Thought for the Day:
“Let the reader find that he cannot afford to omit any line of your writing because you have omitted every word that he can spare.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~
Gifts for My Writer Friends:
Kathryn Craft at Writer Unboxed has a GREAT post HERE with 6 Novel Basics You May be Overlooking. Don’t miss it.
I have never used more than one narrator in anything I’ve written, but who knows when that might be necessary? HERE is a good post by Edward Cahill in Writer’s Digest with 5 Principals for Using Multiple Narrators in Your Novel.
Anne R. Allen always has something important to say. HERE she gives us 9 Common Dialogue Problems — and How to Fix Them.
So Halloween came and went with little activity at my house. I only had about a dozen kids. They loved getting books, but I should given each of them five or six to make a dent in my piles. At the end of summer, gardeners often leave bags of zucchini or tomatoes on their neighbors’ porches. I may have to do that with bags of books! Ah, well, it was a good idea. I’ll probably do it each year, but I know I won’t have to save piles and piles next year. Our local SCBWI had an in-person workshop yesterday about agents and how to go about finding one. It’s nice that things are getting back to normal, and we can gather. I still have to wear a mask, but I think that is just my future. It was great to be with other writers and talk about the business. I reconnected with some old friends and made some new ones. And I won a 15-page critique with a woman who is a first reader for an agent. That should give me some really valuable feedback! It was a good day.
I really am such a fan of chapter books. I think good chapter books are critically important to creating lifelong readers. When I get a chance to review one, I am fast to grab it. When I saw TISH by Edwina Wyatt on the review list for the Manhattan Book Review, I looked up a synopsis, and it sounded interesting. We seem to be seeing a lot more books by Australian authors recently, and they often have a fresh view. This is no exception. I liked it a lot. Here is the review I wrote for MBR.
Charles Dimple needed a friend, and a spark of an idea grew from his imagination into the perfect friend for him. And a Perfect is what materializes for Charles. He names the creature Tish after asking its name and hearing a small sneeze. Tish loves being Charles’s friend, and they go everywhere and do everything together. At school, Tish sees other Perfects, but they start to disappear as the children make friends. And when Charles makes a new friend, Tish realizes he isn’t needed there anymore, but Tish doesn’t want to disappear, so he wanders off until he finds a new someone who needs him. And he does when he gets stuck in Annabeth Arch’s tree. But when Annabeth makes up with her best friend, Tish is at odds again. Can he find the right person?
Edwina Wyatt has written a sweet story about the delight and comfort youngsters can find in imaginary friends. Telling the story from the point of view of the Perfect is an interesting choice and gives the story a unique perspective. Wyatt seems to inhabit Tish perfectly and makes his story quite believable. Younger middle-graders will be charmed and engaged by this unusual book.
Please don’t forget to check for other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at Greg Pattridge’s blog HERE.
Rosi Hollinbeck 
A “Perfect” I love this concept. And, I’d love to win this book. Please put me in the drawing.
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It is a cool concept, isn’t it, Tudy. Thanks for the comment. Good luck in the drawing.
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Sorry about your low Halloween turnout. Word is out in my neighborhood that I give out books and treats so I had over 100 in a few hours.
Thanks for the links. I had not come across any of these yet and am looking forward to reading them later this week.
Tish sounds like the perfect story to introduce readers who are moving toward MG books. Thanks for featuring the book on this week’s MMGM.
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No need to enter me in the giveaway as I am still woefully behind in my books to be reviewed,
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I hope the word gets around my neighborhood. Maybe more kids will show up next year. Glad you like the links. Thanks for reading and commenting, Greg. Always so nice to see you here.
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Sounds like a sweet book. Like Greg, there is no need to enter me, I have a huge TBR awaiting me. Happy MMGM and have a lovely week.
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I know about that huge TBR pile, Brenda. Thanks for reading and commenting.
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This book sounds so sweet. Can you donate your extra books to a little library somewhere?
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That was meant to be a joke, Carol. I donate a lot of books to the library. The book is very sweet. Thanks for the comment. Good luck in the drawing.
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I’m glad you enjoyed the workshop. And this sounds like a sweet chapter book. Kids learning to read need books like this one.
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It’s a very sweet book. Thanks for reading and commenting, Natalie. Good luck in the drawing.
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Imaginary friends at my house increased the number of children from four to ten…and made my children’s claims that they hadn’t “done it” more believable, right? 😉 I’d love to be entered into the giveaway
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Thanks for signing up for my blog! And thanks for the comment. Good luck in the drawing.
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No need to include me in the drawing, either. I have far too many books waiting on my Kindle as is, which is a pleasant problem to have.
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That is a good problem, Pete. Thanks for stopping by.
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Sounds like your SCBWI workshop was beneficial in more ways than one! How wonderful to get an opportunity with a reader. TISH sounds like such a sweet book… and I agree, chapter books are really important for young readers.
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It is a sweet book, Sue. Thanks for reading and commenting. Good luck in the drawing.
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I never had an imaginary friend that I remember, but Tish sounds like a lovely one. If word gets around that you gave books, you may garner more kids every year. So, don’t cut back too much.
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I hope more kids come next year. We shall see. Thanks for the comment. Good luckin the drawing.
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