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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Some Good News

If you haven’t do so already, head on over to Terry Lynn Johnson’s Blog and give her a high-five.

She is now represented by Caryn Wisman of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency!!!

My YA Giveaway ends at midnight tonight. Just leave a comment on the Giveaway Post to participate.  I’ll announce the winners in a couple days.

Have a great weekend!!

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Sparse but Specific

First off. Thanks to everyone who entered my contest. The winner is Christine Fonseca. I’ve got a copy of The Chosen One ready to mail to her.

Last week I spent an evening paddling an inflatable kayak down Goldstream Creek.

The optimal time to float Goldstream is just after the surface ice breaks up and the creek is high, basically two to three feet of water flowing over ice that has yet to melt. It’s a fun little crash through a tunnel of brush.

Just three miles down the road from Goldstream is O’Connor Creek.

What you see in the photo, taken the same day as the other photos, is called overflow ice. When O’Connor starts to freeze up in the fall there is enough pressure in this small stream that the water is forced upward through the ice. The water flows on top of the ice that’s already formed and then refreezes. This goes on all winter long if the air temperature is cold enough, which is not a problem here. Ice forms several feet thick and spreads out thirty or forty feet across, all from a trickle of a stream. 

O’Conner breaks up differently than Goldstream. I’ve seen ice in O’Conner Creek at the end of June. Here it is in May.

Seeing these two creeks, so different yet they share the same valley, got me thinking about setting and how authentic, specific details can bring a work to life.

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of beta-reading one of Terry Lynn Johnson’s WIPs. She uses specific setting details to continually drive the story forward. One of the many ways we get to know her MC is through her physical, psychological and emotional responses to her setting.

My mantra when I revise for setting is: “Sparse but specific.”

I just sent my newest WIP to my agent and am starting a new novel. What are you working on this week? And, do you have any favorite writing mantras?

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