T. A. BARRON’S BLOG
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January 12, 2023The life and world of Merlin have been magical and inspiring. Merlin’s wisdom and faith have taught many valuable lessons.... -
December 28, 2022I invited readers to share their own stories of times when nature inspired them. These are their experiences.
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December 8, 2022Enter for your chance to win a weekly prize by finding Merlin on my website!
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December 7, 2022Young children often mistake celebrity for heroism, but true heroism is different. Every hero discovers that they have something deep...
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November 11, 2022Today I’m inviting you to see your life as a story!
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October 28, 2022I think about stories I'm working on as little boats that I'm spending time crafting until they are finally shipworthy...
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October 13, 2022My journey with Merlin began with a dream. And I knew from that moment I had been given a story...
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September 29, 2022Each year, the Barron Prize awards outstanding young people whose actions serve as an inspirational example of the power we...
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September 12, 2022I am thrilled to announce the upcoming release of my new podcast—exploring topics of storytelling, nature, true heroes, and the...
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August 25, 2022No matter what your goals are, here are the things you can do to stay focused and achieve dreams.
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August 17, 2022How can we empower young people? Young minds are impressionable and can be empowered through these simple methods.
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June 30, 2022As an environmentalist, I encourage everyone to do what they can to help protect our planet, and ourselves.
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June 17, 2022Aspiring storytellers often ask me writing questions and for writing advice. I've compiled some of the best questions, and my...
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May 24, 2022Making characters come alive is one of the trickiest, but most important elements of writing.
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May 18, 2022Get out your joke books and get ready to write! Enter the All Smiles Writing Contest for a chance to...
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April 22, 2022Nature and the environment are hugely important as inspiration to me. Not just in my writing, but also within my...
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March 15, 2022Literacy goes beyond simply being able to read — it's about the connection forged between storyteller and reader!
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February 18, 2022Genuine, heartfelt kindness creates a type of magic that is never-ending — a kind that multiplies with every person it...
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January 20, 2022Just as I believe in the magic of this world, I also believe in creatures that we may never have...
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December 29, 2021This holiday season, I hope that I can inspire you to be generous with your gifts. Not from your pocket,...
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December 9, 2021Embark in this quest to learn about food insecurity and how you can join the fight to help stop world...
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October 20, 2021In honor of this magical opening to a story that means so much to me, I’ll be participating in a...
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October 1, 2021Introducing a brand new series on the website, Quests, with my first Quest: Sustainability.
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October 1, 2021Heroes are important because they show that every person — young or old, black or white, rich or poor —...
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September 20, 2021I invite you to take a moment to read through this year’s list of marvelous, accomplished young people, to visit...
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August 23, 2021In 100 words or less, share a tale that embodies what "courage" means to you and how your were...
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July 28, 2021The power of stories resides in the communicating core values and principles through shared words and experiences.
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June 21, 2021What makes a book worth reading to me? The magic!
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May 25, 2021If you can imagine your goals, your future, and your path to making a better world — all that remains...
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April 27, 2021Encouraging young people to harness their energy in the form of volunteering is one of the most valuable actions you...
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March 19, 2021The Butterfly Effect is a theory of causality in physics which states that everything in the universe is connected —...
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March 2, 2021The natural world is not merely a setting, a backdrop for my stories — but a full-blown character.
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February 9, 2021Enter a picture that showcases your love of nature into this photo contest for a chance to win.
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January 14, 2021It takes a community to make a difference. I am pleased to announce the winners of the Giving Hope for...
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December 18, 2020I believe passionately in the power that young people have to change the narrative of the future, and the most...
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December 8, 2020Giving freely of your heart is often a more meaningful gift than any store-bought gift could ever be.
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November 17, 2020Gratitude — one of Merlin’s seven most magical words — is not just an emotion, it's also an action.
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October 20, 2020Get into the spirit of the spooky season and consider some of the ways villains can improve your writing!
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October 8, 2020What do you think of when you hear the word "villain"? Tell me about it for your chance to win!
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September 22, 2020I believe that kindness is an altogether different entity from being nice. The sad truth is that you can be...
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September 14, 2020Meet the 2020 Barron Prize winners. Their stories and service work act as an example of the power we...
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September 9, 2020What does it mean to be kind? Is it simply about minding your manners and going through the motions?
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August 10, 2020Here are a few custom backgrounds for fans of my books to help give your video calls a new look!
