Jana's Musings...

The Twelfth Stone is about to arrive!

2011-08-11T11:07:00.000-07:00

Some writers crank 'em out. Book after book. Some take longer than others. I'm one of the latter. The Twelfth Stone, my new novel, has been part of my life for most of it. I got the idea in 1978, based on an experience I had in 1972, began writing in 1993, finished the first draft in 2001, and now, in 2011, The Twelfth Stone is coming out!

It has been a labor of love from start to finish. Living with all those characters in my head. They kept me company through bright days and dark nights. When I finished the first draft I cried like a baby, thinking I would never see them again. But then the editing began and I got to be with them for quite a while longer. In October of this year I am finally releasing them to my readers. I hope they will love them as much as I do.

Jana's Musings...: Finally my audio book is here!!

2011-07-29T13:03:00.000-07:00

Jana's Musings...: Finally my audio book is here!!: "It's been a while since I've written. Been very, very busy and finally, I can breathe and announce that the audiobook I produced, based on t..."

Finally my audio book is here!!

2011-07-29T13:01:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've written. Been very, very busy and finally, I can breathe and announce that the audiobook I produced, based on the book I edited and published, The Adventures of Charlie and Moon, by Martin Meader is LIVE and up on audible.com. www.audible.com/charlieandmoon

Brilliantly narrated by internationally acclaimed comedienne/novelist Alison Larkin, www.alisonlarkin.com The Adventures of Charlie & Moon takes kids (and kids at heart) on a wild ride through the village of Tumblegum to the City of the Qunicequonces to save the endangered species from the evil Skunk Weavel. Only Charlie and his friend Moon can save the day!

This book was a ForeWord Book of the Year Award Finalist, and is a fantastic book to recommend kids read and listen to at the same time!

6 hours of listening hilarity and fun!

Teacher's Guide available for free download www.martinmeader.com

I hope you'll download it onto your mp3 or iPhone and if you like it, be the first or 100th to review it!!

Pollen and me

2011-05-24T07:15:00.000-07:00

This has got to be the worst allergy season I have ever encountered. How about you? Are your eyes watering? Are you sneezing? Itching? Breaking out? Yeah, me too.
It's all from pollen, that's right. I'm pretty sure.
What is pollen, you might ask?

pol·len/ˈpälən/

Noun: A fine powdery substance, typically yellow, of microscopic grains discharged from the male part of a flower or from a male cone transported to the female ovule by the wind, insects, or other animals.

I'm looking at pictures of pollen and they're scary to say the least, and what they cause, I can hardly deal with it.

What types of pollen trigger allergy symptoms?
Many trees, grasses and low-growing weeds have small, light, dry pollens that are well-suited for dissemination by wind currents. These are the pollens that trigger allergy symptoms. Seasonal allergic rhinitis in the early spring is often triggered by the pollens of such trees as oak, western red cedar, elm, birch, ash, hickory, poplar, sycamore, maple, cypress and walnut. In the late spring and early summer, pollinating grasses - including timothy, bermuda, orchard, sweet vernal, red top and some blue grasses - often trigger symptoms. Ragweed is the pollen most responsible for late summer and fall hay fever in North America.

Well there you have it!
Yuck! I can't say I'm looking forward to winter again, but kinda.

welcome

2011-03-30T15:12:00.000-07:00

I just had to post these crocuses. I am in awe of the way they poke up through layers and layers of dead leaves. New life appearing on the barren ground and it couldn't have come at a better time, when we here in the Northeast are about to go mad from this cold. So hopeful. I raked for 2 1/2 hours straight, with my coat off! I kept these crocuses in their little patch of decay, not daring to disturb them. A man saw me raking and laughed at me from his car as he drove by, yelling something about a snowstorm on Saturday, but I didn't care. I just smiled at him.

My crocuses reminded me of a song by Beth Neilson Chapman, Life Holds On, "...when I noticed all the grass in the cracks in the concrete I said 'where there's a will, there's a way around anything.' Life holds on, given the slightest chance, for the weak and the strong, life holds on."

Life is coming back to the Berkshires, and even if it snows on Friday or Saturday, these crocuses remind us of how life will continue and continue given the slightest chance.

