708 ratings | 80 reviews | avg rating:4.51

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Gail Shepherd

Goodreads Author

Born

in The United States

Website

http://www.gailshepherdauthor.com

Twitter

gailshepherd

Genre

Children's, Historical Fiction, Fiction

Member Since

August 2011

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I’ve known I wanted to be a writer since I was nine years old and authored our school Thanksgiving play—“Poor Mr. Turkey.” But the road to actually publishing a novel has been long and winding. I’ve been a food writer, a teacher, a poet, a book reviewer, an editor, a columnist. One of my first jobs was as a reader for a paperback publisher in London. I also published an independent newspaper with my brother for a few years. I’ve collaborated on writing radio plays with my sister, and I co-wrote a comic serialized satire, “Developing Begonia,” about the glorious graft and greed of a small city for a local indie newspaper. But THE TRUE HISTORY OF LYNDIE B. HAWKINS, which will publish in February 2019, is my first novel for young readers.

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Popular Answered Questions

Hi Gail! As the gift-giving holidays approach, what "gift" would you like most for your readers to take away from your debut novel?

Gail Shepherd Oh this one's easy. I hope my readers walk away with the gift of understanding that people are very complicated. What you see on the surface is only a…moreOh this one's easy. I hope my readers walk away with the gift of understanding that people are very complicated. What you see on the surface is only a small fraction of what may be going on in any person's heart. Everyone, like Lyndie's Daddy, like D.B., like her grandma Lady, like her Mama, like her nemesis Pee Wee, is fighting battles we may know nothing about. The best gift you can give to or receive from another human being is *empathy*. And you will find your empathy for others by looking deeply and carefully for the truth.(less)

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Hi Gail - with Thanksgiving on the way, what are the top three things you're thankful for (so far) in your writing journey?

Gail Shepherd Oh, so many things! But my top three are easy: 1) I'm thankful for my kidlit writing community, a bunch of generous, talented, inspiring people who ke…moreOh, so many things! But my top three are easy: 1) I'm thankful for my kidlit writing community, a bunch of generous, talented, inspiring people who keep me pushing to be a better writer and a better person. 2) My editor, Kathy Dawson, who is mind-bogglingly wise about storytelling. 3) My spouse, who has believed in me every step of the way -- she's a dream-weaver!(less)

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Combine Editions
Gail Shepherd’s books

Average rating: 4.15 · 456 ratings · 127 reviews · 2 distinct works • Similar authors

	The True History of Lyndie B. Hawkins 4.15 avg rating — 456 ratings — published 2019 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Money for College: We Tell You Where to Find It 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Gail is Currently Reading

Gail Shepherd is currently reading

The Story That Cannot Be Told

by J. Kasper Kramer (Goodreads Author)

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Dec 03, 2019 09:29AM

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Mostly the Honest Truth

by Jody J. Little (Goodreads Author)

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Oct 10, 2019 12:47PM

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The Next to Last Mistake

by Amalie Jahn (Goodreads Author)

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Aug 07, 2019 02:53PM

Quotes by Gail Shepherd (?)

“My so-called bedroom has purple floral wallpaper and a polished secretary desk with claw feet like a monster. It has a fireplace that looks like it hasn't been lit for two hundred years. Clear as day, no child has ever inhabited that room. I don't see why I have to be the courageous pioneer.”
― Gail Shepherd, The True History of Lyndie B. Hawkins

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“You'd best take care, what you lend your heart to.”
― Gail Shepherd, The True History of Lyndie B. Hawkins

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“Like a lot of people, I was mad at the guys who came back from Vietnam. I didn't realize how tough they had it. I thought war, bad. Soldiers, bad, like it was so simple, you know? I wanted to prove my own point of view." She laughs a little but with no happiness. "Things are more complicated than that. Now I know exactly how hard it was for them. What they had inside that they were trying to keep hold of. And the hurt they feel, it never goes away.”
― Gail Shepherd, The True History of Lyndie B. Hawkins

tags: soldiers, vietnam, war

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