Don't Turn Out the Lights!

Like most kids of the eighties and nineties, I grew up reading the SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK anthology by Alvin Schwartz with haunting illustrations by Stephen Gammell. Unlike other scary books for kids, that collection didn’t sugar-coat things. I remember being in fifth grade and getting super upset when I read a book (that shall remain unnamed :P) where the ‘monster’ turned out to be some big misunderstanding, basically a Scooby Doo ending. I wanted the monsters to be real, so that I could see kids overcoming true evil. So I could believe that I too could conquer my personal demons. I longed for that catharsis, and it required real monsters.

That's why I'm so thrilled to have a story in a brand new anthology, DON'T TURN OUT THE LIGHTS: A TRIBUTE TO ALVIN SCHWARTZ'S SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK, presented by the Horror Writers Association. For me, this was all about coming full circle, returning to the series that inspired my creativity as a child. The anthology features 35 original tales by 35 of today's top authors, edited by Jonathan Maberry.

Book Review: THE AMELIA SIX serves up girl power and history

 

First of all: I have always been obsessed with the mystery of Amelia Earhart's disappearance: did she survive the crash or smash into the ocean? 

Over the years, the mystery has been addressed in novels and nonfiction books.

But this might be my favourite story that includes Amelia:

I've been a huge fan of Kristin L. Gray since her debut novel, VILONIA BEEBE TAKES CHARGE.

    

She has a wonderful ability to put her readers in the shoes of their main character and have us root for them the whole way! (She is also the author of two wonderful picture books: KOALA IS NOT A BEAR and ROVER THROWS A PARTY)

The premise

Eleven-year-old Amelia Ashford—Millie to her friends (if she had any, that is)—doesn’t realize just how much adventure awaits her when she’s given the opportunity of a lifetime: to spend the night in Amelia Earhart’s childhood home with five other girls. Make that five strangers. But Millie’s mom is a pilot like the famous Amelia, and Millie would love to have something to write to her about…if only she had her address.

Once at Amelia’s house in Atchison, Kansas, Millie stumbles upon a display of Amelia’s famous flight goggles. She can’t believe her good luck, since they’re about to be relocated to a fancy museum in Washington, DC. But her luck changes quickly when the goggles disappear, and Millie was the last to see them. Soon, fingers are pointing in all directions, and someone falls strangely ill. Suddenly, a fun night of scavenger hunts and sweets takes a nosedive and the girls aren’t sure who to trust. With a blizzard raging outside and a house full of suspects, the girls have no choice but to band together. It’s up to the Amelia Six to find the culprit and return the goggles to their rightful place. Or the next body to collapse could be one of theirs.

My Thoughts

First of all, I LOVED this book. Not only because of my own obsession with Amelia, but because this is SUCH a good story.

Who wouldn't love a book where the first line of chapter one reads:

Imagine the worse smell you can think of, multiply it by rotten fish, and I promise you a turkey truck stinks worse.

I mean seriously, this is a GOOD opener!

I love Millie's awkwardness, her grief over her mother's leaving, and her thrill at getting to stay overnight at Amelia Earhart's house (who also happens to be her mother's idol).

Most of all, I loved that that this book tells the story of a group of smart girls. Smart girls who can solve a mystery themselves AND work out their interpersonal issues AND support each other. 

I love that this book promotes teamwork, creativity, problem-solving, and I LOVED the ending.

This book is a great whodunit with heart, and is a wonderful way to introduce kids to the history of women and early aviation and the life of Amelia Earhart. 

And there are great resources at the end for kids (and adults) who want to read more about Amelia.

This book is a winner - I highly recommend it!

Want to learn more about Kristin L. Gray? Visit her website: https://kristinlgray.com

Book Review: Groundhog Day goes Parisian and Middle Grade!

 

Thank you Jolly Fish Press for the ARC of PARIS ON REPEAT by Amy Bearce. The blog was offered a copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Premise

Timid, self-conscious military kid Eve Hollis gets caught in a time loop during an eighth-grade class trip to Paris and must internalize some lessons about confidence, bravery, acceptance and love to break out of it and go home.

Back copy hails something to the effect of “Groundhog Day with a Parisian twist”. I haven’t seen that movie in about 30 years, so I can’t make any clever parallels or comparisons.

Bearce NAILS eighth-grade awkwardness/angst, and adorably intense friendships (not to mention the creepiness of male street vendors).

