Augusta Scattergood's Blog, page 9
January 13, 2018
The Things We Save
Notes from an exhibit, circa 2007, at the Morgan Library.
I'm not sure what the topic was, perhaps letters from writers?
"I miss the companionship of the character in a degree that is really laughable.
Take warning. It's a great mistake to get in too deep with your heroine."
Willa Cather, 1915
For more quotes, CLICK HERE.
I'm not sure what the topic was, perhaps letters from writers?
"I miss the companionship of the character in a degree that is really laughable.
Take warning. It's a great mistake to get in too deep with your heroine."
Willa Cather, 1915
For more quotes, CLICK HERE.
January 8, 2018
Monday Again!
I love Mondays.
Hey, I bet that got your attention.
I should say I love Mondays when I have books to share because it's such fun jumping from #IMWAYR blog to blog and seeing what everybody's reading.
Plus, it gives me an excuse to blab on about fun books.
Let's start with JASPER AND THE RIDDLE OF RILEY'S MIND
by Caroline Starr Rose.
Caroline and I "met" when our first books debuted. Similar titles: May B. and Glory Be meant some confusion, but we began to think of them as "our girls" and enjoyed their being on lists together.
Caroline's other novels were written in verse.
JASPER is her first straight narrative, historical fiction, middle-grade novel and I strongly recommend it.
One thing I loved about this book and its writing was how authentic it sounded. I had to smile and roll an eye or two (because I've been on the author side of this particular criticism) when I posted my own Goodreads review just now. One reviewer criticized the "bad grammar."
Bad grammar? Please! It was perfect. I wasn't around in the 1800s and I've never been to the Klondike or even read that many books set there, and then. But when an old prospector says things like "Well, ain't that curious...he could smell Buck a mile off, on account of the fact he never bathed."
Okay, the Grammar Police might take a whack at that sentence, but I adore the sound of it.
We call it authentic dialog. People don't always speak perfect English, especially prospectors and boys racing from the bad guys.
One of my favorite quotes from Jasper, when he's pondering the clues he's finding (and I think this may have to go on my bulletin board of quotes):
"...stories can get knotted up like thread, but if you're patient, you can pick them apart, unravel them until you find the truth inside."
AND- Pre-order alert!
Here's a quick note about another book you won't want to miss.
I finished the ARC this weekend.
A PUP CALLED TROUBLE.
Coming in early February.
So good!
I've read a bunch of books over the holidays, including
a Christmas gift, SOURDOUGH (for grownups)
which I love. But these are two of my favorites.
I'm looking forward to hearing what
everybody's reading on Monday. Share here or on
social media. Use the tag #IMWAYR and join in the fun!
Hey, I bet that got your attention.I should say I love Mondays when I have books to share because it's such fun jumping from #IMWAYR blog to blog and seeing what everybody's reading.
Plus, it gives me an excuse to blab on about fun books.
Let's start with JASPER AND THE RIDDLE OF RILEY'S MIND
by Caroline Starr Rose.
Caroline and I "met" when our first books debuted. Similar titles: May B. and Glory Be meant some confusion, but we began to think of them as "our girls" and enjoyed their being on lists together.Caroline's other novels were written in verse.
JASPER is her first straight narrative, historical fiction, middle-grade novel and I strongly recommend it.
One thing I loved about this book and its writing was how authentic it sounded. I had to smile and roll an eye or two (because I've been on the author side of this particular criticism) when I posted my own Goodreads review just now. One reviewer criticized the "bad grammar."
Bad grammar? Please! It was perfect. I wasn't around in the 1800s and I've never been to the Klondike or even read that many books set there, and then. But when an old prospector says things like "Well, ain't that curious...he could smell Buck a mile off, on account of the fact he never bathed."
Okay, the Grammar Police might take a whack at that sentence, but I adore the sound of it.
We call it authentic dialog. People don't always speak perfect English, especially prospectors and boys racing from the bad guys.
One of my favorite quotes from Jasper, when he's pondering the clues he's finding (and I think this may have to go on my bulletin board of quotes):
"...stories can get knotted up like thread, but if you're patient, you can pick them apart, unravel them until you find the truth inside."
AND- Pre-order alert!
Here's a quick note about another book you won't want to miss.
I finished the ARC this weekend. A PUP CALLED TROUBLE.
Coming in early February.
So good!
I've read a bunch of books over the holidays, including
a Christmas gift, SOURDOUGH (for grownups)
which I love. But these are two of my favorites.
I'm looking forward to hearing what
everybody's reading on Monday. Share here or on
social media. Use the tag #IMWAYR and join in the fun!
