Enter to win a signed copy
Contest details are at the bottom of this post.
Meeting and interviewing authors is my favorite part about working at BookPage (well—besides reading!), so I was thrilled when Summer Wood recently contacted our staff to let us know she’d be in the neighborhood. Summer lives in Taos, New Mexico, but last week she was visiting Belmont University as part of their Creative Writing Speakers Series.
Summer’s novel, Wrecker, is one of our top 20 books of 2011 (so far). Plot-wise, it’s the story of a wild boy (named Wrecker) who is raised by a group of eccentrics in Humboldt County after his mother goes to prison. The novel spans two decades—including the time after the mom gets out and wants her son back. At its core, Wrecker is about the community it takes to raise a child—and loving that child, even when life is difficult.
I interviewed Summer about her philosophy of parenting, her experience as a foster parent and her decision to set Wrecker in California of the 1960s. Watch the video, then enter to win a signed copy of Wrecker, along with Arroyo, Summer’s first novel (also signed).
TO ENTER: Who besides your “real” parents/guardians played an important role in your upbringing? (For example: A teacher, librarian, neighbor.) Why were they special to you? To enter, leave a comment with as much or as little information as you’d like to divulge.
CONTEST DETAILS: The prize is signed copies of Wrecker and Arroyo by Summer Wood. One winner will be chosen using random.org. Prizes will be shipped to the U.S. The contest closes April 22 at 6 p.m. CST.
Also in BookPage: Read a review of Wrecker.
____
ETA: Congrats to Dianne, this week’s winner! Dianne is grateful for her grandmother, who taught her that “nothing was impossible and you just needed to jump in and take a chance.”
Contest is now closed.
Grandparents–always always there
I’d have to say babysitters. My brother and I had some great ones and some that were not so good.
My high school English teacher gave me an appreciation for reading, writing, and grammar.
A head nurse in a big city hospital where I was a volunteer while in high school. Although I did not become a nurse but a teacher, this nurse was full of wisdom.
My aunt Rose–she was so very special.
I was very close to my Mom’s sister
My gramma Mame. She always made me feel special.
A next door neighbor named Pat. She was there for me at a bad time.
That was 40 years ago. I still cook recipes she taught me and fold my towels like she did. I learned from her and hopefully I helped her, too.
I was a teenager then and she was about 30 with a young son.
My grandmother who was always there but also had a wonderful sense of adventure. From her I learned nothing was impossible and you just needed to jump in and take a chance.
I always tell my Aunt Amy that she gave me “wings”…as a child I was overprotected and not able have a whole lot of freedom, and when I would go to my wonderful aunt’s I always felt as free as a bird. She is such a special lady…she’s 88 years old today and when I talk to her on the phone she always makes me laugh! I love her dearly.
My high school cheerleading coach – Mrs. O. She was married to the football coach and they were in their mid-40s and raising a family at the time. She was very disciplined and she really made us toe the line but she was also always there for us without stepping on any mother’s toes! She taught us the proper way to represent ourselves and our school and I’ve carried that with me ever since.
It’s been 35 years but whenever we see each other we give big hugs and talk about those days of cheerleading.
I have always been really close to my Aunt- she has always been there to support me- stand by me- help me- in any way.
My best girlfriend in grade school’s parents. They would drive across town every Sunday to pick me up to take me to church with them. Even though they just lived down the street from the church. Now that I have children I really appreciate the sacrifice they made for me and am so grateful for the church/youth group experience! My son just started youth group and both my children have grown up going to church and I know at least in part it is thanks to the influence if my friends parents!
My grandmother–I always felt that she was in my corner no matter what.
My babysitter, Clarkie, an elderly woman who always made herself available to take care of the children. Even after raising her own children and taking in several foster care children, she continued to babysit. I will always remember even as a child, the many conversations we had.
My grandmothers were always there when I needed them!