Let's talk about how Eve is fourteen.  Granted, many of us were that age at some point; I’m not sure how it became literary No Man’s Land. But I’m here for (fictional) fourteen-year-olds (that I can close the cover on). 

Bearce plays with the reader a lot, getting really close to tropes and then swerving away. I don’t do spoilers in reviews, but I can say: The twist on the “Friends before Guys” lesson is truly epic. Also, a compelling subplot features the Competing-Over-a-Best-Friend dynamic, a real-life trope we don’t see enough in kids’ books. 

Diversity

• Eve is white and race plays no role in the story. However, it’s clear from the names and brief physical descriptions of her classmates that 

Loved 

• Great  backmatter discussing the author’s time in France as a military kid and how Paris has changed since the book was written (pre-1919). 

This is kind of a double-edged sword: Eve’s fatal flaw is she needs to learn confidence and to accept herself and others (a skill we all should have)... but it’s iffy how a mysterious adult appears to be in control of holding her in the time loop “till she learns her lesson”. 

Categorize that how you will. But this is an enjoyable read if nothing else. 

Caveat

• Eve’s parents’ impending divorce is discussed (something Eve needs to forgive her parents for and accept);

• Several scenes with the creepy/pushy street vendors and pickpockets were accurate but mildly upsetting. Another lesson Eve needs to learn is to stand up for herself.

• Two of Eve's friends kiss (very PG-rated, but being a helicopter mom I had to mention it).

• Eve’s first two days in the time loop are pretty repetitive and that part (about 10 pages in 214) of this otherwise entertaining book  drags a bit.

• Bearce’s chapters skew longer (10+ pages), so this book may not be the best choice for a reluctant or unconfident reader. 

Give to:

• Fans of Natalie Lloyd and Sheila Turnage

PARIS ON REPEAT is available now; look for the rest of the Wish & Wander series soon. 

Riveting Back-to-School Reads During Covid

I don't know about you, but my kids are a little creeped out right now. Not to mention feeling unsettled about the idea of wearing masks to school or sitting at a desk surrounded by Plexiglas. My son's school has decided on a hybrid classroom, with in-person attendance two days per week and virtual study the other days. Some families are choosing all virtual (my son's not-so-secret dream). 

Regardless of the structure decided on, middle grade readers need something to take their minds off how strange school (and life) are right now, during the Covid pandemic.This back-to-school list features books with a variety of educational settings that range from magical to downright creepy. They're sure to entertain, while also reminding kids that life isn't quite so crazy after all. These are not all strictly middle grade; some may appeal to more advanced readers.

The Charlie Bone Series by Jenny Nimmo

This story features Charlie Bone and other descendants of the Red King, who attend the magical Bloor's Academy. Students focus on art, drama, or music, which sounds pretty cool until you hear some of the school's draconian rules. 

Silence in the hall,

Talking not at all,

Even if you fall,

Never cry or call,

Be you small or tall.

Not to mention the hypnotic powers of some of the students. Prepare to be spooked!

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

In Battle School, young Ender trains to fight hostile aliens. But his training is not what it seems. It's also quite a contrast to what kids might experience today!

The Magic School Bus Series by Joanna Cole

This book series has been around forever, but new installments have been released along with a Netflix adaptation. The story centers around Ms. Frizzle and her students as they explore the world of science, large and small, through the transforming powers of the magic school bus.

 The Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling

Hogwarts, of Harry Potter lore, is a favorite fictional school the world over. Whether middle grades (or any of the rest of us) are reading them for the first time or the hundredth, Rowling will enchant and petrify in equal measure. There are tons of extras to read and activities to explore on the official Harry Potter website, https://www.wizardingworld.com.

The Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

In this lyrical book, Miri and the other teenage girls from her mountain village are forced to attend an academy, where they are trained to become the potential princess. Needless to say, the competition is fierce, but not as harsh as the academy mistress or the bandits who invade the school. It is up to Miri to save them through a magic unique to the mountain dwelling people.

Matilda by Roald Dahl

The evil principal at Crunchem Hall terrorizes her students until Matilda discovers telekinetic powers and uses them to fight back.

What are some of your favorite fictional school tales? 

Launching a Book During a Pandemic

To be honest, launching my two upcoming middle grade titles has been the least of my concerns this past month. Like most of us, I've been carrying around a ball of stress that has been growing a little each day since the start of the pandemic. I've had it easier than many. My health has been good. I have the luxury of writing from home, so my work life hasn't really changed. I also benefit from white privelege in general and in regard to health outcomes. That said, the stress snowball as of late has still been massive. I was super chill at first, but add in identity theft, my apartment flooding and, the major blow, my dog getting sick (she's fine btw, thank the gods!), and my book launches could not be farther off my radar.

