Unlocking Books discussion

Will you be reading Pegasus along with us?

My library doesn't have it though there are other books by Robin McKinley. I may try the library at the neighboring city or buy it. We'll see.

I'd like to read it. We'll see what happens.

Hi my mom says Pegasus is a great book i'll see if she'll let me read it.

I hope she does, Nasuesue! It will be fun to have you read along with us.

I've ordered my book from the library a few weeks ago, and it still hasn't come in yet. Has anybody else gotten a copy yet?

Ive read it, but it's been several months. Maybe I'll reread it.

I'd rather read than watch TV anyday.

Has your copy come in yet?

No, it hasn't! So frustrating.

I almost bought it. I was at a book signing (6 YA authors came to Dayton on the same day), and TJ said I could spend $20.

However, Pegasus was only in hard back, and my choice was one book for $20 and I couldn't get it signed. Or I could buy 2 books for $10 each from the visiting authors and get them signed. I decided to wait until Pegasus came in at the library book rather than buy it. I just didn't think it would take this long.

It's a conspiracy I tell you! Remember how my SPEED OF DARK book took forever to come? It was worth the wait though...

Until you recommended her, I hadn't even heard of her before, but I did see that she has quite a few books out.

Robin McKinley is a wonderful writer, and Pegasus is worth the wait. I'm looking forward to Pegasus II which comes out next year.

I'd also recommend: Chalice, The Door in the Hedge and the Damar stories... The Blue Sword and The Hero and The Crown.

I'd also recommend her book Sunshine. It's very well done.

I finally got Pegasus from the library! I'm going to start reading it this week, as soon as I'm done with Daughters of Rome.

So I've started Pegasus, and I'm already thinking this will be a "savory" kind of read. It doesn't seem like an action-packed story like so many that are popular today, but I think I'm going to like it all the same.

I'm looking forward to reading it again! we shall discuss next week!

My advice to writers is to hook your reader in the first pages by introducing them to the main character. To do that, you need a strong POV, a character the reader can root for, and a vivid voice.

But Robin McKinley doesn't really do that in her first chapter. I loved the opening line.

"Because she was a princess she had a pegasus."

But then the author launches into details on the treaty, and it isn't until page 3 that we learn our POV's name. Even then, the rest of the chapter focuses on the treaty and the backstory of this world. This is the very kind of thing that I've heard you are NOT supposed to do. It's an amateur mistake.

But Robin McKinley is not a new writer. She has written some bestselling books.

All rules are made to be broken, so how is it that this works for Ms. McKinley? What do you think?