L.B. Schulman's Blog, page 2
March 19, 2014
Themes in an Author's Life
A recent blog: A personal look at how writers explore similar themes in their books. Is it a reflection on them or their characters? http://bit.ly/1kIydxS
February 19, 2014
Wednesday Blogs Up and Running
Hey everyone,
I'm back to writing Wednesday blogs at lbschulman.com after a hiatus to finish my next book. My most recent one takes me on a self-inflicted visit to Internet rehab. Things one learns from a week-long break....
http://bit.ly/1fzAhmB
I'm back to writing Wednesday blogs at lbschulman.com after a hiatus to finish my next book. My most recent one takes me on a self-inflicted visit to Internet rehab. Things one learns from a week-long break....
http://bit.ly/1fzAhmB
January 22, 2014
Bad Boys in Teen Lit
League of Strays was mentioned in this recent article in the Guardian. I'm honored by the nod, as one of my goals in writing this book was to point out the often ignored truth--particlarly in teen fiction, but alas, in life as well--that bad boys can be rehabilitated and metamorphosized into loving partners. Um, not in my experience. Your thoughts?
January 6, 2014
A 2014 Thank You!
Thank you to all the readers who have expressed through Goodreads that they've enjoyed League of Strays. Thank you to the reviewers who have given it an honest critique on this site, positive or negative. And lastly, thank you to all of you who have taken the time to add a few words to your highly-rated ratings. It's always a joy to read how the book has impacted readers, and it's what keeps me writing, to be honest. I won't lie: it can be challenging to be an author--especially in the Internet age--but when I hear from a fan, it's like putting fuel into a car. 2013 saw the completion of my next young adult novel, and it's making the rounds with publishers. I am now revising a shelved manuscript in the fantasy genre for middle-graders. Writing gives me such joy, but knowing that my book has touched people is a special gift unlike anything else I've experienced. Take care, and Happy New Year everyone.
September 3, 2013
Nathan Bransford Post on Bullying
Nathan Bransford posted this blog today about the problem that exists with a certain type of bullying review posted on Goodreads. It's definitely worth reading. For those who stand up against bullying behavior of any kind, I want to say thank you. For all those who have read my book and reviewed it tactfully and constructively, whether you gave it one star or five, thank you. For those of you who do not repeat accusations about an author without real evidence, thank you. You are a true reader, and a contributor to a wonderful book community.
http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2013/...
http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2013/...
April 29, 2013
Kade Harlin: Hot Love Interest? NOT
(This post is also up on lbschulman.com)
If you decide to read League of Strays, I want you to love it. Sounds obvious, coming from the author, but I have learned a lot through reading my reviews. I wasn’t expecting controversy when I wrote it, but it seems to have struck a chord in some readers. For every four or five stars on Goodreads, there seems to be a two or even, on occasion, a one star. How could that be? Well at last, I think I get it.
Over time, I have come to realize that it mostly comes down to one character: Kade Harlin. I thought I’d write a little something about him in the hopes that readers know what they are getting into when they open the pages of this book. You have to know yourself as a reader first. Do you love thrillers? Do you mind a main character who makes mistakes at times? Can you read about a love interest that simply isn’t? Then you are the perfect reader for this book. If the answers are no, then you might not enjoy League of Strays.
When I first wrote this book, my intentions were to explore the concept of the “bad boy.” But Kade turned out to be quite different from the standard “bad boy” that’s often portrayed as being misunderstood, with a warm, giving heart—if only some girl (the love of his life) probes long enough to uncover it. Nope, this is not Kade. He is, in fact, an anti-love interest. League of Strays is a novel about a girl who gets sucked in to a friendship with a sociopath.
By definition, a sociopath has no conscience. He (or she, though most are male) will do anything to get what he wants, even if it means flattening those around him that he appears to care for. Experts say sociopathy is not as rare as we think: anywhere from 1 in 100 to 1 in 200. This means that most of us have run across one. The thing about them is, they are very difficult to identify. This is because they are often charming. They know what to say, and how to say it in order to manipulate their “victims.” When things don’t go well for them, they cry easily, offering up “sensitive” tears to show how much they really do care. Which, by the way, they don’t.
Kade Harlin was never supposed to be a “hot love interest.” Adding to his charm, he is good looking. And most importantly, he zones in on Charlotte’s loneliness and works it to his advantage. That makes her ripe for his picking—or at least it seems that way at first glance.
