First, I’ll start with the cool updates. We all need some good, fun news these days, right?! In less than a week after its launch, The Paper Kingdom sold out in many bookstores and on Amazon – WOW. The book was performing beyond expectations, so Penguin Random House started additional print runs. Super exciting, right?!… Read more »
THE PAPER KINGDOM is finally here!! The book is finally out in the world, and I want to take a moment to reflect on what has been an incredible journey. I’ve waited a long time for this story to be introduced to the world – it’s been almost 3 years since the day my manuscript… Read more »
The industry reviews are starting to roll in for The Paper Kingdom, and I’m so overjoyed that Kirkus gave the book a starred review (like a critic’s pick)!! Kirkus called it, “A beautiful, must-read tribute to hardworking families and the magic they create.” Per my editor at Penguin Random House, “Starred reviews are rare, and… Read more »
I can’t believe we’re in the last stretch of summer. I’m still getting mosquito bites and craving ice-cold lemonade, so it doesn’t feel like summer’s over. Say it ain’t so!! A few months ago, my publisher sent me some Folded & Gathered (F&G) copies of my upcoming book, THE PAPER KINGDOM. Subscribers to my website… Read more »
One of the questions I get asked most frequently is, “Where do you find inspiration?” My usual response involves a nod to nature, travel, friends, family…. What I rarely respond with (for fear of boring the inquirer) is this: poetry. I’ve always found inspiration in poetry. I love how closely poets look at our world…. Read more »
An unexpected package arrived the other day from Penguin Random House, the publisher of my upcoming picture book THE PAPER KINGDOM (release date: February 18, 2020). If you’re a subscriber to my website, you already know the contents of the package because I just sent out my first newsletter exclusive to subscribers! (If you’ve subscribed… Read more »
My latest article for the SCBWI is up! Check out the Seven Things I Learned After Publishing My First Book. I had to respect the word-count limit for the article. Otherwise, I would’ve written about a hundred things I learned!
Join me at the Montana Branch of the Santa Monica Library on April 30 at 3:30 for a fun reading and a book giveaway. This event is free and open to the public — hope to see you there! More info is here.
Warning #1: This is a long post. Warning #2: Unless you want to be traditionally published, this post may be immensely boring to you. You’ve been warned. Okay, why did I write this post? Because I wanted to do something to help aspiring authors who land on my website. Here are my answers to some… Read more »
Hello, lovelies! Hope you had a chocolate-filled Valentine’s Day 🙂 I’m so happy to announce that Candlewick Press has acquired my manuscript, SORA’S SEASHELLS! The deal announcement from Publisher’s Weekly is below. I get to work with brilliant editor Kate Fletcher, who edited Meg Medina’s MERCI SUAREZ CHANGES GEARS — the 2019 Newbery Award-winning novel…. Read more »
This is what I consider to be hot nowadays: a man who does housework without being asked 🔥👍👏
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#sexy #housework #takingoutthetrash #bravo
Three homebodies engaging in three separate activities in the front yard. I’m reading a fun novel (Funny You Should Ask by @elissa_sussman ), @eugene_rhee is bopping to music and @sherwinfrenchie is looking for neighborhood dogs. Haven’t had a lazy weekend in a while, so being at home is wonderful ❤️ Sherwin is in the second photo, and the third photo is my view from the porch 🌸
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#lazyweeked #reading #amreading #ilovereading
What a fabulous evening at the Getty last night, celebrating their undergrad internship program. During a college summer many years ago, I was a Getty intern and that experience deepened my love of art & my appreciation for art institutions. What a treat to chat with Professor Mary Miller, who now heads the Getty Research Institute, but was a prof of art history at Yale when I was a student there. Chatting with her & her husband Professor Edward Kamens felt like a “full circle” moment. I was nineteen years old all over again, full of curiosity and wonder. ❤️ #getty #gettymarrow #ilovela
In honor of #worldchocolateday here are some amazing chocolate concoctions I recently tasted: 1. Pain au chocolat from @ludivine_paris_bakery 2. truffles from @and.sons 3 & 4. choco soufflé on the Big Island + after dinner truffles 5. mint discs from @charbonnel1875 and 6. a video of Sherwin enjoying the croissant part of the pain au chocolat (no choco for him!). I’m a #chocoholic through and through. Anyone else??
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#ilovechocolate #smalljoys #chocolate #soufflé #cacao #chocolatelover
Books are signed, packed and ready to ship off to kids in Uvalde, TX. 600 Books of Hope is helping out Robb Elementary + other schools in Uvalde. Thanks to author @lisayee1 for spreading the word about this effort ❤️(Google “600 Books of Hope” if you’d like to help—they’re accepting donations until mid July!) #booksaregifts #authorsofinstagram #donatebooks
