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Cross posted from the League of Extraordinary Writers.

Since it’s nearly Halloween, let’s talk paranormal fiction.  I am a fan, but a picky one. I like strong female characters.  Not simpering victims or mooning lovers.  So, I was thrilled to discover Kelley Armstrong’s books a few summers ago.

The Women of the Otherworld series and her YA series—The Darkest Powers—share the same universe. All the supernatural races—werewolves, vampires, witches, shamans, necromancers, etc.—exist secretly alongside our world.  The sorcerers have even organized themselves into family-run Cabals, something akin to a corporate mafia.

In the Otherworld series, each novel is told from the point of view of a strong female supernatural (No vampires, though.) as she kicks butt and/or sleuths her way through some mystery or intrigue.   Elena, the werewolf, is by far my favorite narrator. The others are no slouches, though. Paige, the witch. Jamie, the necromancer. Hope, the half-demon. The latest books of the Otherworld series are from Savannah, a witch, who has grown to young womanhood since the third book.  The 12th Otherworld novel comes out next year.

The first three books of Armstrong’s YA series are told from 15- year-old Chloe’s perspective. Because of their budding powers, she and several other teen supers find themselves in a half-way house for kids with psychiatric problems. I won’t spoil the plot if you haven’t read any of the books. The fourth—the Gathering—comes out next Spring.

What I love about Armstrong is that she doesn’t sacrifice strong men for the sake of strong female characters.  Although there may be a few chauvinistic holdouts, her male and female supers are on equal footing.  Armstrong has written several short stories about the Otherworld men, which were anthologized in Men of Otherworld.

Welcome to Week 11 of the 16 Weeks to XVI tour! This week I’m hosting Julia Karr as she counts down the weeks to the launch of her wonderful book, XIV, on January 6, 2011.   Julia is a fellow Leaguer, Elevensie, and 2K11-er.  In the future world of XVI, girls are required to register at 16 as available for sex. It’s a measure, which on the surface is supposed to protect girls, but in reality does just the opposite.  Today Julia and I are going to talk about a particular part of her book, a little something call XVI Ways.  And at the end, Julia will tell you how to enter to win this week’s prize.

Welcome, Julia!  In XVI, the girls as young as 11 or 12 start watching a zine called XVI Ways. Can you tell us a little about the zine?

Like most zines, XVI Ways is promoting a certain kind of lifestyle to girls. Because of the society in XVI, XVI Ways is full of tips on how girls can attract guys: what to wear, how to act, hair styles, how to flirt, be suggestive, etc. It even comes with how-to vids – to demonstrate just how to flip your hair or bat your eyelashes to turn heads. In other words, how to become a sex-teen, like society expects them to be.

What was your inspiration for the zine?

The zine is a lot like what Seventeen magazine was when I was a teen. Every girl I knew wanted to dress like the models in Seventeen. A little aside – I loved Seventeen magazine! But, when I moved from Seymour to Chicago, who I was and what I wanted to be like changed a whole lot. My skirts went from knee-length to being threatened daily with being sent home from school for wearing mini’s that were too short. I eventually developed my own tastes and stuck to them, even though they were a lot more avant gardé than most of my friends. (I’ve always been kind of a quiet rebel!)

How do you think today’s so-called teen (and women’s) magazines compare to XVI Ways?

I’d love to say that mainstream magazines promote individualism in females, but, for the most part, I don’t see that. At a time when the internet has opened up the world for so many people, I am amazed that “be like everyone else” still seems to be the norm. There are, of course, exceptions to this – however, one needs to remember that media is always trying to sell something. Tweens and teens don’t always recognize that (okay, hardly ever) and are at such an impressionable age – and an age where fitting in is mostly preferable to sticking out – that media takes advantage of that.

Do you have any tips for building self esteem in teenage girls?

Definitely. Eleven of them, as a matter of fact!

First, let me add – I consider myself very lucky that my grandmother (who raised me) and my mother (whom I adored) were adamant that my sister and I should never become “sheep.” (I think the current slang of ‘sheeple’ is great, btw!) I was always encouraged to be an individual and – even though it didn’t always make me the most popular girl – I tried (for the most part) to be true to my beliefs. Which is pretty damned hard when you’re a teen trying to get along in school & the world. (More on this at another time!)