December 28, 2017
Writing Tip Tuesday
Okay, it's not Tuesday.
And I'm most decidedly not Barbara O'Connor (but I do love her writing).
When I was first beginning to explore how to write a middle-grade novel, Barbara was well into her career. She was generous about passing down craft tips she'd learned the hard way (and from her fabulous editor, Frances Foster).
This morning I happened to be researching something totally unrelated to this post. And yet it appeared (How does that happen, Mr. Google?): A tip about writing endings. So hard, yet so important:
"...if you blow the ending....well, then, it's like serving brussel sprouts for dessert after the gourmet dinner." Barbara O'Connor
I'm passing along this fabulous writing tip about ENDINGS. There are many more tips on Barbara's blog. I've shared a few HERE and THERE over the life of my own blog.
Thanks, pal, for cluing me in.
And I'm most decidedly not Barbara O'Connor (but I do love her writing).
When I was first beginning to explore how to write a middle-grade novel, Barbara was well into her career. She was generous about passing down craft tips she'd learned the hard way (and from her fabulous editor, Frances Foster).
This morning I happened to be researching something totally unrelated to this post. And yet it appeared (How does that happen, Mr. Google?): A tip about writing endings. So hard, yet so important:
"...if you blow the ending....well, then, it's like serving brussel sprouts for dessert after the gourmet dinner." Barbara O'Connor
I'm passing along this fabulous writing tip about ENDINGS. There are many more tips on Barbara's blog. I've shared a few HERE and THERE over the life of my own blog.
Thanks, pal, for cluing me in.
December 12, 2017
12 Days of Books
Why not? There are lists for everything.
As we wind down the year and march toward the holidays, let's talk about some of our favorite books, with potential for gifting.
But first-
Kate Messner reminds us of the impact our books have on their intended readers, the kids and the librarians and teachers, parents and grandparents who share them. But especially the young readers.
If you haven't read her poem, WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR BOOK TODAY, or haven't read it in a while, HERE IT IS.
Good reading at this time of year. Or anytime.
Before I join this fun countdown suggested by book people whose ideas I can't wait to hear, may I say a few words about lists? If you didn't have a book out this year. If your book kind of dropped through the very large cracks. If it came out in January to a big hoopla and in December is barely chugging along. All those things can make writers nuts if we let them.
Instead of going nuts, I'm planning to think about the books I loved this year. And share a few.
They may not be brand new. They don't have to be serious or funny or the latest thing or the oldest thing. Just books I want others to know about.
(True confessions: Even though I treasure each good review of my own books, I'm terrible at postisng on Amazon and Goodreads. There's something about rating books that reeks of comparison, and I have a very hard time doing this. If they didn't ask me to give those confounded comparative stars, I'd put a lot more books on those sites. So this is my little way of adding my opinions to the universe, with no comparisons and no fancy stars. Just twelve days of book love.)
Feel free to share your own favorites! Use the hashtag #12daysofbooks, and join in the fun!
Everybody's welcome!
As we wind down the year and march toward the holidays, let's talk about some of our favorite books, with potential for gifting.
But first-
Kate Messner reminds us of the impact our books have on their intended readers, the kids and the librarians and teachers, parents and grandparents who share them. But especially the young readers.
If you haven't read her poem, WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR BOOK TODAY, or haven't read it in a while, HERE IT IS.
Good reading at this time of year. Or anytime.
Before I join this fun countdown suggested by book people whose ideas I can't wait to hear, may I say a few words about lists? If you didn't have a book out this year. If your book kind of dropped through the very large cracks. If it came out in January to a big hoopla and in December is barely chugging along. All those things can make writers nuts if we let them.
Instead of going nuts, I'm planning to think about the books I loved this year. And share a few.
They may not be brand new. They don't have to be serious or funny or the latest thing or the oldest thing. Just books I want others to know about.
(True confessions: Even though I treasure each good review of my own books, I'm terrible at postisng on Amazon and Goodreads. There's something about rating books that reeks of comparison, and I have a very hard time doing this. If they didn't ask me to give those confounded comparative stars, I'd put a lot more books on those sites. So this is my little way of adding my opinions to the universe, with no comparisons and no fancy stars. Just twelve days of book love.)
Feel free to share your own favorites! Use the hashtag #12daysofbooks, and join in the fun!
Everybody's welcome!
December 1, 2017
Saving Stuff
At a recent gathering of authors, the topic of STUFF came up.
