Class Critters

Were You a Summer Reading Challenge Kid?

This post was originally sent through my author newsletter on June 30th, 2023. To subscribe to my newsletter and receive up-to-date news, musings, and more, click HERE.

My daughter's school is officially out for summer vacation—and I am officially in my summer vacation feelings. 

One of the memories I associate most with the summer breaks of my childhood is doing our local public library's annual summer reading challenge. I was a bookish kid. This was my sweet spot and my time to shine. 

Here's the building that used to house the public library in my hometown: 

(Screenshot courtesy of Google Maps...) 

This isn't the library anymore. A beautiful new space was constructed nearby in the early 2000s. The new library is fantastic. It's everything you want a public library to be: open, welcoming, filled with light and books and activities and people. But when I think about my summers growing up, remembering the smaller, darker, more old-fashioned space warms my heart. 

At the start of each summer, my mom would drive me and my siblings to the library to pick up our summer reading challenge sheets. These weren't just blank reading logs or lists of ideas. These were pirate treasure maps, or wilderness hikes, or city scavenger hunts. They were passport books with pages you had to get stamped. They were adventures.

My childhood librarians were not messing around, is what I'm saying. 

Each challenge sheet had a list of types of books you had to read along your quest. Prompts like: 

  • Read a book about an animal. 

  • Read a mystery. 

  • Read a book set in the past. 

  • Read a book about friendship. 

  • Read a nonfiction book. 

  • Read a book of poetry. 

And so on. We'd bring in our sheet to get it stamped or stickered by the librarians, who would ask us about what we'd been reading. I usually completed more than one challenge per summer, because I was that kind of kid. (A bookstore in our area also offered a reading challenge for a few summers, and the prize for completing it was a gift certificate! Big motivation.) 

I know these challenges weren't only happening in my hometown. Maybe you were doing something similar, wherever you grew up. I hope your summer reading adventures were as exciting as mine. 

I also know that these challenges weren't just aimed at bookworms like me. I recall studies being published in the '80s and '90s about learning loss during the summer months. Challenges like these were supposed to make reading fun, so kids wouldn't sit around and watch TV all summer long. It's probably the same now, except the battle is against all sorts of screens. 

But regardless of how common my experience was, it was also really formative. I took those challenges seriously. I tried to stick to the letter of the prompt, not forcing books that only kind-of-sort-of fit into each category. If I read a book that fit into more than one category, meanwhile, I'd hold off writing the title onto the challenge map until I knew where I needed it most. I didn't just want to complete the challenge—I wanted to do it right. 

I've had this on my mind lately for two reasons:

One, I was wondering if the Brooklyn Public Library offers anything like this for kids my daughter's age. They do, but it's much more open-ended. No specific book prompts, just guidance to read for 20 minutes a day and to log each book you finish. Honestly, that's not nearly as much fun as what I remember from my own youth!  

Two, I was kind of feeling the itch to do a summer reading challenge of my own. Here, I have almost too many options. I Googled "Summer Reading Challenge for Adults" and got so many lists and bingo boards and Instagram graphics! So I'll need to do some more strategizing there. 

Does your local public library do a summer reading challenge for kids (or adults)? Are you challenging yourself to read in a new way this summer? I want to know! Please give me some ideas! 

~Kathryn  

What I'm: 

Reading: The Antiquity Affair by Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne. I've known Lee and Jenn since we all debuted in 2015, and I have been so excited to read the book they wrote together. The Antiquity Affair is a historical adventure about two sisters whose father is a renowned Egyptologist. Lila is about to be presented to society, and hopes to secure a good marriage. Tess wants to follow in their dad's footsteps and study archaeology. This book has secret societies, undecipherable codes, sisters trying to rebuild a broken bond, and a touch of romance. It's wonderful!

Writing: I'm about to jump into drafting the second book in my write-for-hire contract. I've mentioned before that this is always the scariest part: right before diving in. What if I've forgotten how to write?! Wish me luck in July... 

