I have a blank notebook with me wherever I go.
Join Me Online
Twice per month, drop in to write with me and other kindred spirits. See Meditative Art/Writing Workouts for more.
Poetry, Essays, Nonfiction, Fiction, Plays, and Songs
Check out my full bibliography here. Highlights include:
- Poetry, essays, and short fiction published in Unsung Hero, 100 Word Story, Viewless Wings, Sheepshead Review, Heartwood Literary Magazine, New Note Poetry, SoFloPoJo
- Short play chosen for inclusion in Kean University’s Premiere Stages and New Jersey Theatre Alliance, Healing Voices: Caregivers’ Stories
- Graduate thesis advisor and graduate adjunct instructor for fiction writing at Johns Hopkins University
- Award winning story at Montclair StorySlam
- Judge for contest submissions for various organizations, including Bethesda Magazine, Montgomery County Council International Reading Association Writing Contest Awards, Montclair SS, and Coalition to Save Guilford Woods
- Manuscript evaluator for SCBWI conferences
Fiction for Children and Young Adults
I give voice to the funny, sad, messy, and wondrous stories of life, especially the stories of children and young adults. My mission: each book has humor and heart. See info about my many award-winning books here.
Teaching and Public Speaking
Sharing what I’ve learned and am learning gives me purpose. I’ve been invited by many organizations to speak and or teach. Here are just a few highlights:
- Johns Hopkins University
- Columbia University Spirituality in Education
- The Washington Post at the National Book Festival
- Utah Humanities Council Festival for the Book
- American Library Association
- National Council of Teachers of English
- International Reading Association
- Oxford Conference for the Book
- Maryland State Arts Council Teaching Artist
Awards and Honors
- Arizona Library Association Young Readers’ Award
- Beehive Book Award
- Buckeye Book Award
- Maud Hart Lovelace Award
- The Maryland Library Association Maryland Author Award
- Maryland State Arts Council Independent Artist Award
- The Commonwealth of Kentucky Honor for writing for young readers
- Heekin Foundation Fellowship for Novel in Progress
- SCBWI National Magazine Merit Award
- SCBWI Nonfiction Book Grant
- Keisler Prize for Poetry
- Target Arts-in-Education grant
- Washington Post Grant in the Arts
- Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County, MD, Visiting Artist Grant
- Highest Quality Titles selection, New England Children’s Bookselling Advisory Council (2000)
- Bank Street College of Education (2007), Best Children’s Book Award (Humor)
- Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choice selection
- Charlotte Zolotow Award Highly Commended selection (2009)
- Edgar Allan’s Official Crime Investigation Notebook and Guitar Notes chosen for One Book, One School
Invitation: Write a poem and send it to someone this week.