Thanks so much to all of you out there who love Shadow’s story and want more. Your letters and e-mails are very much appreciated. I wish I had good news for you about a sequel to SHADOW, but right now there’s no plans for a sequel or companion novel. If things change, I’ll let you know. I would love love to write more for Shadow and Kenway, and I have many stories about them in my head (and some on paper). Those two won’t leave me alone.

I’m working on two manuscripts right now: a gothic novel and another traditional fantasy.

Over the summer, I had great fun at two writing-related events: a working writing retreat in the wilds of Texas (and the wilds were even inside our retreat house), and a fundraiser for the new Evelyn Meador Library in Seabrook, rebuilt after Hurricane Ike. It is beautiful.

Thanks to PJ Hoover and Sherry Garland for the photos below.

Absolutely Awesome Writers’ Retreat:

With lovely SCBWI writers in Seabrook:

The YAHous – the Houston young adult novelist group I’m in – signed at TLA in Pat Anderson’s booth. It was great fun talking to the librarians, giving away Crave cupcakes, and raffling off a basket of books to a librarian.

Borrowing a photo from one of the YAHous – Joy Preble :

Thanks so much to Marianne Dyson – a fellow author/engineer -  for her review of TAKING OFF on the National Space Society website! Marianne was one of the first ten women flight controllers at NASA and is now an author. Her first book, SPACE STATION SCIENCE, won the Golden Kite award for nonfiction.

On Saturday, July 16th, I’ll be signing at the Barnes and Noble Arboretum in Austin, Texas. Here’s a photograph my friend and fellow writer E.K. Anderson took of the display:

The Writers’ League of Texas is holding its annual conference this weekend at the Hyatt Regency Austin. Three days of agent panels and workshops are offered, and Jane Friedman, the former publisher and editorial director of Writer’s Digest, is giving the keynote at the Saturday luncheon.

Along with agents Victoria Marini and Amy Burkhardt, and moderator Amy Rose Capetta, I’ll be discussing Being a Kid Again: Writing Believable Fiction for Younger Audiences on Saturday from 3:30-4:30.

I have two author events coming up:

On Saturday, April 30, I’ll be signing books at Clear Creek Independent School District’s Books on the Boardwalk at Kemah Boardwalk along with fellow authors Marianne Dyson, John Gosselink, James Crowley, Ana Marie Rodriguez, Mel Tarman, Laura Elvebak, and Wendy Lanier.

The following Monday, I’m looking forward to visiting with the fifth graders at Ward Elementary in Clear Lake.

Thanks to Jansseen over at Everyday Reading for her review of TAKING OFF. I had the pleasure of meeting Janssen at a Texas Library Association conference a few years ago. She is a lovely librarian, who is now home with her beautiful daughter. Check out Janssen’s reviews of children’s and YA books. She always has thoughtful things to say.

Busy times!

I just returned from the Texas Library Association conference, which was in Austin this year. I met teens, librarians, authors, editors, and agents who were all equally excited about BOOKS. A great moment: talking to Richard Peck!

The SCBWI-Houston conference is always a wonderful event because of the lovely, hard-working people who do such an amazing job of pulling this event together. This year’s conference on April 9th was my last as a Houstonian so it had special significance for me. I also had the opportunity to critique manuscripts for attendees; it was a pleasure getting a glimpse into the imaginations of these creative people! A special thanks to editor Abby Ranger, whose presentation triggered some A-ha! moments for me about my Work in Progress.

I did my first SKYPE school visit! Author/teacher Kate Messner asked if I’d answer questions for her Creative Writing class. What an awesome group of writers Kate has there – and they had great questions. If you’re a teacher and interested in booking an author for a SKYPE visit, click here to see a list of available authors.

The Texas A&M Monday Book Club has been meeting since the 1970s. A couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege of returning to College Station (I’m a 1980 graduate of A&M) and speaking to the book club. Thanks so much to Ann Busch and all the ladies for being so welcoming! Afterward, I visited the Texas A&M University Press. Thanks to friend and director Charles Backus for giving me the tour.

Happy April, everyone!

These last few weeks, I’ve been retreating: at Kindling Words, an amazing retreat in Burlington, Vermont, for editors and published authors, and at a snowed-in lodge in Branson, Missouri, with awesome YA writers. Lots of snow, writing, and community!

Emily Manning, the host of  ReadWriteThink.org’s Chatting About Books, interviewed me for a recent podcast, where we talked about WINNIE’S WAR and the researching and writing of historical fiction.

The YA book reviewer Flamingnet gave TAKING OFF a top choice award:  Thank you, Flamingnet!

My daughter & I visited B&N on Tuesday to see the copies on the shelves. Always a little surreal to see my books up there.

Sam Houston State University professor, writer, and wonderful YA supporter Dr. Teri Lesesne posted a review of TAKING OFF. Middle grade and picture book author (and middle school teacher!) Kate Messner discussed the book on her blog. I’m posting memories of Challenger and her crew on my blog. Please feel welcome to stop by and share yours.