Loving: A few weeks ago, I took my three Critters to the beach for a photo shoot. Here they are, enjoying some fun in the sun—and waiting for some kiddos to read and enjoy them! What are your kids reading this summer? 

That Giddy First-Review Feeling

This post was originally sent through my author newsletter on June 9th, 2023. To subscribe to my newsletter and receive up-to-date news, musings, and more, click HERE.

The Thirteenth Circle recently got its very first review—and it was a five-star review! 

But let me back up. In May, the book went up on several industry websites for librarians, booksellers, and reviewers to request early digital copies. A lot of people request books and then put them in a queue for reading, so there's no telling how long it will take for these early reviews to actually trickle in. (And this is separate from reviews in major publications, like School Library Journal.) Regardless, the book being posted on these sites is a big moment, because it's full of potential: finally, people can read this thing we worked on for years and years. 

And recently, someone did read it!

Even better, he liked it, apparently quite a lot! 

If you're a Goodreads person, you can read the review on The Thirteenth Circle's page. But the gist of it is, this man reads and reviews a lot of kids' books, and he thought ours was great. Here's an excerpt: 

"The truth is that "The Thirteenth Circle" won my heart, won my mind, and entertained me. I enjoyed these characters immensely and enjoyed the storytelling.

Another winner from Feiwel and Friends, "The Thirteenth Circle" is the kind of book that leaves you appreciating the world it creates and is an ideal read for entry-level sci-fi/fantasy readers with the ability to embrace modestly complex concepts and who will identify with the family and friendship dynamics that feel honestly and richly developed here."

Amazing, right? 

I don't know this person. I don't know how much power his words hold in the book industry. What I do know is that when you've poured your heart and soul into something, the very first review to come in really hits you hard. When MarcyKate emailed me to let me know a review had been posted, she said up-front that it was five-stars...and my heart still skipped a couple beats when I clicked through to read it. 

To see that it was extremely positive was an absolute treat. 

More reviews will land in the months ahead. Hopefully, most of them will be similarly filled with praise. But I can't control that aspect of the publishing process, so I may decide at a certain point to stop reading them. Having that many voices in my head isn't helpful for promoting the book being reviewed or for writing what's next. 

That said, if you're a reviewer, bookseller, or librarian—or if you know one—here are the links to request digital review copies of The Thirteenth Circle: 

If you aren't someone who's eligible to read books early, don't fret! You can help out by doing things like adding the book to your "want to read" shelf on Goodreads, posting about it on social media (or sharing my posts), and of course preordering. (HERE is a link to preorder The Thirteenth Circle from my local indie!) 

Now, I'm going to bask in the feeling of that first glowing review for a little while longer... 

~Kathryn 

What I'm: 

Reading: I just started The Area 51 Files by Julie Buxbaum. This is another middle-grade sci-fi story, this time about a girl who is sent to live with her uncle...who works at the mysterious Area 51! I'm only a few chapters in, but it's fun so far. 

Watching: While my husband was away for a work trip, I watched "Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story" on Netflix. ;) 

Loving: Now that all three Class Critters books are out, it was time for some new promotional swag! Thanks to my husband for helping me design these awesome series bookmarks, which I am so excited to start handing out to young readers very soon. 

My Newsletter is One Year Old!

This post was originally sent through my author newsletter on April 21st, 2023. To subscribe to my newsletter and receive up-to-date news, musings, and more, click HERE.

One year ago, I launched my newsletter! 

My first email to my list went out on April 22nd, 2022. Technically, I've sent out 47 missives since then; at the start, I was writing every other week. 

I wasn't sure, when I began this project, whether I would stick with it. I wanted to, but...maybe it would be too time-consuming. Or maybe no one would be interested in hearing from me all the time. Or maybe I'd simply get bored, or run out of ideas. 

I am pleased to report that none of the above came to pass. My list of subscribers isn't huge, but it is loyal. People respond, when I write something that resonates. And honestly, I really enjoy writing each edition. 

