Thought for the Day:
“Plot is no more than footprints left in the snow after your characters have run by on their way to incredible destinations.”
~ Ray Bradbury ~
Gifts for My Writer Friends:
It’s important to describe our characters, but it’s also important to do it in a way that doesn’t stop the story flow. HERE K. M. Allan shows us 5 Ways to Describe a Character without Using the Clichéd Mirror Look.
Rhiannon Richardson has a great article HERE on Good Story Company about the appropriate use of flashbacks. It is something I hadn’t really thought about, but it’s pretty important.
Louise Harnby always has something of value in her posts. HERE she give us 3 Ways to Reduce Word Count and Write a Leaner Thriller. This isn’t just for people writing thrillers. It will help everyone.
What a great week to be stuck inside avoiding the heat that is smothering Sacramento and other places in the west. It got up to 111 yesterday, I think 112 they day before, and should hit a mere 106 this afternoon. But then we cool off into the mid 90s for a while. Yay. But I haven’t minded too much because I could stay inside and read, watch the San Francisco Giants games (boy, they are HOT!), and, of course, there is Wimbledon. I don’t know why I am so in love with that tournament, but it is my favorite couple weeks of the year. As I write this, I haven’t finished watching the men’s final yet, but so far it has been pretty exciting. Yesterday’s women’s final was great! I am a big, big fan of Ash Barty, so I was pretty happy with the outcome, but it was not an easy one. Very fun to watch. I sure hope you are somewhere where super heat is not a problem, but if you are, I hope you can stay in and do something you enjoy.
I have been reading a lot, and I have stacks of books I need to post reviews for. I probably should have posted this review a couple months ago, but here we are. It’s never too late to review a good book. And this is a good one. Amy McDougall, Master Matchmaker by Gary Pedler is a fun book with a lot going on. I enjoyed it and want to tell you about it. Here is the review I wrote for the Seattle Book Review.
Amy McDougall, thirteen, is worried about her dad, Travis, a gay man who adopted her several years before. Travis wants a boyfriend but can’t seem to find one. Amy tries to set him up on a computer dating site without success. Even her very smart BFF, Grace Kwan, can’t help. Amy suspects her handsome Spanish teacher is also single and gay, so she decides to make a match. After much maneuvering, Travis and Enrique are seriously dating. But that’s not enough to prove her matchmaking prowess, so Amy sets up Grace’s mother and even sets up Grace with very cool Denry, who is perfect for her. But everything isn’t all Amy hoped for with Enrique in their life, and she tells Enrique just how she feels saying the complaints are Travis’s, stirring up trouble.
Gary Pedler has written a story that many middle-grade readers will relate to. Amy is a spunky character readers will root for, and the rest of the characters are well-rounded and interesting. There is trouble at every turn, created by Amy, making for a fun page-turner of a story. The writing is lively and the voice of Amy is spot on.
I have a gently-read ARC 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. And don’t forget to check for other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at the Greg Pattridge’s blog HERE.
Rosi Hollinbeck 
Yikes, it’s hot where you live. Glad you have so much to do inside that you enjoy. I’m drowning in books, but you’ve enticed me again with your review. This sounds like one I’d enjoy.
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It is a fun book. I think you will like it. Thanks for the comment. Good luck in the drawing.
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Amy sounds like a great character readers will find appealing. The unique story line is also a plus. I’ll have to pass on the giveaway with my stack of books to read overflowing. Thanks for featuring on MMGM.
Thanks for the links. I have a busy day and night (Homerun Derby!) so these will have to wait until tomorrow.
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I hope your comment meant that you got to go to the Homerun Derby. It sure was fun to watch. I know about stacks of books. I can’t seem to catch up! Thanks for the comment.
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I’ll pass on the giveaway, but love the meme!
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Thanks for stopping by.
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I’m glad you’re enjoying watching sports, and I hope the mid-90s temperatures are enough of a respite—those don’t sound like much fun either! This book sounds like a great read—the plot sounds compelling, and Amy sounds like a delightful protagonist! I love the quote and meme you’ve shared today as well. I’ll pass on the giveaway, but thanks so much for the great post!
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One of the beauties of living here is that even when it is very hot, it almost always cools down at night. It can be 100 at 6 pm and 60 at midnight. It helps. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Always nice to see you here.
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This is a new book and author to me. I just read the preview of it on Goodreads and agree–the voice is authentic and I love the relationship between dad and daughter. Thank you for the chance to win a copy. I shared on tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
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Thanks for all those shares, Danielle. Extra chances for you. Thanks for the comment and good luck in the drawing.
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Amy is a great spunky character. What a fun summer read. I can only imagine her enthusiasm. Great relationship with her dad. Thanks for sharing. I’ll pass as I’m still catching up.
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Spunky is the perfect word for Amy. Yup, a very fun read and perfect for summer. Thanks for the comment.
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Oh, my dear, sweltering friend… I would gladly have taken 10 degrees from you yesterday. I had to pull on a sweater and find some woolly socks!
“Amy McDougall, Master Matchmaker” looks like such a fun – and funny – story. I mean, really – who among us (with a dozen years to our credit) hadn’t felt like we could arrange the world?
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I cannot wait to need to pull on a sweater! But that probably won’t happen before October. Sigh. Yes, it is a fun story. I think you will enjoy it. Thanks for stopping by. Good luck in the drawing.
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Thanks for a terrific Thought of the Day and review. I’m so far behind that I sat down over the weekend and treated myself to quiet reading time. I finally finished a GREAT book that I won on your blog a long time ago. While I Was Away was just as terrific as you promised, and I cried through the last chapters. I’ve already handed it off to someone I thought would greatly appreciate it, and will encourage her to pass it along when she finishes.
My TBR is toppling, so I will cheer for this week’s winner.
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I’m glad you liked While I Was Away. I really liked it too. Glad, too, that you enjoyed the post. Thanks for reading and commenting.
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This sounds like a great charcter! I love spunky protagonists. And thanks for the tips.
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