Alison Larkin's narration of The Adventures of Charlie & Moon Audio Book

2011-03-30T10:22:00.000-07:00

Alison Larkin's many voices are resounding through my kitchen as I sit here listening to the new audiobook I produced, The Adventures of Charlie & Moon, by Australian author, Martin Meader. I have listened and listened again to this six hour children's fantasy adventure, and thanks to the incredibly funny and charming narration by British comedienne, author and friend, Alison Larkin, I could listen for hours more.

The Adventures of Charlie & Moon, is a fantasy for children about a boy named Charlie who opens his birthday present the night before his ninth birthday and the consequences that follow. Moon is a young eagle who needs Charlie’s help to stop an evil toymaker from turning all the eagles and endangered species into stuffed toys. The Adventures of Charlie & Moon takes children on a wild ride through the imaginary Shire of Tumblegum to stop the evil toymaker, Skunk Weavel from achieving his wicked ways. The Adventures of Charlie & Moon is in production to be a feature film and I will be updating you on that exciting news as well. http://charlieandmoon.com, www.crowfliespress.com, http://charlieandmoon.blogspot.com/

Alison's character voices can be heard in cartoons and movies all over the world from work by Robert Altman to The Wonderpets. Her own bestselling novel, The English American joins a nobel Laureate, E.B. White and President Obama on Audible.com's list of best author narrated audio books of all time. She is a comedienne, an entertainer (she certainly entertains me when we get together), author, screenwriter, playwright. To hear some of Alison's cartoon and movie voices click http://www.alisonlarkin.com/voice_work.htm. For more details go to http://www.alisonlarkin.com/index.htm

Kids are absolutely loving this crazy book, and they will now be able to read along with Alison, who does the voices better (sorry folks) than ANY parent could ever dream of doing. I am so excited about sharing this audio book with the world!

I will keep you posted on the launch date, but it will be SOON. It will be 6 hours of listening magic. Think of the long drives you'll be taking this summer. Think of the new Masterpiece Classics you want to watch, but it's bedtime. Or that paperwork you need to finish up, but your kids are bored and whiny. Now you'll be able to turn on the MP3 in your kid's room and go do your thing as they fall asleep (or crack up) to Alison's hilarious rendition of The Adventures of Charlie & Moon. But what I think will happen is, you'll wind up listening with them and you'll all be laughing your heads off. That's family time.

Jana's Musings...: Tsunami Help

2011-03-21T08:53:00.000-07:00

Jana's Musings...: Tsunami Help: "It's scary out there. Earthquakes, tsunamis, radiation leaks, crazy dictators...it goes on and on. I am sitting here in front of my woodstov..."

Tsunami Help

2011-03-21T08:51:00.000-07:00

It's scary out there. Earthquakes, tsunamis, radiation leaks, crazy dictators...it goes on and on. I am sitting here in front of my woodstove, watching yet more snow fall, trying to figure out what I can do to make even the tiniest helpful dent in all this mess.

Here's what I came up with: I can sell books and donate money to what I consider to be simply the best relief agency in the world, The International Rescue Committee. www.theirc.org

So if anyone out there reading this blog wants to get a good book to read and make a difference, even a small one, I am offering this: buy a book off www.crowfliespress.com and I will donate $5 for every book we sell to IRC for tsunami relief. Choose from Weeping Under This Same Moon by yours truly. "A Free Woman On God's Earth" by me and Ann-Elizabeth Barnes, illustrated by Jacqueline Rogers, or The Adventures of Charlie & Moon, by Martin Meader.

Thank you for your help!

Thomas & Autumn

2011-02-20T16:27:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited to share my news about my new picture book, Thomas & Autumn. My friend, Melody Lea Lamb is illustrating it. You've got to see this woman's art. She is amazing. Her book, Moonlight Memoirs has won a number of awards! http://www.melodylealamb.com/.
Thomas & Autumn is the sweet story of a little boy named Thomas who has a very special relationship with a very special chicken, Autumn. It is a book for tiny children and for chicken lovers of any age.

Thomas raises and shows chickens. He sells eggs. Thomas works hard in the barn. It takes him a while, but finally his egg sales earn him enough money to buy his very own chicken, a Banty hen that he names Autumn. Here's the first illustration!

An Audio Book Is Born

2011-01-11T13:41:00.000-08:00

It's so interesting how the Universe works. One day, a few months ago out of the blue, an Englishwoman calls me on the phone and tells me she was given my name by a mutual friend. She has been told that my daughter is a babysitter supreme (which is true) and she needs one. It turns out she has just moved to the area, is also a writer and as we speak and connect, we find we have more in common than one could believe. And to top it all off, she has moved in right across the street.

