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When reading a book or story by one of our favorite authors, who among us has not asked the question feared and loathed by every writer: Where do you get those great ideas? Here is the book that provides the answer, at least for those lucky readers of contemporary young-adult fiction. Editors M. Jerry and Helen S. Weiss have gathered together some of the finest writers for teens today and cha... More

When reading a book or story by one of our favorite authors, who among us has not asked the question feared and loathed by every writer: Where do you get those great ideas? Here is the book that provides the answer, at least for those lucky readers of contemporary young-adult fiction. Editors M. Jerry and Helen S. Weiss have gathered together some of the finest writers for teens today and challenged them to define their inspirations. Their responses are as varied and fascinating as the authors themselves. Adele Griffin (The Other Shepards) remembers the '80s and the attempts by her peers to pattern themselves after skeletal supermodels in "As Skinny Does," while Rich Wallace (Wrestling Sturbridge) infuses "Final Cut" with all the pain and delight of first love and basketball tryouts. Comedic Jon Scieszka reveals the evolution of his writing with incredibly droll nursery-rhyme variations in "Thirteen Diddles," and the usually funny Paul Zindel takes a serious turn as he spins a multicultural tale of real and imagined monsters in "Rachel's Vampire." Joan Abelove, Mel Glenn, Joyce Hansen, and Tamora Pierce contribute to this collection as well.

Because many of the writers draw on events of their own adolescence, these stories will be all the more significant to teen readers. Each piece is accompanied by a short explanation as to where and when the muse struck, describing how the seed of each experience germinated into a story. A superb choice for aspiring young authors and discriminating readers alike. (Ages 11 and older) --Jennifer Hubert

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