Wednesday, June 4, 2008

RILEY LEMM
My name is Riley Lemm, I live in the beautiful town of Polson, Montana. It is a small town, only about six thousand people, but I love it. Polson is at the foot of Flathead Lake, the biggest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River. To the east there is the scenic Mission Mountains that are covered in snow most of the year. I love sports and I love to do activities outside. One of my favorite hobbies is reading, but I also like to fish and collect sports cards. I don’t watch much TV and I don’t play many video games. My favorite sport is soccer and I have been playing since I was three years old. Our lake has some great fishing spots and it is a lot of fun to boat on.
I wrote this book for an advanced studies class because I am interested in becoming a writer. I decided that getting some information on how a few of my favorite writers got started and what inspired them would help me. I was also just curious about who they were and what their daily lives were like. So I wrote to them asking them some questions and that became the basis of my book. I chose eleven of my favorite authors who are popular young adult fiction writers. I am also including book reviews of one of their books, a book list of their published works, and a bio on each author. Not all of the authors responded to me personally so I am just including the bio, book list, and book review for those authors.
I found the information helpful and interesting, and I hope you will as well.
Enjoy!


Riley Lemm

Friday, May 30, 2008

Gary Paulsen
Gary Paulsen was born May 17, 1939 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mostly his mother raised him during his early childhood as his father was in the military and was stationed over seas. Gary started writing in 1962 after a stint in the military. His first book was Special War, which described the Vietnam War through the eyes of veterans. Shortly after, Gary wrote his first children’s novel, Mr. Tucket.
In 1987 the book Hatchet brought Gary Paulsen fame. He sold millions of copies, which inspired him to write a series about the main character Brian.
Gary Paulsen lives in La Luz, New Mexico with his wife. He also has a 40-acre spread north of Willow, Alaska where he breeds and trains sled dogs for the Iditarod. I’m amazed by Gary’s wide spectrum of experiences that are brought out in his incredible and varied novels.

Some of Gary Paulsen’s Most Popular Books

Brian’s Saga
· Hatchet
· The River
· Brian’s Winter
· Brian’s Return
· Brian’s Hunt
Hatchet
By Gary PaulsonHatchet, by Gary Paulson is the first book in the Brian Series. Hatchet is probably one of Paulson’s greatest books. In the book Gary introduces Brian Robenson, a city boy. Brian is on a plane ride to visit his father when the pilot has a heart attack and the plane goes down. Brian figures it might be two or three days until the rescuers come, but he is very wrong. Will Brian survive the Canadian wilds until he is rescued or will the wilderness claim his life? This is Brian’s story of stepping into a new world and finding a new meaning to life.
Will Hobbs
Will Hobbs was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
He gets a lot of his ideas from his life experiences. Will is a graduate of Stanford University and former language arts teacher. Longtime backpacker and river runner, he has spent many years exploring the mountain and canyon settings of his stories. He lives in Durango, Colorado with his wife, Jean. I like how Will incorporates past experiences into his writing.
Will’s Novels
Changes in Latitudes
Bearstone
Downriver
Big Wander, the
Beardance
Kokopelli's Flute
Far North
Ghost Canoe
River Thunder
Maze, the
Howling Hill
Jason's Gold
Down the Yukon
Wild Man Island
Jackie's Wild Seattle
Leaving Protection
Crossing the Wire
Jason’s Gold
Jason’s Gold, by Will Hobbs is an amazing story of perseverance, which is set in 1897. In this book Hobbs introduces Jason Hawthorn. Jason is a young man of great independence and because of this he leaves his brothers in Seattle for a life in New York City. He is in New York City for only a few days when the Klondike Gold Rush starts and Jason gets the Klondike Fever as bad as anyone. Jason is off to the far north to catch up with his brothers who have already left and mine millions. This is Jason’s story of determination and strength on his quest to reach the goldfields of the Klondike!
Rick Yancey
Rick Yancey is a Tennessee author who was born in Miami, Florida. He lives with his wife Sandy and his three sons, Jonathan, Joshua, and Jacob. He earned a bachelors degree in English at Roosevelt University. Rick is a former Internal Revenue Service tax collector. Rick writes for both adults and young adults but is best known for his Alfred Kropp series. Rick’s work has been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and the Boston Globe. I like Rick’s book
The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp because he added in Medieval Mythology for an amazing twist.
Email Response from Rick Yancey

Question 1) What inspired you to start writing? I began early, around fourteen or so, when I discovered fantasy, sci-fi. I thought, Boy, I’d love to be able to create something like that! I was also inspired by more than a couple kind and caring teachers who encouraged me to pursue my passion for writing.

