CAROL GORDON EKSTER: I was fortunate to experience Jane Yolen’s magical picture book boot camp with so many wonderful moments, and so many awesome authors there
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. The Korean language edition published 2019 and 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. Her two newest books are, Some Daddies, Beaming Books, 2022, illustrated by Javiera Maclean Alvarez, and TRUCKER KID, Capstone, 2023, illustrated by Russ Cox.
Inspiration for Writers and Illustrators
Sometimes the writing life throws punches. I’m not even talking about the 1100-plus rejections that I’ve received. For me it’s the smaller disappointments. The lack
Meet Tracey Fern, Talented #kidlit Author
I contacted Tracey Fern after reading her amazingly beautiful Dare the Wind: The Record-Breaking Voyage of Eleanor Prentiss and the Flying Cloud. I love interviewing
Picture Book Boot Camp
How do you keep your spirits up as a writer or illustrator with the isolating nature of the craft? We can go to conferences, retreats,
Meet talented children’s author Jane Sutton
Carol Gordon Ekster: Jane, you wanted to write since you were little. When and how did you make dream a reality? Jane Sutton: One of
Meet Kristen Necaise, the New Owner of Character Publishing
UPDATE: CHARACTER PUBLISHING IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS CAROL GORDON EKSTER: First of all, congratulations, Kristen! That’s quite an undertaking to buy a small press.
Interview with children’s author Larry Dane Brimner
I came across Larry Brimner’s children’s books when he reblogged one of my interviews with another author. I love discovering authors I had not yet
The Ups and Downs of Being an Author
I was reading an article written by my Rabbi in our Temple bulletin. He was writing about the balance between conceit and humility. We can’t
Meet the Clever Picture Book Rhymer, Josh Funk
CAROL GORDON EKSTER: Josh Funk is clever, kind, and funny. He’s in my on-line critique group and part of the New England chapter of SCBWI,
Did Your Book Go Out of Print? Take a lesson From Author/Illustrator Melanie Hope Greenberg.
Having been in the Coney Island area of Brooklyn, NY last year during the crazy busy Mermaid Parade, I was interested when I received an
Meet book marketing expert, Deborah Sloan
REMEMBER, NOBODY BUYS A BOOK THEY HAVEN’T HEARD OF.* Read this interview with children’s book marketing expert, Deborah Sloan, to find out how to get
Should you follow a formula when #writing #picturebooks ?
When I first started writing picture books about twelve years ago, I wasn’t aware there was a “formula” for writing them. I wrote from my
Does writing take courage? You bet!
By Carol Ekster I believe all that matters in life requires courage. I read that in Yoga Journal magazine. Sharing your art was one of
Flexibility Is Key to Being a Published Author
By Carol Ekster I learned about the powerful quote below, by Maya Angelou, when an instructor shared it in spin class. It touched me. Wanting
WRITERS' RUMPUS 