Eric Devine's Blog, page 13

The Walking Dead, Tap Out, and The Naïveté of Self-Sacrifice

*There are spoilers for both Tap Out and the series finale of Season Four of The Walking Dead in this post*  Proceed at your own risk.

I had a conversation about Tap Out, post-finale of this season’s Walking Dead that I’ve had before. Except this time, because of Rick’s actions, the conversation took on a different context.

Person: But Tony killed. He murdered those people.

Me: But he would have been killed. What’s your point?

Person. One, we don’t know that. Two, I could no longer relate to him after that.

Me: *trying very hard to keep calm about that first comment because, author* So if someone is pushed to the limit, essentially put in duress, they can’t save themselves?

Person: No. They can save themselves, but they can’t kill others in the process.

Me: So, then what Rick did, biting Joe’s neck like that, to save himself, Carl, and most likely Daryl and Michonne, that wasn’t okay?

Person: But that’s different. That’s post-apocalyptic Sci-Fi and not contemporary fiction.

This is where my brain kind of collapsed on itself. Because even though Sci-Fi is not my thing, I understand that the parallels of the stories often run against those of our contemporary lives. So to dismiss that genre as such is foolish. However, what struck me the most was the naïveté expressed. Somehow, in this person’s world, the notion of self-sacrifice is only viewed as noble. While I’m not going to say the notion isn’t noble, I believe what matters is context. And in Tony’s and Rick’s cases, self-sacrifice would have proved no benefit.

Tony, forced by Cameron to pour the gas and light the fire that burns down the warehouse, is not responsible for those deaths. That’s on Cameron. Yes, in a purely black and white logical sense, Tony’s a murderer. I understand that. But what in Tap Out is black and white? Nothing. That’s the point.

People force others into inescapable situations and then we look at the victim and say, “How dare you protect yourself. Surely there was another way.” No, there wasn’t. In the context of that novel, Cameron would most certainly have killed Tony, and most likely on the spot. And what good would that have served?

Tony did what he had to in order to survive. I’m not suggesting we applaud his actions, but to denounce them in light of ALL THE THINGS that are done to him…please!

Same holds true for Rick. Say what you want about the push pull of Farmer Rick and Monster Rick, but when push came to shove and his son’s life was on the line, along with his own, Rick let the monster out. And good for him. I see nothing wrong with him doing what he needed to do, albeit in a very gory manner. But the very act of biting Joe’s neck like he did was so symbolic. What else in that world bites to kill? Exactly. Rick is willing to be as ruthless as he needs to in order to protect Carl. He cannot do that if he is dead. Therefore, he must do whatever it takes to stay alive.

And survival is a very powerfully ingrained instinct. Both Tony and Rick went through the ringer before getting pushed to the brink. I think it is a testament to the spirit that each does not given up.

Not that giving up is easy, not when your life is on the line, but neither is it inherently noble. Not if evil wins because of this sacrifice. Because there is real evil in this world. And Walking Dead comments on that. Who is really to be feared, now? Not the zombies, but the humans. And what is Tony to fear? Repercussions for his actions? No, the evil of Cameron and the biker gang, set on making him a pawn.

Both do what I hope we all would do if brought to our knees––fight.

And win.

Kaygan’s Devine Krew 2014

Here’s the truth: insulin is not a cure for the millions afflicted with type 1 diabetes. It is a potentially lethal medication that we inject daily in order to survive. Type 1 diabetes is not as simple as “eat and take your medicine.” However, many believe that. This is why research for type 1 diabetes is woefully underfunded. Yes, we can live, but in this day and age, I believe the expectations should be higher than those of 1921, when insulin was discovered.

Therefore, that is why we are asking for donations for this year’s Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Walk. The JDRF, unlike the American Diabetes Association, donates 100% of the money raised. And it all goes toward research for prevention, care for those afflicted, and experiments for a cure.

I have lived with this disease for 23 years. Back when I was diagnosed, I was told there’d be a cure in 10 years. Fortunately, no one made that same false claim for Kaygan. Unfortunately, it’s because no one knows when the cure will emerge. However, one thing is for certain, without funding, whatever the answer is will take that much longer to uncover. Because even though this isn’t 1921, and we live much, much better, we’re still not cured. There is no cure. But there is a way to change that.

This year’s walk in May 4th at the University at Albany; kickoff at 11:00 AM.  If you walked with us last year and want to come out again, great (wear your shirt). If you’re new and want to join the ranks, awesome. If you can’t attend and just want to donate, no worries. Follow the link for one-stop participation. And, regardless of your choice, thank for being awesome.

Kaygan’s Devine Krew page (for donations)

 A message from Kaygan:

 

 

 

Carrie, Eric, Grace and Kaygan.