Question 2) How old were you when you started writing a book? 14. But I wasn’t published until many, many years later, closer to the age of 40 than 30 or 20. My first published novel was begun when I was 38.

Question 3) How do you get your ideas? From nearly everywhere!

Question 4) Who were your major influences growing up? Tolkien, Hemingway, Faulkner, Fitzgerald, Graham Greene, Robert Parker, Updike. Too many really to name.

Question 5) What are your favorite subjects to write about? Adventure, of course! I also love mystery and my first novel was a romance with a bit of mystery thrown in.

Question 6) Can you tell me some of your background? I was born and raised in Central Florida. I was educated in Chicago. I’m married with three terrific sons.

Question 7) What advice do you have for an author to be? Believe in yourself and what you do. Never give up. There are no shortcuts. Learn from failure and rejection. Fight for your characters. Read, read, read. Never be satisfied or think you’re “brilliant.” Don’t trust every single opinion, especially from people who love you and want to say things you want to hear. Sacrifice your ego for the good of the story.

Question 8) How were your grades in school? Very good, A’s and B’s.


Question 9) What books do you read? Most non-fiction. I love a good non-fiction mystery. I love the Spenser mystery books. Right now I’m re-reading The Years of Lyndon Johnson, a brilliantly written biography by Robert Caro.

Question 10) Do the books you read ever give you ideas to use in your writing? No.

Question 11) What is an average day for you? After the kids are off to school, I write for about three to four hours, and then it’s a lot of marketing . . . being a full-time writer has as much to do with marketing yourself as writing the actual books.
PB Kerr
Philip Kerr is an English author who has written over one hundred thrillers for adults and the Children of the Lamp series for kids. Philip was born in Edinburgh in 1956. He also attended school there. Philip trained at the University of Birmingham as a lawyer, but soon realized law was not for him. He pursed a career in advertising for a short while, and then became an author. Philip lives in Wimbledon London with his wife and three young children. In his spare time he likes listening to Led Zeppelin, reading Graham Smith, eating violet creams and watching Arsenal. I like how Kerr changed the genies of old and made them into something new in his books.




The Children of the Lamp series

#1 The Akhenaten Adventure
#2 The Blue Djinn of Babylon
#3 Cobra King of Kathmandu
#4 The Day of the Djinn Warriors
Children of the Lamp
The Akhenaten Adventure
By P.B. Kerr
The Children of the Lamp, The Akhenaten Adventure by P.B. Kerr is the first book in the Children of the Lamp Series. In this book P.B Kerr introduces John and Philippa Gaunt. They are twelve-year-old twins who amazingly have wisdom teeth at such a young age. Once the teeth were pulled they are able to grant wishes and fly and do things they had never done before. They were Djinn (genies)! They have to journey to their uncle in London to learn how to use their powers. This is their journey to stop the evil djinn and destroy the pharaoh, Akhenaten before he can destroy them!
Email Response from PB Kerr

Question 1) What inspired you to start writing? Reading inspired me.
Question 2) How old were you when you started writing your first book? I wrote stories when I was ten; I was about 18 before I first tackled a novel.
Question 3) How do you get your ideas? Reading. My brain. Watching TV.
Question 4) Who were your major influences growing up? My parents and Ian Fleming.
Question 5) What are your favorite subjects to write about? Hmm.
Question 6) Can you tell me some of your background? I was born in Edinburgh in 1956. I trained as a lawyer.
Question 7) What advice do you have for someone who wants to be a writer? You need to read, a lot.
Question 8) How were your grades in school? So so.
Question 9) What books do you read? History and Biographies.
Question 10) Do the books you read ever give you ideas to use in your own writing? All the time.
Question 11) What is an average day for you? 8.30 – 4.30 writing. Yoga.
J.K. Rowling
J.K. Rowling was on the 31st of July in 1965 in Yate, Gloucestershire, England. J.K. Rowling started writing when she was six years old. Rowling enjoyed writing fantasy stories which she often read to her sister. She started the Harry Potter Series in 1990. Her first book was Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and it was published in 1997 in United Kingdom and in 1998 in the United States.
Right now Rowling lives in Scotland with her family. J.K. Rowling has amazing stories of the extraordinary journey of Harry Potter growing up and facing immense challenges, that to some might seem impossible.

