Thought for the
Day:
“Do or do not. There is no try.”
~ Yoda ~
Gifts for My Writer
Friends:
Feel
like your manuscript disappeared into a black hole? HERE is an excellent
article by Elizabeth Law on how to follow up with agents and editors.
Pat
Miller clarifies different types of historical fiction with great examples HERE
on the Group Blog.
Janice
Hardy at Fiction University always has something interesting going on. Your
assignment HERE is to watch a horror film. I don’t watch horror films, but I
think I will have to make an exception for this one. I think I can learn a lot
about writing.
Now and then I like to recommend a book I'm not reviewing here, but one that I have enjoyed immensely, usually an adult book. I just finished reading a wonderful debut novel, a cozy mystery, that is fun, fresh, and smart. It is A Murder of Magpies by Judith Flanders and it's set in the publishing industry in England. Fun stuff.
Last week I offered an autographed copy of Nancy Herman's wonderful historical novel, All We Left Behind: Virginia Reed and the Donner Party to one of you. This week's winner is Joanne Fritz.
Joanne
is a writer and blogger
from Pennsylvania who also does book reviews and sometimes gives away books.
Her blog, My Brain on Books, is really worth checking out, and don't miss her "About Me" section. Absolutely fascinating. Click on the title to check it out. Congratulations, Joanne. I will get your book out this week.
As a tip of my hat to the beginning of summer, I think I've found the perfect book. Drive Me Crazy by Terra Elan McVoy is a terrific middle-grade book that is a great summer read. Here is the 5-star review I wrote for the San Francisco Book Review.
Lana and
Cassie met at the wedding of Cassie’s grandmother and Lana’s grandfather. The
two girls might both be twelve years old, but that is about all they have in
common. They couldn’t be more different and don’t particularly like each other.
Suddenly they find themselves stuck in a car together for a week, accompanying
their grandparents on their honeymoon, of all things. Lana thinks she’s been
sent away because her mother is sick, and her parents don’t want to tell her
what’s going on. Cassie is pretty high maintenance and has friends who are even
more high maintenance and not very nice. Can these two girls make their peace
or even become friends without destroying their grandparents’ honeymoon?
“Maybe this would be a
time to tell her that my life isn’t near as perfect as she assumes, but she
starts crying harder, and it breaks my heart.”
This is a
great concept for a middle-grade novel, and Terra Elan McVoy does a
terrific
job bringing it to life. The dual point of view is perfect with Cassie and
Lana, each with a very distinct and pitch-perfect voice, telling her own story
in alternating chapters. All the characters are interesting and well-rounded.
The story is compelling and fun and the writing excellent. Young readers will
love this one.
 | |
| Terra Elan McVoy Photo Credit Jamie Allen |
I have a gently-read ARC for one of you. To win, all you need do is have a
US address, be a subscriber or follower, and tell me that in a comment
you leave on this post. If you are reading this in your email, click
HERE to go to the blog so you can leave a comment. If you would like
extra chances, please spread the word by posting the link on a Tweet,
blog post, Facebook, or any other way you like. Let me know what you
have done in your comment, and I will put in extra chances for you for
each that you do.
Don't forget to check out Shannon Messenger's wonderful blog HERE for many more Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday reviews and giveaways.
