When our grandson came to visit the Lake for his first "Camp Granny," I was racking my brain thinking of things for him to do. Then I remembered my own visits with my beloved Grandma. What did we do? We gathered eggs from the henhouse, picked veggies from the garden and cooked them, made jelly from the grapes, and she even taught me to crochet rag rugs from her old support hose (Grandma wasted nothing!) What wonderful memories we made doing absolutely nothing out of the ordinary for her, but making magic for me.
So...Grandson and I walked, kayaked, swam, fished, hosed the garden and told stories. Nothing out of the ordinary for us at the Lake. Well, we DID go to the Bridge to play the arcade games, but I doubt that is something he'll remember years hence. Too bad I've forgotten how to crochet!
On another note, Darrell Laurant, writer for the Lynchburg News & Advance wrote a super review/article about Eaglebait. Thanks, Darrell. I've posted it on Facebook for anyone interested in reading it.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
A Second Successful Signing!
I had a great turnout at the Smith Mt. Lake library Thursdy night--around 35 in attendance by seat count. I signed and sold quite a few books, as well. Next event for EAGLEBAIT is Saturday, August 13 at the Diamond Hill Wine gig where other local authors and I will sell and sign our books. this is turning out to be a lot of fun!!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Another great review for Eaglebait!
Here's the latest review for Eaglebait, written by career librarian, reviewer and world traveler, Mark Anderson. Thanks, Mark!
Eaglebait, by Susan Coryell. Bloomington IN: iUniverse, Inc.
1989, 2011.
Bullying has been an issue of grave concern in society since time immemorial. In our own sphere of years, pro-active communities have emerged to combat the menace. Articles and novels have been written. Studies have been conducted; self-help groups have come to the fore. Bullies have been thwarted, and those who have suffered in silence have been helped. The surly lad slouching in the back of a classroom waiting to taunt a victim has himself been brought to heel. The mere click of a mouse can create a cyber-bully, often with devastating consequences. The tracking technology is there, too, to bring such people out from anonymity.
We may now take a new and refreshing look at an early novel which targets the issue of bullying. In 1989, Susan Coryell, a career educator in Virginia, wrote Eaglebait, a young adult novel that is prescient in its realization of an enormous problem that in the ensuing years would create headlines and careen out of control. We now have a re-issue from iUniverse, Inc. (2011), and we can read again how Coryell’s perceptions still ring true. We can discern how her hip and often amusing depictions of 1980s culture and technology more than withstand the scrutiny and the flippancy of our new century. Updates of her situations and ideas slide into our consciousness as easily as a couple of thumbs flicking the latest palm-size screen.
Our main character, Wardy, is not the world’s greatest 14-year old. He is insolent to his mother, and disdainful of his father. He literally blows apart his chance at a good high school career at a prestigious private school. He further skews the moral compass of his life by carrying out a minor deceit. But does this mean that he should be subject to bullying? Emphatically, no. However, he is also pudgy, confused, and a brilliant science student. That’s the fodder which arch-bullies Jimmo, Jocko, and their mates find worth pursuing when Wardy shows up at his new school. Now what can Wardy do when his future is blocked by bullies?
Coryell delivers vicious scenes of bullying, cutting them from the whole cloth of a society’s perversions. Public humiliation and the mob effect take hold and engulf the hapless Wardy. We recognize the slow, gnawing nature of bullying. It wrenches our hearts, because we recognize it yet today. Coryell makes the key point that solutions are needed. If you can’t talk sense to a bully, try to steer clear and find your own support.
Wardy’s first solution is not good. He flees, and finds that a few harrowing days and nights in rural America leave him shaken beyond any taunts he endures at school.
Wardy will find his saviors, and these characters are drawn by Coryell with great sensitivity and depth. There is Grandma Lou. Would we now call her GLou? She is calm and she is wise. She would be a wonderful star turn for the encompassing warmth of Blythe Danner. Grandma Lou sips her juice and advises Wardy to choose his battles. She reveals her life as a series of give-and-take moments, and ultimately as a statement for the empowerment of women. She wants Wardy to fight his way through taunts and mixed signals towards his own goal of the mastery of science.
Moments of clarity are now more frequent for Wardy. He begins to take a more measured view of school life. He connects with some nice students. Meg, a talented and pretty classmate befriends him. It’s a jaw-dropping development for plain old Wardy. We might smile and recognize it as the precursor to a “Kevin James gets the girl” moment.
