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My latest reading list has been made up exclusively of Rick Riordan's Olympians series. I have read 1 through 5 straight through, though I'm not done with #5 yet. I believe The Last Olympian is the conclusion of the series, though I read Riordan is working on a new Camp Halfblood series. These books have been great fun to read. I have really, really enjoyed them, and have added Riordan to my Twitter list. My son is a huge fan of these books too, so if Riodan is ever at a book signing within a reasonable driving distance, we'd love to hop in the car and go meet him.

On the writing side, I am waiting for the last of the critiques for The Doorway short story from my online group. Next week I hope to edit the story and get it ready to send out!

I have been staying busy writing online articles to supplement my regular and paltry writing income. These are no masterpieces, and I don't receive writing credits, but they do pay...and that's pretty important too!

Yesterday I submitted my latest article for the Westside Courier. This one was on teenager Kortney Fuller, who has had a pacemaker since she was six months old! She and her family were very nice to interview.

I have also been getting ready for this weekend's Evansville SCBWI event with Margaret McMullan. I anticipate that Margaret will be a great speaker. Kristi Valiant, Elsa Marston, and Marlis day will also be there to sign and sell their own books!

My latest article came out last Friday in the Westside Courier, but I can't post the link because the new editor hasn't had a chance to learn how to put the articles online yet! Hopefully soon. I did get some great feedback on it, though. Kristi Scott, the subject, emailed me to say how thrilled she was with it, and several people stopped me at the gym to say how nice it was. That's always pleasant.

Last Saturday, I attended the Indiana SCBWI event in Carmel, Coffee Talk with Lara Anderson. Lara, who sent several years at Curtis Brown, was full of great information. In a relaxed and informal setting, Lara answered questions from the group of attendees. Her mother and successful author Rebecca Kai Dotlich also added her experience on some of the subjects. I received a paid critique from Lara on the first 50 pages of my YA book, and it was well-worth the $40 cost. I did not receive the glowing feedback that I had hoped, but what I did receive was a very detailed critique. She pointed out specific problems and offered suggestions and examples on what to do about them. I feel like she closely read my manuscript and definitely got my money's worth. It's the best critique I've ever received as far as content. Thank you, Lara!! It was also great to meet and see so many of the other IN-SCBWI members!

I sent out a new query this week (to Cricket) but have mostly been doing research on book packagers. It sounds like freelancing for a packager could have some benefits--experience and credentials, not to mention a little bit of money.

I also finished another of Margaret McMullan's Ya books, When I Crossed No-Bob. Just as in Cashay, I really cared for the main character, Addy in this case, and many of the supporting characters. Though a completely different story than Cashay, it was also similar in that she took another story which could have been so depressing and made it heart-warming and not at all depressing. I would recommend to anyone!

Well if you're looking for a bright, cheery novel...this is most definitely not what you're wanting. Sad, melancholy, and oh-so-true, Margaret McMullan has created a character that is living such a heartbreaking life, but her story is very true to what many young kids live with today. Cashay's story is speaking for the huge population of children that have siblings killed in drive-by shootings, parents strung out on drugs, and very little hope that they will ever get out.

Cashay is the main character of this short novel of the same name, a fourteen year old that has had to grow up way too fast. Her mother, once doing exceptionally well as a recovering drug addict, is back to her typical junkie ways after Cashay's little sister is shot and killed while walking home.

Cashay is taken under the wing of prissy Allison, a very white girl that has no idea of living a life in the projects, just as Cashay has no idea what life is like in a pretty apartment, riding in taxis, or what shopping for fun is. The pair teach each other a thing or two and Cashay works on healing and growing into her own, mature teenage self.

Definitely a biiiiig topic, but written in a simple, touching manner, Cashay is a book that a lot of teens will be able to relate to and the writing style will appeal to the reluctant readers out there. I was pretty impressed with the impact this short little book made.

To learn more or to purchase, click on the book cover above to link to Amazon.

Cashay
Margaret McMullan
176 pages
Young Adult
Houghton Mifflin
9780547076560
April 2009