Category: Uncategorized

Middle Grade Ninja: Book of the Week: MAMBA POINT by Kurtis Scaletta

This week is going to be tremendous! We are going to be joined by middle grade author Kurtis Scaletta himself on Thursday and today we are going to discuss his newest book, Mamba Point, which comes out today! That’s right, the ninja got himself an exclusive advanced reader copy and I have been enjoying Mamba Point […]

Middle Grade Ninja: Book Review: OPEN MINDS by Susan Kaye Quinn

WARNING: This book is actually YA and contains some adult language and content. I wouldn’t go so far as to call it an ‘R,’ but maybe a strong ‘PG,’ if not edging toward ‘PG-13.’ First Paragraph (s): A zero like me shouldn’t take public transportation.  The hunched driver wrinkled a frown before I even got on […]

Middle Grade Ninja: Book of the Week: TALES OF A FOURTH GRADE NOTHING by Judy Blume

Happy Thanksgiving, Esteemed Reader! Make sure you tune in Thursday as Judy Blume will… probably be eating turkey with her family:) Actually, there will be no author interview this Thursday and no literary agent interview on Saturday. I’ll be with family and won’t have time to post them and I don’t imagine you’d have much […]

Middle Grade Ninja: Book of the Week: THE WITCHES by Roald Dahl

Happy Halloween, Esteemed Reader! I’ve got some great writer interviews and interviews with literary agents coming up. I’ll begin posting those again as of next week and we’ll return you to your regularly scheduled ninja. But as this week is nearly over, I’m just going to push those interviews back a little longer and focus instead on a […]

Middle Grade Ninja: GUEST POST: “7 More Questions For: Author Hugh Howey”

WARNING: This post is a little more adult than most of the content of this blog. As 80% of my readership is composed of adult writers and publishing professionals, this warning only applies to the younger readers who find their way here. If you’re mature enough to want to read this post, you’re probably fine, but […]

Middle Grade Ninja: Guest Post: “Have You Ever Thrown Up? Kids Wanna Know!” by Tracey Hecht

Recently some young fans were allowed to ask questions of author Tracey Hecht. These are those questions: 1. Do you ever know anyone in the classes you visit? Emma, age 8 Yes, I do!  (I know Emma, the author of this question.)  I love visiting classrooms and schools where I know the kids.  It makes […]

Middle Grade Ninja: GUEST POST: “The Mystery of Reading” by Izzi Breigh

  No story is whole until it’s been read.  That’s why every author wants readers to get sucked into their book. Once you’ve achieved that, the story stops being letters and periods arranged into sentences. It becomes characters, each with purpose and limitations, exploring brand new places. The story escapes the page and lives. For […]

Middle Grade Ninja: GUEST POST: “Self-Published to Small-Press Published” by Stacy Barnett Mozer

When my middle grade novel, The Sweet Spot, launched last June I was sure that I had made the final and best decision on how I was going to put it out into the world. The book had previously found an agent, gone through rounds of revision and rejection and revision – and not sold. […]

Middle Grade Ninja: GUEST POST: “Why School Librarians are a Middle Grade Author’s Best Friends” by Kristina Springer

I have four kids, three of which are in my target reading age for my books now (9, 11, and 13). And when I’m not writing, I like to volunteer at their schools—especially in all positions that relate to books. This means I work in the publishing center at the elementary school (we edit and […]