BRIEF EXCERPT from SHAKEN: Establishing Kristy, the Soccer Player

March 4, 2026 / / No comments

–

My most recent novel, Shaken, ages 10-14, will be out in paperback on March 17th. That’s less than two weeks from now.

In the book, an awesomely talented 7th grade soccer player, Kristy Barrett, experiences a serious concussion.

I more or less pull the rug out from under her. That’s what writers do. We make awful things happen to perfectly decent characters. In the rest of the book we find out what Kristy’s made of. In the first few pages, I needed to quickly establish that, for Kristy, soccer was everything. Her social currency, her primary source of self-esteem, friendship, and identity. 

If “Soccer is my life!” what happens when that hat blows away?

But before the “inciting event” of Kristy’s concussion — which is the engine of our story — I needed to establish the current situation. 

Here’s a few paragraphs from pages 3-4, where we learn something about this young athlete: 

–

–

By the time she played her first organized practice at U4, anyone could see that Kristy Barrett was a special player. She was simply quicker and more focused than any other four-year-old on the field. Of course, half of them were clinging to their parents’ legs, or slurping on oranges, or plucking dandelions while Kristy raged up and down the grass like a creature possessed. Amazingly, that dynamic continued on through rec ball and travel, even when they let her play on the boys’ team. In seventh grade, Kristy was starting for the varsity high school team. She was special. That was the word, over and over: a special kid. 

But wasn’t everybody? 

Kristy didn’t much care what people said. She loved to play. That was all, the whole shebang. But after a video of one of her goals went viral — and was included on ESPN’s “Amazing Plays” Sunday feature, along with a thirty-five second interview — everyone, absolutely everyone, knew. Not long after, a coach from the USA Development Program called, saying, “It wouldn’t surprise me if one day Kristy represents the United States in international play.”

Maybe even a future Olympian. 

Altogether not bad for someone who hadn’t, at that time, turned thirteen. But that’s how it works at the highest levels of sports. When you know, you know. 

–

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!

 

Category: Shaken, the writing process / Tags: , , , , , ,

The Best Moments in Reading . . .

February 28, 2026 / / No comments

–

–

“The best moments in reading are when you come across something — a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things — that you had thought special, particular to you. And here it is, set down by someone else, a person you’ve never met, maybe even someone long dead, and it’s as if a hand has come out and taken yours.” — Alan Bennett, The History Boys.

–

In a previous post, where I replied to a piece of fan mail, I tried to approach this idea in my own way — without being familiar with the scene above, written by Alan Bennett, spoken by the actor Richard Griffiths. Of course, together they articulate it perfectly, far better than my own attempt. Which is why I share it here. 

Reading really is quite a miracle. It’s forever astonishing and a little heartbreaking how many people in our world willingly deny themselves this deep source of pleasure and solace. 

–

–

 

 

Category: Around the Web, Movies, Readings / Tags: , , ,

FAN MAIL WEDNESDAY #346: Noelle Inspires a Longer Than Usual Response

February 24, 2026 / / No comments

 

To get a letter, any letter, is a wonderful thing. 

Here’s one from Durham, NC . . .

–

–

I replied . . .

Dear Noelle,

It is a kind and generous thing, to sit down and write a letter. Especially in these times, when letter-writing feels like a thing of the past.

In our whirlwind of days, it is the gift of time and thought and presence and, yes, words. And for that letter to be sent to an author, after reading a book, it’s all the more meaningful.

So thank you, Noelle, very much. It means a lot.

When I think about it, I’m amazed by how books connect us through space and time. We can read a book written 150 years ago and somehow co-exist with that writer —- who lived a life very different from our own. A different time and place. And yet by reading we are linked.

Books are remarkable, don’t you think?

You have an Etsy shop! Holy wow. At 12 years old! And you crochet?

From that I gather that you are not the standard edition, everyday, run-of-the-mill preteen. You might even be, I suspect, quite extraordinary.

You asked a few questions: I can’t exactly remember how long it took to write The Courage Test. Less than a year. I know that it required quite a bit of research. I had much to learn about Lewis and Clark’s journey. I sent away for river maps, read up on hotels, had to figure out where Will and his father might actually go for breakfast, on and on and on. But at a certain point, a writer has to push the research aside and start writing, despite never knowing enough.

On that note, you might enjoy this post.

Or this one.

The one true thing I’ve figured out is that the only way to learn how to write a novel . . . is to write a novel. If you wait until you know enough, until you’ve got it all nailed down, you’ll never get started. The learning is in the doing.