My new friend is Alison Larkin, author of the bestselling novel, The English American. She is a wonderful actress and she narrates audiobooks! She demonstrates her array of crazy voices and characters and I begin to formulate an idea. Why doesn't she narrate The Adventures of Charlie and Moon, a wonderful children's book that I published? And it just so happens, she has a tiny window of opportunity to do it - right now! We find a wonderful studio, Off The Beaten Track, right here in the Berkshires. We work for hours, but we have a blast. As I sit with the engineer in the studio directing it, we laugh so hard we can barely see. And the end result is fantastic! It will be out soon! I'll keep you posted as we get closer to our pub date! You can listen to Alison at her website:

www.alisonlarkin.com

Rug Pulled Out from Under

2011-01-02T18:21:00.000-08:00

Has the rug ever been pulled out from under you?

It simply has to be one of the worst feelings ever. Especially when it is pulled out by a supposed true friend. You are thrown off your feet. Crash landing in a painful position on the ground. The wind knocked right out of you. Cut to the quick.

If I ever did that to anyone, I am sorry. If I was ever that callous, forgive me. If I am ever so insensitive, I deserve what I get.

Today will pass and these feelings will too. The bruise will heal with time. But is the friendship doomed? Is forgiveness possible?

Advice would be welcome.

The Power of Vision

2010-12-18T21:13:00.000-08:00

Just the other day I was talking to my friend about my vision of what I want in my life. We discussed what this meant, and how having an attitude of gratitude and excited anticipation is the key to getting what one wants. One thing I know for sure is that in order to accomplish my goals and allow my dreams to come true, I need to keep my eye on the prize and not muddy my vision with "reality."

And this week some amazing things have happened. Mainly they involve my participation in the book The Adventures of Charlie & Moon, by Martin Meader. This book is very near and dear to my heart. I edited the book for a whole year on Skype with Martin, who lives in Australia. We worked for hours everyday and we spent much of that time laughing. And then my publishing company had the privilege of publishing it. The book was a finalist in ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year Award. It is a wonderful and hilarious book for kids and folks like me, with severe cases of arrested development. My friend, Alison Larkin, the best selling author of The English American, and comedienne extraordinaire began taping an audio version of the book last week. I am producing this audiobook and Alison and I are having more fun doing this than we could have ever imagined. The sound engineer and I laughed so hard we cried. Alison's voices are extraordinary. Hilarious!

Martin and my great friend Irena Mihova, are co-producing the film version of the book. Jim Henson's Creature Shop, that's right, the Muppet folks, are creating the creatures for the film and we were invited to their Christmas party. I hung out with Big Bird and Elmo, Grover and Oscar, as well as some of the cool humans who create these iconic puppets.

And then to top it all off, this week, the beautiful fair trade chain of stores, Ten Thousand Villages, informed me that their Colorado shop holds a multicultural book club and my book, Weeping Under This Same Moon was chosen to be their January selection.

So, as I keep my vision strong, amazing things are happening. Yes, of course pay your bills on time, take out the trash, feed the cat, but pay no attention to that "reality" behind the curtain when it comes to making your dreams come true. That's my philosphy anyway.

A Country Christmas Fair

2010-12-12T20:52:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I spent the day selling and signing books at a country Christmas fair in Sheffield, MA. The day started off rather slowly but business picked up later and I met some fascinating people. I often wonder what will happen in the course of a day like this. Who I will meet and what our connection will be. Yesterday I happened to have a table next to my wonderful old friends Maria and Paul. They have a unique business called Asia Luna selling beautiful handcrafted soaps, body scrubs, lip balms, candles and aroma therapy mists. Maria has started doing House Parties. I might host one. http://www.asialuna.com/
This is truly a grassroots business. They create all their products together at home and both Maria and Paul are artists and the packaging of their beautiful products attests to that. Silly gnomes handcrafted by yours truly.

