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Author Guest Post: “Asking the Important Questions about Action Scenes” by Matt Wallace, Author of Bump

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“Asking the Important Questions About Action Scenes”

I love a good scrap in my stories, and I always have. Battles, boss fights, chases, sports, middle grade novels are as filled with thrilling scenes of action as any other genre of fiction, and mine are no exception. These scenes are fun to write and can be a lot of fun to read, but that’s far from all they are, or all they should be. There is a lot written and said about how to compose a clear and well-paced action scene, but too often the “why” of those scenes is neglected.

There can be a tendency, I think, to assume there isn’t much narrative substance to be found in explosions, and that scenes of action are separate from the “serious” aspects of the story. While we may acknowledge the high, even mortal stakes of some of those climactic battles or other struggles, many of us still fail to appreciate them as and directly connect them to the deeper issues of fiction. While that type of action certainly isn’t necessary in order to tell a compelling and emotional story that conveys important lessons and truths, it also doesn’t detract from any of those things. To the contrary, the action in a novel can and should be as much a part of story and character arcs as any other scene, and can be a vibrant way to discuss those topics with young readers.

I grew up in the professional wrestling business. Many of the most important and formative lessons I learned about life, storytelling, and myself happened inside a wrestling ring, without words. Those experiences deeply inform the stories I write. Fight scenes in fiction are about more than flash and fury, they are about motivations. They have the ability to strip characters down to their purest sense of self and most unfiltered emotions. They are about the dynamic between the characters participating in the conflict. These are all things that can and should be examined when discussing action in stories. Action can be an easily accessible and entertaining window into the deeper human issues of any novel, and into the story being told.

There is perhaps no greater example of this than a professional wrestling match. While on the surface it can seem like no more than choreographed violence for its own sake, professional wrestling is, at its core and its best, a storytelling medium. The motivations of the wrestlers and the personal conflict and story unfolding between them often do more than simply enhance the stakes of the action and the outcome of their contest. When planned and executed well, that story is far more compelling and important than the outcome of the match itself. Wrestling fans don’t root for winners, they root for characters whose personalities and personal journeys connect with them.

This was at the forefront for me when I wrote Bump, some of the most important character and story scenes of which play out through professional wrestling matches. I wanted to write thrilling, fast-paced, and entertaining scenes of action that also provided a vehicle for my characters to grow as people and advance the story I was telling. The main character, MJ, is forced to confront all of her worst fears and insecurities about herself every time she steps through the ropes of a wrestling ring and in front of a frantic crowd of spectators. The journey she undertakes as she wrestles in her first matches is as important to her overall arc as all the events that take place outside the ring. That physical action provides MJ with opportunities for creative problem solving and personal reflection, and gives her a mirror for the problems she’s experiencing in her life, dealing with grief and isolation. Wrestling is the catalyst for her to overcome so much in such a unique and exciting way.

Action is like any other narrative device, it can be used to express anything and everything the author wants to express. Particularly for new and young readers, action can be a great hook, and an even better opportunity to discuss character motivation, the roots of conflict, both physical and emotional, and ultimately, conflict resolution. The important thing is to ask these questions about the action scenes we read, rather than dismissing or decrying them as nothing more than popcorn entertainment.

Published January 26th, 2021 by Katherine Tegen Books

About the Book: A moving and triumphant middle grade contemporary debut from award-winning author Matt Wallace about a heroic young girl—who dreams of becoming a pro wrestler—learning to find courage and fight for what she loves.

MJ knows what it means to hurt. Bruises from gymnastics heal, but big hurts—like her dad not being around anymore—don’t go away. Now her mom needs to work two jobs, and MJ doesn’t have friends at school to lean on.

There is only one thing MJ loves: the world of professional wrestling. She especially idolizes the luchadores and the stories they tell in the ring. When a chance encounter with her neighbor Mr. Arellano reveals that he runs a wrestling school, MJ has a new mission in life: join the school, train hard, become a wrestler. Once MJ starts training at Victory Academy, she feels like the hurts in her life are beginning to heal.

But trouble lies ahead. After wrestling in a showcase event, MJ attracts the attention of Mr. Arellano’s enemy at the State Athletic Commission. There are threats to shut the school down, putting MJ’s new home—and the community that welcomed her—at risk. What can MJ do to save her new family?

Praise for Bump: 

“Matt Wallace makes every pro-wrestling fan’s dream come true in Bump. Not only does he know his way around a wrestling ring—he’ll have you booing at the heels and cheering for the faces, just like you would ringside—but he knows how to tell a story. Middle-school gymnast turned wrestler MJ isn’t just trying to find herself, but the courage to be herself, in a world where cliques, cruelty, unfairness, and grief beat you down. But Bump teaches you that, in life and Lucha, there’s always a surprise move that can save you from defeat and pin your opponent—and your fears—down.”    (Carlos Hernandez, Pura Belpré Award-winning author of the Sal and Gabi series)

“This book did a pile drive on my heart. I was so quickly captivated by MJ as she navigated grief and excitement, fear and joy.” (Mark Oshiro, author of Anger Is a Gift and Each of Us a Desert)

“My favorite books have two things: A world I’ve never seen before and a great character to experience it with. Bump delivers both in a heartfelt, powerful way. I loved stepping into the world of small-time professional wrestling with M.J. I winced every time she took a hit inside the ring and out, and I cheered every time she got up. What a great middle-grade debut. I truly cannot wait to see what Matt Wallace does next.”  (Greg van Eekhout, author of Voyage of the Dogs and Cog)

“I love kids with big dreams, and MJ is a heroine to root for. Bump introduces readers to the world of professional wrestling while also telling a story about grief, friends that become family, and finding your voice. An entertaining and heartwarming read!” (Janae Marks, author of From the Desk of Zoe Washington)

About the Author: Matt Wallaceis the Hugo–winning author of Rencor: Life in Grudge City, the Sin du Jour series, and Savage Legion. He’s also penned over one hundred short stories in addition to writing for film and television. In his youth he traveled the world as a professional wrestler, unarmed combat, and self-defense instructor before retiring to write full-time. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Nikki. You can visit him at www.matt–wallace.com.

