Sprite finished the 10 Captain Underpants books and has gone back to the Magic Tree House books. He’s currently reading #25, about Shakespeare. He’s looking forward to giving the first Harry Potter a try this summer, since his brother started Harry Potter at this age.
A-Read is taking a break from Lord of the Rings. He finished a historical fantasy about the Three Musketeers and is now reading a MG fantasy (The Shadows from The Books of Elsewhere series). He’s halfway through and told me last night that it’s great. He’s looking forward to reading the last Harry Potter this summer.
I’m reading Code Name Verity, by Elizabeth Wein. I gave in to the pressure, even though I didn’t really want to read yet another book about World War II. I’m about halfway and I’m very glad I gave in. The research is astounding and the main character definitely has my attention. My stomach twists in anticipation of the plot twists to come.
As for writing, I’m working on a couple of freelance projects and revising a YA novel.
So now that Sprite is a regular reader (currently working on the 10th Captain Underpants), it’s time for an update on A-Read (almost 10 years old). Here’s a list of his recent reads:
The BFG, Roald Dahl The Fellowship of the Ring (Lord of the Rings, Book 1), J.R.R. Tolkien Bomb: The Race to Build – and Steal – the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon, Steve Sheinkin The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, J.K. Rowling
Next on his shelf:
The Last Musketeer, Stuart Gibbs The Shadows (The Books of Elsewhere, Book 1), Jacqueline West
So as usual, he’s into fantasy (with a brief foray into non-fiction). But within that broad genre, he’s into a little bit of everything.
Author Laura Diamond had such a blast sharing her PRIDE series with you that she’s decided to self-publish a spin-off short story. Set in 1890’s Kenya and based on the man-eating lions of Tsavo, this young adult paranormal short has a decidedly horroresque bent to it.
Rogue shapeshifters, Santamo and Legeny, believe they are kings blessed with the power to shift into lions. Using that strength, they brutally defend their land from the British building the Ugandan Railroad that threatens their way of life. On a particularly ruthless raid, Santamo meets his match—Naserian. He spares the girl’s life, a move that fractures his relationship with Legeny and blurs his visions of cleansing his territory of invaders.
While the pile of bones in Santamo and Legeny’s cave grows, so does Santamo’s attraction to Naserian. When she challenges him to give up his murderous ways, will Santamo stay on the path of death he believes is his duty, or will he choose Naserian, and love?
TSAVO PRIDE is NOW AVAILABLE via Amazon for $0.99! Amazon Prime members can borrow it for free.
About Laura Diamond:
Laura Diamond is a board certified psychiatrist and author of all things young adult paranormal, dystopian, and horror. Her Young Adult Paranormal Romance novelette, NEW PRIDE, and novel, SHIFTING PRIDE, debuted late 2012 from Etopia Press. A spin off short story based on the lions of Tsavo, TSAVO PRIDE, is now available. A short story, CITY OF LIGHTS AND STONE, is in the DAY OF DEMONS Anthology by Anachron Press and another short, BEGGING DEATH, is in the CARNAGE: AFTER THE END Anthology Volume One by Sirens Call Publications. Forthcoming novels include a young adult adventure, ZODIAC COLLECTOR, and young adult dystopians, ENDURE and EVOKE. When she’s not writing, she is working at the hospital, blogging at Author Laura Diamond–Lucid Dreamer and renovating her 225+ year old fixer-upper mansion. She is also full-time staff member for her four cats and a Pembroke corgi named Katie.
I knew this day would come. I knew someday my younger child would love to read. He spent almost 7 years watching his family read and talk about books. When he started learning to read, I knew it was just a matter of time. But it hit me the other day, when he woke up at 5:30 AM to go to the bathroom and then decided to read instead of going back to sleep, that he had arrived.
He is a reader like the rest of us.
So now, he finally gets his own nickname on this blog: Sprite. I think it captures his cuteness and his sense of wonder.
What book had Sprite reading so early in the morning? Captain Underpants #8. Sigh.
He also loves the Magic Tree House books, but he stopped at #18 to finish up the Captain Underpants series. Despite my discomfort with the subject matter (I will NEVER understand the intense humor in potty situations), these books have helped him jump three reading levels in a couple of months. And I know that as soon as he finishes book 10, he’ll go back to the Magic Tree House books. He even has the next several already waiting on his bedside table.
