 The Netahs Book 2 I was not ready to end the Netah story with book 1, and decided my main character, Josh, needed to confront the specter of his outlaw birth father. What made him an outlaw, you ask? This is where the fun begins, and what gets me to sit down at my computer. First I had to build a Netah world that had its own laws. That was easy. Josh is a halfling, born of a human mother and a Netah father. That’s the crime: falling in love with a human! Next, is the crime dire or unreasonable? In writing book 2, I had to decide what motivations led to his father’s crime, as well as what kind of person he was. I had to play that against what Josh needs and wants. I’m not going to give anything away, but I will say that as a writer, thinking like a detective who is always searching for motivations will provide you with a rich well of options to enrich your story. It helps get to the juicy bits, making the characters real, whether they are likeable or not. This is why I write and why I love it. Hope you will enjoy reading book 2 as much as I enjoyed writing it. For more information, take a look at www.lisakaniutcobb.com/goodnews.
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 It's been 22 years since 9/11 happened. In recalling that horrific moment I reviewed the intervening years and sensed that the cloud of debris dust never actually settled but spread like a long evening shadow over our psyches. In contrast, this past weekend I attended the RMC-SCBWI writing conference in Golden, Colorado. I met so many new people who spoke about their publishing journeys. The hope was contagious. I topped off the weekend at the DCPA show A Little Night Music. The lyrics "Isn't it rich? ...Send in the clowns," gave me goosebumps. My spirits soared. Today, of all days, let’s embrace hope and joy. We can do this, make it better. We got this.
PRAISE FOR
THE NETAHS, DOWN IN THE VALLEY, book 2 in the series “I loved this sequel to The Netahs: Into the Wilderness…! I was completely wrapped up in the fantasy world, and was rooting for Josh and his Netah community, all animal shape-shifters but with very relatable t(w)een problems. The story picks up where the first left off, with Josh now deep into the Netah community and trying to find his place as a half-human. Add the complication of his outlaw Netah father and we have Josh torn in different directions, all while trying to figure out who he is as a halfling. I can see kid readers strongly identifying with Josh all while getting lost in the Netah world. The plot moves quickly, which had me forget about time as I read. This series is one I’ll be recommending for younger YA readers, which can be hard to find books for. Perfect for fans of Rick Riordan books and the Netflix series Sweet Tooth, The Netahs series is going to appeal to reluctant and avid readers alike. Highly recommend it!” --Fleur Bradley, award-winning author of Midnight at the Barclay Hotel and Daybreak on Raven Island RELEASE Date is coming this summer, so stay tuned. Get your name on the pre-order list, and I'll send you a special invitation to the launch party events as they are scheduled. It’s the end of the school year and spring is in the air. As you plan your celebrations, don’t forget that May 1 is School Principals’ Day, followed on the 2nd by Teacher Appreciation Day. A kind word of thanks is free. Once you’re riding high on that kindness train, have some fun with Different Colored Shoes Day (3rd), which is also Bike to School Day, a double whammy. There are so many inane, serious, ridiculous National Days of something, and if you want a good laugh, check it out at https://nationaldaycalendar.com/may/. I prefer the ridiculous, like combining a Mother’s Day (14th) with a Dancing Like a Chicken Day party (same day). Who’s in?
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