I can hardly believe it’s been over a month since I had the absolute thrill of taking part in Teen Bookfest by the Bay in Corpus Christi, TX, February 18, 2017. What an event! It was such an honor to appear along with awesome YA authors, like Jennifer Mathieu, D.K. Burrows, Brendan Kiely, Miracle Austin, […]
Big News!
So, as the classic rock group, America, would sing, “I’ve been one poor correspondent.” It’s been way too long since I’ve posted anything here, so I’ve decided to make amends–especially since some stuff’s been happening. For one thing, that second novel I’d been talking about, The Precious Dreadful, is officially on the way! It’ll be […]
September Feature!
I’m thrilled to be Featured Follower for the month of September on author C. Lee McKenzie’s blog, TheWriteGame! Lee, whom I met through Uncommon YA, is a widely-published author of young adult and middle grade novels. She’s also a wonderfully gracious supporter of fellow authors. Visit her site this month to learn more about me […]
The Great Divide
First appeared on Uncommon YA on October 17, 2014 Think of the last book that grabbed you, kept you up all night, vowing to quit after just one more chapter. Remember finishing that chapter and, despite your best efforts, being unable to close the cover? That’s the feeling I strive to create in readers, that […]
Look Who’s Talking
First appeared on UncommonYA on August 20, 2014 Plot’s self-explanatory; setting and even symbolism can be straightforward too. An element that typically stumps my literature students—and many authors—is point of view. I stress to my students that P-O-V involves who’s telling the story. We go over different types, notably first-person, and the variations of third-person, […]
An Uncommon Feature
Thank God for UNCOMMON YA! If not for my blog assignments there, I might never post an update here. I was featured on the site on Wednesday, July 31, 2014. If you missed me there, here’s the interview. Today I (Beth Fehlbaum, UncommonYA moderator) am interviewing Steven Parlato, author of the highly acclaimed THE NAMESAKE, […]
Lions, Tigers, and Bears?
NOPE! More like bullies, giraffes and cats. Oh my! Post first appeared on Uncommon YA, Friday, 4/11/14. A neighborhood stray dies in the street near our house. A giraffe graces the blacktop of our local mall. John R * * * * * * * repeatedly punches my arm in Mr. Whealon’s 11th grade history […]
Well, I’m hopping! Yes, indeed!
How lucky am I? Lucky enough to have known author Kim Stokely since college. I was studying graphic design; Kim was a theater major, and we bonded as members of a guerilla production of the musical, Godspell. Who’d have predicted we’d still be pals—and published authors—all these years later? Well, the friend part was a […]
Victoria, everybody. Everybody, Victoria.
Post first appeared March 11, 2014 on Uncommon YA. Today, I have the distinct pleasure of introducing a woman who was truly instrumental in bringing THE NAMESAKE to print. As an agent’s assistant, she first recognized the potential in my darkly realistic YA, requesting my full manuscript back in 2008. After I signed – and […]
Oh, to have known…
First appeared 2/20/14 on Uncommon YA Sensitive is not a dirty word. Artistic is not an insult. Creative should be considered a compliment. And just because someone doesn’t spend his every waking hour “working,” that doesn’t mean he’s lazy. So yeah, clearly, I’m still chipping away at the old adolescent angst all these years later, […]