The Boy, the Boat, and the Beast -- A Review by Caroline Starr Rose

Praise

Clark writes with a lyrical and appealing rhythm, as she viscerally explores childhood emotions of fear and anxiety relating to bullying, abandonment, and getting lost. 
-- Publishers Weekly

An unforgettable, life-affirming tale. 
-- Booklist

With a sharp focus on the isolated protagonist and his internal struggle, it is character development that shines most clearly, though the external environmental dangers and the mystery keep the suspense taut….A poignant story. 
-- School Library Journal

This first novel from Clark offers unusual imaginative and emotion-driven introspection, earning its several allusions to The Little Prince.
-- Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Review

I’m a long-time fan of survival stories. I even wrote one of my own. The Boy, the Boat, and the Beast is a wonderful new addition to the genre.

The story begins with a Boy waking up on a beach. The Boy doesn’t know how he got there. He doesn’t know his history. He can’t even remember his name. He soon comes to realize a Beast lurks in the woods.

Survival stories face unique challenges, especially when a character is all alone. There are no other characters to play off of. That means there’s no one to talk to, either! The brilliant solution in the movie Castaway was the addition of the volleyball, Wilson. In The Boy, the Boat, and the Beast, the Boy must face a Bully — an antagonistic version of himself. Like Wilson, the Bully let’s readers listen in to the Boy’s world. We hear his doubts and struggles firsthand.

Survival stories are deeply internal. They often rely on backstory and memories. As the Boy struggles to remember who he is and how he might find his way home, he is faced with pieces of his past. Sometimes they seem real enough to touch. Some memories are hopeful and warm. Some leave him feeling inadequate and even more alone. And as the Boy gets glimpses of his history, readers get a clearer picture of the Boy.

Of course, survival stories must also be external. There are physical challenges. Struggles. Obstacles that feel impossible to overcome. This story has all that, too.  

The Boy, the Boat, and the Beast takes the survival genre one step further in ways it would be unfair for me to share. The story must speak for itself. But I can promise you this is memorable and powerful read --  as Booklist describes it, an unforgettable, life-affirming tale. 

Thank you to Simon and Schuster for the review copy.

Takeaways from Elizabeth Gilbert's BIG MAGIC and my favorite books on craft by Joanna Roddy

I'm forever reading books from other writers about the craft of writing. Writing is solitary in many ways. I'm always looking for coyotes of the borderlands to show my wandering writer's soul the way into the land of plenty. 

This spring I read Elizabeth Gilbert's BIG MAGIC. I never read EAT, PRAY, LOVE, but I fell utterly in love with Gilbert's TED talk on creative genius, in which she argues for the classical idea of the muse. She says that the modern concept of artistic genius is too much pressure and is silently killing off our artists through addiction, self-destruction, and despair. She offers instead the ancient idea of having a genius: a creative entity that brings inspiration to collaborate with the artist. Today we typically think of this as a muse. The artist is the servant of the muse, offering the grunt labor to bring the idea into being. As a co-collaborator, the artist is only partially responsible for the success or failure of the work.  

The video is 20 minutes long, but if you can give yourself a learning/ inspiration break today, it's worth the watch.

BIG MAGIC expands on the TED talk, and it is a rich, nurturing baptism into the good news of creative living free from fear. It may be the psychologically healthiest thing I've ever read about being an artist. A lot of writers on craft focus on all the barriers to creativity--resistance, apathy, difficulty, fear. I think this can sometimes lead to the paradigm of the tortured artist who believes that their creative work requires brutal sacrifice and torture. Gilbert reminds us that ideas want to be brought to life by artists and that our creativity chose us and is dependent on us to produce anything in the world. So why would we think it hates us and is trying to punish us? One line from BIG MAGIC I quite like on this theme is this:

“I’ve always had the sense that the muse of the tormented artist—while the artist himself is throwing temper tantrums—is sitting quietly in a corner of the studio, buffing its fingernails, patiently waiting for the guy to calm down and sober up so everyone can get back to work.”

