https://aldervanotterloo.com/blog daily 0.75 2025-01-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1574567077194-CWHHDQSRVQEMLO8F9TDR/smaller%2Bblog%2Bimage-01.%2Bpng.jpg Blog https://aldervanotterloo.com/blog/update-from-2024-and-goals-for-2025 monthly 0.5 2025-01-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/2762d637-3fe2-4af0-9b03-e30f16fb4d3f/Story+Instagram+Collage+Fotos+Polaroid+Anal%C3%B3gico+Aesthetic+%281%29.png Blog - Update from 2024, and Goals for 2025! - Make it stand out a large polaroid collage with photos of activities and celebrations, most of them without people’s faces in them https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/3a63491d-90e4-40cd-b0c2-4b0cbaa68a36/Untitled+design.jpg Blog - Update from 2024, and Goals for 2025! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://aldervanotterloo.com/blog/cover-reveal-for-book-three-the-beautiful-something-else monthly 0.5 2022-09-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1663095035578-L1BW7OOGXF3HXMSIWL80/Beautiful+Something+Else+resize+.jpg Blog - Cover Reveal for book three: The Beautiful Something Else! - Make it stand out The cover of The Beautiful Something Else by Ash Van Otterloo. The art depicts a tween with short hair wearing a hoodie and red boots, silhouetted against a glowing multi-colored sparrow with its wings spread across a dark blue night sky. The blurb at the top reads: "'An endearing celebration of the value of queer community and family.' -Alex Gino, Stonewall Award-winning author of MELISSA" https://aldervanotterloo.com/blog/kacotbwjezop21wehp95evcf0v0qvl monthly 0.5 2020-08-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1597279932075-KPQURX9RCQB5XEH7D8F2/IMG_20200812_164148_150.jpg Blog - Exciting news: Cattywampus &amp; Indie Next! https://aldervanotterloo.com/blog/cattywampus-playlist-and-launch-week-photos monthly 0.5 2020-08-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1596869344380-RO31D8M3GSG89RSGU79D/a+bop+list.PNG Blog - Cattywampus Playlist and Launch photos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1596937167134-R4JR8UJYX2OW0UONDZAZ/00000IMG_00000_BURST20200808115114851_COVER.jpg Blog - Cattywampus Playlist and Launch photos Cattywampus and Eva Evergreen Semi-Magical Witch, surrounded by cups, donuts, jellybeans, flowers from the author’s garden, and party blowers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1596937864113-AWOOQDMWHX5KS6GDV9GJ/IMG_20200805_135134_654.jpg Blog - Cattywampus Playlist and Launch photos Collage of author dropping signed copies into local Little Free Libraries, as an act of debut-day celebration earlier this week! https://aldervanotterloo.com/blog/drawing-swag-winner-updates-and-upcoming-events monthly 0.5 2020-08-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1596306268312-E9YTQB73XBT65P49P9ZF/IMG_20200801_112114.jpg Blog - Drawing swag winner, Updates, and Upcoming Events! Ash (smiling in kiwi print shirt) talking with Chelsea Bauer of Union Ave Books in Knoxville, Tennessee, with an ASL in interpreter talking in an animated way https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1596307352769-P9DV9692H24O62212AFV/Screenshot_20200731-161052.jpg Blog - Drawing swag winner, Updates, and Upcoming Events! Ash sitting cross-legged wearing a blue mermaid-print shirt and a mask, signing copies of CATTYWAMPUS with a Sharpie at one of their nearby bookstores! Photo credit: Nathaniel at Ballast Book Co https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1596307646518-D66S68NMIGWAU37CW9TN/IMG_20200730_194153.jpg Blog - Drawing swag winner, Updates, and Upcoming Events! - They’re here!! The author smiling with happy tears holding up a newly-opened box of their beautiful copies of Cattywampus from their amazing publishing team at Scholastic https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1596308567763-1V0OM0HR31P2GG0YO3H9/0-1.jpeg Blog - Drawing swag winner, Updates, and Upcoming Events! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1596308865539-PYVE3EYYOFS2PCDYJVC6/Wed+Aug+12th+6PM+%283%29.jpg Blog - Drawing swag winner, Updates, and Upcoming Events! