Hello friends! Left to right: Wisconsin school visit, the neighborhood peacock, Del Sur Elementary visit I've been visiting a lot of young readers in these last few weeks of the school year. In late April, I visited six schools in central Wisconsin over two days (probably 1,000 kids total) talking about storytelling and the creative problem solving process. And just last Friday, I saw almost 300 TK-3rd graders at a local school, who asked amazing questions like, "How long does it take to make...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
Hello friends! Seeing the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play, volunteering for FIRST robotics with my Dad, visiting the University of California in San Diego. First things first, between Spring Break, our local FIRST robotics tournament, and touring colleges with my senior I've been out of the office A LOT over the past month. But the end is in sight! My senior had made a college decision: He will study engineering at the University of California in San Diego next fall, which means this...
2 months ago • 3 min read
Hello friends! Read Across America, a new journal, out for a hike We are finally having some lovely spring weather here in SoCal! I recently took a five-mile hike to soak up the sun (right). It always improves my mood! I needed the break, as life has been super busy helping my high school senior make decisions about where he'll be attending college next fall. Ack! A new journal (center): I swear by these Paperage lined notebooks, which come with an elastic band, built-in bookmarks, and a...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Hello friends! PA Bootcamp (l), at Big Sur with Isabella Kung (middle and r) Back from Big Sur! I had a delightful time at Andrea Brown Literary Agency's Big Sur Writers Workshop (which, I learned, is actually held in Monterey). It was my first time on faculty, and it was a joy to help two different groups of five writers as they worked to improve their manuscripts. Registration for next year opens May 10 and scholarships are available. Surviving PA Bootcamp: I went undercover at PA Bootcamp...
4 months ago • 3 min read
Hello friends! In Greece! Left to right: Chania in Crete, Delphi, and Mycenae Holiday highlights! I hope you had a lovely holiday season. We spent the holidays in Greece on the island of Crete, as well as Athens, Delphi, and the Peloponnese. I was able to squeeze in some last-minute research for my next picture book (still a big secret until an illustrator is assigned). I just sent revisions to my editor Monday and am hoping I can say more soon. Big news! My next published picture book, THIS...
5 months ago • 2 min read
Hello friends! True confessions: I have so. many. nutcrackers! I've whittled down my collection, but it's so hard to pick a favorite. Here's your chance to weigh in. Shoot me an email with your favorite nutcracker from my collection by Dec. 19. I'll post the winner on Facebook and IG (@kirstenwlarson). Here are your choices: Apollo Astronaut British Beefeater Pittsburgh Steeler Darth Vader Prop Plane Pilot Cub Scout 2024 Year in Review. Every year, I participate in Julie Hedlund's 12 Days of...
7 months ago • 3 min read
Hello friends! November happenings Happy (almost) Thanksgiving for all you readers from the United States! November has been super busy with an Eagle Scout ceremony/ luncheon for my oldest (left), celebrating Veteran's Day at the LA Chargers football game (center), and watching Back to the Future: The Musical (I highly recommend). I also continued to plan my revision for my adult rom-com/thriller, using Tiffany Yates Martin's Intuitive Editing. I'm on my second pass of my scene-by-scene...
7 months ago • 2 min read
Hello friends! My September shenanigans Happy fall, y'all! My husband and I recently celebrated our anniversary at Disney's Napa Rose Restaurant (left) while we were at the resort for my husband's Society of Experimental Test Pilots conference. The kids normally travel with us, but they had their own competing plans this year. So, I took that opportunity for a Disney day with two of my besties, Lourdes (center) and Cynthia (right) in the center picture by Lourdes. In writing news, I pantsed...
8 months ago • 2 min read
Hello friends! Our backyard bee adventure! The big news at our house this month was our backyard beehive in one of our pine trees. Apparently this is very dangerous for the bees, who need to form their hive inside a protected location. Fortunately, we found "Beeman Mike" (center) who relocated our bees to his property AND taught us all about bee lifecycles. What a fun way to spend a Saturday morning! I gifted him a copy of Candy Fleming and Eric Rohmann's HONEYBEE. New this month: The...
9 months ago • 1 min read