#OnThisDay in 1934, the federal penitentiary on Alcatraz opened. This day always makes me think about my characters the Flanagans—and their real-life counterparts. You can read some of my interviews with convicts who did time on the Rock, Alcatraz guards, & more here! buff.ly/LUfZreL

Happy #NationalBookLoversDay! Thank you to everyone who champions the life-changing power of stories, and helps kids become readers. Librarians, teachers, booksellers: You're my heroes.

Today is my Dad's birthday. He was a Disney Legend honored for his work running Disney Music. Most days, he read at least one book from start to finish. He died when I was 18, so he never knew that I would make my living as an author. I can't tell you how many times I've imagined telling him.

Today, my book about the deadly 1900 San Francisco plague, CHASING SECRETS, turns 11. When I wrote it, I never imagined Covid would hit and I’d see the world react in so many similar ways. People have asked me if I’m prescient. I’m not. I just love history. buff.ly/DSB8xoP

I spend a lot of time writing. The butt-in-chair method that the late great Jane Yolen talked about works for me. Here's the lucky part: I married a guy who has never in all the years we've been together had a problem with that. He understands that I need time to write because that's who I am.

I'm often asked what it takes to write a book. I think it's different for every writer. What works for me is... time. I feel my way along—like I’ve been dropped in a strange city in the dead of night—until I sense it taking shape. There is no wrong way to write a book. #BookSky

Doggone thrilled to share that @kaaauthor.bsky.social & I are hitting the road to celebrate the third book in our Dogtown series, I AM A GOOD DOG. 💙🐶 We can’t wait to meet young readers, talk about writing together, and more! Details: buff.ly/PPMXYJu #BookSky @mackidsbooks.bsky.social

My dog Shea may not have made the cut for DOGTOWN, but I have used one of my dogs as inspiration for a character before. Sasha inspired my character Cupcake, the dog in ONE-THIRD NERD! 🐶 @randomhousekids.bsky.social #BookSky

One question I often get during virtual school visits is what I would tell aspiring writers. I say: 1. Be kind to your muse. 2. Read everything you can. 3. Keep your journals, because when you're an adult you'll really want to see what you thought when you were eleven!

"'I'll be back tonight.' Boo cries but not as much as this morning. I wipe my eyes with the back of my hand and push open the front door. Mom left us and she didn't come back. Boo's afraid I'll leave her too." From my #mglit book, THE TENTH MISTAKE OF HANK HOOPERMAN. 💙

Welcome to my office. This is where I make things up, make mistakes, and make my stories just a little better than they were the day before. ❤️ #BookSky

Here is my very good dog Shea modeling the swag for the third book in the Dogtown series, I AM A GOOD DOG. 🐶💙 Out this September! @kaaauthor.bsky.social @mackidssl.bsky.social #BookSky buff.ly/6xhec5M

"Dilly was spending her last dollars to go to the circus, because Lucy wanted her to. Sisters were different from friends. They did things for you no one else would." 🎪💼🚂 #BookSky #mglit @randomhousekids.bsky.social

When I speak to kids about writing, I always say that a bad writing day is inevitably followed by a good one. But the good one could not have happened without the frustrating head-banging day that preceded it. I know it sounds ridiculously cheery. But boy is it true.

I absolutely love Elisa Kleven's work. My daughter and I read her book THE PAPER PRINCESS often. It is a must for every home and library. Her mother, Lorraine Schneider, created this incredible poster, which is in the SFMOMA collection. What an immensely talented family.

July is Disability Pride Month! My sister, Gina, had Autism and is one reason why I strongly believe in the importance of portraying neuroatypical characters in my books. buff.ly/5bYzSjC

"The short chapters make it very easy to eat up the stories a few chapters at a time." Thank you for your book review of DOGTOWN, Reagan! I love knowing that you enjoyed eating up the short chapters. @kaaauthor.bsky.social @mackidsbooks.bsky.social #BookSky

Wow. DOGTOWN has won 4 children's choice state awards and been included on 19 state lists! ⭐ We're doggone thrilled that so many young readers are enjoying their adventures with Chance, Metal Head, Mouse, and the gang. The adventure continues... I AM A GOOD DOG is out 9/22! @kaaauthor.bsky.social

I was delighted to blurb THE PAPER PRINCESS by the immensely talented Elisa Kleven in honor of the book's beautiful reissue, which is on shelves tomorrow! I wore the pages off my copy from reading it to my daughter so often. A must for every home and library. 💜 buff.ly/pLyoaZs

Love seeing DOGTOWN on this list of Summer Reading Recommendations! 🐶 What books are you reading this summer? buff.ly/l83JgQq

Who let the dogs out? Find out September 22! 🐶 @kaaauthor.bsky.social Illustration by Wallace West buff.ly/C1Z0pIs #BookSky @mackidssl.bsky.social @mackidsbooks.bsky.social

Readers, preorders of I AM A GOOD DOG are on sale now from @barnesandnoble.com! 🐶 Get 25% off when you join their free program and use code PREORDER25 at checkout: bit.ly/4ozMTFB #BNPreorder #BookSky @kaaauthor.bsky.social @mackidsbooks.bsky.social

"A book and a friend... what could be better than that?" 🐶💙 @kaaauthor.bsky.social @mackidsbooks.bsky.social #BookSky

Happy #Juneteenth! 🌟 Thank you to @mackidssl.bsky.social for this collection of books to share. buff.ly/yXXFZhf @mackidsbooks.bsky.social #BookSky

THE TENTH MISTAKE OF HANK HOOPERMAN has won the 2026 Nevada Young Readers' Award! Thank you to Nevada kids and librarians. What an honor this is. buff.ly/N5stUXt #BookSky

Happy second birthday to THE TENTH MISTAKE OF HANK HOOPERMAN! In many ways, this book was inspired by childhood memories of my big brother. It's deeply personal to me, and it means all the more that it has resonated with so many of you. Thank you for reading and sharing Hank and Boo's story. 💙

I love getting mail from readers. ❤️ This is an excerpt of a lovely letter from a student who read DOGTOWN. @kaaauthor.bsky.social @mackidsbooks.bsky.social #BookSky

I’m so excited for the 3rd book in the Dogtown series my friend @kaaauthor.bsky.social and I wrote... I AM A GOOD DOG! The book comes out September 22. I can’t wait to share Metal Head's story with you! ❤️🐶💙 buff.ly/KDRa8en @mackidsbooks.bsky.social @mackidssl.bsky.social #Booksky

I can't wait to share more about my next book, LAST NIGHT AT THE CARNIVAL GRAVEYARD. Coming spring 2027. @mackidsbooks.bsky.social #BookSky

I am overjoyed to share that THE TENTH MISTAKE OF HANK HOOPERMAN has won North Dakota's 2026 Flicker Tale Award! Thank you to the Committee for including Hank's story, and to every teacher, librarian, and student who shared, read, or voted. I am one lucky author. buff.ly/2F3g8iw #BookSky