We all have them. Books that stick in our heads after we've read the last page. Maybe it's the characters, the world-building, the settings, or the amazing way the author weaves together the plot. For me, it's all of those plus a story that touches my heart. This, my friends, is my latest favorite read:Published… Continue reading THE BLACKBIRD GIRLS by Anne Blankman: A MG Review and Giveaway
Sylvia Patience, the author of The Double Crossing (Paper Angel Press, 2023), reached out to me with a request to review her historical middle-grade book. She suspected that it was a book that would interest me and she was right.REVIEWI first learned about the ocean liner, the St. Louis in Barbara Krasner's picture book, Liesl's Ocean Rescue.… Continue reading THE DOUBLE CROSSING by Sylvia Patience: A Middle Grade Historical Fiction Review, Author Interview, & Giveaway
Congratulations to Janet Davis-Castro who won HER FEARLESS RUN on last week's blog. No giveaway this week, but I hope you'll check out one of Alan Gratz's wonderful books. From the Author's Note: Project 1065 is a work of fiction set against the very real backdrop of Nazi Germany in World War II. Kristallnacht, the… Continue reading Projekt 1065: A Review And TALKING STORY Giveaways
Congratulations to Connie Saunders and Jennifer Ervin for winning FIRST TIMES from last week's blog. As promised last week, Alan Gratz has returned to share some of the intricate process of writing his middle grade novel, REFUGEE. Alan autographing a copy of REFUGEE for the Cousins Club. INTERVIEW CAROL: How much time did you spend researching REFUGEE? Was that… Continue reading Behind the Scenes of REFUGEE: An Interview with Alan Gratz and Giveaway-Part II
This is a busy week on my blog. TWO giveaways running concurrently! WARNING: Reading this book will make you stay up late and the characters will haunt you long after you finish reading it. Readers of my blog are no strangers to Alan Gratz's books. You're a click away from seeing what I thought of… Continue reading REFUGEE- A Review and Giveaway- Part I
Congratulations to Jessica Jacobson, a new blog subscriber, who won SOLDIER BOYS from last week's blog. When Alan Gratz, a prolific NC author, presented a workshop at SCBWI-Carolinas in 2010 on Plot and Pacing, my blog was only a few years old and I was learning how to review books. Fast forward to 2016, and I've… Continue reading Liberty: A Review with a Focus on Writing Craft
For many authors getting inside schools feels as difficult as finding an agent or publisher. But according to Alan Gratz, an award-winning North Carolina author, it is not only possible, but it’s a great way to build buzz and sell your book. Alan Gratz at Hillcrest Middle School Greenville, SC 2015 One of the best… Continue reading How to Get Your Foot Inside of Schools and What to Do Once You’re There: Tips from Alan Gratz
When my children were young, I enjoyed purchasing autographed books at writers conferences and bringing them home for birthday or holiday presents. Fast forward a few years, and now I'm purchasing books signed for my grandkids. At the mid-year SCBWI workshop in Florida, I complained to Kim Britt, proprietor of bookmark it, that I couldn't decide which grandchild… Continue reading The Cousins Club
Congratulations to Connie Saunders who won Blue Birds from last week's blog. ********* Readers of this blog are no strangers to book reviews by North Carolina author, Alan Gratz. He is well known for historical novels, like Prisoner B-3087 and Samurai Shortstop. But he also writes contemporary books like his newly released, Code of Honor, (Scholastic, August 2015)… Continue reading The League of Seven by Alan Gratz
Last week I reviewed Alan Gratz's acclaimed Holocaust book, Prisoner B-3087. Today, Alan generously agreed to answer questions about what this book has meant to him both professional and personally. CAROL: I understand Scholastic contacted you first, to see if you were interested in writing this book. Can you share what went into that decision… Continue reading Behind the Scenes of Prisoner B-3087