Vermont College

2014, Day 1

I really hate making New Year’s Resolutions. Let me clarify—I don’t hate making them, but I don’t do such a good job of keeping and tracking them. Last year, my goal was to write 1500 words a week. Did I hit it? Maybe. I never really tracked it, so it’s hard to say. Plus, I… Read more »

What I’ve been doing and where I’ll be next

I know I’ve been gone for a while….but I have a good reason! From PW Children’s Bookshelf: “Cheryl Klein at Scholastic’s Arthur A. Levine Books imprint has bought world rights, in a pre-empt, to author Varian Johnson’s middle-grade debut, Jackson Greene Steals the Election. Pitched as Ocean’s Eleven for middle-schoolers, the book stars an eighth-grade… Read more »

Quirk and Quill

A bunch of my classmates from the Vermont College of Fine Arts have started up a new blog called Quirk and Quill. Check out my post there on “The Next Book.” And while you’re at it check out the other posts as well.  

Small Yays

Even though it’s been almost three years since I graduated from the Vermont College of Fine Arts, I still keep in touch with a lot of alums, especially my classmates. Every Friday on our private forum, we celebrate brags–big and small. There have been a lot of big brags this month (some yet to be… Read more »

VCFA Day in the Lone Star State

(Taken from Cynsations) Round Rock, Texas — Acclaimed authors Kathi Appelt and Sharon Darrow will lead a conference on the craft of writing for young readers on Oct. 2 and Oct. 3 at Teravista (4333 Teravista Club Dr.) in Round Rock, which is located just 20 minutes north of Austin. The event is sponsored by… Read more »

MFAs and LIARS

So, yeah–I’m a Master of the Fine Arts. I don’t have a picture of me with my fancy hood, but believe me, I graduated. Here are a few pics from the residency: Me and Rita Williams-Garcia. I’m holding the ARC for Rita’s next book, ONE CRAZY SUMMER and Rita’s holding the ARC for SAVING MADDIE…. Read more »

Things that make me happy

1) DDD’s with Sarah Bird (Read recaps by Jenny and Shana) 2) New Blackberry Phones! (Who needs a stupid iPhone anyway?) 3) Vermont College Workshop Packets (with my workshop being led by the wonderful Sharon Darrow! And last but not least…. 4) ARCS and…5) Dust Jackets!

Back to the Grind

Okay, so I know all of you guys are faithful readers of Cynthia Leitich Smith’s Cynsations (and if not, add it to your Google Reader TODAY), so by now you’ve seen the interview that I did with her. If not, check it out. And be sure to sign up for the giveaway! In other news,… Read more »

Don’t Call it a Comeback

I just got back from my latest Vermont College Residency, as like always, I riddled with a mix of joy at being back at home, and at sadness for leaving such a magical place. As always, the residency was great–full of great lectures and workshops, laughter and tears. My class felt especially close to the… Read more »

More Reviews

I’m knee-deep in finishing up my work for The Brown Bookshelf’s 28 Days Later campaign (be sure to check us out starting Feb 1st), so I’ll have to make this quick. First of all, I just got back from my 10 day winter residency for the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA Program for Writing… Read more »