SEE PHOTO GALLERY BELOW!

APPEARANCE PHOTO GALLERY. MOST RECENT PHOTOS AT TOP.

If you want a high-resolution photo, please send email, and I will try to fill your request. Many more photos are available than displayed here.

Danny Tyler, Gullet Elementary Astronomy Club volunteer, invited me to speak to 5th graders photo a, photo b, and the astronomy club on May 5, 2008.

Me and Dr. Rhea Seddon spoke at the annual Butterfly Luncheon on April 30, 2008. Astronaut Shannon Lucid also attended this event for supporters and sponsors of www.houstonhospice.org Houston Hospice.

Roger Weiss, standing to my left, invited me to address students participating in the NASA Means Business program. The students came to Johnson Space Center to learn about communicating space to the public. My talk on Space Writing was held February 26, 2008 in a room near the old Mission Control.

The Houston AIAA invited me to speak to about 30 people at their lunch-and-learn session at the Gilruth center on January 11, 2008. I told stories about astronomers, and signed some books--including one for European astronaut Claude Nicollier (wearing dark glasses).

The Branch School invited me to visit on Monday, October 29, 2007. The students compared the sizes of the planets, learned how tall hurdles are on the Moon, and why we only see one face of the Moon.

Eileen Collins addressed more than a thousand girls at the Sally Ride Festival at Rice University in Houston on October 27, 2007. The first woman shuttle commander said the most important thing to do is "read a lot!"

Hayden Meadows Elementary in Hayden Lake, Idaho hosted a visit on October 9, 2007. Thanks Librarian Kiersten Kerr (seen speaking in photo2, photo3, photo4) for setting up an excellent visit with just a few weeks' notice!

Me on Broadway--actually the Borders bookstore on Broadway in NYC! This photo was taken by Scott Edelman of Locus magazine May 11, 2007 and is posted on their website under Nebula weekend 2007.

Me and my husband with Gene Kranz at the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement banquet, April 20, 2007. Mr. Kranz won the National Space Trophy.

January 19, 2007. Thanks to the Briargrove PTO, especially Gina Spessard (behind desk on right), I got to visit with the talented 4th and 5th graders at Briargrove Elementary in Houston. The 2nd and 3rd graders compared how far they could jump on Earth with how far they could jump on the Moon. The first graders saw how big Jupiter is compared to other worlds and how little they would weigh on the Moon. Kingergarteners surprised me with a song led by Librarian Laurie Stephens, and then compared Mars to Earth, Mercury, and the Moon. This author was impressed with all these future space explorers!

November 18, 2006. A Houston Chronicle This Week reporter took photos of my visit to the Pearland Library. Did anyone see them in the paper? I sure would like a copy!

November 17, 2006. A student checks his weight on the Moon at Y. B. Escobar Elementary in Roma, Texas.

April 7, 2006. Maegden Elementary Principal Mr. Teal welcomed me to Lubbock, Texas at the morning assembly.

2005

November 4, 2005. I visited Bruce Shulkey Elementary in Fort Worth, Texas and got this photo of me with Librarian Linda Brand.

October 2005. I am standing in front of the science building during a visit to my alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. I spoke to some of the faculty and college students in the physics department. I also spoke at four elementary schools and to teachers in training.

May 12, 2005. Here I am with Dr. Kathleen Ahrens, the Regional Advisor for SCBWI Taiwan, who arranged for me to speak to the Taipei chapter.

May 11, 2005. Ni hao! Here I am with librarians Kathy and Sandy (with daughter) and PTA volunteer Jackie who orchestrated my visit to the Taipei American School in Taiwan.

April 23, 2005. My "trophy" from the American Institute of Physics arrived, a Windsor chair engraved with my name and book title.

February 19, 2005. After four and a half years of training, I am awarded my first degree black belt in Kuk Sool. My new title is Jyo Ko Nim.

February 5, 2005. Me and Melanie Chrismer, the MC at the SCBWI-Houston Academy 101, part 2. Here are photo A and photo B of me talking about writing profiles for magazines.