Check this New Cheechako Review!

From start to finish, this book was a pleasure to read. Cheechako is fantastic! In the first chapter, I wanted to strangle the bullies that made life miserable for Will. The descriptions of Alaska, especially the harsh realities of a sub-zero blizzard in the wilderness were gripping. Stratman has a gift of writing so naturally that the words just flow from his pen. I hope Jonathan Thomas Stratman writes more and I'm watching for a sequel!  Eric Brewster

Thanks Eric. Great review. 

Advice to writers always starts with "write what you know." 

Of course any of us who have taught writing have had earnest students scratch their heads and say (seriously) "...but I don't know what I know." 

And they're not wrong. But there are different kinds of knowing. Young students often get "knowing" confused with how many facts they can store. 

In writing, this kind of knowing is not so much facts as what you see when you close your eyes. The familiar and unique landscape of your mind and memory. 

After all these years, when I close my eyes, I can still see Nenana, Alaska as it was in my first view as I stepped down from the train, now more than fifty years ago. It has remained vivid through a number of my Cricket Magazine stories and two full novels, with two more on the way. 

So, what remains vivid for you? And what are you waiting for. Write about it. 

Recommending Cheechako

Hi all,

Just a note about my young adult adventure novel … set in interior Alaska … Cheechako.

Even though few on the planet have any idea who I am, the book is selling, in both Kindle format and paperback, available through Amazon but order-able anywhere.

Reading specialists have been particularly kind to Cheechako, recommending the book for their “reluctant” readers and ordering class sets. To any of you who may be reading this, thanks for your support.

If you are a teacher, or know one, approximately grades 4 – 9, please check out/mention Cheechako, available here: 

Amazon Cheechako review

And to all of you who have kindly read, reviewed and recommended, thank you so much for your support.

Best wishes,   Jonathan 

St. Valentine, Original Gangster of Love

I've been thinking a lot about St. Valentine. And only partly because I have an NPR deadline approaching. When I meet people who have read or heard my stuff, it is very common to hear "where do you get your ideas?"

The answer is, one thing leads to another. Sometimes a thing just catches your writer eye and you walk around thinking about it. At least I do.

Valentine was interesting to me for a number of reasons. One of them is that he was an outlaw to the Romans. An insurgent. We hear the term 'insurgent' used a good deal now, but hard to imagine it in the framework of Roman Society and the context of Christianity as "underground."

So my new St. Valentine's Day piece comes from that perspective. Painting this man we now know as a priest and martyr, as a kind of criminal. Hence, the "Gangster of Love."

Hearts and Flowers

The other thing about St. Valentine is that he died very badly, beaten nearly to death and then beheaded. The contrast between his brutal death and the pink hearts for which he has become known is a head-spinner.

Is there humour in that contrast? We'll see. As always, all comments are welcome. Just click on the link below to hear the three-minute St. Valentine broadcast.


http://www.prx.org/pieces/90320-st-valentine-gangster-of-love