Shaun Tan was not always an author-illustrator. As a boy, he wanted to be an astronaut. By his teens, his goal was to be a genetic engineer. Since he is of small stature, he was often the target of bullies, but he would disarm them with stories.
Author: Joyce Audy Zarins
A member of SCBWI, the Writer’s Rumpus, and NEST, Joyce is the author of five books for young readers and illustrator of twenty. She is currently working on new YA, MG and a non-fiction PB. Sculpture is her other passion. Life is a creative experience.
Gifting – Evidence of a Book’s Lure
The goal of publishing a book is to sell it, but what characteristics of a book inspire that purchase? Of the two ways that most
Between Writer and Reader: A Significant Responsibility
When I purchase a book, that transaction comes with an innate expectation that the contents of its pages will take me on a ride worth
When Book People are Passionate
Creating a Bookstore, Its Book, and a Dwelling for a Squirrel
Loki: A Bad God’s Guide to Being Good
“Can a trip to Midgard help a bad god grow a conscience?” Louie Stowell Loki savors being the god of mischief and chaos. Odin, the
How to Picture Book!
A roundup of posts with practical advice for authors and illustrators.
Hope Is an Arrow: The Story of Lebanese American Poet Kahlil Gibran
“There once was a boy shot from a bow like an arrow. / Strong and straight, he flew across the world, connecting many people with
I’m a Neutrino: Tiny Particles in a Big Universe
If you are a bit unclear about what a neutrino is, you need this picture book. And if you wonder what makes a good non-fiction
Kids Fight Climate Change
Be a 2-minute superhero! “Our planet is in trouble. It needs YOU.” Today, April 22nd, is Earth Day, time for some action. Kids who read
Interview with Valerie Bolling: Together We Ride
Joyce: Valerie, you certainly have been busy since I interviewed you for your first book Let’s Dance! Congratulations on your newest–Together We Ride from Chronicle
World of Books #12 Costa Rica
When my family met in Costa Rica in November, I bought a charming picture book there by a well-known local author. It is inspiring to
Plotting Great Escapes: Two New Books from Candlewick
While seeming to have little in common, the urge to escape can unite those who otherwise live separate lives. That unity benefits all. How might
A Book About Generosity? A challenge.
Allow me to propose a writing challenge. That thought was inspired by two books that have missed their mark. See if you agree that the
About the Hook
What lures a teen to read a multi-hundred-page book? The author has carefully written and revised a terrific narrative, but where is the hook, the
WRITERS' RUMPUS 