The Call to Shakabaz

Abandoning the Blog

amy@wozabooks.com (Amy at Woza Books) — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 21:58:00 +0000

I have stopped posting to this blog. I have another blog now that is of a more general nature and I hope you will visit me there: www.viewfromamysworld.blogspot.com
As my farewell posting on this blog, I am leaving up the most popular piece I posted to the Shakabaz blog over the past year. It was my article about why I bought Harry Potter 7 at my local bookstore. Here you go. Hope to meet up with you on my new blog.

My Top Six Reasons for Buying Harry Potter 7 at My Local Bookstore

On July 21, 2007 at 12:01 AM, I paid the Mendocino Book Company in Ukiah, California $37.70 for my copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. While I know this price puts the book out of reach for many low-income muggle families, our family found a way to include it in our budget this month. Why?

Reason 1. The real magic of Harry Potter.

Trivia question: How many books were printed in the first printing of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (then called “Philosopher’s Stone”)? Answer: 1,000. So how did people find out about it? Word of mouth. And who passed the word? At first, independent booksellers. Then readers (mostly children) and soon after librarians, teachers, parents, everyone; then the advertising mucky-mucks got their paws on it. But it started with little local independent booksellers saying “Psst, hey, little girl, read this.” Without them, who knows where Harry would be today? That’s the real magic behind Harry’s catapult to international fame. Although the mainstream literary industrial complex (B. Kingsolver’s term) produces and promotes many good books, it also lets many good books fall through the cracks. We have our local independent booksellers to thank for peering between those cracks and picking those books up. These independents are literally closing their doors every day because online and big box booksellers are pushing them out of business. It is up to us to keep those doors open for them so that they can keep the doors to a heap of good reading open for us. Our indie bookstores put Harry on the map (and I don’t mean the Marauder’s Map) so we could find him! Don’t you think the least we can do is give them our business?

Reason 2. What goes around comes around.

Frankly, I owe Ann Kilkenny (owner of Mendocino Book Co.). She hosted the successful launch of my children’s fantasy adventure, The Call to Shakabaz, published by a small indie press in January. While Barnes & Noble and Borders won’t so much as nod in my direction (I’m an unknown quantity), small independent bookstores here and there are discovering and hand selling my book and helping get the word out. Booksellers like Stephanie Vela at Black Oak Books in Berkeley (CA), Sharon Wright at Carol’s Books in Sacramento (CA), Bob Spear at the Book Barn in Leavenworth (KS), Susan Sternberg at Alphabet Soup in Lawrenceville (NJ), and St. Helens Bookshop (OR), are making a big difference in my life as a first-time author, and in the lives of my young readers. I’m not a purist. I do shop online. But I also make a conscious effort to buy at Mendocino Book Co., especially something like HP7. It’s the least I can do to show my appreciation to Ann and her staff. My survival and the survival of other new authors like myself depends on her survival and the survival of other indies.

Reason 3. It’s about more than strawberries at the Farmer’s Market.

There’s a lot of talk about community and supporting community by buying local products (also a factor in reducing global warming), but let’s put our money where our mouth is. Our local bookstore owner is a member of our community. She raised her children here. She sells cards and calendars made by local artists. She provides the service of selling tickets for local dance, music, and theater performances. She contributes to the local merchants’ association and she is part of the local economy. Her modest earnings on our purchases do not go to a corporate headquarters outsourced to the Philippines. Ann’s store doesn’t have an upscale gourmet coffee bar, fancy pedestal tables, or pastries for sale; but the store has couches, chairs, and a welcoming atmosphere. While raising my children, I would often say “Meet me at the bookstore.” The staff knew each of them by name and could suggest titles just for them. When we say it takes a village to raise a child, we must remember that part of that village is the local bookstore. So what better place to celebrate the publication of HP7? An online bookseller can’t compete with the face-to-face, warm-and-human event of buying a great book in person, or, furthermore, celebrating the launch of that book with friends and acquaintances as part of a larger community. There is no substitute for the village.

Reason 4. Sharing the pie.

Apparently online booksellers will not make a profit on HP7 because of the rock bottom price they have offered. If the online booksellers want to slit their wrists on this one, let them, but you can be sure that someone is making a profit. No matter what price the online booksellers offer, they still have to pay the publisher a fixed amount per book based on the cover price. The publisher and the author are making a profit. I don’t begrudge JK a penny of her millions. She has earned it. If you have read her books then you are probably as confident as I am that she will make good use of the money. But why are we begrudging our local bookstores this sterling opportunity to turn a profit? What other business would you prefer to support? We have a win-win situation here. The consumer gets a terrific product while stimulating the local economy. What’s not to like about it? My only complaint is that the cover price is so high that low-income families can’t afford the book.

Reason 5. Keeping a promise.

I have not heard of a single independent bookstore that leaked one word of HP7 before the street date. In fact, it seems the only leak in the world occurred through Deep Discount, an American online seller. I find it hard to believe that there are those who so desperately need to feel like a know-it-all that they sought and released the book or information about the book before the launch date. In the entire world, this happened only in the U.S. What does that say about our ability to delay gratification? (Shame on the newspapers who cashed in on the leak and printed advance reviews.) At midnight in Ukiah, people of all ages, Republicans and Democrats, children of every ethnicity and many religions (and speaking in more than one language) joined our counterparts throughout the Pacific time zone as we gleefully counted down together for the witching moment when the sealed boxes could be slit open. You know-it-alls missed out on that magic. I honor all the local bookstores, big and small, for keeping a promise and ensuring that those boxes remained sealed until the contractually agreed-upon time.

Reason 6. Sheer delight.

What fun to participate in the book launch celebration! I spent hours in the company of our small community’s beautiful children while they celebrated the publication of a book. Our children, many dressed in costumes or with painted faces, talked heatedly about books with each other and adults, ate the abundant treats provided (many with Harry themes), played games at tables, watched Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, skateboarded in front of the store, entered contests to win prizes by answering HP-related quiz questions and coloring HP-related pictures, played word games, and filled in word puzzles. Does it get any better than this? July 21 should be declared International Reading Day in honor of the brilliant imagination of one woman in Edinburgh and her ability to unite the world for a weekend of peaceful reading. Now there’s magic for you.

In among the crowd of children at our bookstore, I saw one particular child whose presence lifted my heart. Let’s call her Sylvia. Last winter, my 15-year-old son told me that Sylvia (also 15) had been diagnosed with cancer and had only a few weeks to live. This news broke my heart, even though I have never spoken to Sylvia or her family. I have watched many children, such as Sylvia, grow up from a distance. I have seen her sing, dance, and act in local children’s performances produced by a performing arts school in town ever since she was four years old. She is the only child of back-to-the-land hippies who spend most of their time on an isolated sheep ranch. I find the thought of these gentle, shy parents losing their only child devastating.

But I saw Sylvia at the bookstore. Thin and frail, with a black and red scarf hiding her bald head, she spoke quietly with friends who asked how she was doing and sat down with her to hear her tell them and listened and cared. These children were not afraid to face her or her struggle and to lend their support. When I left the bookstore at 12:20, I was elated not only because I had in my hands the final installment of Harry Potter, but also because Sylvia is still alive. I imagine her curled up in bed, reading. Perhaps JK’s complex and deeply felt thoughts on death will comfort and assist her on her difficult journey. Whether or not she wins her battle with cancer (and I hope with all the hope in my heart that she will win), I am grateful that she stayed with us long enough to find out how Harry ends. I could not have bought the knowledge that Sylvia is still alive to read HP7 at an online bookseller. It is part of that community thing. The village. All my reasons aside, just the image of Sylvia reading HP7 all the way to the very last secret revealed was worth the $37.70 I paid for the book at my local, terrific, independent, community bookstore.

