Picture books should be as long as they need to be. That every-word-perfect standard is high.
Traditionally, the core market audience for picture books is 4 to 7. However, picture books are increasingly used with older kids, even teenagers; ie: In fact, Kelly Milner Halls’ Albino Animals was both a YALSA Quick Pick and BBYA this past year.
Surf over to spookycyn to read my thoughts on Amy McAuley’s debut novel, Over and Over You (Roaring Brook, 2005), and check out my list of hypothetical past lives.
Last night, I led a chat exploring gender writing issues with author panelists Nancy Werlin, D.L. Garfinkle, and Brian Yansky at The YA Authors Cafe. I’ll let y’all know when the transcript is posted online, but in the meantime, here’s a sampling of the questions I asked them:
What are your experiences,
Continue Reading Boys & Girls, Men & Women, Authors & Heroes »
Tonight, May 10 at the YA Authors Cafe – Boys & Girls, Men & Women, Authors & Heroes: how gender affects how we write, who we write for, and what happens next. Cynthia Leitich Smith explores gender writing issues with panelists Nancy Werlin, D.L. Garfinkle, and Brian Yansky.
The YA Authors Cafe chats are held Tuesday evenings at 8:30 p.m.
Continue Reading Reminder: Boys & Girls, Men & Women, Authors & Heroes »
Greg and I signed a contract this week with Dutton Children’s Books for a humorous holiday picture book, tentatively titled Santa and the Snorklepuss. We’re not sure yet on the publication date, but we’re thrilled that Steve Bjorkman has already agreed to illustrate the story.
This soon-to-be published manuscript represents the first book Greg and I have co-authored,
Anne Bustard, author of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Simon & Schuster, 2005), spoke about plot yesterday to SCBWI Austin members at Barnes & Noble Westlake.
She drew on her own experiences as a reader, writer, educator, and former children’s bookstore owner, and she highly recommended the book Immediate Fiction by Jerry Cleaver,
The Texas State Reading Association (TSRA), the state affiliate of the International Reading Association (IRA), has announced the winner of the annual Texas Golden Spur Award for Children’s Literature. This year’s recipient was announced in conjunction with the 50th IRA Convention in San Antonio.
The award has been established to honor the authors of children’s literature who reside in the state of Texas.
Continue Reading Little Prairie Hen Wins 1rst TSRA Golden Spur Award »
Dear Cynsational Readers,
As you may have noticed, I’ve turned on comments both for Cynsational and SpookyCyn.
So, don’t be a blurker (blog + lurker). Let me hear what you have to say.
According to my profile, I’ve written about 40,000 words, which is arguably novel-length.
Here’s a sampling of some of my favorite past posts,
CHICAGO – Lerner Publishing Group, an official sponsor of the Young Adult Library Association’s (YALSA) Teen Read Week celebration, will donate one new biography to librarians and educators who are planning to celebrate Teen Read Week, October 16 – 22, 2005.
Those who want to receive books from Lerner must become official Teen Read Week participants by registering for Teen Read Week on the web at www.ala.org/teenread.
Continue Reading Lerner Publishing Group To Give Away Books To Teen Read Registrants »
Zipped down I-35 with Greg yesterday for the third time in the past week, this round back to San Antonio, to meet with Dr. Jim Blasingame at Boudro’s for an article he’s writing about us.
For those of you who are local or visiting for the IRA conference, I highly recommend the decadent lobster,