tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159497498437731714.post4884473759556123755..comments2024-03-28T02:22:02.083-05:00Comments on The Apocalypsies: On Place: Writing YA Set in Cleveland and the Rust BeltLynne Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18221452684484215980noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159497498437731714.post-85558564713919745712012-07-21T18:49:26.372-05:002012-07-21T18:49:26.372-05:00Tricia! YAY for Cleveland writers! (P.S. I was jus...Tricia! YAY for Cleveland writers! (P.S. I was just in Tremont the other day, had dinner at Lolita!)Colleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05194979609949200840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159497498437731714.post-60796330318965176092012-07-21T13:36:47.463-05:002012-07-21T13:36:47.463-05:00Thanks so much for including FOX STREET, which was...Thanks so much for including FOX STREET, which was inspired by the eminent domain controversy in Lakewood a number of years back. While I grew up on the east coast, by now I've lived more than half my life in Cleveland, and really wanted to evoke the place as a vivid, lovable character in its own right. The sequel, MO WREN, LOST AND FOUND, is set in a fictionalized Tremont. Terrific blog! Great comments. Thanks again.Tricia Springstubbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09011689894699357496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159497498437731714.post-48178011969785749842012-07-21T11:51:35.751-05:002012-07-21T11:51:35.751-05:00Thanks, Colleen! I'd love to help you out any ...Thanks, Colleen! I'd love to help you out any way I can.Lydia Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15328254761920829040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159497498437731714.post-91126389749608273852012-07-20T17:11:24.240-05:002012-07-20T17:11:24.240-05:00Lydia, you should contact my publicist and get an ...Lydia, you should contact my publicist and get an ARC! sara.zick@hbgusa.com. I see you blog with The Contemps and have your own site, and are a fellow YA writer, so it should be no problemo! Sara is very good about sending out ARC's to bloggers. :)Colleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05194979609949200840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159497498437731714.post-14414453124650765842012-07-20T12:08:26.700-05:002012-07-20T12:08:26.700-05:00Your book is set in LAKEWOOD? That's my hometo...Your book is set in LAKEWOOD? That's my hometown!!!! Must must must read it! I don't live in Lakewood anymore, but I'm still within sniffing distance of Cleveland. And I also tend to set my contemporary stories in the Cleveland area. I love it! And you're right, it takes a special kind of person to thrive here.<br /><br />Thank you so much for this post! It made me smile, even though it's kind of a sad reality. Pass the POP! :DLydia Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15328254761920829040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159497498437731714.post-84662228621024231792012-07-19T21:50:50.110-05:002012-07-19T21:50:50.110-05:00Aw, this made me smile! Thanks for saying these th...Aw, this made me smile! Thanks for saying these things. Yes, the setting was like another character from the get-go. Not much changed from the drafting to final edits in regards to setting. My edits mostly dealt with fleshing out side character, nailing down plot turns, and then some dialogue that wasn't working. Most of the places are real places that I wanted to give nods to. There's a real "Diner on Clifton," "Bearden's," and "Mitchell's Ice Cream." The Tudor exists...I added some stuff, changed the location a bit...but it's an actual house in Ohio. One of the things I knew, as soon as I wrote the first page, was that I was going to showcase the real Lakewood, Cleveland, and NE Ohio as much as possible, what it's like to live in Ohio with all its flaws, no-nonsense people, and everyday beauty. (Also, Corey's dreamy isn't he? I truly hope that he becomes the fictional boyfriend of every one of my readers. That's the magic of "brain dating" our literary boyfriends...we can ALLLLL date the same guy, even if only in our imaginations!) LOL! Thanks for reading. ColleenColleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05194979609949200840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159497498437731714.post-28699435781736272052012-07-19T20:57:20.956-05:002012-07-19T20:57:20.956-05:00Colleen I've never been to Ohio in my life but...Colleen I've never been to Ohio in my life but I could totally get/feel the setting of WHN. (Oh and I've already put the stakes down on Corey) Your book is an excellent example of how setting can be prevalent in contemporary YA. Was the setting originally that strong in your novel when you queried or was it added more in the editing process? (I love learning about the editing process). I can't wait for others to love Sid and Corey and Oh-hey-oh as much as I did. :)Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18076907708483883575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159497498437731714.post-21976072228139889742012-07-19T10:27:17.667-05:002012-07-19T10:27:17.667-05:00It's kind of a little dream of mine. I've ...It's kind of a little dream of mine. I've compiled a list in my head of authors I would solicit for a story...guess who just got added! You! (That's as far as the dream has gotten though...le sigh...)Colleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05194979609949200840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159497498437731714.post-4992665799274886332012-07-18T21:44:00.338-05:002012-07-18T21:44:00.338-05:00<3 awesome!!