Do you have author photos and book covers that I can download?

Yes. To download any of these, just right-click your mouse and select "Save Link As..." or "Save Image As..."

  • Color author photo
  • Black and white author photo
  • Cover image for Can I See Your I.D.? True Stories of False Identities
  • Cover image for The Day-Glo Brothers: The True Story of Bob and Joe Switzer's Bright Ideas and Brand-New Colors
  • Cover image for Shark Vs. Train

    • What are some ways that a school can make an author visit more affordable?

    There are many approaches that schools may take to getting author visits funded, such as applying for grants and cooperating with local service organizations. Esther Hershenhorn's article The ABC's of a Successful Author/Illustrator Visit offers lots of great suggestions.

    I'm doing a school project based on The Day-Glo Brothers -- where can I find more information about Bob and Joe Switzer?

    For further research, you might want to track down some of the sources mentioned in my Author's Note. Three that I know for sure are available for free on the Internet are Bob Switzer's New York Times obituary, articles in Popular Science about black light (December 1932) and the Switzers (May 1953), and U.S. patent 2,417,384.

    Your website looks terrific -- who designed it?

    The wonderful Sarah Rehm -- I highly recommend her.

    Can you please critique my manuscript?

    I can't do that, but I can help you find someone who can. The Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators provides a listing of regional chapters, many of which coordinate critique groups for their local members.

    How can I get a children's book published?

    From my own experiences learning the ropes of writing for children and young adults, I can say that the Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators would be a terrific resource for you. You should also take a look at the latest edition of the Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market, available at many bookstores. Two other terrific resources are Cynthia Leitich Smith's site and Harold Underdown's site.

    If I can't attend one of your public appearances, how can I get a signed copy of one of your books?

    Austin's BookPeople often has signed copies in stock. Otherwise, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the address on my Contact Me page, and I'll mail you a bookplate (a fancy name for an adhesive label) with my signature.

    Would you donate a copy of one of your books for a good cause?

    I would love to be able to, but they aren't mine to donate — we authors have to pay our publishers out-of-pocket for copies of our own books.

    What if I have a rights question about one of your books?

    Please direct all rights queries to my agent:

    Erin Murphy Literary Agency
    http://emliterary.com/
    2700 Woodlands Village #300-458
    Flagstaff, AZ 86001-7127