In Henry and the Chalk Dragon, the artistic main character, Henry, has a knightly costume he’s fashioned for himself . . .
Read moreThe Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place
With echoes of Jane Eyre and Dickens, the Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series by Maryrose Wood features a delightfully plucky young governess, lovably mischievous children, pithy wisdom, an abundance of classic literary allusions, arcane facts about ferns and other useful subjects, mysteries, family curses, and even an ostrich.
Read moreQ & A: Writer’s Block
Is there anything you do if you're in a slump with your writing, or can't find any ideas, or if you're struggling with writer's block? I really love your books!
—Leslie, age 13
Read moreGet Creative: Idea Banks
The idea for my first novel, The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic, came to me when I was on a hiking adventure in England.
Read moreGet Creative: Crazy Inventions
Let your imaginations loose and be a family of crazy inventors this week! No actual hammers, wires, or test tubes necessary. These inventions are entirely imaginary.
Read moreDo Schools Kill Creativity?
I am constantly quoting from this TED talk on creativity and education. Well worth 20 minutes of your time. As the tag line says, "Sir Ken Robinson makes an entertaining and profoundly moving case for creating an educational system that nurtures (rather than undermines) creativity."
Read moreLet the Children Play
In an early chapter of Henry and the Chalk Dragon, La Muncha Elementary School receives a visit from two mysterious people whom Henry hears referred to as “Bored Members” . . .
Read moreMy True Name
I’m going to tell you a secret. This is one of those details of the writing process that feels so intimate I’m almost embarrassed to share it.
Read moreThe Secret of Our Hope Lies in the Imagination of Children
As a children’s book author and a creative writing teacher for kids, I have the honor—and challenge—of spending my days both digging for the submerged sunrise in myself and basking in the blazing sun of others.
Read moreMetaphors, Double Vision, and the Gruesome Pit of Grossness (a writing adventure for your family)
I’ve been in a tempest of lesson planning for summer camps, library workshops, and online classes.
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