The Best Part

I love the entire process of creating a book, from the research to the writing and revising. But maybe the best part is when I can hold my new books in my hand. There's nothing like the satisfaction of knowing all the hours you've put into something—all those moments when you thought it would never be what you wanted it to be—have created something even more than you could have imagined.

Here are my latest releases, including new books in the Peoples of North America and Amazing Animals series, as well as a new series, called Disaster for All Time:

School Visit, Pulaski, Wisconsin (Or, When My Heart Melted)

5 days. 2 schools. 1,000+ students. 30 presentations.

I enjoyed an exhausting but wonderful week visiting Glenbrook and Sunnyside Elementary schools in Pulaski, Wisconsin. As always, I loved sharing my experiences as an author and teaching students about the process of researching, writing, and revising a book, but my favorite part of the visit was the inspiration these young creatives gave me. Check out these amazing books and letters they wrote for me.

One even dedicated his book to me. And another wrote, "When I was just 7 years old, I started to read your books. I thinked, hey, I want to be a writer. I'd always wanted to meet you and it finally came true." 

This right here? It's exactly why I do what I do!

School Visit: Arcadia, WI

The 3.5-hour drive to Arcadia, Wisconsin, was worth it for the chance to visit with these enthusiastic students! Check out all those raised hands! That's because these kids know that they're all writers, too.

And these brave volunteers helped us learn about the difference between fiction and nonfiction--it's not the topic, it's whether it's true or made up. Like the spiffy costumes I made? Believe it or not, I am not a professional costume designer. You can tell some of them are thinking, "What am I supposed to be?" But they were good sports about it!

To learn more about setting up a visit for your school, check out my Author Visits page or contact me.

School Visit: Oshkosh, Wisconsin

It appears that between writing and visiting schools, I've neglected to keep this spot updated. So to remedy that, here are some pictures from my latest school visit. I had the opportunity to spend two days at Perry Tipler Middle School and ALPs charter school in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Talk about your fun and engaged middle school students! We had a blast! I was so busy talking with students I forgot to take pictures, but fortunately an extraordinary teacher (thanks Mrs. Cottrell) came to my rescue and sent me these. I never realized how many funny faces I make while I speak!

Great Review: School Library Journal

So excited about this great review for my latest series, Peoples of North America.

School Visit: St. Paul's, Onalaska

What a treat! I got to visit my own children's school, St. Paul's in Onalaska, Wisconsin, last week. The visit was extra-special, since we'll be moving to the other side of the state in a couple weeks. We'll miss everyone here so much, but it was great to have a chance to visit before we leave.

The little guy next to me (in the cowboy vest) is my very own kiddo, Titus.

Tidbit Tuesday: Ada Lovelace

Woohoo! I always love the beginning of new projects, when I get to learn all kinds of new stuff! Lately, I've been researching some amazing women in science and math, including Ada Lovelace. Ever heard of her? Here are just a few things you should know about her:

• Ada Lovelace is credited with creating the first computer program - more than 100 years before the first computer was ever built! Her program was designed for a computing machine called the Analytical Engine that was designed by Charles Babbage but never built.
• Ada was the daughter of Lord Byron, a famous English poet. But her father left when Ada was only a month old. Ada's mother worried that she might turn out to be artistic like her father. So she decided to educate Ada in one of her favorite subjects - mathematics - instead.
• When Ada published notes on the Analytical Engine, she used her initials instead of her name, since it was not considered proper for women to publish academic articles.
• In the 1970s, the U.S. Department of Defense created a computer language named Ada, in her honor.

How about you? Tell me what you've learned today, and I'll enter you in a drawing to win a signed copy of one of my books!

These Kids Write: Zoe D.

Here are two more entries from Zoe D. First, some great facts about dolphins, one of my favorite animals!

Dolphins eat fish. A baby dolphin is called a calf. Dolphins are great swimmers by moving their tails up and down. Dolphins are mammals. Dolphins live in oceans in New York and Florida and California too. And dolphins get along with humans. Dolphins are afraid of killer whales and sharks and humans too. And they love you too.

And here is Zoe's piece about foxes.

Foxes eat mice. A baby fox is called a kit. A fox lives in Africa and South Africa too. Foxes can be pets too. They can be killed by coyotes. There are red fox and orange and arctic fox. And I love foxes forever and forever.

fox-in-hunting-wallpapers-free-picture on free pictures

Thanks for some more great work, Zoe! Don't forget, kids, if you want to publish your own writing on my site (fiction or nonfiction), send it to me here. Be sure to let me know that you want it published. You can tell me a little about yourself, too, if you'd like. Plus, I'll enter you in a drawing to win a signed copy of one of my books.

