Aloha, Friends,

I’m thrilled to be teaching at a SCBWI-Austin workshop this summer with P.J. Hoover and Greg Leitich Smith. I’ll be discussing character development, Greg will focus on world building in contemporary realist and fantasy novels, and P.J. (Tricia) will talk about character arc and structure.

For more information, visit this link on the Austin SCBWI website. We’d love to see you there!

Always,

Anne

                                                    art by: Vanessa Roeder

Aloha, Friends,

It’s always a treat to moderate a panel. This weekend I’ll be doing just that at the Writers’ League of Texas Agents & Editors Conference. It will be an extra special event, because the League is celebrating it’s 35th Birthday! I’m looking forward to every moment. Please say hello if you’re there!

Hope you’re having a great summer!

Always,

Anne

Aloha, Friends,

The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators has complied a first-ever Official Reading List–Summer 2016. There’s a book out there for every reader!

Divided into geographical regions (based on the creator’s residence) and then by age/grade level, you’ll find ANYWHERE BUT PARADISE  in the Grades 3-5 Texas/Oklahoma section.

Click HERE to upload the PDF of the list.

Happy Reading!

With aloha,

Anne

Aloha, friends,

Austin is so green and lush right now. And the temps are exceptionally awesome. We know that summer is coming and we’re doing our best to enjoy ever moment outside.

This month, there’s an interview with me on the Austin SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) site.

Click HERE to read my responses to How does your everyday life feed your work? and other questions.

Always,

Anne

Aloha, Friends,

I’ll be making my way to one of my favorite conferences this coming week! The Texas Library Association Conference will be in Houston this year. I can’t wait to see librarians, publishing people, other authors and BOOKS!

Come say hello on Thursday, April 21 from 11:00-Noon (Author Aisle #4) and get a FREE autographed copy of ANYWHERE BUT PARADISE, compliments of Lerner Publishing Group!

Always,

Anne

Aloha, Friends,

I loved spending time in the library at Sanchez Elementary today! Mahalo to librarian Ana Loya, who extended the invitation, and the teachers and students, who were so welcoming!

I had lots of fun talking about ANYWHERE BUT PARADISE! And everyone mastered the pronunciation of humuhumunukunukuapa’a.

Always,

Anne

Aloha, Friends,

I’m so honored to share that ANYWHERE BUT PARADISE is a finalist for the 2016 Texas Institute of Letters Award for the Best Children’s Book (H-E-B/Jean Flynn Award). And that my lovely friends, Liz Garton Scanlon (THE GREAT GOOD SUMMER) and Don Tate (POET: THE REMARKABLE STORY OF GEORGE MOSES HORTON) are also finalists in this category.

Here are finalists for the other Children’s and YA award:

H-E-B Best Young Adults Book 

David Bowles, The Smoking Mirror (IFWG Publishing), Brian Yansky, Utopia, Iowa (Candlewick); Rene S. Perez II, Seeing Off the Johns (Cinco Puntos Press)

Denton Record-Chronicle Award for Best Children’s Picture Book  

Pat Mora, The Remembering Day / El dia de los muertos (Arte Público Press); Kathi Appelt, Counting Crows (Atheneum Books for Young Readers); Chris Barton, The Nutcracker Comes to America (Millbrook Press)

Always,

Anne

PS Here’s the news release from the TIL for all of the finalists.

Aloha, Friends,

Happy New Year!

I’ll be speaking this Saturday at the Austin Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) monthly meeting.

I’ve titled the talk, Revising: Finding Your Way Forward. If you have a beginning, middle and end of a story, congratulations! Celebrate! Then what? Consider (or reconsider) three big questions in order to propel your revision, and all those that follow, to the next level.

Everyone’s welcome to attend this free event!

Hope to see some of you there!

Always,

Anne

Aloha, Friends,

It’s been a while since I’ve said hello! I’ve been deep into a revision of another novel and I’m surfacing for a short while before I plunge in again.

This has been the sweetest year ever! My dream of having a middle-grade novel published came true! I’m exceedingly humbled and thankful for all of the support. Mahalo nui loa, thank you very much.

May all of you have the happiest of holidays and a fantastic new year!

Always,

Anne

Aloha, Friends,

It’s the 20th Anniversary Texas Book Festival this weekend in and around the State Capitol in Austin. Please check out the schedule  and make plans to join us!

Three hundred authors are featured and I’m thrilled to be one of them.

Here’s the panel I’m on Sunday:

KIDS VS NATURE