Friend Friday

I am a huge Deborah Heiligman fan. In fact, we “met” when I sent her a fan letter after reading Charles and Emma, a book that completely enchanted and educated me. We are now warm friends, catching up in person whenever we can (which is not often enough). One of the many things I admire… 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

Before I had the fortune and pleasure to meet her in person, I met Donna Gephart through the wonderful Death by Toilet Paper, and was impressed by her keen eye for the small detail that makes all the difference. Her books are packed with humor, honesty and passion, which will be readily apparent to you… Read more »

Friend Friday

It is a sheer pleasure to host Dan Richards today, in celebration of a slew of new books. I love that he’s taken time to reflect on what his writing career and accomplishments (and discouragements) have meant to him. To my memory, this isn’t a perspective that’s been shared on Friend Friday before and I… Read more »

Friend Friday

There are two things I love about Lisa Robinson’s story below. The first is that she saw a need in children’s literature and got the idea to fill that need. The second is that, even though it took her twelve years, she did not give up. Perseverance is an essential trait for book creators and… Read more »

Friend Friday

Today’s special guest may be about the nicest person in the kid lit world. Laurie Ann Thompson always has a smile, encouraging word or wry joke to brighten even the darkest of days (and trust me: Seattle can get uber gloomy). She also happens to be a fabulous writer, with a penchant for nonfiction (with… Read more »

Friend Friday

It is an honor to host Irene Latham today. I first met her through her wonderful novel, Leaving Gee’s Bend, a book I coincidentally read after seeing some quilts made in that community. Her thoughts today really spoke to my writer’s heart, a heart that feels a bit wobbly in these times. I cannot wait… Read more »

Friend Friday

The very funny and lovely Erica S. Perl and I bonded over yogurt, specifically Chobani Passionfruit. Since that initial meeting, we’ve found hundreds of more things in common, especially a love of writing fiction for the middle grade reader. It turns out that Erica’s humor and fast-paced writing are also a perfect match for nonfiction,… Read more »

Friend Friday

In addition to being an incredibly talented book creator, Dana Sullivan is also a great dancer. We cemented our friendship on the dance floor several summers back at the International SCBWI conference in LA; we also share a love of rhubarb pie. He is unwaveringly generous, creating fun illustrations to celebrate his friends’ books at… Read more »

Friend Friday

When it comes to friends, it’s hard to think of a dearer one than Ann Whitford Paul. Ann is the reason I am a writer and how lucky I am to have had the benefit of her wisdom. In my humble opinion, Ann is the Queen of picture books and her wildly successful “If Animals”… Read more »