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Questions, Answers, and a Special Announcement
November 16, 2008
 I get many questions from children, but the most frequent one goes along the lines of, "Are there more Sticky Burr books" or "When are you going to make more books" or "PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE write another sticky burr book!" Well I am happy to announce that there will be a second book about Sticky Burr, coming out in 2009. I have been working very hard to make it even more exciting than the first one. Stay tuned to this website for details!
I also get many other questions, and though I cannot write back to each person, I will try to answer them on this website. For instance, Lexie wrote in: "Can you give me some tips about drawing and writing? I have a sketchbook full of ideas. I wrote some comics. One day I want to be a cartoonist myself." Yes, I can give you some tips. For one thing, try to draw as much as you can. It is great that you have a sketchbook full of ideas, so do I. You should also try drawing things from real life, things that you see around you – people, toys, places, pets. This will help you draw better.
I will soon have a page on this website to answer questions, so come back later to read about where I get my ideas, how I draw the pictures, and what's the name of that burr who plays the drum!
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Web Comic back in action
September 20, 2008
After a short vacation, the Sticky Burr web comic is back with a new chapter, you can read it here. Now that fall has arrived, it's a good time to spot real burrs in the wild. But whatever you do, don't put them in your hair -- they get really stuck and hard go to get out!
I had a great visit last month to the Thomas Memorial Library, in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Visit my other website to see a photo gallery of the event.
I will be adding a new page to the website soon with answers to questions that people send in. So if you have any questions about me or my books, just send me an email.
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Burrs and Toads
June 8, 2008
I have recently added more pages to the Sticky Burr web comic. Scurvy Burr is looking to play a nasty trick on our poor hero, not knowing that Sticky Burr is already in danger from a swarm of locusts. You can read the entire story from the beginning, and watch for future chapters this summer!
Spring is a great time of year to start seeing wildlife, even if you don't live near the woods. Often you can see small animals and insects right in your neighborhood, but you have to look carefully. The other day I took a picture of a toad - he was very well hidden!
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Spring, Spring, Spring!
May 7, 2008
 Have you ever noticed that no two trees are alike? This isn’t always apparent in the summer, when leafy trees blend together into a giant mass of green, but it is very noticeable in the winter, and even more so in the spring.
Springtime is that happy midway point when the new buds are just sprouting into leaf, and you can see both the twisting branches and the clumps of color that decorate them. Different trees sprout their leaves at different times, in different ways, and there are even flowering trees. The changes in the spring happen so fast, you can practically watch them unfold before your eyes. And coming on the heels of a long barren winter, it's even more wonderous to see them spring to life.
So the next time you walk down the street, stop to notice the nearest tree – any tree really, for each has its own unique qualities. You may be surprised at what you see.
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New Website Fun
March 9, 2008
 I have just updated the Characters page on this website, to include more characters from Burrwood Forest. Some of them are from the book, others are from the ongoing web comic, which also has a new page this week.
Burrwood Forest is a big place, filled with insects and animals. It is pretty quiet during the winter, but things start to perk up in March, as the first signs of spring arrive. The burrs have a contest each year to see who can spot the first wild flower of spring. They run all over the forest looking, and when the first burr spots a flower, she or he calls out "Spring! Spring! A sign of Spring!" Then they all come running to see it.
In the meantime, don't forget to read the latest page in the Sticky Burr comic!
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Coming Soon in Paperback!
Feb. 16, 2008
 I am pleased to announce the upcoming paperback edition of Sticky Burr: Adventures in Burrwood Forest, published by Candlewick Press. The book will be available in April, and is virtually the same as the hardcover, except the cover is not so hard. Watch for it this spring!
Meanwhile, if you are itching for more Sticky Burr adventure, the story continues in the online comic strip, with a new chapter (almost) every week. This new adventure features Mossy Burr as she encounters a dangerous swarm of locusts. Be sure to check it out!
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New Fun and Games on the Web!
