“A story should be written for the sake of the last sentence and a poem for the sake of the last line.”
Edgar Allen Poe

“You must write for children the same way you write for adults, only better!”

Maxim Gorky

I happened to catch a listing about my appearance tomorrow at Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena in the LA Weekly - a hip free guide to LA happenings. They described my event as follows: “The author signs and discusses SHIVER ME LETTERS- A Pirate ABC, meant for kids but relevant to humanity at large.” Am I saving the world one letter at a time? This just cracked me up!

I knew it was a good omen when I joined a line of cars getting off the 405 South onto the Sunset Blvd. exit. Everyone was going to the LA Times Festival of Books. People in LA do love to read! Book events don’t get much better than this one. Loads of famous and budding authors. I was lucky to catch Erica Jong’s inspirational talk. I was there to sign my new book SHIVER ME LETTERS at C&M School Supply and Storyopolis. It was so much fun to see the reaction of people looking through my book. As much as you, your editor and your family might like a book there is no way to really tell if it will sink or swim until it gets out there. I have two more events this week where I will get to read aloud to my captive little pirates.

I think SHIVER ME LETTERS will be an exciting voyage!

At the Storyopolis booth at the LA Times Festival of Books.