I Am Here Now, Hardcover

Set in the 1960s, Barbara Bottner's I Am Here Now is a beautiful novel in verse about one artist's coming of age. It's a heartbreaking, powerful and inspiring depiction of what it's like to shatter your life--and piece it all back together.

You can't trust Life to give you decent parents, or beautiful eyes, a fine French accent or an outstanding flair for fashion. No, Life does what it wants. It's sneaky as a thief.

Maisie's first day of High school should be exciting, but all she wants is to escape.

Her world is lonely and chaotic, with an abusive mother and a father who's rarely there to help.

So when Maisie, who finds refuge in her art, meets the spirited Rachel and her mother, a painter, she catches a glimpse of a very different world--one full of life, creativity, and love--and latches on.

But as she discovers her strengths through Rachel's family, Maisie, increasingly desperate, finds herself risking new friendships, and the very future she's searching for.

An Imprint Book

Barbara Bottner, a New York Times-bestselling author, has written (and sometimes illustrated) over forty-plus titles for children, from wordless picture books to young adult novels. Her work has been translated, animated, and adopted into short musicals. Bootsie Barker Bites, Wallace's Lists (with Gerald Kruglik), Miss Brooks Loves Books, Priscilla Gorilla, and Amy is Famous are some of her favorites. Barbara formerly worked in children's television and CBS prime time comedy, reviewed children's books for publications such as the New York Times, and has published short stories and essays in national newspapers and magazines. Since 1973, she's been teaching writing and illustrating in major institutions: UCLA, Otis Parsons, the University of Miami and privately. She continues to facilitate a Master Class in LA with selected writers. She walks her dog Petey and hangs with her husband, Gerald, in Los Angeles.