Forbidden Sea on Twitter!

I now have a Twitter account! Check out the link below:


http://twitter.com/#!/sheilaanielson

Become a follower and be the first to learn any new updates about Forbidden Sea and other future books I'm working on.

Deseret News Book Review

Forbidden Sea has received yet another great review--this time from the Deseret News! Check it out at the link below.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705371257/Book-review-Forbidden-Sea-is-an-exciting-read.html

Forbidden Sea Book Report!

What amazingly creative ideas young readers come up with!

Recently, an extremely talented ten-year-old named Kess decided to read Forbidden Sea for her book report at school. She had to create a diorama to go along with the report, depicting a scene from the story. Kess was nice enough to send me some photos of the finished piece. As you can see, she chose to recreate the part in the story where Jendayi tries to grab Adrianne's wrist and pull her into the ocean in the first chapter. What an attention to detail, Kess. The Rumble Stones are right there behind them. Jendayi is also wearing her golden crown. I LOVE it!


If you have read Forbidden Sea and it has inspired you to be creative--just like Kess--send me a photo of your project and I'll a post a copy of it here on my blog for everyone to see!

Great job, Kess! Thanks for sharing!

Real Mermaids--Or the Next Closest Thing

I stumbled onto this video about a woman who is probably the closest thing to a real mermaid there will ever be. I wish I could hold my breath like that! Watch the video and be amazed--but don't try this at home.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KV_jRjkAVo

What Do Readers Want?

I presented at a science-fiction and fantasy writer's conference last weekend. I had such a great experience talking to all the up and coming authors. One of the presentations I gave covered some of the subjects in fiction that I see more of a need for. I wrote Forbidden Sea about a mermaid because several years ago there were very few mermaid books and lots of little girls asking for them at their local library. Since most of you who follow this blog are avid readers--I thought I would extend these questions to you.

What kinds of middle grade and young adult books do you wish there were more of? (example: mysteries, adventure stories, contemporary fiction, historical, etc.)

Are there any certain subjects (example: unicorns, giant evil robots, superheroes, pigs with wings, etc.) that you wish more children's authors would write books about?

This is your chance to speak to the authors of the world. What would you like to see more of? If you leave suggestions in comments, I might just pass them along in my next presentation to authors. Feel free to leave as many suggestions as you want!

Forbidden Sea Discussion Guide for Book Clubs

One of the things I have enjoyed most about being an author is that I am often invited to speak at local book groups. Book clubs are the best! I love to hear the discussions readers have after reading my book and see what insights they gain from Adrianne's story. Forbidden Sea is definitely the kind of book that sparks interesting, in-depth discussions. I even tried out the first chapter of Forbidden Sea's sequel on the last group I visited with. They loved it!

I was recently asked to create a discussion guide for one group I visited with. I thought it might be fun to share the questions I came up with here on my blog, just in case anyone out there in cyberspace decides to use Forbidden Sea for their own local book club. I'm including the questions below. Feel free to copy or modify these for use in your particular group or come up with some new ones of your own.


*SPOILER WARNING* This discussion guide is intended for those who have already read Forbidden Sea in its entirety.


1) Auntie Minnah hated Adrianne because she reminded her so much of herself when she was young. Why do you think that is? Why would Auntie Minnah favor Cecily who was nothing like her?

2) Denn thought he was in love with Cora Lynn because she was so pretty and flirtatious. But when Cora Lynn got angry with Adrianne for calling her a monster, he takes Adrianne’s side of the argument. What does this say about his relationship with Cora Lynn versus his relationship with Adrianne? Why would he choose Adrianne’s side even though he thought he loved Cora Lynn?

3) Adrianne could not bring herself to look Cora Lynn in the eye in the beginning of the story—but when she finds out Cora Lynn is happy that she caused the poor tide drifter woman and her sick children to be kicked off the island, Adrianne doesn’t have this problem anymore. Why not?

4) When Adrianne doesn’t want to stay in the merworld, Jendayi grows angry and refuses to let her go back to the surface. Why does the mermaid feel she is justified in doing this even though she had already made it clear that she felt Lady Lauretta’s father had no right to do something like that to his own daughter a hundred years before?

5) Adrianne thinks she is ugly through most of the story, but the reader can see she is not as bad looking as she believes. What are some clues that Adrianne might not see herself clearly? Why is she convinced she is so ugly? What is it that makes people cling to mistaken thinking? What does it take to convince them they might be wrong?

6) Why did Adrianne choose to return to her difficult life on the surface rather than stay and marry the Sea Prince? Was this the best choice? Would you have stayed or gone back? Why?


If your book group comes up with any extra good questions, feel free to share them in comments below so others can use them in future discussions!

Busy, Busy, Busy

You can always tell when I've been working like crazy because this blog doesn't get updated much when I am. I've just signed on with a new literary agent (which is very exciting) but it also means I now have to work on my writing more than ever. I've turned in my most recent manuscript to her and am now waiting to hear back on what needs reworking. In the meantime, I'm trying to finish the first draft of my next novel so it is ready to go to her when we finish working on the one she has in hand. A writer's work is never done. *sigh*

Then again, a writer's work is never dull either. : )