As in, what do you do with all the critiques from your Writers Group, the notebooks, the scribbles, the literally stacks of boxes filled with what can be called the ephemera of writing.
(Although the purest form of that word means useful for one day, which is WAY LESS than most of us spend on the treasures that turn into our novels...)
I know of at least three places that preserve and share and digitize and save all this.
One is the Kerlan Collection at the University of Minnesota. Among many esteemed writers, you can find Barbara O'Connor's goodies there. You can also read all about it on THIS BLOGPOST.
Many Tampa Bay and Florida authors, as well as those from all over, have given their saved manuscripts, signed galleys, and other fun stuff to Joan Kaywell at the University of South Florida's HIPPLE COLLECTION. My friend Shannon Hitchcock wrote about it here.
(Joan has an extensive collection of signed finished books as well as Advance Reader Copies (ARCs) there. Including mine. Thank you, Joan.)
I'm proud to say that my books' extras are housed at the DeGrummond Collection at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg.
MAKING FRIENDS WITH BILLY WONG IS now in the mail!
Off to find a new home where it will be available to researchers, lovers of kid-lit, or anybody who's curious about exactly how we write.
It's hard to say goodbye.
But nice to know somebody is saving it all.
As in, what do you do with all the critiques from your Writers Group, the notebooks, the scribbles, the literally stacks of boxes filled with what can be called the ephemera of writing.
(Although the purest form of that word means useful for one day, which is WAY LESS than most of us spend on the treasures that turn into our novels...)
I know of at least three places that preserve and share and digitize and save all this.
One is the Kerlan Collection at the University of Minnesota. Among many esteemed writers, you can find Barbara O'Connor's goodies there. You can also read all about it on THIS BLOGPOST.
Many Tampa Bay and Florida authors, as well as those from all over, have given their saved manuscripts, signed galleys, and other fun stuff to Joan Kaywell at the University of South Florida's HIPPLE COLLECTION. My friend Shannon Hitchcock wrote about it here.
(Joan has an extensive collection of signed finished books as well as Advance Reader Copies (ARCs) there. Including mine. Thank you, Joan.)
I'm proud to say that my books' extras are housed at the DeGrummond Collection at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg.
MAKING FRIENDS WITH BILLY WONG IS now in the mail!
Off to find a new home where it will be available to researchers, lovers of kid-lit, or anybody who's curious about exactly how we write.
It's hard to say goodbye.
But nice to know somebody is saving it all.
November 28, 2017
John Grisham on Writing
I downloaded these podcasts of John Grisham's book tour a while back.
To be honest, I listened to the first one and was underwhelmed.
But today is a beautiful day here in sunny Florida and I needed something to listen to on my walk.
So I tried another one.
And I LOVED it. A must-listen, for writers and readers and walkers and runners.
The podcast took place at Lemuria Books with Greg Iles and Matthew Guinn.
What all three have to say about the way they write, how they get their ideas, longhand v. computers, editors, first readers-- So Interesting!
To be honest, I listened to the first one and was underwhelmed.
But today is a beautiful day here in sunny Florida and I needed something to listen to on my walk.
So I tried another one.
And I LOVED it. A must-listen, for writers and readers and walkers and runners.
The podcast took place at Lemuria Books with Greg Iles and Matthew Guinn.
What all three have to say about the way they write, how they get their ideas, longhand v. computers, editors, first readers-- So Interesting!
November 18, 2017
Writer friends, pass it on.
Today Facebook's memory was a good one.
It was a link to a post I'd written WAY back, on a group blog of southern writers.
But the message is still true.
I couldn't have published a single book, possibly not a single essay, or book review, or even those little poems when I was nine years old -without the help of friends.
HERE'S THE LINK to the essay.
(And here's the photo accompanying it. My friend Leslie's porch, where our writing group enjoyed a day in the "mountains" and lunch on the porch.)
It was a link to a post I'd written WAY back, on a group blog of southern writers.
But the message is still true.
I couldn't have published a single book, possibly not a single essay, or book review, or even those little poems when I was nine years old -without the help of friends.
HERE'S THE LINK to the essay.
(And here's the photo accompanying it. My friend Leslie's porch, where our writing group enjoyed a day in the "mountains" and lunch on the porch.)
November 5, 2017
Home Going
Is there anything better than going home?
Last week I got to visit my hometown, see old friends, make new ones, celebrate family, and talk to an awesome group of kids about books and writing.
My visit started at St. George's Episcopal School in Memphis. (Thank you to the lovely folks at NOVEL bookstore for the introduction.)
Absolutely fabulous teachers and a librarian I could have sat and talked to all day long.
