I am not transgender. I am not seventeen. I am not a fourteen-year-old boy. I am not any of my characters from piles of manuscripts, but I wrote a book to make a difference. I chose to tell the story of a friend who struggled with gender identity before there were support groups and celebrities with books about transitioning, online photos of ( Read more... )

Guilt is scratching at my insides, begging me to say something. Children’s Book Week is pulsating in my conscience, telling me I should do something massive and world changing because a national week of recognition has been dedicated to my favorite genre of books. The Children's Book Council has spent soooo much time putting together a fabulous ( Read more... )

I’m sorry I blew you off. The last time we talked I was eulogizing my professor and then telling my Facebook friends I’m going into winter cybernation, and you’re probably thinking that I’m totally depressed or pregnant or something. (Thanks for the love, BTW!)

I’m fine; just super busy. In fact, a few hours ago, I turned in the first draft of ( Read more... )

Yesterday, I had my FIRST bookstore appearance, and like anything that feels good, I'm ready for another.

Cynthea Liu, Michelle Duster, Jen Cullerton Johnson and I held a small panel on writing at Barnes & Noble in Chicago. 
                                      
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The SCBWI BBQ in the Burbs was a heart-warming adventure.

We talked about businessy things.

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***Here's a better version of the video for my livejournal friends. *hugs*

GAH! My first video blog with music! Enjoy. Oh, and it's only 1:39, not over seven minutes. I need help with editing still. We'll get there. Enjoy!

THE FOLLOWING BLOG IS RATED PG-13. CHILDREN UNDER THIRTEEN NEED NOT READ ANY FURTHER. GO ON NOW--STEP AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER.

You ever get wrapped up in reading blogs and you feel like you’re just sitting with the writer, having a conversation, commenting back? Me too. And now the entire world knows that I was nude in public. But my nudeness has ( Read more... )

Before today turns into tomorrow and the week passes me by, I wanted to share one of the most inspirational moments of my writing career. Last Wednesday, I was invited to speak as an author. Really I'm not an author, yet, but I'm well on my way (six years to be exact). So FINALLY I was able to share my gifts with others.

The L.E.A.R.N. Charter ( Read more... )

Happy World Book Day! 
Thanks to all who do their part in keeping books in hands all over the world.


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Lindsey Leavitt blogged about  this editor and her fight to save the book industry.  Let's do it.  Together.  This holiday, let's buy a book instead of a gift card.  Let's buy one instead of slippers that the gift recipient's dog will wrestle off their feet and hide under a pile of snow.  Let's buy one to do our part in saving the book industry.  ( Read more... )