risk

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?

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“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

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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!

Happy New Year

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Coming Out From Behind the Curtain

I don’t understand why New Year’s is such a big deal. Am I being a party-pooper? That’s what Rob said when I told him I wasn’t going to his party for all the performing arts kids. You’d think he would know better after rehab.

 

A year ago we were waiting for the Army to tell us that Bri had been found in an Army Hospital. Or any hospital. Or even that he’d been found with amnesia and he’d have to learn who we were again. Anything would have been better than the news we dreaded and feared. But it came.

 

The amazing thing is that life went on after we got the news. The principal asked me to make a presentation about him in the assembly and one thing led to another, and hear we are. It’s been nearly a year.

 

Mom was kinda weepy earlier. She got that way on Christmas too, so Dad said that tonight was just for the two of them. He told me about it before he told Mom, which made me feel very grown up. So Diego and I are going to watch movies tonight. And eat popcorn and maybe M&Ms. Dad made me promise I wouldn’t have a party, but he was fine with my having Diego over. He said he’ll trust us and we’d better not give him a reason to change his mind.

 

What would you watch on TV if you were with your boyfriend? Am I leaving myself wide open with that question? Sure hope not. I guess I’ll find out how well you know me by your answer.

 

Whether you respond or not, I hope you have a wonderful New Year. 2017 has to be better than the first part of 2016.

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.