The Search for the Perfect Collective Noun for Horseback Riders
You might have noticed by now that I absolutely love collective nouns—like a “creep” of tortoises or a “murder” of crows! While I was out riding my magnificent trail horse, Poncho, this morning, I started wondering: is there an official collective noun for horseback riders? Off to the internet I trotted to find out. As […]
Why I’m Like a Galápagos Pink Iguana
The newest type of iguana discovered in the Galápagos Islands is the Galápagos pink land iguana (Conolophus marthae). These pink beauties are only found on the slopes of Wolf Volcano on Isabela Island. This is another interestingly colored iguana species. Green iguanas (Iguana iguana) appear green due to xanthophores (yellow pigment) and iridophores (blue-reflecting crystals). […]
The Stubborn Homeowners of the Sonoran Desert
In my yard, I have a multitude of objects that have apparently become high-demand real estate for my local lizards. In addition to these tiny residents, I have a large Sulcata tortoise named Cantata, who seems to enjoy rearranging the neighborhood. She knocks things about, tips them over, walks over them, and moves them to […]
The Unintended Impact of the Honeybee
In writing about the horses introduced by the conquistadors being an invasive species—even though they have become intertwined with Western U.S. and indigenous cultures—I got to thinking about another introduced, and perhaps invasive, species: the honeybee (Apis mellifera). Yes, our agriculturally important honeybee was introduced and can be considered invasive because of its impact on […]
Don’t Get Bitten by Bad Research! Join Me at the Sonoran Writers Conference
Calling all writers and writers-to-be! I invite you to join me in Mesa on May 9, 2026, for the Sonoran Writers Conference at Benedictine University. I’ll be participating in several panels and sharing vital information about the venomous and poisonous animals found in Arizona. As many of you know, I love talking about animals, and […]
The Milwaukee Brewers and the Curious Case of the Pocket Tortoise
Tortoises are not often associated with professional sports. They aren’t known for their speed, and their collective noun is—appropriately—a “creep.” So, when I saw a sports headline with “tortoise” in the title, I was immediately intrigued. From Pocket Pancakes to Pocket Reptiles The tortoise is the latest chapter of a bizarre story that began with […]
Springing into April: Music, Art, and Reptiles
If you didn’t have a chance to catch up with me during the busy March festival season, don’t worry! I’m not heading back to the lab or the writing desk just yet. April is shaping up to be another wonderful month of community events, and I’ll be out and about with my books—and my reptiles—at […]
A Shady Situation at the Tucson Festival of Books
We were assigned a new booth location at the Tucson Festival of Books this year. For the past two years, we enjoyed a corner booth on the grass along one of the main drags. However, we often wondered if being on the paved area directly in front of the Children’s Village would bring better foot […]
Marching Into Festival Season
Can you believe March 2026 is already here? For an author, March is more than just the start of spring; it’s festival season! This is the time of year when I get to step out from behind my writing desk and meet the young readers (and curious adults) who bring my stories to life. I […]
The Super Bowl Bird that Isn’t a Seahawk
I don’t follow the National Football League much these days. Between writing science-based picture books and my work with reptiles, there is simply too much other “stuff” filling my mind! However, one thing hasn’t changed over the years: when the Super Bowl rolls around, I always root for the animal team. If two animal teams […]
A Lotl Fun with Axolotls!
I try to have a new book ready in time for the annual Tucson Festival of Books (TFoB) every year. This year, I am releasing a book I’m very excited about. It all started when I noticed the attention axolotls were getting at the booth next to me during the Tucson Reptile Show. Those attractive […]
Celebrating Our Bushy-Tailed Neighbors: National Squirrel Appreciation Day
Growing up in the Midwest and Northeast, I always enjoyed the antics of the squirrels. These fluffy fellows are part of the “tree squirrel” group, which is just one of three types—the others being ground squirrels and the so-called “flying” squirrels. Of course, flying squirrels don’t actually fly (bats are the only mammals capable of […]
A Look Back at a Remarkable 2025
2025 was an amazing year in my life. Even though I write primarily to share my love of science with children—and the adults who help read the books—I was deeply honored by the recognition my work received this year. My journey included an incredible book tour on Guam, a fascinating island with wonderful people that […]
A Sonoran Desert Thanksgiving Feast
November is the month known for Thanksgiving. While turkey is the ‘traditional’ food, along with stuffing and cranberry sauce, it’s widely believed turkey was not served at the first celebration in 1621. Roasted or stewed deer meat was probably on the menu, along with local vegetables like onions, beans, lettuce, spinach, cabbage, carrots, pumpkin, and […]
The Mysterious Rio Grande Siren
I’m currently working on a book titled A Lotl About Axolotls, an amphibian who never fully matures into an adult salamander with lungs. They keep their juvenile features, complete with frilly exterior gills—a very interesting adaptation to their environment. Recently, I learned about an equally unusual salamander found in the Rio Grande River: the Rio […]
