I’ve always been drawn to this kind of novel: pure fantasy where animals live rich, humanlike inner lives. Some stories stay entirely within the animal world, like Dominic  by William Steig or Taking Care of Carruthers  by James Marshall. Others let the animal and human worlds overlap, as in the classic Charlotte’s Web  by E. B. White, or Hugh Pine  by Janwillem van de Wetering, an extraordinary two-book series that more people should know about. I’ve also long favored Englis

I write because I love it. Early on, I wrote with publication in mind, and at times I caught myself chasing what seemed to be selling. I was even advised by a former agent to study what was being published and write to match the trend. I realized I can’t work that way. I’m older now, and I’m inspired by the stories I grew up with. Give me Charlotte’s Web , The Cricket in Times Square , or anything by Roald Dahl, and I’m home. I did publish one middle-grade novel, The One Grea

It’s very difficult to get manuscripts considered without an agent — most publishers simply won’t review work unless it comes through representation. And because there are relatively few agents who specialize in children’s books, they are often closed to new clients, which makes finding the right match especially challenging. I was fortunate to have a wonderful agent and we were developing several projects together, but he needed to step back for personal reasons. So I’m back

Like so many people working in publishing right now, I’m concerned about where the industry is heading. Consolidation has reduced the number of places willing to take on new work, and while being a writer—especially in children’s books—has never been easy, it feels more challenging than ever.   All I can do is keep writing the very best books I’m capable of and hope they find the right home. I write first for myself, because I genuinely love the process—the shaping, revising,

Over the past year I’ve been immersed in writing new work, much of it now with my agent. Since I’m about 90% retired, I’ve become far more prolific than I ever was before. I used to squeeze writing into whatever time I could find; now I can set aside dedicated hours each day simply to write, and it feels wonderful. I’m currently working across middle-grade fiction, chapter books, and picture books, and I love the variety. While my agent is reviewing one manuscript, I jump bac

I am often asked what advice I can give someone starting out. There is no better advice than joining the SCBWI! It's an organization just...

My father passed away two years ago. Having him till I was 60 was a blessing. But like so many kids, I took having him around for...

I got started with CLIF a long time ago. They provide books to small libraries in Vermont and New Hampshire that may not have the funds...

When I first started out in this field I wanted to be an illustrator only. I have grown to love the words so much more. I wonder if it...

I'm starting on a new manuscript for a Easy To Read chapter book. I love working on these kinds of stories. As the writer, I get a chance...