Pascal Campion

Happy birthday to ROSA’S SONG!

IT’S HERE!! Happy book birthday to Rosa’s Song!!🥳🎶 The book is now out in the world, and it’s a story celebrating childhood friendships, even those that end much too soon. Book production requires a huge team of creative people, so kudos to the immensely talented illustrator Pascal Campion, our brilliant editor Maria, and everyone at… 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 »

Pre-order Giveaway for ROSA’S SONG

Dearest Gentle Reader, did you miss me? (Ha! That’s a quote from the Netflix show, Bridgerton.) My goodness, the world is a crazy place right now. I hope you’re staying healthy AND sane. I also hope for peace in Ukraine and a safer world in the months to come. I have to admit that the… 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 »

Checking in (plus Reading Guide & Activity)

Hello, and how are you these days? (If you want to skip down to the Reading Guide & Activity, scroll past the photos of my backyard below.) I hope you’re staying safe and healthy, and also staying sane. I know it’s really hard to remain cool and calm when the news is full of awful… Read more »

Coming in Early 2020

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 »

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 »

Pascal lands a cover on The New Yorker!

Pascal Campion is the mega talented artist who is illustrating my next picture book, The Paper Kingdom. And…*drum roll*…his illustration is on the cover of The New Yorker!!! I love his nighttime scenes, and this one is so, so beautiful. Check out his interview here. What’s really amazing is that Pascal mentions Jean-Jacques Sempé as… Read more »

How Decluttering Led to Realizing a Lifelong Dream

“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 »

Fun Updates

I have some fun updates to share! THE TURTLE SHIP is currently undergoing the color correction process. That means Colleen (the talented illustrator), Lee & Low (the amazing publisher) and the printing company are collaborating to make sure the colors represented in the book’s images accurately reflect the colors in Colleen’s original artwork. Jessica (our… Read more »