IWSG, Audio, and Diversity

The Insecure Writer's Support Group is the brainchild of Alex J. Cavanaugh. He, his clones, minions, friends, and fellow authors make it an amazing event every month.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

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July 1 question - There have been many industry changes in the last decade, so what are some changes you would like to see happen in the next decade?

I think audiobook sales are going to continue to increase. From my years of teaching, I know many people enjoy audiobooks. Way back when I started teaching, this wasn't an option. I read many, many books into cassette tapes for students. Sadly, my Tigger Brain can't focus on audiobooks - I'd rather create them than listen to them.

Hmmm, maybe that's the next thing to learn! I've always loved reading aloud to kids in class!

Photo by Findaway Voiceson Unsplash

I'd love to see more diverse authors writing and publishing. I'd love for all voices to be heard and read (and listened to!). I'd really love to see this trend in books for kids (picture books, MG, and YA). Every child should be able to find multiple fabulous books that reflect his/her/their experience.

I'd also love to see more picture books with two or more languages showcased. With so many new Canadians coming to our country not speaking English, French, or an Indigenous Language, we need to have good books that include their languages as well. I would also like to see dual/multi-language books in chapter book style. Left page = Language 1 (or 1/2), Right page = Language 2 (or 3/4).

How about you? Do you enjoy listening to audiobooks? Would you buy books showcasing multiple languages?

Photo by Hannah Wrighton Unsplash

Happy Canada Day to my fellow Canucks!!

The Love of Reading Lives On!

I had a group of Grade 8 students working in my classroom the other day. They were working on a variety of projects and activities and sitting in small groups around the room.

One of students started a discussion about the book he was reading (In a Handful of Dust by Mindy McGinnis). He knew a few others had read the first book in the series (Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy as well) and asked if they thought it was okay to read the books out of order.

One girl used the phrase companion book and, having read both books, told him it would be fine, although there could be a few spoilers about a character. A few other students agreed, and the conversation turned to what they liked about the world building in the book.

Another boy chimed in about the world building in Extraction by Stephanie Diaz and he encouraged them to read it because, while it was really different in almost every way, he thought all the books created vivid worlds, powerful characters, and intriguing (his word!) conflict, and that students who liked one would like the other.

The conversation was interrupted by the bell, but it was some great eavesdropping for so many reasons:

• the authors the kids spoke about are friends of mine from Agent Query Connect (the kids know nothing about my connection to these authors)
• the gender of the main character didn't matter to anyone
• the conversation was completely and totally spontaneous
• there was NO adult intervention or commentary (I sat back quietly and grinned!!!)
• they showed great understanding of the books and all kinds of literary concepts
• they were able to look past the obvious dis-similarities to deeper connections within the books

Talk about an uplifting few minutes! So, for those of you who are worried about the next generation of readers, relax! 

What about you? What positive reading have you seen and heard about lately?

Home Run Books

Last day of August - how did that happen?????

I've spent part of my summer organizing my classroom library in my new classroom. So much fun! I've got a lot of books - I've had my students do a math activity every year estimating how many books are in my library. Conservative estimates put it over well over 5000 books. It's a very crowded room.

I've got the books organized into buckets - divided into fiction & nonfiction, then by topic, genre, reading level within the genre, authors and more. I always have a few students who volunteer to help me keep it organized over the year. Couldn't do it without them!

One of the best parts of my job (special education resource teacher) is helping kids find those 'home run' books - books that turn them into readers. I love 'touring' new kids around my library and showing them possibilities. I generally send them away with a handful for them to try out. Often, we'll read the first bits together and see which ones excite them.

Once they know how to find books that are at their level and are about things they're interested in, they dive right in. Then, before long, they start expanding those tastes and trying new things. Having the power to choose and the time to explore is often a key to reading success.

Do you remember one of your 'home run' books? One of the first books that turned you into a reader? I think one of my first was the Encyclopedia Brown series, then Nancy Drew & the Boys. I still like mysteries now!

Put Downs or Build Ups?

There often seems to someone on the attack lately. I've been teaching for a lot of years and I've seen lots of attacks on books as well as attacks on people who choose to read certain books.

To me, the attacks are usually a waste of time & energy ... and just a little bit nuts.

Some people become absolutely inflamed because of what they think is in a book.

Whenever a new fuss pops up I think back to a student I'll call Amanda. She was in my split grade 6/7 classroom for 2 years. During our first reading conference of her Grade 6 year, Amanda admitted she'd never actually read a book on her own. Reading was very tough for her and by the time she finished sounding out words she'd almost always lost the meaning of the sentence.

