Winston Writes

This is my face when my writer asks my opinion about her first draft. I know honesty is the best paw-licy. But honesty may impact how many treats I get. Anyway, I’ve seen this before. Sooner or later, she’ll figure out on her own that she needs a plot.  

Winston Writes

There’s only one thing wrong with this book. I didn’t write it. But dogs have such a hard time getting published these days. Arf-fully good job by Elise Broach and Eric Barclay (and Henry Holt).

Friend Friday

It is such a pleasure to host Dan Gemeinhart today; after all, we are practically neighbors, with only a tiny mountain range separating us in Washington state. Dan and I are both published by Scholastic AND we each had books nominated for the Washington State Book Award (his Some Kind of Courage took home the… Read more »

Friend Friday

Serendipitously, Laura Purdie Salas and I were seated next to one another at a Golden Kite luncheon a few years back. Though we’d just met, I cheered loudly for her honor award in the poetry division. As someone who loves to read poetry but is flummoxed by the writing of it, I have delighted in… Read more »

Friend Friday

What a treat it is today to host not one but two wonderful writing friends! The dynamic duo of Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong have re-energized the poetry genre in children’s literature, making it even more accessible, fresh and fun. Their new collaboration, illustrated by Franzi Paetzold, is called Pet Crazy: A Poetry Friday Power Book (Pomelo… Read more »

Friend Friday

To say I am grateful to count Brenda Guiberson as a friend is an understatement. Brenda has been a mentor and confident and encourager for me for a long, long time. I knew her work — Cactus Hotel! — before I knew her. I admire her curiosity about the natural world, as well as her… Read more »

Friend Friday

“Friend” doesn’t even begin to describe the dear Ann Whitford Paul. She opened her heart (and home!) to a newbie writer, eons ago, and I have adored her ever since. As far as I am concerned, she is the queen of the picture book format (make sure you check out her craft book, Writing Picture… Read more »

Friend Friday

Today’s guest, Kim Griswell, and I share a six-degrees of separation kind of thing. Though we’ve never met, she was in a critique group for years with my dear friend and writing partner, Mary Nethery. And any friend of Mary’s is a good buddy of mine. I am so delighted to host Kim to celebrate Rufus… Read more »

Friend Friday

Though Eddie Ellis and I have never met, any dog lover is a friend of mine! This is what Kirkus had to say about his book, Good Boy, Achilles! (published by Westbow Press, a division of Thomas Nelson and Zondervan): “A moving children’s tale about the ineffable bond between a boy and a canine as they… Read more »

Friend Friday

How could I not be friends with Kristin O’Donnell Tubb when she clearly loves dogs as much as I do? And how can you not want to immediately dive in to her latest book, A Dog Like Daisy (Katherine Tegen Books), once you get a good look at the cover? You’ll find Kristin’s story behind… Read more »