My Year of Young Adult Literature

The school supply aisles are mobbed and Labor Day is almost here. I'm not returning to school this fall, but I love pretending I'm starting a new year. It's always refreshing to take these last few days of August to dream about having a new life. 

This summer, I read a lot of young adult literature. Between 2002 and 2004, I studied writing for children and young adults at Vermont College; and focused on writing a young adult novel for my master's degree. It's where SHATTERED came to life. While there, I read a lot of children's and young adult books and have continued to do so. Every so often, though, I go through periods where I only read books from the adult shelves.

But this summer, I got really curious about the beginning of literature for young adults. The only way to define this genre is to say that the books are much less baby-ish, with more sophisticated themes, but not as adult as well, adult books. 

I've been feeling this yearning to know more about the genre....how did it start? Looking back from now, 2012, what novels  are considered "classic?" Which one's should I re-read to grow my skills? Who's doing something new? Who's doing something to fall in love with? What work will change me by the last page?

So while all the children and young adults head back to school, I'm launching my new "school year" too. I'm calling it "my year of young adult literature." Join me for learning, new insights, a new world. Isn't that what school is all about anyway? And yes, new friends. I almost forgot the most important thing about school! 

Hats off and a Standing O to Author Chad Harbach

It's been a long time since I've read a book like "The Art of Fielding," by Chad Harbach. He's doing so many things right in this novel, and so many right things all at once, I'm in awe. In fact, I can't keep quiet about it! 


It's sort of a baseball story, but even if I wasn't such a crazy fan of the game, I would love this book. Because the sentences are glorious, making it such a smooth read. But also, it's like being back in MFA school...it's got so many incredible examples of how to show emotion; how to develop character; how to do make a plot; how to create tension; and the setting, the setting is so incredibly alive, I feel like I live in this college town with all of the characters. 


What's striking is how thoughtful Harbach is about each character. That's just so really hard to do! Right now, I'm on page 428 and I don't want it to end. I want to keep going on and on in this lovely existence of beautiful writing. 


Thank you, Chad Harbach for the inspiration, for this beautiful work of art, and especially for giving me that sense of being lost in summer, reading, that pleasure I used to get when I was a kid. 

I'll be signing copies of SHATTERED! 

Printers Row Lit Fest 

Chicago 

Sunday, June 10th, 2012 

noon-2 PM

Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Tent S 

(Dearborn, just north of Polk Street)

Also featuring Local Authors:

Barbara Binns

Lori Degman

Eileen Favorite

Patricia Murphy

Terri Murphy

Laura Ripes

Sara Shacter

Karen Schreck

Kristina Springer

Stop by!

Kids' Writing "Camp-us"

I received a nice mention in a Chicago Tribune article today on a writing workshop I did last summer at Kids' College at Elgin Community College.

Check it out!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FENWAY PARK!

On April 20, 2012, Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, turns 100 years old.

In my dreams, one of the skyboxes at the park is my studio apartment. I live there year round, writing, reading, doing my life. My husband lives with me and our 2 cats. Our son comes to visit often. In the summers, my backyard is a ball field, filled up with baseball. The players, the plays, the smell of hot dogs and the sound of peanut shells cracking open and bats cracking homers. The "bang" of the ball against the tinny wall that is the Green Monster. The silence of the wind carrying a homer over the wall, landing in Yawkey Way.

In my memories, I remember walking with my husband and son and all kinds of people dressed in Red Sox ball caps from the hotel to the ballpark. That feeling of being with "my people." The excitement building with each step. Seeing the signs: "Yawkey Way," getting closer and then, "Fenway Park: home of the Boston Red Sox." Walking Yalkey Way, under the banners for all the years they've won championships. The rush of being close, handing over my ticket, going through the gate, getting hit with a blast of hot dogs and burgers and pizza smells. That special gift of a ticket to my friend's skybox, along the 3rd base line. Walking in, through, and out to the seats to so much green.

Sitting with my family. Comfy. Happy. Well. Watching Jon Lester pitch and Jonathan Papelbon close. Thinking, really, does it get any better than this?

Where I'm At

NOW, ONLINE:

Check out the lovely review of SHATTERED by Alexa on February 1, 2012.

Also, read my interview by young adult author, Cheryl Rainfield, posted February 7, 2012. While you're there, check out her books: SCARS and HUNTED.


IN THE FUTURE, IN PERSON:

March 6, 2012 ~~ Dominican University ~~ with Oak Park River Forest High School, Fenwick High School and Trinity High School Students ~~ I'll be facilitating conversations with the students at their Youth Conference during break-out sessions.

March 14, 2012 ~~ Oak Park River Forest High School Psychology Club ~~ Presentation on my young adult novel, SHATTERED, focusing on some of the psychological issues in the book: trauma and transformation, support, and empowerment; and on the inspiration for this story and how I went about writing a psychological story. I will be signing afterward.

March 16, 2012 ~~ Illinois Reading Council ~~ Illinois Author/Illustrator Luncheon/Signing. Here's a list of Authors/Illustrators who will be participating:

Krista August
George Bailey
Blue Balliett
Kathi Baron
Raymond Bial
Barbara Binns
Debbi Chocolate
Laura Crawford
Carolyn Crimi
Kat Falls
Beth Finke
Scott Gustafson
Kimberly M. Hutmacher
Sara Latta
Laurie Lawlor
Steven L. Layne
Marianne Malone
Alice B. McGinty
Gary Moore
W. Nikola-Lisa
Janet Nolan
Nnedi Okorafor
Barb Rosenstock
Barbara Santucci
Karen Halvorsen Schreck
Suzanne Slade
Kristina Springer
Nancy Stewart
Sally M. Walker
Jeff Weigel

Stop by and say Hi!

New Year Old Attitude

It's a new year--2012. Time for a fresh start. I'm seeing things in a new way. I've set a goal to write a new novel and have been making notes and lists of books to read to support this endeavor. But I also want to bring something along from the past years into this one. I want to continue to cultivate a daily "attitude of gratitude." Being grateful focuses my mind to see the small things that bring light to the day.

Last summer, a lightning storm struck a tree in front of a house on Des Plaines River Road, the road I use to get to my occupational therapy job. I didn't notice it on the way to work. But on the way home, a man was out there with a chainsaw, buzzing away. He wasn't taking down the trunk. No he was actually carving. Interesting. I made a note to check the spot on my return to work the next day. To my surprise, instead of just a pitiful stump, there is now a magnificent bear carved from the trunk of a 100-year-old elm tree. My bear, which is what I've come to think of him as, is 14 feet tall and he's standing in a way so that he's angling, looking back at his family's house. But what I see when I drive by is his smile. And he makes my day.

It's not just the beauty of his smile. But the idea that art is smiling at me.

Making art is not only a gift an artist offers to all of us, but it is a gift to the one who makes it. Doing art is a beautiful experience. Being playful, creative, getting new insights and seeing the human spirit in a new way--is quite a wonderful way to live.

I'm grateful for those chances when I get to do my writing. When I get to be artful.

Seeing the small details in this world, in my life--they all make my life rich. My bear makes my life rich.

Thank you.

P.S.--If you want to see my bear, go to:
www.triblocal.com/des-plaines/2011/08/23/when-storms-give-you-stumps-make-art/