The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. That’s what I wanted for my writing career: a nice, straight short line from typing my opening lines to holding my published (and well-reviewed) book in my hands. I should have known it wouldn’t happen like that. I already know that the most interesting stories… Read more »
Reading
Three Ways Reading Picture Books Helps Me Write Better Novels
I love reading picture books. Yep, I’m turning 49 this year and I read almost 200 picture books every year!! I teach a graduate writing class about picture books and an after school club on writing picture books. But I also read them for pure enjoyment because I love picture books. I write picture books,… Read more »
When You Finally Get to Hold Your New Book!
I’m so thrilled I was finally able to hold my new book in my hands last week – what a joy! I remember each stage of the process of creating this book. It started out as an idea for a field guide for kids to learn HOW to listen to bird song. Then it became… Read more »
Books and Board Games – For Adventures in Space Lovers!
Want to blast off with some fun books and board games? This unusual pairing is sure to launch your space adventurers into the stars. First we have the card game Space Team created by Stellar Factory. Like most rocket launches, this game is LOUD!! The entire game is about communicating with your astronaut crew to… Read more »
New Book!! Elizebeth Friedman: Expert Codebreaker of World War II (Women Warriors of World War II)
For many years, I couldn’t tell people where my parents worked. I could only say, “the department of defense.” Now, I can tell people they worked for the National Security Agency. That’s why I feel such a special connection to this new book, Elizebeth Friedman: Expert Codebreaker of World War II. Elizebeth’s story was secret for… Read more »
Books and Board Games – for Bee Lovers
Nothing is sweeter than a good book. Or maybe a fun board game. Or maybe a spoonful of honey? (Did you know one bee will make one tablespoon of honey in its entire lift!) Combine all three and you have something special! Yes, I love bees. I know they can be scary to some people,… Read more »
Wild About Reading Books
We love reading books in this house. We also love reading books outside, on the bus, while we’re walking, and even in the parked minivan in the garage. Graphic Novels The book that has captured the attention of this van reader is a graphic novel in the Amulet series. He got book 4 in his… Read more »
Graphic Novels About Growing Up
Graphic novels are so hot right now. When I was growing up, I only remember reading Maus, a story about mice in World War 2. But now graphic novels about growing up are all the rage. Graphic Novels We Have Loved My oldest first read a graphic novel version of The Red Pyramid, then dove… Read more »
Pig Out for Reading
I remember falling in love with reading. I’ve been reading a lot of middle grade books the past year, because that’s what I want to write. I want to write books like the kind I read from fifth to eighth grade, the kind I re-read and re-re-read. They were the books that really stuck with… Read more »
New Books at Our Little Free Library
Our Little Free Library is really getting a lot of use! We get thank you notes frequently. I love seeing the books change over, noting which ones have found new homes, finding new ones that I didn’t add to the library appear. I do admit I feel a little bad for some books that never… Read more »