Saturday, October 8, 2011

Galaxy Games Tour Stop for Oct. 9

Galaxy Games Puzzle Piece #9
Galaxy Games Tour Stop and Puzzle Piece #9

Thank you for stopping by on the Galaxy Games Book Tour. I hope you are having fun finding the puzzle pieces. Don't leave yet. Read on for an awesome interview with Greg Fishbone, the author of Galaxy Games: The Challengers. After reading the interview, you will be directed to two giveaway links. Make sure you enter both the authors tour contest and my blog contest to win my review copy of Galaxy Games.

Author Interview: Greg Fishbone

Describe your elementary-school self in three words.




If they’ve already taken control and it’s not purely a social visit? In that case I’d hope they’ve come because they think we’d make cute and cuddly pets, and not because we all look so delicious… Maybe the aliens would bring a technology to provide us with endless hours of excitement and entertainment, like the way we use laser pointers with our cats!

What are two MG books you’d recommend and why? 

There are so many! Readers looking for other books that combine science fiction with humor will enjoy THE TRUE MEANING OF SMEKDAY by Adam Rex. I’d also recommend the Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer–the books seem like fantasy at first, because there are fairies, dwarves, and centaurs in them, but they’re all creatures of science and advanced technology. Colfer takes tired old myths and reworks them in an original and refreshing way.


When I was a kid, I wanted to run a multinational corporation. I imagined they sat around all day until they suddenly came up with an idea like, “What if we put superhero toys in all the Happy Meals?” and then a zillion people would leap into action and make it actually happen, probably within a day or two. I think what I really wanted was a way to turn my ideas into reality, and I can kind of do that by being an author. If I think up a fun story twist and put it into a book, it becomes real for anyone who reads it.

Why do you think some boys don't read more? 

I can't claim to be an expert on reluctant readers because I loved to read when I was a kid. But when I visit schools, it's clear that reading comes easier to some kids than others. I can only imagine how someone who's had a bad reading experience to become frustrated, unmotivated, and to avoid reading altogether except when it's absolutely necessary or assigned as homework. Others might want to read but aren't able to find books that they like. Or they might find fun books but be too busy with other activities to actually read them. Others might be convinced by peers that reading isn't cool, or they might get that unintended message from parents who don't read for fun. 

Ultimately, I think there are a lot of factors at work. 

What are you doing as an author to help change that?

It was gratifying for me to hear from so many parents that their reluctant readers loved my first book, The Penguins of Doom. If the writing is fun and fast paced, and if the characters are interesting and fully realized, reluctant readers will tune in. That said, authors have some tough competition for the attention of our readers. 

A film studio might be able to pour $100 million into a movie, wrangle a dozen well-known actors into the roles, and create stunning CGI effects. A video game company might be able to hire a hundred full-time programmers to work on a single title. Somehow, I need to come up with an experience that's just as entertaining using just my laptop computer and an endless supply of coffee. 

What would you tell the boy who is a reluctant reader?
No matter what you're into, there are books made just for you. And don't wait around for them to come out as movies. When you read, the movie that plays in your head will be better than anything Hollywood can come up with.
Click HERE to enter the author's Galaxy Games Launch Day Giveaway.
Click HERE to enter my review copy of Galaxy Games. Use the Rafflecopter entry form.

Be sure to visit the Galaxy Games Book site here.  



Anonymous said...

Great interview. Fun questions, especially the elementary school one :)

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