My son’s elementary school principal shared this with me over her holiday break: a link to www.readbrightly.com’s recommended list of middle grade novels in 2018 that included The Mad Wolf’s Daughter (March 6, 2018). I’m deeply touched to be included, but also quite touched by the means through which I heard of it. Maine schools are… Read more »
My Books
My First Trade Review
It’s thrilling to have my very first trade review for The Mad Wolf’s Daughter out into the world, on Kirkus’s website: And here’s the full thing!
Castle Scenes: Part 1
The great medieval castles of Scotland have always inspired me and helped me create my fictional worlds. In this series, I’ll share pictures of castle bits that have directly led to specific scenes in my novels. For this post, let’s talk castle stairs. I always knew that castle stairs were narrow, and spiral, and designed… Read more »
Making the Rounds
November is the month for a couple of important conferences: one for school librarians and one for English teachers, adults who I hope will have a chance to read my book and recommend it to their students. I was delighted to see that Penguin Young Readers had included advanced reading copies of my book at… Read more »
The Mad Wolf’s Daughter on Sale!
Things change suddenly in publishing, and one thing that has just come up for The Mad Wolf’s Daughter is the many bookstores where it’s suddenly on sale. My husband and I have had fun checking out our favorite indies from around the U.S. and seeing if they have my book for preorder (so far, they all have!)…. Read more »
Cover Update
The world of publishing can be a complicated business, a special journey with paths that a debut writer could not easily foresee. As I’ve said a few times when I meet new situations, I’ve learned a lot. And one thing I’ve learned recently is that a cover you love can change. But before you freeze… Read more »
Vlog Review of The Mad Wolf’s Daughter!
I have my first review, and in the form of One Minute Books, a librarian’s vlog that recommends YA and MG novels for patrons. It’s pretty amazing to hear someone other than my beta readers or my agent or editor talk about my characters! Enjoy!
Arrival of My ARCs
Advanced reading copies. The famed ARCs. Also known as galleys, these are the first appearances of a novel into print. ARCs are used to introduce a book to reviewers, awards committees, and readers (with an eye to publicity and future purchases). But at their core, they share an author’s fictional world with a selectively chosen… Read more »
Early Praise for The Mad Wolf’s Daughter
Getting a blurb is a big deal for a debut author. It’s an early validation of your book and your talents, and it’s one of the high points in the months before the publication date. When a debut author received blurbs from established authors she admires (or adores, or worships), the resulting emotions are immense…. Read more »
The Power of the Rewritten Word
One of the hardest things for young writers to remember is that a work of writing isn’t finished when you reach the end of the paper or file. Revision, that frightening word, is next. But that can be hard to appreciate. For many students, writing is simply hard, and rewriting an agony. In elementary and… Read more »
Flora is just utterly beautiful in any pose she takes. And she hardly knows it!
#catsofinstagram
I took this pic to figure out what kind of furry visitor I had, and it’s so pretty I need to share. Meet my new friend, a tiger moth caterpillar, which, with luck, will transform soon into a gorgeous moth!
#caterpillar #garden #nature