She thought she might like some of the Goosebumps books everyone was talking about. There was a lot of fuss at the time from people who wanted to ban Stine's series from classrooms and libraries. There were people who claimed teachers were 'evil' for allowing kids to be exposed to them. (I question if any of those people actually read any of the books!!)

Being me, I had over 30 Goosebumps books to choose from. She selected 2 and I read them into tapes. She tried to read along with my voice during reading time.

Then she read one on her own.

Then another.

By the time she finished Grade 6, Amanda had read 17 Goosebumps books on her own.

17.

Over the summer and during her Grade 7 year, she moved on to Stine's Fear Street series. And Christopher Pike. And Caroline B. Cooney. Then Lois Lowry and JK Rowling. And many, many more.

Her grade 8 teacher was shocked she'd been a non-reader 2 years before.

Ridiculing anyone for their choice of reading material is yet another kind of put down. The world has enough of those.

I'd rather see the build ups. I'd rather celebrate the Amandas of the world who demonstrate perseverance and are willing to admit to a difficulty and take the risks involved in becoming stronger.

If I only stocked my classroom with my favourite books, it would still be a very large library, but it wouldn't rival the 5000+ books I stock today. The more variety I have available, the easier it is to find those Home Run books for kids and turn them into avid readers. Do I have to personally like the books they choose? Nope. Do I have to support their right to like them.

Absolutely.

How do you feel about the folks who want to dictate what we read or judge us based on the ones we choose?

We Need Diverse Books

We do.

Some fantabulous authors have created the We Need Diverse Books push. If you haven't seen it on tumblr or Twitter (#weneeddiversebooks), please check it out.

It's affirming how many people understand, know and believe this.

It's also horribly depressing that we need to have a push at all.

Books = power.
Books reflect society - as it is, as it might be.
Books let us walk a few steps in the lives of another.
Books give us hope for a better future.
Books spread knowledge, hope, love and understanding.
Books let everyone have a voice.

Diversity = power.
Diversity is normal.
Diversity is interesting.
Diversity makes life fascinating and brings so much joy.
Diversity is strength.
Diversity is us.

Give the thread a look. Add in your thoughts.

So why do you think we need diverse books?

Favourite Couples

Valentine's Day is almost upon us. Cue the cardboard hearts and fancy chocolates!

Love and romance are part of human culture and obviously show up in many of our books. There have been countless couples throughout history who have captured the hearts of readers. Even young readers.

Some of the earliest couples I remember reading about are:

• Anne Shirley & Gilbert Blythe from Anne of Green Gables
• Nancy Drew & Ned Nickerson (had to look up his last name!)
• Amy March & Laurie (never did like that match up though)

There weren't really any YA books around when I was a kid and I moved pretty much from those books to Agatha Christie - not a lot of romance for poor ol' Hercule!

Current MG and YA books are full of couples and love triangles (but that's another post) and some of them are very memorable. One of my recent faves is in Ice Dogs by Terry Lynn Johnson. While it's totally an adventure book the realistic relationship that grows between the characters is fabulous. Shannon Messenger, Medeia Sharif, Elana Johnson, and Shelli Johannes are other authors who create strong relationships between their YA characters. Wish those authors had been around when I was a kid!

Who are your favourite couples from the books you read as a child or teen?

Dear Author I Shall Not Name

A book really surprised me last night, but not in a good way.

I'd picked up a book by a new-to-me author. I liked the premise and the characters sounded fun. I enjoyed the set up of the story, the way I could see what the characters couldn't see coming. It's a romance and I thought the author had some unique twists and turns for her characters to face. The dialogue was great and for the most part their interactions were fun and honest. The story was working at a solid B+ for me.

Then I got to the last page.

I'd spent a few hours with these characters, I'd gotten to know them and I liked them. I wanted them to have their HEA (happy ever after). And I thought they were getting it - I liked the way the author was setting it up, another good twist (or so I thought). Then the last page exploded it all.

To me none of it made sense. The direction the last page took was in exact opposition to the characters & their goals & their feelings.

The author probably intended it as a cliffhanger (there is a book 2), but it didn't work for me at all. Not only would I downgrade the story to a D or worse, I will never read the next book. In fact I doubt I will ever read anything by this author again.

As a romance writer, I tend to prefer HEA or happy-for-now endings, but ambiguous endings can totally rock too (think The Giver or Possession). Above all the ending has to make sense and be true to the rest of the story.