My newsletter isn't just a place for me to share publishing news (and to beg for Amazon reviews...). It also asks me to reflect, once a week, on some aspect of my work or my life that merits a deeper dive. What am I meditating on, in terms of my writing, my career, my work ethic, my free time, my family, my hobbies? What feels meaningful in this particular moment? Is there something I need to write out in order to work through? Is there something I can offer others who might be in the same boat? 

I mentioned, in my very first newsletter a year ago, that I used to blog. I always enjoyed it. As I suspected it would, my newsletter has filled that space in my writing life. I could have themed it—book promotion only, or writing tips, or being a working parent, or maintaining a work-life balance, or or or or or—but instead, I chose to keep things open-ended. The newsletter is about all of those topics, and more, whenever each feels relevant. It's for my readers, and for aspiring writers, and for my friends and family, and for anyone else who finds what I have to say interesting. I hope that its open-ended-ness is a strength. 

Regardless, I am grateful to each and every subscriber. Let's leap into Year Two together.  

~Kathryn

What I'm: 

Reading: I finished Carrie Soto is Back. Then, I read Curtis Sittenfeld's newest book, Romantic Comedy, about a comedy writer on a sketch show who falls in love with one of the celebrity hosts. On my way home, I read Trish Doller's Off the Map, about a girl with epic wanderlust falling for a guy who has always dreamed of seeing the world, but has chosen stability instead. And once I was back in Brooklyn, I read Corey Ann Haydu's spectacular middle-grade novel One Jar of Magic! 

Writing: MarcyKate and I are thinking about our proposal for a second Science & Strange book, a sequel to The Thirteenth Circle. It's been so fun to work on the sample chapters, and I can't wait to do more with the idea. 

Listening to: The soundtrack to "Daisy Jones & The Six." It's one fictional classic rock earworm after another! 

Loving: My author trip in April was so successful. I talked to so many kids and sold so many books. Here's a shot of me at the new indie bookstore in my hometown, Neighborly Books. I sold out of copies of Class Critters at my event there, but they've ordered more, so keep them in mind for your online order needs! 

A Few Thoughts on Closing out a Contract

This post was originally sent through my author newsletter on April 14th, 2023. To subscribe to my newsletter and receive up-to-date news, musings, and more, click HERE.

As you may have heard (since I've mentioned it, ahem, more than a few times...), the paperback edition of Madison Morris is NOT a Mouse! is out in the world. All three Class Critters books are now available in four formats: hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook. That feels pretty amazing! 

But there's also something about this moment that feels bittersweet: my three-book contract with Abrams Kids is now officially fulfilled. 

And I don't know, as of right now, whether there will be any more Class Critters books. I want there to be more—I absolutely do!—but I can't be certain. That's publishing, in a nutshell, but it's also a hard pill to swallow. 

I received the offer to publish Class Critters in January 2020. When I signed the contract, spring of 2023 seemed so very far away. This was my first multi-book deal, and it felt incredible to know I had so much in the pipeline.

I also assumed, perhaps naively, that I'd sign on for more books in the series before the third paperback released. It hasn't happened that way. It's hard to launch a new series in a market already glutted with long-running, beloved series. Pandemic disruptions to both publishing and schools continued much longer than anticipated. Tally Tuttle Turns into a Turtle wasn't a hit right out of the gate, which gave the subsequent two books harder mountains to climb. 

I intend to pitch more Class Critters books to my publisher. I know I have many more stories to tell in this world. I also intend to keep doing school visits and other promo for the series. At the same time, I have to make peace with the idea that this might be it. I love these three books, and I know readers do too. 

Will you help me give Class Critters one last push?

Here are a few ideas: 

  • If you haven't already bought the series for the kids in your life, will you go ahead and do so? (Even if they're too young now—they'll be the right age soon enough!)

  • If your kids have already read the books, maybe you'd consider buying a few extra copies to give to their friends as birthday presents this year?

  • You could request the titles be purchased by your local public library or elementary school library! (You could also buy the set to donate to a school library...) 

  • You could visit your local indie bookstore and ask them to stock a few copies on their shelves! 

  • You could review the books on Amazon. All it takes is a star rating and a single sentence, something like: "My child loved this book." 

