tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44136983228483136202024-02-18T19:23:37.516-08:00Teen Readsreadingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.comBlogger204125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413698322848313620.post-57162525837784021662011-07-06T09:19:00.000-07:002011-07-06T09:19:28.762-07:00My new site is upI've been busy building myself a new site which includes a <a href="http://sherylbooks.wordpress.com/">wordpress blog</a> and website rolled into one. I'm gradually transferring content. This is where all new posts will be located.readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413698322848313620.post-40639419526303156392011-06-28T17:45:00.003-07:002011-06-28T17:45:52.302-07:00New site coming soon...I'm in the midst of a blog/website move...will keep you posted.readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413698322848313620.post-52653074933753368972011-06-14T10:08:00.000-07:002011-06-14T10:10:38.142-07:00The Why We Broke Up ProjectI stumbled across <a href="http://whywebrokeupproject.tumblr.com/about-the-project">The Why We Broke Up project</a> which is based on the book <i>Why We Broke Up </i>by Daniel Handler AKA Lemony Snicket. According to Handler, "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2d1102; font-family: museo-1, museo-2; line-height: 24px;">This website allows you to share your stories of heartbreak with us, just as we shared ours with you. Our hope is that the Why We Broke Up project will enable all of our heartbreak to reach critical mass, so that, unlike [name redacted], it will never bother us again." </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2d1102; font-family: museo-1, museo-2; line-height: 24px;"></span>As soon as I saw Handler's name attached, I knew the book and the project would be as quirky as it is awesome. The illustrations are also awesome, so you just lose. You can read the book, visit the website and share with the world why you broke up with someone... or why they broke up with you! Maybe you broke up with them because they didn't like ketchup on their mac and cheese. Maybe they were a cheating dirtbag, or maybe they were addicted to romantic comedies which you couldn't stand. Maybe they were shallow, or maybe they didn't like books! It doesn't matter, you can commiserate with Handler and Kalman, as well as complete strangers to get all out of your system and move on.readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413698322848313620.post-83327060246918140972011-06-10T15:41:00.000-07:002011-06-10T15:41:17.485-07:00Another writer weighs in on YA books<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/518bFu3S5KL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/518bFu3S5KL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" /></a></div>More on the YA question. Just finished reading a short essay by Sherman Alexie on <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2011/06/09/why-the-best-kids-books-are-written-in-blood/">"Why the Best Kids Books are Written in Blood"</a>. If you haven't figured out why young people need all sorts of literature, you'll want to check out this poignant essay. And, if you haven't read Alexie, it's not too late! His <i>The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian</i> is both dark and funny. It's also brilliant, just like most of his other books.readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413698322848313620.post-7361923825917922612011-06-10T14:23:00.000-07:002011-06-10T14:46:19.108-07:00Dark YA Literature<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51cB4U9be9L._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51cB4U9be9L._SL500_AA300_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>There has been such an uproar over teen books these days since the <i>WallStreet Journal </i>article that accused YA novels of being "rife with depravity" and "so dark that kidnapping and pederasy and incest and brutal beatings are now just part of the run of things." Everyone has been weighing in, including well known authors like Judy Bloome, Neil Gaiman, and Laurie Halse Anderson. Bloggers have been frenzied in their rebuttals and facebook has been awash with links. Even National Public Radio has weighed in on the subject. Still, some continue to wave the "teen protectionists" flag, which is usually synonymous with book banning. For a balance overview of the controversy, check out Publisher Weekly's <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1021712355">"</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #354d66; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/47570-are-teen-novels-dark-and-depraved---or-saving-lives-.html?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly%27s+PW+Daily&utm_campaign=ebec43e47e-UA-15906914-1&utm_medium=email">Are Teen Novels Dark and Depraved — or Saving Lives?" </a></span>by Karen Springen yesterday.<br />
