Friend Friday

My friend Dana Sullivan has a huge imagination and a huge sense of humor. And he is terrific about supporting other book creators. So it gives me great pleasure to shine the spotlight on him today, in support of his brand new series, Dead Max Comix, and the first installment in the series, The Deadening… Read more »

Friend Friday

One of the best laughs in kidlit belongs to the effusive, kind and creative Natasha Wing. All I have to do is think of her and I begin to smile! Natasha and I met eons ago through our mutual friend, Mary Nethery because they were in the same critique group when they were both living… Read more »

Friend Friday

Do you remember the old chewing gum commercials: “Two, two, two mints in one?” This Friend Friday is definitely a DoubleMint day! I met fellow dog-lover Ginger Wadsworth at the Humboldt County Author Festival years ago; Craig Orback is practically a neighbor of mine. How wonderful that the two of them teamed up for a… Read more »

Friend Friday

Today’s Friend Friday friend, Lydia Lukidis, reminds us all of the power of persistence and of believing in one’s work. Though the road to publication for No Bears Allowed (Blue Whale Press) was neither smooth or straight, she hung in there to create a story that shows empathy in action. Read on! No Bears Allowed… Read more »

Friend Friday

It is a treat to host Tamara Ellis Smith today in celebration of her newest picture book, Here and There, illustrated by Evelyn Daviddi (Barefoot Books). If you visit Tamara’s beautiful website, you’ll find the words, “together we can turn empathy into action.” Her lovely book — and the ripples it’s already making in the… Read more »

Friend Friday

Nancy Furstinger is a very patient person. In January 2019, I invited her to be a Friend Friday guest to celebrate her then-forthcoming picture book. The catch was that I wouldn’t have an opening until November 15! Lucky for us, Nancy agreed to wait and I think you will enjoy her story behind the story… Read more »

Friend Friday

Isn’t it amazing how some books and characters make indelible impressions on us? I can’t recall when I first met Ramona, but I will to my dying day never forget her first grade excitement as she took her seat, following the teacher’s instructions to “wait there for the present.” I would bet anyone reading this… Read more »

Friend Friday

Any friend of Jane Kurtz’ is a friend of mine and, as you’ll find out from today’s guest Jennifer Richard Jacobson, Jane is not only her friend, but partner in crime. I am in awe of the writing commitment they made to one another, which you’ll read about below. This commitment, along with Jennifer’s willingness… Read more »

Friend Friday

What an honor to host Caroline Starr Rose, who shares my passion for bringing stories (and people!) of the past to life for today’s readers. And her experience writing her latest book, A Race Around the World: The True Story of Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland, illustrated by Alexandra Bye (Wendy Lamb Books) provides a… Read more »

Friend Friday

A big shout out to Dana Sullivan for introducing me to the work of Julie Hampton. I was thrilled when Julie agreed to be my Friend Friday because illustrators are less frequent contributors to this blog (a situation I would love to change, hint, hint). And I am always grateful when someone shares about their… Read more »