  • Easiest of all, you can tell people about the series! The next time a colleague or neighbor or fellow dance or soccer parent happens to mention that they know a child who's looking for something new to read, I hope you'll point them toward Class Critters. 

Books don't succeed in a vacuum. They need word of mouth. They also need to be findable—on shelves where readers can actually pick them up and skim the teaser on the back. 

If you've read this far, please know that I am so grateful for your support. I love what I do and I am proud of what I have produced, and the fact that you're here, reading this, means the world. 

Now, go forth and get those paperbacks!  

~Kathryn 

What I'm: 

Reading: I finally read Sabaa Tahir's multi-award-winning YA novel All My Rage. It was every bit as good as the accolades suggested. I tore through it in a little over a day! This week, I've been reading Carrie Soto is Back, Taylor Jenkins Reid's companion novel to her earlier book Malibu Rising, about a professional tennis star attempting a late-career comeback. I am not a tennis fan, and yet I am pretty riveted. 

Watching: Speaking of Taylor Jenkins Reid, we've been watching "Daisy Jones & The Six" on Prime. The music is great! 

Working on: I'm in Tennessee right now, doing school visits! Hooray! 

Loving: Look at my three paperback babies, all together. What a dream. :) 

What Am I Hoping to Cultivate in 2023?

This post was originally sent through my author newsletter on January 13th, 2023. To subscribe to my newsletter and receive up-to-date news, musings, and more, click HERE.

Last week, I shared that my word of the year for 2023 is Cultivate. This week, I wanted to talk a little about what, exactly, I hope to cultivate in my professional life! What seeds did I plant that I'm ready to nurture? What's on tap for me in 2023? 

I have one book release this year: the paperback of Madison Morris is NOT a Mouse! on April 11th. I learned a lot last year, as I released two books in a little over a four-month period. (Technically, I had four book releases in 2022: the paperback of Tally Tuttle, the hardcover and paperback of David Dixon, and the hardcover of Madison Morris!) I am hoping to make the most of this upcoming paperback release, so stay tuned for giveaways, readalouds, collaborations, and more in the next month or two. 

The Thirteenth Circle is moving steadily through the production process. MarcyKate and I are waiting on copyedits, as well as a final cover design and a release date. (As far as I know, this book is still slated for winter 2024.) Meanwhile, we've been working on sample chapters for a proposed Book Two in the Science & Strange series! The Thirteenth Circle is about a crop circle phenomenon. Who wants to guess what paranormal thing our intrepid seventh-grade researchers are going to investigate next? 

I am also embarking on a new writing project this year. I mentioned several months ago that I was auditioning for a write-for-hire gig...and I got it! This week, I submitted a 10-page outline/synopsis as well as character briefs for all of the main players. Once I get approval from my editor and the client, it's time to start drafting in earnest. I will tell you more about this project once I know what I am allowed to disclose (remember, sometimes ghostwriters are allowed to take credit, whereas other times they stay fully behind the scenes). Suffice it to say, I am so excited that I took the chance on this audition last fall and am embarking on this new adventure! I think it will be a lot of fun. 

I did my first few in-person Class Critters school visits in 2022. I not only refined my presentation each time, making it more engaging and more effective (and becoming more comfortable in front of a crowd of kids), but also learned some tricks about reaching out to schools to pitch myself and my books. I am currently in talks with a couple different schools about in-person visits in the spring, which I am so excited about! But also, I am really pushing forward with booking virtual visits. I already have 10 virtual school visits scheduled on and around World Read Aloud Day (February 1st), plus another few virtual visits coming up in March. Speaking of which, if you want me to read/speak to your elementary school students, either virtually or in person, please don't hesitate to reach out! I would love to make something happen. Learn more about my school visits HERE. 

