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Tammy Falkner | The Magic Between Us
January 9, 2014
I received an email today that made me positively giddy. No, I didn’t get a
great review. Well, I did, but that’s not what caused the main giddiness for
this morning. I got an email from my 9 year old’s school. I get an email every
time he takes a test on a book he has read. It’s called an "AR" test, which
stands for accelerated reading. It’s kind of like book reports used to be when I
was young. I would read a book and write a report. Well, now they read a book
and take a quiz, and they get points for each quiz. My son’s school emails me
every time he takes a quiz. He used to take the quizzes and I would get emails about how poorly he did. He
hated reading worse than he hated taking a bath. And that’s saying a lot. He
hated it worse than cleaning the bathroom. Or washing dishes. The tests came
back at 20%. 40%. 60%. They were low enough to rock a writer’s world. Imagine
the horror of having a kid who hates to read. You can’t, can you? I make my
living on books. I grew up with wonderful friends I had never met, all because I
have always loved books. And my son hated them. When I found out, I was devastated. Absolutely devastated. I tried everything to
get him to read. We read books with him. We tried all the tricks. Nothing
worked. I had just about convinced myself that he would never, ever be a reader.
I bought a spare kindle fire - you know, in case mine should happen to break -
and when I brought it home, my 9 year old looked at me and said, "Can I use it?" Imagine me like a dog whose ears perk up when you hold a treat over her head. I
was perked. "Why do you want it? You don’t like reading," I asked. He shrugged. But I bought a book I thought he might like and told him he could
sit up and read for a little while in bed. At 11 pm, he crept into my room to
hand me the kindle and said, "I finished it. Can I have another?" I bought book two right then and there. He didn’t have to ask me twice. In the
space of a night, my kid who hated books, failed every test on a book he ever
read, and who made faces if I even mentioned reading, was ready to devour books
like water. He likes reading on the kindle. He loves it actually, and he has more AR points
than anyone in the fourth grade at this point. He’s reading Percy Jackson and
Alex Ryder and he’s waking up in the morning saying with a chuckle, "You’ll
never believe what happened in the book." Then he goes on to tell me all the
ludicrous and amazing things he has read. All because of a used kindle fire I bought for cheap. I just had to find the
right method to present the books to him. Once I did, there was no stopping him.
He’s reading so much that I worry about my book budget. But he’s reading so much
that I don’t worry about my book budget, either. I’d probably let the kid break
the bank if he wanted a library of his own. All because he might just want a
library of his own. THE MAGIC BETWEEN US
BY TAMMY FALKNER - IN STORES JANUARY 2014 When These Worlds Collide...
Cecelia Hewitt has lived her whole life in the land of the fae, and she dreams
of a future with her childhood sweetheart, Marcus Thorne. When Marcus is called
upon to dwell in the human world, it means leaving Cecelia behind and breaking
both their hearts... More Than Sparks May Fly...
Marcus was groomed for leadership in the land of the fae, but now that he has
found his human parents, he will inherit his father's title and position in the
British ton—and he will marry a human. As love and passion continue to
burn between Cecelia and Marcus, the question remains: Can two people fated for
different worlds find one to share? ABOUT THE AUTHOR As half of the Lydia Dare writing team, Tammy Falkner has co-written ten books,
including A Certain Wolfish Charm and In the Heat of the Bite. A huge fan of
Regency England, her regency paranormal series combines the magical elements of
both mystical faeries and the glittering regency ton and includes A Lady and Her
Magic and The Magic of "I Do." Tammy lives on a farm in rural North Carolina
with her husband and a house full of boys, a few dogs, and a cat or two. Visit
her website,
www.tammyfalkner.com, for more information about all of her books! One commenter will win a copy of THE MAGIC BETWEEN US
Comments
32 comments posted.
Re: Tammy Falkner | The Magic Between Us
The story about your son is amazing. I'm glad you found a way to help him discover a love for reading. As for your new book, I am looking forward to reading it.
