Creature of habit

I'm kind of obsessive about my daily rituals.

One of them is doing the crossword puzzle.

I save it for the middle of the day, when I take a break from writing (or...whatever....heh).

Part of the ritual, in addition to the time of day and the place, is having a cup of fake coffee.

In the summer, I do it here.

In the winter, at my kitchen counter.

I have another crossword puzzle ritual:

I'm a very nervous flyer.

During takeoff and landing, I have to distract my mind.

I save up newspaper crossword puzzles for that. That's what I ALWAYS do.

Never read a magazine.

Never read a book.

Always the crossword puzzle.

Kind of neurotic, huh?

Birthday Girl

Happy Birthday, Ruby!

Love this

I love this photo.

Thank you, Nebraska.

Cereal Box Book Reports

The teacher who initiated these creative cereal box projects sent me pics of the boxes that were inspired by How to Steal a Dog so I could get a better look.

I just love them!

Thank you, Mrs. Smith!

They like me!

They really like me!

Three cool honors for THE DOG:

Winner of the William Allen White Kansas Children's Book Award.

Winner of the South Dakota Prairie Pasque Children's Book Award.

Runner-up for the Colorado Children's Book Award (along with my pal, Kirby Larson.)

These are really special honors since they are chosen by real, live children.

Be back soon

I'm taking a few days off to get back into my writer groove.

Back soon.

Cereal Box Book Reports

I love this clever idea: students designing cereal boxes inspired by books.

School Year 2009-2010

I've finished my last school visit of the year.

Now it's time to hunker down and WRITE.

Yikes.

I feel a little rusty.

But my goal is to get a first draft of my next novel finished over the summer.

Wish me luck.

And now, in honor of the end of school year 2009-2010, I present my year in 2 minutes and 21 seconds:

Food flashback

You know how sometimes you see a food item that you had when you were a child and hadn't thought about in years - and it takes you instantly back to childhood?

That happened to me yesterday when I saw WINDMILL COOKIES! I used to have them at my grandmother's house as a very young child and don't think I ever would have thought of them again if I hadn't seen them.


I think they must have been there in the store all along and I just never noticed. (But I'm pretty sure my grandmother's windmill cookies weren't "all natural."

I love kids

From a student:

You made my faith go up 200,000 more.


I love kids.

FSG Fall 2010 Catalog

I'm on the back cover of FSG's Fall 2010 catalog!

And inside, a lovely two-page spread.

I am in total awe of those talented folks who write catalog copy:

"An amazing secret has tumbled off a freight train into Carter, Georgia, and Owen Jester is the only person who knows about it. If he can simply manage to evade his grandfather's snappish housekeeper, organize his two best friends, and keep his nosy neighbor, Viola, at bay, he just might be in for the summer of a lifetime.

With her trademark wit and easy charm, Barbara O'Connor spins a fantastic fable of friends, enemies, and a superbly slimy bullfrog."

Ta da!

Coming October 2010

The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester
by
Barbara O'Connor

Four friends.

A frog.

A submarine.

And a summer they'll never forget.



(How I love this art! Thank you Greg Call!)

Jacket illustration by Greg Call. The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester © 2010 by Barbara O’Connor. Used with the permission of Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Love this school (Part 4)

The students at Hampden Meadows made so many great projects using my books.

They made posters:

They wrote amazing papers about the themes:

They made book trailers:

And they presented me with this beautiful plant:

See why I love this school?!

MacKids Blog

My April post on the FSG/Macmillan MacKids blog.

Love this school (Part 3)

Day 3 at the fabulous Hampden Meadows:

Just wait until you see all the AMAZING projects and posters!

Thanks so much, Hampden Meadows.

Love this school (Part 2)

Thank you, Hampden Meadows!

Love this school (Part 1)

Want to send a big shout-out today to Hampden Meadows School in Barrington, Rhode Island (the same one that participated in this fabulous community service project).

There's nothing better than visiting a school of enthusiastic, well-prepared students; friendly, smart and creative teachers; the world's best school librarian; and lots of lovely displays and projects inspired by my books.

I love kids

From a student:

To me you are the best author and I love most of your books.


I love kids.

My Dog Ate My Homework

Check out this fantastic little video compliments of media specialist Susan Kalisky of Kenbrook Elementary School in Farmington Hills, Michigan.

Thanks for sharing that, Erika.

I hope your dog enjoyed my book!

Here is Mrs. Kalisky and I holding up the yummy book:

It's an honor!

Thanks for the honor, Massachusetts!

The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester

The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester

Coming October 2010

(Note: This is not the cover. Just wait until you see the cover!! It's scrumptious.)

(Click on an image for a larger view)