If you read my blog, you know that I am REALLY into helping and supporting women and children around the world after reading the book, Half the Sky. (Check out Half the Sky by clicking here.) My dear friend, Kelly Ellison, whom I have featured here before, has started her own foundation, The Relief Foundation, [...]

When I found out WOW! Women on Writing was hosting a blog tour for Sola Olu, the author of The Summer Called Angel, I knew I wanted to be a part. One reason is because this blog is about children’s books AND about books and people who help women and children around the world–after all [...]

Tomorrow, March 8, 2011 marks the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, which is a day to honor women’s political, social and economic accomplishments. So, I thought in honor of one of the themes of my blog: helping women and children around the world, I would tell you about how some people honor this day [...]

When people hear the word “genocide,” most think–surely something like that can’t happen in today’s world. But unfortunately it has and it does. Jane Springer has written a book for young adults about genocide, and it is one that I recommend all teens read. Let’s have a new generation of people who CAN’T say, “Surely, [...]

Through my job with WOW! Women On Writing, I get to interview many interesting writers. One writer I recently interviewed, Caleb Collier, won 2nd place in WOW!’s flash fiction contest. (To see the interview, click here.) But I’m not writing about him today because he placed in a flash fiction contest. I am writing about [...]

Before I get to the book Three Cups of Tea, I would like to reveal the winners of the books from Rubicon publishing! And the winners are (using Random.org): 1st choice of books: Clara Gillow Clark, 2nd choice of books: Irene Roth, and 3rd choice of books: Joyce Lansky. Congratulations to all these winners. Thank [...]

photo by katclay www.flickr.com I wrote this poem after attending a human trafficking information night at the University of Illinois. I don’t write many poems; but when I have strong emotions about something, the lines just seem to come out. When Does Innocence Die? When does innocence die? From the moment the foreigner saunters Into [...]

photo by lhar www.flickr.com Before I share a story from the trenches, I would like to announce the winner of last week’s book giveaway of the memoir, When Ties Break, by Margaret Norton. And the winner is. . .Sandy Young! Congratulations, Sandy. If you didn’t win this book and are interested in reading a memoir [...]

A boy named Zach Hunter was 12 years old and a seventh grader when he learned in school that slavery still exists in modern day times. He was horrified as he learned more about the situation around the world and formed a group called: Loose Change to Loosen Chains (nicknamed LC2LC). In his first year, [...]

photo by Beverly & Pack www.flickr.com July 4th is always a good day for me. I love summer, I love festivals, and I love BBQ. I also love my husband, and it’s our anniversary–so even more reason to celebrate. I don’t always take the time to really think about what we are celebrating on July [...]