getting off my duff

I am a daughter of American Revolutionary War soldiers. To honor their sacrifice and for the future of my children and grandchildren, I'm getting off my duff.

Thomas Jefferson, the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, said, "When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes a duty."

So today some brand new friends and I visited our U.S. Senators, Mike Crapo and James Risch at their offices in Boise, Idaho. Urged a NO vote for Betsy DeVos as Education Sec'y, NO to immigration ban, and chatted up other issues. Sooooo much work ahead, but I'm psyched.

NEW study guides, Revolutionary War series

Hello Teachers and Parents!

I'm happy to announce new study guides for Hope's Revolutionary War Diaries #1-3: Five Smooth Stones, We Are Patriots, and When Freedom Comes. It was a lot of fun revisiting my research and travel to historic Philadelphia. I've included writing and drawing prompts, ideas for discussion, some activities, a recipe in each, and tidbits about myself. The free guides are on my website. I hope they're fun for you and your readers!

Memoir update - Longhand: The Rise & Fall & Rise of My Career as a Children's Book Author

paperback and Kindle

A birthday gift when I turned seven was a diary, my first. Pink and palm-sized, it had a brass clasp and tiny keyhole so I could record secrets on the lined paper then lock 'em up. I hid the key in a shoe to keep out sibling spies.
     Thus began a lifelong habit of writing things down. My closet is filled with spiral notebooks, old calendars, moleskins, travel diaries, and thick leather journals. I've culled intimacies from these diaries alongside memories of writing for the Los Angeles Times and Scholastic: the rejections, heartbreak, joys, and beloved editors. My privileged career has been intertwined with motherhood, the richest adventure of all.

     The most common question readers ask is, "Where do you get your ideas?" so herein lie the answers. I hope these behind-the-scenes of book writing might inspire writers starting out and those who love the magic of words. Longhand: The Rise and Fall and Rise of My Career as a Children's Book Author.

NEW Prairie River study guides

our back yard at sunrise

This morning the thermometer in our back yard registered two degrees below zero. Frosty cold yet beautiful, I hurried outside (eeesh...gasp!) to snap the sunrise with my cellphone, then back inside to my desk. My happy news for the day is that study guides for the Prairie River series are now on my website.  I included writing and drawing prompts, a recipe, craft ideas, and suggestions for book talks. Oh, also a few secrets about myself and the creative process. So thank you to the many readers who suggested I do this. I hope you enjoy them!

snowed in

getting some fresh air

Happy New Year! It's -8 degrees and sunny in Boise. We've been house-bound for three days because our neighborhood isn't plowed, but no worries! Good books, a good dog, fireplace and family nearby. And with all this time indoors I've been writing more study guides for my website. By popular request from teachers I've added The Legend Of Jimmy Spoon and Jimmy Spoon and the Pony Express. Seriously, they're fun to write!

in the sunroom with Poppy