I am one of the rare people who like to move. I like sorting stuff. I like throwing stuff away. I like having new, clean space to fill with things I need rather than things I might need someday. I like traveling for the same reason. There is serenity in having everything you need in … Read More →
Most of the time, I do months of research before even starting to write a book. I explore settings, historical characters, and historical events taking place not only where my story takes place but in the rest of the world at the time. I like to feel comfortable with my stage before my characters even … Read More →
I got the opportunity of a lifetime — not my lifetime — last week. I took my 4 and 5-year-old grandsons back to Oklahoma to meet Great Grandad, their uncle, great uncles and aunts, cousins, second cousins once removed … you get the idea. There’s a lot of family. We trekked from Grand Lake through … Read More →
I must admit that the first reason I was drawn to Anna was her name. I’ve been researching books set in eastern Europe for years and have a love for names that take me there. Then I discovered she had written the picture book POWER DOWN, LITTLE ROBOT – which is brilliant. I was eager … Read More →
What do you remember about Huck Finn? As I prepared to reread THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN in preparation for writing a condensation of the story for Caramel Tree, I remembered that it was about Tom Sawyer’s sidekick Huck and Jim, a slave, and their adventures rafting down the Mississippi. I remembered it was hard … Read More →
My newest book from Reading a-z, THE GREAT LAND RUN, is coming soon! The illustrations are fantastic. I love the way the story turned out. It was quite a journey to get it to this final stage. Originally, I was contracted to write a non-fiction book about The Old West. Easy enough. I’ve spent many … Read More →
I had a great time sharing my decorated egg collection with Ms. Leticia’s preschool class. We talked about different types of eggs: quail, chicken, emu. We talked about different types of decoration: painting, dying, carving. Then I shared a story from my manuscript-in-waiting, LEGEND OF THE RUSALKY. The story is about Ukrainian Easter eggs — … Read More →
Made it back from Oklahoma (my old stomping grounds) where I attended the OWFI Conference — they know how to throw quite a shindig. Lots going on in two days: networking, great speakers, banquets, signings, and a chance to pitch my new work. Success! Will be sending pages off soon. I also managed to grab … Read More →
One of the first authors I fell in love with was Mark Twain. I had a book of his short stories that I read over and over and over… So, I was really excited when Caramel Tree asked me to write a condensed version of THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER for second language learners. Reading … Read More →
I’ll admit, sometimes it is hard writing for the education market. Not that I don’t love it! I love researching new topics. I love working with great editors that care about getting the content just right. I love seeing the book come together with the illustrations. I love picturing little hands thumbing through the pages. … Read More →