The Bookaneer

amy@wozabooks.com (Amy at Woza Books) — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 21:48:00 +0000

December 2007

REMEMBER TO INCLUDE “THE CALL TO SHAKABAZ” ON YOUR HOLIDAY GIFT LIST

“THE CALL TO SHAKABAZ” WAS RECENTLY RECOGNIZED BY USA BOOK NEWS WITH A BEST BOOKS 2007 HONOR IN THE CHILDREN’S FICTION CATEGORY

MORE ABOUT “THE GOLDEN COMPASS”

Yesterday I went to the movie of “The Golden Compass.” It was terrific fun with wonderful visuals and special effects. The acting was excellent. But to fit the story into two hours, they chopped it up and spit it out mangled. I’m wondering how anyone who didn’t read the book could get what was happening in the movie, which probably should have been six hours long. The truncated movie version lacked that edge-of-your-seat, page-turning tension that made the book such a terrific ride. So much was missing that I recommend you read the book before you see the movie (or see it again).

Evangelists continue to slam Pullman for being “anti-church.” Even though in book three of the trilogy, a character (Dr. Malone) actually says that Christianity was a mistake, I wouldn’t quite characterize Pullman as anti-Christian. His books reflect Christian values, whether he cares to admit it or not. The bottom line is that Pullman is opposed to all organized religion. But he has compassion for the misguided followers of organized religions. He also has a good share of disgust for the dogmatic, the proselytizers, and the hysterical self-righteous. He is certainly an atheist in that he doesn't believe in a one god, but his spiritual life is rich and full nonetheless. His concept of spirit permeating the world we see and worlds we don't see is very African. I think that many people who adhere to the beliefs of indigenous cultures that have not been infiltrated by the organized religions of the "civilized" world would be right at home in Pullman's cosmology. Perhaps he will inspire young readers to question their beliefs and how they apply all the good teachings of their religious persuasion in their everyday lives. And that, I believe we would agree, would be a good thing.

WHY BOYS DON’T READ AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT

Shelf Awareness e-zine ran the following (October 25, 2007) about boys and reading: The Seattle Post-Intelligencer (see http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/336617_reading24.html) reported on the difficulty of getting boys interested in reading. "I would say there is a crisis," said children's author Walter Dean Myers. "Too many parents have walked away from this idea . . . that education is a family concept, is a community concept, is not simply something that schools do." According to Pamela LaBorde, children's librarian at the Seattle Public Library's Ballard branch, "A lot of times, when boys get to middle school they are feeling sort of disenfranchised from the educational experience." Publishing more titles specifically for the market is suggested as one solution. "The real requirement is that there is a male protagonist," said John Martin, a novelist who started www.boysread.org. "Boys will not read books that have a girl protagonist."

THE QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP COMES TO VERMONT

Now in its second year, the Intercollegiate World Cup Quidditch Tournament, started by students at Middlebury College, has captured the imagination of students at a number of colleges in Vermont. Last year a dozen teams at Middlebury College vied to take on Vassar College in the first Tournament. The players were required to keep their broomsticks (the $59 Scarlet Falcon model) between their legs, and run in lieu of flying in pursuit of a human Snitch (dressed in yellow). The student who plays the role of the Snitch (Rainey) apparently practices many hours a week for the Tournament. Beaters throw red playground ball Bludgers at the other players, who must toss a deflated volleyball Quaffle through a gold-painted hula hoop. With the home court advantage—Middlebury students wrote the rules, which have been posted on Facebook. This year the Vermont College Mollywobbles won. Next year the competition will be stiffer as other schools, including the University of Vermont, plan to get in on the action.

TIPS TO BOOKSELLERS ABOUT HOLIDAY DECORATIONS

In his book “Holiday Hero: A Man's Manual for Holiday Lighting,” Brad Finkle offers holiday decorating tips for booksellers in the form of his “Booksellers Creed” as follows:

I am a responsible light hanger and will not embarrass my customers and co-workers with a theme of purple lights just because I found them in the stock room.
I will not shine floodlights into the store next door, unless their mascot continues to dance around and scare our customers.
I will meticulously wrap my extension cords so that they won't end up in knots only an Eagle Scout could unwind.
I will not put red-and-white hats on my co-workers, because co-workers are not elves.
I will not ignore the warning label and use the top rung of my ladder as a step.
I will not incorporate Santa Claus into a nativity scene or have him dancing on a dreidel.
I will resist the temptation to light my store so that on a clear night it's visible from the moon.

The Bookaneer is produced by Amy Wachspress (© 2007). Feel free to reuse any part of this e-zine, but give credit either to Amy or to the original source for all material used. Visit www.wozabooks.com for more information.

Bookaneer November 2007

amy@wozabooks.com (Amy at Woza Books) — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 03:57:00 +0000

THE BOOKANEER

November 2007

REMEMBER TO INCLUDE “THE CALL TO SHAKABAZ” ON YOUR HOLIDAY GIFT LIST FOR JUST THE RIGHT YOUNG PERSON!

LATE BREAKING NEWS! JUST ANNOUNCED TONIGHT: “THE CALL TO SHAKABAZ” IS AN AWARD-WINNING FINALIST IN THE CHILDREN’S FICTION CATEGORY OF THE NATIONAL BEST BOOKS 2007 AWARDS SPONSORED BY USA BOOK NEWS! THIS IS THE THIRD NATIONAL AWARD FOR THIS TITLE. MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW IN THE DECEMBER BOOKANEER.

ABOUT “THE GOLDEN COMPASS”

OK, I confess. I read a lot of children’s books (probably more than grown-up books). I can’t help myself. They’re so much fun. When I saw that they had made a movie of Philip Pullman’s “The Golden Compass,” I decided it was time for me to read this one. I was in for a terrific ride. It’s the first of a trilogy and I stampeded through all three books in short order because the first one was so good.

“The Golden Compass” had me at page one with its strong female protagonist, Lyra Belacqua. It also has armored bears, transformational talking animals, beautiful witches, hot air balloons, gypsy ships, a mysterious prophecy, a really scary beautiful villainess and her evil golden monkey, hair-raising escapes, and a long lost father who is either really good or really evil but we don’t know which. Does it get any better than this? The trilogy is the best children’s fantasy I have read since I was a little girl (and that means that for me it surpasses that giant of all giants, Harry Potter). They are more than just children’s fantasy, they explore deep ideas about cosmology, god, and religion.

You will be seeing more and more in the news about this controversial book (and the film). Although the trilogy, particularly the third book, refutes Christian theology and organized religion of any ilk (Pullman is an aggressive atheist), the film claims to steer clear of these ideas. Opponents say that the movie will inspire young readers to read the books, which will expose them to dangerous “anti-Christian” ideas. I think Pullman would say the ideas aren’t necessarily anti-Christian but rather non-Christian, or perhaps beyond Christian. As far as imaginative, edge-of-your-seat, thought-provoking adventure goes. This is the real deal. Check it out. I can’t wait for the movie on December 9^th!

