Friends of the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library - Read more

Gordon Korman, continued

8/25/2020

His fast and entertaining presentation begins with how he wrote his first novel when he was only twelve -- a four-month-long seventh grade language arts assignment produced This Can't Be Happening At Macdonald Hall, which was published by Scholastic a year and a half later, when Gordon was fourteen. He also talks about brainstorming, developing characters, dialogue, rewriting and revision, and of course his trademark humor. Now, twenty-five years after that 7th grade project, he has over forty books to his credit, including the Island trilogy, No More Dead Dogs, and The Monday Night Football Club novels, which inspired the Disney Channel TV series The Jersey.

Korman's most recent release in December '08, is One False Note, Book Two, the 39 Clues Multi-Author Series. This is the story of Amy and Dan Cahill who are embroiled in the hunt for the 39 clues to unlock the greatest mystery of the past 500 years. A coded piece of Mozart's sheet music leads them on a whirlwind tour of the legendary composer's life. But they are tailed by a pack of power-hungry relatives, and Amy and Dan can't tell if they're sailing toward victory - or into a deadly trap.

Parents and kids alike are welcome to attend this special presentation. Mr. Korman will be available following the presentation to sign books.

Laura Lippman, continued

8/24/2020

When authors come to libraries they are often asked about where they get their ideas. Ms. Lippman talked about her latest book, Life Sentences, in which a memoir writer with a poorly received novel goes back to nonfiction and tries to find her childhood classmate, Calliope Jenkins, to get the real story of what happened to her. Jenkins was sent to prison after not speaking at her own trial where she was convicted of killing her son, though the son has disappeared and is actually presumed dead. Publishers Weekly magazine reviewed Life Sentences as a "stunning stand-alone from bestseller Lippman".

She also talked about her New York Times bestselling novel, What the Dead Know, as well as her Tess Monaghan series, beginning with Baltimore Blues.

Ms. Lippman was very impressed with our new library and is a very big fan of libraries, particularly public libraries. She comes from a very literary family, with her father a retired editorial writer for the Baltimore Sun, her mother a public school librarian and her sister, a bookseller.

Terry Trueman, continued

8/24/2020

Terry Trueman describes his Printz honored young adult novel Stuck in Neutral as "the heartbreaking tale of a young boy, Shawn, who has cerebral palsy and who is profoundly developmentally disabled." Trueman describes the book as "a journey into a world where no one can truly go but the actual participants, both in Shawn's role and the role of his father". It is suspenseful and thought-provoking.

Inside Out, Trueman's second novel was released in August 2003, followed by Cruise Control just over a year later in October of 2004. As the companion to Stuck in Neutral, Trueman tells a brother's side of the story in Cruise Control. Other fiction by Trueman includes No Right Turn and 7 Days at the Hot Corner. Whether Trueman's characters drive fast cars or play third base, there is no question that the stories about them are riveting, fast-paced and difficult for the young reader to put down.

Certainly Trueman's books are captivating but his personal story is equally so. In 1979, Trueman's son, Sheehan, was born with cerebral palsy. Sheehan: Heartbreak and Redemption gives readers a glimpse into the real-life story that inspired Stuck in Neutral. Perhaps it is his personal tragedy and triumphs experienced which allow him to capture the young adult reader's imagination so well.

Scott Kellogg, continued

8/24/2020

Scott's book, Toolbox for Sustainable City Living: A Do It Ourselves Guide, co-authored with Tracy Pettigrew, is packed full of easily understandable an do-able ideas and charmingly illustrated as well. As a reviewer on MonkeyWrenchBooks.com wrote, "Kellogg and Pettigrew offer a model of direct action for green living, instead of consumerism or electoral politics. This really is down-in-the-trenches, get your hands dirty work, whose results you can see in front of your eyes, whether it's through water recycling systems or micro livestock or alternative fuel."

Margaret Peterson Haddix, continued

8/24/2020

As a child, while other kids would answer the question of what do you want to be when you grow up by choosing the career of their parents, Margaret longed to have a career that she didn't believe real people actually got to do. She thought all people were farmers, like her father or nurses, like her mother, or doctors or teachers. She thought that authors were only found in books.

