12.17.2014: Manuscript "Rules"

Give the Reader Something to Wonder About

A few years ago, as part of a Writers Digest YA round table conversation on "YA today," I laid out some advice for writers hoping to rise to the top of the submissions pile. Those tips appeared in the magazine as a sidebar to the article and were later published on the Writers Digest website as "9 Must-Follow Manuscript Rules." I'm not responsible for that click-bait title, but I hope you'll find the list useful. 

(To read the full conversation on "YA today" with me, editor and author Aimee Friedman, editor Wendy Loggia, and agents Stephen Fraser and George Nicholson, you'll need to get your hands on the May/June 2010 issue of Writers Digest.)

Good luck with your revision!

12.7.2014: Do Not Eat It

Book of Poisonous Things

When I was in Maine for Thanksgiving, my mom pulled out some books I wrote when I was a kid. Book of Poisonous Things (dictated to my mother in 1983, the month I turned four) contains some good advice.

"This is playdoh: Do not eat it."

"These are leaves from rhubarb. Don't eat them!"

"This is dirt. Do not eat dirt; it is not good for you."

I'm currently hard at work on a 35th Anniversary Updated Edition, containing many more things you should not eat.

Being back in Maine for a few days was wonderful. Here are our Thanksgiving pies cooling in the kitchen window as the snowstorm begins. Neither the pies nor the snowflakes were poisonous.

11.23.2014: A Gander at Love

I'm honking and flapping with excitement!

"Geese are mean and geese are dumb. But this is not really about geese."

The New York Times just posted an essay I wrote about geese, family, and love. Here's the link: A Gander at Love. Thanks for reading!

Update 11.25.2014: The essay has climbed to number 16 on the NYTimes Most Emailed list. Thanks to all who have read and shared it!

11.22.2014: Happy Roogiversary

Still Crazy After All These Years

Six years ago today, I called my parents to say, "I'm going to be late. I'm adopting a dog."

"Bad idea," my dad said. "Call us when you know what train you'll be on."

Happy Roogiversary, dear Arugula Badidea Rissi. You are still my very best, most terrible idea.

(To see more Rooga photos, click here)

11.10.2014: Story Time

Confessions of a Fourth-grade Science Fraud

It’s World Science Day! If you’d like to hear a true story about fake science, here's my Story Collider tale, Confessions of a Fourth-grade Science Fraud. 

"Like most scientists, and most liars and fakes, I was motivated by the desire to impress girls...."

Anica Rissi realizes the true purpose of her science project: to increase her popularity. But how far is she willing to go?

10.29.2014: Cover Reveal!

Introducing...Anna, Banana, and the Monkey in the Middle!

I'm delighted to share the adorable cover for Anna, Banana book two! Coming in July 2015. Click on the cover to read more about the book.

10.25.2014: ARC Giveaway!

Enter to win!

Now through December 15, enter the Goodreads giveaway to win a signed advance reader copy of my debut novel, Anna, Banana, and the Friendship Split. Perfect for #kidlit fans of all ages, especially readers ages 6-10. 

Bonus: This signed ARC also includes book two in the series, Anna, Banana, and the Monkey in the Middle!

10.13.2014: Cover Reveal!

Introducing...Anna, Banana, and the Friendship Split!

I'm so excited to share the cover of my first book! Huge thanks to Mundie Kids for hosting the cover reveal for Anna, Banana, and the Friendship Split, and to Meg Park for the adorable cover illustration. (There will be even more Meg Park adorableness inside the book!) Here's the link: Mundie Kids.

(Heads up: The Goodreads ARC giveaway starts tomorrow!)