Gill, David

Assoc Professor

positions

Assoc Professor, Instructional Technology, Foundations, and Secondary Education , Watson College of Education

David Macinnis Gill is the award-winning author of The Sticky Note Plot, Zombie Train, Uncanny, Black Hole Sun, Invisible Sun, Shadow on the Sun, Rising Sun, Uncanny, and Soul Enchilada, Graham Salibury: Island Boy
His books have been named an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, a Kirkus Best Book, a Bank Street College Best Books of the Year, and an NYPL Stuff for the Teen Age as well as nominated for a variety of state and regional lists and awards. His short stories, essays, and poetry have appeared in several journals, magazines, and anthologies.

Gill, David

Contact Info

gilld@uncw.edu

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Selected Publications

Academic Article
- Writing across identity elements: An interview with Cynthia Leitich Smith, William Alexander, and Kekla Magoon. The ALAN Review. 45:74-79. 2017-01-01
- Interview With David Macinnis Gill, About Soul Enchilada. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy. 54:380-382. 2011-02-01
- The Professor is an Author. Teacher Librarian. 38:54-56. 2010-12-01
- From Blogging to Tweeting. Voice of Youth Advocates. 32:108-110. 2009-06-01
- A lawyer she was, an author she is: an interview with Cynthia Leitich Smith. Teacher Librarian. 35:64-65. 2008-06-01
- Bookseller, teacher, writer: an interview with Lewis Buzbee. Teacher Librarian. 35:66-67. 2008-04-01
- Master storyteller: an interview with Rene Saldana. Teacher Librarian. 35:58-59. 2008-02-01
- The award winner speaks: an interview with Mary Pearson.. Teacher Librarian. 35:60-61. 2007-12-01
- We won the girl: an interview with Debra Garfinkle. Teacher Librarian. 35:p58-59. 2007-10-01
- True talent: an interview with David Lubar.. Teacher Librarian. 34:62-63. 2007-06-01
- A focused observer: an interview with Graham Salisbury. Teacher Librarian. 34:58-59. 2007-02-01
- Giving Peace a Chance: Gandhi and King in the English Classroom. English Journal. 89:74-77. 2000-05-01
- Giving Peace a Chance: Gandhi and King in the English Classroom.. English Journal. 89:74-78. 2000-05-01
- Split Up the English Curriculum for Better Writing Skill. Education Digest. 65:61-64. 2000-04-01
- “Let V. Get: A Case for Using Writing Workshop in the High School Classroom.”. Virginia English Bulletin. 2000-04-01
- "Division of Labor: Improving Writing Skills by Changing the High School English Curriculum.”. Schools in the Middle. 2000-03-01
- “Division of Labor: Improving Writing Skills by Changing the High School English Curriculum” (reprint).. The High School Magazine. 7:47-49. 2000-03-01
- A National Survey of the Use of Multicultural Young Adult Literature in University Courses. The ALAN Review. 27:48-50. 2000-01-01
