Middle Grade Ninja Episode 11: Author Tommy Greenwald

To watch new episodes as they air, go to YouTube and subscribe.

Middle Grade Ninja is available on Soundcloud, Stitcher, itunes, Podbean, Podblaster, RadioPublic, blubrry, Listen Notes, Google Play, and many other fine locations.

Author Tommy Greenwald and I discuss his career in publishing and his advice for writers. We do a deep dive on his process from having his initial idea to planning the story to planning a series and working with his editors and illustrators to produce a final book. He gives several invaluable insights into marketing and targeting his fiction. We also talk about his experience writing and advertising musicals as well as writing about sports.

Click here to see Tommy face the 7 Questions

Tommy Greenwald is the author of many books for children, including the CRIMEBITERS! series, about a group of friends and a (possibly) superhero crime-fighting vampire dog, and the CHARLIE JOE JACKSON books, a middle-grade series about the most reluctant reader ever born. His most recent book is GAME CHANGER, about the pleasures and perils of youth sports.

Tommy is also the Co-Founder of Spotco Advertising, a theatrical and entertainment advertising agency in New York City, and the lyricist and co-bookwriter (with Andrew Lippa) of JOHN and JEN, a 1995 musical which was revived off-Broadway in 2015.

From the author of the Charlie Joe Jackson series comes the fourth and final book in the humorous illustrated series about a boy whose new dog may or may not be a crime-fighting vampire.

The CrimeBiters gang got its start with help from my crime-fighting vampire dog, Abby. But now, I'm starting to wonder if she's really a vampire at all. . .

That's mystery I'm going to have to solve on my own. The rest of the Crime-biters are pretty busy with their own stuff. Irwin's planning an epic birthday party for the ages, Baxter's worrying about his brother enlisting in the army, and Daisy is cartwheeling her way through cheerleading practice (shudder!).

There's only one person I can turn to: the best vampire fiction writer that ever lived, Elroy Evans. He's coming to the nearby COM-MIX convention and I have to ask him the question that's threatening to drive a stake through my heart. Can a dog really be a vampire?

TommyGreenwald.com

Book of the Week: CHARLIE JOE JACKSON'S GUIDE TO EXTRA CREDIT by Tommy Greenwald

Long days and pleasant nights, Esteemed Reader. Charlie Joe is at it again in Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Extra Credit and Tommy Greenwald has got a genuine series on his hands. I'm looking forward to reading Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Summer Vacation, about which Tommy Greenwald's site says "All I can tell you right now is that this book will be just as hilarious as the first two books..." 

In response to this, I must ask just how hilarious did Mr. Greenwald find his own books to be:)

I kid, I kid. I found the first Charlie Joe Jacksonadventure to be hilarious and his second is even funnier. There's depth to both of Mr. Greenwald's books, but more important than lessons learned or "true meanings" and other such garbage English teachers long to read essays about, the Charlie Joe Jackson books are good time reads. If you pick up a Charlie Joe Jackson book, you know what you're going to get: a sarcastic tale of adolescent angst that will be fast and fun to read, and that's important.

There likely won't ever be a Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to the Meaninglessness of Life or Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Dealing with Your Friend's Death After She Fell off the Special Bridge You Used to Create Fantasy Worlds Together. This ain't that kind of party pal, and Tommy Greenwald's readers know it ain't that kind of party.

If I had to guess, I'd say Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Summer Vacation will involve Charlie Joe in a predicament caused by his own avarice, be composed of short, breezy chapters, many of which will be only one page to make the reading faster for reluctant readers (Greenwald's bread and butter), and it will feature hilarious 1-page "tips" from Charlie Joe himself. The style will be uniform to the first two books because Tommy Greenwald has established a precedent and made an implicit promise to his reader of a brand. There will be return readers because they know what they're going to get and they now know they can trust Tommy Greenwald to deliver the goods. Assuming Mr. Greenwald is amused rather than offended by that crack I made regarding how much he enjoys his own books and sends me another free copy, I'll be a return reader as well:)

If you haven't read either of Charlie Joe Jackson's tales thus far (stop reading and head to an independent bookstore, or, amazon if you don't have time to make a stand for social change in your consuming), here's a taste of what your going to get:

Reading and schoolwork are the backbone of every child’s education.
It’s extremely important to study hard, and respect your teachers. The best way to make sure you get good grades is to do your work on time, and take great care and pride in everything you do. Try not to rely on extra credit if you don’t have to, because it can turn out to be a very difficult process.
So, that’s my first tip.
Or at least, it would be if we were living in fantasy land.
But we’re living in real life, so ignore everything I just said.

