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Guest Debut Author (and Unsinkable) B.A. Binns
 Posted by admin Nov 18 2010, 12:01 am in guest author, Unsinkables
“Pull by B.A. Binns is one of the most powerful Y.A. books I’ve read all year….[The protagonist’s] character is so strong, so powerful, that even through (especially through) his terse denials, you can feel so much. I got more raw emotion from one of David’s curt ‘I don’t cares,’ delivered at the right time than I do from most books….I was up until 1 AM reading, even though I had a 6 AM flight the next morning, and I got up half an hour early just so I could finish….This book is seriously, utterly, powerfully compelling.” Wow! Can’t wait to read it! Thanks, Barbara, for blogging with the Rubies today! ************************************************************************************ Readers are rude. I heard this from an editor at a recent conference who went on to explain: If a reader finds your words boring they will put your book down and may never pick it, or anything else you write, up again. And my experience in publishing my debut Young Adult novel, PULL, has shown me that readers aren’t alone. Agents and editors share that quality: you bore them, you’re done. Which leaves me thankful that contest judges do not. They read the entire submission and send back their response, good, bad or very ugly. I treasure their efforts. How else would I know if my work was ready for that toughest audience of all? As fiction writers we’re part of the entertainment industry, like actors, dancers, and…professional wrestlers (my not totally secret vice). I’ve heard crowds chant “boring” to let the men in the ring know the pace has grown too slow, the action too dull and predictable. Those professionals quickly make changes to meet audience needs. A writer’s job is to provide the best possible reading experience, without giving the audience an excuse to reveal their rudeness. We won’t be within earshot when our books are opened. That’s part of what makes contests, contest judges and the sometimes maligned rules of writing important. As much as I chafe at the rules, I started by following them. Every black belt in Karate began as a white belt memorizing the flow of the kata, practicing until the forms are burned into muscle memory. It made sense to begin my writing career the same way until I could shed my own white belt and move on to the deeper colors of understanding. Entering contests and becoming a contest judge helped me see some of them impact the reader. Seeing how breaking the rules can dull my enjoyment of other peoples writing helps me understand that it can do the same for my own readers.
As a writer I sometimes hate these rules. As a reader I understand why they exist. As a writer I work hard to avoid breaking them accidentally. I may bend—and even break—rules, but only after careful consideration of the effect that will have on a reader. The decision has to be for their benefit, not mine. That’s the reason my editor told me that PULL only needed a light edit. The reason WestSide Books could get the book from signed contract to bookstore shelves in less than eight months. As my favorite quote from Nathanial Hawthorne says, Easy reading is damned hard writing. It was true then. Unfortunately it’s still true now. BIO B. A. Binns is the pseudonym of Barbara Binns, a Chicago Area author who writes to attract and inspire reluctant readers with stories of “real boys growing into real men…and the people who love them.” She finds writing an exercise in self discipline, and the perfect follow-up to her life as an adoptive parent and cancer survivor. She is a member of RWA (Romance Writers of America), the Chicago Writers Association, SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) and YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association). Her manuscripts have finaled in the 2009 Indiana Golden Opportunity, 2009 Maryland Reveal Your Inner Vixen, and the 2010 Golden Heart ® contest. She won the 2009 Rose City Golden Rose and the 2009 Oklahoma Finally A Bride contests. Her debut YA novel, PULL, has been nominated for the 2011 Image Awards. You can view the PULL book trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSjnzWMN9y0 and learn more about the book and the author at http://www.babinns.com Share:
              
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Today we welcome back 2010 Golden Heart Finalist and BRAND-NEW DEBUT AUTHOR B.A. Binns! Her book, PULL, is getting great reviews, including this shout out from Courtney Milan, who said on her blog (courtneymilan.com): 
Thanks, Barbara, for being with us today!
I’m very excited about your book–you’re one of the first Unsinkables (the 2010 Golden Heart finalists) to actually see print!
And the book’s been getting terrific reviews.