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July 27, 2020Have you ever stopped to think about the fact that we are surrounded by heroes? Everyday people all around us...
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July 6, 2020Share the things you're doing to make our world a better place.
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June 23, 2020Now, more than ever, there is a desperate need to be kind, seek positivity, focus on personal growth, and appreciation...
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June 21, 2020Your bookshelves say a lot about you! #ShowYourShelfie in this contest and tell me what it means to you!
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May 4, 2020Has the COVID-19 pandemic lead you to discover a new appreciation for teachers and educators? Here are 10 ways to...
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April 28, 2020Download free activity sheets you can pair with a read-along of the book from author T. A. Barron.
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April 9, 2020Although the 50th anniversary of Earth Day will find most of us at home, there are still ways we can...
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March 26, 2020With so many of us now finding ourselves unexpectedly at home with a bit of time to tackle some of...
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February 18, 2020Witnessing a random act of kindness can inspire others, giving them a gentle nudge in their own hearts and minds...
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December 21, 2019Every one of Merlin’s 7 Magical Words for a Meaningful Life relies on Love to strengthen it and fill it with significance....
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November 28, 2019I believe that to be wholly alive is to be grateful—for every breath we take, every song we sing, every...
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October 23, 2019Generosity is not giving others what they want. Rather, it's giving away what you yourself want.
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September 16, 2019Each year, The Barron Prize celebrates outstanding young leaders ages 8 to 18 who have made a significant positive difference...
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September 12, 2019Merlin has been a part of my life for more than 20 years. Though he may be but a mythical...
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August 27, 2019Belief, one of Merlin’s seven most magical words in the universe, can give us comfort in times of chaos, strength in...
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July 31, 2019Darkness, despair, anger, destruction—the images of these things feature daily in our media. No matter where we look, we’re met...
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June 20, 2019Knowledge, one of Merlin's magical words, is so much more than just the things you learn by sitting in a...
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May 21, 2019There is intentionality in Wonder, though it is not something you seek. It calls you to question, to explore, to...
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September 17, 2018Congratulations to the 2018 Barron Prize winners! This national award is meant to highlight the idea that every single one...
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July 30, 2018T. A. Barron blogs about the Summer Sparks program, with activity ideas, summer printables, and introduces guest bloggers.
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April 15, 2018Peter Cook uses his ASL skills to bring the words of Kate and her adventures to life. His artistry truly...
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April 11, 2018In 2017, I wrote this poem to celebrate winter in Colorado. In sharing it with you here, I hope to...
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February 2, 2018Each of us has that power. Even if we don’t remember that, it’s true. Our daily choices matter; our actions...
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September 25, 2017Introducing the outstanding winners of the 2017 Barron Prize.
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June 22, 2017If you folks like a good story, as I do – then try this: Think of your life as a...
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May 18, 2017Villains are hugely important in a compelling story. Too often they're painted in quick brush strokes, making shallow, uninteresting characters.
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April 27, 2017I remember the very first time I saw the stars on a high mountain ridge in Colorado. It was a...
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February 24, 2017In my last blog entry I shared a few of the entries from my recent Origin Story contest. The competition...
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February 21, 2017I recently invited fans of my books to dig deep into their imaginations and write their own origin stories for...
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January 19, 2017I’ve often thought that bringing a new story into the world is a lot like bringing a new child into...
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December 12, 2016All of us have hidden struggles - and hidden potential. And all of us, like the great wizard Merlin, have...
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December 7, 2016Last weekend, after an amazing Thanksgiving with family and friends, I joined readers and friends at two local bookstores to...
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October 24, 2016I'm very happy to share that the third book in my Atlantis Saga, Atlantis Lost, is coming to bookstores everywhere...
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September 28, 2016Nature and young people are my most powerful sources of inspiration. Both share that wondrous ability to transform—both as individuals...
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September 19, 2016The Barron Prize is about celebrating some of those real heroes in our communities: young people with deeply valuable inner...
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September 7, 2016Each year, our selection committee includes youth and young adults who, once upon a time, submitted their own applications, and...
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August 11, 2016I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to many amazing places over the years, from exotic and remote countries around the...
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June 22, 2016Commencement speakers always advise graduates to follow their dreams—and you should. But I want to offer you some practical advice...
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June 21, 2016Eleven young wizards joined the camp counselors from Boulder Bookstore and Boulder Public Library for a week-long day camp full...
