I just got a copy of the Yearling paperback edition of A Thousand Never Evers in the mail. I love this new cover!

Yearling paperback release date is December 22nd!

Now I’m furiously working to get a comprehensive and interactive reader guide up on my website by the new year.

The reader guide will also feature chapter by chapter discussion questions and important weblinks. The guide is designed so teachers either can use it in class, or assign sections for nightly homework if all students have internet access outside the classroom. Also, anyone leading a book club discussion will find a lot to yap about. Please check back at the start of 2010 to check it out!

When I was writing A Thousand Never Evers, I had to figure out how a vegetable garden could grow in the middle of town without any of the townspeople seeing it. I was racking my brain, losing sleep, night after night, week after week.

Finally, I put in an S.O.S. call to Mississippi farmer Allen Eubanks. ”Hmmm,” he said and thought a millisecond. “Why not plant a wall of corn?”

“Would it still be taller than me even if I stood on my tippy toes?” I asked.

Allen, my hero, assured me that corn stalks could grow twelve feet tall or more. Still, nothing could describe the joy I felt when I saw those stalks with my own eyes, felt those husks with my own hands–row after row of thick beautiful corn.

During the past few months, I’ve had the honor of meeting with thousands of students to discuss everything from civil rights to reading and writing.

I recently returned from a visit to Foley Middle School in Foley, Alabama. Foley is on the Gulf Shores, just a few miles from some of the most gorgeous beaches I’ve ever seen!

Over two days, I met with the sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students in groups of about 200 for a presentation called Civil Rights Now and Then. We examined what has changed since the civil rights movement and the distance still to go.

Foley Middle School is lucky enough to have one of those librarians who dreams up everything and anything to get kids reading and writing. Just to give you an idea of what I mean, librarian Sue Norman keeps a cotton candy machine in the library for special book events! And for my visit, she created beautiful invitations to my writing workshops that teachers delivered to select students.

In one workshop, The Power of a Question, we talked about how writers need to ask excellent questions to uncover information from sources. I shared details of the interviews I did when researching my book, and then we practiced what we learned by playing a game that left us all laughing. In another workshop called From Seed to Story, we uncovered tricks of the trade for developing great story ideas.

Not only did I have a wonderful time meeting students and teachers at Foley, but I had one of the highlights of my writing career: Sneaking into the back of firecracker educator Celeste Gill’s classroom as she taught my book, A Thousand Never Evers. Thank you, Ms. Gill.

And a huge thank you to my host, librarian Sue Norman, who truly rolled out the red carpet!

What follows is my email correspondence with amazing author and my inspiration, David Almond. David’s letter to me is reprinted with permission:

Dear David,

It’s a thrill to be writing you. My editor Michelle Poploff gave me your email address, because she knows the role you played in launching my career. That might sound funny since you don’t know me, but please let me explain.

Eight years ago, I was teaching language arts and social studies in Brookline, Massachusetts. It was my first year teaching. All the sixth-grade classes in the town were invited to hear you speak at the Coolidge Corner Theater. To prepare, we read Skellig aloud. I immediately fell in love with your book: the characters, the language, the depth, the mystery, the poetry…everything. What was most exciting to me was how you fearlessly challenge young readers to grapple with essential questions of life and death.

When I heard you speak, I was riveted, and all of a sudden, I was struck with the idea that I was going to attempt to write a novel for young readers too. I had no idea what my book would be about but I wanted to try. As soon as I got home from school that afternoon, I got to work.

Little did I know how hard—or exhilarating—it would be….But to make a long story short, my book A Thousand Never Evers was published by Delacorte this June, all these years after I heard you speak. And now, having landed with the same wonderful publisher, I have this incredible opportunity to write to you and thank you for being such an inspiration both on and off the page.

And just to finish the full-circle effect of this true story, I want to let you know that I’ll be speaking to all the sixth grade students in Brookline at the Coolidge Corner Theater this spring.

Thank you so much. I am a true fan and most grateful for you and your work!

Sincerely,

Shana Burg

Hello, Shana,

It’s great to hear from you. Thank you so much for writing and telling me your story. I remember the day at Coolidge Corner Theatre very well (8 years ago? 9?). I had a wonderful time there, and it was great to have such a large and appreciative audience. And it’s marvellous to know that the day had such an effect on you–and that the story goes full circle and you will be speaking at Coolidge yourself. Maybe there’ll be someone in your audience who rushes home and starts to write.

Congratulations on A Thousand Never Evers! And on having it published by the wonderful Delacorte. I’d love to have a copy. I wonder if Michelle would send me one. Are you working on a new book?

The Skellig opera, music by the wonderful American composer, Tod Machover, premiered at the Sage Gateshead in November. It drew big enthusiastic audiences and great reviews. Plans are afoot to bring it to USA at some point. Jackdaw Summer was published in the same month (November) and again has had great reviews. It’ll be published in USA in Fall 09.

The movie of Skellig comes out in the spring (with Tim Roth as Skellig), first on Sky TV, then into cinemas. Next year also brings a UK tour of the Skellig play. The Savage, a collaboration with the visionary artist Dave McKean, is now out in the USA. I’m underway with a new novel, and also writing short stories.

Hard and exhilarating. Yes, that’s what it’s like. Congratulations again. I’m sure our paths will cross some time when I’m over in the USA.

All the best,

David

I’m truly tickled that A Thousand Never Evers is included on the Amazon Editors’ picks for Top 10 Middle Readers! It’s thrilling to be in such wonderful company with the other authors on this list. Here it is:

1. The Underneath, Kathi Appelt

2. The Tales of Beedle the Bard, JK Rowling

3. Chains, Laurie Halse Anderson

4. My One Hundred Adventures, Polly Horvath

5. The Penderwicks on Gardam Street, Jeanne Birdsall

6. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Jeff Kinney

7. The Battle of the Labyrinth, Rick Riordan

8. A Thousand Never Evers, Shana Burg

9. The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey, Trenton Lee Stewart

10. Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out