The need for caution still cannot be ignored. Is the helpful physics teacher really a savior, or a sinister presence? Wardy has to scramble and decide where his loyalties reside and the best direction for his talents. The solution to bullying has taken hold. Wardy immerses himself in family, friends, and science.
His laser experiments would be the contemporary search for “the next killer app.” That crazy little thing called a photocell is a key to Wardy’s work. Laser fuel is augmented by a common drugstore ingredient. And the good old microwave oven is now used for much more than just warming up your cup of tea. There is a backyard test of the laser, which leaves Wardy glowing and the neighbors scratching their heads.
Wardy realizes that friends will rally ‘round. An eminent scientist professor whom Wardy has written to (by any means necessary, we might muse) comes to town, and Wardy finds that collaboration with adults is a great thing. The enduring concept of mentoring thus becomes another “Ah-ha! moment” for Wardy.
The novel achieves a nice momentum. There is tension, emotional turmoil, and lots of solid science to satisfy young readers and adults alike.
Eaglebait, by Susan Coryell. Bloomington IN: iUniverse, Inc.
1989, 2011.
Bullying has been an issue of grave concern in society since time immemorial. In our own sphere of years, pro-active communities have emerged to combat the menace. Articles and novels have been written. Studies have been conducted; self-help groups have come to the fore. Bullies have been thwarted, and those who have suffered in silence have been helped. The surly lad slouching in the back of a classroom waiting to taunt a victim has himself been brought to heel. The mere click of a mouse can create a cyber-bully, often with devastating consequences. The tracking technology is there, too, to bring such people out from anonymity.
We may now take a new and refreshing look at an early novel which targets the issue of bullying. In 1989, Susan Coryell, a career educator in Virginia, wrote Eaglebait, a young adult novel that is prescient in its realization of an enormous problem that in the ensuing years would create headlines and careen out of control. We now have a re-issue from iUniverse, Inc. (2011), and we can read again how Coryell’s perceptions still ring true. We can discern how her hip and often amusing depictions of 1980s culture and technology more than withstand the scrutiny and the flippancy of our new century. Updates of her situations and ideas slide into our consciousness as easily as a couple of thumbs flicking the latest palm-size screen.
Our main character, Wardy, is not the world’s greatest 14-year old. He is insolent to his mother, and disdainful of his father. He literally blows apart his chance at a good high school career at a prestigious private school. He further skews the moral compass of his life by carrying out a minor deceit. But does this mean that he should be subject to bullying? Emphatically, no. However, he is also pudgy, confused, and a brilliant science student. That’s the fodder which arch-bullies Jimmo, Jocko, and their mates find worth pursuing when Wardy shows up at his new school. Now what can Wardy do when his future is blocked by bullies?
Coryell delivers vicious scenes of bullying, cutting them from the whole cloth of a society’s perversions. Public humiliation and the mob effect take hold and engulf the hapless Wardy. We recognize the slow, gnawing nature of bullying. It wrenches our hearts, because we recognize it yet today. Coryell makes the key point that solutions are needed. If you can’t talk sense to a bully, try to steer clear and find your own support.
Wardy’s first solution is not good. He flees, and finds that a few harrowing days and nights in rural America leave him shaken beyond any taunts he endures at school.
Wardy will find his saviors, and these characters are drawn by Coryell with great sensitivity and depth. There is Grandma Lou. Would we now call her GLou? She is calm and she is wise. She would be a wonderful star turn for the encompassing warmth of Blythe Danner. Grandma Lou sips her juice and advises Wardy to choose his battles. She reveals her life as a series of give-and-take moments, and ultimately as a statement for the empowerment of women. She wants Wardy to fight his way through taunts and mixed signals towards his own goal of the mastery of science.
Moments of clarity are now more frequent for Wardy. He begins to take a more measured view of school life. He connects with some nice students. Meg, a talented and pretty classmate befriends him. It’s a jaw-dropping development for plain old Wardy. We might smile and recognize it as the precursor to a “Kevin James gets the girl” moment.
The need for caution still cannot be ignored. Is the helpful physics teacher really a savior, or a sinister presence? Wardy has to scramble and decide where his loyalties reside and the best direction for his talents. The solution to bullying has taken hold. Wardy immerses himself in family, friends, and science.
His laser experiments would be the contemporary search for “the next killer app.” That crazy little thing called a photocell is a key to Wardy’s work. Laser fuel is augmented by a common drugstore ingredient. And the good old microwave oven is now used for much more than just warming up your cup of tea. There is a backyard test of the laser, which leaves Wardy glowing and the neighbors scratching their heads.
