Mina Witteman – author | editor | teacher of creative writing

Posts from the “YA books” Category

Amsterdam view: Amsterdam on fire again?

Posted on October 7, 2010

    Last Friday the Amsterdam sky lit up with protest fires, built on the bridges by outraged squatters, thrill-seeking tourists and hormone-driven adolescents. Last night the skies lit up again. But this time it wasn’t the anti-riot squad that did the scattering, this time it was the sun. For me it felt like the Sun Spirit was telling me he was keeping his fingers crossed. It felt like he was sending me all the good luck in the world. I need those good luck wishes! I need them in relation to that wonderful skin-crawling adventure fantasy I wrote and that is on its way to the US: THE SUN SPIRIT! It is the first volume of the Warriors of the Sun tetralogy and…

Categories: A Bit of Everything, Amsterdam Views, Books, The Views, YA books

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Amsterdam View: atmospherical enlightenment

Posted on September 8, 2010

At first sight it may seem like a bit of a stretch: a Straight Edge writer writing a Young Adult novel about pot smoking and weed growing. As it turns out, juxtaposing straight edge with weed presented me with some very interesting plot twists. Straight Edge or not, if you are writing for YA you need to be true, you need to tell the tale from the heart, throw in your own experiences and make it as real as possible. If you don’t, they will prick right through it and trash you and your precious novel before you know it. So, where to go if you need to find your way in the land of the dazed, if you need to raise the veil…

Categories: A Bit of Everything, Amsterdam Views, Books, The Views, YA books

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Californian view: Dr. Frank goes YA

Posted on September 2, 2010

While on my way to California I had to prepare for a masterclass – Finding and Revising Your Protagonist’s Voice in YA Literature – I was to attend at a writers’ conference in Los Angeles. One of the assignments was reading King Dork, the very very witty debut of Frank Portman, a.k.a. Dr. Frank of the Mr. T Experience. So I packed my bags, loaded King Dork on my e-book reader and started the long journey west. The book turned out everything you need to brighten up the seemingly endless and boring flight from Amsterdam to San Francisco. Moreover, it turned out to be an excellent book to be reviewed for Booktunes, Erik de Loor’s new website that brings together books and music. I…

Categories: A Bit of Everything, Books, Views Abroad, YA books

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Amsterdam view: PLeaSe!

Posted on August 26, 2010

What to do when it is raining the proverbial cats and dogs? In my writer’s residence that isn’t a very hard question. Rain is an almost daily constant in our ecosystem. It keeps our land flat and wet, just the way we like it. So, we continue life as if this dreariness and gloom doesn’t exist. We dress up in various forms of water-repellants and water-resistants, and we go about our business as usual. We take out our finest umbrella’s and meet with our friends on the bridge for a chat, just like we would do on a sunny day, wearing our favorite miniskirts and halter-tops. Or we get out our cane and take our daily stroll, this time protecting our suit with a…

Categories: A Bit of Everything, Amsterdam Views, The Views, YA books

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Californian View: something old, something new…

Posted on August 18, 2010

For some people it is comforting to be surrounded by what they know, to do the things they’ve always done and live a life without surprises. Leave everything as it is and don’t ask questions. For them change is a scary process, a frightening journey into the dark unknown. If changes occur they – often subconsciously – try to block it. They cling to the familiar and won’t let go. It’s easy to laugh at them, but I realize that – deep down in my heart – I’m one of them. Even though I like a road less traveled, I have difficulties going off the beaten track. In hiking and biking I usually keep to the trails and in daily life I shop at…

Categories: A Bit of Everything, Books, The Views, Views Abroad, YA books

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Palm Springs: The Invigorating Spirit Of The Sun

Posted on August 10, 2010

My first SCBWI Conference in Los Angeles was an overwhelming experience. Never have I seen so many kindred spirits together – 1,136 writers and illustrators, agents, editors and publishers. Never have I been in such good and fun company. E.B. Lewis‘ words and work left me in awe. Wow, that man knows how to paint a picture! Krista Marino’s master class Finding and Revising Your Protagonist’s Voice in a Young Adult Novel was an eye-opening inspiration. Jon Scieszka: boy, that man is so funny, telling us about the do’s and don’ts of a writer. Here’s a helpful don’t: Once you start writing, stop reading all the blogs and industry magazines and get down to working. Write, write write. But if you’re Jon’s dentist – thinking of writing a…

Categories: A Bit of Everything, Books, Children's books, The Views, Views Abroad, YA books

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Dutch View: A Wedding in IJmuiden

Posted on July 12, 2010

The venue was unusual: beach pavilion Zeezicht (Sea View) in IJmuiden. A wooden pavilion, built on high poles with magnificent views on one of the widest beaches in the Netherlands, on the IJmuiden jetties and the sea. The day was perfect for a wedding: bright blue skies, a glorious sun, lots of flowers and the air filled with happiness. It was perfect as it was, but it got even better. In the Netherlands we have an expression that says that your Prince Charming will arrive on a white horse. This groom arrived on a white horse and swept away his foxy lady in her golden gown to live happily ever after. So much happiness is good, but I am always on the look-out for…

Categories: A Bit of Everything, Books, Dutch Views, The Views, YA books

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