Frank Nappi's Blog - Posts Tagged "series-reads"
What it's like teaching the novel you wrote....
This year I decided to take may I say a risky chance and read my novel The Legend of Mickey Tussler with my 11th graders. Teaching my own novel to my students has been both surreal and rewarding.
First, the opportunity to see my characters and story through the eyes of my students has been incredibly illuminating. Obviously I am intimately acquainted with my work, but I have never looked at it through the lens of the classroom and curriculum. Much to my delight, the feedback I have received from my students has helped me to see that the construction of the story and the development of the characters is indeed successful. It is so gratifying to hear students make observations about imagery, characterization and motif -- comments that an author only dreams about experiencing. And what a rush it was for me to learn that so many of the girls in my class loved the book too -- many finished it in just three days!!
The value for all students lies in the unusual opportunity to “ask the author” what he was thinking or attempting to accomplish throughout he novel. How many times have you heard the question “Mrs. Jones - how do you know that the author meant to use the flower as a symbol of life?” So many of these young folks are incredulous and unwilling to accept the idea that author’s pay attention to craft as much as they do the actual story that they are unfolding. Teaching your own novel takes care of that! This atypical engagement between reader and author is so helpful with regard to demonstrating writer’s craft and also becomes fodder for so many wonderful discussions.
And the questions are so endearing...despite the fact that it is still “just a book” and that reading remains fairly low on most adolescent things to do, they are all amazed that their teacher actually wrote the book they are reading and discussing in class. It reminds me that there is hope and that teenagers even today can still appreciate books and creativity.
The most humorous exchange thus far.....
Student: “Mr. Nappi, are you famous now?”
Teacher: “Famous? No, I wouldn’t say that.”
Student: “But your book is a movie, and you just wrote another one too.”
Teacher: “Yes, that’s true. But I’m not exactly in the same league as F. Scott Fitzgerald yet.”
Student: But people know who you are, right? LIke if you died, would your picture be in the newspaper?”
Teacher: “I’m not so sure - possibly - but let’s not test it, okay? I’m not ready to find that out just yet.”
Now that Sophomore Campaign (the sequel is out) - maybe next year I will give both books a try!
First, the opportunity to see my characters and story through the eyes of my students has been incredibly illuminating. Obviously I am intimately acquainted with my work, but I have never looked at it through the lens of the classroom and curriculum. Much to my delight, the feedback I have received from my students has helped me to see that the construction of the story and the development of the characters is indeed successful. It is so gratifying to hear students make observations about imagery, characterization and motif -- comments that an author only dreams about experiencing. And what a rush it was for me to learn that so many of the girls in my class loved the book too -- many finished it in just three days!!
The value for all students lies in the unusual opportunity to “ask the author” what he was thinking or attempting to accomplish throughout he novel. How many times have you heard the question “Mrs. Jones - how do you know that the author meant to use the flower as a symbol of life?” So many of these young folks are incredulous and unwilling to accept the idea that author’s pay attention to craft as much as they do the actual story that they are unfolding. Teaching your own novel takes care of that! This atypical engagement between reader and author is so helpful with regard to demonstrating writer’s craft and also becomes fodder for so many wonderful discussions.
And the questions are so endearing...despite the fact that it is still “just a book” and that reading remains fairly low on most adolescent things to do, they are all amazed that their teacher actually wrote the book they are reading and discussing in class. It reminds me that there is hope and that teenagers even today can still appreciate books and creativity.
The most humorous exchange thus far.....
Student: “Mr. Nappi, are you famous now?”
Teacher: “Famous? No, I wouldn’t say that.”
Student: “But your book is a movie, and you just wrote another one too.”
Teacher: “Yes, that’s true. But I’m not exactly in the same league as F. Scott Fitzgerald yet.”
Student: But people know who you are, right? LIke if you died, would your picture be in the newspaper?”
Teacher: “I’m not so sure - possibly - but let’s not test it, okay? I’m not ready to find that out just yet.”
Now that Sophomore Campaign (the sequel is out) - maybe next year I will give both books a try!
Both Mickey Tussler and Sophomore Campaign Now Available on Nook from B & N!!
I am happy to announce that both The Legend of Mickey Tussler and Sophomore Campaign are now available for download on your Nook! They were both released on Kindle last week! Enjoy!
NFL or MLB?
Check out my latest bleacherreport.com article and vote! Let me know what you think...
http://bleacherreport.com/users/86479...
http://bleacherreport.com/users/86479...
