I have no idea how anyone who isn’t well read expects to write well.
Reading counts as writing time. It is also the best, most painless way to improve your craft.
From now on, I’m going to start opening conversations with beginners with “what children’s/YA books have you read lately?” I’m going to work the question more into speeches,
Ninjas, Piranhas, and Galileo by Greg Leitich Smith (Little Brown, 2003)(Recorded Books, 2004). From the flap copy: Elias, Shohei, and Honoria have always been a trio united against That Which Is The Peshtigo School. But suddenly it seems that understanding and sticking up for a best friend isn’t as easy as it used to be. Elias,
Continue Reading Author Interview: Greg Leitich Smith on Ninjas, Piranhas, and Galileo »
In the past few days, more than one friend has asked me whether I’d consider writing a YA novel set on a reservation, possibly linked to the recent real-life shooting tragedy. It’s an interesting question, but the truth is that I wouldn’t be the best person to do such a book.
I’m personally familiar with the urban and tribal-town structures,
Comfort by Carolee Dean (Houghton Mifflin, 2002). Kenny Willson wants out of Comfort, Texas–away from his alcoholic ex-con daddy, away from his controlling mama, away from everybody except Cindy. Despite her bullying boyfriend, she introduces Kenny to poetry competitions and shows him something that might be love. But not everything is what it appears to be in Comfort,
I read a lot. Because I love it. To keep up with the industry. To keep up with my author/illustrator friends. To keep my Web site and this blog updated.
Something I’ve noticed over the years is how much I bring to the process. Many books I’ve set down because I just couldn’t get into them or because they seemed “slight”
Today’s mail brings a review copy of THE SORCERER’S COMPANION: A GUIDE TO THE MAGICAL WORLD OF HARRY POTTER by Allan Zola Kronzek & Elizabeth Kronzek (Broadway Books/Random House, 2004); “now fully updated to include HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX.” Essentially, this guide offers historical insights into the literary and mythological inspiration of Potter’s magic.
Blogging. Everyone’s doing it. Some new author/book hot spots…
Bill Crider: http://billcrider.blogspot.com/
D.L. Garfinkle: http://dlgarfinkle.com/ — visit the blog
Janni Lee Simner: http://www.simner.com/desertdispatches/
Sarah Dessen: http://www.livejournal.com/users/writergrl/
Linda Joy Singleton: http://www.lindajoysingleton.com/ — visit the blog
Surfnet Kids Journal: http://blog.surfnetkids.com/