In other professional news, this week I led my first professional writing seminar for the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators, and it went really well! (You may recall me writing about imposter syndrome as I was crafting the presentation...) The facilitators and the attendees seemed very pleased with the information that I and my Class Critters editor, Erica Finkel, shared. And there were approximately 85 registrants, which blew away my expectations for how many people would attend! While this workshop technically happened in 2023, I'm counting it as a seed planted last year, because that's when I laid all the groundwork. Now, I know that I can lead a successful seminar. I do have valuable insight to pass along to other writers. I am not an imposter! So what else can I pursue in this realm? What other opportunities can I seek out? More workshops and seminars? More podcasts? Guest blog posts? 

All of the above is...a lot. I am going to be busy, busy, busy. But I hope to be busy doing what I love—or else doing things that are necessary to support projects I love—and that takes the some of the existential stress out of it. Writing is my job, and I work hard at it, but it's also my passion. I hope that above all, I can continue cultivating enjoyment in my work. 

What word is guiding you this year? 

~Kathryn 

What I'm: 

Reading: I've got a long library hold list at the moment, including several holiday-themed romances that didn't hit my account before the holidays, but I've also just started a new middle-grade fantasy novel! (Remember how I said I was going to read more middle-grade this year, in preparation for my own middle-grade debut in 2024?) Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit by Jesse Q. Sutanto is about a boy who must team up with his brother's fox spirit after his brother passes away. Together, the two—who have never gotten along—must uncover why the brother died. I'm only a few chapters in, but I'm enjoying it so far! 

Watching: "Willow" just finished its first (only?) season, and it definitely got better as it went along. "Abbott Elementary" is back from winter break, and as fun as ever. Oh, and my husband and I watched "Matilda: the Musical" on Netflix a few days ago, and it was absolutely wonderful! 

Eating: Have you ever made a Mississippi Roast? I cooked a version of this in the crock pot a few days ago, and it was divine. (Spoiler alert: there's a lot of butter...)  

Loving: I checked my PO Box this week to find a packet of letters and artwork from a group of 1st and 2nd graders I Zoomed with in December! Here are a few of my favorite pictures. Getting fan art from kids is the absolute best.  

How Much Say Do Authors Have in Cover Design?

This post was originally sent through my author newsletter on November 4th, 2022. To subscribe to my newsletter and receive up-to-date news, musings, and more, click HERE.

Earlier this week, MarcyKate's and my editor for The Thirteenth Circle sent us an email with cover art updates. This was a surprise to us—but also to our editor. Apparently, she hadn't expected to discuss the design for our book yet, but someone brought it up, and so the discussion happened right then and there. Two artists were selected (a first choice and a backup). Our editor sent us links to their portfolios, explaining all the rationales behind why they were the team's top picks.

Why is this noteworthy?

Well, maybe to some authors, it isn't! But for me, it is absolutely the most communication I've ever had about cover design—and it's been both fun and enlightening.

Cover design is one of those areas where, in general, authors get little input. (Unless you're a Very Big Name, i.e. a celebrity or a New York Times Bestseller.)

For my two YA novels, I saw and heard nothing until there was a close-to-finished cover layout. The emails landed in my inbox with language like, "Here's what we've decided on. Hope you like it as much as we do!" I was able to offer tiny suggestions. For instance, I had a few comments about the model in the photograph chosen for the How It Feels to Fly cover: I asked that her nail polish be removed and her makeup be toned down, because she looked much older than the character's 16 years. But overall, I was given the impression that this was what was happening, and I'd best get on board.

(One story I do like to tell about the HIFTF cover is that I was completely caught off guard by those balloons! The image had been chosen because the floating balloons made the designer think of flight. But...there were no balloons *anywhere* in the book. So, rather than argue about the cover not really tying into the story, I added a scene with balloons into the manuscript.)

For Class Critters, I was brought into the process a bit earlier. I learned that they'd be using two different artists: one for the books' covers and one for the interior illustrations. I was told that the sales and marketing team wanted a more photorealistic animal on the cover, with a few quirky illustrated details. I was sent links to portfolios as well as sketches by the artists who had been chosen, and I was able to offer comments on the proposed artwork. (For instance, both the interior and cover artists for Tally Tuttle Turns into a Turtle initially drew tortoises, so I had to send back descriptions and sample images showing the differences between turtles and tortoises!)

