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The past few weeks have been quite a shock for everyone, I'm sure. Not even my older friends or the senior citizens in my family have ever lived through a global pandemic. At this difficult time, it's important to remember, I think, how lucky we are that this virus isn't more virulent, and how fortunate [...]

One of the most unforgettable evenings of my life as an author came this February, when I was privileged to address the audience at SCBWI's New York conference, and accept the Golden Kite award for Middle Grade Fiction, for THE BRIDGE HOME. While, on the one hand, I feel like I can't express my gratitude [...]

Didn't expect I'd be taking a break from writing my next novel to write another post this month, but I realize I need to bubble over with gratitude before I can dive into my revising my next novel this morning. Over the past week, I developed an abiding empathy for champagne bottles under pressure because [...]

  What a marvelous year 2019 was! Being part of #GRABridge and #GRA19 was one of the highlights of my entire writing career, and it touches me deeply that so many of my readers loved THE BRIDGE HOME and that some were moved enough to build bridges of their own, by taking action to help [...]

Hi, everyone! Can't believe it's the final week of #GRA19! It's been a privilege to have shared #TheBridgeHome with you and an honor to be part of #GRABridge. I do hope you'll stay in touch, by filling out the form at the very end of this post (for a chance to win a special thank [...]

Back home after a marvelous tour for The Bridge Home. So this week, I'm just going to post my video and say thanks again to you all for sharing Viji, Rukku, Muthu and Arul's feelings and for befriending them and for your empathy. I loved how many people from all over the world told me [...]

Hi everyone. Sorry for the delay this week, and for the confusion. I answered some of these questions on instagram today, but I'm uploading this video as well, and I may edit this post and add another video later with some of the same questions. I did this video the same way as last week, [...]

Week 3! I can hardly believe we're at the halfway mark already! Here are answers to some of your questions: Now for some of the other questions I received this week. How did I get the idea for Rukku selling necklaces? (Hutchinson Middle School, TX, USA) I've grown up seeing bead sellers like this beautiful [...]

I'm so grateful to every teacher and every reader who has the courage and strength to read THE BRIDGE HOME. I hope you've all enjoyed laughing with Muthu, Arul, Rukku and Viji this week. I've had a wonderful week - it's been such a joy to see photographs of readers from around the world. It's [...]

Thank you! Thank you for visiting this page, for participating in the global read aloud, and for choosing to read #TheBridgeHome. Many of you (e.g. Baker School, Troy, MI, USA; Our Lady of Fatima Convent School, Durban, South Africa; Kurtztown Area Middle School, Kurtztown, PA, USA) asked about inspiration and if THE BRIDGE HOME was [...]