I had never written a horror story before. Then I got the opportunity to contribute a story to a middle grade horror anthology (edited by Stephen Jones and illustrated by Randy Broecker), and I jumped at the chance.

Okay, I didn’t really jump at the chance. In fact, I felt like jumping away from the chance. Because it was scary—and not in a horror story kind of way. My husband is the horror writer in this family. Not me! But I had to give it a try.

So I started thinking about what was scary to me. My mind traveled back to the Best Western Motel in Exeter, California. It’s where we would stay when visiting my sister and her family. For a motel, it was nice enough.

Until it wasn’t.

That’s because one day we arrived and found that the paintings on the walls had changed. They had replaced the nondescript, standard issue, pastoral paintings with something else. Something disturbing. I mean, so disturbing that if it hadn’t been the only motel in town, I think I would have made us leave.

Think thick brushstrokes of dark, menacing colors. Swirling. Beckoning. And not in a good way. They were terrifying.

I mean, who picked these paintings? Who thought this was a good idea?

So when I began my story, I decided to take Lucy, Toad, and their parents to the Best Western Motel in Exeter…

For the middle grader who likes to be a little scared, a little disturbed, Scary Stories to Read at Night is available now.

If you’re like me, you’re alarmed by this new wave of book banning that’s going on across the country. It makes me feel helpless and frustrated … but occasionally hopeful.

That was the case at LitFest in the Dena (formerly LitFest Pasadena) this year. I helped organize a panel with the CLCSC (Children’s Literature Council of SoCal) about book banning. We brought together educators, librarians, and authors for a lively and thoughtful discussion.

The upside: seeing there are talented and amazing  people on the front lines making a difference. Let’s all join them!

Moderated by CLCSC president, Lynn Kysh, there was much talk about the problems that librarians, educators, and authors are facing, but there was a focus on solutions as well.

There was fun, too, as you see from this pic of author/educator, Ernesto Cisneros, and his read banned books socks. We all need a pair of these!

We were so fortunate to have the expert input of L-R: Benson Shum (author), Ernesto Cisneros (author/educator), Sharon Langley (author/educator), Candace Mack (librarian), and Lynn Kysh (librarian and CLCSC president on our panel.

The challenge is ongoing. Let me know what’s happening in your community and how you are dealing with the what’s happening out there.

Xo,

Dana

If you’re local to the LA area, I hope you’ll join me for our LitFest Pasadena panels on Saturday, May 14.

Okay, some backstory. I’ve been coordinating the kidlit panels at LitFest for the past four years. And, this year, we’re finally back in person – which is awesome!

This Saturday, we’ll have a day of fantastic programming to be held at the Pasadena Presbyterian Church.

Once Upon a Time Bookstore will be selling books, and there will be a food truck, and of course, the panels …

1:30pm: Picture Book Panel 

This is our first year hosting a picture book panel, and we’ve hit a homerun. I’ll be moderating a fabulous discussion with Marla Frazee, Helena Ku Rhee, Andrea J. Loney, and Michelle Markel.

3pm: Middle Grade Panel

I’m moderating this one, too. Another for the fences! It’s going to be a great discussion with middle grade authors Chris Baron, Ernesto Cisneros, Lori Snyder, and Brenda Woods. Can’t wait to get into it with these guys.

For the full LitFest Saturday schedule, click here.

Look forward to seeing you, if you can make it.

And as always, happy reading!

Dana

When you have a new book coming out, it’s nerve-wracking and exciting all at the same time. But I was so lucky to have family, friends, and colleagues who supported me during the book launch of Not a Unicorn. And I really appreciated all the preorders!!

Thanks to Maureen and Jessica Palacios for hosting the virtual event at their bookstore, the oldest children’s bookstore in the country, Once Upon a Time.

To the fabulous Jill Diamond, who moderated the our Zoom, came up with the Bingo idea, and is generally a terrific author and friend. I thought it would be weird to have a virtual launch party but it was so much fun! People from all over the country attended … and Canada, too.

Plus, to all of you who came, bought the book, cheered me on. Some bingo winners even won t-shirts. I promise they’ll be in the mail soon!

The launch is over. Whew! Not a Unicorn is out in the world! Now, it’s time to get back to writing!

My new book, Not a Unicorn, is coming out on September 21st!

It’s about a 13-year old girl with a unicorn horn on her head. It’s about the things we wish we could change in our lives and the things we can’t. It’s also about the cost of getting what you want instead of what you need.

And it’s a comedy! Well, not really. It’s got some humor though, along with some fantasy, and some adventure, too.

This book was a real journey for me in so many ways. So I hope you’ll celebrate with me as I cross the finish line!

Here’s how:

1 – Attend the virtual book launch party on Tuesday, September 21^st at 6pm PT/9pm ET. I’ll be talking about the book with my friend Jill Diamond—a great kid-lit author in her own right—plus we’ll have bingo and prizes!

You can register for the Zoom event here. 

2 – If you’re planning to buy the book (and thanks so much if you are!), you can pre-order a signed copy from Once Upon a Time Bookstore and get a free sticker and free bookmark. (You can order the book from Amazon and Barnes and Noble too, but our indie bookstores need support now more than ever, and this bookstore has been so good to me!)

Preorder here.

3 – Please share this with your friends, teachers, librarians, 5^th-8^th graders, and anyone who you think might be interested. Publishers’ marketing departments can only do so much and word of mouth is everything.

I feel very grateful for all of you who have supported me on my writing journey so far, and thanks for joining me for this next chapter.

Unicorns forever!

Dana

It’s been a long time coming, this new book about Jewel, the unicorn girl. Is she really a unicorn? Is that really a unicorn horn?

You’ll get to find out in September when NOT A UNICORN launches into the world. Thanks to Chronicle books for the wonderful cover. Here’s the link to the MG Book Village cover reveal blog, plus my conversation with children’s author Jill Diamond.

Every year in early February, I’m honored to participate in World Read Aloud Day. It’s when authors for young readers video chat to different classrooms across the country (and world) reading book excerpts, answering questions, and book-talking other authors’ books.

Today, I met with multiple classrooms in New York, California, and Texas. These kids, who are mostly distance-learning, are still brimming with enthusiasm and curiosity.  I don’t include pics here because of privacy, but let me assure you, they were so lovely and fun.

I read from one of my books: The Infinity Year of Avalon James and Open if You Dare.

I book-talked the amazing new non-fiction book by Christina Soontornvat, All Thirteen, about the cave rescue of the soccer team in Thailand. A great read!

Thanks to everyone who participated! And special thanks to the wonderful author, Kate Messner, for organizing all of us. I’m already looking forward to next year!

I am a huge Harry Potter fan. But a long time ago, while reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone for the very first time, I couldn’t help but think: Wait a minute! How are Americans supposed to understand all of this?

Okay, I know we understand the stories. But I’m married to an Englishman and I was acutely aware of how much other stuff we might not get. British stuff—from slang to customs to geography to history.

So, I had an idea. Write a book to explain it all. And that’s what I’ve done. Want to know what a Christmas cracker is? Or how to decipher Cockney Rhyming slang? Or where to find the Isle of Wight? Or how to brew the perfect cup of tea? All this and so much more are defined, hopefully humorously, in my book. I had so much fun writing it. And this is just volume one! I’m currently working on volume two which covers the last four books of the Harry Potter series.

It’s available on Amazon. Hope you’ll check it out.   Happy Reading!

Dana