artists

SORA is here!! (also, the weirdest thing about being an author)

SORA IS HERE!! Happy book birthday to Sora’s Seashells!! It took a looooong while for this book to arrive, but it’s finally here. And it’s absolutely gorgeous. A huge thanks to all of you for being with me on the journey, and kudos to everyone who helped usher the book into the world! The story… Read more »

Sora arrives soon…(plus, an Ode to Türkiye)

THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS… Happy Easter & Happy Passover to those who celebrate! Sora’s Seashells is ALMOST here!! We’re just moments away from the book’s birthday, May 9, 2023. After four years of waiting to see the book in physical form, I finally got to hold an early copy…and it is magical! The amazing illustrators (Stella… Read more »

How Do Bestsellers Happen?!

Hello, I hope you’re doing well! I just love this time of year, when the colder weather gives me a good excuse to guzzle giant mugs of hot cocoa with homemade whipped cream…YUM. Before I get to the main topic of this post (“How Do Bestsellers Happen?!”), here are some very cool updates. GOLDEN POPPY… Read more »

Great news (and not-so-great news)

Hello, friends! I have some great news and not-so-great news. Does this feel like déjà vu? That’s because IT IS!! I wrote a similar thing with the release of The Paper Kingdom two years ago… *sigh* Let’s begin with the not-so-great news… The pandemic impacts yet another book launch! Due to supply chain and shipping… Read more »

Finally…some details!

Hello, friends! How are you?? Boy, when the world first started shutting down last March, I thought this uncertainty would only last a few weeks, so I left a drawer full of tasty snacks in my desk at work, expecting to be reunited with my gourmet cookies before they began rotting. NEARLY TWO YEARS LATER… Read more »

2020 has been quite a year…

Hello, all! I hope you’re staying healthy and well as we soldier through these unusual times. And as the end of this crazy year approaches, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you – my friends, family, readers, subscribers and fellow creators — for all your book love for The Paper Kingdom…. Read more »

It’s a HOT summer

Hello! I hope you’re staying safe, strong, and sane during this time of continued uncertainty. Is it crazy hot where you are? We’ve been having some blistering days (and wildfires) in California. What a nutty summer (and a nutty year). UPDATES These past few months of lockdown have been some of the busiest months in… Read more »

Publication News (Plus a Sneak Peek)

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 »

In Love with Sempé

I have been in love with the artwork of Jean-Jacques Sempé since I was fifteen, when I read the NICOLAS series (which he illustrated) for a high school French class.  Sempé is known in the U.S. for his iconic New Yorker covers, such as this one: But in his home country of France, his illustrated… Read more »