Thank you, Matt, for this post about the importance of action sequences even in heartfelt books!

Author Guest Post by Vivian McInerny, Author of The Whole Hole Story

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Typically, I think of reading as a way to settle and quiet my mind. I hope The Whole Hole Story has the opposite effect on readers. I wrote the story with the opposite intention. I hope the story and illustrations  spark and excite young minds to consider the infinite possibilities of their own imaginations.

In The Whole Hole Story, young Zia discovers a hole in her pocket. She imagines all the things a hole might be, from a swimming hole to an elephant trap, and even a tunnel to the other side of the world. It’s a simple concept that allows room for imagination. 

The idea is similar to the kind of “constraint” prompts often used in writing workshops such as, write about two strangers on a bus or write about this particular object for ten minutes —go! The paradox is that rigid constraints incite rather than stifle imagination.

I took several Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCS) through the University of Iowa taught by leaders of their famous Iowa Writers Workshop. (Highly, highly recommend —and they are free.) One class suggested writing a short story in which every sentence contained a number. Some participants created clever lists. Others wrote stories in which the numbers were more or less buried, and might even go unnoticed by an unsuspecting reader.

I’m one of those annoying workshop participants who initially dismissed such “tricks,” convinced they wouldn’t work on me. It was a delight to discover constraints useful for jumpstarting ideas. It occurred to me later that as a staff journalist for a daily newspaper, I routinely wrote with rigid constraints. Facts were a kind of constraint. (Despite opinion of the media to the contrary, most journalists really do rely on facts!) Looming deadlines were a form of time constraint. 

I think young children often feel discouraged by a world of which they have little control. I hope Zia prompts them to consider imaginative thinking as an ultimate form of autonomy.

Classroom discussion suggestions from author Vivian McInerny and illustrator Ken Lamug.

  •  Imagine the possibilities of an ordinary object such as a crochet hook or colander. Like Zia, they can imagine the object bigger, smaller, rigid, flexible, bent, filled, turned this way or that, multiplied, etc. (As a past volunteer coach with The Odyssey of the Mind program, I found this prompt useful.) 
  •  Consider how the imaginative illustrations of Ken Lamug further the story. When the elephant is trapped in the hole, Lamug imagines Zia with a rope to help him out. When Zia digs the hole deeper, Lamug imagines buried treasure, dinosaur bones, and a busy mole. And when the hole falls on top of Zia for two whole pages, Lamug adds the element of time with day turning to night. None of those things are mentioned in the text but come from the unleashed imagination of the artist.

From illustrator Ken Lamug

  •  Draw what you think could come out of the hole.
  • Talk about India and what kind of outfits the elephant might wear. Significance of those outfits. clothes.
  • Consider the different kinds of animals that go to the watering hole. Significance of water as a finite resource. How would you preserve water?
  • Playful things you can make with mud? 
  • What are cool things to collect that fit in your pocket?

Published January 12, 2021 by Versify

About the Book: In Vivian McInerny’s playful debut, readers will fall in love with wonder again as Zia imagines what might happen if the hole in her pocket became big enough to fall right through. The Whole Hole Story is perfect for readers looking for a fresh take on the classic Harold and the Purple Crayon.

Zia is used to the hole in her pocket—she frequently fills it with frogs and other objects. And as it gets bigger and bigger, she starts to wonder what might happen . . . if she fell right through. Would she cover it with a blanket to catch an elephant, or dig a tunnel to the other side of the world? The possibilities are endless, and readers will love following Zia’s adventurous imagination from beginning to end.

With hilarious wordplay paired with Ken Lamug’s bright and colorful illustrations, The Whole Hole Story will appeal to kids’ divine sense of silliness. Perfect for fans of Du Iz Tak?, and They All Saw a Cat.

Video Interview with publisher Kwame Alexander, illustrator Ken Lamug & author Vivian McInerny:

Vivian McInerny is a journalist and fiction writer. Her short stories are published in several literary magazines including 805 Lit+Art, Dunes Review, and Literature for Life. The Whole Hole Story is her first children’s book.  Vivian McInerny Twitter: Facebook  Ello

Illustrator Ken Lamug is an award-winning professional dabbler. He was born in the Philippines and moved to the US with his entire family during his teenage years. Currently, he enjoys his life as an author/illustrator of picture books and graphic novels for middle-graders to middle-agers.

In his past life he was a beekeeper, race car driver, filmmaker and chicken herder. He currently lives in Las Vegas (although he doesn’t gamble) where he spends time with his family and two dogs.

Ken is the Illustrator Coordinator for Nevada Chapter of SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators). He also teaches graphic novels for Storyteller’s Academy and a team member of #KidLitGN Pitch event.

Thank you, Vivian, for sharing about the book!

