Whether you’ve been naughty or nice, you’re invited to peruse my 2023 Writers’ Rumpus Year in Review! As another year draws to a close, I continue to marvel at the variety and quality of our posts, and thank all of our authors and readers for your commitment to our kidlit blog. Once again, I’ve been honored and challenged to highlight one post from each of our talented contributors with an image, date link, and brief summary. Enjoy!!
Category: Interviews
#Kidlit Interview with the talented picture book creator, Jyoti Rajan Gopal
CAROL GORDON EKSTER: Jyoti, it’s so wonderful to see your writing life bloom since our first interview. And since then, I’ve even gotten to meet
My Experience Writing a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Book
Guest Post by Eric Grissom As a kid, my life was a bit of a whirlwind. My parents divorced when I was five, and
FOOD AND FAMILY IN PICTURE BOOKS…PLUS A GIVEAWAY!
Guest Post by Patricia Tanumihardja Chances are you’ve read a picture book or two with food themes in the last year. While they’ve been around
Just One Pebble: Interview with Picture Book Author Dianna Wilson Sirkovski
Just One Pebble is the inspirational story of how nine-year-old Braeden Mannering started a non-profit organization called Brae’s Brown Bags in an effort to end hunger. Dianna Wilson Sirkovski came across Braedan’s story on (link to website) and says, “The story reached out and wrapped its fingers around my heart.”
ICE CREAM MAN: HOW AUGUSTUS JACKSON MADE A SWEET TREAT BETTER
Ice Cream! Ice Cream! Quite a treat. Come smile awhile and beat the heat! Ice Cream has been bringing smiles to people from all walks of life for years. But very few people knew who was responsible for making this sweet treat what it is today. Until now.
Interview with Debut Picture Book Author Ronni Diamondstein
I’m super excited today to be sharing with you not only a fun, interesting, and inspiring new story about an American icon, but also a
Meet the Very Talented #kidlit Creative, Amanda Davis.
Carol Gordon Ekster: I met a fellow NESCBWI member, Amanda Davis, on social media and when I read her debut book, 30,000 Stitches: The Inspiring
Don’t Let ALMOST Sabotage Your Plot!!
If almost works in real life, why doesn’t it work in our novels? It’s no fun for readers when a scene builds up tension and … almost happens.
Interview with Author, Illustrator, and Inventor Vicky Fang…and a Book Giveaway!
I consider myself super-duper lucky, as a Writers’ Rumpus blogger, to be able to meet and interview so many talented kidlit authors. I learn new
Interview with Jacqueline Jules – Author of Smoke at the Pentagon: Poems to Remember
Laura: Jacqueline, I’m honored to welcome you back to Writers’ Rumpus to discuss this deeply touching book. After reading it, I can truly say you’ve more than achieved your goal of “honoring the lives lost and the resiliency of a city that rebuilt within a year.” What was your inspiration for creating this heartfelt collection of poems?
#Kidlit Interview with ABI CUSHMAN, the amazing talented author/illustrator.
CAROL GORDON EKSTER: Abi, your new picture book came out in May. You wrote and illustrated WOMBATS ARE PRETTY WEIRD: A [not so] serious guide
HOW I WROTE WHAT I DIDN’T KNOW
About four years ago, I went after my curiosity and explored the possibility of writing something I didn’t know. Specifically, this happened with my upcoming picture book, GIRLS ON WHEELS, which is inspired by the skateboarding movement in India.
SAY AHHH! FINDING THE PERFECT PICTURE BOOK ENDING
Guest Post by Lori Mortensen I love writing picture books. I especially love writing picture book endings. They’re the icing on the cake. The cherry