NEW VENUES FOR “THE CALL TO SHAKABAZ”

I’m looking for opportunities to visit schools and libraries in Northern California in 2008 to read from “The Call to Shakabaz” and talk with youngsters about books, writing, and things we can each do to make the world a better place. Please contact me to set up an event. Email at amy@wozabooks.com.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS TO GET PUBLISHED

ChixLIT, the literary magazine by and for girls, is seeking submissions from girls ages 7-17. For guidelines, visit http://chixlit.com/_wsn/page2.html ChixLit is also sponsoring a writing contest for girls. For more details, visit http://chixlit.com/_wsn/page3.html

And for more about how young people can have their work published, check out A Teen's Guide to Getting Published: Publishing for Profit, Recognition and Academic Success by Jessica Dunn at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1593631820/ref=nosim/childrensbookinsA

CONTEST FOR YOUNGSTERS WITH DOWN SYNDROME

On her blog, “Where There’s a Will,” Kelly Anderson (mother of Will, who has Down syndrome) writes: “I am having a blog-giveaway! In an effort to familiarize you with your local independent bookstore and show people that an extra chromosome is not a barrier to reading, I am asking for pictures of your favorite person ~with a little extra~, reading. The prize is a $25 gift card that is redeemable at any participating independent bookstore across the US. Here is the link to the BookSense website, it can tell you where your local independent bookstore is, if you haven't already discovered it. So, email me your photo submissions of a reader (or readers) with Down syndrome, and I will post them on my blog. The drawing is going to be on my birthday, Nov. 19th -- isn't it nicer to give than to receive? Remember to include some favorite book titles too! Here is my address: mojwmom@yahoo.com. I look forward to seeing lots of reading soon!”

To see a lovely picture of Kelly’s son Will reading, go to her blog at:

http://willswebplace.blogspot.com/2007/10/get-caught-reading-blog-giveaway.html

Bookaneer October 2007

amy@wozabooks.com (Amy at Woza Books) — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 21:01:00 +0000

THE BOOKANEER

October 2007

REMEMBER TO INCLUDE THE CALL TO SHAKABAZ ON YOUR HOLIDAY GIFT LIST FOR JUST THE RIGHT YOUNG PERSON!

Have a look at the quotes from enthusiastic reviewers recently posted on our website home page: www.wozabooks.com.

NEWS ABOUT OUR JOURNEY WITH THE CALL TO SHAKABAZ

My co-publisher (who happens to be my husband) Ron and I attended the Sonoma County Book Festival in Santa Rosa last month. It was another great opportunity to read from The Call to Shakabaz and to make foldout books with children using the Everyday Practices. When a perplexed mother asked me how I arrived at the statement that the opposite of violence is imagination, her eight-year-old twin daughters explained to her that you have to use your imagination instead of violence to come up with a solution to a problem or to resolve a conflict. I thought I was clever for promoting this idea, but to hear the twins discuss it, well, it sounded like a no-brainer. How did our children get to be so smart?

We had the opportunity, through the Festival, to donate some of our books to libraries destroyed in Hurricane Katrina. We went for coffee with cookbook writer Mollie Katzen, an old friend of ours from Berkeley days. Coffee lasted a couple of hours as we caught each other up on what our children are doing, our latest projects, and how to prepare nopales (cactus). Check out Molly’s new book entitled The Vegetable Dishes I Can’t Live Without. The highlight of our day was a visit to The Red Rose, a soul food restaurant, because Ron just had to have Cajun catfish. I discovered they also make a terrific Cajun tofu! Don’t laugh!

LETTERS ABOUT LITERATURE – TEACHERS AND PARENTS ENCOURAGE YOUR YOUNGSTERS TO PARTICIPATE!

The Library of Congress Center for the Book in collaboration with Target is sponsoring a contest for school-age kids. They can win a $500 gift certificate at Target and $10,000 for the library of their choice by writing a short essay about a book that changed their life. Deadline is December 14. For more information here’s the link: http://www.loc.gov/loc/cfbook/letters.html

One of my favorite childhood reads was A Wrinkle in Time by author Madeleine L’Engle, who just recently passed away. I wish I could enter the Letters About Literature contest myself and write about how much it meant to me to read about heroine Meg Murray, an awkward girl with glasses who likes science and spends too much time in the attic reading – and who is the one who saves the day in the end. When A Wrinkle in Time came out, there were not many girls who saved the day in sci-fi or fantasy books.

DON’T FORGET TEEN READ WEEK

The YALSA-sponsored Teen Read Week is October 14-20. This year’s theme is “LOL @ Your Library” and features humorous books to encourage teen reading. YALSA says “The humor theme is meant to encourage teens nationwide to make time to read something light and entertaining just for the fun of it.”

TELL CONGRESS TO SUPPORT THE SKILLS ACT

Contact your member of congress and ask him/her to co-sponsor or support HR 2684, Strengthening of Kids Interest in Learning and Libraries, better known as the SKILLs Act. The SKILLs Act will require school districts, to the extent feasible, to ensure that every school employs at least one qualified school library media specialist in each school library. The Act was proposed by Representatives Raul Grihalva (D-AZ) and Vernon Ehlers (R-MI). For more information contact alethea.scally@mail.house.gov in Grihalva’s office or Rachel.post@mail.house.gov in Ehlers office. This act will make it more difficult for districts to balance their budgets by cutting librarian hours and positions. If we are really concerned about literacy, then cutting school librarian positions strikes me as a ridiculously poor solution to a budget crisis. This is an essential staff position.

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The Bookaneer is a brief message sent from me to you once a month. If you do not want to remain on my list for The Bookaneer, please send me an email at this address and put in it the exact email address I used to send The Bookaneer to you. I will remove you from the list. I don’t want to be spamming anyone!

Remembering Madeleine L'Engle

amy@wozabooks.com (Amy at Woza Books) — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 16:23:00 +0000

Yesterday I heard the news of Madeleine L'Engle's passing. I still remember the first time I read A Wrinkle In Time when I was a little girl. I finished the book and then opened it up to the first page and simply read it all again. I was transported. I had finally found a heroine, a real heroine, who was not just a prop to a boy hero, and I identified with her. Geeky, glasses, smart, shy, making it all up as she went. I think a million or more little girls read this book with a tremendous sigh of relief -- finally, we said to ourselves.
I fell in love with the Murrays. And the Austins. I traveled The Moon By Night, I swam with the dolphins in Ring of Endless Light. As an adult, I read Two-Part Invention. I read A Wrinkle In Time aloud to my stepsons, then my daughter, then each of my sons in turn. My youngest made me read it to him a second time. I have never read any book aloud to children as many times as that. And I could do it again in a heartbeat.
Madeleine L'Engle's positive vision of love and compassion, of the collective power of the good in all of us to make the world right, stays with me. I cannot think of another writer who has done anymore than Madeleine L'Engle to make the world a better place. It is with great sadness that I mark her passing and force myself to accept the fact that she will not pen another word. Continue on your journey ML, we will miss you here on earth.
Amy Wachspress
Author of The Call to Shakabaz (www.wozabooks.com)

Bookaneer September 2007

amy@wozabooks.com (Amy at Woza Books) — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 18:58:00 +0000

THE BOOKANEER

September 1, 2007

On my adventure as the author of The Call to Shakabaz, I continue to meet terrific people who are working to make a difference in the world through the promotion of children’s literature. Let me share a few of the wonderful things I have discovered this month. And please send me your stories, resources, jokes, internet treasures, and more.

NEWS ABOUT THE CALL TO SHAKABAZ

In August I had the opportunity to present at SolFest in Hopland (at Real Goods Solar Institute). I read aloud and my friend Phyllis Binder Lockhart, who is a teacher, helped me do our bookmaking activity with the Everyday Practices for Young People Who Want to Help Save the World. The children made lovely books. Any of you librarians out there (or teachers) in my neck of the woods who would like me to come visit and read aloud and make books with your children, please contact me! In August I also did an interview on Today’s Author, a blogtalk radio show. The show is archived and here is the link to the interview if you want to check it out: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-96977363323295732

FUNDING FOR LIBRARIES

Looking for money for library activities?

