A Dyslexic IWSG and A to Z: B

My apologies for a busy post today, but you're about to discover PURE AWESOMENESS. (That's a promise.) First, some exciting news! For the month of April ONLY, MOONLESS is $1.99! Get your copy HERE.

Hosted by Alex J. Cavanaugh, Hart Johnson, Chemist Ken, Candilynn Fite, Terri Rochenski, Clare Dugmore, and Lilica Blake, IWSG happens every first Wednesday of the month and is an opportunity for writers to express their deep seeded worries. 

This last month, I took a "reading test." Now for some of us, reading comes easy. For some (pointing to self) it takes a great deal of effort to become proficient, even while loving the written word. We've never been formally diagnosed, but my sisters and I have all struggled with reading. For me it was always an issue of reading out of sequence, whether mixing up letters or actual words. Most people read in a line, right? One word after another? I can't get my brain to work that way.

SO, I took a reading test...

Now, let me clarify, I'm constantly reading about 8 to 10 books, with a steady 1/2 hr of reading every morning plus an additional 10 to 30 minutes reading out loud each night--and regular binge reading. I typically finish 2 to 5 books a week (we're not talking picture books here), with a few stolen hours around the crazy of life, and I NEVER ever forget a book I've read.

So the reading test results? Average.

Brr?

The conclusion: I suck at tests, and should avoid taking them whenever possible. I have great reading comprehension, and when I burn through a full novel in a total of 4 to 8 hrs, well, I'd say that's an accomplishment considering my history. Who cares what a stupid test says, and more importantly, I can't let it get me down.

I'm awesome. I've overcome some major obstacles, and I should rejoice in that.

How about you? Have you ever struggled with reading?

True heroes are all around us, in our every day lives, but some people stand out. During this A-Z Challenge I hope to share several of my real life heroes, and invite you to share yours in the comments.

righam Young. So maybe you've heard his name mentioned. He's basically the reason the western part of the US (other than California) is populated. This guy led a church of people who had been condemned to death under an extermination order in Missouri. I bet you didn't know that. Yes, the governor made it legal to kill Mormons. Welcome to the land of the free. Seeking for freedom and safety, after having appealed to the US government several times and been denied, the people packed up and followed Brigham into the desert. Yes, desert. As in little rain, no crops, and a hard existence--initially.

Now this is the part that gets me. After they left the US and were no longer a part of it, the military actually sent an order for them to supply a number of men to assist in the Mexican/American war. You know, the military that let them be raped and pillaged and killed while under their "protection." Brigham gathered up a battalion of men and sent them anyway. He had been tested and humbled early in his association with the church when the founder and his friend, Joseph Smith, publicly condemned him for being a sinner and calling him to repentance--when no actual offence had been committed. It was a test. Brigham's reply was an apology, with a hung head, and a promise to do better. Joseph embraced him, and expressed his love, then corrected the accusation. This humble man had proved his character in the face of public humiliation.

Brigham loved his family and actually started an organization for his many daughters that continues today, a program that includes goals and standards to cultivate talents, knowledge, growth, and lays the foundation for contributing members of society and future mothers.

Lastly, if you live in Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Idaho etc, you may be living in one of the communities Brigham started by sending groups to establish them. To me, Brigham is an example of fortitude, humility, and enterprising.

I want to be as determined, steady and entrepreneurial as him. I want to be an accomplisher of epic stuff, although I can do without the death and mayhem.

Are you ready to meet a new author and enter to win an awesome book? 

Last week, Emma Adams shared Darkness Watching with us, along with two truths and one lie. Those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing for the chance to win her eBook!

Emma's game:

1. Emma scuba-dived in the Great Barrier Reef.

2. She wrote Darkness Watching while living in a cabin in the Costa Rican jungle.

3. She's never been to the USA. 

And the lie is: 

#3. Emma has technically been to the US, but only overnight when her plane back from Costa Rica got stranded at the Houson, TX airport.

Way to guess those of you who got it right! You are officially human lie detectors. And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

Suzanne Furness!

Congrats Suzanne!

And now to today's feature, a book I TOTALLY love:

The kids at Sam's school never knew if they should make fun of her for being too smart or too dumb. That's what it means to be dyslexic: smart, and illiterate. Sam is sick of it. So when her mom gets a job in a faraway city, Sam decides not to tell anyone about her little illiteracy problem. Without her paradox of a reputation, she falls in with a new group of highly competitive friends who call themselves the Brain Trust. When she meets Nate, her charming valedictorian lab partner, she declares her new reality perfect. But in order to keep it that way, she has to keep her learning disability a secret. The books are stacked against her and so are the lies. Sam's got to get the grades, get the guy, and get it straight--without being able to read.

Pick up your copy HERE.

And now, let me introduce you to the wonderful author: 

Kate Scott lives in the suburbs outside Portland, Oregon with her husband Warren. Kate was diagnosed with dyslexia as a young child but somehow managed to fall in love with stories anyway. Counting to D is her first novel. When Kate isn’t writing, she enjoys listening to audiobooks, camping, and spending time with her friends and family. Kate also spends a lot of time doing math and sciency things and is a licensed professional engineer.

Kate loves Mozzarella melted on pizza.

Kate gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Those who figure out the lie will go into my magic hat for a chance to win Counting to D (eBook). Awesome, right? You have until Tuesday, April 8, at 1 p.m. EDT to guess--and be sure to come back for the answer on April 9.

