WRITERS' RUMPUS

QUILT OF STARS: Out-of-this-World Book Talk and Giveaway with Co-Authors Astronaut Dr. Karen Nyberg and Ann McCallum Staats

September 29, 2026 Laura Fineberg Cooper

Happy Book Birthday to QUILT OF STARS: Astronaut Karen Nyberg Stitches a Dream! This inspiring and beautiful written picture book, published by Familius, is co-authored by the impressibly accomplished and talented duo of Dr. Karen Nyberg and Ann McCallum Staats and gorgeously illustrated by Alida Massari.

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INTERVIEW WITH #JEWISH #KIDLIT #MIDDLEGRADE AUTHOR MIRIAM CHERNICK

September 22, 2026 DrZatHome

I dove into Miriam Chernick’s The Zuzu Secret with great excitement and anticipation–and was not disappointed. As a molecular biologist and geneticist who has taught

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MG Book Review: GRACIELA IN THE ABYSS by Meg Medina

September 15, 2026 Jennifer Finkle

Meg Medina’s GRACIELA IN THE ABYSS (Candlewick Press, 2025) is an absolutely delightful dual POV story that alternates between the perspectives of a spirit girl named Graciela and a young mortal boy named Jorge.

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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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November Middle Grade and Young Adult Opportunities

October 29, 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

Three Scare-a-licious Books for Halloween

October 26, 2021 Kirsti Call

Twenty years ago today, I became a mother. If that’s not scary, I don’t know what is! But all of a sudden I was reading

About the Hook

October 22, 2021 Joyce Audy Zarins

What lures a teen to read a multi-hundred-page book? The author has carefully written and revised a terrific narrative, but where is the hook, the

Middle Grade Author Joy Jones Interview

October 19, 2021 Marti Johnson

Jayla Jumps In, written by Joy Jones, is an entertaining Middle Grade novel which invites kids to get outside and play! Jayla is a bit

Favorite Online Writing Advice from the Pros

October 15, 2021 Rebecca Moody

Many of today’s career authors maintain websites, blogs, YouTube channels and other online resources where they share their hard-earned writing wisdom, that is, the advice that got them from pre-published writers to the successful authors they are today.

#Kidlit Interview with the Talented Angela Kunkel

October 12, 2021 Carol Gordon Ekster

CAROL GORDON EKSTER: Angela, I absolutely loved your first book, Digging for Words: José Alberto Gutiérrez and the Library He Built Illustrated by Paola Escobar.