 

This is Editing

I’ve been ediitng editing PRESS PLAY for over a week now, and on Firday Friday I was home with Kaygan, who has a sinus infection. I thought I might get work done, but it turns out, I too, have a sinus infection. So, this is how I look. I’ll come up for air and new limbs, soon.

On Bad Decisions

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             * 

Here’s the scene:

             The night was winding down, but I was still energized, which meant trouble, as nothing good happens on a Saturday at 2 AM.

            “What time is it?” Shannon asked, squinting for a clock.

            “It’s time to go,” Carrie said, and around the table, everyone else agreed. I stayed quiet, because I was trying to think.

            We grabbed our coats and my brain mapped out my next move.

            “This way?” Bryan asked and I followed him out the front door. The girls headed toward the back, for the exit there.

            I passed from the warmth into the cold night and sparks kicked up inside my head, an idea was crackling. Bryan said something to me, but I wasn’t paying attention any longer. The cold air had given my vision a chance to ignite, and my focus was all inside my head.

            There was no need to run, but I ran, trying to keep pace with my scheme, trying to get that one last laugh at 2 AM, on a Saturday night, when I’d had plenty already.

            The girls’ conversation was muffled on the other side of the steel door, and I watched it, waiting for the pop of the handle. And when it came, I kicked, and the door flew back. When it popped back open I tried to kick again, but Shannon came flying out.

            “Look what you did!”

            I looked at her, and she was fine, and so I was confused. Until Carrie stepped out from behind, holding a bloody hand and a fingertip that explained the tears.

            My mind stopped racing. The night crystallized into that one image, and I felt all of my stupidity. Shannon reeled on me, and I braced for the punch.

 

While not the greatest scene I have ever turned in, it’s a jumping off point for this post. You see, it’s more fact than fiction. Some of the details are 100% inaccurate, but the major ones are.

On Saturday night, I broke my wife’s finger, because I was behaving like an idiot. Sadly, this is not a first for me.

I have spent a lot of time making bad choices and then cleaning up after my mistakes, as a child, as a teen, and as an adult. Yes, I’d love to have learned from them all, and not have had to repeat, but that doesn’t seem to be the way my life plays out.

People get quite upset with me when this happens. As did my sister-in-law, Shannon. As did my mother-in-law, who might have been happy had Shannon thrown that punch. And I don’t blame them.

From that moment––when I realized my error––and all throughout the rest of the weekend, I have felt terrible. I still do, and deserve to.

And this is why I think I write Young Adult literature. My life mirrors the idiocy of so many of the fictional teens I create. Trust me, I know that Adult literature contains adults behaving badly, but the kinds of failures there are more often of the moral fiber, and ensuing commentary on such. Young Adult lit is rife with teens testing boundaries, making dumb decisions and then dealing with the aftermath. Certainly there are moral failings, too, but the bulk is about teens lost in the moment, having no foresight for the last step of their plan.

And that describes me, at times, to a T. As Bryan said, after, “For all your smarts, writing books and everything, you sure are stupid sometimes.”

I’ve tried to mature all of myself, past the insane 16-year-old I was. But I realize that may never happen. And I’m not comfortable with that, but also don’t want to spend my life hating myself for my failures––also a hallmark of Young Adult lit.

I will do my best to improve, to see the error of my ways, and will do the same with my characters. But in the end, there are no guarantees, because my characters and I, we have a lot to learn.

*That is, indeed, a picture of my wife’s hand. Still sorry, Carrie. For all of my mishaps.

Siena College Visit

I did not attend Siena College, but have had the good fortune to be invited to speak there by Pendragon, the college’s Literary Magazine Club. I will be giving a presentation on my path to publishing, fielding some Q&A, and then signing after, thanks to the support of Market Block Books. If you want to swing by, check the flyer below or the pertinent details, and I hope to see you there!

View this document on Scribd

TLT: Teen Librarian’s Toolbox: Loud and Clear: A Reflection on Teaching SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson in the Classroom (a guest post by author Eric Devine)

Loud and Clear: A Reflection on Teaching SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson in the Classroom (a guest post by author Eric Devine)

As part of the #SVYALit project, we reached out to author Eric Devine and asked him to write.  We wanted to make sure that male voices are heard in the discussion. And he is an awesome writer and teacher. Today he shares with us his experiences of teaching Speak in the classroom.  



