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11/12/2019 0 Comments

Nerdvana Con 2019

San Antonio’s Northside ISD invited me to speak at their annual event, Nerdvana Con: a gathering of authors, illustrators and story lovers. This was my second time presenting at this event and I was so excited to be back. Felicidades to Ms. Elsa Trevino and staff for executing a smooth and joyful event for all ages. I am so honored to have been alongside keynote speaker and best selling graphic novelist, Kazu Kibuishi. Kibuishi wrote the Amulet series (and illustrated my favorite version of the Harry Potter book covers)!

Attendees of all ages were dressed in cosplay of their favorite characters. There were many activities, from a Dungeons & Dragons campaign to a virtual reality room. Classes and presentations focused on writing, illustration, animation, gaming and anything creative. Vendors lined the halls with books, crafts, and artwork.

In my presentation, I spoke about my journey with writing, as well as the key things that I have learned in the process. One of my favorite parts about presenting at such events is meeting other young writers and artists, and the families who support them. We are all strengthened in community.

My sister, Sofia, and Mr. Kibuishi

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10/20/2019 0 Comments

the community connections resource fair

I had an awesome time representing Bookspring this weekend at the Community Connections Resource Fair, sponsored by Austin Energy! The fair featured over one hundred vendors and representatives of businesses and organizations, and showcased local artisans and performers.

With Bookspring, I was able to spread awareness about the importance of child literacy, and educate attendees about Bookspring’s mission. We gifted books to families at the fair and hosted Read-Alouds in English and Spanish. Bookspring had an inviting setup, with plenty of space for families to pick out their new books, and an area for reading. The inflatable chairs were a big hit, and even doubled as a bounce house for the virtuoso—two for one!

Austin Energy estimated a Fair attendance of at least 500 families. I was so honored to connect with so many people, and to play a part in sharing a love of books. Reading to the kids and hearing their takes on the story at hand was so much fun, and I’m grateful for their attentiveness (especially the time a small chapter book was selected).

I also had the opportunity to see a beautiful performance by Matachines dancers, and to visit with other vendors, such as Girlstart and Worker’s Defense. The weather was perfect for a family event, and I’m so happy I had the opportunity to be a part of this.

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10/13/2019 0 Comments

escape into a world of fantasy

The past few weeks with Bookspring have been a blast! Bookspring is an organization that distributes books to children in Central Texas. Their current goal is to get 20 books into every household by 2020, and I encourage every one to pitch in to help them meet that goal. Research shows that having 20 books in the home is a big indicator of future academic success, which is why Bookspring’s mission is so important. Find more about Bookspring here: www.bookspring.org

I recently helped out with a Literacy Night event at Norman Simms Elementary, handing out books and organizing word activities alongside my mother, Nelissa, and fellow volunteer Toni O'Dowd. The kids were so fun, and I had a great time meeting them and learning about their interests. (Star Wars books were in high demand!)

I also organized a book drive at my school, and partnered with TexHomes Realty. In the end we collected about 300 books to donate to Bookspring! This is a great time to donate books, because towards the beginning of the school year there is a high demand, and Bookspring and similar organizations run low on books to give. (See picture below of empty shelves at Bookship HQ.)

If you’re interested in fantasy chapter books for middle or elementary grades, make sure to check out my latest article for Bookspring, Escape Into A World of Fantasy, highlighting a few of my favorites.

Book Drive donation dropoff at Bookspring headquarters

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10/12/2019 0 Comments

Texas teen book festival '19

Today, I attended the Texas Teen Book Festival at Southwestern University in Georgetown. It’s an annual gathering of YA book-lovers: authors, publishers, and readers alike.

I met many incredible people, including Rebekah Manley of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, who gave me wonderful advice. I also spoke with the author Aaron Zook, Jr., author of the Thunder and Lightning series, who offered encouraging words. Representatives from Red Salmon Arts informed me about their grassroots organization dedicated to promoting Latinx culture in writing. Bookpeople, one of my favorite indie bookstores, had a prominent presence.

I had the honor of attending a Badgerdog World Building workshop taught by the award-winning poet Sarah Matthes. True to Badgerdog spirit, her enthusiasm for writing was contagious. Sarah was brilliant in giving concrete examples for what World Building looks like, and had all the participants engaged and having a great time.

There were so many amazing authors launching and signing books, and plenty of fans ready to meet them with open arms (and costumes to match). I cherish any event that has so much positivity surrounding writing and creating, and I am grateful that I had the opportunity to be inspired.

Sarah Matthes teaching the World Building class... On the board are "real world" and imaginative ways to show love

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10/5/2019 1 Comment

badgerdog's Young Authors Reading and anthology launch

“FROZEN BABY ON A HAWK.” That’s it. That’s the title of one of the short stories I wrote when I was seven years old. It detailed my younger sister’s adventures through the Arctic after wrangling a massive bird of prey. As you can see, I was very grounded in reality as a child. It’s astonishing that I ended up a fantasy writer.

This was one of several pieces that I wrote and published with Badgerdog, a creative writing program for young authors. I attended their summer camp when I was in elementary school, and I remember how much I *loved* it. I met peers who shared the same passion, learned from experienced writers, and spent days creating rhymes and worlds. (Pure bliss.) At the end of it all, I was able to see my hard work pay off: my favorite pieces were published in Badgerdog’s Rise, and I had the opportunity to present my work to an encouraging audience.

Badgerdog was such an affirmative experience in my passion for writing, and I’m always happy to see other students benefit from it. Today I was able to attend Badgerdog’s Young Authors Reading and Anthology Launch at the Central Public Library, celebrating the hard work of the writers and teachers involved with the program.

Badgerdog recognized the two students who designed the selected cover art for their publications Rise and Emerge, and the wonderful artwork was unveiled. The Literary Citizenship Awards were then presented to students who embodied the writing spirit and spread joy through encouraging others. Afterwards, five of the students were selected to present their work, and I got to hear an array of wonderfully crafted words, from a poem about a geode, to a story about Bill (not Jack) the Jack-o-Lantern lamenting the rest of his clueless body riding off without him.

The amazing teachers who made the program possible were applauded. Forrest Preece was recognized, as the founder of writing awards for kids and teens. He noticed a lack of recognition for the works of younger writers, and created the Forrest Preece Award. The recipients of the Preece Awards were announced, and we got to hear their works as well.

Afterwards, attendees were invited to explore the tables with activities, including an on-the-spot poet from Typewriter Rodeo, writing prompts, mysteries, and more. I had the chance to thank Kate Kelly and Claire Campbell, who organized the event. I even ran into my former Badgerdog teacher! It was such a treat to reconnect with her.

I am so grateful to Badgerdog for guiding and supporting me as a young writer, and giving me the confidence to create. This event was a joy, and I’m excited for those to come!

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About me

I am 15 years old, and started my first novel when I was 9, in response to a lack of smart female protagonists, interesting plots, and high-quality writing in the middle-grade genre. I have published an article in Writer’s Digest, “From YA to YEAH: 4 Ways to Keep Teen & Young Adult Readers Hooked,” and am featured in both The New Yorker and LitHub in cartoons by Bob Eckstein. I'm now working to get my debut fantasy, The Shadow in Her Pocket, published. When I’m not writing, I’m a sophomore in high school and a rock musician.

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Nerdvana Con 2019

the community connections resource fair

escape into a world of fantasy

Texas teen book festival '19

badgerdog's Young Authors Reading and anthology launch

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