Monday 14 June 2010

Blog Appreciation Day: Five Reasons to Love Tessa Gratton

If the world was overrun by zombies, or angry pelicans, I’d pray Jessica Watson hadn’t been eaten yet and visit Tessa Gratton. I’ve no doubt that she’d be the leader of a fortified village, sheltering children, animal lovers, their pets, the elderly, and the pelicans immune to BP’s legacy.

The watch towers would be manned by bow and arrow toting, finger nail painted, vibram five finger wearing, aspiring YA authors. I’d have to beat one, possibly two guards in a game of scrabble, just to get through the first gate. While being strip searched I’d be asked to come up with five synonyms for cavity. If I failed I’d be thrown into a pit with a zombie assassin, who looks suspiciously like Sarah Palin. Jessica Watson would be welcomed, because, well, she’s Jessica Watson!

After some UFC with the zombie assassin, being humiliated in a word war by Master Splinter, and surviving being bitten by Carrie Ryan, I’d finally be granted counsel with the Pirate Queen. The ordeal would be worth it, although, I thought the laughter during the strip search was a bit harsh, because I’ve five reasons to love Tessa Gratton:

1) She’s a source for inspirational quotes. "If you wrote something and saw that it was good and there was value others could receive from it, but you don't share it because you're afraid of judgement and/or misunderstanding - that is cowardice." This was the first quote I collected online, and this is the reason I write: I want to be brave, and I don’t want to fear judgement.

2) Tess is generous. She writes short stories and posts them here, and this has helped me become a better writer.

3) Tess is brave. She stands up for what she believes in, and rather than be an armchair advocate she acts. (She also scares me a little)

4) Tess is funny. The world can never have too much humour.  

5) I’m looking forward to Tessa’s debut novel coming in 2011.

BLOOD MAGIC

Summer 2011 from Random House Children’s Books.

For Nick Pardee and Silla Kennicot, the cemetery is the center of everything.

Nick is a city boy angry at being forced to move back to the nowhere town of Yaleylah, Missouri where he grew up. He can’t help remembering his mom and the blood magic she practiced – memories he’s tried for five years to escape. Silla, though, doesn’t want to forget; her parents’ apparent murder-suicide left her numb and needing answers. When a book of magic spells in her dad’s handwriting appears on her doorstep, she sees her chance to unravel the mystery of their deaths.

Together they plunge into the world of dark magic, but when a hundred-year-old blood witch comes hunting for the bones of Silla’s parents and the spell book, Nick and Silla will have to let go of everything they believe about who they are, the nature of life and death, and the deadly secrets that hide in blood.

(Blurb from Tessa’s website)

Disclaimer thingy: Tess hasn’t mowed my lawns, fed my dogs when I’m away, line edited my WIP, or made me lemon chicken for dinner. I do have airport dreams about her, which is exciting for me, and probably creepy for her.

Talk soon, Simon.

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2 comments:

  1. Simon, that first quote is just what I needed to jump start my day this morning. I'm glad Tess said it, and I'm glad you shared it with us!

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  2. Julie, you're welcome. Tess is great. Happy writing.

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