All of our favorite characters from Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading are back for round 2, including Eliza, the "it" girl who has a crush on Charlie, and Hannah, the girl Charlie fancies, and could it be that she's starting to fancy him? I'll never tell, but one of my favorite things about reading a sequel is so often it's a visit from old friends. There are some new characters as well and ole Hannah may just have some competition in the field of being crushed on by Charlie Joe Jackson. But of all of the lovely ladies in Charlie's life, my favorite of Greenwald's descriptions goes to Eliza:

Everyone cheered.
Eliza was used to people cheering in her presence, so she ignored it.

Just as in the first book, it amuses me that Charlie Joe has so little interest in books, yet he genuinely cares about his grades:

…but going home to a lousy report card was kind of like going to a scary movie with your friends even though you hate scary movies. There was no way out.

Charlie Joe is often a walking contradiction, it's true, but this time out Greenwald raises the stakes. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson are so dismayed by Charlie Joe's report card they threaten to make him spend his summer at Nerd Camp, and not the good Elissa Brent Weissman kind. 

Charlie Joe would rather spend time with his friends and romantic entanglements. I'd love to read a Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Dating, but unless Charlie Joe starts aging a little faster each book, that's probably never going to happen. 

Charlie strikes an agreement with his father: if he can get all 'A's and one 'B' on his next report card, he doesn't have to go to camp smarty pants. But as Charlie's buddy, Katie (who I think also has a thing for Charlie Joe, middle grade player) puts it:

"You're a really smart kid, but you hate to read and you hate to study. Your homework is always late and always lazy. And even in the easy classes you find a way to get on the teachers' nerves all the time. So what do you expect? I'm not sure why four days out of the year you suddenly get all guilty and upset about it. It's who you are."

And so begins Charlie Joe Jackson's quest for extra credit, which leads to a series of hilarious episodes in which Charlie Joe acts in the school play, joins the Student Goverment Council, and my personal favorite, poses as Byron Chillingsworth, famous boy foxhunter, for his art teacher:

Changing in the bathroom was an adventure. I could barely get the green shorts on, they were so tight. There was also a white shirt, a red vest, a checkered jacket that was way too small, and a hat that looked like Peter Pan’s.
I looked in the mirror. I laughed, until I remembered it was me. Then I kind of cried a little inside.

Like Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading, Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Extra Credit is a fun and very funny read for all ages. It comes highly recommended from me and I'm looking forward to Charlie Joe Jackson's future guides. And now I'll leave you with some of my favorite passages from Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Extra Credit:

I took a big swig of chocolate milk and immediately felt better. Chocolate milk is like that.

Katie bought herself a bag of carrot sticks, which are like potato chips without the goodness.

My dad shook his head. “Charlie Joe, this is NO GOOD.” (The capital letters mean he said it loud enough to make the dogs go into another room.)

I could swear Mr. Twipple had tears in his eyes. “This is the late John Gielgud,” he said, “one of the greatest Shakespearean actors ever to grace the stage.”
We watched some more.
“And, when I listen to Sir John, I remember why I got into this business.”
It didn’t seem like a great idea to point out that one the worlds’ greatest actors ever and a middle school Drama teacher weren’t necessarily in the same business.

STANDARD DISCLAIMER: Book of the Week is simply the best book I happened to read in a given week. There are likely other books as good or better that I just didn’t happen to read that week. Also, all reviews here will be written to highlight a book’s positive qualities. It is my policy that if I don’t have something nice to say online, I won’t say anything at all (usually). I’ll leave you to discover the negative qualities of each week’s book on your own.

7 Questions For: Author Tommy Greenwald

Tommy Greenwald is the author of Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading. Click here to read my review.

Here is Tom Greenwald in his own words:

Who would like to read about the details of my childhood and how I always wanted to be a writer and how after all these years it’s so awesome that my dream has finally come true, and therefore I ROCK!

Didn’t think so.

Here’s all you need to know, really.

My wife is named Cathy, and she doesn’t want her picture on the website because even though she’s gorgeous (seriously), she always thinks she looks horrible in pictures.

My three kids are named Charlie, Joe and Jack. (Charlie Joe Jackson, get it?)

My two dogs are named Moose and Coco, just like in the book. They’re both rescued chocolate labs, and they are ridiculously awesome.

My job when I’m not writing books is executive creative director at Spotco. We make ads for broadway shows. If you want to know more, check out our website: http://www.spotnyc.com/

This other thing I wrote is a musical called john and jen. It was done in NYC in 1995 and still gets done around the country and in Europe and stuff. If you want to know more, google it or go to mtishows.com; if you want to buy the CD – and really, who doesn’t? – go to amazon.com

And now Tom Greenwald faces the 7 Questions:


Question Seven: What are your top three favorite books?

I'm just starting to read kidlit so I'm going to have to go with adult books, hope that's okay! Catch 22, by Joseph Heller; Letting Go, by Philip Roth; The Magus by John Fowles. Fave kid book so far: Emma Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree, by Lauren Tarshis


Question Six: How much time do you spend each week writing? Reading?

