Reading Rocks!!

Summer is a great time for reading.  It's a perfect time to branch out.  Parents and Grandparents can take advantage of relaxed schedules and encourage the reading bug to bite.  It's a nice time for reading together, trips to the library, and family read- a-thons. 

Here's a fun series for the chapter book set.  Heroes of the Highest Order by R.K. Hinrichsen.  This is an easy read, perfect for developing readers.  The vocabulary is not taxing and the story involves magic and mystery, with enough twists and turns to keep the pages turning.  If your chapter book readers love adventure and super powers, they'll enjoy this series.

 

Book 1 is called The Hidden Kingdom, followed by The Prisoner of the Shadows,  and The Mouth of the Dragon.  You can buy all three in paperback or kindle edition right here.

Reading Rocks.  Especially in summer.

Linda Garner



R.K Hinrichsen has been writing for children for several years. She enjoys history, fantasy and exotic locations. But most of all, she loves to learn about real life heroes.

The Nominations Are Open

The Nominations for the Whitney awards are now open.

The Whitney awards were created to recognize quality work and to help readers become more aware of the fine literature being published by LDS authors. They were named after Orson Whitney.

There are seven different categories: general fiction, historical fiction, romance, mystery/suspense, speculative (sci-fi/fantasy), young adult general and young adult speculative fiction. A book must get five nominations to be considered.

Last year, was my first introduction to the Whitneys. I read all five nominees in two different categories. It was delightful. I enjoyed branching out to new authors and new genres. This year, I hope to start earlier and read more categories.

If you’re looking for something to read that is clean and well-written, take a look at some of last year’s finalists, or previous years. I’ll bet you’ll like them. Last year's winners are listed here.

Anyone can nominate a book for the Whitneys. All books nominated go through a complex screening process to select the five finalists in each category. Members of LDS storymakers are eligible to vote along with a panel of experts who are invited to participate. We can only vote in categories where we have read all five finalists.

If you have read a book you’d like to nominate, it must have been published in 2011 and must have been written by an LDS author. Only full length fiction is eligible. To find out more click here. To nominate a book, click here.

Happy reading!

Linda Garner

Save The Picture Book!

Save the Whales! Save the rainforests! Save the Picture Book!

I've been reading about the decline of the picture book. So sad.

It seems that many parents are anxious to get their kids reading in "real" books and are bypassing picture books in favor of easy readers and chapter books. That combined with the economic pressure publishers are feeling on every level and the ginormous cost of producing a picture book is really hurting the picture book market.

Since I am a picture book writer this is disturbing news, but it goes much deeper than that. I am not just a writer of picture books, I am a lover of picture books.

Picture books are incredibly valuable in shaping the imagination, the vocabulary, and the cultural and social awareness of children. Picture books are an essential part of the fabric of childhood, feeding the love of books long before a child can study phonics.

Reading is more than decoding words. Reading is an adventure. Reading can take you anywhere. Picture books open this door in a most delightful way, feeding the senses, and creating a world of possibilities.

Who doesn't remember snuggling up to someone you love with a wonderful picture book, either as a parent or as a child? Who doesn't remember star belly sneeches,the wild rumpus, or a terrible horrible no good very bad day? Who doesn't have a memory of a particularly delicious picture book? Who has forgotten Dr. Seuss?

We're in a hurry now days, to nowhere in particular. We've gotta move on to "real" books. We haven't got time for the richly illustrated and layered literature in picture books. We haven't time for magic.

What's the Hurry!

This is Children's Book Week. Let's Celebrate. Save the Picture Book!

Linda garner

One Hundred and Nine Fabulous Entries

One Hundred and Nine People who love to read entered the Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza on this post. I'm eggstatic. Thanks for participating.

Aren't books just the best? Books have brought so much enjoyment and comfort to me. Every book I read has an impact on my life and changes me in some way. Books I write change me even more.

One lucky person is about to receive a $10.00 gift card to amazon/kindle. I will send it to your email. You can look for it this afternoon. And the winner is....(drumroll please) Lisa Peters. I will be sending The Book of Positive Messages to Awesome Niks who came in 2nd. Awesome, I will need a mailing address for that. Watch your email and you can send the address in a reply.

I had a great interview yesterday with the awesome Linda Adams. Click here to read it. It's on her blog.

Reading Rocks!
Linda Garner

Join Us In Ephraim!

Authors Rock. It's so fun to get together. If you're anywhere Ephraim this Saturday you won't want to miss this one day mini-conference for writers and readers. Lots of information and fun. Tell all your friends and join us if you can.

I'm going early to do some school visits. Can't wait to meet those kids.

