Jabber-Walking -- Review and Giveaway

Thought for the Day:

“Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” 

~ Henry Ford ~

Gifts for My Writer Friends:

Steven Pressfield always has something important to say. The post HERE on resistance is no exception.  

I recently came through the mother of all writer blocks, and I have a critique partner who has been having that problem lately. Sure wish I had had the post HERE from Ramey Channell guest posting on Janice Hardy’s Fiction University a couple years ago. 

Having trouble coming up with ideas? Anne R. Allen’s post HERE will help you with that. 

My trip to New York was fabulous. The opening of Maggie's show, Red Roses

Green Gold, was amazing. It was an invitation-only event, and I really wished I had facial-recognition software on my phone. There were lots of people from the music and theatre industries, and I was sure if I had a better memory, I would have recognized a whole lot of people. I did recognize Edie Falco in the audience, but that was all my poor brain could manage. The cast was incredible -- eight terrific singers who all played multiple instruments. Maggie plays eight instruments -- piano, accordion, stand-up bass, electric bass, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin,  and box drum. And she got a nice photo in the NYTimes on-line review. You can check it out HERE. And a little interview with her HERE that has a really funny story in it. 

Last time I wrote, I offered a gently-read paperback copy of Welcome to Wonderland Home Sweet Home by Chris Grabenstein. I mistyped. It's a hardback copy! Anyway, the winner this time is Natalie Aguirre. Congratulations, Natalie! If you don't know Natalie, she is a writer and runs the exceptional blog, Literary Rambles. Check it out HERE. There is so much good stuff there. Don't miss it. Natalie, I will get your book out to you soon. For the rest of you, another book, another giveaway.

I occasionally get emails from publishing companies offering me books for review. I'm pretty picky about what I accept, but when I saw one written by Juan Felipe Herrera, the Poet Laureate of the United States from 2015-2017, I thought I had better check it out. The book is Jabber-Walking and it is unlike any other book I've seen. It is a middle-grade book that seems designed to help kids open up their minds, to allow their thoughts to flow freely onto the page, and start them on the road to writing poetry. Basically the idea is to walk around, notebook in hand, and free-write about all the many things that might stimulate their creative side. Mr. Herrera seems to have an unusual fascination with blue cheese, and he often refers to Jabber-Walkers as Burrito-Heads. He has a strange sense of humor, but one that I think the younger set will really appreciate. There are funny sketches throughout the book and a tremendous use of type as graphics, if that makes sense. You will know what I mean if you get a gander at the book. I must admit, I had some problems picturing kids in cities walking around writing in

Juan Felipe Herrera

notebooks. Yikes! There is traffic and curbs and dog poop and other things in the city that, to me, seem to require watching where one is going, but that's just me. And there is a frenetic quality to the writing that made it hard for me to read (I actually got a headache), but I am not the target audience, and I imagine kids might well just eat this up. 

I have a gently-read ARC for of this 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 Greg Pattridge's blog HERE for many more Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday reviews and giveaways. He has graciously agreed to take over temporarily for Shannon Messenger while she is running around promoting her latest book. Thanks, Greg, and good luck, Shannon!

The Girl in the Torch -- Review and Giveaway

Thought for the Day:

"Don't quit. It's very easy to quit during the first 10 years. Nobody cares whether you write or not, and it's very hard to write when nobody cares one way or the other. You can't get fired if you don't write, and most of the time you don't get rewarded if you do. But don't quit."

~ Andre Dubus ~

Gifts for My Writer Friends:

WritinGeekery has quite an interesting post HERE entitled Rock Your First Chapter, No Excuses. It’s a good one. 

The Writer’s Circle has a good article HERE on words you should banish from your writing. Yes, BANISH! 

Janice Hardy has a great post HERE on what it really means to start with action.

Last week I was able to have some great giveaways and have three winners to announce. The two lucky people who will receive signed copies of Water Runs Through This Book by Nancy Bo Flood are @dmsfiles and Nancy. Congratulations to both! I will be contacting you for addresses and how you would like your books signed. And, for your listening pleasure, Susan will be receiving a CD of Stripped Down by the beautiful and talented Maggie Hollinbeck! Nancy is a loyal reader, Susan is a time-travel expert and blogs HERE,and @dmsfiles can be found blogging HERE. Both blogs are worth your time. I have another giveaway, so keep reading please!

I recently won a whole box of middle-grade books and a Starbucks card (Thanks, Greg!!!) from the very generous Greg Pattridge who writes and blogs

about middle-grade writing and reading at Always in the Middle HERE. He has great reviews and discusses the writing process. Don't miss it. Anyway, in that box of books was one I had already read and really enjoyed. I'm happy to share it here. It's called The Girl in the Torch by Robert Sharenow. I have to admit, this book has really stayed with me since I read it a couple months ago. I do love historical fiction and this one has a compelling story and wonderful characters, but that's not why it has stayed with me. One of the first rules of writing for children is that the main character has to solve his/her own problem. I don't think I am giving too much away, but I would love to know if Sharenow had any push back on that. His main character, Sarah, does a lot of things along the way to help herself, but ultimately some wonderful adults step in to bail her out of her biggest problem. I'd be interested to hear from anyone else who has read this book and what you think about this. If you haven't read the book, it's really good. Here is the review I wrote for the San Francisco Book Review.

