Sometimes Middle Grade Mafiosi read non-MG books...

I don't have a Marvelous Middle Grade Monday book for you today, but I do want to reassure you that I've been reading. A lot. Most of it's been A Game of Thrones and its sequels, but right now I'm almost at the end of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz. It' s a merengue of musicality, opening my eyes to the terror that was the Trujillo regime in the Dominican Republic in the 1930s-1960s.

Sometimes it's good to flex the reading muscles in other areas, like working on your biceps rather than your abs. It'll be interesting to see how much infiltrates my writing too.

Have you strayed off your usual reading track lately? If so, what have you been reading?

Grand Prize Winner Announced

Imagine the scene:

The Don, surrounded by serried ranks of mafiosi. He strokes his favorite cat, Salvatore. He speaks.

The Don: So, Michele, you have the winner for me?

Me: Yes, your Don-ness

The Don: Enough of the fancy schmanzy, Michele. Bring me the hat. (He trawls stubby fingers through the pieces of paper in the hat, draws one out.) Here's the winner.

Luca Brasi, in a high-pitched voice: Is it me, Uncle Vito?

The Don: Did you comment, Luca? Did you take part in Michele's blog celebration? No? Then shut up.

(Luca steps back, shamefacedly.)

The Don: Okay, Michele. Who's the winner? He gets an agent, right?

Me: Er, no Godfather. He or she gets 25 bucks.

The Don: 25 bucks?! What is this, a second-rate operation? You might as well give them 25 lire--or what do they call 'em now? Euro? My grand-daughter gets 25 bucks for washing my car. The winner of this thing should get an agent. My nephew, Luigi. He only takes a 60 percent commission.

Me: (thinking Holy Mother of God): Okay, Godfather. We'll give the winner 25 bucks and Luigi. And the winner is...

Kristen Wixted

(Sorry, Kristen. I'll make sure Luigi gets sent to Boston, Indiana!)

Seriously, hooray for Kristen. She's a great MG writer, she's funny, and she writes a great blog at Don't Forget the Samovar. If you don't know her, go on over and meet her right now.

Thanks, everyone, for all your comments and support this past year. I am humbled and happy. We had a great week, Luca was thwarted, and Luigi's getting an all-expenses paid trip to the Indy 500!! Grazie!

It's a Birthday Wrap--with a $25 gift card...

It was a quieter week than anticipated--and I'm blaming BEA, at least in the Don's hearing. Everybody seemed to be at the Javits Center in New York, sweeping up ARCs or plotting to marry John Green. (The Don says that we're to have a booth there next year, to which I say "hold onto your violins.")

Fortunately for me, Luca's brazen plan to take over the blog was thwarted by Leslie Pugh, Jeff Chen, and Julie DeGuia, whom I now promise to protect for evermore from vendetta. And Random.org, in her dispassionate way, has decreed that Julie DeGuia is the winner of HEART OF A SHEPHERD. So Julie'll have something to read while in the safehouse!!

Now that's out of the way, let's jump to the Grand Prize. Anybody who commented during the week (including today) is in the running for a $25 gift card to an indie book store of your choice.

In finale, let me just say that interacting with all you good folks has made my life richer in invaluable ways. Thanks for the middle grade love (and for putting up with my wacky sense of humor.)

Grazie mille!

(P.s. It's a busy blogging day for me. I'm interviewing New Zealand writer Susan Brocker on Project Mayhem, and highlighting Writing Tips from Pixar on The Year of Writing Dangerously. Have a shufti, if you have time.)

Do-Over of Yesterday's Post: A Giveaway of HEART OF A SHEPHERD

From topleftdesign.com

Blogger scrambled the scheduling of my post yesterday, which is the excuse I'm giving the Don for the fact that I did not receive one single comment, which in itself is a first for Middle Grade Mafioso. And since we celebrate every first, we all went out for antipasti at the Don's favorite Italian eatery and sang sad songs late into the night.

But now we're back, bright and bushy tailed and DESPERATELY wanting to bestow Rosanne Parry's masterful novel HEART OF A SHEPHERD on a worthy recipient. Folks, this is a special book, so whip up a frenzy for me. Otherwise, I'll be out of a blogging job and you'll all be subjected to Luca's grandiose posturings. (Did you know he wants to rename this blog LUCA'S LAVISH LITERARY LIAISONS?!!!) Spare us from that. Please.

Three More Days of Swag--and another winner reveal

I've finangled the Don's keys from their hiding place and am zipping down to the vault for more goodies.

But first, the winner of

is

the ever-effervescent and totally wonderful

Shannon O'Donnell

And now for today's giveaway: I blogged some weeks ago about the new novel (SECOND FIDDLE) by my friend and critique group member, Rosanne Parry. Her debut was HEART OF A SHEPHERD, and I have a signed paperback for anybody who comments or follows or who makes a fuss in any way.

Woo-hoo!! Celebrating 102!

Thank you, Kristin Lenz and Leslie Pugh, for joining the Middle Grade Mafioso fun.

And thank you, everyone who commented yesterday, for your kind remarks and support. The Don says you're welcome to come over for a glass of Chianti/Italian soda anytime.


The winner of Harold Underdown's:

is...  

Kristin Lenz

(I promise you this wasn't fixed. I guess Random.org likes new followers or something.)

Today's prize is a copy of TUA AND THE ELEPHANT, which I reviewed in April.

Remember, leave a comment, tell a friend, become a follower. Everyone who comments/joins during this entire week (till Friday) has a chance at the Grand Prize: $25 gift card from IndieBound.

100th Follower Celebration

Middle Grade Mafioso has just celebrated its one year anniversary, and we also have our 100th follower (Julie DeGuia). The Don is saying he's going to open the vaults so we can have a party of sorts.

Here's what we intend to do. As you can see a lot of bribery and corruption is involved.

If you invite a friend to be a follower, and that friend mentions your name, then you'll both be entered in our daily drawing for a book. (Told you it was a pyramid scheme.) On Friday, all the new followers and their sponsors will be in the drawing for a $25 IndieBound gift card.

Today's book:

Invite away. Let's have a party. I'll announce the winner tomorrow.