Linda Garner

Only a Crazy Person Would Write

I’ve decided. It’s insane to be a writer. Really. It takes over your life.

It keeps me from making my bed and getting the dishes done. I plan my life around critique groups and writers conferences. I check my email more often than I wash my hands. It’s crazy.

It changes the way I read. I can’t just enjoy a book. I analyze it. What was the author thinking when he wrote this? What makes this dialogue work? What clues did the author plant to help me solve the mystery, or throw me off the track. Why does this setting feel familiar? It’s nuts.

I’ll let you in a secret. The real reason I write is…. (drumroll, please) I write for the money. NOT. I hope you got a good laugh out of that one. After careful (not) calculations, I have discovered that I make about ten cents an hour. Or is it five cents an hour? It’s bizarre.

Why the heck do I write,then? Just because I love it. I can’t imagine doing anything else. It's Unbelievable.

I am crazy. Crazy about words, crazy about writing, crazy about books. Crazy.

Don't you agree? Only a crazy person would write.

Linda Garner

Sh-h-h Reading

I had never heard of the Whitney Awards a few years ago. Maybe some of you are in that boat. They are selected from books published by LDS authors during the previous year. Anyone can nominate a book to be considered. Next a Whitney Panel pares down the list to 5 finalists in 7 different categories. As a member of LDS Storymakers, I was eligible to vote last year, but didn’t have a clue about the whole process.

This year, I plan to vote. I can’t possibly read 35 novels before the voting deadline. Not because I wouldn’t love to ready 24/7, but because I have a life. I plan to read all five novels in just two categories and vote in those categories. Reading ten novels in about two months will be a big enough challenge for me. I can’t tell you how fun it is to read these books, because they are awesome.

Scroll down to see this years finalists. Even if you’re not eligible to vote, you may want to browse this list and choose something for your reading pleasure. You could read all 35 and choose your own favorites. Call it the Carolyn Award or the Christy Award, or… you get the idea. I have two down and eight to go. I am currently reading Oh Say Can You See by L.C. Lewis. I have already finished Blink of an Eye by Gregg Luke and The Silence of God by Gale Sears. I highly recommend all three.

Until next week. Sh. Reading.

Linda Garner



2010 Whitney Award Finalists

General:
Band of Sisters by Annette Lyon
Blink of an Eye by Gregg Luke
The Cross Gardener by Jason Wright
Finding Mercie by Blaine Yorgason
Lucky Change by Susan Law Corpany

Historical:
Alma The Younger by H.B. Moore
Oh Say Can You See? by L.C. Lewis
The Sheen on the Silk by Anne Perry
The Silence of God by Gale Sears
Trespass by Sandra Grey

Romance:
Courting Miss Lancaster by Sarah M. Eden
Cross My Heart by Julie Wright
The Legend of Shannonderry by Carol Warburton
Luck of the Draw by Rachael Renee Anderson
*Meg’s Melody by Kaylee Baldwin

Mystery/Suspense
Cold as Ice by Stephanie Black
Crossfire by Traci Hunter Abramson
Murder by Design by Betsy Brannon Green
A Time to Die by Jeffrey Savage
*Wrong Number by Rachelle J. Christensen

Speculative:Imprints by Rachel Ann Nunes
Mr. Monster by Dan Wells
Pathfinder by Orson Scott Card
The Scorch Trials by James Dashner
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson

Youth Fiction—Speculative:
Fablehaven 5 by Brandon Mull
Matched by Ally Condie
*Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
*Forbidden Sea by Sheila Nielson
The Fourth Nephite by Jeffrey S. Savage

Youth Fiction—General:
Glimpse by Carol Lynch Williams
Missing In Action by Dean Hughes
My Double Life by Janette Rallison
The Healing Spell by Kimberley Griffiths Little
*Wolves, Boys, and Other Things That Might Kill Me by Kristen Chandler

* Also eligible for Best Novel by New Author

Come on! Will You Just Put That Book Down?????

Self:  So, you totally slept in today.

Me: Hey, it was only a few minutes.

Self: Yeah. But your eyes are blood shot and your hair... I mean...Look at your hair. Don't you believe in brushing?

Me: *evil glare at Self while setting cup of orange juice down on table* Well...if you hadn't gotten so wrapped up in that book last night, I might not have gotten to bed so late.

Self: *looking down at table, blushing a little*   OH... Well   *nervous laugh*  That...well...

Me:  Don't blame me for sleeping in.

Self: *fidgeting with gross thing on table that didn't get cleaned off from late night reading* I have a weakness. I'm sorry.

Me: *sighing* Fine. You're forgiven. *running fingers through hair, but stopping short when finding big mat of tangle* That was a great book though.

