drama

What’s Disrupted in my New Book and Why?

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The post below says that Never Too Late: From Wannabe to Wife at 62 is my latest book. It’s time to update that. My newest book is called Disrupted. You can learn about it at https://www.amazon.com/Disrupted-B-Lynn-Goodwin/dp/1804393487, and you can read the opening below.

Chapter 1

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

San Ramos High, Northern California

The earth pounded like a jack hammer. I dropped my phone and

it bounced on the floor of the main hall at San Ramos High. As I

grabbed it, the floor slammed into my feet again. That jack

hammer was working overtime.

“Get in a doorway,” a booming voice called.

I knew that, so I was surprised when the current Student

Council President came running toward me. The girl he was with

said, “Chill. It’s nothing. A trembler—not an earthquake.” I must

have looked worse than I thought because she stared for a minute

before she asked, “You okay?”

I nodded.

“You’re Sandee Mason, right?” the Student Council

President asked.

“That’s me.”

“I remember the assembly where you spoke about your

brother last spring.”

I nodded. Here he was, in the job my brother, Bri, had two

years ago, and I couldn’t help wondering if Bri wanted to tell me

something or warn me about someone. He used to send me

encouraging messages after he died – at least I thought he did –

and I kind of hoped he was trying to get my attention now.

11“Don’t worry, small quakes just release the tension between

the plates. The big one’s further away than ever and it seems like

it’s over now.” He pushed the hall door open for his girlfriend.

“Thanks,” I called after him. My dad had told Bri and me

that factoid years ago.

I grabbed my books and stuffed them in my worn backpack,

then slammed the door, which made as much noise as the under-

earth pounding.

I was already five minutes late for rehearsal. Not good. Ms.

G expected her actors to be prompt, and that went double for the

stage manager—me.

The quake spooked me. So did the Student Council

President. From the back he looked a lot like Bri, but Bri went to

Afghanistan and the body parts they could find came back in a

box.

Questions? Want a signed copy? Please use the comment box to let me know what you think.

The Role of M&Ms in Talent

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Talent

My author was asked to take some refreshments to a book signing. She’s stapled these quotes to muffin cups, and she’s going to put M&Ms in them. Her business cards will go under them.

What do you think?

+++

 

“I slide my hand into my backpack and pull out two red M&Ms. The chocolate melts on my tongue and soothes my stomach.”

~~Sandee Mason in Talent by B. Lynn Goodwin

 

“I’m so nervous I grabbed a whole handful of M&Ms without even thinking.”

~~Sandee Mason in Talent by B. Lynn Goodwin

 

“I can’t control it [auditions] any more than I can control how many M&Ms go in my mouth when I get nervous.”

~~Sandee Mason in Talent by B. Lynn Goodwin

 

 

“No way I’ll let anybody see the tears in my eyes. It’s not my fault that I don’t sing bass or tenor. I slide my hand into my pocket and sneak three M&Ms.

~~Sandee Mason in Talent by B. Lynn Goodwin

“I grab a handful of M&Ms, but a second later, I drop them back in the bag. Candy can’t solve this problem.”

~~Sandee Mason in Talent by B. Lynn Goodwin

 

“I’ve opened a fresh pack of M&Ms, which are still stashed in the left pocket of my corduroy jacket. I didn’t buy any today, and I hope I won’t tomorrow, but I don’t want to waste the ones I have.”

~~Sandee Mason in Talent by B. Lynn Goodwin

“I reach into my jacket pocket for my M&Ms, but I slide my hand back out without taking any.

~~Sandee Mason in Talent by B. Lynn Goodwin

“I excuse myself, head for the bathroom, and on the way, I stuff a handful of M&Ms into my mouth.

“Do they help?” a girl with a husky voice asks.

~~ Tessa Kwan to Sandee Mason in Talent by B. Lynn Goodwin

 

“She’s challenging me just like she did last night when she saw me consuming the M&Ms. She catches my look and says, “You can’t avoid your feelings, Sandee. You have to face them.”

~~Tessa Kwan to Sandee Mason in Talent by B. Lynn Goodwin

+++

What happened? There were a bunch more. Three pages. I guess you’ll have to read the book and find them yourself.

https://www.amazon.com/Talent-B-Lynn-Goodwin/dp/1629293350/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450916910&sr=8-1&keywords=9781629293356

If you click on that it should take you right to my page–okay the page for my book. I want you to read my story, now that drama teachers are casting the spring musical. M&Ms are only a small part, but refreshments have to be food, and the food was supposed to be related.

Got it?

Thanks!

One of the Big Ones

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The San Jose Mercury News is one of the big regional newspapers in California. I remember reading it when I was a little girl, before the term Silicon Valley was coined, back in the day when we had one TV with no remote, in a console, in the family room. The Mercury-News has endured, and I hope that TALENT, which was reviewed there last week, will also endure.

This review, by Joanna Kraus, appeared in a column entitled “Summer Reading is Fun for All.” Here is what she said:

“Talent” by B. Lynn Goodwin (Danville) (Eternal Press, $12.50, ages 13-16.) Sandee’s brother has been missing in Afghanistan for seven months. Yet she hears Bri’s voice encouraging her when she auditions for the school musical, advising her when she selects a possible boyfriend, and supporting her when she must disobey the law to rescue a friend. She discovers “real life doesn’t have a script” in this moving novel, set in the East Bay. Sandee shows initiative, responsibility and finally the will to live her own life.

I liked her accuracy, her originality, and her choices of what will appeal to teens. But this is not a book for teens only. Many adults (including my book club) have read and liked the book.

There are 46 other reviews at http://www.amazon.com/Talent-B-Lynn-Goodwin/dp/1629293350/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450916910&sr=8-1&keywords=9781629293356. Sandee Mason and I hope you will add yours soon. 

This summer is a perfect time to read TALENT. If you are a teen, encourage your teacher to have the whole class read it. If you are a parent, share it with your kids. Read it together. Discussion questions in the back will help you get conversations going… in case that has ever been a problem in your life.

Please write back and tell me what you think of the book. I can’t wait to hear from you.