An Interview with Author Renee Riva

Renee Riva has been writing humorous stories about animals ever since she was a child. A former greeting card writer as well as a speaker for women's groups, Renee has also written for family magazines. Her books include Izzy the Lizzy, and Guido's Gondola, both picture books. Her first novel, Saving Sailor, released in May 2007. The sequel, Taking Tuscany, releases in May 2009. Renee also offers school visits and presentations.

When did you first consider yourself an author?
I won a creative writing contest in second grade and that pretty much started the whole thing, but it took another thirty years to actually get my first book published. It was when Guido's Gondola arrived on my doorstep and I saw my name on that book. That's when I knew I was a real author.

What inspired you to write Saving Sailor?
I had such great childhood memories from growing up in a big family and spending our summers on an island. One memory in particular often came to mind. I would go out in my little rowboat with my dog and just drift around in the sun, no hurry to go anywhere. I had a photo of the two of us in the rowboat--I was rowing and my dog was wearing a life jacket. That photo triggered the story Saving Sailor.

What made you decide to move from children's picture books to YA Fiction?
After writing Izzy the Lizzy and Guido's Gondola, I wanted to read a good humorous, but clean novel. I couldn't find one--so I wrote my own.

Is it true that Taking Tuscany is the second book in a trilogy? When will the next book come out?
Yep. After A.J.'s family moves to Italy, A.J. has a hard time adjusting and fitting in to a new culture--especially at age 14. Things get pretty crazy in Tuscany for her! It's a very fun adventure, which is coming out May 1 2009. But all of my readers were dying to know what happens between A.J. and her childhood friend, Danny, who she left behind on Indian Island, along with her dog, Sailor. So book three, "Heading Home" will be their island reunion when A.J. is 18, and Danny is 21. It's coming out April 2010.

Can you tell us two of your favorite YA books?
Saving Sailor & Taking Tuscany :O)
Okay, besides those:
The Secret Life of Bees
The Good Nearby
& Flipped
(I know that's 3--but they tied).

What book are you reading now?
The Martyr's Song by Tedd Dekker
It's about a high school girl who learns what it really means to be beautiful.

Do you have any advice for young writers?
If it's in your blood to write, then WRITE! Write for the love of writing, but if you want to get published, join writing contests, go to writing conferences, develop your craft, and don't give up. It's the writers who are still in the game after everyone else gives up who end up being authors. You have to be persistent, write what's in your heart, and have faith that your words will someday be read by someone beside yourself.

I wish you all my best!
Renee

Thanks again to Renee Riva for appearing, courtesy of Provato Marketing, for other stops on the tour please check Provato Events.

An Interview with Author Stacy Nyikos

A graduate of the University of Virginia, author, Stacy A. Nyikos, Ph.D., is an award-winning writer and musician. Her books include the aquatic picture book series Squirt, Shelby, and Dizzy. Stacy's first novel, Dragon Wishes, came out in 2008. Stacy also offers presentations and workshops to students in grades K-8. She has presented at more than 50 schools. In addition, she has presented events at the World Aquarium in St. Louis, the Shedd, the Houston Zoo, the Tulsa Zoo, and the Oklahoma Aquarium.

When and why did you begin writing?
I started writing when I went to college, which seems like a lifetime ago, but I didn't start writing for children until about six years ago, after I finished my Ph.D. and finally had the chance to write what I wanted to. I went right back to fiction, albeit this time for children.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
That's a good question. I think I've considered myself a writer ever since I started an M.A. I've just written different things. I've also loved turns of phrase, how a single word can change the entire meaning of legions of text. How interpretation can hang on one sentence. Language and the written word have always fascinated me.

What inspired you to move from writing picture books to writing for young adults?
I haven't stopped writing picture books, however, some ideas are just too big for a picture book. Those are the ones that turn into middle grades or YAs. I never know how an idea is going to come out. Some are small, conceptual shorts, and others are long, mini-series masterpieces.

Who or what has influenced your writing?
Maya Angelou has long been a writer I look up to. I admire her work, her abilities, and the life she's led. She's my female role model. I also like the spunk of Mark Twain, and the unbelievable literary abilities of Markus Zusak (Plus, he's really cute).