Publish and Perish
“Writing a book is like sliding down a rainbow! Marketing it is like trudging
through a field of chewed bubblegum on a hot, sticky day.”
--Betty Dravis
Author and good friend Betty Dravis could not have been more accurate with this
statement. I can still recall the elation I felt after my first novel (ECHOES
FROM THE INFANTRY) was released by St. Martin’s Press in 2005. The sense of
unbridled accomplishment buoyed me for days -- even weeks -- like nothing else
has ever done. And I remained in this suspended state of euphoria for a while -
until I realized that my publisher had only done what every publisher does for
most authors in the way of publicity and marketing -- the bare minimum.
Consequently, my naivete, idealism and and erroneous philosophy of “now I can
just sit back and wait for readers to purchase, read and comment” was rendered
painfully laughable. Then my euphoria abated, replaced by nausea,
disillusionment and pure unadulterated panic. Although my novel received some
very favorable professional reviews, nobody really knew it existed and thus, my
sales numbers suffered. This, in turn, led to a most difficult time getting a
serious look by publishers the second time around.
I was fortunate enough to procure a contract for my second novel, THE LEGEND OF
MICKEY TUSSLER, and was now armed with the knowledge that I would need to be my
own publicist in order to attain some level of success. I didn’t mind - I am no
stranger to some good old fashioned hard work. What I discovered, and what
remains true today as I am trying desperately to bask in the glow of the release
of my third novel, SOPHOMORE CAMPAIGN, is that hard work is often not enough.
This sobering reality comes at the hands of hundreds of unreturned phone calls,
emails, and mass mailings. Hey - is anybody out there listening? There is
nothing more debilitating than being ignored and in some instances just simply
rejected when all you are asking for is a fair chance at having your work
presented to the public for their reading pleasure and ultimately their
approval/disapproval.
This process is so loathsome, so time exhaustive that it almost takes all the
joy out of the accomplishment. Writers should write, correct? If I wanted to be
a publicist I would have majored in marketing at some fancy business school and
devoted my life to this elusive art.
So while I want nothing more than to continue work on my next novel, the third
installment of my Mickey Tussler series, I have no time to do so -- I am too
tied up in trying to wean my newest endeavor off life support.
Anyone else have a similar experience???
through a field of chewed bubblegum on a hot, sticky day.”
--Betty Dravis
Author and good friend Betty Dravis could not have been more accurate with this
statement. I can still recall the elation I felt after my first novel (ECHOES
FROM THE INFANTRY) was released by St. Martin’s Press in 2005. The sense of
unbridled accomplishment buoyed me for days -- even weeks -- like nothing else
has ever done. And I remained in this suspended state of euphoria for a while -
until I realized that my publisher had only done what every publisher does for
most authors in the way of publicity and marketing -- the bare minimum.
Consequently, my naivete, idealism and and erroneous philosophy of “now I can
just sit back and wait for readers to purchase, read and comment” was rendered
painfully laughable. Then my euphoria abated, replaced by nausea,
disillusionment and pure unadulterated panic. Although my novel received some
very favorable professional reviews, nobody really knew it existed and thus, my
sales numbers suffered. This, in turn, led to a most difficult time getting a
serious look by publishers the second time around.
I was fortunate enough to procure a contract for my second novel, THE LEGEND OF
MICKEY TUSSLER, and was now armed with the knowledge that I would need to be my
own publicist in order to attain some level of success. I didn’t mind - I am no
stranger to some good old fashioned hard work. What I discovered, and what
remains true today as I am trying desperately to bask in the glow of the release
of my third novel, SOPHOMORE CAMPAIGN, is that hard work is often not enough.
This sobering reality comes at the hands of hundreds of unreturned phone calls,
emails, and mass mailings. Hey - is anybody out there listening? There is
nothing more debilitating than being ignored and in some instances just simply
rejected when all you are asking for is a fair chance at having your work
presented to the public for their reading pleasure and ultimately their
approval/disapproval.
This process is so loathsome, so time exhaustive that it almost takes all the
joy out of the accomplishment. Writers should write, correct? If I wanted to be
a publicist I would have majored in marketing at some fancy business school and
devoted my life to this elusive art.
So while I want nothing more than to continue work on my next novel, the third
installment of my Mickey Tussler series, I have no time to do so -- I am too
tied up in trying to wean my newest endeavor off life support.
