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¡Verano! (Summer – the best time for book lovers)
With author Monika Shröder at the LUCY conference on multicultural lit A quick post today as I settle back from my amazing day celebrating multicultural lit at the LUCY conference at Old Dominion...
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A Gift from Tía Isa
Three days ago, I stood in the aisle of my neighborhood Kroger buying baby food for my mother. It was a sobering moment to say the least. Her nausea had worsened, and in desperation, I turned to what I...
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Read Local: You’re invited to Teen ’13
Like this lapel button? Yours for a buck fifty at Fountain Bookstore, RVA Mark your fall calendars, teen book lovers. You’re invited to Teen ’13, a literary party that will celebrate Virginia’s...
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See you at the Nat’l Book Festival!
A quick post to say muchisimas gracias to the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, which will be part of the 2013 National Book Festival September 21 – 22. This year, the Foundation has selected Tía...
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Author Uninvited: A School Decides I’m Trouble
Let me start by saying that I am not making this up. You can buy your own lapel pin here. This week I was officially uninvited to speak on bullying at a middle school due to the title of my latest YA...
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Literary Mischief: A New Answer to Book Signings in RVA
Our host This Friday night, I’m getting in the ring with one of Richmond’s favorite (and best named) storyteller, Slash Coleman for Literary Mischief, his refreshing and oddball take on book events....
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“Hola, ¿Qué Tal?” at The Nat’l Book Fest
It’s here! The mega weekend for all of us book freaks in the US. If you’re at the Nat’l Book Festival, please stop by the Pavilion of the States at noon on Saturday so you can say “hola, ¿qúe tal? –...
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Happy Paperback Birthday!
Paperback in stores today, September 24! Feliz Cumpleaños, The Girl Who Could Silence the Wind! It’s the first time one of my hardcover books is becoming a paperback – and the first time a school is...
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Virginia Book Lovers: This is the week for you!
This is the week to be proud to be a Virginian, especially if you’re a book geek like me. The Literary Festival of Virginia is back. It has been gaining national attention over the years, thanks to...
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So Now That I’m Done Eating Snickers…
All right, then. I have finally eaten the last Snickers mini, so it’s time to focus again. One happy effect of daylight savings time has been the perfect excuse to get up early and have a solid couple...
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Do Our Stories Create Activists? My takeaway from the VAASL conference
I’m not a librarian, and I haven’t been a teacher in almost twenty years. But I’m still intrigued about how great schools happen and the role that books play in that drama. Two weeks ago, I got to...
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Check Your Drawers: My hopes for you in 2014
I was overpowered by New Year Mania and spent last week having my oldest daughter’s room painted, which somehow led to an entire overhaul of my living room/writing lair. In the process of digging out...
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Yaqui, Pura Belpré and Me
Here is what it looks like when a dream comes true. This blurry “selfie” was taken on a Richmond-bound Amtrak train, two minutes after getting the news that I had won the 2014 Pura Belpré Award. I was...
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What’s Going On in Multi Culti Lit: The librarians speak
What’s going on in multicultural lit? This month, the Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) at the University of Wisconsin is opening a discussion by posting its latest data on diverse literature...
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Legends, Hashtags &Wisdom: VA Festival of the Book
Okay, a very quick post because I am on deadline! I spent three glorious days with my friends Kristen Swenson and A. B. Westrick in the mountains of Virginia at the 20th anniversary of the Festival of...
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When Old Becomes e-New: MILAGROS as e-book
When one of your books goes out of print, it’s a little bit like a death. I know that sounds dramatic, but that’s how it felt for me when my first middle grade novel, MILAGROS: THE GIRL FROM AWAY went...
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My writing process is a mess and other confessions
Blog tour is the phrase of the day. I’m also on Latinaish today (April 21) talking about diversity and how all kids connect with stories. But my own little blog is also a stop on the My Writing Process...
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Wanted: Your Best Pix in Support of Diverse Books
It’s a great week for thinking about books for all kids. On Tuesday, I’ll finally be at the Library of Congress to celebrate DIA, the American Library Association’s celebration of multicultural books...
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Women’s Media Center Live
My third grade art teacher was the first woman I ever knew to put “Ms.” before her name. I remember almost nothing about her except that astounding decision – and the fact that she let us dance to...
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The Literary Activist: When writing moves beyond your computer
Picture the fervor of a rock concert smashed into book geekdom and strong girls. That’s the Girls of Summer live launch party, being held tonight, June18, 7 pm at the Richmond Public Library (Main...
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