Say hi to my latest book written with co-writer and friend, Jean Mills. You can read more about Jean here and here.
We’ve known each other since our two boys were in JK together. Jean is an experienced children’s writer, and like me, always looking for stories for boys that are just plain fun to read. Not edgy. Not preachy. Just fun, interesting stories. One day we decided we would just write the stories we were looking for and Dude! represents our first collection. We’ve included a range of genres, such as science fiction, fantasy, adventure, mystery, sports and historical fiction–a young Sherlock Holmes even makes an appearance! The second volume is “under construction” and promises more sports, fantasy, time travel, and adventure.
Though written first for the enjoyment of young readers, Dude! has the potential to be used effectively in classrooms for readers in grades 6 through 9.
Dude! is available at most online bookstores and can be purchased in paperback or ebook format. Here are some links:
I’m wishing lots of good luck and good writing to those who have signed up for NaNoWriMo this year. And for those of you who haven’t, I wish a creative month that brings you closer to achieving your goals.
Here are some writing prompts to help you find stories or add to the ones you already have underway.
1) Think of a story or poem that you could write using one, some or all of the following words.
2) Here are some titles that might help you think of a story or two: Last Day of Summer, Pumpkin Patch Mystery, Lights Out, Shattered, When One Door Closes, Never Forgotten, The Crystal Throne.
3) See if these opening lines can get your story started:
“Why do you think she lied?”
The only thing I could think of saying when I woke up was, “Where am I?”
That’s it. I am done with men. Forever!
Going home should be a good thing—but not always.
I swore that I’d never start a story with someone waking up in the morning. But when you wake up in a tent with a large dog and a (pick the kind of person you want) for roommates, neither of whom you’ve ever seen before, I think you can make an exception.
Henry closed the door softly.
Moaning winds, rain and thunder. Just what I needed for my first night in the house alone.
4) Here are some lines of dialogue for you. Who are the speakers, where are they, what are they doing, what are they going to do next?
Do you think we’ll get away with it?
We did last time.
Yes, but this time we won’t have Henry with us.
I’m sorry.
What for?
For telling Liz about what happened.
It’s okay. She had to know.
Everything’s going to be fine. Don’t worry.
That’s easy for you to say.
You’re hurt, but I’m not giving up.
We’ll never get away now.
5) A lot of special holidays and family events are ahead in the next two months. What are you looking forward to most? What are you dreading? What do your characters look forward to? What do they dread? Write the diary entry your character wrote as a child about a special family or holiday event.