I lived with my grandparents & then very near them in my early childhood because my father was killed in WWII. They were a huge influence in who I am today. It seemed that I had three wonderful parents-my grandparents and my mother.
myself! I WAS NOT A CONVENTIONAL CHILD, SO I REALIZED I WA THE ONE WHO INFLUNCED ME! I GREW UP TO BE A WONDERFULL MOM, GRANDPARENT, WIFE, BREAD WINNER, AND I STILL LOVE ME!!!
I was a Brownie and Girl Scout for many years. My troop leaders were a very positive influence on me, helping me not only earn numerous badges but also guiding me throughout my childhood years.
My grandmother devoted a great deal of time to me. We went out together to shop, we read together, went on walks and travelled.
My older brother guided me through the growing up years – quick to tell me what not to do and who not to date. He gave good advice!
my bff’s parents…even with 5 kids of their own they still let me practically live there!
Godparents…who always provided a great example to stay on the right path!
My Girl Scout leader. She had a daughter my age and she led our troop from brownies through highschool. I learned a love of the outdoors through camping and tree walks. A sense of the community through volunteer work. How to work with a team with the other girls in the troop. And she showed us how to gain a true sense of accomplishment in the badges we earned . I learned to love new and different things from the crafts we made to the trips we took. She was truly a tireless woman with a huge heart.
My neighbor Marge was an important influence. She helped me to learn to drive a stick shift car when I got too frustrated with my parents helping me. She also heard things I couldn’t tell my parents. She would often advise me to tell them, but it was easier to tell her first.
My grandma! Not only could I bike to her house whenever I wanted to, I could call and she’d pick me up in a New York minute if I was sick, from school. After high school, my parents bought a new house and moved. I decided to live with my grandma and for 2 years we raised each other. She passed away January 1999 and I miss her every day
My wonderful Grandma!
A few teachers throughout my school years took this really shy girl under their wings & it meant so much to me that I grew up to become a teacher to honor them!
My Mom was widowed and left with three small children all a year apart. We had a older couple next door who had been unable to have children. They became our Godparents. They were so good to us and taught us things like gardening and fishing and told us many stories. I treasure those memories as their love, in addition to that of my Mom’s, helped to make me the strong person I am today.
Connie Fischer
conniecape@aol.com
The nuns in my gradeschool!
They knew everyone and everything that was going on in our neighborhood and were always ready to listen or help when we needed it.
My grandfather, who taught me the joy of spending an entire day in a bookstore.
My grandmother, my two older sisters and my brother. They also took care of me at times and taught me so much. I am so grateful to have had so many loving people in my life.
My high school journalism teacher was essential to developing my confidence as a writer and supporting my efforts in this area (while my parents really wanted me to become an engineer!) . I eventually became editor of the high school paper and even won a scholarship competition sponsored by a Pittsburgh newspaper.
I didn’t see where to enter to win the signed copy after watching the video?
My gram Irene. She taught me to SEE, not just look. She taught me to LISTEN, not just hear. And she spent hours with me, showing me the magic in every day, in the smallest of moments, the smallest of things. She was my unfaulty door, and loved me with no conditions. We slept under trees, cooked apples and potatoes in ashes on her farm, and once, and followed a turtle for hours, just to see where he wanted to go. I miss her still.
An Aunt.
My aunt and uncle were very influential while I was geowing up. Will always miss their guidance.
My grandmothers passed away or were hospitalized by the time of my birth, so my family does not have a matriarch. My sisters and I still had a strong, respected family presences in our lives though. Our babysitter, a grandmother herself and the matriarch of her own family, cared for countless groupings of sibling over the years. She loved and cared for all of us as if we were a part of her family – and we proxy were. Similar to her grandchildren whom we were cared with, we called her “Nana” and respected for her just the same, if not more, had she been our “Nanne”. To this day, I often confuse my friends with tales of my Nana, as she is not my grandmother. I forsee ceasing in correcting them though. She most certainly is cherished as such.
My first grade teacher, Mr. Fell cause he taught me to read.I would see him from time to time over the years. First question was always “Are you still reading?” Yes!
