Sherri Winston's Blog, page 5
July 17, 2020
B&N CELEBRATES BOOKS
[image error]She’s at it again!
Brianna Justice, of President of the Whole Fifth Grade (Little, Brown), is on the move–going all across the country as part of Barnes & Noble’s Summer Reading program.
From Barnes & Noble: “Young readers grades 1-6 can earn a free book through the Barnes & Noble Summer Reading program! Learn more: https://bit.ly/BNSummerReadingJournal
Brianna is in good company, as other beloved characters such as Ivy & Bean (Annie Barrows, author), Ramona Quimby (Beverly Cleary), and Donovan Curtis (Gordon Korman), just to name a few.
Don’t worry. All the characters are social distancing and obeying safety rules. Still, they can’t wait to spend time with you. Get to know them, and your local B&N. Check out the link. It’s a contest. Are you prepared to be a winner? Good luck!
July 16, 2020
TOP 7 BOOKS THAT INFLUENCE MY WRITING
Characters sharp as a crease.
[image error]A superb thriller within a series of superb thrillers.
Sandford’ s character development is a writing clinic in Storm Prey. He weaves an intricate web and manages to juggle a huge cast and still have each character stand out. I remember them all—and I struggle to remember what I ate this morning!
Emotionally gripping
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Yes, it is dark and heavy and gut-wrenching. And yes, you may need a good cry afterward. Still, you will understand sacrifice and maternal will in a new, deeply moving way. This book taught me the value of truth in fiction.
Girls just want to have fun
[image error]Bright, fast-paced humor.
Evanovich delivers strong characters and madcap fun. Her light hand and breezy tone aren’t easy to achieve. The lesson here is if you’re going for the punchline, go all the way. Evanovich is fearless and makes light look easy. It ain’t.
True crime classic
[image error]A true classic and The Godfather of true crime.
I was in grade school when the power of Capote’s bone chilling true crime classic gripped me and made me appreciate the power of the written word. Even though I hadn’t read it, my mom’s reaction to the piece was visceral. I wanted to know how to use language in a way to make people squirm.
The big twist
[image error]My all-time favorite Lucas Davenport thriller.
Allow me to summarize the beginning. On a brutally cold night in the northern woods of Minnesota, a pale white woman and the only black man in the county hung from an old tree that looked custom-made for lynching. If you think you know where this tale is going, you’re wrong. Along with being brutally efficient at characterization, Sandford is also a master of the misdirect.
Dignity under fire
[image error]One of my favorite book-to-film projects. Denzel as Easy Rawlins.
Mmm …
Mosley took period fiction and mad it feel slick, hip, and current. He also showed black characters in tough circumstances but never lacking in pride or dignity.
Uses language like a weapon
[image error]In the words of Lizzo, she one-hundred percent that bi#@&.
What can I say? I love period pieces and historical fiction. I also love examining the depths of female suppression and it’s lingering impact on modern society . Wharton taught me the art of asserting an intense message with aplomb. Her female leads wield a hanky and a parasol like a battle axe. While Wharton turns an elegant phrase with eviscerating precision.
IT’S BIRTHDAY WEEK
I’ve never been one to make a big to do over my birthday. Even as a kid I remained low-key on the subject. As long as my mom made me a banana cake with cream frosting, I was good.
Recent world events have changed my mind. On July 22, God willing, I’ll celebrate another birthday. So for the next seven days I’m posting tales of my greatest adventures—school visits and such!
I am looking forward to hanging out with you all week.
Bye for now!
February 10, 2020
bOok ReviEwS
By Jess Lourey
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Lourey’s taut family drama and murder mystery is a slow burn that raises your hackles from the outset and keeps you on edge until the end. Cassie McDowell is living the American dream with her parents, school teacher mom, artist dad, and teen big sister, in 1980s Minnesota. But from the outset, we see the cracks in her parents’ carefully constructed visage. As an author, what I loved most about this tale of family secrets and small town complicity, was the intimately drawn characters. Anyone struggling to understand character development needs to see how Lourey does it. She holds a clinic, plunging to scalpel depths to reveal the emotions, fears and dramas that lay underneath the skin–the parts of the human soul we hid from the world. Masterful!
bOOK REVIEWS
By Jess Lourey
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Lourey’s taut family drama and murder mystery is a slow burn that raises your hackles from the outset and keeps you on edge until the end. Cassie McDowell is living the American dream with her parents, school teacher mom, artist dad, and teen big sister, in 1980s Minnesota. But from the outset, we see the cracks in her parents’ carefully constructed visage. As an author, what I loved most about this tale of family secrets and small town complicity, was the intimately drawn characters. Anyone struggling to understand character development needs to see how Lourey does it. She holds a clinic, plunging to scalpel depths to reveal the emotions, fears and dramas that lay underneath the skin–the parts of the human soul we hid from the world. Masterful!