Author Q&A with Kenneth C. Davis, Author of Strongman: The Rise of Five Dictators and the Fall of Democracy

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Strongman: The Rise of Five Dictators and the Fall of Democracy
Author: Kenneth C. Davis
Published October 6th, 2020 by Henry Holt and Co.

About the Book: From the bestselling author of the Don’t Know Much About books comes a dramatic account of the origins of democracy, the history of authoritarianism, and the reigns of five of history’s deadliest dictators.

What makes a country fall to a dictator? How do authoritarian leaders—strongmen—capable of killing millions acquire their power? How are they able to defeat the ideal of democracy? And what can we do to make sure it doesn’t happen again?

By profiling five of the most notoriously ruthless dictators in history—Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, and Saddam Hussein—Kenneth C. Davis seeks to answer these questions, examining the forces in these strongmen’s personal lives and historical periods that shaped the leaders they’d become. Meticulously researched and complete with photographs, Strongman provides insight into the lives of five leaders who callously transformed the world and serves as an invaluable resource in an era when democracy itself seems in peril.

Q&A

Q1. What led you to choose this topic and this audience (teens) for your new book?

A1.   I have been writing about history for some thirty years and was always fairly optimistic about the future of America. In spite of the flaws I have catalogued in my books, I always believed in the United States as the “last, best hope on earth”—Lincoln’s words—and that its democratic system still moved towards more progress.

But something has changed. And for some time now, I have been concerned that democracy, at home and abroad, was under assault. That is not only sad but dangerous. I felt I had to tell the story of these dictators and how quickly democracy can vanish. It is meant as a warning, a cautionary tale for our time.

On the question of writing for teens, let me first say that I think my books aimed at younger readers are not that different from my earlier work aimed at older adults. In fact, many older readers don’t know these are “Young Adult” books. I try and write for everyone in an accessible style that welcomes the reader, older or younger.

I started writing for younger readers several years ago because I have spoken to so many of them in classrooms over time and came away impressed by their curiosity, engagement, and interest in history. But I wanted to deliver a message to those young people that democracy can’t be taken for granted and that they have a real stake in protecting our rights and freedoms.

Q2.   What is the key takeaway you hope that young people get from reading it?

A2.   There are several key issues at work in this book and, I would say, all of my work. First is that history is not a collection of facts—dates, battles, speeches, laws – but real stories about real people doing real things. When we read about history that way, it becomes far more compelling and connected to our own lives.

Next is that we read and learn from these accounts to understand who we are and how we got here. Part of that idea is the story of how enormous sacrifices have been made in the name of rights and progress—from abolition to suffrage, civil rights, and fair labor laws. That often comes from the bottom up, not the top down, which means people without a vote still had a voice.

It is also a book that asks hard questions about what people are willing to do in following a leader. And that brings me to my earlier point: Democracy is not a spectator sport. We must protect it if we think it is worth keeping.

Q3.   What was the hardest part about writing the book?

A3.   I actually write about that in the closing words of the book. This was, in many ways, an extremely difficult project. I have written about many hard and awful events and periods in the past, including the stories of racial slavery I told in my earlier book, In the Shadow of Liberty.

But describing the levels of cruelty, inhumanity, and indecency are unavoidable in writing the history of the Strongmen –the murderous dictators whose stories I tell. We can’t sugarcoat that history. Or ignore it. That made this project a true test of my fundamental belief in the general goodness of humanity. I had to write about the vast numbers of people who were complicit in the genocidal crimes of a Strongman like Hitler or Stalin.

Q4.   If a teacher asked for recommendations for teaching your book, what would you suggest?

A4.   My writing career has mostly been about asking questions and presenting facts and evidence in real stories. I think that teachers –especially those in Social studies—can follow that general premise with their students. Ask questions and allow students to find answers through accurate, documented evidence.

This approach of getting students to do real research, assess evidence, check sources, and make considered judgments based on facts is the essence of thinking for themselves. It is what today’s education must be about, especially in this era as facts and truth are under such assault.

In a more practical way, this book should fit into a number of curriculum areas – 20th century history; the Holocaust; civics and government; ethics, religion, and basic philosophy; economics; sociology and the behavior of crowds. I have always been a proponent of crossing disciplines.

Q5.   What other resources do you feel would complement STRONGMAN in a curriculum?

A5.   I would start with reputable journalism, including newspapers and websites that accurately document their reporting. We must establish the clear connection between history and the headlines. That will also help develop those “media literacy” skills that all of us –not just students—need to negotiate the world we live in.

Certainly, there are also a great many other books that could be placed beside Strongman –biographies, war narratives, Holocaust and other memoirs from each of these eras. I’ve included many of them in the Bibliography of Strongman.

I think you can include some historical fiction –cautiously reminding students that novels are not always accurate depictions of events. There are also a wealth of documentary films and series, often starting with what is offered from PBS.

Finally, I did not set out to write three books as a “set” – but I think that my earlier books can be read alongside Strongman. I think that In the Shadow of Liberty provides more context for how the history of slavery developed alongside American democracy. More Deadly Than War provides background for the role World War I played in shaping the world that produced the dictators I profiled in Strongman. And that is how we must read history – as a long, complex, series of connected narratives, not a list of events that are unrelated.

About the Author: Kenneth C. Davis is the New York Times–bestselling author of America’s Hidden History and Don’t Know Much About® History, which gave rise to the Don’t Know Much About® series of books for adults and children. He is also the author of the critically acclaimed In the Shadow of Liberty, which was an ALA Notable Book and a finalist for the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction, as well as More Deadly Than War, which was named a Washington Post Best Children’s Book of the Month. A frequent guest on national television and radio and a Ted-Ed Educator, Davis lives in New York City.

