February 2010 Happy 2010!!! Okay, I know, one month of 2010 has already fizzled into frigid air, but what can I say? I’ve been hunkered down behind my desk hard at work. The California History for Kids book is in full swing. I logged over 10,000 words on the manuscript in January, plus lots and lots of research time, with general, garden-variety ms tweaking along the way. California history is such an amazing, yet broad, topic. At times it’s difficult to decide what to leave in and what to leave out. It’s a shame I can’t include all of the wonderful details I’ve run across in my research. So far I’ve covered such issues as the megafauna that existed in California during the late Pleistocene Epoch, the earliest Californians, California Native Americans, Early Spanish Explorers, The Sacred Expedition, California missions, and other topics. Now it’s on to life in Mexican California and early overland travel from the east. I’ll be in touch if I can keep my head above this ever-increasing pile of research material! Stay warm! December 2009 Don’t forget to consider books when you’re making out those gift-buying lists! As I tell students, when it comes to books, there is something out there for everyone. Happy Holidays! And, as always, keep in mind the “reason for the season.” See you next year! November 2009 Happy November! Have you eaten all the Halloween candy yet? I’m elbow-deep in the research process for the new book on the history of California.Did you know that early explorers believed that California was an island? Interesting stuff! For this project, I have the opportunity to choose my own photos/illustrations for the book. This is something I’ve not done before, and I’m loving it! Of course, the photo research I’m conducting right now is preliminary--since the book isn’t written yet, but it’s nice to have an idea in mind of what’s out there and how it can be tied in with the manuscript. se” will appear in the June 2010 issue of Highlights for Children magazine. Exciting, yes? I love the folks at Highlights! Happy Thanksgiving! October 2009 Well, the proposal was completed and sent and I’m happy to say the news is GOOD! I’ve been offered a contract to write a nonfiction book for Chicago Review Press’ ...for Kids series. I’ll share more details next month when the contract is signed, but suffice it to say, I am thrilled to work on the project and honored to work with the folks at Chicago Review Press. You can check out some of the other ...for Kids series titles here. It is a fantastic series, for nine years old and up, that covers interesting topics with curriculum tie-ins such as Abraham Lincoln, Houdini, the American Revolution, Shakespeare, Monet and the Impressionists, Polar Explorers, Isaac Newton, Galileo, and many others. Each book includes about twenty in-depth activities related to the book’s topic. In Chicago History for Kids (written by Owen Hurd), for instance, readers can find out how to create a miniature glacier, make homemade caramel corn, take a walking tour of Rosehill Cemetery, create his or her own Impressionist painting, write a blues song, and several others. If you haven’t seen these before, take a look. Titles are available online, at bookstores, and in libraries. See you in November! September 2009 September??? Wait...I’m not finished with summer yet! My preliminary research on the new project is just about complete and I’m polishing up my proposal to send out next week--crossed fingers and good vibes would be appreciated. Major congrats go out to my bud Alma Fullerton--her book Libertad continues to pull in honors and awards. If you haven’t read it yet, don’t wait! This one’s worth a trip to your local bookstore! I also wanted to share some info on a newly-released book from another friend of mine--Sara Lewis Holmes’ latest middle-grade novel, Operation Yes, has just been released. I haven’t had the opportunity to read it yet, but I’ve been hearing fantastic buzz. Check it out! Have a great month! August 2009 It’s August? Really? Where has the summer gone? Due to vacation and an extremely disruptive gallbladder (which was subsequently removed), I never updated in July. My apologies. I’ve taken a short writing break, but it’s been long enough. I get antsy (my husband says “grumpy”) when I’m not writing. The last few weeks I’ve been hard at work on research for a potential new project. Since everything isn’t quite in place yet, I’ll keep the details to myself, but I’ll be happy to share when and if everything becomes finalized. I do love the research process! I went to the library and came home with ten books--big, substantial books. I had another large stack scoped out, but I simply couldn’t carry them all! No worries, though--they’re on my list for next time. And don’t even get me started on Internet research--there are so many primary source materials online now, it’s astounding! One of my favorite parts about researching is stumbling upon little-known people or facts. Those fascinating topics lead to more and more ideas for future projects. I read today about a man who lived in Arkansas in the 1870s. As a native Arkansan, I can’t believe I’d never heard of him--he was a remarkable man who worked his entire life to improve conditions for African Americans. So far, I’ve found very little written about him--hopefully, a biography for young people will emerge from this research--his story needs to be told. On another note, I wanted to mention that a book I wrote an article for came out last month--Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader for Kids Only! Facts to