Marvelous Middle Grade Monday-DOGSLED DREAMS by Terry Lynn Johnson and a Giveaway

I am so pleased to welcome Terry Lynn Johnson to my blog today. Not only because her book DOGSLED DREAMS received thumbs up from my book club kids (and me!), but also because she recently made a fantastic announcement about her next book. Terry is a dedicated and passionate author who has worked hard on each leg of her writing journey. I'm so impressed with her. Because of that passion we're able to hand her book to young readers. And it is a book I recommend...you recommend. 


Terry's doing double duty for us. Joining in with Oh MG YA Canada and Marvelous Middle Grade Monday. 


And by the way! I'll be giving away a copy of DOGSLED DREAMS. Just leave a comment and next Monday random org and I will pick a winner.


Here's more about the book from Good Reads:

Twelve-year-old Rebecca dreams of becoming a famous sled dog racer.  She’s an inventive but self-doubting musher who tackles blinding blizzards, wild animal attacks, puppy training, and flying poo missiles. All of her challenges though, seem easier than living up to the dogs’ trust in her abilities.

Here's the interview that offers you a chance to get to know Terry.


Thanks for being here, Terry! The book I'm giving away is DOGSLED DREAMS. It received thumbs up from my book club kids who are ages 9-12.  Did you set out to write for this age group or was it more how the story evolved once you knew it was one you wanted to tell?


I knew Dogsled Dreams would be a middle grade story. But when I wrote my second book, I tried for young adult. It seems though, it's much more fun to write in this genre. I love the excitement of life and learning new things at this age. 

Do you have a new book we can watch for or one you and your agent are seeking a publishing house for?

My middle grade adventure, Ice Dogs will be released in 2013 (winter) by Houghton Mifflin. 
Ice Dogs is about a young musher who gets lost in a blizzard with her race team, and saves a boy with a secret. With their food gone, and the temperatures dropping, they must learn to trust each other and the dogs if they are going to survive.

Do you have a great author visit or book signing moment you'd like to share? Something made you think...I love this job!

I was at a sled dog race in Marmora, Ontario, and a young reader hung around my table looking at my book, reading the back, talking to me about other books she's read and loved. When her mom found her, she talked her into purchasing a copy. I was so happy to have met her and talked about our mutual love of books, and sled dogs!

Speaking of loving the job, when it comes to the writing what is your most favorite part of the process, what is your least, or the part you find the hardest to work on.

I love revising. I know a lot of writers hate it, but, I get excited to see my story shaping into the best it can be. 

Hardest part of this business is the waiting! I have the attention span of a pea. It's quite difficult for me to wait months to hear back on something that I've been working on. But I'm sure it's good for me to work on patience.

I know several kids who are aspiring writers. They range in age from 8 to 13. When did you start writing and do you have any advice for them?

My interest in writing may have started in grade nine. I had an awesome creative writing teacher who encouraged me to keep a file of ongoing ideas and works in progress. I still do that. 
I'd also suggest doing some on-line research to find the many periodicals that are looking for content from young writers. They have to put out a new issue every month or so, that's a lot of opportunities to get your writing published! 

Do you mind sharing a latest greatest read with us? Something you would recommend to middle graders and/or teens and those of us who read and writer for them? 

oh, I could talk for hours about great books. 
For middle grade, I loved Sugar and Ice by Kate Messner. And my favourite young adult book this year so far was Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys 

And finally (being as we are also celebrating Oh MG/YA Canada today, too!)

What is your favourite part of living where you do? Do you have another part of Canada that you love to visit or that you've always wanted to but haven't yet?

I lived in Thunder Bay for twelve years, the setting for Dogsled Dreams. I lived right on Lake Superior and absolutely loved the wildness of it. Now I live on a smaller lake, near Lake Huron, which I also love. I like that there's so many opportunities for outdoor adventures. So many trails to explore, bays to kayak, mountains to hike, I feel very blessed to live in such a beautiful place. And such inspiration for an outdoor writer.


That's all folks! Thanks for stopping by and reading. If you'd like enter the giveaway, just leave a comment. Making the draw next Monday. 


Don't forget to check out the rest of the MMGM gang:


Shannon Whitney Messenger-Ramblings of a Wannabe Scribe  (a.k.a Fearless Leader)

Jennifer Rumberger-Children's Author

Joanne Fritz-My Brain on Books
Shannon O'Donnell-Book Dreaming
Myrna Foster-The Night Writer
Sherrie Petersen- Write About Now 
Natalie Aguirre-Literary Rambles
Brooke Favero-Somewhere in the Middle
Ally Beecher- Kid Lit Frenzy
Barbara Watson-Novel and Nouveau
Anita Laydon Miller-her middle grade blog
Michael G-G-Middle Grade Mafioso
Jessica Lei-her blog  
Pam Torres-So I'm Fifty
Akoss-Nye Louwon – My Spirit | a search for the writer in me
Gabrielle Prendergast-Angelhorn