Sometimes students ask me if the protagonist of a book has to be “good’. I tell them certainly not, while pointing out of course, that it’s best if they are likable in some way. Then they will sometimes say “But he’s the hero. Aren’t heroes always good?” There follows a discussion of the relative interchangeability … More Protagonist vs. Hero – A Provocative Suggestion

I stopped in at Chapters yesterday, on my way back from somewhere. I didn’t buy anything. These days I buy most of my books from a small retailer near my daughter’s swimming lesson. They have a limited selection, especially when it comes to middle grade and YA, but I only buy bestsellers if I’m desperate to … More Why Writers Should Visit a Large Bookstore at Least Once a Month