Chris Crutcher, award-winning Young Adult fiction author, whose newest book, Deadline, is set to be released any day now, graciously allowed me to integrate elements of his novel, Ironman, into my novel, Courage in Patience.
The headline, "Chris Crutcher rocks!" is bellowed by one of my characters, Kevin Cooper, who, prior to reading Ironman in his summer school class with the main character, Ashley, had never read a book in its entirety before.
"This book has FOOTBALL, man!" Kevin says.
As a public school teacher, I am keenly aware of the necessity of "hooking" young adult readers, by writing stories that they will relate to. I have Chris Crutcher to thank for that, because it was reading Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes and Ironman that made me realize that there was a market for the stories inside of me. I could write truthful, authentic stories that would be embraced by young people and adults. I could reach them where they are.
Ironman is used in Courage in Patience as a way of drawing the characters into an exploration of their own truths. Beverly Asher, the main character's stepmother and the teacher of the English II summer school class, calls her class a "Quest for Truth."
I will be eternally grateful to Chris Crutcher for allowing me to use his wonderful book within my own.
In addition, I pay homage to Chris's style of alternating first-and-third person points-of-view-- which he used so skillfully in Ironman, to draw the reader more deeply into the story.
I can't wait to receive my copy of Chris's newest novel, Deadline!
To read a scene from Courage in Patience that demonstrates how Ironman is integrated, please see the link under "My Stories."
Khenlee has reached 12 Cycles of Seasons and will find which working circle she will now belong to. She is shocked to find out what the gods have decided what her life work will be.
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