The novel Speak is part of my school’s freshman curriculum. It’s the one book I hold onto until the end of the year, because there’s not much selling I need to do with the story, as I have to with To Kill A Mockingbird, Of Mice and Men, Romeo and Juliet, etc. The students read and discuss without much prodding from me, and it is during this discussion, two years ago, when the book went from a perfect end-of-the-year novel to detouring into dangerous and alarming territory. My classes discuss the novel in four parts, after each of the marking periods. By the end, they understand the symbolism with the seasons and within Melinda’s artwork. They see the root of Melinda’s chapped lips, the strained relationships within the story, and, of course, her inability to speak about what has occurred.During the discussion after the class had finished the novel, I kept hearing the word responsibility. Now, I had split the class into multiple groups, and it was buzzing through all of them, so I stopped the discussion and said to the class that it sounded as if they were focusing on the responsibility for the rape. They agreed they were. Part of me wishes I had pushed no further, but the majority is glad I asked what I did: “If you had to assign percentages of responsibility for the rape, what would that look like? Create a pie chart for me.”




If you’d like the rest of the article and how I dealt with these disturbing pie charts, click here TLT: Teen Librarian’s Toolbox: Loud and Clear: A Reflection on Teaching SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson in the Classroom (a guest post by author Eric Devine).

The Good and Genetically Modified in Grasshopper Jungle

I don’t typically review books, here, but it felt right to do so, because I’m kind of infatuated with the novel, Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith, which publishes tomorrow.

I’m fortunate enough to have picked up an Advanced Reader Copy while at ALA Midwinter. Here it is with Summer on the Short Bus, which I intend to review in April:

Grasshopper Jungle is about small town Iowa becoming overrun by genetically engineered praying mantis, resulting in the apocalypse. I know, it sounds crazy, but there’s so much more to it than corn, Iowa, praying mantis, and more corn.

It’s an awesome read about friendship and loyalty, with one extremely flawed protagonist––more on Austin in a minute. However, the story takes it time in developing the central conflict. There are hints of it, but most of the 128 pages prior to things really hitting the fan are filled with exposition and characterization, as well as a mix of secondary conflicts and accounts of history. And horniness.

The protagonist, Austin, is very easily aroused, by everything: his girlfriend, his best friend, situations that make sense for arousal, and those that have no connection to sensuality. Yet, that’s his quirk, which, for me, made him an endearing character, in spite of his gross selfish interest. Really, he says he loves his girlfriend, Shan, and friend, Robby, but he has a very difficult time showing that love. Lust, on the other hand, is no issue for Austin. He’s filled with it. And such a distinction is important for teens to see.

Yet, this combination of delayed action, which most authors (me included) would have concluded the first chapter with, and quite possibly an unlikable protagonist, could make Grasshopper Jungle a difficult read. But part of the undercurrent of the story is very much a Vonnegut-esque rhythm, of the renown “So it goes.” The looping style is part of the point. The story goes where the story goes, and unfolds as it does, without apology. I respect that and hope enough teens will have the patience to first know the characters and then watch them handle the main struggle. And I don’t feel as if we have to love all protagonists from the outset, or even throughout the novel. It’s important to learn from others, who we may not initially be able to relate to, because I can guarantee, on some level, at some point, the connection will occur.

I’ve read reviews of Grasshopper Jungle questioning whether a female protagonist with the same quirk as Austin would be as positively received. It’s a good question. I don’t know if the YA world would be accepting of such, but I kind of feel that they would. Especially those who read Andrew Smith’s work. Winger, another Smith novel, handles homosexuality well, as does Grasshopper Jungle.Austin’s best friend, Robby, is gay, and Austin is…confused. He never labels himself bisexual, which I like, because at the end of the world, do we really need labels? If ever? So a female protagonist, unafraid to voice her desires, might excel, where Austin comes off as comical. Time will tell.

If you like offbeat, layered stories that do not conform to formulas for plot and character, then I suggest you take a chance with Grasshopper Jungle. I guarantee you’ll find yourself wanting to smoke a cigarette before you save the world. “And shit like that.”

Afterthought:

If you follow Andrew Smith on Twitter @marburyjack, he’s been tweeting pictures of excerpts from Grashopper Jungle. Here’s the most important one, from the Acknowledgements, which he may or may not tweet. I cannot imagine Winger or Grasshopper Jungle not existing, so I’m glad he wrote for himself and then let us see.

At a Glance: Six Months of Promo and Events for Dare Me

I have been promoting Dare Me for the past six months. It was fun, exhausting and very rewarding. However, I am glad that the crunch is over. The time and energy it takes is extensive and wreaks havoc on anything else scheduled––you know like the rest of my life

That’s not a complaint, just a simple fact. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love the craziness, and I’m fortunate enough to be doing it all over again for my next novel, which will be released in the fall (details to come).

Therefore, for those of you who might be interested, I’ve outlined all that I did, or that happened regarding Dare Me for half of a year. Many authors do more, and many do less. This is what I did, and I hope it illustrates the business of books on the personal level. Because trust me, if I were to write about the behind-the-scenes work, this post would have to run for a week straight.

