What Is a Book for Boys? One Suggestion: “Patrick and Ted” by Geoffrey Hayes
Monday, October 26th, 2009 Posted in Along Came Spider, Greatest Hits, Interviews & Appreciations, the writing process | 8 Comments »I've been dwelling lately on the concept of "books for boys." It's a huge topic, one that I can't possibly address in a single blog entry. I mean, yes, we're all aware of the gender gap in reading, that many ...
“So How’s the New Book Going?”
Tuesday, October 13th, 2009 Posted in Bystander, Greatest Hits, the writing process | 8 Comments »Today, I got asked this question three times before ten o'clock: "So how's the new book going?" It's a well-intentioned question, and it comes from friends. I don't know how to answer, in part because I don't know the answer. It's ...
James Preller Interviews . . . Lewis Buzbee, Author of “The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop.”
Sunday, October 4th, 2009 Posted in Greatest Hits, Interviews & Appreciations | 2 Comments »As a kid, I used to come home from St. Frances De Chantal Elementary in the late 60's and early 70's to find my grandmother sitting in front of the television, sipping brandy, watching the soaps. She especially loved "The ...
When I Stood By and Did Nothing
Monday, September 28th, 2009 Posted in Bystander, Greatest Hits | 8 Comments »As I write this, my bully-themed novel, Bystander, is due out in stores tomorrow, the 29th. There seems no better time to share John's story . . . During my work on the book, I naturally reflected on my own experiences ...
My Brother John . . . in BYSTANDER
Tuesday, September 8th, 2009 Posted in Bystander, Family, Greatest Hits, the writing process | 2 Comments »When I was writing the first draft for BYSTANDER, I had to contend with the issue of the new boy in town, Eric Hayes. I knew he would have a problem with a bully -- but why? My sense of ...
From Sketch to Final Art; Final Art to Cover
Monday, August 17th, 2009 Posted in A Pirates Guide to First Grade, Greatest Hits | No Comments »I'm sure my Nation of Readers will remember this sketch, which I talked about here, fifteen months ago. Well, lubbers, double quick, set your deadlights on the final art: "Ahoy, me hearties!" I cried. "Prepare to be boarded!" Interestingly, in the above final ...
Bullies and Bystanders
Wednesday, June 10th, 2009 Posted in Bystander, Greatest Hits, Readings | 3 Comments »Photo: Igor Dutina There was a good article in yesterday's Science Times section of The New York Times. Written by Perri Klass, M.D., it looks at bullying from a pediatrician's point of view, and provides news about how the American Academy ...
James Preller Interviews . . . Betsy Bird, of Fuse #8
Monday, May 25th, 2009 Posted in Greatest Hits, Interviews & Appreciations | 12 Comments »It doesn't take long for a book-loving blog-hopper to discover Betsy Bird's A Fuse #8 Production. It is so consistently good -- full of personality and life and enthusiasm for children's books -- that many of us return on a ...
Stories Behind the Story: The Case of the Ghostwriter
Friday, May 8th, 2009 Posted in Greatest Hits, Jigsaw Jones, the writing process | 3 Comments »In what I hope will be a recurring feature on an irregular schedule, I thought I'd try to convey some of the background to each of my Jigsaw Jones titles. And in no particular order. The Case of the Ghostwriter has a ...
My Ten All-Time Favorite Baseball Books
Monday, March 30th, 2009 Posted in Greatest Hits, Interviews & Appreciations, Readings, Six Innings | 9 Comments »I always like to read a baseball book around this time of year. So I just ordered Ron Darling's new one, The Complete Game: Reflections on Baseball, Pitching, and Life on the Mound. Here in upstate New York, we're in ...