<3 awesome!!Rhonda Helmshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11855833088957182413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159497498437731714.post-71309135626332234672012-07-18T21:42:23.683-05:002012-07-18T21:42:23.683-05:00I would soooo join this. LolI would soooo join this. LolRhonda Helmshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11855833088957182413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159497498437731714.post-42763474512559453362012-07-18T18:21:35.192-05:002012-07-18T18:21:35.192-05:00I smell a YA anthol. of Rust Belt short stories by...I smell a YA anthol. of Rust Belt short stories by Rust Belt authors cooking. It smells like...corndogs and motor oil. :)Colleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05194979609949200840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159497498437731714.post-45964916656124102342012-07-18T18:15:06.262-05:002012-07-18T18:15:06.262-05:00I didn't know that! I love your covers, Rhonda...I didn't know that! I love your covers, Rhonda! Now that I know the stories are set in The Cleve, you bet I'll be checking them out! *fist bump* back atcha! Woot!Colleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05194979609949200840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159497498437731714.post-53690903251558287672012-07-18T16:55:34.622-05:002012-07-18T16:55:34.622-05:00I'm originally from Sandusky, so I LOVE this p...I'm originally from Sandusky, so I LOVE this post! One of these days I'm going to set a novel in Ohio.Trish Dollerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04011138446819297720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159497498437731714.post-38438327924188522302012-07-18T16:34:26.226-05:002012-07-18T16:34:26.226-05:00My romantic comedy trilogy STUPID CUPID, FLIRTING ...My romantic comedy trilogy STUPID CUPID, FLIRTING WITH DISASTER, and PUCKER UP (bound into 1 volume titled STRUCK) is set in Cleveland. Represent! *fist bump*Rhonda Helmshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11855833088957182413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159497498437731714.post-19678804118142916792012-07-18T16:02:33.443-05:002012-07-18T16:02:33.443-05:00What's funny -- despite living in Ohio for all...What's funny -- despite living in Ohio for all my life, I've only seen a small part of it. I'm only 60 to 90 minutes from Cleveland, depending on which part, but I rarely go. Instead I just spend all my time in Warren! So I have a feeling your novel will teach me some things.Leeannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16284091494053528217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159497498437731714.post-72701654270080858972012-07-18T15:31:11.116-05:002012-07-18T15:31:11.116-05:00bahaha! Oh that made my day! That Mike Polk, Jr. i...bahaha! Oh that made my day! That Mike Polk, Jr. is FUNNY.Colleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05194979609949200840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159497498437731714.post-46428241220103700832012-07-18T15:28:01.988-05:002012-07-18T15:28:01.988-05:00Thank you, Ms. Snip! It's hard, explaining to ...Thank you, Ms. Snip! It's hard, explaining to people why you love a place that is so systematically beaten down and misunderstood. I feel the same way about West Virginia, where a lot of my family are from originally. The city of Cleveland and the entire state of WVA rarely get a fair shake, it seems. Thanks for reading my post. :) ColleenColleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05194979609949200840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159497498437731714.post-53951254074409669072012-07-18T15:19:51.835-05:002012-07-18T15:19:51.835-05:00I know, right!? It's set in Lakewood, at LHS, ...I know, right!? It's set in Lakewood, at LHS, specifically. And parts of Rocky River and Cleveland proper are mentioned. I hope you enjoy it and I do our town and the Rust Belt justice. :)Colleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05194979609949200840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159497498437731714.post-77210241750289657982012-07-18T14:09:55.795-05:002012-07-18T14:09:55.795-05:00Don't know why the links don't work but yo...Don't know why the links don't work but you can paste it in your browser. Duh. You could've figured that out.Leigh Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08493703354330273953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159497498437731714.post-36081009850015932782012-07-18T14:07:20.241-05:002012-07-18T14:07:20.241-05:00Aw. Poor Cleveland! My unfortunate husband is from...Aw. Poor Cleveland! My unfortunate husband is from Twinsburg and I had to put him on suicide watch when He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named left. Have you ever seen these? Funniest videos EVER.Called Hastily Made Cleveland Tourism Videos. http://youtu.be/oZzgAjjuqZM http://youtu.be/ysmLA5TqbIY Seriously. Watch them. You won't be sorry.Leigh Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08493703354330273953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159497498437731714.post-55183985498931032942012-07-18T13:58:00.624-05:002012-07-18T13:58:00.624-05:00Let's here it for Ohioans!!
My WIP YA novel is...Let's here it for Ohioans!!<br />My WIP YA novel is set in Ohio as well. I have to say, you did a great job of spelling out what it's like to live in this region. I think trying to explain the "culture" of Ohio to my agent was one of the trickiest, most dumb-founding conversations I've ever had. Good luck to you and can't wait to read your book!!Sara Raynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04679068025825860239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159497498437731714.post-26610588007508156312012-07-18T13:57:51.012-05:002012-07-18T13:57:51.012-05:00Excuse me while I squee! I live here too. Very rar...Excuse me while I squee! I live here too. Very rarely have I gotten to have the experience of reading a book set in my home town -- there's something about it that makes a book all the more magical.Leeannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16284091494053528217noreply@blogger.com