Michelle Houts's Blog

On March 4th and March 6th, I visited my last two schools for the 2019-2020 school year. But they weren’t supposed to be my last two schools. No, March, April, and May were supposed to be filled with connections with young readers. At schools, libraries, and book festivals. As you know, schools and libraries closed […]

Today, I’m cross-posting from the wonderful blog The Mixed-Up Files of Middle-Grade Authors where I talk about journaling during ordinary days and extraordinary times like these. I hope you’ll hop over and take a peek at what I was thinking during a school interruption in the winter of 1977. (Hint: It wasn’t a blizzard year.) […]

It’s December! And it’s still (technically) “early December.”  That means there’s still time for a quick run to the craft store for supplies to make some really cute bookish gifts for the reader in your life. This is a cross post from The Mixed-Up Files of Middle-Grade Authors, so to read more, click here.  You’ll […]

Why do writers celebrate? When do we celebrate? And how? I had a lot of fun writing this post for The Mixed-Up Files of Middle-Grade Authors. You can read it by clicking here. And when you’re done, think of something that happened today that is worth celebrating. And then… CELEBRATE! Keep reading, keep writing, and […]

I’m cheating here. So this will be short. ( I should be working on my novel, because I came a long distance to retreat and get some serious work done.) No doubt, the other writers and I are making excellent use of our time. We hole ourselves up on porches, in corners, on bottom bunks, […]

Today I’m cross-posting with The Mixed-Up Files of Middle-Grade Authors, where I blog on a rotating basis with a couple dozen other writers. The topic at hand? What to do when we have TOO MANY things to write about. Which idea is the one that should get our undivided attention? Is it even possible to […]

… and ten thousand more to go-oh-oh.  (If you’re of a certain age, you can thank me for putting James Taylor into your brain for the rest of the day. If you aren’t, or if lyrics just aren’t your forte, that’s a line from Sweet Baby James.) It’s tax time, and I’m doing what authors […]

I’ve been finding it challenging to keep up my author blog here on my website while also contributing to The Mixed-Up Files of Middle-Grade Authors blog. I’m not ready to give up, though, as I love sharing here and there are many things I will share here that aren’t part of the Mixed-Up Files of […]

Hi, all! I want to share my latest post from over at The Mixed-Up Files of Middle-Grade Authors.  I chose to write about Dreams and Rejection, both of which seem to permeate the lives of all writers.  Click the link above and you’ll be transported there just like … that! Enjoy and comment. I love hearing […]

Each year, I choose a word of the year. A word that I hope will help me grow or change or cope or stretch.  Two years ago, when I was juggling two demanding careers and a growing family, I chose the word Balance.  Here’s how I visualized Balance: Last year, feeling a little more on […]