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During the school year, there’s always something you should be reading.  There’s a book report due, or you really should be researching the history of Uruguay, or it’s not exactly assigned, but why is it that everyone in your class has read the complete works of Dickens and you haven’t?  School year reading is good for you.  It’s broccoli.

The best part of summer reading is that it’s nothing but what you want to read.  Here’s a promise. If, come September, you’ve read nothing but Archie comics, we’re still going to like you.

For what it’s worth, here’s what we’re going to read this summer. Our plan is to read one book a week until we’re done and post our thoughts on this blog each Friday. We’re also going to Twitter as we go. We’re hoping maybe some of you feel like reading along with us.  Yes?  Yes?

Nine weeks of summer.  Nine Walrus Books titles.  Absolutely no broccoli.

1. Horse Mad Heroes by Kathy Helidoniotis
2. Coyote Canyon by Sharon Siamon
3. Gaia Wild by Diane Haynes
4. Canadian Girls Who Rocked the World by Tanya Lloyd Kyi
5. Mountainboard Maniacs by Pam Withers
6. The Lost Sketch by Andrea and David Spalding
7. Gallop to the Sea by Sharon Siamon
8. Secrets in the Sand by Sharon Siamon
9. Rodeo Horse by Sharon Siamon

Let’s get reading!

We work with some pretty incredible writers here at Walrus Books and we thought that a good way for you to get to know them better would be to grill them ruthlessly with 7 death-defying questions and then post their responses on this blog. Because of the extreme nature of these questions, it was obvious that our first subject should be Pam Withers, the author of the Take it to the Extreme series.

So…for your enjoyment we humbly present our inaugural 7 Questions With…

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How did your first book change your life?

It led to a series that turned into a career change. I was phenomenally lucky and I can’t think of anything more fun than being an author for young adults.

Do you have a writing routine?  If so, what is it?

When my son was young, I established the only writing routine that was possible: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. So that’s pretty much what I stick with now. I can’t write more than six hours a day, physically or creatively. And often, that six hours includes research or interviews or outlining as well as writing.

Is there an age range that you tend to write for? Any theories about why?

Most of my books are for kids ages 11 to 13. Partly because that’s the age my son was when I began writing, but also because I spent six years running a summer camp for pre-teens learning whitewater kayaking, so I feel pretty comfortable aiming my material at that age group.

Do you have any advice for young writers? Care to share it?

Keep a journal, attend a young writers camp or workshop if you can find one (such as the  Vancouver Public Library’s summer camp for young writers) read the kind of material you like to write, check out various links on my website for young writers, and check out the books at WritersDigest.com.

What’s your favourite word?

Sinuous (to describe a river)

If you hadn’t become a writer, what profession do you think you might have tried?

A psychologist, because they also have to “get inside people’s heads,” but getting inside imaginary people’s heads is more fun.

What was your favourite book when you were a kid?

The Wizard of Oz

Be sure to check out Pam’s books, which include Mountainboard Maniacs, Adrenalin Ride and Peak Survival.

Thanks, Pam!