The NEA Foundation offers the D.E.A.R. Bookshelf Awards, which grants funds to public schools for the purchase of books and reading materials that will entice youngsters to “drop everything and read.” Maximum award is $500. Eligible applicants are pre-K through 12 teachers, school librarians, and education support professionals. http://www.neafoundation.org/programs/DEAR%200607.htm

The NEA Foundation offers the Grants to Help Low-Income Schools Purchase Books for School Libraries. Grants are made to schools serving economically disadvantaged students (at least 70% of students receiving free/reduced lunch). Maximum award is $1,000. Eligible applicants are pre-K through 12 teachers, school librarians, and education support professionals. Deadline is November 12, 2007.

http://www.neafoundation.org/programs/BAA_2007.htm

Hamburger Helper is offering the “My Hometown Helper” grant program. Submit an essay of 250 words or less describing how a grant would help improve your community project. Maximum award is $15,000. Requests for funding must be sponsored by a municipal or civic organization or a public school. Deadline is in the spring.

http://www.myhometownhelper.com/

US Dept. of Education grants for Improving Literacy Through School Libraries are offered each year in the winter and provide funding for purchasing books, software, computers, DVDs, and more to improve school library media centers. Professional development is an allowable expense. Look for this grant on the Dept. of Education website.

Check out the PEN Weekly NewsBlast, which features school reform and school fundraising resources at www.publiceducation.org/newsblast.

TEEN READ WEEK

Remember that the YALSA-sponsored Teen Read Week is coming up October 14-20. This year’s theme is “LOL @ Your Library” and features humorous books to encourage teen reading.

BOOKSELLERS AND LIBRARIANS SEND YOUR PICKS

Is there a new book or a galley you’ve read that you can’t stop talking about? A book that you can’t keep on the shelves? Let the world know! Drop a note to Publisher’s Weekly at the following address: childrensbooks@reedbusiness.com

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In the future, I hope The Bookaneer will become an actual newsletter, but for now it’s just a message sent from me to you once a month. If you do not want to remain on my list for The Bookaneer, please send me an email at this address and put in it the exact email address I used to send The Bookaneer to you. I will remove you from the list. I don’t want to be spamming anyone!

Listen to me live on Today's Author Blogtalk Radio

amy@wozabooks.com (Amy at Woza Books) — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 10:24:00 +0000

Tune in to hear a live interview with me on David Ewen's show Today's Author. This is a call-in show so you can participate. Or you can listen to the archived show at the Today's Author website. To listen live go to http://www.ewenprime.com and click on "listen live." The show will be aired on Tuesday August 21, 2007 at 9:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. I'll be talking about The Call to Shakabaz and related topics.

The Bookaneer August 2007

amy@wozabooks.com (Amy at Woza Books) — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 23:01:00 +0000

THE BOOKANEER

August 1, 2007

This month I have something a little different for you. I’m sending you my article about why I bought the final Harry Potter book at my local bookstore. It’s a little long, longer than this e-zine usually is, but I hope you have a chance to read it. I think you’ll find it pretty interesting (with a feel-good ending).

My Top Six Reasons for Buying Harry Potter 7 at My Local Bookstore

Reason 1. The real magic of Harry Potter.

Reason 2. What goes around comes around.

Frankly, I owe Ann Kilkenny (owner of Mendocino Book Co.). She hosted the successful launch of my fantasy adventure The Call to Shakabaz in January. While Barnes & Noble and Borders won’t so much as nod in my direction, small independent bookstores here and there are discovering and hand selling my book and helping get the word out. Booksellers like Stephanie Vela at Black Oak Books in Berkeley (CA), Sharon Wright at Carol’s Books in Sacramento (CA), Bob Spear at the Book Barn in Leavenworth (KS), Susan Sternberg at Alphabet Soup in Lawrenceville (NJ), and St. Helens Bookshop (OR), are making a big difference in my life as a first-time author, and in the lives of my young readers. I’m not a purist. I do shop online. But I also make a conscious effort to buy at Mendocino Book Co., especially something like HP7. It’s the least I can do to show my appreciation to Ann and her staff. My survival and the survival of other new authors like myself depends on her survival and the survival of other indies.

Reason 3. It’s about more than strawberries at the Farmer’s Market.

Reason 4. Sharing the pie.

Reason 5. Keeping a promise.

Reason 6. Sheer delight.

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The Ending That Must Not Be Named

amy@wozabooks.com (Amy at Woza Books) — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 00:16:00 +0000

Just a reminder to you Harry fans out there who have sped through HP7 that there are many low-income children (and adults too!) who cannot afford to buy this book and who are going to have to wait patiently to get it through the library or borrow it from a more financially secure friend. Remember to be careful where and when you discuss spoilers so that everyone has a chance to come new to the ending of this saga, regardless of their ability to access the book this week.

Photo of Amy and Ron Buying HP7 at the Mendocino Book Company in Ukiah, California

amy@wozabooks.com (Amy at Woza Books) — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 00:11:00 +0000

It is July 21, 2007. At 12:01 this morning, I paid the Mendocino Book Company in Ukiah, California $37.70 for my copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. (Read subsequent post on Aug. 1 to find out more.)

Harry Potter in 100 Words or Less

amy@wozabooks.com (Amy at Woza Books) — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 15:10:00 +0000

Can you tell the story of Harry Potter so far in 100 words or less? If so, you could win the BBC's contest, which closes on the 20th of July. In an effort to enlighten those who have not read Harry about the story, the BBC is asking contestants (entry is free) to attempt to write a 100-word synopsis of the Harry Potter saga. For more information (and to read some of the entries) visit: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6896062.stm

What fun!

Cure for the End of Harry Potter Blues

amy@wozabooks.com (Amy at Woza Books) — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 23:41:00 +0000

In one week, millions of readers will know how the saga of Harry Potter and Co. ends. Will we go into a collective post-Potter depression? Harry sprang from the prolific imagination of Jo Rowling. The human imagination is a truly amazing and infinite beast. Let's remember that there have been many talented writers before JK and there will be more after. And there are some right now! There's a lot of good reading out there and many worlds to discover. With that said, I encourage you to have a look at my new fantasy adventure The Call to Shakabaz. Readers all over the country and of all ages are having a wonderful time with this book. You can too!

The Call to Shakabaz is a new fantasy adventure of a different color. Winner of an iParenting Media Award 2007 and a Finalist in the 2007 Indie Excellence Book Awards Children’s Fiction Category, The Call to Shakabaz is a rollicking good read for the whole family. Linda Rosengarten of Cheshire Books in Fort Bragg, California reports: “This is one of those rare children’s books with cross-generational appeal. Readers of all ages will not be able to put this novel down, right through to the unexpected, magical climax. The Call to Shakabaz provides a completely satisfying read, with a refreshing approach to the fantasy genre.” The book has received rave reviews from Heartland Reviews, The Midwest Book Review, Reader Views, Teens Read Too, Wands and Worlds, and Just One More Book. Reviewers say that if you like Harry Potter and you like the Narnia books, you’ll love this one.

The book is unusual for the children’s and young adult fantasy adventure genre because it is set in an African American cultural context and it features all Black characters. There are few books with Black characters in this genre. Also, rather than using a gory violent battle scene to resolve the central conflict, the book demonstrates the fundamental principles of nonviolence as practiced by Dr. King and Gandhi. According to author Amy Wachspress, “The opposite of violence is imagination. Violence occurs when we lack the creativity to come up with a viable solution to a problem or conflict.” Consequently, the young protagonists outsmart or transform their enemies instead of using violence against them. When nationally syndicated Black Talk Radio Host Bev Smith featured the book on her show she told listeners: “This is a children’s book that is important for everyone to know about. I suggest you buy it and read it together with the whole family.”