My grandfather. Growing up we did not have a lot, and he always made sure we had whatever we needed. He was a kind and gentle soul and I miss him a lot.
My Aunt Terry. I was born when we entered WWII. My folks had to give up our apartment & we moved into my Grandparents home. Aunt T spent a lot of time with me then and later, when I was about 41/2 she taught me how to read.
In later years, after I was married, I visited her often. My kids were early readers, too. Books were always around her house & mine.
She’s gone now, but her gift of reading is still with me & my children & grandchildren, too.
My Grandmother.
My grandparents. I lived with them for about 4 years while my mother took care of my younger sister. I always knew they were there for me.
My grandmother raised me. She bought me a book every time that we went to the grocery store. Now I’m a librarian.
My grandmother played a big part of my life and taught me the love of reading.
I would say it would be my one set of grandparents and my great aunt Grace. We would go to their farm on the weekends and they were a huge influence on me growing up. I learned a lot of things from all of them. My great aunt was my friend and buddy for a long time until I made friends at school. I was always grateful to have grandparents in my life.
I only had one grandmother who I didn’t get to see all that much as she had 20 other grandchildren. I did get to spend time with a few of my 6 aunties as I was growing up. I loved spending summer days at the local high school with my aunt Lucy, who was the Principal’s secretary. She taught me how to run the school switchboard. She would pick me up in the morning, take me to work and out to lunch with her for a few weeks every summer. It got me away from boring summer at home for awhile and I got to spend time with my fun auntie.
My grandmother was a big influence. She talked about how much we were alike, which made me feel good about myself.
My English teacher was a big influence.
Our family was very large and at one point we all lived with my grandmother in her big house. So my grandparents, my eight aunts and uncles and their spouses and of course my older cousins all had a hand in raising me. It was a wonderful life.
My Aunt Lois & her daughters kept me & my sister for several weeks each summer. My cousins introduced me to the Eagles & fixed my hair. My aunt always cooked lots of good food & showered me with love. So many good memories!
Besides my parents upbringing, I was fortunate enough to have Mrs. King my high school counselor. She was amazing. I had always had trouble in math – not my best subject. During the time of taking the TAAS test to determine whether or not you would graduate, she was my savior. She would make sure that I received as much tutoring as possible. Sad to say I took the test four times and failed each time. It was extremely discouraging. I remember standing in her office one afternoon in tears. I sobbed so hard when she revealed the test scores of my final test. I had missed the mark by two answers. Discouraged and feeling hopeless, I decided to drop out of school, I figured that since I wouldn’t be graduating with my class, let alone my friends – what was the point. I felt getting as far away from my failures would help me, even if only temporarily. Then one day I received a call, it was Mrs. King. She refused to hang up the phone until I swore that I would not give up and would go back to school and repeat the twelfth-grade. I did. As hard as it was, I went back. Once again I had to take the test. When my test results came back, Mrs. King called me down in her office, she hadn’t opened the envelop just yet, she felt we needed to do it together – extra support if I needed it. I sat down across from her and waited for her to pull out the slip. Immediately it seemed like the tears poured from her face. My heart sank into the pit of my stomach and I too cried – hard. Then she got up and came around to me wrapping her arms around me tight and whispered in my ear – you did it! I remember screaming so loud that the vice-principal ran in asking what was wrong. Since we were both crying so hard, she had to just show him. I never could thank Mrs. King for all of her patience and support of me, even when I didn’t have it for myself. She made me fly!
I had a teacher in 8th grade who took a special interest in me. She was influential in my decision to pursue a career in education. To this day, we remain in contact.
My grandparents were a fixture in my childhood and I spent lots of time with them. I learned a lot from both of them as I grew up.
Sorry I didn’t really get to know my grandparents.
Sorry I didn’t get to know my grandparents.
Not many “live” people influenced me – I learned social skills and life lessons by watching television – not the best way to bring yourself up! I will credit my grandmother for buying me books to read. She noticed I was a reader and encouraged that. Reading made me the success I am.
