[Darren]

Having finished three books lately (all re-reads) that I didn't have a lot to say about them individually, I thought I'd wrap them up in one post.

A Semester In The Life Of A Garbage Bag

Fun! A nice combo of the progression of technology vs. being used to how things were and the feeling of having rotten luck. The poetry within harkened back to the Jeremy Bloom books. This was the last book I had read when I was younger before my long KormanHiatus™.

Name Alerts/Conceptual Continuity: Gavin Gunhold, Burger King.

Radio 5th Grade

I identified with this one a little more. I've never done radio, though I'm told I have the voice for it (or was it face for it?). However, years back, I was doing podcast interviews with some musicians for a website, before podcasting got really big. Many internal discussions about how much of my own personality to inject into the interview versus just letting the subject talk. Trying to figure out who my personal Eldridge Kestenbaum was... Carson? Letterman?

It hit me a little that, at this point in reading from the beginning of your catalog, I seem to be enjoying the books for younger readers a little more than the YA books. Maybe because they're a little more fantastical and a little more humorous? I'm not sure. Although, this assessment doesn't include the later series' like Island, Everest and Dive. This book was kind of tucked weirdly after three YA releases and then another YA release right after it. Was it planned that way or more of a whatever you felt like writing at that moment?

Conceptual Continuity: The Glass Caves Of Nodrog

Losing Joe's Place

One of the more enjoyable YA novels of yours for me and I think a big reason for that is that it's not confined to a school setting like the three YA novels before it. One of my favourite character names with Rootbeer Racinette (or Rootbeer Rootbeer). Funny and interesting neighbours like Don't Care High. Overall, really good. Not sure it'd make my top five, but top ten seems likely.

Conceptual Continuity: Funny band name (Electric Catfish), Burger King, Gavin Gunhold.

No questions about the books really spring to mind, so I'll ask: What did you learn at NYU that you were able to apply to your writing?

Hi, Darren,

Are you sure you're not overdosing?

One thing you missed in "Garbage Bag" -- the origin of the name used by Raymond Jardine @ Theamelpos ... who knows more about me than I know about myself!

You may be right that I do a better job with Middle Grade than with Y/A. A lot of people think all my work is somewhere in the gray area between the two. I'll hold that judgement, though, until you've read BORN TO ROCK.

At NYU I spent most of my time trying to make sure that whatever I learned there didn't interfere with what I was already pretty successful at. I don't mean that I didn't learn anything. I was just afraid to change what was shaping up to be a solid body of work. (Plus I learned that I was pretty meh at screenplays, which is a whole different kind of writing.

Thanks for sticking with it. You seem to be a stubborn cuss.                                                  ---GK---

[Darren]

Thanks again for the reply, Gord.

Stubborn? Perhaps (that description did make me laugh). OCD? Maybe. I like to think of it as more focused and determined. I've reached the age where I've looked at the books I've accumulated and set a goal that I really should be reading all of these. I thought I'd go alphabetically and started with Douglas Adams, then hopped over to your catalog, though I can't remember my reason for that. The bottom line is that I'm having a lot of fun reading these and it's great escapism and stress relief from everyday life.

I have read Born To Rock quite a while ago, but am looking forward to that one again. I remember it fondly. I also thought your answer about NYU would be what you wrote. I didn't notice any fundamental change in your writing from before to after your stint there. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!