Banned Books Week: Looking for Alaska

September 26 - October 3 is ALA's Banned Books Week

From the ALA website:

Banned Books Week (BBW) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment. Held during the last week of September, Banned Books Week highlights the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted bannings of books across the United States.

Intellectual freedom—the freedom to access information and express ideas, even if the information and ideas might be considered unorthodox or unpopular—provides the foundation for Banned Books Week. BBW stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints for all who wish to read and access them.

Why was this book banned or challenged?

A sexual situation between two characters was labeled pornographic by parents who felt students at Depew High School in New York who felt it would cause children to engage in immoral behavior.

John Green responded in a vlog, he explains why the scene is not pornographic and the point of the characters being in the situation they were in.

My Review:

Looking for Alaska is full of quirky characters, which are my favorite types of characters because I don't know anyone who doesn't have a quirk.

Pudge memorizes famous last words.

The Colonel memorizes geographic capitals.

Alaska is mysterious, funny, and trying to figure out how to get out of the labyrinth of suffering.

John splits the book into two parts: Before and After. This separation worked for me because I think many of us separate our lives this way. We see ourselves in the Before, then something happens that changes us forever and we are in the After.

Like John said in his vlog, there is no substitution for emotional connection. Sex doesn't fill that gap. Pudge goes looking for the Great Perhaps and somehow finds it in a dismal, tiny private school where the rich kids and the poor kids are in a constant prank war. He not only finds The Girl and himself. He finds life.

The thing I loved about Pudge's decision to leave his family and few friends for boarding school was that it was selfish. Sometimes being selfish is what needs to be done. People become unhappy and let themselves get into a routine that eats away at them, convincing themselves they can't change anything. But Pudge leaves because he knows that is what he needs to do for himself. So there is a time and place for selfishness, and in the beginning Pudge uses it wisely, and in the end he doesn't. Looking for Alaska shows us how one choice changes everything.

"A Fictional Halloween" Challenge

Heather at The Secret Adventures of WriterGirl and Chelsea from The Page Flipper are both planning on being Katniss from The Hunger Games for Halloween. Heather has decided to make it her Official Blog Challenge to the blogging community that we all dress as literary characters this Halloween.

You can read the entire post here. Spread the word!

Lucky for me, I finished my Caterpillar from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland costume last month. Yeah, I know what my costume is going to be a year ahead of time.

Who are you dressing as? Even if you can't dress as a character, who would you dress as if you could?

The Scariest Month of the Year

October is going to be a themed month on the blog! Since the best part of October is Halloween, the month will be filled with posts about spooky things. Each week I will feature posts on a different supernatural being.

What supernatural beings would you like to see featured?

So far I'm thinking:

-Werewolves

-Ghosts/Demons

You all can send in stories about times you've had encounters with ghosts, if you believe in that.

-Vampires

I want to feature vampires from other cultures. We need more vampires that remove their heads.

Let me know your suggestions for other themes and if you'd like to expand upon the ones I have listed. Any suggestions for books and authors I should be looking at?

If you'd like to be a guest blogger, let me know. You can talk about whatever you want that has to do with Halloween and/or the supernatural. That includes books, folklore, history, movies, music, recipes, costume how-tos, personal stories.

In My Mailbox (5)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren, in which we explore the contents of our mailbox.

The Demon King by Cinda Williams-Chima

Release Date: October 13,2009

Times are hard in the mountain city of Fellsmarch. Reformed thief Han Alister will do almost anything to eke out a living for himself, his mother, and his sister Mari. Ironically, the only thing of value he has is something he can't sell. For as long as Han can remember, he's worn thick silver cuffs engraved with runes. They're clearly magicked-as he grows, they grow, and he's never been able to get them off.

While out hunting one day, Han and his Clan friend, Dancer catch three young wizards setting fire to the sacred mountain of Hanalea. After a confrontation, Han takes an amulet from Micah Bayar, son of the High Wizard, to ensure the boy won't use it against them. Han soon learns that the amulet has an evil history-it once belonged to the Demon King, the wizard who nearly destroyed the world a millennium ago. With a magical piece that powerful at stake, Han knows that the Bayars will stop at nothing to get it back.

