The last several weeks have been incredibly busy and fun. My internet time has had to be sacrificed for life in the real world. I love the way that email and blogging and youtubing creates ways for connecting with folks from around the world, but sometimes I need to pull my head out of my pc. I’ve got tons to share in no particular order so I’ll just throw stuff up here a bit at a time in the coming weeks.

First of all, I’m going to teach a “writing for young readers” course at Moravian College next Fall. The hardest part of preparing to teach the course has been picking a reading list. Here’s what I’ve committed to:

• Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
• Firegirl by Tony Abbot
• Emma Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree by Lauren Tarshis
• The Boy Who Saved Baseball by John Ritter
• Defining Dulcie by Paul Acampora
• Straydog by Kathe Koja
• Dunk by David Lubar
• Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
• I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak
• The Modern Library Writer's Workshop: A Guide to the Craft of Fiction by Stephen Koch

Of course I just finished Martine Murray’s The Slightly True Story of Cedar B. Hartley and Kevin Henke’s Olive’s Ocean which have to be about the most beautiful books ever. I haven’t even read Drowned Maiden’s Hair or Twisted yet, and I’ll be kicking myself for ages for not including Dana Reinhardt’s books. Or any Joan Bauer. Or… aargh. If you’re interested, check out more of my reading list on LibraryThing: http://www.librarything.com/author/acamporapaul