It's live!! Cover Reveal: The Revelation of Gabriel Adam by S. L. Duncan Giveaway (US/Canada) - The Official YABC Blog
(Image courtesy of YABooksCentral.)
Thursday, January 30, 2014
It's live at YABooksCentral!! Cover Reveal: The Revelation of Gabriel Adam by S. L. Duncan Giveaway (US/Canada) - The Official YABC Blog
Swing by YABooksCentral, check it out, and enter to win!
It's live!! Cover Reveal: The Revelation of Gabriel Adam by S. L. Duncan Giveaway (US/Canada) - The Official YABC Blog
(Image courtesy of YABooksCentral.)
It's live!! Cover Reveal: The Revelation of Gabriel Adam by S. L. Duncan Giveaway (US/Canada) - The Official YABC Blog
(Image courtesy of YABooksCentral.)
Monday, January 27, 2014
The Author Interview: Christine Kohler, NO SURRENDER SOLDIER
It's time for another round of the aptly titled segment, THE AUTHOR INTERVIEW! In this episode, I'm thrilled to introduce you to fellow OneFourKidLit alumni, Christine Kohler, author of the YA novel, NO SURRENDER SOLDIER. Here she is, to tell us a little about herself, her process, and her exciting new book.
Tell me a little about yourself
for bio purposes. Also, if you like, tell us a little about where you're from and
how that place fuels you as a writer. (Basically, what's the local writing
culture like?)
I’ve worked as a journalist and a teacher. I lived a decade on Asian-Pacific islands, Hawaii, Japan and Guam, which is where my novel is set. I worked as a political reporter and foreign correspondent for Gannett. About six years ago I moved from San Antonio, Texas, to a Victorian house in a tiny rural town in West Texas. In the town there are no bookstores or theaters. There is an operational Carnegie Library. My town is within 40-50 minutes of three larger small towns, all which have universities.
I’ve worked as a journalist and a teacher. I lived a decade on Asian-Pacific islands, Hawaii, Japan and Guam, which is where my novel is set. I worked as a political reporter and foreign correspondent for Gannett. About six years ago I moved from San Antonio, Texas, to a Victorian house in a tiny rural town in West Texas. In the town there are no bookstores or theaters. There is an operational Carnegie Library. My town is within 40-50 minutes of three larger small towns, all which have universities.
1. You wrote a book? Awesome! What's it about and when can we read
it?
NO SURRENDER SOLDIER, Merit Press (Adams
Media/F+W Media) is out now! The official release date is January 18, 2014. The
Carnegie Library is having a launch party for me that day and I’m going to talk
about the research behind the book. NO SURRENDER SOLDIER takes place on Guam in
1972 during the Vietnam war. Kiko, a 15-year-old Chamorro boy, finds out his
mother was raped by a Japanese soldier during WWII. What Kiko doesn’t know is
that a WWII Japanese soldier has been hiding in the jungle behind Kiko’s house.
It’s based on a true historical event.
2. Tell us a little about the process. How long did it take? It this your first book ever? What inspired you?
2. Tell us a little about the process. How long did it take? It this your first book ever? What inspired you?
NO SURRENDER SOLDIER is my 17th
book, but my first novel published. It wasn’t until after I’d
moved back to the U.S. mainland that I couldn’t get the WWII stories from the
Pacific Theatre out of my head. I began doing more research. I research until
I’m saturated. I call it “filling the well.” Then I write and write and write
until the well is empty, then I fill it up again with more research, then write
again. I can’t remember how long it took for this first draft, especially since
it is historical. But usually I hack out a first draft of a novel in about six
weeks, especially if family life isn’t extra demanding at that time. But
revision takes me longer. For me revision is like chiseling granite.
3. How was your journey to publication, and what was it like when you arrived?
3. How was your journey to publication, and what was it like when you arrived?
My road to novel publication was as
winding as the road to Hana. Here’s the long version: http://www.christinekohlerbooks.com/blog.htm?post=921793
Even though my YA historical novel is
out now, I’ve still got “miles to go before I sleep,” as Robert Frost said. Today
novelists are expected to do a lot of their own marketing. And I’ll be
presenting at a number of librarian and teacher conferences this year, plus
book festivals. I don’t know if a writer ever feels she’s arrived. I feel more
like I’m just beginning on another journey.
4. Any advice for would-be writers just stepping out?
4. Any advice for would-be writers just stepping out?
Oh, lots of advice! One, figure out how
you can make writing a lifestyle. Two, study craft. Three, don’t write to
please others. Four, revise deeply and often. Five, persevere.
5. Finally, where can we find you? (goodreads, amazon link, website, blog)
[Note: My publisher is doing a Goodreads give-away this month for
25 signed hardback copies of NO SURRENDER SOLDIER.]
[Note: Discussion & Activity sheets available at
Teachingbooks.net & Sharemylesson. However, if teachers want the quiz,
test, and 3 keys they can e-mail ckohler@christinekohlerbooks.com and
request.]
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