Four Ways that Sports Camps Can Help Kids

In my book, “Pickleball Problems,” a mother enrolls the main character, Ada, into a youth sports camp. She made that decision to help Ada gain confidence and meet new friends.

Curious to know if parents I know have had a similar experience, I had a quick interview with Amy, parent of six-year-old Tyson. She explained why she chose sports camp for her son and the positive impact it has had on him.

Focus

Amy enrolled Tyson in basketball camp at 4 1/2 years old to help him focus — a common challenge for little ones. She also hoped that sports camp could be a great opportunity to make new friends and practice sharing — a common challenge for kids who are only children, like Tyson.

Friendships

Sports camp proved to be a great solution to these challenges. Amy states, “Over time, he fostered friendships by learning how to work together as a team,” and developed important skills like “good sportsmanship and patience.”

Skills

That wasn’t the only skill Tyson developed. During his second year at basketball camp, “through hard work and discipline, Tyson became better at the sport and even scored some free throws,” says Amy.

Self-confidence

Tyson’s self-confidence increased, culminating in an award at the end of the season. Amy notes, “I think he realized that if he applied himself at his new school like he did with basketball, he would not only make new friends but excel academically. That, in my opinion, was the most valuable lesson learned.”

Thanks for sharing, Amy! I hope her story helps other parents and guardians decide whether to enroll their child in a sports camp. Comment below if you have had a similar parent/guardian experience.

If you are looking for a sports camp for the kiddo(s) in your life (sports camps are happening all year round–not just during the summer) here are some resources to check out:

You can also do online searches for:

  • “City recreation departments near me”
  • “Community centers near me”
  • “Youth sports camps near me”

Enjoying Independence, Competition, and Nature at Sports Camp

For a lot of young people, participating in sports camp is more than just playing a sport. Ada, the main character of my book “Pickleball Problems,” which publishes Aug. 1, learned about independence and competing in a sport.

I had a quick interview with Ro, a mother of two, to find out what her sons enjoyed about sports camps when they were younger.

Since the two boys loved soccer, they once joined a soccer camp that lasted about a week. Ro fondly remembers, “They got to play different games and engage with people, not only with their [local] friends, but people from other areas. It was a lot of fun for them.” Ro’s older son “gravitates to finding new friends and making new relationships…They were able to all hang out together.”

Ro’s younger son is “very athletic. So anytime there’s an opportunity to compete and do things like that, that’s always really fun for him.” She recalls how much they enjoyed sunset scrimmages and matches.

Playing an outdoor sport resonated with her sons. “They grew up playing outside and outdoors. Anytime there was an opportunity to play games or do things outside, they were all about that life.” Besides soccer, they enjoyed campfire nights, crawdad fishing, and other activities that allowed them to be out in nature.

She adds that her sons fostered a level of independence during sports camp, “having a week of time without their parents, getting to do a sport that they loved.”

I’d like to give a big thank you to Ro for sharing about the impact that a sports camp had on her sons. Does her story remind you of an experience that you or a young loved one had with a sports camp?

Good Vibes for Pickleball Problems

On May 19, I read the first chapter of my upcoming book, Pickleball Problems, at the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild’s open mic night. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I should read an excerpt because the audience was a group of adults, and the target demographic for my book is children ages 9 – 12. But I decided to read the excerpt anyway because:

  • it made for good practice
  • someone in the audience may express interest in pre-ordering the book for a kiddo they love (which did happen!)
  • I received valuable, positive feedback

Audience members anonymously wrote down comments about each author’s reading on index cards, and I was thrilled with the feedback I received. Here are some of the notes.

“Excellent opening and use of active voice. Story compelling, page turner. Also, you read well.”

“Very engaging. Good lesson for kids.”

“Great description of the relationship between the sisters.”

“Well presented. Characters are well developed. We want to know more and follow the characters. Sister love!”

“I liked the way the story of a young girl’s opinion of sports evolved with her sister’s input and further investigation of the sports camp.”

“Kids sports can be intimidating for non-athletic kids; great way to acknowledge this.”

Thank you to the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild members for sharing your thoughts–and to the other authors for sharing excerpts from their works. Moments like what I experienced at the open mic night are truly inspiring.

“Pickleball Problems” Is Ready for Pre-order

I’m excited to announce that my first writing project with Capstone, Stone Arch Books imprint, is ready for pre-order! Yay! It’s part of the popular Jake Maddox Sports Series.

What is the Jake Maddox series? It’s a series of fiction chapter books for readers ages 8 – 11 and covers a variety of sports—from basketball to football to volleyball. There are more books in the series, and they feature female and male protagonists.

Each book highlights a different sport, a different main character, and a different set of challenges for the character to overcome, which gives plenty of variety for young readers. The back of the book includes a glossary of terms, discussion questions, writing prompts, and cool information about the sport featured in the book.