Margaret Peterson Haddix did become a writer, the prolific author of more than 20 books beginning with Running Out of Time in 1995. She is the author of The Shadow Children series and also of the tenth and final book of the 39 Clues series which will be available in the fall of 2010. At any given time she has two or three books in various stages of readiness for publication. "I know I have to write a story when the story keeps me awake at night, teases at the back of my brain all day, just won't let me go."

Kids watching houses being constructed, a girl piecing together a Cinderella puzzle, a few minutes of muzziness as an exhausted air traveler...What do these snippets of ordinary life have in common? Margaret Peterson Haddix developed them into three of her highly original, popular novels for children and teens: Among the Hidden, Just Ella and Found.

A former newspaper copy editor, newspaper reporter, community college instructor and freelance writer, Haddix also draws seed ideas for novels from her career experiences. Her lively presentation about her books and life delighted 225 children, teens and adults at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library on May 26. Enthusiastic audience members posed numerous questions about their favorite titles as well as about what it was like to be one of the authors contributing to 39 Clues, a hot multiplatform series for tweens. A book signing followed the program.

Haddix has authored over twenty books for kids and teens, including the seven-part futuristic fiction Shadow Children series. Missing, her current series, chronicles the adventures of contemporary middle school students who travel back in time after discovering that they have been snatched out of past eras. Sabotaged, Missing's third installment, will be published in August.

Haddix's trademark suspenseful plots and treatment of thought-provoking issues intrigue readers around the world. Her works have been translated into French, German, Spanish, Chinese and Korean. Haddix's books have garnered numerous state reader's choice awards as well as the International Reading Association's Children's Book Award.

Haddix shared the following tips for aspiring writers:
·            Read a lot
·            Write
·            Keep a journal
·            Pay attention to things around you and think about them a lot
·            If working on a book, start with a synopsis but leave room
             to change things if a better idea comes along.

Lee Child, continued

8/24/2020

Lee Child began his writing career in 1995 after losing his position in television in England due to corporate restructuring. Being a voracious reader, Lee decided to try his hand at writing. The result was Killing Floor, the first Jack Reacher novel, which was an immediate success and launched the series. All of his books feature Jack Reacher, a tall stranger who travels the country without a bag on his back, but still finds himself wrapped up in trouble and acting as an unsung hero to those he meets along the way. In 2010, Child released 61 Hours in May and Worth Dying For two weeks prior to the program. It's not every day that the author of the book currently ranked #1 on the New York Times Bestsellers list comes to the Capital District.

After speaking about his work, Mr. Child took questions from the audience, which included asking about when Jack Reacher was coming to Clifton Park. The response? He may have been here already to this town, this library; you never know when and where he'll show up.

This was a wonderful program and based on the line of people who waited patiently for upwards of an hour to get their books signed, a very popular author for our patrons. We could not have accomplished this without the support of our Friends, with additional funding from the Town of Clifton Park. The Friends show great enthusiasm for these author events and the lucky patrons who have the opportunity to hear these authors in person agree.

Janine Cammarata, continued

8/24/2020

Two women warriors, Michaela Sommers from modern NYC and Maecha Ruadh Mac Art of third century Celtic Ireland, connect across time to combine their skills in order to save their families. Along their separate journeys, they have success, but also suffer loss and tragedy. What they do despite these adversities define them.

The first book in this series, Warrior Within, and the second book are filled with action packed fight scenes where the characters utilize their martial arts and sword fighting skills. When the author decided to have her book launch at the Library, she thought it would be fantastic to watch the action come alive by having sword-fighting demonstrations.

The Society for CreativeAnachronism (SCA) readily volunteered to do just that. About fifteen members came dressed in various period costumes ranging from authentic Celtic Irish garb to full Samurai war gear. Amanda Lord reenacted a story about a Celtic warrior named Cú Chulainn's and the audience hung on every word. There were various sparring matches between fencers and swordsmen. The best part of the afternoon for the young adults was getting to try on the chain mail and holding the weaponry. The SCA members were patient and incredibly knowledgeable.

Ms. Cammarata wove the excitement of the demonstration into a reading from her novel and answered some fun questions like: "When is the movie coming out?" While not sure about that, the author is actively pursuing that possibility. She especially loved that so many young adults enjoyed the book.