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41r0sn3oWQL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41r0sn3oWQL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a>Personally, I'm of the opinion that YA literature gives a voice to what is sometimes to painful to share. Books about difficult subjects such as: suicide, self-harm, teen prostitution, rape, and addiction are all examples. Authors like Laurie Halse Anderson, Ellen Hopkins, Cheryl Rainfield and others can show you dozens of emails and letters they receive from young people who confirm that reading has saved their lives. Books about real life challenges young people face lets them know that they are not alone; that others have had similar experiences, and that they can survive similar terrible experiences. <br />
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51lHG3Zpo6L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51lHG3Zpo6L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a>Books can also be pre-emptive. They can also show a reader the eventual result of taking a certain path without actually having to do so themselves. A realistic book for young people with believable characters about about self-harm, such as <i>Scars </i>by Cheryl Rainfield, or <i>Crank</i> by Ellen Hopkins, may be enough to get a teen to seek help before heading down that path. A book like <i>Speak</i> by Laurie Halse Anderson, may prevent a teen from blaming themselves in the terrible event that they are raped. A book like <i>The Hunger Games</i> by Suzanne Collins, may move young people to think about ways to prevent wars down the road. <br />
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41CGy+CBDaL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41CGy+CBDaL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a>There are so many positives about realistic teen fiction these days that it's hard to believe this even needs to be discussed. Of course dark books are not for every teen. But they should always be available to those who need or want to read them, especially for those kids whose lives have literally been saved by knowing that they are not alone, and that they have options.<br />
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</i></span></span>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413698322848313620.post-81810920581025531102011-06-07T13:42:00.001-07:002011-06-07T13:42:35.359-07:00Michael Hauge's 6 stage plot structureToday I'm trying to apply Michael Hauge's "6 stage plot structure" to the young adult novel I've been working on. He also has a wonderful "Story Concept Template" that I find useful. If you don't know who <a href="http://storymastery.com/">Michael Hauge</a> is and you have writerly aspirations, you may want to spend a little time on his website. You may even want to order a book or two. This guy is amazing. I took a two day workshop with him, and I would love to do more. He gets right the heart of your writing, doesn't mince words, and he's good. His credentials speak for themselves.readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413698322848313620.post-34460450535269145992011-06-04T12:15:00.000-07:002011-06-04T12:15:47.975-07:002011 The Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Book AwardsThe Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Book Awards have been announced.<br />
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Here are this year's winner in the young adult / middle reader category.<br />
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<img align="left" height="153" hspace="5" src="http://www.arts.on.ca/AssetFactory.aspx?vid=8049" width="100" /></td><td style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><b></b></b><br />
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<b><b><h3 style="color: #2794a4; font-size: 1.308em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 20px;"><b><b>YOUNG ADULT / MIDDLE READER AWARD</b></b></h3></b><em>Half Brother </em></b>By Kenneth Oppel (Toronto, ON)<br />
Published by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.<br />
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To find out more about this Ontario Arts Council Award, check out their <a href="http://www.arts.on.ca/Page4213.aspx">site</a>.readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413698322848313620.post-32541951041975057782011-06-02T15:05:00.000-07:002011-06-02T15:05:49.738-07:00Author Skype visit<div class="zemanta-img separator" style="clear: right;"><a href="http://www.crunchbase.com/company/skype" style="clear: right; display: block; float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image representing Skype as depicted in CrunchBase" height="89" src="http://www.crunchbase.com/assets/images/resized/0000/1387/1387v1-max-450x450.png" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-size: 