REVIEW by Mara ScudderAs an avid reader who has no interest in baseball (and sports in general), I fell far from Steve Carman's upper middle-grade audience range. But Southpaw Sully’s characters are irresistible in any genre, and Sully and the rest of the cast pulled me in from the very first page. The author didn’t… Continue reading SOUTHPAW SALLY: A Guest Blogger Review and Giveaway
It's always a pleasure to introduce friends' books. Janine Yordy and I met years ago when the SCBWI Charlotte group met at Morrison library in South Park. The inspiration for this book came from Janine spending summers at the beach with her boys as well as the beauty she found in nature. As a biologist she… Continue reading JELLYFISH WISHES AND POEMS ABOUT FISHES: A Picture Book Review and Autographed Giveaway
Last week I reviewed Sally Apokedak's young adult fantasy, The Button Girl. This week, I'm happy to provide an interview with her about the story behind writing this thought-provoking novel for Christians, non-Christians, young women and adults.INTERVIEWCAROL: How did you come up with the ideas for this book? SALLY: I had a hippy friend who had named… Continue reading The Button Girl: An Interview with Author Sally Apokedak and Autographed Giveaway Part II
Today I'm bringing you another clean-read, young adult fantasy. The Button Girl, by Sally Apokedak is a well-plotted book with thorough world-building and memorable characters. Next week, Sally will answer questions I had about the book including how her Christian faith impacted the story and her publication journey.Like Ships, Secrets, & Survivors, each chapter is prefaced with a… Continue reading The Button Girl: A Review and Autographed Giveaway, Part I
Congratulations to Danielle Hammelef who won THE SUMMER OF THE TREE ARMY from last week's blog. ****Some people read a book which they really like and rush through it to get to the end. Not me. When I find a book that… Continue reading EQUAL by Joyce Moyer Hostetter: A Review, An Autographed Giveaway, and a Bonus Giveaway!
Congratulations to Sarah Maury Swan who won ORDINARY HAZARDS off last week's blog. **** REVIEW Last fall I attended the SCBWI-Carolinas panel in which Lina Maslo co-presented "Bringing Your Voice to Non-Fiction." I heard about her forthcoming book, THROUGH THE WARDROBE which she wrote and illustrated. Immediately I knew I wanted to share it with all of you--and… Continue reading THROUGH THE WARDROBE: How C.S. Lewis Created Narnia
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
Congratulations to Danielle H. for winning The Smallest Tadpole's War in the Land of Mysterious Waters. ******** If you, or a teenager you know, is a fan of clean science fiction/fantasy, then The Wizard’s Daughter by Jeff Minerd, is a book you should consider. Minerd sets his three-book series, The Sky-Riders of Etherium in a… Continue reading The Wizard's Daughter: A Book Review and Autographed Giveaway