This year, I’m trying something different. Instead of setting goals that will be forgotten by March, I’m making ones I’m certain I’ll keep.  Here’s my list of can’t fail resolutions: I will eat more chocolate. And potato chips. And cinnamon candies. And tons of other foods I use for celebrations. I hope there are a lot of them. On days when nothing special happens, I will make up my own reasons for merriment. Meeting a writing goal. Getting a decent haircut.  Not hitting that terminally long red light on my way to work. I will celebrate ordinary events, and I will eat… Continue reading

Everyone knows November is National Novel Writing Month.  But November is also filled with other lesser known anniversaries, holidays and celebrations. Here are a few to inspire your creativity and help you meet your NaNoWriMo goals.  First Week:  Feed Your Muse! Writers can’t live on words alone. The first week of November has some important food feasts. There’s something for everyone here:  sugar, salt, caffeine and of course chocolate.   November 4: National Candy Day November 5: National Doughnut Day November 6: National Nachos Day November 7: Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day November 8: National Cappuccino Day Second Week:  Make some noise!   You don’t need to be a… Continue reading

Writing doesn’t always come easy to me.  I fight with words a lot.  I’m talking major combat. I wrestle, grapple, struggle, well, you get the idea. Sometimes the battle is so tough that I’m ready to ditch the writing gig and try my hand at herb gardening.  Instead of sitting in front of a computer, I imagine walking through a meandering path lined with rosemary and mint and filled with butterflies.  The truth is I can’t grow a single flower. If there was an association for abused petunias, I’d be featured in an exposé in their monthly newsletter. Thanks to Twitter and… Continue reading

Neil Armstrong Is My Uncle and Other Lies Muscle Man McGinty Told Me has been out since May.  While that doesn’t exactly make me a seasoned pro, I have gone through the experience of  a debut book launch.  Here are some random thoughts about my first two months as a published author and some unsolicited advice for anyone who has yet to launch:

• Before your book comes out, get comfortable on all those social networking sites.  Make friends on Facebook, decide what you’re going to say on your blog, and learn how to tweet.  You don’t want to be dealing with

In less than two weeks, my debut novel, Neil Armstrong is My Uncle and Other Lies Muscle Man McGinty Told Me, will be launched.  I'm so excited, I've stopped sleeping.  But there's another book coming out this month that I can't wait to hold in my arms:  C. Lee McKenzie's debut YA novel Sliding on the Edge. Why?  Because it's a great story, filled with jump-off-the-page characters, a compelling plot and a satisfying ending.  But also because C. Lee McKenzie is my writing buddy. I've never met Lee in person.  There's three thousand miles between us.  I'm on the east coast, and… Continue reading

• Publication Season/Year: Spring, 2009
• Publisher: Roaring Brook
• Release Date: May 12, 2009
• ISBN (hardcover): 1596434996
• ISBN (paperback): TBD

Muscle Man McGinty is a squirrelly runt, a lying snake and a pitiful excuse for a ten-year-old.  The problem is that no one on Ramble Street knows it, but me. Muscle Man McGinty can certainly tell some whoppers, but this time he's done the unthinkable.  He bragged he can beat the entire block in a game of kickball!   On Ramble Street, tough talk about kickball cannot be ignored.  For Tamara Ann Simpson this is great news. Now she'll finally be able to prove to everyone what a… Continue reading