Sweet music

2010-12-10T19:18:00.000-08:00

I just came back from the most gorgeous concert. As I sat there enraptured by the sweet music, I made a promise to myself. Here it is. I swear that in my next life I am going to come back as a musician. Playing some instrument, any instrument for that matter, but playing it really really well. I want to play Bach on the violin or Mozart on the flute or the piano. I want to play the cello like Yo Yo Ma. I want to sing like Ella. But it ain't gonna happen in this lifetime. So I'm thinking if I have anything to say about it, if I must come back for another go, if I haven't completed what I need to learn here on planet earth physical plane, I am going to make damn sure I study music next time. Promise. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRixaQ4hpEI

My morning coffee

2010-12-10T08:01:00.000-08:00

My perculator broke a few weeks ago. What to do? Can you start your day without a coffee? I used to be able to. Tea is healthy but my coffee is my vice. It's my only vice these days. And I LOVE it! OK, I am addicted. I admit it. I am a coffeeholic.

The BEST TIME

2010-11-07T16:52:00.000-08:00

Last Thursday I sat in the audience of Monument Mountain High School and watched two actors portray my two protagonists from my novel Weeping Under This Same Moon. It was an incredibly moving experience. I had never seen my characters come to life before and it was amazing. I am seriously thinking about creating a play now. What a thrill to watch your creations come to life!
Thank you MMRHS!

Staged Reading of Weeping Under This Same Moon, by Jana Laiz

2010-10-28T08:19:00.000-07:00

This is SO exciting! Tonight two high school students, actors, are going to do a staged reading of my novel! I will be there to answer questions and show slides of my journey from miserable 17-year-old to happy human being because of my amazing experience with my Vietnamese refugee family.

Thoughts

2010-09-02T07:35:00.000-07:00

Do you have too many ideas? Are you flooded with them? I was taking a walk on the boardwalk and the stories just came, fast and furiously and I'm not sure which to write first. Yesterday I asked my 8 year-old nephew what kind of book he'd like me to write for him, and the ideas that came from that conversation got the creative juices flowing. I want to try to write for little boys this time. A series! Adventures! Creatures! Flying!
I am also thinking of a sequel to my upcoming novel, The Twelfth Stone.
Weeping Under This Same Moon is getting a much broader readership and I am thrilled about it! I'll be in high schools all over the country talking to teens about this book and my experience behind it!

Weeping Under This Same Moon at Monument Mountain Regional High School

2010-07-27T06:37:00.000-07:00

OK, I'm back. Sorry I was away for so long, but I'm really not great at this blogging thing, but I'll give it a try. Here's the great news! The entire Sophomore class and staff at Monument Mountain Regional High School in Great Barrington, MA are reading Weeping Under This Same Moon!!
I cannot tell you how excited I am by this! I've been getting bits of very wonderful feedback, as students, teachers and parents meet me in the post office or at the local breakfast place or the country fair. So here I am, hopeful that some or any of the people reading this book would love to chat. I want to hear everything, the good and the...dare I say, bad (which I hope is minimum.) I invite you to blog with me, ask me anything about the book you want to.
Hope to hear from you and you and you!

Book Signing Excitement!

2009-11-15T06:37:00.000-08:00

Book signings are incredibly exciting! I love them! Yesterday, Jackie Rogers and I were at Blackwood and Brouwer Book Store in Kinderhook, NY to sign our new book, "A Free Woman On God's Earth." Ann-Elizabeth couldn't be there because she was in Washington, DC at the National Archives where she saw a plaque dedicated to our hero, Mumbet, right next to the Declaration of Independence! We signed many books, and met many enthusiastic readers, young and young-at-heart. It was a great day. This month and next month and on and on will be filled with book talks, signings, and author visits! This is what it's all about.
In March, I will be flown to Minnesota, where my book, Weeping Under This Same Moon, has been selected to be read by 6 cities in the St. Croix Valley of Minnesota and Wisconsin. I will be speaking to students, teachers and librarians, and am setting up book signings and talk around the area. Life is good!

A Free Woman On God's Earth is here!!!

2009-11-05T18:20:00.002-08:00

"A Free Woman On God's Earth" The True Story of Elizabeth "Mumbet" Freeman, The Slave Who Won Her Freedom is here and waiting to be read! I am so proud of the work Ann-Elizabeth, Jackie and I did on this amazing book. And thanks to Adam Rothberg, my amazing graphic artist for his beautiful cover design! The book is available at amazon and in your local book stores, so I hope you will support us and buy a copy for yourself or a child in your life.

A Free

2009-11-05T18:20:00.001-08:00

Weeping Wins Again!!!