It is early in the 1900s, and 12-year-old Sarah lives in a small village when her father is killed by powerful men. She and her mother take what little they have and buy passage to America to start a new life where Jews are not persecuted. During the voyage, Sarah’s mother becomes quite ill, and when they arrive at Ellis Island, she dies, leaving Sarah with no one. A search for some relatives in New York comes up empty, and Sarah is put on a ship to return to her homeland, but she jumps overboard and swims to Liberty Island. She scavenges food during the day and sleeps in the crown at night, trying to figure out a way to get to the mainland and find a way to live. But there is a night guard between her and freedom, and when he falls and is injured, there is no one to help him but Sarah. Thus begins an odd partnership.

“She hadn’t been bathed by anyone since her mother had done

it when she was a little girl. Her mother had a much gentler hand. 

But it felt nice to be taken care again, even if it was by a tough 

old Chinese woman she barely knew.”

Robert Sharenow has written a terrific story with complex characters and interesting relationships set in a time and place young readers will find

Robert Sharenow

fascinating. The writing is lovely and the story compelling. This is a winner.

I have a very 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.

Water Runs Through This Book -- Review and TRIPLE Giveaway

Thought for the Day:

“A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man 

contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral.”  

~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery ~

Gifts for My Writer Friends:

GREAT post on commas HERE. The comma is the most misused punctuation in America. 

Anne R. Allen has some fun Tips for the Care and Feeding of Your Muse HERE. 

Barbara Kyle has a guest post on The Writing Desk HERE on the Anatomy of a Page-Turner. Very instructive.

Last week, I promised one of you a gently-read copy of Out at Home by Cal Ripken, Jr. and Kevin Cowherd. This week's winner is Molly. Congratulations, Molly! She is a semi-retired teacher and an aspiring writer and reviews middle-grade books at My Cozy Book Nook. Check it out HERE. If you didn't win, take heart. I have THREE giveaways this week. Keep on reading.

I am really pleased to tell you about a new book by Nancy Bo Flood. Nancy is one of the most talented and generous writers I know. I have reviewed two of her books on my blog -- a MG poetry collection called Cowboy Up! (review HERE) and a marvelous picture book, The Hogan that Great-Grandfather Jack Built (review HERE). I simply love her work. It is so original and so beautiful. Her poetry is stunning. Her new book, Water Runs Through This Book, is unlike anything you might have ever read. Here is the five-star review I wrote for the San Francisco Book Review. 

People can live a very long time without food or shelter, but they can only live two or three days without water. The only more critical element for life is oxygen. Our brains are mostly water. Our bodies are two-thirds water. Water connects all people. Nearly 70% of the Earth is covered by water, and rivers were the first thoroughfares. Water shapes the land. Even as people explore the moon and other planets, the key they look for is evidence of water. Water is life. But most don’t think about water very much until they don’t have it. This precious resource needs to be protected. For some peoples, water is a necessary component for ceremonies and rites. Water is sacred.

“Wilma Mankiller was an activist and the first female chief of the 

Cherokee Nation. For Wilma, ‘going to water’ meant home, 

family, and a healing place of prayer.”

Nancy Bo Flood is a teacher, poet, and writer. In this book, Flood uses both prose and poetry to

Nancy Bo Flood

accompany the spectacular photographs by Jan Sonnenmair to tell the story of this important resource in a way young people will understand and be engaged. Flood’s prose is succinct and lovely to read, and her poetry is spare and lyrical. This wonderful book will be appreciated by middle-grade readers, their parents, their teachers, and more. 

I read a wonderful interview with Nancy recently at Jennifer Wolf Kam's blog, and I think you will enjoy it as well. If you click HERE you can read it. Nancy has generously offered TWO signed copies of her book for giveaways this week! See. I told you she is generous! Thanks, Nancy. But I promised you a TRIPLE giveaway, so I am not done yet.

I am sure I have mentioned our daughter Maggie who is an actor in the national

tour of Once. She is also a singer/songwriter and released her second album last weekend. It is called Stripped Down (it's all acoustic). She not only wrote most of the songs, but did the photography for the cover, did all the design, and recorded the tracks herself! We are so proud of her. This album has three covers and eight of her own songs. I love it and have decided to share it with you.HERE is a link to her album and you can listen to a sample song and hear why I want to share her work. You can, of course, order a copy of her album if you like and help a starving artist. I have decided to give away a copy of her album as well. I'll bet I can even get her to sign it for the lucky winner. 

To win any of these wonderful prizes, 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.