Caroline Akervik's Blog, page 5

Wisconsin Public Radio - The Morning Show - Kicking Summer Reading Into High Gear

W.H. Beck and I are back on the Morning Show on Wisconsin Public Radio. This time, we're talking about getting kids of all ages to read this summer. Our 2019 Summer Reading Suggestions are linked on WPR.

Kicking Summer Reading into High Gear

Smoker Journals - My Essay in Bryn Mawr College Alumnae Bulletin

Smoker Journals Essay in the Bryn Mawr College Alumnae Bulletin

The Morning Show Wisconsin Public Radio

Getting Kids Reading this Winter

W. H. Beck and I appeared on the Morning Show of WPR on January to discuss current hot reads for children from kindergarten to young adult. Our list of recommendations is available on the Wisconsin Public Radio Show link above. Enjoy.

Photos from the Everything You Wanted to Know About Writing for Children (But Were Too Afraid to Ask)

Many thanks to the Chippewa Valley Writers Guild for hosting this great event. It was so much fun to be on a panel with Julie Bowe and W.H. Beck. We had a great moderator in Rob Reid and a fabulous and engaged audience. There is a great deal of interest in writing for children through young adults in the Chippewa Valley.

Chippewa Valley Writer's Guild Event - November 15th

Everything You Want To Know About Writing For Children (But Were Too Afraid To Ask)Thursday, November 15, 20187:00 PM  8:00 PMThe Local Store205 North Dewey StreetEau Claire, WI, 54703How do you pen the perfect children's book?  And how do you find the perfect press to publish it?  Join children's and middle grade authors Caroline Akervik, Julie Bowe and Becky Wojahn (W.H. Beck) for a panel discussion on a range of topics in the children's writing world: from who hires the illustrator to how to make a living in stories. Moderated by author Rob Reid. Caroline Akervik is an elementary school librarian and an author of middle grade and young adult fiction. She agrees with C.S. Lewis that "A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest." Her works include White Pine, A Horse Named Viking, and the soon-to-be released young adult novella, Summer Snow. Caroline and her sister, Ruth Rankin, are coauthors of the Halcyon: A Sentinel Novel, a young adult science fiction novel. Julie Bowe is the author of the Friends for Keeps series and the Victoria Torres, Unfortunately Average series. Her first novel, My Last Best Friend, won the Paterson Prize for Books for Young People and was a 2010 Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program book. Her newest middle-grade novel, Big & Little Questions (According to Wren Jo Byrd), is receiving a warm welcome from reviewers, including a starred review from Publishers Weekly. W.H. Beck  (Becky Wojahn) is the author of award-winning humorous middle grade mysteries, like Malcolm at Midnight and Malcolm Under the Stars , and nonfiction picture books, like Glow: Animals with Their Own Night-Lights . She likes her stories with a dose of mystery and a dash of wonder.Posted in Craft Talks

Review of Lost on the Water by D. G. Driver

http://www.dgdriver.com/

Review:

Lost on the Water by D. G. Driver was an unexpected find for me. It is a gentle journey into the world of the undead.
Dannie, or Danielle, a surfer girl from California, has been deposited by her parents with her grandmother for two weeks while they go to Paris. Dannie is not your typical young teen protagonist. She is at that androgynous age when she can “pass” as a boy. She is a tomboy with an attitude who, though possessing a good heart and intentions, has a rebellious streak. She is not thrilled to have been deposited at her grandmother’s in rural Tennessee.
Soon, Dannie encounters a troop of boys who, though they may have some inklings that the new dude is not what he seems, agree to allow him (really her) to accompany them on their annual camping trip on an island in the middle of a reservoir. That’s when fate or hands from the beyond begin to influence Dannie’s story. She “finds” all that she needs to join the boys’ excursion, including a battered and mysterious boat. This boat is the key to family secrets and mysteries that Dannie didn’t know existed.

Dannie’s voice is strong and true to her character and the setting is charming and richly developed. D.G. Driver ‘s writing style is visceral. She evokes a reader’s senses in a way that brings the story to life. There are many interesting twists, turns, and unexpected developments that kept me turning the page. I read the novel in one sitting because I could not put it down. 

Summer Snow is available for pre-order. Will be released August 28th.