There are is such a rich mix of culture in Dragon Wishes. How did you decide on the middle school setting as a backdrop for the story?
I can't say that was a very conscious decision. That story came to me in a rush. However, because I wanted the main character to go through a transition, I felt like 11 was a good age. It's that time when we first leave a part of childhood behind and begin to look toward the adults we may become.

Is there a message in Dragon Wishes that you want readers to grasp?
Love is everywhere. We just have to reach out and grab hold. It sounds simple enough, but if you're going through loss, it can be the hardest step ever to take.

Can you tell us two of your favorite books?
The Book Thief
Lord of the Rings

What book are you reading now?
Alice in Wonderland, Louis Carroll
Passing, Nella Larsson
Following the Equator, Mark Twain
Peak, Roland Smith

I like to read more than one book at a time. It's like going to a buffet and sampling everything. It makes my reading experience richer.

What are you currently working on?
I am working on a YA set in 19th century New Zealand. It's called Pelorus Jack and is the story of a fifteen year old boy, George, who lives on a sheep farm that has fallen on hard times. Since George has a clubbed foot, his father doesn't trust him to work the farm, so George takes to the sea to save his family's farm. He meets a dolphin, Pelorus Jack, and together, they save more than just the farm.

Do you have any advice for young writers?
No story is ever finished. I thought, when I started writing novels, I would know when a story was finished because I would sense it. Then I wrote one. I realized somewhere after the zillionth round of revisions my story will never feel "done." I created it. My characters didn't just come to life, they are alive for me. They follow me around. They talk to me whenever they want to. So I don't look for the "feel done" moment anymore. I look for that time when I start changing the story in order to stay in it, not to make it better. That when it's time for me to put the keyboard down and let the story be the story that it is.

Thanks again to Stacy Nyikos for appearing, courtesy of Provato Marketing, for other stops on the tour please check Provato Events.

Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception by Maggie Stiefvater

Deirdre Monaghan thought she was just an ordinary teenager who played the harp. But when a mysterious and handsome stranger with a flute comes into her life, Deirdre learns that she is not so ordinary. In fact, she learns that she is a Cloverhand, one who can see the Fey. But this gift does not come without sacrifices and thus Deirdre's journey of danger, love, and strength begins. In this contemporary fairy tale, Deirdre must learn the truth about herself and find strength to survive.

I absolutely LOVED this novel! Maggie Stiefvater does a fantastic job writing this gripping tale of friendship, romance, music, and magic. Every page was thrilling. I was pulled into the story from the very beginning and I didn't put it down until the last page. It was that good. Stiefvater's detailed character development quickly made the story's personalities familiar. Her story captured my attention and flowed effortlessly off the page. I had so much fun reading this book and I will be counting down the days until the sequel, Ballad, is released!!!

Reviewer Age:17

Reviewer City, State and Country: Phoenix, MD United States

Blitzed by Robert Swindells

Blitzed is another spin by Carnegie Medal-winning author Robert Swindells on his winning formula of mixing historical verity with pure fiction to create an enthralling adventure. The plot follows the mishaps and adventures of George, a young boy in England who is fascinated by World War II and reckons that it would be much more "exciting" than his boring life at home. That is, until he finds himself in 1940s era London standing in the aftermath of a bombing raid by Germany, instead of gaping at replica model planes and guns with his friends at a field trip to Eden Camp. George has been mysteriously transported back to London under the iron fist of World War II, where starvation and death are omnipresent. Over the next few days, George begins to appreciate the peace and calm of his own existence, and gradually adjusts to the frantic existence of his milieu. Eventually, he is able to gain friends with a group of young children who have taken refuge in one of the old manors damaged by the bombing. George spends his days helping "Ma," the caretaker of the children, with her job and surveying the wartime ambiance. The relatively calm atmosphere of the novel changes dramatically with the death of one of George's friends, and most importantly his discovery of a Nazi spy in London! George attempts to convince the others that he has actually found a spy, but decides upon scorn to search for evidence to prove that he is right and everyone else wrong. His decisions will make or break the entire German effort to capture England.

