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!
I love the title BAMBOO PEOPLE!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with Sandy! We got a bunch of wind and some power flickers but it mostly missed us.
Sounds like we were both blessed. We lost power for about 18 hours, but that was it. I certainly can't complain.
DeleteCongrats on finishing the revision! Isn't that the best feeling? Hoping Sandy is kind to us all... :-)
ReplyDeleteIt IS a good feeling! =D
DeleteCongrats on your revisions! One of my fave YA novels with male mc (other than John Green's books)is Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson. I will have to check out the books you listed! Good luck weathering the storm--stay safe!
ReplyDeleteOooo, thanks, Coleen. I'll add that one to my list.
DeleteIt sounds like your blogging break was time well spent! Congrats on your revisions. I thought you might be on the East Coast - take care and keep safe, girlfriend!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Victoria. We weathered the storm well.
DeleteHope you're safe from this storm, Ruth. Have been following reports.
ReplyDeleteLoved reading about your revision and your plans. Keep up the great writing.
I'm back from a break myself and it does make a difference if you take time off. Good for the head!
It was good to take the break, but now I'm glad to be back. Glad your break was refreshing, too.
DeleteYay! Nice to see you back among the bloggers!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you made good headway on revisions. Fantastic.
ctny
Thanks, Courtney. It's good to be back =)
DeleteSounds like you've been having a lovely and productive break from blogging. Stay dry through the storm!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Laura. I hesitated with decision to take the blog break, but it was beneficial, for sure.
DeleteSounds like the revision cave worked well for you! I do hope Sandy passes you by. Just might have to check out your book recommendations soon, though reading about a 14-year-old soldier might be too sad for me just now. Take care and stay dry!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jean. We were blessed. Lots of leaves in the yard, but no downed trees, and no water damage. Whew!
DeleteGood luck with the weather! I'm finding the gloomy/rainy conditions perfect for writing and reading!
ReplyDeleteI did some writing by candlelight as well.
DeleteHave you read Shift by Kim Curran? That's a good one and it's a male POV.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter just received that one in the mail, so I'll give it a try.
DeleteYou have been busy! Sooooo stoked about your revisions and I LOVE conferences! So glad to hear from you, Ruth. And gosh... good luck with the storm! Sounds scary!
ReplyDeleteHi Morgan! Thanks for sharing in my excitement. I am very happy with how much stronger my story is now. The revision process is an amazing thing.
DeleteOhhh, welcome back, and congrats on the revisions! I ALMOST went to the Encore event, but something came up and I had to change my plans. Such a bummer, would've loved to say hello in person! Good luck weathering the storm!
ReplyDeleteHi Anne! Oh, that would have been fun to see you at the Encore event. Bummer. Maybe next year =) We weathered Sandy well - no trees down, no water damage. Power was out for less than 24 hours, but we have a generator, so no complaints here. How about you???
DeleteSounds like very productive revisions!
ReplyDeleteHi Annalisa, thanks for stopping by.
DeleteWow, you've been productive!
ReplyDeleteI've met Mitali Perkins at a New Englad Kid Lit meetup and at the NE-SCWBI conference. She's so sweet.
Everyone was so nice. It was a great experience for my first writers event. I look forward to attending many more =)
Deletemay I chime in and say how good it is to have you back? Let me try it again: *IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU BACK!*
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your cave-stay was good. But some sunshine is good also.
I hope the power stays on, and the storm passes much less powerfully than predicted.
Thank you so much, Mirka =D It is good to be back. I really have missed keeping in touch.
DeleteYou've been busy (good busy!). Thanks for the book recommendations, too!
ReplyDeleteHi Lydia, thanks for stopping by.
DeleteGood luck with Sandy!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recommendations. I'm reading more YA books with guy POVs. I love them. :D
Thanks, Stina.
DeleteReading books with a male POV is a nice change.
Sounds like a productive 5 weeks! Those books sound good. I need to be able to write more with a boy voice; I'm too girly sometimes and want kids of both sexes to read my stuff.
