Category Archives: 12 gifts of YA

BEAUTIFUL MUSIC hits it big! See this gold record?  It’s BEAUTIFUL MUSIC FOR UGLY CHILDREN and my Sisters In Ink (my writing group) gave it to me.  Know what I felt when I opened this gift?  Pure joy.   See … Continue reading →

Welcome to the final gifts of the 12 Gifts of YA! Writing is an activity that can happen anywhere, right?  At coffee shops (absolutely), writers’ retreats (I like those too), and kitchen tables (sure thing)—all those times are great, because … Continue reading →

  OK, raise your hand if you like stories.  See?  All of you. I became an English major  because I liked to read (a fiscally irresponsible/dumb reason to choose a major). I haven’t made a lot of cash at it, … Continue reading →

  There are probably writers who get tired of seeing their book(s) in the wild, but that’s not me.  When it happens, it’s a giant surprise, partly because my books had smaller publishing runs so there aren’t that many around, … Continue reading →

When you’re a grown-up, you understand emotions differently than you do when you’re 15 (which is a good thing, lord knows).  But you have to hang out with the Four Horsemen of the Teenage Apocalypse as often as you can … Continue reading →

  I have no desire to grow up.  None.  On some days, I think growing up is bogus bullshit, to put it bluntly.  This is another reason why it’s a gift to write about teenagers—I get to be young, if … Continue reading →

Welcome to a new week of the 12 Gifts! I seriously cannot rave enough about the people at Flux–I have been *so* privileged to work with them.  My editor is amazing (he’s also an award-winning writer), my cover designer is … Continue reading →

(Photo credit goes to Jason Puckett.  What a badass tattoo!  But of course you can be a badass librarian without any ink.) Meeting and hanging out with librarians has to be one of *the best* gifts of a YA life.  … Continue reading →

So maybe this is obvious, but I love teenagers, probably about as much as I love pumpkin malts, so that’s pretty huge, and writing about them is a complete joy.  When I sold my first book, my kid was 9.  … Continue reading →

  Oh friends–this is one of the most awesome gifts of all.  Do you know how many cool people write kidlit?  No, you do not, but I am telling you, there are *so many cool people* who do!  And I … Continue reading →