It’s really happening…my first children’s early chapter book, Under the Light of the Moon is being published by Mascot Books and will be available in the spring (pre-order here)!  Interested in learning more?  Here’s a brief synopsis…

It is 1924, and Lucine has found safety at an orphanage in Greece with many other children after the Armenian Genocide in Turkey. She doesn’t know if her parents have survived and wonders if she’ll ever see them again. There are hundreds of thousands of orphans just like Lucine. Their horrible situation is reported in news around the world each day. In response, the United States forms a special organization called Near East Relief to help the orphans and provide food, clothing and shelter. Jackie Coogan, one of America’s most famous child actors at the time, wants to use his celebrity power to do all he can. While he does so much for the orphans, Jackie also comes to realize there are some things in life that are out of our control. Lucine appreciates all of the help from Jackie and Near East Relief but still, her main wish is to be reunited with her family but as time passes, she’s starting to think that may never happen.

Based on the real experiences of many Armenian orphans including the author’s great-grandparents, Under the Light of the Moon is a story of hope and survival during a dark time in history. The true events of young Jackie’s volunteer work remind us that anyone – no matter how young or old – can make a difference in the world.