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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Culturally Responsive Texts in Classrooms

January 21, 2022 Keri Demers

In an October 2021 post (link below), I wrote about readability and how elementary teachers level books to match their students’ independent reading levels. Although

Interview with Nancy Tandon, debut author of THE WAY I SAY IT

January 18, 2022 Laura Fineberg Cooper

“I can’t say my name. Not because it’s a secret or anything. Honestly I’d shout it into a microphone right now if I could. I’d give up anything to be able to do that. Even my guitar-playing fingertip calluses, which took like a million hours to get. The first half-million hours hurt. A lot.”

Prepublished and Proud: Looking Back, and Looking Forward

January 14, 2022 Hilary Elizabeth Margitich

Hi, again. Some of you may remember me from a few blog posts I wrote here on Writers’ Rumpus in 2021. I dipped my toe

Grace Lin on the Craft of Storytelling

January 11, 2022 Amy Amberg

Part 1 of 2: Grace Lin on the Craft of Storytelling Grace Lin, a New York Times bestselling author/ illustrator, won the Newbery Honor for

AN INTERVIEW WITH LEAH H. ROGERS, AUTHOR OF THE BARN

January 7, 2022 René Bartos

THE BARN is a beautifully written lyrical picture book with lovely illustrations that takes us on a journey from morning through evening from the perspective

JANUARY Middle Grade and Young Adult Opportunities

December 31, 2021 Marti Johnson

Welcome to our MG/YA Opportunities post! Marti Johnson and Lexi Donahue are excited to share MG/YA Opportunities each month, we started in April 2021. All