Biscuit Break

It’s School Visit Season!

October 17, 2012

I’m excited to be visiting schools again after the long summer break. Tomorrow, I’ll be at Claymont Elementary in Ballwin, Missouri. Claymont is in the Parkway school district, the same district as my old elementary school, Mason Ridge. Mason Ridge also happens to be where I first knew I wanted to be a writer, thanks [...]

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It’s Finally Sweater Weather — Even if Your Sweater’s on Your Head!

October 8, 2012

Fall has always been my favorite time of year.  The start of a new school year feels like a fresh start for everyone, and the cooler weather is a welcome change from the hot summer– especially this year, with the 100+ degree temperatures here in St. Louis. Although the heat seemed reluctant to relax its [...]

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Back on the Front Porch

November 13, 2011

Who wants to sit on the front porch when it’s 100 degrees outside? My two office assistants do. Unfortunately, my assistants wear coats year round, and they are unable to shed them (though they do shed a lot). Still, it was hard convincing my persistent assistants that their time outside should be limited to taking [...]

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Don’t Bark Up the Wrong Tree! The Importance of Doing Your Research Before You Submit Your Manuscript

October 11, 2010

Would you wear a prom dress to a picnic? Hopefully not! Then why would you send a manuscript for a non-fiction picture book to a publisher that only publishes young adult novels?  Seriously, now, if you want to sell your manuscript, you have to research the market. And with all the resources available today – [...]

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“Sit, Stay,Write!”: Writing the Ruff — um, the Rough — Draft

September 15, 2010

That first draft of a story can be rough going – maybe that’s why they call it a “rough” draft.  The sheer act of facing a blank page can be daunting enough. Sometimes it’s tough to write that first sentence. And once you do, how should you proceed? Should you, as Randi Rivers, Jeanie’s editor at [...]

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