Birthmarked
Seven Year Time Travel
Tiburon, CA
I went back in time seven years while visiting Tiburon, the place where I began writing Birthmarked. The hills where I used to walk were the same dry gold, and the wind filled my ears with familiar solitude. I had no idea, then, that my life was about to change. I only knew that I liked this new world I was exploring and that it pulled at me in a way that no other writing project ever had before.
Since then, my kids have grown and moved out.… Continue reading
Rule of Mirrors Cover
We have a cover!
We don’t have a proper description yet, but this is the sequel to The Vault of Dreamers, and it’s coming out February 16, 2016. Thanks again to Elizabeth Clark, Associate Art Director at Macmillan, for the cover design.
Birthmarked Turns Five
Birthmarked was released five years ago this week, on March 30th, 2010, when I was on a leave from teaching and trying to decide whether I should resign for good. My agent, Kirby Kim, told me to have faith in myself and my writing, but I was concerned that my novel wouldn’t sell and my writing career would be over with my first YA novel. “Don’t worry,” he said. “Birthmarked will have a long tail.”
He meant that Gaia’s story might not start with a flash, but it would keep… Continue reading
Harper Lee Rocks
The news of Harper Lee’s new release makes me happy for more reasons than I can count, but here are my 5 biggest:
1. Guts. Reversing half a century of staunch refusal to publish a second novel, Harper Lee is embracing a whole new world by publishing Go Set A Watchman. I find it fascinating to ponder why she’s doing it now, for a manuscript she wrote decades ago. I applaud her courage in allowing new scrutiny of her work, and I’m so excited to read her… Continue reading
A Long-Distance Visit to Topeka
Seaman High School Library Book Club
A Skype visit took me to the Seaman High School Library in Topeka where I had a chance to talk with Marian Sweany’s most excellent book group this morning. The seven lively students were full of insights and questions about the Birthmarked series. It was cool to hear their observations about the reversal of the power dynamics between men and women in the first two books, and they seemed to think a fourth book is in order so they can see… Continue reading
Agog, Bogus, Cusp
Let’s hear it for the little words.
I relish finding the perfect word for each idea, and I love reading books that tickle my delight in rich vocabulary. I find special pleasure in the little words, the gems of five letters or fewer that pack a wallop, and so, in honor of our common verve for language, I highlight 26 choice little words:
Hopkins gate at Williams College: little words, big ideas.