Ken also offers free classroom visits to teachers through his website, which might be of interest to include: https://dontknowmuch.com/for-teachers/

Thank you, Kenneth, for sharing the truth of history with our students!

Author Guest Post: “Nine Steps for Writers Dealing with Rejection” by Erica S. Perl, Author of The Ninth Night of Hanukkah

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“Nine Steps for Writers Dealing with Rejection”

By Erica S. Perl

“It’s just not what we’re looking for right now…”

“I really wanted to love it, but…”

“I didn’t connect with it…”

I’m not going to sugar coat it. Rejection stinks. Given the choice, I’d pick a root canal any day.

But, like it or not, rejection is part of every writer’s journey. So, I’ve come up with a process to deal with rejection, and I’m happy to share. If you have the skin of a rhinoceros, maybe you’ll never need it. But if you’re human like the rest of us, it just might come in handy someday.

  1. Get mad and stomp around. Seriously! Let the rejection wash over you and feel the white-hot rage and indignation. It’s not a happy feeling, but it is intense and you owe it to yourself to feel it, if only so that you can use that experience for material.
  2. Write down all the angry things you want to say to the editor who rejected your work (on paper, so you don’t accidentally click “send” or “reply all”). Be creative!
  3. Crumple up that paper (feel free to uncrumple it later and save it, so when someone else buys your book and it wins prizes or sells a zillion copies you can frame it and hang it in your office).
  4. Complain to your most sympathetic friend. This can be a friend who is covered in fur or plush. Or a human being, if you want. Just make sure it is someone who will listen and let you rant as long as you need to.
  5. Go for a long run. Or a long walk. Or just go outside. Listen to something distracting, like loud music or soothing music or a podcast that has nothing to do with your book! Truly get your mind off your troubles and perhaps get your adrenaline pumping.
  6. Take a deep breath. Or several deep breaths. Or several days of deep breaths, away from your piece. It’s tempting to go right back in but time away actually helps.
  7. When you’re ready, read the editor’s comments again.
  8. See if you can find anything useful in them, to make your work better. There’s a really difference between “it’s not for me” and “the pacing felt off and the character’s voice seemed too old….” The latter may or may not ring true for you, but it gives you something to look at and consider, should you wish to revise. Also, if you hear the same kind of feedback from more than one editor, it might suggest an area worth addressing.
  9. Start to revise. There are always ways to improve a piece and this is an opportunity to look at your piece with fresh eyes. So, take the time to see if it needs anything else before you send it out again. Hopefully, doing another round of edits will remind you of everything you love about your piece… everything that, hopefully, the next editor will see.

I wish I could tell you that, after a certain number of successful books, you no longer have to deal with rejection. Unfortunately, that’s not true. Rejection and revision paved the path to all of my successful books, including my newest one: The Ninth Night of Hanukkah.

And actually, I’m grateful. Because sometimes rejection has a silver lining: it pushes you to take your books to new heights, and make them better than you ever thought possible. So, please, hang in there. It will make the editorial acceptance you eventually receive taste all the sweeter, I promise!

Published September 15, 2020 from Sterling Children’s Books

About the Book: A heartwarming picture book with a fresh twist on a Hanukkah celebration: celebrating a ninth night with new neighbors and friends!

It’s Hanukkah, and Max and Rachel are excited to light the menorah in their family’s new apartment. But, unfortunately, their Hanukkah box is missing. So now they have no menorah, candles, dreidels, or, well, anything! Luckily, their neighbors are happy to help, offering thoughtful and often humorous stand-in items each night. And then, just as Hanukkah is about to end, Max and Rachel, inspired by the shamash (“helper”) candle, have a brilliant idea: they’re going to celebrate the Ninth Night of Hanukkah as a way to say thanks to everyone who’s helped them!

This book is not only a heartwarming and fun story, it’s also an invitation to join in a beautiful new Hanukkah tradition!

There is a free event kit that can be accessed via this page on Erica Perl’s website, including all sorts of goodies to have your own Shamash Night this season—pennants, thank you cards, a cultural guide, a special blessing, activities, and more!

Erica S. Perl is the author of more than thirty popular and critically-acclaimed books for young readers. Her middle grade novels include All Three Stooges (National Jewish Book Award, Sydney Taylor Honor Book) and When Life Gives You O.J. (Sydney Taylor Notable Book, ALA Notable Book. Her picture books include Chicken Butt!, Goatilocks and the Three Bears, and Ferocious Fluffity. She also writes the Truth or Lie!, Arnold and Louise, Lucky Dogs, and Craftily Ever After (as “Martha Maker) series. And she keeps an Instagram cartoon journal @espcrawl. Visit her at ericaperl.com and follow her online @ericaperl.

Thank you, Erica, for being so open and honest about rejection!

Author Guest Post: “Character Interview with Jasper Bloom” by Christopher Healy, Author of A Perilous Journey of Danger & Mayhem #3—The Final Gambit

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Character Interview: A Perilous Journey of Danger & Mayhem—The Final Gambit

On the occasion of the publication of The Final Gambit, the third installment of the Perilous Journey of Danger & Mayhem trilogy, author Christopher Healy will be interviewed by one of the characters from that series, humble ashman turned heroic sidekick, Jasper Bloom.