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1596309343346-1Z9U7RG32STUNK703G7A/IMG_20200713_184218.jpg Blog - Drawing swag winner, Updates, and Upcoming Events! Large evergreens stretching up to the sky at one of the author’s favorite places to chill. https://aldervanotterloo.com/blog/the-terf-who-shall-not-be-named-amp-me monthly 0.5 2020-06-22 https://aldervanotterloo.com/blog/cattywampus-pre-order-campaign-and-giveaway monthly 0.5 2020-05-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1590206445502-M07R654OODN12BGY350I/wordswag_1590196775682.png Blog - Pre-order Campaign and Giveaway! Package One contains Cattywampus-themed vinyl stickers, an encouraging bookmark and a journal featuring duckie.louise art, and one big bag of allergy-free jelly beans! <3 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1590197373586-0GNP42FZE847L1CHT9J3/wordswag_1590197181304.png Blog - Pre-order Campaign and Giveaway! Package Two contains a “witches united” canvas patch, a hand-carved wooden bookmark, a “live and read” button pin, and lots of stickers. <3 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1590200131644-BNN9JL5GJ5NI298AARXM/IMG_20200520_115442_024.jpg Blog - Pre-order Campaign and Giveaway! https://aldervanotterloo.com/blog/books-news-ghost-stories-and-a-few-pictures monthly 0.5 2020-05-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1589572282788-F9GK2123NRAR9GO0X12K/Cattywampus+%28Van+Otterloo%29.jpg Blog - Books news, Ghost Stories, and a Few Pictures! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1589572703603-WEC17JODP7WXSYSLO4TQ/IMG_20200416_184601.jpg Blog - Books news, Ghost Stories, and a Few Pictures! A giant patch of dead nettle near my house…they’re “weeds,” but they’re PRETTY weeds. I love their green-to-deep-purple gradient! They’re related to stinging nettles (and you can often find stinging nettles near them, since they like the same environment), but these guys are harmless. :) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1589573485856-Q3GG1321NGSKAK92UX7C/IMG_20200512_113931.jpg Blog - Books news, Ghost Stories, and a Few Pictures! The art wall that’s been growing at my house during quarantine! Only one of these drawings (a raccoon fella) is mine—the other creations are the folks I live with. <3 It makes me smile every time I pass it to grab another cup of coffee. [Photo: various drawings and paintings, including Bob’s Burgers/Adventure Zone/Steven Universe/Raven Cycle fanart, Breath of the Wild landscapes, and felt flowers] https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1589573608446-KPTDM5BA27PD2AW6LSAS/IMG_20200503_192822.jpg Blog - Books news, Ghost Stories, and a Few Pictures! Doing a little arc welding! We had some spare bits and bobs around from old box springs/etc, so I welded them together to make a base for a movable cinder block firepit for our back yard. Arc welding is a lot like coloring or hot gluing, but with FIRE! (Don’t try it alone without supervision ;) ) [Photo: the author smiling dorkily with an arc welding hat and gloves on, holding a mug with a unicorn on it] https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1589573774023-CYTO2OVI6OUER3J4TZG2/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Books news, Ghost Stories, and a Few Pictures! COOL, right?? The trick is to keep your hand steady, and keep the weld stick the right distance away from the metal so you don’t accidentally melt it into a pile of useless goop! [Photo: arc welding a metal frame] https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1589573847619-O704G6ROYS1LWQPIZ2LP/IMG_20200424_174015.jpg Blog - Books news, Ghost Stories, and a Few Pictures! A very smol, stickyboi [Photo: brown garden slug with flowering weeds in background] https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1589573930360-2U9YYA64ZLFWPTWFCO5A/IMG_20200426_125726+%281%29.jpg Blog - Books news, Ghost Stories, and a Few Pictures! My dear friend Heather sent me her pattern for a nice face mask—too help keep me from breathing on the people around me!—which I used with some leftover fabric to make a new face mask. I feel kind of like Westley from Princess Bride when I wear it, which is an added bonus. Take THAT, virus particles! I’m a community protector AND dashing-looking! When we can put them away (or when we wear holes in them, whichever comes first), my sibling plans to turn all our masks into a nice hiking picnic quilt. [Photo: sewing table with mask pattern and mermaid print fabric] https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1589574164196-ICVIMFPSEBKXPRPE4VCW/IMG_20200406_213928.jpg Blog - Books news, Ghost Stories, and a Few Pictures! I can’t say how many comfort pans of buttermilk cornbread I’ve made in the past little bit, but the number is in the “a LOT” range [Photo: yellow cornbread in cast iron skillet next to black eyed peas and rice with pot liquor] https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1589574461199-DJDZI952LF10E3AI6A66/IMG_20200425_142243.jpg Blog - Books news, Ghost Stories, and a Few Pictures! Sophie Hatter is growing SO MUCH, and is still curious and gentle! She and the dog/cats are spoiled and happy right now, from all the attention they’re getting. [Photo: cute, small wild type ball python wrapped around kid’s shoulder] https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1589574589200-VY05RG0BBVM4QOTEWGSD/IMG_20200428_223614.jpg Blog - Books news, Ghost Stories, and a Few Pictures! While we’re really missing the friends and family we used to play games with, Telestrations and DnD have become a way of LIFE lately. [Photo: pictionary-style game answer that reads “Seagull brings sacricice of lemon to angel mermaid goddess”] https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1589575535210-UE5J9NQ53YM24B0AKS7D/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Books news, Ghost Stories, and a Few Pictures! Pajamas my spouse got me for my birthday! [Pic: author making a silly face while wearing ‘Scary Stories to tell in the Dark” print pajamas’] https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1589576294331-U9MJCHK0XXY90HESMZ2Y/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Books news, Ghost Stories, and a Few Pictures! A sneak peak at part of some pre-order giveaway swag for CATTYWAMPUS that my brilliant, talented friend Duckie.Louise created! Stay tuned for a giveaway announcement soon! [photo: slightly blurred digital artwork of an adorable raccoon chomping a cheesy slice of pizza, and jelly beans surrounding the word ‘Cattywampus’] https://aldervanotterloo.com/blog/what-kind-of-critique-partner-are-you monthly 0.5 2020-02-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1581630778111-UUBR3RR0COI3IKO2UPTR/anigif_longform-original-26747-1442604021-4.gif Blog - What Kind of Critique Partner are You? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1581626061043-A9KTM5EKMKTQN3XT7HDV/chicken-spotlight-close-up-disco-special-14015534690.gif Blog - What Kind of Critique Partner are You? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1581626625609-KPOHW9RIA32HTTX0RWUM/giphy+%281%29.gif Blog - What Kind of Critique Partner are You? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1581627413548-KDB23CH5G5UUSO0YGFBS/giphy+%282%29.gif Blog - What Kind of Critique Partner are You? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1581628317182-XJ002YQWSSYCFXG35XV8/giphy+%283%29.gif Blog - What Kind of Critique Partner are You? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1581629014712-LS5TXHCGJSAAXIFZOSA1/giphy+%284%29.gif Blog - What Kind of Critique Partner are You? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1581629889809-G27G8O4O8QIUEF6HO7U0/giphy+%285%29.gif Blog - What Kind of Critique Partner are You? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1581630089902-LG6V1W12QTS2N4YFJ6CV/giphy+%287%29.gif Blog - What Kind of Critique Partner are You? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1581630499922-MJ9WRMWDOZIUDW9MB8JI/giphy+%288%29.gif Blog - What Kind of Critique Partner are You? https://aldervanotterloo.com/blog/physical-description-of-character-or-why-books-might-be-the-only-place-to-discuss-others-bodies-uninvited monthly 0.5 2020-01-28 https://aldervanotterloo.com/blog/winter-solstice-and-the-dark-night-of-the-soul monthly 0.5 2019-12-21 https://aldervanotterloo.com/blog/walking-the-ridgepole-striking-a-balance-while-querying monthly 0.5 2019-12-11 https://aldervanotterloo.com/blog/tag/plot monthly 0.5 https://aldervanotterloo.com/blog/tag/emotional+arc monthly 0.5 https://aldervanotterloo.com/landing daily 0.75 2020-06-28 https://aldervanotterloo.com/home daily 0.75 