0.8em;" width="200" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="clear: both; float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 105px;">Image via <a href="http://www.crunchbase.com/">CrunchBase</a></span></div>Author school visits are a wonderful way to turn kids onto books. But, with tight budgets, a lot of schools simply can't afford the expense; unless they get creative. Author Skype visits are a less expensive alternative, and it's easier than you think. Most schools already have the equipment necessary and Margriet Ruurs has written an easy "how to" host an <a href="http://www.canadianteachermagazine.com/pdf/CTM-Sept10.pdf">author Skype visit</a> in <i>Canadian Teacher Magazine. W</i>hile you're there, check out a few of the other wonderful articles. <br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=f08a80d7-1e99-45df-8f31-1690f7af031a" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413698322848313620.post-72704650951822837202011-05-21T11:21:00.001-07:002011-05-21T11:21:30.955-07:00Help Slave Lake, AB rebuild their fire-devestated library<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">My son-in-law has been up fighting the fire in Slave Lake Alberta. In a phone conversation to us he spoke about how terrible the destruction was. What a nightmare for the people of that fire-devestated town. My heart goes out to them. One of their losses has been their new public library. I'm so happy to see that support from other libraries, publishers and book lovers has been pouring in. Please consider helping with:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">1) cash donations </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">which can be made through </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><a href="http://www.slavelakelibrary.ab.ca/">www.slavelakelibrary.ab.ca</a> on their "Make</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"> a Donation" link, or</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">2) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">donating new or nearly new books (they are asking for books no older than 2 years, probably to avoid musty cast-offs). These can be shipped to the Peace Library system headquarters for cataloguing and storage until a temporary library can be opened in Slave Lake.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>ATTN: Books for Slave Lake Library<br />
Peace Library System<br />
8301 -- 110 Street<br />
Grande Prairie, AB T8W 6T2</b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><http: www.slavelakelibrary.ab.ca=""><br />
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<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=c232724e-d0e3-4bc8-99f2-d6bed2ff394f" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413698322848313620.post-60972006331556557862011-05-08T09:54:00.000-07:002011-05-08T09:54:48.630-07:00Room by Emma Donoghue<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41zGJ8k52tL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41zGJ8k52tL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I've been reading a book called Room by Emma Donoghue. It's an amazingly powerful story about a young woman who is kidnapped from her university, locked in a steel reinforced shed and forced to become a man's sex slave. She has a child, Jack who is the narrator of the story. It's a difficult and yet wonderfully told story. Aside from being a compelling story in it's own right, this is a novel that would be fabulous in terms of studying voice, character and how plot and character are and must be intertwined. Donahue totally nails both Jack and his mother's voice before they escape, and after. It's one of those must reads. Although it's fiction, Donahue has created characters who live and breathe.readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413698322848313620.post-20577419453584226392011-04-20T16:14:00.000-07:002011-04-20T16:14:56.580-07:00Blogging vacationLife is crazy busy right now, so I've decided to cut myself a little slack. I'm taking a blogging vacation until things settle down a little. Feel free to peruse the past few years of posts. I'll still be tweeting and facebooking on occasion so I won't be disappearing entirely. Happy spring.readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413698322848313620.post-20460816394196526212011-04-14T11:17:00.000-07:002011-04-14T22:54:11.074-07:00Rock the Drop! Support Teen Lit Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Yep, it's Teen Lit Day</b></span> today, and there is no shortage of ways to celebrate. For ideas on how to make this day rock, check out <a href="http://wikis.ala.org/yalsa/index.php/Support_Teen_Literature_Day">YALSA (Young Adult Library Services)</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Meanwhile, <a href="http://www.readergirlz.com/tbd.html">readergirlz</a>, one of my favorite blogs, have come up with a pretty cool way to get the word out. It's called Rock the Drop! Here's what you do.