[email protected]
(Amy Kincade 12:44pm January 9, 2014)
Your post made me smile. It is an amazing feeling to watch a
child discover the love of reading.
(G. Bisbjerg 1:10am January 9, 2014)
Congrats on finding the key to getting your son to love
reading! I was lucky that my kids have always been voracious
readers. Percy Jackson is a wonderful series. Rick Riordan is
amazing. You may want to try out the Artemis Fowl series by
Eion Colfer as well. My kids both loved them. They are a
sophomore in college and a senior in high school and they
still read the latest in the Percy Jackson books.
(Glenda Martillotti 1:18am January 9, 2014)
There's all this debate these days among readers about physical books vs. ebooks. Regardless of anyone's opinion as an adult, whatever format gets a child to read is the perfect format for a book. Growing up I loved watching Reading Rainbow, and now it's an app for young children. It's amazing the way the world changes but at the end of the day reading is still reading - and that's awesome.
(Jamie Fortney 1:20am January 9, 2014)
There is nothing like it than to see your children follow in your footsteps and learn to love to read. Can't wait to read this book!!!
(Bonnie Capuano 4:32am January 9, 2014)
When I was a kid, I hated reading too. At least, until my
fourth grade teacher handed me a Nancy Drew book and told me
to try it. I've never gone back! My mom says I just didn't
care that, "The duck is in the pond." I wanted a real story.
Now, I have a book with me at all times.
(Karin Anderson 9:28am January 9, 2014)
I'm thrilled for your son!! Not only is this opening up a new world for him, but it's going to help him with his schoolwork in general. As for your book, it's a genre that I haven't read yet, because I haven't found a story line that really peaked my interest - until now. Your book sounds like a real page-turner, and I love the way you've involved both worlds in the story line. I can't wait to read it. The cover is really beautifully done, too!! Congratulations with your Son, and on what I'm sure is going to be a hit with the readers!!
(Peggy Roberson 9:37am January 9, 2014)
Congrats on being able to help your son! I love the cover of
this book... Wow!
(Linda Townsend 10:29am January 9, 2014)
Love this story. I think there is a book for everyone, it is
just trying to make that match. Beautiful cover on The Magic
Between Us.
(Gayle Cochrane 11:50am January 9, 2014)
Wow... I really am liking the blurb for this book. So wonderful on finding the key to your son's enjoyment of books. I really hated reading as a kid because of being told to read for book reports... later when I was older, I found the love of books when I picked up my first historical romance...
(Colleen Conklin 11:58am January 9, 2014)
That's wonderful that he learned to enjoy books:) My 16 year
old daughter is very sociable but she never leaves the house
without a book---just like her momma, lol. It's great when we
can help them open the door to fantasy and imagination.
(Cindi Clubbs 12:49pm January 9, 2014)
I've always loved reading and have trouble comprehending
people who say they don't like to read. The other day I ran
into an older neighbor at the grocery store. She told me
she was retiring and I asked what she would be doing to fill
her extra time. She said she didn't know - that she didn't
read much, but knew I had read so much as a child (I still
do read a lot). I had two thoughts - I couldn't understand
why she didn't read much and that boy I must have read a lot
if even she remembered that I read a lot! So happy for your
son that he has found his reading bliss - I wonder if he
will feel differently about reading print books now?
(Diane Sallans 1:49pm January 9, 2014)
thank you for sharing your story i love teaching my kids the
love of reading and seeing their faces light up when they
discover a new book where they can have their own fantasies
come true and be so in the book that it makes them happy to
tell us the story i always smile when my kids do that
(Denise Smith 2:06pm January 9, 2014)
Even at 4 my grand-daughter loves to be read to and before long she will be reading to me!
(Denise Austin 2:58pm January 9, 2014)
I love the cover of this book. The story sounds terrific and I do think two people from different worlds can find a world of their own, so to speak. Thanks for the contest.