Jasper: Okay, I will not take offense to being called a character, because I most certainly am one—as in, look at that Jasper Bloom, ain’t he charming, he is such a character. Nor do I have any problem with most of the other words in that sentence: Humble? Yes. Heroic? Yes. Ashman? Well, to be truthful, I got fired from my job at the ash dump after I missed several days of work on account of I was helping save a certain pair of children from a certain villain who tried to destroy New York in the first book of a certain series. But anyways, I must note my objection to the term, “sidekick.” Jasper Bloom is not sidekick material. Now, if you wanna call Balthazar Birdhouse a sidekick, well, you’d better think twice about that too, ‘cause the man wouldn’t take kindly to it. One time at the dump, I referred to him as my “handy helper” and the man swore revenge with a scheme that involved a water hose, three grapefruit, and an angry chihuahua. You shoulda seen the way—

Christopher Healy: Um, Jasper? Excuse me, but aren’t you supposed to be asking me questions?

Jasper: I’m getting to it! For someone whose job is making up words, you sure don’t want anybody else getting any in, do you?

Christopher Healy: That’s not what I—

Jasper: So, tell me: Why did you set your story in 1883?

Christopher Healy: It was the Golden Age of Invention. And this is a story that revolves greatly around inventors and their inventions. But 1883 was also a very difficult time in history for women to get recognized for their work, which is why so many of the characters—

Jasper: Thank you! I would have also accepted, “Because that’s when Jasper Bloom was around.” Next question! Tell me some new and exciting bits of business from this third book that we haven’t seen in the first two books. I apologize—that wasn’t really a question. It was more of a command. But I do expect you to follow through on it.

Christopher Healy: Well, there are cowboys. And a museum heist. And a swamp man.

Jasper: Ooh, like one of them monsters that are all green and weedy and shamble around like an angry salad?

Christopher Healy: I think you’re thinking of the trolls from my other books. No, this is just a man who lives in a swamp in Florida.

Jasper: Ooh, I lived in a Florida swamp once too. If by “Florida,” you mean “Central Park.” And by “swamp,” you mean “a big flowerpot.” And by “lived in” you mean “fell asleep in after I got tired of chasing Balthazar Birdhouse all over the city and shouting at him to give me my good spatula back.”

Christopher Healy: I didn’t mean any of that.

Jasper: Fair enough. So, tell me. Is there going to be another Perilous Journey book after The Final Gambit?

Christopher Healy: No. That’s why it’s called The Final Gambit.

Jasper: Hmmph! Tell that to Sherlock Holmes! Man appears in a story called “The Final Problem,” falls off a cliff, and then—abra-kazam!—he’s in like forty more stories after that.

Christopher Healy: Um, that’s true, but—Hey, wait a minute. The character of Sherlock Holmes wasn’t even created until 1887. How do you know about—

Jasper: That’s all the time we have for today, folks! In closing, I would just like to say that this book series, A Perilous Journey of Danger & Mayhem, has a whole lot more than just danger and mayhem. It’s got action and humor and mystery. It’s got flying vehicles, and talking robots, and heroic ashmen (though not in nearly enough scenes, if you ask my humble opinion). It’s got devious, villainous scoundrels that try to pull off some nasty stuff that even Balthazar Birdhouse would think twice before trying. It’s got exotic locations, like Antarctica and Ohio. It’s got historical folks like Thomas Edison and Chester A. Arthur and other people who act in way you might not be expecting them to act if you’ve only ever read about them in history books. And it’s got a couple of spunky kid heroes that even a man of my expertise and abilities is constantly impressed by. I suggest you read it.

Christopher Healy: Why, thank you, Jasper. That was very kind of you to say.

Jasper: You are most welcome. Now, if I could just grab you for a moment, I have a spinoff idea I would like to run by you.

Published December 1st, 2020 by Walden Pond Press

About the Book: The thrilling conclusion to Christopher Healy‘s funny, action-packed, acclaimed alt-history adventure!

It is 1884, and Molly and Cassandra Pepper, Emmett Lee, and Emmett’s long-lost father are sailing back to New York following their death-defying adventure in Antarctica. Having discovered a subterranean world at the South Pole while saving the world from certain doom once again, surely their accomplishments will finally earn them the recognition they deserve.

Unless, of course…well, you know by now.

And so do the Peppers and Lees. They’re used to having their deeds covered up by the government in order to protect powerful men, and frankly, they’re sick of it. And when their return to New York doesn’t go the way they’d planned, they decide that maybe it’s best to go into hiding and accept that, perhaps, the forces aligned against them are just too great.

As the 1884 presidential election approaches, however, our heroes discover a plot against leading candidate Thomas Edison that only they can stop. It’ll be up to them to decide whether to come out of hiding, make the perilous journey to Washington, DC, and do the right thing one last time. Even if it means risking everything they have left.

About the Author: Christopher Healy is the author of The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom series and A Perilous Journey of Danger & Mayhem trilogy. Before becoming a writer, he worked as an actor, an ad copywriter, a toy store display designer, a fact-checker, a dishwasher, a journalist, a costume shop clothing stitcher, a children’s entertainment reviewer, and a haunted house zombie. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, two children, and a dog named Duncan. You can visit him online at www.christopherhealy.com.

Thank you, Christopher, for this hilarious piece–anyone who reads it can see the humor that you bring to your adventures!

Author Guest Post: “The Role of Empathy in Literature and Our Lives” by Robin Farmer, Author of Malcolm and Me

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“The Role of Empathy in Literature and Our Lives”

I was around 13 when I read To Kill A Mockingbird and discovered a quote in Chapter 3 that embedded itself into my brain.

