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!

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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

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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

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#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

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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

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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

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How to Help an Author (Beyond Buying the Book): Part One

January 3, 2014 Alumni & Guests

By Jen Malone In this season of making resolutions, what could be a better one than using your talents to help those around you achieve

How to Write Successful Dialogue

December 20, 2013 Alison Potoma

One of the best presents I ever received from Santa Claus was a brown paper bag filled to the brim with paperbacks. It had a

Win my book!

December 18, 2013 Kirsti Call

I am SO thrilled to finally be fulfilling a life-long dream of mine to become a published author and I want to share that excitement

The magic word AUTHOR!

December 17, 2013 Kirsti Call

The Raindrop Who Couldn’t Fall was released December 15th and at my book launch I felt grateful as I read my story to a throng of supportive

How one small press got started: Character Publishing

December 13, 2013 Carol Gordon Ekster

UPDATE: CHARACTER PUBLISHING IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS. Some titles have been acquired by other publishers. I first contacted Jerusha Bosarge through the SCBWI Discussion