My Cybils Reading by the Numbers: In Appreciation of Libraries
An appreciation of the public libraries that allowed me to read 128 books in the past two and a half months for the Cybils, and advice for ending your novel.
The “I Am Here” Reading and Exhibition and the Brooklyn Blossoms Book Club
A report on a panel of the Brooklyn Blossoms Book Club, featuring four award-winning black women authors and a photo exhibit celebrating black girls and women.
What Makes a Book Fun to Write?
The arrival of my ARCs of Surviving Santiago from my publisher, Running Press Kids, leads me to think about what made that novel so much fun to write.
Historical Fact and Fiction at the Children’s Literature New England Conference
A report on the CLNE conference, "Writing the Past: Yesterday Was Once Today," held November 14-16, 2014 at Vermont College of Fine Arts.
On the Other Side of the Table at the Albany Children’s Book Festival
A report on the Sixth Annual Albany Children's Book Festival from the attendee side of the table.
The 777 Challenge and a New Web Page
I introduce Surviving Santiago via the 777 Challenge, in which I post from a work-in-progress seven full lines from the seventh page, starting seven lines down.
Engaging Readers of Young Adult Fiction: Agent Regina Brooks Weighs In
In a guest post, literary agent Regina L. Brooks offers five general rules for writing young adult fiction that both teens and adults will want to read.
Happy to Be Me: Amateur Artists
Thoughts on motivation, validation, and what it means to be an amateur photographer or writer making art for the fun of it.
Work-in-Progress Character Blog Hop, or Made Up People Can Jump Too
As part of a character blog hop, I introduce Tina Aguilar, the protagonist of my forthcoming YA novel, Surviving Santiago.
Feed Spammers, Content, and Creativity
I draw a parallel between feed spammers on Instagram and publishers' emphasis on branding, with authors bringing out multiple books per year.