Middle Grade Ninja: GUEST POST: “The Art of the Middle School Presentation” by Laura Martin

You wrote a middle grade novel. Good for you! You found an agent (lucky dog) and got published (yippee!) Now you have this bright shiny book in your hands…and it needs to sell. Insert an ominous cricket soundtrack here… Problem: your target audience isn’t old enough to drive themselves to the bookstore yet. And even […]

Middle Grade Ninja: GUEST POST: “How to Quickly Write the Fantasy Fiction Novel of Your Dreams: A Guide” by Angelina Allsop

So you are setting out to write a novel and become a published author. Congrats to you! Writing fantasy fiction can be a lot fun, but be warned, it is quite a bit of work. Fear not, with some planning, trade craft, and guidance, you can finish your novel this year! Before you start anything, […]

Middle Grade Ninja: GUEST POST: “On Pacing ” by Chris Eboch

Fast-paced. Gripping. A page turner. “I couldn’t put it down.” Why do some books get these comments, while others are called slow or flat? A strong story has conflict and tension. But that’s just the beginning. Once you have a strong conflict, you need to make it as compelling as possible with proper pacing. As […]

Middle Grade Ninja: GUEST POST: “Tie Your Camel and Trust in Allah” by Kurtis Scaletta

Are you there, Esteemed Reader? Ninja here. I’ve been ignoring this blog since my two-part post Swimming With Sharks in which I warned readers that some publishing professionals are not to be trusted. Traffic since that post has exploded and I’ve found it easier to stay offline and focus on my upcoming release rather than […]

Middle Grade Ninja: Halloween Giveaway and a FREE Book

TO WIN, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS COMMENT ON THIS POST AND/OR HEAD TO AMAZON ON HALLOWEEN ONLY TO GET YOUR FREE COPY OF THE NINJA’S BOOK Hi there, Esteemed Reader. As promised, the blog will get a little flaky from here to the holidays as I’ve got some deadlines to meet and my […]

Middle Grade Ninja: Classic

Newbery Award–winning author Louis Sachar is the creator of the entertaining Marvin Redpost books as well as the much-loved There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom, winner of 17 child-voted state awards. Louis Sachar’s book Holes, winner of the 1999 Newbery Medal, the National Book Award, and the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, is also an […]

Middle Grade Ninja: NINJA STUFF

Fair warning, Esteemed Reader, I’m going to use just a bit of adult language in this post. I’m emotional today because I’ve just picked up Little Ninja after his school went on lock down following a shooting. I don’t want to be writing this. I want that amazing interview with my hero Louis Sachar, author […]

Middle Grade Ninja: Young Adult

Tomi Adeyemi is a Nigerian-American writer and creative writing coach based in San Diego, California. After graduating Harvard University with an honors degree in English literature, she received a fellowship that allowed her to study West African mythology and culture in Salvador, Brazil. When she’s not working on her novels or watching Scandal, she can […]

Middle Grade Ninja: NINJA BOOK CLUB: Chapter 12: THE TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT

First Paragraph: Through the gates, flanked with statues of winged boars, and up the sweeping drive the carriages trundled, swaying dangerously in what was fast becoming a gale. Leaning against the window, Harry could see Hogwarts coming nearer, its many lighted windows blurred and shimmering behind the thick curtain of rain. Lightning flashed across the […]

Middle Grade Ninja: NINJA BOOK CLUB: Chapter 9 THE DARK MARK

First Paragraph(s): Don’t tell your mother you’ve been gambling,” Mr. Weasley implored Fred and George as they all made their way slowly down the purple-carpeted stairs. “Don’t worry, Dad,” said Fred gleefully, “we’ve got big plans for this money. We don’t want it confiscated.” Mr. Weasley looked for a moment as though he was going to […]

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