Here are my main takeaways from the book:

• Ideas are seekers of human collaboration and we have the freedom to say yes or no to them. If you say no, someone else will get that idea and run with it. If you say yes, but don't show up to do the work, eventually the power of that idea will leave you, looking for another collaborator.
• You're never too old to begin.
• Take the long view of failure and rejection: I plan to do this for the rest of my life. Many years of rejection is only short-term. 
• Do not pressure your creative work to succeed or provide for you financially. That's the quickest way to kill it off. You provide for both yourself and your creative work. (Don't quit your day job.)
• Stop complaining. Complaining about your creative life is bad juju and ideas will not want to collaborate with you. Treat your work with respect, approach it with love, and see how that alters your experience of doing the work.
• Create because you love to do it. There may be no other reward.
• Your work is not your baby. Cut, change, adapt if you must. Your creative power is precious, but your projects will never find their way in the world if you feel that you must forever hover over them protectively. 
•  You are unlikely to get the outcome in the world that you desire from your work. Not that you will never succeed. But even success takes longer and comes in unexpected ways. You cannot control the outcome. Create anyway.
• Put fierce trust in the love you bear for your creativity, trust for which the qualifiers of success or failure effectively lose their meaning.

This mantra toward the end of the book brought me to tears:

"Fierce trust asks you to stand strong within this truth: You are worthy, dear one, regardless of the outcome. You will keep making your work, regardless of the outcome. You will keep sharing your work, regardless of the outcome. You were born to create, regardless of the outcome. And you will never lose trust in the creative process, even when you don't understand the outcome."

I can't recommend this book more. It's a gem, unlike anything in its class.

Here are a list of other books I've enjoyed as creative inspiration and writing craft:

On Writing, Stephen King: The most practical and helpful book on writing and craft I've read. The memoir portion feels erroneous to the reader looking for writing advice, until you realize it's integral. Try not to feel as though you too must produce 2000 words a day after reading it. 

Bird by Bird, Anne Lamott: This was the first book of writing advice I ever read. It's hilarious and honest and focuses on getting past our own hang-ups in order to do the work. 

Walking on Water, Madeleine L’Engle: A Christian spiritual reflection on writing by the author of A WRINKLE IN TIME. Deep and moving, abstract but inspiring. 

The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron: A twelve week creative recovery workbook, not unlike a twelve step program. Great for digging deep into oneself and mining out the reasons for blockage and reconnecting with your creative dreams.

Reflections on the Magic of Writing, Diana Wynne Jones: A hodge-podge of lectures and essays by the great children's fantasy writer who studied under Lewis and Tolkein at Oxford and authored many books, including HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE. The latest edition has an introduction by Neil Gaiman. 

The Writing Life, Annie Dillard: A soulful memoir by the Pulitzer Prize winning Dillard, reflecting on the experience of her own writing life. 

Writing Down the Bones, Natalie Goldberg: This is a book filled with practical exercises and the exhortation to keep the pen moving! A huge proponent of free writing, Goldberg, a Zen Buddhist, approaches writing as a practice, much like yoga or meditation.

Question for you: What are your favorite books of writing advice? (I'm always adding to my reading list.) If you've read BIG MAGIC, what was your number one takeaway?

Review of Lauren Oliver's CURIOSITY HOUSE: THE SHRUNKEN HEAD (by: guest reviewer Kira Lemke)

Hello Mayhemers!

Marissa here. Today, I'm delighted to welcome to the blog a good friend of mine, Kira Lemke, who has read and reviewed Lauren Oliver's forthcoming THE SHRUNKEN HEAD, the first installment in THE CURIOSITY HOUSE series.

First, let me introduce you to Kira. Kira Lemke is a student at Providence Classical Christian School. She has three novels in process on Storybird as KiraNoelle. When she isn't studying or writing, she likes to paint, bake, and keep her younger siblings in line. Some of her favorite things are tardigrades, giant squids, Ancient Egypt, and sensorimotor neural engineering.

Here's what Kira had to say about THE SHRUNKEN HEAD:

"Pippa, Max, Sam, and Thomas are four orphans with remarkable abilities who reside in Dumphrey’s Dime Museum of Freaks, oddities, and Wonders, still reeling from the Great Depression and recent lack of public interest in freak shows.

In a last ditch effort to save the museum, Mr. Dumphrey procures the supposed shrunken head of an Amazonian chief. Everything seems to be going splendid- record crowds, women fainting in horror- until the head is stolen. The four children band together in an effort to save the head, the museum, and themselves.

 Mysteries and mysterious abilities are all well and good, but, quite frankly, the superhuman and the unknown populate every other book on the middle grade bookshelf. And for a good reason- unusual abilities add a layer of excitement, of novelty, of escape from normal life, and ambiguity is crucial for plot and suspense- but each new novel needs to find its special niche to set it a cut above the rest. For The Shrunken Head, it’s character.

