About Writers On Reading

Welcome to Writers on Reading! You can expect a great author interview every Friday. Plus some fun drawing giveaways you won't want to miss during the month of June! So make sure you enter! Click here for scheduled interviews. Our goal is to present the books writers love, so through their interviews, you can get to know writers as readers too. (And hopefully find new favorites!) I remember a special thrill whenever I heard my favorite writers loved the writers I loved. Here, I hope you'll share my delight of discovery. I am arranging interviews and will soon be listing upcoming guests. If you have a question you'd like asked, or if you'd like to be guest, please use the contact form below. Thanks for visiting!

Friday, 11 March 2016

Writer Glenn Haggerty On Reading

Glenn, welcome to Writers on Reading! Your MG/YA, book Run, released last October. I had

the delight of reading the first pages in a contest last year and am thrilled to see this now available to readers. I’m curious over what you read. Do you find one theme more repeatedly snags your attention as a read? Is there something special you seek when selecting your next reading adventure?

Courage and resourcefulness to overcome physical danger, if well done, usually snags my attention. I like a relatable, imperfect character who somehow finds faith/hope and the grace to overcome.

Yes, that makes for excellent reading! What was the most out-of-character book you’ve recently read, and what led to your choice?

The Jerk Magnet by Melody Carlson. I’m not normally into teen girl romantic problem situations—but I review Christian fiction for tweens and teens, and the title grabbed my attention. This book is intriguing, a frumpy nerd is transformed by her new step mom into this hot chick, who turns out to become—well—a jerk magnet. The transformation like, What Not to Wear, plus, plus was educational, and the character transformation was likewise intriguing. And the author’s portrayal of teen guys was IMO pretty much right on.

Okay, I’m intrigued. Sounds like a fun book. As a writer, you should know better, but as a reader, you know we all do it…so, when did you last “judge a book by the cover”? How did it work out?

Robot Wars, Death Trap by Sigmund Brouwer. I really didn’t like the cover, but inside was an interesting sci-fi concept that the 2015 movie, The Martian echos (I think). It was well done with great character development as well.

Do you find time to read during the months you spend writing or with deadlines ahead is it either/or for you? If so, what did you read while working on your last book? If not, what did you read when you finished this one?

I like to read at night before I go to bed. Actually due to my visual impairment, I don’t actually read but listen. I usually have two books on hand. One, an exciting (hopefully) current YA/MG title or just about any westerns, then when I really need to actually sleep, I switch to a boring historical. I’m thankful for the auto 5-15-minute-turnoff-function because those usually put me right to sleep.

Hah! That’s fun. (And I can say even though there’s nothing I’d rather read than a good history book, lol.) What was the last book you absolutely couldn't put down? Why?

Recently, Waterfall by Lisa Bergren. Interesting historical/fantasy, great character and action, and I was just wondering how the protagonist would extricate herself from the delightful mess.

Another excellent recommend. Uh-oh, this interview is going to be just terrible for my to-read list! I don’t think I want to ask, but…did a book recently make you laugh/cry/sigh/shiver?

I mentioned this on my website, but Jack Staples and the Ring of Time by Mark Batterson and Joel N. Clark, with vivid Biblical analogies excited me spiritually, reminded me of the reality of the deadly spiritual battle that rages around me everyday. Similarly, I too want to excite and encourage my readers spiritually while providing such intense entertainment.

Good for it—and good for you! Were you the kind of kid/teen who loved reading? Which novel do you first remember reading?

Yes. I got hooked on reading in sixth grade. Somehow I found myself in the library and picked up a copy of Jack London’s Call of the Wild . . . The rest is history.

When did you know you wanted to write? Did any or multiple books influence this desire?

C.S. Lewis dazzled me with his Christian allegories, but his genius was too high to encourage me to move in that direction. I think Bodie Thoene’s Zion Chronicles and Zion Covenant teased my interest in Christian historical and action adventure. But I didn’t really think writing might be in God’s plan for me until sometime after I became disabled as a result of complications of Glaucoma surgery in 1995. After years of rehabilitation and additional schooling, I dove into writing in late 2006-7.

And I’m so glad you did! BTW, Bodie Thoene is my favorite modern author, the author who first incited my respect for the Christian Ficiton genre all those decades ago! So, now I know I just have to add all the books you’ve recommended, including yours, to my reading list! Has any book stuck with you recently? What created the lasting impressions?

I reread much of Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby in January, and it encouraged me yet again to draw close to God and join Him in His amazing adventure that lays before me each and every day!

With a cozy winter upon, what is on your to-read list? And what is your ideal autumn reading experience?

Okay how about Spring! J. I’m actually looking forward to writing my third novel in my Intense series. Working title, Hyde, and it’s about modern day pirates, buried treasure. There’s murder and kidnapping in the mix and a thorny teen problem to dive into. I get excited thinking about it!

You’ll have to let us know when it’s available! Is there a book you are looking forward to rereading?

So many new books to read, I can’t think of a fiction that I’d reread instead of something new at this point.

If the antagonist/protagonist in one of your books were to pick a book from today’s shelves, what do you think it would be?

Thirteen-year-old Tyler would definitely pick up Back Before Dark by Tim Shoemaker, The Last Thing I Remember by Andrew Klavan, or one of Eddie Jones Caden’s Chronicles.

Those sound like perfect fits! What a fun interview. Thanks so much for visiting and letting us get to know you better as a reader, Glenn! Folks, you can continue to connect with Glenn Haggerty—and find out more about Run and any of his upcoming, intense MG/YA books!—at the links below.

BIO:
Glenn is a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers), a graduate of Vision Loss Resources and Bethel Seminary, father of six and grandfather of six. He likes tandem biking and kayaking, and lives in Minneapolis with his wife and two youngest college age children. Glenn is also an award-winning author who combines his love for teaching God’s word with his passion for writing exciting fiction. Run is his first novel.

Twitter, @grhaggertyjr
Blog(Youth Book Reviews): www.christianbooksfortweensandteens.com

PURCHASE AND CONNECTION LINKS:
Purchase links:
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