Whenever I have a Q & A with elementary students, someone inevitably asks me why I write. I always manage some sort of answer which I believe to be true, but I never feel satisfied with that answer. I say something to the effect that I grew up loving to read and wanted to see … Continue reading Why Writers Write—I think!
Category: Children’s Literature
Elizabeth Crook, Sharon Creech, and Ann Patchett
I’ve been out this morning watching the deer watch me. At about 6 a.m., I made my coffee and took it outside to go on a stroll around the premises with our cats. The early morning on our farm/ranch is perfect these summer days, and I can’t help but admire God’s lovely handiwork. We had … Continue reading Elizabeth Crook, Sharon Creech, and Ann Patchett
The Stories We Read and Write
I have completed reading two good books the last couple of weeks, and I want to talk about them in a bit. But first, I want to discuss a couple of the writing projects I'm excited about. I just completed writing Classroom Guides for my two middle-grade fiction books, Ranch Girl and the Orphan Lamb … Continue reading The Stories We Read and Write
Making Progress in the World of Words
The Storytellers, Nacogdoches, Texas Carl Sandburg, three-time Pulitzer Prize winner in Literature, once said, “I’m an idealist. I don’t know where I’m going, but I’m on my way.” I find this an optimistic view about doing. Sometimes we have to start doing. In my previous blog post (“Spring Resolutions: Reading, Writing, & Blogs”), I made … Continue reading Making Progress in the World of Words
Our Daily Work: Ranch Girl and a Boy Named Toby
Of Books and Festivals
It seems that fall and book festivals go together, at least in Texas. I have had the joy and honor of being a featured author at The Texas Word Wranglers Festival in Giddings in September, have signed in the Writer’s League of Texas booth at the Boerne Book Festival in October, and will likely sign … Continue reading Of Books and Festivals
Checking In
It has been over a month since I have posted on my blog. I used to write four or five blog posts per month, and I hope to get back to doing that before long. I want to continue my Literary Texas series at some time. I love doing it, but the time involved in … Continue reading Checking In
Spring’s Eccentricities
In the spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours."--Mark Twain I do believe that Mark Twain must have spent a good many springs in Texas. Spring won't be officially here for several more days, but it is already up to its shenanigans. Even before February waved its final goodbye, … Continue reading Spring’s Eccentricities
BOOK RELEASE DAY!
It has finally arrived, the day Pelican Publishing/Arcadia releases my middle grade chapter book, Ranch Girl and the Orphan Lamb Adventure. I want to thank so many of you for your constant encouragement and sincere happiness for me. I especially, of course, thank God. I find writing to be hard work but a true labor … Continue reading BOOK RELEASE DAY!
Tsang Tzu
I have been rifling through my desk and file drawers lately and came upon a manuscript from some years ago. I always have manuscripts here and there. Some are complete but desperately in need of revision that I can't or don't want to get to, others I am trying to polish a bit, and still … Continue reading Tsang Tzu