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 »
How lucky I am to call so many fine writers friends, Frances O’Roark Dowell among them? I first met her through her wonderful book, Chicken Boy (Atheneum Books for Young Readers), and have been a huge fan of her work ever since. Her newest novel, The Class (Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books) ambitiously tells the story of… Read more »
I confess to not remembering how Sarah Miller and I first met face-to-face, but I knew we would be pals after reading her Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller (Atheneum Books for Young Readers). Sarah brought out aspects of Annie Sullivan and Helen Keller that were new and fresh to me; I also figured out she… Read more »
After being a fan for years, I had the pleasure of meeting — and sharing a VRBO with!– Marissa Moss at the Texas Library Association Conference this past spring. I suspect if you looked up “prolific” in the dictionary, you’d find an image of Marissa. She has been hard at the work of being a… Read more »
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 »
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 »
Why is it that some people — like me — merely open that package of ramen and add hot water and other people — like Andrea Wang– will stop to wonder where ramen came from? Posing that simple question led Andrea back in time to WWII and to a man who couldn’t merely walk by… Read more »
Who doesn’t love old favorites dressed up in fresh new ways? No one! That’s why it’s such a treat to host B.J. Lee today in celebration of her picture book, There Was an Old Gator Who Swallowed a Moth (Pelican Press), illustrated by David Opie. This romp of a story is even made funnier by… Read more »
I have huge admiration for fellow Washington writer Mary Cronk Farrell. She always seems to find topics that have been overlooked in the history books, bringing them to life with accuracy and integrity. Her post below is evidence of that integrity. It is an honor to host her today in celebration of her latest book,… Read more »
In her essay below, my friend Martha Brockenbrough describes her editor, Jean Feiwel, as “fierce.” This is the exact word I would use to describe Martha herself: fiercely kind, fiercely funny, fiercely generous, fiercely grammatically correct (I offer as proof her book, Things That Make Us [Sic]), and fiercely honest. Her respect and concern for… Read more »