Monday, April 24, 2017

A Book Review - Fever 1793


I write. I write all the time. But I also squeeze in time to read.

You become a better writer by reading what you write.


I read in the evenings, I read when my husband and I are riding around and I read whenever I can find the time.

I recently read Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson.
I had heard of this book and always wanted to read it.
(In case you don't know, I love historical fiction)
It is for young adults and has an appendix in the back giving information about the facts of the time period and famous people touched by the fever.

Here is the blurb from the back:
During the summer of 1793, Mattie Cook lives above the family coffee shop with her widowed mother and grandfather. Mattie spends her days avoiding chores and making plans to turn the family business into the finest Philadelphia has ever seen. But then the fever breaks out.
Disease sweeps the streets, destroying everything in its path and turning Mattie's world upside down. At her feverish mother's insistence, Mattie flees the city with her grandfather. But she soon discovers that the sickness is everywhere, and Mattie must learn quickly how to survive in a city turned frantic with disease.

If you like historical fiction, I feel you will like this book. It is very detailed in sections about how life was like during that time period. You can tell she did a lot of research. It is so sad they did not know how yellow fever was caught and spread.
When they bled people, it just made chills go down me.
When the characters mentioned swatting mosquitoes away from their faces, I cringed.

Have you read this book? Did you enjoy it?

What have you read lately?



Janet Smart
author of Duck and Cover

Sunday, April 16, 2017

This and That



I like to edit, but sometimes I don't know when to quit. Recently I have been wondering if I should make my other MG book take place in the then and now or keep it in the 1960s.

I like it in the 1960s. But I have had one person say she thinks it should take place now - in 2017.

I haven't had any luck in getting it published, so I have been toying with the idea of changing it. I have made another word copy of it and have been making the changes it needs to make it take place in the present day.

Decisions, decisions . . .

Do you like having your stories set in the past?

********************

I have been having fun with Duck and Cover that was recently released. I have had two book signings and have another one planned for early June.

My cousin and I volunteer at the local Senior Center. We do a craft workshop once a week. I just love our Crazy Crafters (that is the name we voted on)The Director wants me to read a chapter of my book and do a little presentation. I finally gave in and said I would do it and decided that afterward my cousin and I would do a craft with our craft class that has something to do with the story. I am now looking forward to it. It will be a lot of fun.



Recently, I was excited that Homer Hickam took the time to read my book and send me a following blurb:


"Duck and Cover is a charming novel of young people coming of age during a very frightening time, the early 1960's at the height of the Cold War. Set in West Virginia, Smart's characters are as real as the hills in which they live, and as enduring. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and believe this author is one to watch (and read) now and in the future." –



Homer Hickam, author Rocket Boys/October Sky and Carrying Albert Home

****************************

There are soooo many books on Amazon and I have no idea how my sales are doing on there, but if any of you have read it, I would love if you could write an online review.

Any suggestions or ideas on how to get your book noticed among all those listed?

**********************
I have an author page on Facebook. You can find it here.