But even though I was looped in earlier, I didn't have much say in the actual direction the cover designers chose. I love my Class Critters covers! I'm super lucky! But this was definitely still a situation where things were happening outside of my purview as the author.

Which is why the process with The Thirteenth Circle has been so interesting! Back in September, our editor emailed with some requests. MarcyKate and I were asked for scenes from the book that we thought might be good to feature on the cover, as well as for major symbols and elements that could be included. We were asked to describe the main characters' appearances and general styles. (This is the step that would have saved the Tally Tuttle artists from first drawing tortoises!) We were also asked to share some covers from recent books that we were drawn to, to give the design team some jumping-off points in their brainstorming discussions.

Obviously, I don't know if the finished cover will end up showing the book scene we suggested, but the characters should look the way they are described in the text. Plus, the artists that were chosen for consideration are absolutely fantastic; either one will do an amazing job. And sure, maybe those artists would have been selected even without the authors' suggestions. Maybe they were already on the designers' radars. But it felt amazing to be included in the conversation!

There is so much in this business that is outside of the author's control. Really, the only thing that is ours is the words on the page (and even then, we have an editor and a copyeditor and a proofreader making suggestions). Everyone involved in publishing books wants the best—and most marketable—finished product. There are definitely times when I, as the author, have to let go of something that isn't being done the way I would do it. I have to hope and trust that the people who made the decision did it for good reason. Cover design falls under that umbrella, because cover trends ebb and flow. My job is the words.

But wow, I can't wait to see this Thirteenth Circle cover. I am so excited by the possibilities we've discussed and by the portfolios we've been shown. And of course, I'll share it with you as soon as I'm able!

Fingers crossed we love, love, love it. :)

~Kathryn

What I'm:

Reading: I am currently reading a YA manuscript for blurb consideration! It's been a long time since I was asked to blurb—a.k.a. write up a nice promo statement for marketing and/or the book cover—but this author reached out to me after being moved by How It Feels to Fly. I'll let you know if I decide to blurb her book, so you can check it out when it releases!

Cleaning: I've been on a bit of a home improvement streak lately, working on updates to my office area and my kiddo's room. Do you go in and out of phases where you absolutely must do something to freshen up your living space?

Watching: The kiddo has been home sick for a couple days, so our TV has been set to her current faves: "Doc McStuffins," "Mickey Mouse Club House," and "How It's Made."

Loving: Luckily, she wasn't sick on Halloween! (The germs really hit her on Tuesday...) As promised, here's the two of us: a spooky princess and her skeleton sidekick.

Back to School Already?!

This post was originally sent through my author newsletter on August 12, 2022. To subscribe to my newsletter and receive up-to-date news, musings, and more, click HERE.

It's the moment you've all been waiting for: giveaway time!!! The subscriber who will win a trio of Class Critters hardcovers, chosen by Random.org, is...

Kathy Daugherty!

Congratulations, Kathy! I will email you at the address you gave me when you subscribed—a.k.a. the account you're reading this email in now! If I haven't heard from you in a week, I'll choose another winner, so keep an eye out for a message from me. :)

If you didn't win today, stay tuned for more giveaways—including a massive group chapter book giveaway featuring ten (10!!) new titles from some big names (including me...am I a big name?). The group giveaway goes live this Sunday, August 14th, and will be open for one week. Check my social media starting on Sunday for all the details!

It may be over 90 degrees as I write this, but it's back-to-school time in many parts of the country. My own kiddo goes back after Labor Day, and her first big-kid backpack just arrived in the mail. (She chose a Frozen design, with her name monogrammed in purple.) But my daughter's impending kindergarten launch is only one reason I have back-to-school on the brain. 
 

I mentioned two weeks ago that I have a school visit on the horizon! I'm super excited, because this will be my first in-person school visit since Covid...and thus my first in-person visit about Class Critters ever! I'll be at Sam Houston Elementary School in my hometown of Maryville, TN, speaking to 2nd and 3rd graders, all of whom will receive a paperback copy of either Tally Tuttle or David Dixon. (Yay, books!!!) 

