In 1960s Oregon, 15-year-old Laura just wants a quiet, regular life: drawing in her sketchbook, hanging out with her best friend, maybe going on a date with Dennis from school. But Laura has a secret—her mother is mentally ill. When Mother has a breakdown while painting, Laura’s confusion and anger start to build. What if art can’t keep her safe from becoming like her mother? What if Laura’s life will never be close to normal?

This will be a Teen workshop maybe retitled "You Can Write From the Heart Just Like the Greats."  Teens are invited to bring their own [...]

I will be presenting a breakout titled "MG and YA Literature Enhancing Social Emotional Learning Connections in the Classroom" along with authors Lisa Kline and [...]

I will be presenting a breakout called "Skyping Around the World," in which I will show authors how to share their books in classrooms around [...]

I will be presenting a breakout:  USING VERSE TO GET TO THE HEART OF YOUR STORY. In this workshop, we will explore what free verse [...]