Random 2026 Updates!

Black History Month Celebration at North Dover Elementary, February 2026

Being that 2026 is almost behind us, I figured I should get around to filling you in on what’s been going on.

The year started off with a bang. In January, The Star of Moon Village made its debut into the world. Being true to form, I didn’t throw any kind of release party. Just posted my thoughts and thanks on my socials.

That’s just how I roll.

I also marked the occasion with a blog post, "Don't Forget the Lights", that appeared in the Teen Librarian Toolbox. Later, I had a Q&A interview posted on Deborah Kalb’s blog. A couple months after that, I enjoyed a fun chat with Annisha Jeffries on her Reading in the Middle podcast.

In terms of my day-to-day life, with the new year came my second semester teaching English as a Second Language at a local technical college. Now it's autumn, semester number three, and I finally feel like I know what I’m doing.

Lititz Kidlit Festival in PA

As for in-person author appearances, in February I took part in North Dover Elementary School’s Black History Month Celebration, and in March I attended the Lititz KidLit Fest in Pennsylvania, debuting my Birds & Stars presentation. In the summer, I gave a new and improved version of my Birds & Stars presentation to a kids’ book club that meets at a library in a neighboring town. Rounding it out were book events at two wonderful local libraries where I got to chat with visitors and sell a few books!

Story Explorers Book Club at Milton Library, DE

While all this was going on, I’ve also been trying to write a new novel. Well, not new. It’s one that’s been written and re-written numerous times. On this go-around, I’m making such major changes that it’s like starting from scratch, even if the characters are basically the same. It’s set in Germany, by the way.

I’ve also hopped back into birding. I met a really cool kid named Quentin from my area who is such an inspiration. He’s already far surpassed me in terms of birding cred (I mean, he’s even birded in Central America!). He's also been very active in getting young people into birding. He and his mother Ashley are wonderful representatives of the birding community.

So what’s next? Well, I need to finish my new novel and get it to my agent. She’s seen pieces and is loving it so far, so I’m really hoping I’ll stick the landing and that this will be a project she thinks is marketable.

I’m also edging closer and closer to making school visits part of my author life. I’ve sent out postcards to 25 local schools and have already received an inquiry. I’d love to book a few visits for Spring 2027.

Oh, one last thing! How could I forget the really big thing that happened!? The Star of Moon Village was named an NEA Read Across America pick! It’ll be the featured middle grade book for February 2027.

Okay, that’s it for now. Thanks for reading! And if you’ve read Bird Nerd or The Star of Moon Village and posted a nice review, thanks so much for your support! Be sure to follow me on Instagram for more updated news, videos, and so forth!

2025 Wrap-up

Here's my long overdue wrap-up of 2025! I'll try to keep it short, since it's already well into February.

I spent the first half of the year revising and fine tuning The Star of Moon Village to get it ready for publication in January 2026. Reviews for the book started coming in as early as the fall, including recognition as a Gold Standard Selection by the Junior Library Guild!

On October 4, I participated in International Observe the Moon Night (see previous post). I was hoping to take a really good close-up photo of the moon, but I couldn't get my equipment together, so I ended up with a so-so photo from a medium distance.

My photo of the moon.

Author events included a January book signing at the Barnes & Noble in Rehoboth Beach and a February appearance at North Dover Elementary's Black History Month Celebration. In the spring/summer, I presented at Milford Library's Homeschool Hour and Milton Library's Middle Grade Reader's Club. Rounding out the year, I attended the Friends of the Harrington Public Library Book Fest and the ROOTS Farm and Forest School Holiday Book Fair.

Me about to play "guess that bird" at the ROOTS Farm and Forest School Book Fair.

So, what else happened this year? Well, I started a new job teaching English as a Second Language at Delaware Technical Community College. It's been a challenge, since my last steady teaching gig was back in the late 1990s. At the same time, it's been an extremely rewarding experience helping immigrants improve their language skills.

And my Purple Martin condo experiment? Well, not one Purple Martin showed up. Instead, it became the "in" spot for House Sparrow families. The condo really needs to be moved to a wide-open space to attract Purple Martins. I'll regroup and see what I can do. Or I may just give it away to a more fitting owner.

Purple Martin House fail.

Okay, I think that's it for highlights. For a steadier stream of current news and photos, check out my Instagram page (that's where I hang out the most)!

Observe the Moon!

International Observe the Moon Night is October 4, 2025 (Photo credit: NASA/Vi Nguyen)

I'm so excited to take part in International Observe the Moon Night this October! Why not join in the fun? Click on the link above to learn more about the event and to register to join the worldwide community of moon watchers!

I plan to observe the moon from my backyard and will try to get a few snaps through my binoculars. I'm new to astrophotography, so that should be a challenge. I hope to turn the photos into posters. Might even try my hand at a painting or drawing.

It would be cool to focus on the landing site of my upcoming novel, The Star of Moon Village, but on that night it'll be on the unlit side of the half moon. Although it won't be completely unlit. Earthshine--which is sunlight reflected off of Earth--will give that side a little bit of glow. We'll see how much I'll be able to make out.

Let's just hope for clear skies. (Although . . . a few small clouds could add some artistic drama to my photos, wouldn't they?)