For aspiring authors:
What advice do you have for other writers? Read. Write. Repeat.
How do you stay motivated through writer’s block, rejections, fear, etc.? The publishing process can be long and arduous, and it is common for writers to feel stuck or vulnerable or afraid at some point in their journeys. Whenever I feel creatively drained, I try to take a break and focus on other things that bring me joy.
How did you find your literary agent? Suzie and I connected through #DVpit on Twitter!
Where do your ideas come from? Anywhere and everywhere. I draw a lot of inspiration from my own memories and experiences, from places I’ve lived and visited, from my eclectic interests and fascinations, etc.
Who are your favorite authors and literary idols? I’m a big fan of many people. I love the works of Donna Barba Higuera, Tae Keller, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Patrick Ness, Louis Sachar, and Tahereh Mafi, to name a few.
For curious readers:
How many books have you written? A few! You can learn more about my books here.
Are your books autobiographical? My books are works of fiction. (With the exception of She Persisted: Maria Tallchief.)
Do you have any sequels planned? What are Edie and Maisie up to now? At the moment, I Can Make This Promise and The Sea in Winter both exist as standalone novels. But there might be sequels or spinoffs in the future! Anything is possible!
Will your books be adapted into films? Again, nothing is planned yet. Maybe someday!
What happened to the dog in I Can Make This Promise? I cannot say. I’d be much more interested to hear what you think happened to him.
For teachers:
Can I book you for a school visit? Thank you for thinking of me! I love school visits. But unfortunately, I am fully booked through the end of the 2022-2023 academic year. I hope to see you another time! :D
Do you have any tips, resources, discussion guides, etc. to help me bring your work into my classroom? Absolutely! For Grades 1-4, check out this exclusive video and discussion guide on the She Persisted Books website. For Grades 3-7, enjoy this entire page filled with classroom activities and discussion ideas. For Grades 8+, you can check out this blog post from the Duke TIP Teachers Workshop. I also highly recommend checking out my author profile on TeachingBooks.net!
For other inquiries:
I am now represented by Authors Unbound for school visits and speaking engagements. Please visit my profile for more information. You can also contact my team directly at booked@authorsunbound.com.
For all other inquiries (blurb requests, translation rights, TV/film adaptations, etc.), please contact my literary agent, Suzie Townsend of New Leaf Literary. You can reach her directly at suzie@newleafliterary.com. Thank you!