Retrospective (May 24-30)

What happened in the last week?
Well, more boy stories. This week from Megan (I know I posted hers in the last retrospective but forgive me, for my dates are screwed up) and Alexa.
Summer stories from Erika, Hope, and Jez.
Some absolutely fantastic author interviews with Heather Duffy Stone (author of This Is What I Want to Tell [...]

Debut Interview: Sydney Salter

Because I’m awesome (or, uhh, something) I scored an interview with Sydney Salter, author of the fabulous My Big Nose (and Other Natural Disasters).
girljordyn: First question, always the same. Can you talk a little bit about the inspiration behind My Big Nose?
sydsalter: I had a very traumatic job experience involving a wrecked van and a destroyed [...]

TBS Countdown: The Smart Boy

Today’s boy story is the last one and, well, it’s MINE. And it is what it is. (Oh, and the guy I wrote about? He knows I wrote about him. Not sure if he’ll end up reading it or not though.)
I won’t tell his name, but in eighth grade we had all our core classes [...]

Debut Review: Initiation

Review in Short: When Mauricio Lodoño enters the prestigious St. Stephen’s he hopes that the all-boys school will make him into someone important. However, his freshman year is instead fraught with shaky friendships, scandal, and insecurity. This is an interesting take on social networking sites and a look at the wealthy from an outsider’s point of [...]

TBS Countdown: Sekrit Helicopter Pilot Trivia

When researching the music for Twenty Boy Summer, I tried to discover if this band Helicopter Pilot was a real band or not. I googled them and found little to nothing to indicate that they existed, and then the following interchange happened between me and Sarah Ockler.
me: Helicopter Pilot is not a real band, right? [...]

Review: Gringolandia

Review in Short: When Daniel’s father, a rebel communist prisoner in Chile, is released from prison and torture (after five years) to meet up with his family in the United States, there is a definite clash of interest as Daniel wants his father to come to terms with America and be the dad he remembers and [...]

TBS Countdown: One Good Summer

Today’s summer story is from Jez, who’s Tuesday on the 5 Nerdsome Writers. She tells about an incredible summer from her childhood. Enjoy!
I started out this project wanting to write about my best friend, who just so happens to be a guy. Every time I sat down to write I tried to think of which [...]

The Lovely Talking: My Big Nose (and Other Natural Disasters)

Have you guys missed my sister? Yes? Okay good, because SHE’S BACK, and this time talking about My Big Nose (and Other Natural Disasters), by Sydney Salter. I loved this book, by the way. I don’t agree with everything she says (when do I ever?), but here’s her take on the book.
So I really like [...]

TBS Countdown: Summer Travels

Alright, today’s guest blog is a summer tale by Hope, of Hope’s Bookshelf. Enjoy!
When I think of summer, I think of warm days, hanging out with friends and family that I haven’t seen in a while, and camping.  My family is big on the camping.  We have a thirty-eight foot camper that we camp in [...]

Debut Interview: Courtney Summers

Interview with Courtney Summers, author of the debut novel Cracked Up to Be? 
Why, yes. 
girljordyn: What was the inspiration or idea behind Cracked Up to Be?
courtney_s: Cracked Up to Be was inspired by the question, “What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done?” And my interest in writing an abrasive female character. After I had these two things locked into [...]