(Vennie Martinisi 4:05pm January 9, 2014)
I loved the story about your son and your book sounds wonderful. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
(Marcy Shuler 4:24pm January 9, 2014)
Part of the problem so many kids do not want to read books is they feel like it's associated with school. They don't mind watching TV or playing video & electronic games, and that's part of the problem with how they use their spare time. So a Kindle is an electronic device which intrigued your son to try it...then, he discovered reading a book on it was pretty cool. My youngest son didn't have a big interest in reading, until he discovered he could stay up later when he was supposed to be in bed sleeping on a school night, if he had a book and a flashlight! I caught him and he confessed he'd been doing this for some time, and liked reading now in this sneaky manner!
(Linda Luinstra 7:07pm January 9, 2014)
Thank you for sharing the story of your son. Your book sounds fantastic. Thanks for the chance.
(Jean Patton 8:00pm January 9, 2014)
I loved to read when I was a kid and I still so.
(Wilma Frana 8:22pm January 9, 2014)
I love the story of your son. Thanks for a chance to win your book.
(Linda Hall 8:43pm January 9, 2014)
Once my husband got his nook, no more physical books for him!
(Marjorie Morris 9:51pm January 9, 2014)
I'm so happy for you that you found the key to getting your son to read. My son (now grown) never did get to where he enjoyed reading (although he did like to be read to when he was young). You should try him on Harry Potter, too, if he hasn't read them, yet. I know my grandson was reading them by the time he was in 4th grade.
(Janie McGaugh 9:57pm January 9, 2014)
I guess these days using tech will work much better than paper and ink. I'm glad you found a way to get him to read.
(Tamara Burks 10:07pm January 9, 2014)
During my era, we were cheating with Cliff Notes and any classic books made into a movie. Nowaday, kids are so into electronic and that is the only way to get them interested in reading.
(Kai Wong 10:40pm January 9, 2014)
Wow, Congrats on your new book: THE MAGIC BETWEEN US. I love
the book cover too! Yes, my name is Cecilia like in your book
but I spell my name different. Your new book sounds magical
and fascinating and I would love to win and read it this New
Year in 2014. Thank You very much. Cecilia CECE
(Cecilia Dunbar Hernandez 11:49pm January 9, 2014)
I am so happy for your son! I love reading and I cannot imagine a world without books! Your book looks amazing!
(Elena k 3:57am January 10, 2014)
Love the book cover and sounds like a book that everyone would enjoy. Thanks for the giveaway.
(Kathleen Beale 9:07am January 10, 2014)
My 8 yr grandson also loves reading on my Kindle--sometimes
reading is all about timing and different children are ready
at different times. The other hurdle is building their
skills to a point where instead of reading words, they are
able to discover the story. For an older grandson,
audiobooks were a key to helping him to that level--you
didn't mention the age of your son, but my older grandson
didn't leap that bar until he was 12. He could word call
just fine before that, but comprehension was a problem for a
long time. He, too, is now a committed reader, but it took
time and patience on the part of his parents, me (a
librarian and former reading teacher), and his teachers.
(Janet Martin 9:54am January 10, 2014)
My son, also 9, is having a heck of a time with reading. I sometimes think it's because his sister reads so well. I have tried everything, too. Except letting him read on my precious Kindle Fire. Maybe I should try to find him one. He doesn't take care of things, but the way you're talking about could work. Also, I could start by letting him use mine while sitting beside me. I have a Kindle Paperwhite he could use, but I know he'd want the color photos. My mind is whirling with the possibilities. Thank you so much for sharing.
(Michelle Willms 9:56am January 10, 2014)
I never thought about how a different format for reading could make such a difference in how someone treated reading.
(Carol Woodruff 4:19pm January 10, 2014)
My children took to reading like ducks to water. They both
still read voraciously.
(Mary Preston 3:17am January 11, 2014)
What a wonderful story about your son! I love to see children discover the magical joy of reading. Also congratulations on the publication of The Magic Between Us. The combination of Regency and paranormal sounds fascinating.
(Bonnie H 9:24pm January 25, 2014)
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