2009-10-14T20:40:00.000-07:00

I am thrilled to announce that Weeping Under This Same Moon is the winning selection for
Valley Reads 2010; the St. Croix Valley, Minnesota/Wisconsin Arts Council pick for 6 surrounding cities in the YA category. Everyone there will be reading my book!
This is a huge honor and I am over the moon!!

Moving Ahead!

2009-09-11T20:18:00.000-07:00

It seems like it is taking forever for my book babies to be born and though I am chomping at the bit, I am trying to be patient. Mumbet (A Free Woman On God's Earth) is being typeset right now, with all the amazing illustrations placed lovingly on their pages. It will be worth the wait, I know. Children and adults alike will pore over the black and white drawings, wanting to see every detail of the life of this amazing woman.
The Adventures of Charlie & Moon is also at the final stage, its cover hopefully completed today and ready to be placed upon the book, which kids (big and small) are gonna go WILD over!

Ann-Elizabeth, Jackie, Martin and I are so excited we can hardly contain ourselves!

Valley Reads Nomination

2009-09-07T19:47:00.000-07:00

I just got word today that "Weeping Under This Same Moon" was nominated for the St. Croix Valley Minnesota and Wisconsin VALLEY READS! This is a huge honor. If Weeping wins, it means that everyone in the six cities surrounding the St.Croix Valley area will read it, kids and adults! And I will get to go out to the area and talk with students and teachers, librarians and Rotarians, artists and other writers! I am beyond excited.

Getting Ready for the final push

2009-09-01T20:26:00.000-07:00

A Free Woman on God's Earth and The Adventures of Charlie and Moon are slowly but surely making their way out into the world. All 40 plus illustrations for A Free Woman...are ready to be placed within the pages and then sent to the printer. Charlie and Moon is so close I can taste it. All sorts of wonderful book launches are planned for these babies, so keep watching.

Summer Writer's Institute

2009-08-10T19:08:00.001-07:00

I had the great privilege to be the guest author at Harrison High School's Summer Writer's Institute last Friday. I spoke to two groups of young writers and was very impressed with the depth of their questions as well as their writing. In telling my own story, I hope to inspire them to keep at their craft. The school will be using Weeping Under This Same Moon as part of the curriculum and I'll be back in May to talk about it!

A Wedding

2009-08-01T20:43:00.000-07:00

I just had the privilege of attending the wedding of the daughter of my dear friend and writing partner, Ann-Elizabeth. After all the rain we have had, today was picture perfect and to be on the top of their mountain, surrounded by such love and friendship was truly a blessing. The bride wore a yellow strapless gown and her flaming red hair was French braided and surrounded by white flowers. The look of love between the couple truly took my breath away.

busy... and grateful for it!

2009-07-27T05:48:00.000-07:00

I don't think I have ever truly been this busy is my entire life, although many times in the past it seemed like I was, always running. But this is for real and it's the best kind of busy. The best because amazing things are happening at every turn. People keep coming into my life who I have been connecting with on deep levels. We are helping each other. Projects I have been working on are coming to life. Dreams are being manifested. Awards are being won. People are connecting to my book and the books I am a part of like I've never seen before. So much synchronicity! The universe continues to surprise and delight me. I am just having the time of my life!

"A Free Woman on God's Earth"

2009-06-28T13:38:00.000-07:00

I am totally blown away! Jackie Rogers, the amazing illustrator working with me and Ann-Elizabeth Barnes on our new book, "A Free Woman on God's Earth" The True Story of Elizabeth 'Mumbet' Freeman, The Slave Who Won Her Freedom, has completed the color cover and it is perfect. Beautiful to say the least. I am thrilled beyond belief!

Mumbet and Charlie & Moon

2009-06-10T18:51:00.000-07:00

This is a time for endings and beginnings.
Ann-Elizabeth Barnes and I are putting the finishing touches on "A Free Woman on God's Earth" The True Story of Elizabeth "Mumbet" Freeman, The Slave Who Won Her Freedom! Jackie Rogers has begun illustrating it and it's going to be beautiful. We are beyond excited about this project. Mumbet has become very dear to me. I admire her so much and cannot wait to bring her alive for children to read!

Martin Meader and I are also working crazily to get The Adventures of Charlie & Moon ready to go to press. The story just keeps getting better and better and so far, every kid who has been privileged enough to read it, has loved it wildly! I see great things for this book! I cannot wait to see it born.

GOLD MEDALIST!