I’m planning to get a couple of extra copies to put on my “borrowing” bookshelf at school. There are never enough meaningful books to appeal to teen boys, so I’m grateful! (And, obviously, girls will like it too!)
Excellent advice, Barbara. Thanks for being here with us.
Welcome, welcome, Barbara! (my GIAMx4 friend)
I went to the bookfair at my son’s junior high a few days ago and scoured the shelves for PULL. It seemed as if it should be there. I bet it will be next year!
I can’t wait to read it. Can I pick it up at B&N? I’m planning on picking up a couple of copies to be placed on the shelf at my former GED prep job. I think the boys there will like it.
Great advice and love the Hawthorne quotation. So true. My pain brings the reader’s pleasure…I’ll have to remember that when I’m feeling like I’ll never get my wip right.
Since PULL was only released two weeks ago due to a printer snafu that delayed the intended release date, I’m not surprised it’s not at your son’s school. Like you, I hope things will be different next year after the book comes to their attention.
Barnes and Noble has bought the book, but I don’t know which stores have it. Call and check your local B&N store and feel free to ask them to stock it if they don’t. It is on B&N dot com, and Amazon, and you should be able to order from Indie bookstores as well.
This is great! I’m booking marking it.
Congrats on seeing your book in print. hope there are many more for you in the future.
Barbara, your cover looks *fantastic.* Raw. Loneliness. And I love the punch of the one-word title: “Pull.”
Thanks for joining us today. I’ve been thinking a lot recently about how painful it is for writers to make the reading easy (as I started what I think might be my eighth version of the first chapter of my book). Sigh.
Congrats again on the new release!
I’m just glad no one’s ever asked me how many versions of PULL I wrote before the final one. (And sometimes I still look at it and see things I wish I could change). I need to keep reminding myself it’s supposed to be hard to keep myself from giving up.
I have no clue how many versions of the first chapter of my WIP I’ve gone through, but it must be pretty close to eight as well.
Congratulations, Barbara, on your release and the wonderful response to PULL. What’s next on your plate?
My current work is another YA, involving some of the minor characters from PULL. I’d really like to find some redeeming qualities in the bad guy, but so far he isn’t cooperating.
Thanks for being here with us, Barbara! Excellent advice and congratulations!
Wow, your book looks really powerful and inspiring. I agree with Elisa that the market always seems low on books that appeal to teen boys. Think I’ll pick one up for my 13 yr old for Xmas! Congratulations, Barbara!
Congratulations again on the release of PULL! Love the short, powerful title. You have so many strong, fascinating minor characters in David’s story. Any chance of seeing a book about them?
I’ve fallen hard for these kids and their trials myself, so yes, more is coming. My future plans include Neill and Carl getting their own book, and Malik’s book (with a little bit more about Barney and her sister Linda included). I also have an adult book in the works, a romance about a grown-up Barney and a born-again con man.
B.A. Binns is smart.
Thanks, Barbara, for reminding me that we’re in the entertainment business. I’m thrilled with the success of PULL and look forward to your next book.
Barbara,
Congratulations on your release day. This book looks fabulous. I can’t wait to pick up a copy.
Congrats on your release, Barbara. I can’t wait to read your book. Your title is compelling. I hope your sales are fabulous!!
Barbara, thanks for coming on the RSS today. I need to come back and read your post in greater detail, but I wanted to let you know that PULL sounds amazing. Courtney’s review caught my eye a little while ago, and I put it on my mental TBR.
I had no idea that you were an Unsinkable, though!
Congratulations on your GH nomination as well as publishing such a necessary novel.
Barbara, congratulations on your release! Love the title, by the way. I saw from one of your responses above that you have more books planned in the series. Can’t wait!
Thanks again for being with us, Barbara! I made the request today that our school librarian get a copy of PULL. Best of luck with your launch!!
So true that we have to master the rules before we can flaunt them. Thanks for the great post and good luck with your launch, B.A.
Thank you for your comments, Vivi. If my words help you and anyone else I’m grateful.