MFM: Is this story loosely based on your life or is it purely fiction?
BC: It’s a work of pure and unadulterated fiction. Having said that it certainly does contain aspects of events I have witnessed and/or been privy to as a teacher in schools over the years.
MFM: Being young myself, I totally understand how parents and teachers are thought of as the problem. Is your character troubled by the people nearest him?
BC: I think all the characters in the book are troubled by those around them. Each character has conflict, or trouble, with their friends, parents, teachers or, and this is certainly Clem’s case, the environment. I think it may be those nearest us who cause the greatest conflicts… Perhaps that’s just me?
MFM: Are you trying to bring to light the problem of school bullying?
BC: That was definitely the starting point but I don’t believe I aimed to bring it to light. There was no need. We all know that it exists (not just in the education systems too) Bullying, I feel, is something that will never be eradicated from schools. Sadly, it is more prevalent and dangerous now than it’s ever been. Certainly bullying is a theme in the book, however it’s not simply a novel about bullying.
MFM: What voice is the book written in?
BC: The Boy Who Made it Rain is written in two parts. Part 1 involves ‘interviews’ with all the characters (except Clem) who each present a first person account of some unstated tragic event. With this section it was vital to get the register correct for each character. Part 2 is Clem’s first person account of events in which he corroborates, contradicts and counters those characters’ opinions in Part 1.
MFM: You say that Clem's dad is a Willy-Loman like loser, did Clem inherit some of his traits?
BC: Clem compares his dad to Willy Loman as a way of being disparaging towards him; he sees this as a negative quality. Nevertheless, Clem’s propensity to internalise and torture himself over the most mundane tasks, as well as his level of intensity, demonstrates some signs of Lomanesque behaviour.
Now we just have to wait until June! Thanks Brian and Sparkling Books.
At The Galleger Academy for Exeptional Young Women, Cammie is a normal highschool girl. At least as normal as a spy in training can be. Cammie, her friends Bex, Liz, and Macey are doing whatever they can to make the grade, pass the class, and stay unseen. With a new CoveOps teacher everything is twice as hard. The plot of the book was mediocre. It stayes at one level. The unexpected ending made me wish for more. There was a lot of humor throughout the book though so I give it a 3.
The Alchemyst, the first book in the sereies "The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel" was reccomended to me by a least three people before I actually read it. I should have taken the first persons advice. Michael Scott's novel is a New York Times bestseller, and has gotten much praise. The first chapter was an immediate takeoff into the magical and immortal world of the Elders and the dark Elders, who plan to destroy the world and take it back to how it was. Humans as slaves, food,or worse. I'm full of praise although one part confused me throughout the book. Without giving too much away ( minor spoiler) the twins ages feel like they should be reversed. Josh should be older and Sophie should be younger. Even if it is just by around 28 seconds. I give this book a 4 and a half. 
Violet Haberdasher's novel of common boys turning into knights probably could have had more. Some parts were promising, and there was a mystery behind it in a couple of parts, but it just fell flat. It simply didn't follow through. Also, the plot was said and done. It was Harry Potter all over again, evil teacher turns nice, nice teacher turns evil, hero gets in lots of school trouble, but always gets out with headmasters favoritism. There really isn't anything else to say except that it was a 2 out of 5.
Recently I had the opportunity to interview Gatwick Bear, the main character in Anna Cuffaro's book ~ below is our conversation! 
Unfortunately the highest I give is a five, but just know that this book deserves much more than that.
This is a recent interview I had with a soon to be published author, Brian Conaghan. His novel The Boy Who Made it Rain published by Sparkling Books will be released on June 3rd 2011. Checkout this link and the interview below! http://www.sparklingbooks.com/new_titles.html
The latest book in the Rangers Apprentice series definitely doesn't disappoint. You're thrown right in with Will, Halt, and Horace. When the king of Clonmel has been assassinated, it's Will, Halt, and Horace's job to find him and make justice. 
When Halt is shot with a poisoned crossbow bolt they call upon a renewed healer friend of theirs, Malcom. This is total page turner but, I would recommend reading the first 8 books before this one. The beginning is also pretty confusing since you have only a vague idea of what is going on. It does pack in a lot of humor that made me laugh out loud. This book is a 4 out of 5