Harry Potter Series
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Harry Potter
And The Deathly Hallows
By J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling is the last book in the Harry Potter Series. In this book it is the last year of his schooling before he becomes a full-fledged wizard. Harry cannot go to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry because the Dark Lord Voldemort has taken over. He is linked to Voldemort through his scar, which he received from Voldemort when one of his spells went bad when he tried to kill Harry. Harry is destined to kill Voldemort or be killed by him. This is Harry’s final adventure to try and destroy the Dark Lord once and for all!
Janna Nickerson
Janna Nickerson is a Montana author from Missoula, Montana. Janna Nickerson was born March 4th, 1988 and currently resides in Missoula, Montana. She started writing her first book, Eyes of War, at age 13. She published the book for a senior project at Hellgate High School in 2005. She published her second book Faces of Sorrow soon after. She started writing in the 6th grade, inspired by her teacher, Maribeth Rothwell. Right now Janna is attending University of Montana where she is majoring in Anthropology. As of June 2007, Janna has presented to nearly 5,000 5th-12th grade students about her book. She was the featured speaker at the 2006 Montana Library Association author luncheon, an invited speaker to the Leavenworth, Washington writing camp for young girls and an invited speaker at the 2006 Montana Festival of the Book. You can clearly tell Janna has a knack for writing, once you start reading you won’t be able to stop.
Eyes of War
By Janna Nickerson

Eyes of War, by Janna Nickerson is the first book in the Fifth Battle Trilogy and it is also her first novel. In this book Janna introduces Princess Janevra and Mat Trakall. Princess Janevra, Heir to the Throne, Princess of the Tower of the Light, Daughter of the Nation Caendor, Child of the King is her full title. In other words she is a princess. Mat Trakall is a poor son of a farmer who has never seen a big city in his life. These two people are almost opposites, and yet their futures are intricately linked!
Email Response from Janna Nickerson
Question 1) What inspired you to start writing? There is nothing that specifically inspired me to begin writing. I loved to write even when I was younger and I did read a lot (and still do). I think from reading a lot I started wondering if I could every write a book like some of my own favorite authors. Also, I had a 6th grade teacher who really encouraged me to write. I think all of those things created the initial bout of inspiration.
Question 2) How old were you when you started writing your first book? I was thirteen when I first started writing and was fifteen when I finished. Both books took two years to write, strangely enough.
Question 3) How do you get your ideas? I don't know where most of my ideas come from. Once again, I do read a lot and through that open myself up to thousands of different ideas, which I can change and make into my own. Hopefully that makes sense?
Question 4) Who were your major influences growing up? I would say the main influences were the support of my parents, great teachers and a few friends who had imaginations as wild as anything you could know. Also, the many different books I read all affected me.
Question 5) What are your favorite subjects to write about? I would have to say fantasy. With fantasy, authors can go anywhere. They create the entire world and don't have to worry about specific histories or ideas which are prevalent in our world today. Fantasy gives you the ability to make everything in your world and who wouldn't have fun doing that? Now, if you meant subjects as in what types of problems do I like to write about (such as war, love, hope, etc), let me know!
Question 6) Can you tell me some of your background? Let's see... I've lived in UT, ID, SD and MT. I consider MT home however. I've lived in Missoula for 14 years and now go to the University of Montana. I have one younger brother, a dog and a cat. I've traveled to Australia, China and Ireland and spent about three weeks in each place. I went to China with a group of students and teachers from my high school. I played soccer, volleyball and was in track when I was in Middle School. I played two years of soccer in High school (I played the game for 8 years before I stopped). My room is filled with books (mostly fantasy). One of my favorite things to do is to browse through a bookstore. I love the feeling of peace of quiet you can find there. My major is anthropology and I have not taken any creative writing classes and probably won't for a while.