My book is about pickleball, the fastest growing sport in America, and has a 12 year-old female protagonist named Ada. Here’s the book cover and description:

Twelve-year-old Ada Wilson doesn’t love sports, but her parents have signed her up for a sports camp. After her tennis-loving older sister suggests that Ada learn to play tennis so they can play together, Ada excitedly agrees. But at camp she discovers that, to her, tennis isn’t nearly as fun as pickleball. What sport will Ada focus on, and will she be happy with her choice?

If you’d like to pre-order a copy of the book today, here are just a few of the stores selling the book.

Bookshop.org
Walmart
Amazon

What is a pre-order? That means you buy now from the store and get the book when it is released by the publisher, which will be August 1, 2025.

If you decide to pre-order the book, thanks in advance! I can’t wait until you and your young readers get the book in August and let me know what you think. 

It’s National Reading Month and Women’s History Month

March is a double-dose of awesomeness because it’s National Reading Month and Women’s History Month. Woot!

Fun Fact: In honor of Dr. Seuss, National Reading Month takes place in March because his birthday is March 2.

What better way to support this month’s recognitions than to read a book that involves women’s history?

Here are five children’s books about female historical icons that would be great reads for the girls (and boys) in your life:

“Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History” by Vashti Harrison

“Meet the little leaders. They’re brave. They’re bold. They changed the world.”

Learn more

“She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World” by Chelsea Clinton

“…thirteen inspirational women who never took no for an answer, and who always, inevitably and without fail, persisted.”

Learn more

“I Am Amelia Earhart” by Brad Meltzer

“This biography follows her from childhood to her first flying lessons and onward to her multi-record-breaking career as a pilot.”

Learn more

“Queen of Physics: How Wu Chien Shiung Helped Unlock the Secrets of the Atom” by Teresa Robeson

“Meet Wu Chien Shiung, famous physicist who overcame prejudice to prove that she could be anything she wanted.”

Learn more

“Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos” by Monica Brown

“…based on the life of one of the world’s most influential painters, Frida Kahlo, and the animals that inspired her art and life.”

Learn more

What books do you recommend for Women’s History Month?

“National Reading Month is an important opportunity to encourage reading every day and to foster a love of books for children across the country.”

– Reading is fundamental

Cool webinar: Parents: Check out this Reading Is Fundamental’s webinar: How to Raise a Reader. Watch it here

Children’s Books for Black History Month

If you are looking for a book to share with a child for Black History Month, look no further. From a book about Barack Obama to one about Wilma Rudolph, from a book about jazz to one about the Harlem Renaissance, we’ve got you covered.

Here is a list of children’s books to read for Black History Month–one for every day! Click on the link of the corresponding book to learn more about it. Happy reading!


February 1: Harriet Tubman

February 2: Phyllis Wheatley

February 3: W.E.B. DuBois

February 4: The Harlem Renaissance

February 5: George Washington Carver


February 6: The Black Panthers

February 7: The Pullman Porters

February 8: Juneteenth

February 9: Jackie Robinson

February 10: Frederick Douglass

February 11: The Six Triple Eight


February 12: Rosa Parks

February 13: Althea Gibson

February 14: Martin Luther King, Jr.


February 15: The Tuskegee Airmen

February 16: Misty Copeland

February 17: Barack Obama

February 18: Civil Rights Movement

February 19: Malcolm X

February 20: Jazz

February 21: Ketanji Brown Jackson

February 22: Katherine Johnson

February 23: Langston Hughes

February 24: Jessie Owens

February 25: Wilma Rudolph

February 26: Bessie Coleman

February 27: Sojourner Truth

February 28: Thurgood Marshall

Here We Are: 2025!

On New Year’s Day, a friend and I texted this to each other:

Me: “Can you believe it’s 2025? When I was young that seemed like the year for a sci-fi movie. Where is my flying car?!”

Friend: Yeah! And that robot maid!!

Those sci-fi-inspired luxuries don’t exist for us mere mortals yet–though, they’re certainly in development at tech labs around the world–but every year we get closer and closer to those sci-fi luxuries becoming a reality.

New Year, New Goals

Speaking of things becoming a reality…Every year, I make a list of goals–things that I want to accomplish in the new year. And I review the list of goals from the previous year. It’s pretty cool to see things on that list go from idea to reality. Here are some of my goals for 2025.

Do you believe in new year’s resolutions or setting goals for the new year? If so, I’d love to hear them. Feel free to share in the comments below or message me.

Ideas for New Year’s Resolutions/Goals for Kids:

“Volunteering as a family, choosing a group or charity to support, every month or on a timeline that is feasible for the family.
Learning a new vocabulary word every day.
As a family, learning a new language and only speaking that language at home one day per week, or one meal per week, etc.”

– READ THE article from Johns hopkins medicine

Favorite Things from 2024

Here are some of the great books I enjoyed last year.

What favorite books did you read in 2024?

Craft Fair, KidLit, and Connections

Many moons ago, I took a jewelry-making class while I lived in Washington, D.C. Here are a few things I made after taking the class.

Around that time, I also worked with a couple of friends to make greeting cards. I thought, “it would be fun to sell the jewelry and cards at a craft fair some day.” Time marched on, and what do you know? “Some day” arrived!

Mid-September, I had a booth at a small local craft fair, and it was so much fun!

