 |
 |
|
|
|
jellyellie started writing How Teenagers Think at the age of 14 after having an argument with her mum in a bookshop. An avid writer, when jellyellie returned home from the bookshop she typed up her argument as a little anecdotal story, advising her mum on what she could have done to avoid the 'confrontation'. Over the next few weeks, jellyellie wrote about similar arguments she had with her parents and eventually accumulated about 10,000 words. jellyellie then went to her grandad, a former top financial journalist, for some words of wisdom. His advice was clear: you have an amazing idea. Write a proposal, find an agent, get it published. After much research, jellyellie sent a proposal off to a selection of non-fiction agents. Most were met with rejection; some had words of advice; but one suggested she contact White Ladder Press, a quirky non-fiction publisher. An initial browse on White Ladder's website filled jellyellie with enthusiasm, as they looked like just the sort of publishers she wanted to work with: small, quirky, innovative, friendly, funny... the list went on. She sent them her proposal, and they liked it so much they agreed to review it at their editorial board in December 2005. A few days before Christmas, jellyellie received an email saying White Ladder had accepted her proposal and would like to offer her a contract to publish How Teenagers Think. That email was the best Christmas present jellyellie has ever received. jellyellie then spent most of 2006 writing How Teenagers Think, with a deadline of August. Whilst most teens were chatting to their friends on MSN about the latest Big Brother news, jellyellie was innovatively using the program to interview a wide selection of her friends to include as case studies in her book. After chatting with her publisher about possible ways of presenting How Teenagers Think, it was agreed that the book should be divided into chapters based upon different subjects relating to common teenage issues. jellyellie covered everything from Stop Treating Me Like a Child to Money and Jobs, Fashion, The Internet, Music, Peer Pressure, and of course, Sex n Drugs n Rock n Roll. In April 2006, a short press release was given to The Bookseller about White Ladder's signing of jellyellie and news of her first book, How Teenagers Think. This release didn't go unnoticed, and within a few days jellyellie was swamped with emails from numerous media publications - including the Guardian, where jellyellie was referred to as "the voice of the MSN generation" - and TV production companies looking to serialise the book. August came, and jellyellie delivered her manuscript on time. Now all she has to do is wait, wait until May the 31st, the day she will conquer the world...
|
|
©
jellyellie 2007 all rights reserved |
||
