As usual, I’ve adapted this from The Perpetual Page Turner’s End of Year Survey! 2020 READING STATS Number Of Books You Read: 147 Number of Re-Reads: 0 Genre You Read The Most From: Fantasy/Paranormal
Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Off On a Basement Writing “Retreat”
Starting tomorrow, I’m going to try to hole myself up in the basement and focus on writing for a whole week. I have no idea how successful this will be, but I figure it’s worth a try. I had been considering going on a real writing retreat, but right now my family’s quarantined anyway until… Read more »
I’m a 2020 Round One Cybils Awards Judge! Plus, Quick Reviews of Last Year’s MG Speculative Fiction Finalists
I really enjoyed being a round-two judge for the Cybils Awards. The process for picking a winner was WAY harder than I expected it to be, but it was also great to have in-depth discussions about each of the finalists. I was surprised how many of the books I absolutely loved!
My Successful Sneak Attack Using Fiction
Sometimes talking with your kids about an important subject is hard. Depending on the kid, a conversation might be brushed off or misunderstood. This was the case with my youngest when it came to having conversations about the fact that his sister is transgender. My youngest was the last one in the family to consistently… Read more »
Reviews of Secrets of Storytelling: A Creative Writing Workbook for Kids & Cookie Cutters and Sled Runners – PLUS Rompella’s Top Ten Addictions!
Today I’m featuring two books by Natalie Rompella: her newly-released kids’ writing book, Secrets of Storytelling: A Creative Writing Workbook for Kids, and her MG contemporary, Cookie Cutters and Sled Runners. Plus, scroll down to see Natalie’s top ten addictions! Natalie is a friend of mine from my SCBWI critique group, so I was excited… Read more »
July Junk Art Creations
My husband and I worked on a lot more refinishing/building projects than junk art in July, but we did finish one junk art project that I’m incredibly proud of—it’s definitely my favorite yet—so I wanted to share it with you. And then I thought I’d also share the gift that my daughter Danielle and I… Read more »
Mid-Year Book Freak-Out Tag 2020
Well, I’m a little later than everyone else with this tag this year, but I figure we’re not THAT far past the mid-year point, so I’m still going for it. Besides, it will make me feel better about my current state of non-reading to remember the good things I read earlier in the year. 1…. Read more »
June Junk Art Creations
I’ve been in a major slump lately when it comes to my reading/blogging/writing life. It’s been pretty extreme, and honestly it feels like it’s getting worse, not better. If anyone has any advice to get me out of it, feel free to share! But, while I’m not doing much with my blog, I’ve been filling… Read more »
Black Lives Matter
I’ve been struggling with what to post lately, so I’ve just been sort of frozen with indecision. Posting randomness as if nothing horrible is happening in our world feels wrong. And disappearing seems strange too. (Especially in light of the fact that silence=being complicit in racism. I went to a local protest, but being silent… Read more »
Our First Junk Art Creations!
Instead of talking books, today I’m talking about a newfound hobby—junk art! A couple of years ago, I went to an art fair while on vacation in Michigan and came across this amazing artist who made art out of found metal items: old tools, car parts, silverware, etc. I was in love with so many of them,… Read more »