Perhaps some readers didn’t read far enough to understand my intentions, or maybe they just weren’t used to reading an anti-love interest in a young adult novel. Or maybe they read the inside jacket and clued in that something was wrong with Kade, and felt offended by Charlotte’s decisions to go on this journey, anyway.
I don’t want to spoil the ending. But I can say, if you are looking for a true love story, League of Strays is not it. If you can handle an honest story that could happen to anyone who’s not aware, or to any person wants love and friendship so badly that they overlook the red flags, then I bet you can read this book and really enjoy it. It’s up to you.
League of Strays is different. It’s intense. And it may just help someone find his or her own path, instead of following someone blindly. That would be enough for me.
If you decide to read League of Strays, I want you to love it. Sounds obvious, coming from the author, but I have learned a lot through reading my reviews. I wasn’t expecting controversy when I wrote it, but it seems to have struck a chord in some readers. For every four or five stars on Goodreads, there seems to be a two or even, on occasion, a one star. How could that be? Well at last, I think I get it.
Over time, I have come to realize that it mostly comes down to one character: Kade Harlin. I thought I’d write a little something about him in the hopes that readers know what they are getting into when they open the pages of this book. You have to know yourself as a reader first. Do you love thrillers? Do you mind a main character who makes mistakes at times? Can you read about a love interest that simply isn’t? Then you are the perfect reader for this book. If the answers are no, then you might not enjoy League of Strays.
When I first wrote this book, my intentions were to explore the concept of the “bad boy.” But Kade turned out to be quite different from the standard “bad boy” that’s often portrayed as being misunderstood, with a warm, giving heart—if only some girl (the love of his life) probes long enough to uncover it. Nope, this is not Kade. He is, in fact, an anti-love interest. League of Strays is a novel about a girl who gets sucked in to a friendship with a sociopath.
By definition, a sociopath has no conscience. He (or she, though most are male) will do anything to get what he wants, even if it means flattening those around him that he appears to care for. Experts say sociopathy is not as rare as we think: anywhere from 1 in 100 to 1 in 200. This means that most of us have run across one. The thing about them is, they are very difficult to identify. This is because they are often charming. They know what to say, and how to say it in order to manipulate their “victims.” When things don’t go well for them, they cry easily, offering up “sensitive” tears to show how much they really do care. Which, by the way, they don’t.
Kade Harlin was never supposed to be a “hot love interest.” Adding to his charm, he is good looking. And most importantly, he zones in on Charlotte’s loneliness and works it to his advantage. That makes her ripe for his picking—or at least it seems that way at first glance.
Perhaps some readers didn’t read far enough to understand my intentions, or maybe they just weren’t used to reading an anti-love interest in a young adult novel. Or maybe they read the inside jacket and clued in that something was wrong with Kade, and felt offended by Charlotte’s decisions to go on this journey, anyway.
I don’t want to spoil the ending. But I can say, if you are looking for a true love story, League of Strays is not it. If you can handle an honest story that could happen to anyone who’s not aware, or to any person wants love and friendship so badly that they overlook the red flags, then I bet you can read this book and really enjoy it. It’s up to you.
League of Strays is different. It’s intense. And it may just help someone find his or her own path, instead of following someone blindly. That would be enough for me.
January 10, 2013
25 Things You Don't Know About Me
This week, I take a break from my Wednesday blog at lbschulman.com so I can begin the final week needed to complete my second manuscript, which I am very excited about. Hopefully, it will be ready to go on submission within a month or two. In the meantime, you might want to check out this fun list that went up today on the blog, "Me, My Shelf, and I" called 25 Things You Don't know About...(Me!) Happy reading to you all.
http://www.memyshelfandi.com/2013/01/...
http://www.memyshelfandi.com/2013/01/...
January 3, 2013
Stop the Goodreads Bully Site: How I Feel
Now that some time has passed, I would like to clear up some misinformation about my supposed support of Stop the Goodreads Bully site. I know that some of you are sincerely interested in my opinion on this. To those of you who do not automatically assume that comments made about me are accurate, thank you.
