June 16, Al Capone Does My Shirts Last week’s column was cancelled due to illness. I think an impending deadline literally made me ill? Can you die from writer’s block? Gennifer Choldenko, author of Al Capone Does My Shirts ($6.99, Penguin), has become my new hero. Why? Because Choldenko clearly invested a lot of time … Continue reading Character and plot workshop!

Who’s that girl? Clarice Bean is a curious, opinionated, passionate litte Brit. For a girl of around nine or ten, she has quite the caustic wit and a very interesting world view. She is also hopelessly, utterly committed to her one true love -- the Ruby Redfort spy series. If, based on my description, you’re … Continue reading Character building