Did you always want to be a writer?
I’ve loved writing since I was old enough to hold a pencil, but to be honest, it never occurred to me that I could be a real, live author some day. I grew up in a really small town, and we didn’t have authors visit our schools, so I didn’t know any authors. To me, they were far away people – not just ordinary people like me who loved to write.

Is writing easy for you?
Once in a while, I have a great idea that follows me around for days, and when I finally sit down at my desk to get it down, writing feels almost effortless. A lot of the time, though, writing is hard work, because being a writer means you need to sit down to write whether you have that great idea or not. Being a writer is about showing up, and about trying, and trying again, until the story works and the characters take on lives of their own. So no, it’s not often easy, but it’s always a joy because it’s what I love to do.

Where do you write?
Usually, at my desk in the office I share with my husband. I have all my research papers and books there, as well as a bulletin board where I’ll post outlines and maps that help me keep track of my stories. It’s also very messy. (Sorry, Mom.)



How long does it take you to write a book?
It depends on the book. Historical novels that require a lot of research take longer; I might spend a year doing the research and then another year writing & revising. Usually, though, if there’s not a lot of research to be done, I write a first draft of a novel in a few months. Then, I’ll let it sit for a while so that I can come back to it with fresh eyes to revise. I also have critique partners who read my work and make suggestions for more revision. All told, it usually takes me ten months to a year to have a draft that’s ready to go to an editor.

When you wrote your first book were you nervous about what people were going to think of it?
Yes - and I feel that way about the second book, and the third book, and will probably feel that way about all the rest. When you write a book, you put lots of yourself into it -- lots of pieces of your heart -- and hope that readers connect with the story you had to tell. It's very, very exciting when they do, which is why I so loved visiting your school.

How old were you when you wrote your first novel?
When I started or when it was published? (It's a big difference!) I started researching my first book, Spitfire, seven years before it was published, so I was 31 then. I was 37 when the book came out.

Do you like writing children's books or would you rather write books for adults?
No offense to any grownups out there, but I'd much rather write for kids. I believe the books we read as kids are books that help shape us, in a way that adult books can't quite do, no matter how beautifully they're written.

What was your favorite book when you were in school? How old were you when you read it?
When I was in elementary school, I loved ALL the books I could find by Beverly Cleary and Judy Blume. As I got a little older, I discovered The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis and loved those books, especially The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. And I loved Harriet the Spy. That's one of the books that made me start writing. I had a notebook that I carried around when I spied on people, and I took notes on them like Harriet.

Did you read Harry Potter books when you were a kid?
No. Sadly, Harry Potter wasn't around when I was a kid. But that's okay because I read the whole series as an adult and loved them just as much. The fourth one, Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire, is my favorite.

Who are some of your favorite authors now?
Gosh, that’s a tough question because there are so many authors whose work has inspired me, and some of them have become friends, too. Some middle grade and young adult authors whose books I love are Cynthia Lord, Linda Urban, Laurie Halse Anderson, Loree Griffin Burns, Eric Luper, Joseph Bruchac, Nancy Werlin, Sara Zarr, John Green, Tanya Lee Stone, Leslie Connor, Lisa Yee, Kerry Madden, Karen Hesse, Katherine Paterson, Tracie Vaughn Zimmer, and about a million more.

Some of my favorite adult authors are Anne Michaels, Anita Diamant, Anne Lamott, Chris Bohjalian, and Bill Bryson. I love reading poetry, too, especially poems by Robert Frost, Maya Angelou, Naomi Shihab Nye, and Billy Collins.

What’s a typical day like for you?
A three-ring circus! I’m a teacher and a mom, too, so my weekdays are very full. I usually wake up early and try to go running before school. I get my kids ready for their day and then head to my own classroom to teach 7th graders. After school, I spend time with my kids, running them to dance class or soccer practice, and then I make dinner. We all read before bed, and then, usually at around 9:00 in the evening, I sit down to write for 2-3 hours before I go to bed, too.

I don’t usually write on weekends. My family likes to spend every possible minute together outside, so that’s where you’ll usually find us on Saturdays and Sundays.