I used to read a lot until I started this whole writing thing. I write on the train going to and from work, so usually about 5-7 hours a week, then some touch-ups on the weekend at the library. I can't write at home. Home is for television.


Question Five: What was the path that led you to publication?

My three boys - Charlie, Joe and Jack - all hated to read growing up. It was a helpless feeling trying to get them to read. I decided to write a book especially for kids who don't like books. Thus, Charlie Joe Jackson was born.


Question Four: Do you believe writers are born, taught or both? Which was true for you?

I think it's a combination. An ear for dialogue and authenticity is something that i think is more innate than learned. But everything else - structure, plot, pacing, character development - is worth learning about. And by learning, I mean everything from taking classes to reading a lot of books and writing a bunch and simply talking to people. I've never taken a writing class, but have soaked up a lot of knowledge in other ways.


Question Three: What is your favorite thing about writing? What is your least favorite thing?

My favorite thing about writing is finishing. My least favorite thing is starting. At heart, I'm a reluctant writer. Which is maybe why I write for reluctant readers.


Question Two: What one bit of wisdom would you impart to an aspiring writer? (feel free to include as many other bits of wisdom as you like)

I'm a firm believer in word count. Word count is your friend. Word count can keep you going. Word count can help you set goals, and achieve them. And don't be afraid that keeping an eye on word count will ruin your artistic vision. For me, it helped my pacing and my discipline.


Question One: If you could have lunch with any writer, living or dead, who would it be? Why?

Woody Allen. I'd like to know how he's had the energy and desire to make one movie a year for 45 years. And I'd like to know how he comes up with the names for his characters. (My fave: Fielding Mellish)
 

tommygreenwald.com

Book of the Week: CHARLIE JOE JACKSON'S GUIDE TO NOT READING by Tommy Greenwald

Esteemed Reader? Is it really you? We've been apart for far too long. Dry those eyes, Esteemed Reader, we are united once again! I’m so happy to see you I think I’ll give you a book. Why not this week’s book? Would you like that? You would!

Very well. All you need to do is comment on this post and include the phrase “I’m not going to read any other books ever again!” in the comments section (I'll know your fingers are crossed) for a chance to win a copy of Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Not Reading by Tommy Greenwald. And come back on Thursday to read a 7 Question Writer Interview with Tommy Greenwald himself, then come again on Saturday when we’ll have Eddie Schneider of JABberwocky here to face the 7 Questions for Literary Agents. You don’t actually have to come back those days to win the book, but you should, because it’s going to be awesome. Comment entries will be accepted on this post until Monday, July 18th, when the winning comment will be chosen by Eeney Miney Moe from a random starting point. 

Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Not Reading is well worth winning, though it’s perhaps unfortunate that our first Book of the Week after my sabbatical is Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Not Reading. So thoroughly had Charlie Joe convinced me to give up reading there were almost no future reviews. But in the end, I enjoyed Tommy Greenwald’s book so much I guess I’ll keep searching for another book that makes me laugh as hard. It’s just a fun book and if for some reason your comment isn't selected in our contest, you should buy a copy anyway:)

And if you’re a writer, not a just reader, and I know most of you Esteemed Reader’s are, you should definitely buy a copy of Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Not Reading. Most adults might say “here, at last, is a book for reluctant readers to encourage them.” That’s all well and good for parents and teachers, but you and I, Esteemed Reader, are looking to expand our market and exploit every possible reader. Charlie Joe Jackson will arm you with an understanding as to why some children so passionately dislike reading and his tips will help you to improve your own manuscripts as to snag even the most the reluctant reader (and trick them into buying the sequel, mwuhahaha).

This is how Charlie Joe Jackson greets us on page one:

If you’re reading this book, you don’t like reading.
In fact, you do whatever you can to avoid reading, and the fact that you’re holding a book in your hand right now is kind of shocking.

From here, Charlie Joe goes on to warn us of the many dangers of reading, such as it makes us fat. In a way, this book is split into two books. One book is a conversation between us and Charlie about why reading sucks and what authors might do to improve it (that’s the part you and I care most about, Esteemed Reader). The second book is the actual story, which is also fun.

Charlie’s a like-able enough guy, though he narrates his story with impeccable skill, which is odd considering how much he hates to read:) He’s a middle school boy in Eastport, who loves beetles, chocolate, and dogs. He’s innovative in a Ferris Bueller kind of way, he’s considerate of other people (especially, shock, his big sister), and he’s popular. 

It’s been a long time since I read a book about a middle school protagonist who doesn't feel alienated from the rest of the population. Charlie’s well liked and the “hottest” girl in his grade has a crush on him. It’s refreshing to sometimes get to read from the perspective of the sort of character who’s usually a jerk and/or villain in so many other books.

