As an author, I’m often asked to write blurbs for up and coming books. Quite often. Of course, it’s a huge honor that an author or their editor would value your work enough to ask you to provide a blurb for them. It’s especially touching when it’s someone’s debut novel and they write you a gushing request letter. But this is also challenging because if I said yes to every request, my name would be on way too many books. Readers would get sick of seeing my blurbs. They’d think, “Her again? Well, this doesn’t mean anything because she blurbs everything!” So, somewhere along the line I decided to limit myself to one blurb per year. I definitely want to support other writers, but I also want my blurb to mean something special. I want my quote to indicate that I connected really strongly with this work. Read More...

As an author, I'm often asked to write blurbs for up and coming books. Quite often. Of course, it's a huge honor that an author…

I don’t get much time to read these days. Usually I read a couple paragraphs at a time as I nurse the baby. This means I am forced to be very choosy. First, my reading material must be a bound book — no manuscripts. Second, it must be a paperback, preferably a mass market sized one that’s easy to hold in one hand and balance precariously on my knee. Third, since I have to read the story very slowly, it can’t be too suspenseful or it would drive me crazy, but at the same time, it can’t be dull because, well, who wants to read something dull? I’ll admit, I’m not too fond of reading YA or middle grades because these are just a bit too close to work for me, although I have recently read both. Still, I’m always in search of that perfect book. And then I found it. Read More...

I don't get much time to read these days. Usually I read a couple paragraphs at a time as I nurse the baby. This means…

Today marks the official launch day for School Library Journal’s April Issue, featuring both an article on yours truly and a starred review of King of the Screwups. Of course, I am tremendously excited. I just read the review this morning and my favorite lines are: “Liam is a multifaceted and resilient character who ultimately learns how to be comfortable in his own skin with the help of his new, makeshift family. Going’s knack for defying stereotypes and creating memorable characters will not disappoint fans of Fat Kid Rules the World and Saint Iggy.” Read More...

Today marks the official launch day for School Library Journal's April Issue, featuring both an article on yours truly and a starred review of King…