- “Teaching Shakespeare in the Middle School.”. Tennessee Middle School Journal. 2000-01-01
- “To the Lighthouse: The Problem with Full-Steam Ahead Education Reform.”. American School Board Journal. 186:45-46. 1999-09-01
- “Young Adult Literature Web Sites.”. Reading Online. 1999-04-01
- Young Adult Literature for Young Adult Males. The ALAN Review. 26:61-63. 1999-01-01
- “Assessing Forms of Text Using Electronic Portfolios". Virginia English Bulletin. 1998-10-01
- “Wired for Sound and Graphics and Text: Electronic Portfolio Assessment in the Language Arts Classroom". FOCUS: Southeastern Ohio Council of English Teachers. 1998-10-01
- “ Portfolios and the Tennessee Language Arts Standards.”. Tennessee Educator. 1998-04-01
- Aidan Chambers: Monk, Writer, Critic. The ALAN Review. 25:11-12. 1997-10-01
Book
- Missed Connections, Misunderstandings, and Misbeliefs -- Spinning Toward the Sun Essays on Writing, Resilience, and the Creative Life. Burlwood Books. 2025-03-01
- The Sticky Note Plot: A Step-By-Step Guide to Plotting Novels That Sell. Thunderchikin Ink. 2024-11-01
- Zombie Train. Greenwillow/HarperCollins. 2024-03-01
- Uncanny, a novel. HarperCollins. 2017-09-01
- Bronzeville Blowback. Kindle Direct Publishing. 2014-06-01
- Ironville Inferno. Kindle Direct Publishing. 2014-04-01
- Tin City Tinder, a novel. Kindle Direct Publishing. 2014-04-01
- Shadow on the Sun, a novel. Greenwillow Books. 2013-04-01
- Rising Sun, a novella. HarperCollins. 2013-02-01
- Invisible Sun, a novel. Greenwillow Books. 2012-03-01
- Black Hole Sun, a novel. HarperCollins. 2010-08-01
- Soul Enchilada, a novel. HarperCollins. 2009-04-01
- GrahamSalisbury: Island Boy. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. 2005-10-01
Chapter
- Curriculum of Peace, A: Selected Essays from English Journal. National Council of Teachers of English.. 2004-01-01
- “About K.A. Applegate.” Writers for Young Adults. Holiday House. 1999-01-01
- “About Shelley Stoehr.” In Writers for Young Adults. Holiday House. 1999-01-01
Document
- "Praise the Lord and Pass the Little Debbies" -- Rural Voices: 15 Authors Challenge Assumptions About Small-Town America. Candlewick Press. 337. 2020-10-01
- Boy Mercury - An Antebellum Steampunk Tale: Episode One - The Welding. Kindle Direct Publishing. 2014-04-01
- Broken Circles & Other Stories, A Collection. Kindle Direct Publishing. 2014-04-01
- Soul Enchilada, an audiobook. Brilliance Audio. 2009-05-01
- Your Reading: An Annotated Booklist for Middle School and Junior High. National Council of Teachers of English.. 2003-01-01
- Clockwork (reprint). In A Complete Guide to Young Adult Literature: Over 100 Critiques and Synopses from the ALAN Review. Heinemann. 2000-01-01
- Review of Jungle Dogs. (reprint) A Complete Guide to Young Adult Literature: Over 100 Critiques and Synopses from the ALAN Review. Heinemann. 2000-01-01
- Silo 13: The Hive. Kindle Worlds Publishing.

