News

Looks what is coming soon and it can be preordered on Amazon.  Better yet preorder from your local independent bookstore today.  Keep our bookstores in business during this difficult time and beyond. My most recent book coauthored with Khadra Mohammed ( also Four Feet Two Shoes and My Name is Sangoel) Young Roblay runs through his Somali village practicing for the big race, where only the fastest runners will be declared men. He turns for advice to his grandfather, who tells Roblay of the mighty Shabelle River, which is strong and swift like [...]

The proofs for A Thousand White Butterflies arrived last week.  This is always and exciting time for the author and creators of a book.  The illustrator(in this case Gina Maldonado in Hong Kong) must check the color.  The authors( in this case Jessica Betancourt-Perez and myself) get one last chance to look for minor details/corrections.  No major changes can happen at this point.  Editors and copy editors are looking at the entire project too. Happily we think the proofs are perfect ( better than I imagined when I began this project!) so A [...]

Coming in September! Jessica and I met at a workshop five years ago.  She had a story I could not forget.  We agreed to work together.  Sharing back and forth to get every word right has been gratifying and joyful and now with illustrations by Gina Maldonado it's almost here. As if being new to the United States wasn't hard enough, Isabella's first day of school is canceled due to snow! Isabella has recently arrived from Colombia with her mother to live with Abuela. She misses Papa, who is still in South America. [...]

As I sit at my desk I take joy in the birdsong as cardinals, bluejays and sparrows scramble at my feeder for a meal, a distraction from chaotic holidays.  I remember to be grateful for the abundance in my life, family and friends; joys of the holidays beyond the sparkling tree, gifts, special meals, sweet and savory. Nearly every year I hear from at least one reader who has been gifted one of my books, readers with special connections to one of my stories.  This year I received this note in an email: [...]

So many great Authors So many great books. Old friends and new. Gratifying to connect with readers. Many thanks to all who came and to the organizers for this super event!  

You are invited!  Come enjoy the book fun! Sunday Dec.  8 (just in time for those Christmas gift book buys) Time: 10AM-3 (plenty of time for reading and crafts and book fun) Where?    Ace Hotel in East Liberty Pittsburgh                                           120 S. Whitfield Street (Easy to get to from far and near!) Read about it here: https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/books/2019/12/02/Kates-Kid-Book-Blast-Kate-Dopirak-Society-Childrens-Book-Writers-Illustrators/stories/201912020004