After all this time, certain individuals continue to promote a comment I made a long time ago on Facebook where I said that the new site “made me smile.” I made this offhanded comment when the site was brand new, before anything questionable was said or being done by anyone. At the time, I was being attacked as being a troll (not true, if you are wondering) and my book was receiving many inaccurate reviews by readers who did not bother to read the entire book. Comments were also being made about one scene in my book—it was labeled as “gay-bashing.” This was ludicrous to me, as the overall theme of the book is most clearly an anti-bullying message—as many other bloggers and reviewers who have actually finished the book have pointed out. As far as the site STGRB goes, I thought at the time it was going to open up a discussion on the topic of bullying authors, which I welcomed. Then the site made the mistake of sharing personal info on a person who had been especially unkind to me, and I wrote them and asked them to remove it, which, to their credit, they did. I then took down my supportive comment on Facebook. However, certain readers had copied the comment, and sadly, it continues to spread, out of context.
We do have a problem between certain bloggers and authors, in my opinion. I have been greatly hurt by inaccuracies, slander, and attacks on myself and my work. Those who have read League of Strays without knowledge of this situation have reacted very positively, which I am grateful for. Hopefully, more readers will take a chance on the book and see for themselves the great thought and responsibility that went into its creation. I do not support bullying of any kind, which, ironically, is why I wrote the book in the first place. I wanted to make a comment about not following someone else blindly, which I believe is a really important point to make, and to make a statement that "revenge bullying" is the wrong tactic to take. Please, if you have questions, write me here and ask. I have also put up my thoughts on some of these issues on lbschulman.com. I am happy to respond to anyone. Thank you.
After all this time, certain individuals continue to promote a comment I made a long time ago on Facebook where I said that the new site “made me smile.” I made this offhanded comment when the site was brand new, before anything questionable was said or being done by anyone. At the time, I was being attacked as being a troll (not true, if you are wondering) and my book was receiving many inaccurate reviews by readers who did not bother to read the entire book. Comments were also being made about one scene in my book—it was labeled as “gay-bashing.” This was ludicrous to me, as the overall theme of the book is most clearly an anti-bullying message—as many other bloggers and reviewers who have actually finished the book have pointed out. As far as the site STGRB goes, I thought at the time it was going to open up a discussion on the topic of bullying authors, which I welcomed. Then the site made the mistake of sharing personal info on a person who had been especially unkind to me, and I wrote them and asked them to remove it, which, to their credit, they did. I then took down my supportive comment on Facebook. However, certain readers had copied the comment, and sadly, it continues to spread, out of context.
We do have a problem between certain bloggers and authors, in my opinion. I have been greatly hurt by inaccuracies, slander, and attacks on myself and my work. Those who have read League of Strays without knowledge of this situation have reacted very positively, which I am grateful for. Hopefully, more readers will take a chance on the book and see for themselves the great thought and responsibility that went into its creation. I do not support bullying of any kind, which, ironically, is why I wrote the book in the first place. I wanted to make a comment about not following someone else blindly, which I believe is a really important point to make, and to make a statement that "revenge bullying" is the wrong tactic to take. Please, if you have questions, write me here and ask. I have also put up my thoughts on some of these issues on lbschulman.com. I am happy to respond to anyone. Thank you.
December 22, 2012
We Need a Softer, Kinder World: New blog post
Wednesday blog Post up at lbschulman.com: We Need a Softer, Kinder World--with a different kind of resolution from me. Happy holidays everyone!
http://bit.ly/UcwYeQ
http://bit.ly/UcwYeQ
November 14, 2012
My Thoughts on a Controversial Scene in League of Strays
I have decided after much thought, to post my thoughts on a scene in my book, League of Strays, that has been depicted numerous times as “gay bashing” by a select and vocal group of bloggers. Before I begin, this post is for two kinds of people: those who are trying to decide whether or not to read the book, and those who are authentically curious about the controversy. Please understand that I am offering this as an explanation, not as a way to belittle the bloggers who have disliked my book for any reason whatsoever. Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. Many of you have written to ask me about it, and you deserve a response.
The one thing I never expected as an author was the passionate reaction to a specific scene where League members form a plan to humiliate Dave, who has tormented a League member, Richie, merely for being gay for several years. In return, the League sets up Dave as being gay because they believe that his own homophobic friends will turn on him. They want Dave to experience firsthand what it feels like to be humiliated for who you are.
So far, most reviewers who have read the entire book have weighed in on the side that this scene is NOT as it’s being portrayed in some reviews. Most, if not all, understand my intent as an author and the deeper themes of the book, which is deeply gratifying. For me, the problem comes when potential readers jump to conclusions based on inflammatory and incomplete reviews by certain bloggers. I know this is happening because I see that some readers have removed League of Strays from their to-be-read lists, which saddens me.
