In 2018 I read Nancy Johnson's article on Writer Unboxed encouraging writers to figure out what their novel's big question is. I saved it on my desktop and went back to it several times as I wrote Half-Truths. That question is in my mind and shaping the sequel. So, it's no coincidence that after I… Continue reading For Black Girls Like Me: A Review and a Giveaway
I've reviewed two other middle grade books by Miriam Spitzer Franklin on this blog (Extraordinary and Call Me Sunflower) but Emily Out of Focus is special to me. Miriam and I were in a SCBWI critique group together for many years and I heard about her trip to China in 2006 to adopt their daughter. Emily Out of… Continue reading Emily Out of Focus: A Review and ARC Giveaway
Last week I reviewed Vijaya Bocach's new YA book, BOUND. Vijaya graciously agreed to an author interview and since she had a lot of information for readers and writers, I've decided to run it for two weeks. We hope you enjoy it! AUTHOR INTERVIEW- Part I CAROL: I’m very curious about the inspiration for BOUND. Are they individuals… Continue reading Behind the Scenes of Bound: Author Interview Part I
Within the first pages of Bound by Vijaya Bodach, the reader realizes that this is going to be a book that deals with serious issues. The main character, Rebecca Joshi who was adopted from India at birth, was burned six years earlier over 50% of her body; her older sister, Joy, is intellectually impaired; their mother… Continue reading BOUND: A Review and an Autographed Giveaway
Cleopatra Edison Oliver is a fifth grade force to be reckoned with. Her superpower is the art of persuasion and she is convinced that she can not only create and market personalized hair clips ("Tell the world who you are!") to every girl in her grade, she's sure that her idol, talk show host, Fortune… Continue reading Cleo Edison Oliver in Persuasion Power: A Review and Giveaway
Congratulations to Sandra Warren who won the audio CD of WISH last week. Thanks to everyone who entered. I seem to be on a roll with middle grade books featuring a girl protagonist who had to leave her home and wants to return. This week I am introducing CALL ME SUNFLOWER, Miriam Spitzer Franklin's second middle… Continue reading Call Me Sunflower: A Review and ARC Giveaway
I have a habit of buying books. I'm particularly prone to this "vice" when attending writers conferences. But fortunately for you, I like giving away the books after I've read them. Culling through my shelves recently, I found Cynthea Liu's young adult book, The Great Call of China which I apparently bought at a SCBWI-Carolinas event in 2009. It's… Continue reading Cynthea Liu's "The Great Call of China": A Review and a Giveaway
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