There is a place, between upper middle grade and young adult, where a child reads both and fits in neither. Standard middle grade plots begin to seem a bit childish, but young adult is still a bit too mature. The key to bridging this gap is not to read exclusively Charles Dickens (and I’m speaking from experience here), but to read books with good characters. Young adult won’t get any less mature, but good characters can add a layer of sophistication to any middle grade novel, a tricky gamut The Shrunken Head runs effortlessly. Pippa, Max, Sam, and Thomas are all clearly children, but each deals with problems common to all age groups. Though the obstacle in question (e.g., reading minds) may never be encountered, the underlying emotion (e.g., fear of failure) is far too familiar. With such masterful writing, The Shrunken Head will appeal to all age groups.

The genius of the children is not limited to relatability. Each child has a distinct voice easily recognizable from the others. Now, yes, in most books, you can tell which character is speaking. Oliver and Chester have turned this into an art form. Max is so Max, and Sam is so Sam, that the otherwise unremarkable fundamental building block of writing becomes one of the book’s crowning jewels.

This book is exactly what middle grade needs. I’d recommend it to anyone."

Kira, thank you so much for joining the Mayhem and sharing your thoughts on THE SHRUNKEN HEAD!

It is now available for pre-order from your favorite book-seller or library and will be on shelves 9/29/2015. Happy reading! :) 

Book Review and Giveaway: MOLLY PEPPER AND THE NIGHT TRAIN, by: Courtney King Walker

Update: Winner chosen by random.org is #2 - poetryinleaves. Thanks for stopping by!

Hi Mayhemers! Marissa here. :)

Today, I'm happy to introduce you to a new middle-grade book from Courtney King Walker. Here is the summary from the back cover of MOLLY PEPPER AND THE NIGHT TRAIN:

"Hidden somewhere in the fog of the San Francisco bay lies Blue Rock Island, home to the bay area's two best-kept secrets: Bell's Bluff, the old, abandoned prison on one side of the island, and the Night Train, a mysterious train ride on the other.

When twelve-year-old Molly Pepper receives a secret invitation promising a night of magic and adventure aboard the Night Train, she is skeptical. In her experience, most promises prove too good to be true. The fact that she lost her mom is proof enough.

Still, Molly gives hope another chance. Together with her loyal friend, Noah Wonderly, they sneak out of the house and follow a string of clues leading tot he Night Train. But when the train stops at Bell's Bluff, Molly discovers the real reason she was invited. There, she starts to wonder if hope and magic not only fix broken promises but make you believe in them again."

And a little bit about the author: " Courtney King Walker grew up in the San Francisco bay area

building rocketships and rafts out of cardboard, hoping to make it to the moon or at least Niagara Falls. But a trip across the border to Tijuana was as exciting as it ever got, so she decided writing was the next best thing. She now lives in the Rocky Mountains with her husband and four children and still dreams of flying to the moon."

This humorous adventure-mystery hits the right mark for middle-grade: a plucky heroine, a winsome best friend, and a magical setting with plenty of adventure. I liked Molly's independence and curiosity and Noah's journey to conquer his fears. Full of tasty foods from doughnuts to cinnamon candy and fun adventures at carnivals and on the night train, the plot carries readers along with Molly as she explores her feelings about her mom's death and learns to regain hope in family and friends.

So if you or the young reader in your life is looking for a fun summer read, pick up MOLLY PEPPER AND THE NIGHT TRAIN. Better yet, enter Project Mayhem's giveaway for a signed paperback. All you have to do is make sure to follow Project Mayhem and then leave us a comment sharing one of your favorite summer reads.

This giveaway is for US addresses only and will be open until Friday 8/7 when I'll post the winner selected by random.org.

Book Review: THE GIRL IN THE TORCH, by: Robert Sharenow

Image credit: HarperCollins website

Hi Mayhemers! Marissa Burt here. Today, I'm delighted to introduce you to Robert Sharenow's wonderful new MG historical THE GIRL IN THE TORCH. I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. First, a bit about the novel from the promotional materials:

"THE GIRL IN THE TORCH tells the story of Sarah, a 12 year-old immigrant girl who is orphaned when her mother dies upon their arrival in America, escaping the pogroms of Czarist Russia. Everyone in their village dreamed of America after a tantalizing postcard of the Statue of Liberty featuring Emma Lazarus' poem circulated among them. But when no American relatives can be located to sponsor Sarah after her mother's death, her hopes are crushed as she is placed on a ship for deportation back to Russia.

In desperation, she makes a daring leap into New York Harbor and swims to the nearest land mass, Liberty Island, where she takes refuge inside the Stature of Liberty, the torch becoming her own private bedroom. To survive, she scavenges for food among the tourists during the day, evading capture by hiding amid the trees and retreating to Lady Liberty upon nightfall.

