Every year it feels like I pack in an entire year’s worth of activities in three months. This summer is no exception! Motorcycle rides, gardening, vacations, jazz gigs, vendor shows, book launches, and library visits fill my calendar. Keeping your calendar full is a motto I learned from my grandmother. When your calendar is full, you have fewer regrets.

My new series, The Crustacean Chronicles, launched on June 1, with the first two books of the series; Charlie’s Crabby Day, and The Sand Sculpture Competition. It is a series that is perfect for third and fourth graders, or more broadly, ages 8-12. Both books recently received 5-star ratings from Literary Titan, and I couldn’t be happier with the quality of those editorial reviews.

Even though my summer is quite full, in July, I focus on story development and begin writing the chapter books I’d like to publish the following year. The Crustacean Chronicles will see Book Three and possibly Book Four, the Adventures on Apple Orchard Farm series will add Book Four, and the Adventures With Grandma Biker series will see Book Three. These are my goals, but I realize goals and timelines can always change.

Raise a glass to a fantastic summer!