I was excited to write a guest post on The Nerd Daily on "Writing the Books You Needed as a Kid." You can learn about the books I loved as a kid, and why I write the books I do today! … [Read more...]
Lots of Lists for RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE!
I'm honored to see RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE on so many "Anticipated" lists for 2021! Check them out below: Reading Middle Grade Blog Forever and Everly "2021Books to Look Out For" . Litericious "Most Anticipated Releases for the First Half of 2021" Just Another Teen Reading … [Read more...]
A BookPage STAR for RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE!!
I was stunned by this incredible starred review from BookPage for RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE!! Among the wonderful praise: "The poems in Red, White, and Whole are vibrant and lyrical, clear and smooth. In her first novel in verse, LaRocca (Midsummer’s Mayhem) showcases the best of what verse can do, … [Read more...]
MUCH ADO ABOUT BASEBALL ARCs Arrive!
I'm at my goofiest here opening a package full of ARCs of my forthcoming MG novel, MUCH ADO ABOUT BASEBALL, coming June 15, 2021 from Little Bee Books! This companion novel to MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM involves math, baseball, magic, and salty snacks. You can learn more and find preorder links here. … [Read more...]
RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE on the KidLit These Days Podcast’s Most Anticipated of 2021 List!
I was thrilled to hear Matthew Winner and Nicole Young mention RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE as one of their most anticipated books of 2021 on Book Riot's KidLit These Days Podcast! Click on this link, or listen below! … [Read more...]
SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS in the Providence Journal!
I was thrilled to see this lovely review of SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS in the Providence Journal! … [Read more...]
The Cover Reveal for Much Ado About Baseball!
I am so excited that awesome librarian Betsy Bird hosted the cover reveal of MUCH ADO ABOUT BASEBALL on her School Library Journal Blog! Read about my inspiration for the book, and try out a fun recipe for "Baked Sports Crisps!" You can read more about MUCH ADO ABOUT BASEBALL and find … [Read more...]
My Interview on Writers’ Rumpus!
I was delighted to be interviewed on the Writers' Rumpus blog about SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS and writing in general! Read the full interview here. … [Read more...]
Another STAR for SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS!
I was thrilled and honored that SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS received a SECOND starred review—this one, from Publishers Weekly! Read the full review here. … [Read more...]
SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS in The Boston Globe!
I was thrilled to see my name and SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS featured in the "New England Literary News" section of The Boston Globe! Read the full article here, and look below for a photo of the print article in the Sunday Globe!. … [Read more...]
SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS Guest Blog Posts!
This week I've done interviews/guest posts on several fantastic blogs, some of which are doing SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS giveaways! Check them out and enter to win! On Maria Marshall's Picture Book Buzz, I answer questions along with fellow STEAM Team Picture Book writers: On the Pragmatic Mom … [Read more...]
The STEM Women in KidLit Podcast!
I'm starting a new podcast with my friend, author, and scientist Artemis Roehrig! At a writing conference early this year, we got to chatting about being women in STEM fields (Artemis is an entomology technician, and I am a physician), and we realized we could come up with a huge list of women like … [Read more...]
A STAR from Booklist for SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS!!
I was stunned and delighted to learn that SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS has received a STAR from ALA Booklist!! … [Read more...]
A Beautiful Book Giveaway to Thank Joy McCullough!
Three years ago, I entered Pitch Wars with my book, MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM. I was nervous, and I didn't expect to get in, but I figured I didn't have anything to lose by trying. And then, at the end of August, I found out that Joy McCullough had chosen to mentor me! Her suggested edits weren't easy, but … [Read more...]
The Pitch Wars 2020 Team PITA Mentor Wish List!
Welcome! Welcome to Pitch Wars 2020!! This year, Remy Lai and I are mentoring Middle Grade. What exactly is Pitch Wars? It's a mentoring program for unagented writers. You can read more about it here. We’ll get to our wish list in a moment, but first, a little about us, your potential … [Read more...]
The Soaring 20s on KidLitTV!
KidlitTV hosted members of my debut picture book group, The Soaring 20s, on their segment On the LOOKOUT for Kids' Books, Fall 2020! To find out more about my fellow creators' debut books, a few secrets, and some advice for kids, see the whole post here, or check out the individual videos … [Read more...]
Cover Reveal for BRACELETS FOR BINA’S BROTHERS!
I am delighted to show the world the cover of my forthcoming picture book, BRACELETS FOR BINA'S BROTHERS, gorgeously illustrated by Chaaya Prabbhat and coming April 20, 2021 with Charlesbridge! The story involves one of my favorite Indian holidays—Raksha Bandhan, also knowns as Rakhi, which … [Read more...]
RED, WHITE , AND WHOLE ARCs Arrive!!
It's such an incredible moment as an author when you get to see the manuscript you've worked so hard on in book-shaped form for the first time! And when the Advance Reader's Copies (ARCs) are as beautiful as the ones for RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE, it's even more wonderful. This is what is feels like to … [Read more...]
Proud to Be a 2021 WNDB Mentor!
It's so important that children's literature reflects the beautiful diversity of our country and the world. We Need Diverse Books has worked toward that goal since 2014, helping to foster change so that all children can see themselves in books. I'm honored and excited to announce that I will be a … [Read more...]
The First Finished Hardcover of SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS!!
I got a special delivery from my editor Cheryl Klein at Lee & Low Books, and I opened it with the help of my dog, Boomer. It was the first finished copy of my debut picture book, SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS, gorgeously illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan, and I couldn't be more delighted!! The book will … [Read more...]