Still, I have been writing. Delving into the imaginary worlds I create has been the one thing keeping me steady during this turbulent time. I've finished two books so far (with many revisions still to go), and I'm diving directly into a new project. Why? Because I need stories to steady this ship.

My first tip for launching a book during the pandemic? Keep writing new stories. If you're like me, it will save your mental health, and it's the one aspect of the publishing game you control. 

Beyond that, focus on the aspects of marketing and promotion that bring you joy, and forget the rest. I remember meeting with my editor at Scholastic before the launch of my first book, Skeleton Tree. She said in no uncertain terms that nothing I do as an author will move the needle when it comes to promotion. Her point was for me to stop stressing and leave it up to the publisher. Now, we all know that, even in the best of times, publishers rarely do as much as authors would like when it comes to promotion. And now? Um...even less. However, I think one part of her advice was super important, i.e. the don't stress out part. Yes, writing is my livelihood, but why stress about aspects of the business you can't control?

So why bother promoting at all? Do it if it makes you happy. For example, I adore making graphics. It's something I've done since high school, for fun, never professionally, but I actively enjoy making graphics, especially when I need a break from the real work of writing.

You can check out a nice selection of the graphics I've made on my Instagram account. Have they pushed the needle? Nope. Did making them benefit my life by giving me a necessary break from writing? Absolutely!

My tip for writers looking to create their own graphics: Experiment and have fun! Every graphic is not going to be super stunning, but you will learn a little more every time you try.

I love Canva because it's so, so easy! Start with a template, but don't stop there. Canva lets you modify their templates as much as you want, so play around and make the designs your own. Another benefit is that you can tailor graphics specifically for each social media outlet. No more awkward sizes that don't show up properly on Twitter or Instagram. If you're looking to create 3D mockups of your books, DIY Book Design has an easy, free tool to do just that. I like to combine 3D mockup images with Canva to create cool promos that can stand the test of time.

I made the above images in Canva (I have a Pro account), by selecting the background image from Canva's photo offerings, adding 3D mockups of my books, overlays and additional images (i.e. the skull, Orange Crush, lures, cookies, etc.) to represent items from the stories. These kinds of promos aren't connected to any specific event, so you can use them throughout the years.

What about school visits and other types of promotion?

Apart from graphics, I'm doing the requisite blog interviews and giveaways. I actually sent physical mailers to nearby indie bookstores offering to partner with them on virtual events. I've had fun hosting Facebook Live interviews with some author friends. My series is called, Talking to Real Live Human People, because that literally is the point :P It's not so much for promotion as it is for human contact.

Before the stress of everyday life set in, I had also contacted school librarians via email to discuss fall author visits. Since we're in pandemic times and nothing for fall is certain, I did not finalize dates, but instead gathered a list of schools interested in scheduling some sort of visit. I let them know that I have options for both virtual and in-person sessions, but time will tell how that all pans out. Either way, it's a great idea to at least connect and let educators know you're available and flexible.

What about the actual launch party?

I'm partnering with a local indie, Best of Books, to host a virtual launch party via Zoom. The store created a Facebook event to promote, adding me as a co-host, and participants need to pre-order my book to receive the Zoom link. During the virtual party, I'll do an interview-style Q&A with a bookseller and give away some cool prizes. I'm also planning to collaborate with fellow authors on some similar panel-style events, and will be doing another virtual launch for my fall release.

The bottom line? There's way too much important and often dire stuff going on in the world right now to let a book launch stress you out. Do what you enjoy. Do what you need to do to feel productive...and, as always, keep writing.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

KIM VENTRELLA is the author of THE SECRET LIFE OF SAM (Fall 2020, HarperCollins), HELLO, FUTURE ME (Aug. 2020, Scholastic), BONE HOLLOW and SKELETON TREE. Her works explore difficult topics with big doses of humor, whimsy and hope. Kim has held a variety of interesting jobs, including children’s librarian, scare actor, Peace Corps volunteer, French instructor and overnight staff person at a women’s shelter, but her favorite job title is author. She lives in Oklahoma City with her dog and co-writer, Hera. Find out more at https://kimventrella.com/ or follow Kim on Twitter and Instagram.

