Bailey Island, Maine. Photo by my husband, John

I have a sick husband and a sick son this morning. As I'm taking care of them, I'm also hoping I'm not next! 

I'm working on my novel, adding pages slowly but steadily.  When I finish a novel, I always hope that the next book will have a more streamlined process than the last one. But things take the time they take.  So I'm trying not to put that kind of pressure on myself this time.  


Some general book news:

Touch Blue is in the Scholastic Arrow Book Club this month as a $3 paperback. I was delighted to see it on Page 2 of the flyer, right across from Kate Messner's Sugar and Ice!   

Touch Blue is also on the discussion list for ALA Notables this weekend. Even if it doesn't make the final cut, it's really nice to know it was nominated.

Hot Rod Hamster is a lead title in the Scholastic Book Fairs this spring in paperback. Illustrator Derek Anderson is on the fair video, which will be so fun to see!  :-) 

I got a surprise royalty check from Germany a week ago.  The German translation of Rules, which is called "An Apple is a Strange Peach," earned out!  Go, Apple-Peach!

And assuming I'm healthy on Friday, I'm going away on a self-guided writing retreat for the weekend.  I miss the writers' group I used to retreat with every winter, so  this year, I decided to go just myself.  So I'm heading off to a room at the top of an old inn with a slanted ceiling and a view of the mountains.

And no Internet. 

That will help me get some work done!