Anyone else have a similar experience???
When a Novel Becomes a Film - an Author's Perspective
Many books are optioned each year for development by the film industry, setting off a conflagration of thoughts and emotions within those most closely tied to those books. When my novel "The Legend of Mickey Tussler" was optioned by Eye in The Sky Entertainment back in 2008, I was thrilled beyond words. Soon, however, I found myself languishing in the uncertainty that attenuates every step of the process. The potential pitfalls are many...who will be hired to do the screenwriting? Will there be enough financial backing to bring the project to fruition? Are there any industry experts out there who want to take a chance on directing? And what about casting? And do I really have to change the name of the story???
All of these issues, and an array of others germane to film production, took about three years to rectify.
Then the fun really started......
Every author realizes the "price" he/she pays for selling rights to a story -- while it is certainly flattering to have someone compensate you for the opportunity to bring your story to life on the screen, in doing so, you abdicate your ability to guide the production and preserve the integrity of "your" story as you saw it from the beginning. As I was told on numerous occasions, "Uh Frank, this is no longer your story." That was a tough one to swallow. Consequently, characters are altered or in some cases deleted, scenes are shortened or cut, and setting falls victim to the pragmatic reality that there is a very real budget which must be honored.
So you have these conversations, and most often you cringe, knowing full well that "your story" works best as is. Still, you are appreciative that this amazing opportunity has happened for you, and you certainly do not want to appear ungrateful. So many options never make it into production.
Time unfolds, and the film is shot. Eventually, you get to see what these folks have done with your story. You hold your breath as you view the "new version" of your creation, praying that they have maintained most of what you had intended in writing it.....
And if you are lucky, as I have been, you smile at the portrayal of your central characters and breathe a little easier as the music and cinematography add a whole new dimension to your tale. Yes, you still harbor disappointment somewhere deep within that your story has been altered in some ways that you know have a deleterious effect on the product (in my case, The Legend of Mickey Tussler was set in the 1940's but "A Mile in His Shoes"was filmed as a present day story) but you cannot help but watch with surreal detachment as your words come to life for all to see.
So my overall experience with watching The Legend of Mickey Tussler become "A Mile in His Shoes" was favorable. If I can offer any advice to authors who have just had a novel optioned, it would be to pace yourself...and realize that while you are in for some rather taxing moments replete with all sorts of anxiety, in the end, the film credit is something that you will never forget.
All of these issues, and an array of others germane to film production, took about three years to rectify.
Then the fun really started......
Every author realizes the "price" he/she pays for selling rights to a story -- while it is certainly flattering to have someone compensate you for the opportunity to bring your story to life on the screen, in doing so, you abdicate your ability to guide the production and preserve the integrity of "your" story as you saw it from the beginning. As I was told on numerous occasions, "Uh Frank, this is no longer your story." That was a tough one to swallow. Consequently, characters are altered or in some cases deleted, scenes are shortened or cut, and setting falls victim to the pragmatic reality that there is a very real budget which must be honored.
So you have these conversations, and most often you cringe, knowing full well that "your story" works best as is. Still, you are appreciative that this amazing opportunity has happened for you, and you certainly do not want to appear ungrateful. So many options never make it into production.
Time unfolds, and the film is shot. Eventually, you get to see what these folks have done with your story. You hold your breath as you view the "new version" of your creation, praying that they have maintained most of what you had intended in writing it.....
And if you are lucky, as I have been, you smile at the portrayal of your central characters and breathe a little easier as the music and cinematography add a whole new dimension to your tale. Yes, you still harbor disappointment somewhere deep within that your story has been altered in some ways that you know have a deleterious effect on the product (in my case, The Legend of Mickey Tussler was set in the 1940's but "A Mile in His Shoes"was filmed as a present day story) but you cannot help but watch with surreal detachment as your words come to life for all to see.
So my overall experience with watching The Legend of Mickey Tussler become "A Mile in His Shoes" was favorable. If I can offer any advice to authors who have just had a novel optioned, it would be to pace yourself...and realize that while you are in for some rather taxing moments replete with all sorts of anxiety, in the end, the film credit is something that you will never forget.
Best Buddies...fundraiser.....
Read my guest blog for Best Buddies International - which includes a fundraising effort for greater autism awareness with my Mickey Tussler series:
http://bestbuddiesblog.wordpress.com/...
http://bestbuddiesblog.wordpress.com/...