Self:Yeah, it was.

Me: So....*super long pause* what book do you want to read tonight?

Self: Oh, I have a list.

So I finished Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card last night. So good!  Unfortunately, I didn't get this post ready until this morning (or worked on my writing assignments for class, or studied for my final tomorrow, or panicked about the dentist appointment today--oh wait, that's a good one).

Have you ever gotten lost in a book? If so, which one?

Oh, and by the way, this is for my kids.... Need I say more? (you guys crack me up!)

Is It a Deal?

Like most—maybe all— writers, I learned to write by writing and, by example, by reading books. ~ Francine Prose

If you want to be a writer, you need to read a lot of books. I really believe that. That’s the quickest way to learn the craft. That’s awesome, because reading is fantabulous. Reading is a delightful journey. Reading is discovery. Reading is escape. Reading is coming home.

I love reading, so that part is easy. Finding the time, that’s another story.

When do I read? Like you, I often sandwich bits of it between other activities. A snatch here and a snatch there. It helps to keep a book in the car for those waiting moments, and one in the bathroom can come in handy. A few pages at bedtime is always a treat, provided I can find my reading glass. I only need them at night, so it shouldn’t be hard to keep track of them, should it?

Long stretches of time for reading hard are to come by, but very enjoyable. Refreshing. Uplifting. Comforting. Restful. I treasure such luxuries. Wrapping up in a comfy quilt and sipping hot chocolate improves the experience, if you can imagine. However, reading in hammock under the summer sun is just as lovely.

There’s no shortage of reading material in my world. I can’t possibly live long enough to read everything I’d like to. It’s my privilege to personally know lots of wonderful authors. I wish I could read all their stuff. Since I have a limited budget, I love, love, love the library.

As a lover of picture books, I frequent the picture book section of the library. I bring home armloads of picture books and devour them, sharing tasty morsels with my family, especially the peanut butter crowd. A well-written picture book is magical. Sharing the magic is unforgettable.

My book club is awesome. We meet once a month over potluck and talk about the book we just read. We have fun and they keep me reading. They have introduced me to authors and books I had never met. Sharing a good book with friends is like hiking a mountain together. It’s a fun path, and the view at the top is incredible.

I read some great stuff last year. I wish I had kept a list. What were your favorite reads last year? You tell me yours, and I’ll tell you mine.

Is it a Deal?

Linda Garner

It Happened Again

It happened again. I have a weakness in my lower back and once in a while it goes a little nuts, and puts me in misery for a few days. When this happens I avoid sitting and start doing my back exercises. If it doesn’t clear up right away, I see my chiropractor which really speeds up the process.

My husband has a little pickup which he dearly loves. It’s handy for all kinds of odd jobs. I don’t enjoy driving it, though, because of my short legs. It puts a lot of stress on my lower back. On Saturday I needed to drive the pickup twice, both short distances. On Sunday, I noticed that my back was wigging out. I know the drill. Avoid sitting. Back Exercises. Rest up.

Of course my chiropractor wasn’t available on Sunday or Labor Day, and to make matters worse he isn’t open on Tuesdays either. I can rest some today, but tomorrow my day starts early and I have lots planned. I wonder how early I can see my chiro.

My chiropractor has told me that I should do those back exercises every day, not just when I’m in pain. Prevention, you know. Maintenance. It’s such a good idea, but one I’ve never really adopted.

There are lots of good habits I could adopt: the habit of reserving judgment; the habit of complimenting others; the habit of reaching out to the lonely.

For my writing, I need good habits, too. I need to write a little every day. It isn’t always easy, but it really strengthens my writing when I work at it consistently. Reading is a must, too. I read differently now. I still read for enjoyment, but I’m also on the lookout for good technique. I ask a lot of questions. What makes this exciting to read? How did the author keep that a secret? What makes this character so interesting? So loveable? So human? When does the author get my attention?

Besides polishing manuscripts, I sometimes enjoy writing exercises, such as: Write ten first lines. Write about a time when you felt afraid. Alone. Sad. Confident. Write about someone who made a difference in your life. Write about something that makes you angry. Write a letter to someone you love. Write a letter to someone who is dead?

Good habits can make a difference. What habits would like to adopt?

Linda Garner

Summer Treasure Hunt

I hope your summer will be filled with fun and adventure, along with relaxing moments and a great book to read. My author friend Joyce Dipastena has organized a summer treasure hunt to give away some awesome books for your summer reading pleasure. A different book is featured each day.