Eventually, she is discovered by a troubled night watchman named Maryk who takes her under his wing and brings her to his boardinghouse in Chinatown. There, Sarah is integrated into a very diverse and eccentric group of outsiders who become like family to her. As she struggles with her new life and identity, crackdowns on illegal immigrants sweep Chinatown, putting Sarah and her housemates at risk. Will she escape their wrath or be sent back to Russia to face what promises to be a tortured life?"

I was delighted to discover that THE GIRL IN THE TORCH is as rich with historical details and

Image credit: Wikimedia, public domain

well-fleshed out characters as the promotional materials promise. The obviously well-researched historical background created a vibrant setting that was full of life.

And Sarah! What a main character! It takes skill to create empathetic characters facing difficult situations with pluck and still keep them realistic. I liked Sarah's strength despite the direness of her circumstances and how she discovers a kind community in the midst of her own loneliness and loss.

I found the narrative to be a winsome blend of gratitude, optimism, and realism that seems relevant today. I left the story with a rekindled interest in the stories of past immigrants and, though not directly addressed in the book, with questions about how we deal with immigration today.

All that to say, I highly recommend that you add THE GIRL IN THE TORCH to your summer reading list! It is available in bookstores and libraries now. Happy reading, Mayhemers. :)

BACKWARDS MOON: a Magical Fiction Debut from Mary Losure and Book Giveaway! by Joanna Roddy

Update: We are extending our giveaway! Winner will be announced Tuesday morning, September 16! Send your friends over to comment for a chance to win, and don't forget to leave a way to contact you in your comment!

Photo credit: Holiday House

BACKWARDS MOON from Mary Losure, a successful children's non-fiction writer prior to this debut novel, is about two young witches, Bracken and Nettle, whose coven is threatened when the modern world encroaches on their hidden valley. Bracken and Nettle must travel to a human city and risk The Fading of their powers to find a magical door to another world where their kind can survive. BACKWARDS MOON has a blend of adventure, magic, and innocence that will appeal to young readers. Mary Losure also has a background as a former public radio reporter and environmental themes emerge from the story as the witches experience the ill effects of modern human existence.

Losure wrote THE FAIRY RING, the true story of the girls behind the Cottingley fairy photographs, which won a Booklist Editor's Choice honor for non-fiction in 2012. She's also written WILD BOY, the real story of the Savage of Aveyron and is working on a forthcoming book about Isaac Newton entitled ISAAC THE ALCHEMIST.

Photo credit: Don Losure

I caught up with Mary Losure to ask her some questions about BACKWARDS MOON and her author experiences:

1.  Prior to BACKWARDS MOON, you've written non-fiction for children: WILD BOY and THE FAIRY RING, bringing creative storytelling to historical incidents. What led you to your first fiction project and how was the experience of writing fiction like and unlike writing non-fiction? Do you anticipate that your readers will be the same as those who read your non-fiction? 

Years ago, when I was a journalist and before I’d written anything for children, I thought I would try writing fiction as an experiment. So that’s when BACKWARDS MOON began. I loved writing it, but it was HARD, very different from nonfiction. In nonfiction, you have a roadmap for your plot, but in a novel you can go anywhere you want … it’s just that it doesn’t always work!  So it took me a long time to learn how to make a novel work. I do think that once I did, it helped me write WILD BOY and THE FAIRY RING in a much more engaging way than I would have.  Now (with the help of my wonderful editor at Holiday House, Julie Amper) BACKWARDS MOON is out, too!  My hope is that all three books will appeal to the same readers.

2. How has your background as a public radio reporter on environmental issues served as an influence on the themes explored in BACKWARDS MOON?  

One of the issues I reported on for years was the increasing loss of what scientists call “biodiversity”: all the beautiful birds and plants and frogs and toads and insects (not to mention tigers, elephants, polar bears, and many other animals) that are fading away in our lifetime. So when as a journalist I sat down to write a book of fiction for kids, I got the idea of witches as an endangered species. The story grew from there. I realized after a while that an environmental “message” didn’t work in a novel, so now it’s just there in the background.

3. What are some of your favorite children's books?

Half Magic and other magic books in that series. The Borrowers. The Lord of the Rings.  As a very young reader I loved My Father’s Dragon and later a book called The Witch Family. Charlotte’s Web, of course, and the Laura Ingalls Wilder books.

4. What is your writing process? When do you write, how frequently, and how long does it take you to develop and execute an idea? Did the story change significantly from when you first began writing it and when it was finished?

I write in the mornings, pretty much every weekday all morning. It takes me years to develop and execute an idea.

