Young adults who have author aspirations should consider checking out a writers workshop planned for this weekend at Mentor Public Library. Below, the news release with more information:

Photo Courtesy of Tess Smith Photography

MENTOR, Ohio… Teens who like to write will have a special opportunity this Saturday, Feb. 1, at Mentor Public Library.
Rachele Alpine—the author of the Young Adult novel, Canary—will host a writers workshop especially for teens from 1 to 3 p.m. at the library’s Main Branch.
Everyone who registers for the workshop will also get a free copy of Canary. Alpine’s book tells the story of Kate Franklin, a teenage girl who is sexually assaulted by a popular student-athleteand then told by her father to keep it a secret.
Alpine said she wrote the book, in part, to encourage young people to tell their stories—whether through writing or other means.
“It is so important to get your story out and never have your voice silenced,” Alpine said. “No matter how hard it is, someone is going to listen. It’s through stories that people find understanding, strength and inspiration. We need to tell our stories because if we don’t, who will?"
Alpine will share her insights on writing and the path to publication with teens Saturday.
“We’ll be doing a variety of writing exercises to get their creative juice flowing and keep them writing well beyond the workshop,” Alpine said. “I’m also looking forward to talking with them about publishing, everything that goes into getting your book onto the shelves, and answering any questions they might have about writing.”
Alpine said the best writing advice she ever received was twofold: Read as much as you can and write every day.
“It doesn’t matter whether what you’re writing is good. You just want to get into the habit of creating new words each and every day,” she said.
Teens can register for Alpine’s writing workshop by calling the Mentor Public Library at 440-255-8811, ext. 215, or on the library’s website, www.mentorpl.org.
People can learn more about Alpine and her writing at www.rachelealpine.com.

Elizabeth Lundblad talked with some librarians and avid readers to learn about their favorite required reading from high school and some current books they're raving about:

In case there was any doubt, let me admit upfront that I am not in the target audience for Dan Krokos' "False Memory."
But I don't believe that Young Adult fiction should be limited to the young. After all, shouldn't reading be at least partly about expanding your worldview?

Which is not to say I didn't enjoy False Memory, I did. In case anyone thought I was between the ages of 12 and 18, I wanted to set the record straight. Ha!

"False Memory" has a lot going for it right from its opening. Appealing teen characters. Thriller plot. Set in Cleveland.
What more could a Northeast Ohio reader ask for?

Meet Miranda North, she's in the food court at a mall. That's about all she knows when the story opens. Things quickly spiral out of control when she tries to unravel the mystery of her identity. She panics. People around her die.She doesn't really want to trust the teen boy who comes to her aid, but what choice does she have?

Soon she - and we - learn that both teens are part of a group specially trained to use their mental powers to destroy an entire city.
And that's only the beginning.

Krokos moves the action along at a fast pace, while raising questions about the nature of memory, identity and family.

As Miranda notes when she begins to remember snippets of her past:

"When I wake, I feel empty and full at the same time; the memories fade but remain inside me. The little glimpse of my past leaves me wanting more.
So I grab at one again, the last memory in the diner. I'm there in the booth, but I can't remember how I felt."

Memory is about much more than knowing you were someplace. It's about recalling the smells and sounds and how you felt when you were there. Take that away and are you you?



 Maybe I'll learn more in the next chronicle of Miranda's journey.

Maybe you could learn more from Krokos himself.

He'll be at the Bouchercon Mystery Convention in Cleveland Oct. 4- 7.

And he'll be at Barnes & Noble, 28801 Chagrin Blvd., Woodmere at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 6.

See you in the stacks!

-  Tricia Ambrose   l  @TriciaAmbrose  l  tambrose@news-herald.com