Meanwhile, Raisa ana'Helena, Princess Heir of the Fells, has her own battles to fight. She's just returned to court after three years of relative freedom with her father's family at Demonai camp - riding, hunting, and working the famous Clan markets. Although Raisa will become eligible for marriage after her sixteenth name-day, she isn't looking forward to trading in her common sense and new skills for etiquette tutors and stuffy parties.

Raisa wants to be more than an ornament in a glittering cage. She aspires to be like Hanalea-the legendary warrior queen who killed the Demon King and saved the world. But it seems like her mother has other plans for her--plans that include a suitor who goes against everything the Queendom stands for.

The Seven Realms will tremble when the lives of Han and Raisa collide in this stunning new page-turner from bestselling author Cinda Williams Chima.

I started reading this one and was pulled in within the first few pages. I love that the main character is a reformed thief rather than a typical fantasy thief getting away with whatever he wants. The Demon King is the first in a new series by Chima!

Love is never easy. Especially if you're Paul. He's a sophomore at a high school like no other--and these are his friends:

Infinite Darlene, the homecoming queen and star quarterback

Joni, Paul's best friend who may not be his best friend anymore

Tony, his other best friend, who can't leave the house unless his parents think he's going on a date...with a girl

Kyle, the ex-boyfriend who won't go away

Rip, the school bookie, who sets the odds...

And Noah, The Boy. The one who changes everything.

Love meets Love.

Confusion meets Clarity.

Boy meets Boy.

This one is a bit surreal so far. I wish high schoolers (and everyone else) were as accepting of the GLBT community as they are portrayed to be so far.

What is in your mailbox this week?

Happy Talk Like a Pirate Day!

Ahoy, buckos! Today be t' International Talk Like a Pirate Day! Tonight me an me mateys are goin' to wear our pirate garb when we invade t' roller derby. I want t' give meself tattoos fer the evenin' I'm thinkin' o' usin' images from book covers as me inspiration. Any suggestions?

If you haven't heard, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides has been announced. Fans are speculating about Blackbeard being in the film, but sources say "as detailed in The Art of the Pirates of the Caribbean, the proposed story for the fourth film was for Sparrow and Barbossa to meet up in the newly founded New Orleans, before they sail to find the Fountain of Youth together.^"

Depp, unfortunately, has become less enthusiastic about the 4th installment since his friend Disney chairman Dick Cook has been fired.

Depp, who recently appeared at the first official Disney convention, D23 Expo, to support both his role as the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" and the new "Pirates" movie, credited Cook with standing by his interpretation of the character Captain Jack Sparrow when others at the studio were questioning his un-Disney like direction.

I believe "un-Disney like" direction is a euphemism for "Disney didn't like Depp playing Jack Sparrow as bisexual because they are homophobic."

The movies shares its subtitle with the novel On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers.

Puppeteer John Chandagnac, bound for Jamaica to recover stolen money from his uncle, becomes

Jack Shandy after pirates attack his ship and force him to join their crew. Shandy's struggle to accept his new life grounds the story for readers, even as Blackbeard and vodun magicians whisk everyone away to dreamlike lands where the Fountain of Youth itself awaits. The chaotic sea battles sing, though at times key events happen so quickly that they get lost in the shuffle as Jack tries to comprehend where he's going and what's at stake. This dark fantasy tale will appeal not just to pirate fans but also to anyone who appreciates Powers's talent for blending the most unlikely elements into a brilliantly cohesive whole.

I've never heard of this book until today, but I'd like to read it. Historical fantasy with pirates sounds awesome.

I now abandon ye with two videos.

This episode of Wife Swap features the family who created Talk Like a Pirate Day!

They do indeed live as pirates, embracing the pirattitude culture.

