I wrote this on Instagram earlier today, and I'm putting it here, too: It's time for a re-read. And it's time for a quick anecdote about Judy Blume. The night I finished my first novel (one that will never see the light of day and rightfully so), I emailed Ms. Blume in a 3am moment of teary-eyed excitement at reaching the huge personal milestone of writing The End. I told her she had inspired me to write about the painful parts of youth as honestly as I could. Within hours sh

I am so thrilled to reveal the cover for Worth a Thousand Words! Boyoun Kim perfectly captures both the bright wonder and melancholy of the protagonist's story. Whether it’s earrings, homework, or love notes, Tillie “Lost and Found” Green and her camera can find any lost thing—until a search for a missing person forces her to step out from behind the lens. Ever since a car accident left Tillie Green with lasting painful injuries, she's hidden behind her camera. Through the le

The news in the world today has me reeling, both on a micro and macro level. In this next book I'm writing, some rough memories of my youth are surfacing. I'm going to write through it. I will write through that lingering sadness and end up with a piece of work that conquers it, or at least accepts it. Thanks, Ijeoma Umebinyuo.

The protagonist of Worth a Thousand Words, 12-year-old Tillie Green, speaks in photographs. Below are ten images that address scenes from the novel in some way, or include imagery that inspired me in the writing of the piece. Once you've read the book, they'll all make perfect sense! For more, follow my WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS board on Pinterest.

Much of Worth a Thousand Words considers the healing effects of art on the psyche. And as #inktober has taken over my Instagram page (to my delight), I've found myself looking back on old art work of my own and experimenting with new forms when the rare moment of non-writing/non-toddlering arises. Below are a few of my favorites over the years. They bring me back to times of physical pain, emotional challenges, and moment of revery. I need to paint more. Draw more. It could d