In need of a last-minute holiday gift? There's still time to gift someone a preorder copy of the graphic novel edition of The Lemonade War (which releases April 29th). Books are always great gifts, but this one comes with the added bonus of anticipation!

bookshop.org/p/books/the-...

With the New Year coming, I'm feeling the urge to redesign my email newsletter. Does anyone have a recommendation for a graphic designer who designs newsletters I'd be very grateful for any suggestions.

Sorry to hear of the passing of Nikki Giovanni. She was a bright light in the world of children's books. I particularly loved LINCOLN AND DOUGLASS: AN AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP and I AM LOVED, as well as her adult collection of poems MAKE ME RAIN. She leaves behind a brilliant legacy. #nikkigiovanni

Read author Diana Renn's Substack today, "Surviving Holiday Creative Drift: Tips for Keeping One Foot in your Creative Life." She searches for a word that describes the sensation of enjoying the holidays while longing for our creative work. You can read the word I suggested in the comments.

I'm excited! The illustrator of the graphic novel edition of THE LEMONADE WAR, Karen De La Vega, and I finally "met" through email. We are plotting a book-event rendez-vous (a little tricky since she lives in Mexico and I live in New England). But we will make it happen! San Antonio, anyone?

I'm old enough to remember Debby Boone's Grammy-award winning song, "You Light Up My Life," and I was young enough back then to think it was the greatest song ever written. Ah, the perspective of age.
Photo credit: Sam Davies, Three Peaks Media.
My house with the Northern Lights behind it.

Looking for kindness. Open to differing points of view. Searching for meaningful connections. Eager to laugh. Ended up here.

Hey @nytimes.com a list of the year’s fiction and nonfiction without any books for young people isn’t really all the year’s “notable books” now, is it?