Yes, it’s that time again. Summer’s gone and the school year has begun — but to soften the blow, I’m offering a book giveaway for educators.
You can win one of three classroom sets of the first three books in my new Class Pets series: Fuzzy’s Great Escape, Fuzzy Takes Charge, and Fuzzy Freaks Out. The …
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A pair of rollicking reads
Since I read so many books I can barely keep track of them all, I’ve decided to offer sporadic book reviews on this site. Some of the books I get from NetGalley, some from my publisher friends, and some from my local bookstore. Some are adult, some are for young readers; some are fiction, some …
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How do I find the perfect first line?
Dear Writer Guy,
How do you know when you’ve hit on the right first line for your story?
Thanks,
Martha B., Seattle
Dear Martha,
For me, it’s a feeling. When the first line clicks, you feel it. It leads you into the rest of the book, it establishes the voice and character attitude right away, and most of all, it …
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Dang It! On Dealing With Disappointment
The writing life is rife with opportunities for disappointment. Our human condition can’t avoid it. We construct hopes for ourselves and our work, knowing there are plenty of rocks and boulders ahead in the rushing waters of the marketplace.
This is not just in our professional lives, of course. It’s there in every other aspect of …
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What books/movies are Chet Gecko titles based on?
Inquiring minds and budding punsters want to know: Which movie/book titles are being tweaked in the titles of my Chet Gecko books? I’ve been asked that quite a few times over the years, and since I just received another query, I thought I’d set the record straight once and for all.
First, you should know that …
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Happy book birthday to Class Pets!
Today, I become the proud papa to twins, as the Class Pets series premieres with the first two books at the same time: FUZZY’S GREAT ESCAPE and FUZZY TAKES CHARGE. As a long-time pet lover, I’ve particularly enjoyed working on this series.
Growing up, we always had a string of pets around the house. Several dogs. …
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Going global, sharing stories
It’s been a busy winter-into-spring. My travels have taken me from Bakersfield to Switzerland, and from Stockholm to Kentucky, sharing my stories and helping get kids excited about writing their own. Although it’s wreaked havoc with my writing schedule, I feel honored and grateful that so many schools have invited me to speak Continue reading
How do I set up story revelations?
Never say anything bad about a man until you’ve walked a mile in his shoes. By then, he’s a mile away, you’ve got his shoes, and you can say whatever you want.
Like a joke (even that one), a story doesn’t work properly without set-ups. What are set-ups? Just the crucial planting of key information in …
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Spooky stuff coming in October!
Looking for something spooky to get you in that Halloweeny mood? Appropriately enough, my third Monstertown Mystery, INVASION OF THE SCORP-LIONS, will be coming out on the eerie day itself.
Here’s an advance peek at the cover. In this tale, strange sounds and smells arise through the heating vents, and kids at school begin Continue reading
5 Quick Tips for Revising Your Picture Book
Okay, so you’ve completed a full draft of a picture book manuscript. Now what? Revisions, of course! As we all know, it’s unusual that a first draft (or even a tenth or eleventh) be ready right off the bat for submission. Writers should embrace the revision process. And while I’m no author, I do get …
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