Those of you who teach know
3/12/10 -- Those of you who teach know that spring is the season when you can really start to see the gains kids have made over the course of the school year. Today I heard from a teacher in the midwest who tells me I had at least a little somethi...
I've known for a long time
3/10/10 -- I've known for a long time that visualizing my audience can be helpful when I'm working on a story. Since I'm writing REVENGE OF THE MUTANT UNDERWEAR for eight-to-twelve-year-olds, it made sense to visualize someone in that age bracket....
Last May I spoke at the
3/8/10 -- Last May I spoke at the International School of Curitiba in Brazil. It was a short trip -- only 48 hours in the country -- but a great experience. Now, ten months later, I've heard from one of the students there, Lucas. He wrote: "When y...
After a fun trip to South
3/4/10 -- After a fun trip to South Carolina (family reunion) and Alabama (school visit at South Shades Crest Elementary in Hoover), I'm back in Oregon until March 19, when I travel to Israel to speak at the International School in Tel Aviv. Shoul...
I'm at the Charleston, SC
2/28/10 -- I'm at the Charleston, SC airport. Spent the weekend at a family reunion. Really fun to reconnect with everyone, and squeeze in a nice hike in the low country woods -- Spanish moss and palmetto trees, so different than my Northwest fore...
The entire family kicked in
2/22/10 -- The entire family kicked in to help Kelsey move to a new apartment in Portland on Saturday, then Debbie and I hit the ski slopes with friends on Sunday. From the photo you can see that we've all been watching the Olympics, and are in ou...
It's always great to hear
2/19/10 -- It's always great to hear from readers. One, a Missouri fourth grader named Ryley, says I remind her of Henry Winkler of Happy Days fame. (For those who don't know, Happy Days was a very popular TV show from 1974 to 1984. Henry Winkler ...
A beautiful, sunny afternoon,
2/17/10 -- A beautiful, sunny afternoon, temperature approaching 60, daffodils and plum trees starting to bloom. Hmmm . . . Sometimes the best thing you can do for your writing is take a break, clear the cobwebs from the mind, refresh the spirit, ...
After a great weekend, I'm
2/15/10 -- After a great weekend, I'm back in the driver's seat:Regardless of where you write -- school, home office, at the kitchen table, in a coffee shop, or even under a bridge -- this is the place that we, as writers, create the universe know...
I'm off to the mountains for
2/12/10 -- I'm off to the mountains for the weekend with friends, and my wonderful wife, Debbie -- who has put up with me for 35 years, and I love dearly. Skiing, both downhill and cross country, is on the agenda, as is good times around the wood ...
Went to the indoor climbing
2/11/10 -- Went to the indoor climbing gym at Oregon State University last night. Was a bit tentative at first, due to the shoulder surgery. Thought pulling hard might set me back. Ironically, it actually made my shoulder feel better! I worked my ...
Busy day: Writing, planning
2/10/10 -- Busy day: Writing, planning an April trip to the New York City area (two school visits -- Queens and Enfield, CT -- plus reconnecting with editors, publishers, and my agent in Manhattan).Oh, yeah, and then I worked on my taxes. Which, n...
Yesterday I was busy with an
2/6/10 -- Yesterday I was busy with an author visit to McKinley Elementary in Salem. Thanks, Pat Knight and all the wonderful kids and teachers. They even have a young authors club, filled with aspiring writers who like it so much they're willing ...
Just back from a fun day with
2/3/10 -- Just back from a fun day with the students of Morningside Elementary School in Salem, Oregon. Lots of good writing going on there. Great kids and staff. I told them that yesterday I finished the last rewrite (I hope) of STORM MOUNTAIN, a...
Had a great weekend with
2/1/10 -- Had a great weekend with family in the mountains. (Me and the girls below). Also got back on skis for the first time since my shoulder surgery. At first I was a bit tentative, but after a few runs I opened it up and skied fast again. Fly...
As will often happen with
1/29/10 -- As will often happen with writing -- as well as many other things in life -- I hit a snag. STORM MOUNTAIN will not go in the mail today. It's taking more time than planned to get all the details and wording just the way I want them. Tha...
Three long days of rewriting
1/27/10 -- Three long days of rewriting have gotten me through the most recent round of editorial suggestions for STORM MOUNTAIN. (Which are excellent, by the way, and have improved the story a bunch. Never underestimate the power of a good editor...
This past Friday I spoke at
1/25/10 -- This past Friday I spoke at Riverview Elementary School in Lebanon, Oregon. Great kids and teachers. Thanks for the invitation, Kirk Phillips! Saturday morning Debbie and I got up early and drove into the Cascades, where we met our good...
Fed Ex delivered the most
1/21/10 -- Fed Ex delivered the most recent feedback from New York on STORM MOUNTAIN. Not much more rewriting to do, which is a good thing, since my editor, the wonderful Julie Amper, needs it back by February 1. Still, I'll be going over it with ...
If REVENGE OF THE MUTANT
1/20/10 -- If REVENGE OF THE MUTANT UNDERWEAR tightens up as well as the doormat I just finished weaving from old climbing rope I'll be one happy camper . . . er, writer.