Blitzed proves overall a pleasing, gratifying read for one who is seeking to fritter away the hours, but does not represent an exceptional or distinguished piece of literature. The storyline begins in a gripping manner, but gradually decays into a laborious assignment sure to hold only the interest of the desperate. Fortunately, the plot experiences a renascent induction of inspiration about halfway into the novel, resuscitating lagging interests through new pools of stratagem and conspiracy. Similarly, while purists might find objection to the simple, straightforward diction of the novel, most readers will find it to complement the plot and enhance the appeal of the characters. Blitzed was an enjoyable novel, but much too short. The lack of length is most apparent when looking at the development of the plot and characters. A few additional pages would allow the plot to recognize a pace and flesh out more detail. Character development and the storyline felt somewhat rushed, preventing the author from fully accessing the achievement the novel could have been. In terms of quality, Blitzed resides at the middle of the spectrum. However, although not particularly well developed or exercised, Blitzed still encloses enough streams of plot acceleration to satisfy less demanding readers with a desire for a short, engaging adventure and mystery novel.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Shrewsbury, MA USA

Return To Sender by Julia Alvarez

In Return to Sender by Julie Alvarez, the main character,
Tyler, finds out his father has hired illegal immigrants to
work on their failing farm. Tyler's father had been in a
tractor accident resulting in his inability to work or run
the farm. Tyler is infuriated to find that his dad is
breaking the law. Many times, Tyler considers telling the
authorities or his teachers about the Mexicans working on
the farm. After a few weeks, he meets the three daughters of
one of the workers, develops a close relationship with Mari,
the oldest of the three. Eventually Homeland Security
Officers pay a visit to the farm and deport the entire
family. Tyler realizes how complicated immigration issues
are because Mari's mother is in trouble and they can not
tell the police for fear of being deported. There is a
surprise ending, so read Return to Sender if you want to
find out what happens after these Mexican farm workers are
caught.

This book was gripping. The story of the three daughters
captivates you, and holds your attention. I've never read
any other books like this one; it is really original and
worth the time and effort that it takes to read it. It took
a while to get into, but after page 20, it is hard to put
down. Overall, this is a well written and interesting book.
I would recommend it for ages 10 and up.

Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Hingham, MA USA

Tobbi's Amazing Adventures in Cloudland

"Tobbi's Amazing Adventures in Cloudland" by Ilya Simakovsky borders on adventure and fantasy. The story follows the struggle of an eleven year old boy in a wheelchair. His various reveries and dreams are plastered across the pages. In the boy's mind, clouds become real and he is able to fly. Most of his friends are either animals or personified inanimate objects. In the real world of middle school, Tobbi is not the most popular boy. He has a few friends, but most students just pity him because he is disabled. To make matters worse, Tobbi has to face the school bully every day. Regardless, the bulk of the plot does not take place in the real world; it takes place in Tobbi's cloudland. To others, Tobbi's land of adventure is just a silly dream or medical hallucination, but--to him--it is as real as raindrops on a freshly flowered geranium.

This book is an easy read for children. Boys will most likely prefer this book more than girls because of the issues raised. Tobbi is faced with the sudden change of mind about girls (they had cooties then, but now they are cute). Additionally, most of Tobbi's adventures are a bit masculine. They involve driving on the open road, skyrocketing into space, racing against time, and facing grotesquely monstrous enemies. That is not to say that only boys should read this book; they just might enjoy it more than girls would. The underlying tone of the book suggests that, as Tobbi is fighting evil in his make believe land, he is fighting his disease in real life. Only at the end of the book does he come to terms with what his cloudland truly is. Even then, he is not willing to close the book on that intermittent part of his life.

Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Staten Island, NY USA

The ABC's of Kissing Boys by Tina Ferraro

Despite the title, this book is not just about kissing
boys. The real drama lies in the girl taking kissing
lessons from her next door neighbor and falling for him.
She is doing this because it all falls into her ludicrous
master plan of being placed on the varsity soccer team. The
protagonist is a junior in high school and has played
soccer all of her life. In her freshman and sophomore
years, she placed on the junior varsity level and assumed
shed be moved up the next year. She is in a great state of
consternation whence she realizes she is still on the
junior varsity level due to a lack of room for her on the
higher level. To make matters worse, the girls arch
nemesis made the real varsity level and reminds the girl of
this every day. This madness ensues when the girl is
tormented every day in the hallways. The main character
wants to change this by getting the hottest boy in town to
come to a school event and approach the varsity girls
soccer kissing booth. There, he will demand that he kiss
the main character for three hundred dollars. According to
the girl, this will work perfectly and make the coach put
her on the team to gain money for the team.