This one didn't and wasn't & I felt cheated out of the hours I'd spent with the book.

Okay, rant over. No, I will not reveal the book or author, nor will I write a review - I only comment on books I've enjoyed enough to share. But I probably will stew over it for a little while longer.

And you can bet I'm going to be looking more closely at the endings for my own stories!

How about you, do you get annoyed by shocker endings? Do you have things that turn you off authors forever too?

The Highlander's Hope

Woohoo!!! My crit buddy Calista Taylor is heading out on a new adventure. Under that name she's published an incredible steampunk craft book, 2 steampunk romances (Virdis & Devil on a Sparrow's Wing) and 2 grim reaper romances (JACK & For One Last Kiss).

Now, she branching out into the world of contemporary romance under the name Cali MacKay. Her first novel is called The Highlander's Hope and it's up for FREE!

Here's the blurb:

When Dr. Catriona Ross discovers clues to a long lost highland treasure, her only hope of finding the jewels is to obtain the help of Scotland's most eligible bachelor and playboy, Iain MacCraigh.
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Iain can't believe his luck when he finds out the jewels are hidden away somewhere on his land-- and it doesn't hurt that the historian looking for them has curves to go with her smarts. With his brother betting the family fortune, this is the life line he desperately needs.
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The odds are against them, and with word getting out about the jewels, they're not the only ones on the hunt. Time's running out, but can they learn to trust each other, or will they lose the jewels and true love in the process?

Sounds great doesn't it? And I can totally vouch for it! A sexy highlander, a smart & courageous historian & an elusive treasure - all kinds of awesome!

Book 2 in this new series - A Highland Home - is also available - and only $2.99.

Rowan Campbell is desperate for answers. She’s lived her life without knowing a thing about her father, her mother refused to speak of him, even on her deathbed. With her cheating fiancé gone and no one else in her life, Rowan moves to her mother’s hometown in Scotland, determined to find the father she’s never known.

When Angus Macleod agrees to help a family friend move to Scotland from the States, the last thing he expects is to fall hard for the fiery redhead, who makes him rethink his bachelor ways. Looking for any excuse to spend time with Rowan, he’s more than happy to help her find her father, even if she’s skittish about committing to anything serious. But when Angus discovers Rowan’s mother left Scotland pregnant and terrified, he wonders how dangerous Rowan’s quest might be. Before long, Angus finds himself hindering rather than helping, despite knowing his actions could ruin any chance he has for happiness.

With Rowan closing in on her father’s identity, will Angus be able to keep her from harm? And will she ever forgive him for standing in her way?

So, pop off and try out Cali's latest stories - I hope you'll love them as much as I do!
Isn't it great when you get to celebrate a critique buddy's success? :) 

Favourite Genres

Genre Favorites Blogfest, September 17, 2012

One blogfest, four favorites!

Ninja Captain Alex J Cavanaugh is at it again! Another awesome blogfest with fun questions. Click on Alex's link to check out the other people contributing.

Favourite Movie Genre: Science Fiction

•  even though my favourite movie of all time is probably the Lord of the Rings trilogy, I have to go with sf, not fantasy. There are SO many great sf movies - starting with Star Wars (although some folks categorize this as fantasy) , through the Star Trek movies to Serenity to so many more. Love them!

Favourite Music Genre: Rock

•  this one is really tough for me. Even tougher than books. I listen to a wide variety of music and love most of it. I'd have to say I prefer the lighter rock to heavier rock, but there's nothing quite like a rock beat to get you moving!

Favourite Book Genre: Romance

•  I love watching a relationship develop between the two characters, knowing there's a Happy Ever After in store for me. I LOVE books in so many genres (sf, fantasy, suspense, adventure,...) but time and again I find myself going back to romance.

Favourite Guilty Pleasure: ...

•  this was tough - once again, there are so many to choose from! I love a lot of old cheesy music especially, but I think my biggest guilty pleasure is a movie, but not from my favourite genre. It's Miss Congeniality. Sandra Bullock is so much fun in this one. So many scenes make me smile - lots of fun!

Help me out here - tell me one of your guilty pleasures from one of those categories! Please!! :)

Of You and I

I believe in the power of you and I

I love the Olympics - always have. Life gets put on hold for me when the Olympics are on. I loved sports as a kid and played many of them. None of them to any extraordinary level of achievement, but enough that sports are important to me.

Our Canadian television stations have worked together to coordinate coverage and we've seen an incredible amount of events. The Canadian theme song of the Olympics is I Believe. We see daily montages of athletes striving to this music every day. I know I'm a total sap, but these things can move me to tears. There is so much aout the Olympics I believe in.

