On my beach walk -- tried to send it back to the ocean, but I'm afraid this beautiful, tiny, creature was at the end of it's days.

The real deal right here!

Between family happenings & a monster virus that refused to leave my body, it's been a while—but I'm back to share some exciting news! Six Feet Below Zero is included in the 2025-26 Battle of the Books, Hong Kong, Primary Division. And just look at the amazing company my book is keeping!

Congratulations on the launch of Fairy Tale Road, @christinafarley.bsky.social!!! Love romcoms and I can't wait to read it!

My trip to Missouri to accept the 2024 Mark Twain Readers Award for Six Feet Below Zero was one of the coolest experiences of my life. @maslonline is an amazing organization that does its state proud. School librarians rock! Enormous thanks to everyone at @maslonline and the students of Missouri!

Thank YOU, Sheila! It's SUCH an honor that Six Feet Below Zero won the 2024 Mark Twain Readers Award. Meeting and chatting with all the amazing Missouri school librarians @maslonline.bsky.social these past couple of days, and accepting the award tonight—there's no place I would have rather been!

YAY! Finally fixed! ✔️ After @wildinkpublishing.bsky.social acquired the rights to republish BUTTERFLY GIRL, we had to unravel a red tape delay on Amazon. I’m happy to share that pre-orders are now open! 🦋 Yes, sometimes publishing dreams really do come true. 📚🥰 www.amazon.com/Butterfly-Gi...

In an effort to upgrade my presentations from Power Point, I tried learning Prezi. 🤣 What a disaster THAT was! Now I'm on to Canva, which is going much better, but still, it's step by step and slow progress. I need an EASY button!

What a wonderful interview with @beabirdsong.bsky.social. Authors, teachers, you’ll enjoy this!

Congratulations and happy book birthday to the uber-talented, @beabirdsong.bsky.social. I can't wait to get my hands on GOAT IS THE G.O.A.T. !!!!! 🎉

Thanks to @thehornbook.bsky.social for this scrumptious review of THE TONTINE CAPER! 🎉🎈 In celebration, I am sharing one of the hilarious illustrations by @mattschu.bsky.social. The book releases on April 22! @smorgridge.bsky.social

Btw there is a third starred review! Booklist called it “Powerful reading for a crucial moment.” 🌟🌟🌟 🤩

Back from a writing retreat and crossing fingers the new optimism about my current WIP sticks. 🤞

#BookSky The first professional review for The Tontine Caper has lots of nice things to say! 😊 Thank you, Booklist! Can't wait to share this book, with its hilarious illustrations by @mattschu.bsky.social and interactive back matter suggested by the brilliant @smorgridge.bsky.social to MG readers.

I needed something to push me to make my first post here, and a second starred review for BANNED TOGETHER is just the ticket. I am so proud of this incredible book. 🌟🌟 www.publishersweekly.com/9780823458301

I kept changing my mind which Carter cartoon i should go with. Here's all three.

The first batch!

Sometimes you gotta reach for the metaphor... brevity.wordpress.com/2024/12/11/m...

Working on revisions for a MG while in the midst of home renovations/repairs and planning our daughter's wedding, and helping with family moves, and holiday traveling. And, yeah, the revision is a struggle. #kidlitchat

Cleaning the dishwasher filter was not a thing I planned to do today, but what must be done, must be done.

Congratulations to @jstremer.bsky.social! Jessica also wrote THE GREAT CARRIER REEF and LIGHTS OUT (about how to help migrating birds). She's a MUST read if you love non-fiction!

Every day for the past week I've been heartened to sign on to the @bsky.app and recognize both people I know, and others I can't wait to get to know. It's happening! One by one, we'll find each other, and together we'll rebuild our community.

Did someone say “searchable directory?” Yay!

Interesting.

Hubby just pointed out my overly-generous use of the word “we” when I list household tasks: “WE need to remember to move the garage fridge to the curb for pickup tonight.” Or,“The power-washers come tomorrow. When should WE move everything off the patio?” 🤷‍♀️ Doesn’t moral support count for anything?

This:

Yes. This. Please make it obvious you're part of the community! And as @ljrwritenow.bsky.social says, take time to create your profile "header." Sometimes it's not clear whether to follow, leave-be, or block, and as @bluesky has opened up, I've blocked many bots, but sometimes it's not obvious.

Crave #mglit? SIX FEET BELOW ZERO: Rosie & Baker pretend their great-grandmother is still alive in order to protect their home & stay together. Humorous, quirky, & heartfelt, it explores family dynamics, stages of grief, & the bounds of friendship. holidayhouse.com/book/six-fee...