GIVE IT A TRY! What have you got to lose? Maybe the End of Harry Blues.
Visit www.wozabooks.com to find out more.

The Bookaneer July 2007

amy@wozabooks.com (Amy at Woza Books) — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 04:48:00 +0000

THE BOOKANEER

July 1, 2007

NEWS ABOUT THE CALL TO SHAKABAZ

We had a terrific time at the library in Ewing, New Jersey last month. I read aloud from the book, we talked about the “Everyday Practices for Young People Who Want to Help Save the World” (visit the Woza Books website to download the Practices), and then we made fold-out books with the Everyday Practices printed on them. I will be doing a reading and this same book making activity at the Solar Institute’s annual SolFest in Hopland, California on August 19^th at 1:00 PM. If you are in the area, please join us!

I have enjoyed several wonderful reviews of The Call to Shakabaz to appear online this past month. You can read some of them on the Amazon page for the book. My favorite is from nine-year-old Brianne Plach who writes reviews for Reader Views. Brianne writes “I will definitely read this book again! I liked how there weren’t violent scenes in the book like a lot of books out there. This book is terrific reading… It is fun to see that kids our age can do something important too.” Carrie Spellman, at Teens Read Too, wrote “This is a book about finding personal strength, in all different forms, and appreciating the talents of others, and the strength in uniting different people, and so much more! I want to buy a copy for everyone I know…. It’s part fantasy, part history lesson, part real life -- I can’t even describe it!” With reviews like these, I could learn to love literary critics.

Please encourage children to email me with their ideas for the sequel to The Call to Shakabaz. I am especially interested in their thoughts about how the Four can ultimately make Faracadar safe from Sissrath without killing him.

ANNIVERSARY OF THE LITTLE ROCK NINE:

It’s not Black History Month, but Black History happens all year around. In September we will celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the Little Rock Nine. Craig Wiesner at Reach and Teach has placed a lovely page about the Little Rock Nine on the Reach and Teach website, and he has most wonderfully connected the lessons in The Call to Shakabaz with lessons young people learn from this historical event. His account begins as follows:

“On September 4, 1957, Arkansas Gov. Orval Faubus ordered National Guard troops to surround Central High School in Little Rock, to keep nine black teenagers from entering. His action was in direct defiance of the Supreme Court’s 1954 Brown v. Board of Education ruling, which said black students had a right to attend integrated schools. That same afternoon, a federal judge ordered Faubus to let the black students attend the white school. The next day, when 15-year-old Elizabeth Eckford set out for class, she was mobbed, spit upon and cursed by angry Whites. When she finally made her way to the front steps of Central High, National Guard soldiers turned her away.” For more about the Little Rock Nine, teaching materials for peace and social justice, and to access further resources from Reach and Teach click on this link:
http://www.reachandteach.com/content/article.php\?story=20070620132823353

HOW MANY FANTASY CHARACTERS DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A LIGHT BULB?

By Luna writers Robin Owens and Laura Anne Gilman:

Epic Fantasy Writer: How many you got?
Traditional Fantasy Writer: One. There can be only one Chosen One.
Quest Fantasy Writer: One, but s/he must form a party of adventurers to retrieve the magic pliers first.
Romantic Fantasy Writer: Two, but they must do it while sharing a passionate kiss.
Erotic Fantasy Writer: Three, but they must do it naked while sharing a passionate kiss.
Dark Fantasy Writer: One, as long as it’s done with a tentacle slithering from the bottomless pit.
Urban fantasy writer: Three. A werewolf, a vampire, and a chick in leather with a gun.
Literary Fantasy Writer: One, but it will take me four pages to describe it.
Slipstream Fantasy Writer: Is the light bulb an allegory for birth or death?
SciFi Writer: Who uses light bulbs? Honestly...

And I can add to their list the following:

Children’s Fantasy Writer: Three, two to slow down the monsters while the other one hacks into the computer to accomplish the task.

Young Adult Fantasy Writer: Three, two to scream in terror while the other one drives a car surprisingly well without a license (until it crashes into something). Has nothing to do with changing the light bulb and everything to do with driving the car.

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The Bookaneer June 2007

amy@wozabooks.com (Amy at Woza Books) — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 04:47:00 +0000

THE BOOKANEER

June 1, 2007

“If you want to be a millionaire publisher, start out with $2 million.” –anonymous

NEWS ABOUT THE CALL TO SHAKABAZ

According to the folks at Black Oak Books in Berkeley, California, The Call to Shakabaz was one of the top 10 children’s books sold during the month of April. It has been picked up by Follett Library Services, which will make it easier for educators to purchase copies for their schools. Legacy Audio Books in Cincinnati has approached us about making it into an audio book. Check out the wonderful voice (and African American literature offerings on audio) of Legacy owner (and opera singer) Andrew L. Barnes at www.legacyaudiobooks.com.

I will be at Carol’s Books in Sacramento as part of “Second Saturday” in June (June 9^th) and I will be visiting the public library in Ewing, New Jersey and Alphabet Soup Bookstore in Lawrenceville, New Jersey in June while on vacation. Visit www.wozabooks.com and click on Author Events for details.

VIDEO CONTEST TO COUNTERACT DEGRADING MEDIA MESSAGES ABOUT BLACK WOMEN:

B. David Hardy at SYW Productions (www.seeyourworth.com) asked me to put the word out about their video contest to “define winning visions of inspiring Sistas” (African American women). Submissions will be accepted until July 1, 2007. For more information go to www.supersistas.com/Contest2007.aspx

RESOURCES FOR WORKING WITH RELUCTANT YOUNG READERS

Tomorrow I am moderating a discussion at Mendocino LitFest on the topic of motivating reluctant young readers to love books and to engage in reading. I have compiled a list of resources and tips to share at the discussion and am printing it below for those of you who will find it helpful for your librarianship, teaching, parenting, and reference.

Resources:

The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease

Connecting with Reluctant Teen Readers by Patrick Jones, Maureen L. Hartman, Patricia Taylor

Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) – a division of the ALA

Website: http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/yalsa.htm

(They sponsor a listserv that you can join for free.)

YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (quick pick books listed for each year):

http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/booklistsawards/quickpicks/quickpicksreluctant.htm

Assembly for Literature on Adolescents (ALAN): http://www.alan-ya.org/

Voices of Youth Advocates (VOYA): http://www.voya.com/

(for instance, the April 2007 issue lists sci-fi and fantasy picks for teen readers)

Bob Spear at Heartland Reviews just started an online reluctant readers blog and listing of

reviews: http://www.grreatbooks.blogspot.com/

Go to the San Francisco Public Library website at www.sfpl.org and click on Teens, then follow the link to their recommended reading list.

Tips:

Ø “Speed-dating” style book discussions

Ø Book talks in stores, libraries, and classrooms and at book groups

Ø Building a binder with suggested books (what we are reading lists) to leave out in the library for students to browse

Ø Students and staff do brief book reviews to post on the school/library website

Ø Podcast reviews (check out www.justonemorebook.com)

Ø Remember nonfiction – not everyone is a fiction reader

Ø Remember that magazines build reading competence too

Ø Create an engaging reading space

Ø Talk about books with teens, ask teens what books they like and why

Ø Book reading clubs (read and discuss together) – consider mother/daughter clubs and father/son clubs

Ø For bookstores and libraries: Put the YA books section alongside sci-fi and graphic novels. (Many bookstores report having more success selling books to teens when they have moved the teen books section away from the children’s books section.)

