An interview with Mike San Giacomo

Local author, Mike San Giacomo, stopped by the other day and spoke with us about his graphic novel “Tales of the Starlight Drive-in”. Of course we always talk to authors who bring us free books.

Mike: I’m very excited that my book was nominated for the Best Graphic Novel of 2008 by the Comic Buyer’s Guide.

Book Blogger: For those who have never read your book, can you tell us something about “Tales of the Starlight Drive-in”?

Mike: I wrote all 31 stories in Starlight, all set in a mythical drive-in theater. The stories take place over 50 years and can be read separately, but when read together form a giant novel. It's a giant novel of life, love, failure and redemption.

Book Blogger: Can you tell us about the Comic Buyer’s Guide so we get an idea just how big an honor this is.

Mike: Comic Buyers’s Guide is the second longest-running periodical that reports on the comic book industry and the only one based in the United States. If you’re a writer or illustrator in the comic industry you follow Comic Buyer’s Guide.

Book Blogger: Sort of the Academy Awards of the Comic Book Industry.

Mike: Yep, and here I am shamelessly begging for votes.

Book Blogger: Wow, it’s quite an honor to even be nominated.

Mike: It is very cool to be nominated. Winning would be even cooler.

Book Blogger: So how can we help.

Mike: Anyone can vote in the contest and votes from you and your friends would be nice. I’ve included the link here to the site where you can sign up to vote.

Book Blogger: Wait a minute. I don’t want to have someone calling me or putting me on a mailing list of some sort just because I registered on their web site.

Mike: You won’t be put on a mailing list or anything. It’s a very straightforward contest.

Book Blogger: So why do they need my address?

Mike: You have to submit your name and address because you can only vote once, but husband and/or wife/ mom and or/ dad can also vote if they care to. A win would be great, and you all can help. Voting only takes a minute

Book Blogger: So everyone can vote once and voting continues through May 31.

Mike: Thanks for your help.

Click here to vote

Click here for more info on the book

Check your friendly library shelf

Voting is now open

Vote now for your choice for Teen Book of the Year. Up for the 2008 award are Breaking Dawn (Stephenie Meyer), The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins), Lock and Key (Sarah Dessen), Paper Towns (John Green), and Airhead (Meg Cabot).

Voting is easy, just click and submit. What, you haven't read one of these? Then get to the library and pick up a copy.

VOTE HERE

Earthworm farming!

So mom won't let you have a pet? Start a worm farm and convince her that this is a hands-on ecology lesson. Use a 2-liter plastic bottle with the top cut off, or maybe you have an old aquarium or clear plastic box. A few drain holes in the bottom, sand, dirt, shredded newspaper that you've soaked in water and squeezed out the excess, and PRESTO! You're a worm farmer.

I used worms that I picked up after a recent rain but some websites suggest red wigglers. Whatever worms you use, keep them fed, moist but not wet, and most important - they love to be in the dark. Simply wrap a piece of construction paper around the outside and tape. Mine slides off for easy viewing. After a few days you'll be able to see the worm tracks and castings as they work the soil and recycle their lunch.

For more info check out a book at the library.

Deadline to Read

Imagine what you would do if you found out you had only one year to live? For Ben Wolf, a high school senior, this was reality and what he chose to do changed the way he saw his family, his friends, and even uncovered some secrets about his small hometown of Trout, Idaho.

Ben chose to keep his eminent death a secret from his friends and even from his brother, Cody. The fear of our personal mortality keeps us all on a sort of moral leash, but undone from this boundry of fear of the unknown, Ben was able to question everything from his history teacher's blessed text book to understanding how his own death would impact those he loved.

Chris Crutcher’s books always take readers on an emotional journey, and DEADLINE is no exception.

The goal of "Choose to Read Ohio", sponsored by the State Library of Ohio, is to encourage the reading of books written by Ohio authors together across Ohio communities. The Amherst Public Library encourages Ohioans to Read Together, Read Ohio, and Read for Life.

For more information on "Choose to Read Ohio" visit their website for a full list of titles for children, teens, and adults. Find Deadline by Chris Crutcher (2007, Harper) at the Amherst Public Library in our Young Adult section (call number YA CRU).