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Why a Character Talks about Kurt Vonnegut in BEFORE YOU GO
For starters: I’ve always done it. Always? Yes, in fact, always. It’s a tradition that started when I was six months old and referenced Go, Dog. Go! during a Skype with Granny. I continued to do it...
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“The Swimmer” in BEFORE YOU GO
Burt Lancaster starred in a literate little 1968 film called “The Swimmer,” based on a short story by John Cheever. I’m certain that I watched the movie as a kid, probably on The 4:30 Movie during Burt...
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Review: “Before You Go”— Librarian as Matchmaker
Naomi Bates is a librarian in Texas, and she has quietly kept up a nice blog, YA Books and More, where she reviews current books and digital media. She was recently kind enough to read my book, Before...
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Fan Mail Wednesday #163 (from “the oldest teenager”)
Here’s one . . . Hi! I work in a library, and I JUST finished “Before You Go” – I realize you may be hoping for actual young adult readers instead of one who is, ummm, still emotionally at the teen...
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Check Out the German Edition of “BEFORE YOU GO.”
There’s really not a whole lot to like about writers, frankly. We tend to self-obsess. For example, try as I might to avoid it, I’ll sometimes wander over to Amazon.com to check out how James Preller,...
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Living with Tragedy
For the paperback publication of my young adult novel, BEFORE YOU GO, I was asked to answer a few interview questions for the back matter. I didn’t really intend to share this here, but given recent...
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BEFORE YOU GO: Running & Writing & Books (2 Quick Excerpts)
Over the past year I’ve twice crossed paths with a near-legendary editor, the much respected Christy Ottaviano. She works at Macmillan and, no, Christy can’t be blamed for any of my books. I follow her...
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My Interview at “Author Turf”
I was recently invited for an interview by Brittney Breakey over at AUTHOR TURF. Brittney has really accomplished a lot with her site. It’s worth checking out. She’s recently interviewed Holly Goldberg...
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The Amityville Horror House in “Before You Go”
In my © 2012 Young Adult novel, Before You Go, a car full of boys drives off to Amityville to view the famous “Amityville Horror” house. It’s a minor scene, just something for my characters to do...
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Letter from a Former Teacher
It’s something I don’t do enough: say thank you, say I remember you. But recently I recalled a former teacher, Mr. Mullen, whom I studied under for two art classes at the College of Oneonta. I was an...
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Excerpt from New Short Story Collection for YA Readers, I SEE REALITY
- - About 18 months ago I was invited to contribute a short story to an “edgy” YA compilation, tentatively titled I See Reality. It would ultimately include twelve short stories by a range of writers....
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My Tom Petty Moment: A Scene from a Book When the Radio Plays
– The idea for my young adult novel, Before You Go, came fully formed. Page one, four teenagers traveling in a car at night. The radio plays. The car spins out of control, hits a tree, someone dies....
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FAN MAIL WEDNESDAY #257: Kylie’s Happy-Sad Feeling
It’s an incredible feeling to get receive a letter like this one that Kylie from Elsewhere sent to me . . . Hey, I recently read your book called “Before You Go.” This book really touched me, and I...
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