Welcome to Ernesto Cisneros and Ash Van Otterloo! These two middle-grade debut authors will share with us the inspiration and challenge of staying true to their roots while writing for a young audience.
Ernesto Cisneros
What was your initial inspiration for writing this book?
A big welcome to middle-grade debut authors, Kelly J. Baptist and Jess Rinker. Both authors share with us how the people around them influence their writing as well as moments along their journeys to publication.
Kelly Baptist
What first inspired you to write for young readers?
I’m so excited to welcome debut middle-grade authors Tziporah Cohen and Donna Barba Higuera to Cynsations today. Both authors share with us the joys and challenges of writing to their own experiences.
Congratulations on your debuts!
Tziporah Cohen
What first inspired you to write for young readers?
Continue Reading New Voices: Tziporah Cohen & Donna Barba Higuera on Writing Their Own Experiences »
I’m excited to introduce you to debut middle grade authors whose books highlight father-daughter relationships in their novels. Nicole Melleby, author of Hurricane Season (Algonquin, 2019), and Rajani LaRocca, author of Midsummer’s Mayhem (Yellow Jacket/Little Bee, 2019), share their inspirations and perspectives on the writing journey.
Remy Lai, author and illustrator of Pie in the Sky (Henry Holt, 2019) and Cory Leonardo, author of The Simple Art of Flying (Aladdin, 2019) reflect on the debuts of their middle-grade novels. For both, finding fellow writers as mentors or critique partners along the journey proved invaluable.
Continue Reading New Voices: Remy Lai & Cory Leonardo Reflect on their Middle Grade Debuts »
My third middle grade novel, Lizzie Flying Solo (HarperCollins, 2019), came out a few weeks ago. It took me 13 years to get that book just right.
It was the manuscript my agent signed me for in 2010, but back in the heyday of Harry Potter [by J.K.
Continue Reading Guest Post: Nanci Turner Steveson on Writing Mirrors »
In today’s world of author branding how do you market yourself if you’re interested for writing for more than one age level? What are the joys and challenges of working across age levels? Are agents still willing to work with someone who doesn’t commit to just one age level?
These are the questions I asked five currently publishing authors: Hena Khan,
Continue Reading Author Interview: Writing & Marketing for Multiple Age-Levels »
I am excited to share the publishing journeys of Lisa Moore Ramée and Jeanne Zulick Ferruolo. Both are members of the Novel Nineteens author group. Both of their middle grade novels debuted this month.
Lisa Moore Ramée
What was your initial inspiration for writing A Good Kind of Trouble (Balzer + Bray)?
Young Suzanne with her Grandfather Tio
in Uvalde, Texas
As writers, we are frequently asked where we draw inspiration from. I think it’s true that everything we write is somewhat autobiographical.
I know I scatter a bit of myself in everything I write – that’s what gives it a soul and makes my stories “sing,” if you will.
Continue Reading Guest Post: Suzanne Crowley on Finding Inspiration Close to Home »
Learn more about Shutta Crum
By Shutta Crum
So you’re zipping along—doing your thing—and below the radar one, or more, of your books goes silently out of print.
When a book goes out of print, it always hurts—it’s a death in the family. You’ve spent a significant portion of your life living with it,
Continue Reading Guest Post: Shutta Crum on A New Life for an Out-of-Print Book »
