by Phil | Dec 8, 2015 | Books, Ideas, Social
If you’ve seen the book trailer for my middle grade novel, A WHOLE NEW BALLGAME, you know who Reece is. Well, Reece needs our help. Reece Simmons is a fifth grader at Hamilton Elementary in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD in Texas. He was one of the students who helped...
by Phil | Nov 30, 2015 | Cool Finds, Ideas, Memories, Social
A WHOLE NEW BALLGAME is for Erin. Erin is Erin Murphy. Erin’s my agent. In the acknowledgments, I wrote: The words — “listening to the music of the moment” and “our name is our virtue” — are from Jason Mraz’s,...
by Phil | Nov 18, 2015 | Education, Ideas, Out Of My Mind
If you’re looking to introduce my middle grade novel, A WHOLE NEW BALLGAME, to your students, I’ve created an under-two minute book talk. It’s right here: Last year on my YouTube Channel, I launched a mini-web series called OUT OF MY MIND. I talked...
by Phil | Nov 16, 2015 | Education, Ideas, Social
Boo-yah!! Hootie-Hooooo!! This week, I’ll be at the National Council of Teachers of English Annual Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I haven’t attended NCTE in several (many) years so I’m super pumped. So many from my online PLN (Personal...
by Phil | Oct 29, 2015 | Books, Education, Ideas, Tips
Last week, I went back to high school. When I visit schools these days, more often than not, I’m visiting elementary and middle schools. But every once in awhile, I’ll get the opportunity to visit a high school, and my October visit to Cedar Ridge High...
by Phil | Oct 5, 2015 | Books, Ideas
On Friday, I received a pretty awesome piece of snail mail — the certificate designating MARVELOUS CORNELIUS a Junior Library Guild selection! Hootie-Hooooo!! All this week, we’re going to be celebrating Marvelous Cornelius with a little (big) blog party....
