Sometimes, it's just easier to think I'm not the freak. I'm just in an alien world. . . Being Charles James Stewart, Jr., AKA Charlie the Second, means never "fitting in." Tall, gangly and big-eared, he could be a poster boy for teenage geeks. An embarrassment to his parents (he's not too crazy about them, either), Charlie is a virtual untouchable at his high school, where humiliation is practically an extracurricular activity. Charlie has tried to fit in, but all of his efforts fail on a glorious, monumental scale. He plays soccer--mainly to escape his home life--but isn't accepted by his teammates who basically ignore him on the field. He still confuses the accelerator with the brake pedal and as a result, has not only failed his driving exam six times, but also almost killed himself and his driving instructor. He can't work on his college essay without writing a searing tell-all. But what's freaking Charlie out the most is that while his hormones are raging and his peers are pairing off, he remains alone with his fantasies. But all of this is about to change when a new guy at school begins to liven things up on the soccer team--and in Charlie's life. For the first time in his seventeen years, Charlie will learn how it feels to be a star, well, at least off the field. But Charlie discovers that even cool guys have problems as he embarks on a deliciously sexy, risk-filled journey from which there is no turning back. . . The Screwed Up Life of Charlie the Second is a funny, honest and engaging book, told with attitude and style. Drew Ferguson is a talented writer with great comic timing, and an eye for the absurd." --Bart Yates, author of The Brothers Bishop and The Distance Between Us "Drew Ferguson's debut novel is equally funny and smart, and will strike eerily familiar chords in anyone who remembers the edgy, frustrating, sex-obsessed days and nights of high school. You'll love his narrator, Charlie, and you'll also love this book." --Scott Heim, author of Mysterious Skin and We Disappear "Look out Napoleon Dynamite, here comes Charlie the Second! In this page-turning laugh riot, Drew Ferguson captures the voice of Today's Teen conquering the daily drudge that is Life in the Midwest. Colorfully candid, unapologetically explicit, yet touchingly tender, The Screwed Up Life of Charlie the Second serves as a reminder to those who've escaped from Small Town USA as to the reasons why!" --Frank Anthony Polito, author of Band Fags! "A terrific debut novel. Drew Ferguson is one of the most authentic new voices in contemporary fiction." --Steve Kluger, author of Almost Like Being in Love "Written in a fact-paced diary format, Ferguson has created a beautiful and moving novel that literally has you laughing out loud one moment and shedding tears the next." --Arthur Wooten, author of On Picking Fruit and Fruit Cocktail "Lots of blurbs in lots of books promise "laugh-out-loud hilarity." This book delivers. With Charlie the Second, Drew Ferguson has created a memorable and original character undergoing the perils, confusion, and humiliation of adolescence. Between onanistic sexcapades that would make Alexander Portnoy blush, The Screwed Up Life of Charlie the Second is an engagingly accurate portrayal of the highs and lows of growing up and figuring out who you are." --Brian Costello, author of The Enchanters vs. Sprawlburg Springs

A gay Lutheran teen, Charles James Stewart II, chronicles a very memorable senior year at South High in Crystal Lake, Ill.

Now includes a subscription to NSSWM online (the fiction section of writersmarket.com). For 28 years, Novel & Short Story Writer's Market has been the only resource of its kind exclusively for fiction writers. Anyone who is writing novels and/or storiesâ€"whether romance or literary, horror or graphic novelâ€"needs this resource to help them prepare their submissions and sell their work. You'll have access to listings for over 1,100 book publishers, magazines, literary agents, writing contests and conferences, each containing current contact information, editorial needs, schedules and guidelines that save writers time and take the guesswork out of the submission process. NSSWM includes more than 100 pages of listings for literary journals alone and another 100 pages of book publishers (easily four times as many markets for fiction writers as Writer's Market offers). It also features over a 100 pages of original content: interviews with working editors and writers, how-tos on the craft of fiction, and articles on the business of getting published.

