Meeting Illustrator, Sophie Page!

Sophie Page is the illustrator for my picture books, SAVING GRANDDADDY’S STORIES and SHE SANG FOR THE MOUNTAINS. On Saturday, December 4th, we had the opportunity to meet for the first time at Malaprop’s Bookstore in Asheville. Here’s Sophie holding copies of our books…

On December 8th, I had the opportunity to Zoom with the middle grade book club “Books & Bites” led by librarian Glenda Gomberg at the Cypress Library in California. The kids had awesome questions about the book I co-authored with Naheed Senzai, FLYING OVER WATER. My favorite question was what do you hope for this book? I answered, “I hope it makes kids curious about the world around them, that it pushes them to ask hard questions, that they consider making friends with people who may not look like them, or worship like them, or be from the same cultural background.” Though I answered off the cuff, I still can’t think of a better response.

Next year, I will be participating in three book festivals that I know about so far. I had planned to blog about them this month, but one of the festivals asked that we postpone announcements until January.

And I’ve saved the best news for last–I have a contract forthcoming for another picture book biography! I don’t want to say too much until the paperwork is signed, but I had been researching for months and another contract was my most fervent writing dream for this year!

Wishing everyone who celebrates a joyous holiday season and a Happy New Year!