Monday, March 15, 2010

Author Appreciation Week!


Apparently, March 15-19 is Author Appreciation Week! I’ve checked out some of my other blog buddies’ posts and I’m a little late in the game, so what I think I’ll do is showcase a few of my favorite authors each day of the week and talk about – what else? – why they’re my favorite authors!

Today I want spotlight an author from my childhood.

Brian Jacques

Why he matters to me…
Brian Jacques’ Redwall world was my place of imaginary residence as a kid! What child wouldn’t love a medieval-setting world populated entirely by awesome, sword-wielding animals? High fantasy with a twist! I devoured all his books one-after-the other: inside class, outside of class, at home, at church (yeah, I read at church – the preacher would be up there talking and I’d be in my seat, reading a book, not paying any attention, ha!), in the car; wherever I was, chances are I had a Redwall book clutched in my hand.
But why I love Jacques’ writing even more – why it’s stayed with me all these years – is because his Redwall books made me want to be a writer, I mean, a serious, successful, published author. I read his books, I loved them, and I thought, “This is what I want to write!” So I did…a little too literally, haha. My first “books” were practically spinoffs of Redwall – hey, I was 9 years old, I was imitating! They all had animals casts, too, and I had about 5 spirals going at once.
Jacques’ books are a perfect blend of fantasy, action, suspense, romance, and excitement! He gives readers incredible stories filled with memorable characters (Cluny the Scourge!) and excellent writing. Check him out sometime!

Jacques books I've read: Redwall, Mossflower, Mattimeo, Martin the Warrior, Salamandastron, Mariel of Redwall, The Bellmaker, The Long Patrol, Outcast of Redwall




Okay, that was a fun trip down Nostalgia Lane! And now here’s my favorite “New” Author – as in, somebody I’ve recently discovered since “growing up.”

Rick Riordan
Why he matters to me…
Okay, so everybody who’s read his incredibly awesome series will hopefully agree: when it comes to a lovable, inspiring, and downright hysterical main character…you can’t get any better than Percy Awesomesauce Jackson! What I find incredible about Riordan as an author is how effortlessly he makes writing seem: his characters are so relatable, you could swear they were real (and I’m sorry, but Mrs. Dodds IS real! I know so because she was my math teacher!), and reading the books, you really do feel like a pre-teen/teen boy is telling you all about the crazy things about being a modern demigod!
I admire him also because he was a teacher for 15+ years, so he definitely knows his PJ target audience. I love authors who love kids! And I love how he took a familiar subject (Greek mythology) and made it not only applicable to modern times but also fun, enjoyable, and educational! I had to read Edith Hamilton’s Mythology in HS, and also Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, and those were not good experiences! Reading the PJ series has given me a newfound appreciation for mythology, so thank you Mr. Riordan!
I appreciate Rick for giving us not only an incredible story, but also an awesome and inspirational cast of characters. Percy is perfect for kids (and grownups, too!) because he embodies the Ordinary Hero: having a main character who is ADHD/dyslexic sends an incredible message to kids and grownups like – no matter who you are, or what you have going on in your life, you have amazing capabilities to (in the series’ case, literally) change the world! So as a future educator and author, thank you so much, Mr. Riordan, for your incredible series! And thank you for loving kids so much—the book industry is a better place because of authors like Rick Riordan :)
Riordan books I've read: The Lightning Thief, The Sea of Monsters, The Titan's Curse, The Battle of the Labyrinth, The Last Olympian; new Camp Half-Blood series, fall 2010!


9 shout-outs!:

j said...

I love Rick Riordan!He is a genius that should be appreciated! :)

Natalie said...

I've heard of both of these authors before (obviously), but I can't believe I haven't read EITHER of them! I guess I need to step up my game a bit. Especially since you like them so much! :)

April (BooksandWine) said...

Oh my god I love Brian Jacques!

I wish I had been smart enough to read books during church. Also, my boyfriend was raised Catholic so he got to choose a confirmation name, and he chose Martin specifically because of Martin The Warrior.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Redwall, for how engrossing it was back in the day and because it's a book connection I have with my boyfriend, he has all of the series in mostly hardcover, but they live in my bookcase. You rock for highlighting Jacques!!

Allie said...

Oh Redwall!!! I had Redwall a few years ago for a college class and LOVED it. I bought a few of the others in the series shortly after at a used book store but never got around to them! Thank you for reminding me!

Amelia said...

I wish there was a REDWALL CHALLENGE or something...because I seriously need to read those again! I'll have to look up in the attic and see if we still have those books...

Tales of Whimsy said...

Nice choices darling :)

Melissa (i swim for oceans) said...

Oh my gosh...Redwall! I just got an ARC of The Sable Queen! I swore when I was little that I wanted to be just like Mattimeo or Matthias...or Martin. And the books made me hungry with all their descriptions of food! I swear this was my favourite series from my childhood! Amelia...I'm going to start a Redwall challenge per your suggestion!!! :D

Allison said...

I LOVED the Redwall series!

Katherine Langrish said...

You know, I think writing in the style of some author you love is a great way to learn - especially for a child. Like art students in galleries, copying masterpieces - it's a way of learning technique. Good luck with your dreams - they were mine once, and I made it eventually - you will too!

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