I spoke to a large group first. Their questions were so thoughtful. One asked if I had any "author friends" and if I did, what did we do. This question always cracks me up.
I mentioned a few, recommended some excellent books. When I said, Barbara O'Connor, there was an audible gasp.
Check out the library display. Their class was in the middle of reading THE SMALL ADVENTURE OF POPEYE AND ELVIS.
Those are rambler models on the library shelves!
Of course, I just HAD to go upstairs to see that the entire hall in front of their classroom was a Coon Dog Cemetery. Straight from the book!
I believe their teacher even told me she'd visited it, in person, over the summer.
Did I say these are dedicated teachers?
Such fun kids!
The Group!
Talking about writing THE WAY TO STAY IN DESTINY, which is on Tennessee's Volunteer State Book Awards list this year.
After a drive through the Delta and a quick stop to hang out with my sister and her family, it was off to Delta State University, Cleveland MS, for the Mississippi Delta Chinese Heritage Museum's HOME-GOING weekend.
(Cotton waiting to be picked. Most of it was gone though.)
(Books waiting to be bought. Most of them were gone, too!)
I finally met my Facebook friend Jeu Foon, originally from Forrest City AR, now a California boy, a great writer himself, with such interesting childhood memories.
And Holly Yu, a writer from Rhodes College, Memphis. I met them at the Home Going. There were 350 people there to celebrate their heritage and their southern connections.
Here's Jeu, inside the museum, highlighting my book.
(Thanks, friend!)
I used the oral histories there to research MAKING FRIENDS WITH BILLY WONG.
I ate well, talked a lot, made a road trip to Dockery Farms on a blue-sky Delta day. What a great trip!
And I'll not even complain too much about having to de-ice my car! Though I am happy to be home.
Last week I got to visit my hometown, see old friends, make new ones, celebrate family, and talk to an awesome group of kids about books and writing.
My visit started at St. George's Episcopal School in Memphis. (Thank you to the lovely folks at NOVEL bookstore for the introduction.)
Absolutely fabulous teachers and a librarian I could have sat and talked to all day long.
I spoke to a large group first. Their questions were so thoughtful. One asked if I had any "author friends" and if I did, what did we do. This question always cracks me up.
I mentioned a few, recommended some excellent books. When I said, Barbara O'Connor, there was an audible gasp.
Check out the library display. Their class was in the middle of reading THE SMALL ADVENTURE OF POPEYE AND ELVIS.
Those are rambler models on the library shelves!
Of course, I just HAD to go upstairs to see that the entire hall in front of their classroom was a Coon Dog Cemetery. Straight from the book!
I believe their teacher even told me she'd visited it, in person, over the summer.
Did I say these are dedicated teachers?
Such fun kids!
The Group!
Talking about writing THE WAY TO STAY IN DESTINY, which is on Tennessee's Volunteer State Book Awards list this year. After a drive through the Delta and a quick stop to hang out with my sister and her family, it was off to Delta State University, Cleveland MS, for the Mississippi Delta Chinese Heritage Museum's HOME-GOING weekend.
(Cotton waiting to be picked. Most of it was gone though.)
(Books waiting to be bought. Most of them were gone, too!)
I finally met my Facebook friend Jeu Foon, originally from Forrest City AR, now a California boy, a great writer himself, with such interesting childhood memories.
And Holly Yu, a writer from Rhodes College, Memphis. I met them at the Home Going. There were 350 people there to celebrate their heritage and their southern connections.
Here's Jeu, inside the museum, highlighting my book.
(Thanks, friend!)
I used the oral histories there to research MAKING FRIENDS WITH BILLY WONG.
I ate well, talked a lot, made a road trip to Dockery Farms on a blue-sky Delta day. What a great trip!
And I'll not even complain too much about having to de-ice my car! Though I am happy to be home.
October 23, 2017
Monday Reading
How does Monday roll around so often?
But I'm excited to share my Monday books this week for #IMWAYR
First - the fabulous REFUGEE by Alan Gratz.
This weekend, my friend and fellow Tampa Bay writer Shannon Hitchcock and I presented a session at the annual Florida Association for Media in Education (FAME) conference. Our topic was Tackling Tough Topics with Books.
REFUGEE fits beautifully into the books I shared with the librarians.
You can learn about the story, the starred reviews, the accolades REFUGEE is receiving on the author's website, HERE.
(This would make a great book for a faculty Book Group discussion. So much talk about!)
