September Wrap-Up
Book News/Progress:
2026 IL Reads List – THE SONG OF ORPHAN’S GARDEN was chosen for the 2026 IL Reads List! Not only is this a great honor, the organization has several events associated with it throughout 2026 that I’ll get to attend!
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SCBWI-IL Fall Harvest – I did a reading and a presentation for our annual conference.
Swag packing with SCBWI – Last Sunday afternoon, I went to go help stuff swag packs for the upcoming IL school librarian conference (which I’ll be attending as an author). It’s always fun to meet up with SCBWI members I don’t see often!
Picture book progress – I have a complete draft of the picture book I’ve been working on. I’ve been sending it out to critique partners and doing some polishing!
What I Read:
- I listened to As Brave as You by Jason Reynolds. I always love Reynolds’ books.
- I read Positively Izzy by Terri Libenson, the second book in the Emmie and Friends graphic novel series. It had a very surprising ending(!), and I’ll confess that I had to look it up to make sure I understood it correctly.
- Next, I listened to The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman. I’d heard that this book was gorgeously written – so very true!
- Next I read Just Jaime by Terri Libenson, book 3 in that same graphic novel series.
- I listened to The Memory Spinner by C.M. Cornwell, a fellow Middle Grade Escapades author. My son actually listened to the book first, and he kept going on and on about how much he loved it. Of course, I had to listen to it immediately afterward!
- I listened to The Dark Times of Nimble Nottingham by my fellow Middle Grade Escapades author, Ryan James Black. This spooky historical fantasy has everything kids love – adventure, a mystery with twists and turns, friendship, and some truly creepy scenes!
- Then I listened to The Lucky Diamond by Valinora Troy. This book has a true classic MG epic-fantasy feel – reminiscent of The Chronicles of Narnia.
- Then I saw that my friend Anne Rellihan’s book Not the Worst Friend in the World had just come out as an audiobook. I worked with Anne on a development edit back when Megan E. Freeman and I were her mentors for Author Mentor Match, so of course I’d already read the book. But I was so excited about the audiobook that I had to give it a listen. And, honestly, this book is so wonderful that I sped right through it in a day!! I’m so glad I revisited it!
- Finally, I read Invisible Emmie by Terri Libenson. This series is a sort of graphic novel/prose hybrid, and I know from when I worked at B&N that kids love it! I can see why from this first book – very relatable.
- I actually didn’t read any picture books this week – unusual for me lately!
- I listened to Rougarou Magic by Rachel Marsh. Loved this sweet and magical contemporary fantasy about a girl coming to terms with her feelings about her Cajun heritage and adapting to life in Boston after moving from Louisiana!
- I read 13 Ways to Say Goodbye by Kate Fussner, a verse novel that explores grief and crushes and family dynamics.
- Finally, I listened to A Quantum Love Story by Mike Chen. I don’t read a lot of adult books these days, but I always love Chen’s. I love that his books read like a blend of science fiction and contemporary, and he never fails to draw me in. (Plus, I love time travel/sliding door sorts of stories!).
- I’m still working on writing picture books, so I also read more of them! Here’s a list:
- Snappsy the Alligator Did Not Ask to Be in This Book, Creepy Carrots, Nerdy Birdy, The Invisible Parade, Bearsuit Turtle Makes a Friend, Itty Bitty Betty Blob, Prunella, Rosie the Dragon and Charlie Say Good Night, Light Speaks, The Peddler of Puddles, Willow and the Wildflowers, The Day the Books Disappeared, Lily the Pond Mermaid, Beneath
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