Thought for the Day:
“A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the desire to beat others.”
~ Ayn Rand ~
Gifts for My Writer Friends:
We all need a little inspiration now and again. HERE Melissa Donovan on Writing Forward gives us 20 Fun and Inspiring Character Writing Ideas.
Lisa Wilson-Hall has a great article HERE on Writers in the Storm about How to “Go Deeper” Into a Characters Emotions.
Without conflict, there isn’t much of a story. HERE Becca Puglisi has a great post on Anne R. Allen’s blog titled Need Conflict? Just Let Your Characters Talk.
I heard something on the radio the other day that really struck me. It said that in 2021 there have been 59 school shootings with over 5000 people injured or killed in those shootings. Today as I watched the morning news shows, I saw the photo of Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and his family in front of their Christmas tree all holding powerful guns with the message, “Merry Christmas! ps. Santa, please bring ammo.” This on the heels of the latest school shooting by a 15-year-old boy allegedly abetted by his parents. Our country seems to become more and more divided with every passing day. One day, common sense will prevail. I hope it’s soon. Stepping off my soapbox now.
I promised to keep you up on what I’m doing with the free and paid-for classes I am taking. First, a free one for you. If you have some interest in picture book writing (although I do think writing is writing, and anything you learn about writing stories will help you), I have a free one that I think is pretty good. The Children’s Book Academy has a series of seven free lessons you can sign up for HERE. You will get emails daily for seven days, each with a short lesson in it. Yes, they are trying to sell you their services, but I got something out of these, and there is no obligation to do anything else. If it isn’t for you, you can always unsubscribe. I mentioned I had signed up for Storytellers Academy, and I have started taking my first online mini-course. It is on picture book biographies, something I have long wanted to try. I have one particular idea I have wanted to write about for a long time, but I just didn’t have the tools. I hope I soon will. And I will need to make a trip to Europe to do research! BONUS!!! I really like that I can work on classes whenever I want, even in the middle of the night if I am battling insomnia. Storytellers Academy also has art classes, and I am going to try some of those as well. I’m not an artist, but I am trying to spend some time each week sketching. I will have more reports going forward.
I received a book from the publicist at Walker Books US, a division of Candlewick Press, that won’t be out until February, but I just finished it and want to tell you about it while it is still fresh in my mind. And, since I am giving away my copy, you can be the first on your block to get your hands on it. It is The View from the Very Best House in Town by Meera Trehan, and it is very unusual.
Asha and Sam have been best friends for a very long time. They have special classes together and also are neighbors, so it’s natural for them to be friends. Both are on the autism spectrum, and they seem to understand each other perfectly. They both love playing Househaunt, but are good at different aspects of the game — complementary aspects, it turns out. But things change. Sam’s mother has been busy trying to get Sam admitted to Castleton, a private school in town. She finally has success. Sam isn’t very happy about leaving a school where he feels safe, but it seems so important to his mom, so he goes along with it. Asha is devastated. Not only will she not have Sam around each day, but Sam will be going to school with Prestyn, the mean girl who used to be Asha’s friend. Prestyn lives in the biggest house in town, a house called Donnybrooke, one that towers over their neighborhood. Asha loves the house and wishes she lived in it, but Prestyn has been awful to Asha, so she never goes to Donnybrooke.
Sam is miserable at his new school. The very first day, the principal shows an article from the local paper to the entire school in which Sam is called Miracle Boy because, in spite of his disability, he got into Castleton. It gives ammunition to all the mean kids in the school, and Sam’s life is awful. But he gets put into a group with Prestyn and Tessa, her best friend. Of course, Sam ends up doing all the work, but he thinks Prestyn and Tessa like him. But Prestyn is a mean girl, and she can’t help but do awful things to Sam. And Tessa can’t stand up to her. Things become dangerous, and Asha comes to the rescue, putting herself in a very difficult position.
This book is cleverly told from three points of view, all close third-person. The three are Asha, Sam, and Donnybrooke. Yup, you read that right. The house is a point-of-view character. In a sense, Donnybrooke often gives Prestyn’s viewpoint, but not always. This book is something of a thriller, in that there is real danger driving the story. For the most part, the adults in this book leave a LOT to be desired, but Asha’s family is kind, loving, and generous. Not only is there diversity shown in the characters through the issue of autism, but Asha and her family are East Indian. The characters are very relatable (yes, even the house!), and the problems are ones all kids will understand. Hopefully, it will make a lot of readers more cognizant of and understanding of those on the spectrum. Meera Trehan’s writing is beautiful and the story compelling. I think this could make a good read-aloud too. It’s a terrific book.
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 Greg Pattridge’s blog HERE.
Rosi Hollinbeck 
This sounds like another winner, Rosi. Thank you.
I agree with your opening statement. Our current state is definitely worrisome. And, thank you for the great cartoon. It was just the right note for me.
