Confessions of a Slow Scribbler (Oops, still typing...)

Ever breeze through one of my Fenway and Hattie books and think, Wow, that must have been quick to write? Spoiler: it’s usually the opposite. What looks effortless on the page can take months - sometimes years - of drafting, revising, and polishing.

In my latest YouTube “Behind the Scenes” video, I pull back the curtain on why writing “quick reads” are anything but quick (at least for ME), and why the slow, messy process is worth every minute when the end result connects with young readers.

P.S. This post only took me two hours to write. You’re welcome!

Guest Author Reporting for Duty

When I’m off-stage at a school visit, I can be found in surprising places around the school - where the real connection happens! I LOVE to become part of the community in unusual ways you don’t see from the audience (or in the promo pix)! And I’m spilling the beans in my latest YouTube video.

While every moment with kids is my favorite, I also love rolling up my sleeves and pitching in (and sometimes I discover talents I didn’t know I had)!

The Secret Superhero of Reading

Ever wondered who the real superheroes of the reading world are? In my latest behind-the-scenes YouTube video, I spill a little secret about authors, fangirling, and the unsung champions who make reading magic happen.

Spoiler alert: I may or may not embarrass myself gushing like a middle schooler at a boy band concert.

The Job With No Description: What DOES an author do all day?

Ever wondered what a children’s author really does all day? (Spoiler: there’s no official job description and no two days look the same. 🌟) Take a peek behind the scenes in my latest YouTube video!

Wherever there are books (and especially libraries), I’ll be there… spreading the joy of reading one story at a time.

One Book to Unite Them All: A Peek at the One School, One Book Program

I’m so excited to share one of my favorite literacy programs — Read to Them’s amazing One School, One Book! 📚✨
They’ve just featured me as their back-to-school author and I’m giving you the inside scoop on how this program gets whole schools — students, teachers, and families — reading the same book together.

Why it’s awesome:
💡 Whole-school reads create shared experiences.
📚 Shared stories build connections.
✨ Reading becomes something everyone celebrates.

And guess what? My books Fenway and Hattie and Fenway and the Bone Thieves are part of it! 🐾💖

That’s the magic of a story shared by an entire school!

Author Life Gets Real: The Case of the Missing Document

Ever lost a document full of important notes? I did; and at first, it felt like a total disaster. But in my latest Behind the Scenes video, I’m sharing how that loss turned into an unexpected win for my work-in-progress.

Sometimes the best writing happens when you have to start fresh.

Turns out, losing my notes was like dropping my ice cream… and finding out there’s cake. 🍦🎂 Come see how it all turned out!

The Art Behind the Story: All About Ilustrations

🎬 New Behind-the-Scenes episode: Who Decides What a Book Looks Like?
(Spoiler: Not the author!)

In traditional publishing, authors don’t pick the illustrator or direct the art. That’s the magic of the art director and design team—they choose the look, guide the visuals, and bring the story to life in ways that often surprise even us!

🎨 Making a children’s book is a true team effort.
📚 Great art directors match words + images to elevate the story.
🤝 It takes more than just the writer or illustrator.

Next time you read a kids’ book, give a little love to the whole creative crew!

Behind the Sticker: How Signed Copies Land on Bookstore Shelves

This week on my “Behind the Scenes” YouTube playlist, I’m pulling back the curtain on something readers often wonder about: how signed books actually end up on bookstore shelves. 🖊️📚

Ever spotted that shiny “Signed by the Author” sticker and thought, Wait... how did this happen? Well, it’s not magic (though it does feel special).

There’s more than one way signed copies make their way into readers’ hands. And in this video, I’m giving you the inside scoop. Ready for a peek behind the scenes? Hit play and find out!

Next time you spot a signed book in the wild, you’ll know the story behind it. And trust me, every signature has a little adventure of its own.