Lisa Marie’s ordinary summer turns into a one of firsts—first date, first kiss, first bf—when she meets teen baseball star Hank. #Kindle http://bit.ly/ss-am #Nook http://bit.ly/SS-nook #iBooks http://bit.ly/ss-ya #kobo http://bit.ly/ss-kobo  #WaitingOnWednesday #YA

New Cover by Caroline Andrus for A Horse Named Viking!

Free short story - The Pirate Promenade

Ruth and I have a new short story in this FREE anthology available from our publisher. Please click on the link and download. We had a blast writing it. It is called the Pirate Promenade. The theme of the anthology is proms and dances. Enjoy!


https://claims.instafreebie.com/free/...

BlurbObsession and jealousy can be dangerous.The Peace ...

Blurb
Obsession and jealousy can be dangerous.
The Peace High School date auction is supposed to be fun, but Valerie Todd is dreading it. She knows who will win her date—Chris Burkeholder, the boy who’s been obsessed with her for years.
New in Peace, Liam Sloan doesn’t know that Chris is used to getting his way. When Liam outbids Chris for Valerie’s date in the auction, life gets more dangerous for the new couple.
Will Valerie and Liam survive Chris’ anger and jealousy?


Peace in FlamesLinksRelease Date: February 16, 2018
Amazon link: http://amzn.to/2CMbnUj
Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37884957-peace-in-flames


Peace in FlamesExcerpt
She scanned the room for Liam, pausing in her search to admire the white and navy blue paper streamers and balloons decorating the school gym. She felt a tap on her shoulder and turned around. Liam was standing behind her. He wore his usual leather jacket, but beneath it he sported a nice dark blue button-down dress shirt—not flannel—and a black pair of jeans. For the first time since she'd met him, he was without the hoodie and she got a clear, unobstructed view of his face. He was cute. His skin was a deep bronzy tan and his hair was as black up close as it had appeared from afar; short and stick straight. His almond shaped eyes were also dark, a brown so deep they were almost black.He turned his head, distracted by something over her shoulder. The strobe light from the DJ stationed across the room swept over him. It lit up his face and glinted off an earring in his left lobe. A little thrill went through her body. Liam seemed like a good guy, but he was looking more than ever like a bad boy."So... now what?" he asked. His gaze darted around the room uncomfortably."Now we dance."His eyebrows shot up. "I don't dance."Valerie laughed and grabbed his hand. "Everyone dances. Some just do it better than others. Don't worry, nobody here can dance well." She tugged his arm until he reluctantly complied. The DJ was playing an upbeat pop song by Kedaisha, former Peace resident turned superstar, and when they reached the outskirts of the dance floor she dropped his hands, raised her arms in the air, and fell into step with the beat. Liam shuffled awkwardly from foot to foot. She reached out again and grabbed both his hands in hers, trying to get him to loosen up. He was still stiff as a board, but she could see a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.The song changed and a slow country ballad began. Liam dropped Valerie’s hands and ran one through his hair, sending it sticking up in sexy disarray. His gaze wandered around the dance floor and he rubbed the back of his neck. It was as though he were searching for an escape route. It was cute, she thought.She reached out and placed her hands on his shoulders. His body froze in place and his eyes shifted back to meet hers."You're supposed to put your hands on my waist," she instructed softly, offering him a kind smile."Right," he said. He gently placed his hands on either side of her body and they swayed to the music in a slow circle."So... why did you bid on me?" She bit her lower lip, then released it. She hoped she hadn't smudged her lipstick. When he had spoken up and outbid Chris she'd been so grateful that there was a chance Chris might not win, she hadn't even stopped to consider why Liam would throw away that much money on a date with a girl he barely knew."I hate guys like Chris." He met her gaze. "When he placed that first bid, he had this cocky look on his face that made me want to punch him."Valerie grinned."So I did one better. I bid against him. Besides, he really is a tool and you're...nice. You shouldn't have to be stuck with him for one minute, let alone a whole night.""Thank you," she said.Her voice was so soft he probably couldn't hear her over the music. He must have figured it out though, because he said, "You're welcome."They swayed silently for a few beats, then Liam said, "So... it's not that I'm not enjoying this, but how long do we have to actually dance at this dance?"She threw her head back and laughed, her arms still circled around his neck. "We can take a break after this song."His body visibly relaxed at her proclamation. She hoped he hated dancing in general, not dancing with her specifically. The song ended shortly thereafter and Valerie removed her arms from his neck. His hands lingered at her waist a moment too long before he dropped them to his sides.