Believing is important.

In sports, in our careers, in our families. In our dreams.

There has been a lot of good news lately over at Agent Query Connect (if you're an aspiring writer and don't know this site, get thee hither!). Lots of folks getting agents & deals, pubbing, making the NYT bestseller lists.

Yesterday the wonderful RC Lewis announced an incredible deal. I don't think I could be any more excited. RC is one of 'those' people. You know the ones. Smart, kind, generous, funny, talented. I'm still smiling this morning for her.

So, let's all channel that Olympic spirit. Let's believe in the power of you and I.

Any good news you're excited about? Are you a fan of the Olympics? Do you Believe?

Movie Influences on Elana

Dude! I'm so excited today to have Elana Johnson here. Elana's one of my favourite people in the bloggy-verse. Not only do I adore her books (see here and here to hear me gush!), but she's a total sweetie - honest, kind, open, generous - she's an awesome lady! So, here's Elana...

The Influence of Minority Report

A guest post by Elana Johnson

Okay, so I’m a lover of thrillers like The Bourne Identity and Mission Impossible. One of my favorite futuristic movies is Minority Report. I haven’t seen it for a few years, and I recently watched it. I felt like I’d taken a slice of SURRENDER and inserted it into the movie.

Or the other way around. Maybe I’ve taken a slice of Minority Report and inserted it into SURRENDER…

Here’s a couple pieces of the pie you’ll see in both places.

The spiders. In Minority Report, there’re these robotic spiders that can be programmed to find a specific person. They scan retinas to ID people.

Well, SURRENDER has spiders too. Some are used for menial labor, like cleaning smudges off floors and windows. Some are for protection, like guard dogs with eight legs. Some are used for enforcement purposes, like disabling a person until officers can arrive.

I strongly dislike spiders, so I thought they’d be a perfect addition to a futuristic society as a symbol of something for the citizens to dislike or be afraid of—just like we are.

The pre-cogs. In SURRENDER, some of the citizens have paranormal abilities. Some can manipulate tech, some can read minds, some can command the elements. And some can see the future.

True, in Minority Report, the pre-cogs wallow in this weird watery stuff and can’t seem to function in society. That’s not the case in SURRENDER, but as I was watching the movie, I thought “I have people who predict the future too!”

It’s a fascinating concept to me—all of Minority Report is—and I’ve recently written an entire novel about time and knowing too much about the future. I love thinking about things like this, which is why I enjoyed Minority Report and enjoyed writing about people who can see the future in SURRENDER.

That’s about the extent of the similarities between SURRENDER and Minority Report, but I thought it was fun to see them as I watched the movie.

Have you ever written something with slices from something else? Have you read something that reminds you of a particular movie/book?

This week, as part of the SURRENDER blog tour, you can win one of three $15 Barnes & Noble gift cards and become a winner winner, chicken dinner! All you have to do is fill out this rafflecopter widget with what you’ve done. NOTE: One of the options is to blog about a time you didn’t surrender. Go here for full details on this, including how to sign up for your free swag package!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thanks, Elana! Those spiders are definitely creepy!!  If you'd like to catch up with Elana you can find her here: blog, twitter & Facebook.

Bio: Elana's work including POSSESSION, REGRET, and SURRENDER is available from Simon & Schuster wherever books are sold. She is the author of From the Query to the Call, an ebook that every writer needs to read before they query, which can be downloaded for free on her website. She runs a personal blog on publishing and is a founding author of the QueryTracker blog. She blogs regularly at The League of Extraordinary Writers, co-organizes WriteOnCon, and is a member of SCBWI, ANWA and LDStorymakers.

She wishes she could experience her first kiss again, tell the mean girl where to shove it, and have cool superpowers like reading minds and controlling fire. To fulfill her desires, she writes young adult science fiction and fantasy.

About SURRENDER: Raine has always been a good girl. She lives by the rules in Freedom. After all, they are her father’s rules: He’s the Director. It’s because of him that Raine is willing to use her talent—a power so dangerous, no one else is allowed to know about it. Not even her roommate, Vi.
All of that changes when Raine falls for Gunner. Raine’s got every reason in the world to stay away from Gunn, but she just can’t. Especially when she discovers his connection to Vi’s boyfriend, Zenn.
Raine has never known anyone as heavily brainwashed as Vi. Raine’s father expects her to spy on Vi and report back to him. But Raine is beginning to wonder what Vi knows that her father is so anxious to keep hidden, and what might happen if she helps Vi remember it. She’s even starting to suspect Vi’s secrets might involve Freedom’s newest prisoner, the rebel Jag Barque….

