Listen up. Other people’s conversations hold the seeds to your next story.

Been a long time. Again. Sitting here at a coffee shop, deeply inspired to check in with my web site visitors because I’m turning to you for HELP! I am stuck inside the vortex of someone else’s conversation. ANNOYING conversation. And I need to keep working here, despite the noise.

What’s a writer to do? Well, you tell me!

I always listen close and look for details that inform my current (and future) stories. But I remember that what’s private should be respected. I usually listen in on chatter without attaching faces or specific people to it.

TELL ME ABOUT A TIME WHEN YOU HEARD SOMETHING YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE? WHAT DID YOU THINK? WHAT DID YOU DO???

The best ideas are whirling all around us. Sometimes we just have to recognize that they’re there–even in the MOST annoying conversations that seem to eat up our own private spaces. Whew.

Hey! There’s more news on my stuff in the world. Read on…

Aggie is fun new character brilliantly illustrated by Genevieve Kote! CHECK OUT THESE TWO RECENT COMICS THAT APPEARED IN ISSUES OF THE AMERICAN GIRL MAGAZINE…

PSSST! HAVE YOU CHECKED IN WITH MADFINN LATELY? NEWLY UPDATED MADISON BOOKS AVAILABLE FROM OPEN ROAD MEDIA! There’s one newly revised title that’s super-fun for Valentine’s Day. Check it out! Right now there are 16 books available in e-book format. More coming soon! AND THERE WILL BE A BRAND NEW MADISON COMING THIS SPRING!!! More news to come….

Finally, a question for all of the readers out there:

WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MADISON FINN GO NEXT? I can tell you that I’m bringing her to eighth grade, FINALLY, and there are lots of new peeps, new obstacles, and new adventures in store. But since she’s been around a while–I am guessing some of you have real ideas about things you’d like to see her do.

WRITE A COMMENT BELOW AND SHARE YOUR IDEAS! Pretend you’re sharing in a coffee shop and I just happen to be listening at the very next table…LOL.

Yours till the book ends,

Laura

xxx