Today, a New Species of Dinosaur is Revealed: Cookiesaurus Rex

September 26, 2017 Leave your thoughts
Today, a New Species of Dinosaur is Revealed: Cookiesaurus Rex

Please help me welcome to the world an ornery, bossy, and otherwise hilarious dinosaur cookie. Today, Cookiesaurus Rex makes his debut. It still seems a little bit like a dream. Up until now, I’ve been writing heart-felt young adult novels (which I love) and funny middle grade novels (which I also love) so how did I end up writing about a cookie who calls himself “Prehistoric Perfection?” It started at a dinner party. (No, there weren’t cookies for dessert.) But there was a guy named Nate Evans. As it turned out, Nate is a picture book author and illustrator so talented that you can find his name attached to over 40 titles. We started talking and when he asked if I’d be interested in trying a collaboration,…

Sweet News!

September 2, 2017 Leave your thoughts
Sweet News!

This cookie has literally been years in the making! It was in 2015 that this story about a sassy cookie got scooped up by Disney-Hyperion. Cookiesaurus Rex will finally make his appearance in bookstores this month! Co-written with Nate Evans and illustrated by the talented AG Ford, it’s my first picture book and the most fun I’ve had working on a project. Nate and I figured if we laughed out loud while writing it, then you might laugh out loud while reading it. I guess we’re about to find out. 🙂 Oh, and just to whet your appetite a little more. There’s going to be a second book to follow!  Cookiesaurus Christmas (2018) If you’re a local Phoenix resident, then please stop by our launch event and bring the kids. If…

28 Days, 28 Tips: Day 28

February 28, 2017 Leave your thoughts
28 Days, 28 Tips: Day 28

Well, here it is. Day 28 of 28 Days to mark National Teen Domestic Violence Awareness Month. When I got the idea of posting 28 blogs for 28 days, I knew it would be tough. I generally write 5 blog posts a year. It seems that I need at least two months to recover after writing one, so how was I going to pull this off? Well, I did. In some ways, it was almost too easy. There are just too many examples of abuse out there. Too many articles and quotes and stories for teens who have been victims, for teens who are victims, for teens who don’t even realize they’re victims because culture can sometimes make dying for love seem romantic. It isn’t.…

28 Days, 28 Tips: Day 28 TEST

February 28, 2017 1 Comment
28 Days, 28 Tips: Day 28 TEST

Well, here it is. Day 28 of 28 Days to mark National Teen Domestic Violence Awareness Month. When I got the idea of posting 28 blogs for 28 days, I knew it would be tough. I generally write 5 blog posts a year. It seems that I need at least two months to recover after writing one, so how was I going to pull this off? Well, I did. In some ways, it was almost too easy. There are just too many examples of abuse out there. Too many articles and quotes and stories for teens who have been victims, for teens who are victims, for teens who don’t even realize they’re victims because culture can sometimes make dying for love seem romantic. It isn’t.…

28 Tips, 28 Days: Day 27 TEST

February 27, 2017 Leave your thoughts
28 Tips, 28 Days: Day 27 TEST

February is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. In order to shine light on dating abuse, I’m posting 28 Tips for 28 Days. Stop by each day this month and discover stats that may shock you. Tips that can help you. Links that can save a life. Knowledge and understanding are our best weapons in fighting what has become a silent epidemic among teens! Day 27, Tip 27:  

28 Tips, 28 Days: Day 27

February 27, 2017 Leave your thoughts
28 Tips, 28 Days: Day 27

February is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. In order to shine light on dating abuse, I’m posting 28 Tips for 28 Days. Stop by each day this month and discover stats that may shock you. Tips that can help you. Links that can save a life. Knowledge and understanding are our best weapons in fighting what has become a silent epidemic among teens! Day 27, Tip 27:    

28 Days, 28 Tips: Day 26

February 26, 2017 Leave your thoughts
28 Days, 28 Tips: Day 26

February is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. In order to shine light on dating abuse, I’m posting 28 Tips for 28 Days. Stop by each day this month and discover stats that may shock you. Tips that can help you. Links that can save a life. Knowledge and understanding are our best weapons in fighting what has become a silent epidemic among teens! Day 26, Tip 26: 6 Early Signs of an Abusive Relationship: This is from an article by Pamela Jacobs, an advocate and attorney who helps women to reclaim their lives after abuse. http://pamela jacobs.com He will romance you You’ll find yourself thinking, “He’s too good to be true.” And he is. He’ll want to commit quickly. He’ll want you to be…

28 Days, 28 Tips: Day 25

February 25, 2017 Leave your thoughts
28 Days, 28 Tips: Day 25

February is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. In order to shine light on dating abuse, I’m posting 28 Tips for 28 Days. Stop by each day this month and discover stats that may shock you. Tips that can help you. Links that can save a life. Knowledge and understanding are our best weapons in fighting what has become a silent epidemic among teens! Day 25, Tip 25:   Books can make it easier to broach the topic. There are a lot of stories about relationship abuse that can get your teen thinking…questioning. Die for You is just one. I hope it can make a difference in the life of someone you love.  “This taut thriller unrolls hidden messages of abusive relationships with a sharp edge and…

28 Days, 28 Tips: Day 24

February 24, 2017 Leave your thoughts
28 Days, 28 Tips: Day 24

February is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. In order to shine light on dating abuse, I’m posting 28 Tips for 28 Days. Stop by each day this month and discover stats that may shock you. Tips that can help you. Links that can save a life. Knowledge and understanding are our best weapons in fighting what has become a silent epidemic among teens! Day 24, Tip 24: The dreaded sex talk.  If you’re a parent, you don’t want to have it. If you’re a teen you really don’t want to have it. At least, not with your parent. Still, like many other parents I gathered my courage and I talked to my kids. When they were little, I had books that we could read together and…

28 Days, 28 Tips: Day 23

February 23, 2017 Leave your thoughts

February is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. In order to shine light on dating abuse, I’m posting 28 Tips for 28 Days. Stop by each day this month and discover stats that may shock you. Tips that can help you. Links that can save a life. Knowledge and understanding are our best weapons in fighting what has become a silent epidemic among teens! Day 23, Tip 23: TEEN AMBASSADORS NEEDED!  When it comes to dating abuse, teens often don’t turn to parents, teachers or other adults. They want to talk to other teens. Can you be that person? Leaders with strong social media skills wanted to help teach others about dating violence. Click the link and read more.   https://www.domesticshelters.org/domestic-violence-articles-information/teen-ambassadors-needed#.WKxSAxIrI0o