plot and the cast of characters ... makes this an ideal family read-aloud and a vacation pleasure." - Shelf Awareness, STARRED REVIEW
"an Excellent ghost story for middle grade readers." - VOYA, "perfect ten" review
"Historical fiction and horror intertwine in this absolutely gripping story ... The Night Gardener is the stuff of nightmares." - Shelf Employed
"Auxier delivers the goods with his precise descriptions of the gothic setting and teasing hints of mystery and suspense" - Horn Book Review
"Auxier achieves an ideal mix of adventure and horror, offering all of it in elegant, atmospheric language that forces the reader to slow down a bit and revel in both the high-quality plot and the storytelling itself." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
And finally, a review from Betsy Bird's Fuse #8 blog with perhaps my favorite line ever:
"It is almost as if Mr. Auxier took his whimsy, pulled out a long sharp stick, and stabbed it repeatedly in the heart and left it to die in the snow so as to give us a sublimely horrific little novel."
Woo-hoo! Order your copy today! Or better yet, pick it up from your local bookstore!
Click image for details:
I'm thrilled to announce that I'll be having a Night Gardener launch party on Saturday, May 31 from 2-4pm. The event will be hosted by the historic CC Mellor Library in Regent Square. There will be snacks and activities for children of all ages--so bring the whole family! The folk from Mystery Lovers Bookshop will be on hand to sell copies of both Peter Nimble and The Night Gardener for signing. Please help spread the word by clicking this link--I'd love to see as many people there as possible!
The Internet is full of great advice about how to sell a book, but what about after the sale? When my first book came out, I found it was surprisingly hard to find answers to some basic questions. Like most authors, I learned most of the answers through trial and error. And so in anticipation of the launch of my new novel, The Night Gardener, I’ve decided to write down everything I learned so I don’t make the same mistakes twice!
AFTER THE BOOK DEAL is a month-long blog series detailing the twenty things I wish someone had told me before entering the exciting world of children’s publishing. Each weekday from now until MAY 20, I will be posting an article on a different blog. Many of these sites will also be doing Night Gardener giveaways, so please follow along and spread the word!
THE SCHEDULE:
WEEK ONE: Before Your Book Comes Out 4/21 - Finding Your Tribe: entering the publishing community 4/22 - Do I Really Need a Headshot?: crafting your public persona 4/23 - I Hate Networking: surviving social media 4/24 - A Night at the Movies: the ins and outs of book trailers 4/25 - Giveaways! ... are they worth it?
WEEK TWO: Your Book Launch 4/28 - Can I have Your Autograph?: 5 things to do before your first signing 4/29 - Cinderella at the Ball: planning a successful book launch 5/1 - Being Heard in the Crowd: conferences and festivals 5/2 - The Loneliest Writer in the World: surviving no-show events
WEEK THREE: The Business of Being an Author 5/5 - Handling Reviews ... the Good and the Bad! 5/6 - Back to the Grindstone: writing your next book 5/7 - The Root of All Evil: some thoughts on money 5/8 - The Green-Eyed Monster: some thoughts on professional jealousy
WEEK FOUR: Ongoing Promotion 5/12 - Death by 1000 Cuts: Keeping ahead of busywork 5/13 - Can You Hear Me Now? Tips for Skype visits 5/14 - School Days: crafting an effective school program 5/15 - This Part is Awkward: navigating appearance fees 5/16 - The Time Has Come: last words
My wife and I recently had a new baby, which means I have momentarily become terrible at organizing my schedule. Case in point, a few weeks ago, I had a Skype visit planned with the great Eric Carlson (@buffaloteacher), a Minnesota teacher who has read Peter Nimble to his class for the last three years. I love Skyping, especially for teachers as awesome as Mr. C! Here's a picture I drew of him last year as a zombie:
So this year we had our annual Skype visit lined up, and Mr. C had his class all excited. Witness some awesome pictures they drew in preparation:
But on the day we were set to Skype ... I FORGOT ABOUT IT ENTIRELY![1. see previous point about the newborn]
Mr Carlson's class was very forgiving, but I felt like I had to make it up to them.
So when we had our visit the following week, I added a little "punishment" for myself. I spread out a whole bunch of food from my fridge along with a bowl and spoon [2. Ingredients: Crispix, milk, maple syrup, soy sauce, catsup, mustard, ranch dressing, chocolate chips, croutons, banana peppers (and juice!), chocolate frosting, parmesan cheese.]. After each kid asked a question, I let them instruct me to put one ingredient into the bowl and promised to eat it at the end. Here's what it looked like:
I had promised to eat the entire bowl, but when push-came-to-shove, I could barely get down a single (heaping) spoonful ... I may have even thrown up in my mouth a little bit while saying goodbye.
All in all, I'd say it was an AWESOME Skype visit!
I often get emails from people looking to break into children's publishing. I don't have all the answers, but I do have some general advice I find myself giving again and again. Below are three steps, in order of importance, that I think writers should focus on:
1) Write a Really Good Book
First time writers don't sell books based on partial drafts or outlines. They sell finished manuscripts. And there are a lot of finished manuscripts in the world. That means the first step is completing a book and revising it until it is airtight. Don't expect an agent or editor to look at a sloppy manuscript and see the potential--that same agent or manager has hundreds (not an exaggeration) of other manuscripts to consider, and they'll take the one that demonstrates the greatest professionalism and craft. Taking an example from my first book, Peter Nimble, I did about 15 complete re-writes before showing it to an agent ... and then did another 3 drafts before the book went to an editor. I have yet to talk to a professional author who didn't go through the same level of revision before finding a publisher.
