Congratulations to Linda Phillips who won a copy of Back On Earth from last week's blog. Alice Faye Duncan reached out to me through Twitter and asked if I was willing to review her two new picture books. Since I'm always interested in highlighting new books for you, of course I said yes! Here's the first… Continue reading Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop: A Review and Giveaway
As I mentioned two weeks ago, I recently completed teaching an eight-week class in writing fiction. I knew Joyce Hostetter's recent book, AIM, would appeal to both boys and girls and chose it as a mentor text for the class. Here are a few more reasons--from the perspective of my teen students--why you should read… Continue reading Teaching Fiction, Using AIM as a Mentor Text, and a Giveaway!
The Backstory What do you do if you write a book based on a story in "your own backyard" because of an editor's advice (BLUE, Boyds Mills Press, 2006. The polio epidemic in Hickory, NC) and then the main character keeps talking to you and you want to know what happens next? (COMFORT Calkins Creek, 2009. Anne Fay deals… Continue reading AIM: A Review, an ARC Giveaway, and The Hero's Journey
Congratulations to Michelle Leonard for winning Radioactive! on last week's blog. If you read my blog regularly, than you are no stranger to my friend Joyce Hostetter who I have featured on my blog many times. It is my privilege to host her today as she shares her reflections on some behind the scenes thoughts on writing… Continue reading Guest Post by Joyce Hostetter: On Writing a War Series
Congratulations to Rosi Hollinbeck, who won The Last Cherry Blossom. I think of Rosi as my west coast counterpart. She reviews and gives away books on her blog, as well as provides great links to other writing sites. ***** I was fortunate to attend Summer Camp at Highlights Foundation and in upcoming posts will share many of the… Continue reading The Power of Social Media: Summer Camp at Highlights Part I
Every once awhile I come across a book that I can't bear to give away. I'm sorry friends, but Carver by Marilyn Nelson, (Boyds Mills Press, 2001) is a book that is staying on my shelf. Like me, many of you probably know some of the basics about George Washington Carver's life. You may know he was born a… Continue reading Carver: A Life in Poems
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
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A stray cat. An orphaned pre-teen girl. A heart surgeon turned metal sculptor. A young boy rejected by his domineering father. A wild homeless boy and his albino deer. Mix these all together and what do you have? If you're author/illustrator Clay Carmichael, then you have the beautiful 2010 ALA Notable book, Wild Things. Some… Continue reading Wild Things
Back in November when I was a presenter at AASL, I got to play hostess to several authors who were also attending the event. I warned them ahead of time that the only "payment" I wished to receive was autographed copies of their books. They graciously complied and my library is richer. As I read… Continue reading My School in the Rain Forest