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1. Visit their site (the link is above)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2. Download the same bookplate I've snagged below</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">3. Print it</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">4. Paste it into your favorite YA novel</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">5. Drop the book in a public place (bus stop, coffee shop, etc.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">6. Snap a photo </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">7. Send it on over to readergirz AT gmail Dot com </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">8. check out their site to see the YA love</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">9. Thank the cool ladies at readergirlz</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">10. spread the word</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="http://www.readergirlz.com/TBD2011Banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.readergirlz.com/TBD2011Banner.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEI-YzIaKKtMjTJw29g1y5TvsjzgnX68pXYX-Zolvl8YrjpFDexOT4tuXjLe0SrktE4w0rdubgrcGdikgdspnoRSpA7EQ7t59ReeYCt47VgI6Q25NX-FKr5HqGufG08mmlRoLGLZ10DQ7i/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEI-YzIaKKtMjTJw29g1y5TvsjzgnX68pXYX-Zolvl8YrjpFDexOT4tuXjLe0SrktE4w0rdubgrcGdikgdspnoRSpA7EQ7t59ReeYCt47VgI6Q25NX-FKr5HqGufG08mmlRoLGLZ10DQ7i/s320/image.jpg" width="239" /></a><br />
Here's my contribution. I left it in the lobby of my local rec. centre and it was gone when I finished my workout an hour later. I know that whoever has it will enjoy Miss Smithers by Susan Juby.readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413698322848313620.post-82605470529335064452011-04-14T10:14:00.000-07:002011-04-14T10:51:39.304-07:00JULIAN SMITH - I'm Reading a Book: a great way to support Teen Lit Day<div>Today is Teen Lit Day. Yeah. I discovered this vid by way of a writer Mary McKenna Siddals. It's pretty cool, and so is Julian. If you like this, he's got some really cool other clips, music, social commentary and he isn't a bad writer either so have a look at his <a href="http://www.juliansmith.tv/category/blog/">blog</a>.</div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BuRuwR2JSXI?fs=1" width="480"></iframe>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413698322848313620.post-73526639359633832102011-04-13T08:30:00.000-07:002011-04-13T08:30:03.765-07:00Flash Mob Freeze Mob to help Celebrate National Library Week, April 10-1...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://volunteer.ca/files/img-proud-sponsor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="http://volunteer.ca/files/img-proud-sponsor.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Thanks for Leila at <a href="http://bookshelvesofdoom.blogs.com/bookshelves_of_doom/">Bookshelves of Doom</a> for the heads up on this week being National Library Week as well as <a href="http://volunteer.ca/nvw/">National Volunteer Week</a>. Whew...busy busy week!<br />
<a href="http://volunteer.ca/files/img-proud-sponsor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6CgDmratqX0?fs=1" width="480"></iframe><a href="http://bookshelvesofdoom.blogs.com/bookshelves_of_doom/">http://bookshelvesofdoom.blogs.com/bookshelves_of_doom/</a>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413698322848313620.post-7697130568297292652011-04-12T11:27:00.000-07:002011-04-12T11:27:39.273-07:00YA Highway: Why are there so many love triangles in paranormal YA?<div class="zemanta-img separator" style="clear: right;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gianciotto_Discovers_Paolo_and_Francesca_Jean_Auguste_Dominique_Ingres.jpg" style="clear: right; display: block; float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Gianciotto Discovers Paolo and Francesca" height="419" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Gianciotto_Discovers_Paolo_and_Francesca_Jean_Auguste_Dominique_Ingres.jpg/300px-Gianciotto_Discovers_Paolo_and_Francesca_Jean_Auguste_Dominique_Ingres.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="300" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="clear: both; float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 300px;">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gianciotto_Discovers_Paolo_and_Francesca_Jean_Auguste_Dominique_Ingres.jpg">Wikipedia</a></span></div>Of course love triangles have been around forever! But, here's a link to an interesting post on why there are so many love triangles in YA paranormal literature . Leila Austin, the author of the post, raises the point that there are other ways of bringing conflict into young adult books. Check it out. <a href="http://www.yahighway.com/2011/04/why-are-there-so-many-love-triangles-in.html">YA Highway: Why are there so many love triangles in paranormal YA?