Ø Link fun activities with books (e.g., go to the cemetery and read spooky stories for Halloween)

Ø Pair nonfiction selections with fiction selections and read both as part of a “package”

Ø Have authors visit schools

Ø Read-alouds

Ø Poetry slams

Ø Hire teens to work in bookstores and to intern in libraries – they will suggest books to their peers

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The Bookaneer May 2007

amy@wozabooks.com (Amy at Woza Books) — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 04:46:00 +0000

THE BOOKANEER

May 1, 2007

“It’s never too late to be what you might have been.” –George Eliot

NEWS ABOUT THE CALL TO SHAKABAZ

Announced today: The Call to Shakabaz is a winning Finalist in the Children’s Fiction Category of the National 2007 Indie Excellence Book Awards! This is the second national award the book has won since January. The Indie Excellence Book Awards will be formally announced at Book Expo America in New York during the first weekend in June. I won’t be there because on June 2^nd I will be moderating a discussion at the Mendocino LitFest here in Ukiah on the topic of hooking reluctant young readers on books. I welcome your thoughts and suggestions as I am still developing resources, materials, and ideas on this topic. (If you live in the area, please join us. Admission to LitFest is free.)

I will be at Carol’s Books in Sacramento as part of “Second Saturday” in June and I will be visiting the public library in Ewing, New Jersey and Alphabet Soup Bookstore in Lawrenceville, New Jersey in June while on vacation. Visit www.wozabooks.com and click on Author Events for details.

GOOD BOOK ABOUT AUTISM

David Mazor at Reader to Reader brought my attention to a book about autism in his May newsletter (visit www.readertoreader.org). The book is called "My Brother's Keeper, A Kindergartner's View of Autism." Self-published by Donna Richards, it tells the story of her autistic five-year-old, Justin, from the point of view of her six-year-old (Justin’s brother), Jace. (Visit Donna’s autism resources website at: http://www.mybrotherskeeper.biz/index.html.)

MONDAY COFFEE

I know this is not exactly children’s book-related, more universal coping-with-Monday-morning related, and just a lot of fun. My husband and co-publisher, Ron Reed (A.K.A. the computer tech for our local school district), sent me the following email early one bright morning. Enjoy.

Knowing I had to fake my way through a web presentation this morning, and considering I was too far gone to make myself the mandatory cup-of-Joe before leaving the house, I thought I’d better stop at the Coffee Critic. The glaze from my eyes caught the ultra-alert clerk as she observed me struggling to coordinate my body movements with the door. The door was winning.

“Incoming! A triple Eye Opener! STAT!!!” she shouted at the stunned crew. “Straight! No cream!” Bodies flew into motion, showing the potential of a future ER staff.

“And get that man a GURNEY!!!” she screamed.

“Perhaps a scone?” asked a mousy assistant.

“Exactly! And smother it with marmalade!”

I weakly pointed toward my mouth. She opened a packet of sugar and poured it in. The Eye Opener was slammed on the counter. Waves of coffee lapped over the top as if there was a power boat pulling a skier across the surface of the liquid. The mousy assistant grabbed me by the chin, effortlessly sat me in a chair, and tipped my head back. The clerk took an eye dropper and sucked in two drops of the black stuff and dabbed it into my eyes. That felt good. Then she put one end of a straw into the cup, and the other end in my mouth, and calmly instructed me to sip. Life began to return to my limbs, and ultimately my face.

I managed to pull out my debit card from my pocket, but it fell on the honey-stained carpet. The mousy clerk picked it up and dashed to the cash register.

“Thanks,” I mustered. “The PIN is 7279. I'll get it from you later.”

“You bet, Cap’n. Any time,” she smiled.

I decided I had better not drive in this condition, so I left the rig there and jogged back to the office, with a new glow on my face, and some hi-test pumping through my veins. Bring on the meeting!

RESOURCES

Cheerios has teamed with Eric Carle to launch "Give a Child a Book Week," a program to encourage summer reading. General Mills is extending its five-year-old Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories program, through which it distributes free books to children, into the spring for the first time. A focus of the new initiative is an online children's book trivia contest and donation challenge in conjunction with First Book. "Give a Child a Book Week" will run June 10-16. From now through mid-June, families can go to the First Book Web site and answer a series of trivia questions about children's books. For each correct answer, they can vote for the state they think should receive copies of Carle's The Tiny Seed. The five states with the most votes will each receive 20,000 copies of the book, which will be distributed to children in need through nonprofit groups. Over the past five years, Cheerios has distributed more than 25 million free books, as well as donating over $2 million to First Book

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The Bookaneer April 2007

amy@wozabooks.com (Amy at Woza Books) — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 04:45:00 +0000

THE BOOKANEER

April 1, 2007

GREAT RESOURCES

SUPPORT TEEN LITERATURE DAY

The Young Adult Library Services Association is celebrating the first ever Support Teen Literature Day on April 19, 2007. Librarians are encouraged to participate in Support Teen Literature Day by hosting events in their library. YALSA has compiled a list of activities, display ideas, and contests to help librarians and Teen Advisory Groups celebrate Support Teen Literature Day. For more information use this link to YALSA:

http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/supportyalit.htm

FREE I CAN READ CLASSROOM KIT

HarperCollins Children’s Books is giving away an “I Can Read Classroom Kit” for free to any takers. To get your kit write to:

HarperCollins Children’s Books

Department MO-ICR

1350 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10019

FROM YOUNG READERS

When I read aloud from The Call to Shakabaz at Storybook Lane Bookshop in San Carlos, I met a young fellow who didn’t quite grasp the concept of an author reading. He was about five years old and arrived a bit late with his older sister. After the reading, when I asked if anyone had any questions, this boy raised his hand. With a look of wonder that I continue to cherish, he asked me, “Who wrote this book?” The awe in his voice and amazement in his face were one of the highest compliments I have received.

MORE CAT IN THE HAT

One of my emailing friends sent me the following poem. I can’t credit it because it came with no name on it, so if anyone knows who wrote it, please let me know. This is an alternative ending to Green Eggs and Ham for children who keep kosher.

Will you never see?

They are not kosher, so let me be!

I will not eat green eggs and ham.

I will not eat them, Sam-I-am.

But I’ll eat green eggs with a biscuit!

Or I will try them with some brisket.

I’ll eat green eggs in a box.

If you serve them with some lox.

And those green eggs are worth a try

Scrambled up in matzo brie!

And in a boat upon the river,

I’ll eat green eggs with chopped liver!

So if you’re a Jewish Dr. Seuss fan,

But troubled by green eggs and ham,

Let your friends in on the scoop:

Green eggs taste best with chicken soup!

NEWS ABOUT THE CALL TO SHAKABAZ

I’m pleased to announce that we have passed the 1,000 mark in book sales. My interview on the Bev Smith Show was a terrific success and sparked a spike in sales. The book was listed as a recommended read in the most recent issue of the Brady Campaign’s newsletter, Marching Orders. I have had some lovely book events in the past month and am looking forward to my appearance in my old hometown of Berkeley, California on April 29^th at Black Oak Books. In June I will be moderating a discussion at the Mendocino LitFest in Ukiah on the topic of hooking reluctant young readers on books. I welcome your thoughts and suggestions as I am still developing resources, materials, and ideas on this topic.

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The Bookaneer E-zine March 2007

amy@wozabooks.com (Amy at Woza Books) — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 04:45:00 +0000

THE BOOKANEER

GREAT RESOURCES

At the Reading the World Conference on Multicultural Children’s Literature at the University of San Francisco last weekend I met Craig Wiesner, co-owner of Reach and Teach, a company that promotes educational and parenting materials that inspire young people to work for a better world. Their toys, games, books, and many other resources and products support efforts to advance peace and social justice. Check them out at www.reachandteach.com. Lots of great resources for teachers and school librarians!

