Showing posts with label summer reading for tweens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label summer reading for tweens. Show all posts

Friday, May 3, 2013

Day Seven, Second Anniversary Highlights: THE PULL OF GRAVITY

What a journey this writing/publishing thing is.
Often, I'm upside down.
Often, I'm humbled.
Always, I'm grateful. 

Celebrating the second anniversary of my book here on my blog. Yep. That's what I've been doing.

Have I mentioned that The Pull of Gravity is my baby?



My first (and still, as of this post, only) published book.

If you've ever tried to get published, then you know how huge that is. 

And, soon enough my baby will going from being that -- the first -- to being the older sibling. The one who's expected to toddle off more and more on it's own while I tend to the new baby. Not that I'll love it any less. Like with real kids, I vow to love all my books equally (while secretly hoping to love each new book best. Because, otherwise, what is there to strive for?! Thank goodness it's different with real babies. . . maybe we've had enough of this analogy?!)

Anyway, I am excited about the new baby! I am really proud of The Summer of Letting Go. I've never written a manuscript that took so many rewrites and revisions to finally get it right. And I think I have. Gotten it right. (By the way, by commenting on any of these anniversary posts, you will be automatically entered to win a signed ARC of The Summer of Letting Go so long as you are in the US or Canada. Sorry, shipping is prohibitive otherwise).

But it's still weird to think of a new baby nosing its way in, needing my attention (hmm, guess I lied about being done with the analogy). So, I'm enjoying a little time really reveling in the highlights of its first two years in print.

When I set out to write it, I really wanted to write a classic story, so I hope that, with the little pushes I've given it, it will grow legs and be out there in the reading psyche for a long, long time. Standing on its own two feet.

Anyway, highlights! HIGHLIGHTS!

from l - r: Amy Fellner Dominy, m, Bettina Restrepo,
Geoff Herbach & Christina  Mandelski
just a few of us in The Graduates

It goes without saying that being a member of THE CLASS OF 2K11, now THE GRADUATES has been more than a highlight of my fledgling publishing career. More like a lifeline. We still communicate on a weekly, if not daily, basis, sharing a closeness that comes from being in some sort of trenches together.

Also, here's a huge highlight. Opening up Newsday to find this unexpected Summer Reading spread with your book next to John Grisham's.

Ah, I remember how I thought this would sell a thousand copies. . .
Never get tired of some twitter love.  p.s. got to meet this student
during a Skype visit! 

or, a student's critique. 
More highlights tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by and chiming in.

xox gae

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Summer Reading for Tweens and Teens, Got Gravity?

What summer reading list is complete 
without a road-trip novel? 
Especially one that extols the virtues of reading sad books and contains the sentence: 
‘Parents are such idiots.’ ” 
Newsday 

Summer is coming. 

Not that I'm wishing away spring.

omg, no. I love spring. Stay here forever, Mr. Spring!*

But, ready or not, soon summer will be here. I know many teachers, librarians and other reading clubs are already making up their summer reading lists, and I'm really, truly hoping, with the book now out a shiny new, paperback format, THE PULL OF GRAVITY will be on yours.   

The Pull of Gravity is a Bank Street Best Children's Book (ages 12-14) and
a National Battle of the Books selection (7th - 8th grade) for 2013-14.

If you are a local library or program, and you use the book in a group setting, I would be thrilled to pay an in-person visit. If you are not local, I'd be happy to Skype in and talk about reading and writing and do a Q&A.

You can reach me here on my blog, or email me at g.polisner@gmail.com for more information.

If you'd like to watch the charming paperback trailer made by a fifteen-year old boy, you can HERE!

Happy reading!

- gae

*could be a Mrs. What do I know?