</a> <br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=fb6869e1-813a-4658-8028-7b517612c729" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413698322848313620.post-53992428609437464082011-04-05T21:20:00.000-07:002011-04-05T21:20:23.387-07:00A word about reviewsA work of art is usually pretty close to the heart of it's creators. Most of us who write, want to make a living, but most of us also want to create something special, something that others will want to read again and again. Unfortunately, not everything we create is wonderful. I don't know a writer out there who hasn't wanted to change something after a book has been published. Nothing is perfect no matter how much we want it to be. it. Sometimes it takes us a while to discover our own imperfections. Not so with reviewers. They can usually spot problems that we writers (and even editors who also end up close to a project) miss. Consequently, authors get bad reviews. It's just the way of the world. <div><br /></div><div>So, what to do when you get a bad review? </div><div><br /></div><div>Suck it up...</div><div><br /></div><div>In other words, keep your mouth shut! If you must comment, if anything, be gracious. Thank the reviewer for their time, and move on. Bitch about the review to your family & friends if you must, but then move on to your next project. Try to use any constructive criticism to improve your next work. If there's nothing constructive in a review for you, forget it. Your job is to get work out into the world, not to worry about one opinion. Yep, that's right, a reviewer's opinion is just one opinion. We always hope reviewers will love and recommend our work. We hope all of our readers will love our work too. Some might. Some might not. You just have to get used to the fact that public criticism isn't always fair. But, one way or another, you DO have to learn to deal with it, at least if you want to survive in the world of literature, art, theatre, music, or any other art form. It's part of the business, just like rejection is. Media, whether it's internet media or print media has some great advantages and some serious headaches. My first publisher always told me that any review is a good review no matter how bad it is...it gets the word out. </div>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413698322848313620.post-89822458132129957982011-04-01T08:00:00.000-07:002011-04-01T09:38:32.658-07:00Emily Dickinson's "Wild Nights-Wild Nights!"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="t0" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Wild Nights! Wild Nights!</span><br />
<br />
<span class="t1" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"> By <a href="http://www.public-domain-poetry.com/authors.php?pdaid=133" style="color: blue; text-decoration: none;">Emily Elizabeth Dickinson</a></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Times;"><hr align="left" color="blue" size="2" style="color: #999999; height: 1px;" width="25%" /><br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="t3a" style="color: black; font-family: tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"> Wild nights! Wild nights!<br />
Were I with thee,<br />
Wild nights should be<br />
Our luxury!<br />
<br />
Futile the winds<br />
To a heart in port, --<br />
Done with the compass,<br />
Done with the chart.<br />
<br />
Rowing in Eden!<br />
Ah! the sea!<br />
Might I but moor<br />
To-night in thee!</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="t3a" style="color: black; font-family: tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"><br />
</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="t3a" style="color: black; font-family: tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">And here's a copy of the original written by Emily. Pretty cool don't you think!</span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="zemanta-img separator zemanta-action-dragged" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Emily_Dickinson_%22Wild_nights%22_manuscript.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Dickinson's handwritten manuscript of her poem..." height="640" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/Emily_Dickinson_%22Wild_nights%22_manuscript.jpg/300px-Emily_Dickinson_%22Wild_nights%22_manuscript.