FROM YOUNG READERS

I spent a wonderful day this month with the sixth-graders at Tierra Linda Middle School in San Carlos, California. I asked the children for suggestions about how to fight an evil enchanter, who will stop at nothing to destroy you, without using violence against him. One boy suggested “What if it turns out that he’s under a magic spell and all he needs is a hug and then he won’t be evil anymore?” Sometimes I think we should just let children rule the world. No war. Ice cream for supper. Could it get any better?

After I read aloud and talked with the Tierra Linda sixth-graders, one young lady came up to me and said, “I want to be a writer when I grow up.” I asked her, “Do you write?” She replied, “Yes.” So I said, “Then you are already a writer, you don’t have to wait until you grow up.” And then I gave her my standard line, “The only difference between writers and everyone else is that writers write.” A few days later I received an email from her telling me that she went home that night and started writing a book!

Please encourage your children to email me with their ideas for the sequel to The Call to Shakabaz. I am especially interested in their thoughts about how the Four can ultimately make Faracadar safe from Sissrath without killing him.

CELEBRATING THE 50^TH BIRTHDAY OF THE CAT IN THE HAT

READ ON to support childhood literacy!!!

For every Cat in the Hat Birthday Card received by mail or online, Random House Children's Books will donate one book to First Book (up to 1,000,000 books). Official Cat in the Hat Birthday Cards can be found in the first printing of The Cat in the Hat Party Edition (on sale 1/9/2007), at participating retailers hosting an NEA Read Across America Event, or online at www.catinthehat.com. Hand-made cards will be accepted and need to include each child's name, age and state information on the card. Mail cards to The Cat in the Hat / PO Box 6891 / Stacy, MN 55078-9934. Birthday Cards must be received by Random House between January 9, 2007 and May 1, 2007 at midnight. Random House will continue to receive birthday cards until midnight December 30, 2007—but only those received by May 1, 2007 will be included towards a First Book donation. Here is the weblink for the details: http://www.seussville.com/CITH_50th/rules.html#little

NEWS ABOUT THE CALL TO SHAKABAZ

Please check the Author Events page on the Woza Books website for listings of author events coming up in the next few months. I will be at Books Inc. in San Francisco, Black Oak Books in Berkeley, Book Passage in Corte Madera, and more. I am pasting below a press release about my upcoming interview on The Bev Smith Show on Thursday March 1^stat about 8:30 PM EST. Bev Smith is amazing and I am really looking forward to talking with her on the show. I hope you will tune in. To listen to the show live use the following link to WAOK in Atlanta: http://waok.com/pages/14530.php?

The Call to Shakabaz Author Amy Wachspress to Be

Interviewed by Bev Smith, the Queen of Black Talk Radio

On March 1, 2007, award-winning radio talk show host Bev Smith will interview author Amy Wachspress about her new children’s fantasy adventure The Call to Shakabaz, which is set in an African American cultural context and features Black characters. Broadcast out of Pittsburgh weekdays from 7 to 10 PM (EST) and syndicated nationwide to radio stations with a large African American listener base, Bev Smith has a reputation for tackling tough issues.

The Call to Shakabaz (which recently won an iParenting Media Award) is one of those rare books with cross-generational appeal. Readers of all ages will not be able to put this novel down, right through to the unexpected, magical climax. For those looking for the prefect book while waiting for that final Harry Potter fantasy, The Call to Shakabaz provides a completely satisfying read, with a refreshing approach to the fantasy genre.

According to Ms. Wachspress, “The opposite of violence is imagination. Violence occurs when we lack the creativity to come up with a solution to a problem or conflict.” Consequently, her young protagonists in The Call to Shakabaz, along with their pesky parrot, outsmart or transform their enemies rather than using violence to vanquish them.

Amy Wachspress has a master’s degree in English Language and Literature. This is her first novel. For more about the book visit the Woza Books website: www.wozabooks.com. For more about Bev Smith (and to listen to the show live at 8:30PM EST on March 1st) use the following link to WAOK in Atlanta: http://waok.com/pages/14530.php?

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The Bookaneer is produced by Amy Wachspress. Feel free to reuse any part of this e-zine, but give credit either to Amy or to the original source for all material used. Visit www.wozabooks.com for more information.

Bookaneer E-Zine February 2007

amy@wozabooks.com (Amy at Woza Books) — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 04:43:00 +0000

WELCOME TO THE BOOKANEER

As part of my adventure as the author of “The Call to Shakabaz,” every day I meet terrific people who love reading, love books, love children’s books. I receive emails with such great stuff. I want to share! So I’m launching a monthly “e-zine.” THE BOOKANEER will include brief stories, amusing tidbits, resources, and the latest news about “The Call to Shakabaz” and Woza Books. Feel free to send me your stories, jokes, internet treasures found, etc., to include in “The Bookaneer.”

WINDOW INTO A CHILD’S MIND

I recently found myself relating the story of a read-aloud incident with my son when he was four years old that reminded me of how deeply children become engaged in the worlds created in books. While reading “James and the Giant Peach” to him and his sister, I would make up tunes and sing the caterpillar’s little ditties. Let’s just say I’m not what you would call a vocalist. One night my son commented, “That caterpillar is a really bad singer, isn’t he, Mom?”

FROM MY READERS

My favorite email from an avid reader was from the lady who chewed me out for keeping her up past her bedtime three nights in a row reading. I love the messages from parents who say their children can’t put the book down and it kept them off their video games for days. Picture me rubbing my hands in glee. Please encourage your children to send me an email with their ideas for the sequel. I am especially interested in their thoughts about how the Four can ultimately rid Faracadar of Sissrath without killing him. Because, you know, he (and Compost) will be back!

The most often asked question I get from readers is “When will there be a sequel?” My answer is: As soon as I sell enough books to make the money I need to stop working so I can write the sequel. So tell everyone you know about “The Call to Shakabaz”!

NEWS ABOUT THE CALL TO SHAKABAZ

“The Call to Shakabaz” was launched on January 15^th at the Mendocino Book Company in Ukiah to a standing-room-only crowd. Ron and I both read aloud from the book and then we had delicious spice cake baked by some of our friends. The book did very well in pre-publications sales and we have sold about 20% of the first printing. I have a multi-city author tour shaping up. Check the Author Events page on the website for details.

The hot up-to-the-minute news about “The Call to Shakabaz” is that it has won an iParenting Media Award 2007 as one of a short list of best books selected as excellent products to support good parenting. The book was reviewed by parents and children who read the book together and voted in favor of selecting it to receive one of this year’s IPMA book awards.

GREAT WEBSITES TO CHECK OUT

Resources for young adult readers, teachers, and parents about great young adult books at Teens Read Too: www.teensreadtoo.com

David Mazor at Reader to Reader collects children’s and young adult books from all over the world (send him your used books) and sends them on to libraries in need as a result of under funding or damage caused by natural disasters (has so far donated thousands of books to libraries in New Orleans): http://www.readertoreader.org/

Tired of negative news? “Today's Drum” is an online journal that focuses on positive and inspirational news in the African-American Community: http://www.todaysdrum.com/

Mark and Andrea, two working parents in Ontario, take time out from their busy life to discuss and recommend books they have read with their daughters at Just One More Book – podcasts developed several times a week plus featured author interviews and more: http://www.justonemorebook.com/

EVERYDAY PRACTICES

At the end of this message please find the short version of my Everyday Practices for Young People Who Want to Help Save the World. This broadsheet was developed as a springboard for discussion with young people about what we can each do to make the world a better place and to safeguard the future of the planet. I find that parents and teachers are enthusiastic about the Everyday Practices and can think of many ways to use them. They are also posted on our website (you can find the long version there as well).

