Harrison Elementary School in Cedar Rapids sits in an area much affected by the Cedar River flooding of 2008. Many families were forced out of their homes. Many homes were damaged. Many are still under repair. I have been to Harrison School in earlier times. I wasn't sure what I would find this time. Would kids be … [Read more...] about A Great Day at Harrison School
Blog
Living Room Tourist: Lhasa
The story and setting of The Chiru of High Tibet may make readers want more information about Tibet. Who wouldn't want to travel to such a beautiful and mysterious land? But real travel to Tibet is expensive and arduous. Still, there's the possibility of "living room" travel, traveling by immersing ourselves in the … [Read more...] about Living Room Tourist: Lhasa
One World. Many Stories
I'm excited to learn that the theme for many libraries' summer reading programs this year is "One world, many stories." What a treat to be taken by a book to the world across the river, across the ocean, on the other side of the globe. What draws us to these stories from other parts of the planet are the … [Read more...] about One World. Many Stories
Stories About Food
One of my favorite pieces of writing, one that I have gone back to time and again over the years, is a cookbook published by the H.P. Hood Dairy in the 1940s. My copy is so old and tattered it begins on page ten. What I love about this cookbook are the stories that are told by contributors and accompany each recipe. … [Read more...] about Stories About Food
Interviewing — Real and Imagined
Early this month I went down to Fairfield Iowa to meet my friend Cheryl Fusco Johnson so we could talk on the radio about the chiru story. We drank coffee at Paradise (and it was heavenly coffee). Then we went over to the radio station. Talking about stories and writing is always fun. The afternoon reminded me of how … [Read more...] about Interviewing — Real and Imagined
Creating Characters in a Cold Month
I could travel to Tibet and back in the time since I wrote on this blog. But that's not where I've been. First, there were the holidays and some wonderful family time. And then a deft segue to the Hamline University Low Residency MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults (January 6-17). It's been a wonderful ten … [Read more...] about Creating Characters in a Cold Month
