Journals & Tea @eyemindconcepts - Tumblr Blog

petitworld

Paradise, Washington, USA by David Irons Jr

accidentalsiren

thecollectibles

Cafe Lighting Studies by Tommy Kim

embroiderycrafts

cloudydaysometimes

Alejandro Alejandro Garcia used to have long hair. Light brown curls that brushed his shoulders. He used to wear thick glasses. Scuffed shoes. Oversized shirts that hung on his skinny body like empty sails. We were reading buddies in fourth grade. Because our teacher said we both swam through books. Like we were ducks skimming through water. Every reading period, Alejandro and I pushed our desks together. And we talked about our favorite stories. Percy Jackson. Harriet the Spy. The One and Only Ivan. But, in middle school, everything changed. Alejandro joined the soccer team. He made new friends. He got contact lenses and cut his hair short. We haven’t had any classes together since fourth grade. Until now. Until writing class. I recognized him the first day. His cheeks were tanned. His curls were gone. But he still had the same faraway look. Like he was dreaming with his eyes open. I smiled at him. But Alejandro didn’t smile back. Alejandro had become a stranger.

Okay, so you guys know I write YA verse novels. They're for teens, and are intended to be relatable while also being accessible to struggling and /or reluctant readers. This is hugely important, because at that age, if kids are below their reading level, their choices become very limited. They end up having to read below their age group, or they just stop reading. So my publisher aims for high-interest stories in a format that won't be daunting or discouraging.

Anyway! This is an excerpt from my upcoming book, Definitely Not a Love Story. My baby. The one I still think about. The one whose characters I herded through the story like they were little baby ducklings.

I've felt that way about all my books, to be honest, but this one is...different. I can't explain it. It was the first time I let go of trying to be "heavy" or "important" and didn't try to incorporate some kind of moral. I just wrote from the heart.

I wanted to share a piece of it because it means so much to me. I'm like a proud parent forcing you to look at pictures of my baby. So, here it is. Here is a little piece of my baby.

I love it so.