Ms. Cammarata originally wrote Warriors Within for an adult audience, but found that many young adults were reading it. She specifically geared Eyes of the Goddess to a young adult audience, but kept it mature and fast-paced enough for adults.

Writing is the author's passion and she has combined it with her own quest to help local children with cancer. A portion of her sales are donated to Nick's Fight to be Healed Foundation (NFTBHF). This local non-profit organization was formed in 2009 in memory of the author's son, Nick, who passed away after a four-month battle with Leukemia in 2008. NFTBHF financially and emotionally supports local pediatric cancer patients. When Ms. Cammarata is not writing, she is raising money to fight the devastating effects of pediatric cancer that affects so many families in our area.

Alafair Burke, continued

8/24/2020

Alice Humphrey goes from recently employed to a person of interest in a murder investigation all the while trying to figure out who was this man offering her the opportunity of a lifetime.

Ms. Burke is the author of 7 novels, including Long Gone, and has two detective series featuring Ellie Hatcher or Samantha Kincaid.  Long Gone has been described as "the one book you cannot put down this summer", "fast-paced, plot-driven, nail-biter." Harlan Coben raved it was "a page turner from a major talent".

Burke, a criminal law professor at Hofstra University, is also the author of Close Case, Missing Justice, Judgment Calls, 212, Angel's Tip and Dead Connection.   She is the daughter of writer James Lee Burke, author of the Dave Robicheaux mysteries.

Will Shortz, continued

8/24/2020

In addition to his work at The New York Times, Shortz is also the puzzlemaster on NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday and is founder and director of the annual American Crossword Puzzle Tournament.

Shortz began his career at Penny Press Magazines, then worked at Games Magazine for 15 years, becoming editor from 1989-1993.  Shortz is author or editor of more than 100 books.  A member of the National Puzzlers League, Shortz currently serves as league historian for that organization.  He is the focus of the 2006 documentary film Wordplay.  He counts Bill Clinton, Ken Burns, and Jon Stewart among his many fans.

Shortz currently resides in Pleasantville, NY, where he works from home. Shortz is an avid table tennis player; in May 2011, he opened one of the largest table tennis clubs in the Northeast in Pleasantville.

During the event Shortz discussed his favorite crosswords and puzzlemakers, how crosswords are created, their curious history and his lifelong passion for puzzles. He also answered questions and conducted audience participation word games.

In the end, the Pongs took the game.  Will Shortz came to the Library on Monday, December 5th to talk about his work as the Editor of the New York Times crossword puzzle and as Puzzle Master for Weekend Edition Sunday. After talking about some of his favorite puzzles, including one from a 14 year old who had been working on getting a puzzle accepted for the Times for 2 years, he then answered questions from the audience.

The last and most fun part of the program had audience participation as Will divided the attendees into two groups for word games, the Pings and the Pongs.  (He's a serious Ping Pong player himself.)  He started with categories of words that had one possible alphabetical choice between them (Housing and Urban Development and Labor - the answer is Interior) and moved on to phrases and sentences that had the names of a President in order.  For the latter, I was glad that I wasn't playing as I didn't get any of these.   One example, Get rum and cake for everyone! (Truman)

It was a wonderful evening with the world's only degreed enigmatologist (one who studies puzzles), and great publicity for the Library as Will's interview on WAMC's The Roundtable brought new people into our wonderful library. The Hospitality committee arranged for a cake with a crossword puzzle on it. Will was very impressed.

Markus Zusak, continued

8/24/2020

Have you ever met someone or listened to a speaker and thought, "Boy, I would love to sit down and have coffee or tea with that person"? Many had just that experience after hearing Markus Zusak, and wanted to say to him, "Let's go to Moca Lisa afterward." When he spoke from his home in Australia, he was viewed on the large screen - big as life - at the SKYPE event held at the Library. Markus described his background and how he came to write The Book Thief much of which is based loosely on his mother's and father's experiences growing up in Germany during World War II. He is a very humble man with a wonderful sense of humor that made the evening even more fun. Markus fielded questions from a multigenerational audience. Several teenagers had the courage to raise questions, which he graciously answered. This culminating event was a definite success and the use of SKYPE promotes a new venue to reach authors.

Friends of the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library
475 Moe Road
Clifton Park, NY 12065

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