Are your characters based on real people?
Sometimes. Usually, my characters end up having characteristics and behaviors of a whole bunch of different people; they’re interesting mish-mashes of people I know. In THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z, for example, Gianna’s friend Zig has some of my son’s characteristics in that he’s very brainy and fascinated by electricity. But he also has the floppy dark hair of one of my students, the shy mannerisms of one of my nephews, and a family situation that’s like the homes of many kids I’ve taught over the years.

Where do you get your ideas?
Everywhere! I carry a notebook with me, so when I have an idea, I can scribble it down right away before I forget. I wrote the first draft of my picture book OVER AND UNDER THE SNOW (Chronicle Books) on a school bus on the way home from a 7th grade field snowshoe field trip in the Adirondacks; it’s scribbled in bumpy bus writing on the back of an attendance sheet.

I think one of the most important things to do if you want to be a writer is to lead an interesting life. Go outside. Try new things. Talk to people, especially people whose lives are different from yours. And don’t pass up opportunities.

Do you ever get writers’ block?
Oh sure. When I’m writing a new book, I often get stuck and feel like I don’t know what happens next. Usually, a little time helps, and if I just think about it for a few days, the answer will come to me while I’m running or taking a shower or just about to fall asleep.

I think everyone feels stuck sometimes, and everyone probably has times when curling up with a big bowl of chocolate ice cream sounds like more fun than sitting down to write. Writing through those times – even if it’s just writing for a few minutes a day – makes a big difference.

Do you make the covers for your books?
No. Publishers have design teams that are in charge of that sort of thing. A design team is made up of really talented people who talk about the story of the book as well as its potential audience, and they figure out what kind of cover might be best to attract those readers.

How much money do writers make?
Less than you might think. Writers get paid royalties – which means that they earn a percentage of the price of every book that sells. So for example, if a book sells for $10, and the writer earns 10% royalties, he or she would earn one dollar for every book sold. Some writers, like J.K. Rowling, make millions of dollars, but most earn a lot less, and many have other jobs, too.

How do you get published?
I have two answers to this question…one for adults and one for students…

For adults who want to publish a book, I’d say first, make sure it’s the best book it can possibly be before you even think about submitting it. Write it. Then revise it. Revise it again. Show it to three or four other writer friends who will be honest with you about its strengths and weaknesses. (Your mother doesn’t count!)

Then, find editors who might be interested in the kind of book you’ve written. You can get ideas from a book like the Children’s Writers & Illustrators Market. Attending regional conferences put on by the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators is a great way to make contacts. Checking out books in the bookstore is a good idea, too, since it helps you get an idea of what different publishers like.

Then you’ll write a query letter – a very short (just a few paragraphs) letter pitching your book to an editor and asking if he or she would like to see your manuscript. Many editors will tell you no thanks, but some may request part or all of the manuscript. You’ll send it. Then you’ll wait, sometimes a very long time, like a year or more, for a response. During this time, you’ll check your email every four minutes, and your mailman will begin to think you are stalking him. Eventually, you’ll probably get a response, which might be a form rejection, a personally written rejection with an invitation to resubmit after revisions are made, or an offer to buy your book. Most often, it’s a rejection because this is a tough business, and when that happens, you try again with another editor.

For kids who like to write, I always suggest reading a ton. You’ll learn so, so much from reading the work of other authors whose styles you admire. And spend time writing. Be serious about it, and make it part of your regular day.

As far as publishing, I’d suggest starting with shorter pieces and targeting a publication that’s especially interested in student work. Here are a few websites to get you started:

I’m working on a book/story/poem. Would you read it for me?
I’m sorry that I can’t do that because if I did, I’d never have enough time for my own writing. My suggestion, for both kids and adults who write, is to find a critique partner or critique group – a few people with whom you share work on a regular basis for the purpose of offering critiques. Critique groups can be in-person or online and they’re a great way to bring your writing to the next level.

Do you have kids?
Yes, I have a son and daughter.

Do they read your books?
They’re some of my first readers, so when I finish a new book, they read it and let me know what works for them as readers and what doesn’t. They’re tough, too!

Do you have any pets?
My husband and I both have allergies, so all we have are a couple fish and some composting worms that we keep in the basement. They eat our kitchen scraps and produce great compost for our garden!



Can you come visit my school?
Maybe, but that would need to be arranged through your teacher. See the Teachers & Librarians page of my website for a lot more information.