Friday Photo and a Winner

This photo, taken this in some small town outside of Milan, exemplifies the feel of Nightshade City for me. I read Nightshade City while I was in Italy and since Hilary’s writing has an old-world style  to it, reading it amongst buildings several hundred years old really added to the immediacy of the story. I’m pretty sure I saw Billycan’s shadow darken the window above.

And the winner of both Nightshade City and The White Assassin–I used a random number generator to choose–is Natalie Bahm.

Oh, Natalie. Where art thou? Come hither and collect your prize!!

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Beginnings

The view from the farmhouse in the Italian Alps.

1.  I feel fortunate and lucky to have been able to spend time in Italy. Even though I didn’t visit the towns where my grandparents were born, I still felt an intensely personal connection with the land, perhaps because I spent several days with a good friend at a farmhouse that has been in his family for five hundred years.

A built-to-last stone roof.

2. Tomorrow I start a new job as the English Language Learner Teacher/Facilitator at West Valley High School. It is a semester-long position and will be a great introduction into the ESL/ELL world. I’m a little anxious because I’ve been out of the classroom for a few years but I’m also totally psyched to dive in and do the best job that I can.

3. My middle grade novel, STRANDED, was awarded second place in the Pacific Northwest Writers Association’s Annual Contest. This news came to me via email a few minutes before starting the 21 hour trip home from Italy.

So yeah, I’m feeling jet-lagged from the 10 hour time change, I’m still digesting the Italy experience (which I’ll write about in the future), and I’m a bit preoccupied by the details of my new job that have been streaming in today, but I’m smiling!!!

That's me at the farmhouse with a stone barn in the background.

Thanks for stopping by.

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An Invitation I couldn’t refuse: Project Mayhem

I’ve been given an offer I couldn’t refuse–to join the Project Mayhem Blog–subtitled: The manic minds of middle grade writers. I love that phrase!!

I’m honored to be invited and will be posting over there a couple times a month.

Other Mayhem members include: Hilary Wagner, Jen K. Blom, Dee Garretson, Timothy Power, Dawn Lairamore, Marissa Burt, Rose Cooper, Yahong Chi, Michael Winchell, Caroline Star Rose, and Matthew MacNish.

I’m really thrilled and humbled to be included in such a fantastic mix of writers and bloggers.

Please stop by Project Mayhem and say hello.

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A little bit of news and what I’ve been doing lately

The blog has been a little quiet lately but that doesn’t mean I’ve been sitting around doing nothing.

1.  I had a wonderful two week visit with my family, one of the highlights being a trip to Grand Haven, Michigan to celebrate our 14th wedding anniversary. Yes, I took a dip in Lake Michigan.

2.  I ran the Sunburst Marathon in South Bend, Indiana in high humidity and 80 degree plus heat. I’m glad I crossed the finish line before they called the race due to hazardous heat conditions.

3.  While I was in the Midwest, I received some good news: My middle grade novel has been chosen as a finalist in the Pacific Northwest Writers Association’s Annual Contest. Winners will be announced in August at their annual conference.

4.  I accepted a job for the fall semester. I will be teaching English to the ELL (English Language Learners) students at West Valley High School.  It is a ¾ time teaching position and just for the fall semester, kind of perfect for me in terms of keeping my writing going.

5.  I’m going hiking in the Italian Alps in late July/early August.

6.  And, am I working on a new book? You bet I am!!

Interesting. Is that public information?

That’s all the news that fit to tell. What have you been up to lately?

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Terry Lynn Johnson’s Debut: Dogsled Dreams

Terry Lynn Johnson in one of her many elements.

A big congrats to my critique partner Terry Lynn Johnson.

Terry’s debut MG novel Dogsled Dreams came out over the holidays!!

I know from first-hand experience that this is an exciting read that will get under your skin in a good way if you like experiencing adventure through a twelve year-old’s eyes.

A little bit about Dogsled Dreams: Twelve-year-old Rebecca dreams of becoming a famous sled dog racer. She’s an inventive but self-doubting musher who tackles blinding blizzards, wild animal attacks, puppy training, and flying poo missiles. All of her challenges though, seem easier than living up to the dogs’ trust in her abilities. Rebecca runs her huskies along the crisp trails near Thunder Bay, Ontario, where northern lights flare and dangerous beavers lurk. Through the bond she shares with the dogs, Rebecca learns that hard work, dedication and living in the moment bring their own rewards. 

Diane Johnson, the Iditarod Education Director said this about Dogsled Dreams: “Any teacher using Gary Paulsen’s Woodsong would want Terry Johnson’s Dogsled Dreams as a part of their classroom library…Dogsled Dreams is an inspirational read that encourages the reader to set goals and take steps to meet the goals, no matter what the goals may be.”

Visit Terry’s blog or website to read the first chapter of Dogsled Dreams. Or, just purchase the book from Barnes and Noble or Amazon.

And, stay tuned. I’ve seen what Terry’s working on next. And it’s all kinds of  awesome, too!!

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