the site of middle grade author Jackie Yeager
To be completely transparent, this post was 100 percent inspired by Jenna Kutcher and the Goal Digger Podcast. I discovered Jenna on Instagram, and think her posts and podcasts are incredibly inspiring in a chase your dreams sort of way. And you know I’m all about that! In one recent podcast episode (I Have No Idea What's… Continue reading Finding Clarity When You Don’t Know What’s Next
Happy Birthday, Spin the Golden Light Bulb! I couldn’t pass up the chance to shout out my debut novels’ 5th publishing birthday. So here I am, thinking back to January 9, 2018, and after all this time, doing my best to let this milestone sink in. Getting published is a huge accomplishment and to be honest,… Continue reading The Crimson Five is 5!
Last time, I blogged about how tough it can be to keep writing through difficult periods. Today, I have something more upbeat to talk about, one of the perks to being published: signing books for readers! In two weeks, I’ll be signing books at the Rochester Children’s Book Festival with about 50 other authors and illustrators.… Continue reading Signing Books & Gold Gel Pens
Hey there! Sorry for the aggressive title today but I think many of you can use that reminder. I actually need it myself sometimes too! On the blog last week, I said that publishing is just crazy sometimes. It’s slow. It’s fickle. It’s unpredictable. But really, what business isn’t? And we all need to remember… Continue reading Get to Work! Make me Care about your MC
Hey sweet friends, I can hardly believe it. Today marks one year since Spin the Golden Light Bulb was published, and the official end of my debut year. It’s a little bittersweet. My book baby has grown up right before my very eyes! One year ago, hardly anyone knew it even existed. Now many readers… Continue reading Spin the Golden Light Bulb turns 1!
Hey sweet friends, Happy New Year! I hope 2019 has gotten off to a good start for you. I absolutely love the first week in January. Maybe it’s the daydreamer and planner in me, but I always have such high hopes for the year and putting some of my plans into action is just plain… Continue reading Podcast Interview with My Messy Muse
Hey everyone, I hope you’re doing well! I thought I’d check in with you one more time before we officially say farewell to 2018. What a wild year it has been, don’t you think? I hope yours was mostly on the happy side. I say mostly because I think it’s unrealistic to think that a… Continue reading 2018: A Year of (Mostly!) Sparkles and Sunshine
Last week, I had the privilege of speaking at an elementary school in my city…my first unofficial author visit. And it was so much fun! I spoke with two fourth grade classes about books and writing and inventions. Amazing! But I wasn't sure it would be that way... The Rochester Children’s Book Festival is a… Continue reading The Author-Impostor Visit
Hey all! What’s new? Not much here…just sitting around on a cloudy summer day figuring out how to keep this website fresh… and I thought of something! Hence the name of this blog post. Back in the day (like three years ago), I religiously blogged once each week, without fail, on Wednesdays. But as time… Continue reading Swirl and Spark Weekly
Hey everybody! I hope this post will give you something to think about as you go about your week. Maybe it will strike a chord or help somehow, because I know this topic is something that all writers think about, even worry about—maybe actually stress about. I certainly do. We’ve been told by other writers, agents, and editors… Continue reading The Crazy Journey of the Author Platform
swirl and spark 