I don’t know how most authors get story ideas, but for me, a story comes in pieces. Then I fit them together like a puzzle. That’s what happened with my picture book, Climbing Lincoln’s Steps: The African American Journey, illustrated by Colin Bootman (Albert Whitman, 2010),
For those of you who celebrate Christmas (or know a child who does), I recommend Christmas Kitten: Home at Last by Robin Pulver, illustrated by Layne Johnson (Albert Whitman, 2010).
Santa and Mrs. Claus must rush to find a home for a foundling kitten named Cookie. Santa would love to keep the kitten,
Shaun David Hutchinson is the first-time author of The Deathday Letter (Simon Pulse, 2010). From the promotional copy:
Carpe Mortediem!
Ollie can’t be bothered to care about anything but food, girls, and games until he gets his Deathday Letter and learns he’s going to die in twenty-four hours. Bummer.
Ollie does what he does best: nothing.
Continue Reading New Voice: Shaun David Hutchinson on The Deathday Letter »
I’ve always loved series books. I grew up on the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, the Boxcar Children, Betsy-Tacy, and Nancy Drew.
I began my writing career as a ghostwriter for the Sweet Valley Twins series.
Continue Reading Guest Post: Dori Hillestad Butler on The Buddy Files »
Steve Brezenoff is the first-time author of The Absolute Value of -1 (Carolrhoda LAB, 2010). From the promotional copy:
The absolute value of any number, positive or negative, is its distance from zero: |-1| = 1
Noah, Lily, and Simon have been a trio forever. But as they enter high school,
Continue Reading New Voice: Steve Brezenoff on The Absolute Value of -1 »
Enter today to win the Cynthia Leitich Smith Grand Prize Giveaway from Book Club as part of Book Club’s 31 Days of Giveaways!
The prize is:
a signed Blessed (Candlewick, Jan. 2011) ARC;
Quincie’s Chicago-themed road trip journal (lined for your own notes);
and a plush toy bat with purple ears and bow tie!
Michelle Knudsen is the author of 40 books for children. Her best-known title is Library Lion, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes (Candlewick, 2006), which was a New York Times bestseller and has been translated into several languages. Her latest book is a middle-grade fantasy novel called The Dragon of Trelian (Candlewick,
Color me blown away by YA reader Midnight Machiko‘s book project video on my YA Gothic fantasy Eternal (Candlewick, 2009, 2010)!
Check out the art, music, emotion! I don’t think I could love it more. I don’t even think that’s possible. How about you?
Feel free to comment at Cynsations LJ.
Continue Reading Eternal Trailer by YA Reader Midnight Machiko »
Lisa Railsback is the first-time author of Noonie’s Masterpiece, illustrated by Sarajo Frieden (Chronicle, 2010) and Betti on the High Wire (Dial, 2010). From the promotional copy of Noonie’s Masterpiece:
Fantastic illustrations with a fresh, contemporary look enrich this debut novel about a 10-year-old aspiring artist stuck living with an aunt,
Continue Reading New Voice: Lisa Railsback on Noonie’s Masterpiece and Betti on the High Wire »
By Ned Gannon
When I was approached to do a second book, one of the things that entered my mind was that I didn’t want to accept the job unless I could improve on the first book I did with Maha Addasi and Boyds Mills Press, White Nights of Ramadan (2008).
Continue Reading Guest Post: Illustrator Ned Gannon on Time To Pray »