For my blog readers who are considering writing from more than one Point of View, this is a master class. The way Gratz weaves the three characters' stories together with little gems of connection. Brilliant.
The way he ends each small chapter with a punch of micro-tension, ditto.
Sharks, storms, sinking ships, escapes from every disaster you could imagine!
And the characters practically step off the page and live with you.
Highly recommended.
I listened to an old favorite as I drove to and from FAME.
It's one of the books that made me want to write historical fiction. I've read and shared it many times, but I'd never listened to Mildred Taylor's ROLL OF THUNDER, HEAR MY CRY, and if you've got a long drive, it will make it zip by.
(Unless you have to stop and frantically write things you love about the writing.)
The Christmas scene when the Logan children open their books breaks my heart, every time. The award-winning audio is beautifully read. I loved it!
The other two books I shared at the FAME session, if you're curious...
These authors tackled their tough topics with grace and humor and glorious writing.
But I'm excited to share my Monday books this week for #IMWAYR
First - the fabulous REFUGEE by Alan Gratz.
This weekend, my friend and fellow Tampa Bay writer Shannon Hitchcock and I presented a session at the annual Florida Association for Media in Education (FAME) conference. Our topic was Tackling Tough Topics with Books.
REFUGEE fits beautifully into the books I shared with the librarians.
You can learn about the story, the starred reviews, the accolades REFUGEE is receiving on the author's website, HERE.
(This would make a great book for a faculty Book Group discussion. So much talk about!)
For my blog readers who are considering writing from more than one Point of View, this is a master class. The way Gratz weaves the three characters' stories together with little gems of connection. Brilliant.
The way he ends each small chapter with a punch of micro-tension, ditto.
Sharks, storms, sinking ships, escapes from every disaster you could imagine!
And the characters practically step off the page and live with you.
Highly recommended.
I listened to an old favorite as I drove to and from FAME.
It's one of the books that made me want to write historical fiction. I've read and shared it many times, but I'd never listened to Mildred Taylor's ROLL OF THUNDER, HEAR MY CRY, and if you've got a long drive, it will make it zip by.
(Unless you have to stop and frantically write things you love about the writing.)
The Christmas scene when the Logan children open their books breaks my heart, every time. The award-winning audio is beautifully read. I loved it!
The other two books I shared at the FAME session, if you're curious...
These authors tackled their tough topics with grace and humor and glorious writing.
October 15, 2017
Goodreads
Okay, yeah, I know. Stay away from all those sites that review your book. No good can come of it.
Well, sometimes.
I popped over there just now to see what everybody has to say about a book I just read. THORNHILL. I am so mystified by this story that I don't know what to think. I'm not posting links because, honestly, I don't want to advocate for it, even though I know some middle-grade kids will like being creeped out. Google if you care. (The New York Times Book Review reviewed it last week.)
But once you look at Goodreads, you can be there a while. I had a comment or two I had to follow up on, and then that led me to this review of MAKING FRIENDS WITH BILLY WONG. As much as I do not like the rating system when I have to do it to others' books, I do appreciate getting five stars.
More like a 4.5 for the slow start, but I loved this book! I appreciate how the "bad" guy was still the bad guy at the end of the book. I think it could really open up discussion with students about how sometimes people act out or pick on people because things aren't going well in their lives. I like how Billy responded to the hurtful things Willis said. I can't wait to talk this book up with my students.
(And I can tell you right now, beginnings are crucial. If you don't believe me, check out Dorian Cirrone's excellent blogposts on the subject. I try very hard to start books with a bang. I'll try harder.)
Well, sometimes.
I popped over there just now to see what everybody has to say about a book I just read. THORNHILL. I am so mystified by this story that I don't know what to think. I'm not posting links because, honestly, I don't want to advocate for it, even though I know some middle-grade kids will like being creeped out. Google if you care. (The New York Times Book Review reviewed it last week.)
But once you look at Goodreads, you can be there a while. I had a comment or two I had to follow up on, and then that led me to this review of MAKING FRIENDS WITH BILLY WONG. As much as I do not like the rating system when I have to do it to others' books, I do appreciate getting five stars.
More like a 4.5 for the slow start, but I loved this book! I appreciate how the "bad" guy was still the bad guy at the end of the book. I think it could really open up discussion with students about how sometimes people act out or pick on people because things aren't going well in their lives. I like how Billy responded to the hurtful things Willis said. I can't wait to talk this book up with my students.
(And I can tell you right now, beginnings are crucial. If you don't believe me, check out Dorian Cirrone's excellent blogposts on the subject. I try very hard to start books with a bang. I'll try harder.)
