As I mentioned previously, the paperback version of Charm and Strange was just released in the UK by Electric Monkey/Egmont UK. To celebrate, there will be a small blog tour next week with some really wonderful UK book bloggers. The tour will consist of interviews, guest posts, prizes, and more. Please do check it out! The schedule is on that nifty banner to the left, and I’ll add the links to this post each day.

Monday: Interview at The Book Stop

Tuesday: Guest Post at the Overflowing Library: On Truth and Darkness in Young Adult Literature

Wednesday: Guest post at Bookbabblers: On Empathy

Thursday: Guest post at Book Angel Emma: The Language of Violence

Other than that, 2014 is starting off with a bang. I’m in the midst of a huge amount of dissertation work, which is challenging, and sometimes daunting, but also compelling. And I received the first pass pages of Complicit. The interior design of the book is so, so cool. I can’t wait to share. I love it.

I’ve been writing, as well, and that has felt good. I’m taking on some personal challenges in what I’m working on, trying to push myself and grow. Fortunately, it’s been an inspiring week, writing-wise: On Wednesday, I had the opportunity to work with a group of teen writers who were crafting essays about different immigration experiences. And last night, Thursday, I had the chance to hear Laurie Halse Anderson speak about her new book, The Impossible Knife of Memory. She was amazing.

I was also able to spend an hour this week making tissue paper snowflakes with a whole class of kindergarteners. It was the most grounding and rejuvenating activity I’ve done in a long while. I highly recommend it.

-sk