Karen Cushman

Karen Cushman

Newbery award-winning children’s book author

Karen Cushman

Southern Oregon

South Oregon vineyardsWe just returned from visiting my brother and his wife who live near Ashland, Oregon. They drove us to see magnificent vineyards ringed by mountains.

And we went to the animal shelter where he volunteers (a lot) to see the dogs waiting and waiting for someone to take them home.

If you can have a dog, please consider adopting one from a shelter. They need us and are so grateful.

Shelter dogThis is how my lovely brother closes every email:  

It came to me that every time I lose a dog; they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog that comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and maybe I will become as generous and loving as they are.” 

—Unknown

 

I’m no Ansel Adams

Writers at Oregon SCBWIHere’s a crummy picture of an amazing group of writers at the Oregon SCBWI conference in Portland last weekend. All 201 of them were full of questions, ideas, and enthusiasm, and they welcomed me most warmly. I hope their passion is contagious as I once again dig into the draft of my new book.

It’s Wordstock!

Wordstock FestivalAll you Pacific Northwesterners out there (you know who you are)—come join me at the Wordstock Festival (now the Portland Literary Festival) in Portland. I’ll be speaking at two events on Saturday afternoon, October 13. Both times I have the pleasure of sharing the stage with Katherine Schlick Noe, the author of the remarkable Something to Hold, winner of the 2012 Washington State Book Award. Come and ask us lots of questions. No rotten tomatoes, please.