The Blog Tour Part of the Writing Life Returns (with Podcasts!)

Back in 2019, I created a blog entry for The Writing Life series, entitled, The Blog Tour Part of the Writing Life, which I've kept updated with links to various interviews and guest posts that I've participated in on other authors' websites, newsletters, and blogs.

With a new book coming out in October, I've returned more actively to the blog tour scene, and I thought it would be worthwhile to refresh this post with a new landing page.  As of this writing, I have TEN blog appearances in the pipeline (both interviews and guest posts) and several scheduled podcast appearances—a new adventure for me. I hope you'll follow along! 

You can still access all of the older posts on the original landing page if you're interested in tracing my full history as an author (or have a specific interest in my potty humor books, sign language books, Lucy's Blooms, or my original path to publication), but in case you're most interested in more current news, the links in this post will give you the full story-behind-the-story on my latest publications, including, Mama's Home (and Baby Too!), the 95-word story that took over 20 years to become a book! 

As with the earlier summary post, I'll keep this page updated as new guest posts and interviews are added. 

The first one has already landed here:

9/8/26:  Mary Boone's 6 Questions (where I share the best piece of advice a mentor has given to me) 

More Coming Soon!

10/8/26:  Joyce Uglow's uGROnews (where I share the types of imaginative play I engaged in as a child)

10/12/26: Jena Benton's Simply 7 (where I share my favorite illustrations in Mama's Home (and Baby Too!)

10/13/26: Vivian Kirkfield's Book Birthday Post (where you'll see childhood photos with my mom and younger sister.)

10/15/26: Laura Sassi Tales (where I share 10 tips for welcoming home a new puppy sibling)

10/19/26: Becky Walker Books' Take 5 (where I share five fun/quirky facts about my childhood self)

10/19/26: A Storied World (where I share ways in which I've seen the publishing industry change over the past 20 years)

11/14/26: KidLit411 (where I host a GIVEAWAY!)

Nov Date TBD: Pat Brown Books (where I share one piece of advice for writers just starting out)

Nov/Dec Date TBD: 24 Carrot Writing (I'm working on this post as we speak, so I don't have a preview quite yet!)

But wait. There's more! 

As mentioned above, I'm also participating in some podcast interviews and other video-based chats. The recording dates have been scheduled for most of these, but the live dates aren't locked in quite yet. Stay tuned for details!

Helping Families Be Happy Podcast, hosted by Christopher Robbins, CEO and Co-Founder of Familius, the publisher of Mama's Home (and Baby Too!). Follow wherever you get your podcasts, including YouTube and Apple.  

Reading with Your Kids Podcast, hosted by Jed Doherty, aka, Jedlie.  

Turning Back the Pages Podcast, hosted by Ally Castaldo (where I'll talk about creativity and living the creative life).

Video Chat with Author Kathy MacMillan (where we'll share some great books for winter baby showers)

Video Chat with Author Tracy Gold (where we'll discuss tips for welcoming home a new pet OR sibling)

Plus ... I'll drop in media coverage here from time to time, as it happens. Such as:

A feature on Willamette Writers Member News (coming soon!)

A feature on Jennifer Tarr's Toddler Teaches Writing blog (coming soon!)

Watch this space for updates, and for more posts like this, visit The Writing Life series, here on my blog.

Subscribe to my newsletter, Resources for My Readers, and never miss an update! 

Disclosure: As an affiliate of Bookshop.org, I may earn a small commission from books purchased through links on this post. (Full disclosure...as of this writing, I haven't earned any yet, lol!) 

The Marketing (and Making Friends) Part of the Writing Life

Photo Credit: Arianne Stork-Nevdahl

One of my favorite parts of authoring books is the opportunity to meet new people. Some folks I've met in person, and others I've only "met" online or through other remote communication channels. Some of the people I've met and become friends with are "potty people" (or "cowgirl people" or "pirate people") as evidenced by this darling photo.

Many of the folks I've met are "writing people." Tina Cho falls into that category. I first got to know Tina because I started following the blog she writes with a team of other members of the kidlit community. I've read and followed several writing-related blogs over the years, and the Grog Blog has consistently been amongst the most helpful and informative.

Last year, Tina contributed a guest post on my blog where she shared a story time lesson plan for one of her books, Rice from Heaven. Today, I've written a guest post for the Grog Blog entitled "10 Things I Learned About Book Marketing."

It is with great pleasure that today, I can give back to a writing community that I've learned so much from. I hope you will hop on over to the Grog Blog and read some of the great articles they have posted ... including mine, today!

(Pssst, I had so many tips to share, I couldn't fit them into one post. I'm aiming to post a follow-up article on the same topic next month. I'll add a link to it here when it's available.)

The Blog Tour Part of the Writing Life

Photo by Dawn Prochovnic
Yard Sculpture in Delft, NL, Artist Unknown

One of the many enjoyable aspects of being an author is getting to know other authors and illustrators. I've made many new friends at conferences and online, and I've enjoyed the opportunity to feature the work of other authors/illustrators on the Birth Stories for Books series on my blog.

