"Protection," when uttered by a librarian or teacher or another gatekeeper, is another word for censorship. Individual families may choose what they will or won't read/watch/listen to--that's their prerogative. But when institutions block access to materials *for their whole community* out of some misguided sense of "protection," that's censorship ( Read more... )

 While CC plays with stickers and an (unsharpened) pencil at my feet and the dog lounges:

1. My Fabulous Husband started a fabulous new job two weeks ago...and it turned our schedule upside down. Adjusting to being full time mom, full time teacher, and working writer, all at the same time? Not so easy. I'm trying to breathe and prioritize, but I'm ( Read more... )

- After a great critique by my writing group last night, I'm ready to revise the first quarter of my current project. I really, really like this book--it's a little different for me, and it's SO FUN to write.

- I'm up to my ears grading HUNGER GAMES papers for the day job. The students in my class overwhelmingly loved the book to the point where ( Read more... )

 My goal was to read 35 books in 2010, which was a great way to get back into a more aggressive reading schedule once  Mommyhood descended upon my life. I came pretty close: 32.5 books, with one re-read included. Here's the list, minus two books that I can't for the life of me remember (I checked off boxes as I finished books, but lost the sheet ( Read more... )

 Like lots of people on the planet, I've gotten into Steig Larsson's MILLENNIUM series: THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE, and the last one, THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET'S NEXT.

I devoured the first two books in a matter of days, which, considering my schedule as of late, is no small feat. I'm nearly done with the ( Read more... )

 I'm sitting in a sunny window of a cafe in Palo Alto, California, waiting to meet a friend from high school for coffee. It's been a whirlwind week--from release party to cross-country trip, to schlepping up the CA coast, to school presentations and local book signings--whew!!

But it's all been absolutely amazing.

Here's a glimpse of the party


( Read more... )

 Several weeks ago, I finished Ulrich Boser's nonfiction book, THE GARDNER HEIST. I love capers, and the Gardner Museum art theft intrigues me to no end. FabHusband bought the book for me after we saw the author interviewed on a local TV program.

ANYway, finishing it got me to thinking about what I read. I can't remember the last time I didn't have ( Read more... )

Home Life
I've been a bad blogger. Between the Red Sox in the playoffs, work-work, writing-work, and mommy-work, I haven't had much time for anything extracurricular...including sleep.

I'm so tired, I'm about ready to write odes to naps, sonnets to slumber. If I don't fall into a narcoleptic coma on the keyboard, that is.

BUT, I have a WEEK off from ( Read more... )

gallo_nero and I were invited to read to a bunch of 5th and 6th graders attending summer camp at our alma mater, Boston College (Gallo went there for grad school, I did my undergrad there). We're going today. Shortly, as a matter of fact. I think I'm going to read the first two chapters of MODELS, and he is going to perform one or two of the songs from the ( Read more... )

1. Today is the first day of summer! It's my favorite season. Bring on lazy days, hot weather, ice cream, and pitchers of iced tea ( Read more... )