A New Leaf for Lyle has placed in the Top 10 in all three nominated categories in the Annual Preditors & Editors™ Readers’ Poll!

I’ve known Carrie for nearly 19 years. I have yet to meet her, face to face, but I have no doubt that we’ll meet in person one day – sooner than later. We are sisters by choice, and have children the same age. Now, we have a book that we created together: my third children’s book, her debut as an illustrator. I’ve known for a long time – at least since finding her “Dead Rats in My Freezer” blog – that I wanted to work with Carrie on a book.

“But Carrie,” I ask, “what was it that made you say yes to working on A New Leaf for Lyle?” I’m pretty sure it’s not the money, and if I’m not mistaken, Carrie’s over there batting the spotlight off her face like it’s a bug.

This is Lyle, daydreaming about being famous. He would probably tell you that he is thinking about his times tables, or how to write a declarative sentence, but the truth is, now that he’s the star of a brand new book, A New Leaf for Lyle, he thinks he’s a celebrity and he’s daydreaming about all the people he’s going to meet.

Boy, is Lyle in for a surprise – come Monday, he’s going to have to go to school!