I wasn’t sure what to expect with my first book signing, but I was happy to support a brand-new indie bookstore in Upland, California, about 15 minutes from my house. Morgan at Morgan’s Books has been so easy to work with and provided a great location for my debut signing. On Saturday I set upContinue reading “First Book Signing”
Author Archives: cvanryswyk
Launch Day!
It’s hard to believe that the book that I started dreaming about in 2021 and has taken me on a sometimes fun, sometimes frustrating journey, is now launched into the wild! In Turicum, where everything runs like clockwork, a baby with purple cat-like eyes is left at the train station’s newsstand… Eleven-year-old Kyra works withContinue reading “Launch Day!”
Memory Jars
Now that you can read the first two chapters of The Secret of the Moon Dial (on Libby), I am now offering my award-winning short story, “Memory Jars,” when you sign up for my newsletter. This story was one of ten winners in an Autocrit contest, where it was not published. I then submitted itContinue reading “Memory Jars”
Book Status
Yesterday was an important day in the life of The Secret of the Moon Dial. My author preview copies arrived in the mail! The journey to this point was long, winding, interesting, frustrating, often fun, and instructive. First, there’s the writing of the book. With the first book, I had no idea what I wasContinue reading “Book Status”
Book Trailer
Having finally chosen a release date for the first Turicum Tale, August 18, 2026, I have put a book trailer for The Secret of the Moon Dial on YouTube. You can view it here!
Author Newsletters
I’ve subscribed to a number of author newsletters. Some offer great value (looking at you, Austin Kleon!), some offer many chances to take courses but not much else. I’m jumping into the newsletterverse with a monthly offering where I will share things I’m learning about all things reading, especially for children. Of course, I’ll giveContinue reading “Author Newsletters”
National Library Week
In honor of National Library Week, here are some libraries I’ve been to, and some I visit regularly. First, here is the first library I went to as a child in Hyde Park in Chicago. The Blackstone branch of the Chicago Public Library. A few weeks ago I got a library card at the LosContinue reading “National Library Week”
Reading Middle Grade: Then and Now
Animal Stories Although I have yet to read it, I love the title of Katherine Rundell’s Why You Should Read Children’s Books, Even Though You Are So Old and Wise. About twenty years ago I started collecting “chapter” books that I loved when I was in elementary school. Today they are called middle grade booksContinue reading “Reading Middle Grade: Then and Now”
Clocks Anthology
I am excited to announce that my story, Memory Jars, will appear in an anthology. The Kickstarter for this project will begin on March 24. You will find information here. There will be total of seventeen stories, and I am excited to read the others. Memory Jars takes place in the Great Hall of theContinue reading “Clocks Anthology”
Middle Grade Fantasy with Clocks
There’s something about clocks that I particularly like. Maybe it’s the way all the gears fit together with the cogs like a jigsaw puzzle. Maybe it’s the first watch I owned, a Cinderella watch with a pink band and a porcelain Cinderella figurine that came with it. Maybe because being on time is either myContinue reading “Middle Grade Fantasy with Clocks”