Looking for your next good read? Wish you could find a book similar to one you already love? Check out www.shepherd.com. It's an alternative to Goodreads with all the book recommendations coming from book authors. You can search by topic or by a book or author you like. Here's a link to my page with my recommendations for the best children's books on little-known American history. ​The best children’s books about little-known US history (shepherd.com)

Join me Tuesday, September 5 from 4 to 6 PM at Russo's Books, 1601 New Stine Road, #182, Bakersfield, CA 93309. I'll be signing my new children's graphic novel Virginia Hall: Clever Spy of World War II. Russo's will donate 20% of all proceeds that night to Kern Literacy Council, so any books purchased (not just my books) benefit Kern Literacy Council. 

I'll be moderating a panel on children's literature at the Central Coast Writers Conference in San Luis Obispo at Cuesta College on Saturday, October 14. SCBWI Members can get $25 off registration with the code SCBWI. Full details and registration can be found here: ​Cuesta College Central Coast Writers' Conference | Cuesta College | San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, Arroyo Grande

I'll be speaking at the Writers of Kern annual Spring Conference Saturday, March 18, 2023
at Hodel's, 5917 Knuden Drive in Bakersfield. Come hear How to Make a Big Splash in the Kiddie-Lit Pool: Understanding and Pitching to the Market. 
Blog (writersofkern.com)

I'm excited to participate in this year's Author Go Round at the Santa Barbara County Office of Education along with Alexis O'Neill, Lee Wardlaw and Joe Cepeda.
The in-person portion runs Monday, January 30 through Thursday, February 2.
The virtual day via Zoom is Friday, February 3. 
Can't wait to meet you, Santa Barbara students! 

Educational Technology Services / Author-Go-Round (sbceo.org)

I'll be helping organize the Author Showcase put on by Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators CenCal (SCBWI) and Kern Reading Association (KRA) Friday, September 23 from 3:30 to 5:00 at Zephyr Lane School Cafeteria, 6327 Zephyr Lane, Bakersfield (immediately south of the Fairfax exit off Hwy 58). 

Schools from across Kern County are invited to send a representative to this meeting to hear authors and book a school visit for the 2022-23 school year. Eleven authors will participate in short speed-dating style chats to describe their author visits. Attendees will receive a packet of information on all participating authors. Schools will choose their own author and date and make all arrangements themselves. In addition to organizing, I'll be one of the authors available for school visits. 

We're offering great prizes and nibbles. In addition to book prizes, free memberships and other goodies, each school in attendance will be entered in a drawing for a FREE school visit with the author of their choice. Prize tickets for the author visit are limited to one ticket per school and the winner must be present to win. RSVP here ​tinyurl.com/ms2vbzrx  Russo's will be there to sell books and answer questions on ordering books for school visits. Use the contact button to email me with any questions. 

Saturday, September 21, 2019, I'll be speaking at WriteFest '19 at the Grant Brimhall Library, 1401 East Janss Road in Thousand Oaks, California, 91360. The event is free and runs from 9am to noon. It's put on by the Ventura County Writers Club in conjunction with the Thousand Oaks Library. 

I'll be talking about Revising with Vision and Purpose. The wonderful Bruce Hale, author and author/illustrator of more than 50 children's books will teach how to Make Your Story Unputdownable--Suspense Tips for all Genres. 

Admission is free, but advanced registration is required. Full details & registration directions are here https://venturacountywriters.com/writefest-19/  

 FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2019
I'll be giving author assemblies at Compton Junior High in Bakersfield.

FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 6:30PM YOUNG AUTHORS' DINNER
That evening I'll be appearing at Kern Reading Association's Annual Young Authors' Fair Dinner at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel in Bakersfield at 6:30pm. Reservation forms are here: http://www.kernreadingassociation.org/young-authors-fair.html
Scroll down to Authors Dinner Reservation Form. 

SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 2019, 7:30am to noon YOUNG AUTHORS' FAIR
I'll be presenting and signing books as part of Kern Reading Association's Annual Young Authors' Fair at the Larry Reider Center (20th & K Street) in Bakersfield. Bring your children to hear break out sessions with me, Sneed Collard, Marcie Colleen, Kristine O'Connell George, Reyna Grande, & Myron Uhlberg. It's free and KRA will have books for purchase and signing.  You can find all the details here: http://www.kernreadingassociation.org/young-authors-fair.html
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