SFWA Virtual Constellation Series March 21-22, 2026 I'll be part of the SFWA Virtual Constellation Series On March 21, 2026 Registration is free. Tracey Baptiste, Gabrielle Byrne, Michelle Knudsen, and I will be reading Saturday, March 21, from 2:00 to 3:30 pm Eastern Time. Click here to register.

Tell your representatives to vote NO on the book ban bill: H. R 7661

I'm attending No Kings's event, “NO KINGS Columbia MD” - sign up now to join me! www.mobilize.us/mobilize/eve...

I'm attending No Kings's event, “NO KINGS Columbia MD” - sign up now to join me! www.mobilize.us/nokings/even...

Join the February Self-Promotion Party!

I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good. Stay free

ConTinual: Hot Off The Press It's Hot Off The Press 151 - and you'll need something to keep you warm with the winter storm coming for many of us! Try some of the sci-fi mystery adventure from Gini Koch, Layla Dorine's spicy new romance, or some #dragon fun with the kids from A. L. Kaplan! Go stack…

Did you get my newsletter? My Newsletter went out earlier this week. Did you get it? Here is a link in case you missed it:  You can sign up here so you don't miss another one. Sign up to receive my newsletter.

Did I Really Do All That Last Year? One of my non-writing goals for 2025 was to work through my “to be read list.” There are still many books in that pile, but I did read 36 of them. Here are the ones I finished in the order they were read . You may notice some repeated authors. Everything…

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a man of peace. A man of integrity. In light of recent events, its even more important to remember Dr. King's contribution to our country. "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up, live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We…

Join us on Con-Tinual for a fun conversation on K-Pop Demon Hunter with Elizabeth Davis, @alkaplanauthor.bsky.social, and host @jpnettles.bsky.social! www.facebook.com/share/p/17Nx...

I'm attending Indivisible's event, “ICE Out For Good Howard County” - sign up now to join me! www.mobilize.us/mobilize/eve...

My Mysticon Schedule Mysticon is only a few weeks away. January 23-25, 2026 Holiday Inn Tanglewood Roanoke, VA Here is where you can find me: Friday, January 23 4:00 PM - Author Signing Table A 6:00 PM - Poisons, Plots, and Potions: Inside the Apothecary Diaries BOARDROOM Step into the intrigue of…

Con-Tinual: KPop Demon Hunters Here is a great way to start the new Year! Join us for a fun conversation on KPop Demon Hunters with Elizabeth Davis, A. L. Kaplan, and host James P. Nettles III! Con-Tinual: KPop Demon Hunters

Registration for #Balticon is open! Guest of Honor Jim Butcher (Dresden Files) Current full weekend adult rate is $75.00 The rate is half price for ages 13 - 25 and all active duty #military Under 13 are free with an adult. @balticon.bsky.social #sci-fi #gaming #cosplay www.balticon.org

Star Touched is on Sale at Bookshop.com Run on over to Bookshop.com and pick up a copy of Star Touched. They also have Dragon's Hanukkah and Mark of the Goddess

Parking for Dragon’s Hanukkah Book Launch For those of you coming to the book launch today, there is a pubic parking lot off of Main street. Turn up on Center Street. Take the staircase down to Main Street. The Last Word Bookstore is across the street. (116 Main Street, Mount Airy, Maryland)…

Dragon’s Hanukkah Book Launch Today at 4:00 PM! I'm looking forward to seeing you at the Dragon's Hanukkah book launch. There will be donuts and another Sour Cream vs Apple Sauce poll! Sunday, December 14, 2025 4:00- 5:00 PM The Last Word Bookstore116 S. Main StreetMt. Airy, MD 21771

I’m on A Book Finds You! Podcast Recording this podcast was fun. Thank you MWA and Rob Jolles. You can listen here!

Ruth Glick 5 stars A little dragon takes us on a charming journey through the fun and serious aspects of the Hanukkah holiday. I loved the author’s appealing drawings and I was glad to have her recipe for the potato latkes at the end of the story.

More Fantastic Reviews of Dragon’s Hanukkah Elisabeth Lang 5 stars A happy story and includes the recipe to make latkes together – recommend Loved the sweet drawings and the inclusion of the recipe, so can use with the book to make latkes together. A happy story on building family traditions.

Great Review of Dragon’s Hanukkah 5 stars All Three Grandkids Enjoyed it! I LOVE THIS BOOK and am happy I bought it! The illustrations are gorgeous as is the color palette. The story is informative and meaningful.

Sour cream vs Applesauce How do you eat your latkes? I took a vote today at the Hanukkah Shuk and here are the results. Sour cream: 43 Applesauce: 87 We'll see what the votes say next week at the official book launch. Hope to see you there!

Did you miss my last Newsletter? If you missed my newsletter last week, click here to view it. Sign up here so you don't miss another.

New Redbubble Design: Happy Hanukkah In honor of Dragon's Hanukkah, I have a new Redbubble design. Order now to have it in time for the holidays

Dragon’s Hanukkah Book Launch We are having a celebration... for Dragon’s Hanukkah December 14, 2025 4:00-5:00 PM The Last Word Bookstore116 S. Main StreetMt. Airy, MD 21771 Come join the fun. Meet the author. Then head over to the Menorah Lighting event in the Railyard (1 N. Main St.) at 5:00 PM. 

