Back when I was a kid, I remember reading about repressive societies in the 20th century who banned and burned books. I felt grateful that I didn’t live in such a place. I couldn’t have foreseen what’s going on now, that school districts and community members across the U.S. would put so much energy, hatred, and rage… Read more »
Miscellaneous
A Writer’s New Year’s Resolution
As I’m about to start the New Year with my third book coming up and another new book on the horizon, I want to vow something to myself as a writer. This is something I’ve struggled with from time to time over the past two years, and I know other authors struggle with it too…. Read more »
Do Strong Fictional Kids Need Help? Maybe.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how we children’s authors depict the children in our books: almost always capable and independent (a combination that prepares them for the adventures we throw at them). For instance, the kids in Secret of the Shadow Beasts are especially capable, and the adults put a lot on their… Read more »
Adventures from an Open Book—My New Enewsletter
I’ve been thinking for a long time about having an enewsletter with content beyond this blog, and it’s finally happening. If you sign up, you’ll learn on the second Tuesday of every month what’s going on with my upcoming book, take a peek inside this writer’s life, read about one of my very favorite recent… Read more »
Genre Fiction for the Classroom
In the world of literature, there’s often prejudice against genre fiction. This becomes especially pernicious when it’s applied to children’s fiction: Students’ love of reading can ebb when they’re told or showed that the things they love to read aren’t “good” or worth reading. Not all children love genre fiction (in fact, teachers have shared… Read more »
Inspiration with a Cuppa: Memories of Eileen Curran
I was going through my files recently, and noticed a tribute I’d written for a very dear friend I had during my early career here in Maine: Eileen Curran (born 1927), the Victorian scholar, who I’d met in 2004. Every once in a while, I’ve found that I meet people with whom I have an… Read more »
Classroom Book Club Giveaway!
There’s a great movement among teachers these days to put books in students’ hands that students want to read, not just books that adults admire. It’s the best way to ensure students’ love of reading. I’ve been thrilled to hear about student choice like this happening all over the country. But I know that it… Read more »
The Book List That Matters Most
Here’s a post for children’s authors, first shared on Twitter, where it went a wee bit viral (for me), about the “Best Book” lists that are ubiquitous on social media this time of year. (As you might guess, “Best Book” can be hard for the many, many children’s authors who don’t see their works upon… Read more »
Holiday Book Box
I love to give books for holiday gifts. This year, some of the books I give will be reaching recipients in book boxes, so a book with a few other little things that go with the theme. As I was thinking of what would go with each book, it occurred to me that I have… Read more »
A Book to be Thankful For
I’ve been pondering this week about what book for which I’m most thankful. And while there are many that I’ve read this year and in the past few years, the one that comes to the very top is a book that made me who I am as an author. It’s a book that was dropped… Read more »
These lilacs have the most glorious scent, but are pretty modest in their way. The former colleague I lost over the weekend to cancer would have liked them for both those reasons.
#flowers #grief #lilacs
It’s been a tough week. A moment with a few flowers can make a difference.
#flowers #azalea #springflowers