ReFoReMo Day 18: Keila Dawson Takes the Challenge

By Keila Dawson

The reading list of fiction and nonfiction books in this challenge is both large in number and broad in scope. Have you read books you may not have otherwise because they’re on the ReFoReMo list?  I have. Some I had missed; others didn't grab my attention. But reading what our guests wrote about what made the books they recommended special piqued my interest. So I read them. And I'm glad they were on the list because regardless of the topic or genre, a well written book is a good mentor text.

via GIPHY

Participating in ReFoReMo just may inspire you to take another challenge.

·        If you’re drawn to fiction, have you read a nonfiction book that challenged you to learn more about the elements of that genre?

·        If you’re drawn to realistic fiction, have you read a nonfiction biography that challenged you to write one?

·        If you’re drawn to writing 500 word manuscripts, have you read one with 100 words that challenged you cut 400 words from your current work in progress?

·        If you’re an illustrator or author-illustrator, have you read a book that challenged you to write the text or experiment with creating a wordless picture book?

·        If you’re drawn to humor, have you read a quiet book, or one about a serious topic that challenged you to explore why it resonated with you?

·        If you’re drawn to lyrical language, have you read a poetry book or a rhyming book that challenged you to study those techniques further?

No, military strategy will never appeal to me even if one of our esteemed guests recommended a book on the topic! But even though we typically read what we write, there’s a chance you’ve read a book this month that may inspire you to take your reading, research and writing in a new direction. 

Happy reading!

Keila Dawson is a ReFoReMo Contributor. She’s hiked the rice terraces in the Philippines, climbed Mt. Fuji in Japan, and Mt. Sinai in Egypt. Keila finds adventures in picture books too. When she isn’t traveling, reading or digging in genealogical archives, Keila is writing and visiting schools. She enjoys sharing her love of Louisiana and world cultures with others. THE KING CAKE BABY, her debut picture book released in 2015, by Pelican Publishing Co., Inc.