Welcome

Let the sun shine
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in your soul every day.
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I'm excited to see you here!

On October 1, 2021, my debut into the world of children's picture books will happen with the publication of Chicken Frank, Dinosaur! from Albert Whitman & Co. It is illustrated by Jojo Ensslin.

I'd love to have readers share the journey. Hop on board by signing up for my newsletter to receive updates. 

Available for Pre-order! Also, add Chicken Frank, Dinosaur! to your "Want to Read" list on Goodreads!

​UPCOMING EVENTS

​Blog Tour and Book Launch. September 20 - November 2.
  
  Sept 20. The Backstory at AndrewHacket.com

  Sept 21. Tie-Dye Dino Footprint Cookies KidLitTV_NYC  
 
  Sept 24 Perfect Picture Book Friday at VivianKirkfield.com
 
  Oct 1 Review spotlight at Archimedes Notebook with Sue Heavenrich.

  Oct 5. Speed Date with a Book. Utah Humanities Book Festival. Brigham City Public Library. 7pm
 
  Oct 7 Interview w/Lindsay Ward at CritterLit.com

  Oct 9 Virtual Launch! Two Books, Two Authors, One Barn, a.k.a. The Writing Barn! Pre-registration is required HERE. Author Cynthia Argentine and myself will be celebrating the publication of our children's picture books: NIGHT BECOMES DAY: CHANGES IN NATURE is written by Cynthia, and CHICKEN FRANK, DINOSAUR! written by me with illus. by Jojo Ensslin. Signed copies of Chicken Frank can be purchased through The King's English and Night Becomes Day through 4 Kids Books & Toys.

  Oct 13. Picture Book Buzz at MariaMarshall.com. Check out 7 STEAMTeam Books in one post here!

  Oct 20 Birth Stories for Books at DawnProchovnic.com

  Nov 2 Interview at LauraRoetiggerBooks.com

  Nov 5 First Draft Friday at HollieWolverton.com

Storytime at The Mendon Library. November 10.

​​Virtual and In-person Classroom visits. Contact me for information on scheduling a visit with your class or school

WHY I WRITE

I like to write stories about interesting topics that pivot around a firm hold on hope or curiosity. When I can, I also enjoy tucking in humor and unusual tidbits of the natural world. In Chicken Frank, Dinosaur! those fun tidbits take center stage. I can’t wait to share this picture book in October!

Overall, I hope readers will recognize that the strength in my characters is something that lies in themselves, and that they leave my stories with a lighter, brighter heart after reading them.

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PAST EVENTS


nErD Camp PA 2021, July 15. Participant on 2 Panels: Comic Relief - Why Humor is Important for Kids (SEL) and Fact in Fiction - Accidentally Educational Picture Books. Virtual event Hosted by Millersville University.

​Perfecting the Picture Book I with Lisa Katzenberger, author of It Will Be Okay and National, Average, Regular, Ordinary Day. I'll be serving as Teaching Assistant to Lisa in this fabulous class. 6 weeks, starting June 14. Sign up here at The Writing Barn.
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WIFYR 2021, June 14-18, Author presenter of Use of 3-D Space on the Path to Publication, an afternoon workshop at the Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers conference. www.wifyr.com

nErD Camp CT 2021, June 11 and 12. Panel member, Illustrators--Drawing Can Increase Empathy and Generate Story (and Sharpen Learning). Contributing as author/educator who uses drawing/modeling/story-boarding in the science classroom. Virtual event. Hosted by CT Association of School Librarians. Here is the flipgrid video about my book: https://flipgrid.com/1a2b8f29

How We Snagged Our Deal - Conferences! (part 2). April 16, Read how three other debut authors and myself got our contracts for our debut picture books on the 21 For the Books blog.
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Author Intro! March 26. It will be my turn to be boosted into the spotlight with my picture book debut group @21fortheBooks on Twitter and Instagram. Share in the fun with RTs, tagging friends, and the chance to win a critique of a picture book manuscript from me. 

​#PBParty Showcase! March 22-26. I'm thrilled to see my picture book manuscript, RAILROAD CAKE, featured as a finalist here out of 1,000 entries. This story is inspired by my family history and connection to early train travel.
 
Cover Reveal! March 19. Snag the first look at Chicken Frank, Dinosaur! on the Good Reads With Ronna website. Click here.

Cricket magazine. ​February 2021. Check it out for a recipe and a bit of railroad history!

​24 Carrot Writing Blog, November 30, 2020. My fellow debut authors of the 21 for the Books crew share our goals and expectations for 2021 as we face new challenges in creating new content alongside meeting new readers. Click here

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SK Wenger, Children's Author

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