Getting fan mail is a writer's dream. Getting fan mail where young readers question your choices are even better. Why? Because it shows how engaged they were in the story.Strong girls: not intimidated. One thirteen-year-old reader contacted me through Facebook to tell me that although she loved my book, one thing bugged her and she wanted an explanation.In the scene where … [Read more...] about Strong Girls and Reading
Writing
SCBWI Schmooze
Big thanks to Irene for arranging the schmooze.This past Friday, I drove to Birmingham for a Southern-Breeze schmooze hosted by the lovely and talented Irene Latham. I really enjoyed talking to the group of children's authors who stopped by. We ended the book talk and signing with a manuscript swap.Green eggs...not dyed!At Irene's, Patricia Weaver showed me the green eggs she'd … [Read more...] about SCBWI Schmooze
Was it too Dark/Gross for YA? Another Deleted Scene
I can’t remember why my editor deleted this scene from my novel about Cleopatra’s (true life) daughter. Perhaps she cut it from Cleopatra’s Moon because Octavian/Augustus was already established as Selene’s nemesis. Or maybe it was just too creepy for YA. After all, the scene implies that Rome’s first emperor may have been a pedophile. I got the idea after reading … [Read more...] about Was it too Dark/Gross for YA? Another Deleted Scene
On Growling at Kids and Unintentionally Hilarious Letters
Grrrrrrrrrrrr...I love making school visits and I've been fortunate to have several recently. At St. John Neumans Regional Catholic School, I met with students K-8 (not at all at once, thank goodness!).Obviously, I told different stories to different age groups: for the K-2, I focused on the story of how Alexander tamed the wild horse, and of how he "took" the Sogdian Rock in … [Read more...] about On Growling at Kids and Unintentionally Hilarious Letters
A Deleted Scene–And Why My Editor Killed One of My “Darlings”
People often ask me what it was like working with the great Cheryl Klein (delightful!) and how I responded when she suggested I cut or rewrite scenes (jump? How high?). Yet Cheryl encouraged me to stand my ground if I felt strongly about something. But claiming that you want to keep a scene just because you "liiiiiiiked it," wasn't good enough. Let me give you an example. … [Read more...] about A Deleted Scene–And Why My Editor Killed One of My “Darlings”
