“Writing the Breakout Novel” by Donald Maass. This talked me into my next editing project. It
was sitting at the top of my pile for a while, but I moved it aside to read
other things – you know, fiction.
“The Practice” by John Grisham. I hated this book. I did not engage with any
characters except the one who inexplicably did something inexplicable at the
end. JG seems to dislike people in general. Donald Maass made a lot of
references to this, and I had it lying around, and hadn’t read a proper novel
in a little while, and I was curious. The story sure does move along.
“Red Glove” by Holly Black. These are just as well-plotted as the Grisham
book was, and with likeable characters. The magic system is really nicely
worked out. Blowback is great.
“Black Heart” by Holly Black. In real life, adults constantly tell teens that
the choices they’re making will affect them for the rest of their lives, but
then tell them that their emotions aren’t valid. YA fiction doesn’t have that
problem. The ending was great, though Cassel is a terrible role model.
“Crackpot Palace” by Jeffery Ford. Another one Amazon and Locus really wanted me
to read. Also, I had to try out the new credit card I got after the incident of
the Quebecois robots. “Sit the Dead”, a YA story, was my favorite. So funny.
“When Will You Rise” by Mira Grant. The boy really liked the Newsflesh trilogy, so
of course he said “I’d read that” when the last book had an exerpt from this in
its bonus materials. So I ordered it for his birthday. It was pretty cool,
because it’s a special edition, numbered and signed by the author, which he
seemed to think was pretty awesome. The story was good too, as was the other
short story. MG must have an interesting set of friends.