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb into his skin and walk around in it,” Atticus Finch tells his daughter Scout.

His advice for Scout to explore the heart and mind of another person initially fails to register with the 10-year-old.  Soon after their conversation, Scout joins in a cruel taunting game aimed at neighbor Boo Radley, a mentally challenged and socially awkward man that the town considers a “monster” because few took the time to see things from his viewpoint.

A heartfelt connection

This Pulitzer-Prize winning novel — with themes that touch on good and evil, racism, social inequality, courage, and family life — electrified my heart and mind, and made me vow to write a book one day.

A voracious reader as a child, books not allowed me to travel the globe without leaving my home while experiencing the lives of people who differed from me. That’s the definition of “empathy.” Harper Lee’s only book, one I have read  nearly a dozen times, seared itself in my psyche because 1) Atticus, a white lawyer respected by Black people, wanted to defend an innocent black man, 2) Scout’s stubbornness reminded me of myself, and 3) the initial fear I had of Boo evolved into protectiveness, and 4) The story felt emotionally true.

Over the years, To Kill A Mockingbird has generated valid controversy for its racial stereotypes. The adult I have become understands its shortcomings. The girl in me remembers the power of this story at a time when few books in my school touched on racial inequity or a had a character I so identified with, despite stark differences. Scout was a Southerner while I called Philly home. She lived with her father, I stayed with my Mom. Her tomboyish ways did not match my frilliness. Yet, I connected to her willful nature, sensitive soul, thoughtful questions and fierce love for her father — a father whose patience, earnestness and steady adoration of his children I longed for as a girl of divorced parents. As different as we were, I saw myself in Scout because I walked around in her skin.

Specific viewpoint, universal appeal

Knowing the emotional power of walking in someone else’s shoes allowed me to write the empathetic character of Roberta Forest, the 13-year-old protagonist in Malcolm and Me. The story kicks off with the teen doing the unthinkable: She fights her nun. Could there be a less likely person for readers to connect with?

And yet, that girl was me and I was not a monster. I wanted readers to understand the multi-layered Roberta, a reluctant teen rebel with the heart of a poet. That meant I had to develop a relatable character with shortcomings and strengths who draws readers in and makes them feel what she experiences.

Roberta is a new teen who is smart, sensitive, strong, sassy and a bit spoiled. Making her relatable meant presenting her in a realistic manner, warts and all. And so she lives on the pages as a moody, thoughtful, vulnerable but resilient teen with a sense of humor and fairness.  I hope readers root for her. And are inspired by her to speak up, think critically, ask questions and defend the truth, especially now that alternative facts exist.

Bridging the divide

Recently, Bridget, who writes book reviews for Bridgetandthebooks.com, reviewed my debut novel. She is 11, the same age I was when I read the Autobiography of Malcolm X.  On the surface, she couldn’t appear more different from Roberta. But Bridget connected to the story and recommended my book. What really made my heart flutter was her wondering why she hadn’t learned anything about Malcolm X. One of the goals in writing the book was to get readers, especially younger ones, to read the book that changed my life in so many ways. What I especially love is the importance of walking around in Malcolm’s skin and experiencing his heartaches, struggles, achievements and growth.

That Bridget recommends Malcolm and Me feels like I won an award! What better validation than for readers who are like and unlike Roberta to connect to her story.

Empathy empowers

Research shows that books can help readers develop empathy, which I argue we need more of. Take a look at this divided nation. Take a look at our divided nation and the lack of civility – and it’s not just among the adults. We all know too well about the dangerous bullying that occurs in schools and well as on social media.

Empathy won’t solve all of our problems, whether they are political or personal. But listening to each other is a start.

I encourage young readers to develop the bravery of Roberta. Sometimes she sweated behind her knees, but she found the courage to not only defend truth, but also think about the feelings of others, including a nun who humiliated her and a father who disappointed her. In both cases, Roberta learns to forgive. That would be impossible for her to do so without empathy.

Steps to Take

Roberta, like Scout, took some steps to walk around in the skin of someone else. As students, follow her lead with these seven actions.  To help remember what to do, I wrote an acrostic that spells out how to develop more EMPATHY:

Explore your heart and mind
Meet people different from you in books and at school
Practice kindness
Ask thoughtful questions
Talk less, listen more
Help others and ask for help
Yield to creative endeavor such as writing and drawing to express feelings

As students, by working on your empathy, you improve your understanding of each other’s thoughts and feelings. Doing so plays a role in how you respond to one another during conflict. Find opportunities to build better relationships, which can help you find success in all parts of your lives.

Published November 17, 2020 by SparkPress

About the Book: Philly native Roberta Forest is a precocious rebel with the soul of a poet. The thirteen-year-old is young, gifted, black, and Catholic—although she’s uncertain about the Catholic part after she calls Thomas Jefferson a hypocrite for enslaving people and her nun responds with a racist insult. Their ensuing fight makes Roberta question God and the important adults in her life, all of whom seem to see truth as gray when Roberta believes it’s black or white.

An upcoming essay contest, writing poetry, and reading The Autobiography of Malcolm X all help Roberta cope with the various difficulties she’s experiencing in her life, including her parent’s troubled marriage. But when she’s told she’s ineligible to compete in the school’s essay contest, her explosive reaction to the news leads to a confrontation with her mother, who shares some family truths Roberta isn’t ready for.