Over the past two weeks, I've been polishing my presentation, which I'm currently calling "Recipe for a Story." What are the ingredients needed to write a story? How did those ingredients come together for me as I created Class Critters? After I talk about my process, we'll do an exercise together, using a prompt: What if you turned into an animal for a day?  

After an admittedly stressful and emotional summer, it's been really nice to get back to the basics of my craft. What are the ingredients of my storytelling process? How can I clearly and engagingly convey to elementary schoolers how I build a story, giving them tools that they might be able to use to get creative on their own? 

Here's where I've landed—at least, for this particular presentation. Boiled down to bare bones, the ingredients of my creative process are: 

  • Ideas

  • Questions

  • Research

  • Imagination

The idea is the story's first spark. It's the thing I jot down in a notebook or in the Notes app on my phone while I'm doing other things. It's what grabs me. But like every writer, I have a lot of ideas. How do I know that this one is meant to become something more? 

It makes me ask questions. Who, and what, and where, and when, and how, and why? Questions make ideas bigger, and when each question I answer leads to more questions—more ideas—I know I'm onto something. 

Some questions can only be answered through my own ingenuity (or through trial and error, a.k.a. writing things wrong repeatedly until finally finding the right solution...). Other questions require research. For Class Critters, I did a ton of research. In order to help my characters move through their environment as animals in a realistic way, I needed to know a lot about how painted turtles, dachshunds, and mice behave. Research is also great for generating...you guessed it...more ideas! 

Imagination is where all the pieces come together. It's where the magic happens. (And here's where I'll talk a bit with the kids about things like plot, character, setting, and motivation.) How can I use the ideas and questions I have and the research I've done to create a compelling story with a beginning, middle, and end? 

I want to leave the kids who attend my presentation feeling ready to write a story of their very own, whether it's one about being an animal for a day or something else they come up with that sparks their creativity. 

I also want this to be the first of many school visits this year. So, if what I wrote above sounds interesting to you, and you work in a school, have school-aged kids, or simply have connections with a school that brings in authors—please reach out for more info! I want to offer in-person visits where it's feasible, such as within driving or train distance of Brooklyn, but I can also do virtual presentations. (Here's the School Visits page on my website.) 

Did you ever get to meet authors when you were young? What did you want to ask them? When did you first learn about the ingredients that make a story? 

~Kathryn 

Next week, you'll get the sixth and final (for now?) installment of Creating While Parenting, the short interview series I've been running this summer with fellow parents who work in creative fields. Did you enjoy reading these interviews? Did you want more? Or are you glad the series is over? Feel free to send me some feedback!

And don't forget, Madison Morris is NOT a Mouse! releases on 8/16/22. Have you ordered your copy yet??

What I'm:

Reading: I read two romance novels I really enjoyed over the past week: Something Wilder by Christina Lauren and Very Sincerely Yours by Kerry Winfrey. Something Wilder is a romantic adventure about two people who broke each other's hearts a decade ago and end up reconnecting on a wild west outdoor adventure–turned–treasure hunt. Meanwhile, the premise of Very Sincerely Yours is basically, "What if Mr. Rogers was hot?" It's about a woman who's feeling aimless after a breakup who falls for a children's TV show presenter who is a little too committed to his work. I think you should read both of these books!

Watching: As I write this, we've just finished "Umbrella Academy" season 3, which means we're starting either "For All Mankind" season 3 or "The Sandman" next...

Listening to: I'm in a slump. I need recommendations. Something fun and poppy, perhaps? But with clever lyrics? Or maybe a wailing indie chick? Argh, I don't know. Who are you obsessed with listening to right now?

Eating: I scored a free ice cream machine from our local Buy Nothing group a few years ago, and it ended up in the back of our hall closet. I finally dug it out and put it into action! The result was DELICIOUS. Can't wait to make more.

Loving: Soaking up the last rays of summer even as we prepare for school in the fall.