Dinner With a New York Times Best-Selling Author - Progressive ...

This was such a treat for me!? Somehow I got invited to have dinner with a New York Times best selling author.? My idea of heaven is being at a table full of lovers of the written word with plates piled high with indulgent, over-the-top delicious food.? I just lived my dream, people!

For anyone with middleschool-age readers, lovers of Harry Potter, the Percy Jackson series, or really any fantastic, draw-you-in-until-you-forget-the-real-world kind of books, the Ashtown Burials series is for you.? Kind of a scary name though, yes?? And the cover of his new book is a little scary too, but mostly just super intriguing.? Funny story though (because you get to hear the behind-the-scenes stories when you have dinner with the author!!!): they tried out a different cover, but N.D. Wilson (let's just call him Nate) had to fight them to get it changed to this one.? He said the first one was way too creepy.? But don't worry, this is in the same category of spine-tingles as those other books I listed; totally middle school-friendly.We had dinner at Bambarra in downtown Salt Lake: about fifteen book lovers, writers, the marketing gal from The Kings English who I adore, another blogger, some librarians.? It was such a fun group!? Don't you love being with people who geek out about the same stuff you do?

Speaking of geeking out, let's talk for just a minute about how inspiring it was to talk to someone who's doing what I'm trying to do (and he's doing it really well).? Nate asked me what I was writing about, we talked a bit about outlining versus just writing as it comes, and he wished me luck.? It was kind of cool:)? Also, it's Nanowrimo month!? Anyone else taking the challenge this year? You can read a little excerpt of my novel at the link, and add me as a writing buddy if you're doing it too!? I think I'm going to need a little cheerleading this year...

But, back to The Ashtown Burials series.? I love it when authors make allusions to other literature or mythology.? It's so fun to see new takes on old stories and how a skilled writer can weave them together so seamlessly and create something new and exciting.? These stories give me the same edge-of-my-seat feeling I used to get as a kid when my dad and I watched Indiana Jones movies together.? Also, I feel like these are particularly great for boys.? The action is fast-paced, it's cool and it's chock full of stuff little dudes love.? Girls will love it too.? But I feel like there's a ton of excellent fiction for girls already, but really quality stories for boys are a little harder to find sometimes.? So, if you've got kids looking for a new series to get drawn into, check this one out; it's only book number two and there will a total of five, so there will be plenty to look forward to!

PS N.D. Wilson is as nice, relaxed and down to earth as he looks:)? And you should totally read his bio; it's awesome.

Source: http://www.progressivepioneer.com/progressive-pioneer/2012/11/dinner-with-a-new-york-times-best-selling-author.html

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