It’s hard to say goodbye to something you love. For 16 years, I have loved writing Whatever After , my book series for 7-12 year olds, about two kids who fall into fairy tales and have magical adventures. I have been working on these novels for almost a third of my life; when I decided to wrap up the series, it felt bittersweet and a bit scary.

Eight months ago, on the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 7, I was at home in the Pacific Palisades, knee-deep in writing the final book in the series. Suddenly my phone shrieked with a text from the LA fire department.

Wildfire- Palisades Drive. Prepare for possible evacuation.

Ugh. Really? I did not have time to evacuate. I had to figure out the perfect, most satisfying ending for the last book! But it was time to pack. And I knew the drill. Thi

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