C. Lee McKenzie

Young Adult and Middle Grade Author

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Email Connect Commercial & Double Negative

November 14, 2016 By C. Lee McKenzie 75 Comments

Commercial Announcement–This will not disappear in ten seconds, so don’t fight it.
 
 

Email Connect (EC) is not a Newsletter. I have no news.
“So what do you have?”
“Thanks for asking.”
*A Featured Author each month.
*Gifts and Giveaways.
*Short, but hopefully helpful tips for writers and readers and other humans.
Sign up today for your chance to win a digital copy of Gadget Girl by Suzanne Kamata, my Featured Follower in November. I’m reading it now and it’s good!

 

I’ve been so neglectful of my Young Adult books lately, that I thought I’d give one a bit of press. So here’s . . . the Story Behind Double Negative
READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY.  IT’S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTANDING THE REST OF THE POST.
BUT NO PRESSURE.
#anT t# re#d #nd #nj#y # g##d st#ry? Wh#T #f y## c##ldn#t do th#t? W##ld y## b# fr#str#t#d? #ngry? S#cr#t#v#?
You could probably figure out the message, but was it easy? Did it take a while to decipher the words, and when you did, did you forget all about meaning because you were picking through it so slowly you forgot where you were going? And what about the NO PRESSURE part? Did you ignore that?

 









Here’s what it said:  Want to read and enjoy a good story? What if you couldn’t do that? Would you be frustrated? Angry? Secretive? Maybe act out with anger?

In 2010 I stumbled on an article that said in L.A. County 33% of the residents were illiterate or low-literate. That brought me up short. Wasn’t the inability to read an emerging nation issue? An issue in back-country regions of the U.S.? I guess not!
Bryant Doughtery is definitely Hutch.
Hot and naughty. Lots of potential.

That article was the beginning of Double Negative. Hutch, then Fat Nyla and Maggie slowly evolved into the characters, then came Father Kerry, Moss and Meeker. All destined to play a part in a story about a kid who can’t read well enough to get through high school, but has the heart of a winner. All he needs is a pair of glasses and someone to believe in him.

Evernight Teen

“My life was going, going, gone, and I hadn’t been laid yet. I couldn’t go into the slammer before that happened.” —Hutch McQueen.

Quote of the Week: “Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book.” Anonymous

 

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Filed Under: Featured Author, New Books Tagged With: Double Negative, Email Connect, Follower of the month

Comments

  1. Nas says

    November 27, 2016 at 7:08 pm

    Awesome tips Lee. Thanks for sharing all these!

    Reply
  2. nashvillecats2 says

    November 19, 2016 at 12:27 pm

    Excellent post Lee but a wee bit scary when one comes to think about things you had written. Well done.
    Yvonne.

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      November 19, 2016 at 4:15 pm

      I guess you mean my middle grade adventures, Yvonne. Those are my sorbet between my teen issue books. 🙂

      Reply
  3. Sherry Ellis says

    November 17, 2016 at 2:41 pm

    Your tip on what to put in newsletters if you don't have news is really great! It keeps readers interested.

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      November 19, 2016 at 4:15 pm

      I'll leave newsletters to professionals. They know how to do it.

      Reply
  4. DMS says

    November 16, 2016 at 1:40 pm

    Wow- those statistics really make a point- as did the writing to start off the post. I have Double Negative and look forward to reading it soon. 🙂
    ~Jess

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      November 19, 2016 at 4:10 pm

      I look forward to your reaction. Hutch isn't very likable at the start. Like Limburger, he's an acquired taste. 🙂

      Reply
  5. Suzanne Furness says

    November 16, 2016 at 7:47 am

    Sad statistics indeed. Breaking down some of the barriers that hinder literacy are important.

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      November 19, 2016 at 4:14 pm

      I agree. The stats just blew me away.

      Reply
  6. Nicola says

    November 16, 2016 at 7:25 am

    Such a poignant post, Lee. Being a teacher, I've always felt passionate about helping those who find literacy difficult. The most difficult part, I find, in helping someone with difficulty is raising confidence and self-belief.
    Congrats to Suzanne. Gadget Girl sounds fab!

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      November 19, 2016 at 4:13 pm

      Teachers are amazing soldiers against illiteracy. We need more of those like you.

      Reply
  7. Tyrean Martinson says

    November 15, 2016 at 7:33 pm

    I just devoured Gadget Girl yesterday! I loved every page of it. 🙂
    I definitely take literacy for granted. I am beginning to find that I need bifocals. I'm jealous of those who need "readers" when they haven't already had glasses for years. For me, the thought of losing the ability to read at will is horrifying. And so, oddly, aging is making me appreciate literacy more.

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      November 19, 2016 at 4:11 pm

      I'm so glad you wrote this comment, Tyrean. You've expressed one of my fears.

      Reply
  8. Juneta Key says

    November 15, 2016 at 5:50 pm

    That was cool. I got the first right off but took a minute or two with the word secretive. I enjoyed learning about the connections behind Double Negative.
    Juneta @ Writer's Gambit

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      November 19, 2016 at 4:12 pm

      It's usually something like this that I read or hear about that triggers a book for me.