July 2013

I didn’t get started until the end of the month, but I kicked things off with a bang, releasing my trailer for Dare Me through a blast, released by over 50 bloggers, worldwide. There was a copy of the novel and a t-shirt giveaway that netted over 5,500 entries. Not bad, right?

Then I wrote an article for one of my favorite librarians and her site Teen Librarian’s Toolbox, titled “Careening with our youth culture“. It’s all about why teens like to do crazy things, and especially why I felt compelled to do some of my own. It was paired with a giveaway, too.

August 2013

August is always busy, and so I only managed to release the flyer for all of my scheduled events for Dare Me. I put it on Scribd, which made sharing so easy.

September

My publisher printed 200 copies of those same flyers I posted to Scribd and I sent them to local high schools at the start of the school year.

Then I had my “Dear Teen Me“ letter posted. Go read it, if you haven’t. It’s awesome.

I then held my first signing at Market Block Books.

October

Dare Me was published in October, so things got cooking. I was interviewed by our local WNYT affiliate, and then held these signings and events:

Signing @   Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library

Signing and panel discussion Troy Author Day @ Troy Public Library

Signing @ Barnes & Noble:  Saratoga Springs

Release party & Signing @ McGreivey’s Restaurant

During this time I also ran a five-day giveaway for Dare Me as a build up to the publishing day.

I also received this awesome review from Kirkus

November

I was interviewed by Kori Miller of Back Porch Writer for her podcast. It was a blast, and if you have a half hour, go listen.

Awesomeness hit in November when I went to NCTE. I signed copies of Dare Me and met English teachers from around the country. A couple of my colleagues even showed up, which was so nice. And then I met a few authors whose work I love, and I even got my picture taken with A.S. King.

December

The last month of the year started out fantastic with both the LA Times and the Chicago Tribune selecting Dare Me for their holiday books gift guides for Young Adults.

Then I got to use my author status for some good by participating in a signing/fundraiser for the High School I work for at another, local Barnes and Noble. If you have kids or are an author and teacher like me, contact B&N and set up a Book Fair. So simple, yet so effective.

January

The American Library Association’s Widwinter Meeting was held in Philadelphia this year, home of my publisher, Running Press. Therefore, I got to go to the city of brotherly love, sign, meet awesome librarians, and then have a blast wining and dining with everyone from Running Press and some of my pub siblings. I even met Daniel Kraus while at our cocktail party. I refrained from getting all fanboy and we had an awesome chat.

For the duration

I ran four giveaways at Goodreads, at various times throughout these six months. I now have only two copies of those I receive from my publisher left. But it was worth it, as close to 2,500 people entered the giveaways and, therefore, have Dare Me on their radar.

Now

Phew. That was a lot. Or maybe it was just enough. Possibly there was more I could have done. I have no idea, because that’s the impossibility of any business. Some analytics cannot be measured.

So what matters to me are the answers to these questions:

Did I have fun? Yes.

Did all of this enrich my life? Yes.

Would I do it all over again? Absolutely.

And I will, in another six months. Be sure to join me, and thank you if you did this time around.

Thanks, ALA Midwinter

I could go on and on about how awesome ALA Midwinter was, but I have to keep this brief because I’m in the middle of edits for my next novel. More on that later because I don’t think anything’s official yet

However, I do want to extend a huge thanks to all the librarians I got to meet at my signing on Saturday. It was so wonderful to see such enthusiasm over YA lit, and my work, specifically. I also need to thank Running Press, who made my attendance possible. They keep supporting me on so many levels that I can’t truly express how much I appreciate them.

Also, I wanted to post my trailer again for all the librarians to whom I mentioned its existence. It’s great material for a book talk, and I truly hope it inspires some readers. And if it does, have them tweet, email, or in any way let me know they enjoyed.

Thanks, again.

Trailer for Dare Me, created by Patrick Willems

Update to Yesterday’s Post

In a word: Awesome! 

The night exceeded my expectations. The students’ presentations were excellent. They were poised and confident, and ultimately blew people away, including their own parents and my administration. I had many parents come up and thank me, which felt awesome. And I understand why they were so happy.

We all went above and beyond on this. The students spent fifteen weeks changing their lives, and then creating amazing Prezi presentations documenting the change, and then preparing the delivery of that presentation to highlight what they had done. I provided an opportunity for their children to showcase their talents in a very public and significant way. I only wish I could hold more opportunities like this for all of my students. Talk about authentic education.

I’m a very proud teacher today, and my students should be as well. I see them as a class, tomorrow, and look forward to rehashing last night. The afterglow hasn’t faded.