Almost finished with my rewrite of NEW YEAR'S EVIE. In the meantime, my agent in New York is busy sending out my revised versions of HOLES ALL AROUND and BOXES BOXES. Hoping to hear some good news soon!

Some sad developments with HOLES ALL AROUND! Blue Apple seems to be having some financial and organizational troubles, so the book has been cancelled. I have, however, rewritten its companion piece, EVERYWHERE HOLES. My agent, Christine LeBlonde at the Schulman agency in New York is planning to shop them around to a number of publishers and feels confident that she will be successful.

I have totally rewritten EVERYWHERE HOLES for my editors at Blue Apple Press. The book is now entitled HOLES ALL AROUND, and it is more of a guessing game of all of the different types of holes all around us. One part is even like a "Where's Waldo" book, in which the young reader must find all of the holes described in the text. The book should be out sometime next spring.

At the suggestion of my editor at Henry Holt, Christy Ottaviano, I am completely rewriting my sequel to EGGS OVER EVIE. Still entitled NEW YEAR'S EVIE, the plot will now center around a cooking competition that Evie and Corey have both entered. Their rivalry becomes the focus of their relationship, as Evie must deal with her mother's new boyfriend, her father's growing family, and  her increasingly cantakerous neighbor, Mrs. Hamilton.

On my way to Chicago tomorrow! While there, I hope to visit the library and see how many of my books they have!

I just finished a new picture book manuscript entitled NONNA'S LADLE. Based on a true incident, it is the story of a young girl whose grandmother comes to live with her family. Nonna brings a mysterious soup ladle withe her, and Lia finally convinces her grandmother to reveal the secret behind the ladle's history. Very reminiscent of Patricia Polacco's KEEPING QUILT and BLESSING CUP, the story deals with traditions brought to America from Europe.

Oops! This is the cover of EGGS OVER EVIE in paperback, now available on Amazon.com!