Author Visits: Ripon and Muskego, Wisconsin

Finished out the school year with two great visits. The first was to Ripon, Wisconsin, where I had a chance to talk to the first grade students of my mom's best friend (who has known me since I was a baby) before she retired. Another great group of kids! And I had a chance to read the nonfiction books they had written about animals. Some had even written books about the same animals I've written about!

We had to adjust the Muskego visit by a day due to a water pump problem that closed the school the day I was supposed to visit. Fortunately, we were visiting family, so it was easy to reschedule (and I spent the day off with my family at the park!). And the visit was worth the wait. The kids in Muskego were great - engaged and attentive, even though it was almost the last day of school!

   

   

I always love when kids stick around afterward to chat and ask more questions! Nothing better than talking books and writing with kids!

Author Visit: Holmen, Wisconsin

Wow! I had a great time visiting four elementary schools in Holmen, Wisconsin, last month. This visit was extra-special for me because Holmen is only a few miles from where I live. I told the kids to stop and say "hi" to me if they see me around, and what do you know--a few days later, we were out for my youngest daughter's birthday, and a student did! I felt like a rock star!

Best comment from students: "You inspired me." That's what it's all about!

Here I'm reading from my Centipedes book. If I look a little creeped out, it's because centipedes are not my favorite creatures. But I wrote it--and read it--for the kids!

One of my favorite parts is answering kids' questions: "Why did you become a writer?" (I love books, writing, reading, all of it!), "What's your favorite color?" (purple), and even "How old are you?" (35)

Tidbit Tuesday: Crime Scene Investigation

Wow! I'm learning lots of interesting stuff researching crime scene science. Did you know: 

1. Police can expose items to superglue fumes to find hidden (latent) fingerprints.
   
2. Prints from the palms or the soles of the feet are as unique as fingerprints and can be used to positively identify suspects.
   
   
   
3. Crime scene investigators need good observational and writing skills to document the scene of a crime. Such documentation can be crucial when a case goes to trial.
   

Interesting stuff, huh?

What have you learned today? Leave a comment about something new you've learned, and you'll be entered into a drawing for a free copy of one of my books (your choice!).* Be sure to include your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win!

*Drawing to be held May 29, 2015.

Tips and Tricks Thursday: What do I write about?

So you're supposed to write something? First, you do a little happy dance (hey, you get to WRITE). 

Then you start to panic. What on earth are you supposed to write about?

The short answer: anything.

Does that make your head spin? I mean anything could mean something as big as the universe or as small as the dust bunnies under your bed. So, how do you pick a topic?

For starters, try these three tips:

1. Make a list of the things that interest you: Basketball. Music. Art. Science. Space. Cars. Chocolate. If you pick a topic that doesn't interest you, it's going to be a chore to write about, and you probably already have enough chores.
2. Okay, now think about what, specifically, you'd like to know about those topics. How does a car engine work? Could people ever live on the moon? Who discovered the deliciousness that is chocolate?
3. Don't forget to consider your audience and your assignment. If you've been assigned to write about the Civil War, make sure that your topic has something to do with the Civil War. But that doesn't mean you can't tie it in with other topics that interest you. The role of music on the battlefield. The art of the Civil War. Wartime transportation. 

If you could write about anything, what would you choose to research? Why? Leave a comment with your idea of a perfect topic, and you'll be entered into a drawing for a free copy of one of my books (your choice!).* Be sure to include your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win!

*Drawing to be held May 29, 2015.

Tidbit Tuesday: John F. Kennedy

One of my favorite parts of being an author is learning new things every day. Some of those things make it into my books, but, unfortunately, there isn't room for everything. So here's where I'll share with you the fun things I've learned recently that may or may not make the final cut.

Right now, I'm researching the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Of course, I already knew some things about that day, but since I wasn't born until 17 years later (uh-oh, now you can guess my age!), there are plenty of things I didn't know, like:

1. Authors C.S. Lewis (Chronicles of Narnia) and Aldous Huxley (Brave New World) also died on November 22, 1963. Their deaths were barely noted by the media, which focused almost exclusively on coverage of the president's assassination.
2. After her husband's death Jacqueline Kennedy arranged for the White House to look just as it had after Abraham Lincoln's assassination. Kennedy's casket was even placed on top of the same catafalque (platform) as Lincoln's had been.
3. Although Kennedy's goal of sending a man to the moon by the end of the 1960s was meant to demonstrate American superiority over the Soviet Union, the president later began to explore the possibility of partnering with the Soviet Union on the venture. He died before plans could be made.

So, what have you learned today? Leave a comment about something new you've learned, and you'll be entered into a drawing for a free copy of one of my books (your choice!).* Be sure to include your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win!

*Drawing to be held May 29, 2015.