Catch me at the Middle Grade Book Party panel from 12-12:45pm on October 12th, along with Kristen Kittscher, Barbara Brauner, James Iver Mattson, Ned Vizzini, and moderator Cecil Castellucci. Stay for pizza and cupcakes!


( Read more... )

West Hollywood Book Fair celebrates its 12th edition on Sunday, September 29th. This year’s festival will feature literature, art, music, performance and community in an eclectic presentation. A total of twelve outdoor stages and indoor venues, throughout West Hollywood Park and West Hollywood Library, will host literary and arts programming that ( Read more... )

( Read more... )

Last summer I planted my very first herb garden (see “Herb Adventure” for all the exciting details). I absolutely loved growing my own herbs. I loved the way they looked on the porch - easily visible from the main room where I spend all my time - and I found myself cooking more often because I wanted to use herbs I’d grown myself.

And then I went ( Read more... )

This weekend I’m headed to my very first ALA (American Library Association) annual summer conference. ALA Anaheim will be packed with publishers, librarians, book bloggers, readers, authors, and books Books BOOKS!

I’ll be wandering around until 4pm on Saturday, and on Sunday I’ll be signing Above World. Click the graphic to see my face on the ( Read more... )

Had a great visit with Samantha Ling and her hubby Chris a few weeks ago. I think the Kung Fu Panda’s expression says it all:


( Read more... )

I miss blogging, and in an effort to return to more regular posts, I’m starting a new thing: “Stuff I Love” posts. How does this differ from most of my other posts? Um… it doesn’t. But this is my excuse to talk about the many tiny things I discover, uncover, or enjoy in my everyday life. First up:

Umami Burger

Yes, that’s right. Despite the fact ( Read more... )

I read a great interview with Josh Radnor while sitting in the doctor’s office the other day. I wasn’t so much interested in Radnor (star of How I Met Your Mother), as I was in what he had to say about Los Angeles. Turns out, he loves it for a lot of the same reasons I do.

“It’s this blank canvas, and it reflects you back at you.”

I’ve always felt ( Read more... )

A new establishment just opened a mere block from my house: Diana Sproveri: designer bake shop. This spells my doom. (My tasty, tasty doom.)

On Thursdays from 5-9pm, the bake shop has Cupcake Happy Hour. (I know, right?) As a reward for making a deadline last week, I walked over to check the place out.

( Read more... )

( Read more... )