In wrapping up 2019, I wanted to reflect on the books and authors that taught me the most about writing this year. Some gave me ideas for manuscripts-in-progress. Others offered much needed wisdom about craft and what makes a good story, and still others offered a unique lens into the publishing industry. Have a look: […]
I first met Mary Volmer at Bridging: A One-Day Writing Retreat at St. Mary’s College. This writing retreat offered a great space to write, think, and meditate. I was much more in tune with my writing process, and I felt at peace throughout. If you’re near the Bay Area (or even if you aren’t) this […]
I first met Lisa Moore Ramee at an author event, and bought her debut middle grade novel, A GOOD KIND OF TROUBLE at an SCBWI event in October. Her book has been cited as one of NPR’s best books of 2019, and was mentioned in Booklist as one of their Top Ten #OwnVoices Middle Grade novels. […]
REVERIE has been on my To-Be-Read list ever since I connected with Ryan La Sala on Twitter. I’m happy to announce that the book finally debuted yesterday. Have a look: All Kane Montgomery knows for certain is that the police found him half-dead in the river. He can’t remember how he got there, what happened […]
The last author feature of November brings us DARK TOMORROW: RISE OF THE CROW and the sequel, CULT OF THE CROW. Have a look at this series from Month9Books: When a deadly virus decimates most of Earth’s population, 16-year-old Sawyer Bradshaw finds he is both immune and alone in a world that has descended […]
After I featured Katie Henry here, I couldn’t wait to see what book she’d come up with next. LET’S CALL IT A DOOMSDAY offers an interesting lens into what it’s like to deal with anxiety, and how to figure out how live, even when the world might be ending: There are so many ways the […]
In writing a middle grade book, I’m also widening my reading palate to include more middle grade titles. One of the fall titles from Month9Books, THE WICKED TREE, offers just the right amount of “spooky” for middle grade readers: Eleven-year-old Tavorian Kreet hates it when money troubles force his mom to move them in with […]
I’ve been a fan of Susan Dennard for a while. I first started following her newsletter, and then I saw her at YallWest earlier this year. There, I bought the first book in the Witchlands series, TRUTHWITCH…only to lose it before Susan could sign it! The most recent in the series, BLOODWITCH, debuted earlier this […]
Lailu Loganberry (Mystic Cooking Chronicles) has been one of my favorite Middle Grade series ever since I featured it here, along with Heidi Lang’s book, RULES OF THE RUFF. A PINCH OF PHOENIX offers a high-stakes conclusion to the series, and it’s a world I’ll be sorry to see the back of: Lailu is in hot […]
I’ve been a fan of Stacey Lee ever since I featured her here. I’m even more excited about her newest book, THE DOWNSTAIRS GIRL. It’s a historical novel about a servant who moonlights as an advice columnist, and it’s gotten tons of great reviews. Have a look: By day, seventeen-year-old Jo Kuan works as a […]