This past week I sat down and read While He Was Away in galley form. Actually, I read it through for the second time, having read it through for the first time as an ARC—i.e., as the Advanced Reader Copy that my wonderful publisher Sourcebooks sends out for publicity purposes. I don’t have many ARCs [...]
Hey, y’all. I’d love it if you’d check out my intrepid YA agent Sara Crowe’s site: Crowe’s Nest. I’m perched over there now, having posted an interview with Sourcebook’s Fire editor, Leah Hultenschidt. I was fortunate enough to have Leah edit my book-about-to-be, While He Was Away. It was great doing the interview—not only because I [...]
Wanted to share what my husband Greg has been working on, in collaboration with The Heartland Alliance Marjorie Kovler Center and his documentary photography students at Wheaton College. Their work will be exhibited in the coming weeks at Schneider Gallery in Chicago. Here’s an excerpt of the statement that Greg wrote for the exhibit, which [...]
Yesterday I went for my yearly physical. Given the age I am now (see previous post), it had new resonance. Some numbers were higher, some numbers were lower; some were just right, others are yet to be determined. There will be this and that test to be taken. No need to go into further detail. [...]
Yesterday, 1/2/12, I took my daughter shopping at Forever XXI. She had a gift card. I had a desire to be with her. At my age, at her age, the irony of Forever XXI is not lost on me. But never mind (at least for a paragraph or two). For a few hours, we were [...]
A week ago, after the first dusting of snow, we decided to make something simple for Christmas. I wanted to share it with you. I’ve been blessed in so many ways this year—gifts from God, the way this dear world shares its imprint of the Divine, and the good people all around, how they [...]
Last Wednesday I finished up a lovely, five month, freelance stint. I enjoyed my quiet-car-train-commutes, and being in the beating heart of Chicago for many hours of the week, and especially learning from and working with the smart, creative people on this particular team at Leo B./Arc. And then Thanksgiving, shared with dear friends who [...]
Hurrah! I’ve gotten my first look at the cover for my YA novel, While He Was Away. Thank you, Sourcebooks! Thank you, Sourcebooks Teen Fire! I wanted to share the cover of While He Was Away with you. It seemed right that I do so on Veteran’s Day, given the fact that writing this book [...]
Yesterday—to be exact: late on the Friday afternoon of the Labor Day weekend— I needed to mail something at the post office (how quaint such an errand seems to me in this e-day and virtual age) before I dropped my thirteen-year old daughter at the Dairy Queen, where she was to meet her friends. [...]
Today during lunch I left the office and went to the Dame Myra Hess concert at the Chicago Cultural Center. Whenever I’m able I listen to Dame Myra concerts on WFMT, Chicago’s Classical Music station. Since 1977, they’ve occurred each week for an hour on Wednesdays starting at 12:15. They’re named in honor of said [...]