Little did I know that, when my then-sixth-grade daughter introduced me to Karen Cushman’s Catherine, Called Birdy, my path would intertwine with Karen’s in lovely ways. (Exciting news: Lena Dunham is directing a movie version of Birdy.) After falling in love with Karen’s first book, I impatiently awaited each new title (I do think Matilda Bone is still… Read more »
Every week, I so enjoy hosting book creator friends in celebration of their work. But my heart does a little extra happy skip when the book in the spotlight is historical fiction. Teachers and librarians have quietly confessed to me that it’s a tough genre to get kids hooked on (ouch); but I am convinced… Read more »
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 »
Spring of 1943 the All American Girls Ball League was created to fill the void left by the young men shipped off to war. Salaries were $45-$85 a week, which meant many of the women were making more than their parents.The league wanted the girls putting their best foot forward so after daily practice the… Read more »
This picture is of the tacoma narrows bridge in 1942 after a salvage operation The portions of the bridge still standing after the collapse, including the towers and cables, were dismantled and sold as scrap metal for the war effort. Because of the war, and lack of materials, reconstruction of the bridge was delayed.
When the WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) was started in 1942, the military trained male pilots from scratch, but not the female civilian volunteers. Without that military support, interested young women had to cough up all the money they had (sometimes borrowing it) to learn how to fly. And that was only the beginning of their challenges…. Read more »
There are too many children’s authors I need to sit down and have a cup of coffee (or in this case, tea) with and talk books. Cheryl Blackford is one of them! I am heading out right now to get Lizzie and the Lost Baby! In his workshops, Donald Maas often asks writers to find one… Read more »
My mother in law, Carolyn “Kelly” Larson, passed away a few weeks ago; her memorial service is this Saturday. So I’ve been thinking a lot about her. She was a child of the Depression, growing up on a poultry farm in northern Washington state. She was expected to pitch in and help — no free… Read more »
Inspired by a man I met last Thursday night, after a lecture on research/historical fiction. You stayed after the lecture. Dapper in your out of style windbreaker, hands shyly tucked into pockets. “May I tell you my story?” you asked in a quiet voice accented by a geography that no longer exists. I listen: You were fifteen…. Read more »
Today would’ve been my father-in-law’s 95th birthday. Ted Larson was about the kindest man I have ever met. When I first whispered aloud my dream to be a writer, it was Ted who brought home a spare IBM Selectric (self correcting!) from his office for me. I will never forget that vote of confidence. He… Read more »