      Reply
  9. Karen Lange says

    November 15, 2016 at 1:27 pm

    I think many of us take literacy for granted. Thanks for reminding us about this important issue!

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      November 15, 2016 at 4:24 pm

      It's central to authors, isn't it?

      Reply
  10. Mike@Bit About Britain says

    November 15, 2016 at 12:08 pm

    Literacy – or a lack of it – is also a problem in the UK. It's super that you have drawn attention to it. Those of us that are fortunate take so much for granted. It is not just a matter of missing out on good stories and other worlds but also, as you suggest, not realising potential and feeling inadequate. The ability to communicate is fundamental to being human.

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      November 15, 2016 at 4:24 pm

      Thanks for the visit, Mike and for the thoughtful comment. You're so right about communicating being fundamental to us humans.

      Reply
  11. Mason Canyon says

    November 15, 2016 at 12:05 pm

    It's so sad to think so many can't read.

    Reply
  12. Shannon Lawrence says

    November 15, 2016 at 7:24 am

    Every time I hear illiteracy stats like this, it makes me sad. It's such a hard thing to ask help for, because it feels like something everyone else knows how to do, I'm sure. But obviously that's not true if 33% of people in one area are illiterate.

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      November 15, 2016 at 4:22 pm

      That' 1/3 of a densely populated area. Terrifying.

      Reply
  13. Shooting Stars Mag says

    November 15, 2016 at 3:30 am

    Oh, I love the quote at the end. It's so true!

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      November 15, 2016 at 4:21 pm

      And now you can walk around listening to those other lives on audio books. Amazing isn't it?

      Reply
  14. Liz A. says

    November 15, 2016 at 1:35 am

    I wish I had seen this earlier in the day. The special ed English classes are reading books for a book report due this week. One kiddo hasn't even started a book. This might appeal to them.

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      November 15, 2016 at 4:20 pm

      I spoke to a librarian who works with what's called "The Lost Boys" and she's buying Double Negative to interest them in reading. Hope it works.

      Reply
  15. Patricia Lynne says

    November 15, 2016 at 1:08 am

    That's a crazy stat to imagine in this day and age. But I love that it inspired you to write a story.

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      November 15, 2016 at 4:19 pm

      It's said that something bad has to come before something good. I guess this is another example of that.

      Reply
  16. Natalie Aguirre says

    November 14, 2016 at 11:31 pm

    So very sad how many people cannot read or read poorly. I just realized one of my daughter's friend's mom couldn't read when she asked me for help reading when she voted on Tuesday.

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      November 15, 2016 at 12:12 am

      So now the question is how did she choose who or what to vote for? Did she only rely on verbal input. That is troubling.

      Reply
  17. Joylene Nowell Butler says

    November 14, 2016 at 10:23 pm

    My mother's father couldn't read or write. When she told me that, I remember I was disturbed by the news for days afterwards. I was so sad for him and how tough his life must have been. He died young, so I never met him. I would be lost if I couldn't read.

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      November 15, 2016 at 12:20 am

      My grandmother from Switzerland, could barely read and write English. That always troubled me. Of course, I couldn't read or write in her dialect either, so in some ways that made us even.

      Reply
  18. Lynda R Young says

    November 14, 2016 at 10:03 pm

    wow, that's a tragically high percentage of illiteracy. Scary!

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      November 15, 2016 at 12:20 am

      Yes, tragic is the word for this.

      Reply
  19. Jemi Fraser says

    November 14, 2016 at 9:51 pm

    That's a staggering statistic. We need to find a way to reach ALL learners so they can have those basic skills that make their lives so much easier!!

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      November 15, 2016 at 12:14 am

      Teachers and parents and community! Let's get some role models out there for kids, so when they're adults they can be informed.

      Reply
  20. Mark Noce says

    November 14, 2016 at 9:13 pm

    Some of those literate stats sound pretty shocking. I guess even in a first world country there's room for improved reading skills.

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      November 15, 2016 at 12:09 am

      I can't understand how people survive without reading. Take prescription medication for example.

      Reply
  21. Kelly Hashway/Ashelyn Drake says

    November 14, 2016 at 8:52 pm

    I can't imagine what my life would have been like if I wasn't a reader. It's a sad thought.

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      November 15, 2016 at 12:08 am

      Indeed it is.

      Reply
  22. Elephant's Child says

    November 14, 2016 at 8:40 pm

    I loved Double Negative. It is a topic very dear to me.
    A work colleague had a stroke and lost the ability to read and write (or to relearn the skills). Which fills me with horror.
    Reading has enriched my world in so many ways. Education, entertainment, escape, comfort…

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      November 15, 2016 at 12:08 am

      That's such a tragic story! So sorry to hear that.

      Thanks for your comment about Double Negative. I really appreciate it.

      Reply
  23. Spacer Guy says

    November 14, 2016 at 8:10 pm

    You can experience peoples inner most thoughts just by reading their book. Its amazing whats out there.

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      November 15, 2016 at 12:07 am

      There's no better way to share who you are than through your writing.

      Reply
  24. Christine Rains says

    November 14, 2016 at 7:58 pm

    It is sad how many people are illiterate. I value reading so much, I had my son reading at 3. Have a good week!