To enter you must go to the website or blog of the featured author and find the answer to the question. You can enter every contest, or just the ones that interest you, and you can enter them all now. You don’t have to wait until the contest day to do your sleuthing. Correct answers earn you a chance to win the book. The hunt officially started yesterday, so one day is already gone. Hurry over and get started. Click here to join the fun.

Happy Summer!

Linda Garner

Poor, Poor Hannah

Recently Friend-Husband’s brother Rich, and wife Andrea told us that their 8 year old daughter Hannah loves to write stories.

I was excited. “Really?” I said, “You need to nurture that.”

“Well,” they continued, “There’s a problem.”

“A problem?” I asked.

“Yes, a big problem. She would rather write stories than do her chores. She would rather write stories than clean her room or help out around the house.”

I was shocked. I was aghast. “Oh no,” I wailed. “Tsk. Tsk,” I mourned. “She has it bad, doesn’t she? Poor Poor Hannah.”

“Yes,” they said with heads bowed low.

“Maybe she could marry someone like Friend-Husband, who actually enjoys cleaning house (go figure),” I said hopefully, “but what are the chances?”

We all shook our heads in silence.

“There is one other thing,” I mentioned cautiously.

They looked at me expectantly.

“Shock Therapy” I said.

They looked concerned.

“It’s her only hope,” I whispered. “It’s drastic, though.”

“Tell us more,” they said with hope in their eyes.

“It starts with dinner dishes,” I began.

“Dinner Dishes?” they asked. Now they were excited.

“Exactly. Do not let her anywhere near the dinner dishes.” “Mopping floors is bad,” I continued. “She must not be allowed to sweep or mop floors.” The list continued, “No yardwork. Banish her from bathroom duty. You get the idea."

“What?” Our tearful relatives looked surprised. “Are you sure this will help?”

“Wait, there’s more,” I said. “You must surround her with good books and encourage her to read a lot. Her future is at stake.”

“Read a lot?” they queried.

“Oh, yes, of course, and notebooks. She must have many, many notebooks and pens and pencils of all colors and sizes.”

“Notebooks, pens, pencils?” they wondered.

I nodded solemnly. “A dictionary and thesaurus are a must,” I added. “Believe me, she will soon be begging for mercy. She will be dying to clean toilets.”

“She will?” they asked, with tears in their eyes.

“Absolutely,” I answered, “either that, or…she’ll become a writer.”

Linda Garner

p.s.

I love you, Hannah, and if you haven’t guessed, I’d rather write than clean house, too.

The Magic of Reading

This week I had the privilege of sitting down and talking to the teacher of one of my children. During the process, she handed me a book to take home for my toddler to read. Ha, ha, I thought, like my toddler is going to read a book. After he read the book without my help, I threw open my front door and burst into joyful singing. Okay, well, not quite that dramatic, but I did laugh myself silly. My toddler can read. He just blew me away again tonight by reading his second book without my help. (Without help! Yikes)

But there are kids I do help. Once a week, I have the opportunity of helping elementary school children read. I am always surprised at the wide range of abilities the children have. Some are struggling with the first lists of words, while others are flying though the lists as though they have been reading for years.

I was not so lucky to be one of those speedy readers. When I was a teenager, I would sit at my desk in school, praying for the bell to ring so I wouldn’t have to read out loud to my class. I can not tell you how terrifying that was for me, waiting, as one by one, my peers read out loud inching closer to me.

No, I did not have dyslexia nor did I stutter. My head just wouldn’t get on track with my mouth. Long story.

Then I stumbled across a book, by accident mind you. My brother’s were always quoting, The Jabberwocky, by Lewis Carroll. That’s when I found Alice in Wonderland. A magical world was opened up to me. A world that was so bizarre, I gobbled it up. This lead to other worlds with each new book I picked up.

Now I am writing the worlds, making up the characters. * dramatic pause * And it all started with the magic of reading (please read with a sigh).

I cannot tell you how pleased I am to see my child start out at such a young age with the magic of reading that took me years to appreciate.

It makes me want to explode in chorus (yes, sing along with me):

“Twinkle, twinkle little bat,
How I wonder what you’re at!
Up above the world you fly,
Like a tea-tray in the sky,
Twinkle twinkle—”
Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll – sung by the Dormouse at the Mad Hatter’s tea-party.

Oh, Lewis Carroll, if you could see me now! Next week I will be performing a tap dance. Bring your cameras.

I will be posting on Friday next week, since Thursday is Christmas. MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!! Hohoho.

Cover to Cover

Cover to Cover, that’s the name of a book club I belong to. We meet once each month over lunch and talk about books. Of course we are great friends and we talk about lots of other stuff beside books, but sharing books gives us a wonderful excuse to get together. Reading with my friends has broadened the scope of my reading.

