I have a strong memory of being sent a Linda Oatman High book or two by my editor when I was first published at Holiday House, as examples of what to strive for. She was one of many authors I read as I tried to figure out how to be a writer. So it is… Read more »
This summer, at the International Literacy Association conference, I had the privilege of hearing Jane O’Reilly accept an award for her novel, The Notations of Cooper Cameron (CarolRhoda Books). I was so touched by her speech that I wanted to get to know her better. My wish came true when she sat in on the panel… Read more »
I had the lovely fortune to be seated next to Kevin Scott at the Inside Story, sponsored by SCBWI Western Washington, hosted by The Neverending Bookshop, at the Bellevue (WA) Public Library this past spring (if you are a local teacher, librarian or bookseller, you need to attend this event!). I was so touched by Kevin’s… Read more »
Boy, howdy, am I excited about today’s Friend Friday. About twelve million years ago, I wrote a fan letter to an author whose work I truly admired. And she wrote back! To steal a line from Casablanca, that was the beginning of a beautiful relationship. Just because I can now count Barbara O’Connor as a… Read more »
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 »
I have admired Debbie Gonzales since our first meeting in Austin, where she handled a tricky situation with such grace and charm I wanted to nominate her for an ambassadorship right then and there! Lucky for the folks in Michigan, she’s brought her warmth and energy to the Mitten State; she and I caught up… Read more »
It’s such a pleasure to host Nancy J. Cavanaugh today; as she shares in her post, we were first cyber friends and then, one day, I was doing a book event at Anderson’s Bookshop in Naperville, Illinois and there was Nancy — with her daughter — there to support me. Nancy’s generous act highlights the… Read more »
Today the spotlight shines on Jenny Lundquist, who recently shared with me that she’d been in the audience when I keynoted at an SCBWI conference in Davis, CA. Jenny wrote, “I was so inspired as you talked about your process of writing Hattie, and I went on that weekend to write the first chapter of the… Read more »
Though Teresa Funke and I have never met, a mutual friend cyber-introduced us because of our mutual passion for historical fiction. In addition to being a writer, Teresa is a writing coach and blogger. I know you will enjoy your time with her! Welcome, Teresa! It’s such a pleasure to appear on this blog and… Read more »
So excited to host my brand-new #nErDCampMI friend, Bridget Hodder, today. She graciously stepped in to help when another nErDCamp Jr. presenter needed to leave early, with grace and humor. She’s with us today to talk about her journey to writing The Rat Prince (Macmillan/ Farrar, Straus & Giroux/ Margaret Ferguson Books). With my very first book,… Read more »