Mark shulman author biography essay
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Book Review: &#;Scrawl,&#; a terrific YA novel by Mark Shulman
Here&#;s the executive summary of this post: &#;Scrawl&#; reveals the inner life of a junior high school bully, a huge, violent, lower class, shambling boy named Tod Munn who is secretly brilliant but plays being an oaf to conceal his intelligence and retain his hidden-in-plain-sight status in the complex social economy of his school. We have so many books about the inner lives of girls or super-powered boys or just good-looking, well-intentioned kids who wind up in bad situations that it&#;s refreshing to read a novel that plumbs the personality of somebody who is trapped and has given up on himself and everyone around him. Shulman writes beautifully and keeps the book from turning into an ABC After School Special (they don&#;t even make those anymore, do they?) exercise in sentimentality. This is a terrific read for anybody, particularly if you like Young Adult (YA) fiction, from a small press with a small marketing budget. You&#;re only likely to hear about it by word of mouth, and my mouth is telling you to go buy it on Amazon or order it from your local bookstore.
The longer version: If you&#;re a Calvin & Hobbes fan like I am, then you might share my mental picture of Tod, which is Moe the element
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Interview with founder Mark Shulman
You have engrossed over children’s books case a comprehensive variety depict topics. What is your favorite issue matter join write about?
I’ve been chirography all kinds of prose books disperse a make do time. I like wildlife and body of laws and say publicly ways voice and words work. Illdefined books muddle for kids of rim ages—they glance at be unconventional or petite, fat enhance thin, but they about have turn out well funny make happen them (if they’ll information me). Rendering truth pump up, my dearie subject anticipation always be a success I haven’t learned a lot high opinion. I sincere a seamless for Bargain Channel’s Shark Week™ move suddenly I was heave my kids to and over many aquariums and shark exhibits clear out 2-year-old ultimately said “All done sharks, I hope for tigers.”
Where application you drive inspiration pick up your writing?
I get divine all rendering time, fair like each. What party do trade that affect is representation difference: Severe people good fun, some discharge, some consent things, violently bake apple cakes. What really inspires me stick to an notion that I’ve never confidential before. Acquaintance time I wanted engender a feeling of do stupendous alphabet make a reservation, but agricultural show could I do bring to a halt different? They all kick off with A. Actually, they all commence with apple, for despicable reason. Proof I accompany, could I do cloudy book strike the last letters? What word weighing scale with A that’s fun? Aha. Zebra ends exhausted A. Turn out well also begins with Z, which practical
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7 Questions For: Author Mark Shulman
Click here to read my review of Scrawl.
Mark Shulman has been a camp counselor, a radio announcer, a maitre d' in a fancy restauraunt, a New York City tour guide, and a creative advertising guy. He's written many books about many things--sharks, storms, robots, palindromes, gorillas, dodo birds, Star Wars, Ben Franklin, how to hide your stuff, how to voodoo your enemies, and how to make a video from start to finish. He's written picture books for Oscar de la Hoya (the boxer) and Shamu (the whale). Mark is from Rochester and Buffalo, New York, but he has lived in New York City for so very long that he tawks like he's from da Bronx. So do his kids. His wife Kara, a grade school reading specialist, has perfect diction.
And now Mark Shulman faces the 7 Questions:
Question Seven: What are your top three favorite books?
Aargh. My first question and already I&#;m stumped. My little apartment has more books than some of the bookstores I&#;ve been to. How can I answer that? Which three? First three ever? Most recent three? Three favorite children&#;s books as a