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Diamonds in the Rough
After their mother's sudden death, Sky and her three sisters are put into separate foster homes, but when a newly discovered uncle with a criminal history and problems of his own comes into the picture, Sky comes up with a plan for reuniting her family
- GenresYoung Adult
252 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
1 person is currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
Eric Walters
156 books908 followersEric was born in Toronto in 1957, which makes him "real old". But, as Eric says, "Just because I have to grow old doesn't mean that I have to grow up!" In his many roles as parent, teacher, social worker, youth sports coach and writer he is in constant contact with children and young adults. He draws from these experiences and feels that this helps him to capture the realistic interaction between young people—the conflicts, tensions, stresses and interests that make up their lives.
Eric began his writing as a teacher. He taught in classes from kindergarten up and his stories often reflect the curriculum that he was teaching. He always read stories—picture books and novels—to his students and this helped him to understand what children liked, responded to, and were inspired by. He enjoys the enthusiasm of his students and often looks at them to provide him with the inspiration to pursue a particular topic in both the classroom and in his writing.
Eric tries to write every day. When he has a story idea he starts with research. This could involve reading books, watching a documentary, or trying to experience the things that his characters are going to go through. This could include rock climbing or riding white water (for Stars), spending time in a wheelchair (Rebound), playing and walking with tigers (Tiger by the Tail), hanging around a tough biker bar (Diamonds in the Rough), standing out in his backyard in a blizzard wearing a T-shirt and shorts (Trapped in Ice), or traveling to Africa (Alexandria of Africa).
"The most important thing anybody ever told me about writing was to write what you know . . . and the only way to get to know things is to do your homework and research before you write," Eric stated.
Once the writing begins the story is always playing around in his head. He takes any opportunity, even if it's just a few minutes between presentations, to put things down, either with pen and paper or on his laptop.
Prior to entering teaching and writing Eric was a social worker (B.S.W., M.S.W., B.A.Hons—specialized major psychology). He worked in a variety of settings including child welfare, private practice, a mental health centre, and, for twenty years on a part-time basis as a Crisis Social Worker in an emergency department. He stopped teaching 4 years ago and left the ER only last year.
The majority of Eric's time is spent in the company of his wife, children and dogs (Lola a big standard poodle and a little white dog named Winnie the Poodle).
Eric began his writing as a teacher. He taught in classes from kindergarten up and his stories often reflect the curriculum that he was teaching. He always read stories—picture books and novels—to his students and this helped him to understand what children liked, responded to, and were inspired by. He enjoys the enthusiasm of his students and often looks at them to provide him with the inspiration to pursue a particular topic in both the classroom and in his writing.
Eric tries to write every day. When he has a story idea he starts with research. This could involve reading books, watching a documentary, or trying to experience the things that his characters are going to go through. This could include rock climbing or riding white water (for Stars), spending time in a wheelchair (Rebound), playing and walking with tigers (Tiger by the Tail), hanging around a tough biker bar (Diamonds in the Rough), standing out in his backyard in a blizzard wearing a T-shirt and shorts (Trapped in Ice), or traveling to Africa (Alexandria of Africa).
"The most important thing anybody ever told me about writing was to write what you know . . . and the only way to get to know things is to do your homework and research before you write," Eric stated.
Once the writing begins the story is always playing around in his head. He takes any opportunity, even if it's just a few minutes between presentations, to put things down, either with pen and paper or on his laptop.
Prior to entering teaching and writing Eric was a social worker (B.S.W., M.S.W., B.A.Hons—specialized major psychology). He worked in a variety of settings including child welfare, private practice, a mental health centre, and, for twenty years on a part-time basis as a Crisis Social Worker in an emergency department. He stopped teaching 4 years ago and left the ER only last year.
The majority of Eric's time is spent in the company of his wife, children and dogs (Lola a big standard poodle and a little white dog named Winnie the Poodle).
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 5, 2020
An unusual Walters boook in that the main characters are girls. Sky is 14, with 3 younger sisters she's desperately trying to keep together and out of foster homes after their mother's sudden death. A long vanished father makes them effectively orphans. Sky's only hope is to convince her bad boy, ex-con, motorcycle riding uncle to pretend to be a parental figure, so she can provide her sisters with a home. A really good book.
June 5, 2013
After meeting Eric Walters 11 years ago I finally read the book I bought from him and he signed. It has a great story line and is a truly moving piece of literature. It is a young adult novel and even though I bought it when I was a child I don't think I would be able to understand the themes since it has quite a few subjects that are for more mature kids.
Nonetheless I thoroughly enjoyed another book by a great Canadian author who helped me realize my love for reading and writing.
Nonetheless I thoroughly enjoyed another book by a great Canadian author who helped me realize my love for reading and writing.
December 17, 2011
AMAZING!!!
June 1, 2013
كتاب حلو
وقت ما تحس إنك زهقت منه الكاتب بيقدر يشد إنتباهك بحدث تاني و يخليك مهتم بتكملة القصة أوي
اسلوبه حلو و سهل جداً .. يستحق القراءة
وقت ما تحس إنك زهقت منه الكاتب بيقدر يشد إنتباهك بحدث تاني و يخليك مهتم بتكملة القصة أوي
اسلوبه حلو و سهل جداً .. يستحق القراءة
December 3, 2016
This is a really good book about if your parents die or something happens, this would be a good book to relate to. It may sound weird but how the family comes together is unbelievable.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews