September 2, 2026

Why Some Friendships Are Worth the Distance

Some friendships are worth the distance. Not because they are easy to maintain, but because the people on the other side of that distance are worth the effort it takes to stay connected. Life gets bigger as we get older. Careers become more demanding, families grow, responsibilities multiply, and the people we once saw every week can suddenly live hundreds or thousands of miles away. Long-distance friendships can survive all of that. But they rarely survive by accident. Sometimes maintaining a meaningful friendship means making a phone call, sending a message, rearranging a schedule, or getting on an airplane when it would be easier to stay home. Sometimes it means simply deciding that a relationship is worth the inconvenience. I was reminded of that this year when a childhood friend invited me on a trip to celebrate his 40th birthday. I almost said no.

August 9, 2026

The Last Kids on Earth Books in Order (Complete Series Guide)

If you're trying to figure out the correct Last Kids on Earth books in order, you're not alone. The series combines illustrated middle-grade novels with graphic novels, companion books, and other activities, which can make it surprisingly difficult to know where to start or what belongs in the main series. Whether you're buying The Last Kids on Earth for the first time, trying to figure out what comes after Book 5, or wondering whether the graphic novels fit into the reading order, this guide brings everything together in one place. You'll find the complete main-series reading order, information about companion books and graphic novels, age and reading-level guidance, answers to common parent questions, and our family's experience with the series.

August 7, 2026

Why Most People Never Reach Mastery

Nearly everyone admires mastery. We gaze up at the musician who performs effortlessly. We scratch our heads at the craftsman whose work seems flawless. We're inspired by the athlete who makes difficult things look ordinary or the author whose words flow naturally. Yet very few people ever reach that level. The difference usually isn't talent. It's that most people unknowingly quit long before mastery ever becomes possible. Mastery isn't reserved for extraordinary people. It's usually the result of ordinary people doing extraordinary things consistently for an extraordinarily long time.

July 30, 2026

Why You Procrastinate Even When You Know What to Do (and How to Stop)

You know what to do and yet still don't do it. That makes one thing very clear: procrastination isn't a knowledge problem. Intelligent, ambitious, disciplined people procrastinate all too often. So why is it that knowing what to do does not reliably translate into doing it? Most procrastination isn't caused by laziness. It's caused by emotional resistance becoming stronger than your reason for taking action. Or in layman's terms...we procrastinate when resistance feels stronger than purpose. If we understand the mechanisms of procrastination we can then reduce the power of resistance we face. If we understand the mechanisms behind procrastination, we can begin reducing the resistance that keeps us stuck.

July 17, 2026

Wings of Fire Books in Order (Complete Series Guide)

If you're trying to figure out the correct Wings of Fire books in order, you're not alone. When my family first discovered the series, we quickly realized it wasn't just another children's fantasy collection. Between the sixteen main novels, graphic novels, Legends books, Winglets, and companion titles, it can be surprisingly difficult to know where to start or what you're getting into. Whether you're buying Wings of Fire for the first time or trying to figure out what comes after Book 5, this guide brings everything together in one place. You'll find the complete reading order, age recommendations, graphic novel advice, buying tips, and our family's experience reading the series. If you're short on time, don't worry. The Quick Facts and Reading Order tables below will help you get started in just a few minutes, while the rest of the guide dives deeper into the questions readers and families often have.

July 12, 2026

Don’t Preserve Mistakes. Preserve Humanity.

Every new technology changes what humans no longer have to practice and eventually, what they no longer know how to do. Calculators changed arithmetic. GPS changed navigation. Search engines changed memory. AI is changing thinking. The question isn't whether AI should eliminate mistakes. It should. The question is whether it begins eliminating the humanity behind our work. The goal isn't to preserve outdated methods. It's to preserve the human qualities those methods once developed.

June 29, 2026

The Difference Between Information and Wisdom (And Why It Matters More Than Ever)

Never before has so much information been available to so many people. In seconds we can ask AI, search the web, watch tutorials, or listen to experts from around the world. Yet anxiety, distraction, burnout, debt, and confusion continue to grow. The problem isn't that we're missing information. We're missing wisdom.

June 20, 2026

Creator Lessons: What 47 Interviews Taught Me About Creativity, Writing, Publishing, and Building Meaningful Work

Over the years, I've interviewed authors, illustrators, publishers, literary agents, editors, and creators from a wide range of backgrounds. While their careers look different on the surface, many of the same lessons appeared again and again. Some have sold millions of books. Others built successful illustration careers. Some left stable jobs to pursue creative work. Others persevered through years of rejection before finding success. What follows is a collection of the most important lessons that emerged across these conversations. Each lesson is supported by interviews and articles that explore the idea in greater depth.