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– My next middle-grade book, Shaken, comes out in early September. Today’s excerpt includes two passages from Kristy’s first art therapy session. I was provided with generous help from two art therapists, Tracy Gilbert and Maria Lupo, who guided my thinking, suggested research materials, and reviewed the manuscript, offering thoughts and insights. For example, the book referenced below, by Susan Farber Straus, came directly from Tracy’s own practice.  But first, a little background on the book: For 7th-grader Kristy Barrett, soccer is life. It has always been at the center of Kristy’s w ..read more

– When I speak at schools to an audience of grades 4-up, I’ll sometimes talk about my wilderness survival novel, Blood Mountain.  There’s a scary moment in the process that many writers face. After the initial idea for the book — two kids and a dog lost in the mountains! — that happy burst of boing! eureka! — I realized that I didn’t know nearly enough to write it. It was time to hit the books and talk to experts. Which I did.  The other day, a few years after the fact, I reread for pleasure one of the books that informed my thinking: Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why ..read more

– Good News! Here’s a horrifying way to kick off summer reading and a great gift idea. – In about two weeks, on June 25th, Square Fish/Macmillan will be putting out a 304-page compilation that brings together three of my “Scary Tales” books in one volume: One-Eyed Doll, Nightmareland, and Swamp Monster. All for only $8.99 (cheap!). –     – For this series, I wanted more freedom than I had with Jigsaw Jones (42 books!), so each story features different characters and unique settings. I love that three of these stories can now be read in one big book. Best for grades 3-5, though I ..read more

– – I was feeling pretty drained from yesterday, my last school visit of the year. A hot one! We crammed everybody into the library — four presentations, K-5 — and we all pretty much constantly thought about how nice it would have been to have air conditioning. – I longed for a cool movie theater and a box of Junior Mints. – – How on earth do teachers do it? – Drip, drip, drip. – The sound of students melting into puddles on the floor. – As always, but maybe never moreso than today, circa 2024, I am beyond grateful to still be invited into schools to encourage and (hopefully) inspire a l ..read more

– Here’s a meme that resonated with me, and it might do you some good, too (more thoughts below): – – I published my first official book in 1986, though I made many books with spare paper and tape as a young kid, probably starting around 1966.  So it’s been a long time of me making things. And a very long and hard time of me beating myself up over all those times when I’m not-making-things.  Of me being uninspired, or lazy, or too slow and dim-witted, unoriginal, shiftless, and on and on. All the hateful words. How does one write without a generous heaping of self-loathing? I’ll nev ..read more

– ONLY $8.99 — CHEAP! – –     ..read more

– – Confession: I’m not sure if this is technically a piece of “fan mail.” The United States Postal Service was not involved, and it did not arrive to me via email. This note was handed to me toward the end of a school visit in Mahwah, NJ.  – – I read the note — those extraordinary thoughts — and I looked at the young girl before me. “Is this for me? To keep?” She nodded, shyly. “Would it be okay,” I asked, “if we took a picture together?” She thought that would be fine. So here we are (note: permission granted by Sorella’s parents). – – Days have now passed, a full week come and gone ..read more

– Over the next few months, I’ll be sharing some excerpts and background info on my upcoming novel, Shaken.  Very briefly, a 7th-grade soccer player suffers a severe concussion that effects her life in profound ways. She gets behind in school, feels stress and anxiety, suffers from panic attacks, and ultimately goes to therapy sessions (including art therapy!) which are depicted in the book. The story is about how Kristy responds to these setbacks, the new friends she makes, the mistakes and the good decisions, too.  – – Light breaks through the curtains, bringing with it a sharp p ..read more

–   Let’s check the mail! It’s funny, thinking of this now, I remember the later years of my mother when she lived in her last house in Greenport, Long Island. Checking the mail — putting on a light sweater, struggling into a pair of shoes, walking down the driveway to the road and the mail box — that was an adventure right there. Then she’d sit, have a cup of tea, light a cigarette, and think about having a little coffee cake later on.  Anyway! Ananya writes . . .    Hi Mr.Preller, I hope you are well. My name is Ananya ____. You recently visited my school (Jericho Middle ..read more