Four Seconds to Convince a Ten Year Old
July 1, 2026
A kid scans a library shelf for about four seconds before deciding whether a book is worth a second look. In that window, the cover is doing all the talking. Four seconds, and a book dies or flies depending on the cover’s color, type and a single image making its case.
Justice for Rick
June 1, 2026
On fan mail, honest feedback, and the characters we leave behind
Why Did the Dogs Have to Die?
May 1, 2026
A student asked why the dogs had to die. The answer changed how I teach. It also changed how I write.
Before I Write the First Word
April 1, 2026
Before I write any story — fiction or non-fiction — I ask myself five questions. These questions are not about voice, or structure, or theme. They are not about tone, or pacing, or point of view either. But before I write a single word, they'll help me decide whether the story is even worth writing.
Why I Write for Young People
March 1, 2026
The simple answer is that those years have less to do with age than with a particular moment in life when the world widens, questions deepen, and stories begin to matter in new ways.
