E. M. Kokie

Author of YA novels RADICAL - guns, survivalists, and young lesbians in, well, not quite love... (Candlewick, 9/13/16) & PERSONAL EFFECTS (Candlewick, 2012). Anthologies VIOLENT ENDS (Simon Pulse) & THINGS I'LL NEVER SAY (Candlewick). www.emkokie.com

[emkokie]

Fantastic panel last night at @roomofonesownbooks with @beckyalbertalli @andimjulie and @katiecotugno. Great discussion, lots of books, laughs, and stories in the signing time, and a fab audience!

[emkokie]

So excited that RADICAL is among the five finalists for the SCBWI Crystal Kite Award for the Midwest Region, especially in this company! Congratulations to all of the other authors!

[e-volt]

Radical by E.M. Kokie Retail Price $17.99 Deal Price $2.99 Expires 3-31-17

AVAILABLE FROM:

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Determined to survive the crisis she’s sure is imminent, Bex is at a loss when her world collapses in the one way she hasn’t planned for. Preppers. Survivalists. Bex prefers to think of herself as a realist who plans to survive, but regardless of labels, they’re all sure of the same thing: a crisis is coming. And when it does, Bex will be ready. She’s planned exactly what to pack, she knows how to handle a gun, and she’ll drag her family to safety by force if necessary. When her older brother discovers Clearview, a group that takes survival just as seriously as she does, Bex is intrigued. While outsiders might think they’re a delusional doomsday group, she knows there’s nothing crazy about being prepared. But Bex isn’t prepared for Lucy, who is soft and beautiful and hates guns. As her brother’s involvement with some of the members of Clearview grows increasingly alarming and all the pieces of Bex’s life become more difficult to juggle, Bex has to figure out where her loyalties really lie. In a gripping new novel, E. M. Kokie questions our assumptions about family, trust, and what it really takes to survive.

[emkokie]

Just a few more days to get RADICAL for only $2.99!

[alphabetsoupcomic]

Pages 85 and 86!  Big round of applause for bi boys, y’all are great.

[emkokie]

The Radical ebook is only $2.99 through March!

Available from:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Google ~ iBooks ~ Kobo

[emkokie]

Hey Book Groups, Book Clubs, Lit Circles, People with friends who read, etc. -- Contest Alert!  (Details and Discussion Guide at Reading Group Choices) 

“In this provocative novel, Kokie (Personal Effects) takes on the controversial subject of gun ownership in America. . . Kokie writes with nuanced sympathy, condemning the government’s heavy-handed tactics and Bex’s tunnel vision, contrasting her need for self-sufficiency with her desire to belong, and examining gender identity and sexual orientation. It’s a complex recipe of volatile ingredients that Kokie uses to deliver an unsettling story that’s both timely and necessary.” — Starred Review, Publishers Weekly

“This is a different kind of dystopia, where the threat to survival comes from an unexpected quarter, and the kickass girl has to save herself instead of a whole world. Give this to readers intrigued by the complex psychology of girls who don’t fit the traditional molds.” —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Enter to win at http://readinggroupchoices.com/contests/

[lgbtqreads]

Hi! Do you have recs for YA m/m or f/f books that feature revolutions or something similar? Adult is okay as well, but Im mostly looking for YA. Thanks :)

I do! These all sort of vary in how they apply, but hopefully the premises will help you narrow down. Check out Boy Robot by Simon Curtis, Willful Machines and Tattoo Atlas by Tim Floreen (both are standalones), The Culling by Steven dos Santos, and the Proxy duology by Alex London. All of those are m/m.

For f/f, check out The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow and The Cursed Queen by Sarah Fine (which I recommend reading after The Impostor Queen - you probably can go without, but it’s better with, and both books are great, plus they both have bi protags, although the first is m/f). And though they’re a bit further away from that premise, if you like that vibe, you may also like Otherbound by Corinne Duyvis (Fantasy), Bleeding Earth by Kaitlin Ward (Apocalyptic), and Radical by EM Kokie (Contemp, but with a survivalist feel).

[sapphicbookclub]

Radical by E.M. Kokie

Determined to survive the crisis she’s sure is imminent, Bex is at a loss when her world collapses in the one way she hasn’t planned for.

