Stories can play an important role in shaping our thoughts and interests. In MISS RUMPHIUS by Barbara Cooney, the main character spreads seeds of beauty throughout her village, and is consequently nicknamed The Lupine Lady. Because of this favorite picture book, I was inspired to grow lupines in my backyard. Later I found myself planting them in my… Read more »

In CALL ME AMY, Miss Cogshell has a lilac bush beside her back door. So do I!

Seals come in all different sizes and colors.  They have a thick layer of blubber to keep themselves warm. Harbor seals are excellent swimmers and can stay under water for about 30 minutes. They glide their smooth bodies through the water by flapping their wide back flippers. On land, they slowly drag their bodies along with their… Read more »

In Chapter One of CALL ME AMY, Amy mentions that she is a fan of the Trixie Belden Series. These were mystery books written between 1948 and 1986. There were 39 volumes and about 16 of them were already available in 1973. The first six were written by Julie Campbell. After she moved on to other projects,… Read more »

CALL ME AMY takes place in 1973. I partly picked that year for Pup, because it was soon after the Federal Marine Mammal Protection Act had passed. President Richard Nixon was up to his ears in Watergate, and the United States ended its involvement in the Vietnam War that year. In New York City, the… Read more »

I am happy to announce CALL ME AMY will be published by Luminis Books in spring 2013! CALL ME AMY, a finalist in the SCBWI Work-in-Progress Grant competition and aimed at readers aged 8 – 14, is now complete (and a sequel is in the works). Amy, a shy thirteen-year-old, lives in a small fishing village on the coast… Read more »