With a novel, as I mentioned earlier, the story can change drastically. With nonfiction, the process is more that you discover the story. You can’t change it, but you learn what parts of the historical record bring your characters alive. Then you leave everything else out --all the dutiful facts that don’t pertain to the hero’s story but instead bog the book down.

5. Tell us about your upcoming project about Isaac Newton and anything else you may be working on. Will you be writing any more fiction?

Thanks for asking! The Newton project is called ISAAC THE ALCHEMIST. It’s nonfiction, the story of an angry, lonely boy searching for answers that may lie in the world of magic. The book takes place mostly in his boyhood. The primary sources are Isaac’s childhood notebook and two books he is known to have read as a child.  He grows up to be the world’s greatest alchemist. Along the way, he discovers the laws of the universe and becomes famous forever as Isaac Newton. It will be out in the fall of 2015 from Candlewick Press.

I do definitely plan to write more fiction! I have a sequel in mind for BACKWARDS MOON, and but right now I’m working on another (non-witch related) middle grade novel.  I always like to keep a number of book projects cooking, so when I get stuck on one, I can set it aside, work on something else, then come back later and try to get through the stuck place.

6. In BACKWARDS MOON, do you identify more with impulsive Nettle or the more thoughtful Bracken?

Nettle, I have to say.  Nettle acts first and thinks second, which I tend to do. I worry more than Nettle does, though.

7. Bracken's raccoon friend is a bright spot in the story. Do you think it's possible for humans to have a more harmonious relationship with wildlife?


I think yes, it is possible.  We’re working on it. If we were given a second chance, I don’t think we would drive passenger pigeons to extinction.  Today, people would know better than to shoot the very last ivory-billed woodpecker. It has taken centuries, but we are gradually gaining a great understanding of animal intelligence and the value of wildlife in our world.

Thank you for taking time to talk with us, Mary! BACKWARDS MOON releases on September 15th.

Project Mayhem readers, one commenter will be chosen to receive a hardback copy of BACKWARDS MOON from the publisher, Holiday House. Be sure to give us a way to contact you in your comment! This contest closes Thursday, September 11th. 


You can find Mary at her website and look for BACKWARDS MOON on bookshelves soon!

Ollie and the Science of Treasure Hunting

I had the pleasure of reading Erin Dionne’s newest book: Ollie and the Science of Treasure Hunting: A 14 Day Mystery, which comes out July 10, 2014. That’s tomorrow!! Congrats, Erin!!

First, the cover copy for Ollie:

After helping his best friend, Moxie, outsmart a gangster and uncover priceless artwork, Ollie plans to lay low at Wilderness Camp on the Boston Harbor Islands while the media frenzy blows over. Navigating new friends, new enemies, and a high-stakes game of tag, the last thing he needs is a mystery. But then Ollie meets Grey, an elusive girl with knowledge of the island’s secrets, including the legend of a lost pirate treasure, which may not be legend after all.

Ollie uses his wits and geocaching skills to keep long-lost treasure out of the wrong hands in this exciting adventure-mystery from fan-favorite middle grade author Erin Dionne.

• Hardcover
• ISBN 9780803738720
• 10 Jul 2014
• Dial Books for Young Readers
• 9 – 12

My take: Ollie and the Science of Treasure Hunting is a fast-paced read with a memorable, authentic voice. I devoured it in two sittings. I think it would work well not only for independent reading but to read out loud to a class or to your own children. But, I wasn’t the only one who LOVED this book. Here’s what the experts said:

“A well-choreographed romp starring an engaging protagonist who richly deserves his turn in the spotlight.” –Kirkus Reviews

“A cast of likable campers, each with his or her own quirks, drive this fast-paced adventure.” –Booklist

SLJ called it “a breathless thrill ride.”

Erin is no stranger to middle grade fiction. Her other books include:

 

Moxie and the Art of Rule Breaking: A 14 Day Mystery (Dial Books, 2013)

Notes from an Accidental Band Geek (Dial Books, 2011)

The Total tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet (Dial Books, 2010)

Models Don’t Eat Chocolate Cookies (Dial Books, 2009)

A little bit more about the author:

Photo Credit: Aran Gilmore

Erin Dionne is an assistant professor of Liberal Arts at a small college north of Boston, where she teaches freshman comp, lit classes, and some creative writing electives. When not actively promoting her writing with her great humor and enthusiastic understanding of the miseries and magic of middle school, Erin reminisces about her days in high school and college marching band. She lives with her husband and daughter in Framingham, Massachusetts.

Thanks for stopping by.