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May 23, 2016In celebration of May being #GetCaughtReading month, I wanted to share a little about the ways reading has shaped my...
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May 5, 2016I was so pleased at all the entries I received to my recent #IntoNature promotion in celebration of the re-release...
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April 27, 2016This entry was contributed by Zanne Tarlow as part of my “Into Nature” guest blog series.
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April 25, 2016This image and caption was contributed by Michelle Richardson as part of my “Into Nature” guest blog series.
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April 22, 2016This image and caption was contributed by Lysia Gilmore as part of my “Into Nature” guest blog series.
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April 20, 2016This image and caption was contributed by Therese Calegari as part of my “Into Nature” guest blog series.
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April 19, 2016This entry was contributed by Ren Breaux as part of my “Into Nature” guest blog series.
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April 18, 2016This video was contributed by Meg Stansfield as part of my “Into Nature” guest blog series.
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April 12, 2016This entry was contributed by Terra Mcbroom as part of my “Into Nature” guest blog series.
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April 9, 2016This image and caption was contributed by Pam Spicer as part of my “Into Nature” guest blog series.
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April 6, 2016This entry was contributed by Jasmine Hinton as part of my “Into Nature” guest blog series.
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April 4, 2016This image and caption was contributed by Paula Hardeman as part of my “Into Nature” guest blog series.
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April 2, 2016This blog entry was contributed by Joel Hoff as part of my “Into Nature” guest blog series.
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March 30, 2016This image and caption was contributed by Laurie Rudolph-Francis as part of my “Into Nature” guest blog series.
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March 29, 2016This blog post was contributed by Rene Crook as part of my “Into Nature” guest blog series.
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March 25, 2016This image and caption was contributed by Helena Reznikoff as part of my “Into Nature” guest blog series.
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March 23, 2016This blog entry was contributed by Susan Hawthorne as part of my “Into Nature” guest blog series.
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March 22, 2016This image was contributed by Ro Ostawari as part of my “Into Nature” guest series.
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March 18, 2016This blog post was contributed by Khephra Owl as part of my “Into Nature” guest blog series.
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March 16, 2016This image was contributed by Jerika McKeon as part of my “Into Nature” guest blog series.
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March 14, 2016This blog post was contributed by Roshana Ostowari as part of my “Into Nature” guest blog series.
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March 11, 2016This blog post was contributed by April Steichen as part of my “Into Nature” guest blog series.
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March 9, 2016This photo & caption was contributed by Maryam Karim as part of my “Into Nature” guest blog series.
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March 7, 2016This photo & description was contributed by Kelly Cundiff as part of my “Into Nature” guest blog series.
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March 5, 2016This blog entry was created by Bob Meadows as part of my “Into Nature” guest blog series.
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March 4, 2016This photo & blog entry was created by blogger Joanne Fritz as part of my “Into Nature” guest blog series.
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March 3, 2016This blog entry was created by author David Wiley as part of my “Into Nature” guest blog series.
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March 1, 2016This photo & blog entry were created by Chelsey Saatkamp as part of my “Into Nature” guest blog series.
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February 22, 2016This blog post was authored by Virginia Anagnos as part of my "Into Nature" guest blog series.
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February 15, 2016I remember feeling an extraordinary sense of peace as I wondered what amazing stories this two-thousand-year-old tree could tell.
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January 15, 2016The story of THE ANCIENT ONE began over 20 years ago when I was on a solo hike in the...
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December 17, 2015In the sheer ability to surprise, one wizard outshines all the rest. He is the greatest of enchanters, the mentor...
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September 30, 2015If you walk in the direction of your dreams, you open yourself to serendipity, and good things will happen. Maybe...
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September 23, 2015I wanted to share some of your ideas which really captured the true essence of what it means to be...
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September 8, 2015Beyond the initial award, being part of the Barron Prize honorees has a lasting influence for many young people.
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July 23, 2015Wilderness has the power to reach us, stirring our souls in strong and surprising ways.
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July 2, 2015My book, "The Wisdom Of Merlin: Seven Magical Words for a Meaningful Life" makes a marvelous gift for people beginning...
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June 4, 2015A few weeks ago I asked my fans on Instagram to submit their most magical and compelling photos encapsulating one...
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May 26, 2015A special THANK YOU to everyone that came out to say hello, hear me speak, and have a book signed.
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May 9, 2015I'm wrapping up the first half of my book tour, and so far, it has been fantastic! Between school visits...
