Category: news
Birthday Giveaway (Signed Books, Tote, & more!)
It’s my birthday this weekend & the cover for SNOW STRUCK just went live, so I’m giving away some signed copies of STORM BLOWN (+ more) to celebrate… To enter: Click to see instructions on Twitter and Instagram! US only, winners chosen 7/23. Details: 1 big winner gets SNOW STRUCK tote, turtle…
Cover Reveal + Pre-order Goodies: SNOW STRUCK!
The Snow Struck Novel Study is now free to download on TPT! At 60+ pages, it includes: – Student Title Page – Reading Log (Progress Charts) – Vocabulary Activity Sheets – Comprehension Questions / Worksheets – Opinion Prompts – Character Study Sheets – Reading Test – Word Puzzles (Word Searches, Crosswords, etc.) – Storm Blown…
Now Available: Book Shirts!
After I illustrated the Storm Blown and Snow Struck Coloring Book, I had a couple of people ask if I was going to make shirts. I used to make shirts all the time – in my living room with a messy screen-printing kit, for bands I was in or inside jokes. That used to be…
Cool Blurb from Max Brallier (The Last Kids on Earth)!
Max Brallier is one of my favorite Middle Grade authors. All of his books are super-fun and just the right amount of scary or creepy… and we actually share a lot of interests (that you can see if you follow him on Instagram, where plastic relics from the 80s or early 90s will pop…
Building a Little Free Library!
I just finished building a Little Free Library with Agent Rachel! We’d been wanting to build one for a long time, but it always seemed — ironically! — like too big of a project… but it was actually pretty fun and not too hard (especially if you have access to a couple of power tools).…
I started a Substack! ✉️✌🏽
I recently restarted my newsletter as a substack! Which is basically just a newsletter that’s a lot easier for me to send. I don’t send a lot of emails (I think I might have sent two emails to my last newsletter list) — but there’s kind of a lot going on at Courage HQ…
12 Riveting Middle Grade Adventures | Summer Reading 2021 (School Library Journal)
Thanks to School Library Journal for including Storm Blown in this super-fun list of “12 Riveting Middle Grade Adventures” for Summer Reading 2021!
Activity Sheets for Earth Day! 🌍 🎉
You don’t have to have read the books to complete these puzzles! These are great for vocabulary building / reinforcement (they all include STEM-related weather words), but—outside of a lesson plan—they’re also just fun rainy day activity sheets. Word Searches: To download printable Storm Blown and Snow Struck word searches (these include backwards…
Free Storm Blown and Snow Struck Coloring Book!
I’ve created a fun, animal-inspired coloring book for Storm Blown and Snow Struck. It’s 8 full-sized pages and features fan favorites and quotes from the books… and you can download it for free here! If you color any pages from the Storm Blown and Snow Struck Coloring Book, be sure to tag me on…
Video: Speech Therapy, Writing, and Why I Don’t Have a Southern Accent!
I just added a new video to my YouTube channel! I recently learned how helpful author videos can be in the classroom, so I’m very slowly working on creating some videos that might be useful (process videos, read-alongs, etc) — and if you’re interested in seeing more from me, you can subscribe here!
Video: A Career Day Book Publishing Talk with Nick Courage!
I just added a new video to my YouTube channel! I recently learned how helpful author videos can be in the classroom, so I’m very slowly working on creating some videos that might be useful (process videos, read-alongs, etc) — and if you’re interested in seeing more from me, you can subscribe here! PS: Sorry…
Video: Collecting Books with Nick Courage!
I just added a new video to my YouTube channel! I recently learned how helpful author videos can be in the classroom, so I’m very slowly working on creating some videos that might be useful (process videos, read-alongs, etc) — and if you’re interested in seeing more from me, you can subscribe here!
Video: Prewriting—Research, Plotting, and More!
I just added a new video to my YouTube channel! I recently learned how helpful author videos can be in the classroom, so I’m very slowly working on creating some videos that might be useful (process videos, read-alongs, etc) — and if you’re interested in seeing more from me, you can subscribe here!
Video: Storm Blown Read Aloud!
I just added a new video to my YouTube channel! I recently learned how helpful author videos can be in the classroom, so I’m very slowly working on creating some videos that might be useful (process videos, read-alongs, etc) — and if you’re interested in seeing more from me, you can subscribe here!
New YouTube Channel / Videos!
I recently learned how helpful author videos can be in the classroom, so I’m very slowly working on creating some videos that might be useful (process videos, read-alongs, etc) — and if you’re interested in seeing more from me, you can subscribe here!
SNOW STRUCK on Goodreads!
I just saw that my next book, SNOW STRUCK, is already listed on Goodreads! If you’re active on that site, you can add it to your shelves here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52352384-snow-struck
Storm Blown Nominated For The State Library of Louisiana’s Young Readers’ Choice Awards!