Review of ALL FOUR STARS and Interview with Tara Dairman by Michael Gettel-Gilmartin

Yippee! Two book reviews in a row here at Project Mayhem. (Please go and read Jim Hill's review and interview with Varian Johnson yesterday.)

Now it's my turn, with Tara Dairman's debut ALL FOUR STARS, coming from Putnam on July 10th. I have loved this story ever since I saw the first 250 words in Authoress Anon's Baker's Dozen Auction in 2011. It was no surprise to me that it was snapped up by agent Ammi-Joan Paquette, and then a publishing deal was forthcoming in short order.

What It's About (from Goodreads): Meet Gladys Gatsby: New York’s toughest restaurant critic. (Just don’t tell anyone that she’s in sixth grade.)

Gladys Gatsby has been cooking gourmet dishes since the age of seven, only her fast-food-loving parents have no idea! Now she’s eleven, and after a crème brûlée accident (just a small fire), Gladys is cut off from the kitchen (and her allowance). She’s devastated but soon finds just the right opportunity to pay her parents back when she’s mistakenly contacted to write a restaurant review for one of the largest newspapers in the world.

But in order to meet her deadline and keep her dream job, Gladys must cook her way into the heart of her sixth-grade archenemy and sneak into New York City—all while keeping her identity a secret! Easy as pie, right?

My Take:
This is classic middle grade, full of heart and humor. Gladys' parents are disasters in the kitchen--yet Gladys has gourmet tastes. The opening scene is indelible, with Gladys setting fire to the kitchen curtains with her father's blowtorch as she tries to put the finishing touches to the aforementioned crème brûlée.

The pace is unflagging as Gladys's school essay on "My Future" gets picked up by the food editor of The New York Standard. But the editor doesn't know Gladys is 11. It's up to Gladys to come up with some innovative ideas on how to sneak into New York City, review a top restaurant, and write her newspaper copy. Can you say "sticky situations?" They abound. My favorite one finds Gladys under a restaurant table... but if you want to know why she's in this situation, you'll have to read the book!

MY VERDICT: ALL FOUR STARS is worth 5 stars

Tara is also a great supporter of other writers, and is active on social media. She kindly answered a few questions for me and for the Mayhem readers:

1) Who are your favorite (middle grade) writers?

As a child, Roald Dahl was unquestionably my author of choice, with Matilda, The Witches, and The BFG topping my favorites list. (There's a BFG reference in ALL FOUR STARS, actually—see if you can catch it!) Then, of course, I grew up and had to read more serious stuff for a while. But in my early 20's, a little series called Harry Potter started blowing up, and I fell in love with middle grade all over again. I followed the Harry books with a Series of Unfortunate Events, which I also adored, so I credit J.K. Rowling and Lemony Snicket with bringing me back to kidlit, and inspiring me to try my hand at writing some myself.

2) What's on your nightstand now?

Well, I've got a travel guide for Bhutan...I really want to go to Bhutan. :) But I've also got an ARC of Be a Changemaker by Laurie Ann Thompson, Robert Lettrick's debut MG novel Frenzy, and Adi Rule's gorgeous YA debut Strange Sweet Song. (I already read that last one as an ARC, but I'm dying to read it again!)

3) Pick a favorite scene from your novel, and say why you like it.

Ooh, tough question. Well, there is a sequence that takes place at a terrible Broadway musical. In addition to it being a scene of high tension for Gladys thanks to her impending restaurant-review deadline, it was just an awful lot of fun for me to make up scenes and lyrics and costumes for a bad musical. (Also, my sister rooke is a musical theater actress, and I was able to squeeze a tiny cameo for her into that sequence. Gladys runs into a group of actors in the alleyway behind the theater while she's trying to make her escape, and an actress named Brooke gets a few lines.)

4) Fill in the blank: I'm really awesome at....

...saying the phrase “I speak a little Mandarin” in Mandarin. I learned that phrase, along with some other travel-related ones, off a CD before I traveled in China. Apparently, I learned it a little too well, because people who heard it would then try to have long conversations with me in Mandarin, much to my befuddlement. Sadly, the CD refused to teach me how to say “I do not speak Mandarin”!

5) My favorite breakfast is...

Fruit-topped Belgian waffles, bacon, and home fries, with a glass of milk and maybe some fresh-squeezed orange or grapefruit juice on the side. Immediately followed by a nap.

6) If you could visit any place, where would it be? [In your case, this would probably read "revisit," since you are such an accomplished traveler!]

I already mentioned Bhutan, right? I got a glimpse of the Himalayas from western China, and have been itching to go back ever since.