Purchase your copy here: Simon & Schuster (this has links to all major retailers!)

So what slices of books or movies show up in your stories?

Surrender Rocks & Never Surrender!

 DUDE! You've got to read this book!!!

I had to borrow Elana Johnson's vocabulary to shout out about her latest book, SURRENDER. I finished it about an hour ago, and I can't stop thinking about it. I'm pretty sure I'll still be thinking about it tomorrow. And the next day. And next week...

(Okay, this post was scheduled - I actually finished it a few weeks back now, but I had to write this down as SOON as I finished it. And, yes, I'm still thinking about it!)

It's one of those books. You know the ones - they stick in your heart and your head for a very, very long time.

Elana creates incredible people - wait! I have to remind myself they're characters... The 2 main characters, Gunn and Raine, wound themselves into my heart in no time. They're vibrant, strong and so passionate about their world!

The world was well developed in Possession, and now, in Surrender, it becomes deeper and darker. The layers of the world make it so real - no one-dimensional setting here!

I also love the way this companion book integrates the characters from Possession. They're blended into the story seamlessly. And they still have the power to break my heart and make it soar - sometimes at the same moment!

Elana - you've created some magic here - great job! :)

ALSO...

To celebrate Surrender's release, Elana's having a great blogfest the week of June 11th - 15th. In her words...

All you have to do is blog about a time you didn't surrender. Trained for a marathon? Queried agents? Had to study for an entrance exam? I'm looking for inspirational stories that you have experienced. Hard things you've accomplished because you didn't give up. I want to be inspired by you!

Anyone who blogs this week for the theme can enter to win one of three $15 B&N gift cards. Everyone who blogs this week will receive a SURRENDER swag package. (You can get the blogfest language and badge here.)

Sounds like fun! I hope you'll join me -- I'm looking forward to all the posts!

What book have you read lately that makes your heart both break and soar?

First Loves Blogfest

Alex J Cavanaugh is at it again! Another great blogfest. If you haven't met Alex yet (is that possible???), hop on over to his blog to say hi and grab the list for other participants!

First Movie Love
It has to be The Wizard of Oz. My older sister hated it - especially the flying monkeys! - but I fell in love from the first scene. The evil lady trying to hurt Toto, the caravan, the pig pen and the guys! Then, when the movie changed to colour, it was pure magic! The Scarecrow is, of course, my favourite character! Can't watch it without singing along! :)

First Band Love
(So glad you didn't say singer, Alex - that's a little embarrassing!) I listened to solo artists for the most part, and mostly pop music, but the first band I fell in love with was Queen. Bohemian Rhapsody was my favourite. I learned to play (most of) it on the piano. Pretty much wore out that album!

First Book Love
The first book I remember really getting to my heart was Little Women. I was pretty young. As soon as I finished it, I started reading again - hoping THIS time, Beth wouldn't die. When it happened the 2nd time, I was heart broken. Again.

First Person Love
I'm one of the lucky ones - I'm still married to the first guy I fell in love with. Crushes now? Different story. :) There was a guy named John (or Jim?) in grade 6 who had the best hair! Can't remember much about John himself, but I can still picture that hair! Sixth graders aren't known for the depths of their feelings after all!

How about you? Any first loves you'd like to share?

(A) Whale for the Killing

As a writer, my A to Z challenge is going to be about books, characters, TV shows and movies that have impacted me somehow. Enjoy! Be sure to check out Lee’s blog to find more bloggers taking on this challenge!

A Whale for the Killing

(source - GoodReads)

This is the last Farley Mowat book on my list. As you can tell, his work really impacted me. This is another true tale – this time of a whale that gets trapped by the tides. This book shows us all sides of the human experience. On the one hand we have people working desperately to save this poor, scared creature. On the other, we have people having fun with their guns using it for target practice. Details of whaling practices are interspersed with the narrative – sometimes enough to make you ill. Another powerful read. Another powerful message that we’re not nearly the species we should be.

Any favourite reads of yours have environmental/social messages?

Virunga

As a writer, my A to Z challenge is going to be about books, characters, TV shows and movies that have impacted me somehow. Enjoy! Be sure to check out Lee’s blog to find more bloggers taking on this challenge!

