Book News

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

I have some new exciting news… Kendra Levin of Viking has acquired my first middle grade, CHATELAINE: THE THIRTEENTH CHARM in a pre-empt. It’s slated for a winter 2016 release. I can’t wait to share Kat’s story with you. Here’s a synopsis: CHATELAINE is a middle-grade novel set in a rundown Scottish castle during WWII…. Read more »

I’m pleased to announce that my second novel and the companion to FAITHFUL, FORGIVEN, is now available as an e-book on Amazon Kindle for $2.99. If you haven’t read FORGIVEN – and I hope you’ll give it a try! – here’s the synopsis: Kula Baker never expected to find herself on the streets of San… Read more »