Fiction Fridays Author Chat

Kids at home? New author chat each Friday and writing contest.

This is a time when emotional coping skills become so valuable. If you're home and isolated you need all those coping skills. If you're home in lockdown with kids, you need even more.

What are kids learning? School assignments may give structure and a sense of the familiar, but what kids are learning comes from the crisis itself. And from you. They are learning whether they can trust you. Whether home is a safe place. If joy and laughter still have a place. If they can ask real questions and get honest answers.

When lockdowns began in March, I figured we'd be in this for the long haul. So I'm offering a weekly author chat to kids and families designed to boost spirits, keep kids engaged with the power of stories and books, and give everyone something to look forward to each Friday.

That's something that's gone, isn't it? The chance to look forward to things.

"Fiction Friday" is a mix of mini writing lessons, a peek into how authors write books, stories behind the books, a few corny jokes, and more. This week's episode even includes a brand-new writing contest for kids! I'm teaming up with Mystery to Me, a great indie bookstore in Wisconsin to host the second annual (and first virtual) Kids Write! contest. Rules here.

So join me each Friday. We'll see through this virus pandemic time together. Fiction Friday posts each Friday while schools are closed until June.

A mother from Missouri writes: “Your Fiction Friday videos have become our writing "curriculum" while schools are closed. Thank you for inspiring readers and encouraging them to create stories of their own!”

And a family from Michigan: "My daughter has already begun writing a story for the contest!"

Send kid comments! I dedicate each show to a new kid each week. The smiles are enormous. And be sure to share with book lovers in your life, from librarians to teachers to book club friends.

This crisis gets at the essence of us. Don't be afraid to show your feelings and be honest with kids and yourself right now. You have the emotional skills to cope.

What has brought you grief and joy this week? How can you ease the day for someone else? What do you think of Fiction Friday?

Books to help during lockdown. The Griffins of Castle Cary: Fantasy adventure to escape. It’s OK Not to Share: strategies to build honest relationships and emotional coping skills

Introducing...The Griffins of Castle Cary

Introducing...one of the characters from my soon-to-be-published children's book.

I have AMAZING news!

All my life I've wanted to write fiction, especially fiction for children. I can't think of a time when I didn't want to write books. My desire to become an author was strong by age four.

Now I'm thrilled to announce that my first children's novel will be published by Simon & Schuster: The Griffins of Castle Cary.

So excited! The book is being described as a charming, slightly spooky adventure story for elementary readers ages 8-12. You'll meet the Griffin siblings, a couple of ghosts with big feelings, and a ginormous, drooly Newfoundland dog. My new editor says it's got "Penderwick-y appeal and Neil Gaiman themes," so if you like books with wholesome, family charm, like the Penderwicks or a touch of magic mixed in with real life, this might be the book for you and your family.

I like to think that preschoolers who started out with It's OK Not to Share in their lives will be ready for The Griffins of Castle Cary when it comes out. Only one year to wait - publication is March 2019. In the meantime, we'll be busy with revisions, copyedits and creating a cool cover. Maybe with a Newfoundland on the front?

Can't wait to show you the finished book!

Meanwhile, here's what some early readers had to say. These are all quotes from kids. As part of the book writing process, I had children read the draft manuscript.

Elizabeth, age 8: Keep going! Keep going! I was so excited. I wanted my mom to read more chapters before bed. There were so many mysteries.

Emerson, age 11: I've never read anything like this. I love all the action!

Tess, age 11: If there was a sequel, I would read it in a flash! It was really gripping. And just the right amount of scary. I finished it in two days and it was hard to put down when I had to go to bed.

Alex, age 9: It was awesome! Part mystery, part ghost story. I never wanted to stop reading it.

Thrilled to be a children's book author as well as a renegade. Looking forward to sharing more book adventures with you.

How cute is that Newfoundland dog? Will your kids or grandkids be the right age to enjoy this adventure next year?