start here! Picture books Middle Grade Young Adult Literary Seasonal
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Hello readers & friends! I'm Caitlin, a writer of all sorts of things, but mostly middle grade fiction. As a kid, I dreamed about becoming a detective, a doctor, a wizard, a ballerina, a spy, & on & on & on. So naturally, I settled on becoming a writer where I get to be all those things and more.

Come in and explore Lost in Story where I share book recommendations, and check-in with my writing space, Am Writing, where I sometimes share my fiction and writing advice!

I’d love it if you stopped by Instagram where I talk about the books I’m currently reading, share encouragement, give peeks into my classroom (I'm a high school English teacher by day), and post way too many stories of my literary pets.

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about

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blog

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writing

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Lost In Story

 
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Lost in Story
March Challenge goodies
March Challenge goodies

It’s time for some new reading goals for the month of March! How many green books do YOU have on your shelves?

What I read in January
What I read in January

A round-up of the books I read in January, including mini reviews & age suggestions for each one!

February Challenge goodies
February Challenge goodies

Ready to keep challenging your reading life? Step into February with a new list of book goals!

Fantastical Reads that Span the Ages
Fantastical Reads that Span the Ages

Winter is the perfect time to get wrapped up in epic fantasy worlds. Try one of these middle grade or young adult series, and cozy up for the season!

My Top Reads of 2018
My Top Reads of 2018

It was hard, but I narrowed down my favorite read of 2018. Some stayed with me all year, while others I found just as 2018 was coming to a close. Hence why I’m sharing my list now, and not two weeks ago! Nevertheless, I’m recommending all of them to you for your 2019 TBR pile if you haven’t found them yet!

 

am writing

 
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Featured
#AMMConnect: Spring 2019
#AMMConnect: Spring 2019

Ready for some exciting writing news from my desk? I’m stepping out into the industry this Spring with some big things. First stop, Author Mentor Match.

Writing Resources Vol. 1
Writing Resources Vol. 1

Are you a beginning writer looking for some inspiration? I’m sharing a round-up of some of my favorite resources for beginning writer’s today in Vol 1 of a new series. It’s time to jump write in!

“It’s just a Game”
“It’s just a Game”

What happens when you take one writing prompt and explore it at different times?
Different stories of course!
Download the beginnings of a few of my stories and let me know what you think!

#AmWriting
#AmWriting

A little bit on this writing space, and what you can expect to read here.

