“A lot of this is letting go of what I want it to be so it can be what it needs to be.” — Karen Laz, picture book writer “Michelle’s guidance was invaluable to me and to taking my manuscript to the next level. I had been floundering and then procrastinating. I was stuck. Once […]
On March 4th and March 6th, I visited my last two schools for the 2019-2020 school year. But they weren’t supposed to be my last two schools. No, March, April, and May were supposed to be filled with connections with young readers. At schools, libraries, and book festivals. As you know, schools and libraries closed […]
Why do writers celebrate? When do we celebrate? And how? I had a lot of fun writing this post for The Mixed-Up Files of Middle-Grade Authors. You can read it by clicking here. And when you’re done, think of something that happened today that is worth celebrating. And then… CELEBRATE! Keep reading, keep writing, and […]
I’m cheating here. So this will be short. ( I should be working on my novel, because I came a long distance to retreat and get some serious work done.) No doubt, the other writers and I are making excellent use of our time. We hole ourselves up on porches, in corners, on bottom bunks, […]
… and ten thousand more to go-oh-oh. (If you’re of a certain age, you can thank me for putting James Taylor into your brain for the rest of the day. If you aren’t, or if lyrics just aren’t your forte, that’s a line from Sweet Baby James.) It’s tax time, and I’m doing what authors […]
Hi, all! I want to share my latest post from over at The Mixed-Up Files of Middle-Grade Authors. I chose to write about Dreams and Rejection, both of which seem to permeate the lives of all writers. Click the link above and you’ll be transported there just like … that! Enjoy and comment. I love hearing […]
Each year, I choose a word of the year. A word that I hope will help me grow or change or cope or stretch. Two years ago, when I was juggling two demanding careers and a growing family, I chose the word Balance. Here’s how I visualized Balance: Last year, feeling a little more on […]
I grew up with college football. Correction: I grew up with Buckeye football. I was actually born a Nittany Lion. My father’s first teaching position was at Penn State. I don’t remember much about those early years. I do remember a big lion statue, but maybe that memory comes from trips back to State College when […]
At least a dozen times in my life I’ve tried to reinvent myself as a Morning Person. First, in high school, when I began to drink coffee milk and sugar with a tablespoon of coffee. I thought it would be great to rise hours before the school bell, do some homework, pick out a fun outfit. It didn’t […]
I love this time of year! I’ve always embraced Back-to-School season, as a mom and as an elementary school speech pathologist. I love new Sharpies. I love blank notebooks. I love that the end of August forced our household back to a more scheduled life. (Not that I didn’t love lazy summer mornings, mealtimes that […]
