Every Jan. I revise my author media kit which includes my bio, my social media links, information about my books, book reviews and an author headshot. Unpublished authors - making a media kit is great practice for when you are. Start yours today! Helpful link: emmawaltonhamilton.com/blog/what-go...

#Teachers #Librarians Schedule a Free 20 min Zoom-Virtual Author Visit for #WorldReadALOUDDay on February 4th! I'd love to read one of my #PBs to your students. DM for info. Books: Cows Can't Be Clowns. Grandpa's Barn. The Memory Jar.

The socks and candle are gifts I received from a writer in my critique group. So unique, but the words on the socks can't be true. Love the sentiment though.

Santa and Mrs. Claus made an appearance today at the American Legion in Jacksonville, Illinois. I was there autographing my picture books.

My final book event for the year is this Saturday, December 20th at the American Legion Post 279 in Jacksonville, Illinois. And there's no snow in the forecast!

Inside The Dome, AKA Scheels Sports Park, in Springfield, Illinois where I held a book event over the weekend during their archery tournament. This place is the size of two football fields. It is huge!

#readlocalillinois #ReadAloudDay I read The Memory Jar to The Farmingdale Elementary School's 2nd graders. Four classrooms! The students drew a favorite memory and wrote about it for their own memory jar. #authorvisits #PBs #Alzheimer #Dementia

I hope the snow forecast doesn't keep me home.

16th Annual "Christmas at Sugar Creek Vendor Fair" Sat Nov 29, 2025, 10:00AM-3:00PM Sugar Creek United Methodist, New City Road, Chatham, IL. I'll be there autographing my picture books, The Memory Jar, Cows Can't Be Clowns, and Grandpa's Barn. There will be lots of vendors! Fun for all!

I'm excited to be one of the vendors at tomorrow's event at Shepps in New Berlin. Books make super Christmas gifts, and I'll be there signing three of my picture books, The Memory Jar, Cows Can't Be Clowns, and Grandpa's Barn. Come by Shepps and check out all the vendors at this fun holiday event.

Family Reading Night at New Berlin Elementary School, November 19, 2025, from 6:00-7:30 PM. I'm excited to be a guest author and will be reading Cows Can't Be Clowns around 6:40 PM.

#Teachers #Librarians Schedule a Free 20 min Zoom-Virtual Author Visit for #ReadALOUDIllinois Day! I'd love to read one of my #PBs to your students. My schedule is full Dec. 5, but I'd be happy to read another day in Dec. DM for info. Books: Cows Can't Be Clowns. Grandpa's Barn. The Memory Jar.

Here's where I'll be Saturday, November 15. I'll be autographing copies of The Memory Jar, Cows Can't Be Clowns, and Grandpa's Barn. Tons of fun for everyone. Hope you can stop by!

Click on this link to read my latest author newsletter: mailchi.mp/4f37cce47024... If you would like to subscribe to my newsletter, go to my website: writing-for-chidren.webnode.com

At the Kidzeum Children's Museum in Springfield, Illinois, I read COWS CAN'T BE CLOWNS and THE MEMORY JAR. I loved the decorative platform for the reading.

Look who shared an author showcase with me today at Kidzeum in Springfield, Illinois - Lisa Katzenberger. She read IT WILL BE OKAY and A LOVE LETTER TO MY LIBRARY.

#Teachers #Librarians Schedule a Free 20 min Zoom-Virtual Author Visit for #ReadALOUDIllinois Day! I'd love to read one of my #PBs to your students. My schedule is full Dec. 5, but I'd be happy to read another day in Dec. DM for info. Books: Cows Can't Be Clowns. Grandpa's Barn. The Memory Jar.

Happy heavenly birthday to my Aunt Luella who inspired The Memory Jar. She was born in 1913 on Halloween. #Alzheimers #Dementia #PB

Kidzeum in Springfield, IL, 412 E. Adams St., is featuring local children's book authors. My time slot is 11:30. Come for a fun day and meet the area authors. There will be book signings as well as author reads from 10 AM thru 3 PM, November 8, 2025. visitspringfieldillinois.com/EventDetails...

My book’s featured on this year’s #SCBWIBookStop! Stop by my page, explore the story, and grab a copy if it speaks to you. Let’s keep stories for kids shining bright. www.scbwi.org/bookstop/boo...

If you're in the area, stop by. I'll be there autographing The Memory Jar, Cows Can't Be Clowns, and Grandpa's Barn.

Last night, I saw my first rainbow cloud. Was driving, so I didn't get a photo, but this is what one looks like. It's a rare occurrence. Some believe it brings luck. Has anyone seen one?

Here's where I'll be Saturday. I'll be autographing copies of my picture books, The Memory Jar, Cows Can't Be Clowns, and Grandpa's Barn.

My first in-person school visit was a success! The kids loved that their teacher "volunteered" to be a clown as I read Cows Can't Be Clowns. She even played the kazoo on cue. Loved the questions and enthusiasm from the kids!