2009-05-30T20:19:00.000-07:00

I am beyond thrilled to announce that yesterday at the Book Expo America in NYC, ForeWord Magazine announced the winners of the Book of the Year Award and my novel, Weeping Under This Same Moon took the gold in the YA catagory! I was there in the audience when it was announced and it felt like I had just won the Oscar! What a thrill to have my novel be considered the best in young adult fiction! It feels great and it gives me a boost of confidence and a feeling of great joy.
I am wondering where all this will take me, but for right now, I am soaking it in and feeling much gratitude and appreciation for this honor and for all my supportive family, friends and readers!

The River

2009-05-22T17:45:00.000-07:00

There is an icy clear stream near my home. It's the place I love to sit and meditate, my bare feet dipping in and out of the moving water. The water is numbingly cold and can be deliciously refreshing on a hot day. My dog, Jordy loves the river as much as I do, but he is braver than I, and swims no matter what the weather. I must wait until it is so hot I can barely stand it, and then I will inch my way in. Some days the river is deep enough to swim a lap, other days it is only deep enough to skim a smooth flat stone. I will go there tomorrow with my dog, and I will sit and think about things.

What Fun!

2009-05-19T18:42:00.000-07:00

I just got back from spending two days in Mystic and Norwich Connecticut. I did a reading and signing at Bank Square Books and then spoke with 300 high school students at Norwich Technical High School.
When I first got to Mystic, the entire English Department as well as the Principal and Vice Principal took me out to an elegant dinner. Then we went over to the book store for a book signing. Not too many others showed up, but we had a great time. The next day I spoke for 3 hours in front of freshmen, sophomores and juniors, all of whom had read Weeping! It was incredible. Mostly everyone had interesting questions and comments. There were some tough customers, but that's high school! I got huge applause, which was just heartwarming. Kids came up and talked to me about writing, what they are doing and their inspiration. Some of them wanted me to sign autographs. I could get used to this!
It was a wonderful time.

So much to do!

2009-05-05T04:32:00.000-07:00

I am in the throes of getting three books ready for publication and feeling a little like a crazy person! A Free Woman on God's Earth is almost ready to be born!
The Adventures of Charlie and Moon, by my friend Martin is starting to take off and The Twelfth Stone is almost ready for typesetting. Then there's Jasmine who is just at the beginning stages.
So, aaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!
But, I'm having so much fun with all of it, that I had better not complain!
:)

Another story!

2009-05-01T19:22:00.000-07:00

So Melody Lea Lamb and I are going to collaborate on a wonderful story about a stray greyhound from England. Don't want to tell too much just yet, but her name is Jasmine!

Visiting Schools

2009-04-29T19:16:00.000-07:00

I am really excited because I will be at Mt. Everett Regional High School in Sheffield, MA this Friday, May 1 to talk with students about my novel. Then I will be at Norwich Technical High School in Norwich, C T on the 15th of May talking with those students and I'll be at Monument Mountain High School, in Great Barrington some time in May as well. All these schools have taken Weeping Under This Same Moon as part of their curriculum.

Not only that, but Melody Lea Lamb is going to be working with me on a book about an incredible dog from Warwickshire, England, named Jasmine. More about that later!

Woodpeckers!

2009-04-27T04:07:00.001-07:00

I love the country life, but for the past few weeks I've been awakened by a knocking sound at around 4 am. At first I thought it was the radiator knocking, but now I realize that it is a very noisy and persistent woodpecker! What to do?

New Book is Coming!!

2009-04-25T18:12:00.000-07:00

Hi All!
My new book, A Free Woman on God's Earth, The True Story of Elizabeth "Mumbet" Freeman, The Slave Who Won Her Freedom (long title, I know) co-written with Ann-Elizabeth Barnes and illustrated by Jacqueline Rogers is due out this August! It's a middle grade chapter book about the life of Mumbet, the amazing woman who sued for her freedom and won in 1781!
I just returned from a wonderful trip to Florida with a couple of friends and am now tan and relaxed and ready to get back to editing and writing!

2009-01-16T21:20:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to tell everyone that I have a new book coming out! It's called The Cat's Meow and will be illustrated by Melody Lea Lamb. I wrote this story for my son when my daughter was born, and it's for all little sibs of newborns!
My book, Weeping Under This Same Moon was given a great review in Berkshire Living Magazine. It's a story about a Vietnamese refugee artist and the young American teenager who befriends her