"This is the house that the Hinkle sisters lived in, and that's the muddy river where Thomas and Jackie fished together." Joyce Hostetter pointed out the car window as we drove around around her hometown, Hickory, NC--the setting for her Bakers Mountain Series. "See that old building? That's the hosiery factory where Junior worked for a few days. Over there… Continue reading STORIES IN JOYCE'S BACKYARD: A "PICK-YOUR-OWN" GIVEAWAY!
If you missed Elliott's review of The Captain's Daughters click here.INTERVIEWELLIOTT: What inspired you to write The Captain’s Daughters? DOREEN: The Captain’s Daughters was inspired by my life-long friendship with my best friend Robin. As kids, we were always getting into some kind of mischief. We met in the third grade and we both loved science-fiction and dreamed about living… Continue reading THE CAPTAIN'S DAUGHTERS- PART II: An Interview by Guest Blogger Elliott Kurta with Author Doreen Berger
Although I've never met Sundee Frazier in person, I feel as if I know her. When I first started researching Half-Truths, I read her autobiographical book, Check All That Apply: Finding Wholeness as a Multiracial Person (InterVarsity, 2002. The daughter of a white mother and a Black father, Sundee wrote candidly about her struggles to fit in, to feel accepted… Continue reading MIGHTY INSIDE: A Middle Grade Historical Novel Review and Giveaway
Last week in Part I, I reviewed Christine Kindberg's debut novel, The Means That Make Us Strangers. Today she shares her passion for racial equality and her path to publication. And as promised, I'll tell you how she and I are connected. AUTHOR INTERVIEWCAROL: Everyone always wants to know how author’s get their ideas for their… Continue reading THE MEANS THAT MAKES US STRANGERS: Author Interview with Christine Kindberg and Giveaway–Part II
As promised last week, here is my follow up interview with Kathy Wiechman, author of NOT ON FIFTH STREET. CAROL: Just like in LIKE A RIVER, you wrote NOT ON FIFTH STREET from two points of view. What led to that decision? KATHY: NOT ON FIFTH STREET is about a rift between two brothers. When I… Continue reading Not On Fifth Street: An Interview with Kathy Cannon Wiechman
Congratulations to Linda Phillips for winning a copy of Grace Ocasio's book, The Speed of Our Lives. In August I reviewed Maggie Dana's book, Turning On a Dime. When I asked her if she would share about her love for all things equine, she sent me this post which first appeared on Tudor Robins' blog. I… Continue reading Movies, Horses, Runaway Piglets–and a Giveaway!
Two years ago I was pleased to share my friend Linda Phillips' news of signing with an agent. Today, I am even more excited to share her announcement of signing with a publisher! And you know that I'll be the first to offer an ARC or off-the-presses copy of her debut young adult novel when it is… Continue reading You Heard it Here First!
Yesterday Joyce Hostetter and I brainstormed our upcoming workshop for the Write2Ignite conference. We have presented “Using Life Experiences to Inform Your Writing” at other venues, but we like to tweak it each time to make it fresh. We introduce ourselves by each reading a passage that springboards from our own life experiences. Previously, I have… Continue reading Wild Onions, Orange Popsicles, and Truth
Conventional wisdom among children's writers is that the protagonist of your novel should be older than your intended reader's age. That's at least one rule that Alabama Moon successfully breaks. Right from the beginning of this poignant, survival/adventure story, 10-year-old Moon faces the death of his father from whom he has learned everything he "needs"… Continue reading Alabama Moon