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Some afternoons call for a pick-me-up. Here’s to the almost, almost weekend. • Also, my new desk buddy is giving me all the joy these days. • #lifewithcait #teacherlife #teachersofinstagram #caitsteachinglife #pickett #fantasticbeasts #potterhead #whovian
"Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime." • // Martin Luther • Today started a bit rough, but without a doubt, I know Spring is going to bring beautiful things. • Two of my seniors surprised me with these this morning before first hour, along with a note (which had me in tears) that I’m probably going to cherish for the rest of my life. • Some days I doubt my teaching, & others I know I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. • It isn’t easy, this thing called life. But moment by moment, if we open up our eyes, we can find the wonder, the heart the hope the kindness the joy the love of a resurrection life. • And a promise eternal, that someday, we too will rise. • This Lenton & Springtime season is teaching me more about my faith than I could imagine. • For that I am grateful. • • #lifewithcait #spring #flowers #choosekind #ressurectionlife
I forget how Spring is my favorite until it shows up every year. One day it’s winter, & the next day, the crocuses are peeking out, the world around me alive once again. • Sometimes, I think faith is like that. We spend months & months in prayer, wondering if He’s even listening...the silence settling in. Our souls weary. But then suddenly, He’s there. Often with something we weren’t expecting. • I’ve found myself feeling this way through this season. Wondering if God was even listening, & at times, not even bothering to lift up a prayer because the weight of my soul couldn’t bare to. • I’ve gotten tired of our infertility struggle. I love you all, but I’m over baby announcements. And my heart is simply not ready to move forward on a different path. • So last winter I told God no. Yet in the midst of my rebellion, He kept working on my heart, & this Spring He brought a surprising yes. • If you’ve seen us around the last month, you’ll have noticed we have a two-legged tagalong. That’s the way the Lord works with the Lores. He sort of smacks us in the face with His plans. I felt disobedient & full of doubt this winter, yet the Spirit kept nudging at my heart. • And so, a month ago, we started fostering, in the most unexpected of ways, & now I find myself parenting a 14-year-old. • We truly don’t know what the future holds, but He does. Which is something I’m clinging to in obedience as we walk forward into a marvelous unknown, His faithfulness evident. • I know this will be a season of growth in so many ways. And as Spring blooms, so does my heart. • If you’d like more of our story, or have any advice on how to parent a teen, let’s have coffee. My porch will be open soon & my heart & soul need it. • • #thelorelife #lifewithcait #mynextrightthing #itssimplytuesday #cultivatewhatmatters
A day off from school means time for my other work—revising! • There was a time in my writing journey when I thought I would never get here. But don’t let Instagram fool you because these moments of focused writing work are few & far between in this season, which often still leave me wondering if I’ll ever get this revision done. • Especially as the next eight weeks will be spent working my day job & writing in the spaces between, counting down to Spring break. • But if you’re a newbie writer, don’t fret. I’ll honestly tell you it isn’t easy to find the in between writing spaces if you’re a #writerwithadayjob but it IS 💯% possible. • This week, I started a new series on the blog just for writers where I share some of my favorite things that have helped me on my own journey, including how to find the time to write. • So if you’re looking for books, handouts, courses, craft tips, or other writers to connect with, I’ve got the hook up. • Or at least one blog post with a few resources to get you started. • If you’re a beginning writer or a writer in the beginning stages, I’d love to connect & cheer each other along. • Because the best piece of writing advice I’ve received & want to give, is that you’re not alone in this journey & we writers should stick together. • #amwriting #notesfromawritersdesk #writingtips #writingresources #write #writing #writer #writersofinstagram #writerscommunity
#DarthDaisytheDoxieLord knows exactly what I want to be doing on this Monday. • Between Winter blahs, the-plague-that-won’t-go-away, & an I’d Rather Be writing/reading mentality, I feel like I’m in a long haul for February. • I asked a question in my stories this weekend about how to survive the month & lots of you had great ideas. • My favorite was a suggestion to just change my perspective. Look at it differently. And shortly after that I had a chance to walk the dogs outside—in the sun—and it was glorious, inspiring me t take more winter hikes this month. • But I am still fighting sickness, no matter how much I rest or medicate & by golly, it really is enough to get me down. • Which of course makes my thoughts spiral—I get down about not feeling well enough to get things done. I’m over my job. My brain isn’t functioning well enough to write. I’m wanderlusting for travel out of the snow. And on & on & on... • So what do you when you’re in a season that doesn’t seem to want to go away? How do you persevere when you feel like you can’t see the end of the season? • I’m sure I’ll have more thoughts later when I’m out of this junk (literally & emotionally)—but until then—give me all your suggestions friends. The good. The crazy. The ridiculous. • Because I am so over this plague. • • #lifewithcait #thelorelife #questions #winter #winterblues #dachshund
Last month was a great start to my 2019 reading life. • It helped that I had 4 snow days from school & a long weekend where I was cooped up with the flu. • With all my time, I read some great books & decided that I’d start sharing more bookish thoughts, rather than just star ratings & genres. • You can find the collection of my mini reviews in my 2019 reads highlight or I rounded up January’s images & shared them on the blog today. [link in profile!] • I love getting books into reader’s hands, but my star rating might not mean anything to someone else, hence the brief thoughts on who the book would be good for. • Let me know if you’re enjoying the reviews & if you want more! Otherwise, check out my highlights or the blog for all my January book thoughts! • What did you read in January? • • • • • #readwithcait #caitsreads2019 #readerlife #readinglife #amreading #reading #literature #booklover #booknerd #bibliophile #bookaholic #bookaddict #bookworm #igreads #instabooks #readingcommunity #bookcommunity #fiction #bookstagram #bookrecommendations
Today’s desk assortment sums up my list of loves pretty well. • Avocados Coffee Books The Doctor • I’m a girl of simple things. • • #thelorelife #lifewithcait #bookish #booksandcoffee #alwaysgoforguac
Since I finished WINTER MAGIC last week, I can’t seem to get this little gem out of my head. • And I don’t know about you, but between the polar vortex, several weekend of being cooped up, & fighting the flu turned cold turned something else... I’m ready for an adventure. • Today seems like a good place to start. • What about you? What adventure are you ready to show up for? • • • • • #bookquoteswithcait #readwithcait #readerlife #readinglife #bookish #reading #literature #booklover #booknerd #bibliophile #bookaholic #bookaddict #bookworm #bookcommunity #fiction #currentlyreading #bookquotes #quote #favoritebooks #shortstories #igreads
*Would you consider supporting literacy and donating a book (or two) to our classroom library? We're always looking for patrons!

*Would you consider supporting literacy and donating a book (or two) to our classroom library? We're always looking for patrons!