2) Join SCBWI
The "Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators" (SCBWI) is a national organization with local chapters all over the country. This group is a fantastic place for both professional and aspiring writers and illustrators to gather and discuss craft and business of children's publishing. The annual conferences are often attended by agents and editors who are looking for new books. I have a number of author friends whose careers were launched when they met an editor at an SCBWI event who requested to see their really good manuscripts (see above point).
3) Query Agents
If a lot of industries, the "it's who you know" rule applies. Not so in publishing! Book agents read and consider manuscript submissions from unknown writers all the time--that's their job. Nearly every writer I've ever met was pulled out of the "slush pile" from an agent who discovered them. Your job is to query agents who will best understand your work and be in a position to sell it. This means doing a bit of homework, by reading the Writer's Market and finding agents who are looking for material like your book. The internet is awash with resources about how to approach agents. A good place to start might be Kidlit.com, a website run by children's book agent Mary Kole. She answers questions about the dos and don'ts of querying better than anyone!
The above steps aren't a guarantee of any success, but they are a good place to start! Also, I might as well link to this brief but eloquent video of Neil Gaiman talking about step one (which is really the only step that matters):
Too often Mary and I read library books or listen to audiobooks only to forget that we ever read them--without that spine on our bookshelves, it's easy to forget. In 2013, Mary and I decided to start keeping a master list of every book we read ... and we decided to make it GIGANTIC. We did this by painting over an old piece of thirftstore art with white primer:
We decided to leave a tree and girl on horseback just for fun:
Then we started writing down the titles of books that we read with a black Sharpie. I was House Scrivener because Mary has the handwriting of a serial killer:
Our rules were pretty simple. Only write each title once (per year). That means if we both read a book or if we re-read something, it wouldn't clutter our list:
One year into the experiment, it's become a nice ritual. You'd be surprised how the prospect of adding to the list motivates you to finish a book! Here's the list hanging above our piano in the library:
I like the idea that in 30 years, we will have an entire room filled with pictures like this!
The Website of Jonathan Auxier
Hi, I'm Jonathan!
I write strange stories for strange kids. This is my website, where I talk about children's books old & new.
Welcome to the Fabled Stables, a magical building filled with one-of-a-kind creatures. Creatures including the Gargantula, the Yawning Abyss, the Hippopotamouse . . . and Auggie. Auggie is the only human boy at the Stables, and he takes care of all the other animals. The Fabled Stables have a mind of their own, and every so often, the building SHAKES and SHUDDERS, TWITCHES and SPUTTERS—it’s making room for a new arrival! It’s Auggie’s job to venture out and rescue a new creature from mortal danger. But will he be able to complete his mission before it’s too late? With some help from Fen (a literal stick-in-the-mud) and his animal companions, Auggie saves the day and makes a new friend in the process.
A thrilling, silly new series packed full of stunning full color illustrations by Olga Demidova. The Fabled Stables received STARRED reviews from Kirkus and Publisher’s Weekly and was named by Amazon as a Best Book of 2020. Available at your awesome local indie!
It's been five years since the Sweep disappeared. Orphaned and alone, Nan Sparrow had no other choice but to work for a ruthless chimney sweep named Wilkie Crudd. She spends her days sweeping out chimneys. The job is dangerous and thankless, but with her wits and will, Nan has managed to beat the deadly odds time and time again. When Nan gets stuck in a chimney fire, she fears the end has come. Instead, she wakes to find herself unharmed in an abandoned attic. And she is not alone. Huddled in the corner is a mysterious creature—a golem—made from soot and ash.
Sweep is the story of a girl and her monster. Together, these two outcasts carve out a new life—saving each other in the process. Sweep received six starred reviews and was the winner of the Governor General’s Award and the Sydney Taylor Book Award.
A chilling ghost story about two abandoned Irish siblings who travel to work as servants at a creepy, crumbling English manor house. But the house and its family are not quite what they seem. Soon the children are confronted by a mysterious spectre and an ancient curse that threatens their very lives. More than just a spooky tale, it’s also a moral fable about human greed and the power of storytelling.
The Night Gardener is a New York Times bestseller, a Junior Library Guild Selection, Amazon “Best Book” for May 2014, and an ABA “Indie Next” pick. It received five starred reviews and won the ILA Book Award! You can read more reviews here.
The adventure of a small, blind orphan ... who also happens to be the greatest thief who ever lived!
Peter Nimble was an ABA New Voices pick, an Indie Next List Selection, and Bookpage magazine Best Book of the year! It won the Paterson Poetry Prize, The Diamond Willow Award, and an MYRCA Honor. It was shortlisted for: the Monica Hughes Award, the Sequoyah Award, Massachusetts Children’s Book Award, The Blue Hen Literary Award, and the Canadian Children’s Book Award.
Visit PeterNimble.com for games and more info. Read the first chapter for free! Or read some reviews here. Or watch the book trailer!
The long-awaited followup to Peter Nimble! It’s been two years since Peter Nimble and Sir Tode rescued the kingdom of HazelPort. In that time, they have traveled far and wide in search of adventure. Now they have been summoned by Professor Cake for a new mission: To find a twelve-year-old bookmender named Sophie Quire. Sophie knows little beyond the four walls of her father’s bookshop, where she repairs old books and dreams of escaping the confines of her dull life. But when a strange boy and his talking cat/horse companion show up with a rare and mysterious book, she finds herself pulled into an adventure beyond anything she has ever read.
You can learn more and read some starred reviews here … or check out the first few chapters for free!
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