Click here to go to the Writing Tip of the Month. It's time for midterm reports and miscellaneous "papers" supposed to show what you've learned so far in the semester. This month, find out how to write dazzling opening paragraphs for your essays, compositions and reports.

Welcome to the web page of a teacher, writer and all-around restless mind. I teach because I can't help it, write because I can't avoid it, and think because that's what people do, or should.

NEW, for you teachers out there who would love to schedule an author visit but, a) don't know how, b) can't afford it, or c) can't spare the time, click the Personal Appearances page for SCHOOLAPALOOZA. It's a complete guide to organizing a very special school event, right down to the countdown!

Homeschool and classroom teachers should check out my approach to creative writing (click the "For Teachers" link) and students can improve their composition skills by practicing the "Writing Tip of the Month" (see the quick link on this page).

You'll also find links and study guides to my Shakespeare-related novels, ideas for teaching Shakespeare (and reasons why you should), and a movie list. Scroll down a little further for information and links to the Wordsmith creative writing series as well as all my novels.

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NEWS!

It's been a very busy two months, both personally and professionally. I've returned from an extensive tour of schools in Texas that took me to San Antonio, Bryan, Teague, Fairfield, and Harmony ISD (in the piney woods)--plus an action-packed and stimulating Book Festival and Young Adult Conference at Sam Houston State University. Have you ever wondered if you could speak at least once every day for ten days in a row, Sunday excepted? Try it and see!

Texas kids are eager and attentive listeners. I had a great time with all of them, and came back with a renewed admiration for their teachers and librarians. The fifth graders at Teague Intermediate made a fabulous unit project out of The Middle of Somewhere, with sections of geography, reading, writing, and science. In addition, the GT kids introduced my presentation with a skit representing characters in the book. At the end, we posed together:

Just give me a week, and I'll be ready to do it again!

October brought a huge event in my family: my only son's only wedding. This involved a week in Las Vegas for meeting, greeting, preparation, decoration, cooking up, dressing up, and shedding a few sentimental tears. While we were there, we also celebrated my granddaughter's second birthday. Here's the little darlin' finishing up her birthday cake:

And here are the happy bride and groom. By the way, they LIVE in Las Vegas; they didn't just run out there to get married by Elvis. Both are caricature and freelance artists AND (shameless plug warning) have just launched a website. If you ever wanted a caricature of yourself or a significant other but never seemed to be in the right place at the right time, here's your chance! Quality work, reasonable prices, great gift idea--check it out here.

The Middle of Somewhere has been named a 2008 Kansas Notable Book by the Kansas State Library. This is a real honor for me, as only fifteen titles of all genres and all reading levels are included on the list. Thanks, Kansas, and I look forward to seeing more of you in the future.

Patti Newman writes about books and authors for California Kids magazine. Her interview with me for the magazine is now on her website, and it's got some great information for teachers. To read the interview go here.

I describe The Middle of Somewhere as "the heartwarming story of an ambitious girl, her hyperactive brother, their eccentric grandfather, a paranoid dog, and the road trip from hell." If that sounds intriguing, click here for a look at the first chapter, plus reviews and recognition.

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BOOKISH THOUGHTS:

Three reviews for the price of one!  We'll begin with The Underneath, by Kathi Appelt, an animal fantasy that will be (you heard it here first) a serious contender for the Newbery Award this winter.  If the economy has you down, Gary Paulsen's Lawn Boy will rekindle your faith in capitalism in a mere 88 engaging pages.  Finally, A Whole Sky Full of Stars, a sweet, sensitive book for guys about prize-fighting--no kidding!  Browse my thoughts here.