We've been without a stovetop for 2 months & using one of those single portable units that whines at an annoying decibel when, say, boiling water.This high-pitched sound disturbs our poor cat SO MUCH that he's willing to go without food until we've had our first cups of tea in the morning.

Hi! I'm probably the same as everyone else on BlueSky, the old "Tw," & Threads: Trying to find my way on social media platforms when the one I started on (Tw), has bit by bit, & now in a giant way, fallen apart. THAT was the one I liked the best. 1/3

Home after a whirlwind trip to Nebraska to celebrate SIX FEET BELOW ZERO’s Golden Sower Award! A huge thanks to the Golden Sower Award Committee and the Nebraska Library Association for celebrating not only the winners, but all the nominees. Thanks for all you do to create lifelong readers!

Woohoo, it's my #BookBirthday! #IWantToReadALLTheBooks launches from Simon & Schuster BFYR today - my first solo picture bk (I've both written & illustrated) in nearly 7 years. More about the book, behind-the-scenes process, in-person launch events (Sept.24): debbieohi.com/book/i-want-... #KidLit

I just heard that my copy of I WANT TO READ ALL THE BOOKS by @debbieohi.com is on the way to me. Can't wait!

Now that I've reached the midpoint in my WIP, and don't feel so "in the weeds," I hope to start posting more here on Bluesky. Are there any #kidlit chats I'm missing?

Oh, my. SIX FEET BELOW ZERO has won Missouri's 2024 Mark Twain Readers Award! Sending enormous thanks to the Missouri Assoc. of School Librarians, the nomination committee, all the librarians & teachers, & especially the students across the state of Missouri. I'm overwhelmed & very, VERY grateful!!

Official date of the first #KidLitAMA here on Bluesky: Wed. Jan. 24th, 2023, featuring kidlit author & illustrator @charlenedraws.bsky.social! If successful, I'll be hosting more to help build the kidlit community here + help boost creators & their books. I'll post more info early January.

Between algorithm changes & you-know-who's missteps over on xTwitter, it's been challenging for creatives who rely on social media to reach new audiences. If you like someone's work, pls tell others. If you can afford it, support their Patreon/Substack etc. Some count on this to help pay bills.

Getting on a list like the Mid-West Indie Bestseller List (twice in 2023!) is a huge thing for my little story. I so appreciate the booksellers in the midwest who stocked and sold SIX FEET BELOW ZERO, and am beyond grateful to the readers who purchased copies. Many thanks to all of you!

Thinking of buying books as gifts? Place orders at your local indie NOW, before holiday rush. Ordering/buying sooner helps indie bookstores + you get your shopping done sooner. Win-win! This static-friendly GIF is also available via my public GIPHY library. See ALT text for animation info.

Found some cool items on our trip to Oregon & unpacked this one yesterday. Can’t wait to buy a few ink pads and try it out, maybe I’ll use as I sign select books, in the same vein as my KEEP OUT stamp. If you’ve read SIX FEET BELOW ZERO, you’ll get that reference. 😉

Have been away celebrating our 35th in Oregon wine country. Quite a trip, those 35 years, and Willamette Valley was pretty nice, too. :) Now back to real life!

Always a thrill to see SFBZ out in the wild!!!

Happy book birthday to @katiewritesbks.bsky.social!!! We the People, and They the Kids, need her books!

Sometimes I have a secondary character ask the WHY of my MC, especially when I (the author) am wondering myself, lol. "Why the heck did you do that?" or "Why are you so ***?" It gives my MC something to reflect upon & the answer usually comes in time, and takes the burden off me (a bit). #kidlitchat

Looking for monsters this October? Jadie's monsters come from the 4th dimension. We can only glimpse them as 3D cross-sections of teeth, eyes, and talons. But rest assured, they can see us just fine. #MGBooktober #MGSTEM #ScienceFiction #Geometry

From this point forward, to be known as “The best little book marketer ever!” SIX FEET BELOW ZERO is in great (and the sweetest) hands!! 🥰😍‼️

Our dear cat brought a live lizard into our house and now it’s hiding under the couch. The lizard, not the cat. I’ve been through this enough times to know that poor lizard is going to wait his entire lifetime to make a break for the door I’m leaving cracked open. 😣

Was great to connect with everyone on #kidlitchat last night (every Tuesday 9pm ET). Definitely past my bed time (ugh, I know), & I forgot to add the hashtag a few times, & I missed a bunch, but I stayed till the end, & really enjoyed it! Highly recommend for getting toes wet here on BlueSky!

Hear Me!!