ABOUT TARA: 


Tara Dairman is the author of the middle-grade novel ALL FOUR STARS, which will be published by Putnam/Penguin in 2014. She is also a playwright and a recovering round-the-world honeymooner (2 years, 74 countries!).

Tara holds a B.A. in Creative Writing from Dartmouth College and is represented by Ammi-Joan Paquette of the Erin Murphy Literary Agency. You can find her online in the following places:

Blog: taradairman.com/blog
Facebook: facebook.com/TaraDairmanAuthor
Twitter: @TaraDairman

The Author-Reader Friendship, by: Marissa Burt

Can I just say how much I LOVE getting letters or e-mails from readers?  Nothing brightens my day like hearing from someone who’s enjoyed my books.  Part of the thrill, I’m sure, comes from the way these e-mails soothe the insecurity all authors carry.  (It’s hard to send your writing out into the world to stand on its own!)  But I think most of the happiness it brings is in the discovery of a kindred spirit.  I sense this when I meet another reader who loves books that are favorites of mine.  Without knowing anything else about him, I intuitively perceive that he Gets It!  If she admires Anne, I immediately know we’re going to see beauty in similar things.  If he can get lost in the Wheel of Time world, we already have things in common.

And how much more so as a writer!  Perhaps it’s because authors spend several years creating a book-world and then continue to revisit the characters and setting during hour upon hour of revisions.  No matter how many drafts it has gone through, no matter how much it has changed: I love my story.  I love Peter and Una, and I want to visit the Land of Story, too.  So when I hear from someone who stayed up late to finish reading, I don’t just feel happy they enjoyed my work, I feel like they Get It. 

I love that the internet gives readers and authors an easy way to connect.  I think of myself as a middle-grade reader and how the thought never crossed my mind to contact the author.  I suppose I could have written them care of their publisher, but instead I hunted library shelves for other books they had written.  And hoped their next book came out soon.  What I would have given to have been able to write Joy Smith Aiken and tell her how often I read about Solo’s adventures!  Or join in some fantasy-world fan-forum and prolong the experience of reading beyond the pages. 

So I’m making up for lost time.  Having received those notes from readers, I’m making a point of letting other authors know if I’ve enjoyed their work.  Amazon and Goodreads reviews make it relatively easy to do, and sometimes I’ve even e-mailed directly. 

What about you, Mayhemers?  If you are an author, tell us what it was like to hear from a kindred-spirit reader?  And as readers, have you ever contacted an author? 

"OMG...Am I A Witch?!" A Review, Author Interview, & GIVEAWAY!

OMG...Am I A Witch?! by Talia Aikens-Nunez (Pinwheel Books, 2013)

Reviewed by Joe McGee

From the jacket: April Appleton is so annoyed at her older brother that she searches the Internet for a spell to turn him into a dog. When the spell works, April realizes she has more powers than she ever dreamed of! Now she has to figure out how to turn him back to normal before her parents find out. She has little time, but with help from her friends, Grace and Eve, she finds a book of magic that will hopefully reverse the spell. Will it work, and will April's new found magic save the day?

Talia Aikens-Nunez has written an endearing and delightful chapter book that mixes sibling rivalry with magical realism. The result? An enjoyable little romp that kicks off with a pretty serious problem (April has turned her brother into a dog), and continues to raise the stakes, until it reaches a satisfying conclusion. Along the way, Talia builds on moments of tension that will pull young readers through the book. The exhilaration of secrecy, under which April and her friends operate in order to return April's brother to his human state, is something that will keep readers following the action.

April and her friends, Grace and Eve, are cute, resourceful, and smart 5th-graders who young female readers will relate to. Talia successfully strikes the delicate balance of keeping the parents in the picture, while allowing the girls to solve the problem themselves. Mix in modern technology (Google, cell phones, texting), clean bathroom humor (smelly boys' bedrooms, dogs and their business, brothers who fart) and magical spell books, and you've got a tale that, while steeped in the fantastic, rings true.

This story takes sibling rivalry to a new level and demonstrates the genuine love and concern underlying that same rivalry. And it does so in a light, and entertaining manner. OMG...Am I A Witch?! is an easy to read, well-balanced, chapter book that will satisfy young readers, fuel their imaginations, and entertain.

Thanks to Pinwheel Books, I have FIVE books to give away to lucky Mayhem followers. But first...

I had the pleasure of asking Talia a few questions (13 to be exact) and she was kind enough to NOT turn me into a dog...Here's what she had to say:

ME:  So, you’ve created this endearing and magical story about a young girl (April) who turns her brother into a dog. Where’d this story idea come from and is there a back story involving growing up with an older brother? Sibling rivalry is a common denominator, how do you think or hope that your story relates or connects with your young readers?