Come to the Shuk December 7, 2027 Looking for a great holiday gift? Come to the Hanukkah Shuk at Temple Isaiah I'll be there with my books, jam, and other fun stuff December 7, 2027 9:30 AM - 2:30 PM 12200 Scaggsville Rd. Fulton, MD 20759

New BE WHO YOU ARE Design I have a new BE WHO YOU ARE Design on Redbubble. It is also available on long sleeve and sweatshirts. These make great gifts! Remember Only you can BE WHO YOU ARE

Introducing: Dragon’s Hanukkah! It’s Hanukkah, and Dragon is helping his family celebrate. I had a great time not only writing this little story, but illustrating it with watercolors as well.

Here is your last clue

Here is another hint Put the pieces together.

Something special is coming Can you figure out what?

Looking for something to do November 23rd? Come to Books and Brews Union Craft Brewery 1700 W 41st St #420 Baltimore, MD 21211 Over 18 wonderful local authors! Grab a drink and buy some books. Or a bite to eat from Carroll and Son Fine Foods. I'll be there with books and fig jam. Both make…

Looking for that perfect gift? Books make excellent gifts and I have several to choose from. If you're game for something to wear, visit my Redbubble Shop. They have a 50% off sale going on right now!

USDA Statement Violations This is the banner on the USDA website. “Senate Democrats have now voted 12 times to not fund the food stamp program, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Bottom line, the well has run dry. At this time, there will be no benefits issued…

No Kings Day: A Day of Love and Support of the USA Constitution On October 18, 2025 I exercised my constitutional rights by participating in one of the demonstrations around the country. I was one of over 7,000,000 people in around 2700 protests around the country. Columbia, Maryland had more than…

Carroll County Farmers Market Author Day November 1, 2025 Come To The Carroll County Farmers Market November 1, 2025 8:00-2:00 I'll be there with my books and a few other special items. Carroll County Agriculture Center700 Agriculture Dr.Westminster, MD 21157

Gremlins: Presented by Con-Tinual It's time for holiday horror as we revisit the 80's glory of the Gremlins franchise with Jack Cullen, Amy Kaplan, and host James P. Nettles III! You can watch it HERE!

Banned And Challenged Books I’ve Read: James and the Giant Peach Exercise Your Rights: Read Banned Books James and the Giant Peach Roald Dahl I was surprised to learn this book has been challenged. Yes, it has scarry things, but so does life. In the end, James finally finds the home he deserves. I…

Banned And Challenged Books I’ve Read: A Wrinkle in Time Exercise Your Rights: Read Banned Books A Wrinkle in Time Madeleine L’Engle I read this book in collage as an assignment. It was a lot of fun. My daughter really liked it as well. While not banned, it has been challenged several times. It…

Banned And Challenged Books I’ve Read: The Call of the Wild Exercise Your Rights: Read Banned Books The Call of the Wild Jack London This is a fantastic book that depicts the brutality of life during the Alaskan gold rush. At its heart, it is a story of survival. I read all the sequels as well.…

Banned And Challenged Books I’ve Read: A Farewell to Arms Exercise Your Rights: Read Banned Books A Farewell to Arms Ernest Hemmingway War sucks and this book shows it well. I read this in HS. A Farewell to Arms is the unforgettable story of an American ambulance driver on the Italian front and…

Banned And Challenged Books I’ve Read: The Golden Compass Exercise Your Rights: Read Banned Books The Golden Compass Philip Pullman Lyra is rushing to the cold, far North, where witch clans and armored bears rule. North, where the Gobblers take the children they steal--including her friend Roger.…

Banned And Challenged Books I’ve Read: The Complete Perseposil Exercise Your Rights: Read Banned Books The Complete Perseposil Marjane Satrapi My daughter recommended this one to me. It is a graphic novel, but not for kids. Persepolis is the story of Satrapi's unforgettable childhood and coming of…

Banned And Challenged Books I’ve Read: Of Mice and Men Exercise Your Rights: Read Banned Books Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck Another story I read in HS. They are an unlikely pair: George is "small and quick and dark of face"; Lennie, a man of tremendous size, has the mind of a young child. Yet…

Banned And Challenged Books I’ve Read: Brave New World Exercise Your Rights: Read Banned Books Brave New World Aldous Huxley Hard to believe, but this was another HS read. I really appreciate my school more now than ever before. Aldous Huxley's profoundly important classic of world literature,…

Banned And Challenged Books I’ve Read: Lord of the Flies Exercise Your Rights: Read Banned Books Lord of the Flies William Golding I read this one is HS and it was an eyeopener into human nature. We had some great discussions in class. At the dawn of the next world war, a plane crashes on an…

Banned And Challenged Books I’ve Read: The Hunger Games Exercise Your Rights: Read Banned Books The Hunger Games Suzanne Collins My daughter suggested I read this one and I loved it. It does have a lot of violence in it, but so do most dystopian stories. It’s a great opening for discussion with…

Banned And Challenged Books I’ve Read: Water for Elephants Exercise Your Rights: Read Banned Books Water for Elephants Sara Gruen When Jacob Jankowski, recently orphaned and suddenly adrift, jumps onto a passing train, he enters a world of freaks, drifters, and misfits, a second-rate circus…