For any fans of Peter Pan and/or Hook, this one is for you. Australian electronic music artist Pogo sequences sound clips from films to create music. More of his work can be found on Last.fm and YouTube.

If the YouTube video doesn't work, the clip can also be found here.

Review: Tyrell by Coe Booth

Tyrell is one of the best books I've read all year.

From Coe Booth's website:

Tyrell can’t get a break. His dad’s in jail, his mom’s no help, his brother’s just a kid, and his girlfriend, Novisha, wants more than he can give.

Ms Jenkins is just talking on and on ’bout how me and my family need to stay close and keep our faith in God strong while we going through hard times. I nod every couple minutes so she think I’m really listening, but to be honest, I’m really tired of everyone saying that. Like they know what we going through.

He’s living in a shelter, but he doesn’t want to be there long.

I really wanna put my fist through the wall. I can’t calm myself down. I can feel the blood pounding in my brain. I gotta do something. I wanna go somewhere, but I don’t got nowhere to go.

So he comes up with a plan. It could save him. Or it could backfire completely.

It’s too much pressure.

Welcome to Tyrell’s world.

Tyrell was a story I didn't think I'd like, but ended up loving. I didn't know how I was going to take to a narrator who spoke in Ebonics. If that sounds racist, it's because it is. Tyrell would not have worked if a kid who grew up in the projects and had dropped out of school at 15 was speaking proper English. Looking back, I'm ashamed of how worried I was about the language of the book when it is full of rich characterization and moving stories.

Tyrell is a fascinating narrator because you can relate to his problems, and sometimes you just want to strangle him when he makes bad decisions BUT you still want to see him succeed. Tyrell spends a lot of time worrying about becoming someone he doesn't want to be, and as the story goes on it becomes more and more apparent that his true nature could save him from those things, yet heartbreaking circumstances like poverty and hunger make a person desperate.

The characters in this book were not at all cookie cutter. I loved Tyrell's girlfriend Novisha and his friend Jasmine. Both are very complex girls with unhappy pasts who are trying to do what is best for themselves and the people they care about in two very different and often destructive ways.

There are some plot lines that remain very loose ends by the conclusion, but I heard Coe is writing a sequel! A sequel will be great because I can't say I was happy with Tyrell's reactions to certain events at the end of the story. But I wouldn't change those events or Tyrell's reaction if I could. You can read more about Coe Booth and her work at her website.

4.5/5 Wingspreads

Victoria Hanley Interview

Victoria Hanley is the author of fantasy books for young readers and young adults, and how to write books for teens, as well.

I recently reviewed Victoria's latest novel, Violet Wings, and asked her for a interview. Victoria agreed and her is the result! Hope you all enjoy it.

You can read more about Victoria and her work on her website and at her blog.

What was your inspiration for Violet Wings? You mentioned Oberon and Mab, did you draw upon Shakespearean plays?

For me, a novel always begins by listening to a strong character who lives in my imagination. So I credit the main character, Zaria Tourmaline, for my inspiration.

In Violet Wings I enjoyed mixing traditional lore with original ideas about the fey. I’ve read—and loved—Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and isn’t it interesting that the name “Oberon” has been used for the King of the Fairies in other works even before Shakespeare? My fairy queen is nicknamed “Mab” like the one in Romeo and Juliet, but I’ve given her the full name of Velleron.

There were a lot of things left open at the end of Violet Wings. Will there be sequels? Can you tell us a bit about what they will be about?

Yes, sequels are planned. The next one is called Indigo Bottle, and forgive me if I don’t say much about it. I’m a little superstitious about revealing books-in-progress until they’re finished. But I will say that Zaria is the main character and narrator again.

I've asked my readers if they prefer good faeries or bad faeries. Which type is more fun for you to write?

Oh, they each have great appeal, and of course a good story needs both! Good faeries must take on so much danger and darkness, while bad faeries stoke the conflict. Depending on my mood, I enjoy writing first one type and then another.

If you were a faerie in Feyland, what do you think your color and level would be? What magic would you most like to perform?

