Today I feel like a real author – which doesn’t happen often – and not for any reason that you might imagine.

I’m not sure if other authors feel this way, but most days, I don’t feel like a real author. Its ridiculous but true. I’ve published three novels – two with…

Continue ReadingToday I feel like a real author – which doesn’t happen often – and not for any reason that you might imagine.

I didn’t respond to a stranger’s unsolicited manuscript for 48 hours, so his angry response was probably justified. Right?

On Wednesday of this week, I received an email from someone who I don’t know. This is the entirety of his message, minus his name and the Word document that…

Continue ReadingI didn’t respond to a stranger’s unsolicited manuscript for 48 hours, so his angry response was probably justified. Right?

A student wrote something that made me cry while reading it aloud. And thanks to the rules of my “Make your teacher cry” contest, my tears were caught on video.

For the past five years, I have offered a challenge to my fifth grade students: Write something that makes me cry. The contest was born from Sharon Creech’s Love That…

Continue ReadingA student wrote something that made me cry while reading it aloud. And thanks to the rules of my “Make your teacher cry” contest, my tears were caught on video.

23 jobs I seriously considered at one point in my life (and still do with a few exceptions)

Firefighter Attorney Clown Postal carrier Professional arm wrestler Bartender High school English teacher Standup comedian Minister Historian Waiter President of the United States Librarian Sociologist Sportswriter Therapist Behavioral economist Bookstore…

Continue Reading23 jobs I seriously considered at one point in my life (and still do with a few exceptions)