Frances Hodgson Burnett had serious issues with the children of the Edwardian British upper class. Both The Little Princess and The Secret Garden featured wealthy girls whose parents had some connection to British rule in India. Sarah Crewe (Little Princess) is abandoned at an English boarding school (Miss Minchin’s) by her father and spoiled Mary …Read More

Who wouldn’t want Elizabeth Montgomery’s signature character Samantha Stephens as a mother? She was as beautiful as a storybook princess, calm, occasionally silly, loving, forgiving and–in a pinch–she could wiggle her nose and conjure up ice cream or a pony, take you back in time to meet real royalty or turn neighborhood burglars into pigs …Read More

(marc chagall’s adam and eve) Everything is derivative. I can’t speak for other writers–but it’s been painfully obvious to me for a long time now that there hasn’t been a truly original idea in our little garden since the snake offered Eve that apple. Every literary idea flows from that moment (metaphorical or not–you pick), …Read More

Did I post this review already? Sometimes I’m pretty dreadful at promoting my own work–I still like to imagine that my work will magically attract an audience and I can just sit home and write and blog and eat bon-bons! This was in the 10/27 issue of Publisher’s Weekly….btw, they really disliked Isabella Moon, so …Read More

This weekend we’re putting the finishing touches on my spankin’ new website. I can’t wait for you to see it! The trailer for Calling Mr. Lonely Hearts is delightfully terrifying–A.Beedle and his crew have outdone themselves once again. This time, though, I’m not going to gather the family ’round the computer for a viewing. Last …Read More

As I write this, the clock is creeping up on midnight. Back in the day I routinely stayed out until two or three a.m. partying and made it to work (almost) sober by 8:30 or so. (Though as my husband and BFF Maggie can attest, I shouldn’t be allowed to talk to anyone after 10 …Read More

Thank you so much to everyone who commented during Octoberguest! Here are the winners: CarMar–Any book from Allison Brennan’s backlist Carolyn Burns Bass–Amanda Stevens’s novel, The Devil’s Footprints Becky LeJeune–Petiquette by Amy Shojai, or Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul (or Cat) Chester Campbell–Bill Cameron’s Chasing Smoke The Walking Man–Jennie Bentley’s debut novel, Fatal …Read More