Blog Posts

  • Children of color in children’s books

    I continue working on my book, Shell; Crossing the Border, a story of a Maya girl from the Yucatan in Mexico who illegally crosses the border into the U.S. to join her father. Sometimes I question my ability to write about a child from another culture. But reading this article http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/16/opinion/sunday/the-apartheid-of-childrens-literature.html?_r=0 which laments the lack Read more

  • Amazing bird!

    Check out this video of intelligent bird behavior. Crows (and ravens) are really smart. http://www.flixxy.com/this-crow-is-the-smartest-bird-you-have-ever-seen.htm Read more

  • More about Costa Rica

    I hoped to post several more times about Costa Rica, but I’ve been absorbed in revising my book, Shell, Crossing the Border, at the suggestion of an agent who is interested. I’m very excited about this. I did want to post a few more pictures because it was such a beautiful trip. For one thing, Read more

  • People we met in Costa Rica

    Everyone we met in Costa Rica, from our guide and trip organizer, Nacho, to people we stayed with, to casual encounters, was friendly and welcoming. This is our group on the first day at a crafts store, after a red eye flight and no sleep. From left to right: Alice, my grand daughter Kendra, Rosemary, Read more

  • Costa Rica Museum Trip

      The Santa Cruz Natural History Museum sponsored a trip to Costa Rica over the New Year’s holiday. Scholastic Expeditions put together and led the trip, a first for them with adult travelers. Sadly, only four of us went. Besides me there were my thirteen year old grand daughter Kendra (who took the beautiful photo Read more

  • SCBWI Oakland

    If any of you reading this are writers for children, one of the best things you can do for your writing career is join SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) and attend conferences. The one day conferences around the San Francisco Bay area are affordable and give writers (and illustrators) an opportunity to have Read more