Glen C. Strathy

About

Glen C. Strathy started writing storieswhen he was 11 years old and too shy to have a life. He eventuallyfound a life when he started acting in community theatre and metother writers, actors, dancers, and artists. He discovered that thebest thing about performing arts (and other arts too) is that theygive people more freedom to be who they want to be. After spendingtime as an actor, teacher, and freelance writer, he returned to hisfirst love, fiction and wrote Dancing on the Inside, anovel for ages 9-12.

Glen C. Strathy earned an M.A. inEnglish from the University of Western Ontario, and graduated fromthe Artist in Community Education program at Queen's University,Kingston. He co-authored two non-fiction books and belongs to theProfessional Writers Association of Canada (PWAC) and the Society ofChildren's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). His websitewww.how-to-write-a-book-now.comprovides advice to budding authors.

Through the Eyes of Maria: Choices

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Description

Maria hits the streets of New York in search of the love denied by her alcoholic father and indifferent mother. When Sergio, a dark, worldly stranger, lures her with diamonds, brand-name clothing, and undivided attention, Maria sees a way out of her dysfunctional home. Seduced by Sergio’s charm and the promise of wealth and recognition, Maria ignores her panicked intuition and wanders into his lair. But in a world where ambition and deception go hand in hand, where dreams are shattered and innocence crushed, Maria discovers she’s trapped in a hell much worse than the one she left. And now, there is no escape. The price for betrayal is blood. Destiny intervenes when Maria meets Christian, a handsome law student haunted by a dark family secret. With her life at risk and time running out, will Maria find the strength to save herself and convince Christian to go against all reason and risk everything to help her?

Story Behind The Book

The novel was inspired by an experience I had with my daughter when she was just four years old. She wanted to take dance lessons, but was too shy to participate in the classes. Nonetheless, she wanted to keep going week after week. I found that an intriguing idea: a girl who was too shy to dance but wanted it so badly that she couldn’t give it up. I made Jenny Spark, the heroine of my book, 12 years old because I wanted her to be able to do some amazing things that a four-year-old couldn’t. It also made it obvious that Jenny suffers from a real phobia that stops her from doing many of the things girls her age can do easily.

Media Links

Writing for Children courtesy of Motherhoot

🔗 http://motherhoot.com/blog1/?p=3707

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Writing for Middle-Grade, courtesy of Pitching Pencils

🔗 http://www.pitchingpencils.blogspot.com/

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Review on Mad Moose Mama

🔗 http://madmoosemama.blogspot.com/2011/11/dancing-on-inside-by-glen-c-strathy.html

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Anatomy of a Character

🔗 http://www.examiner.com/publishing-in-virginia-beach/anatomy-of-a-character-introducing-dancing-on-the-inside-jenny-spark

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Bluerose's Heart (review)

🔗 http://bluerosesheart.blogspot.com/2011/11/dancing-on-inside-by-glen-strathy.html

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Blogcritics

🔗 http://blogcritics.org/books/article/interview-glen-strathy-author-of-dancing/

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CM Magazine

🔗 http://www.umanitoba.ca/outreach/cm/vol18/no12/dancingontheinside.html

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Winner: 2011 Reader Views Reviewers Choice Award

🔗 http://www.readerviews.com/Awards2011Winners.html

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Reviews

"This story written for 'Tweens' is so good that it will transcend that age group. The story plot seems deceptively simple, but it unfurls with complexity. And Jenny is a character you can take into your heart. One that is vulnerable and shackled by her shyness, but who struggles to stay close to the thing she loves most...any way she can. Overcoming pride, guilt, and inadequacy, she moves painstakingly toward her goal. This is my first read by author Glen C. Strathy and I highly recommend his style and voice. His ability to get inside the head and heart of his young subject, Jenny, is a spark of pure talent, with just a sprinkle of magical insight. BE SURE TO PUT THIS ONE ON YOUR CHILD'S READING SHELF." -- Lynda Coker, Between the Pages “...perfect for any little girl who dreams of learning to dance, especially if she is too shy to do it.” lostinalibrary at Librarything “... a story that is enchanting, fast paced and definitely inspiring." - Fran Lewis, BookPleasures.com “...easily captures your heart. A must read for all aspiring ballerinas everywhere!” - margaretsings at Librarything.com “...sends an encouraging message to anyone aspiring in the arts. In spite of Jenny's ongoing fear of being seen dancing, she manages to find a creative solution to do what she really loves.” - Kelsey Paige at Goodreads.com "... one of the most endearing books I have read in a while." - RitaReviews.blogspot.com "An excellent story for the young girl reader." - awolfe at LibraryThing.com “This will be not only one of my favourite stories to re-read, but one that I will read to my daughters, too, because it is just the type of story to motivate them and get their own dreams flying.” - The Shibby at www.amazon.com “...a nice story of friendship and the importance of finding a way to overcome your fears and finding a way to do what you love.” - Rebecca at amazon.com “I loved this book and wished it could have lasted longer. I grew up taking ballet lessons as a child, and from the very beginning of the book, I immediately identified with the main character, Jenny.” - SaritaD at Librarything.com “[Dancing on the Inside] ... makes us value ourselves more, treasure friendships, to see the shimmer in ourselves instead of our flaws, to be brave enough to pursue our dreams, instead of being afraid to try and fail” - Avry15 at Librarything.com “Jenny is such a beautiful, lovable character. Great book!” - coffeenut1992 at Librarything,com “...a must read for any teen/pre-teen who is shy and has a dream.” - Tillie Nutter at <a href="http://www.anuttierlife.com/">www.anuttierlife.com</a>

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