Thought for the Day:
“Sit down and put down everything that comes into your head and then you’re a writer. But an author is one who can judge his own stuff’s worth, without pity, and destroy most of it.”
~ Colette ~
Gifts for My Writer Friends:
Christie Wright Wild offers classes in writing and once in a while puts out a free tip sheet. HERE is a very useful one on writing a one-sentence pitch.
Time to start querying agents? The Writer Magazine has a good post HERE on the does and don’t of querying.
Kathy Steinemann has a post HERE with 700+ Ways to Describe Eyebrows. 700! Imagine that! This is pretty fun. And she also has a post HERE with 1300 Ways to Describe Fingers. Who knew?
I won’t be here next week. I will be taking my granddaughter, Gracie, and heading to New York for spring break to spend some time with Maggie. It’s all good news from her, by the way. The drains are out and there was no sign of cancer in her lymph nodes, so she will not even need to have radiation. WooHoo! We will be coming home late the next Saturday, so I’m hopeful I will miss only one week of posting, but at my age, jet lag may win out and make me miss another. Fear not. I shall return.
The book I want to tell you about this week is one I reviewed for the Tulsa Book Review. When I saw an offer for a book by Anne Ursu, I grabbed it without knowing any more about it than that. I had read her earlier book, Breadcrumbs, a few years ago, LOVED it, and reviewed it on my blog. You can see that review HERE. Anyway, I snagged the new book, The Lost Girl, as soon as I could, and I am so glad I did. It’s really, really good. Here is the review I wrote for the TBR.
Lark and Iris are twins — identical twins — and they have always done everything together. While they look exactly alike, they really are different in some important ways. Lark is creative, artistic, and messy. Iris is organized, a reader, and tidy. But everything changes when the girls find that in fifth grade they will be in different classes. They argue with their parents and beg to have the principal change things so they can be in class together. Iris is sure she needs to protect her sister. Lark is having a hard time. The girls’ father has to go to London for six months for his job and Mom signs the girls up for separate after-school activities. That is when Iris meets a mysterious man who claims he can help, but he is not what he seems, and danger is suddenly closing in.
Author Anna Ursu has written a magical story of sisterly love and loss and friendship. Her writing is lyrical and the story, though in a contemporary setting, has the feel of an old-fashioned fairy tale. This sweet, beautiful book will engage readers far beyond its intended middle-grade audience.
I have a gently-read ARC of this book for one of you. All you need do is be a follower or subscriber (it’s free!), have a U.S. address, and leave a comment below. If you would like extra chances, please share the link to this post on Facebook, Twitter, or any other social media outlet and let me know you have done that. 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 
So glad you got good news about your daughter. Have fun with your granddaughter this week. This book has me intrigued because someone really liked it and reviewed it in the last few weeks too.
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It’s a good book, Natalie. Well worth your time. Good luck in the drawing.
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THANKS FOR opportunity to put my name in the hat for this book. I think my granddaughter might enjoy it.
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Your name is in the hat. I’m sure your granddaughter would like it. Good luck.
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Hi, Rosi. So glad to hear the good news about your daughter. This book sounds very interesting.
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Thanks, Janet. It is an interesting book. Good luck in the drawing.
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Have a wonderful time with Maggie and Gracie! This visit will be so therapeutic for Maggie!
The Lost Girl revue was great, really made me want to read the story and share it with young friends! Thanks for the opportunity to win!
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Leaving tomorrow night and can’t wait. Good luck in the drawing. Thanks for stopping by.
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Twin stories are hard to pull off without them sounding like a retread. This one sounds like a winner with some unique situations encountered. I’ll be looking for this one for a summer read, but for now let someone else win a copy who can get to it quicker.
Thanks for the links. Quite a variety with the helpful ones on pitches, query letters, and word lists. I’ll be visiting them again. Have a great trip!
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This is a unique story in the realm of twin stories. Glad you like the links. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I appreciate it.
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I am so pleased about Maggie’s news. What a relief for everyone. Have a great time.
Loved your review. It is one of my favorite reads this year. Ursu really knows how to show the emotions of teen girls. Characters so well-developed.
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It’s a huge relief, Patricia. I’m sure we will have fun on our trip. Ursu is such a terrific author. I hope she’s working on something new. Thanks for the comment.
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This book sounds great! Thanks for your review.
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You’re welcome. Good luck in the drawing.
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Try to relax and enjoy your time in New York. I’m sure both Maggie and Gracie will love your time together. Sending lots of good vibrations!
This one sounds different and a winner. I hope it’s me!
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Thanks for the good vibes. This book is a winner. Good luck in the drawing.
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This sounds like a lovely book! I love contemporary novels that have a fairytale feel. Meanwhile, enjoy your visit with Maggie. So glad everything went well and that she seems to be cancer free. Wonderful.
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It is lovely. I also like the fairy tale feel in a book. Thanks for stopping by. Good luck in the drawing.
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I love Anne Ursu’s writing. Her books are some of my favorites. This sounds like a great story about friendship. I look forward to reading it and I would love to be entered to win a gently used copy. Thanks!
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Consider yourself entered. Thanks for coming by and commenting. I appreciate it. Good luck in the drawing.
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Your new blog looks great! I am so eager to get my hands on this book; alas that I can’t enter your draw. I think I will just end up buying it, because I know I love Ursu’s writing.
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Sorry I can’t mail to Canada. It’s just too hard on both ends. You will like this book. It’s a good one. Thanks for the comment. Nice to see you here.
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I love twins and this really sounds fun. An interesting twist on the way this relationship is usually handled. Thanks for the recommendation! I’m glad I finally made my way over! 😀
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It really is an interesting twist. Glad to see you here. Thanks for the comment. Good luck in the drawing.
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This book sounds really interesting. Twins are always fun. And this cover (and title) give the book a very mysterious vibe.
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And mysterious it is! Thanks for stopping by. It’s nice to see you here. Good luck in the drawing.
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