The children’s book world is a small one. No sooner do you insult someone in your publishing life than she shows up as the new marketing director who has absolute control over your new book :> Authors support authors in many times and ways, too–laughing together, empathizing over the agony, celebrating the shiny spots. It’s
My dad could sound his most Biblical and profound when he said the words, “Come let us reason together.” I wonder if it’s maybe because he was only 18 when he joined his older brothers, left the farm in Adrian, Oregon, and went off to World War II. He once said in an interview that
Once upon a time, I was invited to be one of fourteen authors selected by Laura Bush to be part of Celebrate America’s Authors day. Being here again in the DC area this week is making me remember. I didn’t know that the First Lady got to choose the day before inauguration to shine a
When I was in Seattle last month, I was startled to be introduced to the amazon employees who came to hear my presentation as a philanthropist. I associate that word with a person who has a kind heart–maybe a deep ethical stance–and financial resources to share with the world. Ummm…me? That last bit is probably the opposite of
Writing retreats…yum! I’ve been getting together with a group of fellow children’s book authors for more than ten years. At first, we took a long weekend from our crowded lives to write, write, write–and read our writing to each other and discuss delicious books we’d read and also talk about each other’s work. Then we
This fall when we visited the Little Family, we became part of the Big Soccer Scene of young athletes all over America. Little Sweetie #2 dribbles naturally and easily, not looking at his feet, but in the game he waits for the ball to squirt out to him and doesn’t hurt people’s feelings for going after
Must be brief! Why? I’m on a writing retreat with these author friends (and others) and I should be thinking about my fiction, NOT about Ethiopia Reads, NOT about my blog, NOT about all the other things that tug at authors including how am I going to pay the rent THIS month? I often try
After starting my last post with a “tag, you’re it!” I got somewhat distracted by the joys of reading and forgot where I was going with tag :> Where I was going was to say that last weekend I played tag with three little kids–four, five and six, I think, for the first time in
Tag…you’re it. I flew to Birmingham late last week for a visit to Jonathan, Hiwot + family and experienced the thrilldom of getting to hear Noh read out loud for the first time. Wow. I can tell that he’s spent years watching his older sister sound out words. Being a second kid has given him a
The lovely and elegant (and yummy) Strings restaurant in Denver will be the latest gathering of people interested in books, Ethiopia, kids, reading and writing, not always in that order. Friday, September 23 · 5:30pm – 7:30pm That’s tomorrow! Here I am outside the restaurant just after having had tea with Lanie and one of my talented
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