TRUTH OR LIE

1. Kate is allergic to ketchup.

2. Kate's left foot once stayed asleep (pins and needles) for three years.

3. She once built a 15-foot snowman with a forklift.

Okay friendlies, which is the lie? Have you ever struggled with reading? Have you checked out Kate's awesome book? Are there any explorers, expansionists or visionaries you admire?  

Amazing Cheese with Dyslexia

I have a treat for you today! It's not very often I HAVE to interview someone. In fact, I can say this makes a first. Today I'd like to introduce you to my wonderful author friend, Kate Scott and her amazing new book, Counting to D. If you haven't met Kate yet, REMEDY that NOW!!!!

Kate Scott lives in the suburbs outside Portland, Oregon with her husband Warren. Kate was diagnosed with dyslexia as a young child but somehow managed to fall in love with stories anyway. Counting to D is her first novel. When Kate isn’t writing, she enjoys listening to audiobooks, camping, and spending time with her friends and family. Kate also spends a lot of time doing math and sciency things and is a licensed professional engineer.

And now, let the interview commence! 

Counting to D is amazing and so realistically grounded, I wonder how much of it is based on real life. Kate, when and how was it discovered you dealt with dyslexia?

Kate: The academic aspect of Counting to D is based upon my own experience. Like Sam, I was diagnosed with dyslexia in elementary school and underwent extensive private tutoring to gain an understanding of basic phonics. Also, like Sam, I am naturally gifted in math and have a sharp oral memory. That being said, this book is still a work of fiction. I did not have a high school boyfriend as adorable as Nate. I wasn’t forced to move away from all my friends as a teen. And thankfully, my parents are nothing like Sam’s.

Has that complicated your writing process, and how have you overcome?

Kate: Probably. I’ve always been dyslexic, so I really don’t know what other writers do and don’t have to deal with. For me, making up stories has always been easy. Writing those stories down, though—not so much. My spelling has improved a lot over the years, but it’s still not good! I probably misspell about ten percent of all the words I write. Usually, I can correct my mistakes quickly with spellcheck. But I do get that nasty “no spelling suggestions” message far more than I would like. It can be tedious at times, constantly having to stop and figure out not only what to write, but also how to write it.

I can imagine how frustrating that must be. What inspired you to write Counting to D?

Kate: I've known I wanted to write a book with a dyslexic main character for years. Dyslexia is a complicated condition that is often misunderstood. I've never been happy with the way it’s normally addressed in fiction, and I decided the best way to remedy that would be to write a dyslexic story myself.

And I applaud you for it. What scene did you struggle with writing most? Which was easiest?

Kate: I probably “struggled” the most with the opening, just because openings are so important. Figuring out where and how to start the story was a bit of a challenge. I didn’t write the scene that ultimately became the first page until about my fourth draft.

As for the easiest scene to write? Probably the flashbacks to Sam’s diagnosis and her educational experience in elementary school. Those scenes are by far the most autobiographical. Like Sam, I spent a lot of time writing in rice as a little kid.

I hear you about those opening pages. They're an art unto themselves. 

Samantha has a difficult time fitting in socially because of her dyslexia. Did you struggle with the same thing?

Kate: Thankfully, no. I was never super popular, but that’s because I was a big, fat nerd, not because I couldn’t read. While my high school friends didn’t call themselves the Brain Trust, they were VERY COMPETITIVE about academics. As many of them had known me since elementary school, my dyslexia was never a secret. Most of them found my inability to read fascinating. One of them even wrote a research paper about the condition and used me as a test subject.

Oh my. *hiding testing material* Next question: I ADORE the dynamic between Samantha and Nate. (Can I just get that out there?) They’re geeks cut from the same rind. Because I’m obsessed with cheese, what cheese do you feel is your own geek-worthy soul mate?

Kate: Hmm, I feel like I don’t know enough about cheese to properly answer this question.

My favorite cheesy dish is bacon-wrapped stuffed dates. You stuff dates with goat cheese, wrap them in bacon, and bake to deliciousness. It’s the greatest appetizer in the world! I think that goat cheese center might be my geek-worthy cheese soul mate.

Mmm... Goat cheese. Oh, sorry, I'm interrupting. 

Kate: Normally, I don’t like goat cheese. It’s too bitter. But combined with the sweetness of the dates and the saltiness of the bacon, it’s perfect. I’m not an average author, or an average engineer, or an average anything else. But in the right setting, I’ve figured out how to make my life work. And when mixed with the right ingredients, goat cheese can be amazing.

Thank you so much for the interview, Kate. 

You can read my review of her wonderful book HERE.

The kids at Sam's school never knew if they should make fun of her for being too smart or too dumb. That's what it means to be dyslexic: smart, and illiterate. Sam is sick of it. So when her mom gets a job in a faraway city, Sam decides not to tell anyone about her little illiteracy problem. Without her paradox of a reputation, she falls in with a new group of highly competitive friends who call themselves the Brain Trust. When she meets Nate, her charming valedictorian lab partner, she declares her new reality perfect. But in order to keep it that way, she has to keep her learning disability a secret. The books are stacked against her and so are the lies. Sam's got to get the grades, get the guy, and get it straight--without being able to read.

Today I'm hanging out with the fabulous Andrea at Virtual Writers Inc, chatting about my AMAZING secondary characters, the themes and motivations behind MOONLESS. Stop in and say "hello?"

Oh, and would you like to know what my superhero costume looks like? Check it out HERE.

Have you dealt with learning challenges or disabilities? How have you overcome?