Birthdays: Ariel Durant (1898), Bel Kaufman (1911), Monica Dickens (1915), T. Berry Brazelton (1919), Barbara Taylor Bradford (1933), Richard Peck (1934), Arthur Kopit (1937), Wayne Dyer (1940), Caroline B. Cooney (1947), Christopher Paul Curtis (1953), Rick Steves (1955), Suzan-Lori Parks (1963), Jon Ronson (1967), John Scallzi (1967)

Richard Peck won the 2001 Newbery for “A Year Down Yonder”

Christopher Curtis won the Newbery Award for “Bud, Not Buddy”

Quote: “Talk to her about safe ways to handle dangerous feelings. When you are driving and someone cuts in front of you, instead of giving way to road rage, say, “I’m so mad I could have smashed into him. But I didn’t.” She may not entirely understand you, but she’ll be comforted to find that frightening feelings can be discussed.”

― T. Berry Brazelton, Touchpoints-Birth to Three

“First and foremost, you need to be serious about your desire to become a published author. It takes an extraordinary amount of time, effort and dedication to hone your skills and produce a work worthy of publication. But like anything else, if you possess the talent and the determination, you will likely succeed.” – Barbara Taylor Bradford

Tip: DO NOT USE ALL CAPS OR BOLD unless absolutely necessary. If you want to stress a word, italicize it: We were supposed to meet at nine.

Jumpstart: Your character has exactly twenty-four hours to… what? Does she do it? Why or why not? What happens in twenty-four hours if she doesn’t?