MOXIE AND THE ART OF RULE BREAKING (Dial Books) comes out in a little over a month (!), and although I've written about the connection between the book and the Gardner Museum art heist, I haven't mentioned Moxie, my main character, much ( Read more... )

I love the Boston Marathon. Marathon Monday is one of my favorite days of the year ( Read more... )

So, earlier today we learned that the FBI has some leads on the Gardner heist--you know, the theft of 13 priceless works of art from Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum? My July release, MOXIE AND THE ART OF RULE BREAKING is based on the theft. Moxie is feisty and smart, and comes from a very unusual family. When a stranger appears at her door ( Read more... )

What is the Next Big Thing? It is an author blog tour. What’s a blog tour? A blog tour gives those on the tour a chance to meet different authors by way of their blogs. The Next Big Thing began in Australia. Each week a different author answers specific questions about his or her upcoming book. The answers are posted on author’s blogs. Then we get ( Read more... )

I feel guilty. And embarrassed. And like I need to make up for lost time. See, I finished a book and met my deadline. The companion to MOXIE AND THE ART OF RULE BREAKING was due February 15, and I had to--ya know, finish the book. And this is when writing--the thing I most love doing--gets really, really awful. It gets really awful for two reasons ( Read more... )

I love my jobs--all of them. I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to teach, and--hello!--being a writer?! That's living out my childhood dream ( Read more... )

• I'm working through the Dreaded Middle Part of my latest novel. Ugh. I hate this point: I've lost the excitement of starting something new, the end is not in sight, and this is where the self-doubt and doubt about the project take over ("this book stinks." "Why did I think this was a good idea?" "I should have been a dentist.") The good news? As ( Read more... )

I was tagged by January Gill O'Neil for this meme, and although it's technically for a manuscript, I guess, I'm going to use it to introduce you to MOXIE AND THE ART OF RULE BREAKING, which will be out on July 11.

What is the working title of your book
Moxie and the Art of Rule Breakin (Dial Books for Young Readers, July 2013)

Where did the idea ( Read more... )

Happy New Year ( Read more... )

I love suspenseful, scary movies and TV shows ("American Horror Story" is one of my favorites). And, well, add zombies or the CIA and terrorists? I'm hooked. But those shows offer more than just edge-of-my-seat TV: they both have great writing. And although it seems that my humorous tween style doesn't have anything to do with the undead or the ( Read more... )