My Books

The Playmaker (Random House, 2000)
Richard Malory, age 14, journeys to London in the age of Good Queen Bess to seek his fortune. To his own astonishment, he lands a position in the Lord Chamberlain's Men, the city's premiere acting company. While struggling to learn his new craft, he becomes aware that someone is very anxious to see the last of him. While trying to unravel the mystery, Richard is drawn into a web of suspense, intrigue, and danger reaching into the court of Queen Elizabeth herself.
Reading level: ages 12 and up
Study guide for The Playmaker

The True Prince (Random House, 2002)
Further suspense, intrigue and danger in Elizabethan London. Richard is finding his feet on the London stage, but while his star rises, the reputation of his bitterest rival, Kit Glover, is beginning to suffer. Kit is obviously hanging out with a bad crowd, but what business is that of Richard's? Unless, perhaps, his own reputation hangs in the balance--or even his life!
Reading level: ages 12 and up
Study Guide for The True Prince

Hazel Anderson's greatest wish is to spot an enemy plane or evidence of sabotage, and get a medal pinned on her by President Roosevelt. But World War II has been going on for three years already and all she's seen, from her lookout over Hood River Valley, Oregon, is life on the home front, going on as usual. Until the day she finds the Japanese message tangled in the brush. All of a sudden the war moves to her own back yard, leading her to an unlikely friendship that will test all her ideas about patriotism and loyalty.
Reading level: ages 10-14 Study Guide for My Friend the Enemy

"My Friend the Enemy is a masterful novel about WW2. I was born and raised in Oregon, where the story takes place, and J. B. Cheaney taught me things about my beautiful state I didn't know. I could not put the book down. I wish I had written it."
--Roland Smith, author (Zach's Lie, Cryptid Hunters)

TEACHER RESOURCE: I've completed a resource packet to help teachers (whether home, private, or public school) work My Friend the Enemy into their curriculum. Each packet includes period clippings from the Hood River News (setting for the story), the war messages of both President Roosevelt and Emperor Hirohiti, two origami projects, full-color postcards of WWII posters, a science project, and more! Price is $2.00, which doesn't quite cover my cost of postage and printing. Send your request to P. O. Box 634, Bolivar, MO 65613.

Wordsmith: A Creative Writing Course for Young People
(Common Sense Press, 1992; 2nd ed. 2003)

Anyone who's tried to teach middle-schoolers to write has heard the mantra: "I don't know how to start," or, "I don't know what to write about." Wordsmith demolishes both these barriers, first by putting proven, accessible techniques into the writers' hands and then showing them that they have tons of source material in their own lives. A humorous, student-friendly approach disarms reluctant writers as they work through exercises and assignments that may be a bit out of the ordinary (for instance, describe how to play your favorite board game using the most active verbs you can think of).

NOTE: Wordsmith is self-teaching, but an optional Teacher's Guide shows home educators and tutors how to make the most of the course work.

Wordsmith Apprentice
(1995, Common Sense Press; 2nd ed. 2003)

Designed for upper-elementary grades (4-6), Wordsmith Apprentice introduces beginners to the varieties and uses of written language through the medium of a newspaper. Students "join the staff" of an imaginary paper (their first assignment is to fill out an application), where they will be instructed by the editor about parts of speech, paragraphing, word choice, the four "W's," and much more. Comic-book-style illustrations by Tielman Cheaney add to the fun. Home educators will find Wordsmith Apprentice an easy-to-use introduction to the subject of creative writing, and classroom teachers will want to adapt many of the exercises to their classes.

Wordsmith Craftsman
(Common Sense Press, 1996; 2nd ed. 2003)

High school is the time to get serious about composition, and Wordsmith Craftsman, though maintaining the informal and friendly tone of the other two books, does just that. After an opening section dealing with everyday writing requirements such as note-taking and summary-writing (both absolutely essential for the college-bound), students work on polishing their writing style (shades of Strunk and White), then move on to accomplish, step-by-step, five types of essay-writing: descriptive, narrative, expository, critical, and persuasive. A handy appendix summarizes all five essays, provides a reproducible form for taking notes and writing summaries, and gives the student a crash course in recognizing logical fallacies.