Your questions touch on support and guidance and inspiration. Those are important things. It’s so valuable in life to have someone who believes in you, who roots for you, who thinks you can do it — even when, or especially when, you yourself have doubts. Don’t we all? It may be a teacher, a parent, a friend, or someone you meet in a book. Whoever it might be, hold onto that person for dear life.

For myself, I can think of different teachers I’ve met over the years. Co-workers, friends. As for my parents, I can’t say that they ever encouraged me to write, or were particularly interested in the arts. They never dragged me to museums or asked me to watch foreign films. They weren’t big readers. But I grew up the youngest of seven children. I saw so many living pathways, directions I could take. And the gift that my parents gave me was the sense that it was all available to me. I was swimming in the world of the possible. I could do what I liked, dream my own dreams, and no matter what they would love me and support me. They wanted me to find my own way.

.


–

What more could I ask for?

Thanks for reading my book and inspiring me to sit down with my thoughts, and a blank screen, and put down some words. Sorry I prattled on so long!

My best,

James Preller

–

–

SOME REVIEWS . . .

“Preller stirs doses of American history into a first-rate road trip.” — Booklist, starred review.

“There is plenty of action . . . A middle grade winner to hand to fans of history, adventure, and family drama.” — School Library Journal.

“Whatever young explorers look for on their literary road trips, they’ll find it here.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books.

 

THE COURAGE TEST WAS LISTED AS ONE OF “THE BEST CHILDREN’S BOOKS OF THE YEAR,” 2017 EDITION, BY BANK STREET COLLEGE. 

IT WAS ALSO A JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD SELECTION.

Category: Fan Mail, The Courage Test / Tags: , , ,

That Iconic Scene from “ALMOST FAMOUS” Should Have Been Cringe-Worthy — But Succeeds Spectacularly

February 19, 2026 / / No comments

–

I recently read Cameron Crowe’s very entertaining memoir, The Uncool, and it inspired me to rewatch his film, “Almost Famous,” which covers much of the same ground. 

I liked it the second time around just fine. 

There’s a great scene where the band, weary and fractured, rides the bus to yet another town, another gig. The future feels uncertain, relationships feel shattered, youthful ideals crushed. Then Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” plays and, one by one, the characters come to life, joining in on a group sing-along. 

It’s an iconic moment, an absolute highlight of the film.

And it’s the corniest thing on earth. I mean, on the page, this should not work. It’s so sentimental and sappy and full of what could easily be regarded as false emotion.

Here, take a look:

–

–

And to be clear: I absolutely love it, and have remembered it fondly since the film first came out in 2000. 

In fact, I just teared up watching the clip (but, caveat, I tear up over everything). 

In less capable hands, this scene could have been a disaster. Klunky and forced, too pat and tidy. Cringe-inducing.

But again, wow. It’s a home run. It’s everything. 

And it took courage, I think, especially in today’s cold, cynical, skeptical world. That’s kind of Crowe’s strength, actually. He swung for the fences, risked being sincere and earnest and so very uncool — and knocked it out of the park. 

There’s in lesson in this, I think. 

Much credit, too, goes to the song, a masterpiece in its own right. It is exactly the right song. The right idea. Because it is the love of music that unites these disparate characters. Hat tip, Elton John. Hat tip, Cameron Crowe, for pulling this small miracle of a moment in film. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Category: Interviews & Appreciations, Movies, Music / Tags: , , , , , , ,

Robert Duvall Passes, Boo Radley Recalled, An Idea Stolen: CELEBRATING 40 YEARS AS A PUBLISHED AUTHOR, PT. 2

February 17, 2026 / / 2 comments

–

–

The great actor Robert Duvall passed on February 15th at the most excellent age of 95. He left behind a remarkable legacy, including key roles in films such as The Godfather, Apocalypse Now, Tender Mercies (Oscar for Best Actor), The Conversation, and many more. He is also well remembered for his role in the CBS miniseries, Lonesome Dove. 

But my mind went right back to Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird. 

–

–

That’s a book and a movie that has had an outsized impact on my imagination and appreciation of excellence in storytelling. I just love it and often return to passages and scenes.

Thinking of Boo yesterday, I remembered that I stole a little device from that story and used it in Jigsaw Jones: The Case of the Haunted Scarecrow. As you may recall, Boo first communicated with Jem and Scout by leaving small totems, or gifts, in the knothole of an oak tree. The gifts themselves are worth recalling: chewing gum, two pennies, twine, soap dolls, a spelling bee medal, a pocket watch. Boo is isolated and alone, longing for connection. 

