Growing up, I was the kid who couldn’t wait to get the summer reading list. I would pour over the options and drool over the possibilities. Some years I didn’t get choices, just 2-4 required books. Most of the time, they weren’t ones I would have...
As you may remember, last month I completed the first draft of my literary fiction novel, Beast—actual title to come soon. Writing this book has taught me many things (see 5 of them here), but it’s not done taking me to school. It turns out reading my novel has...
I love bookstores! That’s probably not a huge revelation for you today. The thing is I’d forgotten just how much I love them until this past weekend, and that reminded me of the mental picture I have of my dream bookstore. More on that in a bit....
In honor of National Poetry Month, I wanted to take a look at teaching poetry to kids. Now, I’ve read the horror stories of poetry-as-torture that some people recall from their elementary and junior high days. Most high school and college memories seem to be...
Rediscover a joy of reading. This little series examining the journey of a reader has been a delight for me, and I hope it has been for you as well! In Part 1 my goal was to encourage you to be the guide who leads a child from a reluctant reader to an eager reader. In...
I didn’t grow up a reader. Accelerated Reader was the bane of my existence in elementary school. Sure, as a kid I read the occasional book that I really enjoyed. Books like The Outsiders and Of Mice and Men and a few other classics. But I would have never considered...