We don’t all have the same interests, but we include a little something for everyone. We like variety. Each year we like to include a classic, a children’s book, something current, an old favorite…you get the idea. We decide together what books we will read and set up a schedule, a different book each month. We meet in a friend’s home. The lunch is potluck and the conversation flows freely.

In December, when everyone is extra busy, instead of having a book to read, we each bring a Christmas Story to share. Anything goes. It can be a novel, a picture book, a short story. This is a fun tradition. It warms our hearts without overwhelming us.

I’ve been wondering which story I would like to share when we meet later this week. There are a lot to choose from. I am reading The Sprit of Christmas, a brand new book by Jennie Hansen, Betsy Brannon Green, and Michele Ashman Bell. It has 3 short stories, one by each author. I happened to have a delightful visit with Michele at a book signing on Saturday in Seagull Book. After visiting with Michele, I bought this charming book as an early Christmas gift for myself. Perhaps I will share one of these new stories, or Michele’s picture book, A Candle in the Window. This story is a tender one, based on an experience from her Grandmother’s life. You’ll love the story and the pictures are gorgeous.

Do something nice for yourself today. Buy yourself an early Christmas gift, and read it…Cover to Cover.

Linda Garner

The Gift of Reading

A few years ago when we became greatly outnumbered by our grandchildren, we started to wonder how we could afford to give something special to each of those kids at Christmas. We have 19 grandchildren with one on the way, and we have 2 kids that haven’t even started having children yet.

Giving books was a great answer for us. There are wonderful books for every age and interest and the price tag is quite affordable. We have such fun choosing books for the children and we can start the process early in the year and have things ready early. We love fostering an interest in reading. The gift of reading will last a lifetime.

To make this even more fun, we delay the opening of the books until after Christmas. We have a special gathering a few days after Christmas. We share some fun food, and then pass out the presents, one at a time, youngest to oldest. Everyone watches with anticipation as each child unwraps their book. We all ooh and ah. Then follows a magic night of reading. Kids read to grandparents. Parents read to children. Children read to each other. Everyone shares in the magic. Instead of getting lost among the piles of presents on Christmas morning, the books are the center of attention, and so are the people we love most.

Share some magic with those you love this Christmas. Give the gift of books. Give the gift of reading. Give the gift of time. It’s magic.

Share the Magic

Recently *Friend-Husband and I spent an afternoon in the Springville Art Museum enjoying Unbound; their display of original picture book art by Utah Illustrators. What a delightful event. I think you should go.

Picture books are my first love. They are such a magical blend of words and art. It’s fun to share this magic with someone you love, especially if that someone is a child. I have spent many a pleasant afternoon cuddling on a couch with a grandchild and a delightful picture book.

Twenty seven artists are represented in the display. Their original framed art is displayed with a bio about each artist. It was great fun to read about each of these talented artists whose picture voice brings a special kind of magic to the words. Each page in a picture book is a work of heart; a special blend of love, hard work, and art. It is also a treat to see the diversity in the art, from water colors and oils to computer designs, and every combination between. Some illustrations are in vibrant brilliant colors, others are soft pastels. Each picture has a personality as real as my own.

After soaking in each of the fabulous illustrations on the wall, Friend-Husband and I found a cozy spot on a comfy couch in the same room and read from the same picture books which were also provided.

Some of our favorites were: Mrs. McBloom, Clean Up Your Classroom, written by Kelly S. Dipucchio and illustrated by Guy Francis; Martha Moth Makes Socks written and illustrated by Cambria Evans, Fanny’s Dream written by Caralyn Buehner and illustrated by Mark Buehner, Armadilly Chili written by Helen Ketteman and illustraded by Will Terry, The Frog with the Big Mouth written by Teresa Bateman and illustrated by Will Terry, The Alphabet from Z to A (With Much Confusion on the Way) written by Judith Viorst and illustrated by Richard Hull.

The display is at the Springville Museum of Art, 126 E. 400 S., Springville, Utah, and runs through December 28. Admission is free. Every Saturday at 11:00 a.m. through Dec 27 there is a Story Hour featuring one of the artists. The picture books are also available for sale in the Museum Gift Shop. The museum hours are different each day so check the web site http://www.sma.nebo.edu/. You will also enjoy looking at the Unbound blog; unboundsma.blogspot.com.

This is great day for magic. Share some picture book magic with someone you love today.

Linda Garner

* Friend-Husband is a term my Mother used in her writing, when speaking about my Father. I was a little jealous that she thought of it first. Mother has been gone for 6 years and isn’t using it any more. I thought maybe she wouldn’t mind if I picked it up now.