Months ago, my fourteen-year-old son saw the trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy II, and insisted we see it in the theater. We all liked the original movie and the trailer looked good, so on a cloudy, not-too-promising Saturday morning, we planned it as a family outing. By the time we arrived at the theater,Continue reading “What Can We Learn About Character Arc and Pacing from GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY II? (Spoiler free)”
Author Archives: Rebecca J. Allen
Recommended: SONG OF THE CURRENT by Sarah Tolcser
I requested an advanced reader copy of Song of the Current in exchange for an unbiased review. An immersive fantasy debut set along the waterways of a magical world. Caroline Oresteia is destined for the river. Her father is a wherryman, as was her grandmother. All Caro needs is for the river god to whisper her name, and herContinue reading “Recommended: SONG OF THE CURRENT by Sarah Tolcser”
Book Recommendations: FOLLOW ME BACK by A.V. Geiger
I received a free advanced reader copy of Follow Me Back in exchange for an unbiased review. Told through tweets, direct messages, and police transcripts Follow Me Back is the first book of a new duology. Written for the online generation this thriller will keep you guessing right up to the shocking end. Tessa Hart’s world feelsContinue reading “Book Recommendations: FOLLOW ME BACK by A.V. Geiger”
Book Recommendation: THE TAKEDOWN by Corrie Wang
I received a free Advanced Reader Copy of The Takedown in exchange for an honest review. Kyla Cheng doesn’t expect you to like her. For the record, she doesn’t need you to. On track to be valedictorian, she’s president of her community club, a debate team champ, plus the yummy Mackenzie Rodriguez has firmly attached himself toContinue reading “Book Recommendation: THE TAKEDOWN by Corrie Wang”
Book Recommendation: THE DISAPPEARANCES by Emily Bain Murphy
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of The Disappearances in exchange for an honest review. What if the ordinary things in life suddenly…disappeared? When Aila’s mother dies and her father is drafted to fight in World War II, she and her younger brother are sent to live with her mother’s best friend from childhood. Aila has met Mrs. CliftonContinue reading “Book Recommendation: THE DISAPPEARANCES by Emily Bain Murphy”
Using Setting to Create a Three-Dimensional World for Your Story: THE URBAN SETTING THESAURUS
We received a free copy of Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi’s The Urban Settings Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to City Spaces in exchange for an honest review. Since we’re fans of their Emotion Thesaurus as well as their thesauri of positive and negative character trains, we were excited to dive in. (See our review of the other books here.)Continue reading “Using Setting to Create a Three-Dimensional World for Your Story: THE URBAN SETTING THESAURUS”
First Pages: My Search for the Un-put-downable Start of a Story
I’m revising manuscript number five of my not-yet-illustrious writing career. The story is complete, has been read one critique partner and revised, and is ready to go to beta readers. This story has heists, fight scenes and even kissing (new for me since my prior stories were middle grade), and I’m very excited about it.Continue reading “First Pages: My Search for the Un-put-downable Start of a Story”
Twitter 101 for Writers
Over the holidays, my father-in-law mentioned that a friend had just written a book, his memoirs about the Vietnam War. Since my father-in-law knows I write, I felt like I should offer to help his friend, but I write middle grade and young adult stories. What useful advice would I have? Then I asked ifContinue reading “Twitter 101 for Writers”
Recommended: Stephanie Garber’s CARAVAL
Caraval is the story of Scarlett, a girl who is desperate to escape her violent and controlling father and to take her younger sister, Donatella, with her. Scarlet hopes marriage to a man she’s never met, a marriage arranged by her father, will save them. Donatella doesn’t believe it will, so she persuades a handsome sailor toContinue reading “Recommended: Stephanie Garber’s CARAVAL”
A Book to Pull in Reluctant Readers: Neal Shusterman’s SCYTHE
Normally, I don’t write reviews for books by established authors. Scythe was published in November 22nd, 2016 and already has 1,994 reviews on Goodreads, so my 1,995th is not going to have a big impact on Shusterman’s sales. But as a mom with one bookworm and one reluctant reader, I am always on the lookout forContinue reading “A Book to Pull in Reluctant Readers: Neal Shusterman’s SCYTHE”
Rebecca J. Allen 