New Releases by Carolyn Coman

When their parents are sent "up the river" for embezzlement, Ray and Ivy are left to live in the lap of luxury with Marietta Noland and her ancient husband, Lionel. But life at the big house is not all it''s cracked up to be. First there is the shrouded portrait, then there is the spider in the decaying wedding cake. And what about the vicious instrument Marietta uses to decapitate her egg? When "the rain in Spain" begins to fall (in other words, Ray wets his bed), things go from bad to worse and Ivy knows it is time to take matters into her own hands. What follows is a hilarious lark as Ray and Ivy case the joint, get the skinny, and show Marietta she has met her match.

A compilation of selected crafts talks by faculty at the Pacific University MFA program, this book is an exciting introduction to some of the most alert and engaged minds in literary writing in the US across many genres. The collection allows readers to see how the authors think about writing and about teaching writing.

Originally published by Front Street in 2000.

Provides advice, strategies, and inspiration focusing on the key elements of writing stories, such as character development, plot, voice and dialogue, point of view, and place and time.

After her mother dies trying to rescue a boy on a snowy mountain, twelve-year-old Roz searches desperately to understand what happened, and why her mother seemed to choose him over her. "During a search for a lost teenager, Roz Jacoby''s mother simply fell off a mountain and out of Roz''s life. Feeling confused, betrayed, adrift, and, at times, guilty, 12-year-old Roz plots a course that will take her to Nate, the boy for whom her mother died...Coman''s narrative skillfully unveils past events with a subtle emotional intensity that keeps the reader riveted...Pure poetry."-Starred, Booklist

Jamie is devastatingly exposed to domestic violence when another member of his family tries to hurt his baby sister, and Jamie and his mother must protect themselves while coming to terms with what has happened. A Newbery Honor Book. Reissue.

Computer-generated illustrations adorn a charming story about a young girl''s friendship with an antique collector who becomes angry when she loses the gift that he gave her.