Writing with Family

By June Shaw

Here are my sweet teen granddaughters, avid readers who are sisters that asked to write a book with me. (Okay, the third one is me.)

Me: Do you really want to write a book, or do you just want money?

Them: No, writing a book should be fun. We'd love to do it with your help.

They loved HUNGER GAMES. So did I. We agreed to write YA dystopian. While I created most of the novel, they were great help. I asked for lots of input, and they gave it.

Sometimes the main character got in a major bind, and I had no idea how to get her out of it. One phone call to them got the duo thinking and creating a list of suggested events. They helped with setting and characters and creatures and otherworld building. Wonderful. One reviewer even called it better than HUNGER GAMES.

What would you do if the government decreed that each person would be allowed to have only one friend? That's our premise in JUST ONE FRIEND. They said to mention to everyone that it's on sale for a limited time for .99.

    
http://www.amazon.com/Just-One-Friend-June-Shaw/dp/1508943370/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1429895141&sr=8-1&keywords=just+one+friend


Have you ever tried to write a book with anyone else, especially a member or two of your family?



      

Writing with Your Grandkids

by June Shaw

"We'd like to write a book with you," my two teen granddaughters told me.

"Do y'all just want money, or do you really want to write a book?"

"No, it would be fun to write a book. That's what we'd like to do."

Hmm, they were fourteen and sixteen and both avid readers, although the older sister had gotten much more involved in extra-curricular activities. We thought about what we might write. They both really enjoyed The Hunger Games. So did I, so we decided we would create that type novel.

Since they were in school and taking part in various sports, dancing and gymnastics, I did most of the writing. I asked for lots of input from them about things like different sports, characters, descriptions.... Often I'd get in a jam and ask what might happen next, or how could the character get out of that situation, or what might happen that's even worse than the previous one. How great it was to get responses from sweet young ladies who have read widely.

Now it's finally happened. They are published authors! Our science fiction JUST ONE FRIEND takes place after warfare has destroyed most of the country. Since only one area is known where life can  exist, the leader decreed that each person is only allowed to have one friend. A teenage girl believes things should be otherwise.

Our novel is available for e-readers and in print. We are really proud of our work. I am one proud grandmother.

I forgot the link:

Being a grandmother means... well, sometimes I forget something. In this case I forgot to add a link for people who might want to learn more about the book I wrote with my granddaughters  -- or possibly order it. They'd love you forever for doing that.

On Amazon JUST ONE FRIEND is here: http://amzn.to/1MfVGr7

What Do You Do When You Finish a Book?

by June Shaw

When you finish reading a book, what do you do? If you spend some time thinking about the book--its characters or their situations--then it was a very good one.

When you read the last sentence and mourn that there isn't any more, it's an excellent book.

When you finish reading a book and immediately go after the others, it's a great book. And what about one you think about for an extra long time--and you can't wait to go back and read it again? Gosh, wouldn't we all like to write ones like that?

What about when you finish creating a book? Does it feel the same?

Moments ago I finished my final revision on the dystopian YA I'm writing with my two young teen granddaughters who asked me to write one with them. I was happy. Thrilled. I walked outside and admired and smelled my flowers, especially the eight that bloomed today on my passion vine. And I saw the first hummingbird of the season. My jasmine is blooming. I'll need to clean and fill my feeders.

In the meantime I needed to write a blog today, so guess what I thought of? Finishing a book. And afterwhile I'll get dressed and go out with my squeeze who's been my boyfriend for years, but he's too mature (not old) for that term to describe him.

We'll join another couple and enjoy an adult beverage while visiting. And then we'll have a cup of seafoof gumbo, maybe with a seafood platter.

Okay, getting too hungry now. What do you do when you finish a book? I'd love to know.