Author Central Page on Amazon
One way to order books and follow event updates.
UNIQUE GIFT for the mystery-loving child in your life! Order a copy signed by the author. REDUCED to $10+$2 S/H
Selected Works
Children's Novels
P3 Press 2008. 135 pages. "I can't wait to read it to my students!" ~ Susan See, LISD Teacher-of-the Year Finalist. "A heartwarming story of family, acceptance, and buried treasure." ~ Laura Edge, Children's Author
Royal Fireworks Press 2001. 123 pages. Mystery for middle grades, enjoyed by readers age 7-70.
"It was so exciting I even got up early just to read it." ~ Joanne (8), England.
Work-in-Progress
SECRET OF THE SEVENTH GATE sequel. The Texas 1979 reunion between the Graham & Darabi families is overshadowed by the Iran hostage crisis! I am also writing sidebars full of funs facts to supplement my new picture book, L IS FOR LONDON.
Poetry Chapbooks
A chapbook from RaeMark Press, June 2003. $6.00 B&W illustrations by the author. Click on title for sample poems.
38 illustrated pieces, ranging in style from Shakespeare to Ginsberg, trace a rich pattern woven over five decades of living. RaeMark Press 2006. Click on title for sample poems.
Memoir
Fly with Lucy in the Sky, back to a time when everything was fab!
A tribute to my teacher, Miss Irene Wheeler: See BLOG post 9-4-12
Magazine Articles
Published in Welcome Home. A survey of women's experiences with newborns.
Interview with founding members of a Mothers of Multiples chapter
What made novelist Thomas Hardy switch to poetry for the rest of his life? Published in Quartos, UK.
..............................Welcome, Readers and Writers..............................
BLUE STAR STORIES manuscript critique service
I want to hear from readers and writers. Click here to e-mail me!
"His compassions fail not. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23
MAGNOLIA HEALTH & HOME
An author-friendly store! All 4 books may be purchased here. Click link above for details.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~OUT AND ABOUT~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This spring I've enjoyed meeting young readers at Sedan library, Hastings Books in Bartlesville, and the Sedan Book Fair.
My poem "Crying For Crider" was published in KANSAS VOICES, a book of winning entries from the Winfield Arts Council competition 2011. See BLOG page for the poem and the judge's comments. None of my poems or stories placed this year. But the coordinator Cheryl Tate told us: "Each entrant is a winner in a special way by letting his or her voice be heard." That's good advice for any writer at any age whose words touch an audience, even an audience of one.
SATURDAY, MAY 18 ~ PRAIRIE WRITERS monthy meeting at Independence Public Library, 11:00 a.m. New members are always welcome. Our assignment this month is THE DESK.
THURSDAY, MAY 16: Sedan Book Club will meet at the Episcopal Church @ 6:30 pm.
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ARROWHEAD'S LOST HOARD continues to gain readership with its theme of
blended families. Join Craig, Tony, Kim and Fiona in their hunt for Roman treasure on a fictional British island. To order a signed copy for $10.00, plus $2.00 S/H, go to CONTACT page at top.
SECRET OF THE SEVENTH GATE, a Persian adventure, is available from Royal Fireworks Press, one of the Quick Links in the right-hand column. To view the rest of this site, click on MY WORKS...BIO...and BLOG at top of page.
My books may also be purchased at: The RED BUFFALO store in Sedan, KS; MAGNOLIA HEALTH & HOME in Independence, KS; WATERMARK bookstore in Wichita, KS; HASTINGS BOOKS in Bartlesville, OK; and the BRITISH EMPORIUM in Grapevine, TX.
This spring I've enjoyed meeting young readers at Sedan library, Hastings Books in Bartlesville, and the Sedan Book Fair.
My poem "Crying For Crider" was published in KANSAS VOICES, a book of winning entries from the Winfield Arts Council competition 2011. See BLOG page for the poem and the judge's comments. None of my poems or stories placed this year. But the coordinator Cheryl Tate told us: "Each entrant is a winner in a special way by letting his or her voice be heard." That's good advice for any writer at any age whose words touch an audience, even an audience of one.
SATURDAY, MAY 18 ~ PRAIRIE WRITERS monthy meeting at Independence Public Library, 11:00 a.m. New members are always welcome. Our assignment this month is THE DESK.
THURSDAY, MAY 16: Sedan Book Club will meet at the Episcopal Church @ 6:30 pm.
.........................................................................................................................................................................................
ARROWHEAD'S LOST HOARD continues to gain readership with its theme of
blended families. Join Craig, Tony, Kim and Fiona in their hunt for Roman treasure on a fictional British island. To order a signed copy for $10.00, plus $2.00 S/H, go to CONTACT page at top.
SECRET OF THE SEVENTH GATE, a Persian adventure, is available from Royal Fireworks Press, one of the Quick Links in the right-hand column. To view the rest of this site, click on MY WORKS...BIO...and BLOG at top of page.
My books may also be purchased at: The RED BUFFALO store in Sedan, KS; MAGNOLIA HEALTH & HOME in Independence, KS; WATERMARK bookstore in Wichita, KS; HASTINGS BOOKS in Bartlesville, OK; and the BRITISH EMPORIUM in Grapevine, TX.
MORE TITLES UP MY SLEEVE:
Kaleidoscope
Uncle Pat's Amazing Apps
Mevagissey and Friends
Madame Archelon's Art Room Mysteries
Gretchen and Butterscotch
Broke Spoke and Humby Umby
Jake's Magic Skateboard
The Spellbound Pond
Mystery of Moonshine Cave
Summer of the Seven Aunts
INTERVIEW by FRIENDLY READERS critique group
Q: The main character in ARROWHEAD'S LOST HOARD is a 12-year-old boy. How did you decide whose viewpoint to use for this story?
