tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323060183493034578.post2827401881805504296..comments2024-01-06T23:39:55.154-08:00Comments on Middle Grade Mafioso: Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Interview with Rosanne Parry and Giveaway of SECOND FIDDLEMichael G-Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07947421844294471304noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323060183493034578.post-22539316568271945542012-03-18T17:51:20.705-07:002012-03-18T17:51:20.705-07:00Oh my, beautiful cover for the pb! Great interview...Oh my, beautiful cover for the pb! Great interview...no need to enter me. Why? Cause I own both...<br /><br />Thanks you two!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323060183493034578.post-69964256935313649912012-03-14T18:21:54.518-07:002012-03-14T18:21:54.518-07:00Thanks Amy!
Yes, I adore my covers, both of them....Thanks Amy!<br /><br />Yes, I adore my covers, both of them. I've been very fortunate with good covers. in my opinion. <br /><br />And I got so busy I forgot my exciting news which is that my new novel has a pub date! <br /><br />This is a book that has been dear to my heart for many years. It's called Written in Stone and it will be out in June of 2013! More details on my website later. I need to finish the author note this week!Rosannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16802313829086904173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323060183493034578.post-62667172835004880512012-03-14T14:01:35.445-07:002012-03-14T14:01:35.445-07:00Great interview! I love this book, have read it ma...Great interview! I love this book, have read it many times, and am so completely touched by one particular scene where characters befriend one another not through language, but almost entirely through music as their way of communication. Beautiful.Amy-Baskin.blogspot.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02456111597354561225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323060183493034578.post-86214972412332730962012-03-14T13:39:44.652-07:002012-03-14T13:39:44.652-07:00First of all, lovely covers! Then, I like the fact...First of all, lovely covers! Then, I like the fact that music has an importan role. I played the piano for ages and music played a huge role in my teenhood. Also, the book seems interesting for being in between YA and MG. I'd love to see how it turns out!Reading Mind / The Loyal Book https://www.blogger.com/profile/12924277904577259813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323060183493034578.post-65967336103103687552012-03-14T06:34:57.886-07:002012-03-14T06:34:57.886-07:00You know, the YA or MG topic was popular with a lo...You know, the YA or MG topic was popular with a lot of readers, and I have to say it's what drew me into this post. I wonder do a lot of people go through this thought process.Kristen Wixtedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06270464973842125576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323060183493034578.post-72152168502953735642012-03-13T09:51:29.065-07:002012-03-13T09:51:29.065-07:00You know the other thing I took into account in de...You know the other thing I took into account in deciding to stick with MG was the string trio aspect of the story. Most kids, even if they've been playing an instrument since they were little, join a band, orchestra or choir for the first time in middle school. For lots of kids it's the most empowering thing that happens to them in middle school. <br /><br />That was true for me and my middle school orchestra. My agent sang in his school plays and my editor was in the drum line! What all three of us loved was that great feeling the Jody and her friends shared of being able to make something together musically that was so much more beautiful that what they could accomplish on their own.Rosannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16802313829086904173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323060183493034578.post-89811553298425715922012-03-12T22:24:51.251-07:002012-03-12T22:24:51.251-07:00I find her process of deciding whether to go YA or...I find her process of deciding whether to go YA or MG fascinating. Oh and the paperback cover is GORGEOUS. :)akosshttp://akossket.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323060183493034578.post-21801034712790997872012-03-12T21:11:42.370-07:002012-03-12T21:11:42.370-07:00Ooh! Excitement City!!Ooh! Excitement City!!Michael G-Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947421844294471304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323060183493034578.post-14371723060298731182012-03-12T21:09:07.225-07:002012-03-12T21:09:07.225-07:00Hey, thanks for putting up the new cover, Mike! Is...Hey, thanks for putting up the new cover, Mike! Isn't it gorgeous! Tuesday is the on sale date for the paperback. <br /><br />AND I got some very exciting news about my next book, but I need to double check and make sure I can make public announcements. Stay tuned!Rosannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16802313829086904173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323060183493034578.post-36117973489011722992012-03-12T12:16:13.131-07:002012-03-12T12:16:13.131-07:00Thanks Shannon. There are some resources at my web...Thanks Shannon. There are some resources at my website specifically for teachers and librarians. Yours might like to look at the companions reads for Second Fiddle. <br /><br />For example, Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys is a YA book about the experience of people like Arvo in the Baltic Republics with the Soviet Union. It's a gripping story and not for the tender-hearted, but it gives much more context to the story and for why the Soviet Union was so feared.Rosannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16802313829086904173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323060183493034578.post-27147200282574656602012-03-12T10:37:16.510-07:002012-03-12T10:37:16.510-07:00Loved Heart of a Shepherd but still haven't re...Loved Heart of a Shepherd but still haven't read Second Fiddle and would LOVE to win a copy!Barbara Watsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06547166495514562286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323060183493034578.post-6025281988525480812012-03-12T09:40:33.884-07:002012-03-12T09:40:33.884-07:00Wow, this book sounds amazing. They would both be ...Wow, this book sounds amazing. They would both be wonderful additions to our school. I'll be tracking down my librarian later! Thanks!! :-)Shannon O'Donnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17299313309059235876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323060183493034578.post-89411250844071304302012-03-12T09:40:24.901-07:002012-03-12T09:40:24.901-07:00Wow, this book sounds amazing. They would both be ...Wow, this book sounds amazing. They would both be wonderful additions to our school. I'll be tracking down my librarian later! Thanks!! :-)Shannon O'Donnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17299313309059235876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323060183493034578.post-53493842485954129052012-03-12T09:00:23.404-07:002012-03-12T09:00:23.404-07:00Good morning everyone!
