Thought for the Day:
“Someone once told me not to bite off more than I can chew. I said I’d rather choke on greatness than nibble on mediocrity.”
~ Author Unknown ~
Gifts for My Writer Friends:
I ran across an interesting post by Pamela Donison called Using Poetic Techniques to Strengthen Our Prose. There are some interesting ideas HERE I’m going to try.
I have been told one of my novels is episodic, and that is not something one wants to hear. Janice Hardy at Fiction University has a post HERE that I know I need to study to try to get rid of that problem.
I know a lot of my readers write things other than MG novels. For those of you who write picture books or chapter books or want to, HERE is a great post that will help you decide which of these is most suited to your story.
I usually run last-minute holiday shopping suggestions just before Christmas, but this year I am going to share some ideas as we come into the holiday season. I ran across a site that has really cute totes (and I am obsessed with totes!) and shirts for the book-lovin’ people in your lives. Yes, it is okay to buy yourself a gift. Anyway, take a look HERE at Literary Book Gifts for some fun ideas.
Last week I offered one of you a gently-read copy of This Book Thinks You’re an Artist. Our winner this week is Michelle I. Mason. Congratulations, Michelle! If you don’t know her, she is a writer from St. Louis, and you can learn more about her HERE at her site. Michelle, I will get your book out to you soon.
This week I would like to tell you about a perfectly wonderful book I got for review from the San Francisco Book Review. When I get the list of available books, I first look for authors I know and titles that capture my interest. Then I look them up and check out their covers and publisher descriptions. I loved the title The Unforgettable Guinevere St. Clair, but I loved the cover even more. I had to have it. Here is the review I wrote for SFBR.
Gwyn’s family has moved from New York City to the middle of nowhere — the small town of Crow, Iowa. It’s tough enough moving when you are ten, but to be doing it because your mother has suffered a traumatic brain injury and it’s a last-ditch effort to bring her memory back by being in her hometown and everyone there knows the whole story . . . well, it doesn’t get much tougher. Gwyn is busy raising her little sister, Bitty, practically by herself since her father is so distracted trying to get Gwyn’s mother better. When an old man who lives nearby mysteriously disappears, Gwyn, a future lawyer, makes it her job to solve the case, causing all kinds of problems for lots of people.
Author Amy Makechnie’s debut novel is rich and complex, filled with extraordinary characters and gorgeous writing. This is a book that will challenge young readers to examine their own thinking about many things and to open their hearts and minds to those who are different from them. There is a lot of truth and honesty about the important things in life in this lovely book. It deserves readership well beyond its targeted middle-grade audience.
There will be no giveaway this week. I am giving the nice hardbound copy I received for review to the library at my granddaughter’s charter school. They have a tiny budget and really need books. Check back next week. I may have a giveaway then. If you are reading this in your email, please click HERE to get to my blog, then click on the title of the post, and leave a comment. And don’t forget to check for other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at the Greg Pattridge’s blog HERE.
Rosi Hollinbeck 
This one sounds great. I love that there is a mystery. Glad you’re donating it so kids can read it. Happy Thanksgiving!
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It is a good one! Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
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Thanks for last week’s giveaway! I’m excited to receive it. This book sounds fantastic as well, as both a family story and mystery. Thanks for sharing!
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I haven’t been to the post office yet, but I should be able to get there tomorrow. You are welcome.
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I really enjoyed the article on incorporating haiku into one’s fiction. Great examples and step by step. I love mysteries, and The Unforgettable Guinevere St. Clair sounds like a good read, but I’m going to pass on the give away in hopes of doing some catch-up on my TBR stack. BTW, you’ve already read my last post, but stop by my WordPress blog and have a look: It’s still a work in progress, but it’s coming along, visually (I think).
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That is a fun article. I thought you would like it. Thanks for the comment.
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Thank you for the link to the book gifts. They don’t have the T-shirt I’m looking for as a gift for my older son, but I’m sure he’d be happy with any of them.
“This is a book that will challenge young readers to examine their own thinking about many things and to open their hearts and minds to those who are different from them.” Wonderful! Kids are the hope of the future.
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Glad you like the link. She has some fun stuff available. Thanks for your comment.
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This sounds like a good story. The school is lucky to get such wonderful books from you!!
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The school does appreciate getting the books. They have so little to work with these days. Thanks for coming by and commenting.
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sounds like a great book. but no need to enter me, since I recently won.
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It is a good one. Thanks for the comment.
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Thanks for the link to the article about episodic writing. I’ve had the same problem in my writing and have been working hard to correct. This really helps.
Your featured book today does have an enticing cover. I love the plot, too and I can’t think of another MG book with Iowa as the setting. You’ve succeeded in adding another one to my TBR list.
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Yeah, that episodic thing is a bear. Glad you like the link. This book is worth your time, Greg. Thanks for the comment.
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Isn’t if funny how a cover design can influence your choice of a book. But the excellent review you wrote influenced me the most. There is a lot going on in this story. I suffered a brain injury years ago, so when I see the theme it grabs my attention. Always wanted to write it into a book, but never figured out how to do it without being depressing. So many kids have brain injuries from sports. Will check this out.
And, thanks for the t-shirt site. Cool ideas.
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Glad to pass along the info on the gift site. Yes, this is a book that is right up your alley. I think you will like it. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
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