Thrilled to share THUNDER AND MERCY! Female spies, a 1970s Philadelphia setting, and a surprise Revolutionary mystery, all woven through middle-grade friendship and belonging. Published by Astra/Calkins Creek with gorgeous cover art by @csneal.bsky.social. Coming July 2026. Pre-orders are open!

Enjoyed #ALAAC25 so much that I forgot to take photos - but thankfully @ellenlramseybooks.bsky.social did! Thanks to all who made this happen, and especially the volunteer teams at @scbwiepa.bsky.social & @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social #SCBWI #librarians #edusky #teachers #Libraries #Booksky

Passing through Rochester and so excited they had a copy. Congrats @halseanderson.bsky.social!

​Thanks to everyone who has supported GOODBYE, MR. SPALDING over the years, especially readers picking it up for the first time! Look for my second Philadelphia-based #historicalfiction middle grade novel - THUNDER AND MERCY - in Fall 2026 w/ Astra Publishing House. #kidlit

​So many photos ​were used for reference while #writing GOODBYE, MR. SPALDING. The boy peeking at Connie Mack acted as early inspiration for main character Jimmy Frank. #kidlit #HistoricalFiction #Athletics

A favorite image from GOODBYE, MR. SPALDING research: this 1910 Bromley Map featuring #Baseball Alley. Shibe Park (Athletics) & the Baker Bowl (Phillies) are five blocks apart along Lehigh Avenue. Jimmy & Lola's rooftop bleachers are circled! #HistoricalFiction #kidlit source: hiddencityphila.org

GOODBYE, MR. SPALDING is very much a story of two #friends - Jimmy and Lola - who are guided by their own set of rules. ​This inspiration is from wall art in my childhood home. #friendship #MGLit #Kidlit #HistoricalFiction

The Sporting News references are found throughout GOODBYE, MR. SPALDING, including this headline from August 30, 1934. #Baseball #SportingNews #kidlit

Two important characters in GOODBYE, MR. SPALDING are Connie Mack & Jimmie Foxx. Grateful for the historians/photographers/journalists/authors who so carefully document #baseball through the years. #Kidlit #HistoricalFiction Photo Credit: Leslie Jones Collection

Early inspiration for GOODBYE, MR. SPALDING came after reading TO EVERY THING A SEASON by Bruce Kuklick in 2009. If you love #Philly sports, pick up a copy! 8 years later he was kind enough to fact check my book. A great author & historian. #HistoricalFiction #baseball

And a few more from Philadelphia's Shibe Park in the later years of the right field rooftop bleachers. The fire marshal eventually required railings to be installed. #baseball

Philadelphia's Shibe Park rooftop bleachers went through many changes through the years. Some early photos show lack of safety features or railings. #baseball

​Six years ago GOODBYE, MR. SPALDING! ​was released! Excited to introduce the BlueSky community to some of the history behind this story. Based in Shibe Park, home of the #PhiladelphiaAthletics, the right field rooftop bleachers overlooked the ballpark from 1909 - 1934. Photo:
@bsmile.bsky.social

Stopped by to support my township library today. Found some friends along the way 📚📖 #FundLibraries #ForOurLibraries @jarrett-lerner.bsky.social @padmatv.bsky.social @lyndamh.bsky.social @baronchrisbaron.bsky.social

Just finished Safe Harbor - a powerful and thoughtful novel in verse. Loved every word. Congratulations @padmatv.bsky.social!