This is the seventh in a series discussing how characters in The Shamra Chronicles would deal with current hot-button issues and pressures that confront today’s teens. Would Dara have an abortion? In Shamra society marriage, bearing and raising children was … Continue reading →

Having written a YA series I have now begun to read a number of books in the genre. I will occasionally review YA books that come to my attention. Article 5 a first novel by Kristen Simmons starts off with … Continue reading →

Having written a YA series I have now begun to read a number of books in the genre. I will occasionally review YA books that come to my attention. In Blood Wounds, by prolific author Susan Beth Pfeffer (Harcourt), Willa … Continue reading →

In a February 9th interview with CNN’s John King, Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum firmly inserted his foot in his mouth when he spoke of his opposition to women fighting in combat in the armed forces. Women are currently in … Continue reading →

Schools are supposed to act in the best interest of the student. However, in the case of two girls suspended at Lewis Palmer Middle School in Monument, Colorado the school grossly overreacted to one girl attempting to help her friend. … Continue reading →

                In mid-January I conducted a giveaway of all three books that make up The Shamra Chronicles in Shelf Awareness (Pro and Readers), and DearReader.com (Librarian and Readers Newsletter). We had well over … Continue reading →

I’m no fan of Tim Tebow but I’m even less of a fan of shoddy journalism. I planned on writing a blog about the oversaturation of Tebow-mania on ESPN, USA Today and even cable news outlets like CNN. He’s been … Continue reading →

KidsBuzz and KidsBookClubbing will be running a contest shortly. Below are some discussion questions for those who have read the three books of The Shamra Chronicles. Even if you are not participating in the contest feel free to answer the … Continue reading →

This is the sixth in a series discussing how characters in The Shamra Chronicles would deal with current hot-button issues and pressures that confront today’s teens. Would a teenage Dara be into tattoos and piercings? Dara was always a rebel. … Continue reading →

Several incidents occurred on Black Friday this year that makes one wonder what’s wrong with our society. In one case CNN showed a video of a woman spraying fellow customers with pepper spray at a Walmart near Los Angeles as … Continue reading →