Guest Interview: Liz Garton Scanlon & Carol Kim on Finding the Story You’re Meant to Write

By Liz Garton Scanlon

The Austin chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) is particularly vibrant, and among its many offerings is a mentorship program named for Cynthia Leitich Smith!

I have been the program’s mentor twice, most recently working with the wonderful Carol Kim.

Continue Reading Guest Interview: Liz Garton Scanlon & Carol Kim on Finding the Story You’re Meant to Write »

Guest Chat: Authors Liz Garton Scanlon & Tricia Springstubb on Seeds & Stories

By Liz Garton Scanlon and Tricia Springstubb

Liz: I like to imagine we’re together in an actual garden – dirt underneath our fingernails and a bunch of seed packets newly emptied into the ground.

Tricia: Oh, yes! Is anything more hopeful than planting a seed? When I was seven or eight, I grew two straight lines of zinnias.

Continue Reading Guest Chat: Authors Liz Garton Scanlon & Tricia Springstubb on Seeds & Stories »

Career Achievers: Liz Garton Scanlon on Thriving as a Long-Time, Actively Publishing Children’s Author

By Cynthia Leitich Smith

Liz Garton Scanlon is a successful children’s author with a long, distinguished career.

In children’s-YA writing, maintaining an active publishing career is arguably an even bigger challenge than breaking into the field.

Reflecting on your personal journey (creatively, career-wise, and your writer’s heart), what bumps did you encounter and how have you managed to defy the odds to achieve continued success? 

Continue Reading Career Achievers: Liz Garton Scanlon on Thriving as a Long-Time, Actively Publishing Children’s Author »

Guest Post: Liz Garton Scanlon and Audrey Vernick on Co-Writing Picture Books

Guest Post: Liz Garton Scanlon and Audrey Vernick on Co-Writing Picture Books

By Liz Garton Scanlon and Audrey Vernick

Liz Garton Scanlon and Audrey Vernick

“Writing is a solitary occupation and one of its hazards is loneliness.” – Joyce Carol Oates

“The writing life is essentially one of solitary confinement.” – Will Self

“Writing is an antisocial act.” – Martha Grimes

Writing.

Continue Reading Guest Post: Liz Garton Scanlon and Audrey Vernick on Co-Writing Picture Books »

Launch Event Case Studies: Liz Garton Scanlon’s Happy Birthday, Bunny! & Janet Fox’s Sirens

Launch Event Case Studies: Liz Garton Scanlon’s Happy Birthday, Bunny! & Janet Fox’s Sirens

By Cynthia Leitich Smith

Highlights of this week included two book launch parties, featuring Liz Garton Scanlon with Happy Birthday, Bunny! (Beach Lane, 2013) and Janet Fox with Sirens (Speak, 2012). Both events were hosted by BookPeople in Austin. The former featured a picture book. The latter featured a YA novel.

Continue Reading Launch Event Case Studies: Liz Garton Scanlon’s Happy Birthday, Bunny! & Janet Fox’s Sirens »

Guest Post & Giveaway: Liz Garton Scanlon on Why We Should Think Big

Guest Post & Giveaway: Liz Garton Scanlon on Why We Should Think Big

By Liz Garton Scanlon

A few years back, I realized that we often mean only two or three things when we talk to kids about art — certainly painting and drawing, perhaps sculpture, maybe music.

We mean “art-that’s-the-kind-the-art-teacher-teaches”. Which is both awesome and true, but also limited. What about photography? What about dance?

Continue Reading Guest Post & Giveaway: Liz Garton Scanlon on Why We Should Think Big »

Guest Post: Liz Garton Scanlon on the ALA Conference and the Caldecott

Guest Post: Liz Garton Scanlon on the ALA Conference and the Caldecott

By Liz Garton Scanlon

In late January, soon after the American Library Association children’s-YA book awards were announced at the Midwinter Conference in Boston, I received my official invitation to attend the ALA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.

I was fairly floating at the time, and all thoughts turned to dresses and shoes.

Continue Reading Guest Post: Liz Garton Scanlon on the ALA Conference and the Caldecott »