Annoy Your Teacher. The book contains short, medium, and long pieces that are informative and fun (and some are quite disgusting, but the kids love it). My piece titled, “Sting and Bite,” tells about three creepy creatures--the bullet ant, the Sydney funnel-web spider, and bearded fireworms. Eeeeuuuww! You can check the book out here or at your favorite independent bookstore. Oh...and no offense intended, teachers! ;-) Good luck to all you back-to-schoolers! June 2009 Hey! I’m a couple of days early with my update this month. How’s that for a big surprise??? I had a great time at the Arkansas SCBWI Spring Conference a couple of weeks ago. It’s SO nice to visit with friends and fellow writers that I haven’t seen in a while--and children’s writers have to be the sweetest, most gracious group ever. I’m very blessed to be a part of this world. My school visits were wonderful as well. A big hello to all the staff, students, and faculty at Washington and Holcomb Elementary Schools. We had tons of fun! And one of the best parts came after I got back home--the second grade students from Holcomb sent me some lovely letters. Thanks, guys! I loved reading them all. At Holcomb, I also had the opportunity to work with students at their Young Author’s Workshop. You guys are WAY talented! Keep up the good work! As May skedaddles into June, I’m looking at a little R&R--I hope you all find some too. Here’s to summer!!! May 2009 Well, it’s May and I’m still waiting on some luscious spring weather. We’ve had a taste, but for the last week it’s been soooo gloomy and soooo rainy. Ugh. BUT...there are bright spots in my near future even if they aren’t in the weather department--I’ll be visiting two schools this week. On Tuesday the 5th, I’ll be at Washington Elementary School, and on Wednesday the 6th, I’ll be speaking and conducting a Young Authors Workshop at Holcomb Elementary, both in Fayetteville, Arkansas. I’m excited! I love getting out and visiting schools. Can’t wait to see what you guys are up to! Also in May--and running a close second on my excitement-meter--the Arkansas Chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators will be holding their spring conference on Friday & Saturday May 15-16th. Whether you’re new to writing for kids, or a seasoned pro, this is your place. For more info, please visit the Arkansas SCBWI Web site. Now, last, but certainly not least, I am over-the-moon thrilled to announce the release of one of my best buddy’s first picture book! Kristy Dempsey’s ME WITH YOU should be hitting the shelves any day. Both the text and the artwork are irresistible. Everyone has that special someone that they carry with them always--and this book is a celebration of that unconditional relationship. Check out the ME WITH YOU book trailer on Kristy’s site and you just might find yourself heading to your local bookseller to make a purchase. April 2009 Oops! I somehow missed March. With my track record, I think I need to make this an every-other-month update instead of a monthly one! I’m soooooo ready for spring, but it hasn’t been too spring-like around here lately. How’s the weather at your house? I finished up the revisions on the obesity book I mentioned in January. I truly think this will be a series that will resonate with preteens/teens. I hope so anyway. My writer pal, Linda Urban, has a brand spankin’ new picture book out this month--MOUSE WAS MAD (illus. by Henry Cole, Harcourt Children’s Books). It is ADORABLE! You can check it out here or at your favorite local independent bookstore. But DO check it out. You won’t be sorry! February 2009 Just a quick update this month-- First I’d like to congratulate all the winners of this year’s ALA awards. I know with all the wonderful books out there, the committees had a difficult time choosing. For a full listing of the winners, visit the ALA website. I was thrilled to see that the The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman took top Newbery honors. It is a wonderfully written tale, (but, in my opinion, a little too frightening for the youngest readers). Nevertheless for the “right” reader, I would highly recommend it. In fact, I need to add it to My Favorite Books page. It’s that good. I also want to send out a major hurrah to Leslie Connor and Waiting for Normal for the receipt of the Schneider Family Book Award--my favorite middle-grade book of the year. If you enjoy contemporary novels and haven’t read this one, you need to check it out. If you’re looking for some interesting nonfiction--I have an idea for you. As a Christmas gift to myself, I bought Carla McClafferty’s latest work, In Defiance of Hitler: The Secret Mission of Varian Fry. I haven’t had a chance to read it yet, but the topic is fascinating. As the book flap mentions, the story ...”brings to life an ordinary man who under extraordinary circumstances defied a dictator and became a true hero.” More details to come... Oops! I said this was going to be a quick update, but when I get started talking about books, this always seems to happen! :-) January 2009 Hmmm...looks like I missed the December update, but I wasn’t slacking, I promise I wasn’t. I’ve been hard at work on a new nonfiction book on teen weight issues and obesity for Compass Point Books. It’s written in a relaxed, chatty style and includes quotes from several teens who are dealing with weight issues. I think it’s going to be a nice addition to Compass Points’ Lifestyles series. It will probably be out later this year. I know I’ve gushed over lots of books I’ve read recently so I’ve finally added several of