Learn more about Nikki Grimes and her recent releases, Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel and Rich: A Dyamonde Daniel Book, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie (both G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2009) and Voices of Christmas, illustrated by Eric Velasquez (Zonderkidz, 2009).
How do you define professional success?
Michael Hemphill: “I grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, but didn’t know much about the Civil War until my wife and I moved to Virginia in 1997.
“Here in Virginia, I worked as a newspaper reporter (where I met Sam) until 2000 when the first of our three daughters was born. Since, I’ve been a stay-at-home dad,
Learn about Alan Cumyn.
So far, what’s the most fun you’ve ever had working on a book? Why?
I have to say that working on this latest book, Dear Sylvia (Groundwood, 2008)(excerpt), was the most fun.
I often struggle to find the right voice for a particular project,
I’m in the thick of marketing my newest picture book (and first as author-illustrator)–Soap, soap, soap (Raven Tree, 2009), and I keep getting emails from friends asking how I market, especially online.
To me, marketing is a two-phase process. There’s general marketing (getting my name out there),
Continue Reading Guest Post Elizabeth O. Dulemba on Marketing – The Snowball Effect »
Enter to win one of two author-signed copies of Soap Soap Soap Jabón Jabón Jabón (Raven Tree, 2009), one of three author-signed copies of My Father’s House by Kathi Appelt, illustrated by Raul Colón (Viking, 2007), an author-bookplate-signed copy of Operation Redwood by S. Terrell French (Amulet,
Learn about Deborah Noyes and her new releases, Sideshow: Ten Original Tales of Freaks, Illusionists and Other Matters Odd and Magical and African Acrostics: A World in Edgeways with poems by Avis Harley (both Candlewick, 2009).
What do you love most about being an author? Why?
For a daydreamer,
5 Questions with Lisa Ann Sandell: “On Our Minds asks [author and] senior editor at Scholastic, Lisa Ann Sandell 5 simple questions about YA and what it’s like to be an editor.”
Cynsational Notes
Lisa is on the faculty of the 2010 Houston-SCBWI Conference, scheduled for Feb. 20,
Continue Reading Five Questions with Scholastic Editor-Author Lisa Ann Sandell »
Joy Preble is the first-time author of Dreaming Anastasia (Sourcebooks, 2009). From the promotional copy:
Anastasia Romanov thought she would never feel more alone than when the gunfire started and her family began to fall around her. Surely the bullets would come for her next. But they didn’t.
Instead, two gnarled old hands reached for her.
Continue Reading New Voice: Joy Preble on Dreaming Anastasia »
The Texas Book Festival took place Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 in Austin.
According to the official website, “The first festival took place at the Capitol in November 1996; the festival has quickly evolved into one of the premier literary events in the country, annually hosting over 200 Texas and nationally known authors.”
It was an honor to participate as a featured author for Eternal (Candlewick,
Learn more about Marjetta Geerling.
Could you tell us about your writing community–your critique group or critique partner or other sources of creative support?
I am truly blessed to have landed in South Florida where there is an extremely active and supportive children’s writing community.
It’s an especially rich community for young adult writers because we are lucky enough to have YA author and professional mentor,