I’ll be leaving this on Twitter and Facebook.
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Thanks for sharing my link, Nancy. Good luck in the drawing.
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That’s great that you are starting to take free classes. I might try to do after the holidays if I can find some for MG and YA. This book sounds great, but I’m buried in books so will let someone else win.
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There are so many options for online classes. I’ll keep my eye out for MG and YA for you. I know that Storyteller Academy has some MG classes. And Highlights is doing a lot of their offerings online. They have both YA and MG, I think. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
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This sounds like a wonderful book, much needed. And I love the idea of a house having a point of view and being a character. I also found your mention of the free lessons by Children’s Book Academy interesting. I agree: writingis writing and anything you learn can apply across age levels.
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We are getting a lot of well-written books dealing with learning differences kids face. This is a good one. Thanks for always reading and commenting. I appreciate it.
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I was also upset by the Massie Christmas card, not just because of the recent school shooting but the Sandy Hook anniversary is December 14th. One of the children killed in that shooting was my cousin’s son.
Good luck with your class. I’m sure it will be interesting.
The View from the Very Best House in Town sounds like a book that is needed and looks like a very interesting story, especially considering the three POV it is told from. Thanks for sharing it.
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I am so sorry for your family’s loss. Sandy Hook saddens me to this day. This book is both interesting and needed. You are right about that. Thanks for your comment. Good luck in the drawing.
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I have yet to see Massie’s infamous X-mas card photo, but seriously? What is wrong with him? So thankful that I have books to read… and the Very Best House in Town sounds like a good story. A book with 3 POVs – that’s a trick to pull off! Like Natalie, I’m buried in books…. no need to put my name in the hat.
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It sure is tricky to write in 3 PoVs, especially when one is a house! Thanks for stopping by. It’s always nice to see you here.
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This is a new book for me–I’m going to add it to my TBR because I want to read more books with kids with autism as well as from diverse cultures. The Oxford, MI, school shooting has devastated so many people in my local community (the school is only 50 minutes away from us) and based on the evidence so far, was very preventable and never should have happened. Thank you for the chance to be an early reader. I shared on tumble, Facebook, and twitter: https://yesreaderwriterpoetmusician.tumblr.com/post/669851912762458112/the-view-from-the-very-best-house-in-town-review
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Thanks for sharing my link so many places. I appreciate it. Extra chances for you. Good luck in the drawing.
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I shared on FB and Twitter. I love the idea of the house having a POV!
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It’s a fun idea. I am actually working on a PB that has a PoV of a house. Thanks for sharing my link. Extra chances for you. Good luck in the drawing.
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Very unique to having the house be one of the narrators. The autism aspect of the characters is something I’d like to see more of in books. Thanks for the advanced notice of the publication date. I will add it to my list of books to read but will have to pass on the giveaway with so many already in my pile to review.
The links were wonderful. Characters, emotions, and conflict. All worthy of my time reading tonight.
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It is an unusual PoV, but very effective. Glad you are enjoying the links. Thanks for always reading and commenting. I appreciate it.
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There have been 59 school shootings this year??!! What??!! These are the moments when the news genuinely does feel biased (I realize that’s a slippery slope, but still), because how in the world was that not newsworthy enough that we didn’t hear about every single one of those?! And then the nerve—the sheer nerve—of that congressperson. It’s all very enraging, but I appreciate you keeping me informed!
This book sounds like a fantastic read! The combination of genuine kids’ issues and a house as a POV character makes for an intriguing premise, and I’m glad it worked for you. I wrote it down, even though I’ll pass on the giveaway to save time for more books! I love the quote and meme, and thanks so much for the wonderful post, Rosi!
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It is astonishing to realize how pedestrian school shootings have become that the news doesn’t cover them all. What will it take to see some common-sense gun laws? The book is a terrific one. I hope you get to it. Thanks for your very thoughtful comments. It’s always nice to see you here.
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The book sounds intriguing, especially the idea of the house having its own point of view. And happy to hear of another middle grade book that features characters on the spectrum!
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Yes, it is an intriguing idea, and it is well done. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. It’s nice to see a new name here. Good luck in the drawing.
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Sounds interesting! Love your quote today, too.
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Glad you like the quote. It’s fun to find them. Thanks for stopping by. Good luck in the drawing.
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I have this book to review. Enjoyed your comments. The three POVs sounds interesting. (Left a comment but it didn’t print.)
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You and I tend to choose the same books for review, don’t we? You will like this one. Thanks for the comment. Always nice to see you here.
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Love the idea of the house being a character. Very cleaver author. And thanks a bunch for the link gifts. I’m starting book 3 in my series and need some inspiration to get the story flowing.
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It is a clever book. Glad you like the links. Good luck with your project. Thanks for the comment. Good luck in the drawing.
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