Set against the backdrop of Watergate and the post-civil rights movement era, Malcolm and Me is a gritty yet graceful examination of the anguish teens experience when their growing awareness of themselves and the world around them unravels their sense of security—a coming-of-age tale of truth-telling, faith, family, forgiveness, and social activism.

About the Author: Robin Farmer is a national award–winning journalist and transplanted Philadelphian who currently calls the Richmond, VA, area home. At eight, she told her mother she would write for a living, and she is grateful that her younger self knew what she was talking about (many young folks do). Her other interests include screenwriting, poetry, movies, and traveling. She’s still hoping to write stories about young people for television and film. Robin earned her degree in journalism from Marquette University. She lives in Richmond, VA.

Thank you, Robin, for this timely and thought-provoking piece!

Authors Interview with Philippe Cousteau and Austin Aslan, Authors of The Endangereds

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The Endangereds
Authors: Philippe Cousteau and Austin Aslan
Published September 29th, 2020 by HarperCollins

Summary: It’s time for animals to take fate into their own paws! The Endangereds is the first book in a thrilling new adventure series by world-renowned environmentalist and Emmy-nominated host of Xploration Awesome Planet Philippe Cousteau and award-winning TURBO Racers author Austin Aslan.

Innocent animals are in trouble: temperatures are climbing, tides are rising, and nature is suffering. Someone needs to step in to rescue animals from extinction. Someone needs to turn this mess around, before it’s too late.

And that someone is . . . the Endangereds, the unlikeliest heroes you’ll ever meet—a superstrong polar bear, a pangolin with a genius for engineering, an extremely sarcastic narwhal, and an orangutan with a big dream.

Together, these four daredevils are determined to save endangered species across the globe, no matter what the risk. Rappelling into an underground cavern to save the day? No problem. Looping video footage to sneak through buildings unnoticed? Got it covered. Opening a doorknob? Okay, pretty hard without thumbs. But don’t worry. No matter what it takes, the Endangereds will get the job done.

But when two of their friends get kidnapped by a villain with a dastardly agenda, the team finds themselves up to their snouts in trouble. Can the Endangereds save the day? Or will this villain put humans and animals alike on the extinction list?

The A-Team meets the animal kingdom in the first book in the thrilling new adventure series from the host of Xploration Awesome Planet Philippe Cousteau and award-winning author Austin Aslan.

About the Authors: 

Philippe Cousteau is a multi-Emmy-nominated TV host, author, speaker, and social entrepreneur.  He has hosted numerous TV programs for Discovery, BBC, CNN, Travel Channel and more.  Currently he is the host of the syndicated television show Xploration Awesome Planet and producer/narrator of a new Virtual Reality experience Drop in the Ocean.  Philippe is the author of several award-winning books and is a sought-after speaker having keynoted events for the United Nations, Harvard University, and more. In 2004 he founded EarthEcho International; the leading environmental education organization dedicated to inspiring youth to take action for a sustainable planet. Philippe and his wife, fellow explorer and TV host Ashlan Gorse-Cousteau, reside in Los Angeles.

Austin Aslan is the author of the TURBO Racers series and the Islands at the End of the World series. A National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow, he can often be found camping in a tent on a punctured air mattress. In other lives, Austin drove ambulances way too fast, served as an ecotourism Peace Corps volunteer in a Honduran cloud forest, and managed a variety of campaigns. He lives in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Interview: 

Philippe Cousteau is a world-renowned environmental advocate, filmmaker and explorer. Austin Aslan’s debut novel, The Islands at the End of the World, was named a Best Book of 2014 by Kirkus Reviews. It was ranked by The Guardian as a top-ten climate fiction read. Together, they’re the authors of The Endangereds, the first book in a new science-backed, high action middle grade series.

AUSTIN: Philippe, it’s always an honor to wrap back around with you to discuss The Endangereds! The collaborative process of writing the first two books in the series has been a career highlight for me and a wonderful, thrilling ride. It’s great to be here with you on the Unleashing Readers blog for this guest Q&A. Readers should know that we both thought it would be fun to engage in a bit of a back-and-forth with each other to share with you some of the insights we’ve gathered along the way. Philippe, I’ll go ahead and get us started with a question about the “sausage-making” process for designing an action-packed book that intentionally includes some educational components, as well as a message or two. I’ve heard you repeat in the past that your grandfather always used to say to you, “Before we can talk about the environment, we must talk about education.” That sounds totally on point to me! But I’m curious, tell us more about your vision for this series as a mix of swashbuckling entertainment and environmental activism.

PHILIPPE: That’s a good question as the idea of creating a book that is first and foremost fun and exciting but also educational has been the central driving challenge of The Endangereds. For several years through my non-profit EarthEcho International, we have focused on education, channeling my grandfather’s advice to me, but we realized pretty early on that we couldn’t just focus on education in the traditional sense.  We also have to find ways of reaching people through other means. I have always been interested in fiction and how we can leverage fictional stories to tell important truths like the fact that biodiversity on earth is declining and hundreds of species go extinct every year.  The Endangereds was our way to do that because we know that young people are already interested in animals and that many of them are also clued in to the problems nature faces today but what they need is some inspiration to get them engaging in actively solving the problems we face. What better way to do that then create a team of inspiring heroes who are overcoming adversity to solve problems and help nature?