Virunga

(source)

This is another Farley Mowat masterpiece. It’s the story of Dian Fossey’s life and death and it combines Mowat’s narrative with excerpts from Fossey’s diaries. Fossey spent most of her life studying the mountain gorillas in Africa. She was an incredible woman with strong passions. Her life wasn’t easy – and she didn’t always make it easy for those around her. This book is filled with powerful messages and strong themes and is one book I wish everyone would read. Her murder has never been solved, probably because there were so many people who profited from her death – and so much money (& politics) working against her. This is a hard hitting book – we need to treat ourselves, other people and species and our planet much better than we do.

What's a hard hitting book you think everyone should read?

Underground to Canada

As a writer, my A to Z challenge is going to be about books, characters, TV shows and movies that have impacted me somehow. Enjoy! Be sure to check out Lee’s blog to find more bloggers taking on this challenge!

Underground to Canada

(source)

Barbara Smucker wrote this fabulous book. This is another one I read aloud frequently to my students. If they read it themselves, they usually don’t have the background knowledge required to love the book. When I read it, we can discuss as we go – and, boy!, do we discuss. They find the whole situation incomprehensible. How could people think they could own people? How could they treat people like that? How could they be so cruel? How could they...

This is another book where I have kids cheering at some points and with tears in their eyes at others. Powerful emotions. If the kids in my classes are any indication, we’ll never have to worry about this horrific chapter of human history being repeated. Trust me, there is wonderful hope for the future.

What's your favourite historical book?

The Wizard of Oz

As a writer, my A to Z challenge is going to be about books, characters, TV shows and movies that have impacted me somehow. Enjoy! Be sure to check out Lee’s blog to find more bloggers taking on this challenge!

The Wizard of Oz

(I know, I know – we don't normally count The, but I filled up my W already! Shhh!)

The movie. I liked the books well enough as a kid, but for me, this is one example of the movie surpassing the book. I remember watching it on TV every year growing up. I couldn’t wait for it to come back. I loved it all – even the flying monkeys! Judy’s voice blew me away and the magic of Oz was undeniable. And the scarecrow? Best of all. I still get a thrill when Dorothy opens that door into a world of colour and wonder.

Do you have any movies that were favourites when you were a kid that you still love today? Or movies you like better than the book(s)?

Ranger's Apprentice

As a writer, my A to Z challenge is going to be about books, characters, TV shows and movies that have impacted me somehow. Enjoy! Be sure to check out Lee’s blog to find more bloggers taking on this challenge!

Ranger’s Apprentice

(source - John Flanagan's site)

I only discovered this series a couple of years ago – thanks to Elana Johnson on twitter during a #yalitchat or a #kidlitchat. I asked for books boys in my class would like and she said this was sure to be a hit. She was right – with the added bonus that my girls love it too. The setting is medieval and the main character, Will, isn’t your typical hero. He’s smaller than average, a little bit awkward – and he doesn’t get his dream come true. And that works out really well for him. It’s a great series - tons of adventure!

Do you like stories with medieval settings? How about unexpected story twists?

Pern

As a writer, my A to Z challenge is going to be about books, characters, TV shows and movies that have impacted me somehow. Enjoy! Be sure to check out Lee’s blog to find more bloggers taking on this challenge!

Pern

(source - Anne McCaffrey's site)

Parallel Earth Resources Negligible. That’s the name and the acronym for the planet Anne McCaffrey created. It rivals Middle Earth as my favourite fantasy setting. The dragons and their riders fight a recurring menace from the sky – thread. This thread devours anything alive – and is a fantastic villain. Pern’s society is incredibly complex - and its history is fascinating. If I could live in a book for a while, this is the world I would choose. Dragons. Fire lizards. Telepathic communication. Love it!

Would you like to be a dragon rider?

Outsiders

As a writer, my A to Z challenge is going to be about books, characters, TV shows and movies that have impacted me somehow. Enjoy! Be sure to check out Lee’s blog to find more bloggers taking on this challenge!

The Outsiders

(source - SE Hinton's site)

I didn’t read this book as a kid – and I wish I had. I’ve read this one to all my grade 8 classes over the years. It’s one of those books that can make a reader out of someone who has never found stories that interesting. Ponyboy draws in readers with the contrasting aspects to his personality – tough gang member, sensitive thinker. There’s one scene that will cause absolute silence in a grade 8 classroom and will cause every single member of the class (including me) to have tears in their eyes or on their cheeks. If you’ve read it, you know the scene.  That book has made it okay for boys in my class to feel – and to discuss those feelings aloud. Awesome.

Any books you know that make boys comfortable discussing their feelings?