I was once asked by a reader, “If you had to choose a favorite word, which would it be?” As a lover of language, I took this question very seriously! After spending some time thinking it over, I gave my answer: If I had to select a single word based on its sound and pronunciation:…
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I often receive letters and messages from fans asking for writing advice, and I do my best to point them toward the many resources for writers on my website. But as we move closer to Halloween, I thought I’d offer those seeking advice on becoming a better writer a new tip: get into the spirit…
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I believe that kindness is an altogether different entity from being nice. The sad truth is that you can be nice out of politeness while still thinking mean thoughts. However, to truly be kind, you must care about your fellow man (or woman!), all the creatures of the world, and nature itself. Kindness comes in…
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Each year, the Barron Prize awards outstanding young people whose personal stories and service work act as an inspiration example of the power we all have to make the world better. 2020 marks the 20th anniversary of the prize, which has honored over 500 amazing young heroes over its lifetime. I invite you to take…
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What does it mean to be kind? Is it simply about minding your manners and going through the motions?
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Have you been using video chat applications like Zoom to talk to friends and family during this period of social distancing? Perhaps you’ve been dreaming of hosting your very own virtual book club? If so, here are a few custom backgrounds for fans of my books to help give your video calls a new look!…
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Have you ever stopped to think about the fact that we are surrounded by heroes? The heroic people around us may not have super powers — at least, not the kind that allows them to read minds or leap tall buildings — but the qualities they possess and the powers they have to do good…
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Back in 2018 I wrote a blog post which began, “These are dark times. In our country and our world, we’re surrounded by divisiveness, greed, mean-spiritedness, hatred, cynicism, fear, and rage. So much so, the darkness sometimes threatens to cover us all in shadows.” And truly, these words seem more fitting now than they did…
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