With the winds of spring, refreshing rains, and the arrival of goldfinches at my bird feeder, I felt that new author photos were in order. I would like to thank Katherine Warde, co-owner of Addendum Books, for a fun and inspired portrait sitting, both indoors and out; and Vicki Palmquist of Winding Oak for giving… Read More
I’ve shared that one of my favorite places to visit is Prince Edward Island, so much that I wrote an entire book set there! Here’s a slideshow of some of the photos I’ve taken over the years. Is there a place that has a lot of meaning for you? Good memories? Beautiful vistas? Tourist attractions… Read More
When I wrote The Secrets of Eastcliff-by-the-Sea, I often thought of my own sock monkey. There are many sock monkeys in the book, of course, so I asked my friend Millie Dosh to sew more monkeys for me. I have quite a group. Some nights I could swear they’re having a party. Are you inspired by… Read More
Find yourself in need of more books starring sock monkeys? Cece Bell has a trio of books starting with Sock Monkey Goes to Hollywood: a Star is Bathed (Candlewick, 2015) that are fun. In this first, Sock Monkey, who is an actor, is nominated for an award. To attend the ceremony, he must take a… Read More
Tango: The Tale of an Island Dog is set on Prince Edward Island, a locale I’ve visited many times, encouraged by reading L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables books. Here are some beautiful photos of Prince Edward Island from Victoria magazine.
In Tango: The Tale of an Island Dog, Tango learns to be brave. Even though they’re quite small compared to some dogs, Yorkshire terriers are loyal and smart. Yorkshire Terrier Saves Owner From a Bear A different bear story: Yorkie Fights Off Bear Spunky Yorkshire Terrier Saves Her Owner’s Life Yorkie Doodle Dandy: A Canine… Read More
Tango, my beloved dog who passed on last year, the model for one of the main characters in Tango: The Tale of an Island Dog, was a Yorkshire Terrier. Do you know much about this breed? Do you realize that it has been a popular pet since Victorian times, first being recognized by the American… Read More
Here are five books for middle grade readers that I’ve read and enjoyed recently: 1. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll with illustrations by Camille Rose Garcia (Published by Collins Design, an imprint of HarperCollins, 2010) 2. The Question of Miracles by Elana K. Arnold (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2015) 3. On My Honor by Marion Dane… Read More
Tango is traveling by boat on the ocean with his person, Marcellina, and her boyfriend Diego when Tango is washed overboard! In the months that follow, his fondest wish is to find his way home to Marcellina. He does everything within his power to make that wish come true. He has a lot of help… Read More
In the Teachers’ Guide for Tango: The Tale of an Island Dog, I’ve suggested that you develop a script for Chapter 34—“A Fair Fight”—and act out the scene. Start the scene at the point that Beau hears a voice call into the night: You’ll find good dialogue to work with and it’s a tense scene,… Read More