Post-publication I have been surprised at the limited resources publishers have to promote books. I certainly knew that being a new author, I would h….

One important thing I take away daily is that for all the talk about what youth are not doing - especially young people of color - I know there are m….

In my writing I hope to have a balance between the good and bad, the hard and soft..

Once I became an adult and started to pursue writing as a professional career, I realized my main characters were always young people. My stories nat….

I have learned patience, for sure. Pre-publication is a long waiting game, especially for authors of picture books. We write the manuscript, sign the….

I have known I wanted to be a writer since I was seven-years-old. Seriously. In the second grade I wrote a 21-page story and handed it in to my teach….

I have a writing space in my apartment, but I prefer to write at coffee shops. When I'm stuck, I take a walk and spend time outside to clear my mind.….

These days, most of my interactions with young people are centered on the poetry or theater classes I teach, so the students I know are reading conte….

I teach young people how the arts can be used to stand up against injustice..

Students can't leave their lives at the door when they come to school. They bring with them whatever is going on at home and in their communities. Po….

For me, the lives of children and teens are interesting - they are always changing. There's just so much to sort through. All of this makes for good ….

Picture books are more difficult for me because it is telling a huge story in the least amount of words..

There are many writers who have influenced me and who I enjoy reading, but Lucille Clifton and Gwendolyn Brooks are at the top of the list..

I have always known that I wanted to work with youth through the arts and I believe the arts can help young people cope with hardship..