Book Review: The Marvelous Adventures of Gwendolyn Gray by B.A. Williamson

Thank you to Jolly Fish Press for the review copy of

The Marvelous Adventures of Gwendolyn Gray, which I received in

exchange for an honest review. 

OK, to be clear, Jolly Fish Press actually sent me two Gwendolyn Gray books;

the more recent one having come out in April. But ever since I graduated from

The Babysitters’ Club, reading a series out of order has never been good to me.  

So book one it is. 

Redhead, imaginative Gwendolyn Gray is a black sheep in her dystopian City

because she has pizazz and personality. But when characters from her

imagination and a mysterious book she finds start manifesting, Gwendolyn

finds herself pursued across universes by pirates, a giant octopus, and

nefarious government agents, the Mister Men.

The omniscient narrator (AKA the death of so many kidlit manuscripts) adds

comic relief and wisdom to the story simultaneously. 

Easter eggs from myriad iconic fantasy stories - Alice in Wonderland,

Neverending Story, Wizard of Oz, and The Matrix most prominently - are

sprinkled throughout, with a dash of kid-friendly multiverse physics, a twist of

first love, mind-bending gotchas, and a bittersweet tearjerker ending. 

But this isn’t a spoof book, or even intended to be funny: This sci-fi adventure

story has a strong message of confidence and self-love that really sucks the

reader in. I’d gone through 100 pages before I realized I’d done so. 

In other words, the premise is awesome and B.A. Williamson totally delivers. 

While it sounds like Williamson is an educator, his descriptions of corporate

life had this Corporate America cog ROFL. 

Caveats: 

There are a couple scenes of bullying toward the front of the book, including

one where Gwendolyn is threatened and has a chunk of her hair cut out. 

At 325 pages, this book is the poster child for the “we need to distinguish

Upper MG from MG” chatter floating around on writing Twitter. In other words,

read this book TO a reluctant reader, but don’t give it to them. 

Give to: 

• Fans of Peter Bunzl’s Cogheart series and Tin by Padraig Kenney.

The Marvelous Adventures of Gwendolyn Gray is available now. 

Hone Your Craft With Flash Fiction - Exercises Included!

We all love when inspiration strikes. Flash fiction can feel much like that. It's a story in micro, a focus on a compelling moment in a character's life. 

Reading flash can help stir ideas for your own long or short writing. When you practice writing flash fiction, there's even better payoffs in your own work.

Improve Your Focus

Flash fiction gets a lot done in a very short amount of time. Big emotions and major change must coexist in a tiny, little writing space. Flash fiction word counts can range from just a few words to the more typical 1000. 

As you practice creating flash fiction, consider how tightly focused you can be on the main aspects of your story. What can you cut and still keep clarity? 

Exercise: Write a sentence summarizing your story using ten words or less.

Tighten Your Prose

When a story must be crafted to fit the short requirements of flash fiction, you learn to say a lot with few words. This habit will carry over into your other works, making them more concise and compelling. 

Exercise: Go through a current work-in-progress and see if you can cut the entire thing by 25% or even 50%. Alternatively, try replacing three words with one. Are there whole sentences or paragraphs you could cut while retaining or enhancing the impact of the story?

Experiment With Form

Flash Fiction is a fun, low-risk way to try new structure. If you want to try a story in texting or email form, this would be a great format to experiment with it. And you have nothing to lose but a little time and maybe 1000 words. Low-risk, high-return. 

Exercise: Experiment with something new in a piece of flash fiction. Maybe write the entire thing in iambic pentameter. Or starting every sentence with the next letter in the alphabet. The options are endless. You're creative; I'm sure you'll come up with something new to try!

Amp the Tension

Conflict and change are essential in any story, even flash fiction. Sometimes we might trick ourselves into thinking that because flash focuses on a moment in time that it is static, but that is a mistake. Static is boring. Nothing is happening. 

Try starting your flash fiction pieces close to a character's life-changing event or realization. It can be dramatic - the loss of a loved one, or subtle - the realization that their best friend is capable of lying to them. Whatever it is should change the main character's world and/or worldview. 

Conflict and change are things we grapple with regularly. They are essential to every story. As you learn to incorporate them in the small world of flash fiction, you will find it easier to build the needed conflict and change in your other works.

Exercise: Determine what life-changing moment will rock your character's world. Start the story right before or just after that moment. What's next? What suspense can you build that will keep the reader hooked all the way to the end?