Anneographies: author Anne Bustard on her fave picture book biographies and a few collected biographies, too, birthday by birthday. Anneographies now offers a full year of recommended picture book biographies, listed by the subjects’ birthdays. A wonderful resource for classroom teachers, school librarians, students of biography, and writers of picture book biographies. Note: Anne is the author of Buddy: The Story of Buddy Holly, illustrated by Kurt Cyrus (Simon & Schuster, 2005). Read a Cynsations interview with Anne about Anneographies and another one about Buddy.

A Day in the Life (of One Writer on Retreat) by Kim Winters of Kat’s Eye Journal for Writers from The Edge of the Forest. Here’s a sneak peek: “Honor Your Process. As hard as it is not to do so, don’t compare your process to anyone else’s.” See also an interview with Phil Bildner by Camille Powell of Book Moot. Note: don’t miss any of the other great articles, reviews, and more at the latest issue of The Edge of the Forest.

Michelle Knudsen will be reading Library Lion at The New York Times Great Children’s Read in the park on Sunday, October 14. Her reading is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. at the Target Stage. The entire event runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free. Read a Cynsations interview with Michelle.

Early registration for the 2008 Writers’ League of Texas Agents & Editors Conference is open now. The first 50 people who register will receive the early-bird discount of $30 and first choice of agents. The conference is planned for the Sheraton Austin Hotel from June 20 to June 22, 2008. Members: $309 (Early Bird: $279); non-members: $354 (Early Bird: $324). Early-bird registrations must be submitted by phone. To register, call 512.499.8914. The schedule is still in development. For an idea of what the conference will be like, check out the 2007 information. Note: I’m not sure how many, if any early-bird slots are left; last year this conference sold out.

Blog Your Book to the Top! shows you exactly how to get your blog noticed, how to bring readers in by the dozens, and how to maintain an ongoing successful book marketing campaign. YA author Amber Kizer (Delacorte) said “Blog Your Book to the Top! makes it easy for the non-techie to grasp and command this vital forum to 21st century audience interaction.” Note: this book features an interview with me (among other author-bloggers).

David Davis: Writer, Speaker, Cartoonist: official site of the Fort Worth-based picture book author of Librarian’s Night Before Christmas (Pelican, 2007), Texas Mother Goose (Pelican, 2006), and Rock ‘n’ Roll Dogs (Pelican, 2006), among others. Learn more about David’s books.

Check out the new book trailer for The Garden of Eve by K.L. Going (Harcourt, 2007)(excerpt). From the back cover: “When Evie reluctantly moves with her father to upstate New York, where he has bought an apple orchard, they dismiss rumors that the trees haven’t borne fruit in decades because the town is cursed. After all, Evie doesn’t believe in things like curses or fairy tales anymore. If fairy tales were real, her mom would still be alive. But then Evie receives a mysterious seed as an eleventh-birthday gift and meets a boy who claims to be dead. When planted, the seed grows into a tree before their eyes, but only Evie and the boy can see it – or go where it leads. The Garden of Eve mixes eerie magical realism with a deeply resonating story that beautifully explores grief, healing, and growth.” See a note to teachers, questions for discussion, and activities. Read a Cynsations interview with K.L. Going.

Highlights Founders Workshops for Fall 2007, held in Northeastern Pennsylvania: author Debbie Dadey is teaching “Writing for Reluctant Readers” Oct. 4 to Oct. 7 (tuition $895; limit 14); author Rich Wallace is teaching “Writing Novels for Yong Adults” Nov. 1 to Nov. 4 (tuition $895; limit 8); Paula Morrow (former editor of Ladybug and Babybug, columnist for Once Upon a Time) and Marileta Robinson (senior editor of Highlights for Children and Highlights High Five; she also has written several picture books) are teaching “Writing Fiction for Children’s Magazines” Oct. 25 to Oct. 28 (tuition $495; limit 12). The following workshops are already sold out “The Whole Novel” with authors Carolyn Coman and Tim-Wynne Jones (author interview); “The Heart of the Novel” with author Patricia Lee Gauch; and “Every Word Counts: Writing the Picture Book” with Jane Yolen (author interview). See also a preview of Highlights Foundation Workshops for spring and summer 2008.

Round-up of reviews of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie (Little Brown, 2007) from American Indians in Children’s Literature.

The Truth about School Visits by Alexis O’Neill from Lee & Low.