Boo’s father, Nathan, to our horror, ends up filling the hole with cement — once again isolating Boo from any hope of friendship. Poor Boo, the book’s mockingbird, gentle and misunderstood. 

–

–

But it’s just the knothole that I borrowed, a simple idea that I took for my own purposes for the 15th Jigsaw Jones book, The Case of the Haunted Scarecrow. I’ll share that scene now because, I don’t know, I like it? I’m proud of those Jigsaw Jones books. So many are now out of print and no longer read, except for those in libraries and dusty bins in second-grade classrooms. Thank you so much, teachers, for that.

Here, Dear Reader, is Chapter Five: The Scarecrow.

–

“They want you to deliver the money,” Kim said.

And that was that. In one swoop, I went from detective to delivery boy. I was supposed to go to a tree, put three dollars in a hole, and leave. The voice said he’d return the necklace after I made the drop off.

“I don’t get it,” Mila complained. “Why Jigsaw? How did they know he was here?”

“They must be watching the house,” I concluded. “It doubt it’s a one-man job. You heard giggles on the phone, remember.”

Mila remembered.

Kim shivered — and not because the house was drafty. She ran her fingers across the front of her neck. It was a habit. She was feeling for a necklace that wasn’t there.

“Let’s do it,” I declared.

Kim went to her room. She returned with four dollars. One for me. Three for the ransom. “You better hurry,” she said. “They want you there right away.”

I didn’t like it. But I didn’t have to like it. It was a job. Like raking leaves or delivering newspapers. So off I went, into the dusky night. Mila stayed behind to keep Kim company. 

I walked down Abbey Road. The evening chill nibbled on my ears like a pet parakeet. I turned right onto Penny Lane. The night was brisk and gloomy. I noticed that someone had ripped down one of my brothers’ leaf-raking signs. 

I came to the leaning oak tree. Its long branches reached out over the sidewalk. I shoved my hands into my pockets. There was no one in sight. But I had a perfect view of the Rigby place across the street. 

A black cat slinked across the lawn.

There was one lonely light on in the old house. I may have glimpsed a shadow drift behind a curtain, then disappear. In that gloom, even the trees seemed more menacing. Their leafless branches looked like twisted arms, the twigs like crippled fingers. I flicked up the collar of my jacket. 

A-ooooo. A-ooooo.

A dog howled. I looked into the night sky. There was no moon. Just the pale yellow of distant stars. Well, it was time to finish the job. I soon found a small hollow in the tree. The kind of hole where a chipmunk or snake might hide. On a hunch, I reached in my hand.

And there it was.

The necklace. 

I pulled the three dollars from my pocket. I hesitated, the money still in my hand. It made no sense. Why should I pay the robbers when I already had the necklace?

And why was the necklace here?

I didn’t have time to answer my own questions.

Maybe I heard a noise. Maybe it was a faint whisper, or the scraping of a shoe on cement. Maybe a flashlight flickered, then died. For whatever reason, I looked toward the Rigby place.

[Editorial note: We learn that the old woman who lives there is named Eleanor, and she’s lonely, too.]

What I saw made my heart stop.

The scarecrow on Mrs. Rigby’s lawn was standing. Staring straight at me. It was . . . alive. 

–


–

I pressed myself against the tree. If I breathed, it was by accident. The scarecrow moved stiffly, as if waking from a long sleep. First one step, then another. Like a mummy. Or a living zombie. 

Coming toward me.

I squeezed my eyes tight, trying to shut away the fear. But when I opened them, the creature was coming closer. Ever closer.

I clutched Kim’s necklace in my hand.

And ran.

–

—

The illustration is by Jamie Smith, the warm, sensitive artist from England who did the interiors to many titles in the series. 

THIS POST IS PT. 2 OF A YEAR-LONG SERIES, CELEBRATING MY 40 YEARS AS A PUBLISHED AUTHOR. AS ALWAYS, THANKS FOR STOPPING BY. OTHERWISE IT WOULD BE A LONELY CELEBRATION. HELLO? ANYONE? BUELLER?

–

—

Category: Interviews & Appreciations, Jigsaw Jones, the writing process / Tags: , , , , , , ,
« Older Entries   Recent Entries »
Website Hosted by Web Instinct

James Preller's Blog

News, Notes & Inside Info from a Children's Book Author

Skip to content ↓