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Have to run really quickly, so I am putting this up as food for thought: how many times does an author annoy a reader because a random detail is inaccurate? How would one find out how an owl sounds when it swoops? Food for thought for writers. (It also goes to show that you can’t please … Read more

Found from Lisa Graff: a little peek into the editorial process. 

As I mentioned, I have been invited to speak at the BYU Writing for Young Readers conference. I’ve been thinking about what I’d like to talk about, because they need the title of my talk soon, and I’ve been inspired by my friend to tackle an age-old question: will writing to the market give you … Read more

I’ll just give you a little insight into a day in the life of an editor. As I’ve already mentioned, I’m pretty swamped right now. I’ve got more than my normal load of books coming in, so I’m doing my best to make sure that everything stays on the tight schedule we’ve got them on, … Read more

Three friends of mine have started a podcast on writing. Brandon Sanderson, Howard Tayler, and Dan Wells  discuss brainstorming in their first episode of Writing Excuses. New episodes will be published every Monday. Also, it’s 15 minutes long, “because you’re in a hurry, and we’re not that smart.” 🙂

As editor of the anthology, , reminded me, today is the day when everyone can get their hands on a copy of Magic in the Mirrorstone. Here’s part of the Kirkus review: “Not only do the entries exhibit a lively variety of tones and lengths, but because the sex and even most of the violence … Read more

If you haven’t guessed yet, January was a crazy month. February is shaping up to be a crazy month as I try to get ahead on my March workload, which will be the craziest of all. I kinda have more books to work on in March than pretty much ever. And it’s great, because they’re all really … Read more

I just learned that my dad and my great-great-grandpa could about be twins. William Alexander Blair was a railroad agent, and the story goes (I have the details around here somewhere–I think in my interview of my grandpa) that he met his wife, Minnie Hested, at a railroad station in Irene, IL, where he worked. … Read more

I just got done watching the funniest Psych episode EVER–and that’s saying something, because it’s a dang funny show.  Shawn and Gus start out helping to solve a murder on the set of a Spanish telenovela and Shawn ends up actually acting on it. Even the opening credits are in Spanish. I love how everyone is secretly … Read more

Thought you all might like to know: I have just officially accepted an invitation to speak at the BYU Writing for Young Readers conference this June. Now I just have to figure out what I’ll be talking about!