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It's hard to top yesterday's blog post. I mean, we were talking about a great cause--Breast Cancer Awareness Month--and giving away chocolate! If you missed it, check out the post and enter to win here.

So, I decided to post about a new author I just discovered--she's quite a talent and popular in the YA scene and how it made me feel to discover her when everyone else seemed to already know her. And what does that mean about me as a writer and reader?

First, I'll tell you a little about the author. Her name is Heather Brewer, and I saw her speak at a great reading festival St. Louis holds each year, THE BIG READ. Brewer is from the St. Louis area, and she drew my attention at this event because she was 1. a YA author (that's my aspiration) 2. Dressed so cool with a pink streak in her hair 3. Writes about vampires. I drug my husband over to her tent, and we sat down. Then she started talking about her series, The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, and these teenage fans in the audience were noticeably excited. She was a great speaker--enthusiastic and real and genuine. You could tell how much she cared about her characters, and how much those teenagers did, too. She went on to talk about the five books she had already completed in the first series (from Eighth Grade Bites to Twelfth Grade Kills) and how she is currently writing a spin-off series. I kept thinking: I am an aspiring YA novelist. I have a children's/teen's book blog, and I have never heard of this author and Vlad Tod. Where have I been? How am I so out of touch? I immediately bought book one of the series, she signed it for me, and I gushed on and on about how much I enjoyed her talk and couldn't wait to read the series.

The first book is great--it will appeal to boys and girls (tween to teen) as well as their parents. I am almost finished with it and have already checked out Ninth Grade Slays from the library. I still am having trouble getting over the fact that this author wrote five books--which they sell in major bookstores and YA bloggers write about, and I had no idea. Where's my market research? Where's my reader instinct?

So, I posed this question to our Facebook Fans: how do you feel when you discover a new author? I mean, I feel excited to have discovered Heather Brewer, but I also feel so out of touch. If she just had one book, like debut novelist Jay Asher, whom I had already read, I wouldn't feel so well. . .slow. Here's what some of our Facebook fans had to say about new authors they've found:

• Holli Moncrieff: "I was so happy to discover Elizabeth Berg. A co-worker lent me her book "Talk Before Sleep", about Berg's experiences helping her friend die with dignity, and it was such a beautiful, heart-wrenching book. I've worked my way through all of ...her novels, and it always seems like a new one has just been released. . .Both my moth
  7 Comments on Discovering New Authors--Exciting!, last added: 10/24/2010
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  Jodi said, on 10/23/2010 7:33:00 AM
  

  I know Margo, sometimes I feel just a few steps behind too! Then when I do discover someone I want to tell everyone. One person I read and loved was Mindy Friddle and I didn't find her until her second book was out. If only we could read EVERY book every written. Sigh.

  Margo Dill said, on 10/23/2010 4:47:00 PM
  

  Glad I'm not the only one, Jodi. :)

  Sybil Nelson said, on 10/23/2010 7:42:00 PM
  

  I love discovering new authors as well. I haven't done so recently. It seems like I'm a late comer to everything as well. Right now I'm really into Philipa Gregory. And a few months ago I "discovered" Meg Cabot. Talk about late!

  Margo Dill said, on 10/24/2010 8:56:00 AM
  

  Oh Sybil, you are a reader after my own heart. I love it--discovered Meg Cabot. :) But I guess we just need to focus on the fact that we discovered them at all, right??? :)
  
  Margo

  Annie said, on 10/24/2010 9:39:00 AM
  

  C'mon, Margo. I heard Heather over a year ago....in Omaha. :) Welcome to the party!!
  
  No, I understand what you're saying. I read an Erik Larsen book and thought 'WOW! Great author.' Then, when I started talking to others about him and this book, I find out he's written several great books....and I'm the last one to the party.
  
  Reading doesn't have to be about keeping up with the NYT bestsellers list or jumping on some author's bandwagon because everyone else is. It's about finding a story that resonants with you and sharing that reading love with others. :)

  Margo Dill said, on 10/24/2010 3:49:00 PM
  

  Annie:
  Maybe i just need you to keep me posted on the party invitations! :) I love what you said in your last paragraph. You are so right!
  
  margo

  Zulema E. Suárez said, on 10/24/2010 4:57:00 PM
  

  Margo,
  
  You are not alone. I always discover authors and television shows after everyone else has moved on. For example, I have been watching Oprah at the gym, lately, now that she is going off the air. But that is okay--I am use to it by now!

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By Jill Earl





As I read my way through the memoirs, poetry, writing how-tos and other genres of this year’s reading list, children’s books continue to be a favorite go-to for me. Not only do I gain inspiration from them, but they’re a great break from more ‘adult’ reads.

One of my childhood favorites is The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame. It doesn’t matter that I know the adventures of Water Rat, Mole, Badger and Toad by heart. Each time I read, I relive the wonder of Mole’s discovery of life above ground. My mouth waters at the feasts they eat. I shake my head and laugh at Toad’s ability to stay in trouble and his friends’ faithfulness to stand by him through everything.

Another favorite is Julie Andrews Edwards’ Mandy. Ms. Edwards, better known as actress Julie Andrews, weaves a sweet tale about Mandy, an orphan who yearns for a place all her own and creates one in an abandoned cottage she finds. As an only child, I identified with Mandy’s desire and cheered her boldness to go for her dreams.

A couple of months ago, I read a delightful children’s book, Zen Shorts by Jon J. Muth, about siblings Karl, Addy and Michael befriending a most unusual neighbor. Stillwater, a friendly giant panda who wears boxer shorts, lives a simple life and dispenses Zen-like pearls of wisdom. Not surprisingly, the advice given by him is just what each child needs at the time. I love how the beautiful full-color illustrations of Stillwater and the children contrast with the black-and-white ones of the panda’s tales, the latter reminding of calligraphy a bit in its depiction.

All three of the aforementioned books have been welcome additions to my writer’s reading list.

What about you, dear reader? Do you read children’s books for pleasure? Why or why not?

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