them to the My Favorite Books page. Check it out! And last, but not least, my book from Cherry Lake Publishing, EARTH’S BIOMES, is due out this month. I’ve posted a copy of the cover here. I think the cover photo is awesome--what a beautiful sight. :-) Best wishes to everyone for the new year!!! November 2008 Is it already November? My, oh my. I want to send HUGE congratulations to Alma Fullerton. Her book Libertad has been nominated for Canada’s Governor General’s Award! This award is equivalent to our Newbery and is the highest children’s book award honor in Canada. Go, Alma! If you haven’t read this book yet, check it out. Here’s a link to the press release. In personal news, my latest book from Kidhaven Press, Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, Jawed Karim: YouTube Creators, is due out this month. The book is part of Kidhaven’s Innovators series and is the biography of the men who developed YouTube. You can see the cover on the My Books page. I’ve also added a cover image of The Amazing Bible Factbook for Kids on the My Books page. October 2008 I’m still reading a batch of awesome books and I feel the need to share some more titles, don’t miss The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson, Waiting for Normal by Leslie Connor, and Shooting the Moon by F. A. Dowell. They are all something special! The awards committees are going to have their hands full this year! If you have a child or student that is interested in biblical facts, I hope you’ll check out a new release from Time, Inc. and the American Bible Society--The Amazing Bible Factbook for Kids. It’s jam-packed with interesting facts from the Bible in areas such as angels, geography, kids in the Bible, travel, miracles, and lots more. I was fortunate enough to get to write several sections in the book and I think the final product turned out really well. Check it out! September 2008 Oops! Where’d July and August go? The summer has flown by too quickly. The last two months have been a whirlwind for me, but I wouldn’t trade them for anything. It’s difficult to believe it’s football and back-to-school time. Best of luck for whatever fall has in store for you! I have to take a minute to gush about some new books I’ve read lately. For mid-grade readers, don’t miss Alma Fullerton’s Libertad, Kathi Appelt’s The Underneath, and Andrea Beatty’s Cicada Summer. These books are beautifully written with can’t-put-’em-down story lines. In the YA realm (for mature readers), take a look at Sara Zarr’s Story of a Girl. I was a little late getting my hands on this one, but I’m glad I finally got around to it. It’s definitely worth a read. In personal book news, the cover of my YouTube book has recently been released. You can see an image on the My Books page. The book is scheduled to be out in early December. I’ve also been hard at work on a new nonfiction book for Cherry Lake Publishing’s Real World Science series. The book’s title is Earth’s Biomes and it’s due out in January 2009. I hope you’ll look for it. It was great fun to write! Have a happy and safe Labor Day weekend! June 1, 2008 I hope everyone is enjoying their summer! What a great time to rest, relax, and refill the well. I’m blessed that I have one minor and one major writing retreat planned in the upcoming weeks. It will be wonderful to spend time with friends old and new and simply concentrate on the both the writing and the creative processes. In book news, my latest nonfiction book from Kidhaven Press, BERMUDA TRIANGLE, was recently released. You can check it out on my My Books page. Also, I hope you’ll keep an eye out in November for another of my Kidhaven nonfiction projects. This book, tentatively titled YOUTUBE, is a biography of the men who discovered the YouTube Internet site. Fun stuff! May 1, 2008 I want to send a special shout-out thank you to the students, staff, and teachers at Fairview Elementary School in Camden, AR. What a wonderful group! At my visit last week, I was treated to a fantastic day. All sorts of Farmer McP and cow related items covered the hall walls, some of the students and teachers dressed up as farmers, many students wore Farmer McP glasses, and a couple of parents were even kind enough to bring in a live mule and a live “Thunderbolt” (horse!) for the students to see. Wow! Thanks so much for making me feel welcome. In other news, I’m gearing up for two more school visits in the next two weeks. Get ready Monticello and Clarksville! If we have as much fun as we did in Camden, it’s going to be a rockin’ good time! On a sad note, I want to send out my love, thoughts, and prayers to all those who have been affected by the storms of the past few months. The destruction is devastating and I’m heartbroken for those who lost loved ones and homes. May God bless you all. April 1, 2008 I finally updated my My Favorite Books page and it was a struggle. It’s like choosing your favorite among your babies--it just can’t be done. But I gave it an honest try. Please check back from time to time as I’ll be updating the page. I’m constantly discovering new favorites! February 10, 2008 I have several upcoming school/Reading Association visits. I’m looking forward to visiting Cave City, Camden, Monticello, and Clarksville in the next few months. If you are interested in scheduling a visit, please click my Teachers/Media Specialists page. February 1, 2008 As you can see, my website is undergoing substantial changes. Since I am going several directions in my writing career, I thought it was important for my website to encompass all the varied areas. Enjoy!