The Great Goose Dismount: A Museum Adventure
When I visit my hometown of Peoria, Illinois (not the fake Peoria in Arizona), my friend Ruth and I often go to the Peoria Riverfront Museum to see the current exhibits. This time, we went for the premiere of the new Titanic exhibit, which reveals the mission behind the wreck’s discovery. It was very interactive […]
High Desert Dewdrops: Mountain Mornings in Overgaard, Arizona
My friend has a cabin up in the mountains of Overgaard, Arizona. As often as we can, we haul our boys up there for a few days—our beloved trail horses, Boogie, a Tennessee Walker, and my Poncho, a Missouri Fox Trotter. We’re fortunate that they are best buds and love being on the trail together. […]
The Iguana of Guam? Separating Fact from Fiction on a Pacific Island
On a recent book tour on Guam, I found myself talking about one of my favorite topics: iguana conservation. As I’ve worked to help control the worldwide spread of the invasive green iguana (Iguana iguana), a local mentioned that Guam already had iguanas. “Really?” I thought, my mind racing. I knew that most food and […]
Zoe Steals the Show at Fox Tucson Theatre’s Monsoon Literacy Celebration
I was honored to have a book selected for this event and to be present to interact with the participants. I submitted my Sonoran Desert-themed books for consideration. I was thrilled by their choice: the bilingual version, La Tortuga…Vampiro, of my book Vampire…Tortoise?!. Once this book was selected, they created a PowerPoint slide presentation of […]
Dissecting the Ancient Reptiles of Jurassic World Rebirth
It’s a good thing I go to the Jurassic Park and World movies for entertainment and not scientific accuracy! I do enjoy seeing reptiles portrayed eating well and how iguana eyes and head movements are used for the dinosaurs. I don’t let my iguanas watch the movies for that reason – I don’t want them […]
A Royal Hue: Exploring the Enigmatic World of Purple Animals
I have a friend, let’s call her Gee, who really, really likes the color purple. I mean, she wears purple, her horse tack is purple, and she even named her puppy “Purple.” I’m surprised her truck isn’t purple, but maybe that color wasn’t available! Gee actively seeks out purple in the world. She was recently […]
Reflecting on an Award-Winning First Half of 2025!
As we reach the end of the first half of 2025, I must say it has been an eventful and mostly positive year! I’m writing this blog post from a cabin in Overgaard, Arizona, nestled in the mountains near the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. It’s a welcome cooler escape from Tucson, which my horse, Poncho, is […]
Håfa Adai! A Heartfelt Welcome on My Guam School Tour
In April, I had the distinct honor of being invited by the Guam International Literacy Association to share my book, Guam: Return of the Songs, with twenty schools across the island. While I was excited to present my book, I was truly unprepared for the incredibly warm and artistic welcome that awaited me. It was […]
Marching into Market Month: Celebrations, Books, and Fun!
After a couple of months of recovering from the holidays, completing the end-of-year chores, and working on some new books, March is festival month. I am delighted to have booths at four events. The PACC Pet Parade Market month starts off on March 2 with the 2025 Friends of PACC Pet Parade. I’m hoping to […]
Frog vs. Toad: Nature’s Unlikely Villain
One of my most unique characters, Curtis Curlytail, is set to star in his own movie, a production by the Tucson-based animation movie company, Luck Dragon. Curtis, with his distinctive features, was an obvious choice for the protagonist. But who could match his uniqueness as the antagonist? It had to be someone truly evil yet […]
Electric Connections: Tingly Moments with My Horses
Is there someone in your life that makes you feel all tingly when you’re with them? Not necessarily giddy emotionally, but someone who sends shivers down your spine or lightning bolts through your body? When Does the Tingle Strike? I admit my horses make me feel all tingly. My two boys are Poncho, a Missouri […]
The Science of Sizzling: Experimenting with the Perfect Bacon Cook Method
When I moved into my house in Tucson, a good friend gave me this statue as a housewarming gift. He is St. Anthony, a 4th-century hermit. Unfortunately, he was tormented by the devil, who took the form of a pig. Consequently, the persevering saint was named the patron saint of bacon and butchers. As a […]
A Rare Find! All About the Rustic Sphinx Moth
A friend shared a captivating photo of a uniquely patterned and stunning moth on social media. The sheer beauty of this moth piqued my curiosity. Unlike the dedicated scientist that I am, Allison hadn’t identified her moth. I was so intrigued that I would have postponed my grocery shopping until I knew more about this […]
Monitors: From Lizards to Screens and Beyond
My writing workplace is in need of a new mouse pad, as the one with iguanas of the world has faded. At the Tucson Reptile Show, I stumbled upon a unique find: a mouse pad that humorously showcases the word ‘monitor’ in various contexts. This pad, in a way, reflects the complexity and versatility of […]
An Enchanting Tale of Birdwatching and Mockingbirds
As I navigate the captivating landscape of the Sonoran Desert, always on the lookout for intriguing subjects for my Fun Fact videos, I am constantly amazed by the unique beauty of this environment. The other day, while enjoying a leisurely ride with my horse Poncho around the stables area (his preferred spot over the arena), […]