The second time around is better in many instances. Love. Manuscripts. Conferences. You just seem to know how to avoid problems and what to do when they come up. So this year when I was asked to return to the DePaul Summer Writing Conference, I was both honored and extra-prepared.

I avoided one-lane highway closures due to Optimus Prime battles. ( Read more... )

I'm a lot of fun and a bit sassy. At least that's how Kristina Springer's debut YA novel, THE ESPRESSOLOGIST, describes me since I love pumpkin spice lattes. The novel tells the story of 17-year-old Jane Turner who hooks up her friends based on their drink orders.

Today at THE ESPRESSOLOGIST launch party the mood was both fun and sassy as we sipped ( Read more... )

For the two of you that don't know, Jay Asher wrote the ever-popular 13 REASONS WHY.                     
                                                                  
( Read more... )

I love children's writers, especially those in Illinois.  I love them so much that I want to make them spinach lasagna and butter cookies--fatten them up--then squeeze their cheeks and tell them how cute they are.

Yesterday, I posed a question on my blog.  Basically, I was struggling with the concept of when is a good time to submit a new book ( Read more... )