My newest book, The Women's Rights Movement: Then and Now is out this month in time for the Women's March. This book is dedicated to my sister Nancy who successfully fought against gender discrimination in law enforcement.  Geared toward children in grades 5-7, it examines the issues behind both the second and third waves of feminism. If you and your daughter marched together this would be a good resource for continuing the discussion of women's rights. 

I'll be giving a free workshop on student writing Thursday, October 20, 2017 at 4:30 for Kern Reading Association.  It will be held at the Kern County Superintendent of School's Office in room 1B. Come and learn how to get students excited about writing.  My newest book, Orphan Trains: Taking the Rails to a New Life will be for sale.  

Although my newest book, Orphan Trains, Taking the Rails to a New Life, won't be released until fall, advanced reader copies are now available for book reviewers through Net Galley.  

Yay!  The cover for For the Right to Learn Malala Yousafzai's Story has been released.  I wish I could show you some of the interior spreads because the illustrator, Janna Bock, did such a lovely job! But you can tell from the cover how very talented she is. I'm just delighted!  Look for the book on shelves in late summer and stay tuned for a book release party!   

I'm currently writing my sixth work-for-hire book.  Want to find out how to apply for work-for-hire book assignments?  Pop over to my guest post on Mandy Wallace's blog and learn how you can break into publishing through children's work-for-hire. 

I'm honored to announce my picture book manuscript Bovinella was awarded the SCBWI Promising Picture Book Award for 2014.  

Here's the link:  
http://www.scbwi.org/congrats-to-manuscript-critique-award-winners/

My manuscript critique at the 2014  SCBWI International Conference in Los Angeles resulted in my manuscript being nominated for the SCBWI Picture Book Award by the lovely Karen Grencik of Red Fox Literary.  And to top it off I got word yesterday that Bovinella won.  At first I thought there was a mis-steak as I'd just gotten an email telling me I didn't win the Sue Alexander award.  It turns out I was nominated for both awards and won the picture book one.  Holy Cow! I'm udderly delighted!  Thank you SCBWI!  Thank you writing friends at the Cen-Cal January retreat who prodded me in the right direction to keep at this manuscript.  Thank you, Karen, for the encouragement.  And thank you, funny cows everywhere, for inspiration.  

I'm delighted to announce I've signed a contract to write a picture book biography of one of my personal heroes, Malala Yousafzai.  Malala is the Pakistani girl who was shot by the Taliban for promoting education for girls.  The book is due out in fall 2015 with possible fully-illustrated ARCs out by this winter. I'm awed and humbled by this soon-to-be seventeen year-old girl who, in addressing the United Nations, said, ". . .Let us wage a glorious struggle against illiteracy, poverty and terrorism, let us pick up our books and our pens, they are the most powerful weapons.  One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world."  I'm honored to pick up my pen on her behalf.