“When in doubt, have a man come
through a door with a gun in his hand.”
~ Raymond Carver ~
Gifts for My Writer Friends:
The
Editor has a great post on how to get your manuscript squeaky clean before you
send it out. Click HERE to read it.
Good
post HERE on How to Write a Book from Start to Finish.
Anne
R. Allen is becoming a fixture here with all her great posts. She has one that
shouldn’t be missed by blogging writers. Click HERE for 9 great tips to entice
readers to your blog.
When we were last here, I offered my gently read ARC of The Life and Times of Benny Alvarez to one of you. This week's winner is Carol Baldwin. Congratulations, Carol. You can find out more about Carol, a writer and teacher of writing, by visiting her blog by clicking HERE. She and fellow writer Joyce Moyer Hostetter produce a not-to-be-missed enewsletter called Talking Story. You can read an issue and sign up for future issues by clicking HERE. Carol, I will get your book out to you this week. If you are not Carol (and, therefore, not the winner) stay tuned. I have another great giveaway this week.
I flew to Minnesota last week to attend my brother-in-law's memorial service. It was a real celebration and something of which George would have approved. All that flying around gave me the opportunity to chip away at my staggering TBR pile. Right on top, I had Elizabeth O. Dulemba's book, A Bird on Water Street. I won this book on Kirby Larson's blog and am grateful I did. I think it is terrific, and I'd like to tell you about it.
Jack, 13, lives with his mother and copper-miner father in a small Southern Appalachian town that has been ruined by the mining company and its cavalier handling of the lands. They are not much better about handling the safety of their employees. The company has done so much damage to the area -- land, water, and air -- that other than people and pets, there are no living things for miles around. No trees, no birds, no bugs, no frogs, no fish that can be eaten -- nothing. Jack loves reading about (and dreaming about) living in a place that is rife with flora and fauna. He also dreams of not becoming a miner, something his father plans for Jack and assumes he will accept. But Jack
has a plan of his own.
 |
| Elizabeth O. Dulemba |
After a bad mining accident and a deep-cutting layoff, the men strike. Things are tough at home and only get tougher. The strike goes on for months and months, putting all kinds of pressure on the family. But then Jack discovers something quite wonderful.
Elizabeth deftly tells a coming-of-age story woven into a historical novel about an important topic. Middle-schoolers will love the story and characters, and all the while they will be learning important lessons about the environment without even knowing it. I think high-schoolers and adults will enjoy this as well.
When I won the book, Elizabeth inscribed and signed it. I am offering this signed, gently-read copy to one of you. All you need do is have a US address, be a follower or subscriber (it's easy and free -- look in the right-hand column), tell me whether you subscribe or follow, and leave a comment. Next time I post (which may not be for two weeks -- we are going to Utah to see our daughter in Twelfth Night at the Utah Shakespeare Festival), I will draw a name from the hat and one of you will receive this wonderful book. If you want extra chances, Tweet about the giveaway with the link, post the link on Facebook or your own blog, and tell me what you've done. I will give you extra chances.
Don't forget to check out Shannon Messenger's wonderful blog for more Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday reviews and some giveaways. You can find it by clicking HERE.