Question 7) What advice do you have for someone who wants to be a writer? Write where, when and how you want (in other words, is you have a certain style that you like to use when you write, write that way... your best work will come through when you're comfortable and not outside your comfort zone). Also, when it comes right down to it, it only matters what you think of your own work. If you are 100% certain that it's perfect, then it is. It's your work and in the end only you need to be happy with it. And write because you love to write. Don't push yourself to write in any particular moment because you think you must. If the words simply are not coming, don't force yourself. It will come to you eventually. Some people call this writer's block. I really don't think there is such a thing. All you need to do is think about what you want to happen and eventually it will come to you. I've gone weeks and sometimes months where I don't write at all yet I don't worry about it because I know I will write again when I'm ready.
Question 8) How were your grades in school? I was mostly an A student with a few Bs here and there and two Cs (in math!). My final GPA was 3.6 when I graduated.
Question 9) What books do you read? Lots. Let's see... I love Harry Potter, Eragon, Robert Jordan's books, George R.R Martin's books, Robin Hobb, Kate Forsyth, Jude Fisher, Diana Gabaldon, Jean M. Auel... I could go on but mostly fantasy and historical fiction (like Gabaldon and Auel's books).
Question 10) Do the books you read ever give you ideas to use in your own writing? Of course! I think all authors get ideas from some books. Eventually those ideas become your own as you develop it and create it into something new. But for a foundation and place to begin, I think most authors have a book or two, which maybe nudge them in the right direction.
Question 11) What is an average day for you? An average day? Well, right now I am on a book tour so my average day consists of waking up at 6:30 or so, get ready, go to a school and give presentations most of the day, go back to the hotel, go on a run, eat dinner, do some homework and then talk to my boyfriend or email a few friends. I would have writing in there but since I'm on the road, it's hard to find them time.
Dan Gutman
Dan Gutman is a New Jersey author who has written many children’s books. He was born October 19, 1954 in New York City. Dan’s father left their family when he was young but their family survived.
Many of his books revolve around baseball but he writes about many other sports also. Dan started writing children’s books in 1992 when his two-year-old son inspired him. His most famous set of books is the & Me series which started with the book Honus & Me. Also Dan was a newspaper columnist and a video game magazine editor. I like how kids all over can relate to Dan’s stories because he talks about topics kids face.


--Jim & Me
--Ms. Krup Cracks Me Up! --Mr. Louie is Screwy! --Dr. Carbles is Losing His Marbles! --Mrs. Yonkers is Bonkers! --Miss Suki is Kooky! --Ms. Coco is Loco!--Mr. Macky is Wacky!--Getting Air --Casey Back At Bat--Miss Holly is Too Jolly! --Mrs. Patty is Batty!--Ms. Todd is Odd!
--Mrs. Kormel is Not Normal! --The Million-Dollar Putt
--The Homework Machine --Satch & Me --Abner & Me--Mr. Docker is Off His Rocker! --Miss Lazar is Bizarre! --Ms. LaGrange is Strange! --Mrs. Cooney is Loony! --Mr. Hynde is Out of His Mind!
--Miss Small is Off the Wall --Ms. Hannah is Bananas!
--Mrs. Roopy is Loopy! --Mr. Klutz is Nuts! --Miss Daisy is Crazy!
--The Million-Dollar Strike --The Get Rich Quick Club--Race for the Sky --The Million-Dollar Goal
--Mickey & Me
--Shoeless Joe & Me --Back in Time With Benjamin Franklin --Back in Time With Thomas Edison --The Million Dollar Kick
--Johnny Hangtime --Babe & Me --The Kid Who Became President
--Jackie & Me --Virtually Perfect --The Million Dollar Shot
--Honus & Me
--The Kid Who Ran For President --They Came From Centerfield
The Million Dollar Kick
By Dan Gutman

