For those who like words…

For those looking for information on agents

Shannon has some fun thoughts on writing. I did love Goose Girl.

This funny site allows you to improve your vocabulary and give away rice simultaneously. Who comes up with these ideas?

To see what books I've authored as well as those that I've edited check out this fun website.

I love bookplates! This inventive website allows you to download any of a number of fun bookplates for free. One of my black and white favorites is by artist Polly Dunbar, and since I love Stella, my eye immediately went to the whimsical and oftentimes fitting (in our household of readers!) bookplate by Marie-Louise Gay.

Have fun making word clouds. I love this site! Check out two word pictures of my picture book, The Man and the Vine.

The Man and the Vine Wordle

The Man and the Vine Opening Wordle

I've created a list of my very favorite Orthodox children's books--titles that I think are definitely worth investing in. Enjoy!

Have you ever wondered if the book you just picked off the shelf is the first, or the third, or the fifth in a series? This link takes you to the What’s Next? page provided by the Kent County library district in Michigan. It allows you to look up how books line up in a series. Just type in the author’s name and click Search. I love it!

Keeping track of what you and your friends are reading is fun-if you’re a bookie--like me! I wish I had started logging the books I read when I was a child; how fun to go back and look at what books have influenced you and when... Anyway, it’s never too late. Come be my friend on Goodreads and we can share what we’re reading...

Ginny Nieuwsma, of Mission Possible, a parenting podcast on OCN, and I speak together in November 2009 about the value of stories in children's lives.

Part two of the interview with Ginny Nieuwsma on OCN—focusing on Orthodox children's book resources available to parents.

My father’s family immigrated to California as bakers in the late 1800’s. My brothers, father, uncles and grandfathers have all worked in the baking industry, which probably explains my attraction to ovens of all sorts. I bake regularly at home, would love to outlaw Wonder bread, and am aiming to start a whole new trend of folks baking their own jacos in their own kitchens. Here are two great bread baking websites:

I love fountain pens—and I found these very inexpensive ones on a trip to France. They’re made by Agata Ruiz de la Prada and are adorable. Since they’re inexpensive I don’t mind when my toddler bends the tip... I order them by directly calling her store in New York and have them shipped to my home. Here’s her website:

If you want to have a fountain pen, then you need to have ink! My favorite ink is made by J. Herbin. They come in many colors, and some are even scented. J. Herbin has a website but they don’t sell directly to the consumer. I like to stash up on these inks when in Boulder, Colorado at the Two Hands Paperie.

The J. Herbin website has a list of retailers who carry their inks, and they have a fabulous bit of information about how best to apply sealing wax to envelopes. See my musings page for more on that…

I work for Conciliar Press Ministries—acting as the project manager for children’s books, and as an editor for The Handmaiden, a quarterly journal for women. And The Man and the Vine, and the upcoming The Woman and the Wheat are published by St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press. If you’re looking for Orthodox Christian books or icons, or other information on the Orthodox Christian faith, here are some places to go:

Abigail Halpin did the splash page illustration for this website. I worked with her on a project at Conciliar and fell in love with her style. She’s very sweet too, and easy to work with. Here’s her website:

Claire Brandenburg is another wonderful artist and person. So lovely to work with. I adore her book, The Monk who Grew Prayer. My two year-old and I have almost worn it out… Find her at:

One of my favorite writer friends, Robin Gowen, is also a fine art painter. I’m trying to save money to buy a really large piece! See her work at:

If you’re ever looking for affordable, handmade calligraphy work please check out my sweet friend Carla Harris. She’s exceptionally talented, humble, and a true artist.

I met fine art painter, Kevin Courter, after discovering a painting he did of a St. Brigid statue in San Francisco. His range of work is impressive--check out his portfolio of landscapes. Amazing...

Dale Scott is a professional wheatweaver. Her work is stunning. She is a wonderful source for purchasing authentic Saint Brigid's crosses-or for purchasing the cleaned wheat so that you can make your own...

Chris Humphreys is a most excellent photographer and lives here in Santa Barbara. He has done magazine and book shots for me, family photos, and now he is the one responsible for all the photos on this website. He’s awesome!

Wow, there’s not enough space on this page to talk about the professionalism and artistry of Hani.