Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

I DO like Green Eggs and Ham!

Matter of fact, I love it, along with The Cat In The Hat, Horton Hears a Who, Fox in Socks, and, my
favorite, Snitches. (A fun and clever read on the silliness of stereotypes.)

These books are all written by the legendary Theodore Geisel, also known as Dr. Seuss, whose
birthday is this month. (March 2, 1904.)

I'll be in schools this month doing many author visits. Most days you will find me wearing a red-and-white striped sweater. You guessed it, I wear this in tribute to the Cat In The Hat. I used to wear the tall hat instead, but my 12-year-old daughter now forbids me to leave the house like that.

There is so much to admire about Dr. Seuss and his books. As a reader, I love the brilliant rhymes, the humorous full-circle story lines and illustrations and how he weaves social issues and messages into seemingly wacky tales.

As an author I am inspired by how Dr. Seuss pursued his passion and didn't take no for an answer.
His first book, And To Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street was rejected 28 times -- that's right 28! --
until it was discovered by Random House, which just so happens to be the publisher of my second book, Rocky Road.  And not only did he write and illustrate children's books but he wrote political cartoons and made film documentaries too. He was not afraid to speak his mind and point out the wrongs of bigotry, anti-semitism, and sexism.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss, and thanks for getting us all excited about books.

I will read books
with kids at school
I will read books
riding on a mule.
I will read them
in the park
 I will read them
in the dark!
(Using a flashlight, of course).

How about you readers, show me your Dr Seuss fan poem!

I Love Valentine's Day!

You bet I love Valentine's Day! How could someone named Rose not love roses? Same goes for chocolates, poems and strawberry-flavored cupcakes with fluffy frosting and lots of red sugar on top (Must be my red hair).

Romance rocks and I'm lucky to have a four-star husband. But when I think of Valentines Day, I draw a bigger heart. I think of my kids, my parents, other family members and friends. People I admire, too, and so many true friends. 

Then I get back to books and stories and my job as an author, and the heart gets bigger again. 

I love my characters. They are my friends. And I'm not losing it when I say on a certain level, they are very real to me. Real like the Velveteen rabbit was real to his owner.

I love my editor, agent, and booksellers and all the rest in storyland who help turn my stories into books.

And I love my readers. I really do! You all write me letters and send me emails about your lives that cheer me on & inspire me and remind me how books connect us across the miles.


This year, I'm thinking that Cupid should put down the bow and arrow and simply send books. Sounds lovey to me.


Happy Valentines Day all!

Happy Holidays, World!

The holidays are here, and I want to send warm wishes to friends and yet-to-meet friends around the world. So I did a little research and it turns out that "Happy Holidays" translates to "vacation days off" in many languages. And, as we all know, different culture have different holiday traditions. Still most acknowledge holidays in some way and exchange greetings. And the American "Happy Holidays" greeting is known, so I'm sending it out in as many languages as I can with translations that basically mean good wishes. I love reading and saying these words from other languages -- somehow it brings us all closer on this planet, doesn't it? If anybody out there knows "Happy Holidays" in another language, do share...

 Happy Holidays, World! Here's to peace, smiles and joyful reading in 2011!


Korean: 해피 홀리데이 
Greek: Καλές Γιορτές 
French: Joyeuses Fetes!
Spanish: Felices Fiestas!
Mandarin: 恭喜發財 / 恭喜发财 (gōng xǐ fā cái) 
Hebrew: L'Shanah Tovah!
Hawaiian: Hau'oli Lanui!
Arabic: 'A'yād Sa'īdah أعياد سعيدة 
Gaelic: Beannachtai na Feile!
Japanese: shiawase na kyujitsu
Portugese: Feliz Natal!
Malaysian: maaf zahir dan batin!
Turkish: Mutlu Bayramlar!
South African, Xhose: Ii holide eximnandi
Dutch: Prettige feestdagen!
Indonesian: Selamat Hari Raya!
Swedish: Trevlig Helg!
Portugese: Boas Festas!
German: Forhe Feiertage!
Swahili: Habari Gani !
Russian: С Наступающим!
Vietnamese: Phát tài phát lộc Tấn tài tấn lộc!

Never, Never, Never Give Up!

So who is the patron saint for all writers?


 My vote goes to Winston Churchill, as in that quirky, bald, cigar smokin' fella who led Britain through World War II. As a plain old American who likes my freedom, I thank Churchill for being one of the leaders who stopped Hitler's march for totalitarianism (also known as living without any freedom). The man had guts, passion, and persistence, and that helped save the world.


But there's more... Churchill loved to write. He write 43 books in the course of his life. He painted too. He was a straight shooter who wasn't afraid to speak the truth. And he wasn't Superman in the least. He made plenty of mistakes but was known to pick himself up and begin again and again. The guy worked for 90 years, nonstop too.


When the writing gets tough and I feel like tossing my mouse out the window, I stare up at one of my favorite quotes that hangs on my bulletin board. It's from Churchill and it basically goes like this:


Never, never, never, never give up."

Three cheers for Winston!

Announcing Thanksgiving Contest Winners

Drumroll, please. I have an important announcement ...

Let me back up.  In case you didn't hear my new book, ROCKY ROAD, was featured recently on KidsBuzz, a terrific newsletter that goes out to readers, teachers, and librarians. In the spirit of the season, I wanted to show my appreciation to readers, so I offered a raffle for a randomly selected autographed copy of ROCKY ROAD and a gift certificate to Ben & Jerry's. (In case somebody out there has been living under a rock and hasn't heard of Ben & Jerry's, it is a fun company that makes outrageously delicious ice cream and has chain stores across the USA. Gotta love those funky cows in the corporate logo.)

 In entering the contest, readers had to share what ice cream flavor was their favorite and how that flavor represented their personality.

Wow, did I hear from interesting readers who say they embody the spirit of ice cream! Chocolate lovers, moose track fans, strawberry cheesecake, I heard from them all -- even a girl from Orlando, Florida who, like Gabby in ROCKY ROAD, loves sorbet. One fifth-grade boy from Wisconsin said that pumpkin ice cream had spice and flavor just like him. Someone from Arizona said he eats jalapeno ice cream (pass the water!)

The responses (like the ice cream they love) were so rich and satisfying that I decided to select two winners. And here's where it gets coincidental because they were both named Emily. (No, this was not a rigged contest. You have my word, reader friends.)

Congrats to Emily Turner and Emily Guo. You will each have a signed copy of ROCKY ROAD and a gift certificate to Ben & Jerry's at your house sooner -- probably sooner than I will have everything I need to cook the Thanksgiving turkey.

And during this month of Thanksgiving,  thanks to all my terrific readers. I am grateful that you are out there reading books and rockin' your lives!