Presentations

Presentation
- Writers Salon 2025-04-27
- How to Plot A Picture Book, Novel, or Creative Non-Fiction, SCBWI Regional Meeting 2025-04-01
- Public Reading 2025-03-30
- After the Disaster: Writing through Trauma, Author Panel Discussion 2025-03-01
- Move the Camera: Techniques for Making Action Scenes More Vivid and Visual, Colorado Writing Residency 2023-07-01
- The Sticky Note Plot: How to Visualize Your Novel, Bath Spa Resicency Workshop 2022-07-01
- The Shapes of Stories: Vonnegut’s Theory on Plot, Vermont Writing Workshop 2022-01-01
- 2-B or Not 2-B, Vermont Writers Residency 2021-07-01
- Leave That Chapter Out: When to End Them and How to Start Them, Vermont Writers Residency 2021-07-01
- "Young Adult Literature in the Classroom", Utah Council of Teachers of English Annual Conference 2020-11-13
- "How to Writer Voice in Fiction", Storymakers Annual Conference 2020-05-05
- Sticky Note Plotting Workshop, Storymakers Conference 2019-05-10
- Voice in Fiction, American Night Writers Association 2018-09-13
- Sticky Note Plotting Workshop, American Night Writers Association 2018-09-12
- Sticky Note Plotting Workshop, Bath Spa Summer MFA Residency 2018-07-07
- Lies, Damned Lies, and Stall Tactics: How “Truth” Reveals Character Via Dialogue, Associated Writing Programs Annual Conference 2018-03-03
- "Dark Corners and Dead Girls: Horror and the Supernatural in the High School Classroom.", National Council of Teachers of English Annual Conference 2017-11-19
- Mystery in the Writing Process: Discovery, Revelation, and Withholding for Writers and Their Readers, AWP Annual Conference 2017-02-09
- From Seed to Story, NCTE Annual Convention 2016-11-20
- Identity and Equity in Childrens and YA Lit, NCTE Annual Convention 2016-11-20
- CRAB OR LOBSTER? HOW TO FLIP YOUR MANUSCRIPT TO RAISE STAKES, DEEPEN CONFLICT, AND COMPLICATE COMPLICATIONS, Vermont Writers Workshop 2016-07-16
- Paper Work Load and Time Management for Teachers, Time Teacher Support Workshop 2016-02-22
- Where Are We? Using Setting to Strengthen Your Story, SCBWI Carolinas Workshops 2016-01-22
- Hurt So good: Brain Science and Narrative Structures, Vermont Writers Workshop 2016-01-10
- Writing Across the Curriculum, Beginning Teacher Professional Development Day 2015-11-06
- Plotting 2015-03-17
- "Format, Content, & Style", NCTE Annual Convention/ALAN Workshop 2014-11-23
- 2014-06-23
- "Trends In YA", RT Booklovers Convention 2014-05-06
- Humor In Young Adult Literature, NCTE Annual Convention/ALAN Workshop 2013-11-24
- Gnad Ole YA'Opry: Southern Writers in YA, Charleston Young Adult Book Festival 2013-11-09
- The Sci-Fi Fantasy Masked Ball, Charleston Young Adult Book Festival 2013-11-09
- Acceptance Speech: Ragin-Rubin Literary Award, NCETA Annual Conference 2013-10-04
- Keynote Address: "Teaching in the Time of the Common Core", TCTE Annual Conference 2013-09-27
- "Interactive YA Writing Panel", Reader Times Conference 2013-05-17
- “Don’t Let Me be Misunderstood”: YA Authors in the Digital Age, Reader Times Conference 2013-05-15
- We're Not in Kansas Anymore: Scf-fi in YA, Montgomery County Book Festival 2013-02-02
- Writing for the Child Within, ALAN Workshop 2012-11-22
- THE FUTURE OF SCI FI/FANTASY , YALL Fest 2012-11-10
- YA BOY BAND: BOYS WRITING GIRLS (& BOYS) , YALL Fest 2012-11-10
- Dystopian YA, NCSLMA Conference 2012-10-04
- Reading Black Hole Sun, Book Expo America 2012-06-05
- "On Writing", Skype Presentation 2012-05-22
- On Writing, Cape Fear Reading Association Young Readers 2012-05-19
- "On Writing", Skype Presentation 2012-04-14
- AUTHOR SPEED-DATING, Reader Times Convention 2012-04-14
- Paranormal in YA, Comic and Entertainment Expo 2012-04-13
- POST-APOCALYPTIC AND NEAR-FUTURE YA, Reader Times Convention 2012-04-12
- WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO? BOUNDARIES IN YA, Reader Times Convention 2012-04-12
- "On Writing", Public Library Association Conference 2012-03-16
- Making the Match, PDS Professional Learning Day 2012-03-07
- Book in a Bag, Douglas Anderson Writers' Festival 2012-03-01
- Outlining the Novel for Teens, Douglas Anderson Writers' Festival 2012-03-01
- Readings from Black Hole Sun, Douglas Anderson Writers' Festival 2012-03-01
- "On Writing", Skype Presentation 2012-02-08