Likewise, over the years I've had the opportunity to connect with several members of the KidLit community who have been kind enough to invite me for a guest post or interview on their blogs.

I started this post soon after I launched my potty-humor books. I've continued to add to it, as I've shifted attention the launch of Lucy's Blooms, as I continue to participate in guest posts and interviews on others' blogs. Although I typically shared those posts and interviews on social media as they occur, I thought it would be nice to have them linked from one spot on my own blog. I'll keep this space updated as new guest posts and interviews are added.

Here goes:

6/4/2024: Feature Interview on Chelsea's World of Books

5/9/2024: Interview on Oregon Author Project blog. 

1/6/2024: Guest Post on Tara Lazar's Storystorm

12/4/2021: Contributor to 2021 Writing Wisdom blog series (full series linked here.)

11/20/21: Contributor to the Writing Wisdom blog series (where I talk about how I approached the endings for two of my books, including my most recent book, LUCY'S BLOOMS.) 

10/9/2021: Contributor to the Writing Wisdom blog series (where I talk about excavating the heart of a compelling story, and provides insights into the inspiration for a forthcoming book, MAMA'S HOME.)

9/21/2021: Interview with Annie Lynn on author Patrick Adams' Kindie Rock Stars Podcast (where Annie shares some insider info about our collaboration on the song for Where Does a Pirate Go Potty?)

6/12/2021: Contributor to the Writing Wisdom blog series (where I talk about the importance of reading mentor texts.)

6/10/2021: Interview for the Authors Guild's Member Spotlight feature (where I share various writing insights, including the best piece of writing advice I ever received.) 

5/18/2021: Interview on Writers' Rumpus blog (where I answer questions about the writing and editing process, the inspiration behind LUCY'S BLOOMS, and my advice for aspiring authors.)

5/8/2021: Contributor to the Writing Wisdom blog series (where I talk about the long and winding road to publication.)

4/15/2021: Guest post on Kathy MacMillan's Story Time blog (where I provided a gardening-themed sign language story time lesson plan)

4/2/2021: Contributor to the Writing Wisdom blog series (where I talk about how publishing for children is akin to raising and/or teaching children.)

3/10/21: Guest post on West Margin Press's blog,  (where I reminisce about the sweet memories of gardening with my Gram) 

3/11/20: Guest post on the Grog Blog, co-hosted by author Tina Cho (where I share ten tips about book marketing).

10/8/2019: Interview by author, Carol Gordon Ekster, on the Writers' Rumpus blog (where I share what excites me most (and scares me most) about being a children's author).

10/2019: Interview in SCBWI Insight (where I share my thoughts on "boy books" and "girl books" and my general advice for SCBWI members).

10/2019: Brief video introduction of my two latest books (where I share the best way to find out where DOES a Cowgirl go potty?).

9/28/2019: Interview for the "Will Write for Cookies" feature on author, Vivian Kirkfield's, blog (where I share some of my favorite childhood books and a favorite cookie recipe).

9/22/2019: Interview with Annie Lynn on author Michele McAvoy's My Messy Muse Podcast (where Annie shares some insider info about our recent collaboration on the song for Where Does a Pirate Go Potty?)

9/8/2019: Where Does a Pirate Go Potty? book trailer featured on KidLit TV.

8/27/2019: Joint interview with musician, Annie Lynn, on author Tara Lazar's blog (where we share the story of our collaboration for the song that backs up the book trailer for Where Does a Pirate Go Potty?)

8/20/2019: Guest Post on author Kathy Macmillan's Stories by Hand blog (where I share the story of collaborating with singer/song writer and performing musician Marshall Mitchell, and I share "Sign Language Sing-Along Resources" for Where Does a Cowgirl Go Potty?).

8/19/2019: Interview on author Aimee Reid's blog (where I share my thoughts on and tips for sharing good books with kids).

8/14/2019: Guest Post for the "Five Fun Facts" feature on author Laura Sassi's blog (where I share the origins of my Pirate and Cowgirl books and my affinity for sticky notes).

5/31/2019: Guest Post for Rain City Librarian's blog (where I share a sign language lesson plan called "Cowgirls Don't Wear Diapers").

11/6/2018: Guest post on author Tara Lazar's blog (where I share how one key revision resulted in two new books).

Last but not least, although not a guest post or an interview, SCBWI Oregon does put together a nice flyer of newly released books from member authors and illustrators that gets updated once or twice a year. It was nice to be included in the 2019 Edition of this resource. The most recent version of this resource can always be accessed here:  https://oregon.scbwi.org/pal-new-release-flyer/. Likewise, SCBWI International also puts together an annual reading list, and it was nice to be included in the 2019 Edition. The most recent version of this resource can always be accessed here: https://www.scbwi.org/recommended-reading-list/.