I am w-a-y overdue with a fan mail update (and w-a-y behind on answering my fan mail, for all of you waiting so patiently to hear back from me), and a recent flurry of absolutely truly FABULOUS photos some of you sent in has given me just the nudge I needed.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, right? Well, the pictures I’m going to share with you today are worth more than that — they’re worth their weight in gold! It’s hard to put in words how much it means to me to receive your letters and beautiful drawings and lovely photos. To say that it touches my heart is the understatement of the 21st century! But that’s exactly what it does, and I treasure each and every one of my readers who so generously take the time to thank me in this way.

The connection between reader and writer is a special one, isn’t it? I ponder it often. In a way, reading a book is a long conversation between the writer and the reader — at least I like to think of it that way. It’s a conversation that transcends time and place, that can reach across the centuries. Just think of it, Jane Austen wrote Pride and Prejudice for me! Someone she would never know; someone living in a world she couldn’t possibly have imagined at the time she was writing. And E.B. White — could he have dreamed of the impact that Charlotte’s Web would have on me?

Me, happily connecting with E.B. White

And now, my books are going out into the world, and connecting with many of you — and in turn you reach out to connect with me, whether it’s through the pure and wondrous experience of reading itself, or whether it’s through your letters, your emails, your comments on this blog, your artwork, or your photographs.

Thank you, each and every one of you, from the bottom of my heart!

And now, this Friday’s fan mail:

Do you love this sweet smile or what?!  Wow!

And how about this one? Heart-melter, right?

And look at this amazing mother-daughter book club! Don’t they look like they’d be fun to read with? 

Come back and visit again on future Fridays, as I have more fun fan art and photos to share. And meanwhile, it’s JULY! National ice cream MONTH! What are you doing sitting here reading this blog? You should be out there rustling up some ice cream. Go! Now! Do it!

Salma and Shelby!

Congratulations — look for an email from me soon, with details.

Loved reading EVERYONE’S maple memories!  I wish I could invite you all over to my house for homemade sourdough waffles and maple syrup, just like Truly’s father makes for her in YOURS TRULY…

Believe it or not, there’s another giveaway just around the corner, to celebrate the paperback release of MOTHER-DAUGHTER BOOK CAMP. Stay tuned!

Actually, it’s been here for a while… but we still need to celebrate, right?

How does a giveaway sound? Good? OK, then, let’s do it!

I have two copies of YOURS TRULY to give away. It’s the second in my Pumpkin Falls mystery series featuring middle school private eye Truly Lovejoy and her family. This time around, maple syrup plays a featured role.

Yes, you heard me right — maple syrup!  In fact, ALL things maple. So, to enter the giveaway, just leave a comment below sharing your favorite maple treat and/or maple memory.

I’ll go first. My favorite maple treat? It’s a toss-up between maple sugar candy and maple walnut ice cream (preferably homemade — or from Kimball Farm). As for my favorite maple memory, that stretches w-a-y back in time to when I was a wee thing.

This isn’t a great picture, alas, but the memory is sharp and clear. That’s toddler me, being carried by my oh-so-glamorous mom somewhere in New Hampshire. We were visiting a sugar house (or sugar shack, as they’re sometimes called – you can see one pictured on the cover of YOURS TRULY). That’s where maple sap is turned into maple syrup. I can still smell that fragrant steam!

The winner will be chosen at random at midnight on May 15, 2017. Share this giveaway on your blog or Facebook or Twitter or Pinterest or other social media for additional entries. (If you share on social media, please leave a link in the comments below so I can assign you an extra entry.)  U.S. and Canada only, please. Have fun!