ROXIE P IS HEAR 2 STAY
Status: Going through revisions.
This book in a previous version won a Florida Writers Association Royal Palm Literary Award. (Silver, Middle Grade/Unpublished category.)
Twelve-year-old Roxie is smart, tenacious and has awesome roller-skating skills. But, she's worried. Can she keep her hearing disability a secret at her new middle school?
After her Magic 8-Ball swears SIGNS POINT TO YES, Roxie’s sure she will blend in.
So much for that prediction. Roxie's accidentally outed by a well-meaning acquaintance on her first day. Holy cannoli! Suddenly, she's a target. Carrie resents Roxie's ability to mainstream, and gets them both in trouble. Now required to do service together, Roxie discovers Carrie has a secret of her own. It's a confidence Roxie promises not to share with anyone, not even her best friend, Avery.
This leads to misunderstandings that threaten Roxie's closest friendship. She needs to skate out of this cringe situation before the school talent show. But how? Can she embrace who she is and stand up to the truth? Or will she keep worrying about what others think?
ROXIE JEAN, DRAMA QUEEN!
Status: Going through revisions.
An earlier version of this book won a Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Rising Kite Honorable Mention.
Twelve-year-old Roxie has a hearing disability and a massive imagination. She also has the knack of getting herself into wacky situations.
Like when she misheard her new neighbor’s directions and threw out their kid’s entire toy collection.
Now Roxie has to deal with the neighbor's toyless kid (who happens to be her camp counselor's niece), plus, a camper who’s focused like a high-beam flashlight on Roxie’s hearing missteps. Worst of all, her best friend got the role in the camp play Roxie wanted.
Add to this the feeling she has to catch up fast after one of the campers shows off budding boobs, and holy cannoli! Roxie didn’t expect her summer to be like this.
But Roxie's about to discover something her Magic 8-Ball didn't predict. She’s got more guts and more heart than she ever imagined. And nothing—nothing—is going to hold her back.
LITTLE LILY AND THE BIG BIRTHDAY RIDE
Status: Going through edits
While Lily has a big personality, she’s too little to do everything she wants to. That doesn't mean she won't try! This heartfelt story of getting closed out, acceptance and reasserting your worth has a snappy refrain kids will love to repeat.
I'D RATHER EAT BUGS
Status: Going through edits
Peas, peas, peas. YUCK! A young boy comes up with creative solutions to make the green part of his dinner disappear. The peas don't plan to go quietly, however.
IF I HAD MY WAY
Status: Going through edits
What could possibly happen when a child's desires escalate into the realm of ridiculousness? Buckle up and come along for the ride!
How can I buy your books? I've searched the entire Internet and can't find them.
Getting a book traditionally published takes a long time. Like Chutes and Ladders time.
Know that game? You work your way around the board, and finally reach the top of a ladder. Whoo hoo!
Next thing you know, you're whooshing down a chute.
In publishing, finishing your book is the top of the ladder. The chute is when you need to revise it. Or when an editor nicely rejects it.
But I'm close to staying up on that ladder, folks.
So, to answer your question: Neither book has been contracted to a publisher—yet. But if you send me your email through my contact page, I pinky-swear you will be the first to know when it happens. Then we can whoo hoo! together.
What made you decide to write about a hard-of-hearing seventh grader?
I grew up hard-of-hearing in a mainstream school, and every day there was a challenge or drawback of one kind or another. I was bold, brainy and the best-est friend ever—but there was always someone who was quick to close me out or (horrors!) point me out because of my hearing.
Was there anyone else going through what I was going through? Why wasn't there a character like me in one of the hundreds of books I was reading? Good question.
Roxie is a highly-motivated kid who just so happens to be hard-of-hearing. Roxie P is HEAR to Stay and Roxie Jean, Drama Queen! are about close friendships, pre-teen drama, love crushes, school issues and special family connections.
Wait ’till you meet Roxie's Grandma! You're gonna love her.
What made you decide to write about a hard-of-hearing seventh grader?
I grew up hard-of-hearing in a mainstream school, and every day there was a challenge or drawback of one kind or another. I was bold, brainy and the best-est friend ever—but there was always someone who was quick to close me out or (horrors!) point me out because of my hearing.
Was there anyone else going through what I was going through? Why wasn't there a character like me in one of the hundreds of books I was reading? Good question.
Roxie is a highly-motivated kid who just so happens to be hard-of-hearing. Roxie P is HEAR to Stay and Roxie Jean, Drama Queen! are about close friendships, pre-teen drama, love crushes, school issues and special family connections.
Wait ’till you meet Roxie's Grandma! You're gonna love her.
Are the characters in your stories real people?
Yes and no.
While my plots are fiction, I write them from my own experiences, with a healthy dose of imagination.
Characters are based in part on real people, or a combination of personalities. Part of being a writer is observing mannerisms, speech and behavior.
I will say this: Grandma Parco, with a little embellishment, is based on my grandmother. Her storyline, however, is pure fiction. She never ran off to Atlantic City, that I know of. Or hung red lacy bras on the arms of an eight-foot stuffed bear at a garage sale.
I may be wrong.