Reviews are very important to authors; they can make or break a book. I wish I wasn’t, but I am afraid to write them. My spelling is that bad. How embarrassing is it to have to admit that I am an author who can’t spell? My publisher and editor actually laugh at my many mistakes. “At least I’m consistent,” they tease. Thank God I’ve learned how to laugh too. Well that and luckily my husband and children are great spellers who proof...

Come talk pirates for a great cause, Dyslexic Advantage. Dyslexic Advantage is a fantastic organization helping and inspiring people with dyslexia. Please click on the image below to find out more. Hope to see you there! Happy Reading-...

This last Tuesday I partook in a really fun event called SCBWI Inside Story. Tons of great authors are given two minutes to tell about their newest book release. Thanks to my terrific husband and his iPhone, here’s the video of my two minutes. Happy Reading – S

The best way to start the New Year is to hear from you the reader! I can’t even begin to tell you how the simplest word from someone who’s enjoyed a book I’ve written still takes my breath away. Hearing from readers and seeing them at events is such a treat. I got the most wonderful letter from a parent of a reader who struggles with dyslexia; he said I was his daughter’s hero. She finished reading Hush in two days and wants to be a...

I am not a public speaker. At least that is what my brain tells me every time I get up on a stage. My heart palpitates, I forget everything I want to say and then I never quite remember what actually came out of my mouth. Talking to a group of kids does not bother me. My own children tell me that is because I never really grew up myself. But adults…talking to adults scares me. Recently I did a national Skype interview with Tim Knox and...

So our girls are home for the summer and Blakely, the eldest, went to my desk and opened the middle drawer. “Um, Mom? Why do you have a Kazoo in here?” “Well…” I replied. And proceeded to tell her this story. I bought my lovely blue and green striped Kazoo at our local toy store before my last book event, Western Washington’s spring SCBWI’s Inside Story. I knew one of my fellow presenters; an exceedingly talented author by the name...