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April 30, 2015I'm excited to announce my upcoming tour celebrating the release of my two newest books -- The Wisdom of Merlin...
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April 14, 2015Hello again, my friends. Thanks to the great hospitality of my friend, T. A. Barron, I am once again able...
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March 30, 2015I must tell you all that it has been truly delightful to read your many queries; some of you are...
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March 23, 2015I'm delighted that more bloggers are sharing their thoughts on Merlin's magical words in celebration of the March 24th publication...
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March 9, 2015My upcoming book, The Wisdom of Merlin: 7 Magical Words for a Meaningful Life is being released on March 24th....
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February 25, 2015In advance of the publication of The Merlin Saga in China at the end of this month, I wrote the...
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February 6, 2015The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes celebrates inspiring, public-spirited young people from diverse backgrounds all across North America.
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January 21, 2015I have always loved the world of stories, ever since I was a kid.
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November 25, 2014Inspired by the many great costumes of my kids, a few weeks ago I held a Halloween Costume Contest on...
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November 6, 2014Describing characters well is a great challenge for any writer, and the truth is I use the same three-layered process...
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September 15, 2014Every year the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes turns the spotlight on twenty-five remarkable young people: kids who have...
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September 11, 2014For my readers who are parents, I’d love to share some of my ideas on how you can encourage your...
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June 24, 2014The wilderness can make us feel as big as the grandest vista. On a clear Rocky Mountain night, so many...
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April 28, 2014From time-to-time I write on this blog to answer some of your questions. This post is about how I develop...
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April 11, 2014New and aspiring writers often ask published writers, “What's your process?” It feels a little funny to talk about the...
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March 13, 2014I try to answer as many of your emails and Facebook posts as I can, but sometimes I can't get...
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February 13, 2014I love answering your questions, so here are some of the best answers I can give about Merlin and my...
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January 27, 2014But here’s the best news: There are many more heroes right around us, in everyday life. And they're not always...
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January 14, 2014I’m excited and humbled to share with you the news that Atlantis Rising has been selected to receive two great...
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December 27, 2013I really love answering your questions directly, as you can tell. Truth is, I feel honored that you trust me...
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December 17, 2013Merlin’s seven magical words, and the one word which empowers them all, are the basis for a new book.
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December 11, 2013I’m excited to share with you my latest video -- Merlin’s Guide to a Meaningful Life: The Seven Most Magical...
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December 2, 2013My Atlantis Rising book tour has come to an end. From Seattle to New York, with 22 events (not including...
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November 15, 2013So you might well ask: With all the magic of the natural world around me, why do I create new...
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November 8, 2013What a wonderful time this book tour has been! I’ve met a lot of lovely families and educators and visited...
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October 24, 2013The last few weeks have been hectic, to say the least, but I’m excited to be back in Oxford and...
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October 10, 2013It has only been six days since my last post…but in that short time I’ve been through 8 cities in...
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October 4, 2013Now that the book is out, the website launched, and my new Instagram, Twitter, and blog site are up and...
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October 1, 2013I need to get three elements worked out before I can start a new book: Detailed descriptions of each new...
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September 27, 2013Nothing is more uplifting than stories about heroic people who have truly made a difference to the world. So I'm...
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September 26, 2013Today is a very exciting day - the launch of my latest book, Atlantis Rising. Atlantis - a name, a...
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September 19, 2013I'm thrilled to introduce you to my newest "baby" - my book "Atlantis Rising!" This will be the first book...
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September 13, 2013It's the question fans always ask: "How do you write your stories?" Writers say they hate this question, and probably...
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August 11, 2013Growing Your Own Story by T. A. Barron | Aug 11, 2013 “There are three essential rules for writing. Unfortunately …...
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December 3, 2012Good news! Warner Bros. Studio recently renewed its option to develop this film. That's a good sign of their excitement...
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September 3, 2012Just received the first draft of the script. It's coming together nicely. Most important, it remains true to the spirit...
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June 3, 2012Warner Bros. has just hired a new, highly acclaimed script writer, Ed Whitworth. He brings excellent writing skills, and even...
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January 3, 2012Excellent news! Donald DeLine, a terrific producer, has just signed onto this project. He brings huge experience as a highly...
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July 2, 2010We have reached, at long last, a crucial stage — going out to directors. We now have a short list...
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January 30, 2009Having just returned home from a creative meeting at the Paramount studio in California (the third such meeting in three...