2022-03-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1571725308046-TNOV14XISIZFSYHPUYDA/possums-01.png Home https://aldervanotterloo.com/books daily 0.75 2026-02-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1572077018534-7FH8MSDBRB9T4VE3OH1Y/books-01.png Books https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1572079607192-YYLV10250VYGILOKDP4C/cattywampus-01.jpg Books https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1622263861562-GULWDZ8VRDYG8KV85BNP/1613698302.png Books - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1663093603559-XKCRW8LXVQ2K1AVW58L9/Beautiful+Something+Else+resize+.jpg Books - Make it stand out The cover of The Beautiful Something Else by Ash Van Otterloo. The art depicts a tween with short hair wearing a hoodie and red boots, silhouetted against a glowing multi-colored sparrow with its wings spread across a dark blue night sky. The blurb at the top reads: "'An endearing celebration of the value of queer community and family.' -Alex Gino, Stonewall Award-winning author of MELISSA" https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/78b248d0-33bf-453c-874f-15e5e4cb955f/NOTABLES_listLogoTransparent-300x214.png Books - Make it stand out 2024 CBC Notable Social Studies Award https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1572081954026-OPCHW0ESNM9R75QTLDFS/bottle.png Books https://aldervanotterloo.com/about daily 0.75 2024-11-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/f12778a3-e17a-4e3f-9492-a36f595958ea/PXL_20230426_172829601.jpg About photo credit: Ash Van Otterloo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1572076688231-H2Q9OOMTY2SHDUHTAMH5/moon+and+webs.png About https://aldervanotterloo.com/contact-me daily 0.75 2025-03-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1572085513173-5IWG4SE8UL6R34MC50LZ/bat+and+clouds+contact-01.png Contact https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1572085733909-CO6LNY6O0AH01VGLF9X8/mushrooms-01.png Contact https://aldervanotterloo.com/welcome daily 1.0 2022-06-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1572152965972-FQR2BH9IYD6D8Q22ELB7/home+icon-01.png Welcome https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1572152639802-TEQQKIA314LWOPS0D62C/candle.png Welcome https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1572152598266-HQNOENORUP9DKSNQROBC/books+icon.png Welcome https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1572152535836-LI6563FV7J2001DEPQJQ/about+icon-01.png Welcome https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1723069597427-EA0URQZ5VVJI7VGO2DLU/Alder_Logo+.png Welcome https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1572084857075-O44B1T9EYYK9QUPXWIBA/smaller+blog+image-01.+png.png Welcome https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1598382841887-GIXPK1A8WQYEXNLCMEWD/resouces_menu.png Welcome https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1572152620963-IYXSDRP0WFRN99IQYD17/contact+icon.png Welcome https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1598382884317-L1RAYS0NAQZD33NSZFI4/praise_menu.png Welcome https://aldervanotterloo.com/praise daily 0.75 2024-09-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1597275217915-EX39RQ4SHT7U3MT3CB5E/TNLsticker_small_200x201_062012.jpg Praise for Cattywampus https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/cfe5277e-70e1-4a2c-a81c-5db9b67ce0c0/NOTABLES_listLogoTransparent-300x214.png Praise for Cattywampus - Make it stand out 2024 CBC Notable Social Studies Award https://aldervanotterloo.com/classroom-resources daily 0.75 2025-03-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1598330845829-1TPS1MCZNPRFWC9WAUUC/Flipgrid+thumbnail.PNG Classroom Resources https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1598331327772-QAE57RPAM2742HK0TH21/00000.PNG Classroom Resources https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1598333080488-DCDPM0GVM8NL0EKXU66P/kahoot.png Classroom Resources https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/1598333056427-3Z6LPFZSXYB3Q8N1ZDQI/kahoot.png Classroom Resources https://aldervanotterloo.com/tets daily 0.75 2020-08-25 https://aldervanotterloo.com/authorvisits-1 daily 0.75 2025-03-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8afa1215f32046e0be87ba/acefe467-8855-4887-b4bd-34ab200b3d7b/IMG_1066.jpg Author Visits