Hollywood screenwriter Stuart Beattie will write the script for the Daughter of Smoke & Bone film adaptation.

In the past, Beattie wrote the screenplays for Collateral (2004), 30 Days of Night (2007), and the forthcoming I, Frankenstein (2013). As we previously noted, Palak Patel and Joe Roth will produce.

Author Laini Taylor endorsed Beattie and the entire film-making team with this statement: “It’s been fantastic to delve into the world of the book with a screenwriter of such insight and experience. Between Stuart, Joe Roth and Universal Pictures, we’ve got a team with massive epic flair, and I can’t wait to see what unfolds as we move toward bringing Karou, Akiva, Brimstone and the world of Daughter of Smoke & Bone to the screen.”

In recent years, young adult books have driven a surge in sales for publishers. Besides increasing the revenue streams of these companies, it also seems to have uplifted the popularity of short fiction. The YA authors who have contributed to this trend tend to set their short fiction pieces within the universe of a popular book series.

For instance, Beth Revis recently concluded the Across the Universe trilogy and celebrated by inviting her fans to download a free novella called “As They Slip Away.” Ally Carter incorporated characters from two teen series, Heist Society and the Gallagher Girls, for “Double-Crossed: A Spies and Thieves Novella.”

As we previously reported, HarperCollins established HarperTeen Impulse as a digital imprint dedicated to solely publishing short fiction. But, even before this venture came along, Divergent series author Veronica Roth penned a short story called “Free Four” and Delirium trilogy author Lauren Oliver wrote a piece called “Hana.” What do you think?

Figment will host a live chat with three YA authors, finding out how they managed to land a book deal for their first books.

Scheduled for February 28th at 7:00 p.m. EST, the chat will focus on the following question: “What does it take to sell your first book to the biggest book publisher in the world?”

Knopf Books for Young Readers editor Erin Clarke and three young-adult novelists will participate in this event. The trio of writers include Timekeeper author Alexandra Monir, Seraphina author Rachel Hartman and The Tragedy Paper author Elizabeth Laban. All three authors published their first book with Random House Children’s Books.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 has “won” seven Golden Raspberry Awards (a.k.a. the Razzies). The film “emerged victorious” in the following categories:

Worst Picture – The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2
Worst Actress – Kristen Stewart for Snow White & the Huntsman and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2
Worst Supporting Actor – Taylor Lautner for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2
Worst Screen Ensemble – the entire cast of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2
Worst Director – Bill Condon for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2
Worst Prequel, Ripoff, or Sequel – The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2
Worst Screen Couple – Mackenzie Foy & Taylor Lautner for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2

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Fox 2000 has brought on filmmaker Josh Boone to direct The Fault in Our Stars movie adaptation. Last year, Boone wrote and directed an original film called Stuck in Love.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, the screenwriting duo behind (500) Days of Summer, will write the script. Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen, the producers of The Twilight Saga film franchise, will produce this project.

As of this writing, John Green‘s popular young-adult novel has spent fifty-seven weeks on the New York Times  bestsellers list.

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Academy Award-winning actress Kate Winslet might join the cast of Divergent.

At the moment, it’s not certain what role Winslet (pictured, via) will play in this film adaptation of Veronica Roth‘s New York Times-bestselling young-adult novel.

CinemaBlend.com speculates that she could portray one of the three following characters: head villain Jeanine Matthews, mother Natalie Prior and tattoo artist Tori. Variety reports that the movie will hit theaters on March 21, 2014.

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The online writing community Figment has partnered with Little, Brown Books for Young Readers to host The Kiss writing contest. 

Participants have the opportunity to win $500 in prize money and a 16GB iPad mini that contains eBooks by James Patterson. The winning story will be posted onto Patterson’s young-adult website; the victorious writer will also receive a personal message from Patterson on Facebook.

To enter, writers must write a short short story (500 words or less) “about a relationship that no one approves of” and submit it before the February 26th deadline.

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Young adult novelist Julie Kagawa (pictured, via) has signed a seven-figure multibook deal with Harlequin Teen.

Executive editor Natashya Wilson negotiated the deal with senior literary agent Laurie McLean of the Larsen Pomada Literary Agency. Wilson, who will edit the book, secured world rights.

Kagawa has also written the Iron Fey series and the the Blood of Eden series. According to the release, the series “will feature mythical creatures in a contemporary setting.” The first book is expected to come out in 2015. (via Agent Savant)

He makes his living scaring children and has been called the Stephen King of children’s books.

“Goosebumps” author, R.L. Stine sat down with mediabistroTV to talk about how finding a typewriter at the age of nine started him on his journey to becoming one of the most successful children’s book authors in history.

For more videos, check out our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter: @mediabistroTV

YA novelist John Green captured four spots on the New York Times Young Adult Best Sellers list for the week of January 20, 2013.

His most recent novel, The Fault in Our Stars, took the No. 2 slot while Looking for Alaska came in at No. 6, An Abundance of Katherines hit No. 10 and Paper Towns held at No. 15.

Penguin Young Readers Group released An Abundance of Katherines  in September 2006, and this was the first time it landed on the list. Looking for Alaska came out in 2005 and Paper Towns was published in 2008. (Image via)