February 2, 2020
Eddie Red, UNDERCOVER
[image error]by Maria Wells
Eddie Red, Undercover (HMH, $6.95)
I love a good museum mystery and author Marcia Wells delivers a fun, fast-paced adventure. I almost avoided reading it because I came across it while preparing my own museum-based mystery, Jada Sly, Artist & Spy (Little, Brown, $17.99), but I read the first few paragraphs and couldn’t resist. I’d been nursing the Jada idea for almost a decade and it’s markedly different from Wells’ book. I enjoyed seeing how she seamlessly blended art and action. Her series, three books so far, is a smart, funny and features a an African American protagonist who feels real and authentic. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading the others.
November 21, 2019
THE LANGUAGE OF FOOD
Credit S. Winston
My Duolingo app French education has finally gotten to the good stuff–food! With only eleven days until my departure, I’m pretty confident that I will NOT remember all the correct masculine and feminine cases, but I will be remember that “cafe” is “coffee”; “biere” is “beer”; and “pain” doesn’t have to hurt, it just has to taste good because means bread.
abroadDuolingoforeign language studyFranceFRENCHmiddle grade authortravel
November 19, 2019
IT’S THE TWELVE DAYS OF PARIS
Trois voitures
Deux pizzas
and I know that orange is feminine.
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With twelve days remaining before I set off for Paris, I’ve been hard at work studying French on Duolingo. I am officially in a panic.
Indeed, I’ve learned over two-hundred-fifty words. I can say “I want” (je veux) and “I have” (j’ai). I know how to say phrases, such as, “I have three cars” (J’ai trois voitures).”
But, I’m not certain that will help me check into the hotel. It probably won’t even get me a ride from l’aeroport.
What’s worse is when I get frustrated and my mind starts to search for the correct word or phrase, it defaults to the only foreign language it know–Spanish. And if you knew how poor my Spanish was, you’d know how much trouble I’m in.
I’ve been in love with the idea of Paris since I was a kid. I learned a lot of cool phrases while I was writing Jada Sly, Artist & Spy. The idea of creating an African American girl born in New York, who lived in France for five years, was like putting my own childhood fantasy on paper.
Sherri Winston on writing Jada Sly, Artist & Spy
The spy part, too. I always wanted to be a spy. (My mom said soon as someone tickled my tummy, I’d giggle and give up all the secrets. Mom was a dream killer.)
I’ve got twelve more days. That’s all. I can’t become fluent in the time I have left, but perhaps I can manage not to humiliate myself while asking for le metro.
A bientôt!
(That means “see you soon!)
FAMEforeign languageFRENCHgoodreadsHACHETTE BOOK GROUPILLUSTRATIONkidlitLBYRLIFESTYLEmiddle grade fictionParisSCBWI FLORIDASELF-IMPROVEMENTtravel
November 13, 2019
DAY THREE: I’m trying
The impetus for my upcoming Paris trip is just fulfilling a lifelong dream. I’ve always rejected the concept of “A bucket list,” yet I am conscious of wanting to start this next chapter of my life before …well, I kick the bucket.
My mom was a tough woman. A smart, fiery, determined woman who loved her kids with the ferocity of a mama lion. She had so many plans for her life—a life she kept waiting and waiting to begin.
Mommy died Christmas of her 56th year on this earth. That Christmas is fast approaching for me. I needed to celebrate her life and mine by no longer waiting, but acting.
Here’s to you “ma mere.” And to all the hard-working mamas out there with hopes and dreams. I’m going to parlez vous my butt off!
authorbest lifemiddle gradeMomParisremembrancetravel
November 12, 2019
DAY TWO: Studying for Paris
Only 20 days until it’s “sayornara.” Um, I meant to say, “au revoir!”
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foreign languagekidlitParistravel