Of course, I do not feel that this scene is “gay bashing,” as the term has been thrown around Goodreads. Yes, it may be uncomfortable for some people to read, but it echoes a real life scene that is happening every day in high schools across America: someone being beat up for being gay. The scene’s purpose was to show that vengeance is a poor way to deal with a difficult situation. This realization comes out later in the book when Charlotte learns a life-changing lesson through this and other acts of unnecessary vengeance. Richie also learns through the course of the book that he is a great guy, and has a positive future, but that he must think for himself to be free. He must determine whether or not to let go of his real problem: his enabling friendship with Kade.
League of Strays was never intended to be a typical heroine-style book. It’s about a girl who has to learn about who she really is and define her own morals through the mistakes she and others make. If you were lonely, and faced with a smooth psychopath who manipulated and lied to you, would you so easily see the right choices? Maybe, maybe not. But it really doesn’t matter, because the reader is NOT Charlotte. Charlotte doesn’t have the benefit of jacket copy, or a cover, or reviews on Goodreads to let her in on Kade’s secret. She is merely a character that takes a difficult path and learns from it. Her journey is not intended to be a commentary on how one should act. It is how she acted, and how she handled the subsequent outcome.
As readers can see from the varied star count on Goodreads, there are many different positions on this book. Here is a professional review that came out yesterday, as an example.
I ask only one thing. Do not turn away from this book because certain bloggers have jumped to conclusions and in some cases, have made superficial accusations without reading the entire book. Decide for yourself. League of Strays is about the mistakes people make, not a how-to guide in dealing with bullying, as I am sure you will find out by the closing page. And you know what? You might just enjoy it. Others have. I hope you will keep an open and mind and give it a try.
Thank you for taking the time to read and consider this.
L.B. Schulman
The one thing I never expected as an author was the passionate reaction to a specific scene where League members form a plan to humiliate Dave, who has tormented a League member, Richie, merely for being gay for several years. In return, the League sets up Dave as being gay because they believe that his own homophobic friends will turn on him. They want Dave to experience firsthand what it feels like to be humiliated for who you are.
So far, most reviewers who have read the entire book have weighed in on the side that this scene is NOT as it’s being portrayed in some reviews. Most, if not all, understand my intent as an author and the deeper themes of the book, which is deeply gratifying. For me, the problem comes when potential readers jump to conclusions based on inflammatory and incomplete reviews by certain bloggers. I know this is happening because I see that some readers have removed League of Strays from their to-be-read lists, which saddens me.
Of course, I do not feel that this scene is “gay bashing,” as the term has been thrown around Goodreads. Yes, it may be uncomfortable for some people to read, but it echoes a real life scene that is happening every day in high schools across America: someone being beat up for being gay. The scene’s purpose was to show that vengeance is a poor way to deal with a difficult situation. This realization comes out later in the book when Charlotte learns a life-changing lesson through this and other acts of unnecessary vengeance. Richie also learns through the course of the book that he is a great guy, and has a positive future, but that he must think for himself to be free. He must determine whether or not to let go of his real problem: his enabling friendship with Kade.
League of Strays was never intended to be a typical heroine-style book. It’s about a girl who has to learn about who she really is and define her own morals through the mistakes she and others make. If you were lonely, and faced with a smooth psychopath who manipulated and lied to you, would you so easily see the right choices? Maybe, maybe not. But it really doesn’t matter, because the reader is NOT Charlotte. Charlotte doesn’t have the benefit of jacket copy, or a cover, or reviews on Goodreads to let her in on Kade’s secret. She is merely a character that takes a difficult path and learns from it. Her journey is not intended to be a commentary on how one should act. It is how she acted, and how she handled the subsequent outcome.
As readers can see from the varied star count on Goodreads, there are many different positions on this book. Here is a professional review that came out yesterday, as an example.
I ask only one thing. Do not turn away from this book because certain bloggers have jumped to conclusions and in some cases, have made superficial accusations without reading the entire book. Decide for yourself. League of Strays is about the mistakes people make, not a how-to guide in dealing with bullying, as I am sure you will find out by the closing page. And you know what? You might just enjoy it. Others have. I hope you will keep an open and mind and give it a try.
Thank you for taking the time to read and consider this.
L.B. Schulman
