“IT IS THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING A DREAM COME TRUE THAT MAKES LIFE INTERESTING.” – PAULO COELHO IT ALL STARTED WITH A DREAM… I wanted to be a writer as soon as I was able to read at age four. I loved meeting new characters and plunging into their worlds, and I wanted to create… Read more »
Here’s a video I did during my lunch break today at Children’s Book World in L.A. Kevin Winston helps run my college alum network, and does a great job of bringing people together. He reached out to me last night to do this video, and I agreed. Kevin is a powerful influencer! He coached me… Read more »
I’m happy to announce that the five winners of my giveaway for The Turtle Ship have been selected! I will be emailing the randomly-picked winners tomorrow, so if you entered the giveaway, please be sure to check your inbox (and spam folder) this week. Each winner will be receiving a signed copy of the book,… Read more »
The launch event for The Turtle Ship took place at Books of Wonder in NYC on Sunday, June 24th! I’ve always wondered what it’s really like for an author to have a launch event. Is it mostly exciting? Mostly stressful? For writers who are introverts (like me), is it mostly terrifying? Here’s an inside look…. Read more »
If you’ll be in NYC on Sunday, June 24, please join us at the launch party for THE TURTLE SHIP! We’ll read a little from the book, chat about the artwork and the story, and will answer audience questions. Hope to see you there! We’re also planning a back-to-school event for L.A. Stay tuned!
Last week, I received a very cool surprise — an advance copy of THE TURTLE SHIP!! It was amazing to hold the actual book in my hands and to flip each page. Colleen‘s paper collage illustrations are stunning and the teeniest tiniest details were crafted with such loving care. The final product is…GORGEOUS. Our wonderful… Read more »
It’s Day 1 of National Picture Book Writing Week! And I’m happy to share my latest interview, in which I talk further about my writing process, what I find challenging about picture books, what my dream job would be if I wasn’t a writer… What’s really cool is that tomorrow’s post will feature artist Colleen… Read more »
Several months ago, writer Paula Yoo contacted me to see if I’d like to be interviewed as one of the guest authors for NAPIBOWRIWEE (National Picture Book Writing Week). Of course I said yes! I’ve admired Paula’s career as a children’s book author and also as a writer for TV shows such as The West… Read more »
During the holidays, a good friend surprised me with a very cool gift. She gifted me a subscription to MasterClass, the online courses that feature luminaries such as Judy Blume, James Patterson and R.L. Stine. What a perfect gift for a nerd like me! I’ve always loved school, so I devoured the courses, pausing the… Read more »
Meet Eloise the friendly pig. She lives not too far away from us at a friend’s house. When I first met Eloise, she was afraid of me. Actually, she was terrified! Uh, Eloise, I think I should be the frightened one! Eloise could crush me in a second! But no, Eloise is too friendly and… Read more »
Are you a coffee or tea person? I love both, but I’ve definitely stepped up my tea game in the last few months. (Writing tip: establish a daily routine that gets you in the mood to write. For me, it’s a cup of tea with a (large!) square of dark chocolate.) The third photo shows my two favorite blends, both by @mariagefreresofficial 💗All the gorgeous porcelain, which I’ve been collecting over the years, is by @bernardaud 👏 If you love tea, high tea and tea culture in general, check out the lovely YouTube channel by @nicolasfairford 🙌
Three different languages, three different moods (sound up to experience living with a trilingual Frenchie). 1) English = neutral/boredom (bc that’s what he hears most of the time). 2) Korean = high alert (bc that’s the language my parents speak to him and he adores them). 3) French = pure excitement!!! (bc that’s the language of his ancestors). #trilingualdog #sherwinthedog
Our weekly routine in exceptionally gorgeous weather: stroll through Palisades Park, pick up delicious delights at #baycitiesitaliandeli for lunch in the backyard, then read a good book while #sherwinthedog naps with my foot. #ilovesundays❤️
This is how Sherwin calls out to his buddy (and wakes up the entire neighborhood at 7:30 a.m.). I was never a morning person until I started living with this guy, who wakes at 7 a.m. sharp and then promptly hustles me out the door EVERY SINGLE DAY 😩#frenchbulldog #morningwalk
Got some gorgeous loot from artists who make stunning paper collages (going counterclockwise from the left): 1) stunning cards designed by the illustrator of The Turtle Ship, Colleen Kong-Savage @kongsavage (her store: Konga Line on Zazzle.com), 2) super charming city cards by UK-based artist @traceyenglish (her store: OneAppleDesigns on Etsy), and 3) a lovely book by @clover_robin (wherever books are sold). I don’t think I will ever be a minimalist bc I love pretty things too much!! #collage #collageart