AUSTIN: I’ll never forget that first moment when I was approached by you and our editor about teaming up to make this idea a reality. The concept just sparkled for me, right away. I was electrified. I know my mind raced with ideas. The connection to the A-Team was obvious from the title alone. But you and our editor, David Linker at HarperCollins, had already zeroed in on the four main characters (and one of them shared a name with an A-Team member): A polar bear, an orangutan, a narwhal, and a pangolin! What a fabulous line up. What inspired this particular combination of species, do you think? I’ll say that I particularly gravitated toward the idea of including the narwhal, named Murdock. What’s not to like about narwhals? Also: from the “sausage-making” angle, I personally loved the challenge of including a two-ton marine mammal as part of the team. The possibilities and the potential humor of it fascinated me. And indeed, Murdock turned out to be one of my favorite characters. So, why these four animals in particular, and not, say, the lion, giraffe, hippo, and zebra from the Madagascar movies, if you know what I mean? Oh, also: I grew up watching the A-Team, and I believe you did too. What’s the role of our generation’s nostalgia for 80’s entertainment in The Endangereds’ success?

PHILIPPE: Good questions, as we were coming up with the animals I wanted to focus on some that where familiar, like a Polar Bear and mix in some that were not so familiar, like a Pangolin, as a way to provide comfort to readers but also introduce them to a new species.  Pangolins are arguably one of the most endangered animals on earth, and they are just cool looking with their claws, scales, and powerful tail.  I also chose Arief because of an experience I had filming with CNN about 6 years ago in Sumatra at an Orangutan rehabilitation facility.  They take Orangutans that have been illegally caught and sold into the pet trade and re-introduce them into the wild.  Orangutans are also highly endangered, especially Sumatran ones, and so I wanted to tell that story, and of course, like you said, Narwhals are just cool!  Because this book has a purpose—to entertain and educate—we really wanted to be able to highlight animals that could embody the main issues facing endangered species, like habitat loss, illegal wildlife trade, climate change etc.  As for the A-Team, as you’ll attest Austin, we agreed early on that we wanted to have some easter eggs for the adults who might be reading this book to their children to enjoy and who doesn’t like the A-Team?

AUSTIN: Did I say Murdock the narwhal was “one” of my favorites? They’re all my favorites! Seriously, I even love the mystery animal villains we’re crafting for the series. Without giving too much away, I wanted to spend a minute talking about who the “bad guys” are in these stories. While the world’s present biodiversity threats are mostly human-caused, I think it’s too easy and too obvious, from a storytelling perspective, to just throw humans under the bus all the time. The reality is that a lot of people care about biodiversity and would join the Endangereds in their missions if they could. The rancher in the Four Corners area where our first book takes place, for example, isn’t the nefarious environmental destructor he’s taken for at first. He may even prove to be an ally to the black-footed ferrets our E-Team is deployed to protect! Philippe, can you say a few words about the buzz-term of environmental justice, and how important that concept is to understand in terms of our collective ability to arrive at real solutions?

PHILIPPE: I remember our long conversations about this, and our agreement that, as you said, it would be too easy to make humans the villains.  A theme that I really love in the series is one of balance; Arief, the Orangutan leader, talks about it a lot. The idea that the Endangereds exist because the world is out of balance, and since the Endangereds are really a proxy for humanity, diving into this world was really important.  But we didn’t want to make shallow evil characters; in a way, we wanted to be able to sympathize with them a little bit, they have motivations that aren’t hard to understand, they have been wronged like the E-Team, but have taken a different path. For me, it’s a metaphor for the choices we make as people—do we want to be positive and solve problems or be negative and cause them. Obviously, our message to youth is that the best way forward is to work together to solve problems. Austin, I know we are wrapping this up but before we do, I have a question for you.  What was the biggest challenge in writing this book and how did you overcome it?

AUSTIN: In terms of “sausage making” there were several challenges, as with any book. But I find that a story’s biggest potential rewards lie where the difficulties are. That’s where things get interesting…and fun! But rather than dwell on the craft elements that kept me up at night while drafting, I’d like to focus on the challenge of overcoming doubt and allowing myself to feel worthy of the aspirations of this series—and our partnership. We’re out to save the world, after all, through inspiring a new generation of environmental stewards to take up the mantle of a great cause. That’s a tall order. It feels like a lot of responsibility! Was I out of my league? Should I have stepped aside?

I think we all struggle with “impostor syndrome” in our various professions. The key breakthrough is realizing that, in this life, we’re all in it together! And that we’re all human and that means we’re each a package-deal full of talent and shortcomings. If we each defer to someone in the shadows to eventually come forward and do the work that needs to be done…none of us will ever get anywhere. And that’s one of the core messages of the book, ironically! Our animal heroes aren’t demigods. They’re not perfect angels sent from on high. They’re flawed, they’re uncertain, they’re scared. But they’re the ones who came forward and answered the call. I think that’s what kids need to take away most of all, and I like to think that we’re practicing what we preach by putting ourselves out there to pull these stories off.

That’s enough out of me (for now)! Philippe, any closing thoughts?

PHILIPPE: I think you said it perfectly. I just want to add that as part of The Endangereds, we have partnered with my non-profit EarthEcho International, World Wildlife Fund, and Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants to offer several live webinars where I will sit down with experts who work every day to protect these animals in the wild. Young people who join us will have a chance to ask me and the experts questions and hear stories about what wildlife conservation is like in the real world.  Go to www.TheEndangereds.com to register for FREE to join us.

Thank you, Phillipe and Austin, for being a guest on Unleashing Readers! Your focus on environmentalism is so important, and we are so glad that this book is out there for kids!