Clik here to view.
Summer Reading
I turned in the first draft of my new manuscript to my editor, school is closed for the summer, and we’re winding up my daughter’s dance and theatre activities until August. This means we’re melting...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Trust the Process: Why Writing Novels Prepared Me for Knee Surgery
I had knee surgery July 7th. The byproduct of too many years as a basketball player and a fall skiing last January. I’ve had knee surgery before – in high school for a basketball injury – and I...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Picture Me Gone by Meg Rosoff
Each year in my Creative Writing 1A class, I like to start with a discussion of point of view, voice and character. This year, I gave my new students the first chapter of PICTURE ME GONE by Meg Rosoff...
View ArticleClik here to view.
2014 YA Contemporary Scavenger Hunt
This year, I’m lucky enough to be part of the 2014 YA Contemporary Scavenger Hunt.As part of the hunt, I get to host another YA author on my site. It’s my pleasure to introduce you to Michelle Madow!...
View ArticleClik here to view.
8 Terrible Titles
Thanks to Jen Nadol (whose new YA Contemporary THIS IS HOW IT ENDS from Simon Pulse has a fantastic title) for tagging me in the 8 Terrible Titles Challenge. That was fun. And sadly, some of these are...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Gifting Books (no strings attached), 2014
On November 29th, my daughter and I had the opportunity to participate in Indie First Small Business Saturday. I got to live my dream of being a bookseller in a fabulous independent bookstore, The Book...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Winter Reading
Even if it hasn’t been much of a winter here in California, I still crave this season of curling up with a good book by the fire. Here are some favorites from our family so far this winter. These three...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Stargazer Book Giveaway, take 2
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! CONGRATS TO OUR WINNER!! Ana pulled Darith L.’s name out of the hat! In celebration of the paperback release of CATCH A FALLING STAR on Tuesday, April 28th, and of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Summer Reads 2015
Sitting in the shade of a tree near a river. Or with a toe dragging absentmindedly through the surface of a pool. Or in the air conditioning of a cafe. Or perhaps with toes wiggling in sand as the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Boot: A Writing Prompt
Last week, my family and I had the opportunity to spend a few days in Aspen, Colorado. I had never been before, and it was stunning, tilting on the cusp between autumn and winter. We wandered along...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Why I Write: SCBWI North/Central California Holiday Mixer Talk
W.H. Auden said, “The aim of writing poetry is to enable readers a little better to enjoy life or a little better to endure it.” I think this is true not just for readers but also for us as writers. I...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Possibility of Now
I have a new YA novel coming out in January!! I might have mentioned it about a thousand times already. Forgive me. This is a novel dear to my teacher-heart, exploring the current culture of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
2016 YA Contemporary Scavenger Hunt
I’m thrilled to be part of the 2016 YA Contemporary Scavenger Hunt. For information on how the hunt works, check out The Book Belles blog! As a complete fangirl myself (hello, Harry Potter references...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Possibility of Now book launch
Last night at our local ski shop, Mountain Recreation, The Book Seller of Grass Valley hosted the book launch for THE POSSIBILITY OF NOW. Since the book is set in Tahoe, and partly in a ski shop, it...
View Article