Reading Rock Stars

I did my first in-person school visit since Covid began! The Texas Book Festival is in the fall but they do events throughout the year to keep kids excited about books. Over the holidays I signed 250 book plates and this past week I got to meet the third- and fourth-grade kids who received a copy of THE WITCH’S APPRENTICE (now out in paperback!) through the Reading Rock Stars program. Harris Academy has a spirit team and they warmed the group up with a pro-literacy cheer…then we got started and when I wrapped up an hour later, one of the sorors who volunteer at the school came up to give me a hug (she was Canadian!) The librarian, Ms. Hutchins, had a table covered in treats and I managed to get a direct flight back to Chicago after a two-hour delay.

I worked in the hotel the night before and met my deadline for Chicago Magazine. I missed my puppetry class but turns out I wasn’t the only one…our instructor gave us an extension and my friend Tanya gave me some great tips when we zoomed on Friday. Then I went for an outdoor run for the first time in almost a month and this morning I went to the farmers market in my neighborhood—something I haven’t done since last summer. Sometimes I think my home is too cozy because it’s a bit too easy to hibernate…but the sun’s been out all week and the earth is spongy, which makes me feel like spring will be here soon. I self-published PERENNIAL yesterday and I’m offering a bundle of my 4 poetry books over on Instagram and Facebook; just leave a comment before the end of Valentine’s Day.

The link to sign up for my newsletter is broken—sorry about that! updating my website is near the top of my To Do list—but a new one went out today. You can read it here. With just one school visit and one panel this week, I should have plenty of time to focus on my puppetry project. I think I’m going to try making a book with detachable 2D paper puppets…the operative word being “try.” Lol. Our final performance got pushed back a week, which means I’ll be in Scotland. Scotland! So ready to leave the rat race behind, though I’ve only got myself to blame for all these BHM events. I took a couple of social media apps off my phone yesterday and will try to unplug while I’m away. My phone doesn’t work over there so it shouldn’t be too hard…