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 would be a spoiler! Just for fun I made a series of twelve super-short videos, one for each charm. … [Read more...]
The Author “Thing”
February 23, 2016 by
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 over the wonderful welcome it's received to date. Kirkus, Booklist, and Publisher's Weekly have all given it starred … [Read more...]
Nanci Turner Steveson SWING SIDEWAYS Cover!
October 9, 2015 by
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 - it's going to make waves! … [Read more...]
Books With Diversity: Cross-cultural Relationships
June 30, 2015 by
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 imagined that Kula Baker's … [Read more...]