Preppers. Survivalists. Bex prefers to think of herself as a realist who plans to survive, but regardless of labels, they’re all sure of the same thing: a crisis is coming. And when it does, Bex will be ready. She’s planned exactly what to pack, she knows how to handle a gun, and she’ll drag her family to safety by force if necessary. When her older brother discovers Clearview, a group that takes survival just as seriously as she does, Bex is intrigued. While outsiders might think they’re a delusional doomsday group, she knows there’s nothing crazy about being prepared. But Bex isn’t prepared for Lucy, who is soft and beautiful and hates guns. 

As her brother’s involvement with some of the members of Clearview grows increasingly alarming and all the pieces of Bex’s life become more difficult to juggle, Bex has to figure out where her loyalties really lie.

Genres: contemporary, adventure, dystopian

Get the book from The Book Depository here and follow the author on tumblr @emkokie

[bookriot]

This is especially true when it comes intersectionality. Most disabled characters published in YA are white, cishet, and often male. (The authors themselves are also overwhelmingly white.) Like any other group, disabled people are not a monolith. There is no “default” disabled person, but the lack of intersectional characters suggests otherwise. Yes, all disabled people experience ableism, but not all in the same way. For instance, disabled women of color experience the compounded effects of racism and ableism and sexism, all of which interact in complicated ways. Multiply-marginalized disabled folks have long been erased from the YA world and it’s well past time that changed. What disability in YA needs across the board is more. More intersectionality. More variety in disabilities, genres, and narratives. More disabled main characters. More disabled ensembles. More characters with multiple disabilities. More happy endings. More thoughtful and respectful subversion of tropes. More romance. More adventure. More complexity, nuance, depth, and breadth.

from The Present and Future of Disability in YA Books (via yahighway)

[emkokie]

I'm excited to be teaching an online class this winter on mastering the mechanics of voice at The Loft Literary Center.  (For those of you who have attended one of my workshops on voice, this is a more in depth, expanded version, with more of a focus on exercises and interactive learning).

We've all been there, a beta reader or conference critique says the voice of our manuscript isn't working or a character's voice feels inconsistent or the reader is having trouble connecting with our character. Or we have sat through yet another conference talk on voice that was mostly a series of excerpts without much useful analysis.  Or maybe you feel confused about what exactly narrative voice is or how to evaluate yours.  Let's dig into these issues together. 

[lgbtqreads]

After so many years of LGBTQIAP+ lit struggling for recognition, it’s been pretty killer to watch literary news this year. Whereas a starred review for an LGBTQIAP+ YA book used to be a needle in a haystack, this fall was absolutely rife with them. Whereas coverage of queer Romance novels used to be relegated pretty entirely to queer publications, now it’s been everywhere from Bustle to Washington Post (*tips hat to Sarah Maclean*). And since I think at any given time, we could all use some good news about the progress of LGBTQIAP+ books in publishing, here’s to highlighting some of this year’s biggest successes in mainstream media:

Picture Books

Worm Loves Worm by J.J. Austrian, illustrated by Mike Curato, was named one of the Best Picture Books of 2016 by Kirkus and one of the Best Books for Kids of 2016 by New York Public Library

Middle Grade

Lily and Dunkin by Donna Gephart was named one of the Best Books of 2016 by NPR and one of the Best Books For Kids of 2016 by New York Public Library

Young Adult

Girl Mans Up by M-E Girard was nominated for a Morris Award

If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo is the only YA novel named among the Best Books of 2016 by iBooks, among the Best Teen Fiction of 2016 by Chicago Public Library, and among the best YAs of 2016 by Amazon, the B&N Teen Blog, Bustle, Publishers Weekly, and New York Public Library.

When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore was longlisted for the National Book Award and named one of the Best YAs of 2016 by Bustle.

The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily Danforth’s movie news was announced.

Simon Vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli’s movie news was announced, and it was named one of the 30 Best Young Adult Novels of All Time by Paste.

This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp spent 29 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller list and was named among 19 of the Best YA Books of 2016 by Buzzfeed and one of the best YAs of the year by Paste.

Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova was named one of the Best Books of 2016 by NPR, among the Best Teen Fiction of 2016 by Chicago Public Library, and one of the Best YAs of 2016 by Bustle, Paste, and New York Public Library.

Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley was named one of the Best Books of 2016 by NPR, among the Best Teen Fiction of 2016 by Chicago Public Library, and one of the Best YAs of 2016 by Bustle, Paste, and SLJ.

Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit by Jaye Robin Brown was named one of the Best YAs of 2016 by Bustle, among the Best Teen Fiction of 2016 by Chicago Public Library, and one of the Best YA Rom-Coms of the Year by the B&N Teen Blog.

Beast by Brie Spangler was named one of the Best YAs of 2016 by the B&N Teen Blog, Bustle, and Publishers Weekly.

And I Darken by Kiersten White was named one of the Best YAs of 2016 by the B&N Teen Blog, Bustle, and NPR, and hit the NYT bestseller list.

Unbecoming by Jenny Downham was named one of the Best YAs of 2016 by the B&N Teen Blog and Publishers Weekly.

Being Jazz by Jazz Jennings was named one of the Best Books for Teens of 2016 by New York Public Library.

Shallow Graves by Kali Wallace was named one one of the Best Books for Teens of 2016 by New York Public Library.

We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson was named one of the Best Books for Teens of 2016 by New York Public Library and one of SLJ‘s Best YAs of 2016.

Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley was named one of the 30 Best Young Adult Novels of All Time by Paste and hit the New York Times bestseller list.

Last Seen Leaving by Caleb Roehrig was named among 19 of the Best YA Books of 2016 by Buzzfeed and the Best YA Novel of the Year by Paste.

The Great American Whatever by Tim Federle was named one of SLJ‘s Best YAs of 2016.

As I Descended by Robin Talley was named among the Best Teen Fiction of 2016 by Chicago Public Library and Paste.

Radical by E.M. Kokie was named among the Best Teen Fiction of 2016 by Chicago Public Library.

Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin was named among the Best Teen Fiction of 2016 by Chicago Public Library.

Without Annette by Jane B. Mason was named among 19 of the Best YA Books of 2016 by Buzzfeed.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz was named one of the 30 Best Young Adult Novels of All Time by Paste.

Ash by Malinda Lo was named one of the 30 Best Young Adult Novels of All Time by Paste.

Adam Silvera’s New York Times bestselling More Happy Than Not was named one of the 30 Best Young Adult Novels of All Time by Paste.

The Abyss Surrounds Us by Emily Skrutskie was named one of the Best YAs of 2016 by Paste.

Timekeeper by Tara Sim was named one of the Best YAs of 2016 by Paste.

Romance

Fast Connection by Santino Hassell and Megan Erickson was named one of the Best Romance Novels of 2016 by The Washington Post.

Luchador by Erin Finnegan was named one of the Best Romances of 2016 by Publishers Weekly.

24/7 by J.A. Rock was named among the Best Fiction of 2016 by Kirkus.

Idlewild by Jude Sierra was named among the Best Fiction of 2016 by Kirkus.

Strong Signal by Santino Hassell and Megan Erickson was named among 17 of the Best Romance Novels of 2016 by Bustle.

General Fiction

Imagine Me Gone by Adam Haslett was longlisted for the National Book Award, a finalist for the Kirkus Prize, named one of the Best Books of 2016 by NPR and Popsugar, one of the 24 Best Fiction Books of 2016 by Buzzfeed, and one of the 18 Best Fiction Books of 2016 by The Huffington Post.

What Belongs to You by Garth Greenwell was longlisted for the National Book Award, named one of the Best Books of 2016 by NPR and Publishers Weekly, one of the 24 Best Fiction Books of 2016 by Buzzfeed, one of the 25 Best Books to Read in 2016 by Esquire, and one of the 10 Best Books of 2016 by Vulture.

Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Dennis-Benn was named among the Best Fiction of 2016 by Kirkus and one of the 24 Best Fiction Books of 2016 by Buzzfeed.

SFF

Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan Mcguire was named among the Best Genre Fiction (SF/Fantasy) of 2016 by Library Journal.

