So, It’s Been A Year

It’s been a year since I posted here. In many ways, it’s been a year since I felt like an author.I feel disconnected from this writing world, this writing part of myself, and I’m so sorry to those who have written me e-mails or asked me questions and been met with silence. I promise I’ll do better. It’s just been a hard year.

A good year, too.

My son turned seven. His world revolves around Legos and racing and, recently, Captain Underpants. This year, because of him, I learned more than I have ever known about black holes and the life and death of stars. We drew supernovas and black dwarfs with sidewalk chalk in the back yard, and jumped from one to the next in a game of cosmic hopscotch. My daughter is almost two. Her world revolves around the awesome power of language. She has been babbling with great ferocity since she was ten weeks old, and now that she finally has enough words to make herself clear, she has taken her rightful place as queen and commander. “Sit DOWN, Mama. Play.” “No, no, no, don’t eat. That’s MINES. Don’t eat it in the face.”

Over the summer, I revised the third book in the Tyme series. I don’t have anything else to say about that yet, but I hope that I will know more soon.

 

I am still teaching full time. It is hard. I love teaching middle school, and I wish very much that that were my job. Too often, however, my job is to prove that I can do my job, a process that grows more tedious with each passing year. There is a lot of hoop jumping. And like any good circus, of course, the hoops are aflame.

But yes. I will do better. And I really do hope to have something more to say about the Tyme series in short order. I will say that it has not gotten any less weird to see my students reading something I have written. I never assign my books to my students, of course, but sometimes they check them out from the library and read them during independent reading time, and I sit there feeling like I really ought to leave the room and give them privacy, because authors shouldn’t be allowed to sneak up behind their readers whenever they laugh, to see what page they’re on.

But I do. Wouldn’t you?

See you soon. Much sooner than last time. Pinky swear.

Two Author Events!

Hello, all! I owe a longer post here, but I have some good news: I have two upcoming events!

First, I will finally be celebrating the launch of DISENCHANTED: THE TRIALS OF CINDERELLA! Please join me for cookies, conversation, and book signings at the Burien Library on Saturday, 11/19 at 3:30pm.

Second, I will be signing books at the University Bookstore in Mill Creek on Saturday, 11/26 at 1:00pm, as part of their Small-Business Saturday event.

Readers, if you are near enough to join me at either of these events, please do! I would love to meet you.

 

 

DISENCHANTED is here!

My second book baby and the next book in the Tyme series is born. Welcome to the world, DISENCHANTED: THE TRIALS OF CINDERELLA.

Morgan at Gone With the Words posted this beautiful review. Thank you, Morgan! I can only hope that this book finds more readers who will enjoy it as much as you did.

 

Reader Questions

Here are a few of the questions I’ve received from readers recently.

What inspired you to write Grounded?

It’s hard to say exactly what inspires stories, but I know there were a few strong influences. My friend and co-creator of Tyme, Ruth Virkus, asked me to write her a fairy tale. I chose Rapunzel because I felt a connection with her. I had always had long hair myself (not a hundred feet long, of course), and I loved the idea of living up high in the tower. However, I was also frustrated by the traditional story of Rapunzel. Why didn’t she try harder to escape? How could she be so silly as to accidentally tell the witch about the prince? Why didn’t the prince give her more help? I wanted to write a story that made more sense to me. Finally, I wanted to write a story about a girl who loves her mother figure even though she is deeply flawed. That felt important to me.

How many books are you planning to write in the series?

Six.

Are you going to make another Rapunzel book..?

Rapunzel will return many times throughout the series, but GROUNDED is her book. She will not be the leading protagonist again.

What happens to Envearia? 

This question is left to the reader. Glyph tries to explain a little bit at the end of the book, but even she does not have solid, absolute answers. The Beyond is a mystery.

 

Thank you for these great questions, readers!

Want to ask a question about the Tyme series? Please do so here.

Four Years Old

This blog is four years old! The actual blogiversary (sure, it’s a word) was three days ago, but I haven’t been blogging often enough lately to remember. My daughter’s birth radically changed the game. I was always busy, but I could find pockets of time when I needed them. No more. Everything that is not absolutely essential has been sent to the back burner so that I can give enough attention to my family, my writing, and my students.

What’s crazy to me is that when I started this blog, my little boy was not yet two. Today, he started Kindergarten. It flew by, just like they all said it would.

And here we are. A new school year, a new book release in October. The third book in the series is under construction. The leaves are falling; the days are getting colder. My boy will turn six soon, my girl will turn one.

Happy September, all.

Appearance & Audiobook Review

Here’s where I’ll be on Saturday morning: Burien Library, 10:30am, with a great group of authors and the lovely folks from Page 2 Books. If you’re in the area, drop by and say hi!

Also, in lovely review news, AudioFile Magazine loves Susan Hanfield’s narration of GROUNDED as much as I do. I’m so glad to see her beautiful performance appreciated here.

DISENCHANTED gets a star from Kirkus!

Kirkus gives DISENCHANTED: THE TRIALS OF CINDERELLA a starred review! My favorite bits:

“…endearing and believable characters.”

“…liberal infusions of magic and humor…”

“Casual references to different skin colors and to LGBTQ characters are also commendable.”

“Great, smart fun.”

Hooray!

(Please note, the review contains spoilers.)

Keeping Rather Quiet

I have some really lovely things to share, but none of them are shareable yet, which is why I’ve been quiet lately.

In the meantime, it is summer. The teaching year is done, and soon a new one will begin. I’m playing with my kids and drafting my next manuscript.

More soon!

Children’s & YA Author Extravaganza!

Tomorrow night, I’ll be at the Bellevue University Bookstore with a big crew of authors and illustrators who are all, like me, represented by the Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Some of these talented folks are people whom I’ve met, and whose company I already know I enjoy. Some of them are people whose debut novels and picture books I read and celebrated as a fellow Emu, but whom I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting face to face. I’m so excited to see them and hear their voices! I anticipate much hugging. HUGS ALL AROUND!

Come out and see us if you’re local, or if you happen to be in town! It’s going to be a wonderful time.

GROUNDED out in Audio & Paperback!

It was a big week for Rapunzel!

GROUNDED: THE ADVENTURES OF RAPUNZEL is now available as an audiobook narrated by Susan Hanfield, who is absolutely terrific. I couldn’t be happier.

GROUNDED also came out in paperback on Monday! So if you’ve been waiting for a lightweight copy to take with you to the pool, your moment has arrived.

Finally, if you’re in Seattle this Sunday, don’t forget to come and see me (and some other awesome authors too!), because the Scholastic Summer Reading Road Trip is in town.

Happy Friday!

Schl Summer Road Trip Social #2

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