March 18, 2024 by Amanda MacGregor
Beyond the love of reading, the prospect of doing well in school, or even increased empathy for those around the reader, middle grade books offer something far more important: optimism.
March 14, 2024 by Amanda MacGregor
In writing my contemporary YA novel, Just Another Epic Love Poem, I leaned into the granularity of my experience.
March 14, 2024 by Amanda MacGregor
Not every character name goes through a rigorous process—some are a little more random!—but this is one of those parts of the writing process that is pure fun for me. It can be challenging to settle on the right name, but when you do, it makes all the difference.
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March 12, 2024 by Amanda MacGregor
In The Deadly Daylight, Alice England is a friend to the dead. She listens to what they tell her.
March 11, 2024 by Amanda MacGregor
The key to making that 2015-2024 walk to oblivion and partway back? Persistence. Holding nerve. Holding serve. Hoping to get another chance, and then another, and believing that if only you get that chance, you'll get it right this time.
March 7, 2024 by Amanda MacGregor
In The Color of Sound, twelve year old musical prodigy Rosie stumbles upon a shed on her grandparents’ property and, once inside, meets a girl who is, against all odds, a version of her own mother at age twelve.
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March 6, 2024 by Amanda MacGregor
“Write what you know,” is an excellent starting place for writers. But to that advice, I would add, “Write what you wish you didn’t.”
March 4, 2024 by Amanda MacGregor
Let’s continue to shine as many lights as we can on middle grade books and their authors. Read their books. Recommend them to your friends. Post reviews online. Talk about them.
March 4, 2024 by Amanda MacGregor
Stories enable readers to connect with and learn from the healing power of forgiveness. To see and understand its benefits. Stories enable readers to see themselves on the page. Give them an opportunity to practice the art of forgiving.
March 1, 2024 by Amanda MacGregor
Tabletop RPGs, by design, encourage social interaction, problem solving and conflict resolution.
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A Fuse #8 Production
by Betsy Bird
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