In a couple of weeks, I’ll update you on A-Read’s current reading list. In the meantime, what’s your child’s favorite book you love to hate?
I’ve had a much harder time lately finding something I want to read. In some cases it seems to have to do with changing tastes. I may have enjoyed a book one to three years ago, but now that the next book in the trilogy is out, I’m no longer interested.
In other cases, the premise of the book interests me enough to start reading but I don’t make it past the first few chapters. Sometimes, I make it to the end of the book because I’m curious about how it all turns out even though I haven’t enjoyed the reading experience, but I won’t pick up the sequel. Below are the common reasons.
The beginning doesn’t hook me and doesn’t live up to the promise of the jacket flap.
The writing is poor. Too much passive voice, the voice doesn’t match the age of the character, repetitive words. (This occurs in both indie-published and traditionally-published work, as do all of the reasons listed here.)
I can’t relate to the main character.
The main character doesn’t change by the end of the book, or s/he doesn’t solve what seems to be the story problem.
On the other hand, desperation has led me to take some chances in choosing reading material, and I’ve been pleasantly surprised. Some gambles pay off.
So, my piece of advice for today is, don’t let all the coal keep you from continuing your search for the diamonds. And of course, as writers, we need to hook the reader from the beginning, write well, make the main character relatable, make sure s/he changes over the course of the story, and s/he must solve the story problem.
I’m pleased to announce the launch of Untellable by Suzanne Lilly.
Suzanne is my friend and critique partner and I’m thrilled that her second book has just been published by Turquoise Morning Press. I only got to read the first chapter of this book, quite some time ago, but doesn’t that cover make you want to dive right in?
About the book: Aspen Dwyer, recently emancipated from foster care, is searching for a place to hide from a past with secrets too dark to share. Honey Creek, Ohio, presents itself as the best place to start a new life and stay undercover. There she meets Colton Moraine, a man with strong family ties and an even stronger sense of loyalty. His boisterous, loving family welcomes Aspen with warmth she hasn’t felt in years. She’s surprised at how quickly and deeply she falls for Colton. When a dangerous criminal comes to Honey Creek, intent on his revenge against her, Aspen must choose between two options. Should she stay and risk her life and the rejection of the people she’s grown to love? Or should she run again, and leave behind any chance of a happy future?
About the author: Suzanne Lilly writes lighthearted young adult stories with a splash of suspense, a flash of the unexplained, a dash of romance, and always a happy ending. Her short stories have appeared in numerous places online and in print, and she has placed and received honorable mentions in writing contests. Her debut novel was Shades of the Future in 2011 followed by Untellable in 2012. She lives in Northern California where she reads, writes, cooks, swims, and teaches elementary students.
Author Shannon Whitney Messenger began Marvelous Middle Grade Mondays a while back. If you love middle grade literature, check out her blog on Mondays for a list of other sites featuring MG books.
Today I’ll talk about The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls by Claire Legrand.
From Goodreads: At the Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls, you will definitely learn your lesson. A dark, timeless, and heartfelt novel for fans ofCoralineandThe Mysterious Benedict Society.
Victoria hates nonsense. There is no need for it when your life is perfect. The only smudge on her pristine life is her best friend Lawrence. He is a disaster—lazy and dreamy, shirt always untucked, obsessed with his silly piano. Victoria often wonders why she ever bothered being his friend. (Lawrence does too.)
But then Lawrence goes missing. And he’s not the only one. Victoria soon discovers that The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls is not what it appears to be. Kids go in but come out…different. Or they don’t come out at all.
If anyone can sort this out, it’s Victoria—even if it means getting a little messy.
From Vicki: Yes, creepy. It was deliciously creepy until Victoria got to the Cavendish Home and then it went to a whole new level, beyond Coraline.
I brought this home for A-Read and he gobbled it up. We both got a laugh out of the name of the main character and he enjoyed the creep-factor. After I read it we discussed some of the more ghoulish elements. Of course they didn’t bother him at all.
Anyway, Victoria was quite the character. A solitary perfectionist in a perfect town whose journey leaves her perfectly unperfect. There’s more, of course, to that journey, but I don’t want to spoil it for you.
I write MG and YA fiction, inspired by my fascination with other cultures. I love travel and food, and my two little boys, and my husband (RocketMan) and our puppy.
Sometimes I teach French. Sometimes I crochet. I can count to ten in seven languages (and I've forgotten how to in three others).
