The inaugural Crafting Verse Novels Workshop and Retreat, taught by Chris Baron, Cordelia Jensen, and me took place on May 21-24, 2023 at the Highlights Foundation . . . and it was fantastic! Chris, Cordelia, and I met with 18 verse novelists discussion craft, reading, writing, and publishing. We … [Read more...]
NCTE National Convention!
I had an amazing time in Anaheim, California, at the NCTE National Convention. I had the pleasure of being on two super-star-packed panels: "Book Banning and Erasure of the Whole Child" and "Underrepresented Authors on Diversity in STEM/STEAM Fiction and Nonfiction." It was a real treat to see old … [Read more...]
VCFA WCYA Alumnx Mini-Residency!
I had a fantastic time at the Vermont College of the Fine Arts' WCYA Alumnx Mini-Residency. I was honored to be the Guest Author at this four-day conference, and it was fun spending time with agents, editors, VCFA faculty, and alumni. We gave and listened to lectures, chatted about craft and the … [Read more...]
Boston Book Festival!
Perfect fall weather provided a lovely backdrop for the Boston Book Festival on October 29, 2022! I loved talking about verse novels and poetry with awesome authors Rebecca Caprara and Kip Wilson, and I got to reconnect with many other kidlit authors! … [Read more...]
River Bend Bookshop!
I had a ball hanging out on a lovely fall Sunday with friends Josh Funk and Elly Swartz at River Bend Bookshop, a wonderful independent bookstore in Glastonbury, CT! We read our books aloud, met readers, signed books, and had so much fun! … [Read more...]
Highlights Retreat!
I went to Highlights in September with a bunch of writer friends: Chris Baron, Josh Levy, Cory Leonardo, and Naomi Milliner. Our debut novels all published in 2019, and we have been meeting once a year at Highlights since 2018! (We skipped 2020, of course). We spent the weekend catching up and … [Read more...]
The Adirondack Family Book Festival!
I had such a fabulous time at the first annual Adirondack Family Book Festival on August 20,2022! The festival happened at the John Brown Farm Historic Site in beautiful Lake Placid, NY where I got to participate in panels, sign books, and hang out with award-winning authors and illustrators: Kate … [Read more...]
A New Middle Grade Novel!
The only thing better than writing a book is writing a book with a dear friend—Chris Baron!! Chris and I are so thrilled to be working on THE SECRET OF THE DRAGON GEMS, our nerdy, out-of-this-world epistolary novel with Charlie Ilgunas at Little Bee Books! We're eternally grateful to our agents, … [Read more...]
2022 Newbery Celebrations!
The most exciting part of the ALA Annual Conference was celebrating the Newbery Awards! On June 25, I got to attend the #Newbery100 Celebration — which, as you might guess, commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Newbery Award, the oldest children's book award in the world! We learned about … [Read more...]
The 2022 American Library Association Annual Conference!
From June 24-27, 2022 I went to Washington, DC to attend my first ever ALA Annual Conference, the first held in person since the pandemic started! I was so grateful to see so many friends, hang out with my publishers, meet amazing librarians, and sign books. And it was the thrill of a lifetime to … [Read more...]
A Beautiful Cape Cod Conference!
I had such a fantastic time as a faculty member at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency's Big Sur on Cape Cod conference! I got to spend time with friends and run two fabulous critique groups full of talented writers as well as enjoy the glorious Falmouth beach and sun! … [Read more...]
A Glorious Time at SCBWI Florida!
I was honored to be a faculty member at the SCBWI Florida Conference 2022! The theme was "Reunited, and It Feels So Good!" It certainly felt fantastic to hang out with writers, illustrators, and fellow faculty members, including: Teaching a Novel Intensive with agent Saritza Hernandez and … [Read more...]
A Wonderful Book Birthday for I’LL GO AND COME BACK!
Nine years ago, I got an idea for a picture book, a “mirror story” about a girl and her grandmother and traveling between cultures, and understanding each other despite not speaking the same language. Four years ago today, I sold that book — my first book, a story about about flying across … [Read more...]
RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE Wins a Golden Kite Award!
On March 15, I joined the Golden Kite Award finalists and hundreds of other SCBWI members for the virtual Golden Kite Awards! Although we couldn't meet in person, it was wonderful to see so many familiar faces (including Jason Reynolds, who gave an amazing keynote address!) and lovely comments in … [Read more...]
A HUGE Giveaway to End 2021!
2021 has been quite a year . . . in the midst of some very difficult times, I've been very grateful to release SIX books this year! To celebrate, I'm giving away a bundle of signed copies all eight of my books, including my novels MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM, RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE, MUCH ADO ABOUT BASEBALL, … [Read more...]
I talk Middle Grade with my Agent via the Norfolk Library!
I had a fantastic time talking about middle grade books and the author-agent relationship with my agent, Brent Taylor as part of the Norfolk Library's "What's On Your Bookshelf." Check out our conversation! … [Read more...]
Bath Book Bash 2021!
I had such an incredible time at the 2021 Bath Book Bash! We were blessed with gorgeous weather and a huge crowd of book lovers! There were panels, arts and crafts, and lots of book signings! I was so grateful to see writer friends in person on a beautiful September day! … [Read more...]
A Beautiful Book Birthday for WHERE THREE OCEANS MEET!
I was so delighted to celebrate the Book Birthday of my picture book, WHERE THREE OCEANS MEET! This picture book of my heart is about a road trip, a family, and love that crosses oceans. I'm so delighted that it's out in the world! I got to visit Silver Unicorn Books and sign books in person, and … [Read more...]
A Lovely Event with Chris Baron and Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore!
I loved hanging out with my friend Chris Baron with Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore to celebrate the release of his latest middle grade novel, THE MAGICAL IMPERFECT, which released the same day as MUCH ADO ABOUT BASEBALL! Check out our fun, far-ranging discussion below! powered by Crowdcast … [Read more...]
Talking Verse Novels at the Mass Poetry Festival!
I loved talking about verse novels and poetry with incredible authors Kip Wilson, Margarita Engle, and Rebecca Caprara! … [Read more...]