The ABC'S of
Kissing Boys" by Tina Ferraro is definitely a teenage
drama. If it were ever made into a movie, it would fit into
the pigeonholed category of chick-flick. Nevertheless, the
plot is very engaging and suspenseful--definitely a page-
turner. The main events in the book lie in the girl trying
to learn how to kiss. After all, she wants her three
hundred dollar kiss to look real in front of her coach, or
else she will know that it was all a hoax. There are
facetious scenes intertwined into the book (e.g.- the girl
buying economy sized boxes of cherries and starbursts
candies in a vain attempt to become a kissing pro). Anyway,
the girl seeks the help of her hunky next door neighbor.
Little does she know that she will eventually end up
falling for him. She also does not know that she will
eventually make the varsity level for a whole different
reason that has nothing to do with kissing boys. The big
finale lies in the last twenty pages or so, but it is worth
the wait. Ferraro has an ease about her words that is
evident in the book. Sentences flow effortlessly and make
the pages flutter by.

Reviewer Age:17

Reviewer
City, State and Country: Staten Island, NY USA

Wicked Dead by Stefan Petrucha

Tonight's tale . . .

Rabbit food. Windowpanes. Pennies. Chelsea Kaer counts and frets over everythingher OCD won't let her stop. But when her biology teacher, Ms. Mandisa, asks her to pet-sit, Chelsea can't think of a reason to say no. After all, it's extra pocket moneynothing to worry about, right?

Wrong. Ms. Mandisa's "pet" is a six-foot lizard with a poisonous bite and a taste for red meat. And if Chelsea doesn't think fast, she'll be dead meat. . . .

Student reviewer: RJam

Marvel The Marvelous by Laura Chester

Marvel The Marvelous by Laura Chester is a remarkable fairy tale. The bulk of the story involves adventure in a magically perfect land, but there is also suspense and mystery. The main pony in the story cares for a young girl that the King and Queen find frozen in the snow. Shortly after her convalescence, the two becomes best friends. With a clear head and warmed torso, the girl wants to find her family. The horse Marvel helps her, along with other talking animals. The journey to find the girl's family takes up the bulk of the plot. The adventures along the way make this a page-turner and not at all boring or redundant. New characters with differing persona are introduced, as well. Talking flowers, royalty, love, and gloom fill the pages, reminiscent of "Alice in Wonderland." The climax of the book comes when the girl must part with her beloved pony and the newly changed pony must return to her home. How has she changed? Read to find out!

This book is a cherished piece of work that is sure to please kids of all ages. The excellent illustrations bring the story to life and even inspire readers to try their own hand at sketching. Also, the large print makes this book easy to read and not too time consuming. For children, it is more like a delightful fairytale that they can understand. For adult, it is a novella that reminds them of the time when they got lost in magical stories. Many little lessons are imprinted into this book (e.g., how to cope with death, how to say goodbye to friends, why drinking and driving is bad, how it is good to stay clean, why tolerance is a blessing, etc.). Even self esteem lessons are included as the youngest pony is seen as lesser than her two gorgeous sisters in the beginning. Towards the end, the young pony learns that she is perfect just how she is. While females might enjoy this pony tale more than males, the book is still a shining star that all should collect on their bookshelves.

Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Staten Island, NY USA

Magic in the Mirrorstone

This book consists of fifteen short fantasy stories. Each of them are different in their own way, creating fifteen little worlds to explore. The authors that created these fantasies are acclaimed fantasy authors as well as bestselling authors. There are many different tones in this book, that will keep you entertained for a time. They all contain varied ways of captivating you, so be ready.

I thought that the group of authors selected did a very good job on using their talents to create a different adventure to a new world. All of them interested me and brought a new tone and a new way of creating a fantasy story. I was very happy with the description in all of the stories and most of them held fast paces, that kept me reading. This is a great way of seeing what each author has to offer and taking notice to their writing styles.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, PA United States