Now, on to the eleven tips! (Note: I am not a psychologist*, these are just some things that make sense to me.)

1. Talk nice to yourself. (In other words, no “I’m so stupid, clumsy, dull, ugly, etc. These are not ways to be nice to yourself! And, chances are really good you would say those things to someone else, so do not say them to yourself!)
2. Talk nice to others. (People who badmouth other people are usually hiding some of the lowest self-esteem.) It never, ever, hurts to be kind. As J.M. Barrie, the author of Peter Pan , said, “Always be a little kinder than necessary.” When you are kind to others, you feel good about yourself.
3. Accept yourself – body, face, hair – all of you. If there are things you don’t like, that you can change – like hairstyle, or strengthening your body, or eating healthier – then do it. Otherwise, don’t stress that there are parts of you you wish were different. Everyone – and I do mean EVERYONE – has things about their appearance that they don’t like. Heck – look at the glam movie stars who change even their own accepted beauty by tweaking a nose, tucking a chin or plumping lips to go along with the latest fashion. Uh… no. Do not go there. Fashion always changes – you can never catch it and hold on to it!
4. Remember that you are only human – as are all the rest of us! There is no “perfect.” There is only individual. People who know me well know that I loved Mr. Rogers. Loved. Him. And, I loved hearing him say, “You make each day a special day, by just your being you.” It’s the truth!
5. Every day when you wake up, give thanks for being alive and having a fresh new day in which to live.
6. Every night, before you go to sleep. Write down three things you were grateful for during the day. It can be as small as the sun feeling good on your face, or as big as acing a major test. But, notice that there are good things happening to you every day.
7. Do something nice for someone. Shovel snow or mow grass for an older neighbor. Befriend the new kid in school. Volunteer to do homework help for younger kids at your library or school. You have special talents, they may seem mundane sometimes, but to the person you are helping, they see a knight in shining armor – not just a teen.
8. Smile! You never know when someone on the other end of that smile needed it! Besides, there is nothing in entire world more attractive than a smiling face. Honest.
9. Learn something new. Take a class at the local art center, do research on something completely foreign to you, take up knitting or wood-working or pottery. Learn something that is not in your school curriculum. Start exploring what fascinates you!
10. Have fun with friends and family who love you. It’s always uplifting to be with people who like you for who you are. (remember Mr. Rogers!)
11. Exercise! Bodies were made to move and be used. And, exercising your body – either by dancing, running, sports, aerobics, crunches (okay, maybe not crunches! *grin*), walking, swimming – whatever your choice – helps you to feel accomplished and keeps your body feeling good – which, in turn, helps you feel good.

There are lots of ways to build positive self-esteem and these are just a few.

Angie,  thanks so much for having me on your blog on the way to the release of XVI! It’s been so much fun! Reminder on the contest – leave a comment below to be eligible to win this week’s prize — a copy of Teen Esteem: A Self-Direction Manual for Young Adults.   OR, YOU CAN WIN AN ARC OF XVI SIGNED BY JULIA! This week’s contest is open until next Thursday at midnight! And, even if you don’t win this week’s contest, you’ll be eligible for the GRAND PRIZE drawing on Week 1!

*If you’re having trouble with self-esteem and feel depressed, talk with your parents, a counselor, a trusted adult or a therapist. If you don’t have anyone to talk to, you can call YAH! Youth America Hotline at 1-877-968-8454 or visit them online at http://www.youthline.us/factsheets/index.htm. It’s okay to need help and you don’t have to suffer alone. There are lots of caring people in the world. *hugs*

Thanks, Julia!

This is crossposted from the League of Extraordinary Writers

This month’s issue of ODYSSEY, a science and science fiction magazine for tweens and teens, has a decidedly dystopian flavor. The theme is “Am I a Borg, Yet?” The short story for the issue is about “cyborgs with dangerous agendas.” (How can you not love that?)

Elizabeth Lindstrom, the editor of ODYSSEY, has graciously allowed me to pick her brains about what she looks for in a story and what her readers like. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Beth on many occasions. In fact, my novel, MEMENTO NORA, grew out of a short story of the same name published in ODYSSEY several years ago.


