By Gail Giles
The question is asked: why did we (Deb Vanasse and I) decide to use Faust as the central theme of our book No Returns, the first book of our Battleband series (Running Fox, 2014)?
We actually didn’t.
I had an idea that came from dealing with a student of mine who was repeatedly drawing Satanic symbols on his papers.
Continue Reading Guest Post: Gail Giles on Writing with a Co-Author & Why Faust? »
For over eight years, I have been an editor at Simply Read Books, alongside writing and authoring my own books.
There is no doubt in my mind that editing has helped me become a better writer, albeit with much more to learn still.
Deal with Big Stuff First
I think it is very hard to have written a book,
Continue Reading Guest Post: Kallie George on What Being an Editor Taught Me as a Writer »
Congratulations to Jeff Crosby on the release of Rockabilly Goats Gruff (Holiday House, 2014). From the promotional copy:
Three rockin’ billy goats turn a grumpy troll into the biggest rockabilly fan at the honky-tonk, putting a fun twist on the classic fairytale.
Through the hills and hollows,
Meet Len on his ongoing book tour!
Len Vlahos is the first-time author of The Scar Boys (Egmont, 2014). From the promotional copy:
A severely burned teenager. A guitar. Punk rock. The chords of a rock ‘n’ roll road trip in a coming-of-age novel that is a must-read story about finding your place in the world…even if you carry scars inside and out.
Compiled by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Marc Tyler Nobleman invited children’s-YA authors (including several of my friends) to read from customer comments (not professional reviews) about their books on the Internet.
Here’s the result! It’s all in fun. You’ll notice that most of these folks are well-established pros,
Continue Reading Video: Children’s-YA Authors Read Negative Customer Comments »
2013 Children’s Literature programs students and faculty
I am thrilled to announce that Hollins University now offers the first and only MFA in Writing and Illustrating Children’s Books in the country.
This is in conjunction with the already established MFA in Children’s Literature and Certificate in Children’s Book Illustration programs.
A “diverse” book edited by Donna.
Compiled by Cynthia Leitich Smith
In honor of Multicultural Children’s Book Day, please direct your attention to an Industry Q&A with Publisher Donna Bray from CBC Diversity:
“…while I do agree that there ought to be more, I can’t help but look back with chagrin on the many beautiful,
Continue Reading Crave Diversity? It’s (Partly) a Matter of Dollars & Sense »
Compiled by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Where do writers get their ideas? Check out the story-behind-the-story book trailer for If It’s Snowy and You Know It, Clap Your Paws! (Sterling, 2013). From the promotional copy:
Kim Norman and Liza Woodruff, the team behind the delightful Ten on the Sled,
Griffin sleeping on a manuscript
“Writing fantasy is easy; you just make it all up.”
It’s something I hear all the time in my travels as an author and educator. I’m not sure if it’s meant as a slight about my chosen genre, but my response is always the same:
Writing fantasy is hard.
Compiled by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Ned Vizzini, 32, Dies; Wrote Teenage Novels by Ned Yardley from The New York Times (Dec. 20, 2013). Peek: “Ned Vizzini, a precocious and highly praised writer of popular young-adult novels that often dealt with themes of teenage anxiety and depression — and still made readers laugh — died on Thursday in Brooklyn.”
