Chatting with Blondie and the Brit
From my toy store roots to my wish for a secret superpower, the latest Blondie & the Brit Podcast covers how and why I arrived where I am today: on the couch, writing YA novels.
K.J. Waters (Blondie) and Suzanne Kelman (the Brit) were so warm and welcoming that I couldn’t help opening up to them.
Throughout my girlhood, my creative, playful parents owned the Pied Piper Toy Store.
They’re the ones with superpowers, if you ask me.
Writers themselves, K.J. (Stealing Time) and Suzanne (The… Continue reading
Manchester Writes
7th and 8th graders get ready to write with guest writer Caragh O’Brien at Manchester High School, Thursday, May 12, 2016.
My visit to Manchester High School was full of happy and thoughtful moments. Working with students from the high school and nearby Illing Middle School, I talked a bit about my process, answered questions about my novels and publishing, and led workshops where students wrote for ten minutes and shared their work afterward.
Writing fiction in a low-stakes, open-ended way with just the nudge of a new… Continue reading
Natural Castles
Bryce Canyon
Everywhere I look, I’m seeing castles in the landscape. We’re driving across the country, and every turn brings another stunning view to send the mind soaring.
The North Texas Teen Book Festival Was Fabulous!
Nearly 8,000 readers came by the busload to Irving, TX for the NTTBF16. Photo credit: Jennifer Mathieu
Every time I think about my trip to the North Texas Teen Book Festival, I grin. You would not believe how amazing it was. Middle Grade and Young Adult readers came by the busload for a day of panels with their favorite writers on Saturday, April 23rd, and I tell you, the energy was off the charts. I had the best time!
Here are a few photos from the day.
The day… Continue reading
Howdy, Texas!
As easily as I say “Pass the butter,” teens in Texas say “Ma’am” and “Sir,” and to my Northern ears, it’s a gracious sound. When I write about characters from Texas, I recall the kind, polite readers I’ve met there, and when I think about going back, I smile.
Texas
In the YA community, Texas is known for its book enthusiasm. The librarians (Yay for the TAYSHAS Reading Lists!), booksellers, bloggers, teachers, local writers (Yay for Jennifer Mathieu!), and readers are fun loving and first rate. There’s no… Continue reading
Keeping It Simple
Some days, when I face another day of writing and my book is frankly confusing me, it takes extra effort to get started and keep going. I want solutions to appear quickly so I can let my fingers fly into a new scene, but I suspect from past experience (yesterday’s), that won’t be the case. Still, I won’t get anywhere unless I start. So I do.
I just open up the draft and find where I left off and keep trying. Sometimes, writing a novel is that simple.
Ari & Milo, my serial novel, is now up on Wattpad! I drew illustrations to go with each chapter, and best of all, it’s free! Because of problematic themes, this novel is for mature readers age 17+.
Book Trailer for Promised