Friend Friday

Katherine Marsh holds a dear spot in my heart for saying something incredibly encouraging to me, just at the time I truly needed to hear it. That she is generous and kind-hearted is not a surprise to anyone who has read her books. Once again, Katherine is being incredibly generous with Friend Friday readers. Though… Read more »

Friend Friday

Erin Dionne and I share a publisher, and a passion for writing for the middle grade reader. Her books are full of energy and humor, as is Erin! (Do go over to her website where you can see an adorable photo of her in her marching band days!) I am delighted to host her today… Read more »

Friend Friday

Sometimes the stories we are meant to tell take us out of our comfort zones. That was certainly the case for Darcey Rosenblatt as she was nudged to write what became her debut novel, Lost Boys, (Henry Holt). I am proud to shine the spotlight on Darcey and her book today! Based on historical facts, my debut novel… Read more »

Friend Friday

It has been such a pleasure to get better acquainted with Melissa Roske, today’s guest. Unfortunately, most of that acquainting has been through social media; I know our paths will cross in real space and time someday and that, when they do, we’ll talk each others’ ears off! So happy to shine the spotlight on… Read more »

Friend Friday

It is a genuine delight to host Suzanne Selfors today. She is practically a neighbor of mine, a mere ferry ride to the west away. She is a gracious hostess, fellow dog lover and a wonderful writer whose sense of joy and sense of humor shine through her work. Enjoy your visit with Suzanne as… Read more »

Book Birthday!

Today is the book birthday for Liberty — hooray! Writing Liberty was like wrassling alligators in a vat of gumbo. My creative process is always messy but it was downright discouraging as I struggled to reel in the heart of this story. It wasn’t until I gave a young German POW his own space on the page that the… Read more »

Throwback Thursday

On one of my trips to New Orleans, after Hurricane Katrina, I stumbled on an art collective displaying the work of local artists. One piece I fell in love with was, fortunately, affordable so it found its way into my suitcase. Beside the fact of being a sucker for anything with words, when I learned… Read more »

Friend Friday

Fingers crossed, I hope I get to meet today’s Friend Friday friend, Monika Schroeder, early next year when I wend my way east to North Carolina. I know we are going to hit it off right away; how could we not? She’s a fellow dog lover, having adopted a street dog, Frank, while living in India…. Read more »

Friend Friday

I am so grateful to count Augusta Scattergood as a friend! She’s well-read (she reviews for the Christian Science Monitor), smart and a tiny bit sassy. And she tells a very good story, as evidenced by her newest book, Making Friends with Billy Wong (Scholastic). I’m going to let her tell you about it.   Sometimes stories… Read more »

Friend Friday

Boy oh boy, am I happy to host Linda Urban today. We met eons ago at a writing retreat facilitated by then editor Linda Zuckerman, both unpublished but eager to learn. She is a peach of a person and a terrific writer. I am particularly taken with how she can, in her novels, evoke character… Read more »