The Best Resource Available for Getting Your Fiction Published! The 2013 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market is the best resource available for fiction writers to get their short stories, novellas, and novels published. As with past editions, Novel & Short Story Writer's Market offers hundreds of listings for book publishers, literary agents, fiction publications, contests and more. Each listing includes contact information, submission guidelines, and other important tips. Fiction writers will also find and increased focus on editorial to help give context to the listing content. From amazing craft articles (crafting emotion in fiction) to helpful business advice (marketing a small press book), the 2013 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market offers everything a fiction writer looking to get published could want. PLEASE NOTE: Free subscriptions are NOT included with the e-book edition of this title.

Written with a focus on the English Language Arts Common Core Standards, this book provides a complete plan for developing a literacy program that focuses on boys pre-K through grade 12. Despite the fact that reading and literacy among boys has been an area of concern for years, this issue remains unresolved today. Additionally, the emphasis and focus have changed due to the implementation of the English Language Arts Common Core Standards. How can educators best encourage male students to read, and what new technologies and techniques can serve this objective? The Common Core Approach to Building Literacy in Boys is an essential resource and reference for teachers, librarians, and parents seeking to encourage reading in boys from preschool to 12th grade. Providing a wide array of useful, up-to-date information that emphasizes the English Language Arts Common Core Standards, the bibliographies and descriptions of effective strategies in this book will enable you to boost reading interest and performance in boys. The chapters cover 16 different topics of interest to boys, all accompanied by a complete bibliography for each subject area, discussion questions, writing connections, and annotated new and classic nonfiction titles. Information on specific magazines, annotated professional titles, books made into film, websites, and apps that will help you get boys interested in reading is also included.

The Best Resource Available for Finding a Literary Agent No matter what you’re writing—fiction or nonfiction, books for kids or adults—you need a literary agent to secure a book deal. The 2012 Guide to Literary Agents is your essential resource for finding that literary agent—without fear of being scammed—and getting your book published. This new, updated edition of GLA includes: • Completely updated contact and submission information for literary agents who are looking for new clients • Writing and submission advice from more than 40 top literary agents • Informative articles on subjects such as writing a query letter, composing a book proposal, writing a novel synopsis, attending a writers conference, protecting your work, and more Includes an exclusive 60-minute FREE WEBINAR with Chuck Sambuchino that will teach you "Everything You Need to Know About Agents" "The Guide to Literary Agents contains a wealth of information and good advice, and was crucial in my successful search for an agent. I found a great agent and my book has now sold in 11 territories and counting." —Richard Harvell, The Bells "The Guide to Literary Agents was very useful to me when I was getting started. I always recommend GLA to writers." —Michael Wiley, The Bad Kitty Lounge and The Last Striptease

The Best Resource Available for Finding a Literary Agent! No matter what you're writing--fiction or nonfiction, books for kids or adults--you need a literary agent to secure a book deal. The 2013 Guide to Literary Agents is your essential resource for finding that literary agent--without fear of being scammed--and getting your book published. This new, updated edition of GLA includes: • Completely updated contact and submission information for more than 1,000 literary agents seeking new clients. • Craft and business advice from more than 35 literary agents--on topics such as query letters, children's books, synopses and proposals, memoir writing, first chapters, conferences, platform and more! • 12 "Breaking In" success stories from debut writers who explain how they got their books published. Includes "New Agent Spotlights"--profiles on literary reps actively building their client list right now. "The Guide to Literary Agents was an indispensable tool for me when I was querying agents. I highly recommend it for any aspiring author--in addition to a comprehensive listing of literary agents, it contains valuable information about the query and submission process." --Darien Gee, author of Friendship Bread: A Novel "I just signed with literary agent Chip MacGregor, and I came upon him through the Guide to Literary Agents. If not for GLA, I'd probably still be looking." --Les Edgerton, author of Hooked as well as several novels PLEASE NOTE: Free subscriptions are NOT included with the e-book edition of this title.