ReplyDeleteHope the hurricane doesn't cause too much havoc! I'm in Florida, so usually all this talk of storms is for our neck of the woods. It's kind of weird hearing about it for up north.
I agree, Alexia, I think it's important to be able to write from girl and guy POVs. I've been writing with a guy voice for quite a while - probably starting around the time my three nephews came into my life.
DeleteWay to go, Ruth! How exciting. Lots of wonderful things are happening in your life. I hope you stay safe through Frankenstorm. Sending prayers to all those affected by it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lynn.
DeleteYippee for books for males. I've long been a proponent of writing more books for them. They just do not have as many. Sounds like you are having the time of your life, Ruth. I am totally excited for you. (Those caves are CO COOL, woman) :-)
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm already looking forward to my next cave stay ;)
DeleteGood for you. Sounds like exciting things are happening for you! The Bamboo People sounds like something I'd like to read.
ReplyDeleteI just returned from a spiritual retreat that ran 8 days. Flew in as flights were being cancelled. But, a good time to spend some time with myself.
Good for you for taking that time for yourself. Sounds like you enjoyed it. And so glad you made it home despite the cancelled flights.
DeleteSounds like your time away from blogging was well spent and very constructive - hurray! - and congrats for getting your book back to your agent in better shape! :) I hope Sandy was kind to you and you're okay! Glad to see you back :)
ReplyDeleteHi Susanna,
DeleteWe were blessed - made it through Sandy unscathed. Whew!
Ruth you 'sound' refreshed, energized and inspired. That is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteBe safe!
That's exactly how I feel, Lynn. I just hope it lasts ;)
DeleteA good male MC-narrated story is so much fun to read. In recent-ish times I read FLASH BURNOUT by L.K. Madigan and loved it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recommendation, Trisha!
DeleteI find it so interesting when people write from the perspective of the opposite gender. I have a recommendation for you, Ruth. YA, male narrator by Louis Sachar. (I think that's how you spell his last name. I always forget.)
ReplyDeleteIt's called 'The Cardturner.' The ending leaves quite a bit to be desired but the bulk of the story is very good.
Well done on all your progress! My prayers are with you and everyone anywhere near the path of the storm. Take care.
Thanks so much, Suze, for the book recommendation. Adding it to my list now.
DeleteThank you for the reports on the books. Sounds like Nothing Special is a good book for a laugh. I hope you have done well through the storm. Sending best wishes.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Emilyann!
Deletewow, 8k more words! dang girl, great job! new follower, here, hi!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Tammy. Nice to meet you =)
DeleteGlad you're back and your manuscript is much stronger for it! Hope you made it through the storm okay.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dawn =)
DeleteGlad your back blogging, Ruth. Sounds like you've been a busy girl! Hope you faired well in the storm!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was focused on writing short stories, these milestones came more frequently: finishing a piece, sending it out. Now that I'm concentrating on longer works, the milestones are fewer and far between - and worth celebrating when one is reached. It feels so good to have this sent out.
DeleteYour break was productive. Congratulations on completing your revisions.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Peaches.
DeleteWelcome back! It sounds like you got lots accomplished during your break. And I hope the storm didn't hit you too hard. No one in her path seemed to escape without some damage.
ReplyDeleteNothing but a lot of leaves and a few hours without power. I certainly can't complain.
DeleteThinking of those who are still waiting to return to normalcy.
Nice to see you back! Hope you and your family fared well through the storm. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Karen.
DeleteRuth, I hope you and your family survived the storm ok. And thanks for mentioning boy protag books. I'll have to give them a try.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Julie. I think you'll like them.
DeleteRuth, I hope you and yours are safe and will have power back soon if you don't already. Glad your revision time was so productive. The conference sounds great.
ReplyDeleteWe feel blessed to have fared so well in the storm. So many are still affected!
DeleteOh yay for finishing your revisions! And both of those books sound super good--I want to check them out now! Hope everyone is safe!!!
ReplyDelete:0)
Thanks, Mary, for stopping by and saying hello =D
Delete