- "On Writing", Skype Presentation 2012-02-06
- "On Writing", Skype Presentation 2012-01-14
- Trends in Young Adult Literature, Books of Wonder 2011-12-04
- Titles that Challenge and Are Challenged, ALAN Workshop 2011-11-21
- "On Writing", Skype Presentation 2011-11-16
- Making Room For the Reader: Writing Between the Lines and Beyond the Book , PDS Professional Learning Day 2011-10-11
- The Seeds of a Book: Soul Enchilada, FAME Annual Conference 2011-10-06
- World Building in the Future, FAME Annual Conference 2011-10-06
- Current Trends in Teen Fiction, FAME Annual Conference 2011-10-05
- "On Writing", Skype Presentation 2011-09-28
- Alternate Sexualities, DragonCon 2011-09-04
- Online Interactions, DragonCon 2011-09-04
- The Why and How of YA, DragonCon 2011-09-04
- Dystopian YA: Kin of Clone?, DragonCon 2011-09-03
- The Darkness: What is Appropriate for Teens?, DragonCon 2011-09-03
- Classic YA, DragonCon 2011-09-02
- The Hunger Games: Dystopia Now, DragonCon 2011-09-02
- "On Writing", Book Expo America 2011-06-25
- “Searching for Self in a World Gone Wrong”, ALAN Workshop 2010-11-23
- The Perks of Being a Wallflower Writer: How Writing Helps Teens and Tweens Discover—and Share—Their Voices, ALAN Workshop 2010-11-22
- "Bring Out Your Dead: What Graveyards Can Teach Us about Our Past and the Future.", NCTE Annual Convention 2010-11-21
- Crossing Spoon River: The Interdisciplinary Cemeteries Project, National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) 2010-11-01
- Hot Young Adult & Teen Fiction, Virginia Festival of the Book 2010-03-20
- Scattering Light , NCTE/ALAN Annual Conference 2009-11-25
- From the Horse’s Mouth: Teaching‐‐‐and Writing‐‐‐Young Adult Literature, ALAN Workshop 2009-11-24
- The Pit Stop, AASL Convention 2009-11-06
- Young, Fanged, and Undead: Novels Teens Can Sink Their Teeth Into , Southern Festival of the Book 2009-10-11
- Wriitng Outside Yourself, Booklist Bookends 2009-04-23
- “Heartbreak and Hope: Novel Approaches to Teen Issues", outhern Festival of the Book 2008-10-01
- “What’s So Funny About Peace, Love and Underwear? Humor in YA Literature.” , ALAN Workshop Conference 2007-11-01
- , National Council of Teachers of English Annual Convention 2006-11-01
- , ALAN Workshop Conference 2006-11-01
- “Sports and Parents in Young Adult Literature", ALAN Workshop Conference 2006-11-01
- “Using a Web-Based Toolset to Guide Formative and Summative Candidate Assessment", American Association of Colleges of Teachers Education Annual Conference 2004-02-01
- A National Survey on the Use of Young Adult Literature in Middle and High School, National Council of Teachers of English Annual Convention 2003-11-01
- Using Technology to Enhance Reading", National Council of Teachers of English Annual Spring Conference 2003-11-01
- Education Technology Initiatives, Teaching and Learning Conference 2002-03-01
- Censorship Pedagogy and Young Adult Novels, National Council of Teachers of English Annual Convention 2001-11-01
- What Matters to Us: An Editor, Scholar, and Teacher Discuss Young Adult Literature., ALAN Workshop Conference 2001-11-01
- Findings of Watson School of Education Summer Initiatives, American Association of Colleges of Teachers Education Annual Conference 2001-03-01
- Report on Professional Development Schools, American Association of Colleges of Teachers Education Annual Conference 2001-03-01
- Censorship and Young Adult Literature, Cape Fear Reading Association Meeting 2000-10-01
- Same Roots, Different Dreams, National Council of Teachers of English Annual Spring Conference 2000-03-01
- The Literature of the Dust Bowl, National Council of Teachers of English Annual Convention 1999-11-20
- The best young adult novels of the 90's, National Council of Teachers of English Annual Spring Conference 1999-03-01
- Keynote Address: Teaching Patience, Kappa Delta Pi of Ohio University Annual Meeting 1999-02-01
- Electronic Portfolio Assessment, Tennessee Council of Teachers of English Annual Conference 1997-10-01
- Using Technology in the Classroom, 21st Century Teachers Group 1995-09-01
- Character Development in Fiction Writing, Lookout Writers Project Summer Conference 1995-06-01
- Using Techniques of Fiction in Nonfiction, Lookout Writers Project Summer Conference 1994-07-01