Even more particularly, if you've read, BEFORE MY EYES, you'll know that there are three main teen characters: 

 

     

 

But I also like end of the world, we-are-all-at-risk, flesh-eating zombie stories.  I think it makes me less afraid of the day–to-day fears (today, my 7-year-old daughter didn’t get off the bus today, was she kidnapped? Is she hurt? Is she crying out for mommy – no, they didn’t announce her bus and she’s waiting in the main office with a half a dozen other kids who didn’t hear their bus being called.  I can go calmly pick her up. I can do this.). 

 

I didn’t once think: did zombies attack her? It would almost have been a relief to focus on zombies because everything else could have been an option.  In the celluloid/digital world we watch in horror as the innocents go into the dark doublewide trailer or into the bucolic woods – and you know-- and everyone but that person knows – THAT’S WHERE THE ZOMBIES ARE.   When there are flesh-eating zombies on the screen, somehow my world, with my day-to-day fears seem somewhat manageable.  The zeitgeist of zombies is that they are unpredictable, driven by base passion and not by reason. Zombies are the Zen of our time. I can put all my irrational fear into them – and be calm -- except when my daughter isn't on her school bus and she should be.   

 

Of course, this love of zombies makes me a fan ofAMC’s The Walking Dead – and on an upbeat thing to share: I just noticed that they are right now running a sweepstakes-- a trip for two to the Walking Dead Set – co-sponsored in a weird bit of promotion by the Red Cross (Use Your Brains, Give Blood is the tagline - go to www.amctv.com).

 

 

Truly,

 

Critically-acclaimed YA for adults

…and teens.

Post Oscars... I see all the beautiful women (the men tend to run together in their black suits) especially the up-and-comers like Hailee Steinfeld from True Grit and think there are so many screenplays to be written for someone that strong-willed 14 year old. As writers, especially for the young adult audience, I think we have to work hard to live the lives of our younger characters, remember our younger selves, though sometimes they leap down the carpet, this one red, and you can see the entire story.   I wonder if someday I'll ever see my story played out there?  Hailee Steinfeld as Skylar Thompson (main character of LIE)??