Greenwald takes great advantage of the fact that his protagonist is a first person narrator and this is one book I cannot imagine written any other way. Charlie Joe is written quite well in his scenes with other characters. His dialogue is natural enough and his actions appear to be genuinely motivated. But its in the asides and the chapters between the story when Charlie talks directly to the reader that Charlie’s true self shines through. For example:

The librarian, Ms. Reedy, was an old friend of mine, even though she represented everything evil.

And later:

I actually made up a song for her a couple of years ago when I first saw her in action. “Hurricane Eliza comin’ in, the hottest hurricane in town, you’ll get blown away when Hurricane Eliza’s comin’ down.” The tune I came up with is pretty catchy, but you can’t hear it, because this is a book—another problem with books by the way.

Charlie Joe’s quest is to avoid reading at all costs. His conflict is that he is required to research multiple books for a major report and presentation at school, which pretty well determines his grade. Charlie Joe wants to do well in school, but he wants to do it without reading. It’s a good set up and the story that follows is fun and very funny. Greenwald expertly navigates the politics of middle school and delivers a good story well told. You can’t ask for much more than that.

My favorite piece Charlie Joe Jackson’s advice to reading boys is: 

If you have to read, read about girls. It helps you understand them better. 

The opposite applies for the ladies, and for the LBGT community, you read whatever you want. At any rate, this idea of getting the inside track on the girls was one of my main motivators to read at Charlie Joe’s age and I think it will strike a nerve with reluctant readers. I've read Twilight and sat through at least one episode of True Blood trying to better understand Mrs. Ninja (my comprehension is a work in constant progress).

The last point I want to make about Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Not Reading is not really a point or a criticism (I don’t do those), but more an observation. In the Advanced Reader Copy I read, this sentence was included: I’m proud of my perfect record. All the kids knew about it, and were pretty d**n impressed.

In the actual published version that I’m going to give to one of you lucky Esteemed Readers, the same sentence reads: All the kids knew about it, and were mighty impressed. I know this because the first version of the sentence stayed with me after I finished the book and I checked the new copy to see if the bad word made the final cut.

Why do I bring this up? It seems kind of a jerk move seeing as how Tommy Greenwald arranged for me to get two copies of his book and agreed to be here to face the 7 Questions. Am I really so offended by the d-word? Esteemed Reader, please. 

As I said, I don’t have a point, just an observation. I like the first version of the sentence better. Mighty impressed is not the same as d**n impressed and frankly I’d be surprised if a boy of Charlie Joe’s age didn't use a few naughty words now and again. So why the change?

Well, for one thing the final book has wonderful illustrations by J.P. Coovert sure to attract younger readers who are fans of The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. Would the d-word cause parents and some librarians to pause before recommending the book to younger readers? It might, alas (stupid country being founded by puritans). Would it turn off some readers? In a perfect world, no, but in this one, probably.

This isn't to say middle grade writers shouldn't ever use profanity in their books. I’m headed off to see the final Harry Potter movie this weekend and I’ll be very disappointed if Mrs. Weasley doesn't yell “Get away from her, you b***h!” But that scene has a great deal of impact and is the pay off for seven books of wizard mischief. 

Whereas, Charlie Joe Jackson’s aside is not pivotal. Inserting “mighty” does not drastically alter the tone of the book or hamper the story or even change the meaning of the scene. The impact of the change is extremely minimal. If it were my book and I had to choose between a fairly innocuous change like this and potentially alienating precious readers for a debut novel, I’d make that change in a minute. Risk versus reward, man.

And that’s going to do it.  I'll leave you with some more of my favorite passages from Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Not Reading:

I’ve been head over heels for Hannah Spivero since… what’s today, Saturday? Let’s see… Wednesday… Thursday… Friday…
About seven years.

Middle-school parties are all pretty much the same; cold pizza, soggy cookies, flat soda, deafening music, a couple of kids kissing, a ton of kids pretending not to look but actually staring at the kids kissing, and the little sister of the host constantly coming in and out, supposedly to see if the chips bowl needs refilling, but really just to check out what was going on and report back to the parents that nobody had overdosed on potato chips and was projectile vomiting on the couch.

The place erupted. Chaos. Pandemonium. Anarchy. Bedlam. (Thesaurus.com—check it out.)

STANDARD DISCLAIMER: Book of the Week is simply the best book I happened to read in a given week. There are likely other books as good or better that I just didn’t happen to read that week. Also, all reviews here will be written to highlight a book’s positive qualities. It is my policy that if I don’t have something nice to say online, I won’t say anything at all (usually). I’ll leave you to discover the negative qualities of each week’s book on your own.