GIVEAWAY!

Hey, guess what my fabulous agency sent my way.

An extra audio CD of both MAKING FRIENDS WITH BILLY WONG and THE WAY TO STAY IN DESTINY.

I love to share.

Are there teachers or librarians out there who use audiobooks with your kids?
If so, leave me a comment, here or on Facebook or Twitter (ARScattergood via Twitter).

I'd love to get this in the mail no later than Thursday.
So let's do this thing today and tomorrow, okay?

PS: If I can find a big enough box, I may have a few brand new Advance Reader Copies of books (not mine) to add to the mix.

IMWAYR

It's MONDAY and what am I reading, you ask?

Some people don't understand how I can read <MANY> books at the same time.

Clearly, those people are not librarians. Or teachers.

I can juggle books with the best of the best.

Right now I'm reading the (so far) excellent YA novel SALT TO THE SEA.
I've always been a fan of World War II books. This one is multi-POV and a different setting from others I've read and I love it.

I am reading the e-book, downloaded via my local library's website, and I'm also on the waiting list for the audiobook. The wise and wonderful Teri Lescene mentioned it (I think) at her talk about recommended books at the Kaigler Book Festival at the University of Southern Mississippi this spring. Or maybe she or her partner-in-reading Karin Perry posted on Facebook or tweeted how great the audiobook is. I rarely both listen and read the actual book, but I'm going to give this one a try. As soon as I finish the words on the page. The page of my Kindle, that is.

I have an ARC of Nancy Cavanaugh's new novel which I started before we began our trek northward, and I'm looking forward to dipping back into this fun book later today.

I'm also reading an adult novel which is intriguing and not at all what I'd normally pick up. But I adore Monica Wood's writing tips and I even blogged about her fun, funky craft books, POCKET MUSE (one and two) on a group blog I once wrote for.  So I'm reading her new novel, recommended to me by a random stranger standing in front of the New Books shelf at my public library. That happens a lot- perfect strangers connecting at the library.

I'm also re-reading at least two writing craft books.

A lovely screened porch in a little cottage on Maryland's Eastern Shore is the perfect place to read. We're visiting, away from the distractions of my house, not cooking much, no weeds to worry about or errands that need running. I'm in reading heaven.

I hope your summer reading is the same!

Check out some of the other Monday Readers, linked HERE 
and also HERE.

Tell me, what are you reading?

First Lines

I love it when I follow a blogpost down a rabbit hole and actually end up happy. 
(Sometimes, I end up feeling as if I've wasted an hour, don't you?)

Here's where I ended up today:
http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/07/why-stephen-king-spends-months-and-even-years-writing-opening-sentences/278043/


And this quote from Stephen King is perfect:
"An opening line should invite the reader to begin the story. It should say: Listen. Come in here. You want to know about this."

Dorian Cirrone wrote an entire series of posts about First Lines.
(CLICK THAT LINK. Get lost down that rabbit hole! You'll learn a lot.)

I LOVE a good first line.

Dorian shares so many, it's hard to borrow just a couple. So click on over and read them all.


What Remains by Helene Dunbar
 
No one ever calls in the middle of the night to tell you that you’ve won the lottery.


And this:


The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt
 
Of all the kids in the seventh grade at Camillo Junior High, there was one kid that Mrs. Baker hated with heat whiter than the sun.
Me.


Go ahead. Begin! Or revise if you've already written a draft.
Hook your reader from very the first line.