While I took my blogging break these past five weeks, I completed revisions on my YA verse novel and sent it back to my agent 8,000 words stronger. I attended NESCBWI Encore! 2012 and was grateful for the opportunity to learn from authors Karen Day, Mark Peter Hughes, Jo Knowles, Mitali Perkins, and teacher Cindy Faughnan. I also finished reading Geoff Herbach's, Nothing Special, and Mitali Perkins' Bamboo People.
I've been gravitating to books with male MCs, since my own novel is written from a male perspective. Nothing Special is the sequel to Stupid Fast, and is told in the quirky voice of Felton Reinstein. He seems like such an authentic kid. His honest voice made me laugh, kept me reading, and has me looking forward to the third in the series, I'm With Stupid.
Bamboo People is told from the point of view of two teen narrators: Chiko, a fourteen year old Burmese boy who is forced to join the Burmese army, and Tu Reh, a Kerenni boy whose home was destroyed by Burmese soldiers.
I thoroughly enjoyed both of these books.
Now, while I take a few days before I try to get my head into my next project, I hope to get around to all of your blogs (provided Sandy allows it.) I've stocked up on water and batteries, but other than that, I'm trying to be optimistic. Wishing well to everyone in her path!