Wardy realizes that friends will rally ‘round. An eminent scientist professor whom Wardy has written to (by any means necessary, we might muse) comes to town, and Wardy finds that collaboration with adults is a great thing. The enduring concept of mentoring thus becomes another “Ah-ha! moment” for Wardy.
The novel achieves a nice momentum. There is tension, emotional turmoil, and lots of solid science to satisfy young readers and adults alike.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
My first talk/reading/signing for Eaglebait!
Thursday, 6:30 p.m. at the Westlake Library,I held my first public event for Eaglebait. Wow! I was in shock when 38 folks showed up. They were a magnificent audience. It was especially gratifying to see the family with a youngster going into middle school next year. Concerned parents about school bullies, doing whatever they can to help their kiddo adjust to a new school situation. Also, lots of fri
ends, neighbors, golfers, writers, and book clubbers came out to show moral support and make me smile. My grateful thanks to one and all! I signed 25 books, too. My next gig will be at the Moneta/SML Library Thursday, July 14 at 6 p.m. where I'll do a similar format. Hoping anyone who missed the Westlake event will be able to get to the next one.
ends, neighbors, golfers, writers, and book clubbers came out to show moral support and make me smile. My grateful thanks to one and all! I signed 25 books, too. My next gig will be at the Moneta/SML Library Thursday, July 14 at 6 p.m. where I'll do a similar format. Hoping anyone who missed the Westlake event will be able to get to the next one.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
A First Review for Eaglebait back-in-print
Check out a great first review for Eaglebait by writing colleague Becky Mushko. (Her latest middle school book, Stuck, is available from Cedar Creek Publishing.)
In her Eaglebait review, Becky nails the themes: bullies in the schools, self-esteem, working out problems and finding the real people in life for role models. Because Eaglebait was written 20 years ago, some of the bullying methods may have changed. But bullies themselves? No Way! They're still hateful and mean and they hurt their victims so many ways. Thanks, Becky. I'm looking forward to returning the favor in this space soon!
Becky's Web site, with a complete list of her writings can be found here.
My first signing takes place Thursday, June 9 at the Franklin County Library Westlake branch at 6:30. If you're in the vicinity, come hear me read and discuss Eaglebait. Books will be available for signing. Hope to see many of you there, for moral support, if nothing else!
In her Eaglebait review, Becky nails the themes: bullies in the schools, self-esteem, working out problems and finding the real people in life for role models. Because Eaglebait was written 20 years ago, some of the bullying methods may have changed. But bullies themselves? No Way! They're still hateful and mean and they hurt their victims so many ways. Thanks, Becky. I'm looking forward to returning the favor in this space soon!
Becky's Web site, with a complete list of her writings can be found here.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Memorial Musings
Memorial Day at the Lake was kicky as usual. Great visit with our oldest son, his wife and the three oldest grands. Yeah, we boated and kayaked and skied, but the best fun? A hilarious game of Scattergories on our big new screened porch. I am sure our hysterical laughter was bouncing off the Lake.
I'm working hard to get the word out about Eaglebait back-in-print. Too bad the Internet provider is on vacation. No interest in sending out emails or replying to them. Sigh. Call it Murphy's computer law.
Some links to bullies in the schools that cite Eaglebait:
www.haledon.org/pdf/NJCAPResources.pdf
www.sync.dekalb.k12.il.us/schools
www.docstoc.com/docs/287009/english-1
Remember to order your copy of Eaglebait at any on-line bookstore. www.amazon.com delivers in only 2 days!
My first signing takes place Thursday, June 9 at the Franklin County Library Westlake branch at 6:30. If you're in the vicinity, come hear me read and discuss Eaglebait. Books will be available for signing. Hope to see many of you there, for moral support, if nothing else!
I'm working hard to get the word out about Eaglebait back-in-print. Too bad the Internet provider is on vacation. No interest in sending out emails or replying to them. Sigh. Call it Murphy's computer law.
Some links to bullies in the schools that cite Eaglebait:
www.haledon.org/pdf/NJCAPResources.pdf
www.sync.dekalb.k12.il.us/schools
www.docstoc.com/docs/287009/english-1
Remember to order your copy of Eaglebait at any on-line bookstore. www.amazon.com delivers in only 2 days!
My first signing takes place Thursday, June 9 at the Franklin County Library Westlake branch at 6:30. If you're in the vicinity, come hear me read and discuss Eaglebait. Books will be available for signing. Hope to see many of you there, for moral support, if nothing else!
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