I sold some of my picture books, “How Does the Cow Sleep,” as well as some greeting cards I made. A nice woman who attended the fair encouraged me to become a vendor at an upcoming fair that she’s managing. If I sign up, I’ll keep you posted on when and where it’ll be.

In September, I also attended the 45th anniversary dinner for the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild. The highlight for was meeting New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Maberry, who received an Odin Award. Talk about a great guy! So humble, so inspiring and so genuine. He was incredibly generous with his time, and I hope to see him at a local event sometime soon.

Starting in January, I joined SDWEG’s board, and I’ve enjoyed being behind the scenes of an organization like this one. It’s been great getting to know other local writers—sharing, commiserating, and encouraging one another. If you are a writer looking for an organization, consider joining SDWEG. It’s only $36/year, which is pretty affordable for an organization that’s been around since 1979. And we have monthly Zoom meetings with presentations about a variety of topics that are helpful to writers of all levels.

For writing news, I’m happy to report that I received approval on my latest writing project. This one is with leading educational publisher Capstone Press and will be part of their Jake Maddox Sports Series. I’ll keep you posted as we get closer to the book release.

Speaking of books, I’d love to know what you’re reading. In September, I finished one of the Who HQ books, “Who Were the Tuskegee Airmen?” by Sherri L. Smith.

Not only does the book give a high-level overview of these American icons, but it also provides information about lesser-known facts. For example, did you know that the term “Tuskegee Airman” included pilots, janitors, medical professionals and cooks? Did you know “The Tuskegee Experiment was one of the first military operations to include women as mechanics,” the book states.

And have you heard of the Coffey School of Aviation? It was founded by a black man and woman (yes, a black woman!) in Chicago in 1938. They taught blacks how to fly since it was against the law at that time–because of segregation and other negative societal norms–for blacks to attend aviation school. If you want to learn more interesting facts like these, I highly recommend Who HQ’s “Who Were the Tuskegee Airmen?”

Why I Want to Go Back to Work

When I left my previous employer in the fall of 2017, I did it to pursue writing full-time. So the headline to the blog post is a bit deceiving, I must admit, because I never stopped working. I just stopped doing it in the traditional, 9-to-5 way. While I worked for myself I:

  • Consulted on various communications projects with several clients, such as interviewing five mayors in Mississippi for a report and editing and designing a brochure for a diversity coach
  • Created two websites via WordPress.com
  • Wrote more than a hundred blog posts
  • Designed hundreds of images using Canva
  • Created a mailing list with more than 1,000 subscribers
  • Designed, wrote, and mailed dozens of e-newsletters via Mailchimp
  • Wrote 13 children’s educational books for Saddleback Educational Publishing
  • Wrote and self-published eight fiction books
  • Designed book covers and video book trailers using Canva
  • Developed strategies for book launches
  • Became a board member for a premier local writers organization

Many of the tasks listed above are common for an indie author or author-entrepreneur. Lucky for me, I drew upon my previous experience as a communications manager to complete these tasks. And I’ll be able to take the skills I learned since 2017 back to the workplace.

Why am I ready to go back now?

Writing full-time has been an amazing journey. My writing has developed, and I accomplished things that would’ve been challenging to achieve while working a 9-to-5. Well, it may have happened; it just probably would’ve taken twice as long. 🙂

I feel a sense of pride for my achievements these last several years. But there’s a double-edged sword to that pride. I also see what I didn’t achieve: a spot on a New York Times Bestseller list, a place on the front shelf of Barnes and Noble’s bookstores, and a high rank on Amazon’s Bestseller list.

21 Debut Author Statistics: The Real Odds of Getting Published
— This is a great article by Aspiring Author, chock-full of interesting statistics about getting published.

It’s easy to compare oneself to the “lucky ones,” those who quit their jobs and became bestselling novelists. “Why oh why couldn’t that have happened to me?” is a sentiment heard around the writing community. But the life as a bestselling author is not everyone’s journey. Not everyone is J.K. Rowling. (Though, her journey wasn’t easy, either.)

Everyone’s path is different. Some paths are more successful than others. Although, one can debate how to define success. Is it a certain level of financial prosperity? Specific professional accolades? Or a personal achievement?

With appreciating and accepting my journey, I have adjusted some of my life goals. I’ve also reflected on what I miss about the workforce I left:

  • A team
    • Brainstorming with colleagues, supporting one another, and making lasting friendships.
  • Growth
    • Pursuing opportunities to learn skills and overcoming challenges.
  • Projects
    • Seeing an idea come to fruition, from thought to reality, is very exciting.
  • A paycheck and benefits
    • No explanation needed here! Having a steady paycheck and benefits should be near the top of the list, shouldn’t it?

I look forward to re-entering the workforce, bringing my current skills to a new employer, and learning new skills ones. I’ll continue to work on books and short stories in my spare time–it just won’t be full-time focus. And I’m okay with that. More than okay. Perhaps my writing journey was a success after all. 🙂

I’d love to know if you’ve ever left the workforce and returned, or how you define success for yourself.