Nerd for the Day!

One of my favorite things to do is nerd out about books.

I'm always proud to be featured on the NerdyBookClub blog. 

CLICK HERE for my most recent post about choosing names for your characters and places.

I constantly borrow names. In fact, tomorrow I'm driving to Wachula Elementary School down a road named Moccasin Hollow Road.

(Whoa! I'll be on the lookout for critters on that trip. )

School visits are a great place to discover interesting character names. 
Can't you just imagine this girl in a story?

What are some of your favorite borrowed names?

Thanks!

Two lovely things happened this week.

My buddy and book sibling (Glory Be and May B.), Caroline Starr Rose, shared that Glory was listed as one of the Top Ten Historical Fiction Favorites for Tweens. You can find the list HERE.

Caroline is also writing about SUCCESS on her own blog, what it means to writers. I'm following with interest. You might want to also.

And this blogger gave MAKING FRIENDS WITH BILLY WONG a truly lovely review.  
There's also a giveaway going on at that blog. I'm not sure how long it will last but hurry on over and throw your name in the hat for a signed copy of my book.

The last paragraph of the review really made my day.

"The characters are complex, palpably real, and easy to like and relate to. The setting gives a real taste of small-town America in the 1950s. The story is rich and the writing is simply lovely. This is a book that deserves readership far beyond its intended middle-grade audience. I loved it. Honestly, I think this one just might be my favorite of Augusta's books."

Wow. See what I mean?

Kaigler Festival

My friend Shannon Hitchcock and I had such fun presenting together at OUR second University of Southern Mississippi's Kaigler Children's Book Festival. 
It's the Festival's 50th anniversary. Wow!

As promised, here are a few links from our workshop:

WRITING BRAVELY: Tackling Tough Topics With Books

Our info:

Shannon Hitchcock

twitter: @ShanonHitchcock

http://www.shannonhitchcock.com/

Augusta Scattergood

twitter: @ARScattergood

http://ascattergood.com/

Fellow writers' links we shared for learning more:

Middle Grade Books on TOUGH TOPICS

http://www.kerryomalleycerra.com/mggetsreal/

Kate Messner’s blog:

http://www.katemessner.com/remember-who-we-serve-some-thought-on-book-selection-and-omission/

Nerdy Book Club blogs:

https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2017/03/23/please-dont-talk-about-your-book-by-barbara-dee/

And finally, not to make light of this topic, but sharing- from my smart, funny educator friend Patty, prettied up by my artist friend Eileen- this thought.

And that's pretty much the truth, isn't it?