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Hello, everyone, and welcome to silviaacevedo.com! This is your best place to find my latest news, works, and musings.
Please take a look around the site, and feel free to reply to posts. I love hearing from fellow writers, journalists, and people from all walks of life.
Posted July 28th, 2010 by Silvia
The timing couldn’t be better for Comic-Con 2010, those who love a good comic book, and those who find themselves constantly defending them. A new report by the Canadian Council on Learning says comics and graphic novels boost boys’ reading abilities.
The study states what researchers have long held as true: girls are generally more inclined to read than boys and score higher in literacy tests. However, the researchers stress that may be due to the fact that boys’ reading choices aren’t represented in school libraries and classrooms.
The study cites findings that comics were boys’ second most popular reading choice after newspapers and magazines, and the proportion of elementary school boys who read comics stood at 75 percent compared to girls’ 50 percent.
Is this all to say that comics would improve boys’ reading? The report calls comics an effective gateway to reading novels. It also suggests that if boys’ reading choices aren’t represented in libraries (where most kids get their books), then those boys aren’t reading as much as they might otherwise, thus they’re lacking practice in reading. And we all know practice makes perfect.
Of course, the counter argument is that the very reading of said comic books is what’s lowering boys’ reading capabilities; that comics are the junk food of literacy, and that if the kids were reading novels, their comprehension would improve.
I’d venture to say that parents of reluctant readers are happy to see their children reading anything, be that comics or Herman Melville. Even parents of super readers will likely understand the occasional desire for a different, possibly lighter style of literature, say Batman over an aged classic.
Let’s hope either method gets more kids reading.
Posted in In The News | No Comments »
Posted June 23rd, 2010 by Silvia
I recently read a great New York Times article that I wanted to share. It’s about the Kindle-users’ ability to highlight favorite passages, which other readers on the network would then notice and perhaps comment upon. There’s been criticism of this function; some people fear the popular passages will distract readers from thoughtful, solitary contemplation, which they believe is necessary for higher reasoning and, therefore, better reading.
The writer of the article argues, “Quiet contemplation has led to its fair share of important thoughts. But it cannot be denied that good ideas also emerge in networks.” I must agree. While I sometimes slip into a good book for reasons of pure escapism and, thus, want to be left to enjoy the adventure in peace, I also enjoy talking with people about great books. Apparently many other people feel the same way, as evidenced by the thousands of book clubs across the country. Obviously a great many people enjoy sharing literature and new ideas.
As a writer, I’d also love to learn which passages are my readers’ favorites. Who wouldn’t want to know which words struck a chord?
Posted in In The News | No Comments »
Posted February 12th, 2010 by Silvia
I’ve had the honor and immense pleasure of skating with many of the speed skaters that will be competing in the 2010 Winter Olympics. There aren’t many sports in which an amateur can train right alongside the best of the best, but speedskating is one of them. I’ve gotten to know a bunch of them, including Shani Davis, Nancy Swider-Peltz, Jr, Mitch Whitmore, Jilleanne Rookard, and others, and I can honestly say that they’re friendly and humble and fun people.
I wish them all great success. They train tirelessly, sacrifice much, and challenge themselves day in and day out. Congrats to them for what they’ve already accomplished and what is to come!
Posted in In The News, Speedskating | 1 Comment »
Posted January 18th, 2010 by Silvia
The American Library Association has just released the 2010 list of literary award winners for the most prestigious awards that children’s books can receive.
The John Newbery Medal for most outstanding contribution to children’s literature goes to When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead and published by Wendy Lamb Books.
The Randolph Caldecott Medal for most distinguished American picture book for children is The Lion & the Mouse, written and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney and published by LIttle, Brown, and Company Books for Young Readers.
The ALA announced many other awards and honors bestowed. You can find the announcement here and immediately add to your own reading list.
Posted in In The News | No Comments »
Posted January 14th, 2010 by Silvia
USA Today has released its list of best-selling books for 2009. I’m happy to say that I’ve read most of top ten at least, which I’ve listed below, and many others are on my to-read list.
It’s no surprise that numbers one through four are New Moon, Eclipse, Twilight, and Breaking Dawn, in that order, all by Stephenie Meyer. Next come The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown and The Shack by William P. Young. Numbers seven and eight are both Diary of a Wimpy Kid installments, The Last Straw and Dog Days by Jeff Kinney. Rounding out the last two places are Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man by Steve Harvey and Going Rogue: An American Life by Sarah Palin.
Wondering how many of the books on USA Today’s list you’ve read? Check it out here and congratulate yourself for a year of good reading.
Posted in In The News | No Comments »
Posted November 9th, 2009 by Silvia
This is so cool.
My husband’s children’s book, Welcome to Monster Isle, is now offered digitally on astorybeforebed.com. This is a great site with a super mission.
Anyone with a webcam can record him- or herself reading a book and send the link to loved ones, say a grandchild or family living stateside. There are even discounts for the brave men and women serving in the United States Armed Forces.