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers was named among the Best Genre Fiction (SF/Fantasy) of 2016 by Library Journal.

Good News Roundup of LGBTQ Reads After so many years of LGBTQIAP+ lit struggling for recognition, it’s been pretty killer to watch literary news this year.

[interludepress]

So great to see this progress! Thanks to @lgbtqreads for this compilation!

And now, a little shameless plug for our two “Best of” books of 2016, as well as the three other IP books receiving PW starred reviews in 2016:

Luchador, Idlewild, Sweet, What It Takes, Into the Blue

[queerhistoryqdm]

Carson McCullers (Author, Playwright) https://t.co/8EALgdzP2X #queer #lgbt #pride https://t.co/vF6St5G6BE

[emkokie]

So much to shake our heads at here. If we are afraid of damaging our teens, be afraid of failing to teach them critical thinking skills. Be afraid of exposing them to excessive violence and misogyny and damaging racial stereotypes. Be afraid of depriving them of essential information about their bodies and sexual relationships. Or actually talk to them about what they are reading. I can’t help but think that adults afraid of teens reading about sex don’t have much trust in teens. And have some issues of their own.

[emkokie]

Guest Post: Amy Rose Capetta on Something Good Happened in 2016: Where Does LGBTQ YA Go From Here?

By Amy Rose Capetta for Cynthia Leitich Smith 's Cynsations Amy Rose Capetta writing While the goal of this blog series is to celebr...

As a queer person, I know that the years ahead are going to be difficult. I have sat with this reality every day, and one of the few things that offer me hope right now are stories. We will need YA books more than ever, as a source of catharsis and beauty, of comfort and resistance. This moment is more than just a trend in publishing--it’s a rare and necessary chance for LGBTQ people to share their truth with each other, and the rest of the world. If you believe that these books are important, that LGBTQ young people are important, please do what you can to support these stories. And if you already do--thank you, thank you, thank you. 

Yes. Great post on the state of queer lit for teens, and where we still need to go, or keep going. (Plus lovely shout out for RADICAL by the even lovelier Malinda Lo). 

[lgbtqreads]

Hello! I was wondering if you could recommend me some YA books with f/f relationships where the main conflict isn't coming out or homophobia. I want to read just some genuine f/f romance.

At your service! In Contemp, check out Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour, Girl Mans Up by M-E Girard, Radical by E.M. Kokie, Winning by Lara Deloza, Cherry by Lindsey Rosin (those are both multi-POV books where one has a very cute f/f Romance), You Know Me Well by David Levithan and Nina LaCour, Lunaside by JL Douglas, and Ask Me How I Got Here by Christine Hepperman, and make sure the following are on your TBR for 2017: How to Make a Wish by Ashley Herring Blake, Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde, and Meg & Linus by Hanna Nowinski.

If you’re an SFF fan too, make sure you grab Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova, The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow, Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst, Otherbound by Corinne Duyvis Not Your Sidekick by CB Lee, and everything by Malinda Lo.

There are also some books where coming out is the main thing but it’s not the main angst source (if there’s much angst at all), like Style by Chelsea Cameron and Dating Sarah Cooper by Siera Maley - both are adorable, and if you want f/f Romance, I wouldn’t advise missing them!

[emkokie]

Love seeing RADICAL on this holiday gift guide and the accompanying review rocks! (It’s awesome when a reviewer really gets your book).

[lgbtqreads]

Hey, do you know any contemporary ya novels with lesbian protagonist that isn't a 'coming out' story?

Yup! Check out Everything Leads to You, You Know Me Well, and the upcoming We Are Okay by Nina LaCour, Girl Mans Up by M-E Girard, Without Annette by Jane B. Mason, Lunaside by J.L. Douglas, Winning by Lara Deloza (not the dominant protag but she does have a POV, and ditto for Tumbling by Caela Carter), Radical by E.M. Kokie, and make sure Meg & Linus by Hanna Nowinski is on your TBR for next year. Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit is sort of a mix because it’s about a girl who starts Out and then has to go back in, but it’s definitely not your typical coming out story and I highly recommend it.