A: My first book had a 13-year-old girl protagonist, so getting into a boy's head made a change for me. I hoped the adventure and conflict between Craig and Tony would pull in boy readers. They both have sisters, so girls will appreciate the book too.
Q: Is there really an Arrowhead Island in Britain?
A: No, but the setting is similar to my childhood home on the Isle of Wight, a short ferry ride from Portsmouth or Southampton. Arrowhead is smaller, and no visitors' cars are allowed.
Q: Is it still possible to find buried Roman treasure?
A: Yes. A valuable hoard was found in 2009, and another in 2010! You need a metal detector, the landowner's permission, and lots of patience.
Q: Your first children's novel, SECRET OF THE SEVENTH GATE, takes place in 1970s Iran. What gave you the idea of setting a story in that time and place?
A: When I worked in Iran, the Shah’s throne seemed secure and expatriates prospered. But in 1978, mobs demanded his overthrow. I wondered how American kids would cope with secret tapes, hostile calls, suspicious fires, and local residents acting strangely. Would their school, parents’ jobs, and friendships with Iranians survive?
Q: Did you do any special research?
A: Yes. I spent a year there, but needed to know more about the history of Iran. I read about 20 books, studied news magazines on microfilm, and talked to Brits & Americans who fled Iran during the revolution. I present all viewpoints, showing the unique qualities of this land and its people.
Q: Who would read SECRET OF THE SEVENTH GATE?
A: Mystery-loving kids aged 9-13 will enjoy figuring out what's going on in the kids' neighborhood. They'll find humor in the rehearsals for Ali Baba, and a car chase propels the story toward a rapid conclusion. Parents who lived in the Middle East, plus teachers looking for a curriculum tie-in, might be prompted to open up a discussion about the triumph of faith and friendship over fear and prejudice.
Q: How did you become a writer?
A: Growing up, I had an abundance of paper and pencils. My parents held a writing circle in our home, and teachers nurtured my love of words. Dad typed my manuscripts for publication, but it wasn't until the 1980s that I submitted regularly, after joining a writers' group in Texas. Put on your armadillo armor as protection from rejection slips! Each one feels like an arrow, but think of it as a red badge of courage.
Q: What else have you written?
A: I've had more than 60 poems, puzzles, articles, and stories printed in magazines. Two poetry collections came out in 2004 and 2006. I want to find homes for my picture books, ONZO AND THE LONG SLEEP and L IS FOR LONDON. My longer, ongoing project is a memoir titled BUGSY, SLUG, THE BEATLES AND ME.
Q: What advice would you give young writers?
A: Read. Look. Listen. Keep a journal. Get together with friends who write, and help each other make your work the best it can be. Enter contests. Send poems and stories to your favorite magazines. Hold on to your dream. There’s a place for us all out there!
Q: The main character in ARROWHEAD'S LOST HOARD is a 12-year-old boy. How did you decide whose viewpoint to use for this story?
A: My first book had a 13-year-old girl protagonist, so getting into a boy's head made a change for me. I hoped the adventure and conflict between Craig and Tony would pull in boy readers. They both have sisters, so girls will appreciate the book too.
Q: Is there really an Arrowhead Island in Britain?
A: No, but the setting is similar to my childhood home on the Isle of Wight, a short ferry ride from Portsmouth or Southampton. Arrowhead is smaller, and no visitors' cars are allowed.
Q: Is it still possible to find buried Roman treasure?
A: Yes. A valuable hoard was found in 2009, and another in 2010! You need a metal detector, the landowner's permission, and lots of patience.
Q: Your first children's novel, SECRET OF THE SEVENTH GATE, takes place in 1970s Iran. What gave you the idea of setting a story in that time and place?
A: When I worked in Iran, the Shah’s throne seemed secure and expatriates prospered. But in 1978, mobs demanded his overthrow. I wondered how American kids would cope with secret tapes, hostile calls, suspicious fires, and local residents acting strangely. Would their school, parents’ jobs, and friendships with Iranians survive?
Q: Did you do any special research?
A: Yes. I spent a year there, but needed to know more about the history of Iran. I read about 20 books, studied news magazines on microfilm, and talked to Brits & Americans who fled Iran during the revolution. I present all viewpoints, showing the unique qualities of this land and its people.
Q: Who would read SECRET OF THE SEVENTH GATE?
A: Mystery-loving kids aged 9-13 will enjoy figuring out what's going on in the kids' neighborhood. They'll find humor in the rehearsals for Ali Baba, and a car chase propels the story toward a rapid conclusion. Parents who lived in the Middle East, plus teachers looking for a curriculum tie-in, might be prompted to open up a discussion about the triumph of faith and friendship over fear and prejudice.
Q: How did you become a writer?
A: Growing up, I had an abundance of paper and pencils. My parents held a writing circle in our home, and teachers nurtured my love of words. Dad typed my manuscripts for publication, but it wasn't until the 1980s that I submitted regularly, after joining a writers' group in Texas. Put on your armadillo armor as protection from rejection slips! Each one feels like an arrow, but think of it as a red badge of courage.
Q: What else have you written?
A: I've had more than 60 poems, puzzles, articles, and stories printed in magazines. Two poetry collections came out in 2004 and 2006. I want to find homes for my picture books, ONZO AND THE LONG SLEEP and L IS FOR LONDON. My longer, ongoing project is a memoir titled BUGSY, SLUG, THE BEATLES AND ME.
Q: What advice would you give young writers?
A: Read. Look. Listen. Keep a journal. Get together with friends who write, and help each other make your work the best it can be. Enter contests. Send poems and stories to your favorite magazines. Hold on to your dream. There’s a place for us all out there!
