59 ratings | 53 reviews | avg rating:4.42

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Maria Padian

Goodreads Author

Born

in New York City, The United States

Website

http://www.mariapadian.com

Twitter

mpadian

Genre

Young Adult

Member Since

February 2012

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I'm a reader and an author: not a critic or a reviewer! I believe in the power of stories. So while I definitely have my opinions about the things I read, my primary goal is to share great books and promote literature, which is one of my great, abiding passions.

That said, I'm no longer going to affix stars to the books I read. I'll offer a comment or two, and maybe if I'm deliriously in love and can't contain my excitement I color in five of those stars ... but as a creator of stories I well know what goes into writing a book, and can't possible assign a "number" to anyone's work. I'm in awe of anyone brave enough to put it out there. Carry on!

To learn more about the books I've written, visit my website at http://www.mariapadian.com ...more

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Popular Answered Questions

Not a question, but kudos to you for avoiding assigning a number to a writer's work. Many reviewers (unpublished themselves) take a superior and dismissive tone in their reviews which I always find a little grating. Ironically, as you are a published author I would tolerate a scathing review that you had written as someone who has been there, done that. Sorry....required question mark in 3...2....1....'?'

Maria Padian Goodness, I hope I never write a scathing review! Honestly, if I read something I don't like I'll simply forego commenting on social media. This busin…moreGoodness, I hope I never write a scathing review! Honestly, if I read something I don't like I'll simply forego commenting on social media. This business is too tough for us to be taking pot shots at each other. As an author, I really try to use my online presence to promote and support other writers and their work.

That said, I'm often surprised and dismayed by the tone of many reviews in the "blogosphere." They seem like/feel like mean girls on the middle school playground instead of professionals discussing literature. At worst, they read like the comments section of a local newspaper.

I remember once getting upset over a review which ripped one of my books, and my editor at the time (a very experienced, smart person at Knopf) said to me, "Maria, don't you think I know what I'm doing? I'm a pro. If I thought those things were lacking in your book I would have flagged them and we would have worked through them during revision"

So true! It was the reminder I needed that a traditionally published book has gone through MULTIPLE revision passes, not only at the agenting stage but at the editorial stage and copy editing. And wow, copy editors are STICKLERS. Talk about tough love. But ... I am always so very, very grateful to my copy editors.

Reviewing is not creative writing, but I do think it is an art in itself. I enjoy reading great literary criticism and there are definitely reviewers whose work falls in that category. But in the Wild West of Goodreads you encounter ... well, let's be kind and call it The Wide Range of Reviewing Talent and Abilities. As an author you learn how to parse the useful feedback from the ... useless.

Thanks for your interest in my work and taking the time to read my books .(less)

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What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Maria Padian Invest in a good chair. I wrote my last book in a cheap folding chair and my back is still killing me.
Honestly, though, the best writing advice I ever…moreInvest in a good chair. I wrote my last book in a cheap folding chair and my back is still killing me.
Honestly, though, the best writing advice I ever got was from my college advisor, a very successful published poet. He told his students, “Most art isn’t very good and most art doesn’t last.”
Not what an aspiring twenty-something novelist wants to hear, right? But it was empowering. Because it liberated me from the burden of greatness. I didn’t need to write perfect poems or bestselling novels or prize-winning short story collections. I simply needed to write my best, truest, most authentic stories without worrying about how my work “measured up.”
So write from your heart, then rewrite as if your life depended on it. Not because you want to be famous or make a lot of money or get great reviews, but because you care about it, deeply. Sherman Alexie says he writes in blood because he knows how it feels to bleed. So that’s it, really: write in blood.
- See more at: http://algonquinyoungreaders.com/auth...(less)

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Maria Padian’s books

Average rating: 3.86 · 4,297 ratings · 990 reviews · 8 distinct works • Similar authors

	Wrecked 3.71 avg rating — 1,768 ratings — published 2016 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Out of Nowhere 4.02 avg rating — 1,139 ratings — published 2013 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	How to Build a Heart 4.06 avg rating — 738 ratings — published 2020 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Jersey Tomatoes are the Best 3.81 avg rating — 439 ratings — published 2011 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Brett McCarthy: Work In Progress 3.75 avg rating — 210 ratings — published 2008 — 12 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	BFF - best friends forever 4.50 avg rating — 2 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Best Recent Multi-Cultural YA liked it 3.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2013	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Wrecked: Special Preview - The First 5 Chapters 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Maria Padian's Blog

Review: Liquid, Fragile, Perishable

I had the privilege of reviewing an early copy of Carolyn Kuebler's recently released, debut novel, Liquid, Fragile, Perishable, for the Middlebury College alumni magazine. I loved it, and highly recommend it. But will warn those of you who favor more traditional forms: there are no paragraphs.

There are lines. Individual sentences for the most part. A cluster of three a

Maria is Currently Reading

Maria is currently reading

The One-in-a-Million Boy

by Monica Wood

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Apr 28, 2016 04:19AM

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Maria has read Long Island (Eilis Lacey, #2) by Colm Tóibín	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 04, 2025 06:22AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Long Island by Colm Tóibín. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Long Island by Colm Tóibín <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Maria rated a book it was amazing Sparrow Spreads Her Wings (Sparrow Being Sparrow) by Gail Donovan (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This quietly humorous, gently insightful, spot-on-kid-authentic middle grade book features a girl heroine who is wonderfully imperfect. Sparrow leads with her heart and feels things BIGLY. Oh, the mess ups and apologies and ultimately: victories! You ...more
Jan 04, 2025 05:51AM · like · see review

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Quotes by Maria Padian (?)

“If Im so brave, why do I feel like I might just ...
scream?”
― Maria Padian, Jersey Tomatoes are the Best

4 likes

“I wish we could start over. I wish we were meeting for the first time. Clean slate.’

Haley considers this. It’s such a little-kid term. ‘Do-over!’ they’d shriek on the four-square court. The kickball field. Back when there was no mistake you couldn’t fix, no hurt you couldn’t heal with Band-Aids, hugs, and snacks. She’d love a do-over as well.”
― Maria Padian, Wrecked

tags: childhood, do-over, hurt, mistakes

1 likes

“You understand that no one is just a color, like a crayon.”
― Maria Padian, How to Build a Heart

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