I’ve been holed up revising my new book, UNWORTHY, for the last month or so… and I’m almost finished! It’s been a totally new experience working on a deadline and getting early feedback. I’ve found it scary to share such raw material, but also very rewarding. But something I’ve missed desperately is having the time [...]
Haiku Review: Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
October 13, 2011 – 2:38 pm
Wolves, lightning, silence. Cabinet of Mysteries, Built out of pictures.
Tears or Glitter?
April 25, 2010 – 5:19 pm
This weekend I had the privilege of hearing Kate DiCamillo (Because of Winn-Dixie and The Tale of Despereaux) speak at the LA Times Festival of Books. She was one of those wonderful authors whose real-world presence is exactly the same as her writing presence. She speaks with the same quiet, humorous confidence that comes across [...]
Kevlar
November 20, 2009 – 4:22 pm
In the TV show Castle, the amazing Nathan Fillion plays a mystery writer, Rick Castle, who works with the police to solve crimes. Believable? No. Amusing? Yes. Anyway, Rick Castle occasionally wears a bullet proof vest, but instead of ‘POLICE,’ his says ‘WRITER.’ My friend, and brilliant writer, Alexandra Amor recently asked me, “What writer [...]
Lost Art? Really?
August 19, 2009 – 12:45 pm
Ok… a friend of mine posted this article, The Lost Art of Reading, on my Facebook page yesterday. You can pretty much guess what it’s about. The author proposes that, in this culture of constant buzzing, finding the quiet mental space to commune with a book is becoming increasingly rare. My question then is, Why [...]
SCBWI Conference ’09
August 13, 2009 – 8:43 pm
Another SCBWI Summer Conference come and gone! This year, I won’t bother to summarize what happened, since that’s already done so beautifully by the SCBWI ‘Team Blog.’ Thanks you guys! Instead, I’ll give an illustrated version of a few moments that really struck me. I’ve stolen most of the beautiful pictures and illustrations from other [...]
Collect Them All!
August 5, 2009 – 6:00 am
So… as I may have casually mentioned… THE SCBWI SUMMER CONFERENCE IS COMING! For me, this means checking out great stacks of books from the library, doing my homework on editors, and hitting the thrift store for clothes that say, ‘I’m professional, yet artsy, and you should give me a heap of money.’ I’ve never [...]
Comic-Con 2009
July 30, 2009 – 2:18 pm
Mid-July always feels like christmas to me. That is, if Santa was a Trekkie who loved kids’ books. July means Comic-Con and right on its heels comes the SCBWI Summer Conference. I can’t imagine any two events more saturated with great minds, creative talent, and genuine inspiration. So it was with a huge grin on [...]
Summer (conference) Reading
July 22, 2009 – 11:37 am
When I was a kid, my library, like many others, had a summer reading program. Every book I read racked up points towards stickers or McDonalds french fries or, my most coveted prize of all, the knotted pencil. How did they even do that?? It was the highlight of my summer and I always read [...]
Field Trip!
July 15, 2009 – 5:57 pm
There’s nothing like a field trip to break out of the routine and make some trouble. Today, a group of illustrator/writer friends of mine packed our lunches, got on the bus, and descended upon the best kids’ book store in LA. And by “the bus,” I mean our gumless, bully-free cars. And by “packed our [...]
The Bells! The Bells!
September 22, 2008 – 11:41 am
I just got back from the SCBWI Working Writers Retreat, a particularly cruel event where they entice you with tables of inexpensive YA books and promises of wine and chocolate, then run you ragged with constant critique groups, editor talks, and yoga. Children’s writing is a harsh world and those of you that don’t know [...]
Not, not, not a box!
August 26, 2008 – 3:01 pm
*First off, apologies to Antoinette Portis and her modern classic picture book, Not a Box for leaning on her wonderful pictures and themes. Go buy Not a Box! * A box is a cozy place to be. It’s dark and quiet, with plenty of corners to curl up in. You can touch the walls around [...]
Paul Fleischman responds!
February 15, 2008 – 12:05 am
I snailmailed Paul Fleischman’s Valentine to him and this is what he had to say! Hooray!
Adam Rex answers!
February 7, 2008 – 10:59 am
A email response from Adam Rex! Hooray! Well, this made my day. I’m going to have it tattooed on my head. Thanks so much Sara! -Adam
My heart sings with Lizard Music!
February 5, 2008 – 5:06 pm
The Great Daniel Pinkwater has responded to my Valentine! He likes me! He really likes me!