As someone who grew up in New Orleans, this is so cool! THANK YOU to the State Librarians of Louisiana for nominating Storm Blown (in excellent company) for the Louisiana Young Readers’ Choice Awards ⚜️ Can’t wait to be able to get back home to NOLA again! Read more: https://www.iberianet.com/news/louisiana-young-readers-choice-awards-announces-2021-2022-nominated-titles/article_89a43d66-0c9e-11eb-9559-b304b2342b0a.html This is…
Process Post: Writing Snow Struck 📝
For any authors or aspirational authors who might be reading this: one of my favorite parts of writing the first draft of Snow Struck was my “Word Count Forest.” I picked this idea up from the author Erin A Craig, and coloring these little trees was such a fun (and motivating!) way to visualize how…
“25 Middle Grade and Young Adult Survival Stories To Give Readers Hope”
“Survival stories help readers confront their deepest fears in a safe space, and remind them no matter how seemingly impossible the situation, there is still reason to hope. My wish is that the 25 MG and YA books on today’s list help readers do just that…” – Jen, Pop! Goes the Reader Read more: https://www.popgoesthereader.com/target-audience-young-adult/25-middle-grade-and-young-adult-survival-stories-to-give-readers-hope/
School Library Journal: “10 Adventure-Filled Middle Grade Reads | Summer Reading 2020”
“Arctic expeditions, parasitic plants, impossible treks, and devastating disasters; characters must endure it all in these stellar selections of adventure fiction.” Thanks to School Library Journal for including Storm Blown in this pulse-pounding list of “10 Adventure-Filled Middle Grade Reads” for Summer Reading 2020! Read more: https://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/?detailStory=10-adventure-filled-middle-grade-reads-summer-reading-2020
“8 Pittsburgh authors of YA and children’s books you should know” – Kidsburgh
“In general, kids tend to be closer and more careful readers than adults and they’re a lot less forgiving when it comes to plot,” he says. “The best kid lit has to be immersive and compelling and completely air-tight, so I spend a lot of time working on that as an author. It’s not about…
“20 Kids Books Coming Out in Summer 2020 That Every Reader — and Parent — Will Love” (PopSugar Family)
So, so awesome to see Storm Blown on this list next to (checks list) LeBron James, Dan Brown, Doctor Seuss, the Berenstain Bears, Archie & the gang, Eoin Colfer, and Grover (!!!). It’s going to be a Yearling Paperback this summer—so if you haven’t had a chance to pick up a copy, here’s another excuse!…
SNOW STRUCK (Delacorte Press / RHCP)
I’m so, so super-excited to be able to share that my next book is coming soon from Delacorte Press! Thanks to Rachel Ekstrom Courage & Folio Jr. & to the team at Delacorte Press / Random House Kids & to all of the teachers and librarians and booksellers and friends who supported & continue to…
Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection Award!
Good mail day! I just got this sweet pin for Storm Blown from the Junior Library Guild (thank you, Junior Library Guild!): https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/book/landing/detailedview?itemcode=9780525645993J
On Middle Grade Books in The Writer Magazine
The most recent issue of The Writer magazine has an excellent article about the gap between MG and YA that everyone’s talking about. I’m to be quoted here alongside some of my favorite authors and agents! If you’re writing MG or YA, it’s definitely worth picking up a copy…
Turtle Tour 2019 – Update! 📖🌊🐢🎉
I just got back from an awesome tour from NYC to New Orleans to Pittsburgh! Thanks to Parnassus Books, Blue Manatee Books, Garden District Books, Lemuria Books, Books of Wonder, the Louisiana Book Festival – and all the booksellers and organizers and everyone who came out to say “hi” along the way! I posted most…
#TurtleTour 2019!
Driving down to the Louisiana Book Festival & stopping at a bunch of bookstores and schools on the way! 📖🐢🌊✌🏽#turtletour #stormblown Schedule:
Barnes & Noble Kids: “5 Books for Fans of the I Survived Series”!
Check out Storm Blown on The Barnes & Noble Kids Blog: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/kids/5-books-for-fans-of-the-i-survived-series/ 📖 🌊🐢✌🏽Thanks for the shout-out, Barnes & Noble!
STORM BLOWN in the Midwest Book Review!
“A riveting, deftly crafted, and consistently entertaining novel for young readers ages 9-12, Storm Blown by Nick Courage is unreservedly recommended for both school and community library general fiction collections.” Read more: http://www.midwestbookreview.com/cbw/sep_19.htm
STORM BLOWN in The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books!
“The overall effect of each shift in perspective—between people and places, flora and fauna—is a hold-your-breath level of anticipation[…] Readers compelled by vivid detail and the masterful building of suspense will find a lot to enjoy here.” Read more in Project MUSE…
Audio: “The Reading Life with Rich Cohen and Nick Courage” (WWNO)
“This week on The Reading Life: Susan talks with Rich Cohen about ‘The Last Pirate of New York: A Ghost Ship, A Killer, and the Birth of a Gangster Nation.’ And New Orleans native Nick Courage takes us into the world of his new middle grade novel, ‘Storm Blown.'”
A+ books for back-to-school! 🍎
So, so great to see STORM BLOWN featured in this newsletter from Random House Teachers & Librarians: “Let’s discuss the weather, climate, and natural disasters!” http://x.e.rhcbooks.com/ats/msg.aspx?sg1=d1392e97bc913f5ed48fb3cb06aba523
Storm Blown Goodreads Giveaway!
If you’re on Goodreads, why not enter for your chance to win 1 of 3 signed copies of STORM BLOWN? Giveaway is running through August 7th, 2019. Entry details here: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/295505 Goodreads Book Giveaway Storm Blown by Nick Courage Giveaway ends August 07, 2019. See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter Giveaway
Louisiana Book Festival – November 2019!
Louisiana / Gulf Coast friends: I’ll be road-tripping down to the Louisiana Book Festival this November! 📖⚜️✌🏽 (link: http://www.louisianabookfestival.org/) I’m currently plotting the most bookish route from PA to LA… let me know if you have any suggestions!
#1 New Release: Disaster Books for Children!
Storm Blown has been the #1 New Release on Amazon in the category of “Disaster Books for Children” for the past week! Sometimes Amazon’s new release subcategories can be a little funny (aka “Undersea Family Drama”) — but there’s a lot of competition in the “Disaster Books for Children” category, so this little orange…