Attention fans of Rookskill! In two days, I’m excited to announce, we’ll be launching a new website dedicated to THE CHARMED CHILDREN OF ROOKSKILL CASTLE. The website contains a trove of information, with some reveals and other “extras”, but most importantly, it contains a game that can be played in schools, libraries, or by readers… Read more »
Book News
Librarians, Teachers, & ROOKSKILL Fans: A New Website!
News, News
I have some more fun news to share. First, I’ve joined The Booking Biz as a client! I’m delighted to be part of their very professional team, as this will allow me to concentrate on my writing while they can attend to the details of any school visits from me. If you are a teacher… Read more »
Discussion Guide For THE CHARMED CHILDREN
A discussion guide is now available! I want to let teachers, librarians, book club organizers, and readers know that there is a discussion and project guide now available for THE CHARMED CHILDREN OF ROOKSKILL CASTLE. The guide was created by the talented Deb Gonzales and contains questions to spur analysis, games, poetry features, and more…. Read more »
Blog Tour: THE CHARMED CHILDREN OF ROOKSKILL CASTLE
To celebrate today’s release of THE CHARMED CHILDREN OF ROOKSKILL CASTLE we’re on a blog tour!! And note the giveaways listed, too! As of yesterday – March 14 – I will be visiting these blogs: My Brain on Books–Guest post & Video #1–03/14/16 Word Spelunking–Top 10 List & Video #2–03/15/16 The Book Wars–Guest post… Read more »
Two Weeks Until Launch
In THE CHARMED CHILDREN OF ROOKSKILL CASTLE, a chatelaine – a piece of jewelry worn at the waist during the 17th through 19th centuries (read more about chatelaines here) – plays a huge role. For each of twelve children, there is a charm on that chatelaine. I won’t reveal here what it does – that… Read more »
The Author “Thing”
In just over two weeks, THE CHARMED CHILDREN OF ROOKSKILL CASTLE will be out in the world. This is a nerve-wracking time for an author. Will it sell? Will people like it? Will they even read it? This is my baby and I want it to be loved! Now, in fairness, I’m on cloud nine… Read more »
Nanci Turner Steveson SWING SIDEWAYS Cover!
Several years ago I had the absolute joy of meeting Nanci Turner Steveson at a Highlights workshop, where I was a TA. Nanci’s breathtaking novel captured me then, and now I’m pleased to reveal the cover for her debut middle grade, SWING SIDEWAYS, due out from HarperCollins on May 3, 2016. Watch for this one… Read more »
Books With Diversity: Cross-cultural Relationships
In this moment when diversity is finally getting the attention it deserves, and publishers and readers are discovering books that represent diverse cultures, I’d like to make mention of young adult novels that feature cross-cultural and/or interracial relationships. My interest in the subject stems from my own work. In my backstory construct of FORGIVEN, I… Read more »
Cover Reveal! THE CHARMED CHILDREN OF ROOKSKILL CASTLE
Drum roll…………I am over the moon about the cover for my debut middle grade novel, THE CHARMED CHILDREN OF ROOKSKILL CASTLE, out March 15, 2016, from Viking. Here it is: And here’s the blurb: Something is not right at Rookskill Castle, a rundown Scottish manor shrouded in mystery. The castle is a temporary boarding… Read more »
FORGIVEN Giveaway – Kindle Free Download and Goodreads Giveaway!
In conjunction with my posts about San Francisco in 1906, the setting of my novel FORGIVEN – and particularly for those wonderful librarians heading to ALA San Francisco – I’m running a giveaway for hard copies…and a freebie on ebook copies! Now you’ll know what to read on the plane – FORGIVEN, after all, is… Read more »