Jen McConnel's Blog, page 41

A to Z Challenge: I is for Ichabod from THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW

Thanks for visiting me today for the A to Z challenge: make sure you check out the other participants, as well! Today, the letter I is brought to you by… Ichabod Crane, from Washington Irving’s short story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Ichabod is new in town; the Connecticut schoolmaster has come to a quiet [...]

Writers on Wednesday: Gary V Powell

Today, I’m joined by Gary V. Powell.  His work has been published for decades, and he’s here to share some insight with y’all.  Enjoy!     1. When did you start writing? I’ve been writing stories for as long as I could write, and before that I was making them up and telling them to [...]

Spring Break Special: Free Book Alert!

Are you on spring break this week?  Do you wish you were? Even if you can’t get away this week, you still deserve a break.  My favorite way to travel when I’m looking at a stay-cation?  Why, I love to get lost in a good book, of course! Put your feet up, poor a nice [...]

A-Z Challenge: H is for Hermione from HARRY POTTER

When I was making my A-Z challenge list, H was one of the first letters I filled.  I knew exactly which character to spotlight today!  I’m thrilled to bring you… Hermione from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling Smart girls everywhere cheered when Hermione Granger appeared on the literary scene.  Finally, here was a [...]

A-Z Challenge: G is for Gemma Doyle from A GREAT AND TERRIBLE BEAUTY

Welcome to week two of the A-Z challenge!  Today, the character I picked for G is… Gemma Doyle from A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray I love Gemma.  She reminds me of a sassier, older version of another one of my favorite characters: Mary Lenox from The Secret Garden.  Both girls grew up [...]

A-Z Challenge: F is for Nicholas Flamel from THE ALCHEMYST

We made it through the first week of the challenge!  Phew!  It’s been a blast so far, and I hope you’re enjoying my alphabetical exploration of some of my favorite YA and MG characters.  Today, F is for… Nicholas Flamel from The Alchemyst by Michael Scott Lots of authors have played with Flamel, who was [...]

A-Z Challenge: E is for Esperanza from THE HOUSE ON MANGO STREET

Welcome to another installment of the 2013 A-Z challenge!  We’ve almost made it through the first week…woohoo!  Today for the letter E, I’ll be talking about… Esperanza from The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros I love this girl.  Esperanza lives with her family in Chicago, but her home could be any modern American [...]

A-Z Challenge: D is for Dracula from Stoker’s DRACULA

For someone who claims not to be a big horror fan, I’m spotlighting two horror tales back to back.  Even though the Character I’m talking about today isn’t from a YA novel, he’s one of my favorites in general.  For today’s A-Z challenge, I’m happy to bring you… Dracula, from Dracula by Bram Stoker. Even [...]

Writers on Wednesday: Mark Spencer

  Mark Spencer is the author of eight books, including The Masked Demon: http://www.mainstreetrag.com/MSpencer... and A Haunted Love Story: the Ghosts of the Allen House: http://www.amazon.com/Haunted-Love-St... His other works include the novella Love Hollow (The Novella Project), the novels The Weary Motel (Backwaters Press) and Love and Reruns in Adams County (Random County), a history [...]

A-Z Challenge: C is for Cas from ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD

Thanks for sticking with me as I explore all kinds of characters!  Today, the letter C is brought to you by… Cas from Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake. Who doesn’t love a tortured, sensitive, ghost hunter? Cas Lowood picked up his father’s knife after his dad’s grisly murder, and he hasn’t stopped killing [...]