Bookseller Chick: “the alter-ego of a mild-mannered bookseller, Bookseller Chick (known to those who love and hate her as BS Chick) fights for literacy, freedom, originality, and a paycheck in the corporate confines of a retail book chain.”

Congratuations to Dianna Hutts Aston (author interview) on the publication of Mama Inside, Mama Outside, illustrated by Susan Gaber (Henry Holt, 2006). School Library Journal calls it “irresistible.”

My husband, author Greg Leitich Smith, and I will be speaking on “The Kid In You: Writing for the Children’s and Young Adult Literary Trade Book Market” from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. June 24 at the Writers’ League of Texas Agents and Editors Conference. In addition, Kathi Appelt (author interview), Anne Bustard (author interview), Chris Barton, and moderator Mark G. Mitchell (author interview) will offer a panel on “Breaking into the Children’s Book Market” at 11 a.m. that same day.

Interview with Children’s Fantasy Author Laura Williams McCaffrey from Debbi Michiko Florence. Laura is the author of Alia Waking (Clarion, 2003) and Water Shaper (Clarion, 2006). Learn more about Laura.

Summer Bites: “Young Adult Paranormal Writers Dish about Everything.” Six authors celebrate light-hearted, original paperback gothic fantasy for teens. Learn more about Serena Robar, Marianne Mancusi, Gena Showalter, MaryJanice Davidson and Anthony Alongi, PC and Kristen Cast, and Bev Rosenbaum.

Thanks to fellow bloggers who’ve recently mentioned and/or featured links to Cynsations: Book Moot and A Chair, A Fireplace, and a Tea Cozy to my interview with author Michelle Lord on Little Sap and Monsieur Rodin, illustrated by Felicia Hoshimo (Lee & Low, 2006); … h20boro lib blog from the Waterboro Public Library (ME) recommending Cynsations; Jen Robinson’s Book Page on Sue Corbett‘s 12 Again (Dutton, 2002) winning the California Young Readers Medal (author interview); Gotta Book with more praise for Cynsations; a_suen on my interview with Ellen Howard; Kat’s Eye to my interview with Stephenie Meyer; pbwriter to my article on children’s and YA literary agents; and to Chicken Spaghetti to my interview with Marina Budhos.

The June giveaway at YA Books Central is Secrets of My Hollywood Life by Jen Calonita (Little Brown, 2006).

Meet Jeff Newman, author-illustrator of Hippo! No, Rhino (Little Brown, 2006), from BookPage.

Rising Star Julie Anne Peters from The Bulletin of the Center of Children’s Books. See a Cynsations interview with Julie. See also “Let Me Tell You ‘Bout My Best Friend:” A Father and Son Dozen, selected by Cindy Welch from the Bulletin.