Blog

An Author’s Journey Through 2023

Last year—I can’t believe it’s actually “last” year already—was a whirlwind, and now that it’s over, I realize I didn’t get around to posting a lot of the photos I took with full intentions to post throughout the year. So, here’s a marathon look back at my 2023: JANUARY I did a fantastic signing of…
Read more

Book Birthday Bash: Be My ValenSLIME by Kris Tarantino

  Happy Book Birthday to Be My ValenSLIME! This debut picture book is a laugh-out-loud celebration of love that’s full of monster mayhem! Meet Snoodle, an unusual monster. She loves candy hearts, fun parties, fuzzy kittens, fancy hats, sparkly stickers, and . . . valentines! There’s just one problem: Monsters DON’T DO Valentine’s Day! And…
Read more

Back To School Giveaway Plus School Visit Discount

It’s back to school time! And the perfect time to give back to my amazing readership. Between now and Sept. 30, I’m giving away a BIG bundle of my books for a classroom or library in the U.S. If you’re not a teacher make sure to share this post with all the teachers and librarians…
Read more

The Boy, The Boat, and The Beast Turns 5

Five years ago today, I became a published author when THE BOY, THE BOAT, AND THE BEAST hit bookshelves. So today I’m celebrating with some fun new resources! I never thought this book would be published and never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d ever have a story published by the likes of…
Read more

Go Behind the Scenes of The Boy, The Boat, and The Beast

Have you read THE BOY, THE BOAT, AND THE BEAST? Want to discover secrets from when I was writing the story? I’ve got a fun prize for you! At this link is a page where you can see the world the Boy travels through and find my writing secrets. BUT, the page is super secret,…
Read more

Book Banning FAQ: Be Part of the Solution

Looking for information on book banning or how you can help? You’ve come to the right place. There’s lots of great information online from wonderful organizations that are fighting book bans and I’ve listed links to book banning resources below in the form of some of the most frequently asked questions. What is book banning?…
Read more

Why I Created Share Books Not Hate

An idea recently popped into my head and I try not to ignore my ideas. When I have in the past, I’ve usually regretted it. So when I had the idea to create T-shirts and other products around the idea of “Share Books Not Hate” I didn’t ignore it. In fact, when I told some…
Read more

Book Birthday Bash: Gemstone Dragons Topaz’s Spooky Night and Emerald’s Blooming Secret

Happy Book Birthday to GEMSTONE DRAGONS: TOPAZ’S SPOOKY NIGHT and EMERALD’S BLOOMING SECRET! In this chapter book series for ages 7 and up, a group of Gemstone Dragons live in Sparkle Cave deep inside Mineral Mountain. Each dragon has a unique magical power that comes from their gemstone, and while the powers are fun, sometimes…
Read more

My Book Research: 10 Facts About Animals In Movies

I’m constantly learning new things through the research I do for my books, and each one is different. For AMERICAN HORSE TALES: HOLLYWOOD, I knew a lot about movie making and movie sets from when I’d worked as a journalist and editor for a home entertainment magazine. But I while I’d see animals on sets,…
Read more

Book Birthday Bash: The Other Side of the River

  Happy Book Birthday to THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER! In this middle-grade novel, the story that began in BAREFOOT DREAMS OF PETRA LUNA continues. Having escaped the Mexican Revolution, Petra Luna and her family try to make a new life in America. On the other side of the Rio Grande River is an…
Read more