*****Recent News *****

• Catching Cryptids: The Scientific Search for Mysterious Creatures received a glowing review from Kirkus!

“A handy guide to high-tech, low-tech, and no-tech tools for tracking down Mongolian death worms and similarly elusive creatures worldwide.

‘Animals, it turns out, are really good at hiding.’ Grouping select cryptids by type—sea and lake monsters, those that are wolflike, batlike, or apelike, and so forth—Long pairs summary reports of sightings and general descriptions of each creature with descriptions of gear and techniques that readers may use to verify that the animals actually exist. Recent advances in technology have expanded the tool kit considerably, so in addition to relying on standbys like radar, sonar, and trained dogs, researchers can analyze DNA floating in water and even air, break down recordings of ambient sounds in forests and other habitats, and employ nearly silent aerial or deep-sea drones. These technologies can also be used to track down actual as well as legendary fauna, of course, as the author points out with examples of species that have wrongly turned out to be considered extinct, along with suggestions for careers in biology from zoologist to wildlife computer scientist. Still, the stars of the show here are the cryptids. They’re seldom more than vague shapes in Miles’ understated illustrations, and Bigfoot doesn’t even make the cut. At times, the author’s skepticism about many of the others shows through. Nevertheless, there are frights and marvels aplenty left for believers. ‘Adventure awaits,’ she writes, ‘so let the search begin!’ Stimulating fare for both outdoor and armchair cryptid hunters.”

• Catching Cryptids: The Scientific Search for Mysterious Creatures is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection!

**** Previous Events ****

• I will be attending Anderson Bookshop’s 2024 LITaPalooza in July.
• How to Catch a Cryptid: using cutting-edge technology to find legendary creatures is set to hit stores in May 2025!
• I love Shepherd’s book lists! I formed one for my top five books with a fun competition/game as the heart of the story. See it here.
• Anderson’s Booksho’s 2023 LitaPalooza
• On May 1, 2023, I visited Lace School in Darien, Illinois. 
• Lexi Magill and the Teleportation Tournament made the Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List for 2021-2022! Read about the master list here!

• On March 27, 2019, I participated in the “Fantastic Worlds, Incredible Journeys” panel of the School Library Journal’s inaugural Middle Grade Magic virtual summit! The SLJ is always having awesome events. For more information, please click here.
• On May 3-5, 2019, I attended the SCBWI’s Marvelous Midwest regional event in Naperville, Illinois, where I met fellow 2019 debut middle grade authors Jody J. Little (@JodyJLittle) and Karla Manternach (@MsKarlam)!
• On August 10, 2019, I moderated a middle grade debut author panel at Anderson’s Bookstore in Downers Grove, Illinois, where fellow #Novel19 debuts Malayna Evans, Niki Lenz, Karla Manternach, and Rajani LaRocca talked about their fantabulous books!
• On October 1, 2019, I had a launch party at Anderson’s Bookshop in Downers Grove, Illinois!
• On October 2, 2019, I visited Maplebrook Elementary School and Patterson Elementary School in Naperville, Illinois, for author/school visits!
• On October 15, 2019, I visited Sherman Middle School in Madison, Wisconsin, for a school visit courtesy of the Wisconsin Book Festival.
• On October 28, 2019, I attended visited Milwaukee Montessori, STEM Randall School, and Glen HIlls Middle School (Wisconsin) through Boswell Book Company.
• On October 29, 2019, I visited Stone Bank Elementary and Summit Elementary in Oconomowac, Wisconsin, for school visits through Books & Company.
• On November 15, 2019, I was at Shakespeare & Co. in Philadelphia, PA with fellow middle grade author Nicole Valentine for a discussion on our books and sci-fi in Middle Grade.
• On November 17, 2019, I was at An Unlikely Story in Plainville, MA, for a SteaMG panel with fellow sci-fi authors Christine Taylor-Butler, Caroline Carlson, and Joshua Levy.
• On December 12, 2019 I visited Komarek Elementary in North Riverside, Illinois, for an author school visit.
• On January 23, 2020, I visited Elmwood Park Elementary in Elmwood Park, Illinois for an author school visit.
• On February 12, 2020, I visited elementary schools in Wheeling, Illinois for author school visits.
• On February 22, 2020, I attended Anderson Bookshop’s Children’s Literature Breakfast in Woodridge.
• On February 25, 2020, I visited elementary schools in Naperville, Illinois.
• On March 6, 2020, I visited elementary schools in Ottawa, Illinois.
• On March 22, 2020, I will be attending the 2020 WEMTA Author Fair in Wisconsin Dells. (Cancelled-pandemic)
• On March 27-28, 2020, I will be a panelist at KidLitCon in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Cancelled-pandemic)
• On July 16, 2020, I served as a panelist on three panels for NerdcampPA’s virtual conference. 
• On September 22, 2020, I moderated Summer Short’s virtual book launch to celebrate her debut, The Mutant Mushroom Takeover!