A Very Wilderson Thanksgiving

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. I ate way too much (as one does) and saw a movie. The Man Who Invented Christmas. See it, if you can. It was lovely.

So, it has been a crazy week. Thanksgiving, Black Friday, the holiday weekend, and now Cyber Monday. By the way, if you're looking for good books to give to kids as holiday gifts, might I suggest Under Locker and Key? ;)

 

Also, the SCBWI BookStop goes through November 30, so it's a great way to look up kids' books during this time. Consider it an online catalogue that you can comment on (and the authors can see your comments!).

Anyway, with it being Thanksgiving and all, I also spent time considering what I'm thankful for, like my family, good books and music, delicious and healthy food, a good night's sleep before a run, candy sugarplums, Christmas specials, Jell-O, clever jokes, etc. I'm sure lots of you did the same exercise in gratitude over the holiday.

So, I thought it might be fun to ask my characters to name 5 things they are thankful for. Here are their answers:

Jeremy Wilderson

- My parents. And my meathead brother Rick, sometimes. Rarely. Very rarely.
- Case and Hack, for the way they have my back and don't laugh (too much) when I fall out of the ceiling on a job.
- My lockpick set, of course. I'd be grounded so many times over without it.
- My grappling hook, for the same reason.

- Chocolate cake. I'm grateful for chocolate cake. What? Did you think I was going to same a certain uptight detective? Ha. No.

Becca Mills

- I guess I have to start with my family, right? It would be wrong not to.
- Law and justice. Or are those two different things? Either way, I'm grateful for how they exist to keep the world ordered and safe.
- Police and lawyers, for upholding law and order through justice.

- My camera. I'm recording this interview on it right now!
- Dirty rotten thieves who remind me why it's so important to honor the law and not give in to sneaky schemes as well as inspire me to work harder to catch them!

Case Kingston

- J and Hack. Of course.
- My collection of acrylic paints. Or do I say my brushes? Argh! The conflict of an artist.
- My parents. And (sigh) my sisters. Even the annoying ones. As long as they don't snoop around my room! And my little brother, for bringing balance to the Force.
- Elmyr de Hory (look him up) for being an inspiration to us all.

- The Philadelphia Eagles. No matter how the seasons go, they're my team.

Paul "Hack" Heigel

- Mom, for working so hard and bailing me out of detention.
- Dad, for teaching me the skills that put me in detention.
- Case and J, even though they accuse me of using cheat codes when we play video games.
- Video game cheat codes.
- The internet. I don't know what I'd do if it had never been invented. Maybe avoid trouble, but at what cost?

BONUS INTERVIEW:

Rick Wilderson

- My family. Including Dr. Evil. He makes me look like the good kid.
- Football. And, by extension, my amazing physique.
- The virtue of humility.
- Root beer. Nectar of the gods.
- Mathematics. What? I can't be a jock and smart, too? Shame on you for falling prey to stereotypes.

Here is this week's debut:

Middle Grade:
Sarah Cannon - Oddity (11/28)