Bibliophile's Corner

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender
by Leslye Walton

Amazon Description:
Magical realism, lyrical prose, and the pain and passion of human love haunt this hypnotic generational saga.

Foolish love appears to be the Roux family birthright, an ominous forecast for its most recent progeny, Ava Lavender. Ava—in all other ways a normal girl—is born with the wings of a bird.

In a quest to understand her peculiar disposition and a growing desire to fit in with her peers, sixteen-year old Ava ventures into the wider world, ill-prepared for what she might discover and naïve to the twisted motives of others. Others like the pious Nathaniel Sorrows, who mistakes Ava for an angel and whose obsession with her grows until the night of the Summer Solstice celebration.

That night, the skies open up, rain and feathers fill the air, and Ava’s quest and her family’s saga build to a devastating crescendo.

My Thoughts:
This extraordinary YA novel by debut author Leslye Walton was recently honored as a William C. Morris finalist. It's been a while since I've read a book from cover to cover not wanting to put it down, but The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender was one of those novels! Its imaginative, poignant plot was only surpassed by the author's lyrical, whimsical writing. I highly recommend The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender to readers aged twelve and up.

Click here to learn more about the author, Leslye Walton.

Storyteller's Journey

How Do You Write the Word LOVE?

Since tomorrow is Valentine's Day, my mind has wandered to synonyms for the word Love. When I opened my thesaurus, I was surprised to see a shorter list than I would have expected for such an important word.

As I perused down the page I realized that English can be a somewhat limited language for a writer when it comes to available choices for certain nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc.

Here's the list of other words a writer can use for the word Love: 

Nouns: accord, affection, beloved, benevolence, endearment, friendship, liking, regards, sexuality, virtue.
Verbs: be fond of, desire, enjoy, have deep feelings, savor.

I have a difficult time believing that the English language is limited to the above choices for the word Love - and they're not even synonyms! However, according to my Roget's International Thesaurus, that's it.

This is a great lesson as to why we're admonished to show, not tell: We have so few choices anyway! But seriously, the feelings we each have when we give, or receive love, are as individual as the candies in a box of chocolates. (Excuse the cliché.) Penning the sensory feelings that change in a person's being when she experiences love will always be the writer's best method to infuse emotion into her manuscripts.

And lastly, just in case you're wondering how to write the word Love
in another language, click here for one hundred translations.

               Happy writing, and Happy Valentine's Day!

Whimsical Word of the Week

Cordiform -

(adj.) heart-shaped.

Example: The young mother baked cordiform cookies for her children on Valentine's Day.

Bibliophile's Corner

Rain Reign
by Ann M. Martin

Amazon Description:
Rose Howard has Asperger’s syndrome, and an obsession with homonyms (even her name is a homonym). She gave her dog Rain a name with two homonyms (Reign, Rein), which, according to Rose’s rules of homonyms, is very special. Rain was a lost dog Rose’s father brought home. Rose and Rain are practically inseparable. And they are often home alone, as Rose’s father spends most evenings at a bar, and doesn’t have much patience for his special-needs daughter.

Just as a storm hits town, Rain goes missing. Rose’s father shouldn’t have let Rain out. Now Rose has to find her dog, even if it means leaving her routines and safe places to search. Rose will find Rain, but so will Rain’s original owners.

My Thoughts:
This wonderful novel by Ann M. Martin recently won the Schneider Family Book Award - a high honor. The protagonist Rose, is a young girl with high functioning Asperger's syndrome, and boy did the author nail the voice. At times this well-written novel was difficult for me to read - I could feel the protagonist's pain so deeply. I highly recommend Rain Reign to readers from the ages of eight to twelve, and also to anyone who has a family member or friend who deals with Asperger's.

Click here to learn more about the author, Ann M. Martin.

Storyteller's Journey

   Four Years!

It's hard to believe that this weekend marks my blog's fourth anniversary. As anyone who's blogged for a lengthy amount of time knows, it takes a lot to just keep going.

My motivation to blog has changed through the years, but one thing still holds true: I blog just as much for myself, as for others.
Writ of Whimsy really has been a record of my storyteller's journey.

On my first couple of blog anniversaries I gave out small gifts to a few blogging buddies. Last year I decided to discontinue that practice (even though I appreciate my fellow bloggers) and make a donation instead. This year in honor of my milestone I again decided to make a contribution to a charitable organization. This year's worthy recipient is: Ventana Sierra. This amazing nonprofit service aims to help young people in need and was founded by the NY Times bestselling author, Ellen Hopkins. Click here if you'd like to join me in making a donation.

Thanks so much to all the wonderful bloggers I've met over the years! Your friendship, support, and wisdom have kept me going on my storyteller's journey, and also helped me become a published author.

Whimsical Word of the Week

Sweven - (n.)

a dream or vision experienced in sleep.

Example: The young maiden awoke in a sweat after experiencing a most frightening sweven.

Bibliophile's Corner

The Way to Stay in Destiny
by Augusta Scattergood

Flap Copy Description:
When Theo gets off a bus in Destiny, Florida, he's left behind the only life he's ever known. Now he's got to live with Uncle Raymond, a Vietnam War vet and a loner who wants nothing to do with this long-lost nephew. Thank goodness for Miss Sister Grandersole's Rooming House and Dance Academy. The piano that sits in Miss Sister's dance hall calls to Theo. He can't wait to play those ivory keys. When Anabel arrives, things get even more enticing. This feisty girl, a baseball fanatic, invites Theo on her quest to uncover the town's connection to old-time ballplayers rumored to have lived there years before. A mystery, an adventure, and a musical exploration unfold as this town called Destiny lives up to its name.

My Thoughts:
Augusta Scattergood's recently released middle grade novel - The Way to Stay in Destiny - is fantastic. The author has a beautiful storytelling style that reminds me of the great Kate DiCamillo. I lost myself in this novel with the heat of Florida, the smell of the Gulf Coast, and the culture of the seventies. What was most amazing was the way Ms. Scattergood hooked me on Theo - her main character - with his pain, his shame, and his tenacious spirit. I highly recommend The Way to Stay in Destiny to readers from the ages of eight to eighty!

Click here to learn more about the author, Augusta Scattergood.