Guest Post: Erik Talkin on Finding the Book You Are Uniquely Qualified to Write

By Erik Talkin

I had been the talented “nearly” man for a while, with a middle-grade that was purchased by a mid-level publisher that promptly decided to get out of the MG market before the book was published.

This was followed by a novel that went to the final stages of acquisition with a major publisher,

Continue Reading Guest Post: Erik Talkin on Finding the Book You Are Uniquely Qualified to Write »

Guest Post: Nora Shalaway Carpenter & Challenging the Rural Stereotype

By Nora Shalaway Carpenter

Recently I chatted with Nasugraq Rainey Hopson, Tirzah Price, Rob Costello, and Monica Roe, four of Rural Voices’ (Candlewick, 2020) talented contributors. Here’s what they said about rural stories, stereotypes, and the representation of rural life in literature.

Continue Reading Guest Post: Nora Shalaway Carpenter & Challenging the Rural Stereotype »

Guest Post: Debbie Gonzales on Kidlit Promotion, Pinterest Analytics & You

 

By Debbie Gonzales

Book people love a good story. One that is filled with twists and turns. Interpreting Pinterest analytics is much like watching a drama unfold. Ups and downs. Peaks and valleys.

With a little bit of training, Pinterest users can read the receptibility of their content within a few days of posting.

Continue Reading Guest Post: Debbie Gonzales on Kidlit Promotion, Pinterest Analytics & You »

Guest Post: Debbie Gonzales on Kidlit Promotion & Personal versus Business Pinterest Accounts

By Debbie Gonzales

The typical Pinterest user searches the platform for one-off ideas to enhance their projects. Such pinners typically establish Personal Accounts on which to save and classify pins they find to be educational, inspirational, or edifying.

Oftentimes, book creators build what are known as “mood boards” by selecting and categorizing pins that visually represent themes,

Continue Reading Guest Post: Debbie Gonzales on Kidlit Promotion & Personal versus Business Pinterest Accounts »

Guest Post: Debbie Gonzales What’s With the Buzz About Pinterest & Promoting Kidlit?

By Debbie Gonzales

Pinterest is so, so, so much more than a quick reference for great recipes or DIY projects. The marketing potential on this dynamic platform is phenomenal! Studies show that Pinterest is the largest website traffic driver in the world. Thoughtfully crafted content has the potential of becoming 80 percent more viral than on any other social media platform.

Continue Reading Guest Post: Debbie Gonzales What’s With the Buzz About Pinterest & Promoting Kidlit? »

Guest Post: Lindsay H. Metcalf on Anxiety, Creativity & the Pandemic

Albert Whitman & Company

By Lindsay H. Metcalf

I came here to talk about science, advocacy, and truth—themes in my first three picture books, releasing this fall.

My picture books focus on empowering kids with foundations of:

  1. science (Beatrix Potter, Scientist, illustrated by Junyi Wu (Albert Whitman,

Continue Reading Guest Post: Lindsay H. Metcalf on Anxiety, Creativity & the Pandemic »

Guest Interview: Author Lindsay Leslie Interviews Illustrator Ellen Rooney

By Lindsay Leslie

Illustrators. To me, very much a writer, they are magical. They take the visions in our heads and make them real.

Or, they take the visions in our heads and say, “Well, those visions are pretty cool, but check this out.”

And, Surprise! They bring a book’s words to life in a way you never would have imagined.

Continue Reading Guest Interview: Author Lindsay Leslie Interviews Illustrator Ellen Rooney »