Little wee inkwell and quill… going to make a few of these for friends!

Thought I’d go ahead and put this out there. I officially have a side hustle! Kidlit writer by day, stained glass artist…also by day. I’ve made a few writerly things and would LOVE to make more bookish stuff. You can check it out at backyardglassworks.com and/or follow my insta under the same name.❤️

Today I told my youngest the premise of the new book I’m writing. He’s a tough critique but said, “This one actually sounds good.” Not sure if I’ve been complimented or insulted!

On the drive home from school today my youngest said, “Mom, I think we would really like being hobbits.”

He’s right.

Sometimes I just stop and think about how lucky I am to have a dog.

If you’re afraid that books might change someone’s thinking, you’re not afraid of books, you’re afraid of thinking.

Hmmm…maybe!😂

My third and most complicated stained glass project! It’s far from perfect but I’m loving it!

I just started stained glass and I LOVE it. There’s something very satisfying about cutting the glass and when you make something and hold it up to the light it completely changes!

Found object art featuring broken Carnation Pink Crayola crayon. Out of the broken part jumps an illustration of a joy-filled girl clutching a pencil in one hand and a notebook in the other.

To those disheartened by publisher rejections: I started submitting queries & manuscripts to kidlit publishers in 1995. During the 15 yrs before my first children's book contract, I sometimes felt like giving up.

Take a break if you need to, but PERSEVERE. Your time will come.

He snatched a piece of toast just this morning (no whacks though!) Wherever he is in the house, if someone takes butter from the fridge, Arlo comes running!

Book cover THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES shows a surly 7th grade boy with a backpack and FDNY baseball hat standing on top of a mountain, looking into the distance. A drooly Bernese Mountain Dog looks up at him adoringly.

Time for a book giveaway!

If you'd like me to mail you an advance copy of my Apr. '25 MG novel in verse THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES, follow & share this post. Bonus entry if you also reply w/ a pic from a recent hike!

I'll draw winners on 12/1.

About the book:
bookshop.org/p/books/the-...
#edusky

My youngest is working on a new book titled Hotdog: Battle of the Bacon. I don’t know what it’s about, but the title is a winner!

❤️❤️❤️

Not sure anything gives me as much comfort as a sleeping dog and a good book with an hour or so to read.

I agree!

It was!

Today a three year old told me she liked my shirt and that I was pretty and that she loved cheese and then she walked away pretending to be a cat. Best part of my day.