Bio:

My first books came out in May 2012. The Joining the Military series is available from McFarland. Each of the five books in the series focuses on a different branch of the miliary, giving information on the process of enlisting and the experience of boot camp. I am also the co-author of A Parent's Guide to the Best Kid's Comics, written with Scott Robins, published by Krause Publications.

Before quitting to write full-time, I was a public and school teen librarian for 12 years and active in the American Library Association/Young Adult Library Services Association. I have served on several YALSA book selection list and award committees, including the 2007 Great Graphic Novels for Teens, 2008 and 2009 Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults, and 2010 Michael L. Printz Award committees.

I also review for a variety of print and online publications. Having previously reviewed teen literature (including fiction, nonfiction, and graphic novels) for VOYA and kids and teen graphic novels for Good Comics for Kids (http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/goodcomicsforkids) I now review graphic novels for all ages on Booklist, and NoFlyingNoTights.com (where I am also the review editor). Additionally, I review a wide variety of literature for Unshelved's Book Club (http://www.unshelved.com/bookclub)

Along with my reviewing, I craft recommended reads lists for the Ebsco database for readers, NoveList. I have written articles on graphic novels in libraries for Booklist magazine, for Diamond Book Distributor's Bookshelf newsletter, and for NoveList's readers advisory newsletters. I also give presentations to libraries on how to collect and circulate graphic novels.

Writer
PAL
Member since 2009
Region: Carolinas

Contact Information

Current Location:   Mooresville

Published In Children's Market: Yes