Books/Contact

My most recent books are for high schoolers. One is an award winner! Teen Mental Illness: Phobia was a 2018 winner from the Northern California Publishers and Authors (NCPA).

Cutting Edge Careers: Software Engineer is a great read for anyone considering a career in that field (and, well, my research is one of the reason my daughter is NOT majoring in it! It’s a tough field with long hours…that most of them love).

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A series of chapter books written for grades 1-4, are at a general grade 3 reading level. They are country books, written about the history, culture and daily life of Sweden, the United Kingdom, France, and the Philippines. “Intriguing text, informative sidebars, detailed maps, and full-color photographs give readers a glimpse into life in these unique countries. ” There’s also a glossary of keywords and phrases, a fun fast-fact section, and a list of sources for further research. The books came out this year, 2016, and are part of the the “One World, Many Countries” series by The Child’s World, an independent publisher that’s been publishing books for schools and libraries since 1968.

“Each of these titles welcomes readers to each country with a description of celebrations or places, followed by chapters about land, government and cities, and people and cultures as well as a ‘Global Connections’ section that describes the nation’s interactions with other countries. ‘Daily Life,’ the final chapter, emphasizes family life, daily and holiday foods, and celebrations and religious observations, supplemented with a sidebar page on children’s lives…information about unique places, animals, plants, and culture. Content is basic, but it is enlivened by clear writing and an appealing format that underscores the diversity of life in countries of our ‘one world’. Pleasing additions to most collections in need of fresh, new titles.” -School Library Journal on November 1, 2015

If you’d like to buy those country books, click the book covers and it’ll take you to a direct link to the publisher.

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Another chapter book series came out late 2015 with Lerner Publishing Group that focus on teaching youngsters ages 8-11 (grades 3-5) about the value of money. More importantly, it teaches them the value of SAVING that money. They’re written at a third grade reading level. As an econ major with an MBA, and as someone who loves a good deal more than a great pair of shoes, the topic is close to my heart!

“As part of the Searchlight Books™ collection, this series sheds light on an important economics topic—How Do We Use Money? Clear text, informative diagrams, vivid photos, and real-life examples will help you find the answers! Books feature Charts/Graphs/Diagrams, Full-Color Photographs, Further Reading, Glossary, Index, Photo Captions, Table of Contents, and Website Lists.” Lerner Publishing Group is one of the nation’s largest independently owned children’s publishers with more than 5,000 books in print. For more than 50 years, they’ve created nonfiction and fiction books for preschool to young adult readers and for libraries, classrooms, and homes across the country.

“These texts break down the most essential components of financial literacy for young readers….The books offer effective and concrete tips young people will easily grasp.”―School Library Journal, Series Made Simple

Budgeting, Spending, and Saving book: “People spend money on food, fashion, and fun. But how can you spend money wisely? How do you figure out what you want to buy and what you need to buy? Money is a key part of our world, and knowing how to use it is especially important. Read this book to learn how to save, to spend, and to build your own budget.”

Earning Income book: “Most people earn income by working at jobs. However, jobs are not the only way to make money. People receive money as gifts, by selling something they make or own, and by investing. But did you know people don’t get to keep all of the income they earn? From allowances and salaries to paying taxes, read this book to learn more about income.”

Growing Your Money book: “Making your money grow over time is easier than you might think. Investing is a great skill to learn. The sooner you start investing, the more money you can make. But what kinds of investments are there? Which ones are risky, and which ones are safer? Read this book to learn how smart investors can grow their money.”

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Ever wonder about your constitutional right to privacy? Well neither did I before writing this book, but it’s honestly fascinating. This 112-page YA (young adult) title written for Rosen Publishing is for 7th-12th graders. It was released in 2015 and talks about a topic hard to understand, in ways teens will want to listen. No, really. It’s a good read, I worked hard to make it so. With a sixty-five year tradition of independent publishing in the school and library space, Rosen has all kinds of interesting topics in their Interpreting this Constitution series.

The Right to Privacy: Interpreting the Constitution book: “American courts have shaped, debated, honored, and protected our right to privacy for more than two hundred years. This compelling resource reviews the constitutional roots of the right to privacy, from the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable searches to the Fourteenth Amendment’s guarantee of personal liberty. The court cases presented show how privacy rights apply in nearly every area of our lives–at school, at work, in our homes, in our personal communications, in our doctor’s offices, and in our relationships. They also demonstrate how privacy rights have evolved in a high-tech, complex world. It features Sidebars, Glossary, For Further Information Section, List of Organizations, Further Reading, Web Sites, Bibliography, and an Index.”

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The first four books I wrote were written in 2006 for Picture Window Books, an imprint of Capstone, and are part of a series that take kids on “virtual field trips” to places they don’t typically get to see. Parents and teachers can read these books when they are about to go on a real field trip to these locations—or perhaps even better—parents and teachers can read these books to kids instead of making the actual trip (think of the gas money you’ll save!).

In “Out and About at the Dentist,” kids go on a guided tour of a dentist office to learn about X-rays, see where equipment is sterilized, and find out the best ways to avoid getting cavities. Do grown-ups have more teeth than kids? When do most kids start losing their “baby teeth”? Meet the office manager, both the dental assistant and dental hygienist, and Dr. Lucy Toothy (get it — loose-y tooth-y? Ha ha). With the practical activity at the back of the book, kids will look forward to keeping their teeth healthy.

In “Out and About at the Greenhouse,” learn how greenhouses work, why some plants need warm air and some prefer wet air, and see what it takes to keep plants happy. You’ll meet a horticulturist and find out what kind of schooling you need to become a plant expert (you may be surprised!). Experiment by making your own sample greenhouse with step-by-step instructions.

In “Out and About at the Theater,” go backstage and see what happens before the show starts. Visit the costume shop, see catwalks and trapdoors, and find out if the “Green Room” is really green. What does a stage manager do? Who, besides a director, helps put on the show? How big is a real Broadway theater? Your guided tour will get you excited to see your next live performance, whether it’s community theater in a small town or a professional show in a big city.

In “Out and About at the Baseball Stadium,” your all-access pass gets you under the stands and into the clubhouse, training room and dugout. What’s a “clubby” and what do they do? Are bat boys and bat girls important? Who takes care of the field? How many football fields can fit inside a typical stadium? With stats on both minor league and major league teams, you’ll be hungry for a hot dog by page 24.

I can’t wait to share more of my soon-to-be published books!