Authors, Developing Words – Chris Ward, Part 1

[Editor’s note: This post is part of a continuing series on how writers craft words to express their ideas and to connect with readers. The interview was conducted by Miriam Ruff on June 27, 2019, and it is divided into two parts. It has been lightly edited for length and clarity.] MR: Welcome to the … Continue reading “Authors, Developing Words – Chris Ward, Part 1”


Authors, Developing Words – Stephen King

[Editor’s note: This post is part of a continuing series on how writers craft words to express their ideas and to connect with readers.] “Books are the perfect entertainment: no commercials, no batteries, hours of enjoyment for each dollar spent. What I wonder is why everybody doesn’t carry a book around for those inevitable dead … Continue reading “Authors, Developing Words – Stephen King”


Charting Progress in AceReader

Now that the new school year is almost upon us, teachers planning their lessons may wonder how AceReader’s Assessment Tests can help them determine how much their students will improve their reading fluency skills over the course of the next academic semester or year, as well as how they will be able to demonstrate the … Continue reading “Charting Progress in AceReader”


Authors, Developing Words – Elmore Leonard

[Editor’s note: This post is part of a continuing series on how writers craft words to express their ideas and to connect with readers.] In a 2011 interview with Justified producer Graham Yost, Elmore Leonard said, “The way I write is always from the character’s point of view. I make up my characters as I … Continue reading “Authors, Developing Words – Elmore Leonard”


Authors, Developing Words – Roald Dahl

[Editor’s note: This post is part of a continuing series on how writers craft words to express their ideas and to connect with readers.] Roald Dahl was born in 1916 in Llandaff, South Wales to Norwegian parents. He wrote both children’s fiction and short stories for adults, and is perhaps best known as the author … Continue reading “Authors, Developing Words – Roald Dahl”


Khipus – A Different Kind of Writing System

In our series “The History of Writing and Reading,” we looked at many different writing systems that developed (and sometimes died) over the milennia of human history. There is another system – perhaps better called a communication system than a writing system – that developed during the height of the Incan Empire (1400-1532). It is … Continue reading “Khipus – A Different Kind of Writing System”


Authors, Developing Words – Mickey Spillane

[Editor’s note: This post is part of a continuing series on how writers craft words to express their ideas and to connect with readers.] Mickey Spillane is regarded as one of the four “pillars” of the hard-boiled detective fiction genre, joining Dashiell Hammett (“The Maltese Falcon”), Raymond Chandler (“The Big Sleep”), and Ross MacDonald (“The … Continue reading “Authors, Developing Words – Mickey Spillane”


Authors, Developing Words – Rhett Bruno, Part 2

[Editor’s note: This post is part of a continuing series on how writers craft words to express their ideas and to connect with readers. The interview with Mr. Bruno was conducted by Miriam Ruff on June 6, 2019, and is divided in two parts. You can read Part 1 here. It has been lightly edited … Continue reading “Authors, Developing Words – Rhett Bruno, Part 2”


Authors, Developing Words – Rhett Bruno, Part 1

[Editor’s note: This post is part of a continuing series on how writers craft words to express their ideas and to connect with readers. The interview with Mr. Bruno was conducted by Miriam Ruff on June 6, 2019, and is divided in two parts. It has been lightly edited for length and clarity.] MR: Welcome to … Continue reading “Authors, Developing Words – Rhett Bruno, Part 1”