The person who had the most influence on me, besides my parents, was my Grandmother, “Nanie.” She babysat, took me for a few weeks during the summer, and was always at our house. She knew me better than anyone else.
My grandmother was the person I looked to for wisdom and guidance. She was a hard working farm wife. Her joyful laugh and ready smile were delightful. She was an excellent cook who served dinner at noon and supper for the evening meal, both meals being hardy fare for her farm family and anyone else who stopped in. To be like her was my desire.
I have to say the library was and still is a great influence on my life. Books are my best friends.
I moved around a lot, but while living in a small rural lake community in NJ, I was really influenced by the “summer folk” from NY. What an eye opener to a “hick” like me!
My oldest sister was like a second mother to me.
I had bunches of Aunts that were in my life,they were so much like my Mama,but each had an outstanding personal trait that I learned something different from each one,one was so funny,another a reader,one secretly wrote poems.I got to know this ,noticed very young.I thought it was just my secret for so long,then as cousins were sharing little things,we all knew we’d been had in the most wonderful ways,and as we shared about each one,we were amazed what each saw in out own Mamas that we didn’t.How lucky I was,picking cotton with some,learning to cook a certain dish with another,picking blackberries with another..so we are all a combination of many…
The owners of the barn where I kept my pony….spent m.any hours there
I would say my Grandma on my Mom’s side,she said what was on her mind,hardworking and raised 14 children ,half her step kids and never made a difference in any way. She would tell us about her growing up,sneaking snuff from her stepmother..she’d tell you if you were too fat,your frock was too short whether she knew you or not.We lived in a double house beside her growing up,it was so great.Everyone loved her,she lived to be almost 100.Sassy little thing,she was.
My first and second grade homeroom teacher, Mrs. Kihm, had a HUGE impact on my life. She taught me from the very beginning that I was capable of anything…I just had to want it bad enough. That’s why it was so meaningful to me that she attended my nursing school graduation when I was 34 years old. I will never forget her…and will never be able to convey to her just how thankful I am to her for that valuable lesson.
My grandparents were a big influence in my life. My brother and I would go out to their farm and stay in the attic bedroom when we were kids and it was so much fun. They had all kinds of different animals there and we got to ride the tractors, combine, etc. Unfortunately they are both gone now but they loved us unconditionly while they were here.
My grandmothers were a big influence on me.
My aunts helped my mom and were always there for me, when I was growing up.
The person who had the biggest influence on me while growing up was my grandmother, Theresa. My mom had a lot of health problems when I was a little girl and was in and out of the hospital several times. My grandma Tess was right at my side to comfort me, make me feel safe and most of all loved. She read to me constantly and taught me that I was never alone if I had a book to read. She said books held adventure, inspiration and pure joy and that I should always “respect” books since they would become a “best friend” to me. I took her advice very seriously and never tore a page, dog-eared a corner or wrote anything inside a book other than my name. I now have two granddaughters that are the loves of my life and I can proudly say that I have instilled that same source of love and respect for books in each of them. They are both avid readers, have advanced vocabularies and can spell anything you throw at them. I can’t take all of the credit since my daughter, their mom, was raised the same way. She is home schooling her girls and is a devoted and inspirational teacher to them. Their love of reading has helped them in every aspect of their education and they are at least three years ahead of their peers in almost every subject. Grandma Tess has been gone for many years but she lives on in my heart and I am eternally grateful for her love, devotion and willingness to “please read me one more story” no matter how tired she was.
Many teachers across the years. Perhaps, that is why I became a teacher [albeit a chemistry teacher].
My English teacher
How sad is it that I can’t think of anyone? I too spent lots of time visiting the library and reading books though. I suppose my little brother was an influence – taking care of him made me be responsible.
My Grandparents helped raise me from age 11 to 14. They were very special to me because of this, and because they never complaind when we moved in with them.
Libraries and books had a great influence on me
My first grade teacher started my love of reading and started me on my bookworm path.