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      November 15, 2016 at 12:06 am

      He's one lucky kid.

      Reply
  25. Elizabeth Seckman says

    November 14, 2016 at 7:56 pm

    My father had a reading disorder. Genius chemist, but had to teach himself to read.

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      November 15, 2016 at 12:06 am

      But he did, so how great that is.

      Reply
  26. Roland D. Yeomans says

    November 14, 2016 at 7:33 pm

    Sad how many are illiterate. It is one of the reasons why so many can be foolishly misled by visual media. Many cannot research the facts for themselves but are led by the opinions of those with the loudest and most stirring words. 🙁

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      November 14, 2016 at 7:35 pm

      You're so right. And how dangerous is that in a democracy? Very.

      Reply
  27. Cathrina Constantine says

    November 14, 2016 at 7:30 pm

    Love your quote of the week, Lee.

    And I absolutely loved your book, Double Negative.

    I actually read those #sentences fairly quickly. I surprised myself.

    It would be frustrating not to understand…

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      November 14, 2016 at 7:34 pm

      Thanks for the comment about Double Negative. Really appreciated your reading and reviewing it for me. If you could decipher those lines of text, you must take up code breaking! You're a natural. 🙂

      Reply
  28. DEZMOND says

    November 14, 2016 at 7:00 pm

    sounds like a very touching story. I mostly do YA books for my publisher, and the inspiring ones play a huge part in our sales

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      November 14, 2016 at 7:36 pm

      I'm very much a supporter of YA books that address real issues teens face.

      Reply
  29. H.R. Sinclair, Southpaw says

    November 14, 2016 at 6:32 pm

    LA county is kinda big, so 33% is huger than huge. It's distressing.

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      November 14, 2016 at 7:37 pm

      I need to see if there's any current stats. That was a couple of years ago. I'm just hoping the number is down and not up.

      Reply
  30. Crystal Collier says

    November 14, 2016 at 6:24 pm

    I cannot even imagine being illiterate, and yet it's only in the last two centuries that it has become common for most people to be able to read. Can you even imagine that? Millennia of generations where people had to rely on spoken communication? (Unless they were high born.) It just blows my mind. Comparing that today, I think we're doing okay.

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      November 14, 2016 at 7:38 pm

      But there are more of us and we rely on the written word more than ever.

      Reply
    • Crystal Collier says

      November 16, 2016 at 3:49 pm

      It's true. I just compare it to the human condition throughout time, and it blows my mind.

      Reply
  31. Susan Gourley/Kelley says

    November 14, 2016 at 6:03 pm

    I think many people don't know how many people can't read. And it sucks all the joy out of school and makes them feel like such a failure.

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      November 14, 2016 at 7:39 pm

      It was a shock to me. That's for sure.

      Reply
  32. Beverly Stowe McClure says

    November 14, 2016 at 5:03 pm

    Great quote, and I love Hutch. I think you did a very nice job in the book of showing the problems many young people have. You'd think, in America, we could solve illiteracy, but apparently not yet. Maybe, one day.

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      November 14, 2016 at 6:01 pm

      It's tragic for everyone when we have such a high rate of people who don't read or don't read well. It's rotten for us writers!

      Reply
  33. Shady Del Knight says

    November 14, 2016 at 4:44 pm

    Hi, Cheryl Lee!

    I don't know which is worse, not bothering to learn to read if given the opportunity, or not bothering to vote if granted the privilege. Our country is plagued with both problems.

    Have a wonderful week, dear friend!

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      November 14, 2016 at 6:00 pm

      Indeed. We can't complain if we don't get out there and take action. Thanks, Shady.

      Reply
  34. Jacqui Murray says

    November 14, 2016 at 4:08 pm

    There are lots of reasons–some good, some bad–but the result is that illiteracy is alive and well. We thought it had been stamped out. Not true.

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      November 14, 2016 at 5:59 pm

      I know. I was shocked.

      Reply
  35. Pat Hatt says

    November 14, 2016 at 3:51 pm

    Yeah, amazing how many are illiterate. Gave me a headache just thinking about doing that all the time as I deciphered the message haha

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      November 14, 2016 at 5:59 pm

      Aren't we lucky to have learned such a vital skill?

      Reply
  36. Chrys Fey says

    November 14, 2016 at 3:32 pm

    That was a great way to teach about illiteracy. Not something many of us will be able to forget.

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      November 14, 2016 at 5:58 pm

      Even after typing that, I had a hard time when I proofed the post. I'd forgotten what I'd written. Frustrating.

      Reply
  37. Tamara Narayan says

    November 14, 2016 at 3:29 pm

    What a statistic! Scary too. I didn't even attempt to read that hash-marked line. Too difficult. But the exercise does lend perspective.

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      November 14, 2016 at 5:58 pm

      Exactly, Tamara. Scary and scarier.

      Reply
  38. Alex J. Cavanaugh says

    November 14, 2016 at 12:41 pm

    Our entire state is close to thirty percent illiterate. Sad, huh?

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      November 14, 2016 at 3:21 pm

      That's immensely scary, Alex!

      Reply

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