That child will then be able to see both the book fullscreen, page by page, and their loved one in a smaller screen reading it. Recipients can watch the reading over and over again, as many times as they want. Check out the site and especially the excellent demo!
What a great gift for those who want to be a regular part of a child’s life but find that distance gets in the way!
Posted in In The News | 1 Comment »
Posted October 29th, 2009 by Silvia
Children’s and young adult books have been a bright spot for publishing even through the recession, showing growth where other categories have floundered. Naturally, publishers want their customers to enthusiastically buy their products. To do that, the publishers need to know what their customers want.
A new survey put out by TeenReads and The Book Report Network says teens respondents (who turned out to be overwhelmingly female) are most drawn to series fiction, especially in the romance and fantasy genres. The vampire-lovers out there are smiling so widely their canines are showing. Next comes adventure and mysteries/suspense/thrillers.
The survey reached out to many geographic areas and populations. The results of the survey are nicely broken down and displayed at Publisher’s Weekly here. It’s good news if, like me, you’re writing a fantasy novel. And it’s great news for the industry and book-lovers everywhere when children’s books are selling well.
Posted in A Writer Writes, In The News | No Comments »
Posted August 2nd, 2009 by Silvia
Should authors and illustrators who come into contact with children at schools be required to undergo a background check? Before you answer, picture a school reading — either at the individual class level where there might be 15 children seated around an author, or at the assembly level where a hundred children or more are seated in an auditorium listening to an illustrator who requires a microphone to be heard. These events are not one-on-one readings with a single child left unattended by teachers.
So I ask, do visiting authors and illustrators need to be proven innocent before being allowed to speak to a crowd? What if they’ve been reading to kids for years? Does that matter? Is their having to pay more than $100 for a government clearance acceptable?
Some of Britain’s leading authors say no, it’s no okay. They’re refusing to do readings in schools because of a new requirement that they be registered in a national database proving they’re not sex offenders. We’re talking authors like Michael Morpurgo (War Horse) and Philip Pullman (His Dark Materials trilogy) among others fighting this policy.
You can hear what some of those creators have to say in this fascinating Philadelphia Inquirer article.
These creators can take a stand that perhaps newer authors can’t. For many new authors, a school reading is a chance to reach an audience they might never otherwise. It can launch a career.
The intellectually curious person must ask how far this policy would reach and possible unintended consequences. Sane, loving people all want to protect children, of course. Of course. But let’s advance this thinking for the sake of intellectual exercise. The policy would be eventually extended to apply to all parents who act as teachers’ aides and to the delivery driver and construction worker and any other adult who wants to step foot onto school grounds. What of those parents who can’t pay such a fee or don’t want to on principal? You can imagine some parents might take offense to being told to pay $100 to visit their own children’s school. And are children only to come into contact with those people who are well-off enough to afford this or who fall in line with government thinking? Even if they’re never alone with them? Is that okay? Or not? Would the requirement spread to other institutions, such as government-run libraries, where many such readings take place? Should it? Shouldn’t it?
Interesting ideas to mull over here. And we should — because often what one government can do, another will consider. For bad or good. It’s a UK thing now, but, in the future, who can say?
Posted in In The News | No Comments »
Posted July 8th, 2009 by Silvia
It’s now going to be one of my favorite places to write. Sure, the Starbucks I usually hit has a lively atmosphere, which can help set the mood for knocking out a fast, tense scene, but when you need to settle into the emotions of a character, loud music can stymie your progress. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not knocking Starbucks. It is what it is, and that’s a coffee shop.
It’s not pretending to be a quiet place for writers. And sometimes you need that.
The new Greenfield Library opened July 4th, 2009, and it’s got some great private study rooms, which I know will be the perfect retreat for me. No reservation, two hours, and longer if no one else is waiting.
There are even vending machines and kitchenette nearby. What more could you ask for?
Here are some pictures of the new place. Kudos to those who made it happen. It looks great!
Posted in In The News | No Comments »
Posted June 13th, 2009 by Silvia
I’ve finished rewriting an earlier manuscript that needed work, and it’s now at the stage of being reviewed by test readers. That’s a bit unnerving because you never know how people will view your work, but it’s also really useful and kind of fun to see their take on certain scenes and twists of plot. Test readers have fresh eyes that, let’s face it, authors lack, as they’ve been living with the project forever.
I’ve got a simple method. I ask readers to write along the margins whatever pops into their head. If a section made them smile, I ask them to draw a smiley face. If they didn’t understand, put a question mark or ask a question. If a section’s boring, say so! If the readers are simply gripped by the amazing awesomeness of the story, well, congratulations are in order. Yay, me! 
No matter how the comments go, I need honesty here. I need to know what works. So far, my test readers have been great at telling me like it is, which is exactly what I need!
I found an interesting article about test readers here at the American Book Publishing site. Enjoy, and thanks to all you test readers out there who make good books better!
Posted in A Writer Writes, In The News | No Comments »
