Writing with Invisible Ink

“The pages are still blank, but there is a miraculous feeling of the words being there, written in invisible ink and clamoring to become visible.”
~ Vladimir Nabokov*

Vintage fruit tree bookplate courtesy From the Library Of

*Via The Write Stuff


I've decided to join the bloggers on Marvelous Middle Grade Mondays. We'll be reviewing our favorite books for ages 8-12. MMGM started way back in 2010 by Shannon Messenger.
So starting next week, Quotable Mondays becomes Quotable Wednesdays.

I hope you'll stick around. Why not subscribe so you don't miss a thing?

Local Library Sale, Part 2

Nativity, Louise, and French Pancakes

I save up all year to shop my local library's summer sale. It's hot as blazes under that tent, but it's worth the hours it takes me to read every spine, root through every box.

The picture book pickings were pretty slim this year, so I made up for it in YA, but I did score a few beauties. Among others, I picked up these three picture books for their extraordinary illustration.

Louise Big Cheese, by Elise Primavera and Diane Goode.
You'll find an author + illustrator video on the Simon and Schuster website.

The Nativity, by Julie Vivas, Bio courtesy A Little Birdy Told Me.

Pancakes - Paris, by Claire Huchet Bishop

Thanks to the staff and volunteers for all their hard work!

Local Library Sale, Part 1

New novels for my home library.

Every year there's a huge tent erected in the side yard of the library and thousands of books pour in from donors, discards, and parts unknown. It's the highlight of our summer and provides a huge portion of  my summer reading list.

I scaled back a bit this year, but managed to snag some fabulous books:

Airborn, by Kenneth Oppel. This has been on my to read list For. Ever. Just tell me . . . why did I wait so long? Treasure Island meets Leviathan. A+

So B. It, by Sarah Weeks. Finally a book which meets (exceeds) it's hype. Even better than When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead. And have a box of tissues handy.

Under the Greenwood Tree, by Thomas Hardy. Have you seen the entertaining adaptation with Keeley Hawes?

Writing + Life

"Have regular hours for work and play; make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will be delightful, old age will bring few regrets, and life will become a beautiful success."
— Louisa May Alcott*

Scarecrow bookplate by Polish artist Agnieszka Swiejko

*Via Quoteopia

Unbearable hot summer.

Pennsylvania Black Bear

The view from my window. Not kidding.

He's up the tree because we tried to scare him away from the bird feeder with a cow bell. It worked.

Sort of.

Where Have You Been All Summer?

Hearty apologies to any and all reading this blog for the lack of posts.

I had intended to take a break in July, but at the end of June . . .

The crimp in my plans to write and illustrate like crazy this summer.

. . . this happened.

I cannot believe how long it is taking to heal. Couldn't hold a pen or pencil. Couldn't type or swipe. Couldn't hold a book or ipad.

I'm back to light duty and hope to be back to blogging regularly.

Still have pain holding a book, swiping, and drawing or writing for more than about 45 minutes. And please don't ask me to use a mouse.

Thanks for hanging in there with me. Hope you've accomplished at least a few things on your summer to-do list.

Why Not Write Everyday?

"I don’t sit down and rush headlong into the blank page. . . I forgive myself for not sitting down to write sooner, for taking yesterday off, for living my life. . . a new lightness takes over once that burden has floated off. There is room, now, for story, idea, life."
— Daniel José Older*

Bee bookplate by George Auriol

*Via Seven Scribes

Living to Write

"This writing life is not just sitting in your room with a pencil and paper. It's about getting out in the world and having something to write about."
— Kwame Alexander *



Via Davidson Galleries

*Via SCBWI

Life Happens

"A few times, life happened and I stopped writing. But I held fast to the belief that time can be reclaimed. That because the time I devoted to others was exactly what I needed to do (with zero regrets). . .

"Over time I grew as a person, which in turn, helped me grow as a writer. I returned to the page with new insights and experiences."


—Anne Bustard*


Vintage bookplate courtesy Bumble Button

*Via Cathy C. Hall