The Million Dollar Kick, by Dan Gutman is one of his better-known books for teens. The character Dan introduces in this book is Whisper Nelson. Whisper is a teenage girl who doesn’t fit in at school. She is terrible at sports but soon she has to do something that is almost impossible. She is entered into a drawing and she wins it. But to win the contest, she has to shoot a soccer ball by a professional goalie at twenty yards, and if she does this, she wins a million dollars. Except she has only played soccer once in her life and she scored on her own team. Here is Whisper’s story about what stands between her and a million dollars!
Cornelia Funke
Cornelia Funke was born in 1958 in Dorsten, Germany. Cornelia started full time writing at the age of thirty-five. Cornelia Funke attended the the University of Hamburg where she got a degree in education theory. She is one of the most popular authors in Germany. Her international bestseller was Dragon Rider, which stayed on the the New York Times bestseller list for seventy-eight weeks. Right now Cornelia Funke lives in Los Angeles, California. I enjoy the fact that she uses kids as the main characters of her books, it makes the stories relatable to young people.
Cornelia’s Books

The Thief Lord
Dragon Rider
When Santa Fell to Earth
Igraine The Brave
Meggie's Journal
Inkheart
Inkspell
Inkdeath
Ghosthunters and the Incredibly Revolting Ghost
Ghosthunters and the Gruesome Invincible Lightning Ghost
Ghosthunters And the Totally Moldy Baroness!
Ghosthunters And The Muddy Monster Of Doom!
The Princess Knight
Pirate Girl
The Wildest Brother
Princess Pigsty
Christopher Paolini
Christopher Paolini is a Montana author from Paradise Valley, Montana. Christopher was born on the 17th of November 1983 in Southern California, but he has lived most of his life in Paradise Valley. Christopher was home-schooled by his parents. As a child he was always writing, poems and short stories. He also read a ton. Eragon began as the daydreams of a young teen. Christopher Paolini was 15 when he first started writing Eragon. He then took another year to revise it and he gave it to his parents to read. His parents decided to self-publish Eragon. In 2002 author Carl Hiaasen, whose stepson while visiting Montana read the book, brought Eragon to the attention of his publisher, Alfred A. Knopf. Alfred A. Knopf asked the Paolini family if they wanted him to publish Christopher’s book and they said yes. After being reedited the book was published in 2003. Eldest, the second book in the series was published in 2005. Christopher Paolini is writing the third book in the series, Brisinger, to be released in the September of 2008. It amazes me that Paolini started so young, yet his books were extremely good, rivaling those of seasoned novelist. I enjoyed the incredible plot of Eragon and how it kept you riveted to your seat.
Eragon
By Christopher Paolini

Eragon, by Christopher Paolini is the first novel in the Inheritance Series and is also his first novel. In this book Paolini introduces Eragon. Eragon is a young man who finds a polished “blue stone” that will change his life forever. Eragon discovers that the “blue stone” is not really a stone, but an egg, but not just any egg, a dragon egg. She is Saphira!
Eragon finds out he is part of a long line of dragon riders. He is in an epic struggle between good and evil, and they are fighting over him, the next generation of dragon riders!
My Letter to Christopher Paolini