§ § § §

In the future, I hope “The Bookaneer” will become an actual newsletter, but for now it’s just a message sent from me to you once a month. I hope you will find my adventures in Bookaneering entertaining and useful. If you do not want to remain on my list for “The Bookaneer,” please send me an email at this address and put in it the exact email address I used to send “The Bookaneer” to you. I will remove you from the list. No need to provide ANY explanation, excuse, or reason for removal, I understand completely, we are all so bombarded by information and our time is limited. I don’t want to be spamming anyone! (If you know someone who you think would like to receive “The Bookaneer,” send me the email address.)

“The Bookaneer” is produced by Amy Wachspress. Feel free to reuse any part of this e-zine, but give credit either to Amy or to the original source for all material used. Visit www.wozabooks.com for more information.

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Everyday Practices for Young People

Who Want to Help Save the World

1. Pursue your passion.

This is the most important thing a young person can do each day to make the world a better place. When you do what you love, then you send your love out into the world. Discover your personal gifts and talents and pursue them with passion. Grow yourself. Find good teachers.

2. Take care of yourself.

Exercise, eat nutritional food, get enough sleep, and stay healthy. Slow down. Laugh. If you are often depressed, in pain, constantly tired, or don’t feel well, talk to a trusted adult and get professional help. If you are addicted to drugs or alcohol, take a step toward recovering your life. You are not alone.

3. Practice and teach peace and nonviolence.

Use your imagination and develop your creativity. The opposite of violence is imagination. Violence occurs when people are unable to imagine another way to resolve a situation or conflict. Imagination is powerful. Imagination can cause change. Imagination is a muscle and it needs exercise. Spend time every day in creative activity. Study the science of nonviolence. Actively practice and teach peace.

4. Feed your spirit.

Participate in a faith community. If you don’t belong to a faith community already then consider joining one or starting a spiritual group with like-minded friends. Make room in your life to do those things that inspire and energize you. Make time to spend with the people you love.

5. Listen and learn from others.

Listen to other people with focused attention and an open heart. When speaking with someone who is very different from you, take the opportunity to expand your understanding of the world. Hearing someone does not necessarily mean you agree with them. Try a new perspective.

6. Think for yourself and take control of incoming information.

Question the facts. Research where news and information comes from and get your news from reliable sources. Think for yourself. Limit your exposure to negative news and violent images from TV, movies, and electronic games. Although it is important to educate yourself about what is happening in the world, it is equally important for you to remove yourself from the bombardment of violence presented in the media. Violence is not the only news happening. And resist advertising. Who is the boss of you? Alright then, think for yourself. Turn off your TV. Have a real experience instead of a virtual one. Get a life!

7. Promote positive energy.

Life is hard. We need to be kind to one another. Respect others. Treat other people the way you want them to treat you. If you witness an act of disrespect, speak up. Interrupt acts of humiliation and discrimination. Interrupt bullying. Interrupt racism. But remember to interrupt respectfully. Accept apologies graciously and find it in your heart to forgive those who don’t apologize. Be compassionate. You don’t know what someone else has been through. Use your anger or frustration to motivate you to do something positive. Transform negative energy into positive energy. Be grateful. Count your blessings every night. Put more positive energy into the world’s energy field in every way you can. All energy goes somewhere. It doesn’t just disappear. You may never see the difference it makes, but it will make a difference. We want to live in a soup of good energy. Put wonderful ingredients into that soup.

Review by Bob Spear at "Heartland Reviews"

amy@wozabooks.com (Amy at Woza Books) — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 16:07:00 +0000

The following posting was made by Book Reviewer Bob Spear at Heartland Reviews on November 14, 2006. Bob has also suggested that BookSense send the title out as a “recommended read” and he is planning to include it in his Reluctant Reader Catalog in 2007.

Bob’s posting:

Title: The Call to Shakabaz

Author: Amy Wachspress

Publisher and/or Distributor: Woza Books

Publisher Website: www.wozabooks.com

Pages: 272

ISBN: 0-9788350-2-6

Price: $15.50

Publishing Date: January 15, 2007

Reader: Bob Spear

Rating: 5 hearts

This midgrade fantasy is perfect for a young reluctant reader. The book is unusual in that all the characters are people of color—not only African American hues, but other colors as well. Four modern orphans find themselves escorted through a gate into another dimension where they come to take over the roles of their mother and her three siblings as protectors and problem solvers for different people in conflict with an evil wizard. Unique among other fantasy adventure books, they discover only non-violent solutions to the impinging threats.

The author shows the four children, along with their very intelligent parrot, growing and developing into their legacy—becoming what they are intended to become—The Four. We ranked this excellent book five hearts.

What Readers Are Saying

amy@wozabooks.com (Amy at Woza Books) — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 16:05:00 +0000

Reviews from Customers at Amazon

Buy, Beg for, Borrow, or Just Plain STEAL This Book!, November 28, 2006

Reviewer:

Calvin H. Johnson (Ukiah, CA United States)

I began reading fantasy and science fiction when I was in the 4th Grade. By the time my one year of college came, I was really ready for more interesting adult fare. I picked up The Lord of the Rings in 1973, and have read it every year since that time. All in all, I am a big fan of these genres. But there was always one vexation, which, while slight in my youth, has become more vexing as time passed. That vexation is that, in most all of the fantasy and speculative fiction, very few are about or contain characters who are, people of color. That is to say, people of color besides white people.
I know that white folks will think this sounds strange, but think about it for a minute. One of the reasons Amy Wachspress' book works for me is that, being Black, I finally found a story that had people in it who actually look and talk like me. That is very cool. Beyond that, because Wachspress doesn't make a big deal of the characters' ethnicity, the book is a whacking good read, with lots of action and character development. It also uses the language beautifully, with characters using their own patois as they would in normal speech, but also with descriptions that are at once haunting and appropriate. Although I'm 51 years old, I never tire of going on a great adventure. This is one book I'm really proud to put my bookplate on. I am looking forward to reading it to my wife, and (in about a thousand years, should my son ever get around to having some) my grandchildren. Children and adults, I think, will really love this book. If you liked Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter, you will really love Shakabaz! Way to go, Amy!

Great read, for adults too!, November 29, 2006

Reviewer:

Eris Weaver (Cotati, CA)

How refreshing to read an adventure tale that does not depend on cliched British medieval imagery! While the main characters act and speak like contemporary urban children, the plot includes travel to mystical foreign lands, talking animals, magical powers, a conflict between the forces of good and evil, and other hallmarks of a traditional hero's journey.

And how many children's fantasy/adventure stories feature main characters that are not white? I don't think I fully realized the extent of this omission until reading "The Call to Shakabaz," in which the characters are all African American. Most books in the genre feature white protagonists, while enemies and/or inhabitants of exotic lands are frequently people of color.

But you shouldn't read this book just because it's "politically correct," but because it's GOOD! Once I began, I could not put it down. I cared about the characters, and couldn't wait to see how they worked their way out of tight and dangerous spots.

Parents, uncles and aunties, public and school librarians, buy this book!

We loved this book, November 29, 2006

Reviewer:

Lisa Piediscalzi -

I just finished reading this book aloud to my 6 and 9 year old boys, and we all loved it. How refreshing to find a fantasy that incorporates a lot of our family values without being stuffy or self-conscious or overbearingly "PC." The wonderful dialogue and narrative sweep you along, making it a great read for kids who are into adventure. We can't wait to read the sequel!