Ooh, good question. I’d like to be a level two hundred Violet but I expect I’d be a level one hundred Blue. The magic I’d most like to perform is creating portals between Earth and Tirfeyne. I’d love to give out helpful gifts to humans, too.

You were raised without TV and still don't watch it. How do you think not having the distraction of TV has affected you as a writer?

To be honest, I’ve begun to watch some TV lately, and enjoy shows such as “Smallville” and “Eureka.” But I’m glad I was raised without it. Growing up, I turned to my own imagination for entertainment a lot. I’m not sure if it’s due to a lack of TV or not, but I’m extremely focused when I want to be.

Even though fantasy has become more popular and accepted among the mainstream, it still catches a lot of flack. What do you love about writing fantasy and the fantasy genre?

Fantasy stories can say something about this world in a way that speaks to many readers. For example, let’s say I notice that in our earthly society, physical beauty is distributed unequally and ends up being over-valued. (After all, beauty doesn’t have any intrinsic value; it’s what people do with it that counts.) Many wonderful people have average looks but are gifted in other ways; such people often grow up negatively comparing themselves to others who are physically prettier. Then I write a book called Violet Wings. In Feyland, magical ability is unequal and it’s overvalued. So magical ability in Feyland stands in for physical beauty in our world. One of Zaria’s friends, Andalonus the genie, has no magic to speak of, and he’s supposed to think less of himself because of that. But by using his other gifts--intelligence and loyalty and such, he helps to save the day. There’s a point to all this, but it’s not in-your-face; I like being able to write allegorically without clobbering readers over the head with my message. Fantasy is a wonderful medium for expressing just about anything you want to say. If a reader would rather just enjoy the story for the story’s sake, the book still works. If a reader wants to go deeper, fantasy often provides layers of meaning.

What do you not like about the genre, or don't see enough of?

I don’t read as much fantasy as people expect from a fantasy writer. Probably because I spend so much time in my own fantasy worlds, when I have free time to read I like to mix and match from other genres. So I’m not really an expert. Of course I’d love it more people took into account the extra craft required for creating believable fantasy worlds—it really is an art, and it isn’t easy.

What is the best advice you can give to aspiring writers?

Well, I’ve written a whole book on how to write, called Seize the Story. It includes lots of info and exercises about elements of fiction such as creating characters and plots, and writing dialogue and setting. But if I could give only one piece of advice it would be: Ignore trends. Write about what truly matters to you, and never give up.

Thank you so much, Victoria! I actually didn't know that Oberon had been used before Shakespeare. But now I'll be better prepared for literature classes. I love the title Indigo Bottle!

Context 22: What do editors want?

Last weekend I attended Context, a speculative literature convention. They had many amazing panels, and one I found really useful was "What Do Editors Want?" I've put together some notes I took since I know there are several aspiring authors here.

The editors on this panel were:

Paula Guran, Editor of Juno Books

Jackie Gamber, Co-founder and Executive Editor of Meadowhawk Press

Michael Knost, Author, editor, columnist, and publisher

Jason Sizemore, Editor-in-Chief of Apex Publications

Mike Resnick, Author and editor

-Find your unique voice

-Separate your feelings from your stories

Not to say you shouldn't love your stories, but you have to be able to take criticism and consider changes. Editors won't put up with authors who think there work doesn't need revision.

-Read your stories aloud to find and fix awkward sentences

-A cover letter is a handshake; don't let it get in the way.

A cover letter shouldn't be more than a page, if that. Let your good writing speak for itself. Always check submission guidelines, of course.

-It is okay to say "No" to editors

Say "No" if they want to change your story radically or you find you just can't work with them for some reason of another. Eventually, you will find an editor you can work with.

-Editors DO want to discover new talent

-Only list professional sales in your query, i.e., sales $.03/word and up.

I found this piece of advice to be the most useful. Before attending the panel, I thought I had the right idea about submitting stories to smaller publications so I could work my way up. But it does make more sense to polish your writing until it is professional quality.