I saw this video on FB and was really moved by it. Every person in it is extraordinarily beautiful, to remind us that even exceptional beauty and youth does not protect you from the pain and unfairness of color bias. In the video, USC's Dr. Lanita Jacobs points out that colonization and slavery play a role in beauty standards today, which is, of course, of no surprise to … [Read more...] about The Ancient Roots of Colorism
Ancient Egypt
Immersing A School in Mythology
Recently, I had the most wonderful school visit at Neptune Middle School in central Florida. Every year, students choose which author they would like to invite for their author visit and they chose me after reading Cleopatra Rules! The Amazing Life of the Original Teen Queen. Before I came, the kids created a trailer to generate interest and excitement. Check out their great … [Read more...] about Immersing A School in Mythology
Learning from the Poop Masters
Researchers have learned that dung beetles use the Milky Way to navigate in a straight line as they push their stolen balls of poop to safety. Let me repeat that--the smallest, smelliest, weirdest among us somehow orient themselves via the edges of our own galaxy to get around. Dude, the best we can do is plug into our GPSs and yet still manage to get lost (I speak from … [Read more...] about Learning from the Poop Masters
Best Made-up Word About One of my Books EVER!
Writing is definitely isolating, so when readers take the time to tell you that they enjoyed your work, it is PURE BLISS. Recently I got this amazing note from a parent: I am writing to let you know how much my daughter loved Anubis Speaks! We are homeschoolers currently wrapping up our section on Ancient Egypt, when we came across your book. I am so glad we … [Read more...] about Best Made-up Word About One of my Books EVER!
Ancient Egypt’s Strange Practice of Animal Mummification
Try wrapping your head around this: excavators in Egypt have found four million cat mummies, seven million dog mummies, four million ibis mummies and tens of thousands of other mummified animals, big and small--including bulls, mice, snakes, baboons, lions, and even bugs! Apparently, the ancient Egyptian philosophy of "Go Big or Go Home!" didn't just apply to the … [Read more...] about Ancient Egypt’s Strange Practice of Animal Mummification