TALIA: I do not have any brothers just 2 sisters. And, I am the oldest so I did most of the torturing…ha ha! No, I was a great big sister, I hope. But, this story came completely from my imagination. And, I hope this story encourages children to use their imagination and play, play and play some more.

ME: So, April Googles a spell. That’s funny. Do you anticipate your readers allowing magical belief and curiosity get the better of them? How many searches do you think your story might prompt, even just in fun? And speaking of magical realism, is this an area you typically write in?

TALIA: I hope there are TONS of google searches…in their imagination. I truly hope that this book, and hopefully, future books, that I wrote encourage children to play in the land of make believe. I really enjoy writing magical realism for middle grade readers. I feel like children that age are learning to like reading, they still allow themselves to be kids and can get lost in magically realistic books.

ME: April is just getting into her potential by the end of the book. Will we get to see more of what she can do? And what about Eve and her family? Seems like you might have a potential series idea here in chapter books. Any plans there?

TALIA: I hope so! I would LOVE to make a series out of April’s ‘gift’ and a little fun with her friends. And, I would love to delve deeper into why April has this ‘gift’, how Eve’s grandmother plays into this and if Eve also has a ‘gift’ or two.

ME: Can you talk to me about your writing process? How do you approach your story? Are you a planner or do you allow the story to unfold as you write? What is your writing method?

TALIA: I start by allowing the story to come out. Sometimes that is in the form of a story board and other times it just comes flying out as I type for hours. But, of course, each story then has to be edited and re-edited about fifty times.

ME: Where do you write? Can you describe your writing space?

TALIA: I like to write in a comfy chair in my house with the laptop on my lap. Sometimes I will transition to the bedroom or in front of the fireplace but I have to be in a comfortable chair or space.

ME: When and how did you know you wanted to be a writer? There’s usually some moment in a writer’s life that tells them that this is what they want to do. What was that for you?

TALIA: Ah! Yes I do. It was after my first child was born in 2008. She is multicultural so I wanted to buy books for her that reflected her background and exposed her to other cultures. I wanted books that spoke specifically to culture and others that just had multicultural characters but universal topics. I found it to be difficult to find the latter. So, I started to write them!

ME: Can you talk about your process in getting this story into the hands of Pinwheel Books? What was that like and what did your road to publication entail?

TALIA: Honestly, I just sent them a query. They liked the premise and asked for the manuscript. There was a lot of editing but they were able to see the potential in the story. They have been awesome to work with!

ME: What are you reading now? What are some of your favorite childhood books?

TALIA: Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time is my ALL TIME favorite book. And, I just picked up another Magic Treehouse book to read today. It’s a snow day here J

ME: What advice would you give young writers?

TALIA: Keep writing! Join critic groups, online and in person. And, keep writing! Edit your work. And, keep writing! Do you notice the pattern? Yeah, sometimes it takes a little while to find the right publisher or the right agent but you must keep writing until the stars align and they fall right into your lap!

ME: What advice would you give children’s writers, especially those tackling chapter books or early middle grade?

TALIA: Keep writing and keep querying. Query agents, query publishers, query other publications. Sometimes it takes a while but it will eventually work out!

ME: I see that you have another book finished? Dragon Guardians. What is that about and where is that in the process?

TALIA: I am querying publishers and agents about Dragon Guardians. That is also a magical book but with boys as the main characters. But, in that book, the older brother is trying to save his sister who was kidnapped by dragons. It is TONS of fun!

ME:  What are your goals as a writer? Long and short term.

TALIA: In my dream world, I would love, in the short term, to win an award or two for OMG…Am I a Witch?! And to be recognized as an up and coming children’s author. In the long term, I would love to have two series of multicultural children’s chapter books: one geared to girls and one to boys.

ME: What’s your favorite animal and why?

TALIA: Right now, my favorite animal is a giraffe. No two giraffes have the same size and pattern of spots. Each one is different and unique. Their spots are like our finger prints. But, they do have one similarity. As they age their spots become darker. So, even though they are all different they are in some ways the same, like humans of different races.

You can find Talia through her website at http://talia-aikens-nunez.vpweb.com/

Or like her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TaliaAikensNunezChildrensWriter

***Now, as promised, I have FIVE books to give away!!! Win a book for yourself, your class, or a young reader who you know would appreciate a good book. How? Here's how:

In the comments below, tell me what kind of power you wish YOU had when you were in fifth grade, and why. I'll send the five most creative, interesting and/or entertaining answers a copy of OMG...Am I A Witch?!