From "What Is This Thing Called YA?": I feel like I’m joining the 21st century, participating in a blog. I am an author of numerous books for young adults and children: The Life History of a Star, Hiroshima Dreams, White Magic, Aftershock, and Walking on Air, among my favorites.

Read more at http://bbzkellyeaston.blogspot.com/

Ron Koertge, poet and author of numerous YA novels including Arizona Kid, Stoner & Spaz, Boy Girl Boy, writes about "Being Edgy." As a bonus, he shares a poem about Cinderella as well as a tutorial.

From "On Being Edgy": I take it as a compliment when somebody (usually a reviewer) calls me an edgy writer. But I’m always a little surprised because edgy isn’t something I’m trying to be. “Add a little edge” sounds like something from The Joy of Cooking or in this case The Joy of Cooking Up a Best Seller. It’s not bad advice and I may have told students of mine (I teach in an MFA program for kids’ writers) to do it. But it’s not advice I give myself. . . .

Read more at http://bbzronkoertge.blogspot.com/

Peter writes about his current novel, What Happened, and his two forthcoming novels, Loserville (Spring, 2009) and The Amazing Adventures of Houdini Weenie, Or How I Saved the President’s Life. He provides some interesting insights about publishing, gatekeeping, and writing for a YA audience.

From "Fiction Is about Life, and Life Is Messy": I’m new to the young adult novel. Before 2007 I wrote books of stories and prose poems for “adults.” I put “adults” in quotations because I see very little difference between writing for adults or young adults. Any kid from 14-18-years-old is smart enough to read and understand my prose poetry and “adult” short stories. . . .

Read more at http://bbzpeterjohnson.blogspot.com/