So, first a little about Beth.

Elizabeth Lindstrom is a senior editor at Cobblestone Publishing, where she edits the award-winning children’s science magazine ODYSSEY. After graduating from University of New Hampshire with a master’s degree in English, she worked as a newspaper reporter and features writer. She is the recipient of the New England Press Association award for investigative reporting, the New Hampshire Press Association award for social services writing, and numerous Educational Press Association and Parents’ Choice awards. Before coming to Cobblestone, she taught non-fiction writing at Saint Anselm College.

Welcome, Beth. Tell us a little about ODYSSEY. Who are your readers?

ODYSSEY is a science and technology magazine aimed at kids 10 to 16 years old. It has an edgy tone and an artsy look. In reality, some precocious 8-year-olds read it, and I know a lot of adults who enjoy it too. But when planning the issue, I target a bright 12-year-old whose parents want him/her to be exposed to the real world. The magazine includes articles, activities, and interviews for science junkies, but it also includes soft science pieces, beautiful art, and fiction to lure those kids who might not otherwise pick up a science magazine. Our monthly fiction feature is only several years old, but it is very popular with readers.

What’s your role?

I pretty much determine what you’re going to see and read in the pages of ODYSSEY each month and what will be on its cover. I select the theme each month, assign and edit the articles, do the photo research, and select the illustrators. I work with Jim Fletcher, a very talented designer.

What do you look for in a story?

I’ll list my criteria:

• Believable characters who are memorable and approachable even if they aren’t supposed to be likeable.
• Dialogue that really has a voice, one that is suitable for our readers.
• Threads of good science that anchor the story.
• A consistent setting – one that doesn’t leap into the future and then sound retro because of its details.
• A plot that is neither too light nor too dark.
  
• A meaning that lingers with a reader after they read the last line.

What have been some of the most popular themes, articles, and/or stories? In other words, what do your readers really love?

Well, the theme of our most popular issue of all time was “Poop – What a Waste!” I guess that’s not surprising because kids love yucky things. “Is It Science or Art” was also a very popular theme, which seems to counter what I just said. Issues on crime scene science, killer viruses, and extreme science are also winners. Einstein, Feynman, and Goodall were popular biographical-themed issues. I don’t have a sense of a particular story being especially popular. I get letters from readers saying they love to read the story in each issue and see how it is connected to the science in the same issue. I think that is great because it shows readers that there is a link between science and art.

What can we expect in the September (aka, Am I a Borg, Yet?) issue?

The issue is out. You can sample it on our Web site odysseymagazine.com. It includes both bionics for restoration and bionics for enhancement, and deals with the many ethical issues of a world filled with hybrid humans — when we are part flesh and part steel. How soon will it happen? Should it happen? The issue includes the story “Afterman” by Zareh MacPherson Artinian, which explores a dystopian world filled with cyborgs with dangerous agendas.

Why this theme?

As I said in my editor’s note for the issue, humanity and technology are right now, and will continue in readers’ lifetimes, forging a powerful new relationship. It is important that we consider this exciting leap very carefully. We can’t let being a cyborg seem too romantic. An article in the issue called “The Human Enhancement Revolution!” looks at what has been called “the most important controversy in science and society this new century.” “Am I Borg, Yet?” is definitely a good theme for ODYSSEY.

Thanks, Beth!

You can order an issue or a subscription of ODYSSEY here. If you’re interested in writing for Odyssey, check out the submission guidelines.

Although it’s not available until April, you can win a pre-order of MEMENTO NORA and help out the folks at WriteOnCon by commenting (and/or donating) at http://writeoncon.com/2010/09/pre-order-of-memento-nora-by-angie-smibert/.

If you’re a young adult or middle grade author with a book coming out next year, think about joining the Class of 2K11.  Our goal is to help each other market our books. Unlike Elevensies, we do collect dues–which we’ll use for the website, blog, swag, etc.–and we do require full participation.  But it’s well worth it.  The catch, though, is that membership is closing Thursday, September 16. (Yes, this Thursday.)  So, if you’re interested in joining, contact Amy Holder at amyholderbooks@yahoo.com.