WRITERS' RUMPUS

Interview with debut picture book author Laura De La Cruz … and a giveaway of LOWRIDER FOR SALE!

September 8, 2026 Laura Fineberg Cooper

Happy Book Birthday to LOWRIDER FOR SALE, the heartwarming picture book debut by talented and gracious author Laura De La Cruz. Laura has impressed me with her positive and supportive comments on our blog, so when she inquired about an interview, it was my honor and pleasure to enthusiastically say yes!

Continue reading
Cool off on Winter Solstice Hill with Cathy Stefanec Ogren!

September 4, 2026 Marcia Strykowski

I’m excited to have talented author Cathy Stefanec Ogren here on the blog today! Her latest picture book releases on October 20, 2026, and I

Continue reading
Cats, Chess, and Finding Your People: An Interview with CAT TAKES QUEEN Author Ilona Bray (and a Giveway!!)

September 1, 2026 Hilary Elizabeth Margitich

I first connected with Ilona Bray through social media and its vibrant online kidlit community. Right away, I was drawn to her warmth, thoughfulness, and

Continue reading
#Kidlit Interview with the Effervescent Children’s Author Kelly Swemba

August 26, 2026 Monica Acker

Friendship is a special, wondrous thing. Great thinkers and creatives throughout time have shared their thoughts about how special friendship is: Kelly Swemba and illustrator

Continue reading
Meet #kidlit Debut Author Evgenia Mantikas

August 18, 2026 Carol Gordon Ekster

CAROL GORDON EKSTER: I met Evgenia at the Kindling Words East retreat in 2026. What sweet and contagious energy she has! I am so excited

Continue reading
Researching and Writing Nonfiction

August 11, 2026 Alumni & Guests

Guest Post by Lauren H. Kerstein I am beyond thrilled to be here. I’ve long enjoyed reading Writers’ Rumpus posts and am excited to share

Continue reading

How (Not) to Write a Rhyming Picture Book

April 5, 2016 Alumni & Guests

It’s very easy to write bad rhymes. Lots of people do it. Therefore, there is a stigma associated with rhyming picture books. Note: The following

Review: Fear and Courage in Two Books

April 1, 2016 Joyce Audy Zarins

At the library I borrowed two middle grade/ YA books, both of which are astonishing. One deals with a realistic cultural issue frequently in the news,

Mapping Character

March 29, 2016 Alumni & Guests

By Almitra Clay I’ve been on a personal journey for the past few months, doing something that I’ve needed to do for a long time:

Show Me!

March 25, 2016 Alumni & Guests

By Kristine Carlson Asselin I’m often asked to present my workshop on the differences between “showing” in your writing vs. “telling” in your writing. I

It’s Raining, It’s Pouring

March 22, 2016 Alumni & Guests

When I look at our driveway, it’s clear that the neighborhood kids aren’t afraid to just draw. The only thing that wipes out their ideas

Animation, Illustration and Writing – Part 3: Observation

March 18, 2016 Alumni & Guests

By Sarah Lynne Reul (This is the final entry in a three-part series – earlier posts here: Part 1: Iterations and Part 2: Planning) Finally, my favorite point