Dec. 2, 2007
 There are a few new things just added to this website, in the Fun Stuff section. There is a new printable activity sheet called Design Your Own Burr, and also an art gallery of burrs drawn by kids, to help inspire your own creation. Sticky Burr himself is an artist, and drawing is a great way to spend a chilly winter's evening.
Many kids have asked me if there is another Sticky Burr book coming out, and the answer is "not this year." But I currently working on ideas for a new story, so keep your fingers crossed. In the meantime, you can read the continuing adventures of our prickly hero in the Sticky Burr online comic strip, which is updated about once every week. Happy reading!
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Autumn is Burr Season!
Oct. 6, 2007
 Autumn is a great time to see REAL burrs, growing on bushes and trees. They probably won't talk to you (only the burrs in Burrwood Forest can talk) but they will try and stick to you if you're not careful. Burrs are actually seeds from certain kinds of bushes, and they grow into new plants when they fall off. Here is a picture of a clump of burrs that I found in my backyard.
Many other plants have prickly seeds too. The picture below may look like a burr family reunion, but actually they are chestnuts, just fallen from a tree. Some kinds of chestnuts have a really prickly outside, so sharp that you can hardly pick them up. (The nut is inside.) Keep a lookout for other prickly seeds as you walk around this fall.
Fall Into Autumn
Sept. 21, 2007
I've been busy lately, working on several new projects. I'm still continuing the Sticky Burr comic strip, which follows the further adventures of Sticky Burr and his pals. In the latest episode, a new burr is introduced, even more evil and prickly than Scurvy Burr. Check out all the action here.
Meanwhile, I've updated the book page on this website, with the latest reviews. That's all for now -- I've got to get busy writing. Busy busy busy!
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Summer Sticky Burr Fun
July 24 , 2007
 The book reviews have been coming in, and they have been great. Booklist, Kirkus, Publisher's Weekly, and School Library Journal have all had nice things to say about Sticky Burr, and I'm very grateful, for I always knew this wasn't a typial children's book, and might not catch on right away. It doesn't fit easily into any category (I like to think of it as a picture book for readers.) I will post portions of the reviews later this month.
Meanwhile, I've been continuing the Sticky Burr Comic Strip, posting a new page every week this summer. Tune in to see what happens next!
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Book Signing Fun!
May 22, 2007
 Thanks to everyone who came out for the Sticky Burr book release party at the Blue Bunny bookstore. It was a great success, with music, art, and fun. Here is a photo of me, my brother Tony, and my sister Amy performing together (a rare occasion!)
And thanks for all the good wishes and support so far. After putting so many years of work into a book, it is always a little nerve-wracking when you finally send it out into the world, because you want it to do well. I hope this book will find an audience, and inspire young readers of all ages.
PREVIOUS NEWS:
New Sticky Burr Comic Strip!
May 10, 2007
Sticky Burr began as an online comic strip on the FableVision website, which ran for several years before I became too busy to keep it up. Now in honor of the new book (and even though I am still too busy), I have started a NEW comic strip, which will continue the adventures of Sticky Burr and all his friends each month. To visit the new comic strip, click here.
Sticky Burr Book Release Party!
 The date has been set for the Sticky Burr Book Bash! Join us Saturday May 12th, 2-4 PM at the Blue Bunny bookstore in Dedham, MA, to celebrate the release of Sticky Burr, Adventures in Burrwood Forest, (published by Candlewick Press). Entertainment will be provided by the author's sister Amy Conley, local children's singer and music teacher (concert at 3 PM). Also the author's brother Steve Lechner will be providing magical entertainment and puppetry all afternoon. Tony Lechner (composer of the Sticky Burr Theme Song) will make an appearance too, plus refreshments, prizes, and art activities for the kids. CLICK HERE FOR FULL DETAILS!
Sticky Burr Website Launched
Dec. 20, 2006
Finally, after many late nights of toil, I have finished designing the new and improved Sticky Burr website, which you are looking at now. For those of you who have been following Sticky Burr's adventures since the beginning, you'll notice some old favorites and some new additions. This is all in preparation for the new Sticky Burr book, coming out in May. So browse around, and if you have any suggestions for the website, just send me an email!
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