Here's an excerpt from an interview with the author of Bud, Not Buddy and other remarkable books: When I write them, I really don't think about writing to kids. I know you're supposed to think of your audience, but when I wrote The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963, I didn't really write it as... Continue Reading →
In search of author/illustrator
A man seeking the husband of the year award wants to commission a picture book for his wife on their anniversary:My wife and I are celebrating our 10-year anniversary this year. I have an idea to have a children's-like book done that highlights the quirky things my wife does that makes her special. I envision... Continue Reading →
Write like a man?
Here's a bracing Washington Post essay by Julianna Baggott (who writes as N.E. Body). Interesting to contemplate:The key to literary success? Be a man -- or write like one.By Julianna BaggottWednesday, December 30, 2009; A13This fall, Publishers Weekly named the top 100 books of 2009. How many female writers were in the top 10? Zero.... Continue Reading →
How to mock up a picture book
If you've taken a class with Darcy Pattison, you know she gives great advice. The author of 19 GIRLS AND ME and two picture books about Oliver K. Woodman explains here why--and how--to make a dummy.Why Make a Dummy?Picture books combine text and words in a short 32 page book. The structure is so unusual,... Continue Reading →
Trivia fun for librarians, young reader… and authors
If you're not a librarian, there must be one whom you'd like to tell about this: The Great Scavenger Hunt Contest, a free, year-round reading program provided courtesy of YA author Kay Cassidy (THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY, Egmont, April 2010). The program provides fun trivia questions for recent middle-grade, tween, and YA books. Kids who do... Continue Reading →
New Author Central features on Amazon
If you're published, you might want to check out the latest additions to Amazon's Author Central -- the ability to post videos and events on your author page. Author Central is still technically only in beta, and there are indeed a few glitches. For instance, if you try to enter events, you'll find that you're... Continue Reading →
Christmas carol lyrics for writerly types
Looking for a little Christmas cheer? Then check out these Writerly Christmas Lyrics Contest winners over at Miss Snark's First Victim. You can even hear one of them being sung by Miss Madison Ross, a pretty awesome kid, here. And if that's not enough, go here to read all of the entries!
Phillis Naylor Working Writer Fellowship
The PEN/Phyllis Naylor Working Writer Fellowship of $5,000 is offered annually to an author of children's or young-adult fiction. The Fellowship has been developed to help writers whose work is of high literary caliber but who have not yet attracted a broad readership. As a result, an author's books may not have achieved the sales... Continue Reading →
Online class with Ann Gonzalez
Would you like support revising and finishing the young adult or middle-grade novel you're writing so that it's ready to submit? Join Ann Gonzalez's online class The Art of Writing for Teens and Tweens and receive instructional feedback on your work-in-progress, meet other writers who share your passion for teen and tween literature, and learn... Continue Reading →
Thanks, Onion
Adults go wild over kids' books! Wheee!Adults Go Wild Over Latest In Children's Picture Book SeriesThanks to Sarah Showell for the link.