PEN World Voices Festival: Writing Truthfully for Kids About Today’s Issues
A summary of the panel "Writing Truthfully for Kids About Today's Issues," part of the 2023 PEN World Voices Festival.
Torch Wins!
What it was like for Torch to win the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Young Adult Literature.
Misha Tyunik prepares a new artwork at the recent community event.
Little Ukraine Remembers
A community event in my neighborhood marking the first anniversary of Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine and why we need to keep a focus on it.
Make No Plans
It's now less than three weeks until the launch of Torch on November 1. One week later is the date of the midterm elections. With one of the two parties…
Banned Books and Little Free Libraries
September 18-25 is Banned Books Week this year in the United States. In the past, people have observed this week with readings from books that had been challenged in schools…
Research Rabbit Hole
How research for my verse novel in progress led me to discover a new favorite band.
On This Day: The Soviet Invasion of Czechoslovakia
Remembering the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, which took place on this day in 1968.
First Star for TORCH!
The news is official! Torch has received its very first review...and it's a Kirkus star! Calling the novel "Equally terrifying and captivating," the Kirkus reviewer writes: Readers will be on…
Liberty Rights
Since the leak of the draft Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade several weeks ago, my city has seen multiple demonstrations in defense of what was until recently considered…
Me Versus the Spanish Teacher
Republication of an essay in YARN about the role a Spanish teacher played in my writing and translating life.