Whimsical Word of the Week

Captious -

apt to raise objections to trivial faults or defects; difficult to please.

Example: The captious in-laws made life quite difficult for their son's new wife.

Bibliophile's Corner

The Firefly Letters
by Margarita Engle

Flap Copy Description:
When Fredrika Bremer asked the Swedish Consulate to find her a quiet home in the Cuban countryside she expected a rustic thatched hut, not this luxurious mansion in Matanzas, where Elena, the daughter of the house, can barely step foot outside.

The freedom to roam is something that women and girls in Cuba do not have. Yet when Fredrika sets off to learn about the people of this magical island, she is accompanied by Cecelia, a young slave who longs for her lost home in Africa. Soon Elena sneaks out of the house to join them. As the three women explore the lush countryside, they form a bond that breaks the barriers of language and culture.

My Thoughts:
This novel in verse, by Cuban-American poet, Margarita Engle, is a Pura Belpre' Honor book. Ms. Engle's exquisite writing style is the perfect vehicle for her lovely story. This beautiful novel is not only written in heartfelt, poignant prose, but was inspired by the author, Fredrika Bremer's life. Ms. Bremer was Sweden's first female novelist, and was one of the earliest advocates for women's rights in the world. I would highly recommend The Firefly Letters to all females from the ages of eight to eighty.

To visit the website of the award-winning author, Margarita Engle, click here: http://margaritaengle.com/

To learn more about the life of Sweden's Fredrika Bremer, click here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fredrika_Bremer

Storyteller's Journey

Photo Courtesy of Public Domain

Damsel in Distress?

Clearly, this damsel is in danger and distress - but I'm not so sure about my female protagonist. After completing the second rewrite of my work in progress last fall, I became painfully aware that I had not challenged my main character enough. Consequently, I am busy completing another rewrite with a much more potent antagonist. 

As writers, we are all aware of the importance of obstacles in the path of our heroine/hero, but without a fearsome face for the reader to focus on as the "villain" our extraordinary efforts could fall flat.

This quote perfectly states what I so recently realized:

"If your antagonist isn't important, then your protagonist isn't important."
S. Alex Martin

Do you have any thoughts on the importance of your antagonist?

Whimsical Word of the Week

Bellicose -

warlike: ready or inclined to quarrel, fight, or go to war.

Example: The bellicose statements from both nations ultimately led to a battle.

Bibliophile's Corner

Splendors and Glooms
by Laura Amy Schlitz

Flap Copy Description:
The master puppeteer Gaspare Grisini is so expert at manipulating his stringed puppets that they appear alive. Clara Wintermute, the only child of a wealthy doctor, is spellbound by Grisini's act and invites him to entertain at her home. Seeing his chance to make a fortune. Grisini accepts and makes a splendidly gaudy entrance with his caravan, puppets, and two orphaned assistants.

Lizzie Rose and Parsefall are dazzled by the Wintermute home. Clara seems to have everything they lack: adoring parents, warmth, and plenty to eat. In fact, Clara's life is shadowed by grief, guilt, and secrets. When she vanishes that night, suspicion of kidnapping falls on the puppeteer.

As they seek to puzzle out Clara's whereabouts, Lizzie and Parse uncover Grisini's criminal past and wake up to his evil intentions. Fleeing London, they find themselves caught in a trap set by Grisini's ancient rival, a witch with a deadly inheritance to shed before it's too late.

My Thoughts:
If you enjoyed the classics Oliver Twist or David Copperfield by Charles Dickens, then you or your child will thrill to Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz. The author's character development, setting descriptions, and plot development are wonderful. She spins a tale of magic, mystery, and intrigue all set in eighteenth century England. I would highly recommend this 384 page novel to readers from the ages of eight to eighty!

To learn more about the author - Laura Amy Schlitz - click here: http://www.candlewick.com/authill.asp?b=Author&m=bio&id=3133

Sentimental Serendipity

Public Domain

Giveaway Winner!

On Monday of this week I interviewed author, Bobbie Pyron, and featured a giveaway of her book - The Dogs of Winter. The winner (drawn randomly) is...drum roll please...
S.P. Bowers!


Here is the actual copy of the book I'll be sending Sara sometime next week. Congratulations, Sara!

 

 

The same day I featured the book giveaway, I just happened to win a gift of my own from Loree Huebner. What a fun day Monday turned out to be. Thanks ever so much for the Starbucks card, Loree!

 

On an inspirational note, I visited the blog of Theresa Milstein yesterday and discovered she had featured the Writer's Creed.

 

 

After reading this wonderful creed, I just had to add my name to the growing list of writers who have joined. If you are interested in learning more about it, or signing the creed, click Writer's Creed 2013.

 

So far 2013 has been a great year in blogosphere - lots of informative and inspirational posts!

  

Storyteller's Journey

Novels in Verse
2013 Reading Challenge

Every so often in life two things come together in a wonderful way. You know what I mean: like coffee and biscotti, or skiing and powdered snow, or maybe even a writer and an agent! Well, although the latter has not yet happened for me, something else has...

My journey as a writer began many years ago writing poems. Having had a few poems published (none recently) I have always really thought of myself as a poet. The more recent leg of my writing journey has caused me to feel like a poet striving to be a novelist. Earlier this week I visited the blog of a good online friend, Ruth Schiffmann. She had posted about the Novels in Verse 2013 Reading Challenge. Prose, Poetry, Verse in a Novel! The perfect partnership! I was so excited I signed up within minutes. How I had previously missed this opportunity, I do not know!

I am making a list of titles to zero in on for the challenge, so you can be sure that many of my book reviews will be novels in verse this year!

Here is my favorite novel written in verse that I read last year - it's also a Newbery Honor book!

To view the book review I posted for Thanhha Lai's, Inside Out & Back Again - click here.

If you are interested in learning more about the Novels in Verse 2013 Reading Challenge, click Amanda's blog - Born Bookish.

Do you enjoy reading a novel in verse? If so, what is your favorite?