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="452" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Emily_Dickinson_%22Wild_nights%22_manuscript.jpg">Wikipedia</a></span></div><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=7c4d5453-6f55-4088-bfd7-d0fc0680deb5" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413698322848313620.post-89404975536844258382011-03-31T22:37:00.000-07:002011-03-31T22:37:57.415-07:00Poetry Month and Kidlitosphere Central<div class="zemanta-img separator"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Colorful_spring_garden.jpg" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Garden with some tulips and narcissus" height="132" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/Colorful_spring_garden.jpg/300px-Colorful_spring_garden.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-size: 0.8em;" width="200" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 200px;">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Colorful_spring_garden.jpg">Wikipedia</a></span></div>April is an exciting month. Spring is in the air. The publishing world is aflutter with fabulous new books, and the entire month is a celebration of poetry. There are poets and poetry out there to inspire pretty much anyone and everyone. At <a href="http://www.kidlitosphere.org/poetrymonth/">Kidlitosphere Central,</a> more than a dozen Kid's Lit and YA Lit bloggers have stepped up to share all things poetry; from a Poetry Potluck to a Poetry Party...from EduHaiku to Teen Poetry, you'll want to check out the links. <br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=12b22b34-ef00-4902-b727-b4fef6d7da94" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413698322848313620.post-45833392776111401782011-03-31T12:49:00.001-07:002011-03-31T12:49:52.370-07:00Mentoring<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I didn't have a mentor when I started out writing more than twenty years ago, but I wish I had. This morning, I spent an hour or so with a young woman interested in writing for kids. She was sweet and enthusiastic, but very naive. Many seem to view the life of a writer in romantic terms when really, it's a lot of hard work. Being a writer requires commitment and tremendous self-discipline, generally, without much in the way of monetary compensation...Ideas are all well and good. I have hundreds of story ideas. But, a book is a whole other matter. It takes time to plan, time to write, and time to revise, and then revise again. Furthermore, books involve a skill set that can't be learned overnight, and takes a lifetime to master. If it were easy, a whole lot more people would be doing it.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">As well, few young people are aware that writing is actually a business. No one wants to publish your book just because! It costs publishers money in editorial time, designing time, print costs, advertising costs, and the usual overhead. Publishers want, and need, to make money from their publishing line. They won't publish your book unless it can make them money. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I hope the young woman I spoke to takes the time to learn not only the craft of writing, but the business, since the two go hand in hand. Maybe one day I'll get an excited phone call telling me that her first book is coming out. I hope so. </div>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413698322848313620.post-67623743971370529482011-03-28T09:07:00.000-07:002011-03-28T09:51:57.110-07:00Diana Wynne Jones<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51-Hcs6LbnL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51-Hcs6LbnL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Sad news in the YA world...fantasy writer, Diana Wynne Jones has passed away. Best known for the <i>Chrestomanci </i>series, she started populating her books with witches, sorcerers, ghosts and goons when J.K. Rowling was still playing in the sandbox. One of the things that I particularly enjoyed about her books is her wonderful sense of humor. She could be both funny and scary, which is quite a rare mix. It's hard to believe that we'll soon be seeing the last of her phenomenal books. What a great loss. As far as I know, and surprisingly, only one of her books was turned into a movie, <i>Howl's moving Castle</i>, which is probably why a lot of North American readers aren't as familiar with her as they could be. I've heard that her very last book will be published by Greenwillow Books early next year. Fortunately, she leaves a huge body of work. I know I'll be downloading a few of my favorite titles on my Kobo to reread. Elizabeth Bluemle posted a great tribute on <a href="http://blogs.publishersweekly.com/blogs/shelftalker/?p=4514&utm_source=Publishers+Weekly%27s+PW+Daily&utm_campaign=26824cf9d3-UA-15906914-1&utm_medium=email">Shelftalker</a> this morning.<br />
