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.”
Making Deals with the Writing Gods by Nora Raleigh Baskin from Janni Lee Simner at Desert Dispatches. Peek: “I’m terrified I can never do it again. I will run out of ideas. I’ll be too old. My brain will rot. I won’t sell enough and no one will offer me a contract again.
Many blessings over the winter holidays! I’ll see you again early in the New Year!
Happy (Almost) 2014!
In the meantime, follow me at my facebook author page and/or twitter @CynLeitichSmith, where I’ll be highlighting the same kind of children’s-YA writing and publishing news you expect from my weekly roundup.
Esther Hershenhorn Recommends Snowflakes Fall by Patricia Maclachlan, illustrated Steven Kellogg (Random House, 2013) from Teaching Authors. Peek: “In a Feb. 25 Publishers Weekly interview, Patricia MacLachlan shared that the snowflake motif used to underscore each individual’s uniqueness and the power of nature and time to help heal was inspired by the Connecticut Parent Teachers Association’s efforts to encourage people to create paper snowflakes to decorate the new school Sandy Hook
students would be attending.”
Author photo by Leigh Elise
By Kathi Appelt
N. Griffin is the first-time author of The Whole Stupid Way We Are (Atheneum, 2013). From the promotional copy:
It’s Maine. It’s winter. And it’s freezing stinkin’ cold!
Dinah is wildly worried about her best friend,
Continue Reading Guest Interview: Kathi Appelt & N. Griffin on The Whole Stupid Way We Are »
Quick, name a favorite literary or movie character. Now, what is it about him/her that’s so appealing?
In all likelihood, the reason you love that character is because he or she embodies a trait that you value: Atticus Finch’s bravery, George Bailey’s selflessness,
Continue Reading Guest Post & Giveaway: Becca Puglisi on Where Do Character Strengths Come From? »
By Greg Pincus
Greg Pincus is the first-time author of The 14 Fibs of Gregory K. (Arthur A. Levine Books, 2013)(author blog). From the promotional copy:
Gregory K. comes from a family of mathematical geniuses. But if he claimed to love math he’d be fibbing.
Continue Reading Guest Post: Greg Pincus on Writing & Marketing with Serious Lead Time »
I’ve spent several months on an unconventional book tour for my latest YA, Fat Angie (Candlewick, 2013)–workshopping with at-risk youth who have affectionately tagged me as the tattooed, rockstar, Wexican (whitest Mexican American) YA author/filmmaker.
This whirlwind tour, where I stuffed my belongings into storage and traveled by rental car,
Continue Reading Guest Post: e.E. Charlton-Trujillo on Your Book, Your Niche from the Trench »
