The bewitching hour is almost here and with it, this month's contest to win Frostie the Deadman, Zackary Richards' YA haunting novel with a dash of moral thrown in, is coming to a close.  I hope you have enjoyed getting to know Mr. Richards, our local author of the month and are anxiously awaiting the drawing on Thursday to win a signed copy of his book.

Before I get to the very last, all important "Question of the Day" of this month, and this year, I would like to share some of Richards' advice for would-be authors.

In my interview of Richards, he shared the key to his award winning success.

Q: What have you found to be an invaluable tool in your writing process?

Richards: I advise anyone serious about writing to join a writers group. Although writers are generally introverts and uncomfortable in crowds, having strangers review your work with a unbiased eye can be an immense help to improving your craft. I joined the Glens Falls writers group slightly before Frostie was published and the Albany Fiction writer group shortly afterwards. Constructive criticism helps us discover the flaws in our work and helps overcome the fear that any changes will likely ruin it.

Q:  What should every writer of Young Adult Fiction remember?

Richards: You have to be able to remember what it was like being a Young Adult and to take the time to learn how today's kid's talk and what they are into. Never talk down to them and never preach. Kids learn from example not from some wind-bag waxing philosophical.

Q: What special responsibility does a YA writer have to their audience?

Richards: . . . I never realized the incredible responsibility YA authors have to their readers until I went on the Frostie the Deadman book tour. Over and over kids came up to me and told me that they knew these guys (my characters Josh and Winks) and now understood how important it was to be a good friend and to be brave even when things are at their scariest. It was then I realized I wasn't just entertaining kids, I was programming them. You can write whatever you want in an adult novel because adults have their own opinions but kids, they BELIEVE what they read so the YA author must be very careful about what he/she puts in a book.    

Lastly, 

Q: Do you have any other advice for future authors on writing, editing, publishing and marketing?

Richards: Tons! All of which will be featured in my upcoming video tutorial 'How To Get Your Book Published' (please pardon the shameless self-promotion).

That's okay, Mr. Richards'-we don't mind a little "shameless self-promotion."  After all, our goal is to create community and help promote our local authors!

You can watch for that on Mr. Richards' own blog site at http://zackaryrichards.blogspot.com/

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Well, that's it folks!  The day after tomorrow is the drawing for the book.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Richards for being our local author of the month and for donating a copy of Frostie the Deadman for the prize and a copy for the library so that we can add it to our stacks.  We appreciate you very much!

Here's your last chance to be entered into the contest:

Question of the Day:
Are you staying at home, handing out candy or are you going out trick-or-treating?

Happy Halloween everyone! 

coming in November . . .

A Special Friends and Words Gift Guide