For the Love of Libraries

Personal libraries are the things writers' dreams are made of. They're filled with books you love, books you need and books you're just in awe of. With a recent move, mine is made up of a storage room of boxes and I can't wait to finally build the bookshelf I've always wanted (someday...). 

Thanks to bloggers like Kyle Cassidy and author Leah Price, we can now enjoy rare glimpses into the personal libraries of our favorite writers. 

Neil Gaiman - Kyle Cassidy

Here's just a few of the most fascinating private libraries that we all wish we had in our homes. What does your library look like? Let us know!

Toni Morrison

Junot Diaz - Leah Price

Jennifer Pun (Pre-Unpacking)

Mark Twain

Wanted: Independence

Happy Canada Day to my fellow Canucks and Happy pre-Fourth of July to my American friends.  To celebrate these grand days of freedom, I thought it would be great to use "independence" as the theme for today's blog. So here are a few hot topics for YA writers bent on showing their Ms. (or Mr.) Independent side. 

1. Self Publishing

Everyone loves a good self publishing success story and what's better than a teen self pub phenom? Budding author Aija Mayrock's The Survival Guide to Bullying, a book Mayrock released online to coincide with 2014's National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month was released yesterday by Scholastic.  It's a creative and insightful read for both kids and parents alike. 

2. Classic Heroines 

Even in today's fast paced world of electronic Apples, over sexualized pop stars and high speed inter web, it's nice to know that some heroines on their own quests for independence have stood the test of time. Here's a list that includes Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank and The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison.  Lovely, timeless and brave.

3. Sci-Fi Breakouts

We daydream about escaping the real world so we can fantasize about breaking out of imaginary ones. Whether it's The Hunger Games or Ready Player One, they all revolve around the theme of finding oneself and defeating those whose goal it is to bring us down.  Check out these and other action packed independent minded sci-fi novels here. 

4. Independence Day 2

What's a fourth of July without revisiting the classic Will Smith blockbuster Independence Day?  Well, next year, there'll be more alien invasions to follow.  The sequel to the summer hit featuring Jeff Goldblum and Liam  Hemsworth is sure to get the patriotic pride flowing in 2016.  

Happy fireworks and barbecues!