Yes, I am hugely grateful...Good morning everyone! <br /><br />Yes, I am hugely grateful for my editor who is willing to let a story be the kind of story it wants to be. I always run into trouble when I'm trying to push a story in an unnatural direction. <br /><br />For example, in the first scenes I wrote with the soldier and the girls he was Russian and not a musician. The interaction came across as creepy and weird because the soldier was so much older. So I decided to make the soldier a musician which made their connection much more natural. But then I had to do a ton of research about the Estonian independence movement in the late 1980s and early 1990s. I took 3 months instead of my usual 3 weeks to revise. But the result of all that research was a character that was much richer any more interesting. <br /><br />Another consideration I took into account was the amazing support I got from librarians and teachers for Heart of a Shepherd. I wanted to build on those connections already made, so I was meticulous about my research. I want teachers to be confident about using my novels in the classroom. Random House did a special map for me in the author note that makes the book even more usable in the classroom. And for the paperback they gave me a brand new cover! I do love the hardback cover but this new one is more boy-friendly.<br /><br />I'll be here on and off all day so if you have questions, I'm happy to answer them!Rosannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16802313829086904173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323060183493034578.post-375233950832723382012-03-12T08:25:47.162-07:002012-03-12T08:25:47.162-07:00Oh, I adored SECOND FIDDLE. I won a hardcover from...Oh, I adored SECOND FIDDLE. I won a hardcover from Natalie Aguirre (and featured it last year). So don't enter me in the giveaway. Glad you're spreading the love. <br /><br />And, like these other commenters, I was interested in the process of deciding on MG v. YA. How cool that it could have gone either way. I'm glad Rosanne chose the MG path -- the resulting book is definitely worth it.<br /><br />And yay for that teacher who was willing to separate the mechanics from the art of writing!Joanne R. Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08076959910493197255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323060183493034578.post-6282398921200551462012-03-12T06:51:04.387-07:002012-03-12T06:51:04.387-07:00Thanks for highlighting this story. It sounds like...Thanks for highlighting this story. It sounds like a good read! I especially enjoyed the interview and insights on how to decide whether the novel would be MG or YA. Thanks also for recommending other musically related books from Stages on Pages - they definitely sound worth looking for too.Andrea Mackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15250681746122381149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323060183493034578.post-41369646691944906472012-03-12T06:03:45.250-07:002012-03-12T06:03:45.250-07:00Fascinating choice for a setting! This sounds lik...Fascinating choice for a setting! This sounds like a complex and moving book.Connie B. Dowellhttp://www.bookechoes.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323060183493034578.post-51363671428685243002012-03-12T05:38:48.296-07:002012-03-12T05:38:48.296-07:00Rosanne it's great to meet you!
I think it...Rosanne it's great to meet you!<br /><br />I think it's fabulous that the editor gave you the freedom to take the characters down an MG or YA road, whichever felt more natural. Sounds like you made a fantastic choice!S.A. Larsenッhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323060183493034578.post-84376794881655263642012-03-12T04:34:50.347-07:002012-03-12T04:34:50.347-07:00Great interview Rosanne & Michael. It's so...Great interview Rosanne & Michael. It's so interesting hearing more about how you and your editor decided on whether to make your story YA or MG and the little subtle differences that would make it one or the other.<br /><br />Thanks for the giveaway.Natalie Aguirrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03756087804171246660noreply@blogger.com