The Perfection of a Short Story

This weekend I had the opportunity to read some of my favorite short stories out loud to my husband. He wanted to understand my passion for writing and the most obvious way for me to explain it to him was to show him, firsthand, some of the stories that have moved me most deeply. 

I've never had the opportunity to read these stories out loud. With the exception of all the picture books and chapter books that I've read out loud to my kids at bedtime, all of my reading has been a very solitary experience, so it was a thrill to be able to not only relive some of my favorite words, but to speak them, to slow down and savor them.

There are dozens and dozens of short stories that have really resonated with me over the years, but there are a few that I come back to over and over again:

A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O'Connor 
White Angel by Michael Cunningham 
Bullet in the Brain by Tobias Wolff
The Fourth State of Matter by Jo Ann Beard (really an essay)

Are there any short stories that you revisit time and again?

Winner!

Congratulations to...


Simon P. Clark 


You are the winner of the Custom Art Contest! I can't wait to get busy designing something fantastic for another amazing writer!!!

My Top Ten Favorite Middle Grade Books of All Time!

Some of the most influential books in my life were introduced to me when I was just a little girl. They were the first ray of light into the dark tunnel of my imagination and they've stayed with me through the years, informing me about all the books I'd come to love over the years. 

Here's a list of my favorite middle grade novels, some from my childhood and some from my second childhood (let's face it, I'll never grow up). 

1. Watership Down by Richard Adams

2. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

3. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien

4. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit

5. Doll Bones by Holly Black

6. Okay For Now by Gary D. Schmidt

7. The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

8. From The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

9. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

10. The Evolution of Culpurnia Tate by Jaqueline Kelly

Put a Star on It!

Let's face it... I'm a little lazy. I'm not a member of the 5 a.m Writer's Club. I don't crank out thousands of words a day. In fact, some days pass where I haven't typed a single word. But if Malcolm Gladwell has taught me anything, it's that to be an expert, I have to put in the hours. I have to put my butt in that chair and WRITE!!! 

Enter Victoria Schwab and her brilliant video...


The Best Writing Trick I Know


One trip to the office supply store, two packages of shiny stickers, and a new calendar later, and I'm newly inspired. Who knew that I basically had the same motivation as a preschooler? But hey, as long as it works...

The Freckled Kate

Introducing my newest endeavor ... 

Come visit my website, The Freckled Kate, and check out my most recent illustrations. I'm still adding new work regularly, so check back soon to see what's hot off the press. 

And if you're in the market for new web art, blog banners or custom illustrations, send me an email and I'll give you a quick quote.

It's a Deal... a BOOK deal

Yes, you heard me right... I have another book deal!!! I'm so excited to announce that I've accepted an offer from Bloomsbury Spark to publish my YA dystopian novel, DELIVER ME (Spring 2014). Finally, DELIVER ME has found a home, and I couldn't be more excited to get the chance to work with the fantastic Meredith Rich!

My rock star agent, Kerry Sparks, finalized the deal today (which, I have to point out, was her LAST day in the office before maternity leave). The timing was perfect. 

And here's the announcement from Publisher's Marketplace:

Kate Birch's DELIVER ME, in a dystopian society governed by people who are determined to create the perfect race, for the first time in her life a girl has a choice to make: submit to the will of the Union, or find a way to save her best friend before she is lost forever, to Meredith Rich at Bloomsbury Spark, for publication in Spring 2014, by Kerry Sparks at Levine Greenberg Literary Agency (World).

EEEK! I'm over the moon... and here's an illustration to go with it.

SIDELINED Cover Reveal

I'm so excited to get to introduce another cover from one of my publishing sisters, Kendra Highley. Today Entangled Teen Ember is revealing the cover for SIDELINED. Coming out this September! 

On to the reveal!

Blurb:

After being pushed to excel her entire life, high school basketball star Genna Pierce is finally where she wants to be. University scouts are taking notice, her team is on its way to the state tourney, and Jake Butler, the hot boy she's daydreamed about since ninth grade, is showing somedefinite interest. When he asks her out and their relationship takes off, Genna believes things can't get better.

Then, it's over.

A freak accident ends her career before it's even begun. Her parents are fighting more than ever, her friends don't understand what she's going through, and she's not sure who she is without basketball. And while he tries to be there for her, Genna doesn't understand how Jake could ever want the broken version of the girl he fell for.

Her life in a tailspin, Genna turns to the only solace that eases her pain: Vicodin. 

Goodreads/Amazon/Barnes & Noble/Kobo/iBooks

About Kendra: 

Kendra C. Highley lives in north Texas with her husband and two children. She also serves as staff to two self-important and high-powered cats. This, according to the cats, is her most critical job. She believes in everyday magic, extraordinary love stories and the restorative powers of dark chocolate.

Website/Blog/Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads

Giveaway!

1 eBook of SIDELINED International

Rafflecopter Link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/ZTIzODliYTI4ZTEzMGVjODBhNzA2MmFmMTU3YWM3Ojk3/