Congratulations to Connie Saunders for winning AUDACITY JONES STEALS THE SHOW. Loving vs. Virginia (Chronicle Books, February 2017) by Patricia Hruby Powell is more than just a book about the interracial couple who challenged Virginia's anti-miscegenation law. It is a documentary novel, which combines free verse, black and white illustrations by Shadra Strickland in the Visual Journalism style, period… Continue reading Loving vs. Virginia: A Review and Autographed ARC Giveaway!
In conjunction with this week's review of MAKING FRIENDS WITH BILLY WONG Augusta Scattergood is giving away an autographed copy of this timely book. Please leave your name (and email address if you are new to this blog) by 7 PM Saturday, February 11. If you are a teacher, home educator, or librarian, let me know… Continue reading Making Friends With Billy Wong– BONUS GIVEAWAY!
Congratulations to Connie Saunders who won my Mr. Puffball Stunt Cat Across America ARC and Linda Phillips who won the hardcover book. Thanks to all of you for entering. Lots more giveaways coming up, starting right here. ****** Radioactive! is one of those books that makes you wish you had listened better during high school chemistry… Continue reading Radioactive!: How Irène Curie and Lise Meitner Revolutionized Science and Changed the World– A Review and a Giveaway
Some of you may remember when I featured NC author, Constance Lombardo, and her debut graphic novel, Mr Puffball: Stunt Cat to the Stars. I'm happy to report that the sequel, Mr. Puffball: Stunt Cat Across America is being released on September 27 by Harper Collins. So, for all you Constance Lombardo fans, here's the scoop… Continue reading Mr. Puffball: Stunt Cat Across America- A Review and TWO Giveaways!
I am pleased to announce a new series of posts following up on my You Heard it Here First series. In these Where Are They Now? posts I'll share follow-up publication news from authors and illustrators I have featured on my blog. My first success story comes from North Carolina author Joyce Hostetter, who happens to… Continue reading Where Are They Now? Joyce Hostetter's Cover Reveal + Giveaway
Congratulations to Linda Andersen and Monica M., a new Twitter follower, who each won a copy of OF BETTER BLOOD on last week's blog. ******** Writing historical fiction is hard. You read shelves full of books, study documents, interview experts, ponder maps, photographs, and data. You work really hard to insert authentic details (what color… Continue reading Juba! A Novel- A Review and ARC Giveaway
Congratulations to Cindy Clemens who won a copy of The Boy Project on last week's blog; thanks to all for entering. Here's another chance to win a super book- this time for the favorite middle grade boy in your life! ****** When I received a copy of Kathy Erskine's middle grade novel, Seeing Red, (Scholastic, 2013)… Continue reading Seeing Red–and a Giveaway!
Congratulations to Lindsay Fouts, my new blog follower, who won James Scott Bell's book, Plot and Structure. ********* As I begin the fourth major draft of Half-Truths, I need to attack some of my writing weaknesses. According to my writing coach Rebecca Petruck, I have to work on my "internal-life writing muscles." To do this, she… Continue reading Learning Character Internalization
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Congratulations to Jeannie Smith who won Deanna Klingel's book, "Cracks in the Ice." Writers have ongoing debates as to which is better, a character-driven story or one that is plot-driven. Obviously, both well developed characters and engaging plots are vital for a successful novel. As Rebecca Petruck said in a recent post, "Character and plot… Continue reading Character + Plot = Pinned