Come see me in Easton!

If you're in Massachusetts and free on Tuesday, August 7, head over to the Children's Museum in Easton. I'll be participating in their Olympic Challenge event, presenting my book Meet Our Flag, Old Glory and doing a fun flag- and Olympic-related craft that attendees can use to cheer on Team USA for the rest of the Games. 

Believe it or not, I got the idea for Meet Our Flag while watching the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics. (Yes, I got a book idea while watching TV!) The athletes parade around the stadium with all those glorious flags, each of which says so much in such a small space. I was fascinated by this idea. When I visit schools, I tell students that if they want to be writers, it's smart to carry small notebooks, or stash them in various places around their houses (next to their beds, in the car, in the bathroom...) so that they're always ready when inspiration strikes. That said, I had no paper handy while watching the Olympics, so I grabbed what was handy - a napkin. I wrote down all the words and phrases our flag made me think of. I sure was glad I did, as some of those phrases made it into my book. I still have that napkin! If I visit your school, you'll get to see it.

At any rate, I'd love to share these bookmaking secrets and others with you at the Children's Museum in Easton in two weeks. Hope to see you there to celebrate the spirit of the red, white, and blue!