Question 1) What inspired you to start writing? Painting, carving wood, metal work, being outdoors, writing poems and short stories were all activities that inspired me. Some other things that inspired me were the Beartooth Mountains and the Yellowstone River because they helped with the setting of my books.
Question2) How old were you when you started writing your first book? 15
Question 3) How do you get your ideas? The idea for the Inheritance Cycle came from my love for the magic of stories and how they can transport the reader into fantastical places. Also I got ideas from Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher, by Bruce Coville, the story of a boy who buys a “stone” from which a dragon hatches.
Question 4) What were your major influences growing up? Question 5) What are your favorite subjects to write about? Fantasy
Question 6) Can you tell me some of your background? I was born November 17, 1983 in Southern California. I have lived most of my life in Paradise Valley, Montana. I was home-schooled by my parents and as a child I wrote short stories and poems, made frequent trips to the library, and I read widely.
Question 7) What advice do you have for someone who wants to be a writer? Write every chance you get, read widely and study how authors compose their sentences, improve your grammar aand vocabulary; they are the tools of the trade, find a mentor who can help you grow in writing. These are the tips I have for you.
Question 8) How were your grades in school?
Question 9) What books do you read?
Terry Brooks: The Magic Kingdom of Landover Series
Edgar Rice Burroughs: Tarzan and many others
Orson Scott Card: Ender’s Game
Bruce Coville: Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher
Roald Dahl: anything he’s written
David Edding: The Elenium Trilogy
Andreas Eschbach: The Carpet Makers
Raymond E. Feist: Magician
Ursula K. Le Guin: The Wizard of Earthsea Trilogy
Seamus Heany Translation: Beowulf
Robert A. Heinlein: Podkayne of Mars, Farmer in the Sky, Starship Troopers
Frank Herbert: Dune
Anthony Horowitz: Alex Rider Series
Brian Jacques: Mossflower
Madeline L’Engle: A Wrinkle in Time
Anne McCaffrey: Dragon Riders of Pern Series
Andre Norton: A variety of her early works
Brian Selznick: The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Gary Paulson: Hatchet
Philip Pullman: His Dark Materials Trilogy
J.R.R Tolkien: The Hobbit
Jane Yolen: The Pit Dragon Chronicles
Tad Williams: Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn Trilogy
Question 10) Do the books you read ever give you ideas to use in your own writing? Yes
Question 11) What is an average day for you? I get up, eat breakfast, write until late afternoon-with a short break for lunch-exercise, then eat dinner and relax with a movie. I often write again in the evening.
Brian Jacques

Brian Jacques is the English author who has written the well-known Redwall Series. Brian was born in Liverpool, England, growing up near the Liverpool docks. Brian showed his initiative as a writer when he was young.
He started attending St. John’s School at age ten. He was given a writing assignment about animals and he wrote about a bird that cleaned crocodile teeth. It was very well written and his teacher was amazed. Brian the figured out that he had some potential in writing. At age fifteen he left St. John’s School to be a sailor.
His book, Redwall, was originally written for the children of the Royal Wavertree School for the Blind. His books became famous after his friend, Alan Durband, showed the book to his publisher without telling Brian. The publishers loved the book and they called Brian down to London and they gave him a contract to write the next five books in the series.
The characters from Redwall are based on real people. Gonff, the “Prince of Mouse Thieves” was based on a young boy from the docks of Liverpool, Mariel is based on his granddaughter, and Constance the Badgermum was based on his grandmother.
Brian Jacques novels have sold more then twenty million copies and have been published in twenty-eight different languages. Right now there is nineteen books in the series, but there is most likely more to come. His stories are so engaging that you forget that the characters are animals and not humans.
Lord Brocktree
A Tale From Redwall
By Brian Jacques

Lord Brocktree by Brian Jacques is the first book in the Redwall Series. Every body thinks Redwall, is the first book in the series, but truly it is Lord Brocktree because he wrote Redwall first. In this book Jacques introduces Dotti, a young haremaid and Lord Brocktree, a mighty badger-warrior. Together they set out to the great mountain, Salamandastron. This is their story of a of a mighty quest to get to the great mountain, Salamandastron and liberate it from all evils!

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Anthony Horowitz

Anthony Horowitz was born April 5, 1956 in Stanmore, Middlesex, England. He attended the University of York. Anthony started writing in 1978 at the age of twenty-three. Anthony Horowitz’s most famous and popular series is probably the Alex Rider Series. I really enjoyed the Alex Rider Series because it is like the next generation of James Bond.
Anthony’s Books

Stormbreaker (2000)
Point Blanc (2001)
Skeleton Key (2002)
Eagle Strike (2003)
Scorpia (2004)
Ark Angel (2006)
Snakehead (2007)
Yassen
The Falcon's Malteser
Public Enemy Number Two
South by South East
The Blurred Man
The French Confection
I Know What You Did Last Wednesday
The Greek Who Stole Christmas
The Radius of the Lost Shark
The Devil's Door-Bell
The Night of the Scorpion
The Silver Citadel
Day of the Dragon
Raven's Gate
Evil Star
Nightrise
Necropolis: City of the Dead

Friday, May 23, 2008