Setting: A library-based author event earlier this year. Time: The latter portion of "set up" time, prior to the doors opening to the public. An author who said she writes young adult novels walked up to my booth and picked up my display copy of Society of the Sentinelia. She read the back cover. Her face lit up.

Ask any writer who has sat behind a table of neatly arranged books, swag, and themed decor, and they will have a story or two about the...

What is a writer's pocketbook, you ask? It's what I call the pocketbook that's big enough to hold the book I'm currently reading, a small

Ingredients for success certainly include knowledge, experience, tenacity, and passion. However, every recipe needs that special something

Learning, networking, and receiving feedback are what I use to boost inspiration and motivation as a writer. That's why I'm headed to...

One of my favorite late-December activities is shopping for a new journal.

Adventures help build creative muscle. I'm convinced writer's block can always be cured by taking a break from the keyboard and trying...

Amidst my hectic graduate work, middle school teacher, and novel writer schedule, I carved out time for a writers and illustrators...

When I sat down in a session at the SCBWI-Carolinas fall writers and illustrators weekend retreat, everyone around me was exchanging...

The Birkhead Wilderness, which is part of the Uwharrie Mountains in central NC, was the inspiration and setting for my Zahra of the...

The start of school had me overwhelmed and underproductive when it came to my writing obligations. During every spare minute, I was...

My first summer break since returning to the classroom is over. It was a good break. I played, traveled, studied, wrote, read, and...

On a recent trip to visit my cousin in New York City, I was asked if I wanted to walk across a bridge. "Of course! Let's do it!" was my...