Welcome!

I love flowers, birds, and kids–not necessarily in that order.   And I love to write. So it comes natural to write for and about kids. I hope you like my books, my blogs, my poems, and my random musings. Thank you for visiting my page. I hope you enjoy it.    ~MJ

 

 Novel Connection: a place for readers and writers.

 

Being an only girl with seven rowdy brothers makes country life rough for sixteen-year-old Pepper. She is sick and tired of the annoying and down-right embarrassing pranks of her brothers. Plus, she resents having to compete with them for the attention and love she craves from her too-strict dad and feeling like a second-rate family member because she’s ‘just a girl’. Enters Stoney, a cute hippy who offers her a ride to a place where she is promised unconditional love and acceptance. But that love may not be unconditional.

To purchase your copy of Pepper, click here.

 

 

 Goodbye, Abuelita Book one of the Life in the Trees series.

Rosita and Ricardo Raccoon love to visit their grandma and are brokenhearted when she suddenly dies. Mom, Dad, and the two little Raccoons comfort one another and share memories of Abuelita as they deal with the grief of losing a loved one. The parents learn to be honest with their children about death and the children learn that death is part of life as they say Goodbye, Abuelita. To order your copy click here.

  

Buster doesn’t feel courageous even though his pal, Feisty Flea, encourages him to be brave. A good book for early readers or a read-aloud, this book teaches children to change their thinking and their behavior to become brave even when they don’t feel brave.

To order your copy of Brave Buster, click here.

 

Whip or Rill   Book one of the Life in the Leaves series.

Whip hates the name his friends have tagged on him and hates that he can’t sing. Will singing lessons help? Or will he always sound like the whip used by the farmer? Order your book here to learn the fate of Whip.

 

 

 Who are the men lurking around her house?  And what has happened to Gramps?

Adalei is on the run. Gramps is the only family Adalei has ever known, and he has suddenly disappeared.  When two men come knocking on her door then Gramps shows up only to be chased away by the two guys, she knows she has to get out. Hiding out in the woods is no longer an option, and Adalei must risk heading out alone to find Gramps. To add to her distress, she sees a woman on TV who could be an older version of her. How could a complete stranger have the same red, curly hair, freckles and dimples she sees in the mirror every day? Who are the men seeking her? To get your copy of Modified, click here!

Adalei is on another adventure, but again, not by her choice. Torn between a surprising relationship with a crazy aunt and the desire to go back home, Adalei is plunged into a frantic trip across the country. Will her life ever return to normal?  Will she ever go back to her quiet, rural life with Gramps?  To get your copy of Rectified, the sequel to Modified, click here!

 

 

Designed to encourage teens to think before they date, this book is ideal for teenagers who are nearing the dating age or who are already dating. It is also a good resource for those who teach or work with teens. To get your copy of It Pays to be Picky, click here.