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<div class="zemanta-img separator zemanta-action-dragged"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Howls-Moving-Castle-Diana-Wynne/dp/0441346642%3FSubscriptionId%3D0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82%26tag%3Dzemanta-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D0441346642" style="clear: right; display: block; float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of "Howl's Moving Castle"" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41J589H1MTL._SL300_.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-size: 0.8em;" width="133" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 201px;">Cover of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Howls-Moving-Castle-Diana-Wynne/dp/0441346642%3FSubscriptionId%3D0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82%26tag%3Dzemanta-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D0441346642">Howl's Moving Castle</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Howls-Moving-Castle-Diana-Wynne/dp/0441346642%3FSubscriptionId%3D0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82%26tag%3Dzemanta-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D0441346642" style="clear: right; display: block; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></a></div><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=51a84e2e-e6ca-47ed-a6f6-bcb08dc03ae7" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413698322848313620.post-88893734968337370762011-03-24T16:18:00.000-07:002011-03-24T16:18:34.579-07:00Aric Davis and "Nickel Plated"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-NB706_ya_DV_20110317102236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-NB706_ya_DV_20110317102236.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>Aric Davis has written a very interesting article on writing for the YA market. He talks about how he dealt with the sex and violence issue in his novel <i><a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2011/03/22/sex-violence-an-author-tests-the-boundaries-of-ya-fiction/">Nickel Plated</a>. </i>Worth a look through for sure.readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413698322848313620.post-31443937684344829622011-03-21T11:19:00.000-07:002011-03-21T11:19:17.991-07:00World Poetry DayHappy World Poetry Day. Celebrate by reading a poem, writing a poem, or sharing a poem with a friend or stranger.<br />
<br />
Check out <a href="http://www.youngpoets.ca/?q=ezine">Re:Verse</a>, a zine for young poets. Great poems and lots more.readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413698322848313620.post-14589996596937230472011-03-20T11:36:00.001-07:002011-03-20T11:36:44.483-07:00Yesterday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiazc6DyDYz9Bv4o281NBGWnttU2-4rTWsWkAs_BjLPmYIqcQZGcOOyZvMa9mtOyapkP6s-7ydYpLGF2r4FxAaq0x07DBEdLk0HgO4X7sa6mwncpQ0ReD7rrLN5dc0dS-uHbmkU_CdrzLl9/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiazc6DyDYz9Bv4o281NBGWnttU2-4rTWsWkAs_BjLPmYIqcQZGcOOyZvMa9mtOyapkP6s-7ydYpLGF2r4FxAaq0x07DBEdLk0HgO4X7sa6mwncpQ0ReD7rrLN5dc0dS-uHbmkU_CdrzLl9/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Here's a pic from my sunset run along Dallas Road yesterday. Notice that it isn't dark even though it was almost 7pm. Later some friends and I walked down to Dallas Road again to check out the super moon (when the moon is closest to the earth). It was pretty awesome, but sadly didn't get the moon over water shot I was after.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7cV4pmle9Mo70Kre_gPd1Gt-89kVkLJAQSrEzlqsZPro6oQlZlWtCck4JM8VtQEP1gqoFlSR1GjVB3out5mgERHccZPMFEJmZgNrmiFQNxiuL_Tz4PmNHGiWj-GpwDK8fcqRqGyC_ENwn/s1600/super+moon2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7cV4pmle9Mo70Kre_gPd1Gt-89kVkLJAQSrEzlqsZPro6oQlZlWtCck4JM8VtQEP1gqoFlSR1GjVB3out5mgERHccZPMFEJmZgNrmiFQNxiuL_Tz4PmNHGiWj-GpwDK8fcqRqGyC_ENwn/s1600/super+moon2.jpg" /></a></div>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413698322848313620.post-9225969452334269492011-03-16T19:41:00.000-07:002011-03-16T19:43:36.236-07:00April is National Poetry MonthGregory from <a href="http://gottabook.blogspot.com/">GottaBook</a> will be featuring <a href="http://gottabook.blogspot.com/2011/03/announcing-2011-edition-of-30-poets30.html">30 Poets in 30 Days</a> to celebrate National Poetry Month in April. Some of the poets he'll be hosting are: Arnold Adoff whom I saw many years ago and whose poetry I still adore, Vancouver's own Avis Harley, multicultural poet extraordinaire, Janet Wong, and the amazingly versatile Jane Yolen to name just a few. Do be sure to check it out his blog, and to make it easier, you can even subscribe!readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413698322848313620.post-47427029332980178252011-03-16T10:08:00.000-07:002011-03-16T10:08:58.022-07:00YA Highway: The Importance Of Not Being Earnest All The TimeI love this blog...and especially this post on dumping the expectations and just writing. Ya can't revise it if isn't written folks...<a href="http://www.yahighway.com/2011/03/importance-of-not-being-earnest-all.html">YA Highway: The Importance Of Not Being Earnest All The Time</a>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0