Blog-Hopping Day

Today you'll find me over at Corsets, Cutlasses & Candlesticks talking about how writers can bridge the gap between 21st-century readers and characters from, say, the 1400s. Can the youth of today possibly relate to people who lived without text messaging and indoor toilets? Go find out. You'll need to click. It won't hurt.

A Poet Who Doesn't Know It

Source: a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net via J. A. on Pinterest

Books I'm Thankful For

Amazon has just compiled their Best Middle-Grade Books of 2012 list. I certainly have my issues with Amazon--no need to go into them here, maybe later--but I do love book lists. My problem is that I spend so much time playing catch-up--that is, reading books I should've read years ago and didn't--that I'm always a bit behind the cutting edge.

But to get back to the theme, I am so very thankful to all the writers who penned the great books I read in 2012. So here's my list of the Top 5 MG Books I Read This Year. Some are old, some are new.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver

The Apothecary by Maile Meloy

Greenwitch by Susan Cooper

Liar & Spy  by Rebecca Stead

What about you? Tell me the best books you read this year.

The Weird & Wonderful World of English

Just a quickie post today to alert you to a fun link from Mental Floss about our beloved language and how 11 of our words got to be spelled the way they are. As a sometime copy editor and proofreader, I'm often asked, "But why do we spell it this way? That's dumb." Of course it is, but that's what makes our language such an infuriating, prickly, silly little mistress. But she's just so darned pretty, we forgive her again and again.

Like a Froggy

Yes, I'm blog-hopping again today. Over at The Lucky 13s, I talk about that awkward moment when you have to admit that, yes, you're a writer. And no, you don't get to have lunch with J.K. Rowling, ever, and you don't make her income. Not even half. (Wouldn't half be fabulous?)

Go take a peek. It's one click.









image of my close personal friend writing idol: biography.com

Wowza Palooza Website Launch Giveaway!

-- SORRY, THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED --

Notice anything different? Okay, if you've never been here before, you won't realize that the blog has been completely redesigned and spiffed up by the talented Denise Biondo of Biondo Studio. But more than that, Denise has designed a unique, fun, gorgeous-looking website for me over at ...

(drumroll)

www.CMCaterer.com

also to be found at

www.ClaireCaterer.com

There you'll find info about my books and the latest news, as well as a fun page full of cool photos and facts about castles and knights. That's actually my favorite page, because I'll get to update it with quizzes and games as time goes on.

And what would a Wowza Palooza Website Launch be without a giveaway?

One lucky winner will win:
a $20 Amazon gift card 
2 premium The Key & the Flame bookmarks 
(premium because they're duded up with ribbons and key charms and my own illegible signature)

So enter below and get in on the prizes!

And if you don't win, don't sweat it. On December 2 I'll be launching my Countdown to Pub Date Party, which will feature giveaways on the first Tuesday of every month leading up to April 2, 2013--including swag and copies of some of the best new kidlit out there. Stay tuned!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Weird Facts from the Research Files

In writing The Key & the Flame, I've unearthed facts from the Cretaceous Period to the modern British school system. Today I'm sharing a few fun things I've learned over at the Corsets, Cutlasses, & Candlesticks blog. Go take a peek. I dare ya. Meanwhile, enjoy my attempts at cartooning. Since I'm not a pro, I got nothin' to lose ...