Last year, I connected via Skype with two schools that used The Distance to Home in a grade-wide capacity. I was delighted to interview the teachers who spearheaded this project in their respective middle schools, Angie Hull from Dublin, OH, and Tiffany Hathaway from Folsom, NJ. JB: When I wrote this book, I always hoped it… Read more »
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Real kids . . . what do they read?
Last week during my World Read-Aloud Day (WRAD) Skype visits with 4th-6th grade classrooms in New York, Illinois, Texas, Iowa, and Minnesota, I asked the students for reading recommendations. What books have they read and loved lately? Which books are their all-time faves? (I only wish we had more than 20 minutes to chat so… Read more »
2017, a year in books
1 book published in hardcover: 14 Hollow Road 1 book printed in paperback: The Distance to Home 2 new middle grade WIPs revised 1 book blurbed (my first time being asked! I was so thrilled! It’s coming out in 2018.) several picture books drafted (none exactly “finished”) 207 books* read (208 if I can somehow manage… Read more »
Holiday shopping help
I know, I know, there are already a gajillion guides out there about which books to buy as gifts this holiday season. But I can’t help myself! I read almost 200 books this year (192 as of today), not including picture books, and there’s something deeply satisfying about revisiting and culling them into my very… Read more »
Notes from the revision cave
If you know me in real life, one thing you’ll notice right away is that I am neat. Tidy. It’s quite possible that I’ve been passed down the neat and tidy gene from my mother, at whose house you can feel extremely safe eating food that has been dropped on the floor for more than… Read more »
And that’s a wrap
As of tomorrow, 14 Hollow Road will have been out for 8 weeks (!!!). It’s been super fun stopping by bookstores to sign copies, meeting readers at events, and hearing what real people (i.e. not my mom) think about the book. Here are some of the highlights: Chatting with a father and daughter — both of… Read more »
The 10 Best and Worst* Things About Nerd Camp *;)
Best: 1. Connecting in-person with online friends! So the truth is, most of the authors I know (myself included) kind of spend a lot of time on Twitter. It’s not just because we’re wasting time (okay, sometimes it is). Twitter is where so many good conversations are. When your author friends are far-flung, it’s the… Read more »
14 Hollow Road — now out in the world!
This one’s for the kids. The ones who feel insecure about where they stand in friendships. The ones who feel awkward around their crushes. The ones who find solace in the companionship of a beloved pet. The ones who are excited and a little bit terrified about moving on to junior high/middle school and growing… Read more »
14 Hollow Road Book Parties!
To celebrate the launch of 14 Hollow Road, there will be two launch parties: Tuesday, June 13th (the day the book is released) at Blue Manatee Children’s Bookstore in Cincinnati, OH, at 6:30 PM Tuesday, July 25th at Porter Square Books in Cambridge, MA, at 7 PM [link] At each event there will be delicious local treats,… Read more »
When a question from a kid hits up against the truth
Last weekend, I had the pleasure of participating in the SE-YA Book Festival in Murfreesboro, TN (home of Middle Tennessee State, which just won their March Madness game last night — woot woot!). For those of you who aren’t familiar with the festival, first off, it’s the best. On the first day, students from area schools… Read more »
