INTRODUCTION I invite you to sit down with your favorite beverage and enjoy a different type of post. Instead of a review of a YA or MG book, today my guest blogger, Anthony Marchetta, tackles a tough topic: How to adapt a classic so that it is enjoyed 500 years later. William Caxton published Sir… Continue reading How to Adapt a Book: From Sir Thomas Malory to Anthony Marchetta
INTRODUCTION Most of you know that I rarely post two blog posts about the same book. But, every once in a while I come across a book that deserves extra press. Cate Touryan's coming-of-age novel, Turning Toward Eden, is one of those. SYNOPSIS A 1971 California Coming-of-Age Mystery Eden Lewis knows two things for certain:… Continue reading Must-Read Cold War Mystery for Teens and Adults: Turning Toward Eden
Introduction As many of you know, I have been a part of the Write2Ignite team for many years. Last year I was "promoted" to the co-director of our biannual Master Class and as we gear up for our next class, I'm eager to share this great opportunity with those of you who want to write… Continue reading Unlock Your Writing Potential: Join Write2Ignite’s Master Class
INTRODUCTION Readers won't have to wait long for conflict to begin in Stephanie Cotta's prequel to her compelling YA fantasy, The Conjurer's Curse. In the first chapter of Beneath the Crescent Shadow (Monarch, 2026), there is a vicious storm, a shipwreck, and a cursed newborn baby. If that's not enough to hook a teen or… Continue reading Review of Beneath the Crescent Shadow: A Captivating Prequel
INTRODUCTION It's not too often that I run a book review twice. And to be honest, my TBR shelf is long and so I rarely reread a book. But I was re-researching the Jim Crow period for a presentation at the North Carolina Social Studies conference and rememberedThe Color of Love by Gene Cheek. I… Continue reading Revisiting ‘The Color of Love’: A Jim Crow Memoir Review
As far as I can tell, one of the best uses of social media is meeting someone who you connect with. That was the case with Cate Touryan, author of the award-winning debut novel, Turning Toward Eden. I met Cate on Author Media, Thomas Umstattd, Jr. social platform. It turned out that we were both… Continue reading Meet Cate Touryan: Insights from the Author of Turning Toward Eden
In an effort to organize my writing space, I've resolved to post reviews on books that I read months ago but have put off reviewing. That's often because it's difficult to write a review that's worthy of the book. From the Publisher Barbara Abbott was eighteen when her father threatened to kill her if she… Continue reading A Head of Cabbage: A Poignant Memoir and A Mini-Interview