FAQs

Questions About Me

• What ages are your books for? My picture books and early readers are for ages 4–8, my chapter books are for ages 6–9, and my teen novels (Nature of Grace, ReWired and On the Bright Side) are for readers 13 and up.

• Which of your books are good for teaching science? The Loves Science series (Cece, Libby and Vivi) covers real STEM concepts like forces, states of matter and buoyancy. Penny teaches engineering and simple machines, and Farm Friends explores farm science like pollinators and animal care.

• What order should I read the Nature of Grace series? Read them in this order: Untraceable, then Uncontrollable, then Unstoppable. It's a YA wilderness thriller about 16-year-old Grace, who searches for her missing forest-ranger father in the Smoky Mountains.

• Do you have free teaching guides? Yes. Free educator guides and activities are on my [Guides page] for Loves Science, Theo TheSaurus, Penny, Shine Like a Unicorn, Nature of Grace and ReWired.

• Do you do school visits? I visit schools in person and virtually. You can see my programs on the Programs page and find funding ideas on the Funding page.

• Who do you write your books with? I co-write the Loves Science and Farm Friends series with Kimberly Derting. The rest of my books I write on my own.

• Where can I buy your books? They're available at bookstores and libraries, and online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Buy links are on each book's page.

• Do you have activities or educational guides? Yes, check my Educator or Fun Stuff pages.

• Have you always wanted to be a writer? No, not until I was pregnant with my daughter.

• Where do you get your ideas? News or something someone says.

• How long does it take you to write a book? It usually takes me about three months to write a book

• Do you plot out your books or write organically? I'm a plotter. I outline my books before I start writing.

• What is your writing schedule? When I don't procrastinate.

• What is your advice for newbie writers? Keep going... it's easy to give up.

• What are some other jobs you’ve had in the past? Corporate America sucked me in for many years. I got out! Whew!

• Do you read all your emails? I always love to hear from readers.

My Favorite Things

• Favorite Movie of All Time: Harry Potter or Lord of the Ring series

• Favorite Comedy Movie: Hitman's Bodyguard

• Favorite Avenger Movie: Guardians of the Galaxy 1 (hated the rest)

• Favorite Romance Movie: Kate and Leopold or Serendipity

• Favorite Music Genre: Acoustic

• Favorite Song of All Time: Hallelujah by Pentatonix

• Favorite Book of All Time: Pippy Longstocking and Travels with Charley

• Favorite Comedian: Leanne Morgan or Georgie Carlin

• Favorite Author: James Patterson or JK Rowling

• Favorite Color: Ocean Blue

• Favorite Food of All Time: Spicy Cheese dip

• Favorite Candy: Minstrels/Dark Chocolate (sorry only found in the UK)

• Favorite Drink: Vodka martini, straight up, extra filthy, extra olives

• Favorite Season: Fall (so I can wear jeans :)

• Favorite Day of the Week: Saturday

• Favorite Poem: Two Roads Diverged by Robert Frost