Career Day

I have the honor each year (along with many other wonderful women in town), to participate in the 8th grade Women to Girls Career Day.

This year the event was held at The Gant and we had about 70 girls participating. I love this event and wish we had had something similar when I was growing up. It really introduces these young adults to so many different careers and opportunities.

My girls were polite, enthusiastic and I enjoyed their questions.

Room To Read Event

Room to Read is a wonderful organization and I'm proud to be a part of the Aspen branch.

Last Saturday, we had the apres-ski event at the Limelight Lodge in Aspen and it was a big success!

I love this photo.

The $ raised helps to build libraries in different countries. Vietnam and Cambodia were the countries selected for this year.

2012 Shining Stars in Aspen

One of my most favorite things to do regarding my books is to attend the Shining Stars lunch in March and do a book give away to these wonderful, courageous kids.

Here I am this year with a couple of happy skiers; two shining stars.

Kathy Gingery is the leader and I love her courage as well!

My First Dedication!

OK, this is a first!! Seven-year old Ryan Falendar wrote and published a book at school this year. Not to brag, he really likes my Fraser books and I guess this led him to dedicate his first book to me. Well, I'm very honored.

He was in town last week visiting his grandparents and asked if I'd come over and he could read his book to me. Wow, how can a person feel better? I was very proud of his work, plus he illustrated his book and I can't draw a stick figure!!

Good luck, Ryan on your future books. Maybe you'll publish a best-seller when you get to be 16!!

Visiting Belize

My husband and I just returned from beautiful Ambergis Caye for a vacation. While visiting back in 2004, I met some children who asked me to come visit their school and talk to them about my career writing and publishing books.

I didn't even bring books with me but the kids didn't care--they just wanted to listen and ask questions. We had a wonderful time together.

Now it's 2012 and a whole new crop of kids at the beautiful Island Academy located right on the beach overlooking the ocean. So, I went back again this time with my actual books and did another presentation to once again, a very appreciative group of students and teachers.

Shining Stars Inspire Me

The Shining Stars are here again from all around the country and bring such light and joy to our valley.

Life with cancer as a child is unfair, but you'd never know it by chatting with these outstanding children.

I'm just so happy that they had such a gorgeous week here in Aspen.

Kathy--thanks for all you do to make this week so special for the children, the volunteers and the town.

How can Two Years Have Passed?

Isn't it amazing sometimes when you realize how quickly times passes? We just turned the clocks forward and it's now springtime with a whole extra hour of light in the afternoons!

I was going through photos and found this one of a fabulous drawing by a child in Sand Point, Idaho. I was the guest author -- yes, two years ago. What a great day of writing workshops as well as art projects all arranged by the school's wonderful librarian. The days up in Sand Point are even longer than down here in Colorado!!

Happy Spring.