I met Sandra Markle when I attended Jane Yolen’s Picture Book Boot Camp. The tall and stunning Sandra Markle stood out. I had no idea at
Category: Writing
Full Moons Can’t Rise at Midnight
I was reading a YA romance novel set on the coast of Maine. The teen girl woke up at 5am on July 4 to sneak
The Ones that Leave Impressions
Sometimes a book leaves an impression so deep that I internalize the emotions. It prompts me to find a new audience of eager children to
Vicarious Contact
By Dianna Sanchez Reading about children who are different increases a child’s comfort levels. I watched the news coverage of the Orlando mass shooting with
21st Century Children’s Nonfiction Conference
By Sarah Lynne Reul I just got back from another amazing conference – this time, it was the 21st Century Children’s Nonfiction Conference, held this
From Picture Books to Young Adult: A Transition into Madness!
By Paul Czajak Okay I might be exaggerating a tiny bit with the title of this blog, but it is an intimidating transition nonetheless. I
COVER REVEAL! MAMA, WIST JE DAT?
Confused by what Mama, wist je dat? means? Well, it’s the title of my new picture book, YA KNOW WHAT?, but in Dutch. Let me
Butt in Chair without an Aching Back
This week is our Third Blogiversary! That’s three years of “butt in chair” commitment to writing, illustrating, blogging, and all the other activities that keep
Mingling at the Twitter Cocktail
By Wendy Leiserson Josh Funk, author of Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast, knows more about being an author than how to cook up a
So You Want to Be a Writer
By Dana Nuenighoff Since you are already reading this blog, you obviously want to be a writer. There’s no doubt about it and I applaud
Charlie Brown Inspires a Character Study
By Carrie Charley Brown While watching The Peanuts Movie the other day, I was reminded of how much I empathize with Charlie Brown. This kid
Plotting a Novel with Sticky Notes
This pantser has gone plotter, and for one particular reason: Speed. My first attempt at a novel took me two years. I wrote it by
Parodies, Spoofs, and Modern Retellings- What Makes Them So Fun and So Marketable?
I’m crazy excited to celebrate the release of The Sleepover today—a book I had a ridiculous amount of fun writing, and hopefully one that will
Meet #Kidlit Author/Educator Abby Hanlon
CAROL GORDON EKSTER: Abby, I read about you on a Nerdy Book Club post and was so touched by your experience teaching in a
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