Welcome to my new blog, which now includes content from many of the blogs I’ve created over the years. You can now also access content via category from this one page instead of having to search for my individual blogs, which were scattered over various platforms and websites.
Julie shares why she and her children love picture books from Candlewick Presson Vimeo. Thanks so much to Julie Falatko (@JulieFalatko on Twitter) for this wonderful video. Love how she pulls out I’M BORED at the end and starts reading it! See her original post on ReadingStartsHere.com. I’m especially honoured, considering the company. Thanks, Julie! And thanks . . .
Looks like it’s official: Penguin and Random House are officially merged. CEO Markus Dohle sent the following to letter to Random House authors and illustrators (possibly Penguin as well? I received one because I’m illustrating the RUBY ROSE books for Random House Children’s): To Our Authors, Today, Random House and Penguin . . .
I recently read (and loved) Tim Federle‘s BETTER NATE THAN EVER, which came out from Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers earlier this year. Here’s my MicroBookTweet, in case you missed it. I especially recommend it for those who have been teased for being different and could use encouragement for pursuing their . . .
POSTS SO FAR: Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 Part 1: Intro Part 2: Brainstorming, Story Pitch, Thumbnail Sketches (Note: This series of blog posts is NOT meant to The Definitive Guide of how a picture book is created. Your own publishing experience may differ, depending on your situation and people involved. Thanks . . .
Audrey Vernick writes picture books and middle-grade novels. Her nonfiction book Brothers at Bat: The True Story of an Amazing All-Brother Baseball Team, illustrated by Steven Salerno, was a New York Times Notable Book of 2012 and BCCB Blue Ribbon Winner 2013. A two-time recipient of the New Jersey Arts Council’s fiction fellowship, Audrey . . .
So much goodstuff has happened to me since 2010, when I was offered my first book contract. This is one of a series of blog posts (in no particular order) about people to whom I am grateful. Posts so far: My career-changing SCBWI conference – My thank you letter to the SCBWI – A thank you . . .
I first came across Kelly Light‘s work online. Not only did I love her fun character sketches, but I was also drawn to her writing — edgy, fun and bubbling over with enthusiasm for all things kidlit. Then I met her at an SCBWI conference and found she was the same . . .
Blank On Blank finds vintage interview tapes and adds new animations. Their mission: “to curate and transform journalists’ unheard interviews with American icons. The future of journalism is remixing the past.” I enjoyed this 2009 interview with Maurice Sendak in his Connecticut home, and thought the creators did a good job at . . .
I met Hélène Boudreau through Torkidlit, and have continued to be impressed by this woman’s energy and enthusiasm for kidlit/YA online and offline. I interviewed Hélène a couple of years ago about her book, REAL MERMAIDS DON’T WEAR TOE RINGS, and am delighted to be interviewing her again about her picture book, I DARE YOU . . .
I first became familiar with Tara Lazar through her wonderful blog, Writing For Kids (While Raising Them) and her PiBoIdMo (Picture Book Idea Month). THE MONSTORE iswritten by Tara (her debut picture book) and illustrated by James Burks, and just came out from Aladdin / Simon & Schuster Children’s. Basic story premise: Zach buys Manfred The Monster from The . . .