Holiday Fun. I survived NaNoWriMo again this year, and with my writing goals mostly met, I’m ready to indulge in a reading challenge for December. MGCarousel has a BINGO board I’m eager to attempt. Let’s see if I can manage five in a row!

Holiday Fun. I survived NaNoWriMo again this year, and with my writing goals mostly met, I’m ready to indulge in a reading challenge for December. MGCarousel has a BINGO board I’m eager to attempt. Let’s see if I can manage five in a row!



Tamaqua and Juniata
(a.k.a. Ewan’s girls)

For your Bookshelf. Nothing encourages kids to read and reread a series like having copies on your home bookshelves. The award-winning Byways Books are available as both paperbacks and hardcover library editions. (Contact CJ via email if you’re interested in ordering author-signed copies.)


I remember not-finishing Island of the Blue Dolphins when I was a child. Probably because I couldn’t deal with the harsh realities and character death. Historically fascinating, but not a happy story. The Secret Horses of Briar Hill is a WWII story set on a country estate that’s been turned into a hospital for children with tuberculosis. Only Emmaline can see the winged horses that appear in the mirrors. When one comes through the glass, needing help, she struggles to save her. Nostalgic and sad. Indigo (Water Tales, #2) is about Martha and the McGill brothers, Trevor and Eli, better known as Trout and Eel. Who have webbed fingers and toes.
Are you following me on GoodReads? >>

The digital editions of the Galleries of Stone trilogy include beautiful full-color art by my illustrator, Hannah Christenson. Here’s a sampling from Book Two, Harrow.



A Single Shard is a historical piece set in Korea and introduces an orphan boy who would do anything to become an apprentice to the best potter in the village. Working with the area’s gray-green clay is harder work than he realized. Wings is about a lanky misfit of a boy who sprouts wings. A riff on fallen angels with a side of talking animals. And I finally decided to check out The Land of Stories. The Wishing Spell introduces twins who fall through a book into the world that inspired all our fairy tales. Solid storytelling here. Good first impression!
Ewan is the eldest of the Johns brothers: responsible, protective, and a little bit shy.
