Leaping off the Page
Welcome to a new Creative Conversation with author, artist, and workshop presenter, Margaret Kellermann! This Dreamwalk celebrates Margaret’s fresh-off-the-press novel, Annie California and the Nectarine Grove (2026). It’s the long-awaited sequel to Annie California Book One (first published 2016; updated 2026).
We’ll be Leaping off the Page in this CC, as I not only chat with Margaret but also with the irrepressible Annie Carson, the novel’s narrator. You’ll get a sense of Annie’s voice in the novels in this very special Creative Conversation. Pop in and take part by leaving a comment. And don’t forget to enter to win the first two books of the Annie California! Details at the end of the CC.
In this second novel in The Annie California Series, Annie has turned 11 and is in a safe and wonderful place, at least for now. Back in Annie California Book One, when Annie was 10, her family was suddenly homeless on a road trip across the country. Annie’s central question was, “Where’s home?” Now she’s asking, “How long can I stay?”
Wherever she goes, she writes in her journal. She’s putting puzzle pieces together, making some sense of her mystifying, loving, crazy and beautiful world. In this sequel, much of this world involves three people, especially her old friend, Crow Boy.
Janet: Welcome, Margaret. It’s great to have you back on Dreamwalks. I’m excited to chat with you and Annie about Book Two in the Annie California series.
Margaret: Thanks for inviting both Annie and me to this Creative Conversation, Janet! Even though Annie is a character in a fictional novel, she’ll have a lot to say as she comes leaping off the page.
ANNIE SPEAKS
Janet: Hi Annie, thanks for talking to us about your journal. Do you remember when Margaret was having so much trouble finishing Book One, and you helped her? How did that happen?
Annie: Oh my gosh, that was cool. So, Janet, you actually helped Margaret figure out what to do to finish Book One. You suggested, “Write a letter to Annie in your journal.” So Margaret wrote to me, “Annie, why can’t I finish your novel? I want the book to go out to readers who need to hear your voice and your story.” I already knew the answer, so I wrote back, “You don’t want to say goodbye.” Margaret was surprised. And then I said, “Just write another book. A sequel.” So she did, and here it is.
Janet: I love that, Annie. So often, we writers don’t ask our characters about the story. Of course, you knew the answer. Margaret didn’t want to say goodbye to you. And now she listened to you, and you both wrote another book together!
Annie: Yup!
Janet: I’d like to talk about some places in your journal, Annie. I noticed a page where you said, “Most places, people talk fast and loud. They want you to hurry up with what you have to say so they can change the subject.”
Annie: Yeah, in this second book, I talk a lot about communication. Whether it works or not. Even if you try really hard to communicate with your best friend, sometimes it backfires.
Janet: Yeah. I liked how things got better between you two over time. After one argument on the porch swing, you wrote, “We sat there not saying anything, but it was a good kind of not-saying-anything. One of the best.” I loved that, Annie. You’re good at listening to quiet stuff.
Annie: Communication isn’t always talking. That’s what I found out. You have to find a place where people aren’t talking, and then you can listen to trees and the creek talking together. That’s code language. But you CAN understand farm animals.
Janet: Interesting. Can you tell me a little more about how you can understand farm animals?
Annie: Maybe grownups could understand tame animals if they don’t forget what they knew when they were little kids. The one I call Sheep of God looks in my eyes to trade thoughts. We’re doing a mind meld, like on Star Trek. One day Sheep of God was mad because the chickens always got fed first. That was an easy fix. I listen to the dogs that live here, too, Kayla and Luke. One time, Luke told me he had a headache. So I put an ice pack on his head and sang him a quiet song. Stuff like that.
Janet: You write about some tough family stuff in your journal. If it’s okay to talk about that, I’d like you to tell us more about the time your mom, Dixi, was being held at the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office, after the sheriff found her wandering around town in her bathrobe at night. You sat outside waiting with Crow Boy while the “grownups” talked inside. You said: “I notice SHERIFF’S OFFICE on the door sign has four F’s, like a bad report card.” Can you tell us what was going on with you and Dixi?
Annie: I was so worried because in Annie California Book One, an Arizona sheriff called my family homeless, like we were criminals. Then, in Rhode Island, I was telling this nice lady I was waiting for my dad, Logan, who was breaking into a restaurant. The lady turned out to be a police officer who arrested Logan. So I was worried this Tyler County sheriff would arrest Dixi and me, even though we hadn’t done anything wrong (lately). I just want Dixi and me to stay at The Nectarine Grove. Crow Boy explained how unreasonable I was for being worried. But even though he’d told ME that I was overthinking, here HE was drawing a big old decision tree with all these YES/NO questions and arrows to figure out if we’d get jail time or not. Overthinking!
Janet: Wow! Easier for him to draw the decision tree when you’re so worried. It’s true that you haven’t been in trouble with the law (lately). I won’t tell the Dreamwalkers how your journal ends. Whether you get arrested, or whether you get to stay with Ms. Kelly and Crow Boy or… Readers will have to read it for themselves and see. This is kind of a cliffhanger!
Annie: Yikes! I’m glad I know the ending of the second book NOW. But I was “journaling in real time,” as Crow Boy says. Which means when you’re writing, you have no idea about how your story’s going to end in the future. You’ve only got the past and present to deal with.
Janet: Yes, the past and the present are enough to deal with. Journaling helps me sort things out. I think that might be the same for you, Annie. What’s next for the Annie California Series? Book Three?
Annie: Janet, I’m really glad you like my journals that turned into novels. You’re a really good interviewer. It depends if people like the first two novels. And I would need to write almost 100 more journal entries. Plus, it’s a secret where I’m going to be in Book Three.
Janet: Okay, I understand secrets. Thanks, Margaret and Annie, for talking with me about the new book.
Margaret and Annie: Thanks, Janet!!
Visit Margaret on Instagram
Dreamwalkers, I hope you’ve enjoyed our time together.
Want more Story? Swing by here and listen to a *terrific interview*. Margaret chats about the Annie books and more on Katherine G. Bond’s Substack. I just listened and I love it!
Cozy up with Margaret’s books this spring. The two books from the Annie California Series are available separately, *here* in paperback and on Kindle. Annie Book One is also available *here* on Audible. (Listen to Margaret read it aloud to you. It’s a real treat.)
And Now for the Book Giveaway!
And now for some more fun!
Enter to win this wonderful duology. Just click Contact and let Janet know you’d like to enter the contest. Drawing ends March 10th. We’ll let the winner know right away.
Good luck, Dreamwalkers.
Cover paintings by Margaret Kellermann
Cover design Lyra Cupala
Tmely and moving reads journeying with homeless Annie at first and her mother’s arrest later. Crowboy’s Native American insight and wisdom bring clarity to not only Annie, but to me the reader.
I highly recommend both Annie of California books by Margaret!
Jill, I’m so glad you took the time to read and recommend Annie’s books. Thanks! Couple things: #1, Annie’s mom definitely has her issues, but we won’t spoil it for readers by saying whether she’s arrested or not. And #2, although Crow Boy collects wisdom from many sources, he’s not a Native American. “Crow Boy” is just the nickname Annie gives him. Your review here touches on many things that held meaning for you. If you or others would like to drop a review on Amazon, you’d be helping potential readers.