Happy World's Kindness Day! Two great pictures books to read today - Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller and Kindness is a Kite String by Michelle Schaub. Coming soon is my next #PB, Mr. Crumpet's Kindness Day Surprise. Spread some kindness today!

Happy National Farmers Day! Farmers are heroes of the Heartland. They keep our families fed. This is a great day to read Grandpa's Barn. Memories of my own grandfather, a lifelong farmer, and his barn inspired the story. For fun, read Cows Can't Be Clowns.

#authors I have booked my first in-person school visit for this month. I've done lots of zoom visits and have read to children at several libraries, but this is my first face-to-face visit with a classroom. Any suggestions on how to make this visit fun and memorable for the kids?

Authors Cindy Ladage, Debra Daugherty, Jo Salazar and Alaina Griffin at the Prairie Skies Public Library in Pleasant Plains, October 4.

Where to find me: Oct. 11, Third Presbyterian Church, 1030 N. 7th, Springfield, IL. Fall Festival, 11-3; Oct. 18, St. Joseph Church, 700 E. Spruce St., Chatham, IL. Arts & Crafts Fair, 8:30-3; Oct. 25, Concordia Lutheran School, 2300 E. Wilshire, Springfield, IL. Fall Craft Fair. 9-2 PM.

Author Fair this Saturday at the Prairie Skies Public Library in Pleasant Plains, IL. I look forward to seeing everyone and sharing my story.

Author Fair this Saturday at the Prairie Skies Public Library in Pleasant Plains, IL. I look forward to seeing everyone and sharing my story.

Had a great time at Loami's Memorial Park. Met some lovely people, passed out Illinois Reads bookmarks to the kids, and signed some books!

This Saturday, Sept 27, Loami, IL is having a vendor market on the square, a pancake and sausage fundraiser, and a village-wide garage sale. I'll be there with my picture books, The Memory Jar, Cows Can't Be Clowns, and Grandpa's Barn. Come out, shop, eat pancakes, and have a great time!

Read to your children. They will love it!

While at the Petersburg Harvest Fest, I just knew I'd run into a family member. Sure enough, this gentleman came by my tent and when he saw my book, Grandpa's Barn, which I had dedicated to Grandpa Anton Reiser, he bought it. Turned out we're 2nd cousins! Selfie with Cousin Bob.

Today is World Alzheimer's Day. My aunt Luella had Alzheimer's, and I was her caregiver. She inspired my story, The Memory Jar, about a grandmother who had dementia and her granddaughter who found a way to connect with her. Here's a photo of Aunt Luella, & the book she inspired. #Alzheimer #dementia

Here's where I'll be Saturday, autographing my picture books. Tons of fun for the whole family. Minutes away from Abraham Lincoln's New Salem site.

Happy Grandparents Day! Great books to share with children this day are The Memory Jar and Grandpa's Barn. I'll be reading both books at the Hillsboro, Illinois Public Library tomorrow, September 7, at 4:00 PM.

Support the Walk to End #Alzheimer's, Jacksonville, IL Community Park, Sunday, Sept. 7, at noon. My PB, The Memory Jar, helps a child understand when a loved one has #dementia, dedicated to my aunt who had Alzheimer's. DM me for handouts on making a memory jar. #EndAlz

Support the Walk to End #Alzheimer's, Jacksonville, IL Community Park, Sunday, Sept. 7, at noon. My PB, The Memory Jar, helps a child understand when a loved one has #dementia, dedicated to my aunt who had Alzheimer's. DM me for handouts on making a memory jar. #EndAlz

Jacksonville, Illinois vendor fair at the VFW on Saturday, August 16th. I'll be there autographing my picture books Cows Can't Be Clowns, The Memory Jar, and Grandpa's Barn. If you're in the area, I hope you'll stop by.

Jacksonville, IL, Downtown Jax First Thursday Merchant Fair, August 7 from 4-8 PM. Handmade goods, unique crafts, vintage treasures, and local produce from local artisans and small businesses. Family-friendly. I'll be there signing my picture books. Hope to see you there!

Friday, August 1, I'll be at the Indian Hills Park in Springfield, IL to read my picture books. Fun activities follow after the reading.

Friday, August 1, I'll be at the Indian Hills Park in Springfield, IL to read my picture books. Fun activities follow after the reading.

It's lovely when fan mail arrives like this one from my friend and critique partner, Suzy Leopold. She did an amazing job with the watercolor of the barn. Writers supporting Writers. The community of writers and illustrators are the best!

How did I miss this? Barn Day was July 13! The perfect time to share my #PB Grandpa's Barn. This story is based on memories of my grandpa's barn. I loved exploring it as a child. Happy belated Barn Day!

@bluepit.bsky.social #BluePit 📖 #P

@bluepit.bsky.social #BluePit 📖 #P