1.      I’m the youngest of eight kids.

2.      I’m Italian, Irish, German and Norwegian.

3.      I make a mean Italian sausage cheese tortellini soup.

4.      I grew up in Milwaukee on a block with lots of kids.

5.      We were allowed to run with scissors on days that the blade sharpening man pushed his cart up our block (I can still hear the sound of the stone wheel, sharpening the blades!).

6.      The blade man was sometimes followed by the fruit cart man.

7.      I had an orange Huffy with a banana seat and high handlebars and an orange skateboard.

8.      My first car was used 1972 Cutlass Supreme. I bought it before I had my driver’s license.

9.      I spend my mornings writing nonfiction, novels, and 25 things about me lists. I work in a school library in the afternoon.

10. The first rejection I ever received was from Helen Gurley Brown at Cosmopolitan Magazine when I was 19.

11. I’m a former dealer of antiques and collectibles.

12. I like real people and fake jewelry.

13. I used to collect vintage purses.

14. I believe there is a fine line between self-promotion and bragging.

15. I love a good cheeseburger and a cold beer.

16. I’m a backyard bird watcher and once saw a pileated woodpecker. Amazing!

17. Our dearly beloved parakeet used to mimic our dog whistle and drive the dog insane.

18. Before kids, hubby and I traveled via motorcycle to Canada, Corpus Christi Texas, Boulder Colorado, Tennessee and more.

19. My office is decorated with my kids’ artwork dating back from when they were 2 & 3 years old.

20. My office window sills display the collection of rocks and fossils that I’ve found.

21. My favorite flower is the Day Lily. I hope to get a lily tattoo this year!

22. I believe in karma (Hear that, used car dealers?).  

23. I love sushi and wasabi.

24. My friend and I were taken from our seats and placed in the front row at a Billy Joel concert.

25. I have a wide taste in music. Old school disco, hip-hop, some rap, rock n roll, some country, and will dance to anything.

Happy New Year, LJ friends!

2008 was quite a year!

My second book with Enslow, So You Want to Be a Film or TV Actor was released and is doing nicely.

I was contracted to write the biography of Stephenie Meyer and will be turning it in in a few weeks.

My fabulous agent, Caryn Wiseman at Andrea Brown Literary Agency, sent out my YA novel, MERCY LILY. Having an agent is a new experience and it’s been wonderful.

I’m grateful that my hubby and kids are healthy and happy! Hubby got the “all clear” this year. Sweet A got her driver’s license. Dear J became a senior and applied for college. (hang on...I need to spike my coffee....)

Okay, I’m back!

2009 is going to be full of change.

I’ll probably be wreck if Dear J moves away. A proud wreck.

Sweet A will be a senior and applying for colleges.

I hope to have a YA sale this year. Maybe another NF book or two, too.

My big writing goal (the one I can control) is to finish my MG novel, DREAM, and outline books 2 and 3.

Revising my MG novel, GOOD-BYE CAJUN MOON is also on the 2009 to-do list.

At the top of my 2009 list is to spend more time with family and friends. Not worry about things beyond my control. Lastly, to be content with what I have, and be grateful for the possibilities to come.

Happy New Year!

It’s that time of year. I received a Royalty Statement from Enslow and happy to report that my books continue to sell. Even though I haven’t earned my advances back yet, it’s nice to know the books are in schools and libraries. I don’t fully understand how to read these statements and I’m glad I have an agent to take control over this type of stuff when my fiction sells.

Speaking of fiction, there’s no word yet on my YA out on the first round. Fingers crossed!

I’ve been pecking at my WIP DREAM and think I’m about half-way to The End.

I’m also working on the bio of Stephenie Meyer. It’s been a tad slower than I anticipated but that’s because it’s senior year for my son and I’ve been spending lots of time on college stuff, homecoming week and senior photos. Plus, I procrastinated yesterday by – get this! – scrubbing my shower. If that’s not over-the-top procrastination, I don’t know what is. Doing that means I won’t have Fiction Friday ‘cause I’ll be playing catch-up on the bio.

I’m loving my job at the school library! We have the Scholastic Book Fair this week and I have a stack of books on hold. I was thrilled to see Savvy and The Host there! Perfect timing, too. They’ll be traveling to the Keys with me in a couple of weeks. Ahhh.

Lastly, the schedule for the Wisconsin Reading Association conference is up. There’s a great line-up of authors and illustrators and Lois Lowry will be the keynote speaker on February 7th. I’m so there! Anyone else planning on going?

Thirteen years ago, when my kiddos were just 3 & 4, it was 1995 and I had fallen back in love with children's literature. These two have been, and will always be, my inspiration.

First day of Preschool: Dear J went 3 days a week, 2 1/2 hours. Sweet A went along on Fridays.
Yesterday: Dear J is a Senior and Sweet A is a Junior.

              

I have a tradition of taking a First Day of School photo every year. They humor me.

   

Have a great year!! L~

1 - Wise Wonderful Agent is preparing to send my YA novel OUT THERE! 

2 - I started my new position in the school library yesterday and put new acquisitions on display. Two of them were mine!  Ha! A Curse as Dark as Gold by elizabethcbunce  and a DVD of author interviews with cynthialord</lj> on the cover were other new additions. I think I’m going to love my new job and being surrounded by friends and colleagues!