On Strike
The nationwide general strike called on January 30, 2026 in solidarity with Minnesota and why I joined it.
Large Countries and the Value of Life
In the wake of a tragic assassination, a discussion of whether a country can be too large and populous for its own good.
Torch Wins!
What it was like for Torch to win the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Young Adult Literature.
On This Day: The Soviet Invasion of Czechoslovakia
Remembering the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, which took place on this day in 1968.
Independence Lost
Comparing the national security law that eliminates Hong Kong's independence to the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968.
A Big Announcement for TORCH!
Have you ever written a super-secret project, one you didn't want to tell *anyone*? That was me, for years, as I worked on draft after draft of a weird, multi-POV…
Family Heritage Trip, Part 2
A trip to Prague, where my daughter learned of the country's 20th century history and its struggle for freedom.
Three Balls of Wool, Maker Spaces, and Cultural Differences
A review of Three Balls of Wool in American Craft magazine and some thoughts on how picture books from other countries reflect their place and time.
Films for the Resistance: Burning Bush
How Burning Bush, a film set in Communist Czechoslovakia in 1969, is relevant to our lives today.