CAROL GORDON EKSTER: Kim Chaffee joined our SCBWI critique group a few years back and was an instant shining light in her dedication to the
Author: Carol Gordon Ekster
Carol Gordon Ekster was a passionate elementary school teacher for 35 years. Now retired, Carol spends time in writing critique groups, doing yoga, exercising and bike riding, and working on her books. She’s grateful that her writing allows her to continue communicating with children. She is the author of Where Am I Sleeping Tonight? (A Story of Divorce), Boulden Publishing, fall 2008, an About.com Readers' Choice 2012 finalist for Best Children's Book for Single Parents, “The Library Is The Perfect Place”, in the February 2010 LibrarySparks Magazine, and the picture book, Ruth The Sleuth and The Messy Room, which came out in December 2011 on Character Publishing’s debut list. In July 2013 Ruth the Sleuth and the Messy Room was selected to receive the Children's Literary Classics Seal of Approval. When Character Publishing closed its doors, Mazo Publishers reprinted a paperback large print edition in 2018. Another picture book, Before I Sleep: I Say Thank You, released January 1, 2015 with Pauline Books and Media, and went into its third printing in just two years. Her first e-book, Hip Hopping Books, came out as part of Schoolwide Inc.'s digital library, May 2015. Another picture book, You Know What? came out with Clavis Books, December 2016, first in Dutch, then in English in 2017. Korean, Chinese and Arabic editions are on their way. You Know What? was a CLEL Bell Picture Book Awards Nominee for Talk (2018) and an SCBWI Crystal Kite Award finalist (2018) for the New England region.
Meet Kerry Madden-Lunsford, #kidlit author, teacher, and inspiration
Carol Gordon Ekster: I was so blessed to participate in Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple’s picture book boot camp in 2015 and wrote about it
Interview With the Fabulous Debut Picture Book Author, Jamie L. B. Deenihan
CAROL GORDON EKSTER: I met Jamie at the NESCBWI ’18 conference. We were both attendees at one of Jane Yolen’s boot camps and so we
Paul Czajak, Children’s Author and Critique Buddy Extraordinaire
CAROL GORDON EKSTER: My writing path crossed with Paul’s when he first joined our local NESCBWI critique group. We continued to share our writing journey
Interview with Anne Broyles, #kidlit author
CAROL GORDON EKSTER: When I first started my own writing career, it seemed every #kidlit event I went to I’d bump into Anne Broyles. And
Nancy Churnin, Fabulous #kidlit Nonfiction Picture Book Author
CAROL GORDON EKSTER: I just love social media. I connected with Nancy when we both had picture book birthdays on the same day, September 1,
Meet Laura Sassi, talented #kidlit author, plus #giveaway
CAROL GORDON EKSTER: In this wonderful #kidlit world, Laura Sassi stood out as a kind, supportive, and talented author. She’s a frequent visitor here at
Interview with Kim Harrington, YA and MG #kidlit author
CAROL GORDON EKSTER: Kim Harrington, a fan of Writers’ Rumpus, is an acclaimed author with Scholastic, Penguin, and Sterling Childrens Books. I interviewed her below.
The Launching of a Picture Book
On September 1st, 2017 my newest picture book, YOU KNOW WHAT? released with Clavis Books. This was an unusual launch for me in many ways.
10 Things NOT to Say in your Query – Advice from a Children’s Publisher
of Rob Broder is Publisher of Ripple Grove Press, an independent, family-run children’s book publishing company. He and his wife Amanda started Ripple Grove Press
Meet Ruth Spiro, #kidlit author of Baby Loves Science series
Carol Gordon Ekster: Ruth Spiro is one of those wonderful #kidlit folks that I connected with through our shared experience of being alumni of Jane Yolen’s
Interview with talented #kidlit author, Laya Steinberg
CAROL GORDON EKSTER: Laya, what led you to become a writer for children? LAYA STEINBERG: The one-word answer: children. Mine. I know, that’s two words. Probably
